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Wasabi (2001)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Alison

Another well-named film, because this one will clear your sinuses and melt your nostril hair before you know it. Jean Reno plays Hubert, a cop who just won’t stop, and does so with an aplomb that only he can manage. Other cast members manage to convey their roles and not fall over their feet, but for all we care they could paint themselves blue and skate naked along the bullet train, and our eyes would still be on Reno.

Scenes … (read more)

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Yojimbo (1961)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by James

Ah, Yojimbo. Forgive me for feeling little nostalgic, but once upon a time I discovered a couple of old black & white VHS tapes in the local library that became my entrance to Akira Kurosawa and then through his movies, eventually, belatedly, to the wondrous dimension of Asian cinema. Yojimbo was shorter than the other tape (Seven Samurai) so I watched it first. Ah, Yojimbo … it’s been a while, but thanks for a rather superb introduction.… (read more)

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Boogiepop Phantom (2002)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

vi·gnette (v n-y t)
n.

  • An unbordered picture, often a portrait, that shades off into the surrounding color at the edges.
  • A short, usually descriptive literary sketch. A short scene or incident, as from a movie.

    • The American Heritage™ Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
    Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
    Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    Be warned now. Volume 1 of Boogiepop Phantom is not like the first volume of other anime. At the … (read more)

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    Read or Die (2001)

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    Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

    Just goes to show, never judge a book by its cover.

    I’m looking at the cover of Read or Die and I’m thinking “Oh God. Cute girl. Big eyes. There’s gonna be panties in this isn’t there.” I’m not thinking this DVD is going to be a quality piece of work, with a strong cast who don’t need their integrity compromised by overly-gratuitous exposure of their smalls in order to maintain interest. I’m similarly not thinking this is going to … (read more)

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    Real Bout High School (2002)

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    Posted on January 25, 2006 by Ching Yee

    Ryoko is the undefeated champion at Daimon High but sitting at the throne means there are always going to be challengers trying to knock her down. One is Azumi, who not only wants to kick her ass in the ring but is also vying for the affection of Tatsuya, Ryoko’s high school crush. Ryoko’s other challenger is Kusunagi, who has since skipped school after being pummeled by Ryoko in the last K-fight showdown.

    Being the school champion means being feted … (read more)

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    Dead Leaves (2004)

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    Posted on January 25, 2006 by Andy

    Dead Leaves is subtle like a brick through a plate glass window. It is fifty minutes of ultra-violence, prison sex and bodily functions. The humour is pitched at the level of a fifth grade repeater. And it’s the most refreshingly original anime I’ve seen for a long time.

    Pandy with her circled eye and lightning bolt cow lick and the monitor-headed Retro are an anime Bonny & Clyde. The pair are oddly endearing with their, ‘magazine clip is half full’ … (read more)

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    Samurai Gun (2004)

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    Posted on January 22, 2006 by Andy

    Released in 2004, Samurai Gun is an oddity. It eschews the current trend in samurai anime of the historically accurate period detail. Samurai Gun thumbs its nose at its housemates: Peacemaker, Otogi Zoshi and Rurouni Kenshin, preferring to wallow in anachronism. Using the industrial revolution as a jumping off point, Samurai Gun grants itself a lot of latitude with its use technology. Guns aren’t limited to revolvers, there are automatics, the bad guys, the Shogun’s minions use rocket … (read more)

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    Vital (2004)

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    Posted on January 16, 2006 by Deni

    It might have been easy to descend into a creepy, stomach churning genre film when the main narrative device of the story is a cadaver, but somehow that’s exactly what Shinya Tsukamoto’s 2004 film Vital isn’t. Instead, and it sounds strange to say, it is something of a love story, a subtle, sedated ode to loss and the process of grieving that is at times both vaguely discomforting and quietly beautiful.

    In yet another solid performance of minimalist effort, … (read more)

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