(2001)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-TOSHIAKI TOYODA CAST-RYUHEI MATSUDA, HIROFUMI ARAI, SOUSUKE TAKAOKA, YUSUKE OSHIBA, YUTA YAMAZAKI and SHUGO OSHINARI. SOURCE-ARTSMAGIC US DVD NTSC REG 0 (2004) RUNTIME-83 MINS.
The third US DVD release from Artsmagic, BLUE SPRING tells the story of youth who embrace their own ideology in the midst of their final year of high school. Led by their newly elected boss Kujo, they set out on a path hellbent for destruction. Strong and close friendships quickly dissolve into bitter rivalries and eventually the stark realism of life outside their concrete box. A reflection of the breakdown of society in Japan during the early to mid 1990's. Where after years of prosperity turns to cold hardship. The youth are rebelling and there is nothing that will stand in their way, evening if it means death.
Toshiaki Toyoda, directing his third film, second really as his film before entitled UNCHAIN being a documentary on boxing. BLUE SPRING takes off where his critically acclaimed 1998 film PORNOSTAR left us. Taking raw elements and literally throwing the facts right at your face. Often compared to LORD OF THE FLIES and BATTLE ROYALE, BLUE SPRING gives the viewer an inside look at youth going through a hard transition into the real world. Their school or concrete box, a reflection of just how hard society on the outside will be and is. Though the main theme here is the structure of the school, or lack of. Their leader or boss is chosen during a game of clapping. Where they stand at the highest point onto of the school’s roof, climb on the outside of the railing. The person then falls back and claps their hands together and then grabs the railing once again. The person who is able to clap as many times inbetween letting go and grabbing the railing is ultimately deemed the "Boss". This breakdown of society tale displays some of the best soundtrack music as well, housing some of Japan’s hottest bands including Thee Michelle Gun Elephant. A rock/punk driven soundtrack which reflects the over all atmosphere and attitudes projected in BLUE SPRING.
Remember films like CLASS OF 1984, or THE WANDERERS, well you can forget how good those might have been, because BLUE SPRING has taken what has been already said and changed the language. Students who lack in sensitive emotions, driven to survive in a world of the dog eat dog. That goes for the top dog as well, either you keep everything in check or you are replaced, as simple as that. There are so many hidden meanings thrown at the viewer as well. When the three main characters, who had a bond with each other plant a flower together, throughout the film they are watered and awaiting blooming. Near the end, there is only one flower left in bloom, when the others have wilted away. A symbol of how the four friend have dissolved into separate and very different ways. Though most of the tale is grey and depressing, there are hints of light in the form of humor. For insistence, at the beginning when Kajo is challenged by another bully staking claim to his territory, Kajo quickly takes care of that. Throughout the reminder of the film you see the two outcasts avoiding Kajo’s path. The body language in which they both use is incredibly funny to say the least. One continuously slaps the other in the back of the head until he eventually goes blind.
The strongest element of BLUE SPRING is Toyoda’s incredible ability in creating and nurturing several different characters under one roof. All very believable and you genuinely develop some type of feeling for them. May it be good, bad or middle of the road the feeling is there. Of course this would not happen without casting the right actors in these roles as well. Which pretty much all young and upcoming, all in which give superb performances in their dully respective roles.
The Artsmagic DVD is again another step forward in their young US endeavor. After releasing two Takashi Miike films, FULL METAL YAKUZA and SABU, their adventure into another direction in Japanese cinema only holds solid ground. Presented in lush anamorphic widescreen visuals and capped with a digital audio track that is equally as good. All of which is the usual with all their releases to date. The extras once again are pretty good. Handing the viewer some top notch commentary by Asian Cinema Godfather Tom Mes, who pretty much gives us the history and lowdown on everything to do with BLUE SPRING. Do yourself a favor, if you don’t like listening to commentaries, do it with this one! There are two interviews with director Toshiaki Toyoda, one in which he talks about how BLUE SPRING came to be and the other he discusses his first film PORNOSTAR. There is also bios and filmographies as well as some artwork for other Artsmagic releases. The main menu is pretty impressive as well. All in all, this is another home run in the US market for Artsmagic!
For more info on this disc, please visit ARTSMAGIC
STORY-3.5 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE-3.5 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO-3 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-3 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD-3 BITCH SLAPS
