Turning Japanese

Karl Hungus

It's quite apparent that there's been very much intrest recently in Japanese films, and general Japanese culture in film.

There's obviously Hollywood's interest in Japan, what with films like The Last Samurai, Lost In Translation, and the utter 'Japsploitation' that is Kill Bill. Not to forget the recent remake of Ring, and other proposed remakes of great Japanese films...

But what's more important, I think, is that a lot of films are getting better releases over here. The cinema release in the States of Spirited Away, to much applause, and sucsess is a great boon to those who normally seek out something other than the usual hollywood dross...

Nowadays, people after Japanese cinema dont have to rely on dodgy importers, or wait for the ultra-late night showings on Channel 4. Most good music/video stores carry a good selection of films, and quite a few have foreign film sections, like HMV and Tower Records. Not that I'd buy from them, but its nice that great import films are readily available.

Another thing I've noticed, is that the official release date for Zatoichi, the new Takeshi Kitano film, is 19th of March in the UK! And it was only released in Japan in September... And this is a DVD release, mind you.

So what are people's thoughts?

yellum

Zatoichi is coming to the IFI.

Kill Bill is a mix of Jap and Hong Kong and so much other cool things.

Jap films are being noticed more, but some people have been fans of Jap and Asian culture for a very very long time not just very recently since its become fashionable to talk about the original ring and only the most recent anime.

Man I miss Shinjii. He'd have posted something cool in this thread.

echomadman

Wasn't Zatoichi a parallel release/alternate version of "The One Armed Swordsman" for the Japanese audience, or is this a remake?

Not too sure now, and too lazy to look it up, i'm sure its mentioned in the special features of one of my DVDs

[edit] spelling

Makaveli

It's not like it's only just started happening recently.
It goes back as far as Seven Samurai/The Magnificent Seven.
It's more like Western film makers have always had mutual respect for their Eastern counterparts and it's just coming to the fore more now when the likes of Tarrantino makes a homage film.

It is a good thing that are getting more recognition, but it still hasn't gone mainstream. The odd bits filter through, the likes of Ichi the Killer is mentioned because of it's uber-violent nature and then subsequently people learn about Takashi Miike.

Sky, of all organisations, have helped open peoples eyes by running their Asian Extreme seasons. And yesterday they actually showed Metropilous during the afternoon.

The likes of Pókemon have been big here for years, which has both positive and negative effects. It gives people an introduction to what Japanese animation is like, but then it also leads people to believe that all anime is like this. Obviously it's not, but some people will just dismiss it.

Then of course there is the computer games. Which are almost all Japanese in origin. So people have been exposed to Japanese culture more than think.

But anyway I'm just rambling here. In fact I can't even remember why I started this post.

Ichiro

I find that films from Foreign countries show great insite to the cultures of the country, give us an idea of how they think. Japan is a structured society, polite clean, respectful people and are hard workers we should pay more attention to this.

And Japan for one is far more than Samurai, Yakuza, Violence and Pikachu.
Kikujiro A Beat Takeshi film shows a great side to Japanese Humour.
Which is a must see for film fans.
(also a film called PING PONG is a must see apparently)
Japanese society and fan base i think derives from the want

sceptre

Originally posted by AngelWhore
'Japsploitation'

That's a great word.

voxpop

is "enter the dragon" and other film of that genre and time considered Japanise ?

If so then its been around along time

Karl Hungus

Enter The Dragon is Chinese, Penguin.

Originally posted by yellum
Jap films are being noticed more, but some people have been fans of Jap and Asian culture for a very very long time not just very recently since its become fashionable to talk about the original ring and only the most recent anime.

Man I miss Shinjii. He'd have posted something cool in this thread.

Aye, that's very true indeed.
But do you think it will get to a point where it being fashionable is too much?

Originally posted by echomadman
Wasn't Zatoichi a parallel release/alternate version of "The One Armed Swordsman" for the Japanese audience, or is this a remake?

I dont think it has any specific ties with any of the other Zatoichi films other than the main man himself, so it's not really much of a remake.

Thorbar

Don't forget Shanghai Noon!

Seriously though its great to see this new direction in popular culture. I wouldn't be too worried about it becoming main-stream either. I'd be surprised if lasted more then a year or two (like the whole ricky martin thing) and then fizzled out. In the mean time hopefully we'll be able to enjoy some good movies without all the hassle.

I think Kill Bill drew heavily from Cowboy Bebop which is one of my favourate anime series/movie/manga.

Makaveli

In what way did it draw from Cowboy Bebop?
Granted it's been a while since I've seen Kill Bill but I don't recall anything that was similar really to CB.
Well Martial Arts and violence.

projectmayhem

yeah when i saw kill bill i didn't exactly draw a comparison to cowboy beebop to be honest, but some people take different things from movies.

as for this sudden interest in japanese culture (though it's not really 'sudden', it's been on a gradual increase for years), i really hope it doesn't get too big because then every japanese film, including manga and animé, will have to have a love story along with 5000 gallons of blood spilled in order to make money.

