A Japanese remake of a Korean movie ... now I do try to watch the original movies before I watch any remake. Sometimes I am just not aware of any original existing. In this case I knew that the original existed, but since this was made by Takashi Miike and it is supposed to be way out there and quite different than the original ... I thought I'd give it a go. Also I didn't have the original at hand ... so there's that too.

Having said all that, this is or can be called a musical, but it is not really your typical musical ... there is a lot of normal talking here too for example. And nothing is quite normal when it comes to Miike as fans will already know anyway. This is quite out there, even when it has some somber and quiet moments in between. The beginning with the claymation should give you a hint where this is heading (or flying off too - pun very much intended) ... watch but be aware what this is and how dysfunctional it overall is ... this is not normal - but it never tells you differently.

A note to those who are familiar with other films directed by Miike. Although some of his other films have been very violent and disturbing (such as AUDITION),this film is completely unlike these films and is a must-see. This is NOT a violent or overly bloody film despite there being zombies mid-way through the movie!

I love foreign films, so I am VERY willing to watch a wide variety of strange and sometimes "artsy-fartsy" films. However, my wife and I have urged our friends to see this film and all agree that it is a real gem. It is important that you watch the movie with an open mind, as the first few minutes of the film are, believe it or not, done in claymation! Then, it fades to the present-day Japan and the totally bizarre adventures that occur to a genuinely nice Japanese family. Through no fault of their own, this family's bed and breakfast seems to attract patrons fated to die (in rather comical ways, at that). The family's response? Simple--break into SONG!!! The songs are meant to be very silly and overly dramatic and turn out to be GREAT FUN!! The best of these has got to be the song and dance number featuring this sweet family and zombies (dead hotel guests). I'm sure NONE of this sounds funny or charming, but it is without a doubt both of these things as well as, believe it or not, a family values-affirming film.

The bottom line is, if you are brave and want something that is TOTALLY unpredictable and engaging, watch this film ASAP! Also, if you like weird and surreal musicals, I also recommend the Dutch film, YES SISTER NO SISTER.

A typically irreverent and offbeat Japanese musical comedy from one of that country's most eclectic directors, Takashi Miike. I previously watched DEADLY OUTLAW REKKA last week and was disappointed in its predictability and lack of outrageous eccentricity that Miike is best known for, so I came to THE HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS in two minds, hoping to enjoy it and hoping it wouldn't let me down, knowing that Miike films can be all over the place tonally. The good news: it didn't let me down; far from it!

This is a unique stab at musical cinema, with a plot that somehow manages to incorporate claymation, zombies, murder, death and a volcano. The setting is a seemingly idyllic hotel run by a family of diverse characters, who find out that their guests keep on dying strange deaths. Rather than calling the police or getting upset at the impact on future bookings, they decide to bury the bodies in the local forest while taking part in one song-and-dance number after another.

The film is filled from beginning to end with verve and vitality and the music numbers really zing, proving real highlights. The whole film has a bright and colourful look and feel to it and lashings of black comedy only add to the appeal. It truly is an anything-goes experience and one that's hugely entertaining from start to finish; a more original piece of film-making I haven't seen all year.