Just a quick heads up: Kurando Mitsutake’s new film Gun Woman is fucking amazing!!! Best Japanese action film since 2009’s Hard Revenge Milly: Bloody Battle.
It looks a bit cheap, but perhaps can’t be helped; there’s no big budgets for films as incredibly brutal as this. Asami (who doesn’t speak a word in the film) gives career best performance as drug addict hooker, who is trained to become an assassin for one time hit.
Incredibly good soundtrack and revenge storyline modelled after kung fu films (with training scenes and all) but executed as gun action. Includes a full nude martial arts scene with Asami (who has clearly went through some training for this role), though.
But what the hell? Tatsuya Nakadai (yes, The Tatsuya Nakadai) stars as cannibal killer with a taste for necrophilia! I didn’t realize it was him until the director said so – my brains had just refused to acknowledge such a thing could even be true.
kemushi wrote:Is it in any way comparable to Takashi Ishii's femme fatale films?
In terms of quality, yes, but otherwise not really. Ishii's film's were neo noirs with erotic flavoir, this is a trashy kung fu revenge film without kung fu (but the tructure is really similar with training scenes and a plan how to beat the enemy and get one's hands to the main target). The trailer is quite accurate actually, though the film does the same stuff even better.
Btw, the film received the jury's special mention, and Asami was awarded as the best actress at Yubari. And indeed, she's very good in the film. I don't usually like her acting, but here she's great.
From left: Tokitoshi Shiota, Asami, Kurando Mitsutake, Dean Harada
HungFist wrote:
But what the hell? Tatsuya Nakadai (yes, The Tatsuya Nakadai) stars as cannibal killer with a taste for necrophilia! I didn’t realize it was him until the director said so – my brains had just refused to acknowledge such a thing could even be true.
Embarrased now It wasn't Nakadai. A misunderstanding on my behalf. It's a guy who looks like Nakadai, has a similar voice to Nakadai, and plays a character whose father is played by Nakadai (hence, referred to by the same surname). D'oh.
If I had realized Nakadai is 81 years old now (well, of course) I would have, uhm, realized it.
The headline, the first sentence, the entire last paragraph, and the postives/negatives were all copied directly from my review (word by word). That's about 40% of their entire review.
I'm almost certain they never saw the film. Even though they try to make roundabout statements and avoid adressing any character, actor or filmmaker by name, the review makes almost no sense at all. So don't worry when they say the performers haven't learned how to use a blade (there are no blades in the film) or how he has to hold back his gunplay and kicks (he has only one leg and he never fights)...
You should report it Hung! Even if you're bothered at all personally (and I doubt I would either tbh) it's possible this joker's plagiarised hundreds of people in their time anbd will continue to do so!
Yeah I think some of the DVDTimes reviews were being plagiarised by them as well weren't they? I know a few of my colleagues over on Digfix have been plagiarised here there and everywhere over the years (and some have left review sites that had writers who plagiarise to join DVDTimes/DigFix ). I don't think I have ever been plagiarised properly myself though, just the odd dodgy "download" thread here and there that have copied my reviews verbatim as the synopsis/details for the film they're uploading (not giving me specific credit for the write up, but not taking credit for it either)!
Shingster wrote:You should report it Hung! Even if you're bothered at all personally (and I doubt I would either tbh) it's possible this joker's plagiarised hundreds of people in their time anbd will continue to do so!
I sent them mail. Really curious to see what they'll answer.
Shingster wrote:You should report it Hung! Even if you're bothered at all personally (and I doubt I would either tbh) it's possible this joker's plagiarised hundreds of people in their time anbd will continue to do so!
I sent them mail. Really curious to see what they'll answer.
Sent them mail on 19th, then another one on 26th. Frankly, I was expecting a reply. Never received one
I now left a comment under the review. I wonder if it will get ignored or deleted...
I ran a few sentences via google and surprise surprise, it turns out that review is compiled of a number of IMDb user reviews and the film's wikipedia page.
Well now I'm pissed off. Japan Cinema's review is being quoted on the upcoming Nordic DVD release back-cover, even though actually every world in that (translated) quote was written by me. I sent the company email... let's see if they can still correct it. That's all I can do; Japan Cinema doesn't answer my emails or review comments.
However, now we have a couple of legit reviews as well, and they are kind positive...
"What would have happened if legendary transgressive Japanese director Takashi Miike had worked for Cannon during this time period? GUN WOMAN! 4.5/5"
- Dread Central
"It is a blast. It is mean and it is unrelenting and man, it is a cool-as-hell film. 4.5/5"
- Horror Movies.Ca
"Gun Woman is all the Jean Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, and the Cannon Films all meshed up together. 5/5"
- Horror Movies Uncut
Dude, this movie looks crazy! Dat trailer! Womenz getting shot in tits, it's grotesque! My God, what is you guys watching for kind of moviez during your days?!?
I got the 3 disc set a few days ago. The film mostly lives up to the hype it has received. In terms of nail-biting intensity and brutal action I can only think of Gareth Huw Evans's RAID films as recent comparisons. While most of the effects are practical, I was really put off by two two instances of sloppy CGI blood in the film. Especially bad was Asami's "blood orgasm" during the sex scene. Great idea, terrible execution. Still, highly recommended film and it's definitely worth supporting the 8-Films release. It's not often we get these films this quickly and this well presented.
It wasn't Nakadai. A misunderstanding on my behalf. It's a guy who looks like Nakadai, has a similar voice to Nakadai, and plays a character whose father is played by Nakadai (hence, referred to by the same surname). D'oh.
