derekmasuda

Whispering Corridors has much in common with the current tide of horror movie offerings from Japan. However, it is hardly derivative. The material may be recycled, but the filmmakers present it in a way that is different and anything but stereotypical. Don't watch this film expecting to see a massive body count and flying limbs. There are moments when you will see why this movie is classified as a horror film, but like most ghost stories, the power of this movie is demonstrated by what the filmmakers chose not to show us. The pace is slow and deliberate. I found it almost hypnotic, but it never lags. Some of the story elements are very convoluted, but ultimately this does not detract from the overall appeal of Whispering Corridors. A movie for the thinking horror fan.

Why do we always feel the need to pigeon hole movies in order to be comfortable? To start with, Collateral is a hit-man movie.

However, it focuses on dramatic elements that the typical action flick would ignore or leave out. The first two hits take place off screen. Clearly the focus is on the two main characters. Sure there are some wickedly funny moments in this movie, but they are well placed and work well within the flow of the picture. Collateral has been described by some as a mish mash of genres, but clearly the action category is going to have some things in common with the thriller designation. And can't both these genres have funny moments? The music was very well done, but it could have been toned down at the end. It was curious that there were no opening credits, but this does not affect the picture in any drastic way. About 90% of the movie was shot on digital video and the image appears grainy in some spots, but this contributes to the overall feel that we get by being in the city at night. Michael mann uses his trademark long lense style to great affect. The action scenes are clean with a certain brutality to them. The end of the movie dragged slightly and could have possibly been better, but not by much. Don't let people tell you this movie is a failure.

This movie has a lot going for it. It is similar to Tarantino's movies in that it is definitely a genre movie. However, the director uses this to his advantage by giving us what we least expect to see when we least expect to see it. Over the top violence is present throughout the entire movie, but it's not just there to be there. Miike makes it over the top to distance himself from real violence. One of the things this film is famous for is its opening. It's a kaleidoscope of violence heaped on more violence, but the fast MTV style cutting can't disguise the real substance that becomes apparent in the rest of the movie. This isn't a timeless classic or anything, but is a great example of creativity achieved with a limited budget.