Cool News
Massawyrm rejoices as his 2nd favorite film of last year FISH STORY makes its way to Netflix Streaming!
Hola all. Massawyrm here.
I am overflowing with joy at writing this, but the movie I have been singing about, screaming about and showing to anyone and everyone who would give me the time is finally available for the rest of you to watch. FISH STORY (Fishu Sutori). This played Fantastic Fest last year and blew me away, prompting me not only to watch my screener a dozen or so times, but to attend both projected showings of the film and eagerly await an American release of the film. A dozen or so viewings in and I still tear up. Ever since I first wrote about it, and well wrote about it again…and then put it on my Top Ten list…I’ve been receiving mail from people all over the world discovering this brilliant gem and thanking me for turning them on to it; something I have been thrilled to do.
Now I get one last chance. FISH STORY is available on Netflix Streaming today in the US. Please, for the love of all that is holy, watch it at your earliest convenience. If you aren’t yet convinced, here is my review from last fall, repeated in its entirety for your reading pleasure. But seriously, after that, enough stalling. Just go watch the film.
It is incredibly rare that you see a film that quite literally gets better upon subsequent viewings. Most often good stories are structured like a great joke – certain information is kept from you, building suspense until it all becomes clear in a sudden revelation of facts that brings everything together in one, fantastic, emotional climax. And while it is very enjoyable to rewatch a film like that, you can never quite duplicate your initial viewing. But occasionally a film comes along that defies that, one peppered with so much information that at first seems irrelevant (but is not) that it actually pays off even stronger when seen a second and a third time. Such is the case with FISH STORY.
FISH STORY is a great joke. It has a few key elements that it holds back from you. But returning to the film (as I have now three more times - two in the theater and once more on DVD), I’ve found just how densely packed a film it is. Virtually every line of dialog carries weight and pays off in the ending. What at times may seem like casual conversation is actually philosophical ruminations on the ending, its importance and the overall theme of the film – when it’s not actually information you might otherwise dismiss that serves to support all of the surprises the film has to offer. Even the film’s bizarre opening shot – the final moments of a 1970’s Japanese television show – pay off in creating a vast, circular work of genius that may well become one of my favorite pieces of Science Fiction of all time.
I first wrote about the film in my Fantastic Fest pre-coverage, where I named it my pick for the fest. At the time, while I loved it, I had no idea how much my affection for it would grow, but each viewing only made me hunger to watch it again and again, each time dissecting it further to find more and more hidden meanings and layers.
Based upon a novel, this dense two hours tells the story surrounding a comet about to slam into the Earth in the year 2012. In what feels like something out of an Albee or Sartre play, three men find themselves in a record shop moments before the end of the world – one man shopping, one running the store and a third trying to figure out what the hell these guys are doing walking around like nothing is happening. When questioned, the clerk reveals that he believes the world will be saved…by a punk song. Thus begins the interweaving of stories from 5 different time periods: 1975, 1982, 1999, 2009 and 2012.
Each period of time is in fact its own story, each with its own weird, genre leanings and characters – but the film focuses mostly upon the effect this single punk song has on history – from the origins of the seemingly gibberish lyrics all the way up to the stunner of a climax. It is, for all intents and purposes, a delightful case study of the butterfly effect - the chaos theory principle that one very small event can cause catastrophic, world changing alterations. At the same time, we learn about the men in that record shop and what brought them there – because all of the characters in this movie are connected, whether they know it or not. It is a film entirely about the interconnectivity of us all; how each of us – even in the smallest ways sometimes – plays a part in history. This band, this long forgotten, 37-year gone failure, might have saved the world – or doomed it to extinction. And only one man knows it.
FISH STORY is a warm, elegant, brilliant feel-good comedy swimming in good nature and full of surprises that will even catch the most jaded and observant viewers off guard. When I first wrote about this I likened it to Richard Kelly’s interpretation of MAGNOLIA – but in truth, after multiple viewings, I’ve found it more to be like Kelly riffing on Vonnegut and ending up with a sci-fi PULP FICTION. Infinitely rewatchable, the overt charm and jokes give way to wonderful subtleties that provide the backbone of an already impressive film.
