Browsing by Genre

Comedy

Akakage (2001)
The tale of three ninja sent by a daimyo to spy upon a neighboring fiefdom now being run by the widow of a former rival, who supposedly has a powerful secret weapon. What they actually discover is a plot to ensure safety and peace in the area, and a betrayal that threatens to kill them all. Hip, modern tale of ninja and samurai. Love of chambara not a pre-requisite.
Ashita Ga Aru Sa: The Movie
When a down and out businessman has the chance to take a ride in an amateur-built rocket to the edge of space, he decides to go for it despite all odds.
Blister (2000)
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Dead Leaves
Two people wake up in an open field with no memory of how they got there. One has a tv for a head, the other is a sexy woman with a black patch around her eye. They immediately go on a crime spree and end up in maximum security prison on what's left of the moon. Insanity ensues.
Geroppa! (Special Edition)
A crime boss being sent to prison tells his small band of yakuza thugs and lower bosses to quit and make real lives for themselves. In a last ditch effort to keep everything together, his old crew tries to kidnap James Brown so the famed artist will perform for their former employer. Humorous.
GTO
Based on the popular TV show (which in turn is based on a popular manga) of a young biker gang member and ex high school tough turned high school teacher in a pinch to find a job.
Hanai Sachiko No Kareina Shougai (2005)
When Sachiko Hanai, a bar hostess, inadvertantly gets herself involved in a plot to sell George Bush's cloned finger, she gets shot. But that is only the beginning of her adventure as she must now figure out just what is happening. Part black-comedy, part erotica, part action.
Hebi Ichigo (2003)
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Jam Films (2002)
Showcasing the talents of several major directors, this is a collection of seven short films, ranging in genre from dark action to light-hearted comedy and sci-fi.
Jam Films 2 (2004)
Four short films directed by four different directors ranging in genre from drama to surrealist and more.
Jigoku Koshien
Insanity ensues at a lower-end high school when the principal and vice-principal dream of Koushien (the Japanese high school equivalent of the World Series). They recruit every ruffian and sucker who will play for them, for their very first game is a team sent straight from Hell. This movie was not allowed at the Tokyo International Movie Festival, to which the writer, director and producer of the movie (all the same gentleman) cries foul throughout the movie. Sight gags and slapstick humor abound.
Kikujiro No Natsu
When a young boy sets out to find the mother who left him to live with his grandmother years ago, he ends up embarking on a journey with an aging tough guy who would rather be playing the ponys. A comedy of the heart.
Koroshiya Ichi
A young killer named Ichi is sought out by other killers. Based on a manga by the same title.
Mayonaka Made (2002)
When Moriyama, a jazz player learns that his jazz master idol is coming to see him perform, he is completely psyched. Unfortunately, he runs into trouble and must go on the lamb to save himself.
Nurse No Shigoto The Movie (2002)
When the nurse station is beseiged by a former patient with a automatic rifle, all hell breaks loose.
Party 7 (2001)
Wild film about seven characters at the Hotel New Mexico, located somewhere out in the boonies. Most of the action takes place in two hotel rooms, one in which two characters are watching the rest via a mirrored wall.
Picnic
When three pyschologically disturbed people leave their hospital, it becomes a journey of incredible misdirection. (Incidentally, this movie allowed Asano and Chara to meet and eventually marry.)
Ping Pong (2003)
High school ping pong geniuses face off in a battle to see who will claim the prefectural champion title. Wacky characters and seemless CG (of the ping pong action) work to create comedic and action scenes. Based on a popular manga by Taiyo Matsumoto of the same title.
Samehada Otoko To Momojiri Onna (1998)
Toshiko on the run from her creepy uncle (and the even creepier, yet extrememly likeable, little assassin he sends after her) runs into Samehada, who is also on the run from the gang of yakuza he used to work with. Together they work to outsmart everyone in a bid for big money.
Samurai Fiction (1998)
The tale of a sword stolen by a rogue samurai who is supposed to deliver it to the Shogun. Hip, modern samurai tale. Love of chambara action movies not a pre-requisite.
Shall We Dance? (1996)
A successful, yet unhappy accountant takes up ballroom dancing to get rid of his blues and restore the balance in his life. What he finds is passion that will set the dancing world on fire.
Short Smap Films -- SSF (2001)
Seven short 'films' that were originally aired on the SMAP X SMAP TV show, collected into one volume.
Survival Style 5
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Swing Girls (2004)
Girl meets jazz.
Water Boys
The fictionalized story of a real high school club of boys who get into syncronized swimming and catapult to fame.
Wild Zero (1999)
A meteor lands in the countryside turning the entire population into zombies (definite homage to George Romero). A rock-star wannabe and extreme fan of the legendary band Guitar Wolf, happens upon a beautiful girl and falls in love. However, can his love save her from the zombies and an enraged (and flaming) club manager who is out to gun down Guitar Wolf?
You Ni Mo Myouna Monogatari (movie version)
Caught in a sudden downpour at a train station, a group of unrelated people are treated to stories by an enigmatic man. Hosted by Tamori, this Twilight Zone-like movie features four short stories in one. Horror, fantasy, love, and other themes all mesh to create a suspenseful thriller. Based on the popular TV show from the 90s of the same title.
Zatoichi (2003)
Based on a famous historic character (a blind masseuse) who traveled the countryside of Edo Era Japan righting wrongs with his ungodly swordsman skills. An updated version featuring Kitano as the masseuse who wanders into a town run by yakuza gangs who have the local populace in a stranglehold. Violent, bloody; definitely for the samurai flick crowd, but no love for the chambara genre required to enjoy.