Audition [Blu-ray] [Region B]

I will admit I didn’t know what to expect going into this movie but it was brilliant. The second half of the movie is disturbing however I recommend this to any fan of horror. There is no dubbed version anywhere so as long as you can deal with subtitles then there should be zero issues with this movie

Let's pretty much skip past talking about the film here: long story short, it's one of my favourite films of the last 20 years. I mainly want to talk about this release, which is a 2K remaster with a stack of extras. How does it look? Acceptable. It's a significant upgrade on the Tartan DVD I own but it's often quite grainy and soft. However, I get the feeling that this is more of a problem with the source rather than anything else. Suffice to say that it's the best Audition has ever looked outside of a cinema. The extras are excellent. You get two commentary tracks, although the Miike one is actually just an interview rather than a scene by scene walk-through. The other one is by Tom Mes, the author of the definitive Miike book Agitator. This is detailed, scholarly and psychoanalytical: you're mileage may vary depending on how much you enjoy these kind of tracks. There's also some shortish interviews that seem to be the same as the Region A blu, plus a bunch of new ones. Essentially, this has everything the Region A blu has alongside some new features and a bump in picture quality. So if you don't own Audition already or are looking to upgrade to HD, this is the definitive version and will probably remain so.

Takashi Miike`s infamous shocker from 1999. Although this is a gristly, thoroughly nasty horror film it has (as is the case with many considered and notable films in the genre) a much deeper social message – particularly regarding the way Japanese society treats women. Adapted from Ryū Murakami`s novel, it's a relatively slow-moving film, ostensibly a romantic mystery for the first two chapters; with the help of a film-industry friend, Aoyama - a middle-aged widower - sets up fake film auditions in order to meet a potential wife; that this is regarded as an acceptable idea by both men is some indication of the nature of Japan`s male-dominated culture. That Asami, the unassuming 24-year-old whom he meets, turns the tables on him - and in such an unexpected way – is a seriously radical act - never mind the obvious shock factor of it`s violence. This movie has been cited as the inspiration for the “torture porn” sub-genre of horror films – particularly from America, but it's cultural setting makes it much more powerful in context. A difficult film to sit through and a genuinely disturbing one on first-time viewing; it is quite rightly regarded as a modern horror classic, but not one I care to watch very often. The standard UK DVD is - of course – in Japanese language with English subtitles; the only extras are a short interview with Miike and a couple of trailer reels.

In this 1999 Japanese suspense horror, Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi), a middle-aged widower of seven years, is urged to begin dating again. Aoyama's friend, film producer, Yasuhisa Yoshikawa (Jun Kunimura), devises a casting audition through which Aoyama's can find his new wife. But Yoshikawa develops misgivings about Asami, [Eihi Shiina] the young woman chosen, exactly what is it that worries him so? Although billed as a horror, this actually feels like a romantic drama for much of its length. It’s actually quite relaxed–but never dull, as Aoyama sets about his task, yet somehow the plodding pace is quite engaging as the story slowly develops, becoming gripping as his quest deepens and the atmosphere grows, resulting in a faster pace before reaching its harrowing sadistic crescendo. It’s also quite clever in the way we see Aoyama’ past activities/fantasies catch up on him during his ‘hallucinations’. The single disc opens to a main menu offering play, scene selection, set up [2.0/dolby 5.1/DTS5.1 and English subtitles on/off] and extra features [Miike interview, theatrical trailer, Miike trailer]. The soundtrack is Japanese with English subtitles, but they are not very intrusive as the dialogue is easy to follow. The film does not contain much direct gore, but is highly unsettling with some disturbing imagery in the second half, and is deserving of an 18 certificate. The swearing is mild and brief while the sex scenes are mainly implied and if it’s fast paced gore, violence or frights you’re after, then avoid this, but the final scenes are not to be missed by any horror fan, so if you can handle subtitled films, give this a try.

Audition stands out in the public eye for its shocking cruelty in the final act and rightly so - what happens to our kindly hero at the hands of the girl he so fell in love with is gruesome indeed. And yet, this is put into image rather more tactfully and suggestive than one would expect - which is a good thing. There are films far more brutal out there (which I try to avoid). On the other hand, the last act being so notorious it eclipses the fact that the film as a whole isn't very satisfying. Yes, the method of wanting to get to know pretty girls by way of auditioning for a film is certainly iffy, but the protagonist is portrayed as sincere. The girl is another matter. We get flashes of the horrors she's had to endure when quite young which makes her a victim indeed, but for me the psychology of her behaviour doesn't make sense to me. Does she wish to avoid/destroy all men because of what's happened to her? This would makes sense. But she's portrayed as a psychopatic murderer, a black widow luring her victim in, while an earlier victim like a fly in a web is literally feet away from her and this I do not understand. Another anomaly: she's apparently clever, but it would've been easy to get her victim somewhere safe instead of his own home where his son can come to the timely rescue. I was lured in myself by the film's must-see reputation but this reputation I fear is overblown. It may have been unique and shocking at the time but with hindsight it's a mediocre film at best.

