Your favourite "zen-like" director/film

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 14 Dec 2006, 01:37

Shingster wrote:You're the first person i've seen mention A Letter From Mars since it came out! Wasn't a bad film an all.

Are you guys possible talking about "A Man Who Went to Mars". I received it two days ago from YesAsia.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 14 Dec 2006, 01:41

I wouldn't say Yoji Yamada has ever really dipped into Zen territory, his films are more melodramas about "salt of the earth" types. Not so sure about Yimou either, although some of his films touch upon Zen-like themes I guess.

Chen Kaige is a good one though. Life on a String is a must watch.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 14 Dec 2006, 01:43

thelostdragon wrote:
Shingster wrote:You're the first person i've seen mention A Letter From Mars since it came out! Wasn't a bad film an all.
Are you guys possible talking about "A Man Who Went to Mars". I received it two days ago from YesAsia.

Yeah that's it.

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 14 Dec 2006, 03:07

Shingster wrote: I take it you've not seen the likes of Sugata Sanshiro, Dersu Uzala, Dreams, Ikiru. Kurosawa regularly made films about characters reaching a zen-like realisation throughout his career. I'm not surprised you rubbished Kurosaw given that he used Zen themes rather than aesthetics, as you cling to your "minmalism" pretentions like a fly to a big steaming turd.

No need to get yourself so worked up.

If such simple thematics are 'zen' then Kurosawa is no better than any Western director.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 14 Dec 2006, 10:59

Hehe Lourdes trust me, you couldn't get me worked up if you tried.

Simple thematics eh? You don't know what you're talking about, for example in Sugata Sanshiro it's the driving theme of the film.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 14 Dec 2006, 11:49

Didn't expect quite a debate.... I didn't just mean thematically, but technically as well (which agreed isn't as effective).

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 14 Dec 2006, 12:12

Mamoru Oshii, no question.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 14 Dec 2006, 19:07

Good point LD Zhang Zhjang Yimou too.

As to answer the question, no contest for Wong Kar-Wai.

BiscLimpkit wrote:Sofia Ford Coppola for sure (good suggestion with Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation).

Phew

Reality is though, Asian directors pull it off so much better. True Zen originates from the east.

Too true.

Shingster wrote:all that bollocks is Zen. Just coz Sofia Coppolla decided to make Lost In Translation seem more intelligent than it actually is by removing 90% of the dialogue, does not make it Zen. 8)

He he we can't actually what Zen is. Bisc disagrees (so would I).

tom2681 wrote:@Brad:
As I understand it, a zen film is a film that can tell pretty much any story you want (from romance to thriller), but without using aggressive editing techniques or aggressive music (or aggressive camera movements).

So Zen is another word for Dogma?

(Joke)