While I Agree with your basic assessment of this movie being garbage, I have to point out that Aokigahara is not the way
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Forest
Edohiguma — 10 years ago(April 02, 2016 02:19 PM)
While I Agree with your basic assessment of this movie being garbage, I have to point out that Aokigahara is not the way you describe it.
Annual retrieval patrols manage to bring out not that many remains. The highest number recovered was 105 in 2003. that number has never been reached since then and they've actually stopped publishing such numbers several years ago.
Now, if you go into it for exploration, it's very unlikely to find a corpse. There are hiking trails in this Sea of Trees. The JSDF even runs training operations in there.
Your assessment about suicide in Japan is completely wrong. The general acceptance of suicide does not come from Japan's "rigorous culture of conformity" (that's your American culture seeping through.)
It stems simply from lacking any noteworthy Christian influence. Suicide in Japan has never been a mortal sin that carried "eternal damnation". It has been acceptable for centuries. Some of Japan's biggest historic icons committed suicide. Now mind you, that doesn't mean that a suicide isn't generally seen as tragedy, however, it's not demonized as it has been in Europe or the Americas for centuries.
And well, you're American. No, your label of "Asian-American" is meaningless. You are American. American culture shaped you. Your skin color is irrelevant. Plus, with that label you're essentially repeating the BS of how everything Asian is the same. It's kind of funny that you complain about what I'd describe as "cultural insensitivity" (even though I consider this term to be BS), while heavily engaging it it yourself with this ludicrous label. -
BulmaPunkRocker — 9 years ago(April 06, 2016 06:11 PM)
And well, you're American. No, your label of "Asian-American" is meaningless. You are American. American culture shaped you. Your skin color is irrelevant.
Excuse me, then why SO MANY black USA citizens call themselves "African-American"? (I am not from USA nor any english speaking country, so I'm asking for real, no disrespect).
It stems simply from lacking any noteworthy Christian influence. Suicide in Japan has never been a mortal sin that carried "eternal damnation". It has been acceptable for centuries.
AGREED. Posted abouth this days ago.
But you may find weird things if you get off the main road and follow the threads that the illegal campers leaves behind. You know, those threads they put just in case they're not 100% sure, or if they wanted to be found.
Please excuse my terrible redaction, english is not my native language -
Strazdamonas — 9 years ago(May 15, 2016 12:12 PM)
Excuse me, then why SO MANY black USA citizens call themselves "African-American"?
Stupidity. There is no such thing as african american. You are either african OR american.
What they mean is usually "american whose ancestors were brought from africa as slaves".
What they apply it to - every black person.
Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually. -
Will1988 — 9 years ago(April 21, 2016 06:05 AM)
TL;DR.
However, OP I do agree, this movie would have been marginally better if say the actress was from Japan but grew up in the states and went to find her twin sister who moved back to Japan I thought the demon / ghost that kept popping up would probably have been a decent lead.
I mean I like Dormer in GoT, fell asleep during the third Hunger Games movie so have no real opinion on that, but in this film her acting isn't that great. -
ktan-1 — 9 years ago(June 14, 2016 06:02 AM)
Seeing some of the american morons' comments hereas usual Still thinking the whole world only revolves around Americayeah keep up with that self boosting illusion and complacency, being blind to see the ACTUAL World beyond their living room, tv & computersand soon we have Chinese Yuan taking over USD as the world currency
And when that time happens, then we could go to Orlando to make a film with a Male Asian main star and every other characters including the shooter americans since they will be cheap labor force when US economy collapses after CNY took over USD and get the Asian Male star to save all the survivors and kills the shooterheck we probably could do it now with our own budget and since it isnt any other countries problem since it only happen in U.S., the rest of the world shouldnt be concern about the film vs actual event or we could simply choose any goddamn location to mimic this event as it aint our problemis that what some of you morons trying to say with this same analogy about this film? o.O -
Dawny_Darko — 9 years ago(April 23, 2016 06:20 PM)
This is a film created by Hollywood to make money. They frankly don't give a beep about social issues or highlighting an issue with Japanese culture as IT IS NOT THEIR PLACE! They are in the business of churning out films for a profit, simple as that!
If this guy felt so strongly then rather, he should get off his ass and educate and improve his own culture regarding mental health/suicide rather than expect for-profit organisations to do it for him. Perhaps it would be advantageous for AN ASIAN MOVIE STUDIO to make a film IN JAPANESE that would be more powerful that an English language film that would need to be dubbed/subtitled for Japan!
Whether this guy has a point or not, he is just shifting the responsibility. This is not a social awareness film IT IS A HORROR! Not the right genre to bring any sort of social message through lol -
venanttout — 9 years ago(April 26, 2016 06:04 PM)
'Whitewashing' ? You mean 'racist' aren't you ?
It's funny coming from one of the most racist country in the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_issues_in_Japan
Well, it took a world war to prevent Japan to 'Japanwash' asia, so you'd better look in your own backyard before it gobbles up. -
cokezero99 — 9 years ago(May 01, 2016 12:03 PM)
Quit your whining please. Having a white actress does not make it whitewashing.
