This could quite possibly be the absolute worst movie I have ever seen. And I seen a lot of bad movies. WHAT THE HELL IS THE POINT OF SOME JAPANESE GUY TURNING INTO A CYBORG AND KILLING HIS GIRLFRIEND? I'll tell the point: there is none.
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NO FREAKIN' WAY!!!! This movie kicked ass! Plus, even if there was no metaphor, I still would've thought this film would've been great.
The worst movie I've ever seen has to be THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL.
this movie is brilliant, regardless of plot, or metaphor, because it's a trip (or a treat, for some) to watch. one of my favorites. it's like Eraserhead + crack + einstürzende neubauten. genius!
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Yay! EinNu!
And to the OP: What's the point in any movie? Entertainment. Maybe if you weren't such a moron you could learn to enjoy things instead of mindlessly criticizing stuff on the internet.
Ok. So you didn't like it. Is that because you didn't GET it? The point of the movie is not that he becomes a cyborg and kills his g/f. The movie concerns itself with his gradual mutation and how it affects his r'ship with his g/f. He thinks that she does not understand his plight, and because he is so desperate to find love with someone who loves him for himself, he kills her out of despair and desperation. The film is about love being something that is found on the inside, and Tsukamoto wanted to express this by finding the most difficult-to-love character that he could. It's also about how industrialism ruins his life, making him unloveable.
Dave :)
give me a break
shareYa know, I am at a complete and utter lack for words regarding the posts that I have read on this movie. I have watched it probably, I'd say, 16 times at least. I think most peoples posts are completely and utterly ridiculous. It is a great movie for what it is, yes. It was a great accheivement. Especially for one man to do practically alone. But that does not change the fact that it is an absolutely horrible example of modern cinema. Even for being almost 20 years old. I have read everyone posts about "How wonderful" this movie is... Peter Steele of Type O Negative said it best... "Don't mistake lack of talent for genius." Fun to watch, but cut the crap. It is not some great and philosophic metaphor for technology's influence on life. It is some freak psycho whacked out japanese metal fetishists gorified wet dream, done in a well defined, stylish manner. Nothing wrong with that at all. Let's just be real about what it is. In closing though, I would never say that it is the "Worst Movie Ever". That title should be awarded to things like the Scarecrow horror series. Dreamcatcher by Stephen King. Vulgar by Kevin Smith. Or, the knock-off American Pie sequels, Band Camp and Naked Mile. Or better yet, how about Arnie vs. the Devil, End of Days style. Now, those movies are worthy of the title of "Worst Movie Ever". How could they *beep* Gabriel Byrnes as the Devil? Is there no shame?
Thanks
Yeah! What he said.
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God, some people are stupid. To say it isn't artistic is moronic. If you knew anything about film at all you'd know how brilliant it actually is. You'd think even without a filmic background people would notice how deliberate the shot composition is. This isn't just some guy running around with a camera at a frantic pace. Everything has been planned down to a T, and the cinematography is amazing.
And it IS an allegory about mans influence on the destruction of nature. Tsukamoto has stated this many times, and talked about his feelings for Tokyo, which inspired the film. I used to think subtext and thematic content was just pretentious crap the artsies came up with, so people brushing that off is understandable, but if you have some knowledge of film or a filmic background you understand how essential it actually is.
Also, why did you even watch the movie if you're not the type to look deeper than surface level? You in particular, Ariseandawakened, since you say you enjoyed the movie because it was ...fun. It's not a mainstream film that is supposed to be fun to watch. Obviously, the people who are actually into these types of films enjoy them, but its more than that. They generally have a sort of artistic respect, as wank as that sounds. You should stick to more mainstream fair, and not comment on something you know nothing about.
I agree with him. It is unconventional, maybe stylish. But its NOT art. When I though I had seen everything *beep* up (some scenes of Begotten and Naked Lunch) this came up. IMHO its not the worst movie ever but its a low budget *beep* up movie that makes little sense.
shareUm, Shinya Tsukamoto himself said he made this movie to express some of his anxieties about technology. And that you have different tastes to fans of this film doesn't make it a "horrible example of modern cinema." Just because a film isn't very accessible or doesn't pander to conventional tastes doesn't make it a bad film. Otherwise, Eraserhead, Brazil, Last Life in the Universe, 2046, A Clockwork Orange, THX 1138, etc. would all be considered bad films.
Frankly, it's a bit sad that you've actually watched this movie over 16 times and haven't picked up on _any_ of its overt symbolism or underlying themes. It really makes me wonder if you're the type who needs every piece of information deliberately spelled out for them--anything that's not explicitly stated in dialog goes by completely unnoticed.
