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Post by morrisondylanfan on Dec 1, 2018 3:33:52 GMT
Hi all,after a little delay I've finished both of Arrow's Diamond Guys sets (a shame poor sales put an end to the sets.) It's a shame they price their sets so high it puts people out of the market. These are hard times for many. I agree with that Petro, (I got the first one new, but picked up the second during the Arrow X-Mas sale.) and going a bit off-topic, I read that Arrow's American Horror Project has ended, due to poor sales of the first. Looking at the choices for the set (none of which would be titles that would come to my mind for "American Horror") and the high price they put on it (it was something like £80!) I was not surprised that this project failed to take off.
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Post by Fox in the Snow on Dec 1, 2018 11:51:38 GMT
It's a shame they price their sets so high it puts people out of the market. These are hard times for many. I agree with that Petro, (I got the first one new, but picked up the second during the Arrow X-Mas sale.) and going a bit off-topic, I read that Arrow's American Horror Project has ended, due to poor sales of the first. Looking at the choices for the set (none of which would be titles that would come to my mind for "American Horror") and the high price they put on it (it was something like £80!) I was not surprised that this project failed to take off. They've also just pulled the Akio Jissoji boxset until further notice. Was really looking forward to that one.
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Post by petrolino on Dec 1, 2018 17:18:07 GMT
It's a shame they price their sets so high it puts people out of the market. These are hard times for many. I agree with that Petro, (I got the first one new, but picked up the second during the Arrow X-Mas sale.) and going a bit off-topic, I read that Arrow's American Horror Project has ended, due to poor sales of the first. Looking at the choices for the set (none of which would be titles that would come to my mind for "American Horror") and the high price they put on it (it was something like £80!) I was not surprised that this project failed to take off. I used to subscribe to the Arrow newsletter. Not now, though I still regularly check what's coming out on Amazon for half a dozen distribution labels.
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Post by petrolino on Dec 1, 2018 17:19:30 GMT
I agree with that Petro, (I got the first one new, but picked up the second during the Arrow X-Mas sale.) and going a bit off-topic, I read that Arrow's American Horror Project has ended, due to poor sales of the first. Looking at the choices for the set (none of which would be titles that would come to my mind for "American Horror") and the high price they put on it (it was something like £80!) I was not surprised that this project failed to take off. They've also just pulled the Akio Jissoji boxset until further notice. Was really looking forward to that one. That's very disappointing to hear. Let's hope they can get back on track and get that box-set to customers. I think this might haves happened before with one of their box-sets, one that got pulled almost immediately upon release.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Dec 1, 2018 21:33:28 GMT
Music for the Movies: Tôru Takemitsu (1994) Charlotte Zwerin An outstanding documentary a profound portrait of an artist giving an eloquent explanation of his art. Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu was also a writer on aesthetics and music theory, he was naturally creative, innovative and had an exceptional skill in the subtle manipulation of instrumental and orchestral timbre. Takemitsu added an incredible atmospheric dimension in over 100 film features which he scored. He composed several hundred independent works of music, earning a reputation as one of Japan's greatest 20th century composers. Takemitsu was also a founding member of the Jikken Kobo an influential experimental workshop of highly creative avant-garde artists. The film features interviews from the directors who worked closely with him, Masahiro Shinoda, Nagisa Ôshima, Masaki Kobayashi and Hiroshi Teshigahara ,reflecting they recall Takemitsu surveying the action on set, "breathing the atmosphere" whilst conceiving his musical ideas. The wonderful documentary also features clips/examples from many of the films he scored. It is a fascinating film that gives us a tremendous insight and understanding of how movie music is created and how it blends within the context of a film...Highly Recommended !!
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Post by petrolino on Dec 1, 2018 22:05:01 GMT
Music for the Movies: Tôru Takemitsu (1994) Charlotte Zwerin An outstanding documentary a profound portrait of an artist giving an eloquent explanation of his art. Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu was also a writer on aesthetics and music theory, he was naturally creative, innovative and had an exceptional skill in the subtle manipulation of instrumental and orchestral timbre. Takemitsu added an incredible atmospheric dimension in over 100 film features which he scored. He composed several hundred independent works of music, earning a reputation as one of Japan's greatest 20th century composers. Takemitsu was also a founding member of the Jikken Kobo an influential experimental workshop of highly creative avant-garde artists. The film features interviews from the directors who worked closely with him, Masahiro Shinoda, Nagisa Ôshima, Masaki Kobayashi and Hiroshi Teshigahara ,reflecting they recall Takemitsu surveying the action on set, "breathing the atmosphere" whilst conceiving his musical ideas. The wonderful documentary also features clips/examples from many of the films he scored. It is a fascinating film that gives us a tremendous insight and understanding of how movie music is created and how it blends within the context of a film...Highly Recommended !! Great composer.
