--Miike's works(for me at least) are pretty intense at times, but quite silly, over all, and teach us to appreciate raw humanity. As far as the content, Miike visually goes above and beyond dramatic. Buck's trilogy here is modern rabid humanity. There is no excitement or fun to be had, only sad affirmations of us, the first arrogant race on the planet.
--I knew they would be entertaining, but what shocked me was that it was available to rent on a shelf in a major video store chain in the middle of the BIBLE BELT. I'm used to having to spend twice as much to buy specific cult interest dvds for 3 times their actual worth at Border's.
Cutting Moments:
--Hauntingly slow, but definitely paced appropriately. I asked my ex what she thought of it, and she sat in silence for most of an hour and then vomited. She thought I should be imprisoned for watching that. Needless to say, she was much too sensitive for the subject matter, and we're no longer together partly as a result.
Home:
--If you'll pardon the pun, this one hit particularly close to home. East Tennessee(knoxville) is riddled with families that sit in silence. Quiet, submissive mothers who never really speak up, or develop personalities. Children harboring what is deemed way too many questions-until church and school and peers silence them while they are weak. And fathers, who hide under their own father's shadow of being the ideal man. This story saddened me, because it's what most children dream of their parents when they hate them so.
Prologue:
--Continuing the theme of realism, and the itch in the back of your head that you heard this story on the news or read it in the newspaper. But this is the story after the news on it has run its course. Non-violent-but it this one, the viewer is actually hoping the killer is merciless. The protagonist has motive and the antagonist, for lack of a better term, has it coming. When I realized how I felt while watching it, I realized that I am no better than any other human.
--And that's how I like movies to be. Reminding of what we all have the potential to do. I highly suggest this trilogy for anyone willing to turn back on their emotions, instead of turning them off and taking a roller coaster ride-as you would a Miike film.
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Nesskid4side
15 years ago
I totally didn't understand the last of the three stories in this. Did the old man kill his daughter and rape and mutilate the lead actress girl? If so, and the lead girl knows, why wasn't he at least put in prison for this? She is going to just let him go? I'm sorry, but I don't think showing up at his place and showing him your lack of hands is punishment enough. It didn't ring true and it was a major turning point for me in this series. I didn't finish watching the movie, I fast-forwarded to see if there was any eventual confrontation, but instead he just digs a hole in his backyard. I know I fast-forwarded through some plot points, so if anyone can fill me in, or explain, I would appreciate it.
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K_Sear
15 years ago
Yes, you are correct on your interpretation of the events. However, I don't think reality is what Buck was going for. I think the point is more that he is being punished already. He feels guilt and self hate, he is torn and tormented by his own darkness (yes, I know that sounds cliché); his going to jail won't do anything to achieve "justice" (whatever that means) and she gets some of her life back, a sense of of security if you will, by seeing what a small and pathetic man he is. He isn't the powerful demon anymore. At least that's what I got.
And really, did this segment ring any less true than "Cutting Moments"?
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Nesskid4side
15 years ago
K Sear, I'm going to be honest with you. I didn't really like any of these stories, I didn't like the work as a whole, but I will not say that they didn't ring true entirely becuause that would be foolish of me. I think we see a lot of crazy junk these days that is very similar in tone to some of the "crimes" committed in this film. I just think it was almost anti-climactic and not showing the old man before when the crime was committed left me unsure about the story. I know these are shorts and some portions need to be insinuated but without that story chunk, it lost some of its impact.
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