Japanese Movie Reviews »
Norwegian Wood (2010) Movie Review
As all supposedly unfilmable novels inevitably seem to, a cinematic Murakami Haruki’s “Norwegian Wood” finally arrived in 2010, some 23 years after its original publication. Given the book’s incredible popularity, it’s perhaps somewhat of...
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Umizaru 3: The Last Message (2010) Movie Review
Although not particularly well known internationally, the rescue diver themed “Umizaru” franchise has been hugely popular back in Japan, from its beginnings as a comic, through to a first big screen outing in 2004,...
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Caterpillar (2010) Movie Review
Wakamatsu Koji is a fascinating figure, not only one of the most famous and lauded directors in the uniquely Japanese pinku genre (a sort of soft, though often highly inventive pornography which has no...
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Film Shots: Akira, Eden of the East, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood 4
Akira (1988) With the much dreaded Hollywood adaptation of “Akira” having apparently been resigned yet again to development hell, now seems a perfect time to revisit the original 1988 anime, shortly being re-released by...
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Encapsulated Cinema Goes To SIFF: Nobody, 3, and Outrage
So the Seattle International Film Festival kicked into high gear this past weekend, and will be screening more than 400 movies over the next month or so. While Eric Cartman’s “gay cowboys eating pudding”...
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Yakuza Weapon (2011) Movie Review
Tak Sakaguchi, still probably best known for his iconic performance in Ryûhei Kitamura’s classic “Versus”, returns with “Yakuza Weapon”, an all-out slice of Japanese style hyperactive, ultra-violent madness. Co-directed by Sakaguchi and Yudai Yamaguchi,...
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Time Traveller: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2010) Movie Review
Japanese author Tsutsui Yasutaka’s eternally popular 1967 sci-fi romance novel ‘Toki wo Kakeru Shojo’ receives another screen outing with “Time Traveller, the Girl who leapt through Time”. This latest version was produced with full...
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Gantz (2011) Movie Review
One of the biggest and most eagerly awaited Japanese blockbusters for some time arrives in the form of the explosive science fiction thriller “Gantz”, adapted from Oku Hiroya’s ongoing manga. Having already made it...
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Karate Girl (2011) Movie Review
Real life Ryukyu Shorin-ryu Karate champion turned action movie actress Rina Takeda follows up her debut “High Kick Girl!” with “Karate Girl” (or “K.G.”), offering fans more of the same as she kicks, punches...
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Helldriver (2010) Movie Review
Japanese production house Sushi Typhoon returns with more blood soaked insanity in “Helldriver”, directed by “Tokyo Gore Police” and “Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl” helmer Yoshihiro Nishimura. Given Nishimura’s past works and his background...
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Pandemic (2009) Movie Review
“Pandemic” sees Japanese cinema again taking on the time honoured disaster movie formula, this time with the tale of a deadly virus threatening the country as various stars try to save themselves and their...
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Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Night (2010) Movie Review
Here’s something you don’t see too often: a Japanese adaptation of an American horror franchise. Usually it’s the other way around, and most of these wonky creations aren’t worth the time it takes to...
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Yamagata Scream (2009) Movie Review
Insane Japanese horror comedy “Yamagata Scream” sees popular actor Takenaka Naoto taking up the directorial reins once again, for a very different proposition to his romantic drama “Sayonara Blue”. The film might politely be...
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Liar Game: The Final Stage (2010) Movie Review
Having proved incredibly popular on the small screen during its two series run, manga adaptation “Liar Game” makes its feature length debut with “Liar Game: The Final Stage”. Based on the comic by Kaitani...
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The Incite Mill: 7 Day Death Game (2010) Movie Review
“Ringu” director Nakata Hideo returns with “The Incite Mill”, a gripping psychological thriller that sees him continuing to explore themes of paranoia and the darker side of human nature. Pitting ten strangers against each...
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13 Assassins (2010) Movie Review
Prolific cult Japanese auteur Miike Takashi returns with perhaps his most ambitious work yet in “13 Assassins”, a remake of the 1963 Kodo Eiichi classic “Jusan-nin No Shikaku”. Marking his first proper foray into...
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Outrage (2010) Movie Review
In a move that will no doubt please fans of “Violent Cop”, “Sonatine” and his other early works, acclaimed Japanese film maker Kitano Takeshi returns to the Yakuza genre with “Outrage” after a series...
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Summer Wars (2009) Movie Review
Anime. It’s the one medium that I know that can flawlessly integrate genres to create some of the most original and entertaining films and shows I’ve ever seen. “Cowboy Bebop” and “Trigun” can be...
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Cold Fish (2010) Movie Review
Former poet Sono Sion, easily one of the most consistently interesting and original directors working in the world today, returns with the offbeat serial killer tale “Cold Fish”. Having taken a stab at understated...
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Alien vs. Ninja (2010) Movie Review
Writer director Seiji Chiba gives fans of Asian exploitation cinema what they want with “Aliens vs. Ninja”, a film which pretty much delivers exactly as its title suggests, pitting monstrous extraterrestrials against ninjas back...
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