Don't mistake your own provincialism for a lack of talent in others. Some films are meant to be taken at face value, but this certainly isn't one of them. If you can't be bothered to look past the surface meaning of a creative work, then perhaps stick to movies like The Fast and the Furious or Titanic.
Or did you think that Apocalypse Now was just some movie about the Vietnam War?
It wasn't? Really?
Because I'm a pimp, and pimps don't commit suicide...
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"It is not some great and philosophic metaphor for technology's influence on life. It is some freak psycho whacked out japanese metal fetishists gorified wet dream, done in a well defined, stylish manner."
You say those things as though they're mutually exclusive or something :)
--
*+_Charos_+*
"I have often laughed at weaklings
who thought themselves good because
they had no claws."
I think you've hit the nail on the head with this post. I first watched this at uni as part of a semester on Body Horror. Never was it suggested that the film operated at a level any deeper than the visceral, and watching it again today, this holds true. Visually it's an impressive and imaginative piece of work, and the editing is brilliant; but at 67 minutes it feels long and repetitive, and narratively it is a nightmare (in a bad way). We shouldn't underestimate the influence of certain elements of films such as this, but nor should we overstate qualities that simply aren't there.
shareno u guys this movie is about butt frape
shareYeah, why would a Japanese director making a movie in Japan make a movie about some Japanese guy? I'll tell the point: you're dumb. And I seen a lot of bad posts.
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I hate the way when someone says they dont like what is at the end of the day a poor film people always say "oh you dont get it".
I got it alright, metaphors exist in everything, but what was at the forefront was a gory mess of a film.
I agree it is almost nightmarish in content and if thats your thing then fine. For everyone else though its nonsensical rubbish.
As for giving it 10/10? Get real, a niche movie that most people wont have heard of, and the people that have seen it dont like it for a reason. The reason being is, they "get it".
As I said in my previous post, I really enjoyed the movie. But the reasons I enjoyed it were just for, as you so aptly put it, the nightmarish gorefest that it is. I couldn't agree with you more though about the whole metaphor jackassery. The metaphors/coincidences are, and will always be there, in anything, for anyone who is willing to waste the time to look for them. Look at "The Bible Code", for chrissake. LOL
The Management.
I think you underestimate the the potential for metaphorical application. I imagine that it was intended, even if half-heartedly, as a metaphor on technology/alienation/modern life/pop culture. It's dafter to assume that these deductions are entirely coincidental.
shareit doesn't need to have a point, it is what it is and that's a fantastic piece of imagination and creativity, and it is obvious that a lot of love was put into this. I really didn't think I'd like this but it had me enthralled throughout. It's obvious it's not for everyone but you can't help but appreciate how much has been created using such a tiny budget. :oDDDDDD
shareYou forgot the frightening strap-on and giant robo-phallus the two merge into at the end. It's a gay love story I tells ya! lol
—Ray
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Vote history: http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=12320866
Yeah i tend to agree, this is one point that has been overlooked most of the time.
Here's a little random interpretation: The film describes the male/ female dichotomy, where man stands for masculinity, power, being dominant, symbolized in machinery and (efficient) technology; the woman stands for nature, the body in a "weak" (flesh, not metal), receiving sense (that is one way to explain why the archetypical woman in the movie is aroused by the suffering, dying metal fetishist that they have dumped in the wood - he represents the "weak" flesh). The man turning into a machine is a metaphor for realizing he's gay, while homosexuality is in turn a metaphor for the essence of manhood that is basically only interested in itself, its own power, efficiency etc. At times it's really a funny gay romance (remember the scene when the metal fetishist comes to the house of the main character with a bunch of flowers in his hands, wearing make up; remember the opening scene where the metal fetishist penetrates himself with a metal penis-surrogate). In the end the man accepts the fact that he's gay, and the symbol of the penis-tank combines two main topics of the film: power and masculinity.
ANyway, the film is very open, incorporating such different genres as superherotrash and body horror. I'm sure there are a lot of details that do not fit into my interpretation... in the end, you either like the movie or you don't. I love it.
I bet this guy would love to see Eraserhead.
ISCREAM22 HAS SPOKEN!!
Um, are talking about me? I have seen Eraserhead man!!
But I'm also fairly sure that Shinya Tsukamoto has seen it as well.
Describing what Tsukamoto was trying to say with Tetsuo is almost like trying to explain every scene of Eraserhead, you could write volumes on the subject, but to get a basic grasp of it first try reading Crash by J. G. Ballard, then watch some of David Cronenberg's early works, top that of with some Kaiju cinema, maybe even read some Manga, by then you should be well prepared for a re-watch :)
shareOr just watch David Croenenberg's "Crash"...
shareThat is basically what I said in my post: that Tetsuo is a postmodern film with many different sources of inspiration.
shareWhy would I waste the time? Can't I just enjoy the movie for what it is? And why does everyone have to be gay now? That was the most inane bunch of nonsensical blatherings that I have read in a long time. Not everything in life has to be about homosexuality. Quit trying to make it that way. Weirdos.
