films seen
2
average score
2.50*
nationality
status
Alive and kicking

Movies


A Page of Madness

Kurutta Ippêji
1926 / 70m - Japan
Drama, Horror
3.5*/5.0*
A Page of Madness poster

Weird and unsettling Japanese classic that feels like Tsukamoto's Tetsuo avant la lettre. Stark black and white photography, amazing editing and a fine score by the Alloy Orchestra make this film pure emotion. This was by far the best film from the 1920's I've seen so far, an easy recommend for everyone with an interest in classic cinema.


Gate of Hell

Jigokumon
1953 / 89m - Japan
Drama
1.5*/5.0*
Gate of Hell poster

A proper restoration made this film a bit more watchable. The colors do pop and add some visual appeal, but the slow pacing, endless dialogue, and somewhat barren plot didn't really hold the attention. The emotional core of the film just didn't work for me, and that's not good for a drama.

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I guess you could also label the film as a romance, but the emotions are so stoic and the behavior so formal that it just feels wrong to do so. Performances aren't too bad and some of the shots really look nice, but the film doesn't excel at anything and I just got bored with the drama after a while.