An idiot reviews Akira Kurosawa's "Rashomon"

[Searyx]

Copied and Pasted from a Netflix review. I don't know what it is about moronic reviews that I find so fascinating. I just do.

Connie Liggans

2 out of 41 people found this review helpful.


What a disappointment! In addition to the black and white video and the Japanese audio with subtitles, it lacked both a plot and good actors. This was the worst movie I have ever rented. The acting was so poor it was almost comical. I do not understand how anyone could have given it the good ratings I saw on your reviews.

For those of you who are curious, Rashomon is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. A view I'm inclined to agree with after viewing the film this afternoon.

I've now seen The Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and Rashomon. I can barely contain my excitement at the prospect of seeing more films by such a talented director. It puzzles me how some can be so blind to the skill portrayed in Kurosawa's films.

Any other Kurosawa fans here? Got some tips on what to see next?

[Stroker Ace]

Sanjuro! Not as good as Yojimbo, but damn near close.

I love me some Kurosawa!

And if anyone think's Rashômon is a bad movie they should be shot.

[Iannis]

and I continue to wish that there were more movie rental joints around here besides fagbusters. No foreign films for j00! (j00 being me)

[Szlia]

If you want a change from the costume movies: Living (Ikiru) is a fantastic melodrama and High and Low (aka Heaven and Earth) is a magnificent ransom movie in scope.

If you want more costumes: Ran and Kagemusha are waiting for you

[frott]

Sorry, but in todays average consumerist culture - which might be, oh, a tad racist and anticlassicist - the average person could give a big turd for watching an epic Japanese saga.

It doesn't make them a moron, only less cultured - I'm sure they'd defend something like Mr. Deeds or Tommy Boy as much as they could "It rocked" or "Aooow!"

I find everything by Kurosawa boring, Bergman the same. I think epic tales that drone on which essentially have the big message, little impact mode about them are inefficient. They are trying to make points that they could make with less expense, it appears wasteful.

I can read King Lear in about 1/2 the time it takes to watch Ran, and its the *same thing*... I don't need to watch Lawrence of Arabia style 4 minute panning shots to get a sense of the environment, to escape into it.

Rashomon is the same, but still his "best" work, I think... he expands books - great, a great technical feat, but he needs some serious editing done. The texts are far more effective than the film, and shouldn't be.

You will never find a Kurosawa review without at least an allusion to "the technical feats that the crew endured"...

Of course, this is an old argument - go to any film school and you'll run him through the ringer: but he got it done, did it his way, lavish and all. Sure, he's technically genious, can't criticize that, but, when [acclaimed american director] does these same films we're far, far more nitpicky and way easier to criticize and dismiss it as ancient rabble.

I quite liked Ghost Dog, by jarmusch (sp?) which was loosely based on urban hip hop culture and their fascination, generally, with asian moral codes and ethics. and included rashomon in the movie. Far more rich, stimulating, and lush than rashomon the movie in my opinion - - - b/w, subtitles, stiff looking actors (is that natural?), and lots of long, slow shots where little is done or said doesn't work for everyone.

[Silva]

I like Kurasawa because he was in that Bare Naked Ladies song.


He's dead now=(

[Bledynn]

I'd go Ran then Kagemusha. I personally love Dreams, but it's not for everyone. It's basically just him filming a few of his dreams he's had. It's very narcotic and beautiful.

[Searyx]

Why in God's name is Ikiru not available on DVD yet!? I want to see it, but I can only get it on VHS.

the average person could give a big turd for watching an epic Japanese saga.

It doesn't make them a moron, only less cultured

Actually, I agree with you. However, the REASONS for disliking a film are the deciding factors that make you a moron or no. Hating a film because it's got those icky subtitles, and that darn director was too poor to shoot in the far-superior color format, and the editor of the film did not have the balls to cut his film into a music video for the Attentioin Deficit Disorder crowd with a average scene length of 1.9 seconds (like Armageddon); that makes you a moron.

If you dislike the film because it did not develop the characters as much as you'd like, or because you're not a fan of the Japanese penchant for overacting in many of Kurosawa's films, then you're not a moron, since your opinion stems from intelligent, rational though and not ignorance.

but he needs some serious editing done.

For instance? The film is only 88min, which is rather short. Do you think some seens should have been added, or taken away?