This is the very best film I’ve seen all year and is well on its way to becoming one of my all time favorites. It is highly intelligent comfort food, chicken soup for the nerdy soul, an absolute delight from beginning to end. While it never milked tears from my eyes, there are a few moments that get me a little choked up and force me to fight them back, even now after my 4th viewing. If you have any chance whatsoever to view this film, do so at your earliest convenience. While I doubt it will get any kind of theatrical distribution here in the states (mainly due to Japan’s self-sufficient nature and their hesitation to sell their films short to American distributors) it will no doubt be worth your while to go out of your way to find. I need to have this on Blu-ray ASAP and watch it about 50 gazillion more times.
Seriously, I’m crazy retarded in love with this thing and I wish nothing more than every single one of you to find it and share the love that I have for it.
Until next time friends,
Massawyrm
Got something for the Wyrm? Mail it here.
-
+ Expand All
-
I'll give it a shot.
-
...that came up with this one?
-
starring Will Smith?
-
I keeed I keeeed, sounds rather intriguing actually
-
There was a posting glitch.
-
I just became available today.
-
The listing is right, but the film attached is some PBS documentary about Massachusetts fishermen. Is anyone else experiencing this problem?
-
Maybe I won't like it, who knows, but at the very least it's something I'd have probably never seen or come across if not for your unadulterated passion for this flick. Can't go wrong there. Add one more notch to your "people I've sold this movie on" list. I'm watching tonight.
-
...I'll give it a whirl.
-
Sep 01, 2010 10:07:29 AM CDT
...but it better not be one of those STARZ "presentations"...
by flickapoo
...or whatever they're called...they always look like dull, pixelated shit.
-
about fishermen
-
I just watched the trailer. If it's any good, you can't really tell. Certainly a lot lost in translation. I'll wait for the American remake. And even then, not sure if I'd be interested!
-
UltraTron is right.. Netflix links to the wrong film.
-
yeah, i got the same thing. WTF?
-
the 1st Japanese movie i reallly reallly want to see that i heard about it here
-
your brain like any organ and it will grow. Proper nutrition and subjection to new thoughts and ideas is a good thing. For example there is only 1 area of your brain that deals with cartoons. If you had never seen a cartoon this area would remain deflated. Think what that would do to the rest of your brain. It would be lopsided. Ok so it's too bad netflix has the wrong movie on instant. I'm afraid to rent it on disk and get the same documentary.
-
last exorcism? expendables? it surely isnt Inception because he didnt want to get it
-
Is Fish Story a bizarre homage to Hitch Hikers guide to the galaxy?
-
Sep 01, 2010 10:40:31 AM CDT
And it is a shame about the theatrical/Japanese issues
by variancemffilms
Because, speaking for Variance Films, I would happily release the shit out of this movie if someone would sell it to me.
-
its not being released because there isnt a weird walking, long hair coverin the face, japanese ghost girl in a dingy white night gown
-
Sep 01, 2010 10:57:20 AM CDT
Massa you'll owe me two hours of life...
by planty_mcplant_plants_his_plant_at_aicn
...if I end up hating it. Deal?
-
I fish and I vote.... Actually I never fish, but I do like the odd fillet o' fish from Maceedees... also I love fucking the odd Blue-fin Tuna in it's gills and blowing my load all over it's mating spores, so I guess I'm the target audience....
-
What is up with those movies by starz.. Every movie on there when I watch it on instant viewing is so ugly looking and pixelated shit fest... Oh and Massa thanks for the recommendation will be watching fish story tonight, can't wait!!!
-
If you only search DVD's you will only find the documentary. You have to search Watch Instantly. Pretty simple stuff here, folks.
-
It's good, but not quite as good on repeat viewings for me. Massa calls the opening shot "bizarre" - but if you understand the significance of sentai series in Japanse pop-culture, that shot actually immediately sets the tone for the film. If you don't understand such things going in then coming back a second time is likely going to be more rewarding; if you do, you'll get everything you need from this in one sitting. I'd also love to know how they handled the translation of some of the terms, but that's just because I'm a translation nerd. Oh, it hsa a nice Gundam reference in there, too...
-
Not quite. I work for a film distribution company, so we can handle the releasing to theaters part of the equation. It's not getting released because Japanese companies have been screwed over so many times by American companies who promise theatrical releases only to kick things direct to DVD (and often don't pay their bills in the process) that the Japanese indie guys, who make AMAZING stuff, have basically written off the US market, and charge gobs of money for everything, regardless of how big the audience is.
