Blog Archives

Astro Boy (1980)

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Posted on June 8, 2010 by Samson

Astro Boy started off as a manga for children in the 1950s, and became a household name internationally with the release of its first anime series in 1963. However, creator and master animator Osamu Tezuka was reportedly not completely happy with the original anime, and went on to remake the series in 1980. This time, it again showcases the action and adventure seen in the original series, but it also incorporates much more of Tezuka’s philosophy and thinking. The result … (read more)

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Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody (2006)

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Posted on June 1, 2010 by Samson

BLEACH has followed the well-travelled path that has been taken by many other anime franchises. It started off as a manga, then became an anime series, and with increasing popularity, has been made into movies. It is well known for its interesting characters, spectacular action and supernatural themes. So how does Memories of Nobody, the first movie based on characters from BLEACH, compare with the successful manga and anime series? Here is what I think.

The Soul … (read more)

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Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl (2009)

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Posted on May 31, 2010 by Justin

From two of Japan’s new breed of gore/horror directors comes this simple tale of high-school romance — though, as you might guess from the title, only one member of this film’s love triangle (that’d be the boy, Mizushima, played by Takumi Saito) is entirely human. He’s the quiet-yet-pretty boy in class, browbeaten into reluctantly accepting Keiko (Eri Otoguro) as his girlfriend. She’s the science teacher’s daughter, dressed to the nines and always backed by her posse of lolita girls. However, … (read more)

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Bleach: The Diamond Dust Rebellion (2007)

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Posted on May 19, 2010 by Deni

It’s both a blessing and a curse that Bleach is the kind of show it is. With its non-stop action and a vast array of characters it’s little wonder it’s so popular; after all, when you practically have every possible character type covered – from the rebellious hero with the heart of gold to the comical and lucky bumbler (and so on and so forth) – you basically have something that will appeal to everyone. But the very things that … (read more)

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Caterpillar (Kyatapira) (2010)

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Posted on May 8, 2010 by Elizabeth Kerr

There is no way anyone could consider Wakamatsu Koji’s anti-war, anti-military, anti-nationalist tirade subtle. The man cut his teeth and made his name in pink eiga, so chances are he doesn’t know the meaning of the word. But that would belittle Wakamatsu’s cumulative knowledge — he has over four decades’ experience — and the fact that he left straight up soft-core porn behind long ago to use his considerable clout making ‘real’ films. Wakamatsu has never been into titillation … (read more)

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Romeo x Juliet (2009)

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Posted on May 8, 2010 by Deni

One could argue the wisdom of tackling a remake of one of the best known romantic stories of English Renaissance literature. After all, there’s only two ways to really go about it without digging your own grave, so to speak – you do it the way it’s always been done, or you had damn well better understand it inside and out if you’re going to change it. Studio Gonzo has taken the latter, loftier road, with mixed results.

It’s not … (read more)

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The Handsome Suit (2008)

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Posted on April 21, 2010 by Samson

I recently attended the screening of the opening film for the 13th Japanese Film Festival in Sydney, The Handsome Suit. The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic, with the cinema packed with movie lovers and filled with constant laughter as the film was shown. I found out later that over 90% of the night’s audience thought the film was ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’, and am pleased to say that I was one of the crowd who enjoyed this film tremendously.

The … (read more)

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Samurai Deeper Kyo (2002)

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Posted on April 5, 2010 by Deni

What with all the popular culture featuring one of the most famous periods in Japan’s feudal history – the Battle of Sekigahara – it’s not a wonder we all feel like we know simultaneously everything and nothing about it. But this is what happens when you rely on TV for all your factual information.

So it might be easiest to just assume that Samurai Deeper Kyo has absolutely nothing to do with the events of the Realm Divide, and that … (read more)

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