Best movie of this year hands down!

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Simply the best film about food I've ever seen; peppered with homages and nods to great westerns, this lovely comedy is just a pure joy to watch. Just don't watch it on an empty stomach - you'll be craving noodles within minutes. A timeless Asian classic. 8 stars out of 10.In case you're interested in more underrated masterpieces, here's some of my favorites:imdb.com/list/ls070242495

When so many films both in Asia and the West are either cynically grim or tediously self-indulgent, it is a delight to experience the masterful work of a director who views humanity with warmth and sympathy but without illusion, who can be amusing without being silly, profound without being pompous, and serious without being depressing.Tampopo is completely unique and defies definition in terms of genre and subject matter. It is moving, amusing and sad. Beyond its emotional content it has a philosophical depth which is not conceptually elaborated but which permeates it like the subtle flavour of a perfect noodle stock.The main characters are all fairly thoroughly rounded and battered by the abrasions of life. Without hiding their sadness, we see their joy in appreciating small achievements and subtle pleasures. There is a simple storyline but it's not the main point of the film. The real content is in the development of the characters and their interactions, and the subtly exaggerated comedy of the world view expressed in the film. There are numerous side-plots which range from extreme violence to hilarious eccentricity - a gangster is horribly murdered in front of his girlfriend; an elderly woman infuriates a shopkeeper by sneaking around the shop squeezing items of food.Tampopo is an absolute joy and offers a refreshingly original viewpoint on the possibilities of film making. And it will make you hungry.

I recall thinking this movie was awesome when I first saw it. So I'm disappointed to say I only liked it this time. The movie follows a spaghetti-Westernish story of a woman learning to become a master noodle chef in a world where it seems people think about little else but noodles, interwoven with various quirky episodes portraying food obsession. I recall this movie being very funny, but this time I find it more odd than funny. It is a fascinating way to look at the world and some of it is very clever. On the other hand, some episodes seem dumb or pointless to me and the director is a little too willing to commit to a long shot of something not especially interesting, like people eating noodles in real time.While I didn't like it as much this time around, it is a fascinating portrayal of Japanese cultural via food. It's also a movie that made me very curious to try that sort of noodle dish. I only have once. Oddly enough it was at some food place at an airport in the Midwest, but I quite enjoyed it.

1st watched 11/15/2009 - 7 out of 10 (Dir-Juzo Itami): Funny, perverted yet touching movie about a group of food critics that help a woman become a master noodle cook and start a restaurant. The story doesn't always follow this basic storyline which is kind of interesting but confusing as well at times. The movie is really about food and the way that the Japanese culture views it. They throw in mini-stories that revolve around food obsessions including a couple that begin the movie talking to us(the audience) and are shown at various times using food in their sexual encounters and their other normal activities of life and death. The main storyline starts with a couple of truck-driving noodle soup enthusiasts visiting a restaurant then helping the woman named Tampopo and becoming her coach. There is a sweetness in the relationships between her and her teachers, especially the main character that likes to wear a cowboy hat(which they use to spoof westerns a couple of times). The extra stories that the filmmakers throw in are a little more vulgar which makes for an interesting contrast of styles. The movie is funny and fun to watch for the most part and gives you a good idea of how the Japanese like their Ramen!! Some of the mini stories don't make a lot of sense except they revolve around food --- so overall this feel good movie is very enjoyable despite it's imperfections.