Kamikaze Girls

[pro-bassoonist]

Tetsuya Nakashima's Kamikaze Girls (2004) has received a preliminary date for the UK market: February 8, 2010. Winner of the Newcomer of the Year award granted by the Japanese Academy (2005).

Official U.S. site:
http://www.kamikazegirls.net/

Los Angeles Times:

Tetsuya Nakashima's "Kamikaze Girls" opens with a shôjo animated sequence of a girl on a motorcycle, then shifts to live action moments before the "Gothic Lolita" in a frilly white dress is hit by a cabbage truck and sent flying into the air. As Momoko (pop star Kyôko Fukada) tumbles across the sky, cabbages orbiting her like satellites, silver Pachinko balls falling from her pockets like stardust, she says goodbye to her "useless father," her grandmother, her only friend and her dream of having been born during the Rococo era.

As exciting for its beautifully specific and honest portrayal of teenage girls and their friendships as it is for its dazzling visual and narrative style, "Kamikaze Girls" is a glorious blend of kitsch, grit, humor and uplift that borrows freely from various Japanese subcultures and films such as "The Outsiders" and "Kill Bill" to tell the picaresque story of an emotionally repressed teenager with an active fantasy life who learns to open herself up to friendship.

The story rewinds from the point of the accident, beyond Momoko's birth to 18th century France (where Momoko wishes she had lived instead of 21st century Shimotsuma, Japan, where the locals are content to shop for clothes at a local discount superstore).

"The people here are completely twisted," Momoko says, as the cabbage vendor and local shoppers proudly show off their bargains — low, low prices popping up on the screen.

Momoko is the daughter of a failed Yakuza who trafficked in illegal merchandise — fake "Versach" T-shirts, mostly, which he had the brilliant idea of combining with fake Universal Studios logos. Run out of town when the studio threatens to sue, Momoko's father takes her to live in the country with her senile grandmother, where she dedicates herself completely to needlepoint and amassing little-girl dresses. Momoko needs money to support her shopping habit (she's one of the best customers of "Baby, the Stars Shine Bright," a Tokyo store catering to Gothic Lolitas), so she decides to advertise her father's old merchandise in a biker magazine. Soon, she is paid a visit by Ichigo (pop star Anna Tsuchiya), a tough biker girl who expresses herself mostly via grunts and head-butts. Momoko is horrified by Ichigo, a "Yanki" biker on a tricked-out scooter who dresses like a cross between Pat Benatar and David Bowie circa 1984. But Ichigo is oddly attracted to Momoko, and obstinately pursues her friendship. Despite Momoko's fondness for parasols and strolls in the country, she is by far the tougher of the two. Ichigo, meanwhile, likes nothing better than motorcycles and fighting, but it's she who idolizes her friends and whose heart is broken by her first crush.

Gorgeously visual and energetic, "Kamikaze Girls" captures the appeal of the fashion subcultures of aesthetes and misfits, re-creating a rarefied atmosphere in which identity creation is a thoughtful, idealistic art. "Fashion became my teacher," Momoko says. "It taught me how to live. When I see clothes, they speak to me. They make me want to be worthy of them." In the end, friendship does the same for her, freeing her from her own rules just enough to connect with others. As swoon-inducing as the Rococo-era styles it celebrates, "Kamikaze Girls" is a testament to the emotional power of clothes, as well as a reminder that sometimes the swooning is a sign that your corset is bound too tight.

Kamikaze Girls Blu-ray Review

Pro-B

[DCSholtis]

Pre order just went up today at Amazon.

[Mobe1969]

That was an awesome film.

Anyone have a link? I can't find it at Amazon US or UK???

[AnimeOnBlu]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kamikaze-Gir...7636887&sr=8-1

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by AnimeOnBlu

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kamikaze-Gir...7636887&sr=8-1

Thanks

Nice avatar. I wastched Ichi again last night with some family. Awesome film.

[Le Grande Blu]

Great to see Third Window entering the Blu-Ray market. Hope they release some of their other catalogue, particularly Love Exposure and Oasis.

[AnimeOnBlu]

Hi-Res Artwork


Appears to have DTS-HD MA 5.1 (presumably in Japanese) as indicated by the spine.

[sandyph]

any region info ?

[nazdar]

what region is it; I want to order now
have the DVD, want the BD

[AnimeOnBlu]

No reviews and it seems to have been delayed (supposedly by about 2-3 weeks) so no idea what Region it is. Right now I am guessing it will be Region B locked.

Keep your eyes open, as a review on this website should be coming up soon according to the news link for the movie. It should reveal what Region code the movie is.

[pro-bassoonist]

I received the disc and our review will be up in 48 hours.

The Blu-ray disc is Region-Free and there is no PAL content preceding the main menu. Excellent treatment.

You could order safely!

Pro-B

[AnimeOnBlu]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I received the disc and our review will be up in 48 hours.

The Blu-ray disc is Region-Free and there is no PAL content preceding the main menu. Excellent treatment.

You could order safely!

Pro-B

Good news. Pro-B, can you confirm the audio is Japanese DTS-HD MA 5.1 and not DD 5.1? Thanks alot!

Hopefully Third Window gets these out soon as Amazon UK is saying it won't ship until the 25th due to them not getting any from their supplier.

[pro-bassoonist]

There is only one audio track on the disc: Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1. The English subtitles are optional.

Pro-B

[AnimeOnBlu]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

There is only one audio track on the disc: Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1. The English subtitles are optional.

Pro-B

Darn, the original box art lied . Now to decided if it is worth it without a lossless track. Thanks for the confirmation.

[nazdar]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

There is only one audio track on the disc: Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1. The English subtitles are optional.

Pro-B

Lossy soundtrack disappointing; but I'll order it anyway. We are getting spoiled.

[Mobe1969]

Got an email from Amazon UK that it is delayed a couple of weeks.

[PGW]

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

Got an email from Amazon UK that it is delayed a couple of weeks.

Oh, crap.

I hope that's not because someone realized it wasn't region locked and SHOULD have been...

[AnimeOnBlu]

It says "In Stock" now on Amazon UK so I assume they will be shipping soon.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I received the disc and our review will be up in 48 hours.

The Blu-ray disc is Region-Free and there is no PAL content preceding the main menu. Excellent treatment.

You could order safely!

Thanks as always for listing the region-coding, Pro-B. The lossy audio is a disappointment however.

[ksc2303]

Originally Posted by PGW

Oh, crap.

I hope that's not because someone realized it wasn't region locked and SHOULD have been...

I got my notice that it shipped this morning. I wouldn't worry