What Asian Films have you been watching 2007, 2008

[Steve Barr]

Originally Posted by Marshall Crist

I agree that this is one of the best of the genre.

That's too bad; I just watched it, and I just can't get into these movies -- I think HK films have spoiled me with so much packed into every film. These Japanese films are certainly pretty to look at, though.

The girl nicknamed "Sappho" has so many great scenes [...]

I thought she had a certain Shih Szu look.

[Mikko Koivisto]

Originally Posted by Steve R

Where these films popular in Japan when released? How did they do in other countries? Did they even play in the US on original release?

I don't know, but we can make a couple of simple conclusions

1) Between 1970 and 1976 Toei produced 4 Terrifying Girls' High School movies, 6 Sasori movies, 7 Sukeban films, and a few dozen other pinky violence films. Yes, they must have been popular.

2) These films do not - well, did not - have cult following in the US. Therefore they must not have played in US theatres.

3) I doubt they were released in many countries outside Japan. Maybe in some close territories like HK, but I wouldn't be so sure.

+ 1 fact) Teruo Ishii's 60's pink, as well as some non-violent pink from the 70's by other directors, did receive theatrical releases in Germany.

[Jack J]

If you guys missed it I posted a thread about a Japanese TV horror series from 1971 yesterday:

http://www.avmaniacs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44256



.

[Marshall Crist]

Originally Posted by Steve Barr

I thought she had a certain Shih Szu look.

Agreed!

[Marshall Crist]

Originally Posted by Mikko Koivisto

These films do not - well, did not - have cult following in the US. Therefore they must not have played in US theatres.

I think this is mostly correct. I believe it is POSSIBLE that a couple of them played (with subtitles) in studio-owned theatres on the west coast. That may be why the DVD's of BLACK TIGHT KILLERS and FEMALE CONVICT SCORPION 2 are sourced from prints with burned-in subtitles. It's kind of a shame that dubbed prints of these didn't pop up in drive-in's here back in the day. If there was more of a built-in fan base, perhaps they would have been an easier sell on DVD. Although I imagine the asking price would have been jacked up accordingly.

[Steve R]

ICHI - Just saw this new retelling of the blind swordsman story.
Ichi is a woman now. A wandering Ronin sticks up for her when thugs bother her. When he has to fight them, he can't draw his sword. Its not Freudian, its a plot device. She dices them up and later on our swordsman has to take the credit for her work and becomes a bodyguard for one side of a warring faction. It's a nice device and we get a good flashback as to why he can no longer draw his katana....until.

Such a simple set up, really like all the Ichi films, The Ronin character is more interesting than Ichi. As far as the swordplay goes, it's got too much CGI blood patterns and that overused speed up , slow down on impact, speed up again bit. That bit needs to take a rest for a while. Saw a trailer for the new Spartacus that uses the exact same bit, over and over.

Aside from all that I enjoyed it. It played very much like the stuff I used to catch on Sinovision on cable. Ichi looks like a TV movie, too. Very over saturated levels, everything is over lit. I'll give the costumer big points though and I recognized more than a few of the players. Second bad guy was off the rails and good fun.

[Mikko Koivisto]

LoveDeath (Japan, 2006) – 1.5/5
Ryuhei Kitamura’s so called return to roots is True Romance set in Japan. Suffering from nerve wrecking supporting characters and lacking in that style that brought the director to fame, it’s no surprise this mess of a film was ignored by most international distributors. Numerous cameos, ranging from Riki Takeuchi to Yinling the Erotic Terrorist aka Yinling of Joytoy attempt to spice it up with mixed results. Lead couple Shinji Takeda and singer NorA – two lovers on the run from yakuza and corrupt cops - are as convincing as NorA artist name. The film was shot with modest budget – hence the advertising tagline of Kitamura returning to his origins – but with unaffected film stock ; the epic runs massive 159 minutes. Partly due to the circus display sort of nature of the film, it does manage hold up till the end – in theory at least. There’s occasional success with humor and atmospheric shots of lovers cruising through the mad world in red Corvette, but the American… sorry, Japanese dream, is brought to a quick end by the noisy cast and embarrassing dialogue.

RoboGeisha (Japan, 2009) – 2/5
Noboru Iguchi knows how to create hype. The Machine Girl was a cult classic before anyone had seen it, and RoboGeisha received 700 000 trailer views in youtube. What went beyond most international cult film fans, is that RoboGeisha is not a splatter epic but a PG-12 movie. Iguchi and special effects designer Yoshihiro Nishimura have replaced gore with noisy and childish humor and massive CGI effects, only leaving in a handful of computer generated blood spurts (which did earn the film a ridiculously high 18 rating in the UK). The film’s stylistic shortcomings are compensated to some effect with desirable insane imagination. Most of the cast fails to make an impression, including evil Tengu girls Asami and Cay Izumi, although Naoto Takenaka and Demo Tanaka give enjoyable supporting performances. Nevertheless, Iguchi’s robotic geisha wars is an undeniable disappointment.

High Kick Girl (Japan, 2009) – 2.5/5
"She is more than just a cute high school girl. She is a master of Karate!" High Kick Girl delivers what it promises. Idols on wires are out, High Kick Girl is a vehicle for its 17 year old lead, Rina Takeda, who, like most of the film’s cast, is a real life karate practitioner. Director Fuyuhiko Nishi attempts to deliver a relatively authentic karate-movie with no wires, special effects, or other gimmicks, such as proper storyline. The intention is good – with teen girl karate being first rate entertainment by theory alone – but the execution falls a bit short. Having already captured bucket loads of excellent action, the director has lessened the film’s punch in post production with an overuse of slow motion and replays – essentially every highlight is seen twice. Nevertheless, despite its constant cinematic clumsiness it must be admitted the film is, in many places, a lot of fun. Its merits are not based on cinematic achievements but rather on displaying realistic karate. And to some extent, school uniform. Everyone can make their own conclusion based that that.

