Tremble All You Want ... discuss

[sitenoise]

"What's with that scary face"?

I accidentally watched this. Its degree of difficulty is immense.

Spoiler

Haha, made you look

 

[plsletitrain]

?????????????? Haha you got me!

 

[sitenoise]

 

[plsletitrain]

Are we watching this now? Because if so, I'll take a break from oggling at hot Korean men who Ryan Gosling wished he was half as hot and watch this pronto....................................................

 

[sitenoise]

Yes, I accidentally watched it. Sorry I fell asleep before seeing your last post.

I'll say a couple things to get the ball rolling (ambiguous and spoiler free, hopefully):

If I had been first in line to watch this, before all of my Internet friends said it was lovely, I probably would have punted it in the first two minutes. A girl, who you can tell is a motormouth, says "Even though I have many things I'm thinking ... I can not say anything". Nonsense, you're a motormouth. We can tell. You're probably not going to shut up for this whole movie. And the writer of the flick is going to make you say adolescent things like that all the way through.

The version of the flick I watched was fan-subbed. Pretty sure it's not officially subbed yet. @divemaster13 , take note. They are pretty good subs, way better than machine translated, but I can't help but think a lot of subtlety, nuance, whatever, is missing. For example--and I hope we discuss this and I just missed it--when the Title Line, the beautiful title of this movie, is finally delivered it seems to me it is/should be referring to an earlier usage. But there isn't one. I can only think the translator missed it ... or I'm just wrong.

After the line is delivered, the camera zooms out to reveal one of the silliest, most beautiful static shots I've ever seen in a movie--hyperbolically speaking. It perfectly summarizes the film and its characters. You look at it and can't help but think: Who thought of this? Someone told these actors: "I want you in this place, in this position, doing this, while I photograph you". It's off the charts.

Okay, I can't help myself. Spoiler Alert. This is a dumb movie that burrowed itself, with brute force, so deeply into my heart I'm speechless. And you guys know that when I'm speechless I blab incessantly. Even though I have many things I'm thinking ... I can not say anything. Nonsense! I'm a motormouth.

The whole film is "Oh no! Don't Shoot!" It succeeds in spite of itself with guts, vision, wonderfully creative audio/video design, the word "fuck", and a miracle performance from Mayu Matsuoka.

I hope ya'll like it

 

[sitenoise]

 

[plsletitrain]

when the Title Line, the beautiful title of this movie, is finally delivered it seems to me it is/should be referring to an earlier usage. But there isn't one. I can only think the translator missed it ... or I'm just wrong.

I thought it was a misplaced line.

After the line is delivered, the camera zooms out to reveal one of the silliest, most beautiful static shots I've ever seen in a movie--hyperbolically speaking. It perfectly summarizes the film and its characters. You look at it and can't help but think: Who thought of this? Someone told these actors: "I want you in this place, in this position, doing this, while I photograph you". It's off the charts.

It's one of my well, hate would be a strong word, but more like, one of the most uninteresting, too generic and too-picturesque-just-choke-me-already shots in the film. Not that there's too many.

And you guys know that when I'm speechless I blab incessantly. Even though I have many things I'm thinking ... I can not say anything. Nonsense! I'm a motormouth.

I understand you. I've felt that way before. Wait, yeah, when I listen to my signature (allow me to segue lol). The one where you feel so overwhelmed you feel like exploding, you feel you've got a million words to tell but you can't come up with any.

the word "fuck",

Not a fan of the word its one of those times I wished it was a mistranslation.

a miracle performance from Mayu Matsuoka.

Agree.

I'm still polishing my review.

 

[plsletitrain]

^And what's so special about that screenshot you posted anyway??????????????????????????

 

[sitenoise]

^And what's so special about that screenshot you posted anyway??????????????????????????

That line made me chuckle so non-stop I had to take a break in the film and walk around the block.

I thought it was a misplaced line.

