The Happiness of the Katakuris is based satirically on The Quiet Family (1998), which was written and directed by Ji-Woon Kim.
Directed by Takashi Miike
Written by Kikumi Yamagishi
Starring Kiyoshiro Imawano, Naomi Nishida, Kenji Sawada
R • 2001 • 113 minutes
by Toasty Mac
So, how was it that our good friend Dr. Kobb, of Kobb Labs described it? "Bonkers"?
Ah yes, and well... in a word, I thank the good Dr. Kobb for a fine definition. As always with Miike films though, if you find yourself during the experience, asking things like "What is this about?", or "Where are we now?", or (especially) asking, "Why?", then you have actually already found yourself missing out. You should at this point stop the disc, tape, or On Demand call button (Is Miike really available On Demand? I doubt it, but it's worth offering still) and find something else to do with your time. You are in much too yuppie a mood to handle the incredible variables lurking around the storys' upcoming crux(s).
This doesn't mean necessarily that you should discard the article.... by no means. It just means you need to find yourself in a better, looser, wilder (but still very tangent) mood before viewing this undeniable art.
Which, is what "bonkers" is all about, really. Is it not?
Art for art's sake. Wacky because we can. Lustful, odd, pointless (nearly), but excellent. Another Miike paperweight. Happiness of the Katakuris stands alone in its form, and somehow looks not a bit lonely for it.
It's a musical, a sci-fi, a horror(ish) bit of good ole trash... it's great for what it is. Which is really hard to define.
I loved the musicality of it. But I am a karaoke genius in my own right, so... the more cheese the better in my opinion, and this film served up the good stuff.
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My two favorite numbers in the film were #1 (by far) "I Love You", as performed by Richâdo and Shizue (Kiyoshiro Imawano & Naomi Nishida), and #2 the one I'll call "OH NO!" in which the family has discovered the first coincidental victim. What a riot both of these bits are.
I am a big Special Features fan too, so of course I loved the footage of Miike's work in the recording studio during Richâdo's "I Love You" also. Good funny stuff. I can see why my man G. Fairbanks loved this Miike staple piece. I liked much of it too. The (almost) random claymation bits were great, if odd, and the end was supremely simple, but still... over all it was still a fine piece of fun.
Again... only watch this if you are a loose type, or at least in a fresh and loose mood, but do watch it, if you have that within you.
Very well recommended for artistic serenity and riddling almost brainless, very much teasing fun.
I give her a 7.6... just needs the right attitude to watch it under, or some weed if you really want to party with it.
Text © 2006 - 2008 by Toasty Mac.
All other material © 2006 - 2008 by El Topo Entertainment