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Comical gore for lovers of cult film
By Brian Offenther |
September 24, 2012, Monday
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LIKE any healthy art form, cinema seems to interact with viewers, as in an active conversation. A movie can seem to say, "Yes, I agree with you," simply by replicating anything, from an aesthetic to a technique.
An example can be seen in "The Machine Girl" (2008) whose filmmaker Noboru Iguchi seems to enthusiastically agree with points offered by recent works of American filmmaker Quentin Tarintino ("Kill Bill" series and "Death Proof").
From their revenge-based plots with sexy female protagonists, absurdly violent yet stylish violence and simple plots, "The Machine Girl" owes a lot to Tarintino. This only comes full circle, as Tarintino has been vocal about his love for Japanese cinema, especially movies starring Sonny Chiba.
So what does Iguchi add to the conversation? For one, he's certainly under less pressure to appeal to mainstream audiences, and he exploits this by implying high school fantasy romances that still are mostly taboo in the West.
Another is that he's more willing to indulge in the bloodlust of many young male film-goers, going to absurd lengths to give new angles on how to best create a hyper violent world. These absurdities become their own humor, as when the machines used to shoot blood from characters seem to malfunction and spew pressurized gas. Low-budget cinema at its best.
"The Machine Girl" stars Minase Yashiro as a school girl from a disgraced family determined to bring revenge to bullies who murdered her brother, played by Ryosuke Kawamura. These bullies are no ordinary high school punks, but led by the son of gangsters, played by Nobuhiro Nishihara.
Nishihara and his mother, played by Japanese celebrity Honoka (one name only) nearly steal the show with their devilish demeanors.
The real star here though is the gore, which acts to diffuse our anxieties about death; or it's a parody of action films; or it's simply absurdity. Take your pick or more likely, go the over-the-top route and take all three, as this movie isn't very subtle.
That's the best and worst of "The Machine Girl." Some will find its style forceful, others annoying. It makes its simple points with a loud scream.
An example can be seen in "The Machine Girl" (2008) whose filmmaker Noboru Iguchi seems to enthusiastically agree with points offered by recent works of American filmmaker Quentin Tarintino ("Kill Bill" series and "Death Proof").
From their revenge-based plots with sexy female protagonists, absurdly violent yet stylish violence and simple plots, "The Machine Girl" owes a lot to Tarintino. This only comes full circle, as Tarintino has been vocal about his love for Japanese cinema, especially movies starring Sonny Chiba.
So what does Iguchi add to the conversation? For one, he's certainly under less pressure to appeal to mainstream audiences, and he exploits this by implying high school fantasy romances that still are mostly taboo in the West.
Another is that he's more willing to indulge in the bloodlust of many young male film-goers, going to absurd lengths to give new angles on how to best create a hyper violent world. These absurdities become their own humor, as when the machines used to shoot blood from characters seem to malfunction and spew pressurized gas. Low-budget cinema at its best.
"The Machine Girl" stars Minase Yashiro as a school girl from a disgraced family determined to bring revenge to bullies who murdered her brother, played by Ryosuke Kawamura. These bullies are no ordinary high school punks, but led by the son of gangsters, played by Nobuhiro Nishihara.
Nishihara and his mother, played by Japanese celebrity Honoka (one name only) nearly steal the show with their devilish demeanors.
The real star here though is the gore, which acts to diffuse our anxieties about death; or it's a parody of action films; or it's simply absurdity. Take your pick or more likely, go the over-the-top route and take all three, as this movie isn't very subtle.
That's the best and worst of "The Machine Girl." Some will find its style forceful, others annoying. It makes its simple points with a loud scream.
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