The Pillow Book
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Movie Reviews of The Pillow Book
Movie Review: To the Critics
Summary: 5 Stars
My review addresses some of the negative reviews left by others who have seen this movie. The film has been denounced as pretentious, I would contend that it maintains a distanced air which is effective in setting a mood. The film is visually stunning and seems to be making several statements about love, art and the creation of both i.e., the relation of detached artist to subject or detached subject of artist is vicerally highlighted through the atmosphere of distance. Secondly, the film was pronounced "boring". In answer I say, the film is quite complicated and combines foreign and contrasting elements of European, Chinese and Japanese cultures, it is multi-faceted, multi-layered and enhanced by technologically inspired visual imagery. There is much to appreciate in the film, as there is much not to appreciate if one chooses to do so. Boring is a subjective term. A film that centers on the millennial artistic heritage of Chinese calligraphy may not titillate the masses as intensely as the comedic antics of modern day buffoons. Simply stated, the movie is not pandering to the lowest common denominator, nor is it an exercise in cultural elitism, it is a pure expression of an artist's vision -- it is beautiful.Movie Review: Beauty and obsession
Summary: 5 Stars
Two of the most beautiful things in the world are the written word and the human figure. Even the ones that are not special in themselves embody meaning and subtlety. When Greenaway uses the figure to carry words, he creates imagery that can not be forgotten.There is so much in this movie that I hardly know where to begin. It starts with a child. Her father's birthday ritual is to tell her a story, always the same one, and to paint calligraphy on her face. Maybe it's a little silly, but it's sweet and loving.
Over time, the girl loses her innocence but gains the strength of adulthood. Her memory of that charming ritual develops, too. First, it loses its childhood innocence; it becomes a passion for her, and the standard by which she measures her lovers. In the end, the ritual gains even more strength and becomes the vehicle for a deadly obsession.
I must warn the potential viewer that the movie's second half goes places far beyond where sanity stops. It is not for people with tender sensibilities.
I'll come back to this movie for it sensual beauty. I won't come back too often, though. The raw rage at the end is just too hard.
Movie Review: Sensual, erotic & languid
Summary: 5 Stars
At the beginning of the film we see a little girl being written upon by her father. The film then moves to the girl as an adult, and seeking lovers who will write on her body again. She meets a bisexual Englishman, who also likes to be written on, and she finds out he is also a former lover of a man who has previously betrayed her father.Greenaway uses some of the techniques from Prospero's Books, in the way the film is shown, with small rectangular boxes containing other images. The film is beautiful to look at, as per usual with Greenaway's films. There is also a seductive French song that plays at times during the film, a sensuous lady performs this tune, and it is very appropriate to the film. The film is erotic, with plenty of nudity on view. I do think the film is a bit languid at times though, and this hurts it, but it's still an impressive piece of cinema.
The DVD picture are sound are both very good, but the disc could have done with more extras.
Movie Review: Wonderful film, Worst DVD transfer I have ever seen
Summary: 5 Stars
It's very hard to review this because I don't know whether to rate the film as 5 stars or the DVD transfer as 0 stars. Since I decided to rate the movie 5 stars, I will devote my review to the transfer. Shame on Columbia/Tri-Star! They essentially butchered this movie. Not only is it full screen, but all of the film's images lie beneath a strange impermeable haze. Half the sublitles are illegible, and the sound (yes it was released in Dolby Digital) is horrendous. These comobined elements end up hurting the film when it is watched on DVD. I saw this movie in the theater, and it was beautiful-- color, cinematography, sound. All of these outstanding images contributed to the effect of the film. On DVD it is all lost. What a shame we cannot see the film the way it is meant to be seen. Anyway, Greenaway did a great job with this movie... just too bad he turned the rights over to Columbia/Tri Star.Movie Review: A Visual Marvel
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this movie after hearing an interview with the director. His goal was to make a movie that would be as entertaining without words and dialogue as it would be with these elements. Of course there is dialogue and a good story, but the visual aspect of this movie is incredible. It rises to the level of art. This imagery stayed with me for weeks. It was the first time I had seen Ewan McGregor in a film and barely made the connection when I saw Trainspotting. Vivian Wu is sexually stunning in her leading role, much different than that of the mistress in The Last Emporer. The setting in Taiwan is also very impressive. Though I do not own a DVD player yet I am buying this DVD because I want it to be my first DVD experience. I am not basing my expectations on the DVD format but more on revisiting this special movie is a special way.