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Hanai Sachiko No Kareina Shougai (2005)
Last modified 2006-04-04 07:37:00
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.
Akai Tenshi (1966)
Last modified 2006-02-06 23:16:17
While most Japanese movie fans may be familiar with director Masumura Yasuzo's eerie "Moju" (AKA Blind Beast; 1969), "Akai Tenshi" (Eng. Lit. - Red Angel) is one of the director's more somber films. Set against the backdrop of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937) Masumura focuses on the life of a newly transferred Japanese Army medical nurse Nishi Sakura (Wakao Ayako) and the horrors she sees and experiences as she tries to cope with the human casualties of that senseless war. In the course of her duties Sakura befriends the stoic doctor/surgeon Dr. Okabe (Ashida Shinsuke) who is a Chief Medical Officer for the Army. Although much older than she, Sakura finds herself hopelessly in love with the doctor whom strangely reminds her of her own father who had passed away when she was a child. To escape the realities of the war, Okabe has become addicted to morphine, which he has Sakura administer. Eventually Sakura helps Okabe break this addiction and soon becomes his lover. The two lovers are soon transferred to the frontline where they have to tend to a group of cholera-infected soldiers. Can their love survive the slowly escalating conflicts surrounding them? While the film touches upon a number of exploitative elements, it is surprisingly very conservative in its handling and depictions of the more salacious aspects (there is very little nudity and the sex scenes are done tastefully and without the usual gratuitousness expected from these films). The film definitely does not condone the acts of the Japanese Military of the time and goes out of its way to show the human casualties of the conflict, often in very graphic detail. War is hell and this film hammers that point across in its depictions of the war wounded and the psychological trauma these soldiers suffer.
Ashura - Jo no hitmoi (2005)
Last modified 2006-02-01 06:22:41
Set in 19th century Edo is a city ruled by Lust, laughter and money where Demons lurk, disguised as humans, awaiting the return of Ashura. An elite government-appointed 'team' of swordsmen rule the city - Demon wardens who are feared by Demons and Humans alike. Izumo [Ichikawa Sumegoro] and Jaku [Watabe Atsuro] are Demon wardens whose lust for killing Demons remains unquenched until one day Izumo kills [on request] a young child and he retires in hiding as a Kabuki actor hiding from his own demons. One day Bizet, a beautiful demon nun who arrives with tales that Ashura will soon awaken - "When Ashura awakens her castle will rise upside down from the skies and the Demons will rule the world" ready with her army to spread darkness. Meanwhile Izumo, upon a chance meeting, meets a beautiful performer named Tsubaki unaware that Jaku is also after this mysterious girl, who only remembers the last five years of her life, but for reason Izumo has yet to understand. A visually splendidly gorgeous film which is a direct adaptation of 'Blood gets in your eyes' the 2000 stage play blending kabuki and J-pop culture which also starred Ichikawa Somegoro and art direction by Yuji Hayashida who brought to us the blindingly beautiful CASSHERN. If you are looking for a film which contains Martial Arts, fantasy, magic, drama, horror and stunning visuals this film has it all. Any fans of Ryuhei kitamura will also love this film.
Jungle Spririt (2006)
Last modified 2006-01-03 07:51:34
Sixty years after the end of World War Two, an aging former officer of the Japanese Imperial Army journeys to Malaysia to exorcize horrible memories that have troubled him for the past six decades. It was in Malaysia at the close of the war that this man, as a member of a military command, participated in the execution of five young, beautiful local girls. He has been troubled ever since the event, tormented by recurring nightmares of the beheadings of the young women. In his troubled sleep, he dreams of opening a bag to find the severed head of one girl but can not see her face or remember distinctly the sequence of events that resulted in her execution. The dream has followed him from place to place during the post-war years but is never completed in the full details of what happend that fateful day so long ago. He needs to remember. He returns the place where it happened with unexpected consequences.
