Basically I appreciate the effort here. But a lot was drawn out. I am not Japanese so I'm not totally sure how exactly the film was presented originally. I have seen people say it was released episodically like not all in a 4 hr span, but as a series or something. Maybe like a prequel and sequel.
So I won't judge this film on its psychological slow burn of excruciating length. Because silly me I downloaded this as one full film. Whilst that might not have been the true or desired format upon its release to not lose the initial audience. So if I got bored or lost along the way after sitting 4 hrs straight to watch, that's honestly my problem and nothing against the director, Sion Sono, truly.
However...that doesn't mean as a project, it HAD to carry on this long. I am a wanna be aspiring author who just might become a screenwriter for my film-adapted novels lol So I've learned over the years myself from all the films I've seen how to tie up loose ends, how to develop the character, create a cohesive plot, deliver the message in time, and how to make purpose of every scenario presented. Sono did everything there but based on his other films I've seen (I've seen "Guilty of Romance," "Strange Circus," "Suicide Club 1 and 2," "Play in Hell," and this film, all in the span of less than a week. I went on a Sono binge), I can definitely say that this is simply Sono's style: length, retrospection, and elaborated character introduction.
He just does this. And sometimes he gets lost in the ambition with convolutions of detail and dialogue while the plot doesn't twist. But that's his unique style. It doesn't have to sit with everyone; I doubt the guy is trying to please everyone and I'm sure he knows he's a weirdo, but what I personally just don't like is the over-compensatory effort to be controversial.
What I mean is: Of all his films I've seen (most of them), they RARELY in my eyes have plot TWISTS while still creating mental and visual chaos with his verbose and retroactive writing and directing style. As if to make up for a lacking central story and focus. That bothers me lol 4 hrs just to say: "religion might make you afraid of sex." That is the main point here. And the subplots come in with the insanity that comes from false prophets and brainwashing. Granted. So it's definitely a sacrilegious film and I get that, express yourself through art, but I just didn't see the purpose of it taking so long to explain this. The ambition is duly noted, of course though.
Beyond that, Ando Sakura, the cult leader, has permanently tainted my brain against her. Not even the film. Just her, every time I see her in other films I just come back to this. Something about it, made me honestly terrified but I think that's just her and not anything about the film. Her other films she is always doing something intentionally offputting and frighteningly weird.
Despite the length I somehow admittedly was never bored. I wanted to see where the hell it was going no matter how painful it was. Everything did lead to the next, so I appreciate that he took the time out to develop this. Most people can't be bothered.
I am just a "less is more" kind of person but generally speaking he has instilled or better yet reconsolidated the necessity for me as a wanna be writer lol to take the time to make sure everything is explained.
I just feel this is quantity over quality, style over substance.
He also likes to sneak in symbolism, so if I missed it ah well.
So I won't judge this film on its psychological slow burn of excruciating length. Because silly me I downloaded this as one full film. Whilst that might not have been the true or desired format upon its release to not lose the initial audience. So if I got bored or lost along the way after sitting 4 hrs straight to watch, that's honestly my problem and nothing against the director, Sion Sono, truly.
However...that doesn't mean as a project, it HAD to carry on this long. I am a wanna be aspiring author who just might become a screenwriter for my film-adapted novels lol So I've learned over the years myself from all the films I've seen how to tie up loose ends, how to develop the character, create a cohesive plot, deliver the message in time, and how to make purpose of every scenario presented. Sono did everything there but based on his other films I've seen (I've seen "Guilty of Romance," "Strange Circus," "Suicide Club 1 and 2," "Play in Hell," and this film, all in the span of less than a week. I went on a Sono binge), I can definitely say that this is simply Sono's style: length, retrospection, and elaborated character introduction.
He just does this. And sometimes he gets lost in the ambition with convolutions of detail and dialogue while the plot doesn't twist. But that's his unique style. It doesn't have to sit with everyone; I doubt the guy is trying to please everyone and I'm sure he knows he's a weirdo, but what I personally just don't like is the over-compensatory effort to be controversial.
What I mean is: Of all his films I've seen (most of them), they RARELY in my eyes have plot TWISTS while still creating mental and visual chaos with his verbose and retroactive writing and directing style. As if to make up for a lacking central story and focus. That bothers me lol 4 hrs just to say: "religion might make you afraid of sex." That is the main point here. And the subplots come in with the insanity that comes from false prophets and brainwashing. Granted. So it's definitely a sacrilegious film and I get that, express yourself through art, but I just didn't see the purpose of it taking so long to explain this. The ambition is duly noted, of course though.
Beyond that, Ando Sakura, the cult leader, has permanently tainted my brain against her. Not even the film. Just her, every time I see her in other films I just come back to this. Something about it, made me honestly terrified but I think that's just her and not anything about the film. Her other films she is always doing something intentionally offputting and frighteningly weird.
Despite the length I somehow admittedly was never bored. I wanted to see where the hell it was going no matter how painful it was. Everything did lead to the next, so I appreciate that he took the time out to develop this. Most people can't be bothered.
I am just a "less is more" kind of person but generally speaking he has instilled or better yet reconsolidated the necessity for me as a wanna be writer lol to take the time to make sure everything is explained.
I just feel this is quantity over quality, style over substance.
He also likes to sneak in symbolism, so if I missed it ah well.