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Career Opportunities (1991)
Better than others can see
When I was trying to decide whether or not I wanted to watch this, I naturally checked the reviews. A number were negative, but the first one really hit the mark.
This movie is certainly a gem in more than a few ways. Like the top review says, many people see this as just a way to watch Jennifer Connolly looking good, but as they stated, that is exactly what the cast does.
The dialogue in this film is great, and I love that about it. When you listen to the dialogue you can truly see that her character is tired of only being seen for her looks and such. Her character quite literally goes out of her way to diminish this image of her being perfect, which is why she is there in the first place. (No spoilers).
The antagonists, while cheesy, play a pivotal role in showing how these characters would use their own special skills to deal with such a situation. Both of which seeing that, see that they both are able to see they play in their own right, their fake selves - not their real selves.
This is a movie that is about shedding past the upper layers, and seeing what is underneath. The actions are primarily centered around showing how they are different from how they are perceived, as we as showing how great they are in their own fake manner.
This is a movie about how two people who seem entirely different - and are quite entirely different, see past those layers and find someone they truly admire, despite their previous views.
Shinrei shashin bu (2015)
Solid B movie
I wasn't expecting much at all from this. In fact I figured it'd be boring and cheesy.
It was more unique than I thought it would be.
Acting wasn't top tier to say the least, especially during some scenes, but for the most part they did fine.
This certainly is no grand high budget movie, but it does have an interesting premise.
It definitely feels like a typical older Japanese B horror movie, but it was an interesting watch despite the fact that the synopsis didn't seem like it'd be very unique. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the world's most unique, but I certainly wasn't expecting what I got.
At times it felt a little bit all over the place, but it came together at the end.
Kamen gakuen (2000)
A good watch
There are very few ratings on this and no reviews, which I find a bit odd.
It is certainly a unique movie, but then again, many Japanese movies of this genre are. The synopsis doesn't really capture the idea. Danda is not a very large part of the movie, as you'll notice by the fact that he isn't in the top cast.
The movie revolves largely around the mask maker, the groups who oppose each other, who Hiroku truly is, and the phenomenon itself. The wearing of masks extends into other schools and eventually becomes somewhat of a fad. Many people choose to be "reborn" into a new person by shedding their personality and using the mask to reveal their new one. This leads to unhinged behavior, including violence in some cases.
It definitely has the message of who a person becomes when they become anonymous. Much like how anonymity on the internet tends to allow for more freedom of speaking one's mind. There is a lot going on, but I don't feel like it is hard to take it all in. Certainly some elements could've used more screen time, but dragging the movie out probably would've been difficult. For an hour and a half watch, it is pretty good and keeps you fairly interested in figuring out what exactly is going on in terms of who is who, and what not. In some ways, it is predictable, but in other ways it can be a bit elusive and has a different ending than expected.
As for the cast, you'll certainly notice some fairly popular people on the Top Cast section. They've also worked together in other movies, so seem to do well on screen together.
Misumisô (2018)
Revenge "horror" executed fantastically
Before the movie even gets 15 minutes in, it is already difficult not to feel bad for Haruka. The bullies are relentless, and the teachers do nothing to help as the school will be closing in one year, and they want to "maintain the peace".
Her parents are absolutely disgusted by this, and try to console her, and keep an eye out by going to look for her if she doesn't get home at her usual time. They even tell her she can quit attending the school as the burden has grown so intense. Haruko's parents are very loving, as is her sister who always keeps an eye out for her. When offered the opportunity to quit going to school, she accepts it, but this only ends up shifting the bullying to another person.
After a few days of being away from school, Haruko and Mitsuru, the only person who stands up for her at school, go out together. During which time, the person who has now fallen victim to the bullying sets her house on fire, killing her beloved parents, and injuring her sister greatly.
That is essentially the synopsis and beginning fleshed out, after that, the story truly begins. As you can imagine, the rest of the movie is a complete revenge flick once she truly snaps.
When she does snap, it is something that makes the viewer think, "you go Haruka!". The antagonists were written for us to hate them, for us to side with Haruka. Morals go out the window when you are dealing with things this intense, and that is probably why the writers wrote the antagonists to be such easy to hate characters.
