MovieChat Forums > Nobi (1959) Discussion > how good is this movie??

how good is this movie??

posted 18 years ago by Niide
16 replies | jump to latest

i'm a huge kurosawa and mizoguchi fan, but i normally don't like war movies.
the only war movies i really liked were letters from iwo jima, apocalypse now ,full metal jacket and one of the best movies of all time the thin red line. but even saving private ryan and flags from our father i didn't like, do you think i will like this movie?
could you write a comment please...because the nonsense daniel feit from n.y. wrote really didn't help me...
thank you

[–] Dxamanda 18 years ago

Nobi has some similarities with Letters from Iwo Jima (IMO Nobi is better) as I'm convinced Eastwood was partially inspired by it (he has said himself he's a fan of classic Asian cinema and the similarities between the two films are unavoidable). The Thin Red Line and Nobi are my two favorite war films, so maybe that will tell you something. And I agree, Flags of our Fathers wasn't very good.

However, Nobi is nothing like Saving Private Ryan or any war film like that. It's not about the war itself, as the soldiers hardly do any battle in the film. It's about abandoned army squads during WWII and one soldier trying to maintain his humanity while his fellow soldiers resort to murder and cannabalism. They're dehydrating, starving, and wandering around the plains trying to find food/water or anything else that could help them. It's more about the horrible affect and treatment these soldiers got during the war. You should definitely watch this when you have the chance.

I died then I thought of you and came back to life.
How can you think if you're dead?

[–] Niide 18 years ago

thank you very much, now i'm really looking forward to watching this movie

[–] SamSanch3z 18 years ago

Yeah, it's definitely an amazing film. I bought it on a blind buy, and it was my introduction to Ichikawa as I haven't seen any other films. I was blown away. It's a beautfiul film with amazing cinematography, and just great storyline following the journey of one man. Give it a shot, and let us know what you think

[–] mackjay2 18 years ago

I just watched FIRES ON THE PLAIN and was often reminded of THE THIN RED LINE (1998) in the way it shows soldiers in the natural environment. Also the way it focuses on the personal misery of the main character. It also has voice-overs of his inner thoughts

A beautifully done film in every way, very glad I saw it.

Looking forward to LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA now

[–] lambiepie-2 18 years ago

This is one of the greatest cinematic masterpeices on war that is quite overlooked/forgotten and to be honest, when I read posts like yours I really wish you were in Los Angeles when the "Z" channel was at it's glory in the 80's. They showed this film ...and we all talked about it for DAYS.

When 'Letters from Iwo Jima' came out, it was the first time I thought about 'Nobi' in years...for I hadn't seen it in years. (and that's why I miss the "Z" channel, this movie is one of the movies that made them light years in programming above the channels today.)

Make no mistake, this is about the horrors of the Japanese in war right after the war and what they resprted to as things were in shanbles and disarray and confusion. I think you might like this one very much.

The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing - Socrates

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Niide 18 years ago

just saw it and i just say a 10/10,
simply brillant

[–] sonnythefat 18 years ago

I do not think there is a word for how brilliantly good this film is...

[–] Memories-Of-Murder 18 years ago

A truly great movie. A must buy DVD, if you ask me. Specially since it's from the glorious Criterion Collection.

"This are Nice shoes! Couldn't you afford some real Nike?"

[–] goodbyeleningoodbyestali 16 years ago

Nobi (1959) is an unique movie with excellent director & brilliant acting. Terrific Eiji Funakoshi, Osamu Takizawa, Mickey Curtis, Mantarô Ushio, and the other actors did their performances fine.

[–] klint_eastwood 15 years ago

just watched today for the first time..i have to agree..great movie!

[–] Xcalat3 14 years ago

brilliant

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...

[–] larma7 14 years ago

It's a lot better than Ichikawa's "The Burmese Harp". Not really a captivating film by any stretch, but some stunning imagery and great cinematography throughout make it a well worth while anti-war film.

[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

Pretty devastating. Up there with stuff like Battle Of Algiers and Come And See, of similar-natured fare.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] JellyFish19 11 years ago

Surprisingly good, I haven't seen any other movies by Ichikawa, but if they're half as good as "Nobi", I'll be watching them a lot.