The story is plausible, or in your pathetic world can a white person not go to this forest? Obviously they can. Do white people get depressed? Yes. Are there white people working in Japan? Yes. So it is completely plausible that a depressive white woman working in Japan decides to visit an infamous place where people kill themselves.
For all your words you're just a little racist with a chip on her shoulder. A SJW who thinks artistic portrayals cannot ever touch sensitive subjects. Go back to the safe space you came from. -
kingramze — 9 years ago(May 13, 2016 12:17 AM)
Wow. I respectfully completely disagree. This was a horror movie, not a documentary. If you wanted a documentary on Japanese suicidal issues and how many choose to go to the forest to commit suicide, then this is not the movie for you - and it's not the movie's fault it doesn't project the social message of mental health issues for Japanese that YOU want portrayed. It never set out to do that as that's not exactly Hollywood entertainment.
Hollywood "whitewashes" movies because Asians are a minority in the USA. Asians are about 5% of the US Population, where Whites are about 73% and Blacks 13% with mixed race at about 10%. Hollywood is admittedly even more skewed white than the general population, but there are few, talented Asians to choose from compared to the vast pool of talented actors to choose and negotiate with for various roles.
The point of the movie was to connect with the average American and take them on a scary journey into a culture they aren't familiar with. It makes perfect sense to use any random American actor for that role especially one that ISN'T Asian so that it's clear the character is learning about the culture as WE, the audience, learn about it. That helps people identify with the character as we're on a journey together. It also lets the character do stupid things like go playing in a haunted forest where a local Japanese person would respect the forest and NOT GO IN THERE or at the very least not shrug off the danger as silly superstition as they'd respect the culture. Sure, they could have cast Rinko Kikuchi as a Japanese American visiting family in Japan and re-connecting with her heritage, possibly thinking the forest was silly superstition having grown up American and ignorant or unbelieving of such things but, maybe just maybe Rinko Kikuchi has better things to do and better projects she's working on than to take this role. You DONT KNOW why this actress was chosen or even if she took a huge pay cut to do an artsy film and expand her acting skills. Honestly, the movie does quite well along the same lines as The Grudge.
As for your comment about Ghost in the Shell JAPANESE people on the streets of Tokyo were interviewed about casting, and they LOVED that the role wasn't going to an Asian. The Japanese Anime culture believes the role SHOULD be played by a non-Asian American as that's how they see the character often Anime has Americanized characters with blue or green eyes, blonde or red hair, rounder larger eyes, etc. That's the style. Average Japanese were very confused as to why anyone would not want the current casting choice as they thought she was perfect!
I happen to have already known about the forest before watching the film, and it didn't bother me in the least. It was your average spooky story about a scary place in random country X that the stupid, arrogant American disrespects and falls prey to the evil forces they disrespected. They're a dime a dozen, and it's very typical to use a real place or story and embellish the details and use that as the basis for a horror tale explanation. Sometimes movies even make up countries so as not to insult a real country by portraying the people, architecture, or culture inaccurately. If they had changed the location to say Alabama, you'd literally have nothing to whine about other than they lifted a myth from Japan to use as the basis for a story. Instead, they chose to use the real forest and bring some awareness to it (probably for effect, as horror movies love to say they're based on real stories but, at least it raises awareness for people to investigate themselves.)
Sounds more to me like you have a HUGE chip on your shoulder and are projecting your own personal issues onto a movie that has nothing to do with them. -
omarboliveira — 9 years ago(May 14, 2016 08:46 AM)
I knew this movie was not going to be very good, only watched because of Natalie Dormer, so I think that was a smart choice.
This is an American movie, do we really expect them to care about social problems across the world while doing a B Movie?
I'm from Brazil, and i also think my country is badly portrayed in American movies, but we have a lot more important things to be concerned in real life.
Relax, is just a movie! -
oznickolaus — 9 years ago(May 17, 2016 05:52 AM)
I have not seen this film. But I do have a question based on this post. The character that Natalie Dormer plays, is she supposed to be Asian or is she a Caucasian woman visiting an Asian country? As I said, I haven't seen the film.
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djkynky1 — 9 years ago(June 19, 2016 07:53 AM)
She's an American visiting Japan. Not only did they hire a British person to play an American, she's playing the role of her twin sister.
If anything this one British woman is taking the role of 2 American actresses!!!Only ever given 2 films 10/10
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djkynky1 — 9 years ago(June 19, 2016 07:59 AM)
Have you watched this
http://www.imdb.com/board/11488602/
You'll probably hate it but it's set in the same forest.Only ever given 2 films 10/10
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greenjelly_179 — 9 years ago(July 04, 2016 01:07 PM)
for one usually Italians are listed as white.there not black people.there not going to cast black Italians in anything.the movie stunk.
heaven knows eventually some director of black descent will remake the godfather.like there making magnificent seven..even though that was a remake
Hollywood has no new ideas. -
Masquerade0 — 9 years ago(July 18, 2016 04:14 AM)
Apparently you can't set a story with a white protagonist anywhere in world without it being some kind of racism. These accusations of "whitewashing", claiming a white actress or actor can't portray a certain character because of the context of the story, are based of racism themselves. That's the irony of it all.
Get over yourself and look at the actual movie rather than search for things to get offended by. Man, you really must have had a heart attack when Nick Fury became a black guy.