tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post6053510567178213876..comments2024-03-12T12:38:23.542-04:00Comments on The Kind of Face You Hate: Severed Heads and Vomiting Catsbill r.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-21329202311702261992010-11-13T08:48:33.255-05:002010-11-13T08:48:33.255-05:00Anonymous - I'm not sure a movie like HOUSE ca...Anonymous - I'm not sure a movie like HOUSE <i>can</i> come together. What would "coming together" even mean with something like this? But I agree that it doesn't. I'm just not entirely convinced that matters.<br /><br />Also, yes, I would love to hear the radio version of this. Not speaking Japanese would be a huge problem for me, though.<br /><br />Greg - Kung Fu definitely represents the indomitable human spirit. You may be on to something.<br /><br />Fuzzy - How can you not life? I hate ironic hipsters, too, but I think resisting ordinary human response like that can cause disease, or something. I think it's not even a question that you're supposed to laugh at HOUSE. From beginning to end, maybe not, but that's absolutely part of the idea.<br /><br />And who cares if it means anything? If you can eke something out of it, then go to it, but I prefer to just let it wash over me. Or not, not "wash over me", considering what goes on in this movie, but...you know...I prefer to just let it be.<br /><br />Michael C - Thank you very much. I was very flattered by Dennis's mention, and I'm flattered by your reaction. But if you're undecided, I think "why the hell not" is the perfect approach to something like HOUSE. I means, what's the worst that can happen? But if you have any taste at all for this sort of thing, you will be at least partially rewarded. Now, how's that for ambivalence??bill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-85085801887672905622010-11-13T07:15:07.220-05:002010-11-13T07:15:07.220-05:00Hi Bill,
I'll take a different tack to the thr...Hi Bill,<br />I'll take a different tack to the thread of the comments and say this - I came across your piece through a mention on Dennis Cozzalio's blog. After reading what you said, I wanna watch it. I mean, hell, I was curious already, it seemed to be getting mentions EVERYGODDAMNWHERE around Halloween-time, but after your piece, my curiosity shifted to "yeah, why the hell not?" So, I'd thought I'd just say thanks for that, because isn't that what any piece of writing on film is supposed to do - poke and prod at the curiosity-button? Cheers.Michael Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08514131138183593544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-20977187866001378232010-11-10T18:05:59.303-05:002010-11-10T18:05:59.303-05:00I had a great time watching this in a theater, tho...I had a great time watching this in a theater, though the tension got pretty thick as half the audience wanted to crack up, and half the audience was enraged that these ironic NYC moviegoers can't shut the fuck up and watch a movie on its own terms. Personally, I think we're supposed to laugh---to a great extent, the movie is a parody of horror movies, and particularly of the Italian flicks that I assume would've been widely available in Japan at the time. <br /><br />Does it mean anything beyond movie-movie-groovy? I'd have to watch it again to say. I liked Michael's theory that it's a battle between mothers-to-be and the barren, but it's hard to say if that's deliberate. Still, even if it's not, there's a place for movies that are just out to entertain the living shit outta you, and HOUSE definitely qualifies there.That Fuzzy Bastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09586029006083399346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-30805846377218927442010-11-08T22:40:06.037-05:002010-11-08T22:40:06.037-05:00I haven't seen it yet, but I think it's ab...I haven't seen it yet, but I think it's about the indomitable human spirit. That's what I got from your description, at least. <br /><br />Yeah... yeah, definitely indomitable human spirit.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730146625671701859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-91711193555978319382010-11-08T18:28:05.185-05:002010-11-08T18:28:05.185-05:00I appreciated the craft and creativity of the film...I appreciated the craft and creativity of the film, yet still thought it never really pulled together. I found the interview with the director very interesting, where he recounts how they released the story of "House" in almost every conceivable medium other than film just to pressure the studio to finally produce the feature. I'd like to hear the "House" radio drama, now. Also I love the poster with the house and its giant tongue lolling down a hill, looking for its next snack.