Love Exposure [Blu-ray]

First of all, Sion's movies are all brilliant and the fact that they are very slowly trickling into the US is a bit annoying. One scan of the internet (including IMDB and Sion's home page) will confirm that Sion has a massive list of movies under his belt, with more coming, and so far I can only find seven of his movies on DVD in the US. It took us late into 2011 before Love Exposure (released in Japan in 2008) was even released as a US region code DVD, and even before that it was hard to find at all, let alone for a fair price, in other region codes. A three year wait for a hot commodity? Someone is sleeping on the job.Oh, but you wanted to read about the movie right?Love Exposure, like all Sion movies, is impossible to learn about from reading the back of the box or any review anyone can write about it. The basic description is something like this...Yu becomes tired of fabricating sins he didn't commit in order to please his father, a crazy priest who reprimands Yu whenever he DOESN'T do things wrong. So Yu starts committing every sin he can, joining a street gang and eventually, to really prove to his dad he's a sinner, becomes a peek-a-panty photographer. Things become complicated when he meets his dream girl, Yoko, in the midst of a street fight and now must win her heart.Yeah, "things get complicated" alright. That's the understatement of the century. After all of the above happens we still have about three hours left in the film. Let's just say Yu's "I want to sin so I can confess" perspective gets him into a fair bit of trouble, not the least of which is drawing the attention of a cult promoter who takes a special interest in him.And all the while, Yu keeps his focus on Yoko, despite everything that happens to him as a result, including her relentless scorn toward him, which only increases as he tries even harder to win her over. But will he succeed...?Yep. It's a love movie. Love is not an alien concept in Sion's movies but in this one it is the thread that connects everything that happens through all 237 minutes of the film. This is 237 minutes without a single dull moment, mind you, so if you're adverse to watching a four hour film just free up your schedule and go for it. It's worth it.American romance movies, suck on this. Oh, and I'll take more Sion movies, please and thank you.

In a way I don't want to say anything about the movie, since the best way to experience this film is without any prior knowledge of what is going on, but I'll try my best to explain what makes it so great. The movie tackles the topics of teenage lust, faith in religion vs faith in relationships, cults, and even mild pedophilia. Point is, the flick is a mixing pot of themes and without spoiling anything, it is one Hell of a ride. The film style is that of typical Japanese cinema, meaning it looks made for tv by Hollywood standards but that shouldn't be too large of a barrier to get over. At the end of the day the movie is long and weird, but most importantly, entertaining. Do yourself a favour and pick it up, and if you enjoy the movie enough, import a Korean copy of the six hour cut and have fun time with that.

Olive Films, like the Criterion Collection, has an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary releases, and Love Exposure is without a doubt one of their best. Sion Sono has always been known for making subversive films that dealt with the darker side of human nature (Suicide Club, Strange Circus, Noriko's Dinner Table). In many ways, he is the modern version of another great Japanese cult director, Nagisa Oshima. Love Exposure is his most personal and passionate film...an amazing four hour long ride through Catholicism, cults, up-skirt photographers, and love. Like the films of Tarantino, Love Exposure is a genre mash-up that veers from melodrama, to horror, to pure bliss. It truly is a one of a kind film, so check it out if you can!

When i watched it i didnt notice it was 4 hours long until i looked at the clock after the movie was done! It doesnt even seem like 4 hours when you watch it...theres not not even one boring part in the movie like really long movies usually have. The movie acually seems short to me i wish there was more. This movie is like no other movie i have ever seen its one of a kind i cant even compare to any other movie. If you like weird and different this is the movie for you. I loved it! The subs are perfect too!

At first glance, one might think this movie to be a bit long, but once you get into the movie, you hardly notice the time at all. The incredible care, and detail put into the story make this one enchanting, seriously psychologically messed up piece of cinema. I rate this 5stars for the amazing story and drama, and how well it was produced. Sono-sama is definitely a master. I would recommend Suicide Club, Noriko's Dinner Table, and Strange Circus all by Sono-sama and the Korean film Old Boy

As another reviewer has said, this is a movie about how people deal with the influences of their fathers. Against all my expectations, the movie works, despite its formidable length and its numerous digressions. (Bear in mind that your enjoyment will depend on how easily offended you are.) It's four hours long, but since it's broken into chapters, you can treat it like a TV miniseries and watch it over a few days.

Funny and fun. We watched this in the middle of a Japanese movie watching binge and this one was one of our favorites. Sweet story.

Easily one of the best films I've ever seen.

I haven't seen many of Sion Sono's movies, but if they're all like this one - boy do I want to go and check them all out. Prepare for four hours of insane, ridiculously unique filmmaking and strap in for a wild ride.All three main characters in this are unforgettable and absolutely brilliantly played - by the end of the film you'll feel like you've got to know them better than your own family and friends. The connection the film builds between them through its unique pacing, storytelling and montage techniques (the film titles don't hit until an hour in!) are simply masterful - you won't see anything else like it outside of weird, avant garde post-modern novels.

Absolutely fantastic movie. The duration (4 hours) can be a bit offputting, but if you can sit down and watch it in one go on a day off, you'll find yourself immersed in an undervalued classic of Japanese cinema.

First I rented the DVD and after watching, bought the Blu-Ray.Amazing and big differences. The picture quality in general is better, more detailed but also details Sion Sono wanted to show and are part of his artistic expression. E.G. one scene when Yu confesses his sins to this father in the church, always when Yu is shown, the picture is blurred, his father is perfectly in focus.Or the sound: DTS HD MA and man there is bass on this track - also as an artistic expression, a very disturbing sound, no explosions.All this adds in my understanding strongly to experience Sion Sono's ideas completely.Thank you to HD and Blu-Ray.The movie on Blu-Ray really makes a difference compared to the DVD. For those who like this film, I can strongly recommend the Blu-Ray. For the DVD, you are missing a lot.

The movie is a Masterpiece, but the aspect ratio is wrong. Should have letterbox, instead the image is stretched and completely ruined.The movie is shot in 1.85:1, so why in the world is presented in 1.77:1? What's the use of a dual format with all these extras if the only thing that should be done the right way is instead completely wrong?Really a disappointment, especially since I bought this from Italy.

They say you'll always remember your first Sion Sono film and that'll likely remain your favourite of his- well this was mine and it quite possibly is my favourite. One minute I was laughing, next whincing, then feeling uncomfortable then mesmerised, it's truly a roller coaster ride of emotions. Never once in its long running time was I bored, had me hooked from start to finish. 9/10