964 Pinocchio

Starring:Hage Suzuki, Onn Chan, Ranyaku Mikutei, Kyoko Hara, Koji Kita
Director: Shozin Fukui
Studio: Unearthed
Product Type: DVD

Description

Pinocchio 964 is the nightmare of a cybernetic sex android let loose into the world without a memory. Wandering around Japan, Pinocchio finds Kyoko, another amnesiac with a horrible secret to her own memory loss. Together they try to piece their lives and live in a world where memory is no longer needed. At the same time, Pinocchio's fiendish architect and master is desperately trying to find his lost prototype before the world finds him. As agents hunt down Pinocchio, the sex android begins to unravel in what can only be said is a hallucinogenic thrill ride that has to be seen to be believed. Shozin Fukui's masterful direction gives the viewer a totally unique experience along the lines of, "Tetsuo the Iron Man". This underground classic packed the theaters in Japan and stood out among so many other films that it was hailed as a masterpiece of innovation in Japan's film industry.

Customer Reviews:

964 PU.......2007-05-25

10 minutes of poor writing stretched to 97 minutes by bad acting with a 90 minute sound track of grunting, screaming, and gagging. Like getting on a bad ride after a bad meal. When it finally stops you still don't feel well and you regret wasting your time and money. I don't know what drug cyberpunks are on to enjoy this but thank you, I'll pass.

Welcome to the strange world of Japanese cyber punk cinema!.......2006-10-23

Like Tetsuo: The Iron Man this film takes you into a really bizarre, neurotic, and insane world where all of the normal conventions of cinema have been thrown out. In other words, you are either going to love this film or you are going to completely hate it. Personally, I am stuck somewhere in between those two extremes. This is by no means a perfect movie, but I really enjoyed it for what it was... or rather whatever you may wish to call it. The imagery was very abstract and, even though it felt like a Tetsuo rip off at times, there were still some pretty creative ideas within this film. I also liked how the entire film was shot in color instead of black and white. I think that too many of these types of movies rely too heavily on the stark atmosphere of black and white instead of exploring the vivid colors and imagery that can be projected in color. I especially liked seeing the actors freaking out in public. That was quite an amusing site to behold. How modest the Japanese are! I wonder how Americans would react to that. They stared at times, but for the most part they kept to their own individual business. I wonder what other bizarre events they ignore. Overall, if you are expecting a conventional movie with a storyline and a cast of well developed and likable characters, then look elsewhere. If you want to see an LSD trip of a movie, then this is going to be right up your alley, because the images on screen are just very bizarre and abstract. I guess that you could read into this film in any way that you choose. Ultimately, as a piece of art it is left open to interpretation. However, you have to look at the images in order to understand what this film is trying to say. So, with that in mind, this is a film that is told through images, not dialogue.

scorn is better than porn.......2006-08-26

this was a very good film if you are looking for something completely awkward. lots of nonsense that makes it so unique however still the similarities to this and tetsuo the ironman are obvious. only thing i didnt like was that it seemed to drag on a bit much like tetsuo but i love how these japanese actors pull off the delusional acts. not enough lesbian action if you ask me. i like the extra short as well

Unhinged cyberpunk from hell!!!.......2006-01-14

Yowza!!! This is an amazing flick from Shozin Fukui (Rubber's Lover). This baby is filled to the brim with kinetic energy that'll blow the unsuspecting viewer away.

Previously residing in the lonely world of bootleg video, Unearthed Films released this fantastic edition on DVD. The image quality is something magnificant to behold. For a film shot on 16mm, the restoration is quite breathtaking. I couldn't believe how amazing it looked.

For me, this film isn't really about the story, it's about the experience of watching it, and it's one hell of a ride. Fukui has an impressive eye (I wish he crank out a few more films) and even though he was working within the limited aspect ratio of 1:33:1, he still manages to capture some striking compositions. His creative use of cinematography creates a very chaotic and unstable world that can become unhinged (which it usually does) at any given moment. His use of sound and performaces from fearless actors will further test of audiences' boundaries of sanity.

I saw this before I saw Tetsuo: The Iron Man, which many people accuse this film of ripping off. No way! This baby is a completely different animal. In many ways, I think Pinocchio 964 emerges as a better film. At the very least, it lives within its own creative world and I'm very happy that I can finally view it as it was meant to be seen!

Check it out!

The Second Coming..........2005-12-31

I going to speak to a specific audience of reader right now, and you will know who you are. You saw Tetsuo: The Iron Man years ago, and it burnt itself ito the circuitry of your brain. You watched it many times, and showed it to friends; but no matter where you looked, or what you watched, you never got the same high as you did that from watching Tetsuo. Perhaps you watched Tetsuo 2, and were disapointed; perhaps you watched Tokyo Fist, and it just wasn't the same. You watched other films by other Japanese directors, but nothing could rise to the delerious cyberpunk heights of Tetsuo...

Until now...

The Second coming has arrived...mmmm, apparently in 1992!

If Tetsuo was your cup of slime and blood, this will get you off hard. And let me tell you, this is not just some Tetsuo wanna be, a Tetsuo clone. This is a film with a world all of it own. It has a totally different aesthetic, totally different textures, totally different themes and subthemes. This is a wild, hardcore, punk rock trip into the dark side, and I loved it.

The actors go places that blew me away. Like they jacked straight into the Id, and their performances show a level of commitment that no American actors would ever dare take themselves. It seems like they are all tripping hard on LSD or some types of psychodelics. The director is incredibly self confidant, and wants to "show you" his world, not explain it will dialogue. He has his roots in some strange punk, noise rock underground scene, and he incorporates this sensibility into the film.

The use of sound in the film is truly unique, and help build layers of (un)reality. The film takes some serious twists and turns that will satisfy the philosophical side of your nature. One of the coolest part for me, was that most of the film seems to have been film (guerilla style) in public!, without permission, mostly in stores and subways. It really tickles me to wonder what people must have been thinking to have seen these freaks going nutz while they were on the way to work. If you watch, you can see some pretty shocked looks on their faces, but, weirdly enough, most people just keep walking.

This movie is a new personal favorite of mine. It lean, mean, punkrocking subversive machine- but strangely sweet.

Oh, and did I mention that this DVD has a short film on it (a rather long short film) called Caterpillar by the same director, which also is wild and weird and waiting to rock your world.

I also have found out that the director shot a prequel to this film a number of years later, and it is supposed to be every more offensive and violently psychotic! It is called Rubber's Lover and it also available on DVD. I will review that one after I have bought and watched it.
I'm speaking to you, and you know who you are. Get this, see this...I'll see you on the other side.

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