Comments on: A movie about Ping Pong, can’t be good, surely?

By: In support of sports drama and Hajime no Ippo | Bateszi Anime Blog

In support of sports drama and Hajime no Ippo | Bateszi Anime Blog — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:53:37 +0000

[...] emotion and glory. The sports element may as well be random; just pick any one from wrestling, table-tennis, baseball or boxing, it’s not as though I know anything about these sports in the first [...]

By: bateszi

bateszi — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:47:27 +0000

@Os: Thanks for the kind words. You live in the US right? It’s being release on DVD in September – check it out: http://www.dvdpacific.com/item.asp?ID=807521 . And I ended up importing the soundtrack from Japan. I agree with you in regards to how it gets you pumped up, watching it fills me with such enthusiasm for anything! Also, do you know any other good Yosuke Kubozuka films, or in general, other good Japanese live action movies? I’m seen most of the infamous ones like Battle Royale, Azumi, Ichi the Killer and Audition but none are even in the same league as Ping Pong.

@Owen: The Ping Pong action isn’t unrealistic, though it’s obviously sped up or slow down for certain scenes. You should check it out anyway, if you like the sport I’m sure you’ll be fascinated by the insight it provides into the mindset of the players battling against each other.

By: Owen S

Owen S — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 16:01:19 +0000

Seeing how I do play ping-pong this sounds very interesting indeed. Will check it out if I ever get the chance. Would you call the gameplay realistic?

By: Os

Os — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 04:23:49 +0000

As stated above, this was very well written. I discovered this movie years ago but I have yet to come across a legit copy to buy which I would definately do in a heartbeat. It is my favorite movie of all time and it even got me started on a Yosuke Kubozuka craze. I always watch the movie before a big test to get pumped up and I listen to Supercar also. Just really gets you in the mood. I’d recommend this to anyone.

By: University Update - YouTube - A movie about Ping Pong, canâ€™t be good, surely?

University Update - YouTube - A movie about Ping Pong, canâ€™t be good, surely? — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:46:23 +0000

[...] Contact the Webmaster Link to Article youtube A movie about Ping Pong, can’t be good, surely? » Posted at Bateszi Anime [...]

By: Outlawstar

Outlawstar — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:45:38 +0000

Great review.
Shows how easy it is for people to miss out on an amazing movie,cause they; dont like the subject matter.
I actually really want to see this now.
Sounds like my kind of thing.

By: bateszi

bateszi — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:45:06 +0000

I’m glad you bought it, Sy. It’s a thoroughly brilliant movie that I must have watched 4 or 5 times in the last year – and that’s a lot for me. It’s the characters, something about them rings so true with me.
Also, I think I did put you onto Supercar; they have to be my favourite Japanese rock band, such a shame they’ve broken up now – Futurama, particularly, is a great album – just listening to “New Young City” while typing this.

kauldron26 – You have to see this movie, I’m sure you’ll love it. We’ve talked before about emotional characters and catharsis, well, this is it, the ultimate. You live in the States right? I think Viz Media have just released it on DVD over there, so what the hell are you waiting for?

And Martin, glad I’m not the only one to think the Engrish is great in this movie. Smile’s coach constantly seems to alternate between Japanese and random lines of English. It adds another layer of humor to the movie – especially in that scene “I CAN FLY!” scene, the random salary man who turns up and agrees “YES! YOU CAN FLY!!”

By: Martin

Martin — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:39:17 +0000

I caught this on TV a while back (iirc it was on BBC3 at an unearthly hour of the night) and, despite my lack of interest in sport generally, I thought it was fantastic. The contrasting personalities of the two leads throw up all sorts of insightful pieces of philosophy regarding the spirit of fair play and what it really means to win.

My sense of competitiveness is non-existent so rarely appreciate sport in any form, but in truth Ping Pong isn’t just about table tennis – it’s about so many other aspects of life too. The scene where Peco stands on a bridge and screams “I CAN FLY!” in ear-shredding Engrish is utterly priceless!

By: kauldron26

kauldron26 — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:28:20 +0000

lol… so u gonna see “balls of fury” ?? its a new ping pong movie coming out. looks funny as hell… i hear about ping pong tho i never saw it. however im a beast at playing it.

By: Sy

Sy — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:19:43 +0000

I was going to watch this on TV but I missed it so I bought the DVD. Well worth the price tag and you can get it dirt cheap off of play.com. A bonus about this is ShidÅ Nakamura being in it which I found out he’s been in a few things I enjoyed a lot (The voice of Ryuk in Death Note and Jet Li’s final opponent in Fearless).

Also if I remember correctly you were the one that got me listening to Supercar by recommendation. Great band.