9 Souls

Starring:Onimaru, Jun Kunimura, Mame Yamada, Takako Matsu, Akaji Maro, Misaki Ito, Yoshio Harada, KÃ´ji Chihara, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Itsuji Itao, Jun Inoue, Anne Suzuki, Kotomi Kyono, Ryuhei Matsuda
Director: Toshiaki Toyoda
Studio: Arts Magic
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
When a bomber, a patricide, a pornographer, and a mad biker, together with various other forms of social detritus, break free from jail, it is not surprising that mayhem follows in their wake. What is surprising is the degree of sympathy that brilliant young director Toshiaki Toyoda ("Blue Spring") elicits with elegant ease from the spectator, as the gang of misfits roams the land in a despair that is crueler for being comic. This is humanity on the run to nowhere. Although originally inspired by "The Great Escape", the film has more of a feel of Les Miserables mixed with a hallucinogenic, cut with speed. A truly original addition to the jailbreak genre!

Description

When a bomber, a patricide, a pornographer, and a mad biker, together with various other forms of social detritus, break free from jail, it is not surprising that mayhem follows in their wake. What is surprising is the degree of sympathy that brilliant young director Toshiaki Toyoda ("Blue Spring") elicits with elegant ease from the spectator, as the gang of misfits roams the land in a despair that is crueler for being comic. This is humanity on the run to nowhere. Although originally inspired by "The Great Escape", the film has more of a feel of Les Miserables mixed with a hallucinogenic, cut with speed. A truly original addition to the jailbreak genre!

Customer Reviews:

David Soul tragically not included........2007-01-19

9 Souls: 3 out of 10: Here is another great film critics will love. The problem is that it is not a very good movie.

The films premise is simple. 9 convicts escape a prison after the tenth one goes crazy and tells them where the treasure is. The first half has a lot of slapstick some of it very broad while the second half is a character driven descent into fantasy and melancholy. The two halves simply don't mix.

Individual scenes do work very well (The guys crashing a friends house who has a new Filipino bride is hilarious While a later scene with the big guy working in the restaurant tugs at the heartstrings.) They simply don't mesh together.

The movie is for one thing missing entire set-ups. One scene shows the guys desperately looking for change under a deserted vending machine to buy a snack. The very next scene has the whole crew in drag sitting down in a restaurant. Where did they get the dresses and wigs? (The crew includes both the big guy and a midget) How did they get all the clothes and money to buy the meal? And most puzzling is why are they in drag? They are clearly guys in drag and lets face it is there anything more memorable to witnesses than a big guy and a dwarf eating a meal dressed as women? I mention the big guy and the dwarf because besides the old guy everyone else seems to blend into each other. (In fact they wear matching white jumpsuits throughout most of the movie)

The movie has very little character development in the first half and as a result the second half really lacks an emotional punch. As we are often trying to figure out who is who in their individual payoff scenes.

Speaking of a drag the second half has all those wonderful sweeping camera shots and big emotional moments and great symbolism that makes a great film. It is also excruciatingly slow which makes for a boring movie.

9 Souls is a big disappointment, the reviews gush about a great film and it's in there somewhere, good luck finding it yourself.

Mixed results from a mixed message.......2007-01-05

While I love many modern Japanese (and other Asian) films, especially horror films, I did not care much for this one. The scene is set for us to know that each one of these nine souls is a violent and/or disturbed individual, with the sole exception of the doctor, and so the final path they take may not be so surprising. Without adding any spoilers, though, I must caution viewers that while the first half of the movie has many comic moments, the final half has many brutally violent and bloody scenes. While it makes perfect sense in the context of the movie, the overwhelming picture I would be given by the other reviews, including the lead review by Amazon, is that this is basically a comedy at heart. This movie is a tragedy in essence.

On that note it must be said, what is the message here? Sure, there need not be an overt message for a film to be enjoyable -- but it is evident that the director is attempting to convey a message of sorts. Unfortunately for me that weakens the film, because the comedic and warm moments of the story are shown to be a sort of mirage. Such moments will not last. Consequences to your actions are harsh, just like life.