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Post by Fox in the Snow on Dec 1, 2018 23:23:29 GMT
Music for the Movies: Tôru Takemitsu (1994) Charlotte Zwerin An outstanding documentary a profound portrait of an artist giving an eloquent explanation of his art. Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu was also a writer on aesthetics and music theory, he was naturally creative, innovative and had an exceptional skill in the subtle manipulation of instrumental and orchestral timbre. Takemitsu added an incredible atmospheric dimension in over 100 film features which he scored. He composed several hundred independent works of music, earning a reputation as one of Japan's greatest 20th century composers. Takemitsu was also a founding member of the Jikken Kobo an influential experimental workshop of highly creative avant-garde artists. The film features interviews from the directors who worked closely with him, Masahiro Shinoda, Nagisa Ôshima, Masaki Kobayashi and Hiroshi Teshigahara ,reflecting they recall Takemitsu surveying the action on set, "breathing the atmosphere" whilst conceiving his musical ideas. The wonderful documentary also features clips/examples from many of the films he scored. It is a fascinating film that gives us a tremendous insight and understanding of how movie music is created and how it blends within the context of a film...Highly Recommended !! His work has given an extra dimension to many of my favorite films.
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Post by wmcclain on Dec 3, 2018 17:54:14 GMT
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Post by manfromplanetx on Dec 3, 2018 20:30:48 GMT
Following on from the recent glowing review/recommendation from morrisondylanfan and having previously enjoyed films from of director Toshio Masuda, especially Akai hankachi , Red Handkerchief (1964) I tracked down two films, Red Pier and watched last night , Kanzen na asobî The Perfect Game (1958) The Tragedy Of Today (1958)... Kanzen na asobî is also known as the Perfect Game , or Imperfect Game, it is an excellent crime action film, with as the headline title suggests a story that points to some serious undercurrents of social malaise among Japanese youth. Four academic college students come up with a scheme to make some big money fast. They hatch an elaborate plan to scam an illegal bookie by placing a bet on a bike race knowing the winner in advance of the closing bets... no spoilers here ! Opening with a typically mod Nikkatsu jazz fuelled introduction, a deceptively frivolous beginning soon unfolds spirals into a compelling dark & bitter tale. Director Toshio Masuda a master of his craft, is aided with a superb cast and crew, this absorbing beautifully composed drama has a surprising and unpredictable dimension switching as the rhythm changes tone,. No votes at IMDb ? , no photo (sorted) No review (done) Highly Recommended !! Classic Japanese Cinema.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Dec 15, 2018 23:40:44 GMT
Yoiyami semareba , When Twilight Draws Near (1969) is a stark dramatic short film of 43 min directed by Akio Jissoji. Self-financed and distributed by the independent Art Theatre Guild production company, it was written by Nagisa Oshima and was released on a double bill with Oshima's Diary of a Shinjuku Thief. Lost in an age...The story of adolescent angst of juvenile malaise opens in a confined apartment. A small group of students are in discussion, bored by the emptiness of their everyday lives, for lack of anything better to do they engage in a dangerous game. When the apartments gas connection suddenly begins to leak, instead of an easy fix, the students agree to let the natural gas fill the room. They create a challenge amongst themselves, placing bets, the last person to leave the room will be the winner and claim the prize. As the oxygen gradually gives way to the gas, it becomes harder and harder to breathe, the youths enter into intense philosophical discussions and reveal through their dialogues their existential dilemma, and socially still running deep are the historical scars of WW2. The point of the game soon evolves significantly to one of the meaning of life itself, the characters of the story are forced to re-think/formulate the principals by which they exist, interestingly all of them have a contrasting set of values... This was the first big screen cinematic project for director Akio Jissôji who who had previously worked on highly regarded popular Ultraman television series, Yoiyami semareba is an excellent dense & dramatic film, it features within all the ingredients, the essential elements that he would later expand on in his master-work the Buddhist trilogy Mujō (1970) Mandala (1971) and Uta (1972).
