Zen Noir
|
List Price: Our Price: $17.97 You Save: $1.98 (10%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $7.89 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Zen Noir
Movie Review: AMAZING
Summary: 5 Stars
A remarkable film....extremely funny considering the monastic setting, while also appealing in its exploration of the mysteries of the self. Highly recommended to those who are not afraid of their own mind nor of their own spirituality!Movie Review: Incredible!
Summary: 5 Stars
I absolutely loved it. Not for kids and could create some missconception or confusion for people who have not practiced Zen. It is quite raw, entertaining and on the money.Movie Review: Where can I find a dojo like that? . . . and a lay person like that?
Summary: 5 Stars
This was a wonderful film. . .it arrived tout sweet, packaged to perfection and grilled up, just the way I like it. Thank you very much. Kindest regards, JMovie Review: Can it be both Stupid and Brilliant? Yes.
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw the trailers for this movie last winter, and it looked hilarious, so when I finally had a chance to watch the film, I jumped at it. Zen humor is not something you see everyday, and this was obviously advertised as a comedy. I figured I'd have one more great review for the DailyBuddhism readers.
The movie is narrated in the first person by a 30's hard-boiled detective type, clearly a Mike Hammer parody, complete with tough-guy monologues and beard stubble. The action starts out with a chuckle, as an old Zen monk sits in a room with other monks meditating. He keels over and dies, but the others are so into their meditation they don't even notice. When the detective arrives and starts asking questions about the murder... Well, you know what kind of answers you get when you ask a question in Zen.
The first 25 minutes or so were rough. The back and forth rapid-fire questions and non-answers got old fast, and the overuse of Noir and Zen cliches got to the point of silliness, which was probably intentional, but still wasn't very funny. By around the 20-minute mark, I was ready to declare this the "stupidest movie ever." Then the silliness slowed down and the Zen took over.
There was still the occasional funny line, such as when the detective asks the Master,
"What happens when we... you know... die?"
"Don't know."
"Why not?"
"Not dead yet!" OK, so humor of that sort is in the delivery.
There are dozens of images of oranges and glimpses of oranges In different scenes and positions flashing onscreen throughout the drama. Once the meaning of the orange is explained, many things become clear, both in the movie and in real Zen itself. There really is a lot of Zen in the movie, and it was obviously very cleverly written.
Yet, I still have to ask myself, is it entertaining? The problem is that even after watching the movie, I cannot answer that one. This is definitely one of those love-it or hate-it movies, and I suspect most audiences are going to be split down the middle. If someone is fairly knowledgeable about basic Zen ideas, then there is a message in the ending; however, for the person who isn't very familiar with Zen ideas, this is going to be a seriously boring movie that makes no sense whatsoever.
I'm going to give this one a 3/5 since I really just don't know what to think... Or maybe I should give it a 5/5 for the same reason. Let's compromise and call it a 4.
Sigh. Zen makes me crazy sometimes.
Movie Review: Inquiries about meaning of life
Summary: 4 Stars
Very interesting movie where the inquisitive detective gets to investigate the death of the Buddhist monk. In his attempt to get suspect's statement, story or feedback, he starts discovering himself. His seemingly routine questions seem to have a much deeper meaning with temple's occupants. Nothing makes sense, until one day during simple tea ceremony it all starts to connect like pieces of the puzzle. The meaning of life, death and everything in between no longer seems to be a mystery any more. The act of complete acceptance and surrender is absolutely fantastic. But be ready to endure the verbal back and forth for a long time, before director lets you "get it". This film is funny and sad, it is serious and silly, it is sexy and ordinary at the same time. It seems that it's simplicity is the beauty of what director had to say to his audience. By the same token, I believe that this is intellectual movie and as such not aimed at large audiences. Art fans will be blown away by this movie.