| Welcome to the Super Champion Film Zone. We hope your visit is dope. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, creating a personal blog, feeding contents, filling the database, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| The Red Spectacles (1987, Mamoru Oshii) - Movie Club 2018; Jigoku no banken: akai megane | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 9 2018, 11:47 AM (679 Views) | |
| wba | Jun 9 2018, 11:47 AM Post #1 |
|
The Merciless
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
THE OFFICIAL TRAILER ------ one track from the phenomenal soundtrack by Kenji Kawai - in my opinion one of the greatest scores from one of the greatest composers ------ a scene from the film which exemplifies the aesthetic and narrative strategies employed by Oshii throughout the film ------ The film as a whole can be quite difficult to grasp on first viewing. Oshii is in my opinion one of the few "narrative" filmmakers, who has not only actively engaged with philosophical thought in his work throughout his career, but has actually found a way to transform philosophical arguments and discussions into audiovisual treatises. Thus his films should in my opinion be approached like one would approach a work like Plato's Gorgias, Friedrich Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra or Jacques Derrida's Of Grammatology. Those three examples are for me not merely great works of philosophical thought, but at least as importantly: they are great works of art: they are outstanding literature, some of the peaks of poetic writing. It can therefore be a bit exhausting and confusing while watching a film by Oshii to have to pay attention to the artistic qualities at the same time as one tries to grasp the philosophical concepts and arguments. With a book of course, it's easier to re-read a sentence or a section and to pause and take the time you need to digest the implications and ideas. Watching a film therefore poses much greater intellectual and receptive challenges than reading a book, but ever since the advent of "home video" viewers have been able to rewind and rewatch a film, and film viewing has over the years and through new technologies become more and more similar to the way one can handle a book. I would advise every viewer of Red Spectacles to make regular use of the option to pause the film and of the possibility of rewatching certain scenes, etc. etc. Of course, if you are already familiar with Oshii's work and way of thought you might get something out of the film on a first sequential, uninterrupted viewing as well. But I assure you that each rewatch will inevitably open wells of new impressions and revelations. I once wrote a little introductory text for this film with a fellow Oshii enthusiast. It's in German, which probably not many here will not be able to read and understand. But there are also hundreds of screenshots and gifs we made out of the film, which could also give you a preliminary idea on what you will encounter when faced with this work: http://www.eskalierende-traeume.de/oshii-1-red-spectacles/ Overall this film could be described as a cross between the whackiest work of Seijun Suzuki - imagine a mixture between Branded to Kill (1967) and Pistol Opera (2001) - and a typical Mamoru Oshii anime. It just isn't animated, but instead played by real actors who act like they were animated characters, and filmed within "real" sets, but with camerawork, editing, set design and everything else trying to make a "live action animated film" as much as possible. The film is a comedy only in the sense that Suzukis films are comedies (they are also always deeply melodramatic and quite nihilistic), or that Kubrick's Clockwork Orange or Full Metal Jacket are satires. If you don't get the sense of apocalyptic dread, and stubborn bergmanesque seriousness "underneath" the satirical veiling, you've missed the whole point. As Oshii is usually juggling with a dozen different (and sometimes seemingly opposing) concepts and ideas at the same time throughout most of his films, you have to remain on your toes throughout. It helps if you try to grasp as many of those ideas as you can while you are watching the whole film, instead of focusing and intellectually and emotionally expanding on the first two or three you might have grasped at the beginning of the film. Oshii can also often seem like the cruel brother of the ending of Monthy Pythons Life of Brian: singing "always look on the bright side of life" while you're being nailed to a cross again and again in a seemingly neverending moebius loop. Nevertheless there is always a glimmer of hope, because there always remains something which is bigger than the mad ramblings of the human race we are exposed to again and again throughout our existence. A final clue: Red Spectacles is also a "balancing of accounts" with 20th century Japanese history, especially a criticism of 80s Japanese capitalism and the failings of the (50s/)60s student movements. Most of Oshii's work actively engages with the politics of the late 60s/early 70s social turmoils in Japan, the politics of the Japanese Red Army and tose of the opposing state, and the "post-apocalyptic" Japanese world which emerged after the utter failure of all these radical movements and protests. Edited by wba, Jun 9 2018, 03:46 PM.
