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What is a Bucket Movie? Overlooked, weird and rare films, that for one reason or another fell through the cracks and failed to get a mainstream audience. Cult classics, unknown oddities and the extremely hard to find, finally get the press they deserve here!

Big Man Japan (2007) Review

May 6th 2010 06:13
Big Man Japan Poster
Well he's from japan, and he's pretty big. The movie delivers what it promises!
I see a lot of strange films, a casualty of my particular interests. In my quest to find the best unknown films of all time, I've seen the surreal and bizarre, the freaky and the frightening, the grotesque and the vulgar. Japan seems the be the land of weird, as far as movies go, so it's no surprised a Japanese independent film would possibly be one of the weirdest things the islands could produce. Big Man Japan, is an independent film by Hitoshi Matsumoto who wrote, directed and played the staring role.

It's hard to categorize this movie, but I'd have to say it's a dark comedy, done in the form of a TV show mockumentary about a Superhero named Masuru, who has the ability to grow to the size of a giant when jolted with enough electricity. Most of the film is from the point of view of an anonymous interviewer who follows Masuru around though hisdaily routines. We find most of his life is fairly mundane, he shops, gets noodles at a restaurant, sits in the park, only occasionally does he have to use his powers to fight of bizarre and grotesque giant monsters who cause trouble in the city. Aside from fighting giant monsters, his life kinda sucks. He's a failure as a husband to his estranged wife who can't stand him, and while he loves his daughter, she could care
At home
The Life of a Superhero can be pretty mundane sometimes,
less about him or what he does. While a bit of a coward Masaru seems like a genuinely good man who only wants a little respect.

Strangely enough, despite the fact he is the only one protecting the city from the big monsters, Masuru isn't to popular with the Japanese people. People interviewed people complained about his flabby looks, noise pollution and collateral damage caused during his battles. The glory days of monster fighters was during Masuru's grandfather's time, when giant heroes like him were major celebrities. Masuru's house is decorated with pictures of his grandfather and father, as well as merchandise like trading cards and action figures. The fantasy of this movie is made totally believable though clever and subtle special effects. The directing is superb, though the giant monster fights are a bit amateurish, but the rest of the film's documentary style footage is believable and a joy to watch. It's a laugh out loud parody of the monster Genre,
Sadly, this film falls apart as it ends. While the story seems to be getting close to climax that will be a somewhat happy ending, and after nearly two hours of learning about Masaru's tragic life, and sad circumstances, you genuinely want to see this guy get a lucky break, some long-deserved praise, some kind if resolution that would make his suffering worthwhile.. Instead of some kind of resolution, I was treated to a nonsensical, non-sequitur ending that felt like a practical joke played on the viewer.
It's not a bad film if your into the weird, and it has incredible cinematography an imaginative story. Sadly though, “Big Man Japan” was striving to be strange for strangeness sake. It was an enjoyable film to be sure, but not nearly as good as it could have been.
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Posted By: Joshua the Samurai - Category: B
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Comment by Matt Shea

May 6th 2010 06:27


20/20 Filmsight
Nice Josh. Conceptually, this sound fantastic, but, based upon your review, may have to wait for a cheap opportunity to see it.

Comment by Joshua the Samurai

May 6th 2010 06:56


Bucket Movies
Weird, Rare, and Overlooked Film
Ultimate Battle
It's on netflix, I watched it at my brother's house. If not for that incoherent ending it would hae been one of my favorate films! Ah, se la vi

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