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-51902214567809012482010-11-08T08:48:52.687-05:002010-11-08T08:48:52.687-05:00Well, I knew from Chuck Stephens's liner notes...Well, I knew from Chuck Stephens's liner notes for the Criterion disc that Obayashi's had a long career. There ain't much out there that a guy like me can get his hands on, though Netflix has another Obayashi film, called SADA, which I'll definitely check out now.bill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-18635127731392027602010-11-08T08:24:29.912-05:002010-11-08T08:24:29.912-05:00Bill, your review did not come across as negative....Bill, your review did not come across as negative. <br /><br />What bothers me is that Obayashi seems to be treated as some kind of one-hit wonder from most of the writers I have read. There appears to be little or no interest from these other writers in trying to place <b>House</b> within the context of Japanese horror films, or Obayashi's other work. Not that I know that much about either Japanese horror or Obayashi, but I wrote about three of his other films primarily as a response to the fact that there was little in English about Obayashi, as if he had made only one movie and nothing else.Peter Nellhaushttp://www.coffeecoffeeandmorecoffee.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-18128956516397051152010-11-07T17:55:07.854-05:002010-11-07T17:55:07.854-05:00Jeez, guys -- I didn't think this review came ...Jeez, guys -- I didn't think this review came off as negative as all that. This sort of craziness is not completely thrilling for me, but I do appreciate it on a certain level. Does that not come across?bill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-35642666176425693712010-11-07T17:49:42.258-05:002010-11-07T17:49:42.258-05:00I think Peter is onto something in terms of experi...I think Peter is onto something in terms of experiencing <i>House</i> communally, or a W.C. Fields comedy, or a Marilyn Monroe musical, for that matter. I've seen all three with an audience in the past year, and been able to compare seeing the same movies in isolated home-theater situations within that same year, and there is an energy from a live audience that lends itself to the insanity of a movie like Obayashi's. Being able to draw enjoyment and excitement from an audience that is really responding in a genuine (nonironic) way to Fields muttering under his breath, or Marilyn's eyes widening and fluttering in the presence of a diamond tiara, or a girl being eaten by a piano is something I'll always treasure. I certainly understand your resistance to a movie like <i>House</i>, Bill, and I think I might have found it perhaps more trying rather than transporting had I not been lucky enough to see it with an audience first. That said, wow, the Blu-ray looks smashing.<br /><br />Peter, was Oayashi a director of TV commercials at some point? If so, the difference between him and Tony Scott and Alan Parker is amusing at the very least!Dennis Cozzaliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-58491349490664018672010-11-07T16:26:12.000-05:002010-11-07T16:26:12.000-05:00Michaël, you clearly put more thought into what in...Michaël, you clearly put more thought into what in the world HOUSE is supposed to mean, or add up to, or whatever, than I did. Which is perfectly fine and understandable, and your take on the film certainly sounds workable to me. I just can't bring myself to view a movie like HOUSE in that way -- I'm personally interested in the insanity as insanity, rather than as symbol. I've been told that's a shallow way of looking at it.bill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-2846236766784166292010-11-07T13:46:31.434-05:002010-11-07T13:46:31.434-05:00I share your point of view Bill. I didn't know...I share your point of view Bill. I didn't know what to expect when I watched House and I must say that I was a bit confused at first but then I embarked on the wagon and I was in for a lot of fun. I recently reviewed House on my blog. Here's the link if you're interested: http://cinephiliaque.blogspot.com/2010/11/house-1977.htmlMPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08366182655374603950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-72383996370886328942010-11-07T12:53:24.428-05:002010-11-07T12:53:24.428-05:00Well, I'm not entirely ignorant of this partic...Well, I'm not entirely ignorant of this particular brand of Japanese cinema. That doesn't make it any less insane. I can see where watching this with an audience would be rather fun, though.<br /><br />I don't know what aspect of the critical response you're taking issue with. Are you troubled that it's not being taken more seriously in America? Because the response has been positive, from what I can tell. Personally, I enjoyed HOUSE, and I'm glad I watched it, but my patience for this kind of thing is finite.bill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2856547151523423474.post-23422598334551868992010-11-07T12:16:33.522-05:002010-11-07T12:16:33.522-05:00I'm wondering if there is a significant differ...I'm wondering if there is a significant difference in seeing <b>House</b> in a theater, as I was able to, rather than on DVD? Not simply because of the screen size, but also being around other people who are laughing or screaming (mostly laughing).<br /><br />I've checked out Obayashi's earlier, experimental films on Ubuweb, as well as seen three of his other films on imported DVDs. I think one of the problems with the critical response to <b>House</b> is that it has often been viewed and written about without knowledge of the filmmaker, or of any knowledge of Japanese horror movies, especially the ones involving cats. I am fairly certain though that even if someone gave him more money, Obayashi would still make his films with cheap, or cheap looking, special effects.Peter Nellhaushttp://www.coffeecoffeeandmorecoffee.comnoreply@blogger.com