Yojimbo (product link) Drama / Action/Adventure A long-acknowledged masterwork of samurai cinema by Kurosawa, I'm amazed that it took me this long to finally watch it. From the first frame, the artfulness of Kurosawa's framing is evident and a pleasure to watch. It wasn't long before I noticed that the plot bore a striking resemblence to another classic I had just only recently watched: Sergio Lenone's "A Fistful of Dollars". Not much more needs to be said about this classic--the acting, characters, cinematography, and music are all first rate--a must for the collection!
Gappa: The Triphibian Monsters (product link) Science Fiction / Horror Okay, these Gappa are some pretty goofy looking monsters, but from the relative perspective of the Japanese rubber suit monster flix, this film has it all! The plot pacing, character development, art direction, and special effects were all excellent! And, to top it off, a "feel good" ending!
I don't know how I've missed Gappa in all my years of viewing and collecting, but it's a valued addition to the collection. My only critique would be that the quality of the DVD transfer was a little blurry (on the Dutch version).
"Dangerous Seductress" shows an apparent attempt by the Indonesian filmmakers to appeal to an American audience by hiring a couple of gorgeous blonds to play the lead sister roles and trying to pawn Jakarta off as Los Angeles in some scenes. Most of the action does take place in Indonesia, where the plot revolves around two sisters--one is a model there and the other is escaping from an abusive relationship in L.A.. While the abused sister is recovering (and her sibling is off on a bikini photo shoot in Bali), she finds a book on the occult and conjures up an evil female entity who inhabits her body and begins a vengeance streak against several innocent men who succumb to her (considerable) charms. Both of the blonde actresses in this film are very hot, managing to transcend the 70's look of the piece, and the opening sequence where the evil female presence is re-born from a skeleton is worth the price of the flick alone!
Lady Terminator (product link) Horror / Erotica "Lady Terminator" is an obvious homage to the Cameron/Schwarzenegger franchise, but with some typically unusual Indonesian twists, blending the cultural mythos of that country with more western sci-fi and horror elements. For example, rather than the terminator coming from the future, this female version originates from the mythical South Seas Queen--an underwater deity with an insatiable sexual appetite and a deadly sea snake hidden in her vagina! Looking to exact vengeance, she takes (sort of) human female form and rises from the water to wreak havoc on the land dwellers with a machine gun that never seems to run out of ammo and an enthusiasm for slaughter that makes Arnie's cyber-killer pale in comparison. For example, after dispatching one hapless male victim with about 80 rounds, she kicks him in the crotch for good measure. A wild bullet-riddled ride all the way!
Great value 2-disc set of wild Indonesian cinema features:
"Lady Terminator" is an obvious homage to the Cameron/Schwarzenegger franchise, but with some typically unusual Indonesian twists, blending the cultural mythos of that country with more western sci-fi and horror elements. For example, rather than the terminator coming from the future, this female version originates from the mythical South Seas Queen--an underwater deity with an insatiable sexual appetite and a deadly sea snake hidden in her vagina! Looking to exact vengeance, she takes (sort of) human female form and rises from the water to wreak havoc on the land dwellers with a machine gun that never seems to run out of ammo and an enthusiasm for slaughter that makes Arnie's cyber-killer pale in comparison. For example, after dispatching one hapless male victim with about 80 rounds, she kicks him in the crotch for good measure. A wild bullet-riddled ride all the way!
"Dangerous Seductress" shows an apparent attempt by the Indonesian filmmakers to appeal to an American audience by hiring a couple of gorgeous blonds to play the lead sister roles and trying to pawn Jakarta off as Los Angeles in some scenes. Most of the action does take place in Indonesia, where the plot revolves around two sisters--one is a model there and the other is escaping from an abusive relationship in L.A.. While the abused sister is recovering (and her sibling is off on a bikini photo shoot in Bali), she finds a book on the occult and conjures up an evil female entity who inhabits her body and begins a vengeance streak against several innocent men who succumb to her (considerable) charms. Both of the blonde actresses in this film are very hot, managing to transcend the 70's look of the piece, and the opening sequence where the evil female presence is re-born from a skeleton is worth the price of the flick alone!
Both DVDs also feature excellent extra materials on the specific films and the Indonesian cult cinema in general. Highly recommended if you enjoy off-the-wall stuff.
Lady Snowblood: Blizzard From The Netherworld (product link) Swordplay/Sword(s) / Drama A classic! It's a good thing that Tarantino so freely admits his influence from these type of female vengeance flix on his "Kill Bill" duo, because after watching "Lady Snowblood" and "Sex & Fury", one might think there could almost be a case for plagiarism!
"Lady Snowblood" does not have the erotic elements of some of the Japanese female vendetta movies, but the lack of skin does not slow the pace and the photography and action are top rate. Highly recommended!
This movie has a very different tone than the original '90's "Tokyo Decadence" film. The lead female character in the original version seemed much more a pawn in the events that led her into the professional S&M sex scene, whereas the star of the new version professes a distinct personal preference for her masochistic tendencies.
