Urusei Yatsura (Movies)
Publisher
MVM
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Film
Year
1984
Urusei Yatsura Movie 4: Lum the Forever
By Joseph (Joe) Wood
18th Sep 06  The fourth of the six Urusei Yatsura films “Lum the Forever” is radically different from films one, three and five (the only ones I myself have watched). This film is difficult to follow, confusing in its methods and even harder to actually like. Whilst in the process of making a movie Lum and Co. cut down a giant old, and dying, cherry tree. When the tree is cut down it suddenly mysteriously rots and soon after Lum losses her horns, along with her ability to fly and throw electricity around, and becomes quite depressed. Tomobiki Town begins changing, people are having strange dreams, and things from the dreams begin to form in a strange substance which is starting to cover the town. It’s not odd to find strange, unknown, symbolic or literal references in anime, nether is it uncommon to find shows with a narrative that just don’t seem to make sense on the first viewing. However “Lum the Forever” seems utterly incomprehensible even after several viewings. There seems to be a number of subplots that may have been carried over from the TV series or manga, yet not mentioned in the other films, brought into “Lum the Forever”. At one point in the film we see Mendou declare war on his cousin (who hasn’t popped up in the other films) stating that the cousin has something to do with whatever the heck is going in. After this is a large battle between them (with different characters appearing on either side). Lum starts talking to the spirit of the dead tree, and Ataru decides that running through the battlefield of Mendou and his cousin will somehow cause things to be set right again. With all this going on their isn’t any real place for humour which is what makes the other films so enjoyable, there are a few funnies early on but the film losses it as it continues to become less and less understandable. The same goes for the emotional side of the film, how can you understand what anyone is feeling when things just aren’t making sense. Even having watched this film a few times things haven’t become any clearer. I’m sure the film does make sense in some context or other, but unless you’re making lots of notes about symbolic references, hidden meanings and have a few textbooks on philosophical thinking, and perhaps Japanese Myths/History open at the same time then I doubt that the majority of the film will make much sense. This film has to be heavily analysed to be understood, I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who will enjoy doing so. Fair enough the filmmakers tried to do something different and create a moving heavily symbolic piece of art…it’s just a pity they didn’t make a enjoyable film in a similar way to what the've done previously.
R2 DVD Notes
Features: Japanese Audio, English Subtitles
Release information: Publisher: MVM
Released: October 20th 2003
Classification: PG
Running Time: 94mins
Notes:
-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 18th Sep 06
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