Rating: 
Summary: Yes, funny but look below the surface!
Review: This is a study in layers of meaning, layers so fine they are almost transparent. On the surface this is a comedy of misunderstandings, stereotypes, and intergenerational conflict. Below that this is a photographer's film. I think the color is intentional - Ozu used agfa stock which had a slightly unreal quality to it. Each shot is carefully composed, and once you're into it, quite beautiful. Below that, the running comment is how language is as important to life as passing gas. Even deeper, life is changing quickly - the economy is changing right under the parents' noses - beatniks, salesmen, American electronics, unemployment, forced retirement. Pretty heavy stuff for a scatalogical comedy. Finally, optomistically even, Ozu suggests that for love, language is relatively unimportant, and action is the real substance of character - be it helping a friend start over, smiling while being a stern father, or choosing to ride the train with a potential mate, even if you can't afford to marry. A comedy that is high art - with fart jokes - how can you go wrong?
Rating:
Summary: An excellent Ozu film!
Review: This is a wonderful story and Criterion is to be commended on their release of this film. The color of the actual film, in contrast to the photos on the package, is excellent. Having watched another version (Japanese only) of the same film I must say that the difference in color is astonishing. Criterion has found a much better print. Now where are the Criterion editions of Tokyo Story(and other Ozu masterpieces) and Ugetsu (Mizoguchi-not Ozu, of course)?
Rating: 
Summary: Cinema - from the perspective of children
Review: This is one of the best movies starring children I have ever seen - Ozu embraces their viewpoint - often litterally from their eye level. Often in other Ozu films like 'Tokyo Story', and 'Early Summer' - we would see flashes of children from a strikingly noncondescending and, often times, humerous perspective. Now in 'Good Morning' we have an almost entire film devoted to childhood - and events that are important in the lives of these kids and their parents and family. Like all Ozu films it is gorgeously shot and in a bright colorful style full of wonderfull compositions. It is not as masterul as 'Tokyo Story' of 'Floating Weeds' - but it gives us a better understanding of Ozu and how he saw the world - very charming film!
Rating: 
Summary: Second-Rate Ozu
Review: This is Ozu's first color film made in 1959. Although it is pleasant enough it is basically a watered-down version of his silent masterpiece "I Was Born But..." Slight, light-weight and mildly amusing but not up to his mostly excellent body of work. Buy the silent instead or anything else availbe from Ozu.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining ca. 1960 Japanese Working Class Story
Review: This quiet little film, set in working class Japan ca. 1960, focuses on the community's children and the way they are drawn to western entertainment, i.e. television, wrestling, etc. Parents are more concerned with getting from month to month, glad to have a job, fearing financial difficulties in their old age. One neighbor's purchase of a washing machine creates mumbling among the rest of them; How could they afford this?A side plot has one woman turn a misunderstanding into vicious rumors about a neighbor. The fact that the neighbor's children are conducting a "silence strike" only fuels the gossip. Although visibly produced on a minimal budget, the quiet feeling of being told a bed time story is mezmerizing. The insight into the social conventions of the time and place are at times very touching. I can recommend this film particularly to students/teachers in the fields of Sociology or History. A simple film, but not without the sparcle of a little gem!****
Rating:
Summary: Japanese comedy comes the US
Review: This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film. This film is probably the first Japanese comedy that was released in the US. It is also filmed in color which was rare for Japanese films at the time. It is a remake of an earlier film by the same director Yasujiro Ozu titled "I was born but..." (Otona no miru ehon - Umarete wa mita keredo) The Japanese title for this film is "Ohayo". This film is about two brothers in suburban Japan who want their parents to buy them a TV set. When their father refuses and complains that they talk too much, the brothers give everybody the silent treatment. Their "vow of silence" causes many troubles at home and at school. The film also has some humor that would never have been shown on American TV at the time but is now even found in kid's films. The two brothers repeatedly ingest ground pumice stone because it gives them gas. The flatulence humor in this film (the sound effects are definately fake though) may have been responsible for the film to not be shown in the US until the early 60's. It still is a great film made just as Japanese society was "westernizing" and could even be said that it was an answer to the American sitcoms of the time such as "Leave it to Beaver", "Father Knows Best" or "Dennis the Menace" (minus the intestinal gas expulsions of course!) The DVD has no special features.
Rating:
Summary: Pull my finger
Review: Two petulant little brats fart their way to a new T.V. set. You think I'm joking, don't you.
Rating:
Summary: Slight Ozu, not "second-rate" Ozu
Review: With all due respect to the previous reviewer, I do not belive that Ozu has ever made a "second-rate" film. Good Morning is cheerful and slight, but it is a charming comedy of manners, and is a refreshing change of style for a director much more well recognized for his domestic serious drams on meditations on life and the transience of human existence. I will agree that it quite does not pack the punch of "I was Born but..", but is is very charming and entertaining in its own way. I am glad that Ozu was able to leave us with the beautiful swan-song "Autumn Afternoon" shot in lovely color, as a fond remembrance of his genius.
Rating:
Summary: Slight Ozu, not "second-rate" Ozu
Review: With all due respect to the previous reviewer, I do not belive that Ozu has ever made a "second-rate" film. Good Morning is cheerful and slight, but it is a charming comedy of manners, and is a refreshing change of style for a director much more well recognized for his domestic serious drams on meditations on life and the transience of human existence. I will agree that it quite does not pack the punch of "I was Born but..", but is is very charming and entertaining in its own way. I am glad that Ozu was able to leave us with the beautiful swan-song "Autumn Afternoon" shot in lovely color, as a fond remembrance of his genius.
Rating:
Summary: Low-Budget, Pleasant Comedy Drama
Review: Working Class Japanese families ca. 1960 dealing with idle gossip, the difficulties of parenthood, and "competing with the Jones'" when it comes to modern gadgets like washing machines and TV set. The main focus is on a misunderstanding involving misplaced Union dues and the mean-spirited gossip resulting from an honest mistake. A side-plot has two little boys enter a pact of silence in protest that their parents are "too cheap" to buy a TV set, so they need not watch Wrestling and Baseball at their neighbors house. Will their "strike" pay off? This is a simple film about simple situations in working people's homes. Given the times, the daily struggle for survival and a few modern comforts are the center of each day's discussions. To think about one's retirement is discussed among people in their prime. The much used greetings (thus the title) and constant small talk are explained as a necessary means to achieve greater things. To sell a product, or to initiate friendliness with a prospective marriage partner. A visibly low budget, absolutely no cinematic frills and a minimal number of actors, none-the-less give the viewer a pleasant excoursion into the life of hard working people in a given place and time. The film makes you smile, laugh out loud, and it also includes moments that may tuck at your heart strings. No classic or epic, yet a very pleasant little film to bring you joy.****
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