The one star is not for the film but for the video. The film is good and I will review it but the poor production of the film must be mentioned. In one or two Japanese films of late, some bright spark decided to have all the subtitles be burned on white. In films like Ringu, this worked fine, as the films generally were set on a dark background, so that all but one or two line could not be understood. However, Audition is set very much on a light background. The white subtitles are hard to read throughout much of the film and during the actual audition, all non Japanese speakers will have to guess at what is being said. What on Earth possessed people (who I assume actually got paid for ruining the video) to make the subtitles white is quite beyond me. I suggest finding a DVD that has legible subtitles instead. As for the film? Good. A man who has been single for many years goes out to find a new love on his son's advice and it leads him ultimately into a near fatal relationship. The build up is fairly slow and not always gripping, but when it turns on the terror, it does REALLY work and the final scene makes Mr Blonde in Resevoir Dogs look like something from Blue Peter. Not one of the best of the recent cycle of Asian film but good nonetheless - or rather it might have been had not someone ruined the subtitles.

The film starts at a sedate but intriguing pace, setting the scene in a logical and extremely thorough manner... Basically a film director, whose wife tragically died a while back, auditions 30 girls to be his future wife, although they are under the impression that it is for a legitimate acting role. One girl seems to impress the director; her name is Asami. At first she seems well mannered, subserviant and mild. As the film unfolds, we get an insight into her dark past, full of abuse and mental anguish. The film then takes a turn into a world, where dreams merge into reality and at some points it is difficult to tell which category the main character (the film director) is engaged in. This method of film collage gives the film a unique visual power, similar to that found in the Ring. The camera work, lighting and angles build a suspense that no hollywood movie can get close to. The final 30 mins reveal some of the most terrifying moments in film history. I will give nothing away, just watch it for yourself... This is undoubtedly the scariest horror film I have ever seen and is most definitely on a par with the japanese "Ring" triology. At moments I was going to switch it off and I am a hard-core horror enthusiast. "The Exorcist" seems like a walk in the park compared to this. My girlfriend was almost sick due to some of the scenes at the end! Pleased watch!

i don't want to spoil to much about the film so i'll keep it brief. a lonely widower is convinced by his son that he should get remarried, so he and his friend hold a fake audition so that he can pick a wife out of the bunch, once he meets the woman of his dreams, he becomes emotionally attached to her, but little realizing that she is not as wonderful as she seems. Audition isn't a horror film in the traditional sense, instead it plays out like a romantic drama for the first 58 minutes, then the last 40 minutes, it turns into a gut wrenching nightmare. i don't really have anything bad to say about the film, it delivered exactly what it promised and that was to creep you out. the cinematography is to die for, the editing is elegant and the acting is realistic as ever. the horror scenes are what get to me the most, it's almost as if Takashi miike creeped into a psychopaths house and filmed the events without them noticing, the lack of music helps build tension as you can hear the sounds of the characters, whether gasping or crawling. overall 10/10 from me. i highly recommend it.

Dont have much positive to say about this film and you can also clearly see they killed a dog just to film a scene(towards the end) making this. I bought it but felt I did not want such garbage in my filmcollection so I got rid of it again. Not gonna watch any more movies by Miike.

This is Miike Takashi's magnum opus. Both beautiful and honest. Audition is a languorous film. It slowly pulls the audience into a lonely widower's world ... Years after the death of his wife, Shigeharu Aoyama begins seeking a new companion but to little avail. Both he and his friend lament the disappearance of the traditional Japanese woman: one who is trained in the arts, is demure, and graceful. Aoyama's friend is involved in film-casting and arranges an "audition" for Aoyama's potential mate: only the women do not know they are being auditioned for the role of "girlfriend." It is here where Aoyama meets his perfect woman . . . or is she? What is important to know: the film is deliciously slow. It reads like a drama. And, a compelling one at that! Then ... the last twenty minutes are like successive punches to the face. They are ABSOLUTELY shocking ... nearly unbearable! But, if you require immediate gratification, this film is not for you. It is a film about human drama ... the build-up to the grand finale is very long, very deliberate. (And, it is this exact reason why the film is so very startling!!) The cinematography is gorgeous. The soundtrack is thoughtful. The acting is impeccable. The audience genuinely cares for these characters (even Asumi). And while Aoyama may have approached finding a new love in a dishonest manner, he certainly does not deserve the grotesque, unspeakable, impending violence. Our sympathies lie with him. And, even in the final scene (without giving away ANYTHING!), Miike Takashi explains that Aoyama looks to Asami with forgiveness and tenderness (found in director's commentary). What is most startling is that Miike Takashi HIMSELF has explained that the young woman who plays Asami Yamazaki is a method actress, so the vomit scene is REAL!! (Listen to the director's commentary for details!!) Just thought you should know;) This film is a cautionary tale both about the pitfalls of adhering to "tradition" at all costs. Suggested reading: Hantke, Steffen. "Japanese Horror Under Western Eyes: Social Class and Global Culture in Miike Takashi's Audition." Japanese Horror Cinema. Ed. Jay McRoy. Honolulu: U Hawaii P, 2005. 54-65.

