Tag Archives: Japanese Cinema

Saturday Matinee: Grave of the Fireflies

Posted on February 3, 2018 by

Review by Roger Ebert In the waning days of World War II, American bombers drop napalm canisters on Japanese cities, creating fire storms. These bombs, longer than a tin can but about as big around, fall to earth trailing cloth … Continue reading →

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Saturday Matinee: The Twilight Samurai

Posted on November 11, 2017 by

“The Twilight Samurai” (aka Tasogare Seibei たそがれ清兵衛, 2002), is a realist Samurai drama co-written and directed by Yoji Yamada set in mid-19th century Japan. It stars Hiroyuki Sanada as Seibei, a low-ranking samurai widower struggling to support his daughters and dementia-afflicted … Continue reading →

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Saturday Matinee: Tokyo Blood

Posted on April 8, 2017 by

“Tokyo Blood” (1993) is an anthology film consisting of four experimental shorts directed by Gakuryû Ishii (formerly known as Sogo Ishii) thematically connected by the theme of entrapment in Tokyo’s urban landscape and desire to escape. The opening film, “Street … Continue reading →

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Saturday Matinee: Battle Royale 2

Posted on March 18, 2017 by

“Battle Royale 2: Requiem” (2003) is an under-appreciated yet boldly provocative sequel taking place three years after the events of the first Battle Royale. The protagonists of the previous film have joined other survivors of past Battle Royales to form … Continue reading →

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Saturday Matinee: Funky Forest

Posted on July 18, 2015 by

Plot synopsis by VIZ Media: Meet the Harunos, a rather unconventional, but happy and loving family nonetheless. They live in a small town in the mountains just out of Tokyo where life is good and quiet – but that doesn’t … Continue reading →

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Saturday Matinee: Sky High

Posted on July 11, 2015 by

“Sky High” (2003) is a supernatural action thriller directed by Ryuhei Kitamura (“Versus” and “Godzilla: Final Wars”). It’s a prequel film for a television series of the same name in which the spirit of murder victim Mina must help her … Continue reading →

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Saturday Matinee: Vital

Posted on January 24, 2015 by

“Vital” (2004) is a film by Shinya Tsukamoto about a med school student who loses his memory after surviving a car crash which kills his girlfriend. Shortly after resuming studies he realizes a cadaver assigned to him to dissect is … Continue reading →

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Saturday Matinee: Tokyo Fist

Posted on January 17, 2015 by

“Tokyo Fist” (1995) can be seen as director Shinya Tsukamoto’s surreal precursor to “Fight Club”, but it also features an unsettling mood and body horror reminiscent of the films of David Lynch and David Cronenberg respectively. Added to the mix … Continue reading →

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