I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I sat down to watch Japanese Story. Everything I had read on it suggested I would be getting a typical culture clash comedy-drama. As such, it was very refreshing to find something very different.
Although Japanese Story does indeed start off along these lines, it does so well, and Collette and Tsunashima are excellent as the leads who despite being somewhat cold toward each other at first, eventually warm to each other. This is all handled beautifully, but it is still only half the film. Around halfway through the film, it throws a twist that changes the entire film and sends it spinning off in a very different direction.
To go into details on what this twist is and what it does for the film would be to lessen the impact, but it took me entirely off guard, something that doesn't happen often in the current film enviroment of overdone cliches and safe stories.
Japanese Story isn't for everyone, so if you're only really interested in the typical Hollywood blockbuster fare, you'd probably do well to avoid it, but for anyone looking for a little more depth in their films, I would wholeheartedly recommend it.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: John Duigan - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Penelope Cruz
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
I'd really like to know more about this one. If you could expand it up to the standard of your recent reviews I would be glad to re-read and rate again.
LR_17 02.08.2004 20:03
Just needs a little more on the characters to get a higher rating but a good start to your review! Leila :)
![Japanese Story (Toni Collette) [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78509533.jpg "Japanese Story (Toni Collette) [DVD]")
Jun 25th, 2004
very helpful by (5%):
helpful by (95%):
