Mini-Review: Incredibly allegorical. A story of ambiguous archetypes. Actualizes traditional Christian teachings about the female body and condition, that the creative power of woman is to be feared as much as revered. "Nature is Satan's church" is an apt summation of this film's themes, extending Satan's poisonous touch from nature through to Mother Nature, to the mother herself. A lot is going on in this film, and the cinematography is beautiful and haunting.

Mini-Review: Where Kitano had previously critiqued and lambasted his own artistic career in Glory to the Flimmaker!, he now turns a more well-focused, but similar effort towards art in general, especially the value, or lack thereof, in a person`s view of an artwork, rather than the work itself. Achilles... is funny, especially when Kitano himself takes over the role in a series of art-inspired hi-jinx; though the film is not without drama. I feel the denouement is forced and ruins the otherwise solid ending.

Mini-Review: Every day this is more real, more true, more important, and more sad.

Mini-Review: Incredibly atmospheric and socially relevant. The usual criticisms are largely unjustified if you're paying attention. Ambiguous =/= Inexplicable or Unconnected. Society is depicted as angry, hateful, and boiling under the surface. Identity and relationships are mined prior to hypnotism for a reason. The cure propagates as people's painful secrets are stolen away so that they may live peacefully, post-problem-purging. A lot happens, and is revealed, subtly in the last 20 minutes or so.

Mini-Review: Lots of great laughs and recurring bits. Visually stunning with great set design. The dense, picturesque sets definitely demonstrate the director's commercial-creating history. Upon rewatch, this is an excellent amalgamation of five stories about acceptance. Never thought I'd see Tadanobu Asano and Vinnie Jones share the screen...