Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Twist On Apocaliptic Tales., February 19, 2006
Many films have attempted the end of days. Zombie films such as Dawn Of The Dead, 28 Days Later, 12 Monkeys to name a few. All of them have their own story but never had their own Feel. Get Ready for PULSE. A J-horror film to it's own completely that will leave you thinking about the film long after a viewing.
To keep this short and without going into ruining the story for you. This is not like any Asian Horror film you've seen before. It's not for those looking for a gore fest but, those that like artistic films with a message may enjoy this much. It's not so easy to understand but in Japanese culture films don't spoon feed the story to the viewer. This way you get to take away from it what you feel and still (hopefully) understand the story. It's not so hard and you don't have to look far to see the undertone of this film is that we are all living in a world where we are all seperate. There is no sense of community and we are living like ghosts. If you aren't, then you're one of the few who isn't paralized by consumerism and (more importantly) internet. We've never been so connected yet so separate.
I think it's perfect for anyone planning on comparing the American release or who's in the mood for something deep and atmospheric. If you're into Teen horror flix or the famous blood soaked asian shock flix this is not for you. This is unto itself and will pull those viewers with a though process deep inside only to turn you out full of thoughts and urging for a second viewing.
Only dissapointment is the distribution company was so cheap that they FORCE you to watch their previews. If you try to skip them you can't get into the menu. Although the previews were interesting they had nothing to do with the film in any relation and this company will not get another purchase from me unless they had something I definately wanted. The price for the DVD is so high... you should be able to have a working menu if you find the way around those previews. Making the menu not work if you pass around the previews is only an annoyance and is a total shame on the Production company and the studios. I hope the stingy hollywood studios don't catch on to the process because I would honestly stop buying DVDs that perform like this.
Feature presentation 4 STARS
DVD EXTRAS 2 STARS (a little thin/Ok for Asian film)
SUBS -FAILED A LITTLE DELAY! COME ON! $20 DVD!
DVD Transfer 5 STARS Feature Presentation looks great
DVD Production -FAILED (forced previews dud menu if bypassed)
Magnolia DVD Production is the worst of all Asian turn outs. Check companies like TARTAN for QUALITY Films THIS IS NOT WORTH 20$ BUT MAYBE $9.99 IF YOU CAN BUY THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICAL RELEASE MAGNOLIA DOESN'T DESERVE $20 FOR THIS TRANSFER.
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13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Art cinema with blood., June 28, 2006
Kairo (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2001)
While Kiyoshi Kurosawa is no relation to the great Akira Kurosawa, he does seem to be Japan's most likely director, at the present time, to fill the master's shoes. Kairo is another stunning set piece in his arsenal, a worthy successor to Kurosawa's previous films and a fine work in its own right.
Kurosawa's trademark impressionist style haunts this tale of the ghosts in the machine. It follows, alternately, two characters-- Michi (Casshern's Kumiko Aso), a worker at a greenhouse, and Kawashima (Haruhiko Kato), a University student, as they live through an apocalypse about which few people know anything except that it involves people disappearing (or committing suicide) and red duct tape. It seems to be connected to a website called The Forbidden Room, which keeps appearing mysteriously on Kawashima's computer.
Kairo is to Japanese horror film what Akira is to anime; it has become exceptionally well-known in a very short amount of time, but it's probably not the best film for beginners to start off with. While the storyline is linear, it's told in such a piecemeal fashion, leaving a good deal to the viewer's imagination, that those new to the particularly Japanese style of making horror films might find it a bit hard to follow. (This is generally true of Kurosawa's films; his Silence of the Lambs homage, Cure, follows the same general path. Hideo Nakata's best film, Chaos, is another example.) It would be better for the Japanese horror neophyte to start off with Nakata's justly-famous Ring and Dark Water to get a taste of the wonderful atmosphere of Japanese horror before diving into the wonderful world of Kurosawa; that said, his films are a must for any horror film aficionado looking for the cutting edge of the medium. Once you've gotten into the spirit of Japanese horro, get to know Kiyoshi Kurosawa's work. You won't regret it. ****
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The technology that supposedly bind us, truly seperates us, March 12, 2006
First off, let me say that a lot of people who see this movie were probably expecting a gory, horrific tale (judging from the dvd cover), but it is much, much more in-depth then that. In my most recent viewing of the movie, I have found a more metaphorically "layered" film that begs to be viewed more than once to fully understand it's context. I assume most people only see it once, then they put it off as "boring" or "non-comprehensible" afterwards. That is somewhat true if your'e going into the film expecting cheaps thrills, scares and gore, but this is the kind of film that requires patience and analysis, actions that are rarely required for horror films nowadays....
The director, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, has always been an advocate for supplying his horror films with more than just horror; he delves into the pyschological state of his characters presenting the viewer with a better sense of what the characters motives are in his movies. He shoots PULSE with a keen eye to the enviroment and showcases a steadily deterioration of that enviroment in which the story takes place. Decayed buildings, dark hallways, and natural lighting give the movie a dark tone that stays with the viewer throughout the whole movie. I also have to note the philosophical overtone that the film presents as well; that the technology that supposedly binds us closer, in fact drives us further apart. Great premise and direction.
As for the casting, I personally felt the they played their parts well, showcasing the terror and isolation they experience in a believable fashion. I specifically appreciated Haruhiko Kato's performance, who plays Kawashima in the film. His willingness to discover the truth about what is happening to the world seems very believable. The other two big named actors (to Japanese movie-goers at least) are Kumiko Aso and Koyuki, the latter playing in the movie "The Last Samurai". Their performances were believable as well.
As for the music, most of it was just ambient noise which just seems fitting for this type of movie. It created a eery atmosphere that heightened certain scenes in the film.
So for my final words, I have to say this; Pulse is a pure psychological thriller/horror, but it's more to the liking of say, Stanley Kubricks "The Shining" with the atmosphere of David Fincher's "Seven". The horror or fear aspect of the film truly comes from the atmosphere rather than blood or violence, which I believe is totally absent from the film. So is it a masterpiece? I would have to say a profoundly "Yes", but please view it multiple times and just let it sink in, then you will truly the beauty that is "PULSE".
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