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Post by teleadm on Dec 16, 2018 0:46:46 GMT
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Post by petrolino on Dec 16, 2018 1:59:51 GMT
Happy 86th Birthday Tatsuya Nakadai 仲代 達矢! I started to write a tribute, but realized pretty soon that I have shortcomings in knowledge about this legend. So I post a micro short tribute here instead Happy Birthday to a legend!
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Post by manfromplanetx on Dec 16, 2018 4:41:11 GMT
中台達也
"I'm quieter than average, and a bit solitary. I think maybe those characteristics have something in common with the positive elements of a Samurai..." Tatsuya Nakadai
Goyokin (1969) Hideo Gosha (pic), a wonderful year ! Jigokuhen , Shirō Toyoda, Tengu-tô , Satsuo Yamamoto and Hitokiri , Hideo Gosha
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Post by fangirl1975 on Dec 17, 2018 21:14:51 GMT
I'm partial to the old school kaiju pictures from Toho.
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Post by Aj_June on Dec 23, 2018 18:47:11 GMT
You are welcome, Planet! Though most of the credit goes to contributors here.
After 4 years and 3 months I am finally leaving Australia on October 26th. My stay here was absolutely awesome. Your country is very multicultural and people in general are very respectful of others. I am getting back to India and the first two weeks will be just family holiday for me before I start working. I am sure I will have plenty of time to see many of your recommendations!
Hi there Aj_June Nice to hear some positives about our country down here , I sometimes feel we a bit distant, manfromplanetx seemed liked a very appropriate name to use lol... I Hope you are going to keep in contact with us at the Classic Film Board, your valuable contributions and friendly presence is what sustains and makes this board such a wonderful place to be. Happy Viewing and all the best to you... Hi manfromplanetx I am sorry and must apologize for not having watched your recommendations as I promised and for not having gotten back to this topic. It was a terribly impulsive and immature decision by me to leave Australia when things were going well and I had an Australian PR. Things haven't been well for me here in India as I fell out with the company which was supposedly going to hire me in the job profile for which I left Australia. I have been switching cities and roaming here and there and been in great anxiety in the last 2 months. I was in guest houses and hotels (though I got a permanent residence finally) and so I was not able to watch any movies. I can of course return to Australia but I have decided to keep pursuing here in India for what I want and maybe in February or March things will improve and I will settle down in a life I want. I have the movies you have recommended in my mind but it may take me 20-25 more days to get in the right frame of mind to see them. I will return to the topic then. Please be assured that I am still reading this topic and value everyone's contribution to the thread.
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Post by petrolino on Dec 24, 2018 1:05:58 GMT
Hi there Aj_June Nice to hear some positives about our country down here , I sometimes feel we a bit distant, manfromplanetx seemed liked a very appropriate name to use lol... I Hope you are going to keep in contact with us at the Classic Film Board, your valuable contributions and friendly presence is what sustains and makes this board such a wonderful place to be. Happy Viewing and all the best to you... Hi manfromplanetx I am sorry and must apologize for not having watched your recommendations as I promised and for not having gotten back to this topic. It was a terribly impulsive and immature decision by me to leave Australia when things were going well and I had an Australian PR. Things haven't been well for me here in India as I fell out with the company which was supposedly going to hire me in the job profile for which I left Australia. I have been switching cities and roaming here and there and been in great anxiety in the last 2 months. I was in guest houses and hotels (though I got a permanent residence finally) and so I was not able to watch any movies. I can of course return to Australia but I have decided to keep pursuing here in India for what I want and maybe in February or March things will improve and I will settle down in a life I want. I have the movies you have recommended in my mind but it may take me 20-25 more days to get in the right frame of mind to see them. I will return to the topic then. Please be assured that I am still reading this topic and value everyone's contribution to the thread.
