Customer Reviews

Pinocchio 964

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

964 Pinocchio is an acquired taste. If you like movies that are wierd just to be wierd, you might like this. It really has no narrative structure and is nothing more than a series of disjointed scenes strung together for ninty minutes. The plot concerns an underground manufacturer of sex androids, one is let out and is befriended by a street person. After the first ten minutes, all real structure is thrown out and it turns into an arty student film with massive jump cutting, grotesque imagery, etc. I admit, it held my interest just to see what strange things would happen next, but overall, I wasted my time. I bought it, you should rent it-you will only need to see it once, if at all.

964 Pinocchio (Shozin Fukui, 1991)

In case you were wondering, the square root of 964 is 31.048349392520047457724923534346.... I know this because I became curious while watching 964 Pinocchio. (It's actually "the square root of 964 Pinocchio", but I'm too lazy to look up the alt code for the square root sign, and it probably won't show up right on Amazon anyway.) What this has to do with this odd little film, the first feature-length piece from Rubber's Lover director Fukui, I've no idea. In any case, I'll tell you right now that this is one of those movies you will either love or hate; there seems to be no middle ground.

There is a plot to it, though it's so over the top that at times you may wonder if it's really still a plot at all. A sex slave (Haji Suzuki, who never acted again) is ejected from the bordello of his keepers and finds himself wandering the streets, where he runs into a cute, though crazy, lass named Himiko (Onn-chan, again in her only screen appearance). While she finds him a bit creepy at first, she eventually warms to him. (It is she who dubs him Pinocchio while they're on a quest to discover his identity.) The two of them traipse around trying to figure out who (and why) they are, while the company who created Pinocchio sends out extermination squads to get rid of him; he is, after all, defective merchandise.

It's not like there's no precedent for something like 964 Pinocchio, especially in Japan; this is really nothing more than the psychedelic movies of the seventies taken to extremes. Think Hausu or Corman's The Dunwich Horror or Kenneth Anger's sixties and seventies flicks, for example. Pinocchio just updates the psychedelic feel with the feel of the drugs more common during the time frame (ecstasy and crack) and has much better special effects. It's the same kind of rambling plot, the same odd, stilted dialogue, the same odd lack of resolution despite there being a pretty solid climax (once again I refer you to The Dunwich Horror for an idea of what I'm trying to get at there). Conceptually, it's not a bad little film at all. But theory and practice often differ. Fukui has no sense of pace at all, leading to long parts of this movie dragging when they should be snappy, and some of the less action-oriented bits feeling way too rushed. It tips the balance, in my opinion, from an average-to-good flick to an average-to-bad flick, which is too bad; there are a lot of interesting ideas here. **

Yowza!!! This is an amazing flick from Shozin Fukui (Rubber's Lover). This baby is filled to the brim with kinetic energy that'll blow the unsuspecting viewer away.

Previously residing in the lonely world of bootleg video, Unearthed Films released this fantastic edition on DVD. The image quality is something magnificant to behold. For a film shot on 16mm, the restoration is quite breathtaking. I couldn't believe how amazing it looked.

For me, this film isn't really about the story, it's about the experience of watching it, and it's one hell of a ride. Fukui has an impressive eye (I wish he crank out a few more films) and even though he was working within the limited aspect ratio of 1:33:1, he still manages to capture some striking compositions. His creative use of cinematography creates a very chaotic and unstable world that can become unhinged (which it usually does) at any given moment. His use of sound and performaces from fearless actors will further test of audiences' boundaries of sanity.

I saw this before I saw Tetsuo: The Iron Man, which many people accuse this film of ripping off. No way! This baby is a completely different animal. In many ways, I think Pinocchio 964 emerges as a better film. At the very least, it lives within its own creative world and I'm very happy that I can finally view it as it was meant to be seen!

Check it out!

I going to speak to a specific audience of reader right now, and you will know who you are. You saw Tetsuo: The Iron Man years ago, and it burnt itself ito the circuitry of your brain. You watched it many times, and showed it to friends; but no matter where you looked, or what you watched, you never got the same high as you did that from watching Tetsuo. Perhaps you watched Tetsuo 2, and were disapointed; perhaps you watched Tokyo Fist, and it just wasn't the same. You watched other films by other Japanese directors, but nothing could rise to the delerious cyberpunk heights of Tetsuo...

Until now...

The Second coming has arrived...mmmm, apparently in 1992!

If Tetsuo was your cup of slime and blood, this will get you off hard. And let me tell you, this is not just some Tetsuo wanna be, a Tetsuo clone. This is a film with a world all of it own. It has a totally different aesthetic, totally different textures, totally different themes and subthemes. This is a wild, hardcore, punk rock trip into the dark side, and I loved it.

The actors go places that blew me away. Like they jacked straight into the Id, and their performances show a level of commitment that no American actors would ever dare take themselves. It seems like they are all tripping hard on LSD or some types of psychodelics. The director is incredibly self confidant, and wants to "show you" his world, not explain it will dialogue. He has his roots in some strange punk, noise rock underground scene, and he incorporates this sensibility into the film.

The use of sound in the film is truly unique, and help build layers of (un)reality. The film takes some serious twists and turns that will satisfy the philosophical side of your nature. One of the coolest part for me, was that most of the film seems to have been film (guerilla style) in public!, without permission, mostly in stores and subways. It really tickles me to wonder what people must have been thinking to have seen these freaks going nutz while they were on the way to work. If you watch, you can see some pretty shocked looks on their faces, but, weirdly enough, most people just keep walking.

