Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Three... Extremes (2005)

Synopsis: Three short films from three extreme Asian directors: Fruit Chan, Chan-wook Park, and Takashi Miike. Chan's Dumplings features a woman who will stop at nothing to recapture her beauty. Park's Cut features a disgruntled extra. And Miike's Box features a dark mystery surrounding a successful female novelist.

Like(s): I liked the diversity found in each movie. Going into this, I figured it would be an over-the-top gross-out fest, but Miike, especially, held back and delivered an artistic psychological film that I will watch again. In fact, Miike's entry was appalling in its tact; I'm used to a very different Miike. I haven't seen any other Fruit Chan movie's that I can recall, but Dumplings was by far the most disturbing of the trio. Park's was visually stunning, well-acted, and proved his skills as a director. Though the title implies that this is going to be "extreme," only Chan's entry begins claiming that status.

Dislike(s): Park's ending. Somebody explain!

Candidate For Omission: No.

Also Try: Oldboy, Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Lady vengeance, Audition, Imprint.

6 comments:

  1. Dumplings is a sick blast of a film, it's a heap of fun. But out of the 3, Miike's was my clear favorite. A delicate use of sound and some stunning visuals, this one was creepy yet haunting. I just wish sometimes he made more films like this.

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  2. I'm right there with you, Johnny. Dumplings was out of control, but I relished every moment! Miike really surprised me with that one; I'm still getting over it. Do you know of anything he has done that is more like Box?

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  3. Afraid not, but to be honest, I stopped watching his output a few years ago, his quality was dropping greatly. He tended to stay away from supernatural stuff, so I guess the only other one i can think of is One Missed Call, which really isn't too good at all.

    If I think of anything else, I will let you know.

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  4. I almost gave up on Miike completely after Ichi The Killer. Don't get me started on One Missed Call, original or the horrid remake!

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  5. I see you didnt like Ichi, which I straight up love! I saw it when it first came out, and was my intro to Miike, along with Audition. It's a film that needs re-watching, but I doubt you will do that considering your general disdain for it. Ah well!

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  6. Well, if it needs re-watching, I may consider it. A lot of people say this about Suspiria, though I took to it immediately! Funny how taste differs.

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