Japanese Movie Reviews »
Godzilla vs Biollante (1989) Movie Review
It makes sense that Godzilla’s foe in “Godzilla vs. Biollante” would be the product of genetic engineering, since that science was beginning to dawn when the film was made. It doesn’t, at first, make...
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Red Shadow (2001) Movie Review
Hiroyuki Nakano’s “Red Shadow” is a rather oddball picture. It’s not exactly a samurai film, not really a ninja film, and sure as heck doesn’t try to be an authentic martial arts picture. So...
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Zatoichi (2003) Movie Review
At last, the review of Kitano Takeshi’s “Zatoichi” remake is now online. I’ve had the DVD in my possession for the last, oh, three months or so, but for one reason or another —...
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Godzilla vs Megaguirus (2000) Movie Review
When “Godzilla 2000 Millennium” failed to set the box office on fire, Toho Ltd. fired the creative team and slashed the budget for the following film. The result should have been a disaster, a...
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Suicide Club (2002) Movie Review
One of the most recent entries in the renaissance of Japanese horror cinema is an impressive but gory meditation on the power of pop culture on the public psyche. A pitch-black satire as well...
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2LDK (2003) Movie Review
Like “Aragami”, the other half of the 2-movie “Duel” series (read the review of “Aragami” for an explanation), Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s “2LDK” feels stunted, which isn’t much of a surprise since the two movies (if...
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Blue Spring (2001) Movie Review
For anyone with delusions that Japanese high schools are orderly and filled with overly studious teens, “Blue Spring” is sure to shatter that idea. “Blue Spring” is a study of teenage nihilism, and while...
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Onmyoji 2 (aka Yin Yang Master 2, 2004) Movie Review
Besides bringing back androgynous wizard Seimei (Mansai Nomura) to fight another supernatural threat to the Emperor’s court, “Onmyoji 2″ is a good example of a sequel that has absolutely no interest in doing anything...
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Godzilla, Uncut Version (1954) Movie Review
Before this year, few American viewers had ever seen the original, undiluted version of “Godzilla”. Thankfully, Rialto Pictures has taken it upon themselves to change that with their release of the Japanese cut of...
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Sky High (2003) Movie Review
Don’t you just hate it when you’re about to get married and a serial killer and his evil assistant crashes the party and literally rips out your heart? That’s what happens to our heroine...
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Sabu (2002) Movie Review
Apparently Takashi Miike is capable of more than just throwing gobs and gobs of blood, bodyparts, S&M, and the senseless brutalizing of women at the screen. Go figure. “Sabu” is absolutely nothing one would...
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Full Metal Yakuza (1997) Movie Review
Takashi Miike is a name I go out of my way to avoid. He joins Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence, Kate Hudson, and Drew Barrymore as people whose movies I do not care for. After...
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Mezzo Forte (2001) Movie Review
Except for two explicit sex scenes that have no real relevance with the narrative, Yasuomi Umetsu’s “Mezzo Forte” might just be the best action-comedy anime I’ve seen in a while. It’s certainly better than...
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Ju-on: The Grudge 2 (2003) Movie Review
The Japanese “Juon” series seems to function under the motto: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. From what I’ve read of the franchise (there are four so far), there seems to be no...
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Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (1999) Movie Review
While the second part of the Gamera trilogy was a rather disappointing effort, the series bounces back with a spectacular finale. In the three years that passed between movies, the filmmakers have corrected the...
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Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (1996) Movie Review
When “Gamera: Guardian of the Universe”, Gamera’s 1995 comeback, proved to be a critical and commercial hit, the Daiei Company wasted no time in bringing back director Shusuke Kaneko and writer Kazunori Ito for...
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Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995) Movie Review
Before “Gamera: Guardian of the Universe”, Gamera was a pathetic Godzilla knockoff, starring in several films during the 60′s and 70′s. His movies were cheaply made and primarily aimed at young children with very...
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Ley Lines (1999) Movie Review
(Movie Review by Bill Paterson) Sad to say, I enjoyed this film the least of the three in the set. I probably shouldn’t take points off just because “Ley Lines” is a little less...
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Yomigaeri: Resurrection (2003) Movie Review
“Yomigaeri” isn’t a movie that tries to scare you; in fact, it does everything it can not to scare you. Despite its premise — dead people are mysteriously resurrected and returns to their loved...
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Godzilla vs Destroyer (1995) Movie Review
Toho Pictures decided that the 22nd Godzilla film would be the great monster’s swan song, although his retirement eventually proved to be a short one. Clever enough to tie the film to events from...
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