I think that either in the conversation just before that, or an earlier one, he must have said that when he thought of her, or when he sees her (ya know, something romantic) it made him tremble ... or something like that. You don't name your movie and use it as your last line without some reference. Unless it was just her inner DOM coming out.

Have you ever heard the word "fuck" in a Japanese film before?

 

[plsletitrain]

That line made me chuckle so non-stop I had to take a break in the film and walk around the block.

What's so chuckle-worthy about that? Are you channeling your alien eyes again? Hehehe.

I think that either in the conversation just before that, or an earlier one, he must have said that when he thought of her, or when he sees her (ya know, something romantic) it made him tremble ... or something like that. You don't name your movie and use it as your last line without some reference. Unless it was just her inner DOM coming out.

Yeah it should be some reference to getting scared or having fears...fear of being with her, fear of being rejected by her, etc. etc. I think it was used when they were fishing, but it was literally cold so the literal meaning of tremble really applied. Yeah, I get the same feeling as you. It should've been said on a previous date they had where he should've said he was trembling just to be together with her.

Have you ever heard the word "fuck" in a Japanese film before?

Nope and I'm glad.

 

[plsletitrain]

Wait...she actually said the word. Minus point. Hehe.

 

[plsletitrain]

It’s the age-old dilemma that beset women. Who should I choose? The one I love, or the one who loves me? You’re lucky if the stars aligned and both persons are the same. If you’re 15, you’ll go with Prince Charming. If you’re an adult with a functioning brain, you’ll choose the one who loves you. Problem with our princess is, she’s inexperienced…innocent, naive, carefree. And the scenes where this is showcased is something everyone who ever experienced having a crush can relate to.

I like how the context of love is properly laid out, comparing real love from say, crush, or infatuation in the eyes of a 20 something girl still pining for a highschool crush she never had a relationship with, let alone take her out for a date. It also explores the area of whether love can be learned, or is it something that’s set in stone? This is one of the films that shows a very realistic take on the mindset of a girl. It explores her fantasies and frustrations.

(Please let me use the names Mayu, Ichi, and Ni in referring to the characters)

Mayu’s escapades were very funny and real. Some of which aren’t technically real as it only existed in her imagination, but this is why this movie is good. Its reality! Almost every woman have all been Mayus at one point in our lives. We had an Ichi, the guy we wished saw us the way we see them. Then there’s Ni, that one guy who also wished we looked at him the way he looks at us. But we were very busy with Ichi, and sometimes, we need a good headbat to wake us up.

My favorite scene was the awakening. When she found out that the guy she fantasizes doesn’t even know her name. I felt her pain, Mayu, the actress conveyed it well. It dawned on her…she was living in a world of make-believe. Her breakdown scene, though, felt too contrived and dramatic especially if you take into consideration the circumstances. First off, Ichi did not lead her on. She was creating an alternate universe where her crush secretly liked her too. So from there, the breakdown scene should have been toned down. But again, we can’t blame Mayu. She’s young, inexperienced, confused.

The film also touches on relevant social issues. As if its taboo to be a virgin. Did the world come to this now?

Probably the most realistic scene is when she realized she lost her only friend. And that she was lonely. That her "friends" are strangers and that she's a stranger to her "boyfriend". You can also pick a lot of insights and moral lessons from here. Not necessarily in the context of romantic love. But in life in general.

The ending went downhill for me. She became an angry brat who had to resort faking a pregnancy to restore whatever image she thought she had. She needed to grow up. It was too fictional for me. It only bounced back when it ended with a realistic tone....an open-ended ending.

Overall, I like the film. I AM HER. SHE IS ME.


(And if there's somebody.......calling me on.............She's the one....) lol

 

[plsletitrain]

And oh, honorable mention to that confession scene in the park where she literally ran for the hills. Really funny.

 

[sitenoise]

My feeling about the film was like I imagine mayu's was toward Ni, especially the sequence where she is going to the Tokyo Meeting in the penthouse. This thing just keeps not going away.

Like that Seinfeld Episode where the old man is staring at a giant portrait of Kramer and says to his wife: "It's obscene. I can't turn away".

