Japanese Movie Reviews »
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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Tajomaru: Avenging Blade (2009) Movie Review
Samurai action films have been enjoying a definite resurgence in Japanese cinema of late, with countless directors and hip young stars trying their hand at breathing new life into the time honoured form. “Tajomaru:...
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252: Signal of Life (2008) Movie Review
“252: Sign of Life” is a Japanese disaster movie blockbuster very much in the classical Hollywood mould, with CGI tidal waves and tornadoes causing mass destruction in Tokyo as cast members try to resolve...
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The Shock Labyrinth (2009) Movie Review
Takashi Shimizu, an icon of modern Japanese horror cinema thanks to his hugely successful “Ju-on” series and its Hollywood “The Grudge” remakes, returns with “Shock Labyrinth”, the country’s first full length live action digital...
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Death Tube (aka X Game, 2010) Movie Review
“Death Tube” is the latest outing from Yôhei Fukuda, a Japanese B-movie director previously responsible for average genre fare such as “Chanbara Beauty” and “Tokyo Gore School”. Released domestically as “X Game”, the film...
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Bare Essence of Life (aka Ultra-Miracle Love Story, 2009) Movie Review
“Bare Essence of Life” (a.k.a. “Ultra Miracle Love Story”) is a unique slice of Japanese weirdness, helmed by female writer director Yokohama Satoko, who was previously responsible for the oddly titled comedy “German +...
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Nightmare Detective 2 (2008) Movie Review
Perhaps one of the most interesting motion pictures centered around the concept of nightmares is Shinya Tsukamoto’s aptly-titled 2006 shocker “Nightmare Detective” (aka “Akumu Tantei”). The movie follows the eerie adventures of tormented anti-hero...
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Tetsuo: The Bullet Man (2009) Movie Review
Japanese filmmaker Shinya Tsukamoto’s delirious 2009 sci-fi actioner “Tetsuo: The Bullet Man” is, if nothing else, one hell of a ride. The film is a dizzying, disorienting, and frequently maddening experience, and it’s certainly...
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Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge (2007) Movie Review
Expectations are a funny thing. Depending on which way you’re swaying, they can either completely ruin the movie you’re about to watch or turn it into one of the greatest cinematic experiences you’ve ever...
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Encapsulated Cinema: Assault Girls and Yoga
Well Go USA Entertainment, the distribution company behind “Ip Man”, the upcoming “Ip Man 2,” and “Legend of The Fist,” all starring Donnie Yen, has been hit and miss when it comes to their...
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Confessions (2010) Movie Review
Japanese writer director Tetsuya Nakashima follows up his critically acclaimed cult hits “Kamikaze Girls” and “Memories of Matsuko” with something considerably darker in the form of “Confessions”. Based upon Kanae Minato’s award winning debut...
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Big Tits Zombie 3D (aka Big Tits Dragon, 2010) Movie Review
With one of the greatest titles in recent memory, a Japanese AV idol packed cast and an entirely superfluous 3D gimmick, it’s little surprise that “Big Tits Zombie 3D” has become an international cult...
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Higanjima: Escape from Vampire Island (2009) Movie Review
A frenetic slice of vampire action arrives from the East in the form of “Higanjima – Escape from Vampire Island”, from Korean director Kim Tae Gyun (“Volcano High”), marking his Japanese language debut. Based...
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Assault Girls (2009) Movie Review
It takes a lot for me to hate a movie these days. Bad acting, poor direction, weak scripts, low-rent computer-generated special effects — I am seemingly impervious to it all, which often allows me...
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House (Hausu) (1977) Movie Review
The reissue of “House” (“Hausu”) hurt my brain a little bit. The best description I can come up with for Nobuhiko Obayashi’s 1977 psychedelic mind-fuck, is this, imagine if Sid and Marty Krofft made...
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Kamui: The Lone Ninja (2009) Movie Review
“Kamui: the Lone Ninja” is a live action adaptation of the legendary Japanese manga created back in 1964 by Sanpei Shirato, directed by Yoichi Sai, previously responsible for the harrowing Takeshi Kitano drama “Blood...
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Tokyo Gore School (2009) Movie Review
The imaginatively titled “Tokyo Gore School” is the latest outing for director Yohei Fukuda, who previously helmed the somewhat popular “Chanbara Beauty”, and worked as cinematographer on Kôji Shiraishi’s controversial shocker “Grotesque”. Touted as...
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Goemon (2009) Movie Review
Five years after making his eyeball-searing debut with “Casshern”, former Japanese fashion photographer and music video director Kiriya Kazuaki returns with more visual splendour and epic action in the form of “Goemon”. Produced by...
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Chanbara Striptease (2010) Movie Review
From the creators of, but not to be confused with “Chanbara Beauty” or its sequel “Vortex” comes “Chanbara Striptease”. Directed by Akira Hirose, the film delivers pretty much exactly as expected, being a low...
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Slaughter Island (2008) Movie Review
At first glance, “Slaughter Island” looks like it is going to be nonstop gore covered T&A from start to finish. Now don’t get me wrong, you will see your fill of Japanese girls in...
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