Another Heaven

Judge Rage · #1 2nd September 2003, 05:57 AM

This is a long movie at 2 hours and 12 minutes, but it kept my attention for the first hour and a half, and then it completely turns into a pile of poo. The Snowblood Apple review is right on the money. Although this starts out as an interesting serial killer drama (one of my favorite genres)... and loses complete control of itself. The Abyss had better special effects, and Pearl Harbor had a better love story. My recommendation is to avoid this one like the plague.

drkne1 · #2 2nd September 2003, 11:40 PM

I actually liked the love story aspect of Another Heaven. I think that was the best thing about it.

I agree that the first part of the movie was best with the "grusome" murder scenes, but then it turns too sci-fi and completely loses it's horror movie status after that.

Not the best movie, but I think it's entertaining, and decent if you go into it knowing it's not really a horror movie, but actually sci-fi.

*spoiler*:

I guess part of the reason I liked it was that I empathized with that girl that he finally realized he was in love with at the end, and I was happy he finally gave her some genuine affection at the end there. I didnt like her in the beginning, but started to after they began to show that she had a sort of psychic ability in her.

Judge Rage · #3 3rd September 2003, 12:48 AM

I agree with that aspect, I guess I meant the love story scenes at the end after the fire. The dialog sounds like it is written by Michael Bay and then re-edited by Jerry Bruckheimer. It is very long and very cheesy, and ruined the movie for me.

Mandi Apple · #4 3rd September 2003, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judge Rage

I agree with that aspect, I guess I meant the love story scenes at the end after the fire. The dialog sounds like it is written by Michael Bay and then re-edited by Jerry Bruckheimer. It is very long and very cheesy, and ruined the movie for me.

**** POSSIBLE SPOILERS ****

That was part of the icing on the cake as far as I was concerned... I mean, we'd just dragged ourselves through that enormously long and boring chase sequence and finally getting to the nitty-gritty of the thing...

...and then we get lumbered with a completely dull, overblown, cheesy cod-philosophical ending (IMHO of course), which I'm pretty sure Iida intended to give the entire film moral weight with!

**** END SPOILERS ****

I really felt disappointed with it - it started out well, and just seemed to roll downhill at a rate of knots after that

drkne1 · #5 3rd September 2003, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandi Apple

I really felt disappointed with it - it started out well, and just seemed to roll downhill at a rate of knots after that

Yeah, that's true. It seemed like the movie started out with at least a certain amount of gusto, and by the end just wound down and fizzled out. I still think it's from going from horror to sci-fi in mid-movie.

But I still like the love story though

Judge Rage · #6 3rd September 2003, 07:00 PM

Quote:

I really felt disappointed with it - it started out well, and just seemed to roll downhill at a rate of knots after that

I have to agree 100%

If not the love story, I did like the fact that Iida chose a non-traditional beauty to play the love interest. In some movies all the female leads look so much alikeI can't tell who is who. This actress did have a unique look.

Midori no Saru · #7 18th September 2003, 11:20 AM

Just to remind you of Artsmagic's forthcoming release of Another Heaven which will be coming out next month, after Raisin. There's so much good stuff out there, so why another Jojo Iida. Hang on, they must have a 3 for the price of 1 deal because...

There's an old one by Iida called Battle Heater (1989, certificate 12) coming out the following month. Apparently a Kotatsu heater starts eating people in an apartment block. Kotatsu heaters: arent they the heaters that go under a low Japanese table when you are eating? You kneel with your legs under the table, the table cloth covers your legs, and provides a small space for the kotatsu heater to keep your legs warm. I have visions of people being dragged screaming under tables. Definitely a comedy horror...

drkne1 · #8 19th September 2003, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midori no Saru

Just to remind you of Artsmagic's forthcoming release of Another Heaven which will be coming out next month, after Raisin. There's so much good stuff out there, so why another Jojo Iida. Hang on, they must have a 3 for the price of 1 deal because...

There's an old one by Iida called Battle Heater (1989, certificate 12) coming out the following month. Apparently a Kotatsu heater starts eating people in an apartment block. Kotatsu heaters: arent they the heaters that go under a low Japanese table when you are eating? You kneel with your legs under the table, the table cloth covers your legs, and provides a small space for the kotatsu heater to keep your legs warm. I have visions of people being dragged screaming under tables. Definitely a comedy horror...

hehe, the idea definitely has me torn between laughter and fear.

