Takeshi Kitano's "Brother"

[AndrewC]

Anybody seen the DVD? any good?

[Shingster]

Any particular region you interested in, R2 or R3?

I've seen the R2 version & it's got a very good clean transfer, & good audio with quite a lot of rear effects. There's also a 50min doc on Takeshi, which I haven't seen, but other people on this forum have said is excellent.

I'd imagine the R2 has the best transfer, but the R3 is cheaper.

[APPRIA40WR]

Bloody awful.

Could have written it on the back of a stamp.

Derivative, lots and lots of shouting and wooden acting (although Beat looks the usual).

Watch Violent Cop (http://www.dvdauthority.com/violentcop.htm) instead.

[Shingster]

Watched Violent Cop the other night, & it definitely lives up to the title!!
The only problem I had with Brother was the American dialogue.

[Jimmyboy]

Check this thread for a more positive opinion -
http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15658&highlight=brother

Im waiting for it to turn up somewhere at around the ten quid mark so I can check it out myself.

[StuBruise]

Originally posted by Jimmyboy
Check this thread for a more positive opinion -
http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15658&highlight=brother

Im waiting for it to turn up somewhere at around the ten quid mark so I can check it out myself.

Try your local Blockbuster's ex-rental bin -- picked mine up for £9.99 in virtually mint condition (a couple of fingerprint smudges around the edge of the disc but otherwise perfect :D)

~~stu

[gZa]

Originally posted by APPRIA40WR
Bloody awful.

Could have written it on the back of a stamp.

Derivative, lots and lots of shouting and wooden acting (although Beat looks the usual).Bloody awful is a bit strong ain't it?!
I'll be the first to admit it's not one of Kitano's best (<i>Hana-Bi</i>) but considering it is a cross-over movie, I think he still managed to put his stamp on it, albeit slightly compromised.

For one - The score is awesome and the acting/non-acting (for a Kitano movie) is surprisingly good. Omar Epps lifts the film tremendously in the his final scene.

Oh and I got the r2 from a rental store (brand new boxed) for £10.99 :D

[APPRIA40WR]

Bloody awful is about right mate -the censoring software won't let me say what I want to say! :D

If you're a fan of Beat (I am) then you'll find something in it to like of course but remove him from the film (and he's not amazing in it anyway) and there's nothing left on the screen.

People who maybe haven't seen his best films and go to this film afresh may say 'kewl' -but not me. Complete pants and a good 'soundtrack' has nowt to do with how bad/good it is either.


Omar Epps lifts the film tremendously in the his final scene.

http://members.tripod.co.uk/uploadimages/shock.gif He's a terrible actor. He's got as much screen presence as a cabage.

So for me it was a film made by greedy producers that thought it would have great cross-territory sales potential. It didn't and it's a blemish on Beat.

[gZa]

Originally posted by APPRIA40WR
Bloody awful is about right mate -the censoring software won't let me say what I want to say! :D

If you're a fan of Beat (I am) then you'll find something in it to like of course but remove him from the film (and he's not amazing in it anyway) and there's nothing left on the screen.Ermm... He did write/edited & direct the film so there's very much to like when he's not on screen! Have you seen <I>Kids Return</I>? :pPeople who maybe haven't seen his best films and go to this film afresh may say 'kewl' -but not me. Complete pants and a good 'soundtrack' has nowt to do with how bad/good it is either.
A soundtrack is generally like - 50% of the 'viewing' pleasure!

<I>Hana-Bi</I>, <I>Sonatine</I> and definately <I>Kikujiro</I> wouldn't have been half as good sans Joe Hisaishi great music.Omar Epps lifts the film tremendously in the his final scene.

http://members.tripod.co.uk/uploadimages/shock.gif He's a terrible actor. He's got as much screen presence as a cabage.:eek: Well I wouldn't claim that I've seen a lot of his performances but the ones I have seen; <I>Juice</I>, <I>In Too Deep</I> and <i>The Wood</i> have been far from vegetable like!? :confused:

I'd argue that anyone here who DOES like <I>Brother</I> liked Epps' performance in it.So for me it was a film made by greedy producers that thought it would have great cross-territory sales potential. It didn't and it's a blemish on Beat. Look I said it's not his greatest film but a lesser Kitano film is still 10 times more intriguing than most...and far, far from 'bloody awful' :rolleyes:

[mightybifkin]

I personally thought it was a good film, but a poor Kitano film.

It has some good moments in it, but it does not stand up to comparison with his others.

HOWEVER, what did you expect when you learnt that he was doing an "American" film? He was never going to have the control and choice of actors that he is used to when working with American producers. When you take that into account, he has done an okay job.

And I thought Omar Epps ruined the film. If there is one actor that would never work in a Kitano film, it is Epps.

[gZa]

Originally posted by mightybifkin
And I thought Omar Epps ruined the film. If there is one actor that would never work in a Kitano film, it is Epps. Who would your rather have, Chris Tucker?! Hell he helped Jackie Chan cross over! :rolleyes:

[mightybifkin]

Originally posted by Garry Cowell
Who would your rather have, Chris Tucker?! Hell he helped Jackie Chan cross over! :rolleyes:

Oh god, good point. Come back Omar, all is forgiven!!! :D