Post by Martin Stett on Apr 8, 2024 15:11:09 GMT
Memories of Matsuko (2006) - A misery porn descent into despair ironically framed as a cheerful Disney princess musical. This does a great job of developing Matsuko as a character - showing her flaws/virtues that lead her deeper into suffering - but the side characters come off more as plot devices. However, this is a *director's* movie, and Tetsuya Nakashima's maximalist sensibilities do a lot to keep it engaging. 7/10
Shin Kamen Rider (2023) - It's kind of fun at first when Anno is just throwing action figures at each other, but like Shin Ultraman, this gets bogged down in exposition instead of the goofy fight scenes and bad editing I enjoyed. 5/10
Menace II Society (1993) - A decent story of inner city hopelessness that is crippled by overbearing narration. 5/10
Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2013 rewatch) - Innocent and joyful, a "magic of the movies" movie that is actually touching. Like Sono's Red Post on Escher Street, this stuff is as close to "life-affirming" as the movies get. 10/10
No Hard Feelings (2023) - Lawrence tries, heavens bless her. The "comedy" is so predictable and heavily telegraphed that she can't possibly do anything with it. On the dramatic side this actually... mostly succeeds? It has some really moving bits, but they get hamstrung by the unfunny "comedy" that keeps interrupting and never, ever works. 4/10
Zatoichi on the Road (1963) - Zatoichi's first cashgrab. The tortured soul of the character isn't explored here, he's just "the good guy" protecting "the girl" from "the bad guys." And it's fine! The action is the best of the series so far, even if it still isn't anything truly noteworthy, and there's a pleasure in simple formula filmmaking. 6/10
Shin Kamen Rider (2023) - It's kind of fun at first when Anno is just throwing action figures at each other, but like Shin Ultraman, this gets bogged down in exposition instead of the goofy fight scenes and bad editing I enjoyed. 5/10
Menace II Society (1993) - A decent story of inner city hopelessness that is crippled by overbearing narration. 5/10
Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2013 rewatch) - Innocent and joyful, a "magic of the movies" movie that is actually touching. Like Sono's Red Post on Escher Street, this stuff is as close to "life-affirming" as the movies get. 10/10
No Hard Feelings (2023) - Lawrence tries, heavens bless her. The "comedy" is so predictable and heavily telegraphed that she can't possibly do anything with it. On the dramatic side this actually... mostly succeeds? It has some really moving bits, but they get hamstrung by the unfunny "comedy" that keeps interrupting and never, ever works. 4/10
Zatoichi on the Road (1963) - Zatoichi's first cashgrab. The tortured soul of the character isn't explored here, he's just "the good guy" protecting "the girl" from "the bad guys." And it's fine! The action is the best of the series so far, even if it still isn't anything truly noteworthy, and there's a pleasure in simple formula filmmaking. 6/10
