Today I watched Sion Sono's The Forest of Love, which came to Netflix a few days ago
I've been trying to find out what to say for a while now? I think I have it though
...this was...this was a lot?? I'm sure if you're even somewhat familiar with Sion Sono and his work, you expected that before you hit Play. Before today I'd only seen Coldfish and Why Don't You Play In Hell?, and even I expected it
If you watch The Forest of Love, you get way more than you bargained for. Far more than you could have expected. If the year didn't already have Midsommar, it'd be my uncontested film of 2019. And before I go any further, I must say there are two films I can remember now that I consider genuinely great but wondered, question, and still do doubt if I can completely recommend them. Before it was only Lars Von Trier's The House That Jack Built. Now I add Sion Sono's The Forest of Love to that list
This is 2.5 hours that lack much if any relent. The most calming and peaceful moments you get are at the beginning when "the loner virgin Shin, while taking in the wonders of Tokyo, gets introduced to two would-be filmmakers, who become friends and decide to make a film together"
I tell you this, and I tell you "a killer's on the loose, the filmmakers suspect it's a con man named Murata, and they decide to make a film about it in hopes the authenticity will legitimize them enough they can win a film festival prize". I tell you those plot details only because over the following 2 hours after both of those are established, not only do you begin to distrust anything else you see from anyone onscreen, but you begin to distrust even those details too
In the midst of it all, all the chaos you expect and all the sanity you don't, is abuse, a lesbian Romeo and Juliet story (in play form and in life), suicides and attempted suicides, electrocutions, broken families, lies and truths (and lies that sound like truths and truths that sound like lies) [and even lies that end up becoming truths], a bank scene that goes from surreal black comedy to uncomfortable horror at basically the blink of an eye, and a 3-minute long extended scene of people learning how to properly cut up and spread out a body in order to hide evidence
The beginning says it's based on true events, but by the end you're left wondering how much of it was on a true crime, and how much of it was on own experiences. If Annihilation was the most perfect film about depression I've ever seen, and Midsommar had the most authentic depiction of grief and depression I've ever seen on-screen, I can't say I've seen a more realistic example of toxic relationship play out in a film than I experienced through the entire second half of The Forest of Love. Whether it's utterly throwing yourself at someone who's around because they're there, trusting someone because you've got nothing left to believe in, not trying to leave when the door's open because you don't know anything or anyone else on the outside, or just not even trying because you don't feel you deserve happiness if it's not in the form of him
And at the end, you're not always going to escape it
I found myself hitting Pause a lot. Even before the end credits I found myself crying a lot. The Forest of Love isn't for everyone. Hell, I could believe Sono only made this for himself. And like I said, I don't even know if I feel comfortable recommending it regardless. But if you're not completely turned off by everything mentioned here, I will say I think this deserves a chance. I'm not experienced enough in delving through his filmography to say if The Forest of Love is indeed Sion Sono's masterpiece. I am sure I won't it's a film I won't forget (for better and/or for worse) anytime soon though
Wait a sec... I’d hang out with Chandler. I’m already a real life version of him as far as sense of humor and sarcasm go. Let’s be insufferable together, Bing!
I KINDA liked the story, but the dialogue is skin-peelingly bad and all the performances just feel lost
It’s only worth seeing if you can get the full experience, I really can’t see recommending it for any other purpose
how about that water though
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MaddocI'm Bobbin Threadbare, are you my mother?Registered Userregular
I ended up not doing it yesterday, but I've got tomorrow off so I'm planning on seeing Gemini Man in HFR+3D because that's literally the only way it is at all of interest to me, so after it leaves theaters that's basically it, I'll never want to watch it again for any reason
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PiptheFairFrequently not in boats.Registered Userregular
if I want to get fucking DOWN then Margot and Elliot from Magicians
if I just want to chill, Turk (JD can look on from an outside window and be sad)
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KwoaruConfident SmirkFlawless Golden PecsRegistered Userregular
the tmnt live in the sewer and it is very unbelievable that they could be stealthy ninjas whilst smelling like the shit they wade in literally every day
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3cl1ps3I will build a labyrinth to house the cheeseRegistered Userregular
the tmnt live in the sewer and it is very unbelievable that they could be stealthy ninjas whilst smelling like the shit they wade in literally every day
you kiddin', that's the perfect smell camouflage in New York
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Origin ID: Discgolfer27
Untappd ID: Discgolfer1981
I'd get on with Ben as long as nobody brought up Game of Thrones.
