| |
|
|
|
Strange Circus
|
List Price: $19.99
Our Price: $17.99
Your Save: $ 2.00 ( 10% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: TLA Releasing
Starring: Masumi Miyazaki, Issei Ishida, Rie Kuwana, Mai Takahashi (II), Fujiko
Directed By: Sion Sono
|
Average Customer Rating:   
|
|
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: TLA RELEASING
EAN: 0807839002751
Format: Anamorphic
Label: TLA Releasing
Manufacturer: TLA Releasing
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: TLA Releasing
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2007-03-06
Running Time: 109
Studio: TLA Releasing
Theatrical Release Date: 2007-03-06
|
|
|
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
Mitsuko is forced to watch her parents lovemaking by her perverted father and her domineering mother, who imprison her in a cello case employed with a peephole. When Mitsuko s mother apparently dies, her father forces the girl to be the victim of his incestuous desires, which drives her to attempt suicide with a leap from a height...yet all of this is apparently just the new novel being penned by reclusive, wheelchair-bound author Taeko (Masumi Miyazaki, who also plays the mother). Or is it?
Taeko is assigned a new assistant, effeminate admirer Yuji, and the two begin a sexual relationship in Taeko s ornately designed estate. But we soon must question the real identities of both Taeko and Yuji. Shocking, sexually and violently graphic, Strange Circus is shot in a gorgeously rich color scheme and features a strong, fearless performance by Miyazaki.
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Strange Circus
Comment: Oh give me a break. I'm sick of all these gushing reviews for this movie. I watched it last night and what an overblown, overrated piece of junk. If you're all into art-fart types of things go ahead & go for it. It should certainly be mentioned that some subjects, specifically incest/pedophelia are dealt with in fashions most Westerners will be shocked by, and such things are done in the movie merely as eye candy, nothing really moves the story along as there is so little story. You just have a string of "Oh, this might be happening.. Or maybe it's this.. Or shoot, let's all go get snacks." kinds of scenes.
I don't doubt at all that some of the actors are very talented. Too bad I wasn't watching them in something else. It's just too bad all of this effort couldn't have produced a much more sympathetic treatment of the poor little girl. Nope, sorry, how it played out didn't work for me.
This would have been an interesting, if rather typical, result for an undergrad film project. Else, meh.
So obviously, I didn't like the movie. That's my two bits. For those who do love it, while that's beyond my feeble comprehension, I'm glad someone got something out of it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: "...love, lust, jealousy, meantal breakdown, and then revenge..."
Comment: I really don't know where to start on this one, because it is just that amazing.
Firstly, the movie is incredibly beautiful, in a mind-blowing, visually stunning sort of way. Everything is very detailed,
Secondly, the acting is impeccable. All of the characters come to life and Masumi Miyazaki does such an insanely good job, I stand captivated long after multiple viewings...
Combined, you are sucked into the world these characters are living in, and sent into the big top of chaos.
Sion Sono, who you may, and most likely know from Suicide Club takes a whack at sexuality, and once again family. Tossing away society, we take a very intimate look at the workings of attraction, jealousy, memories, and a hurricane of other emotions that spawn from love of any sort; in this case it is a distorted love.
About this DVD:
The packaging is very nice, haha... the apparently newly trendy clear box, with nice inserts. The disk itself has the full version of Strange Circus, despite what the box says, this is, in fact the full TLA releasing of the movie, with the time as correct on Amazon.com. Why it is incorrect on the box... I do not know. There is also a great making of featurette, with English subtitles, that runs about an hour.
Though people say that this movie is highly disturbing and uncomfortable, etc. I didn't find it to be that bad. Yes there are some more... off-putting scenes, but nothing I wouldn't feel comfortable watching with friends, and definitely nothing inappropriate given the story/goal of this film, that taken into perspective, it's actually quite tasteful, going so far as to let you in on what is happening, but not so far as to be exploiting anyone. As I said, it is so well done, that you are completely taken along for the ride. The music is dead on to bring you in too, and the visuals are surreal to ordinary, and everywhere in between, but even when ordinary, it is breath-taking in beauty. Sion Sono again takes on a big task, and succeeds, in my opinion, and delivers something to take a look at and open your mind up to!
All around 5/5! A must buy/watch for the Japanese Cinema fan, Sion Sono fan, or the open-minded viewer!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Psychologically brilliant
Comment: This movie is like a wild trip thru the minds of a psychotic abused child and her self-victimized mother. Even though it gets a little slow towards the middle and a slight confusing at the very end, still overall: genius. The delivery was on-point along w/ the acting. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the disturbing child abuse. I'm not a fan of some visuals in the movie but I decided not to let my bias disturb the pure genius of the movie. I suggest anyone (over 18 of course lol) watch this.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Emotionally stirring/psychologically thrilling!
Comment: This is not a horror film by any means, but, the actions depicted were horriffic. Although subtitles often detract from the overall meaning conveyed in foreign film, this is not true for Strange Circus. This film is loaded with art, mystery, meaning, with just a hint of surrealism for good measure. Director Miyazaki effectively addresses the incest taboo with a forceful yet subtly sensitive hand. He does not imply wrong doing,or the emotional pain involved for the young incest victim, but rather illustrates it physically and directly. Bravo! Whether this film was the figment of a deranged writers imagination or the reality of a mother and daughter is left to the imagination of the viewer. A well balanced film along the lines of Ju On minus the horrorific special effects, I would recommend this film for lovers of Asian cinema. But then, when you are working with a good script who needs overt special effects?
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Japanese movie for open minded viewers.
Comment: This is a great movie for viewers who like to see just how depraved mankind is and why we are in the mess we are today. Though it is fiction, like all good fiction, it is based on fact. A great movie and highly recommended!!! P.S. The leading actress is married in real life and under no circumstances would I have allowed her to play her role in this movie if she was my wife!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