Hi Aj-June. Just want to say I hope things work out for you and admire your persistence.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Dec 24, 2018 5:15:16 GMT
Jûjiro , aka Crossways, Crossroads (1928) Teinosuke Kinugasa This excellent Japanese Silent is one of the first Japanese films ever shown in the West. The avant-garde classic is director Kinugasa’s follow up to his better-known, Page of Madness (1926). Jûjiro is an incredibly innovative film, a rich and compelling melodrama set in Tokyo’s Yoshiwara pleasure district... Influenced by German Expressionism, Kinugasa described his film as .. a “chambira (samurai action film) without swordfights” . (pic below) MANY THANKS !! Aj_June Wishing you all the best for the New Year, Happy Classic Xmas to all
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2018 9:26:43 GMT
Jûjiro , aka Crossways, Crossroads (1928) Teinosuke Kinugasa This excellent Japanese Silent is one of the first Japanese films ever shown in the West. The avant-garde classic is director Kinugasa’s follow up to his better-known, Page of Madness (1926). Jûjiro is an incredibly innovative film, a rich and compelling melodrama set in Tokyo’s Yoshiwara pleasure district... Influenced by German Expressionism, Kinugasa described his film as .. a “chambira (samurai action film) without swordfights” . (pic below) MANY THANKS !! Aj_June Wishing you all the best for the New Year, Happy Classic Xmas to all Looks neat. Just that image alone is very striking.
I watched Profound Desires of the Gods. That was really interesting. A lot of bright colors, closeups of natural wildlife, and a really cool setup with this island that has its own creationist mythology, allegedly 50 years behind the mainland in terms of technology (and socially), and one ostracized family with a not so understated history of inbreeding.
So not that I'm drawing any parallels between the movie and the show, but for some reason, the family kind of reminded me of the family from the Netflix show Making A Murderer. The show and the movie aren't at all similar, but the movie reminded me of the family because everybody is reflexively distrustful of them, picks on them, shames them; they're like the punching bag of the island. I saw maybe 3 episodes of Making A Murderer, which was enough to cover that the family was the punching bag of its community too.
Anyways, the family patriarch (1st Generation Man) I think had sex with his wife or his daughter; his son (2nd Generation Man) and his sister want to be husband and wife because they love each other, and 2nd Generation Man has one son and one daughter. The daughter is retarded and easily seduced and molested by other islanders. Her brother chases her suitors away and is teased for wanting her for himself. There's more characters but that's the family. I think I got most of it right. 2nd Generation Man is softly imprisoned by his father 1st Generation Man for using dynamite to poach fish, which caused the family to be banned from using the sea.
Enter engineer from Tokyo and culture shock ensues, especially when it becomes clear that there are solutions that lie beyond the island's deity-worshiping sensibilities. There's also some industrial-exploitation subtext about an exploitative sugar company, and a liaison between it and the island with an agenda of his own. It's just shy of 3 hours with a nice finish. It's good. It's thorough, pleasant on the eyes and upsetting in the right places.
I looked up the director. I don't remember his name because it's 4:17 am but supposedly he used Profound Desires of the Gods and at least one other one, The Insect Woman maybe, to explore edgier and racier themes that didn't always play ball with the studios. Worth checking out.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Dec 24, 2018 20:31:32 GMT
Hi there TheCat I enjoyed reading your Profound … review , I too enjoyed the complex film and its natural setting. It has been some years since I have seen the film but one scene in particular is still vividly etched in my mind. Even now recalling here makes me squirm, that graphic bush doctoring scene !!!
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Post by manfromplanetx on Dec 24, 2018 20:37:45 GMT
Japanese Hamlet ... Hono-o no shiro , Castle of Flames (1960) An ambitious early project for director Tai Kato, here he takes on one of Shakespeare's most famous and tragic of dramas and in fine style produced an original Jidai-Geki Hamlet. The setting is 17th century feudal Japan, Young Lord Masato (Hashizô Ôkawa) returns after many years abroad educating himself. The young Lord finds everything has dramatically changed. The compelling story follows closely the original tale. Masato's father has died under suspicious circumstances and his mother has married his ruthless, ambitious uncle. The kingdom is in turmoil under the uncles authoritarian rule and the peasants are getting agitated. A hero of the people, Masato feigns madness to uncover the truth but this causes serious distress to the girl he loves, the girl who had waited so lovingly for his return and the ghost of father eventually turns up with some other worldly advice... Tai Kato builds an enthralling, epic low budget tale, with a creative camera eye and well-drawn characters, his brooding sombre atmosphere is perfectly suited for this uniquely Japanese, Shakespearean tragedy.
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