MovieChat Forums > Sonachine (1998) Discussion > This is bloody terrible (** SPOILERS **)

This is bloody terrible ( SPOILERS )

posted 12 years ago by sub_mish
20 replies | jump to latest

OK, at first it's a pretty cool gangster movie with gangsters doing gangster stuff. Then halfway through they decide to hang out on the beach for days on end. Then some people get killed by a hitman and our hero has been set up, so he kills all the other gangsters, then on the way to the beach where his girl is waiting for him he kills himself instead.

I'm not saying it's not "thought provoking" or anything, just that it's really, really dull. I had to have it on fast forward half the time it was so boring. Seriously, if you're thinking of watching this film and you're not some pretentious hipster, don't bother. It's an hour and a half of your life that you'll never get back.

WARNING DO NOT click on "synopsis". It INSTANTLY RUINS ANY FILM YOU HAVE NOT SEEN

[–] BrackusStudley 12 years ago

I totally agree.This does not deserve to be called a gangster movie.Most of it was them dicking around on a beach. The plot felt up in the air the whole time, and I totally forgot about it 30 minutes in.

"I eat bananas with a fork so I don't look gay"-Noemotion

[–] willson_x 10 years ago

I think the key with this film is reading between the lines. It's an arthouse film, what can you say? a really taught one at that, flawlessly produced. I personally really delved into it and got the most out of it. I get the wry smile of Takeshi Kitano, and I get his humour completely, and if you don't, you don't get the film, really, because it's so reliant on what isn't directly said, so fair enough if you don't like it, but honestly, it needs a personal viewing, it's not the kind of films you slouch around and watch with friends on a saturday, it requires a good amount of reflection and understanding. Totally worth it thoguh.

[–] BrackusStudley 10 years ago

I understand that.But I just didn't like it.I almost always watch movies alone, I prefer no other way.

"My vagina looks like a huge penis"

[–] DingusStudley 12 years ago

I haven't finished it yet and didn't click to uncover your spoiler, but i have 30 min left in the film and i'm painfully bored.

It starts decent enough, and if i understand the point of the impromptu beach vacation correctly, i am open to and actually like the idea of tired gangsters trying to escape at least for a little while from their criminal lives. But it is just executed soooo pisspoorly. Nothing happens, and that includes meaningful, interesting, entertaining dialog. It's just too meandering and uneventful. I simply don't find watching these yakuza guys on a little mini vacation from their criminal lives to be engrossing or entertaining. Between geisha impersonation dance numbers and 15 min long, goofy beyond belief, downright bizarre sumo wrestling scenes, i don't know if i could be any less invested in this film. It's gonna have to do some HUGE things in the final 30 min to drag me back in and leave a positive impression on me.

Well the final act of the film IS some fantastic, powerful stuff. But it's not enough to save this film. The beach stuff plods along too painfully slow. If they had trimmed a bulk of that out, i'd really dig the movie.

[–] Nephilim-6 11 years ago

Actually the point of the beach stuff is them trying to escape from the gangster life (the point is made way before that it's NOT glamorous and therefor it's not meant to be a 'vacation' but an actual escape). Kitano at the start of the movie even mentions that he wants get out of that racket. He doesn't decide that half way through.
But slowly the real world starts creeping back in.
That's why at the end he shoots himself. He got pulled back in and doesn't wanna do it anymore.

Did you ever notice that people who believe in creationism look really un-evolved? - Bill Hicks

[–] DingusStudley 11 years ago

All well and good, however whether you term it a mere vacation or an actual escape, it's executed horribly. That's my beef. I love the idea of it, however it did not make for a good movie in this case, poor.

[–] livan063 11 years ago

This is a movie for adults, not for children, that is why you found it boring. It isn't a gangster movie, it is a movie about humanity and the meaning/value of life. The movie was way over your head.

[–] El_Nombre-San 11 years ago

Thread over, this should have been the first reply.

[–] Kawada_Kira 11 years ago

Well said, I second livan063's post.

R.I.P President Hugo Chavez 1954 - 2013

[–] joshuak47 10 years ago

I really liked the movie, but I'm going to apologize to the people who didn't, on behalf of livan063 and others who make similar arrogant comments. It's funny how sometimes the people who say "you aren't mature enough" are actually themselves not mature enough to try and see other people's perspectives.

[–] livan063 10 years ago

I wrote that comment two years ago.

TWO YEARS AGO.

What are you doing with your life?

[–] joshuak47 10 years ago

If you still agree with your post, then you haven't matured.

And maybe you wrote it 2 years ago, but I read it a few days ago. And guess what else, someone's going to read it in the future.

[–] xd18911 7 years ago

Here I am, from the future. I enjoyed it. Kitano's movies are never exactly what you expect!

[–] PoppyTransfusion 11 years ago

I wouldn't say it was terrible but I found myself distracted during the film. It was stylish and at times pretty to look at with some quirky characters but it lacked pace or tension. I preferred the beach interlude to any of the Yakuza activity.

Away with the manners of withered virgins

[–] Melcor 10 years ago

I preferred the beach interlude to any of the Yakuza activity.

Well, that's the point. The yakuza activity was presented as dull and unexciting. That's how the main character sees it. Even the shootouts, which are often the most exciting sequences in movies, are presented in a very monotonous way. Without quick cuts or exciting music. Shooting starts - and stops. Nobody is showing any emotion.

At the beach on the other hand, we get some hilarious comedy scenes. The main character finally starts to show emotion. The soundtrack really sets off. Quicker and unique editing. It's the escape from the tiring life as a yakuza the protagonist seeks.

[–] taumpy_tears 11 years ago

you sound like a fratboy who jacks off to mindless gore flicks.

someone already explained the significance of the beach scenes. if basic symbolism goes over your head then you shouldn't be criticizing anything.

[–] JimmyCagney 11 years ago

I'm certain that in 10 years, when you'll be a full grown adult and your cinematic experiences will have gone beyond Bruce Willis, you'll visit this thread again in order to delete your comment.
Or to admit you've become a "pretentious hipster" yourself.

[–] franzkabuki 10 years ago

Jesus, surely, people shooting at each other and chasing after each other isn`t the only entertaining thing out there. And the "gangster vacation" was an utterly hilarious thing to behold.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan