ryphis_demeanor

If you enjoyed Night of the Living Dead then inevitably you must make it here to the final part of the Dead Trilogy. This film was too bleak for the audience it was released for in the 1980's (imagine that!), but to a modern audience Day of the Dead seethes with undead issues. With no spoilers, the location is perfect, the character development more elaborate than the previous films, and the zombie gore some of the most extreme. The final attacks I will always remember as some of the most gruesome deaths I have ever seen. The recent remake of Dawn of the Dead copied many things from this film as well. After finally completing the original Romero trilogy I can say that these are the three best zombie films in existence. For Romero it seems the zombies are just a neutral antagonist that predetermines so much of the film's narrative. The rest is human beings interacting in a state of survival which creates a better tension than any regular monster could. Human beings versus each other is the more frightening than any undead creature could appear to be.

Now that I have seen Hana-bi my obsession has begun to watch all of Kitano Takeshi's films. This film is a must see for its brilliant writing, directing, and acting by Kitano himself. To date this is my favorite that has come out of Japan and was moved by the characters and their depth. I have to say that the music of the film by Joe Hisaishi is the best and most appropriate soundtrack I've heard scored in years. I recommend this film to anyone that enjoys gangster films, but the film is also more than capable of emotionally moving the viewer as well. Kitano Takeshi is cooler than Michael Madsen and Quentin Tarantino (as an actor) combined. The film has a present to it that is alive and spirited. Rent it or Buy!

I recently watched this film in a film class. Naomi Kawase has managed to combine portrait photography, documentary film, and video production with a spiritual narrative told more through silence and patience rather than intense dialogue and action. Patience is a required trait while watching this film as it uses darkness and stillness in a non-dramatic way quite often. You really must experience this film if you are fond of silent films, documentaries on Japan, or stories of family. This film is not a documentary, but her production/directing style is very similar due to the fact the entire cast, minus the leading female role, are non-actors and actual citizens of the town it was shot in.

Best/Worst Comparison: The Tibetan Book of the Dead - BBC Documentary

My favorite element: The song on the record which I assume is by Masamichi Shigeno.