-
And yes, I can finally get 'flix on my itouch.Netflix:FTW!!!!
-
with the noted exception of their documentaries, I avoid anything streamed from starz. OMFG you would think with fast broadband and HD files, that they would get on board and have netflix broadcast their films in better quality but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..all i see is pixels on my 52' REGZA. Well, you cant have everything y'know.
-
Netflix streaming is really getting good and it's only getting better! Not only is it now on your iphone but they've got more movies and TV shows than ever. (and good ones, too!) And with more studio and distributor deals in place, Netflix streaming is going to be THE destination for movie viewing, just wait and see...
-
It's a pity, too, because they have some of the most recent releases. How to improve STARZ: add HD, and show the films in their proper aspect ratio if it's not in HD. Simple!
-
Just tried watching it on my XBox and instead I ended up getting a PBS documentary called Fish Story. I know I selected the correct film because it's displaying the movie's poster and has the plot synopsis as Massa described. Has anyone else experienced this?
-
The Paramount deal just became effective: Star Trek, Iron Man, Godfather 1 & 2 and more now streaming!
-
Confirming several other posts here: This appears to be a PBS documentary, not the film MW was describing. Methinks Netflix put up the wrong description.
-
Most ironic.
-
It's really weird, because the documentary they're are mistakenly streaming doesn't even show up as available to stream, it's snail mail only. Fix this Netflix, I have been waiting to see this for months!
-
They're sending someone over between 9:00AM and 5:00PM tomorrow.
-
Try the veal.
-
hopefully Netflix will fix the streaming issue but if not I will watch it the old fashioned way....I respect your opinion Massa!!!
-
in the UK. Watched it about a month ago. It's not the masterpiece Massa tries to make it but I quite liked it. But that song is one for the ages. You get to hear it about a dozen times and at the end of the movie you're hooked. ...and thats it ...fish - hook ....get it now?
-
I specifically just set aside some time and made myself comfortable to watch this and Netflix fucked it up. Now I'll have to watch something else.
-
I agree about Netflix streaming, but did you really like the movie Zardoz?
-
I'm in Canada :(
-
Hey moron, ever hear of a DVD?
-
Time to re-organize my instant queue.
-
Hey moron, ever have a thought you didn't type?
-
Ever have a sentence that makes sense?
-
Everyone play nice. This IS the internet after all. You might break something...
-
Unfortunately it's true. I added Fish Story with the correct description to my Instant QUE and instead of the cool movie I was hoiping for I got a Documentary about Fishermen.
-
I've had this on my queue list since your review hoping Netflix would add it. GREAT NEWS!!!
-
I just read the comments!
-
That's the most astute observation of a talkbacker (Locke) I've ever read.
-
It's not on DVD yet, genius. I think the guys are right about you, thoughts and what you don't type.
-
I first thanked you back when you originally posted the review and since then I've been raving about it on FaceBook and street corners.
This summer we visited my parents in the States and two days off the plane I had a subbed version (of dubious origins) because I just HAD to show someone.
It's like a goddamn psych 101 experiment watching someone view the film and go through the different stages without a hint of frustration that so often comes from J-films.
Check out another film based on his work, The Foreign Duck, The Native Duck and God. It's not the same level of playfulness and mirth, but it is indeed a similar 'style' of storytelling. -
It's pretty good, and offbeat, it has a Jarmusch tone. Or Linklater. Well, someone laid back with a Memento type of fractured timeline storytelling.
-
And it's available on Netflix streaming!
-
They filed the error and are investigating. Perhaps it will be fixed soon. There is a HK movie called A Fishy Story, which hopefully they won't mix it up with.
-
They have the stupid 53 minute documentary and mistakenly filed it under our Japanese movie.
Netflix doesn't actually have the stream for the Japanese film. -
he's the king of the trolls, you have to respect that. not as obvious as CHOPPAH, not as singularly focused as Asimov_Lives...just the perfect bowl of porridge.he will have a long life here, trolling anything and everything. I hear they just made a Norwegian documentary about him...
-
Netflix totally screwed up. It links to the wrong movie...lol.
-
Why has it taken it so long to get on DVD? No distribution?
-
Just placed an order with Staples.
-
Can you feel the ownage?
-
I shall seek this film out.
