Stereo Future

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.

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.

This movie really makes me want to visit Japan even more so!

The cinematography in this film is so relaxing - emphasizing the beautiful tranquility of nature; the main theme which serves as a metaphor throughout the story. Add a great soundtrack of electronic beats and some really mellow sounds (Eri's theme) and that's another level to enjoy it on. What about laughs? Kengo is fun to watch as his scheming ways just makes you crack up in almost any scene he's in. There are some real funny scenes on location of a samurai movie, but if you watch, it looks like the whole cast and crew had a blast making this. Thenm there's our sweet Eri who's situation is fragile as a disturbed ecosystem. Some great scenes include indoor photo shoots, flirting, non-sappy romance and a really cool place to get some fresh air.

Nakano's Stereo Future has its own life and I tracked this Japanese edition DVD just to see it. It's one of my favorites. Remember, don't buy Altechi!!

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 watched this one only yesterday and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Where some others may claim this film to be a case of "style over substance", I whole-heartedly disagree.

Eri is suffering a trauma after splitting with her ex which causes her to become mute. Meanwhile, the said ex is pursuing his ambition to become an actor, which we find out as the film progresses, was the chief cause for them breaking up.

With a powerful message conveyed underneath the story of how each copes following the break-up, this film oozes style and beauty - and given the underlying theme, it's obvious why it was shot in such a way.

True, it's not hilarious all the way through, but there are some very funny moments during this drama/romance/comedy which actually made me laugh out loud.

I would recommend this film to anybody who is looking for something a little different... just try to stomach the really annoying American and you'll be okay.