Tokyo Eyes

I really enjoyed this movie, especially since it had a "guest" appearance by one of my favourite Japanese actors, none other than Takeshi Kitano. The movie is a mix of suspense thriller and commentary on the life and attitudes of people in large urban areas (not necessarily just in Japan) and reflects some aspects of life in Tokyo quite well. Highly recommended.

This film, more than any other, has me convinced the critics are completely clueless. It is a perfect blend of everything great about French, Hong Kong, and Japanese storytelling.

Hinano Yoshikawa is vulnerable--and beautiful--throughout. Saying her acting was bad is like saying Juliette Lewis was bad in Cape Fear. If she really is so clueless in real life, well that was just genius casting. Shinji Takeda also gives a great, naturalistic performance.

The last 15 minutes is often criticized or misunderstood. This is really a case of French "who cares what it means, it's beautiful" meets Japanese "you should know what it means, we don't have to explain it." From an American screenwriting craft POV, one may say that it diverges too much from the preceding story, but...I was rapt to the screen and deeply satisfied when the credits rolled.

Critics of this film--and you should watch for this in the future--use phrases such as "something like" and "more or less." In criticizing Kitano's cameo, in particular, it is clear they have no idea what they're talking about. Anyone who is a big enough fan to have actually seen Kitano hit someone on the head with a giant hammer--purposely--will know that this is a classic Kitano performance.

This is an intriguing film in its early running. Its protagonist is driven by estrangement to aberrant behavior, and his budding relation with a kindred spirit makes for a potentially unusual story. But, ultimately it falls flat, never delivering any real punch. The acting is a little light weight to boot, too. Tekeshi Kitano has a near cameo role which does nothing for the momentum of the film, playing a Yakuza who shows up to retrieve a gun, and is more a distraction than anything else. There are many better Japanese films directed by real Japanese.

This movie is of course about a killer. A killer that misses his target by intention. But this movie is beyond this plot something else: It is the movie that is the best expression of the "Techno-Culture" (the style "Techno", of electronic music) i ever saw.

I'm not talking about the culture as it is seen from outside- people that are said to be (and often are) using synthetical drugs to dance the whole night to "stupid" music. I'm talking about what Techno is like, the feelings we had, why we listened to Techno.

This movie is about a boy, who wants to change the people in the world he lives in. Not in big means, just in small steps. In what he can reach. And he wants to do so in a (somehow) peaceful way. Also, it has some incredible beautiful scenes, scattered throughout it- like the faint moments of beauty in the monotone beat. There is some kind of a monotone background as you see the masses of concrete, the city with the crowds going to work or returning home, where these beautiful moments are scattered upon in a chaotic manner.

So do we feel, like the movie: Lost in that chaotic world, emotionless and grey as concrete, drifting through our life. Sometimes, we see the beauty, in nature, in the eyes of our girlfriend, or hear it in the music, or just feel it. And we want to change the world to something better, at least where we can achieve it, in a subtle way.

This movie feels like the morning when you danced through the night before, lost in the music. When you go outside, climb up from the club to the streets, the sun already risen, and the people doing their business, and you are completely lost in that world- and you feel the beauty of life. When you see the beauty of this morning, and you know all the people surrounding you could see it too, if they were awake. This is what Techno feels like. Nothing more. But nothing less.

I've seen this movie four days ago and it still bothers me. This movie does not only give you an outline of what it must be to live in Tokio in the 90ties(as well as in any other big city), but transmits the atmosphere 100%! The actors do not talk much and still everything is said. The music is absolutely well chosen. I went out of the cinema with a feeling I never had before after watching a movie. It's like being understood for the first time. You must see this film! And if you like Takeshi, watch Takeshi's castle. If your neighbors complain about you laughing, invite them and they will understand.