Rating: 
Summary: a tale of mystery and murder
Review: "Life is but an illusion, the dreams of night are real" wrote Hirai Taro (1894-1965), better known by his pseudonym Edogawa Rampo...a name inspired by his admiration for Edgar Allan Poe (edogaw-aram-po).The film starts with a murder story (told in a wonderful animation sequence) of Rampo's, which is banned by the government for being "injurious to public morality"...he later reads in a newspaper of a real case identical to his story, tracks down the woman suspected of the murder, and she is the visual incarnation of how he imagined the protagonist of his story would be...and fact and fiction start to intermingle, with the fiction creating the fact. Rampo at times becomes the detective hero of his stories, in this beautiful and brilliant blend of realities. This film (and the real title, should you want to look it up in a video book, etc. is "The Mystery of Rampo"), was a huge success in Japan, but strangely, didn't get much attention in the U.S.
There's a myriad of symbolism in the imagery, fabulous cinematography using diverse techniques, some eroticism, a lovely soundtrack, and a gorgeous cast. It's a film I've watched many times, discovering more of its mystery with each viewing.
Rating: 
Summary: DO NOT BUY THIS DVD
Review: Don't misunderstand my intention. This is a superb film. In fact, it's one of the most beautiful, haunting, and complex films ever made. But the DVD is simply atrocious. The luscious color is completely lost, and the sound is mediocre. That is quite a shame for a film with vibrant color and a symphonic score. What in the world were they thinking???
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: I am hoping this film will be made in DVD. I have nearly worn out two VHS copies to date. What I really love about this film is how it integrates so many techniques. It is really very good.
Rating:
Summary: a disappointment
Review: I decided to watch this film in part because I'm a big fan of Japanese film, in part because it features two of my favorite actors, and in part because of the extremely positive reviews here on amazon. The film started out well with an interesting animation sequence, but as it progressed it turned into a cinematic version of a supermarket trash romance novel, only with a less engaging plot and a "mystery" of very little interest. I love slow-moving stories, but here the story is so thin I found myself dying to hit the fast-forward button to speed things along. The cinematography and effects are "beautiful" only in a cliched, soft-focus, daytime TV kind of way. This soap-opera-esque melodrama is dull and embarrassing. There are so many great Japanese films out there . . . try something else!
Rating: 
Summary: for fellow aficionados
Review: I own the VHS-version of this movie as well and pre-ordered the DVD. First, there is no extra/new feature (except for a short theatrical trailer and the widescreen format) in this DVD, which is not a big deal in itself; however, the DVD version of this movie has a couple of significant problems. (1) There's a problem with the color transfer that practically ruins the role that colors play in the movie. The problem is especially pronounced in those scenes around the Marquis' mansion. Colors change so drastically and erratically from scene to scene that they no longer have any coherent meaning at all. (2) The DVD has a new translation. On one hand, this could be a good thing for those of us who don't speak Japanese. It's good to have an alternative translation so we can triangulate the original meaning using this and the VHS version's translation. On the other hand, the new translation is very poorly done. For instance, Rampo's monologue near the beginning of the movie was artfully done (as it had to be to anchor the entire movie) in the VHS version, but in the DVD version it is incoherent and incomprehensible. If you are crazy about this movie, you might still want to buy the DVD just for the alternative translation and the widescreen format. Don't throw away your VHS copy though. You won't want to make this DVD the copy you show to your friends, who won't be able to appreciate the movie as fully as you were able to with the VHS version.
Rating:
Summary: for fellow aficionados
Review: I own the VHS-version of this movie as well and pre-ordered the DVD. First, there is no extra/new feature (except for a short theatrical trailer and the widescreen format) in this DVD, which is not a big deal in itself; however, the DVD version of this movie has a couple of significant problems. (1) There's a problem with the color transfer that practically ruins the role that colors play in the movie. The problem is especially pronounced in those scenes around the Marquis' mansion. Colors change so drastically and erratically from scene to scene that they no longer have any coherent meaning at all. (2) The DVD has a new translation. On one hand, this could be a good thing for those of us who don't speak Japanese. It's good to have an alternative translation so we can triangulate the original meaning using this and the VHS version's translation. On the other hand, the new translation is very poorly done. For instance, Rampo's monologue near the beginning of the movie was artfully done (as it had to be to anchor the entire movie) in the VHS version, but in the DVD version it is incoherent and incomprehensible. If you are crazy about this movie, you might still want to buy the DVD just for the alternative translation and the widescreen format. Don't throw away your VHS copy though. You won't want to make this DVD the copy you show to your friends, who won't be able to appreciate the movie as fully as you were able to with the VHS version.
Rating:
Summary: the ending
Review: Never, ever... has a subtitle ever made me burst into tears.
Rating: 
Summary: On the line where reality and fiction converge...
