in article 42133E63.7600F77A@yahoo.co.jp, Eric Takabayashi at
etakajp@yahoo.co.jp wrote on 2/16/05 9:36 PM:

> Ernest Schaal wrote:
> 
>> in article cuuti4$g30$1@nnrp.gol.com, Ron Hitler Barrassi at
>> greg-the-stop-sign@tism.com.au wrote on 2/16/05 4:42 PM:
>> 
>>> TXZZ wrote:
>>>> Its a bit more complicated than this but i found this movie to be one
>>>> of the most profound insights
>>> 
>>> suspect you think anything more complex than Jepodary to be profound.
>> 
>> Actually, Kurosawa is one of the great film directors, probably the best
>> that Japan has ever produced. I realize that Ozu is considered more
>> "Japanese," but the cinematography of his films are less than impressive,
>> with a lot of scenes with the actors addressing the camera.
>> Juzo Itami is also considered a favorite by many, and his films are
>> interesting, but the range of his films does not compare with the better
>> directors. "Beat" Takeshi is my favorite for living Japanese directors.
> 
> Are you just joking about beginning your Japanese studies, or does your self
> described level of Japanese allow you to understand what is said in these TV
> shows and movies you are talking about this week? Understanding TV and
> movies requires a fair level of language skill, probably requiring years of
> study or exposure. Many Japanese can only dream about being able to be at
> the stage where they can understand English language TV shows, movies or
> music without subtitles or translation despite all the study or exposure
> they have been through, much less discuss the merits of certain TV shows or
> movie directors viewed in the native language.

Eric,

Let me tell you about a relatively old invention that most cinema buffs
appreciate, that you might not have heard of, because of your limited
experience in the arts. It is the subtitle. B-)

Actually, I realize that you probably knew about existence of subtitles,
especially if you see any American films in Japan. Therefore, frankly I was
surprised by the stupid disregard for the existence of this wonderful
invention that allows us to watch movies made in languages that we don't
understand.

I have been watching Japanese cinema since the late 1960s, and I have seen a
wide variety of Japanese cinema, from the great to the terrible. For a long
while, there was an excellent theater that showed Japanese films in San
Francisco's Japantown (the site of the old theater is now a fast food
place). Also, there still are excellent video stores in the Bay area, where
they rent and sell subtitled Japanese films. Even in Japan, it is possible
to get subtitled Japanese films, if you look for them.

As for television, I used to watch sub-titled Japanese television for years
in the Bay Area. I watch it without subtitles here, and understand enough to
recognize the good and the bad.

Frankly, you seem to confuse knowledge of a country's language as being
knowledge of a country's culture. Frankly, I will admit that your Japanese
skills are far superior to mine, as I will admit that Kaz's Japanese skills
are also superior to mine. On the other hand, I am not impressed with your
knowledge (or Kaz's knowledge) of Japanese cinema, literature, arts, or
history. While you have language skills, you really haven't shown any
indication that you have used those skills to good use in understanding
Japan. Have you watched any Japanese films except anime and porn?

As far my Japanese language skills, I recently passed the third grade of the
Japanese Language Proficiency Test, and will probably take next year's
second grade test. I could rush and try to take the second grade this year
but there are other things I want to do besides study Japanese all the time.
I was presently surprised, when watching the Borne Supremacy, that I could
follow the Russian dialogue by reading the Japanese subtitles (there were no
English subtitles).





 Many of the good Japanese films have been releases in the States,