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[Panajev2001a]

Really... unless I can get movies with a better ending that is .

Sorry, just venting after watching "A Scene at the Sea": in some parts it kinda dragged (although it was really due to the camera work... very still cameras, it was almost like wztching a German TV show), but had very nice camera shots (the photography in the movie was top notch IMHO), lots of emotions and a nice warming soundtrack.

I seriously cannot understand why basically all of Kitano's movies (excpet one or two) have a sad ending (either his character commits suicide, or he gets killed, etc...): I won't spoil it for you, but when something happened at the beach and not much long after the credits started rolling (not without a flashback to make the ending feel even sadder)... my brother and I were speechless.

The story was beautiful, but the ending jsut made me go "WTF... come on, it cannot end this way".

sigh...

 

[DCharlie]

"seriously cannot understand why basically all of Kitano's movies (excpet one or two) have a sad ending"

because that's pretty much how life is?

a lot of Japanese cinema has a down ending, or at least, something truly terrible happens along the way.

 

[radioheadrule83]

I really need to get the collection sorted. I've seen quite a few of his movies but I only own Haba Bi and Zatoichi.

I love the ending to Hana Bi... not far removed from what you just described though, sadly.

 

[Jacobi]

watch Zatoichi, its ending is very happy

 

[Panajev2001a]

Come on, in Japanese horror movies it is almost a rule that Ghosts/Demons win .

Look at Ju-On for example (not to talk about The Call): the city fecking devoured at the end of the movie :lol.

because that's pretty much how life is?

I hope not. There are happy stories, there are things that go well, not all things go bad: in all of Kitano's movies you grow attached to character just before he kills them off.

His movies can be depressing too: yeah, ok life has ups and downs and tragic things do happen, but this does not mean everything is as it is in his movies... or at least I hope so .


Sorry, I am a fan of some kind of positive ending (although I like a happy ending where it fits ): think about Hero's ending to get an idea about what I mean.

 

[radioheadrule83]

^ I think that's what I like about Kitano though. It's too easy to give the audience a bunch of people to like that will be in danger but never die or have tragedy really befall them. You have these really morbid tales of people going somewhere, going through something or facing a struggle - physical or emotional - and even if the ending isn't positive you'll still find it littered with bittersweet humor. If you've seen Brother, you'll know what I mean.

It's really mad stuff considering its coming from a comedian.

watch Zatoichi, its ending is very happy

:lol yeah shoulda mentioned that. I won't spoil it for him...

 

[Panajev2001a]

watch Zatoichi, its ending is very happy

I do not trust Kitano .

We got that movie the other day btw, we will watch it tomorrow probably.

a lot of Japanese cinema has a down ending, or at least, something truly terrible happens along the way.

I think it is not too far fetched to say that maybe the still a bit depressed economic climate and the not small suicide rate might be affected by how this vision of life is pushed by their cinema. Maybe in a small way, but I do not think it has absolutely no effect.

I like a lot his way of movie making, but I just do not want to see the endings to his movies .

 

[Panajev2001a]

^ I think that's what I like about Kitano though. It's too easy to give the audience a bunch of people to like that will be in danger but never die or have tragedy really befall them. You have these really morbid tales of people going somewhere, going through something or facing a struggle - physical or emotional - and even if the ending isn't positive you'll still find it littered with humor.

I can take a "bad ending": think of Hero... I was very attached to Jet Li's character and to his other companions and the ending should be really really bad if you think about what happens: yet, I do not come out depressed after watching Hero, all the contrary... I feel some sadness, but I also feel uplifted.

Kitano's movies are really well made, but they leave me feeling sad... and kinda epressed: it leaves with a feeling of "life sucks" in the heart... I do nto like it.

Still his characters can move on... and it is not like any person dies for no reason, with their death being meaningless... still it makes me sad watching his movies.

 

[Panajev2001a]

You have these really morbid tales of people going somewhere, going through something or facing a struggle - physical or emotional

For once could not they face this struggle and come on top of it ?

 

[Jacobi]

Just can't imagine Takeshi "winning" at the end of a movie...but hana-bi's ending is fantastic, doesn't make you depressed, you can enjoy you life after it , you get what I mean ? you only feel sad for them but don't think this world sux

 

[fart]

iirc kikujiro has a pretty happy ending. really though, beat takeshi is just channeling classical japanese nihilism

 

[Dujour]

watch Zatoichi, its ending is very happy

Not if you like the old Zatoichi.

 

[speedpop]

I don't have much to say about the way he makes films, other than that they kick arse.

 

[Kuro Madoushi]

iirc kikujiro has a pretty happy ending. really though, beat takeshi is just channeling classical japanese nihilism

I think Kikujiro was one of his best films! Loved it from start to finish! But yeah the rest of his movies tend to be downers...lots of sight gags, abrupt humour, and silly non-sensical stuff, but I like them nonetheless

 

[DCharlie]

"I think it is not too far fetched to say that maybe the still a bit depressed economic climate and the not small suicide rate might be affected by how this vision of life is pushed by their cinema. Maybe in a small way, but I do not think it has absolutely no effect."

well, even in kids cartoons, bad stuff happens... it prepares them for the fact that life isn't a bed of roses.

I like it, personally.

 

[Ash Housewares]

Not if you like the old Zatoichi.

good point, I guess you could look at the whole movie that way

but the new film was rather odd, turned into Bollywood at the end there

 

[Panajev2001a]

well, even in kids cartoons, bad stuff happens... it prepares them for the fact that life isn't a bed of roses.

This is fair, but there is a limi you have to put: soon you go from "a life is not a bed of roses" to "life sucks and the world will go on with or without you....did I mention that life sucks ?".

You cannot exagerate in that direction either.

 

[Troidal]

There are some sad ones, but I think Japanese movies for the most part end in subtlety.

But when you speak of sad endings, I gotta hand it to Korean movies.
Their movies can sometimes make this man cry (;_;