In The Realm of the Senses (1976), Nagisa Oshima, C+
No one will ever really know what the author’s intent was here. ‘Cause if it was just to make pornography, then he failed. And if it was to create a visceral communion of desire, ecstasy and need. . .well, he also failed. But he came close on the second one. There are some really mesmerizing sequences that hold you in a daze of mood. Then there’s some nonsense stuff in there. I hate to say it, but a lot of the raw, unsimulated sex just kinda shocks you into distance. If a haze of passionate delirium is the goal, there are more effective means to do it. Not a total piece of crap (some of the ceremonial stuff, if accurate, is wild) but not worth your time, either. For banned European art/porn films, stick with I Am Curious (Yellow) or Last Tango In Paris.