Waste of time

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

This has been a film that has had great reviews and I thought I would check it out. I liked most of it. The acting was solid. The atmosphere was somber. The story was decent. My only problem with this was that it was moving so slow. I understand that pace was set that way to help with the character builds but it just seem that some of it was dragging by. It was a good revenge film it just needed to pick up the pace.

It is likely that there are hundreds of mediocre Japanese films and that in theist we only get to see the more interesting or better made. Fact is, however, that all of those released in the UK excepting a few generic horrors, seem of a very high order and fiercely aware of potentially perilous contradictions in the behaviour of the people. This is far from the joy and fun of the director's earlier Kamikaze Girls, even if that too threw up plenty of awkward questions for a confused populous, indeed this appears almost to be a Sadean reverse. Nobody comes out of this well and the film that begins on the dark side just gets darker and bloodier as it progresses. There is an 's' at the end of the single world title and this means that the lengthy and seemingly authoritative, initial confession is but the first. Slightly confusing, here and there, wit similar looking girls and first names, nicknames and last names waved about but well worth your attention for a disturbing but enlightening look at the lot of schoolchildren and their parents in jolly Japan. Incidentally I think it must also be significant that there appears to be no Japanese translation for 'single parent' which is expressed in English here, suggesting discriminatory problems ahead.

There is no topping of this movie in the revenge theme, its perfect, the acting is superb, the plot twist is better than any Tarantino movie, you get hooked up from the beginning to the end. If you liked Gone Girl, this movie tops Gone Girl twist with its pinky toe.Takako Matsu (the teacher) holds you on a trip in the very first scene, she holds the first chapter on her own, you get interested in every word she says, she is the high point of this revenge tale, trust me you'll never forget her, you can compare the way she leads the introduction with Sgt Hartman in full metal jacket, its outstanding. If you are a revenge movie fan, its a must see, I don't get it why this movie is not recognized as it should be, its better than any Tarantino. The story of this movie flows like a river without any trash in it, its perfect, how the characters are built, how the plot is built around them.The only flaw I saw in this movie, its because it ends.Its not your regular revenge bloody movie, there is some blood, but there is a mastermind in it, meticulous, events that lead to greater events, its like Kill Bill had a date with James Bond and the baby was adopted by Cartman in the Scott Tenorman revenge episode in South Park.

Two hours of my life lost, then I came to IMDb to see what are the other movies from the same Director and what? Good reviews? What's wrong in people? I don't understand why so many stars. There's nothing interesting in this movie apart for the music. Is it the plot interesting by any chance? Not it isn't. It doesn't work well, it's boring and insane. Using some weird shots, fast speed, slow motion and a jumping editing along with a good dramatic music doesn't make this director a good director. It's not all about creating a style, if the style is neither useful nor tailored for the story.And what about all that talking? I thought cinema was something regarding images and sound. Otherwise I would listen to the radio. For me crap.