While she was essentially a very caring, compassionate, and strong young woman prior to this all, once this happened she became a truly intense force with no intention of stopping until she has exacted her revenge.
There are a few surprises in the movie to say the least, despite how straightforward the plot is. One of the twists is a bit smaller, but still interesting and explains some things, and the other twist is much bigger. This twists ends up leading to an even more unexpected ending. These kinds of movies obviously don't have happy endings, so don't expect to be smiling after this is over!
Revenge horror films are not uncommon in any country. There are plenty of them made in many countries, but Japan can really take it to the next level with revenge flicks usually. I mean, realistically many J-Horror are revenge flicks in a sense given that even in ghost movies it is for revenge. Revenge and vengeful spirits plays a major role in Japanese horror and psychological movies.
Gore wise, it does get fairly gory at some parts, but nothing too intense like certain another movies...
As for the acting, most of the actors did pretty good.
Cinematography wise, the element of snow and blood went quite nicely together, but the snow in general made it more atmospheric.
There could have definitely been more atmospheric setup if some music was implemented...That part in particular is a let down, because some unsettling music would've really helped to make the atmosphere more intense. The music is very subtle and almost nonexistent. Honestly, I'd probably give this 9 stares if there had been a more of a soundtrack. Like I stated, it really has very little music, and none really serves to highlight the intensification of the story.
It is a good movie, but I'm not sure how soon I'll be re-watching it! As you can imagine, such films are ones you have to be in the mood for, or just checking out, or showing to someone else, etc. If I am ever in the revenge flick mood though, this will probably be on the list of what to watch!!
Sairen (2006)
Will definitely re-watch at some point!
The movie starts off fairly light (aside from the intro), but with clear signs that there will be trouble to come. That trouble doesn't take long to start occurring, but you never really expect what the ending brings with it. I have to say, the ending truly was not what I had expected.
The movie unravels itself over time and slowly things come into perspective, although the truth is not revealed until the end. The atmosphere grows progressively dark as it goes on. This movie doesn't rely on some of the traditional scare tactics, although there are some towards the end, but it is more so a atmospheric and psychological before things hit the fan. So, a good build up to the climax in my opinion.
Cinematography is pretty good, although that depends I'm *assuming* on if you can find a good quality version. Perhaps there is no higher quality version. Despite the low quality, the scenes were well shot and most of the time enhanced the atmosphere.
I never played the video game, so I can't comment on how well the two relate to one another in terms of story-line...
The actors do a good job of keeping it more realistic rather than cheesy, as they are are pretty good at playing their roles.
Ultimately it was a fun watch, and with a short time span it is perfect for a horror movie marathon or to show to a friend. It isn't a perfect movie, but it certainly isn't bad (at least not in my opinion, everyone is different).
Oyayubihime (1999)
Very odd, but definitely worth watching
This is a far cry from Honey I Shrunk the Kids.... Lol.
Saeko, the main character, is given a liquid that ends up turning her crush into a tiny version of himself.
Initially, before this happened, Saeko was a very quiet and shy girl who spent most of her time studying. Her timid nature was visible anytime she even attempted to talk to Yuichi.
Once he is shrunk though, her demeanor changes quickly. All that time of being timid and lonely created a monster when she suddenly was given complete control over her crush. Things began to spiral further as time goes on, and she becomes more and more twisted.
The movie itself gets even more strange around the midway point, and only continues to get more strange after. It is very unique, but that can probably be presumed by the plot.
It is labeled as horror, but it is much more psychological than anything. You see what a somewhat normal girl goes through when her mental state rapidly changes.
The ending was not at all what I'd expect. It wasn't a twist, it just wasn't something I saw coming.
The two main characters are played by very notable actors, both of whom are great at acting.
The actress who plays Saeko (Chiaki Kuriyama) is a familiar face if you've seen movies such as Kill Bill, Battle Royale, and you'll find her in a large number of movies and TV series as well.
The actor who plays Yuichi (Issey Takahashi) was also in Kill Bill, and like Chiaki, he has been in a ton of different movies and TV series.
Needless to say, with such great actors in the cast, every bit of the acting makes the movie feel even more powerful. They truly bring the characters to life.