The cinematography and music score are outstanding. I wanted very much to like the movie, but it's certainly not my cup of tea. If you enjoy the more violent modern movies, like those of Miike Takashi, you may like this one. If you prefer movies to be a little less so, as with those films by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, you may want to pass on this one.

A Different Kind Of Spiritual Journey!.......2007-01-04

There are many different MODERN types of films coming out of Japan today. Many viewers find these to be uninteresting, or maybe even a little bit pretentious. However, I like a lot of what I see in modern Japanese films. Some, in fact many, are not for everyone; but there are certain qualities that I like in much of modern Japanese cinema that I find lacking in most American films. Take for instance this film in question. I lent it to 10 friends, who like myself, love Japanese cinema. 5 liked the film, the other 5 did not. We basically all have the same tastes in common concerning are likes and dislikes in Japanese films. Therefore, while I found this film to be outstanding, as a word of caution, rent it first.

Quite frankly, I was not sure what to expect when I purchased this film when it was first released. I happen to buy a lot of Japanese films this way. Some are a hit, while others are a miss. This one was a 'grand-slam' to me. The film centers on 9 prisoners who have just escaped from prison. They are determined to find the 'key to the universe' as it has been described by another inmate known as the 'counterfeit king,' who has elected to stay behind and not join the others in their escape. They are also looking for the stash of money that will set them on their new path in life: Just one more chance, so the saying goes. But can they escape their own past deeds? Is there hope for redemption? Maybe, and maybe not. One views the run down neighborhoods and poverty in Japan that we in the west rarely see, or hear about.

As the films narrative proceeds in the begining, the viewer is given a little bit of slapstick comedy. Not too outlandish, just a bit of goofing off, and joy of these 9 escaped prisoners new-found freedom. But this is not meant to be a film without some retribution: as director Toshiaki Toyoda has driven a sharp divide right down the films center. What begins as a new life for these escaped prisoners, will eventually spiral into a dark abyss. The film gives the viewer great character development in the first half of the film. You get to know each of the characters: and they all give superb acting performance in their respective roles. Setting out together in their stolen red van, each of these characters give really outstanding individual acting performances. As a warning, there is some violence and disturbing scenes in the film. I highly recommend the film.

9 souls 9 holes........2005-02-24

This is one of the greatest films I have ever seen. If you are a lover of modern Japanese films, you will love 9 Souls. I was very impressed by Toyoda's film Blue Spring, but 9 Souls blows Blue Spring out of the water. The characters are cool, the soundtrack kicks ass, the chicks are hot. What more could you want. The movie is so good, just on a stylistic level, that the fact that the story is good is just a plus. If you don't like surrealism, vagueness, and ambiguity, then this film is not for you, but those of you who are familiar with modern Japanese cinema will love this. Almost all Modern Japanese films fit these standards and this is no different.

A work of art........2005-02-22

I just finished watching 9 Souls just minutes ago and I must say this is an amazing movie, anybody who even remotely enjoyed Blue Spring's NEEDS to see this movie.

Stunning.

The Films of Toshiaki Toyoda: Blue Spring/9 Souls

Average customer rating:

The Films of Toshiaki Toyoda: Blue Spring/9 Souls
Starring: Kôji Chihara , Onimaru , Jun Kunimura , Kiyohiko Shibukawa , and Mame Yamada
Director: Toshiaki Toyoda
Manufacturer: Arts Magic
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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Lady Vengeance
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ASIN: B000FILVI2
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Description

Two films that showcase the talents of one of the most important young directors working in Japan today, Toshiaki Toyoda. These films are as memorable for their stirring soundtracks as they are for the stellar performances from their all-star casts. Blue Spring - In this school, the students run the halls. But when the system breaks down, all that is left is violence and death. 9 Souls - A gang of convicts break out of jail on the trail of a hidden treasure. But as each escapee's past comes back to haunt them, can their sins ever be forgiven?

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Average customer rating:

Aura Battler Dunbine, Vol. 9: Forsaken Souls of Byston Well
Starring: Aura Battler Dunbine
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002VKZGG
Release Date: 2004-10-12

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ASIN: B000BTAR30

Product Description

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