Kuroneko: an ordinary ghost horror story saved by expressionist cinematography and social commentary
Kaneto Shindo, “Kuroneko” (1968) A companion piece to his earlier classic “Onibaba”, Shindo’s “Kuroneko” explores
Tag: Japanese Films
Reviews of Japanese-language films I find significant or interesting.
Blade of the Immortal: one wearying bloodbath after another in a film on obsessive vengeance, duty and the hell of immortality
Takashi Miike, “Blade of the Immortal” (2017) Condensed from 30 volumes of manga into a
Zatoichi: a colourful package of comedy, violence and drama masks an unoriginal plot and characters not always worthy of sympathy
Takeshi Kitano, “Zatoichi” (2003) Based in part on the television and film series revolving around
Memoirs of a Geisha: overblown rags-to-riches soap opera romance with a shallow and conservative message
Rob Marshall, “Memoirs of a Geisha” (2002) Essentially a variation on the Cinderella story through
High and Low: a crime thriller of downfall and redemption, and a plea for compassion for material and spiritual suffering
Akira Kurosawa, “High and Low” (1963) Most movies based on pulp crime / police procedural
A pointless rehash of a low budget TV series in “Evangelion: 1.11 – You Are (Not) Alone”
Hideaki Anno, Masayuki, Kazuya Tsurumaki, “Evangelion: 1.11 – You Are (Not) Alone” Since the original
In the Realm of the Senses: two lovers pursuing happiness and freedom in a repressive society
Nagisa Oshima, “Ai no korida / In the Realm of the Senses” (1976) Forty years
Dead Sushi: wacky comedy horror film takes pot-shots at corporate culture and greed, and food obsessions
Noboru Iguchi, “Dead Sushi” (2012) In the tradition of wacky Japanese comedy horror flicks comes
Ugetsu: a parable of two men in pursuit of fame and glory, with social justice themes
Kenji Mizoguchi, “Ugetsu” (1953) Two interwined morality plays about peasants blinded by thoughts of personal
A socialist revolutionary parable and story of Buddhist compassion in “Yuki: Snow Fairy”
Tadashi Imai, “Yuki: Snow Fairy” (1981) In the hands of Tadashi Imai, notable as a