Hula Girl (product link) Comedy / Drama I really liked this movie. While authentic hula in Hawaii can be awesome in sight and sounds, the version shown here is at the superficial level for tourists. Here, it is the device to awaken a group of girls strenght to try something new to save their town. The Iwate townfolks have an odd dialect that may be a mixture of Korean and Japanese and the actors do it very well.
Shonen Jidai (product link) Drama / War A superbly well-directed movie about a young boy and his fellow schoolmates. There is no magic or high action drama here, just a tale of how a child has to cope with gaining friends and then betrayal of a buddy. The wartime period and the rural setting helps to create a wonderful story.
Man, Woman And The Wall (product link) Erotica / Thriller This is the second mainstream movie with Sora Aoi I've seen. The story is somewhat mediocre in dramatics, but we get to see Sora's acting ability very well here. I think she rates up there with Reiko Ike and Yuki Kazamatsuri, who are my favorite sexy vixens of the past.
Love Complex (product link) Comedy / Romance This is a delightful movie full of colorful art deco images and slapstick humor. The story is an unrealistic fantasy but the young actors do come across as loveable characters.
Japan's Longest Day (product link) Drama / Historical If this movie is a true reenactment of the events on that day preceeding the emperor's war-ending speech, I would have to recommend that everybody with an interest in the Pacific War see it. I was reluctant at first, thinking that it would be full of baloney, but it is a well made movie.
Always: Sunset On Third Street (product link) Drama This movie seems to have lumped a lot of nostalgia of Japanese family movies from the pre-70's era into one. I liked it, despite some naysayers who thought otherwise elsewhere.
Ichi (product link) Martial Arts / Drama Any story of a blind person wielding swords would be just a fantasy. So it is up to the actor to play the part in such a way as to make us believe. The female Ichi here succeeded in doing that.
Blood: The Last Vampire [2009] (product link) Horror / Action/Adventure First of all, I'm glad this story took place in the early 1970's--no cell phone calls to disrupt the terrific action. Vampires here don't fizzle away after being killed, there are a bunch of "Council" guys who got to clean up the mess and bodies that Saya leaves behind. Just don't watch the "making of" feature on the US DVD, it spoils the movie.
10 Promises To My Dog (product link) Drama A nice story that may be embellished with overacting and sad situations, but I welcomed it. Some of the true dog stories coming out of Japan can be drabby because the film crew just don't know how to get the dogs to act or the characters just aren't interesting. The animated young lady here helps to make this one of the best dog movies.
The Empress Of Night (product link) TV Shows/Movies / Drama I suppose that Japan's upscale nightclubs must be very much like the ones shown in this series. Throw in a young woman who wants to reach for the top in this world and we have a good drama. Yakuza bosses are liked as customers as are the patron politicians and the girls become mixed into the murky soup.
Tennen Kokekko (product link) Drama / Romance This movie has that "a slice of life" approach to a young girl's normal existence in a remote village. There are no really dramatic crises involved, but the cinematography is nicely done so as to engulf you in the story.
Inugami (product link) Ghost / Drama This is more a psycho drama than a supernatural curse-in-the-family story from earlier versions with the same title. The mountain setting becomes the attraction just as much as the quirky villagers. It is Miki's character that we start to empathize with as she starts looking younger to socialize with a visiting school teacher. The relationship results in a lot of strange incidental happenings to the village.
Ditto (product link) Drama The concept of talking to another person in another time through an unplugged radio may be preposterous but it works out okay here.The mysterious radio links a lonely girl with her soul mate and we become captivated by their long distance relationship. It's like we want to see ourselves in their situation and what we wish it to become.
Shoujyo: An Adolescent (product link) Drama A good movie with a great cast of characters. There is an unscrupulous policeman who becomes involved with an underaged girl with a secret agenda. Taboos are broken and secrets revealed, they continue their sexual realtionship. Matching tattoos on their backs bind their love for each other.
The Bow (product link) Drama / Romance Intriguing story that's also beautifully filmed. It's not until the end that we see that there are mystical powers involved here. The silence of the girl and the old man really does enhance their relationship which goes from father and daughter to man and wife. People may interpret this story in many ways and to their own liking.
