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.

I have seen this film on TV, and I think I was right not to have bought a ticket to see this film in a cinema, because the actors, especially H.Yoshikawa, made me laugh, though they were not supposed to. I honestly think that this is not a bad film. I guess you will spend some nice time seeing his film, but you should not be too serious.

I always thought there were no good love movies in this world. Films like "Thorn Birds", "Gone with the wind", "Titanic" and "Love Story" with all that crying-suffering&dying stuff full of exaggeration never really touched me. Another reason I don't like these movies is that they completely lack in style.

However: The 90s have been extremely generous to us, giving us three excellent love movies full of style & magic: "Los Amantes del Círculo Polar", "Der Krieger und die Kaiserin" and this gem.

"Tokyo Eyes" is full of cool music, excellent camera work, cute scenes, and good storytelling, creating a mood that absorbed me right from the beginning. It's not pretentious in any way and it didn't annoy or bore me for a single second (As most other love movies do). The last five minutes are fantastic and contain one scene that in my opinion is one of the best in movie history (at least in terms of camera work). Shinji Takeda does a great job as "K" and Hinano Yoshikawa covers her missing acting skills by cuteness beyond good or evil. The cameo by Takeshi Kitano is nice as well.

P.S: Though I wouldn't consider this movie to be utterly weird or totally different from standard Hollywood movies, some people may find it too slow-paced, lacking in action or even pointless.

10 points out of 10.

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.

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.