I've been trying to find out what to say for a while now? I think I have it though
If you watch The Forest of Love, you get way more than you bargained for. Far more than you could have expected. If the year didn't already have Midsommar, it'd be my uncontested film of 2019. And before I go any further, I must say there are two films I can remember now that I consider genuinely great but wondered, question, and still do doubt if I can completely recommend them. Before it was only Lars Von Trier's The House That Jack Built. Now I add Sion Sono's The Forest of Love to that list
This is 2.5 hours that lack much if any relent. The most calming and peaceful moments you get are at the beginning when "the loner virgin Shin, while taking in the wonders of Tokyo, gets introduced to two would-be filmmakers, who become friends and decide to make a film together"
I tell you this, and I tell you "a killer's on the loose, the filmmakers suspect it's a con man named Murata, and they decide to make a film about it in hopes the authenticity will legitimize them enough they can win a film festival prize". I tell you those plot details only because over the following 2 hours after both of those are established, not only do you begin to distrust anything else you see from anyone onscreen, but you begin to distrust even those details too
In the midst of it all, all the chaos you expect and all the sanity you don't, is abuse, a lesbian Romeo and Juliet story (in play form and in life), suicides and attempted suicides, electrocutions, broken families, lies and truths (and lies that sound like truths and truths that sound like lies) [and even lies that end up becoming truths], a bank scene that goes from surreal black comedy to uncomfortable horror at basically the blink of an eye, and a 3-minute long extended scene of people learning how to properly cut up and spread out a body in order to hide evidence
The beginning says it's based on true events, but by the end you're left wondering how much of it was on a true crime, and how much of it was on own experiences. If Annihilation was the most perfect film about depression I've ever seen, and Midsommar had the most authentic depiction of grief and depression I've ever seen on-screen, I can't say I've seen a more realistic example of toxic relationship play out in a film than I experienced through the entire second half of The Forest of Love. Whether it's utterly throwing yourself at someone who's around because they're there, trusting someone because you've got nothing left to believe in, not trying to leave when the door's open because you don't know anything or anyone else on the outside, or just not even trying because you don't feel you deserve happiness if it's not in the form of him
And at the end, you're not always going to escape it
I found myself hitting Pause a lot. Even before the end credits I found myself crying a lot. The Forest of Love isn't for everyone. Hell, I could believe Sono only made this for himself. And like I said, I don't even know if I feel comfortable recommending it regardless. But if you're not completely turned off by everything mentioned here, I will say I think this deserves a chance. I'm not experienced enough in delving through his filmography to say if The Forest of Love is indeed Sion Sono's masterpiece. I am sure I won't it's a film I won't forget (for better and/or for worse) anytime soon though
Steam
Steam - Talon Valdez :Blizz - Talonious#1860 : Xbox Live & LoL - Talonious Monk @TaloniousMonk Hail Satan
Yeah but Gus is there to soften it and I’d be in on the con so it would be fine.
Steam - Talon Valdez :Blizz - Talonious#1860 : Xbox Live & LoL - Talonious Monk @TaloniousMonk Hail Satan
Why wouldn't we just hang out at Cheers?
Steam - Talon Valdez :Blizz - Talonious#1860 : Xbox Live & LoL - Talonious Monk @TaloniousMonk Hail Satan
Ugh, full of tourists.
Well they do a terrible job pouring beers there, but they do have free bar snacks.
{Twitter, Everybody's doing it. }{Writing and Story Blog}
Hmm. Well, are we hanging out with sitcom characters in our life? Or in theirs?
Steam - Talon Valdez :Blizz - Talonious#1860 : Xbox Live & LoL - Talonious Monk @TaloniousMonk Hail Satan
Ok yeah, in that case Cheers is out.
I return to my previous fly fishing with Major Dad and road trip with Cody plan
Steam - Talon Valdez :Blizz - Talonious#1860 : Xbox Live & LoL - Talonious Monk @TaloniousMonk Hail Satan
something tells me i'd be ok
You'd find it a massive relief.
I watched a TV show that was basically about this and how the "Lisa Simpson" of the show was developing real emotional problems as a result!
I KINDA liked the story, but the dialogue is skin-peelingly bad and all the performances just feel lost
It’s only worth seeing if you can get the full experience, I really can’t see recommending it for any other purpose
how about that water though
if I just want to chill, Turk (JD can look on from an outside window and be sad)
I would hang out with Donatello from Ninja Turtles and that’s literally it for all of fiction.
you kiddin', that's the perfect smell camouflage in New York
nope
That’s what you get for tryin’a wave that realism dick.
The only dick he waves stars Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams
god damn you
that's a fucking pull
oh yeah, you're right. you don't seem like a shaver
the only dick he waves is the hairy bird