And how can you not love that last fight? I have never seen a fight in an action film correctly portray the FEAR that comes with attempting to kill a man who is also trying to kill you. Kurosawa films it beautifully, as he did in Yojimbo, as the gangs tentatively run forward, and back, barely touching blades for fear of cut or killed.

Ghost Dog > Rashomon? Uh... how about Dumb and Dumber > Saving Private Ryan? Or perhaps Ishtar > The Godfather II?

I know! Battlefield Earth > Schindler's List!

You're off your rocker, dude

and lots of long, slow shots where little is done or said doesn't work for everyone.

Too much Brittney Spears MTV videos rots your brain. Those are the people who can't stand long, panning shots which explain everything with a glance or a look, instead of hammering it into you with paragraph after paragraph designed for the lowest common denominator.

Someone on this board once compared American Culture to Bugs Bunny. He said, and I'm paraphrasing here, "Bugs Bunny looks and sees Elmer Fud coming towards him. What does he do? He shouts to the audience, "Oh no! Here comes Elmer Fud! I better run!" Well, no shit, rabbit! He's walking towards you with a gun!"

A lot of American cinema these days is like the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. Subtly is lost on most blockbusters films, where they give the characters excuses to explain their entire motivation in the first few minutes of the film, and then continue to beat you over the head with it as it progresses. Your average Blockbuster assumes you have no understanding of the human condition, and would be totally lost without an in-depth verbal explanation of everyone's motives.

[Szlia]

Bouhouhou Explorer ate my post

To sum it up: Frott, you exagerate and caricaturize too much.

[frott]

I agree with you completely, Searyx, and I love parts of the movie - and yes the hour and a half films are. in my opinion. much more successful than his 3 hour long films, but the 3 hour ones are those which are critically acclaimed because he'd rebuild landscapes, use 300 lenses, etc.

The Ghost Dog > Rashomon notion isn't impossible to consider if you realize that successful intelligence is the ability to convey meaning and story. Some people who are turned off by Rashomon absorb Ghost Dog, and of course vice versa. I m'self can absorb both and prefer Ghost Dog.

Americans can criticize "foreign films" in that they can be vague and nonlinear & overwhelmingly empty feeling, expecting the audience to fill in the blanks in lieu of leading the audience more forcibly. Either can be bad, easily.... but where Wim Wenders and Todd Haynes meet comfortably in the middle, as do a lot of non-popular filmmakers.

I don't know enough about Hollywood and Madison Avenue's extension overseas, but through US media at the same time you've got people who think our shit stinks worse than most, you've also got people eating the same shit with a sterling spoon. Irony?

[frott]

Originally posted by Szlia
Bouhouhou Explorer ate my post

To sum it up: Frott, you exagerate and caricaturize too much.

I think the general public can only be an exaggeration and caricaturization, tho. . . I don't want to know why Mr. Deeds can make millions. I can only imagine the folks enjoying it are the same who dismiss fine art cinema due to the "wacky subtitles"...

Or, ask anyone why they thought Titanic was a good movie. 99% of the answer is "because I liked it." At it's core, Titanic had quite a corrupt moral message, and displayed and romanticised rampant sexism, racism, classism without exploring those forces at work. . .

the problem doesn't lie in the film's target audience not comprehending these things, it lies in the film's suggestion that the reasons for these things aren't to be quesitoned, and that the film's role is showing an isolated instance of hope/triumph as somehow overcoming societal ills (rather than direct confrontation with them)...

The role of American pop cinema is to allow the audience to slip farther and farther into a role of helplessness, by the handholding that Searyx referred to, so that the only way a story will get through the "thick skulls" we must have is IF our hand is being held. Anything else comes off as 'weird' or 'stupid'...

[Rad]

I think you're all on drugs.

[Oakman]

I agree with you Searyx that subtlety is lost in today's movies. Why do you think we have seen so few films with open endings, or anything that requires interpretation? Movie makers have to stop doubting our intelligence, I enjoy speculating and discussing a movie for weeks after my friends and I see it, far more than watching some cop out ending where everything "comes together"

[Iannis]

hey, don't knock Ishtar.

Next you're going to say Zardoz wasn't a good movie. GODDAMN IT I'LL FISTFIGHT ANYONE WHO SAYS DIFFERENT.

[Szlia]

This time I am in hurry so I can't adress Frott's post (but I'll do when I find time :P ), but I just wanted to say that Ikiru has several different english titles ("Living" or "To Live" or "Doomed") I would be surprised if it's not existing in DVD at all.