Best and Worst Japanese Films 2009

[Mulboyne]

[Adhesive]

I've gotten to the point where I can barely sit through most modern Japanese films. It's as if I've been sensitized to the banality-wrapped-in-perversion that seems to be the common theme of many Japanese films.

I admit that I haven't seen a ton of recent films, but of the last five or so, I literally had to turn them off half way through. Miike hasn't made a good film since Audition. So many of the characters seem so hollow, and you don't really care what happens to them. Also there's this kind of weird isolated loneliness that pervades most Japanese films that I can't stand anymore. Anime, in particular, is guilty of this. It's hard to explain exactly, because I'm definitely no film critic, but I just have a hard time getting into the film now days.

I've actually really enjoyed many of the Korean films I've seen recently, and even though some of them are probably a little old, they have kind of recaptured what I used to enjoy about good Japanese films. Memories of Murder was particularly good...and although the story felt kind of closed-off and isolated like a Japanese film, it wasn't lonely, and you didn't mind being trapped-in with the characters.

But I'm willing to keep an open mind, so if anyone has some suggestions for good Japanese movies not on the above list, feel free to offer them.

[Mulboyne]

What struck me about the list is that they were willing to name the 10 worst films. Perhaps they do so every year but you don't get many critical brickbats hurled in Japan so this stood out. Especially since the films they name include some big-budget films as well as some indie darlings.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

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Trailer for "Air Doll"

I thought this was "Pornocchio." It was a wonderful depiction of life for the contemporary Japanese man.

[2triky]

I thought this was "Pornocchio." It was a wonderful depiction of life for the contemporary Japanese man.

I haven't seen this but it is directed by Koreeda Hirokazu who has a few films that have garnered critical acclaim such as Aruitemo Aruitemo and Hana yorimo Nao among others.