|
|
To please the majority is the requirement of the Planet Cinema. As far as I'm concerned, I don't make a concession to viewers, these victims of life, who think that a film is made only for their enjoyment, and who know nothing about their own existence. letterboxd * tumblr * website | |
![]() |
|
| Lencho of the Apes | Jun 9 2018, 03:06 PM Post #2 |
![]()
Let's go do some crimes
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I hope you don't forget to tell us where we can find the movie. |
| "The four cardinal points of the compass? In reality, there are only three: North and South." | |
![]() |
|
| wba | Jun 9 2018, 03:31 PM Post #3 |
|
The Merciless
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
link has been posted in resources.
Edited by wba, Jun 9 2018, 03:37 PM.
|
|
To please the majority is the requirement of the Planet Cinema. As far as I'm concerned, I don't make a concession to viewers, these victims of life, who think that a film is made only for their enjoyment, and who know nothing about their own existence. letterboxd * tumblr * website | |
![]() |
|
| Lencho of the Apes | Jun 9 2018, 04:16 PM Post #4 |
![]()
Let's go do some crimes
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thanks for posting such a wonderful movie -- I've loved this one since the 1987 poll. Write-up sounds like hyperbole, but if any movie can justify the WBA hype, this'll likely be the one. Hope everybody loves it, all three of the Movie Club players. I may not make time to rewatch this, but I hope my memory of it will be detailed enough that I can participate in the discussion. If any. |
| "The four cardinal points of the compass? In reality, there are only three: North and South." | |
![]() |
|
| wba | Jun 9 2018, 04:31 PM Post #5 |
|
The Merciless
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thanks for the suggestion, Lencho! Without your support I wouldn't have picked it, and would have posted a link to a South Korean 80s flick by Kwon-teak Im. My first viewing of Red Spectacles (much anticipated, having been an avid Oshii fan for years) left me baffled and confused and basically scratching my head.
|
|
To please the majority is the requirement of the Planet Cinema. As far as I'm concerned, I don't make a concession to viewers, these victims of life, who think that a film is made only for their enjoyment, and who know nothing about their own existence. letterboxd * tumblr * website | |
![]() |
|
| kanafani | Jun 9 2018, 04:40 PM Post #6 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Always down for some of that WBA hype. Downloading NOW. |
| letterboxd | |
![]() |
|
| nrh | Jun 9 2018, 05:17 PM Post #7 |
|
headache
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
really like this one |
| notes | |
![]() |
|
| wba | Jun 9 2018, 09:33 PM Post #8 |
|
The Merciless
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thanks guys! Am overwhelmed by the interest and support this selection has already generated. Usually very few (if any) SCFZrs seem to enjoy most films I love.
Edited by wba, Jun 10 2018, 07:49 PM.
|
|
To please the majority is the requirement of the Planet Cinema. As far as I'm concerned, I don't make a concession to viewers, these victims of life, who think that a film is made only for their enjoyment, and who know nothing about their own existence. letterboxd * tumblr * website | |
![]() |
|
| javierquintero | Jun 10 2018, 06:06 PM Post #9 |
|
Gifts must affect the receiver to the point of shock. - Walter Benjamin
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
So exciting! Tomorrow is a holiday here so I'll watch it as soon as I get home |
![]() |
|
| Zulawski Will Never Come Back | Jun 11 2018, 03:31 PM Post #10 |
|
This was a weird mix of Aleksey German, Obayashi... ahh this would take too long anyway. Maybe some thoughts later. |
| Letterboxd | |
![]() |
|
| kanafani | Jun 11 2018, 04:43 PM Post #11 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Suzuki and German, Alphaville-Godard and dystopian toilet humor, these are a few of my least favorite things I couldn't get into this movie's headspace. The overbusy, in-your-face, throw-everything-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks, hyperactive goofiness wore off pretty fast. I did not finish. Maybe I just don't know how to have fun. |
| letterboxd | |
![]() |
|
| Lencho of the Apes | Jun 11 2018, 06:11 PM Post #12 |
![]()
Let's go do some crimes
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Jeepers, I'm sorry you didn't like it, but it makes me happy to think that 'dystopian toilet humor' can be a category. |
| "The four cardinal points of the compass? In reality, there are only three: North and South." | |
![]() |
|
| rischka | Jun 11 2018, 11:12 PM Post #13 |
![]()
nazi trumps fuck off!!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
k i'm gonna watch this today. they had me at the 'age of cats'![]() ![]()
Edited by rischka, Jun 12 2018, 01:07 AM.
