Verklagekasper I watched Audition and Dead or Alive before watching Gozu, so I was familiar with Takashi Miike's weird visions. Or so I thought, because Gozu is so extra strange that I couldn't really figure out what was going on. But then again, maybe that's the whole point of it? Eventually, I just leaned back and enjoyed the show. Which is gross at times but also hilarious.To find out if this movie is for you, just watch the first few minutes. If you feel appalled, you might want to skip this movie (as well as other Miike movies). If the opening makes you chuckle a bit, give the movie a try. It's a strange but highly entertaining ride.

Andy Steel To say this film is bizarre is to put it extremely mildly; in places, it's down-right bonkers! However, I did find it strangely compelling, if a little difficult to follow here and there. I'm usually pretty good at following foreign language films; even those with subtitles, but this one just lost me a couple of times. At times it was very violent and it could be also very comic; touching drama and even horrific; it seems to touch many genres. There were some excellent special effects; all practical effects as far as I could see; and some of these were truly stunning (particularly one near the end). Over all though, I did find it a tad over long and a little frustrating to follow (too many metaphors, maybe?). Even so, I will deem it 'recommended' for its' innovative effects and some compelling (if confusing) story telling.SteelMonster's verdict: RECOMMENDEDMy score: 5.8/10.You can find an expanded version of this review on my blog: Thoughts of a SteelMonster.

shaolinstylin Gozu is a lot of things. It's a mock-Greek epic, a yakuza yarn gone wrong, a black comedy, a horror movie, and a twisted, Freudian love story. And at the same time, it's really none of the above. As much as it crosses the line, it's much more subtle and deadpan than it sounds, and it refuses to fit into any marketable niche. Gozu is the most accurately I've seen a movie emulate the logic of a bad dream. The Lynch comparisons this movie gets are lazy at best; Lynch likes to let the audience put the pieces together into something that may or may not resemble what was originally intended. With Gozu, your subconscious can't miss what it's about: the guilt of betraying a friend, a sense of unworthiness, repression, isolation, etc.Above all deeper analysis, Gozu is a lot like being lost in a town where things just feel "wrong". Minor characters speak in meaningless inanities: "I said it was hot the other day, and he said nah! But it was hot the other day, ask anyone!" One character repeats this mundane, banal mantra until it becomes eerily unfamiliar, then hilarious, then all too familiar. The third wall is broken to pieces and gender roles are tossed out the window. As surreal as it gets, though, the humanity of the characters keeps us grounded and caring about what happens. At its kindest moments Gozu evokes a sense of childhood adventure, and when a movie taps into such a vulnerable part of who you are, that's when it can truly get scary. Up there with The Seventh Seal and Stalker as one of the most perfect movies I've ever seen.

justrome0 There are a number of weird blog writers I'm following, that are a lot more funny, can be even weirder, and many stories there (written in less than a day) have a better plot. A movie could, of course, add a lot of visual candy to go along with all that, but this movie sadly, does not. Most of the visuals were so poor that I could just amuse myself at the failed attempt. I understand not all movies have the budget, but in my opinion this genre needs it. I'm starting to believe that people reviewing movies are so bored of mainstream that they would just rate anything else. I've seen a lot of Asian movies and there are some masterpieces but that will never make me say that Asian movies are good, every movie needs to hold it's own.This is my first review, but I was so disappointed after finally realizing this is not at all a good movie but only slightly enjoyable at times. It might still be worth to watch to fans of the genre but if you're not into weird and dreamy atmosphere you should avoid this one.