-
You win the internets. That was the greatest slam on RPLocke that I've ever seen. Uh...I may just have to steal it.
-
No, not really. I could care less. But hey, if it makes you happy.
-
I tried to watch this earlier today but realized as you all have that it was fraudulent. I came back to AICN tonight expecting a correction in this story, but apparently that has not happened.
-
Oh, damn,I didn't realize they didn't have it at ALL. *sigh*
-
Sorry guys - I realized this early this morning and placed what was likely the first phone call on the matter, thinking "Surely, this will be fixed in short order. No reason to put off posting." Shrug. The version of Fish Story that I've been raving about has been on their schedule for some time, slated for release today, and I have hopes that it will be corrected as soon as possible and link to the correct movie. Until then, put it in your Queue and check back. Sorry if I've caused any undue frustration.
-
If you hadn't told us about it, I wouldn't even have the ability to be disappointed in netflix's service for the first time ever. If the choice is waiting a few days to see the movie, or never seeing it because I'd never heard of it, I'll take waiting a few days for them to fix it. I was pretty sad when I got in bed last night, went to play it (as id been looking forward to all day) and then its some weird doc about fisherman. luckily after about a minute I realized that there was just no possible way this was "entirely perfect" film people had been raving about. just no way.
-
Love when he battles the artificial crystal intelligence of the tabernackle and gains time manipulation abilities and who knows what other powers. It's like when doctor doom plundered Atlantis for the knowledge of the ancients and could do anything.
-
and i dont use that o word... gjob guy
-
and i dont use that o word... gjob guy
-
Not only did i see Iron Man and ST available for instant viewing, but even GIJoe (Good news for my friend BSB.LOL)but god forbid if TF2 is stream ready.What a fucking waste of bandwidth.*shudders#
-
Now that's a REAL vigilante movie as opposed to Harry brown (which was mostly good at toward the end not to mention the film's saving grace was due to Caine's great portrayal as an aging widower who dishes out some payback.)I usually dont care for Aussie films, but this one stood out and well worth a viewing.
-
Still no Japanese Punk movie on Netflix. Just the Massachusetts fishermen doc. AICN needs to run a day counter on the home page like the networks had in the Iran hostage crisis.
-
WTF is the deal! How do you contact Netflix? I'm starting to wonder if there's any human beings there at all. Maybe it's some sort of alien A.I. that's using the site to take over the world's computers. Hey, that would make a perfect Night Chronicles! Write that shit up! You're welcome M. Night, uh M. Night, M. Not going to work here anymore.
-
Massawyrm, are you going to follow up on this? Of are you just hoping the talkbackers go away and forget about it? I'm only asking because — BASED ON YOUR REVIEW — I really, really want to see this movie.
-
From the website:
Netflix Customer Service Phone help available 24 hours a day:
1-B66-716-0414 -
really wanted to watch this no response from netflix
-
WHere is this damn movie!
-
Massawyrm has instilled an obsession in me to watch this movie. Netflix seems to be screwing up with their Asian movies — try watching Dragon Tiger Gate on their instant queue and you get a movie called Initial D.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- A hot redhead (not Harry) is set to play lead in Fede Alvarez's remake of EVIL DEAD! -- 170 total posts 170 posts
- The Friday Docback Spelunks 'The Caves Of Androzani'!! DOCTOR WHO Story #136, And More!! -- 103 total posts 86 posts
- Here Comes THE GODMOTHER! -- 74 total posts 74 posts
- Rest In Peace Ben Gazzara -- 68 total posts 68 posts
- UPDATED: Talkbacker Bob Orci tweets STAR TREK old set pics! -- 244 total posts 51 posts
- ABC Has Cast The Lead In Its Future Nuclear Nation Pilot!! And They’ve Chosen Wisely!! -- 44 total posts 44 posts
- RIDDICK Sequel Details Via A New Press Release!! -- 88 total posts 40 posts
- AWAKE, This Season’s Best Broadcast Pilot, Gets NBC’s Old ER Slot March 1!! THE FIRM To Burn Off On Saturdays!! -- 38 total posts 38 posts
- INSIDIOUS-ER? -- 120 total posts 31 posts
- The Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day is going on an overnight drunk and in 10 days it’s going to set out to find the shark that ate its friend and destroy it. -- 31 total posts 31 posts