This movie is a new personal favorite of mine. It lean, mean, punkrocking subversive machine- but strangely sweet.

Oh, and did I mention that this DVD has a short film on it (a rather long short film) called Caterpillar by the same director, which also is wild and weird and waiting to rock your world.

I also have found out that the director shot a prequel to this film a number of years later, and it is supposed to be every more offensive and violently psychotic! It is called Rubber's Lover and it also available on DVD. I will review that one after I have bought and watched it.
I'm speaking to you, and you know who you are. Get this, see this...I'll see you on the other side.

Wow this was one weird movie. I have never in my life seen anything like this. This is not the Disney Pinocchio we all grew up watching. This movie is so messed up you won't believe it. Pinocchio is a lobotomized cyborg sex slave, and is thrown out onto the street by his owners. Pinocchio meets up with this homeless girl named Himiko. Then Pinocchio's creator sends out his men to get rid of Pinocchio. This is one really strange movie though. It's pretty low budget, but in a good way. I liked all the weird camera angles too. I think the best part was when Pinocchio ran down the streets screaming. That was just weird and freaky! I bet all those people were freaked out when they saw this thing running. Did I mention the ending is also weird as heck. If you're looking for a weird movie to watch, then you'll enjoy Pinocchio 964. There's nothing out there quite like this. 9/10 from me.

Ok...this movie is really ackword. Its a really deep indie horror movie. I never seen a movie like ths. In my view its like Eraserhead. Alot of things going on but it makes no sence.
A few scenes i was shocked by. The camer angles are bad ass. I liked it alot from the horror.
But like i said it wasnt the best horror movie ive seen. It was interesting though. But ill say it opne more time its not the best.
The whole movie doesn't make sence and alot of annoying yelling. But thats what makes it unique. The screaming, the uzing substances from the characters mouths and.... the story.
If you wanna buy this movie go for it. If this review isn't helpful then....?

The Good Things
*Very vivid photography and style. Lots of interesting camera angles.
*Unlike "Rubber's Lover", this one is in color.
*Pretty good production design.
*Pretty good story (although some parts don't really make sense).
*Good acting (even if it is really over-the-top).
*Good music.

The Bad Things
*After the first thirty minutes, everybody goes crazy for some unknown reason. One or two parts make you ask aloud, "What the heck is going on now?"
*Not for the sqeamish; contains some blood and some gnarly make-up effects (and one part that makes you wonder "Just how much can a person puke?!"). Also some sex and nudity and extreme dementedness.

The Questionable Things
*Some parts are filmed with erratic shaking. Can be seen as stylish or annoying.

The first half-hour of this movie was quite good and sensible, until everybody went nuts. Still, it has a very intense and immersive style that sucks you in even when nothing makes logical sense. It's definately weird and gross, but quite well-made, and perhaps even artistic.

The DVD is in fullscreen, and has good video and sound quality. Extras include a short film, an interview, a photo gallery, and one or two trailers.

What a pleasant treat 964 Pinocchio is. I was always curious as to what the Japanese "Cyberpunk" Cinema scene was all about and now I at least have a little bit of an idea...maybe?

As an average person or moviegoer - what are you going to get out of 964 Pinnochio? You're going to get A LOT of people running around and the way it's portrayed makes you feel as if you're high on PCP. You're going to get incredibly uncomfortable moans, groans, and screams, CONSTANTLY, and some brutally gooey scenes of violence. Oh yeah, and "NO PLOT!"

Basically, this movie is not for everyone. Definitely not. But for anyone who can see a film as a piece of art, put this in high regards! It is definitely a masterpiece of it's kind and culture! I, for one, have never seen anything like it. The speed-fused style of cinematography and editing will have anyone who can actually SIT through the whole movie feeling antsy and a bit dreadful! But you need to look at things the right way, any movie that can work it's way into your psyche like that and become a CHALLENGE to watch, is a GOOD THING! Some of the scenes with the wandering around camera reminded me of the sort of queasy feeling that the 2002 masterpiece IRREVERSIBLE provides.

I'm not going to say much else, other than that you need to expect an extremely abstract ride full of horrifying imagery, dreadful atmosphere, and ultra-violence...all at hyperspeed! I especially enjoyed the finale! 964 Pinocchio is certainly a masterpiece of it's own kind!

this was a very good film if you are looking for something completely awkward. lots of nonsense that makes it so unique however still the similarities to this and tetsuo the ironman are obvious. only thing i didnt like was that it seemed to drag on a bit much like tetsuo but i love how these japanese actors pull off the delusional acts. not enough lesbian action if you ask me. i like the extra short as well

Pinocchio 964 is one of the only films that made me want a seatbelt for my couch. Intense and visually intoxicating, the film follows this sex android who is thrown out of a menage-a-trois by an oversexed female cause he can't perform. Pinocchio wanders around Japan and meets Himiko. She takes care of him while the company that made him searches desperately for him. When they finally find him, all Hell breaks loose as your pummeled witha barrage of camera work that would make the director of Versus jealous.

Blood, gore, freakiness and just plain fun. They don't make em like this in the US.