We'll also be joining a culture which pits feline against fellow felines in a contest of... weightlifting.
Japan, is there an end to the awesome things you have yet to introduce to the world?
Visit the portal page here
[365+]
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
HOUSE!
Let me tell you about the movie 'House'.
Oh, this was one of the gems to come out of Japanese cinema in the late 70s. The story follows that of a handful of young girls who travel out to the Japanese countryside to spend summer vacation with one of the girl's aunt. Of course, this is how all horror films start, isn't it? They even went through the trouble of introducing the characters (twice!) with names corresponding to their particular stereotype. Beautiful.
Something seems odd about the house from the moment they set foot upon its eerie grounds. It's haunted (obviously) and as is with horror films, the girls are killed off, one by one -- eaten by the house.
But it isn't scary. No, to call this a "horror" film would be grossly inaccurate. In fact, a more apt description would be: "a nonsensical, but hilarious acid trip with English subtitles". Seriously, a man is literally turned into bananas... for absolutely no reason at all.
I'm telling you, it's great, and if you don't believe me, I've thrown in the trailer for added measure.
Oh, did I not mention the American pop music? Yeah, it's pretty prevalent throughout the entire film, and I'm also pretty sure that the whole "carnivorous piano" thing is the direct inspiration for the man-eating piano in Mario 64.
Now, as I watched the film, I, playing the cinematic anthropologist, thought to myself, "This is the culture I'll be entering. This was their popular horror during the 70s.". Then I smiled, I laughed, and I soaked it all in.
"Bring it on... Bring it on..."
Stephen Pell's portal page is here.
[365+]
Oh, this was one of the gems to come out of Japanese cinema in the late 70s. The story follows that of a handful of young girls who travel out to the Japanese countryside to spend summer vacation with one of the girl's aunt. Of course, this is how all horror films start, isn't it? They even went through the trouble of introducing the characters (twice!) with names corresponding to their particular stereotype. Beautiful.
Something seems odd about the house from the moment they set foot upon its eerie grounds. It's haunted (obviously) and as is with horror films, the girls are killed off, one by one -- eaten by the house.
But it isn't scary. No, to call this a "horror" film would be grossly inaccurate. In fact, a more apt description would be: "a nonsensical, but hilarious acid trip with English subtitles". Seriously, a man is literally turned into bananas... for absolutely no reason at all.
I'm telling you, it's great, and if you don't believe me, I've thrown in the trailer for added measure.
Oh, did I not mention the American pop music? Yeah, it's pretty prevalent throughout the entire film, and I'm also pretty sure that the whole "carnivorous piano" thing is the direct inspiration for the man-eating piano in Mario 64.
Now, as I watched the film, I, playing the cinematic anthropologist, thought to myself, "This is the culture I'll be entering. This was their popular horror during the 70s.". Then I smiled, I laughed, and I soaked it all in.
"Bring it on... Bring it on..."
Stephen Pell's portal page is here.
[365+]
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Quotes pt. 1
Best quote of the trip planning so far?
"We'll get awesome bikes!"
Stephen P's response when asked to provide a practical transportation solution.
I guess you just had to be there...
Stephen P's brand-spakin' new portal site is up and ready for business. You can check it out here
[365+]
"We'll get awesome bikes!"
Stephen P's response when asked to provide a practical transportation solution.
I guess you just had to be there...
Stephen P's brand-spakin' new portal site is up and ready for business. You can check it out here
[365+]
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