Akira (1988)
Akira represents one of the most influential anime features of all time. It’s based on the 1982 manga series from Katsuhiro Otomo, who not only co-writes the adaptation, but he also directs this animated...
Tagged: japan
Silence (2016)
Shusaku Endo’s 1966 novel provides the basis for Martin Scorsese’s (The Wolf of Wall Street, Hugo) adaptation set in the 17th Century, regarding a couple of Portuguese missionaries, Father Sebastian Rodrigues (Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge) and Father Francisco...
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
Kubo and the Two Strings is the fourth, and arguably the best, of the big screen releases from the Oregon-based, mainly stop-motion animation studio, LAIKA Entertainment. It’s the first to be directed by that company’s...
You Only Live Twice (1967)
James Bond (Connery, Goldfinger) is on assignment in Hong Kong, where his death is staged in order to make all the bad guys think they no longer need follow the world’s greatest secret agent. He...
Alien vs. Ninja (2010)
For anyone who ever watched the original Alien and wondered what might happen if the deadly Alien encountered a group of Earth’s elite warriors rather than a hapless commercial vessel full of average joes, we finally...
Black Rain (1989)
Michael Douglas (Romancing the Stone, The Star Chamber) stars as macho NYC detective Nick Conklin, under investigation from Internal Affairs for possibly covering up theft done by his fellow officers in the line of duty....
Fist of Legend (1994)
Fist of Legend is the updated remake of the classic Bruce Lee film, The Chinese Connection, this time starring Hong Kong superstar Jet Li. Lee’s are big shoes to fill for the diminutive Li, but if anyone...
Shall We Dance? (1996) | Shall We Dansu?
Overwhelmingly charming, Shall We Dance? is about as good a film as one could expect about learning how to dance. What it means to the normally reserved Japan is complete freedom and escapism, doing something...
2LDK (2002)
“2LDK” is the abbreviation in Japan for a 2 bedroom apartment, with a living room, dining room, and a kitchen. It’s also the title of this engaging, but an ultimately disappointing movie about two...
Lost in Translation (2003)
Ten years before the release of Lost in Translation, Bill Murray opted to star in a light romantic comedy, Groundhog Day, and although I’m a big fan of Murray’s schmoozy slapstick flicks, I just shook my head when...