Throughout the movie there are bits of haunting music that highlight her decline, and add a darker feel to the atmosphere. Those bits of music, though seldom, really enhance the movie.
I am sure I'll watch this again and probably even show it to a friend or something as a "strange, but good watch".
Gureitofuru deddo (2013)
It was even more intense than I thought it would be...certainly a unique movie
As the synopsis states, the main character has...unique hobbies, had a rough childhood, and is mentally unstable. After acquiring some money, she starts to live the life she wants, and has the freedom she wanted for so long.
However, due to the emotional baggage from that past, her mental state continues to crumble without her even realizing how unwell she is.
While this is labeled a comedy, it certainly doesn't have enough comedy to get rid of that tense atmosphere. The moments that one would consider funny are mostly her quirky personality, but even that is dark humor/black comedy, particularly because it is also a part of her mental illness.
Still, seeing her get super excited and ride her bike grinning ear to ear after finding someone to stalk certainly was hard not to giggle at. Truly some good dark humor, but still quite dark.
Throughout the movie, we see her grow deeper and deeper into her obsession. What was already unhealthy becomes dangerously unhealthy.
There's moments that'll make you cringe, not because it is cheesy, but because of how intense it is. The movie starts off with an already tense atmosphere, but by the end it is completely clouded over in darkness.
Despite the many bad things she does, it is easy to feel bad for her, given her backstory which is explained at various points throughout the movie.
It is also easy to feel bad for the victims.
Essentially you feel bad for pretty much everyone except her parents.
The ending is also executed greatly.
Acting, cinematography, etc., were all great.
Honestly I could probably rate this 9. There were not many flaws aside from the absolute absurdity of it all, but that was the plot and they executed it very well.
Kaidan Shin Mimibukuro: Yûrei manshon (2005)
Somewhat all over the place, but still a good watch.
This movie is about a haunted apartment building. While this is a decently common trope and typically pretty easy to make interesting, the plot was a bit all over the place.
There are a number of elements to the plot that seem unnecessary, or perhaps just needed more time to flesh it out better. The plot was a bit all over the place at times and seemed to try to fit too much into that short of a time window.
Some things were a bit over the top in a way that felt like they were crammed in just to attempt to make it a bit more creepy. While they did add more oddities and such, they felt out of place and unwarranted at times.
There is a small twist at the end that you can't really see coming though.
As for the acting, it was kind of a half and half situation...Some certainly shined more than others to say the least.
Since it isn't that long of a movie, you can easily watch it without wasting much time. I've rewatched it a couple of times over the past few years. It isn't a perfect movie to say the least, but this certainly is a B-grade J-Horror, and sometimes that is what I want to watch. If you're into B J-horror, you'll probably like this.
Abatâ (2011)
I'll certainly have to explain the rating...
Stumbled upon this one day.
As you can probably see, this movie is poorly rated.
Many people may find it to be so, but I found it to be quite interesting, and you may too.
This is a true revenge story, one where you see the character go from a victim to the predator.
With a full understanding of the plot, it is easy to hope the main character succeeds, despite the drastic lengths she goes to for revenge.
At the same time, it also is a lesson that sometimes a person can change for the worse given a powerful influence, sometimes a bad influence...While we see the character rise to power in this revenge plot, we also see the loss of herself.
The plot revolves around the character becoming further and further engrossed in an avatar version of herself, much like average society getting obsessed with social media.
The Lux Aeterna music throughout gives a reminder that even for the protagonist, this is a downfall.
This movie certainly goes over the top when it comes to how crazy some of the cast gets, but ultimately I think it is quite fun. It is a unique mash up of genres.
While the movie is over the top in some ways, it reflects greatly on how social media/online things affect our lives, particularly among younger generations.
If you're looking for a revenge on one's bully type movie, this is probably something you'll like.
Inshite miru: 7-kakan no desu gêmu (2010)
Good, but predictable
This is a show where the phrase, "if it is too good to be true, it probably isn't". This movie certainly makes a point of that, particularly by managing to get a variety of people into a suspicious job with very high pay.
While this is a mystery movie, it isn't very mysterious, and most things can be easily deduced or at least assumed quite early on.