The Management.
In that case I recommend you try Matsumoto's "Funeral Parade of Roses",a two fisted tale of hetero-japery.Seriously, John Wayne and Charlton Heston have brief cameos.
shareROR @ penis-tank.
Because I'm a pimp, and pimps don't commit suicide...
even though I really hated this movie, your post is quite interesting and gives a bit more sense to the movie, it doesn't change the fact that I'll never see it again, but reading your post made me consider at least not throw it away.
shareFAO:imelda marcos
chill out man they just said "japanese guy" how is that racist??
all those cap letters make you look mental, dont do it
peace, love and happiness to everyone forever
Why does there have to be a point? Why dont you watch films for what they are and not what you want them to be.
shareWell it seems you don't know *beep* about theories about film reception. EVen if you ignore them it must seem logical to you that NO ONE sees a film as "what it is", as what a film is is what you perceive it to be. That is not to say that you can read the film any way you like, but it means that you construct the film in your head while watching it. You and me can see the same film at the same time but see and experience it entirely different. DOn't get me started on the "message" of a film. And btw this is not primarily meant as a "burn". Saying that you're an idiot is more of a by-product of this post.
sharebwahaha!
ZING
\quote{This could quite possibly be the absolute worst movie I have ever seen. And I seen a lot of bad movies. WHAT THE HELL IS THE POINT OF SOME JAPANESE GUY TURNING INTO A CYBORG AND KILLING HIS GIRLFRIEND? I'll tell the point: there is none.}
You Are an Idiot.
Born free, Live free...
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Well hey I could write a huge entry on what I think Tetsuo means, but I'm not going to because that would probably be a waste of time. I agree and do think anyone could decipher a different meaning from it. I understand film reception and the use of genres in the industry. When you see a film like Tetsuo and it is labeled as experimental and psychotic you can't expect to see a typical narrative flik with a three point structure. I think some people watch movies like this with that structure in their heads and it leaves them confused and hating the movie.
shareWell, I got to watch this movie because of a thread I found in a post for "EL TOPO" by Jorodowsky, which I absolutely loved, but Tetsuo, hhmmm, I didn't like it, sorry if it sounds racist but it was a bit too Japanese for my taste(not that Japanese is bad, Kurosawa is a Genius, I mean it was a bad japanese movie), in some points it was soooo absurd and the acting sucked. Ok, it was an experimental film and some takes were really amazing as well as the running effect similar to PI, but really the plot was so absurd, that even though I've read a lot of interpretations I still can't find one that can make me go and watch it again.
A waste of 3 hours of internet to download it and a DVD-R, I wish it had been a DVD-RW.
ps.Pardon my poor english.
"Santa Sangre" by Jorodowsky, a master piece
twas okay....there worse ...........way more worse...
IM A SUCKER 4 SPECIAL FEATURES EDDIE_CMF o_O
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hmmmm true that was kinda funny. i liked the maggots =)
IM A SUCKER 4 SPECIAL FEATURES EDDIE_CMF o_O
Reminded me of Kafka.
shareIt did have something of Metamorphosis about it.
I didn't think it was very good though, and to be honest I laughed at most of it as it was just really, really silly. The last few scenes are pretty cool when the two metal dudes combine or whatever. I can't imagine I will watch it again, unless it is just to show someone else. I would give it 6/10.
And before you start bmobarding me with "you just didn't understand it" etc etc Eraserhead is one of my favourite films, and I also own L'Age D'or and Un Chien Andolou and various other non-linear movies so don't bother denouncing me.
Is the sequel any good?
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I have only seen bits and pieces of Tetsuo 2 but what I saw was more of the same Tetsuo stuff but in color. It's more accessible than The Iron Man, with more narrative, but just as psychotic. Also check out some of Tsukamoto's other awesome films like Bullet Ballet and Vital.
share--And before you start bmobarding me with "you just didn't understand it" etc etc Eraserhead is one of my favourite films, and I also own L'Age D'or and Un Chien Andolou and various other non-linear movies so don't bother denouncing me. --
By posting that I KNOW you didn't understand it. You're a hack poser, through and through.
"Tetsuo, The Iron Man",is "Battleship Potempkin" compared to its sequel"Tetsuo 2, The Body Hammer", which is a contender for worst movie ever but it's still better than "Star Wars episode 2".
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