Japanese cinema is like sex and pizza

[HamdenRice]

Even when it's bad, it's still pretty good.

I'm watching Kurasawa's "Hidden Fortress," on IFC and although it's by no means one of his classics, it's still pretty good compared to American cinema.

Last night I watched, "Shall We Dance," the original Japanese version, and it's amazing how much better it was than the American version with Richard Gere. The Japanese version was based on how uptight Japanese salarymen are and why, therefore, ballroom dancing is so out of character and actually shamefull. By contrast, the American version didn't make much sense in that regard, not to mention that Richard Gere and Jenneifer Lopez are two of the most unexpressive actors in American movies.

[zonkers]

1. I have not seen SWD, either version. But I know what you mean that when some

films are so bad, they are good. Fukusaku's films are out there. I wish I knew more filmmaker's names off the top of my head. Agree with you about Gere and J-Lo, though she was great in Out of Sight. A good director is everything.

[HamdenRice]

3. I like films that are so bad they're good (Plan 9), but I meant something different

more like there are few really bad Japanese films. I think the film-makers take so much care in composition, and usually have something profound to say in addition to the action or humor.

I've been on a Japanese film tear, and there are a few things I find remarkable and never would have expected.

For example, most Japanese films have an undercurrent of sadness. The Samurai movies are usually about a period when Japan was in chaos and most people were very, very poor (most of Japanese history). Maybe this was a reflection of their post war devastation, but in many films, people walk around in a daze, dressed in rags, in a blasted surreal environment.

Even "serials" designed to be seen by kids on a Saturday afternoon, made on a monthly basis, like the Zatoichi "Blind Swordsman" series, have that underlying element of existential sadness that make them compelling to watch, even though the main point of Zatoichi films is to watch Zatoichi kick ass.

[Bucky]

2. I would rather watch a Japanese movie than have sex with a pizza.

But Jennifer Lopez having sex with a pizza is too weird to contemplate. I've tried to, believe me.

I'm sorry, what was the point?

[NewJeffCT]

4. I keep meaning to watch Hidden Fortress

never have, though. I know some of it inspired George Lucas' first Star Wars movie (A New Hope)

[GaYellowDawg]

5. If that's the case, it's like bacon.

Bacon is always awesome. Better than pizza. Doesn't begin to touch sex for awesomeness... but still awesome.