Taboo
|
List Price: Our Price: $12.70 You Save: $17.25 (58%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.73 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Taboo
Movie Review: BIG TROUBLE IN A SAMURAI SCHOOL
Summary: 4 Stars
1999. Written and directed by Nagisa Oshima (In the Realm of the Senses). 10 nominations for the Japanese Academy awards. A young samurai seduces his companions and creates chaos in Takeshi Kitano's school. Oshima's comeback, 13 years after his last movie, is worth the expectation.Movie Review: Shocking Swordplay
Summary: 3 Stars
Feudal Japan--Leaders of the Shinsengumi militia, an indpendent "bad cop" faction on the government's side, watch as their two newest recruits face off in a Kendo match--a wooden sword battle during a time when swordmasters received the highest regard, the samurai period. Bearded Tashiro faces off against Sozaburo Kano, who everyone can see is easily the better swordsman. But to the surprise of many, except a few insightful higher-ups, Kano loses. Beat Takeshi's Hijikata character (one of many real Japanese personalities--the Shinsengumi stories alone could entertain you for hours) and Isami Kondo immediately understand, what is going on. The viewer doesn't, but soon will. A thoughtful, judgemental look at Sozaburo, with his boyish face and demeanor, long, smooth hair, and feminine almond-shaped eyes--got it yet?--reveals all. He lost because he may be "involved" with Tashiro, who may not be the only one with "leanings" toward Sozaburo.It's an interesting revelation to those of us only familiar with the tough samurais of Kurosawa films or the Zatoichi blind swordsman-type TV series; that these men of the sword were also men of a different type of sword. The practice isn't uncommon in history. Gladiators (yes, those during Russell Crowe's Maximus character's time) were also prone to have homosexual leanings, as did many senators. But director Nagisa Oshima does a masterful job of the consequences of a workplace relationship in the context of samurai Japan, and a homosexual relationship at that.
Not to say that the practice is widely accepted. Hijikata even orders a sergeant to take Sozaburo to a brothel to see if he can be turned around; Sozaburo misinterprets the sergeant's friendliness. Internal strife develops as other samurais join the chase for Sozaburo; rumor gives birth to tension that ends in murders, a difficult thing to have in an organization involved in a war. This is particularly of concern to Hijikata, who serves as the narrative voice in many parts of the movie, although Sozaburo remains the protagonist.
Oshima has a flair for creating then sustaining moods, be it soft, dark and suspenseful, or symbolically poignant. The swordfights are excellent, as they should be, being that this is a samurai film. Blood and gore levels are kept a reasonably tame level for this sort of film. This film would be best viewed with some sort of knowledge of the time period; perhaps get some simple reading done, or even watch a few episodes of the Rurouni Kenshin anime series, which deals heavily with the Shinsengumi, Ishin Shishi and the Meiji restoration of this time (search for "Samurai X" then watch the Trust and Betrayal movies).
This is a four-star film that gets three for revealing an aspect of the samurai that many hardcore fans may not be comfortable with. It may taint your ideal of the samurai, but Oshima allows us to accept this slowly, through a beautifully--both in image and in flow--worked film. Highly recommended for viewing, and possibly recommended for your own library.
Movie Review: ai no ken: the sword of love
Summary: 3 Stars
If one has read Ihara Saikaku short story collection _The Great Mirror of Male Love_ one would know that the homosexual trysts of the chounin, townsmen, merchants, artisans, was viewed as an alternative to the couertesan, geisha, quarters. It was not morally incorrect to have sexual relations with men. There was not even a word for homosexuality, douseiai, in Japan until after the Meiji restoration. In fact, most of the wealthy merchants dailied with both men and women.
The townsmen first emmulated the samurai who had a long tradition of homosexuality among their ranks. Usually involving an older man and a young man, or two men who were roughly the same age.
In Oshima's _Gohatto_ the viewer is introduced to Kano Sozaburo, played by the very effeminate looking Matsuda Ryuhei, _Blue Spring_, a young man who although a merchant by lineage, jojns the Shinsengumi, militia protecting the Shogun, becaise it will give him the opportunity to kill people. However, although Kano is quite skilled with his sword, he is not able to put off the advances of several samurai, including Tashiro Hyozo, played by Asano Tadanobu, _Zatoichi_, _Love & Pop_, _Bright Future_, etc., who unfortnately does not play a larger role in this movie. However, as the movie continues, individuals who desire Kano as a lover begin to die and the leaders of the Shinsengumi, Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo, played by Kitano Takeshi, _Fireworks_, Kikujiro_, _Battle Royale_, etc., who begin the suspect that Tashiro is killing his would be rivals. However, is that truly so?
This is a decent film. The camera work is done well, and the scenery is absolutely lovely. However, it is a bit jumpy. Much of the plot is dedicated to the Shinsengumi's members worrying about their enemies, but this is put on the backburner because of the "love" story, which although it can be entertaning is quite weak, because we are never able to learn anything about Kano emotions, however, I guess the emotionless Kano goes well with Mastuda's wooden acting.
A couple of notes. Kano's forelocks are mentioned several times in the film. When a samurai comes of age he shaves off his forelocks. Also the forelocks signify that a young man is availible to become the "passive" member of a homosexual relationship. After he shaves off his forelocks, he is supposed to become the "active" partner.
Some might find it quite odd when Kitano's character chops the the sakura tree at the end of the film. Cherry blossoms represent the fleeting of life and beauty. Equate this with the feminine beauty of Kano, and it is quite significant
Movie Review: Odd but engaging samurai drama
Summary: 2 Stars
GOHATTO: TABOO
(Japan/France/UK - 1999)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Theatrical soundtracks: Dolby Digital / DTS
1865: A beautiful young male warrior (Ryohei Matsuda) causes jealousy and resentment amongst the members of a samurai garrison, leading to conflict and murder.
Nagisa Oshima courted controversy with this unusual drama, which dares to foreground the homoerotic underpinnings of chanbara swordplay epics. Takeshi Kitano headlines proceedings as an experienced militia leader who fears Matsuda's influence on the men in his command, despite the boy's obvious fighting prowess. However, some viewers may be disconcerted by Matsuda's overtly feminised appearance, which makes him look odd rather than beautiful, undermining the film's entire premise. In fact, Matsuda is upstaged in this regard by actor/musician Shinji Takeda (PULSE), playing an equally beautiful fellow warrior whose smile and enthusiasm lights up the entire garrison, prompting a violent sequence of events during the narrative's latter stages.
Though the film's 'gay' element is presented matter-of-factly, Oshima also highlights a measure of prejudice amongst Matsuda's fellow soldiers, with devastating consequences for many of the leading characters. Staged and photographed with formal grace (a typical chanbara conceit), Oshima's busy screenplay - co-written with Ryotaro Shiba, derived from fact-based literary works - moves swiftly from sex-drama to murder-mystery with lightning efficiency, and the climactic twist is genuinely surprising.
Movie Review: CHERRIES and stuff .........
Summary: 2 Stars
Hopelessly foolish tale of a Samurai 'boytoy' savored and flavored by all within reach ..... minimal acting skills with lots of Swordplay [the real stuff, not between the sheets] and many a grunt in between it all.Lord alone knows why the 18 yearold achieved THAT status - cartoonish face, chilly manner and very little skin exposure.
Only if you must!!!