Stereo Future

This film was pretty popular when it came out in Japan, combining stunning visuals, a hip score and popular actors and comedians.

Primarily a romance, Stereo Future also injects environmental commentary and comedy into the storyline to make this a hyperkinetic, eclectic film.

Some of the comedic lines are poorly translated, and so come across fairly flat. At other times, the film features spoofs of Japanese pop culture and film, as well as cameos from popular actors, musicians, etc. It may be difficult for someone who does not understand Japan well to appreciate this film to the fullest, but all in all a beautiful and funny story.

While a time reduction of 15 minutes or so might have benefited this film, I greatly appreciated the overall naturalist flow, the diversity of characters - an arty but near real-life experience - with fine polish and beautiful cinematography. It's a bit like Renoir's "Une Partie de Campagne", but enlarged to a greater layering of subjects, characters and love-relationships ("ren-ai monogatari").

Actor Masatoshi Nagase has had the sublime fortune to lead in some creative, delightful, fun films. Here again, as in the Maiku Hama trilogy, he suffers some all-too-human hard moments - arguably in a Chaplinesque spirit - but like in Modern Times, in this one he ends up with a girl (though I won't tell you which one), though no richer financially. I just wish more like this were available in the U.S.

I have to disagree with the previous comments, as I in fact both enjoyed the film and laughed. I must say this could be because I went into it expecting nothing and have fallen out of touch of current Japanese movies. So what I am saying with this last point is, maybe this is something (at least in style) that has been made of late.

This aside, I think what really captured me was the blend of visuals, the samurai sequences and soundtrack. I found some of the writing forced, particularly with the Danny character (the nature guy), he seemed too young, or the writing too overdone for part. Perhaps it was the script that was weak, but the performers (particularly the Japanese leads) that were able to gain a greater understanding of the writing. I don't mean to knock the lone-non-Japanese in the film, he did a fine job when compared with other Japanese films written for non-Japanese characters.

But I suppose a movie has to be more than just visual and audio. And while I agree and hour and 50 min. was a little long for this film, there is a spirit or heart that is within it that I think asks (if not demands) the viewer put aside a few of its flaws and give into this artistically-done popcorn film.

Those are my thoughts ... for now.

This film seems to be a kind of love affair with certain aspects of Japanese culture, with a prominent environmental theme thrown in. There are also recurring vignettes about the shooting of a samurai film, an American guy meeting the stunning Eri (Akiko Monou) who is dumb (cannot speak). Some of this film is lush and beautiful, some parts are just stunningly photographed. While the characters are strangely interwoven, its still an interesting though non-mainstream film. There are the obligatory scenes with trains and a little bit of madness, which turned out to be funny. One of the things I liked about this film was its central message, about being part of the world. Not for mainstream viewers, be a little adventurous and watch it. I liked it.

another movie where there are no characters but things that just look interesting. unfortunate unless you are at a museum the "pretty pictures" dont deserve your attention for an hour 50 minutes. okay so it tried also to be a comedy but i didnt even come close to laughing.