Item #: 16712DV Category: HONG KONG Format: DVD MPAA Rating: U

Woolly Rating: 5/10 (34 votes)

MEMBER COMMENTS ON THIS VIDEO

jd	Dec 15, 2004 @ 18:29:13

<[:-} a chinese "schindler's list"
an account of the atrocities committed by the japanese during the 1937 occupation of nanking, "black sun" was made by t-f mou (mou tun-fei), the director of "men behind the sun." it still has the pedal to the metal sensationalism of "mbts," but this time the demonic japanese atrocities are depicted in a more believable context, and there is a sincerity not evident in "mbts." this is a lovingly restored 2xDVD with extras that include the u.s. army propaganda film "why we fight: the battle of china," which echoes many of the events covered in "black sun," and places them in the broader context of the japanese invasion of china. while entertaining, w&w's copy of "mbts" seems to have english dubbing done by people who just made it up as they went along, placing it firmly in the exploitation movie camp. this edition of "black sun" goes to the other extreme, translating in fine detail the central symbolism concerning the japanese officers' lengthy discussions concerning their sword fetishes, making plain the hypocrisy behind their supposed spiritual significance. this makes the atrocities depicted in the movie much harder to shake off. "black sun" is cheapened to some extent by the same lack of restraint toward gore-mongering spielberg showed making "schindler's list," but mou's deeper sincerity shows in details such as the handling of female nudity. "schindler's list" has an almost purely prurient sequence where attractive, well fed women in obvious professional make-up, looking like playboy playmates, suddenly appear amidst all the starving prisoners for a nude shower scene. naked women in "black sun" are almost all dead and/or mutilated, with expressions of unmistakable misery on their faces. i suppose hard core sadists could still find prurience in these scenes, but they obviously were not filmed with that intent. the gore fx in "black sun" are cheap enough to provoke involuntary chuckles in audiences spoiled by state of the art, high budget hollywood production values, especially decapitation scenes where mannequin heads fall to the ground with their hollow necks visible. in contrast, spielberg, with a massive budget at his disposal, chose to have ridiculous, ceiling high geysers of blood spurt from head wounds every few minutes, just to keep up the tempo. he later admitted he was aware of the absurdity of the effect, but maintained it created a desired emotional effect. of the two movies, "black sun" is far more successful in maintaining a realistic vision of horror. this is no accident. unmitigated horror isn't the commercially exploitable popcorn pablum spielberg and the studio wanted. where "schindler's list" will leave bourgeoise grandmas feeling righteous but with their privileged smugness, their latent inner nazi, intact, "black sun" is relentlessly unsettling. this isn't a film for children, or people unwilling to be offended. the most sensational scene in "black sun" doesn't involve explicit gore. a pile of clothing laid out to resemble bodies, that i'd take a wild guess at being 15 yards wide and 200 yards long, is soaked in gasoline and ignited, to symbolize the incineration of "5000 corpses and injured persons" reported by a survivor. a dust devil like plasma vortex develops from the intense heat. at first, i assumed it was fx added post-production, but finally decided it was probably a real effect of the massive fire. reading david j. skal’s "the monster show" this morning, i ran across the passage where spielberg's mother says steven wasn't "cuddly," saying she shook when he would wake from a nap. at least he learned to channel his sociopathy into wealth and fame. its really a shame he and johnathan norman weren't able to get together.

• GOODBYE UNCLE TOM
Snuff Film... (Tim)

• TAMPOPO
Awesome... (CMH)

• ROMERO
... (Sue)

• VAMPIRES VS ZOMBIES
horrible... (beachmonkey)

• PULP FICTION (COL ED)
a thrill ride... (Alan Hall)

• PERFUME
KINKY, DISTURBING... (DKB)

• BLACK MASK 2: CITY IF MASKS
not bad... (Dedeals)

• ELVIS ON TOUR
Elvis in Concert. ... (elvisandmeatloaf@aol.com)

• BORN YESTERDAY
A great performance... (micca)

• WONDERWALL
Why this film dserves more than a one star rating.... (Eric)

• PIT STOP (LTBX)
... (pike)

• BEWARE OF A HOLY WHORE
... (pike)

• BIG BAD MAMA
... ()

• GOODBYE UNCLE TOM
MISUNDERSTOOD... (Caribba)

• MONKEY KUNG FU
the best... (melo70)

• PANTERA 3 WATCH IT GO
WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... (leo)

• HOUSE OF STRANGERS
FINE 1949 NOIR/DRAMA... (DKB)

• KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
LOCALLY SHOT DRAMA... (DKB)

• GOODBYE UNCLE TOM
a genius reality check 4 our race we may live in the white mans land & call it hme bt in doing that we deny the truth of our being. All brown skin people nomatta hw light r african rayalty ... (lady swirl)