Despite the fact that it is entirely predictable, it is still good for a watch. Although, I can't see myself wanting to re-watch it unless I was feeling in the mood for this type of show. Still, it is worth a watch.
None of the characters particularly stand out, but the actors do a good job, so luckily we are presented with good acting to help the lackluster characters.
If you liked Battle Royale or Squid Games, you will probably like this, but it probably won't replace them to say the least. If I ever find myself wanting to have a survival Asian horror marathon though, this will probably be included.
'Chô' kowai hanashi A: yami no karasu (2004)
Despite my lower rating, I do genuinely enjoy this movie
Stumbled upon this during lockdown when I was watching some 90s-early 2000s Japanese horror movies. This certainly fit the bill, so I gave it a go.
There's a number of ways in which this movie has faults, particularly pertaining to the plot. A number of things go unexplained, but nothing so major that it affects one's understanding of the story.
While cheesy, the shop owners are creepy as well. They somewhat remind me of. Junji Ito's 'Souichi' character. Considerably, along with the ghosts, they are the antagonists, but they are fun antagonists.
The other workers at the convenience store are quite normal people, as is the main character who comes to do inventory for the store. They can tell something is up with the place, but ignore it until they can no longer ignore it. Since they are so average, they are fairly relatable. A teen working a part time job at a convenience store, with crazy owners and signs of a ghost? Yeah, I'd probably just ignore that too and just get in the hours. Lol! So, fairly average people, just trying to work and get by.
I can't exactly say why I enjoy this movie to the point where I purchased the DVD, but it is a fun watch. Also, with the short runtime, you can easily watch it by yourself or friends without being upset about wasting time if you find it isn't to your liking.
While it is cheesy, it is a fun watch, and depending on what you consider creepy, this may just creep you out. It certainly is a B movie, but a good one.
Gokseong (2016)
Easily one of my favorite Korean horror films
For a lot of people I imagine this movie doesn't end for them the moment the movie actually ends. I say this because afterwards there is plenty to think about, and feel.
If you miss a small moment in the movie, it might end up causing you to be left completely confused.
It is a slow burn movie, with a twist, and some of the smallest of moments throughout the movie are important. Or perhaps it is just a constant burn, because every bit of the movie just leaves you feeling a little more unsettled...
In terms of plot, the plot isn't the most unique because it deals with common tropes, but the way it is executed it great.
It isn't the horror aspect that make this movie great, but rather the psychological, which is greatly enhanced by the rainy and dreary weather. Don't get me wrong though, there are plenty of horror aspects to it.
Janghwa, Hongryeon (2003)
Twist within a twist
There were parts of the movie that felt a little slow paced, but ultimately I think that was to help establish a full understanding of the situation.
Unfortunately, I had guessed one of the twists early on, because the movie itself was giving clear hints towards it. I feel as if the movie hinting less at the first twist would've made it for a more unique moment. Essentially our hands had to be held...Sadly, the 2nd twist was also something that had crossed my mind, particularly because of all the hinting.
In slow burn movies like this, I feel that such twists shouldn't be hinted at, given it is a plot twist. It should be something we see and completely didn't expect.
Overall though, despite the handholding, the twists were still executed in a way that was good.
It is a good movie, and definitely worth the watch if you're looking for a psychological slow burn with a hint of horror.
Aku no kyôten (2012)
How this movie has a decent rating is beyond me
The plot (at first) seemed like there would be some interesting things in terms of character development. The synopsis also hints that maybe he is actually killing those that are bullying or assaulting people. Essentially, a vigilante.
Nope, it is just a crazy guy killing people.
I am not very hard to please when it comes to movies. There's no tragic backstory, nor any interesting story as to why he is the way he is. Nor even an interesting aspect of his personality.
Other killers in movies at least have an interesting part of their personality. This is just 2 hours of a psycho who shows 0 interesting character traits, leaving him not only a boring lead, but making the entire movie essentially boring.
For the first half of the movie I figured the second half would give character development, instead it was just 2 hours wasted.
I've seen plenty of movies that had a poor plot and some executed poorly, but still had redeeming traits...This movie though, had no redeeming traits.