Review: Rampo is a writer who has been censored by the government as his newest novel is deemed inappropriate and harmful for the moral welfare of the people. Rampo's assistant notices an article in a newspaper about an incident strikingly similar to the plot of the banned book, and he shares his knowledge with Rampo. Bewildered and curious Rampo seeks out the woman whose husband has died in the same way as in his novel, and he finds himself falling instantly in love with the woman. This leads to Rampo actively seeking out the woman and eventually expressing his affection for her. This emotional time gives Rampo strength and he begins to write again after his major setback with the government. Rampo begins to write about the woman that he has met, but soon he discovers that his writing turns into reality. In fear and curiosity Rampo continues to write with feverish obsession unknowing where it might lead him. Mystery of Rampo is a stunningly beautiful film as it depicts its surreal story through magical cinematography. The directors creates an atmosphere full of mystery and suspense that is similar to Edgar Allan Poe's short stories as it is based on a story by Edogawa Rampo who was an avid fan of Poe. In the beginning of the film the camera pans across a library and in the process gives recognition to Poe and Rampo, which lends a certain level of mystery to the story at hand. In the end, the audience is left with an excellent, yet bizarre cinematic episode that brings the viewers to a place where night and day converge.
Rating:
Summary: On the line where reality and fiction converge...
Review: Rampo is a writer who has been censored by the government as his newest novel is deemed inappropriate and harmful for the moral welfare of the people. Rampo's assistant notices an article in a newspaper about an incident strikingly similar to the plot of the banned book, and he shares his knowledge with Rampo. Bewildered and curious Rampo seeks out the woman whose husband has died in the same way as in his novel, and he finds himself falling instantly in love with the woman. This leads to Rampo actively seeking out the woman and eventually expressing his affection for her. This emotional time gives Rampo strength and he begins to write again after his major setback with the government. Rampo begins to write about the woman that he has met, but soon he discovers that his writing turns into reality. In fear and curiosity Rampo continues to write with feverish obsession unknowing where it might lead him. Mystery of Rampo is a stunningly beautiful film as it depicts its surreal story through magical cinematography. The directors creates an atmosphere full of mystery and suspense that is similar to Edgar Allan Poe's short stories as it is based on a story by Edogawa Rampo who was an avid fan of Poe. In the beginning of the film the camera pans across a library and in the process gives recognition to Poe and Rampo, which lends a certain level of mystery to the story at hand. In the end, the audience is left with an excellent, yet bizarre cinematic episode that brings the viewers to a place where night and day converge.
Rating:
Summary: A modern masterpiece finally comes to DVD
Review: The DVD: I have just viewed the DVD version and here is the verdict: First the good news: ..., there is absolutely nothing wrong with the color transfer. In fact, visually, this version is nothing short of a revelation. To see the widescreen presentation one can finally fully grasp the exquisite composition present in nearly every shot. So much detail is present that for even those who think they have this film memorized there will be pleasant surprises in the wider frame. There is a little graininess in the frame in the darker scenes, but this was also present in the VHS version. Still, there is no comparison visually between the two. Hands down this is the superior item. The sound is gorgeous as it was in the VHS, but cleaner and without too much bottom The less than good news is the new translation. I'm guessing this is a more literal translation, and as such it may have traded some of the lovely poetic license that was taken in the original for a closer rendering, yet something was lost in doing so. This is illustrated most painfully by the last line, which in its original form was profound and held the keys to unlocking this rich fantasy, now seeming mundane and far less impactful in its present reinterpretation. That being said, there are also interesting lines that pop out here and there that together with the original, perhaps shed light on the true meaning of the japanese. I am surprised that this literal approach was taken, in that for the most part it is quite clumsy and it does not aid the viewer in understanding this masterpiece better. There are almost no extras, just the american trailer. Too bad there isn't a commentary by Okayuma. This film, which I have watched in VHS over a dozen times always leaves me breathless and ecstatic. It is simultaneously the story of one of japan's most gifted mystery writers, Edogawa Rampo, yet at the same time serves as an in depth exploration of the creative process itself. Fraught with rich jungian symbolism,it is at last a profound examination of what Jung referred to as the Alchemical Marriage, ie the marriage of the Self. As all artists who have paid their dues know, the muse/anima/Soul must be courted. She is fickle, mysterious and ephemeral. In the end, to become a whole human being,we must merge with her in an ecstatic union of male and female, Self and Other. This mystery is at the core of this great film, which manages to have a wonderful sense of humor in the midst of such lofty themes. One of the most intriguing and visually stunning films ever made. One can't begin to apprehend the depth of this movie with just one viewing. There are details that only begin to make themselves known after repeated showings. Never before have I seen such an intimate portrait of the creative process. This is a singular artistic achievement to watch many times over the years. Special mention must be made of the lush orchestral score , which reminds me a bit of Morricone at his best. I not only bought it, but actually arranged the main two themes for piano! It's that good. It's hard to imagine that this film originally had an entirely different score before Okayuma took over direction, as it is absolutely the perfect complement to the beautiful imagery.
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