The Best of 2008 - Readers Poll

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On 07-02-2009 'logboy' voted for 'This World of Ours'
Like many of the contributors, I too was very lucky to have had the opportunity to see 'This World of Ours' and 'Now, I', and whilst I won't say for certain they were the best things I saw this year - "best" has different winners for me this year - I will say that I was more than impressed with how good filmmaking seems to be in the blood, and, even if not necessarily true, we suddenly appeared to get particularly lucky with two potential heavy-hitters of the future both sharing their work early to people whom might not otherwise regularly get easy access (or any) beyond what they buy into.

after last years lists, i plumped to watch 'strawberry shortcakes' and 'tokyo towers' - both superb, both familiar and yet very refreshingly new at the same time... this year, i've still to pick what i've not seen but can get to see from the standout choices of others. surprisingly, although the exchange rate bottoming out has made it more imperative to make good choices, i feel confident enough to be certain that a great many will be affordable enough; coupled by an oddly positive sense that comes from suddenly seeing at least a small handful actually making it onto screens here : tokyo sonata, 20th century boys both getting cinema release in the UK.

i'd still like to see more, i'd still like screeners of each and every film i track and enjoy the trailers for. where do i sign up for this access? dunno.

one certain change i'd like to see though, and that's the coverage of the day-to-day business by non-specific sites being less fanservice / audience grabbing, with a shift towards personal premium selections from a field that can be followed pretty much 100% accurately / completely by less-fashionable, but infinitely more helpful sites that manage to avoid seeming elitist or inaccessible by just simply getting on with pointing it all out and leaving the audience to pick what they'll like from a translation of the basic elements they need to get a taster.

and although i don't have my lists in front of me, the one standout viewing experience of the year (for japanese cinema) was masahiro shinoda's 'petrified forest'. best non-japanese was (surprise there was no clear mention of this, or was there?) garrone's stunning italian gangster film 'gomorrah'; i thought it would be too much, but it was simply solid, uncompromisin g and brutally entertaining.

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On 07-02-2009 'Artur' voted for 'Still Walking'
This year I had to choose between two great films, both portraying Japanese family: 'Still Waking' and 'Tokyo Sonata'. I prefer Koreeda's view, because I find it more cohesive and mature. I like everything about this movie: its pace, cinematography, acting, music... but most of all, how Koreeda by showing just one day manages to capture the whole world.

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On 07-02-2009 'martin' voted for 'The United Red Army'
the film may not be an aesthetic revelation and its rhetoric may seem a little bit outmoded, but the film is nevertheless quite exciting insofar as wakamatsu has neither produced an action flick like the foolish german director, whose name i have forgotten, nor some weird horror tale (i also forgot the title of that terrible japanese movie that was shown in berlin some years ago) nor a 'meditation on fanaticism' or a reactionary condemnation, with which i could have earned a lot of cash ... respect ... and i wont forget the screening of ura at the berlin film festival ... no german director would have asked if there were any former members aka "comrades" of the red army faction present because he'd like to join them later in the evening for a beer and a talk ... respect again ... lets hope this movie will open some space for a reexamination of the politics of the new left and for a recreation of radical politics ...

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On 08-02-2009 'Jasper' voted for 'The United Red Army'
United Red Army for me, for sure. Here's hoping it gets a proper Western release at some point.

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On 10-02-2009 'toni' voted for 'Crows Zero'
I'm behind on last years movies, so I can only vote for the few I saw and CrowsZERO certainly is a true gem of a movie. timeless although full of pop references.

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On 10-02-2009 'jeeja' voted for 'The Machine Girl'
the film PLANET TERROR desperately wanted to be. ranks alongside BRAINDEAD/DEAD ALIVE and STORY OF RICKY in terms of ridiculously over-the-top comedic gorefests. a well-written, well-produced, well-acted (deliberately hammy, obviously) & nicely paced film.

"How about an unusual conditioner...wash your hair... in your son's blood!".

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On 12-02-2009 'BBG' voted for 'The Magic Hour'
My first Mitani Koki, and I loved it.

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On 15-02-2009 'segala warna dunia' voted for 'L: Change the World'
this film is good story and actor

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On 20-02-2009 'Rick' voted for 'Tokyo Gore Police'
Nishimura's child-like fantastical imagination makes this a special film among V-cinema fodder.

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On 22-02-2009 'Sam' voted for 'This World of Ours'
I can't say enough about this film, if you haven't seen it then I suggest you do so immediately. You won't be disappointed. Oretachi no Sekai is one of the most deeply touching pieces of cinema that I've seen in years, it is a raw and beautiful attempt to convey honest meaning. I sincerely hope that Nakajima continues to write and direct his own films in addition to his studio work.

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On 25-02-2009 'Ian Williams' voted for 'Tokyo Gore Police'
Hadn't really seen many on the list this year.

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On 27-02-2009 'jeeja' voted for 'The Machine Girl'
machine girl. wild & wonderful.

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On 05-03-2009 'Doug' voted for 'Tokyo Sonata'
great film, saw it at Cinequest