Purportedly based on autobiographical elements, the plot follows the experiences of the lead actress from her introduction to bondage at the hands of one of her high school teachers through several relationships of both the S&M and straight variety as she comes to grips with the realities of her sexual persona, which, fortunately for us, turns out to be solidly based in kink. This personal slant gives the movie a rather refreshing tone as the (usual) aspect of female "abuse" is diffused by the genuine enjoyment the actress experiences in the S&M lifestyle--this is aided by her exceptional beauty and solid acting abilities.
Totally enjoyable and recommended, if you're into this sort of thing!
The Russ Meyer Collection [18-Movie Set] (product link) Erotica / Comedy This boxed set is an amazing collection of virtually all of Russ Meyer's indie softcore flix. Excellent quality DVDs (some with informative extras!) and a super value for the price--this set alone "paid" for my region free DVD player! If you are a fan of Russ Meyer and his penchant for large chested women, this is a must-have!
Mystics In Bali (product link) Horror / Thriller I thoroughly enjoyed this film for a few reasons. Firstly, as someone who has visited Bali, I appreciated its location shots and the use of the rich mythology of the Balinese people as a source for some of its plot elements. Despite its low budget and rather cheesey production values, this movie also had some suprisingly creepy sequences which achieved their effect through subtle lighting effects and camerawork. On the other end of the scale, some really over the top sequences involving a flying head with internal organs attached and a couple of human to animal transformations just have to be seen to be fully appreciated. A geat example of Indonesian fantasy cinema.
Assault! Jack The Ripper (product link) Horror / Erotica I really enjoyed this film for its kitschy aspects of a pastry chef turned homicidal by a kinky girlfriend. The use of the cake decorating spatula as the "instrument of death" was too bizarre! Ultimately pretty nilhistic and disturbing in its casual "violence aaginst women" aspects. Excellent background info in the Mondo Macabro DVD's special features!
The Devil's Sword (product link) Fantasy / Science Fiction Indonesian fantasy cinema is so over the top with strange allusions to the myths and beliefs from that part of the world, it makes for some very enjoyable watching because it is so unusual.
Snaker (product link) Fantasy / Horror Really weird storyline of a snake deity getting it on with a human female who is killed by her jealous husband but gives birth to a daughter who grows up with a Medusa-like head full of snakes and falls in love with a guy she saves from drowning. Full of magic and transformations and pretty girls.
Natural City (product link) Science Fiction / Action/Adventure Brilliant and beautiful - a bit like "Blade Runner" in certain plot elements but totally original.
The Host (product link) Horror / Thriller Like it says on the box: "this IS one of the best monster movies in years"! Certainly more intriguing than "Cloverfield". Excellent effects and plot twists.
Private [Softcore Producer's Cut] (product link) Erotica / Comedy This "movie" is made up of 5 short erotic vignettes loosely connected around the theme of couples swapping partners - director Tinto Brass makes sure that there is lotsa female pulchritude on display throughout the kinky goings on.
Paprika [1989] (product link) Drama / Erotica Totally gorgeous girl works her way through a variety of bordellos in Italy - a plotline designed to show off the maximum female flesh as Tinto Brass does so well.
Wife To Be Sacrificed / Sadistic And Masochistic [DOUBLE FEATURE] (product link) Erotica / Drama Lotsa good old fashioned bent sex and bondage in this one, and the second disc ("Sadistic And Masochistic") profile on the film's director was good too.
The Opening Ceremony Of The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (product link) Documentary / Art The Chinese really pulled out all the stops on the opening ceremonies for the Olympic games, and this DVD captures it really well. Some of the choreography and stage effects are truely mind boggling!
The Erotic Grotesque Collection [3-Disc Set] (product link) Erotica / Action/Adventure Three great erotic flix packaged into a nice bundle - what's not to like!?!
Okatsu The Fugitive (product link) Crime / Erotica Highest praise for all three episodes of the "Legends of the Poisonous Seductruss" series. The influence on Tarantino's "Kill Bill" series can be clearly seen. "Okatsu"'s production values are excellent!
Survey Map Of A Paradise Lost (product link) Erotica / Mystery This one doesn't let the "plot" get too much in the way of several excellent bondage scenes--cute girls and lotsa nudity make up for the bummer ending.
Zero Woman: Triple Shot [3-Disc Set] (product link) Girls With Guns / Thriller Zero Woman rocks - this is a great value for three excellent flix, highly recommended!
Latitude Zero [1969] (product link) Science Fiction / Action/Adventure A great Japanese sci-fi adventure with (for the day) remarkably good special effects and decent acting from the American imports. Lotsa' fun!
Shogun's Sadism (product link) Horror / Thriller This film seems to be a follow-up to the movie "Shogun's Joy Of Torture" and it follows the same format of providing two unrelated stories that basically feature a lot of harsh punishments being dished out by cruel superiors on their underlings. No happy endings here as the helpless victims are dispatched via a variety of grim tortures and evil seems to triumph in the corrupt power structures of feudal Japan. Sort of a Japanese "Caligula"--sick but entertaining.
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