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Dororo (2007)
It’s possibly shameful to admit – I’m only familiar with Tezuka Osamu’s Dororo thanks to the people at Sony. It was a game, you see, and pretty kick ass too, if a little weird. In the game, forty-eight demons strike a bargain with a man; rule the world for the price of his firstborn son. However, in a macabre twist more suited to a Miike or Nakata film perhaps, these demons aren’t that greedy. They don’t want the child’s soul … (read more)
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L: Change the World (2007)
After the runaway success of Death Note: The Last Name, and in particular, the impression Keniichi Matsuyama made on the world as L, the young, quirky uber-sleuth who plays God to Light’s devil, it was perhaps not such a surprise that an offshoot movie was almost instantly on the cards. Not only is it an offshoot however, but L: Change the World cleverly fills in the blanks from the twist ending of The Last Name, and nicely fleshes … (read more)
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Sword Of Doom (1966)
Sword of Doom is an acclaimed action film from director Kihachi Okamoto. It tells the story of a ruthless swordsman who is deadly with his sword. The fact that the central character is a very unlikeable character makes the movie different from many of the samurai films that have come out of Japan.
Ryunosuke Tsukue is this central character. He kills a man in a sword fight despite promising the man’s wife that he will give up winning if she … (read more)
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Transformers Super God Masterforce (1988)
In April 1988, Transformers Super God Masterforce first aired on Japanese television. Young children had their favourite Transformer toys in their hands, while yelling ‘Masterforce! Transform! Head on!’… In April 2008, Transformers Super God Masterforce was recently made available on DVD in Australia. An HC reviewer had the TV remote control in one hand, while quietly taking notes with the other. So how did he rate this 20-year old anime series? Read on to find out!
The Transformers Super God … (read more)
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Imprint (2005)
I had a difficult time reviewing this one. Why? For starters, writer’s block. The words didn’t come to mind to properly describe the experience easily. Secondly it is a little bit unconventional in that it’s not actually a film from our neighbors from the north. It’s an episode of a cable television series, from the USA — the Masters of Horror series. So why is there a review being written for it? This question brings me to the hardest thing … (read more)
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Maadadayo (1993)
Here we have a sentimental Kurosawa picture about an elderly teacher who, courtesy of his wise (and somewhat cracking) observations of life and times, has gained the veneration of his doting students. The problem for me with this picture was that I didn’t find my old chap particularly likeable. He seemed to me more an idling opportunist with a high opinion of himself than an erudite poet-philosopher worthy of adoration.
The experience of watching Maadadayo will probably be far more … (read more)
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Black Lagoon (2006)
Back in 2006 when our great land was run by a nerd with glasses and petrol prices were rising, I went to my first Anime Convention. Manifest ’06 was weekend of anime and the ultra addictive foodstuff that has become the food of choice for Otaku everywhere. Over that glorious wonderful weekend — where it can quite safely be said that I had developed a bizarre fixation on violence (known as a bloodlust) — I first saw Black Lagoon. … (read more)
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Love and Honor (2006)
There’s something inherently warm – possibly even nostalgic – about the third and final film in Youji Yamada’s informal Samurai period trilogy. While The Hidden Blade seemed predominantly cool and blue, and The Twilight Samurai appeared raw with Spring and all it’s free colour, it’s the burnt hues of autumn, of summer at its hottest, that seem to leave the most lasting impression in Love and Honor, making the film look simple, bare, pared down to it’s most essential … (read more)
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