Survive Style 5+ - Quick Review.
 

The Japanese movie starring Tadanobu Asano and Vinnie Jones (amongst others).

Got around to seeing this movie last night, and I just have a big "what the fuck did I just watch?" going through my head. One of the most flamboyant, bizarre and oddly compelling movies made in the past 5 years, it's one of the best and worst flicks I've seen in sometimes. Basically, it's a little like Love Actually, but Japanese Pop in the most subtle and obvious ways, and with bad people (a murderer, well, two murderers... actually make that three... a few thieves and an odd family). There's hitmen, 3-second sex, commercials (imagined and not so imagined), murderers, a self-reviving "living" zombie (occasionally with launchable body parts), gay innuendos, and hypnotism spread across 5 stories (that are given numbers at the beginning). The plot lines interweve from time to time - often effecting the start or outcome of another story.

All this put to hyper coordinated color schemes, cool set designs, incredibly catchy music (from a ton of homebrews, to japanese bands to Cake) and actually (I rarely comment on the stuff) good costumes/clothing for one particular character.

Highly Recommended for those with an open enough mind. It's a lot of things: Crazy, bizzare and oddly moving at times... Thankfully boring isn't one.

On a side note though.. Subplot #4 (with the 3 robbers) got a bit annoying. But it's a minor quibble in an otherwise entertaining flick.

Trailer: http://ss5.goo.ne.jp/movie/ss5_300k.asx

P.S. Anyone know if a legitamet Region 0 copy of the movie exists? Friend wants to purchase a copy he can actually play.

It's playing here at the Fantasia Film Fest on July 22nd and 23rd. I'm planning on catching it then. The only versions of this film on DVD at this time are the Japan R2. There is a premium edition and a collector's box, both expensive of course.

This review is supposedly for a Korean R3 from Cinema Service, but I think it's a mistake:

http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/survive_style_5.htm

The cover shown is the Japanese cover and the "Find this film at YesAsia" button takes you to a completely different film. Haven't found this supposed Korean release anywhere else either.