|
|
"covfefe" -- dj cheeto letterboxd + tumblr + twitter | |
![]() |
|
| javierquintero | Jun 12 2018, 06:16 PM Post #14 |
|
Gifts must affect the receiver to the point of shock. - Walter Benjamin
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
This film goes beyond homages. The influence from Alphaville and Branded to Kill is evident, not only in regards to clothes, objects, framing and shots but in the appropriation of procedures (use of posters, allegories on the process of looking for clues and people). I'm grateful to The Red Spectacles because it just made me see how close those two films are to each other. But it goes beyond. Alphaville and Branded to Kill's moods and objects are purely the background for a totally different allegory. It also reminded me of Ruiz's Life is a Dream, because of the conjunction of movie genres and dreams in just one film. I think it works perfectly even if the viewer hasn't watched any of the other mentioned references and I'm guessing some of Oshii's other works. So, if Alphaville and Branded to Kill had a child in the 80's and its name is The Red Spectacles now as a family they should be analyzed and re-thought together. However it would be great to read any material from Art Historian Svetlana Alpers stating it was the other way: The Red Spectacles was first and had two children, Alphaville and Branded to Kill, defending and supporting her theory with allegorical and poetical evidence. Edited by javierquintero, Jun 12 2018, 06:21 PM.
|
![]() |
|
| mesnalty | Jun 12 2018, 07:03 PM Post #15 |
|
g legs' flame
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I get the sense of post-revolutionary disillusionment that wba mentions in the intro post, but I find it interesting that the disillusioned ones are former cops who just wanted to go on brutalizing people. (There's more nuance to that, especially starting with Midori's speech in front of the staticky television towards the end, but still.) I'm no expert on Japanese history, but I have to imagine that the radical movements to which wba refers were no friends of the fuzz, and the Japanese Red Army sure weren't! |
![]() |
|
| rischka | Jun 12 2018, 08:13 PM Post #16 |
![]()
nazi trumps fuck off!!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
true but they were some of those that went too far and became the thing they abhorred, right? i love the anime style and the color pallet. fell asleep too early and missed the ending so watching it now
Edited by rischka, Jun 12 2018, 08:19 PM.
|
|
"covfefe" -- dj cheeto letterboxd + tumblr + twitter | |
![]() |
|
| nrh | Jun 12 2018, 09:15 PM Post #17 |
|
headache
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
the next two films in the trilogy are prequels that bring the series up to red spectacles (stray dog - which is my favorite of the series and quite different, and animated jin-roh the wolf brigade which suffers a lot from not being directed by oshii, and has a korean remake coming up. there's a bunch of radio plays and book series too but i don't really know anything about those. Edited by nrh, Jun 12 2018, 09:15 PM.
|
| notes | |
![]() |
|
| rischka | Jun 12 2018, 10:06 PM Post #18 |
![]()
nazi trumps fuck off!!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
![]() kim jong un is that you
|
|
"covfefe" -- dj cheeto letterboxd + tumblr + twitter | |
![]() |
|
| Lencho of the Apes | Jun 12 2018, 10:23 PM Post #19 |
![]()
Let's go do some crimes
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
|
| "The four cardinal points of the compass? In reality, there are only three: North and South." | |
![]() |
|
| rischka | Jun 13 2018, 12:31 AM Post #20 |
![]()
nazi trumps fuck off!!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
![]() thx wba i really enjoyed this. made me think of terayama too, esp the musical interludes
Edited by rischka, Jun 13 2018, 12:31 AM.
|
|
"covfefe" -- dj cheeto letterboxd + tumblr + twitter | |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
![]() Join the millions that use us for their forum communities. Create your own forum today. Learn More · Register Now |
|
| « Previous Topic · Movie Club · Next Topic » |




![]](http://z5.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)











12:42 AM Jul 11