 |
 |
|
|
buying more than one thing? (uses Multi-Item Price Optimization™) ...or |
||
 |
 |
intereact!Director: Takashi Miike
Actors: Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Shinji Takeda, Naomi Nishida, and Kiyoshiro Imawano
Rated: R (Restricted)
Retail Price (not our price): $24.99
Release Date: 2003-02-25
Theatrical Release Date: 2001
Studio: Chimera
Run Time: 90 minutes
Format: Array
Format: Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Discs: 1
Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5
1) Somewhat disappointing feature by Miike [Rating: 3 out of 5]
Takashi Miike is known for having made zillions of movies: he films several movies a year, almost all genre films. As a result, he has developed quite a cult reputation. I have seen only two of his films - Audition (probably his most famous film, and one I found to be thoroughly repulsive) and this one. I found Katakuris to be a mixed bag: this combination of a musical with a terror flick - with "The Sound of Music" added just for the heck of it - just doesn't work very well. If it sounds like a bad mix, it is. There are only a few redeeming features that makes it worth watching - two musical numbers, in particular - one at the end, and the other at the middle called In Love. The other redeeming feature is the presence of Naomi Nishida, an actress I found fascinating since I saw her in My Secret Cache some years ago. She was also in Godzilla 2000, and has a very small role in Swing Girls, a wonderful movie I hope soon becomes available in Amazon.2) Tagline: "The hills are alive with the sound of screaming" [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Bizarrely brilliant!! Ever wanted to see a beautiful woman have her palatine-uvula torn from her pretty throat by a winged-imp? Ever wanted to see this happen NOT because the imp is demonic, but because he is infatuated with uvulas? (As in, has little hearts in his eyes when he spies one?) Yeah, we've all been there . . . Miike's film is completely unpredictable . . . unless, of course, you typically watch films where the undead sing back-up in "awkward" musical sequences AND stuffed animals spring to life to murder pesky crows. (You must have BOTH to qualify for a "yes" answer!!) The cinematography is simply gorgeous!! Miike did not skimp on the film stock; it is a perfect match for his subject!! The high-contrast is beautiful . . . and enhances the surreal elements of Miike's art. As for surrealism . . . between the claymation, the musical sequences, the karaoke fantasies ("Everybody sing along!"), the dancing corpses, and the stilted dialog, there is something for everyone;) Not only does this piece demonstrate Miike's range, but it underscores how mundane Western film has become!! I'll let (pretentious but uneducated) folks rave over Little Miss Sunshine all they want (including the Academy). In the meantime, I'll continue adding to my Japanese collection!3) A Different Kind Of Takashi Miike Film: Weird And Hilarious! [Rating: 5 out of 5]
"The Happiness of the Katakuris," is not what one would expect from a Japanese film, and even less so from director Takashi Miike. What you have here in this film is a blend of claymation, comedy, horror [tame], and yes a musical. And yet somehow it all works. The Katakuris have recently bought a guest house near Mount Fuji [hearing that a road will be built soon, they expect much business]. However, they don't expect their guests to be leaving so soon, or for that matter, the way in which their guests do exit. The film begins with claymation which serves as a bridge to the film itself. The guests that do arrive are not exactly well-balanced either, which explains why some depart so suddenly. When Masao Katakuri (Kenji Sawada) moves his family to Mount Fuji, to open his new business [a bed-and-bath] little does he realize that not only is the expected road not yet built, but there are no guests. So much for the family business. However, the guests that do manage to arrive are not what Masao Katakuri and his family had in mind. They all begin to die. And using the wit that Miike revels in, the family instead of being downcast, actually break out into songs [happy ones]. There are some funny scenes in the film that will have you laughing outright: As this is a dark comedy. There are some very funny scenes when the film moves into another subplot too, as when the divorced daughter, Shizue (Naomi Nishida) and her new love interest Richado Sagawa (Kiyoshiro Imawano) enters the film. No doubt Takashi Miike has a very strange sense of humor; and he is able to weave a very wickedly strange set of characters in the film who are downright funny, and compliment each others acting. You really need to have a sense of humor to appreciate this film, as it is different. And the musical numbers are funny too! I recommend the film, however, it may not appeal to all viewers. However, I thought it was very funny. [Stars: 4.5]4) The Only Miike I Like [Rating: 5 out of 5]
A remake of Ji-woon Kim's THE QUIET FAMILY / CHOYONGHAN KAJOK and reminiscent of Danny Boyle's SHALLOW GRAVE, Miike's film features one of the most eccentric families since George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's "You Can't Take It With You." The Katakuris run a Bed & Breakfast in the middle of the Japanese countryside where their rare guests have a habit of dying. This leaves the family with the typical "how do we dispose of the bodies?" dilemmas. Meanwhile, Shizue Katakura (Naomi Nishida)--mother of our narrator Yurie--also has the added difficulty of being romanced by a maniac (Kiyoshiro Imawano). With occasional claymation scenes, effects-heavy musical numbers, and dark humour, Miike's penchant for overstylization proves to be helpful to HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS and not a hindrance. When putting this list together, I knew that we'd have a Takashi Miike movie on here somewhere; it was just a matter of narrowing down the selection to a lone title from the ridiculously prolific director. Quite often Miike's films feature more style than substance--and more disturbing images than anything else. Frustrated with GOZU, disgusted with DEAD OR ALIVE, and demoralized by ICHI THE KILLER, the musical comedy THE HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS proved to be the only Miike film I'd want to see multiple times.5) "Leave your sadness to the wind." [Rating: 4 out of 5]
This is a full blown Japanese musical complete with subtitles, people dancing and jumping and spinning. What sets it apart from other musicals is it's directed by Takashi Miike the unique genius god behind VISITOR Q, ICHI THE KILLER and THE BIRD PEOPLE OF CHINA. After a distinctly Miike stop-motion animation opening we met the Katakuris who have opened a nice bed & breakfast but unfortunately all of the guests end up dead. In order to not scare off any future customers they secretly bury the dead out in the woods. This movie is different, but not as strange as some of the reviews on here would lead you to believe. I also think the film is 15 minutes too long. Far and away my favorite musical number was "I Love You.". I watched it at least eight times. I love that move Kiyoshiro Imawano does with his legs at the beginning of the song!