Another Heaven (2000)
Last modified 2005-12-11 10:36:26
Several horrific murders and the disappearance of a university student trigger the investigation by a hard-boiled cop and his young partner, who believes there may be a supernatural connection.
Gunki Hatameku Moto Ni (1972)
Last modified 2005-12-11 06:02:17
A war widow spends nearly three decades to find out the truth behind her husband's death. Finally she looks the survivors who served with him; their tale is a bitter, human one.
Kourei
Last modified 2005-12-11 05:54:41
A woman with psychic powers and her sound engineer husband are haunted by the ghost of a young kidnap victim who myseteriously dies in their "care".
Akarui Mirai
Last modified 2005-12-11 05:44:57
Two friends, Arita and Nimura, waste their lives away in a deadend job until one of them kills their boss and is sent to prison. Slowly the line between reality and fantasy blur for the remaining friend.
Charisma (1999)
Last modified 2005-12-11 05:34:06
A disgraced veteran detective from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police retreats to the countryside to find himself face with a bizarre conundrum concerning a possibly toxic tree called 'charisma'. Caught in a struggle between those who wish to save it and those who wish to destroy it, he must look deep inside himself to find the answer to what he must do.
Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan (1959)
Last modified 2005-12-11 05:28:39
A classic tale of horror and woe as a man who allowed his wife to die a miserable death is haunted by her.
Tetsuo (1998)
Last modified 2005-12-03 22:32:10
After accidentally running over a metal fetishist with his car, a man find that his body is slowly being taken over by metal. Unable to stop the bizarre transformation he is undergoing, he begins to seek out what is driving it. Considered a cyberpunk cult film by director Shinya Tsukamoto. Black and white.
Gonin (1995)
Last modified 2005-12-01 10:28:00
A once successful nightclub owner ends up owing more to the Yakuza then he can afford to pay. After re-cruiting four misfits a plan to steal back from the Yakuza is hatched and in the aftermath of the heist they each find themselves being hunted down by contract killers.
Wild Zero (1999)
Last modified 2005-12-01 02:26:41
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?
Bounce Ko Gal (1997)
Last modified 2005-07-24 07:40:40
Junko (Sato Hitomi), Raku (Sato Yasue) and Lisa (Okamoto Rikiko) are three Japanese teens who find friendship while trying to survive all the temptations and dangers of modern life in Tokyo. At first glance, Masato Harada's "Bounce Ko Gals" appears as if to be a film condemning the youth of Japan as being selfishly "hedonistic" and "spoiled" but during the course of the film we find that like all teens across the globe these kids still have dreams, goals and ambitions and that they still value the same things as their parents do (friendship, loyalty, success and trust).
Borei Kaibyo Yashiki (1958)
Last modified 2005-05-01 19:55:21
A classic tale of horror and the supernatural as a man and his wife are terrorized by otherworldly beings after they move into a new house.
Jigoku (2000)
Last modified 2005-05-01 19:47:43
Look into the heart of Japanese fear with this vision of Hell.
Soseji (1999)
Last modified 2005-05-01 19:44:40
Director Shinya Tsukamoto brings to life a variation of an Edogawa Rampo tale of a rich doctor whose life is ripped from him by a violent and unknown visitor. Set during the Meiji Era.
Gohatto (1999)
Last modified 2005-05-01 19:42:16
The story of a young samurai warrior of extraordinary skill and "beauty" is the mark of several samurai who wish to posess him, as well as destroy him. A look at homosexuality in Japan, set in Kyoto during the Bakumatsu Period, which turns into a murder mystery.
Samehada Otoko To Momojiri Onna (1998)
Last modified 2005-05-01 19:36:25
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.
Uchiage Hanabi, Shita Kara Miru ka? Yoko Kara Miru Ka? (1993)
Last modified 2005-05-01 19:27:51
Three elementary school boys try to discover the best way to watch fireworks, and an "older" girl tries to elope with one of them.