MovieChat Forums > Izo (2005) Discussion > I was very disappointed

I was very disappointed

posted 20 years ago by heidavey
17 replies | jump to latest

I went to see this film last night at the Leeds film festival (UK).

I was really looking forward to it - I love Happiness of the katakuris, Audition, dead or alive, Ichi the killer and dead or alive. Plus, I really like Beat Takeshi.

But... Izo was soooo boring - with rubbish dialogue, virtually no plot - apart from 'here's a person, kill him, repeat ad nauseum'.

I was really disappointed after i came out of the cinema.

My advice to people who are regretting not being able to see this film - don't worry - watch a good film instead.

[–] treblabla 20 years ago

i saw it also!!! it was *beep* great!! IZO WAS NOT BORING AT ALL YOU STUPID arnold fans!!!!

[–] Bernard_Sinew 20 years ago

Ok but is it a Miike classic though? Apart from the line regarding "stench" there was a distinct absence of any if his dark humour. Even Shun Sagata and Beat Takeshi dont really have much impact on the film. It was more, "oh look its Beat...coooool." I left the cinema questioning myself after seeing Gozu, and I was after this.

Now as time passes, i realise that Gozu is actually better and cleverer than I first thought, so maybe I will do too with IZO (well once I can figure it inside and out)

Does anyone know who did the screenplay??

[–] jln32 20 years ago

Well I'v not seen any of Miikes other films so I'm not sure how it compares to them but after hearing the concept I was a little disapointed in the exicution. For me the film seemed to be trying to make a statement about modern war/terrorism, Izo is driven by an ancient grudge and no amount of force the gods(read world leaders?) try to use to stop him works. I felt the excessive weirdness rather obscured that statement though, if we'd have been given a clearer idea what was happening from the start and what was at stake I think it would have been much more effective.

[–] MrCs_Friend 20 years ago

I thought the wierdness was good, as it forced you to really think hard about it.

[–] jln32 20 years ago

To a certain degree yes but I think I would have preffered some parts of the story to be a little better defined near the start of the film, more of a desent into madness than madness from the get go.

[–] donco3000 19 years ago

After I told a friend how disappointed I was when I saw this at The Vancouver Film Festival, he came back with the most apt review: Izzzzzzzzzzzzzo. I love Miike films but this was just the most boring thing ever. No plot development, wooden acting and the story wears itself out in 10 minutes. I feel sorry for anyone who's first exposure to Miike is this film as they likely will never see another. Avoid it... see ANY of his other films though, his track record is brilliant!

[–] Induna 19 years ago

Yes, this wasn't one of his better films. Rather tedious in some places. The only thing I liked about this movie was the samurai costumes and settings.

Of course there are those out there who will say I'm not a 'true' Miike fan for saying this. Of course, they are a true Miike fan because EVERY film he's ever made is wonderful and is above criticism and how dare anyone say his films are rubbish. Total *beep*

Anyone reading this thinking about watching this film, DON'T! It's not very good at all. A film about how meaningless life is. Says it all really.

[–] hxc0148 19 years ago

Well, induna just inadvertantly explained this film and justified it's actions quite well. This film is vey highly based on the works of nietzsche, who still today is a very controversial philosopher. Now, personally nietzsche is my favorite philosopher due to the fact that the man was completely fearless about what he believed, and i relate really well to his theories, because they so closely resemble my own.Miike is by far one of the best directors of all time (in my opinion of course)and i was enthralled to hear he had made a film based on the ethics and theories of nietzsche.Anti-God, anti-reality etc. Nietzsche really concentrated on the negative sides of existentialism, which in turn induna, is the practice of trying to find a meaning to life, a meaning to any of this.Miike , in my opinion, executed these ideas absolutely flawlessly with this film. As a a true student of philosophy and of actual existentialism, or even post-modernism (all theories nietzsche indulged in), i found this film to be highly refreshing.Even looking at it from a perspective of post-modernism it makes more sense(post-modernism being the expressed idea that perception is reality, so therefore realty becomes fallible).So, induna, being a true miike fan yourself, look into what miike is basing his films ideals upon, before making a judgement on the morality of the film. I have learned over the years that miike ALWAYS has an underlying meaning to each of his films. This film was obviously based on the works and theories of nietzsche.And comparing the film to the content of which it was based, the execution is impeccable, damn near perfect. 10 stars miike,you've thoroughly impressed me again.

[–] Induna 19 years ago

I'm sorry. I didn't realise I was showing my ignorance. *slaps wrist*

Well seeing as I'm not a "true student of philosophy and of actual existentialism, or even post-modernism", maybe that's why I didn't enjoy this film as nearly as much as you did.
If that's the case then this film will appeal to a limited, drab audience only. Who will after the show go to some poncey coffee house and debate passionately and what they've just seen whilst chuffing on a cigarette or three. Speaking loudly in a self-indulgent, attention-seeking manner. Laughing to themselves as others look on in a bemused state.

[–] muserna 19 years ago

Enough said, I can't wait to see such a brilliant flop(?)either way. haha.

Gozu, was twisted too, although I didn't like that much, it still made me think deeper into how a story can be told and how even the story you see is not really the story he is trying to tell. It is another side of Miike, whose whole body of work is not as simplistic as this thread makes it out to be.

best,

muserna

[–] Induna 19 years ago

I think the word your looking for is metaphor.

[–] mattbgg 19 years ago

Why do everyone try to intellectualize movies?
And why do you assume that Miike actually based on the works of Nietzsche?

"This film was obviously based on the works and theories of nietzsche"

Maybe it was maybe it was not,but we will take your words if that makes you feel good ;-) lol

[–] uncle_creepy 19 years ago

why? read the books, then watch Izo again, you'll know why.

[–] Jfeicke 19 years ago

Just watched it. I loved it, I love Gozu. Didn't think it was boring. But wouldn't recommend it to first time Miike veiwers.

[–] thomas729 19 years ago

I saw it, I loved it. Probably among my favorite experimental movies, over Jorodowsky and Arrabal. I don't care if Miike meant it this way or if he just saw it as trash but still, it's art, it's art.

[–] jmbwithcats 19 years ago

I think Izo has the deepest plot ever to come out of Miike to be honest. It's deeply entrenched in Buddhism and Zen. I thought it was brilliant and a work that must've taken a lot of time to create.

http://www.kittysafe.net hearts think before heads do

[–] nameless-hero 18 years ago

I think Izo is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I don't care what kind of message it was trying to portray. This movie has terrible direction and terrible acting. Don't tell me that I don't like it because I don't understand the "story." This movie belongs on the bottom 100 list.