Blog Archives

Distance (2001)

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Posted on January 15, 2006 by Jason

Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda has produced a film that has touched upon one of the most sensitive issues for contemporary Japanese filmmakers: terrorist cults. Even though Koreeda’s film is fictional, there is always the inevitable comparison with the Aum cult sarin gas attack. There are a number of films, such as Canary, dealing with this sensitive problem. However, no filmmaker has probed the aftermath of the issue so poignantly and innovatively as Koreeda.

Distance has a very basic story: … (read more)

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Burst Angel (2004)

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Posted on January 15, 2006 by Deni

There I was, scoffing away at a fellow reviewer for wimping out on not only reviewing, but even merely finishing Studio Gonzo girls and guns title Burst Angel, assured in my fangirl superiority because I myself had managed to sit through an entire volume and hadn’t tried to kill myself by the end. You wuss, I mocked. Spoilt by too much quality anime (which I admit is my fault, since I keep pushing the quality stuff on to him). … (read more)

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The Place Promised in our Early Days (2004)

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Posted on January 8, 2006 by Andy

The Place Promised in Our Early Days is the first full length feature from Mokoto Shinkai. Shinkai first came to prominence with Voices From a Distant Star, an anime that he produced almost single-handedly. Voices From A Distant Star, with its melancholy voice over and themes of separation and loss, was not only an awesome achievement but also an incredibly emotionally resonant piece that announced the arrival of a true auteur.

With Place, Shinkai again returns to … (read more)

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Hinokio (2005)

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Posted on January 6, 2006 by Jason

Hinokio is a heart warming children’s film that looks at young people affected by death, school, friendship, and communication. Satoru, emotionally handicapped by his mother’s death and the temporary disability of his legs, has a fear of emotional communication with his father and those around him. In order to regain a sense of social interaction, Satoru uses a bizarre looking robot nicknamed Hinokio to carry out his everyday duties (namely attending school). In this film, Satoru’s use of the Hinokio … (read more)

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Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974)

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Posted on December 31, 2005 by Justin

She’s back. Fresh from her spree of revenge killings in the first film, Yuki returns in a second Lady Snowblood film from director Toshiya Fujita. To recap quickly, for those who don’t remember the first film: A young husband is murdered and his wife tortured and raped by a gang of profiteers. She swears vengeance, but only manages to do away with one of them before she is caught and sent to prison. While in prison, she gives birth to … (read more)

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Requiem From The Darkness (2005)

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Posted on December 31, 2005 by Deni

Requiem from the Darkness, Kosetsu Hyaku Monogatari in Japanese, which translates as One Hundred Ghost Stories, might have been better served by keeping its original title. It could be argued that the original title describes better what the series is all about – it’s ghost stories around a campfire, under the covers on a sleepover with friends. It’s the silly chill derived from venturing into places as a child (dark places that are known and familiar during the day … (read more)

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Panda! Go Panda! (1972)

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Posted on December 31, 2005 by Ching Yee

What the synopsis above doesn’t tell you is how Mimiko ended up with such a family. Mimiko’s grandmother goes away on a short trip and after sending her off at the train station, Mimiko comes home to find a baby panda asleep on her porch. Before long a big (and I mean big) papa Panda comes looking for baby panda. Inspired by this cute panda duo and perhaps reminded of her own orphan status, Mimiko immediately asks the pandas to … (read more)

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Godzilla: Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)

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Posted on December 31, 2005 by Mat

With the current trend in the quality of Godzilla films that are being released, I was prepared to be disappointed with Godzilla: Invasion of Astro-Monster. The fact that it’s one of the old Godzilla films hailing from 1965 resulted in flashbacks of a dancing Godzilla from Godzilla vs. Ebirah which filled me with dread. Thankfully, I can say that Godzilla’s dancing in Godzilla: Invasion of Astro-Monster is limited to a simple ‘happy dance’ to signify that he is top … (read more)

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