I've never experienced anything quite like it LOL

scorchedblood · #9 19th September 2003, 07:45 AM

Hmm.. I'm going to have to watch that one again. I saw it a good while back and really don't remember it that well. I think I liked it though.. but I do seem to remember it switching gears near the middle of the film. Dunno... I'll watch it again eventually.

scorchedblood · #10 8th October 2003, 01:53 AM

Luckily I picked this dvd up at a local store for 9.99. So now I can watch it again and re-evaluate.

Fulltime Ando Lover · #11 1st June 2004, 01:58 PM

I liked this movie, but I agree the long chase was very boring.

ex0ddus · #12 12th February 2005, 02:04 PM

i searched for a another heaven Thread but couldnt find one so forgive me if there is.

just wached this movie after getting it for xmas and i have to say it is one of the better films i have, just because u dont need your brain to watch it.

did any one find it as funny as i did.
my parents probly think im odd cause i watched on my pc with the head phones on and id laugh at bloody places NOT at the gore , but at that man ( dunno his name) the one who always says "ass" funny man.

but yeah back to my question

did anyone elses dvd keep jumping at the end and pausing for about 3 secs cause it kinda looked like it was meant to do it but then it started to get anoyying.
cause theres nothing wrong with my disc no scratches or anything
-ex

Yani · #13 12th February 2005, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ex0ddus

did anyone elses dvd keep jumping at the end and pausing for about 3 secs cause it kinda looked like it was meant to do it but then it started to get anoyying.
cause theres nothing wrong with my disc no scratches or anything
-ex

Is it a bootleg? And if so, then it's either your player or the disc causing it.

Alex Apple · #14 12th February 2005, 07:45 PM

Could be: dodgy Universe Laser & Video disc (they have a habit of sticking); layer change; dirty lens; knacked DVD player.

jim harper · #15 13th February 2005, 12:52 PM

As most people have said, this was an interesting and fun movie before it moved into over-sentimental love story territory. Although I've only seen two of his films, reading a few reviews of his other works, Iida seems to have a thing for love stories. This is obviously a bad thing, because that's what sinks Another Heaven and stops Rasen/Spiral from a decent horror film. I personally think it's because Iida has spent so much time doing TV work, where a romance element is generally more popular. He also adapts his own novels, so he fits in the themes he personally prefers. With a experienced scriptwriter adapting the material I Another Heaven could have been much better.

Astroantiquity · #16 14th February 2005, 02:03 PM

But, would you people recommend getting it? Because, I'm contemplating on getting Angel Dust and this one...

jim harper · #17 14th February 2005, 02:15 PM

It's certainly not a bad film, although (as has been said) the second half disappoints. I didn't finish watching it and get that 'I wish I hadn't bought that' feeling.

MANABU17261 · #18 5th March 2007, 09:55 AM

Guess I'm the geek loser, sucker for a love-affirming story here. ANOTHER HEAVEN, like AUDITION is another genre twister. Like Hitchcock, say SUSPICION, all ain't what it appears to be. I viewed this movie, albeit frustratedly thru partial viewings early am on Sundance, always catching the beginning, the middle and almost the end, until I finally purchased it from Amazon, and frankly, it's a favorite, a guilty pleasure in which I find few faults. Hell, people, when does Argento ever follow a clear narrative. And frankly like with the best of Argento I could care less about a sustained narrative and story line. Even in 2000, what the heck makes sense these days? Anyone seen "Number 23"? Pretty feisty dog for being fifteen plus years old! AN has a message; it's a metaphor, much like seven seasons of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". Not what happens, but what you think about. What makes you think. And a complete reversal of AUDITION which begins as a romance then turns to horror- AN is essentially a love story and an affirmation of faith and trust, despite the unknown. Granted the director is no Kurosawa or even Takashi Miike but the film has value and heart however bumbling and confusing. I can never understand why some impose Hollywood standards- the 'A' list on the more humble works of directors that are really trying to say something meaningful, even if they are not among the most skilled.

Loved this film amd have tats on my chest to prove it. Maybe it's not 'art', but it has heart. I saw this film too many times to write it off as a loser. There's something there in it's 'imperfection' that rings true. Excuse the pun, but maybe it's time to forgive a former misstep. It's a process. Every Scorcese film isn't great. Witness those not pleased with Miike's "BOX" in 3 EXTREMES. Did anyone here think KUROSAWA in those visuals?

Horror/thriller/slasher ain't just a genre. It's artistry, subtext and emotion. What comes from the heart never makes sense, does it now?