So Much Hope... So Let Down

**1/2 04.07.09 - I Am an S&M Writer... 2000... Director Ryuichi Hiroki

I saw this film on Netflix and the description looked interesting, heck just check out the title! When I put it in my queue it was backed up and on hold for awhile... always a good sign, because that means folks are watching it... must be a good buzz. I also usually love Japanese films, especially after living there many years ago.

Unfortunately, this film didn't live up to the hype. Here's the official description of the film courtesy of Netflix:

"Failed author Kurosaki (Ren Osugi) begins writing cheap sadomasochistic porn for money in this sex farce based on an autobiographical story by famous erotic novelist Oniroku Dan and directed by Ryuichi Hiroki. Inexperienced in the world of S&M, Kurosaki hires young models to come to his home and act out various sexual scenarios. When his wife (Yôko Hoshi) gets wind of this, she's none too pleased -- and embarks on some new adventures of her own."

So you can see how it might be interesting? Upon further reading it was described as a "Farce... A light dramatic composition marked by broadly satirical comedy and improbable plot"

For the most part it was, but it missed the mark on a lot of things. Now I love Foreign films as well, the pacing in particular and this one has that characteristic, sometimes a little too slow, but all in all not back. There are some great shots in the film, but the bottom line is, this is a film I probably won't recommend to too many folks.

**1/2 04.07.09 - Speed Racer... 2008... Directors The Wachowski Brothers

This was another film I had so many high hopes for and was let down. The problem for me in this film and it's the major problem I have with so many of the cartoons and television shows of my youth that have been made into films is that filmmakers can't make up their mind who their audience is. Do they want to keep it true to the original... the way my generation grew up on these things, or do they want to modernize the film and create a totally new audience? Also, do they direct the film to kids or to the older generation that crew up with the show. That is the main problem again with this project... they simply didn't know where to go and who they were making the film for.

Now in fairness to them, they took some creative liberties that were interesting. The look of the film is stunning. Bold, bright colors that make you feel like you're in a cartoon. But the story is hard to follow if you're a child and the race sequences, although interesting, were often times hard to follow, unlike the television show.

And while I won't give away too much about the film, let me just drop this... Speed Racer should not drive anything else by the Mach 5.

I like the Wachowski Brothers as directors, but don't like this film at all! Made for a reported budget of close to $120,000,000.00 as of this posting the film has only made $93,000,00.00 worldwide... looks like I'm not the only one who didn't like this film either.