It also seems accidentally smart. The two boys' names are Number One and Number Two. How nice--and sort of obvious--the way that played into the scene of her pressing 2 to save her friend's voice message. Questionable subs moment there: "Even if 1/Ichi is erased. 2/Ni will be saved".

Mayu erases Ichi because he did something she does every day to every one she meets. The irony.

 

[plsletitrain]

It also seems accidentally smart. The two boys' names are Number One and Number Two. How nice--and sort of obvious--the way that played into the scene of her pressing 2 to save her friend's voice message. Questionable subs moment there: "Even if 1/Ichi is erased. 2/Ni will be saved".

If I remember it well they both had long names. It was Mayu who coined the one and two labels.

Mayu erases Ichi because he did something she does every day to every one she meets.

Excellent analysis.

 

[plsletitrain]

My feeling about the film was like I imagine mayu's was toward Ni, especially the sequence where she is going to the Tokyo Meeting in the penthouse. This thing just keeps not going away.

Please expound. I didn't get it.

 

[sitenoise]

Please expound. I didn't get it.

There is something repulsive about the film. Like a train wreck. But I couldn't turn away. It just kept delivering the goods.

I kept thinking of three things while watching it: Zooey Deschanel, Ritual, and Where have all the Flowers Gone?

Zooey because of the way Tremble turns the Manic Pixie Dream Girl inside out. Mayu is all about her interior life. But it is a movie about a young woman who is supposed to charm the socks off you, the viewer. That made me think of Ritual which was the same thing except there was an element of danger associated with being charmed by a young woman because the charmee was the guy in the film. Not the movie viewer. I don't know if that makes sense, but this flick was so ... movie. All the tricky camera work and sound design. Where have all the Flowers Gone because of the thing where a conversation, or some small amount of storytelling by Mayu would drift through dreams, reality, fantasy, at different times and different places. The "song" would be the clearest but least interesting example.

The film stands out for Mayu's outstanding performance but I also think it was well crafted, gutsy in it's storytelling flourishes. It really stuck to its guns, believed in what it was doing, took some chances and succeeded in almost all of them.

I loved the scene where Mayu draws a character on the back of the calendar page. Squeaky-voice girl says "How cute!" so Mayu gives it to her and squeaky says "I don't want it". Lots of weird quick little bits of funny all over this movie.

 

[plsletitrain]

There is something repulsive about the film. Like a train wreck. But I couldn't turn away. It just kept delivering the goods.

Maybe because you, the viewer, were charmed?

Zooey because of the way Tremble turns the Manic Pixie Dream Girl inside out.

I'll study that. Thanks for the info.

But it is a movie about a young woman who is supposed to charm the socks off you, the viewer. That made me think of Ritual which was the same thing except there was an element of danger associated with being charmed by a young woman because the charmee was the guy in the film. Not the movie viewer. I don't know if that makes sense, but this flick was so ... movie. All the tricky camera work and sound design. Where have all the Flowers Gone because of the thing where a conversation, or some small amount of storytelling by Mayu would drift through dreams, reality, fantasy, at different times and different places.

Please speak English. lol and Please note that I don't have your intellect, heck I don't even know what that damn Seinfeld is!---yeah Kramer of course!!!!!!! I know him!!!!--, so I mean it this time that you really speak alien. I think I do get what you mean when you said the flick is so movie though...I think that's what I mean by too fictional.

The "song" would be the clearest but least interesting example.

I think the song is the physical manifestation of Where have all the Flowers Gone example, whatever that movie is about. (When you're talking to me please stoop a little, I'm not that well-versed in movies as you are--I feel so dumb now lol).

I loved the scene where Mayu draws a character on the back of the calendar page. Squeaky-voice girl says "How cute!" so Mayu gives it to her and squeaky says "I don't want it". Lots of weird quick little bits of funny all over this movie.

Yeah I liked that too. One of my favorite scenes. She tries to act all grown-up by appearing to forget and give away her crush but she pouts while doing so which means its contrary to what she really wanted.

