Rent Dolls for FREE

Start your 30 day FREE trial » Find out more

+70,000 other titles and counting

Thousands of movies and TV series to watch instantly
NO late fees or long term contracts - cancel anytime
FREE first class post for Britain’s largest range of DVDs, Blu-rays & Games

Dolls Reviews

2002

60
from 2841 members

Three stories of undying love, as told by Bunraku Dolls (Japanese traditional puppets)... Matsumoto and Sawako was once a happy couple, but the pressures of meddling parents and success forces them to make a tragic choice. Hiro is an aging yakuza boss. Thirty years ago, he was a poor factory worker who abandoned his loving .. Read more

Starring	Miho Kanno, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Tatsuya Mihashi
Director	'Beat' Takeshi Kitano
Genres	Drama, World Cinema

Sign up Dolls DVD

Buy

Most helpful member's review of Dolls
View all members' reviews (42)
- - 19
  - 1
  The best film I've seen this year
  
  Takeshi Kitano has a god-like status as an actor and director in Japan and in my books.
  
  This film is truly his masterpiece. Its a story of doomed ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1767
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Stowmarket, England
  - 12 Feb 2004 at 12:56
Most recent members' reviews of Dolls
View all members' reviews (42)
- - 0
  - 0
  A Somewhat Difficult Film
  
  This film poses problems for many western viewers, myself amongst them. The conventions, culture and indeed the behaviour and society of Japan are so remarkably... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1099758
- - Cato
  - 589 reviews
  - Lydbury North
  - 06 Mar 2012 at 12:11
- - 0
  - 0
  A stylised film of great beauty
  
  The Japanese director Takeshi Kitano is best known for his gangster movies such as the award winning Hani Bi. With Dolls he breaks out of that mould and creates... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1021856
- - a customer
  - 26 Jul 2011 at 13:00
- - 1
  - 0
  Magical Dolls
  
  The title Dolls primarily refers to Bunraku doll theatre, a Japanese traditional art that combines puppet theatre, narrative chanting and shamisen playing ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 891468
- - merrychristmas
  - 7 reviews
  - Leeds, England
  - 15 May 2010 at 04:36
- - 1
  - 3
  Probably very clever. Probably.
  
  Very much of the art-house genre this one. Tedious opening sequence followed by much dribbly acting to a weak plot. Careful that you don't end up ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 753189
- - a customer
  - OXON
  - 06 May 2009 at 13:36
- - 2
  - 0
  Gorgeous, with the Takeshi tang
  
  Colour. Obsession. Love. Death. I can't think of a more succinct way to summarise the film. It is a visual treat, leaving the viewer to explore themselves ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 685923
- - a customer
  - Swindon
  - 12 Jan 2009 at 00:07
- - 1
  - 0
  See the interviews first....
  
  Firstly, let me suggest that you watch the interviews on the DVD about this film before watching the actual thing. Not being a bunraku fan I found much of the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 681896
- - a customer
  - Banchory
  - 05 Jan 2009 at 21:02
- - 0
  - 0
  excellent
  
  I love takishi Kitano,basically if your film starts 'office Kitano' then you are in for a treat
  
  I have just re rented this and am looking ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 664432
- - a customer
  - Gorebridge
  - 25 Nov 2008 at 20:54
- - 1
  - 0
  indulge in a visual orgasm
  
  firstly, as mentioned even by those who didn't enjoy it, the cinematography is the real star of this film. i was lucky enough not to have heard anything ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 651497
- - a customer
  - Cardiff
  - 29 Oct 2008 at 15:39
- - 0
  - 1
  okay
  
  only rent if you like subtitles
  
  Report this review
- 627678
- - kartum
  - 206 reviews
  - west lothian
  - 11 Sep 2008 at 13:00
- - 0
  - 0
  Takeshi's masterpiece?
  
  Kitano's occasional forays into art cinema are always interesting, but seldom quite as successful as this cracking meditation on some themes from Monzaemon ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 589577
- - Savage
  - 632 reviews
  - London, England
  - 28 Jun 2008 at 11:12
View all members' reviews (42)

- - 19
  - 1
  The best film I've seen this year
  
  Takeshi Kitano has a god-like status as an actor and director in Japan and in my books.
  