Carved (product link) Horror / Thriller This is the version of the "Slit Mouth Woman" that is like a Hans Christian Anderson tale. Lots of children in it. And they get killed by the evil woman who carries a very big scissors.
Attack No. 1 (product link) TV Shows/Movies / Drama This is a very good series. It starts out with squirmy silly high school girls preparing for the interschool vollyball games and turns into a gut serious interpersonal drama. Kozue, played by Aya Ueto, is accepted into a national team along with many others, but the coach throws out the excess players for little reasons. Girls are dragged of the court by their hair and tossed out the door. Those left are under a lot of pressure to win and they sure sweat.
Hotelier [2007] (product link) TV Shows/Movies / Romance A good reason to see this series is Aya Ueto playing a very believable character in the hustle and bustle world of a hotelier. The rules of the hotel staff in Japan are so much different than in the US because of keeping a good reputation for all.
The Inner Palace: Episode One (product link) TV Shows/Movies / Drama A fantastic costume drama with good acting and a great cast. The feudal wars are over and the country enjoys a peaceful period but in the inner parts of the shogun's castle, two women, one the nanny and the other the shogun's wife have a battle of wits in raising the successor ruler.
Teppan Girl Akane (product link) TV Shows/Movies / Drama This is a fun TV series to watch. It doesn't bombard you with excessive food, while each episode does focus on a certain dish. Maki Horikita presents a wonderful young talent in playing the lead. The sets are beautifully photographed as is to be expected of a current production.
Erotic Diary Of An Office Lady (product link) Erotica / Drama This erotic piece does have a decent story even if it is a narrow one. The photography is well done which helps a lot in liking this movie.
Battle Of Okinawa (product link) Historical / War I saw this movie at the theater in the early 70's and really like it. I am glad that it is now available for viewing again. As a historical piece with the Japanese command on Okinawa seen through Col. Yahara's eyes, we get to understand the battle for the island from the japanese side.Yahara was one of two senior officers to have survived the battle.
Yo Yo Girl Cop (product link) Action/Adventure / Crime Not a comedy. Better than the earlier "Sukeban Deka" live action movie. Riki Takeuchi plays a cop here instead of his usual yakuza character, and I thought he did a good job. The new Sukeban girl is hinted to be the daughter of the original one. The whole plot occurs in a three-day period, so she doesn't have much time to get good at the yo-yo. Some may not like the editing, but I thought it was good.
Red Angel (product link) Drama / War Being a war movie buff, I liked this movie. It honestly portrays what a field hospital becomes after a major battle--too many casualties with too few doctors. The directing and dialog are flawless as well as all the details in props and uniforms.
A Chinese Torture Chamber Story (product link) Horror / Erotica Buy this one! Great story and good acting. The Chinese certainly did have some kinky and decadent methods of torture. Man, that wooden horse thing must hurt a lot.
Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (product link) Drama / Historical Here is a movie that gives a cheerful life of a young girl who signs herself up to be re-educated for Mao's great China. It's a grand life up in the mountains of Tibet and being the sole student of a horse herder whom she can never be intimate with. But her loneliness is abated by the many visitors who offers false promises for the favor of her youthful sex. Well, a couple of times she did it for an apple. Anyway, happiness gives way to tragedy in the end.
Hey, just kidding. This is a great movie. Buy it before it becomes unavailable.
Paradise [2008] (product link) Drama / Erotica This movie seems to take on the reality/survival shows that we see so much of these days on TV. A man and a woman of opposing personalities become stranded on a little island, and it results in a battle for basic needs between the two. They don't come to love each other at all. He resorts to rape and she hits back with verbal assaults on his manhood. Paradise? No.
Chanbara Beauty: The Movie (product link) Horror / Action/Adventure I suppose you have to be primed by the manga stories to figure why some things happen in this movie. There are scenes that remind you of "Kill Bill" (schoolgirl ball and chain), and Andy Lau's "The Duel" (god-like sword battle between Aya and Saki). Then there are zombies of "28 Days" variety. Actually a fun movie to watch.
Black Belt (product link) Martial Arts / Drama I am biased in liking this movie because I used to be in Goju ryu and before Mr. Yagi was born. But regardless of what style karate you are in, this movie is a fine tribute to the practitioners of the period.
