ThiefHott Too much of everything

BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Mio Mao We are talking psychological drama hidden in light and humorous atmosphere with a fantastic delivery! Although light, eccentric and even absurd, the general feeling of the film doesn't seem parodic (for the most part!).Everything that happens, looking from a psychological aspect, kind of makes sense. All the characters' (which you are so easily drawn by) reactions, development, morale behind their actions add up to where the plot leads them.What Mr. Sion Sono wanted to do (and succeeded in) with this movie is tell a story about actions and reactions, about how people from similar backgrounds can easily be both same, yet so different. It's a story about love, pain, strength, devotion, kindness and ultimately, morale.4 hour length of the movie is very justified by the complexity of the plot. Not only we are able to connect to characters, the storyline picks up many turns and twists we never expected and changes genre as the story progresses.I must not fail to mention, if you aren't open minded, skip it. If you get triggered by people not being heteronormative then skip it. Dislike Japanese cinematography and humor? Ehh, maybe skip it as well. Hardcore religious? Yeah, definitely skip it. Fetishism makes you uncomfortable? Hard skip, otherwise, you are in for a treat, especially if you have been enjoying a lot of movies and a lot of genres (it would definitely help if you watched some film festival movies featuring different cultures). Fantastic work Mr. Sion Sono, for this movie I thank you sincerely!

missraze Basically I appreciate the effort here. But a lot was drawn out. I am not Japanese so I'm not totally sure how exactly the film was presented originally. I have seen people say it was released episodically like not all in a 4 hr span, but as a series or something. Maybe like a prequel and sequel.So I won't judge this film on its psychological slow burn of excruciating length. Because silly me I downloaded this as one full film. Whilst that might not have been the true or desired format upon its release to not lose the initial audience. So if I got bored or lost along the way after sitting 4 hrs straight to watch, that's honestly my problem and nothing against the director, Sion Sono, truly.However...that doesn't mean as a project, it HAD to carry on this long. I am a wanna be aspiring author who just might become a screenwriter for my film-adapted novels lol So I've learned over the years myself from all the films I've seen how to tie up loose ends, how to develop the character, create a cohesive plot, deliver the message in time, and how to make purpose of every scenario presented. Sono did everything there but based on his other films I've seen (I've seen "Guilty of Romance," "Strange Circus," "Suicide Club 1 and 2," "Play in Hell," and this film, all in the span of less than a week. I went on a Sono binge), I can definitely say that this is simply Sono's style: length, retrospection, and elaborated character introduction.He just does this. And sometimes he gets lost in the ambition with convolutions of detail and dialogue while the plot doesn't twist. But that's his unique style. It doesn't have to sit with everyone; I doubt the guy is trying to please everyone and I'm sure he knows he's a weirdo, but what I personally just don't like is the over-compensatory effort to be controversial.What I mean is: Of all his films I've seen (most of them), they RARELY in my eyes have plot TWISTS while still creating mental and visual chaos with his verbose and retroactive writing and directing style. As if to make up for a lacking central story and focus. That bothers me lol 4 hrs just to say: "religion might make you afraid of sex." That is the main point here. And the subplots come in with the insanity that comes from false prophets and brainwashing. Granted. So it's definitely a sacrilegious film and I get that, express yourself through art, but I just didn't see the purpose of it taking so long to explain this. The ambition is duly noted, of course though.Beyond that, Ando Sakura, the cult leader, has permanently tainted my brain against her. Not even the film. Just her, every time I see her in other films I just come back to this. Something about it, made me honestly terrified but I think that's just her and not anything about the film. Her other films she is always doing something intentionally offputting and frighteningly weird.Despite the length I somehow admittedly was never bored. I wanted to see where the hell it was going no matter how painful it was. Everything did lead to the next, so I appreciate that he took the time out to develop this. Most people can't be bothered.I am just a "less is more" kind of person but generally speaking he has instilled or better yet reconsolidated the necessity for me as a wanna be writer lol to take the time to make sure everything is explained.I just feel this is quantity over quality, style over substance.He also likes to sneak in symbolism, so if I missed it ah well.

