Onmyoji/recent japanese cinema

[Peter Larson]

Or that the theater is no good since Shakespeare died... You are very
correct. It is quite useless to harp on a past that may or may not have
existed and say that things aren't as good as the "good old days". I
have absolute faith in the intentions and abilities of young directors,
however I have little faith that the film industry in any country is
willing to put money into more daring and interesting projects. 

My quandary is that I am having a hard time finding decent Japanese
cinema here in the states. I'm sure it's out there, but unfortunately
what's released here in the states is released with the intention of
selling it to younger and younger folks (Onmyoji and Suicide Club both
come to mind). Not that this is bad, it's absolutely not, but I'm just
wondering if there's anything else available that I'm missing because
I'm more and more disappointed with what I'm finding. Maybe I'm getting
old...

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
[mailto:owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu] On Behalf Of Mark Mays
Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 4:42 PM
To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: Re: Onmyoji/recent japanese cinema

I really tire of the "good old days" criticism of Japanese cinema (or
any
other national cinema). I'm quite sure the young turk directors are
tired of
it as well. We decide the state of a national cinema is bad by comparing
it
to the legends? It's like saying football is in a sorry state because no
one
is as good as Pele.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Adam Nahum" <adam.nahum at balliol.oxford.ac.uk>
To: <KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 6:17 PM
Subject: Re: Onmyoji/recent japanese cinema


> This is a bit older: but check out 'Afterlife' by the director who is
called, ~I think, Koreeda or koreda hirokazu.
>
> Of course the best Japanese cinema is older. If you have never seen a
Mizoguchi you are missing out.