Miike's best film for me, its got a wonderful slow burn to it, creepy atmosphere, perfect acting and wonderful directing. I have been a huge horror fan for many years and this is my personal favorite, it just does so many things wonderfully. If you want to get scared or you like Miikes other movies, check this out! Audition, Gozu and Rainy Dog are my person favorites of his. This is a perfect example of how to do horror, you don't need tons of violence every second, Miike earns every second of the gory violence that happens late in this movie, as his pacing is just perfect throughout the whole movie, never jumping the gun.

Man muss in ruhe und ohne Störung diesen Film sehen eine richtig gute Handlung finde diesen echt gut.

Je ne vais pas y aller par quatre chemin. J'avais beaucoup entendu parler d'Audition sans jamais le voir, ni même savoir quoi que ce soit à propos de la fin (même si je l'avais en partie devinée). Grand amateur et consommateur de films de genre, d'horreur et d'épouvante, Takashi Miike adapte un roman de Ryû Murakami que je m'empresserai de lire. C'est le film le plus effrayant que j'ai vu depuis ces cinq dernières années, facile, et j'en ai vu des films d'horreur/épouvante, croyez-moi. Ne vous attendez pas à voir Ichi The Killer ; c'est même là l'anti-Ichi par bien des aspects. Ici, vous serez terrifiés par la mise en scène toute en douceur et en subtilité de Miike qui arrive à rendre malaisants grand nombre de plans fixes regard caméra. Une scène "toute bête" m'a particulièrement marqué. Discussion dans un taxi, ça se passe normalement. Puis plus de sujet de conversation entre les deux passagers. Un réalisateur moyen (dans la norme j'entends) aurait fait un cut, mais non, Takashi Miike continue jusqu'au départ de l'autre passager et jusqu'à son arrivée tandis que le taxi avance, mais la caméra non, toujours en regard caméra. Une histoire passionnante que beaucoup de spectateurs modernes pourraient qualifier d'"ennuyantes" mais le film mais mal à l'aise dès les cinq premières minutes, et une heure plus tard le malaise ne vous quitte pas en plus de la terreur qui vient s'y greffer. Miike "s'amuse" dès lors avec les sentiments du spectateur et ascenseurs émotionnels en voulez vous en voilà. Sans spoiler, plusieurs personnages souffrent physiquement et j'ai ressenti la douleur de chaque seconde d'aiguillage (je reste volontairement vague). Cerise sur le gâteau, on en arrive à comprendre la détresse du Japon, du moins du Japon de 1999, où règne une solitude d'autant plus frappante qu'elle est mêlée à une surpopulation et à des modes de vies très étranges pour ceux peu habitués aux coutumes locales. On comprend mieux la détresse de la civilisation japonaise et le pourquoi du comment le peuple japonais en vient à se divertir avec des émissions quelque peu... stupides diront nous (ce thème n'étant pas abordé directement dans le film mais se fait ressentir). Enfin, une grande mention spéciale aux éditions Italiennes Arrow, qui proposent des films introuvables de qualité, (en Blu-ray) rarement vue, aussi bien au niveau du packaging que du contenu. Comprendre l'italien ou l'anglais s'avère préférable cela dit, mais disons que je dispose désormais d'un certain nombre de leur films et moi qui ne parle pas un mot d'Italien je pense que nombres de mes Blu-ray seront importés d'Italie donc. En résumé, Blu-Ray Italien/Européen de qualité pour quiconque est capable de suivre un film en vost anglais et/ou Italien (et rien que le boitier à lui seul vaut l'achat, entre nous, Arrow Video fait de la qualité), ainsi qu'un chef d'oeuvre du cinéma qui m'a fait flipper comme jamais alors que je suis un habitué du genre (l'épouvante/horreur sont même mes genre de prédilections). FONCEZ. Mais attention âmes sensibles. Vraiment. J'avais déjà vu "Ichi The Killer" du même réalisateur et bon, j'ai aimé mais j'ai jamais été réellement effrayé. Regardez "Audition" à vos risque et périls, vous êtes prévenu, ce n'est pas du cinéma pour tout le monde même si A PREMIÈRE VUE il en a l'air. Cinq étoiles, évidemment, pour la qualité du blu ray et du film.