I watched ONE MISSED CALL on DVD last night. (Kim's also recently acquired the ZEBRAMAN DVD, but it wasn't on the shelf.) I was rather disappointed. It feels like Miike's effort to show that he can make a straightforward J-horror film from a half-assed script. However, I recall reading a review (can't remember where) suggesting that it was a subtle parody of the genre. Does anyone else here agree with that notion?

I certainly didn't take it that way and can't think what might make someone think that - though it was 6 months ago when I saw it so maybe I am forgetting it. It seemed a very straightforward attempt at J-Horror - it just felt very unoriginal for Miike - more like a hired gun job than his own idea - though no clue if thats the case.

I heard the same thing from 2 people regarding House of the Flying Daggers - that Zhang was doing a wuxia parody and that made me think that they were missing the whole point of the film and were subconsciously coming up with an explanation for not having liked it on its own effusive melodramatic terms - maybe the same for Missed Call?

Watched and thoroughly enjoyed Zebraman. The movie plays as sort of a wacked-out tribute to the old Kamen Rider/Ultraman type shows, with Sho Aikawa as the put-upon loser obsessed with an old television show. There's kind of a Foul King vibe, except with the premise taken in an entirely different direction. It does get a little childish at times, but the fights and stunts are fun, and the costumes are priceless. There are also some funny parodies of other horror movies, I spotted Ring, Kairo and Village of the Damned, don't know if there were any subtle ones that I missed.

Not one of Miike's best, and frankly, pretty silly, but a lot of fun. I wish more director's put their actors in giant crab head costumes. I think Miike must have been having a lot of fun with this one - it's probably closer in spirit to Katakuris than anything else he's done.

Been wanting to watch Zebraman with a friend, but wasn't sure if there was any content that would be unsuitable if his young nephew is around - i.e. sexual content?

I don't think that One Missed Call is a parody, if only because Miike would have made the parody elements much more obvious and amusing. I do think it's a project he wasn't taking very seriously though, just a $ earner.

Zebraman is very tame by Miike standards. Definitely no nudity, a teeny bit of implied sex, but nothing that wouldn't pass muster on daytime television (US tv, that is). The violence is very cartoony. Not only is it nephew safe, but if your nephew is a Power Rangers fan, he might even enjoy parts of it, though it is fairly dark. There's even a "Kenny"-type character.

Oh wait, there is a little nudity, but it's just some male butts during a bathhouse scene. Very harmless.

Watched Zebraman last night - another great film from Miike, with impressively high production values. Sho Aikawa is a great actor (in an understated way), and seems to really bring out the best in Miike too.

My friend's nephew liked odd bits, but it was too slow in most parts and generally too dark and complex for him to appreciate I think.

I enjoyed One Missed Call, although I'm not sure I read it as a parody. Can't wait to see Zebraman though, it looks like a lot of fun.

Zebraman was easily the best thing to screen in this year's Midnight Madness program at the Toronto Film Festival ... really goofy fun and , yeah, Aikawa's fantastic in it. But when isn't he, really?