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Taboo Director: Nagisa Oshima Number of Items: 1 Format: Color, Widescreen Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Running Time: 100 minutes Studio: New Yorker Video Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2002-08-20 Buy from Amazon

Customer Reviews: Total numer of reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 "Sharp, Crisp, Refreshing" Japanese films have quickly become my favourite genre. I knew I had to rent Taboo. The acting is amazing, very believeable. The main character, Kano, is so perfect for the role: I have to admit that, even as a guy, I can say that he's very handsome. I found myself wanting to see more of him, but that's not to say that there was a lack of him. The first scene of the movie is a Kendo sparring match. Kendo is the Japanese art of swordfighting. Never have I come across such perfect, delightful Kendo demonstrations in a film. Watching the actors use their swords is almost like watching Monét paint in his garden. You always wanted to see it, and there it is, just as sleek and smoothe as you can imagine. The Kendo scenes are very inspiring, and truly remarkable. Throughout the film, there is a perfect balance of every event. Nothing is dwelled upon, and everything comes in the right amount. Every single image and scene is sharp, crisp, and refreshing. The camerawork is flawless, almost as if we see what exactly what we want to see, like in a vivid dream filled with delight. Anyone who likes foreign films should watch Taboo. It's quite an amazing film, and I have to say extremely well-done. "On the edge" Along with gorgeous settings, the movie provides an edge of suspense one wouldn't expect. Overall, the film feels like a dream, picks up in various places, only to recede back to a somber pace. The exchanged dialogue really kept me on the edge of my toes, to see if any of the characters knew more than they would tell behind those stoic expressions... >_< However, I do have a taste for happy endings... which Taboo doesn't exactly provide. But it's not a fairy tale-- it's a character study of Japan in the 1800s. An excellent film to watch alone, and to contemplate afterwards. "Taboo is gratifying & pleasing" Have always like Japanese films, not all of course, but quite a few. In addition the culture, history & society of that land is of endless fascination. Must admit also to a liking for the traditional costumes (would be good fun to be a samurai warrior for a short time, but no head cutting please) & of course many of the men that well fill such costumes. To bring an end to the digression, will now talk about the film Taboo. It is a beautiful film. Magnificent settings, good dialogue, interesting story, well told. There are many scenes that will remember for a long time, one is when the older samurai takes our hero to the parlor to be introduced to the pleasures of the feminine sex. Kano takes the hand of the older samurai in such a sweet way, particularly considering how well that those same hands so easily cut off heads. Would I recommend Taboo, you bet you little bippy I would, don't miss it!!! "CHERRIES and stuff ........." Hopelessly foolish tale of a Samurai 'boytoy' savored and flavored by all within reach ..... minimal acting skills with lots of Swordplay [the real stuff, not between the sheets] and many a grunt in between it all. Lord alone knows why the 18 yearold achieved THAT status - cartoonish face, chilly manner and very little skin exposure. Only if you must!!! "Passionate Complexity Among Men..." The young and handsome samurai Kano is courted by some other samurai that dwell within the same walls. This is observed by the elder samurai to be a not too uncommon phenomenon among the samurai, but it is something that is well concealed by them. However, it seems like the attention that Kano is attracting is too obvious, which the elders try to prevent and reverse through the use of women. Meanwhile, there is a struggle brewing among those who have mutual feelings for Kano and this is running in a disastrous direction. Taboo is a film that portrays homosexuality in a male dominating society where men carry themselves with an outmost social confidence providing for terrific film experience.