 

[plsletitrain]

^Sorry got too carried away. I guess I pressured my brain to take in every alien thing you mentioned (Is Seinfeld a movie or a series in America? Zooey who? Ritual what? Where have all the flowers gone you say????) I exploded. lol It's that feeling when you're not yet done doing your first assignment then another one comes in, and another one. I can only take so much. I can engage immediately in banter about general subjects but when it comes to specifics, I have limited capacity. I've got a small brain lol. I do my work while posting in the forums that's why my head is quite heavy and messy and when I've got alien things to follow, my brain can't process, it gives up. lol I'll cool down soon and will include Ritual in my watchlist.

 

[sitenoise]

^Sorry got too carried away. I guess I pressured my brain to take in every alien thing you mentioned (Is Seinfeld a movie or a series in America? Zooey who? Ritual what? Where have all the flowers gone you say????) I exploded. lol It's that feeling when you're not yet done doing your first assignment then another one comes in, and another one. I can only take so much. I can engage immediately in banter about general subjects but when it comes to specifics, I have limited capacity. I've got a small brain lol. I do my work while posting in the forums that's why my head is quite heavy and messy and when I've got alien things to follow, my brain can't process, it gives up. lol I'll cool down soon and will include Ritual in my watchlist.

Hey ... go here: timeanddate.com

I'm in PST San Francisco. Anything I post after 3:00pm your time is while I'm half asleep and will likely be unintelligible

I should be more careful with American pop culture references. Seinfeld was a TV series, and even if you knew about the series but didn't know that specific episode the reference would tell you nothing. It was a very very popular series and Americans reference it often. There are many who believe that every situation you might encounter in life ... there's a Seinfeld episode about it.

Ritual is a really good film, not sure if it's in your wheelhouse, though. I'm intrigued by these movies, usually made by men, that aren't too concerned about story as much as being little love poems to and about some young woman. Millennium Mambo, Ritual, and Green Tea are examples of impressive ones. The concept trickles down to more pedestrian ones like Tremble All You Want. (There are movies like this about guys too, like many Ryan Gosling movies I suppose).

What was the story of Tremble? = A young woman can't see the love in front of her because of her clinging to a past. Been there, done that. Think Wanee and Junah. How do you set yourself apart from that as a film? The charisma of your actor(s) is huge. There's thoughtful little bits of script to hopefully enjoy (or not). I'm a consummate nicknamer myself, and I have a difficult time remembering people's names, so that aspect of Tremble resonated with me. You should see what I do with all the Volleyball players I'm trying to remember, especially the ones whose names I have no idea how to pronounce, and I've never heard pronounced. It's easier for me to name someone with what's memorable about them than it is to remember what it is they call themselves.

And there's the actual gruntwork of your movie making technique. In Green Tea, it was Christopher Doyle's photography. In Mambo a lot was the music, long takes, the rhythm of the movie. In Ritual a lot is the photography, but not like beautiful Christopher Doyle photography. It's the set designs and the way there are framed for the shot. The use of railroad tracks, etc. The reason Ritual kept popping into my head is because of the way it also turned the MPDG inside out--in a completely different way than Tremble. If you check that Wiki article, note the reference to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Anyhow, the gruntwork of Tremble had all those time/space flourishes; lots of quick edits and odd closeups-----a lot of stuff I won't list here but think of it like this: In the three other movies I mention here, they all focus on the target in real time, like a voyeur. Tremble was assembled post-production. Yes we see Mayu walking here and there, interacting with people, making funny faces, etc., but think about how much of it was done with tricky camera work. And sound design.

Another big big difference between Tremble and the other films mentioned, is that in the others I was charmed by the character, straight up. In Tremble I was charmed by the actress, her performance. So there's something the same but very very different about how/why Tremble succeeded for me. Not to mention the fact that Tremble was written and directed by a woman.

Finally, Where Have All the Flowers Gone is a film nobody has seen except me. I mentioned it because it is a surreal master class in that time/space continuum jumping thing.