Naisu no mori: The First Contact

Funky Forest… I have waited 1 night to let this all sink in.

First of all a little back story. One year ago, I went to the New York Asian Film Festival and saw the film, Taste of Tea. This was a delightful family story which I surprising loved, even though I am the kind of guy that will never turn down the cheesy Hollywood summer block buster.

One year latter I have returned to the Film Festival. Although in New York this festival is packed with violent Korean films, Funky Forest remains the festival's logo for its T-Shirts. So the question you should be asking is, what is all the hype about? Strange foreign film at an underground festival that sells out every show it plays. The hype of course revolves around 1 man, Katsuhito Ishii, or perhaps that's one mans unique brain.

Funky Forest as mentioned by the commenter before me is like watching a Cronenberg comedy. Nevertheless it goes farther then that, it is like if Cronenberg, Lynch, and M. Barney, all had their head infused with each other and then Adam Sandler hit them with a silly stick in till the being could not breath.

If anyone is supposed to summarize what the film is about, then all commenter on this site will fail…miserably. One of my friends described it as watching youtube.com shorts for 3 hours. I would agree it's a whole bunch of shorts, like a pulp film in a way. The stories are kind of connected but you are enjoying the show more then trying to figure out where it all hangs in the balance of the film.

I am giving this film a 9/10 because it did get a little long and tedious, but nevertheless the film had so many memorable moments that it is well worth anybodies time.

All that I am left to say is that as I left the theater I had an urge to buy the DVD, or a soundtrack, but instead all that was on the counter for me was a T-Shirt, and so of course, I bought it.

SEE THE FILM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, Enjoy guitar brothers, mole brothers, little Asian girls, planet pico, dreamscapes, 3 babbling girls, and of course Homeroom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are many strange movies out there, that defy genre convention and beguile with bizarreness, unpredictability and originality. Were one to compile a list of the oddest movies of all time, chances are one would include many from Japan: 'Tetsuo: The Iron Man,' 'House,' 'Survive Style 5+,' 'Gozu'- it could go on ad infinitum. Somewhere on that list you'd certainly find 'Funky Forest: The First Contact,' a madcap movie that takes viewers on a comedic thrill ride into the absurd.

'Funky Forest: The First Contact' is written and directed by Katsuhito Ishii, Hajime Ishimine and Shunichirô Miki, and is especially in keeping with the films of Ishii, particularly his previous 'The Taste of Tea.' A loosely connected series of bizarre sketches, the film is surreal, unpredictable and oftentimes quite funny. Like most ensemble films, the segments vary in quality, though the majority are at least interesting, if not entertaining, and will frequently have you in stitches (with the Susumu Terajima led 'Home Room' segments being the strongest comedically).

It is a film that builds in absurdity as it goes on, with some of the latter half's scenarios being truly off the wall. There is a temptation to criticize the movie for the disparate nature of the sketches, as well as for its' lack of purpose as a whole. Some may also be put off by the grotesquery of a few of the skits, and impatient viewers might think the proceedings a little protracted. However, the individuality, peculiarity and good humor of many of the sketches from 'Funky Forest: The First Contact' generally makes up for any opprobrium one could throw its way.

As does the fine cinematography from Hiroshi Machida and Kosuke Matsushima, who capture the outlandishness of the film with restraint. Their naturalistic work juxtaposes strongly with the subject matter, providing 'Funky Forest' with additional idiosyncrasy of style. Set decorator Asako Ohta's efforts do not go unnoticed, with locations appearing detailed and lived-in, and Shiori Tomita and Ikuko Utsunomiya's costume design is striking. Additionally, Toru Midorikawa's electronic score is atmospheric and catchy, and one will find it hard to get a few of the tunes out of one's head.

'Funky Forest' features an ensemble cast of actors, all of whom perform well- and some of whom deserve to be singled out. Susumu Terajima features in the most sketches, and will have you laughing any time he's on screen, whether in the aforementioned 'Home Room' or in the water with 'The Babbling Health Spa Vixens.' Tadanobu Asano is a real delight in a recurring sketch called 'Guitar Brother,' where he demonstrates both his considerable comedic timing and skills on the guitar. Ryô Kase and Erika Nishikado also do laudable work, impressing much with their ease of performance.

Though its' segments vary, 'Funky Forest: The First Contact' is a funny, unpredictable picture that is incredibly bizarre and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish. Featuring strong performances from all in the cast and an appropriately funky score from Toru Midorikawa; it is memorable and unique. Katsuhito Ishii, Hajime Ishimine and Shunichirô Miki have done commendable work with 'Funky Forest: The First Contact': a fine film featuring tales of the unexpected that perplexes and delights in equal measure.

Funky Forest: The First Contact is a movie that defies description. It is so uncategorizable, so jaw-droppingly strange, so unlike anything you've ever seen before that you can't help but either laugh and/or shake your head in disbelief for most of its 2 and a half hour running time. The movie has no plot. Instead there are a series of loosely interconnected scenes involving various characters who say and do the strangest things. I was particularly fond of the three female co-workers who visit a spa and take turns telling each other hilariously inane stories. On top of that there is uber-hottie Tadanobu Asano, bursts of animation, unexpected song and dance numbers and some truly disturbing sci-fi elements. For the sheer weirdness factor alone, this is essential viewing.

Nothing can prepare you even if you get a description. Very bizarre set pieces with little or no connection that was apparent to this viewer. The segments sometimes have weird grotesque imagery and sometimes are extremely commonplace. The stories follow no conventional narrative form and end in unexpected ways.

While the film doesn't have the drive of an equally strange film, "Survive Style +5", it does have a pleasant tone despite the repeated scenes with fleshy deformities, men with cow-like nipples, giant orifices and excrement like excretions. A lot of people will be turned off but the film holds a number of unexpected delights. I, for one, was delighted to hear Asano sing the Captain Harlock theme song.

Overlong, perhaps better seen in pieces, but a good film.

NAISU NO MORI - FIRST CONTACT may well be the strangest film I've ever seen... a 2.5 hour head-scratcher combining the efforts of three director/writers into a whole with no discernible plot! the film is essentially a number of short stories or vignettes, mixed together and occasionally crossing over (Tadanobu Asano and Susumu Terajima appear in a large number of the scenes). The content of these pieces is extremely varied, and beyond unpredictable. There's bits of stand-up comedy, animation, music, dance and other moments that are entirely inexplicable. We spend quite a bit of time inside character's daydreams, and we make first contact with some very odd little aliens. The film even has its own commercials and (thankfully) a 3 minute intermission.

This is undoubtedly an avante-garde film, I don't know if calling it "arthouse' is appropriate because it's so silly and funny (not like the kind of austere beard-strokers that one usually calls "arthouse"). There is some truly mad stuff going on, but there doesn't appear to be any deeper meaning or message to any of it... in fact I'm not sure what the "purpose" of the film is at all, except for the film-makers to go nuts.

At 150 minutes it must be admitted that the film outstays its welcome a little... sitting in a theatre for that long it's nice to have *some* sort of narrative to get carried away on (it's enough time to spin quite an epic). NAISU NO MORI feels almost like it should be an ambient film - on at a club or something. I can't think of any more eclectic film in cinematic history. Think SURVIVE STYLE 5+ meets Kitano's GETTING ANY meets NAKED LUNCH meets Alejandro Jodorowsky meets Aphex Twin, and you're getting somewhere near where the film is at!