Classic Movie Review: Dark Water

As most of you are aware the Japanese film preceded the American version by three years, that is 2002 versus 2005.

The films are based on the short story Floating Water by Koji Suzuki published in 1996.

The plot is well known; a woman in the throes of divorce attempts under extreme earthly and other worldly pressures to protect her young daughter.

This is a solid ghost story all around but what struck me are the differences, some subtle and one overriding between the two film versions.

No laundry list here, the umbrella is simply that the Japanese version is more faithful to the supernatural than the American. The original film is more eerie, more atmospheric and, in my opinion, the superior of the two.

Don't get me wrong Walter Salles' version is a good film. Jennifer Connolly's performance is impeccable but if your 'thing' is horror the 2002 version is better than the remake.

There is something about a ghost child, a demon little one skulking around the edges that is most unsettling. The color yellow as well is a powerful visual device to heighten the fear amidst the grey and dark of the film. And the early emphasis on the missing girl stamps this version with an air of mystery and misdeed.

And also for that reason, a more faithful adaptation to the original tale, I believe the first script is superior. The linear dimensions of the story telling are clearer, tighter and heighten the tension in shorter and stronger spurts.

So what if you have to read subtitles. You can read right? But if you know the basic story, you can watch Hideo Nakata's original version with the sound off. His direction is that pure.

Classic Movie Review: Repulsion

Talk about irony. This 1965 Horror/Thriller about a woman who was raped as a child and left to scar because her attacker was never brought to justice was directed and co-written by Roman Polanski. Catherine Deneuve stars as a virgin, or that is what we are led to believe, who works as a biting her own nails manicurist who seems to be constantly lost in her own introspection.

Slowly though we are introduced to her psychological Hell; her hallucinations, her fears and loathing of men and of sex. This leads to a breakdown full of symbolism as she crawls closer and closer to a violent and disturbing climax.

This film was one of the first of its kind and first in that the killer is a woman. Colorization would certainly ruin the look of this masterpiece and Ms. Deneuve's performance is nothing short of miraculous.

She stumbles her way through life, never making eye contact as she delivers lines in between lulls; at times robotic and at times creepy.

In all she powerfully evokes pity even while killing.

The film is tight in terms of art and entertainment. This film blazed a trail that those who have followed have never done it justice.

You need to find this one

Classic Movie Review: GOJIRA

Which is the original Japanese pronunciation for Godzilla. Theatrically released in 1954 and directed by Ishiro Honda, this film is not to be confused with heavily and ineptly edited American version starring Raymond Burr.

This is the first appearance of the King of Monsters as we soon find he is a legend before his time and appearance while wreaking havoc in the fishing lanes of Japan. Elders tell us that he is a mythical creature who rising from the sea and demands a sacrifice.

While this portends the franchise to come, soon the lumbering monster takes to land, begins munching on a train and the fun begins.

This is the template for the franchise to come although what may not know and what I will spoil is that Godzilla is killed and rendered into a skeleton on the bottom of the ocean.

But in a twist before the credits can roll we are warned about the continued effects of nuclear testing and the potential of it releasing another Godzilla upon humanity.

A brilliant piece of writing keep the doors open for sequels and at the same time leaving the possibility of getting out of town if the flick bombs.

Well you know the history.

I recommend you find this on DVD and see how history is born as well as hatched.