Salo or the 120 days of Sodom

Kinda passe watching this now isn't it? With the type of scat porn and torture porn available over the Net, this feels like an outmoded antiquity that is maybe shocking for its time. All the talk about it being some sort of anti-consumerist propaganda also ring hollow, as the only consumerism involved now are people buying it to see the fuss it caused. Good for being the only film to make naked bodies totally unappealing. I felt a bit grossed-out at the voyeuristic torture ending, but that's only so much. People forget to say that with the shit-eating, pee-drinking, boys and girls trussed like dogs, eye-gouging, this is actually quite a boring movie. Having not read the De Sade book, I can't compare it, but if it's anyting like this, it'll just help me sleep. Did have nightmares about Pasolini's murder, though.

Memories of Murder

Bong Joon-Hu's (The Host) earlier film. This is an immersive study of policemen and criminals. I didn't really understand the rush to get a confession but is that how it goes in Korea? Lots of interesting in-fighting between cops. Genuine perversion abound. And when the prime suspect is unveiled, you'd sympathise with him endlessly due to his pop star looks. In the end, we still dunno who is the killer. The plotting and cinematography is very detailed, drawing you in its world regardlessly.

Screwed

Got this on the pretext this is another "Ichi the Killer". But no, the first half runs along meanderingly enough. Based on Yoshiharu Shiga's adult (but non-hentai) manga "Wind-Up Type", this one is shot on over-exposed film and it positively bleeds yellow, orange and red. Comedic in a bizarre fashion, this is probably the anti-thesis of Lynchian surrealism used to scare people. The second half is aplomb with psychedelic nuances and "Kintaro candy". Brilliant performace by Tadanobu Asano (Ichi, Zaitochi) and the dreamscapes are marvellous, courtesy of Teruo Ishii, which look original and breathtaking, especially the chained funereal band. I will look for The Master of Gen-Ken-San Inn next, from the same purveyors.