George Roots (GeorgeRoots) SPOILERS! for the entire movie follow. Read at your own risk.As you get older, I think many of us can agree that certain attitudes change towards things, and we become more open to ideals and other point of views. "Love Exposure" to this day, remains neither particularly good or bad in my opinion. I also think that no matter what grade I give this movie, it wouldn't really matter due to how diverse and "out there" it really is.The story follows Yu, a young teenage Catholic attempting to live his life in a faithful and orderly manner. His father Tetsu, has become a devout Catholic priest following the death of Yu's mother, and operates his own church. Yu's father asks Yu to confess his sins, but Yu believes he is a good person who has little to confess. At first he makes up sins, but his father sees right through him. Yu sets out to commit real sins and because of this, he falls in with a questionable crowd. Yu is taught by his new friends how to steal, fight and take stealth photographs up women's skirts. Yu promptly becomes a skilled "panty shot" photographer and he is perceived as a pervert, yet he is never aroused by these photographs.After Yu loses a bet with his friends, he agrees to go into the city dressed as a woman and kiss a girl he likes. Yu and his friends come across a young teenage girl named Yoko, who is surrounded by a group of thugs. Still dressed as a woman, Yu helps Yoko beat up the gang of thugs, kisses Yoko and runs away. He falls in love with her and it's the first time he's ever been in love with a girl, but Yoko falls for his disguise and develops feelings for his alter ego "Sasori". Meanwhile, Yu is being followed by Aya Koike, a member of the cult group "Zero Church", who has become infatuated with him after she catches him taking a picture of her panties. Aya devises a plan to bring Yu's entire family into the Zero Church, planning to gain the favour of Yoko by masquerading as Sasori.Eventually succeeding, Yu's family joins the church and abandons him. The film then follows Yu as he wanders around aimlessly. In a chance meeting of finding Yoko, he abducts her but then both of them are eventually caught by the Zero Church. Upon capture, Yu promises to stay with the Zero Church and study it's teachings, though secretly he plans to tear it down from the inside. Succeeding, Yoko is now with a new foster family where her new younger sister explains she likes a boy, though she acts socially awkward around him (A spitting image of the relationship of Yu & Yoko). Yoko finally realises she loves Yu, but finds out that he is in a mental hospital and has fully taken on the personality of his alter-ego. Yoko however, manages to bring him out of his mind state, and both presumably escape the compound together as the credits abruptly roll.Described as "quirky", to which I can agree to. This film features every taboo relationships can offer. The film has elements of child abuse, love, degradation, misogynistic, perverse, genital mutilation and to top it all off it was based on TRUE EVENTS! I've had friends and peers whose love life's can be described as "turbulent", but whoever's love life or general lifestyle is this utterly messed up that they would allow this all to happen is way beyond me.I don't hate the movie, but I would never condone it as an epic just because it runs at a staggering 237 minutes. What I can and will say is that it's beautifully shot, and every character is so strange it really crosses the border of what I would define as "quirky". I find that the script is lacking in some places that really hinder pacing, yet I've managed to sit through the whole movie twice, and it left enough of an impression to have some scenes remain particularly memorable.Final Verdict: This film is a wonder. Beyond the utterly laughable dialogue, TRUE storyline and downright cruel theme where in the end love (Or whatever the hell you can call this) conquers all. It's exactly what you'd expect from Sion Sono, and a film that only Japan can offer. 7/10. One to look for on DVD.

Tim Kidner This was part of Film 4's recent 'Extreme Season' and it's easy to see why. Film critic and introducer to the film, Mark Kermode unravelled a whole heap of adjectives in trying to describe its virtues - and I think he only scraped the surface.Yes, we know by now that it's 4 hours long but with the requisite ad breaks, that bumps it up to five. Thus, the very thought of committing the time and effort to this huge chunk of one's valuable life is far worse than actually watching it. Due to other commitments, I had to undertake watching the recording in 3 manageable pieces, turning each into 'normal' film lengths.Lurching between high melodrama and lamenting ballad, Love Exposure IS a love story. But the most crazy, beautiful and fantastical one you've ever seen. Typically Japanese in going to extremes, at times modern fairytale and then extreme graphic violence almost at the turn of a hat.Somehow, strangely all the characters are endearing, especially the two central ones, Yu and Yoko. Yoko must have the sweetest smile I've ever seen, at times enticing, at others crying painfully. If you think though that this is just about emotional roller-coasting, there are some of the most striking story lines and stunts and ideas that have come from a fertile, imaginative and superb director, that mix martial arts with technology, religion with sex, perversion with love and much more.The choice of music, from Ravel's 'Bolero' to other brilliant rock pieces, that were repeated in loops really added to the structure and my enjoyment and I'm sure they hypnotised us into feeling the film shorter than it actually was. This was one of the best features of the project.Unlike the film, I'm going to keep my review shortish. Let's just say that the hype is real, the movie is unforgettable and whilst not quite a Citizen Kane, most film lovers with an open mind and an open heart will find much to enjoy.