Articles in Japanese Movie Reviews
Hypnosis (aka The Hypnotist, 1999) Movie Review
Hypnotism has a long history of being used as a plot device in cinema. Recently it was featured in several Asian “I see ghosts”-type films as a cheap explanation for supernatural occurrences. However, there aren’t all that many films about hypnotism itself, and so “Hypnosis” has a premise that is vaguely fresh, even though it [...]
August 23rd, 2004 | James Mudge | 0 Comments | Read MoreA.li.ce (1999) Movie Review
While the title isn’t exactly original, the premise certainly is. “A.li.ce” is an all-CGI feature and it’s a fairly impressive looking movie that gets points for innovative thinking. While not in the same class as other, more advanced computer animated films, “A.li.ce” is still a worthy effort.
“A.li.ce” opens with a young man named Yuan [...]
Appleseed (2004) Movie Review
“Appleseed” is a mixture of CGI and traditional anime, and is based upon an early manga by Masamune Shirow, creator of the seminal “Ghost in the Shell” and its sequel, “Innocence”, amongst others. The comic had previously been adapted for the screen back in 1988 as an anime, and while it covered the complex material [...]
August 19th, 2004 | James Mudge | 0 Comments | Read MoreGonin 2 (1996) Movie Review
It’s difficult to say why writer/director Takashi Ishii (”Freeze Me”) decided to do a sequel to “Gonin”. While the original was a hit, moviegoers weren’t exactly rioting in the streets for a sequel, so the idea is probably as wise as letting Eminem grand marshal a Gay Pride parade. But one was made anyway, and [...]
August 17th, 2004 | Joseph Savitski | 0 Comments | Read MoreRainy Dog (1997) Movie Review
Upon viewing the two films following “Shinjuku Triad Society”, it became clear to me that this is not exactly a trilogy. Not anymore than, say, three wacky ’80s movies starring those Corey tools would be a trilogy.
Search out alternative opinions on the “Black Society Trilogy” and you’ll get lots of esoteric manure positing the [...]
Wings of Honneamise (1987) Movie Review
It’s a bit of cheat, but reviewers will use analogies to describe movies simply because it’s the quickest way to get the point across. Hence, “Volcano High” is “The Matrix” meets “Harry Potter”, and “The Matrix” itself is “Ghost In The Shell” meets Jet Li’s “Black Mask”. “Wings of Honneamise” is anime’s “Citizen Kane”. It [...]
August 16th, 2004 | Erick Kwon | 0 Comments | Read MorePatlabor: The Movie 3 (WXIII) (2002) Movie Review
Nearly a decade after “Patlabor: The Movie 2″ comes “W(asted)XIII,” the long-awaited third Patlabor feature. Like its predecessors, “WXIII” is a science-fiction/thriller set in a semi-futuristic world where human-piloted robots (or “labors”) are part of everyday industry. Previous movies, TV shows, and made-for-video episodes had centered on the adventures of the Special Vehicles Section 2, [...]
August 15th, 2004 | Erick Kwon | 0 Comments | Read MoreA Living Hell (2002) Movie Review
Although “A Living Hell” came out several years ago in Japan, the film has only recently been gathering word of mouth in the West as a “must see” cult item. Comparisons have been made with other Eastern films such as “Audition” and Western films like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”; in fact, the DVD helpfully carries [...]
August 12th, 2004 | James Mudge | 0 Comments | Read MoreGodzilla 1985 (1984) Movie Review
After a nine year hiatus Godzilla stages a stunning comeback that restores his title as King of the Monsters. The filmmakers of “Godzilla 1985″ wisely ignored the 15 films made since the original “Godzilla”, ditching the excess baggage the other films brought in favor of a direct sequel to the first film. The result is [...]
August 11th, 2004 | Joseph Savitski | 0 Comments | Read MoreEvil Dead Trap (1988) Movie Review
With the ever-increasing list of Asian films being remade by Hollywood, it’s easy to forget how the West has influenced Eastern cinema. For every Americanized “Ring” or “Dark Water”, there are films like “So Close”, “Bloody Beach”, and the countless Hong Kong variations on the “Sixth Sense”. “Evil Dead Trap” is a perfect example: an [...]
August 11th, 2004 | James Mudge | 0 Comments | Read More
It looks like a dud. I saw the trailer. Tom is the only person speaking with an American news network ...
nothing they payed fox.... 
OMG!!!! 
