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YASUKUNIMovie Reviews
Documentary about Japanese war remembrance and militarism, taking its name from a controversial Shinto monument to 2.5 million dead Japanese soldiers. Cast:Naoji Kariya, Ryuken Sugawara, Gaojin SumeiDirector:Li YingRelease Date:August 12, 2009DVD Release: TBD From:Film ForumLength:2 hr 3 min
Yasukuni played in New York City to very good reviews. • Vadim Rizov wrote in the Village Voice, "...a blackly amusing two hours about the persistence of pathology.... The documentary's cultural impact is lost in translation — Yasukuni initially had trouble getting shown at all in Japan — but the skill of the enterprise isn't." More Reviews Below...
Yasukuni has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (3 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...a long, engrossing documentary.... the swords this venerable craftsman makes are beautiful, and the skill and tradition that go into their manufacture are inspiring....a haunting meditation on the power and ambiguity of the past."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 640 words, 08/12/09
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The film is visually compelling, but suffers because Li Ying fails to put events into context, a fact likely to confuse viewers not versed in Japanese history."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 173 words, 08/14/09
Vadim Rizov, Village Voice: GOOD "...a blackly amusing two hours about the persistence of pathology.... The documentary's cultural impact is lost in translation -- Yasukuni initially had trouble getting shown at all in Japan -- but the skill of the enterprise isn't."(See all of Vadim Rizov's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 211 words, 08/12/09
KEY CITIES (0 Reviews)
Yasukuni has not been reviewed in Key Cities
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (1 Review)
Vadim Rizov, Village Voice: GOOD "...a blackly amusing two hours about the persistence of pathology.... The documentary's cultural impact is lost in translation -- Yasukuni initially had trouble getting shown at all in Japan -- but the skill of the enterprise isn't."(See all of Vadim Rizov's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 211 words, 08/12/09
HIGHBROW PRESS (1 Review)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...a long, engrossing documentary.... the swords this venerable craftsman makes are beautiful, and the skill and tradition that go into their manufacture are inspiring....a haunting meditation on the power and ambiguity of the past."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 640 words, 08/12/09
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
John Anderson, Daily Variety: GOOD "Li Ying -- a Chinese director venturing onto perilous cultural soil -- adopts a virtual anti-aesthetic in creating a film that, while not overtly nonjudgmental, will certainly tweak the nose of Japanese propriety..."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 554 words, 01/31/08
Maggie Lee, Hollywood Reporter: VERY GOOD "Instead of harping on disputed grievances like the Nanjing massacre or comfort women, the film hones in on the shrine itself... A penetrating documentary illustrating the complexity of Japan's war legacy."(See all of Maggie Lee's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 505 words, 10/05/07
A.O. Scott, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...a long, engrossing documentary.... the swords this venerable craftsman makes are beautiful, and the skill and tradition that go into their manufacture are inspiring....a haunting meditation on the power and ambiguity of the past."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 640 words, 08/12/09
6.4 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Yasukuni's reviews are separated by an average 6.4 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Yasukuni (5 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Yasukuni's reviews cover 5.6% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 2,083 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 417 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 23 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Yasukuni's reviews on average broke 23 days before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Yasukuni's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
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