  This film is truly his masterpiece. Its a story of doomed ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1767
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Stowmarket, England
  - 12 Feb 2004 at 12:56
- - 6
  - 0
  insightful interviews with takeshi on the extras
  
  This film could have been excellent, but relies too heavily on stunning scenery and melancholic silences instead of developing character themes.
  
  I ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 16597
- - adam
  - bristol
  - 31 Aug 2004 at 17:30
- - 6
  - 0
  I loved what I saw of ...
  
  I loved what I saw of this film. Takeshi Kitano has worked wonders with the film. The cinematography is outstanding and the story is heart rendering.
  
  Report this review
- 32942
- - Bunmio#1
  - LONDON
  - 13 Apr 2004 at 15:17
- - 3
  - 1
  Polished but...
  
  Excellent cinematography, vibrant colours and a very original premise: the life of contempory Japanese of differnet ages as a Bunraku (trad. puppet theatre) ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 299189
- - GeorgeC
  - London
  - 06 Feb 2004 at 16:33
- - 2
  - 0
  Puppets
  
  'Dolls' is a compendium film inspired by the peculiarly Japanese style of puppetry, Bunraku. The characters themselves are not fully developed they are ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 15423
- - a customer
  - Leamington
  - 20 Aug 2004 at 09:49
- - 2
  - 0
  Several stories ...
  
  Several stories intertwine around the bound beggars that feature the main part of the story (Takeshi says in an interview that the main characters story is too ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 34706
- - a customer
  - HAVERHILL
  - 02 May 2004 at 10:01
- - 2
  - 0
  Beautiful images are not quite enough
  
  There are certainly beautiful images in this film. For me, though, the three stories did not connect and the lack of pace made the film drag. I imagine that we ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 66640
- - Zamy
  - 552 reviews
  - London
  - 24 Jan 2005 at 15:25
- - 2
  - 0
  Deep
  
  Strays from the path of Beat Takeshis' usual Yakuza / violent examination of Japanese society. For those of you who are expecting clever and witty dialogue<... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 116290
- - Jon
  - london
  - 21 Jun 2005 at 09:38
- - 2
  - 0
  Silence is still awesome
  
  Based on Kitano's childhood links to the Japanese theatre of Bunraku (his grandmother did narration at the local theatre), this is a beautiful film. The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 302064
- - Billy3000
  - West Yorkshire
  - 30 Mar 2004 at 18:40
- - 2
  - 0
  Ill-fated love and puppetry
  
  This visually stunning film, with costumes by Yoji Yamamoto, weaves three ill-fated love stories in the style of Japanese puppet theatre.
  
  Highly ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 303421
- - wickedwitch
  - London
  - 10 May 2004 at 17:04

< Prev
1
2
3
4
5
Next >

Agree or disagree? Write your own review

Review title: Give it a rating:

Write your review:

Tips for writing helpful reviews

Only review titles you've actually seen!
Talk about what you liked and disliked
Compare this title with other similar titles
Provide plenty of detail - at least 20 words
Space things out - use blank lines between paragraphs.
Be appropriate - no adult content, libellous statements or naughty words
Don't SPAM! No promoting of other websites or services
Don't plaguerise! Your submission must be your own original work
Don't talk about LOVEFiLM by name

Give it a title:

Tips for an eye catching title

Don't just repeat the name of the title you're reviewing
Don't summarise your entire review in one word - a minimum of 2 words please.
Give people a reason to read your full review - create a sense of intrigue or curiosity!

Keep me anonymous Keep me anonymous Contains spoiler? This review contains spoilers (or might spoil it for someone who hasn't seen it yet)

New users register here

Email address:
Password:
Preferred user name:
I agree to LOVEFiLMs Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
I'd like to receive film news and reviews as well as info about all the other good stuff LOVEFiLM offers

Already a member? Sign in here

Email address:
Password:Forgotten password?

By clicking Preview review you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Dolls
  
  Three stories of undying love, as told by Bunraku Dolls (Japanese traditional puppets)... Matsumoto and Sawako was once a happy couple, but the pressures of meddling parents and success forces them to make a tragic choice. Hiro is an aging yakuza boss. Thirty years ago, he was a poor factory worker ...