MovieChat Forums > Kikujirô no natsu (2000) Discussion > Such a beautiful film.

Such a beautiful film.

posted 20 years ago by ingres77
22 replies | jump to latest

Japan is become famous for it's horror genre - what with the Ring movies, Ju-on, Dark Water, Kairo, and other films. They have been reknown for their animated films - and this has become even more widespread with the growing popularity of Hayao Miyazaki. I hope movies like this become more popular as well.

Takeshi Kitano shines in this beautiful story about a wild man and a gloomy boy. He starts out as a gruff man who doesn't really want anything to do with "the little brat". But, through the adventures, truly begins to care about him. There's nothing really new here, but it is through the superb direction and wonderful and childlike humor (mixed in with some pretty hilarious oddities) that really sells this movie.

I'm not sure quite what my favorite moment was - maybe the sequence of games they played (Kikujiro, Masao, the two bikers, and the nomadic writer) - especially "naked statue". And when baldy was dressed up as the alien..... I won't ruin anything.

Another thing I loved about the movie was that it was told, in large part, with little dialogue. Many sequences are done from a distance far enough away that only gesticulations can be made out - which makes it all the more humerous, in my opinion.

Honestly, if you haven't seen this - run to your nearest rental store (that has a good selection of foreign films, of course) and rent it. I would even advise buying it on-line if you could find it reasonably priced. I got it from Netflix, so it can be found there.

I love this movie. ;)

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[–] Spellsword 20 years ago

I just watch this movie a few days ago and I it was great. It was a beautiful film. Takeshi Kitano rules!!!!! I love the part was he's pretending to be a blind man. I was of course hoping for the little to see his mom.

[–] Immortally 20 years ago

This was a beautiful film. Is there nothing that Takeshi Kitano can't do!!!!!

[–] dreamlax 20 years ago

I don't think I could follow any closer to your opinion.

My two favourite movies are Japanese comedies, one, of course being Kikujiro, and coming very closely behind it is Tampopo. If you haven't seen Tampopo, and you enjoy crazy Japanese humour, it doesn't come much better than the 1980s film Tampopo. I don't think there is a single scene in that movie that does not carry the theme of food... even the more "adult" scenes are entirely food related.

[–] ingres77 20 years ago

I've heard a lot of this film, yes. Have't gotten off my duff and watched it though. I just may have to.

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[–] Vegetya 18 years ago

I never thought I'd meet anyone else who'd seen Tampopo, I love that movie! It's so weird, especially the yakuza and his girlfriend... and those business men, when thy all order the same, I couldn't stop laughing! I'm glad someone else has seen it!

[–] rodstar 20 years ago

"I'm not sure quite what my favorite moment was"

I will tell you what mine was, and I think it's also one of the funniest scenes I have EVER seen.

The Car pops a tire on the nail, and swerves down the side of the canal, and Kikujiro and the kid do the Harry.

This scene has me in tears it's so damn funny!

[–] ingres77 20 years ago

That scene had me in stiches. I watched it with my girlfriend a couple months ago (she's never seen the film), and I laughed prior to the scene. I knew what was coming, and couldn't contain myself. It's just too funny.

I also love the red-light, green-light game they play. Where the skinny biker guy takes all his clothers off.

This movie is too good.

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[–] psychonate22 20 years ago

I rather liked the part where Kikujiro mistakes another young boy for Masao in the hotel. He smacks the kid on the head and then the kid's whole family gets up, and Kikujiro quickly evades :)

The flat tire scene was one of my favorites as well

This movie is just too good.

[–] ingres77 20 years ago

I agree wholeheartedly.

I love this film. It's easily one of my all-time favorites.

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[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] PeppermintPattyUK 18 years ago

Never nearly cried at a film?! I'm still fighting back the tears! I've just watched it again, and it gets me every time. I know I'm going to blub when I watch it, but it's worth it. All the scenes mentioned above are wonderful, but I also love how beatiful Japan looks in the summer, even the city scenes.

This has to be one of my most favourite movies ever.

[–] Kawada_Kira 11 years ago

I will tell you what mine was, and I think it's also one of the funniest scenes I have EVER seen.

The Car pops a tire on the nail, and swerves down the side of the canal, and Kikujiro and the kid do the Harry.

This scene has me in tears it's so damn funny!

That scene had me laughing so hard, I had to pause the movie just so I could finish laughing before I missed anything more.

