BRII

[Miles Wood]

BRII just finished its theatrical run here in HK...I  took the opportunity
to see it again (this time with subs, not that they made a whole load of
difference) on its final day and there were only two others in the
auditorium. It certainly hasn't had the impact here that the first film did;
how was it received in Japan?

The problems with the film are all to apparent and I don't think there's
much need to go into them here -- the reviews can do that just fine -- but
there are a few things I'd like to ask and share.

Do others think the film would have been very different if Kinji Fukaasku
had seen it thru to the end? The makers said they tried to be faithful to
his intentions but you'd like to think such an experienced filmmaker would
have seen where it was going wrong and put things right, and while all the
stuff in the finished film that clearly doesn't work might have done if
Kinji had done it, one might also presume he would have had the sense to cut
out the "crap" whereas perhaps the people in charge were being too reverent.
The film is also clearly way too long, but then Kinji's films have often
strayed over the two hour mark.

Kinji's films often tinkered and played with the absurd, but one always
sensed the director knew never to cross a certain line, which BRII certainly
does at times; perhaps this is where an experienced hand at the helm was
most missed. One also guesses he would have coxed more even performances
from the cast...it seems like there was no one to guide them, so we get Riki
on one hand going way OTT and everyone one else barely registering with the
viewer.

I don't know how seriously the film's politics were taken in Japan, but I'm
curious as to whose viewpoint the film was representing -- writer, director,
company? -- but  like it's predecessor, it certainly won't be getting a US
release!:) I even wonder how it will be looked on by British censors/viewers
though, of course, it's audience will be somewhat different to the 15-25 (?)
year olds targeted  in Japan.

Miles