List Price: $24.99You Pay Only: $22.49 You Save: $2.50 (10%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0660200310325
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Label: Palm Pictures / Umvd
Manufacturer: Palm Pictures / Umvd
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Palm Pictures / Umvd
Region Code: 1
Release Date: February 15, 2005
Running Time: 112 minutes
Sales Rank: 22478
Studio: Palm Pictures / Umvd
Theatrical Release Date: 2003
Related Items:
Editorial Review:
Description:
DVD Features:
5.1 surround sound
Commentary track with Cinematographer Christopher Doyle
Interviews with cast and crew
Behind-the-Scenes footage
Storyboards and original drawings by Christopher Doyle
Theatrical trailer
Previews
Weblinks
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Hate to say it but this is almost laughably bad.
This is an attempt at avant-garde or art film making on the part of a Japanese-Thai crew (with some western funding). The story, or what there is of one, revolves around a bookish yakuza living in Bangkok and working at the Japanese equivalent of a British Council library, and the sister of a Thai bargirl. They meet rather inauspiciously and the rest of the story is a Thai-Japanese buddy-bonding film. Not much happens, rather the interesting stuff that does (yakuza hit man kills protagonist's yakuza brother who in turns kills the hit man; female lead's gangster boyfriend becomes jealous of protagonist) doesn't go anywhere. This is the movie's downfall: It suffers from the lack of any kind of a compelling storyline. One wonders what the people who greenlighted this film were thinking. This is not to say that the movie isn't visually pleasing, it is, but even fast-forwarding through it to watch just that makes the movie last twice as long as it should. You may be thinking to yourself well yes, but I see nothing laughable about all this so I'll just use two examples I mentioned above to illustrate my point: Protagonist kills yakuza hitman with the gun he has found concealed inside a teddy bear wrapped up as a present belonging to the yakuza victim. Come now, who is going to believe that a yakuza's teddy bear is going to be used to conceal a gun half the size of the toy? Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar and trust me when I tell you that a yakuza's teddy bear gift is always just a teddy bear. ... Read More
Rating:  - Ponderous, but never boring. An Enchanting High-minded art film...
"Last Life in the Universe" is one film that I've always been curious about, but never took a chance in buying (I'm more an action/sci-fi guy). I rented this little offbeat and existential theme movie, and I have to say this film will find a spot in my extensive dvd collection. Directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, a Thai director responsible for "6ixtynin9", this film is beautifully shot, a dreamlike rumination on loneliness, suicide and second chances is definitely a must-see film.
Plot synopsis partially derived from back cover:
A mysterious, obsessive-compulsive, suicidal Japanese man named Kenji (Tadanabu Asano) who lives in Bangkok, Thailand, is thrown together with a Thai woman (Beautiful Sinitta Boonyasak) through a tragic chain of events. The woman is everything he is not. He is a neat freak who keeps his dishes washed and his books neatly stacked and categorized. She dresses like a slob, smokes pot and never picks anything up. It's a match that somehow works, though. Slowly and entertainingly, more is revealed about the Japanese man and why he's suicidal and living in Bangkok.
The cinematography is fabulous in this enchanting little film. While it does have overt magical moments, like when Noi's house cleans itself (as a result of her smoking pot), Noi's character transforming, the film's style is more realistic than one would expect. I saw a few subtle use of symbolism, at times, the screenplay felt like an extended dreamscape. I saw 4 very subtle symbolism; Kenji's ... Read More
Rating:  - Truncation and Elongation Side By Side
Early in the film, I compared it to Tony Takitani and thought that differences can cheer people up when being with the perfect fit can cause depression to intensify and how it is easier to lift other people up than to help oneself.
I avoid Thai movies that have horror or fighting themes so it was a treat to see Thailand especially the old furniture. Surprisingly, this movie shot Bangkok in grey.
As for the story, it seemed familiar and predictable. I liked getting to see Thais in Thailand so it was an enjoyable experience despite the targeting of typical pulse points of alienation, distance between people, etc.
Rating:  - Asano Tadanobu is Kenji in this sublime work of art.
Kenji, the head librarian at The Japan Foundation's library is a quiet hermit. Like many young Japanese, he is lonely. His loneliness and apathy for his own subsistence, has caused him to seek death. Kenji's entire focus is to commit suicide. Fortunately, before he has the chance to hang himself, slit his wrist, shoot himself in the head, he is interrupted by the common happenings of life, i.e., a phone call, a door bell, et cetera. Every scene, you are on the edge of your seat- certain that life is over for him. Kenji is totally doomed, until he meets Noi.
Last Life in the Universe is my favorite movie. My eyes run across this title in my movie collection, and I can't help but think about the raw chemistry that exists between the two characters.
Rating: - Simply a marvelous masterpiece
The combination of Pen-ek Ratanaruang, Asano Tadanobu, and Christopher Doyle is absolutely electrifying in as subtle a way as possible. Ratanaruang delivers a masterfully told boy-meets-girl story without all the chick flick mooshy-ness. It's the silence in this movie that speaks louder than the dialogue. Doyle's magnificent eye for shot composition helps that aspect, as well. Asano is, in my opinion, among the top 10 actors alive and he proves it with the portrayal of the main character. Watch 'Ichi the Killer' to see the opposite end of the spectrum of his abilities. Also, keep an eye out for Takashi Miike and his posse of typical actors in 'Last Life...'. Birds of a feather truly do flock together.
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