Comments on: Tony Takitani (feature film)

By: Jae

Jae — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:42:12 +0000

Hi Martin! I stumbled upon your anime blog and then I read some of your book reviews, especially the Murakami ones. I read some of his works after reading your reviews and I just wanted to thank you. I’ve read most of his short story anthologies, including Blind Willow but haven’t ventured onto his longer works yet. Hardboiled is on the top of my list! Have you read any of Banana Yoshimoto’s works?

By: Swedish boy in the Deep South

Swedish boy in the Deep South — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:05:38 +0000

Oh and I’m a complete My Bloody Valentine fan

By: Swedish boy in the Deep South

Swedish boy in the Deep South — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:04:32 +0000

Thanks a bunch. Just started to read your blog. Went here for decent anime suggestions, got a smart review on Murakami. You should read his new memoir, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. It’s a bunch of fun, and great for any Murakami fan. I didn’t get as much out of Tony Takitani as you, but I still think its a unique movie in its own right. I constantly make mental references to the original short story though, and its helped me progress as an individual.

By: Martin

Martin — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:41:11 +0000

@Hige: I’ve always wondered what that locked forum was about - the whole place has been a bit quiet just lately anyway, so I really ought to help put that right. The fact that Owen and yourself have been offline and unable to kick us up the backside hasn’t helped either…

So yeah, I’d love to help out in reading/writing an article on the film. It’s a triumph of minimalist storytelling, but to pull off even part of that Murakami vibe is a feat in itelf. Very emotionally powerful too so I’ll have to look out for the soundtrack now I know it’s available.

By: Hige

Hige — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:42:09 +0000

I’m glad you got a lot out of this film. It’s honest-to-god one of my all time favourites for all the reasons explicit and implicit. I bought the soundtrack on iTunes shortly after seeing it for the first time and can never listen to more than two minutes of it. Firstly because it just crushes me emotionally (I usually have tears in my eyes by the DVD menu!), and secondly because I freak out about ruining the delicate impact of the film. The music is so fundamental to the experience for me, I think . . . although it’s just one of countless things I love about the film, of course.

It’s a total coincidence, but me and itsubun have been attempting to co-author an article on TT in the locked ABC forum for months. I still need to write the concluding bit, but the end result is an absolute beast. I’ll email you the password for it if you like? It’s nigh-unreadable in its current form but you might get a kick out of our pretentious wankeries anyhow. :3