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[–] DanceInMoonlight 11 years ago

Yeah, that scene was hilarious...as was the scene where Kikujiro and the kid cheated to win the big teddy bear at the local summer fair, only to be told that the toys were made not to fall. lol

[–] Sonatine97 10 years ago

A delightful film, that reveals yet another side to the Takeshi mindset. And I have to admit I was waiting for some kind of out-of-the-blue Yakuza gangland shootout to happen any second, so typical is the Takeshi trademark of his most popular international films.

However, the fact that he chose to focus on a more family-oriented film, along with a quirky script & even quirkier support characters, I was totally overwhelmed at how absorbing this simple-storyline had on me. And I will certainly enjoy repeat viewings in the not too distant future.

Intentional or otherwise, but I did notice a few Takeshi references to some of his previous gangster films - those outrageously colourful beachshirts for one, so prominent in "Sonatine"; his classy shades, which I think is another passing nod to "Hana-bi"; the beach scenes, which are trademarks in both "Sonatine" and "Hana-bi". And there are probably one or two others that escape me for the moment.

Either way, Kikujiro, is a very enjoyable experience; I wouldn't rate it above "Sonatine" or "Hana-bi" perhaps, but it would definitely rank in my top 5 Takeshi films.

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[–] imwithstupid_35 18 years ago

Japan is not only about horror and animations. Look up all the great films of Japan's golden age (50s-60s).

my ymdb site

http://www.ymdb.com/mehsuggeth/l35858_ukuk.html

[–] ingres77 18 years ago

Who said Japan was "only" about horror films and animated movies?

I said that's what has made them popular now.

Their golden era (and I would include some films from the 40s in that) were as good as anything coming out of Hollywood. Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujiro Ozu, and Masaki Kobyashi all made classic, great films. And that's to only name 4 directors.

I'm well versed in the history of Japanese cinema.

...beliefs, we need to be reminded, are beliefs precisely because they are not facts.

[–] imwithstupid_35 18 years ago

Sorry for the assumption.

my ymdb site

http://www.ymdb.com/mehsuggeth/l35858_ukuk.html

[–] ingres77 18 years ago

Nothing to apologize for. I might not've been very clear in my original post.

It's a sad point, though. Everyone who's into Japanese films now have seen Ringu, Ju-on, Dark Water, etc., etc. They've seen Akira, Ghost in the Shell, and the Miyazaki movies.

They watch Inuyasha or some other anime, and think they know Japanese cinema.

Occasionally, a Twilight Samurai or Kikujiro will come out - and get some recognition.

But, for the most part, there aren't any modern Ozu's or Inagaki's out there. There isn't an actor on par with a Mifune or a Nakadai. About the closest Japan can get is Ken Watanabe (who I like, actually). Hell, look at Memoirs of a Geisha. They had to go to China to get actors Americans would recognize.

China has directors like Zhang Yimou and Kaige Chen. They have actors like Li Gong and Zhang Ziyi. Taiwan has Ang Lee. Hong Kong has Wong Kar Wai. But Japan doesn't really have anyone to draw Western audiences.

It's unfortunate. I hope that changes soon.

...beliefs, we need to be reminded, are beliefs precisely because they are not facts.

[–] imwithstupid_35 18 years ago

Isn't Hong Kong part of CHina? And about the movie I loved the family feel between the five guys; so delightful.

my ymdb site

http://www.ymdb.com/mehsuggeth/l35858_ukuk.html

[–] ingres77 18 years ago

Hong Kong was incorporated back into China in the late-90s, yes.

But for decades (at least), it has been relatively seperate from the mainland. British controlled, it has a kind of culture all it's own. There's a huge disparity, for example, in wealth between Hong Kong and the rest of China. Hong Kong is much more Westernized. The city is "part of" China, but it has a pretty large degree of autonomy - including it's own currency and legal system.

Cinematically, Hong Kong films aren't considered Chinese (or are considered to be a subgroup within Chinese films).

Here's a pretty good rundown of Hong Kong cinema: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Hong_Kong.

Hope that helps. ;-)

...beliefs, we need to be reminded, are beliefs precisely because they are not facts.

[–] imwithstupid_35 18 years ago

Thanks for the information. I'm a big fan of Wong Kar Wai (except for the mess 2046).

my ymdb site

http://www.ymdb.com/mehsuggeth/l35858_ukuk.html

[–] johnnxxx 8 years ago

This has both happy and sad moments in it.. you don't want it to end.. a really great movie..