Harakiri [1990] (product link) Horror / Erotica This set contains several episodes of female harakiri scenes and all are done in real time, which explains why each episode lasts so long, over 40 minutes. Some are done by the same actress who puts on a very credible show. This actress explains why this series was made in the extra features and maybe it helps to view the interview first to prepare you for what you are about to see. To some this may be a geek show, to others an insight to the commitment of a cultural act deemed to be glorious for the defeated. Just to warn you, the acts are done in a very bloody manner, some with guts spilling out or being pulled out.
The Unforunate Life Of Matsuko (product link) TV Shows/Movies / Mystery I found this series to be fairly well made. The lead character, Kawajiri Matsuko, is presented as a indomitably cheerful woman despite all the bad things that happen to her. It will leave you guessing who killed her all the way to the final minutes of the last episode. After viewing the entire series, you'll be glad to have friends who can be of help when neeeded.
Wakeful Nights (product link) Comedy / Drama Three characters are remembered by friends and family members at their funeral wakes. There are some very funny incidents told in flashbacks involving toilet jokes and sex. The real comedy is how everyone deals with the raunch in a straight-faced manner.
Raw Summer (product link) Dark Comedy / Thriller This movie was a 2006 Yubari Film Festival winner? Let's think about this one. There's an ugly guy infatuated with a lovely high school girl that he sees on the train every day. His perverted actions are probably true for an otaku and we also see the consequences done to the girl who is played by Sora Aoi. If you haven't heard of Sora's previous adult idol films, watch the "making of" feature on [the US DVD by Pathfinder], she's got a lot of potential as an actress. Oh, and this movie is actually a PG one so don't expect to see any skin here.
Flower And Snake 5 (product link) Horror / Thriller Compared to the previous four movies in this series, this has got to be the kinkiest in the pleasure-torture scenes. The yakuza boss in this one is no stranger to sex devices and how to use them on the women. Notable is the scene where Shizuko and her daughter are strung up with large bells hanging out of them and it's whip and jingle time. When they escape, they have a special treat for the husband.
Female Demon Ohyaku (product link) Crime / Erotica It always impresses me to see a film made in the 60's or earlier to have such good production values. "Ohyaku" is played out sensually--that was ahead of it's time, well at least before the emergence of the 'pink' cinema with its cheaper skin shows.
I Am An S&M Writer (product link) Drama / Comedy I read elsewhere that this was a biography of Dan Oniroku, whose novels were turned into the "Flower And Snake" movies. If that is so, we do get to understand a little bit about him here. His wife Shizuko becomes fed up with his dirty novels and decides to sleep in separate rooms. Their relationship starts to get increasingly worse and she starts to take interest in a caucasian guy. What's the husband to do but keep writing with his imaginations about her affairs as his inspiration for more dirty novels?
Unfair [3-Disc Set] (product link) TV Shows/Movies / Mystery Detective Yukihra is a female 'Dirty Harry' when it comes to a hostage situation and must live with that reputation, even if it gives her a bad name. She becomes involved in a serial killer's game which sends police on wrong leads and wrong suspects. It is a very difficult case. The killer has a special liking to have Yukihara solve it. Although she is shown to be an amorous person who sleeps naked and has fellow cops waking up in her bed without any memories of what happened, this is only a PG show.
Life [2007] (product link) TV Shows/Movies / Drama An interesting look into a high school girl's interactive life with her classmates. Seemingly nice girls are shown to be horrible bullies who impose themselves on others. Trivial remarks lead to major altercations on and off campus. The vulnerable girls become marked for tragedy unless they become as bad as their antagonists. Yep, what a life it is.
The Secret Garden (product link) Comedy / Crime It took a second viewing to catch the humor in this initially goofy story. The director Yaguchi is known for subtle and subliminal humor in daily life and the ability to project it on film. He uses actors with quirky dispositions to play characters to convey that different kind of normal.
The Machine Girl (product link) Action/Adventure / Girls With Guns Here is a full force vengeance movie directed at high school punks and bullies and even their parents. You'll be rooting for the heroine as she becomes a relentless killing machine against her brother's killers. There's manga-type blood and gore and plenty of it.
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