Weird, weird movie. Which I am pretty sure is intentional. This movie starts off already as a conundrum but there is definitely something to wait for, because it is a beautiful movie. Then, something happens and I was not sure what to take of it. I think I can flat out say it because it won?t hurt anyone?s take on the
movie, but the ?antagonist? at the beginning is wearing a odd costume and does cartwheels to scare someone to death. OK, there is more to it eventually, but it is a odd jab in the early going. Immediately, I start wondering if this is a form of Kabuki or just a kooky Japanese artsy movie. We?ll the story slowly starts to streamline, but the key thing to this movie is that it is a wonderfully visual movie. What?s on screen and the rhythm of scenes is close to hypnotic. The costumes are great, except for the early baddies even when they are put in context, and the settings too. The performances are, I believe, supposed to be the extremes of reserved and explosive. It makes for some uncomfortable moments, but effective none-the-less. For someone who likes motion pictures with dynamic artistic influence, then this one is a go.
August 25, 2009