Thorbar

The Bride's struggle to avenge her husband and child had many paralles with Spike's conflict with Vicious. The strength of the Bride to do exactly what had to be done without any talking or debate reminded so much of the steely resolve of Spike's to slay Vicious. The final fight scene in The Real Folk Blues between Spike and Vicious was the first thing that came to mind when I was watching the bride and O-Ren Ishii battle it out in the garden.

The character who killed O-Ren Ishii father is an almost carbon copy of Vicious from hair and fighting style to moral standing.

The two characters Jet Black and Hattori Hanzo also had many similarities in my opinion, they both could be described as father figures and (I know its weak) but they were both cooks. I'm not sure but it was just something about the Hattori that reminded me of Jet Black.

Also the way Tarantino blends Japanese and Western styles reminded me of the use of 1940s Jazz styles in Cowboy Bebop.

Its the reasons mentioned above and just the general feel and style of Kill Bill that made me think of Cowboy Bebop again and again as I was watching it. I think nearly all of the characters from Kill Bill could be dropped into an episode of Cowboy Bebop with little modification and they'd fit in perfectly.

I love nearly all aspects of Japanese culture. Im hoping to get a job over there in the near future.
I havent seen Kill Bill yet Ill bet its just a rip off of far superior Japanese films.

Faust

Originally posted by Thorbar
The Bride's struggle to avenge her husband and child had many paralles with Spike's conflict with Vicious. The strength of the Bride to do exactly what had to be done without any talking or debate reminded so much of the steely resolve of Spike's to slay Vicious. The final fight scene in The Real Folk Blues between Spike and Vicious was the first thing that came to mind when I was watching the bride and O-Ren Ishii battle it out in the garden.

The character who killed O-Ren Ishii father is an almost carbon copy of Vicious from hair and fighting style to moral standing.

The two characters Jet Black and Hattori Hanzo also had many similarities in my opinion, they both could be described as father figures and (I know its weak) but they were both cooks. I'm not sure but it was just something about the Hattori that reminded me of Jet Black.

Also the way Tarantino blends Japanese and Western styles reminded me of the use of 1940s Jazz styles in Cowboy Bebop.

Its the reasons mentioned above and just the general feel and style of Kill Bill that made me think of Cowboy Bebop again and again as I was watching it. I think nearly all of the characters from Kill Bill could be dropped into an episode of Cowboy Bebop with little modification and they'd fit in perfectly.

Oh my god! I cannot even believe you are making those shoddy comparisons! The only relaiton between kill bill and cowboy bebop was that there was anime in kill ibll and it was'nt even the same style as cowboy bebop! GRrrRrr i hates bad comparisons!

Thorbar

I'll admit some of the similarities I've outlined above aren't water-tight, it was more of a feeling I got as I was watching the movie that reminded me of how I felt as I watched the last episodes of Cowboy Bebop. I still stand by the fact that the plot of Kill Bill shares a lot with The Real Folk Blues 1 and 2. Also I never said the anime was of a similar style but the actually movie itself and the characters did have a lot in common with Cowboy bebop.

Faust

Originally posted by Thorbar
I'll admit some of the similarities I've outlined above aren't water-tight, it was more of a feeling I got as I was watching the movie that reminded me of how I felt as I watched the last episodes of Cowboy Bebop. I still stand by the fact that the plot of Kill Bill shares a lot with The Real Folk Blues 1 and 2. Also I never said the anime was of a similar style but the actually movie itself and the characters did have a lot in common with Cowboy bebop.

i think you just love cowboy bebop!

Thorbar

Originally posted by Faust
i think you just love cowboy bebop!

Covers up sig

When the hell did you get that idea!?!

RasTa

Not to be a Troll but i didnt like bebop that much(think its the most overhyped anime) didnt like the flow of it. Allthough i was coming from Evangelion

Faust

Originally posted by RasTa
Not to be a Troll but i didnt like bebop that much(think its the most overhyped anime) didnt like the flow of it. Allthough i was coming from Evangelion

Evangelion is totally different though. Evangelion is quite complex and confusing in some ways and almost a work of art while cowboy bebop although it has great music and a great plot does not stand up to it.

monkeyfudge

I think to compare Cowboy Beebop to Kill Bill is a great diservice to Cowboy Beebop, which I felt was a wonderful series (and film) whose characters actually had some depth to them.

Is it true that James Cameron was hoping to adapt Evangellion into a feature film?

Oh, and did anyone notice the Eva action figure in One Hour Photo. It was the White Eva from End of Evangellion, the kid said he was one of the good guys... shessh...

Karl Hungus

I've not seen Cowboy Bebop, so I shalln't comment!

Although, I've heard that rumour about James Cameron adapting Evangellion, but I dont know if there's much weight to it.

I think the less remakes of Japanese movies, or 'Adaptions' of Manga/Anime, there is the better.

I've heard the rumour about Cameron adapting Evangellion. I've mixed feelings on the idea. Could be great and then again it could be crap. Has anyone seen either Gamera Vs. Monster X or Monster From A Prehistoric Planet?