[Steve Barr]

Thirst (South Korea, 2009) -- Black comedy about vampires. Highly recommended.

[Mikko Koivisto]

Violated Angels (Japan, 1967) – 2/5
Gunman enters hospital dormitory and starts killing and torturing white dressed angels. Koji Wakamatsu’s artsploitation film is beautiful and ugly, engaging and dull. Strong opening and beautiful ending burn in the viewer’s mind, but unfortunately the strengths are in the minority. The remaining part of the 57 minute film comes short in terms of content and depth, as the brutal torture act goes on for too long to serve as meaningful portrait of (male) anguish. The pic does posses a strange atmosphere of dirty exploitation done for high brow arthouse audience, and would have been ideal to see in small theatre in Japan at the time of its original theatrical release. The inspiration for the film came from the preceding year’s Richard Speck murder case that took place in the United States.

Detective Story (Japan, 1982) – 3/5
Keiji monogatari, or as better known, the hanger nunchuku film. Comedian Tetsuya Takeda’s beloved cop film series (a total of 5 movies) is an interesting mix of drama, comedy, and action. Takeda plays a clumsy but good hearted policeman who saves a deaf-mute girl from prostitution ring. They move to countryside together, and Takeda works as a policeman in the local precinct. It turns out, however, that the same bad guys are also active in this town. Despite being legendary for its inventive weapons use (that’s what you get when you piss off Takeda in a textile factory) Detective Story is rather light on action and invests more on upbeat drama and comedy. There’s a healthy dose of bare skin included, but without any sleaze factor. The theme song is quite good as well, and the great Ken Takakura does a brief cameo.

Evil Dead Trap (Japan, 1988) – 3.5/5
A small legend of Japanese horror cinema, Evil Dead Trap remains Toshiharu Ikeda most famous film. Ikeda started his career in the pink genre. Many of his Nikkatsu features were compromises, but clearly displayed the director’s technical skill. Evil Dead Trap is Ikeda without pink restraints; a highly energetic genre film based on one of Takashi Ishii’s less sophisticated screenplays. The English title makes a reference to The Evil Dead, but Ikeda’s films is more than that; the camerawork is obvious Raimi, the gore bows to Fulci, and the electrifying soundtrack could be a Goblin score from a Argento film. A plastic copy Evil Dead Trap isn’t; the director clearly understands his idols and continues their spirit – although admittedly without too much own vision.

Paranoia Agent (Japan, 2004) – 2.5/5
Satoshi Kon’s anime series has a very strong start with interesting, seemingly unrelated stories that nevertheless appear to have some sort of connection. The style is close to Paprika and Perfect Blue, and Susumu Hirasawa’s soundtrack is immediately recognizable. Unfortunately the series runs out of steam due to being twice as long as it should be. In the beginning you’ll struggle to watch less than two episodes at one go. Later it’s the exact opposite, with repetitive episodes following each other.

[J. Martinez]

Hausu - I totally loved everything about this movie, the cinematograhy, the colors, the acting, the girls. This film was excellent in every way, just pure awesomeness.

Turtles are Surprisingly Hast Swimmers - I really enjoyed this film of ordinary people being spies and other wacky characters, all of the actors were awesome especially the main actress.... Very nice, the movie moved at a nice pace, not too slow and not too fast, highly recommended.

[Mikko Koivisto]

Samurai Princess (Japan, 2008) – 2/5
Tokyo Gore Police writer Kengo Kaji's directorial debut is a low budget gore fest continuing the proud tradition of employing Japanese AV stars in splatter films. Adult entertainer Aino Kishi stars a vengeful beauty – neither samurai nor princess – chasing a villainous cyber punk body artist. Innocent girls are be torn apart and then reconstructed as androids - including Kishi's fellow genre sister Mihiro - all supported by Yoshihiro Nishimura's special effects work. Amateurish visual look, nonexistent financing and mad laughing faces serving as "cool cinema" all drag the pic down, but it does have its merits as well. At 80 minutes the film rarely drags, and the mix of fantasy, history and modern day comes with a couple of fun twists. Action is modest – none bothered to give Tak Sakaguchi a call – but the character gallery features one highlight. The feared guitar man of the deep forests is a character to remember. Kishi on the other hand, while not downright terrible, can keep on dreaming of Sora Aoi type career curve to mainstream fame.

Girlfriend - Someone Please Stop the World (Japan, 2004) – 3/5
Girlfriend is Ryuichi Hiroki's contribution to the Love Collection – a series of digitally shot films, similar to the early 2000's Love Cinema series that also featured a film by Hiroki (Tokyo Trash Baby, 2000). Being one of the pioneers of digital cinematography is Japan, Hiroki knows how to capture beautifully grainy images that give his indie dramas an additional touch of intimate realism. Girlfriend is not a standout effort, but it’s a pleasing little movie. Hiroki follows a promising young female photographer (Kinuwo Yamada) who finds a model from a troubled hairdresser (Aoba Kawai). The two go through a brief friendship, perhaps an affair, too. Hiroki takes a non-chronological and sentimentalism free approach that keeps big emotions and epic romances out of the pic. It’s also worth noting the irony; the director started his career by directing pink film in the 80's when censorship set its limitations on display of bare skin. In Girlfriend full frontal nudity is featured, but it's played purely for characterization purposes, rather than for the viewer's arousal.

Hard Revenge Milly (Japan, 2008) – 3/5
Peaceful family vacation in faded colors. Cut to present; Milly’s family is butchered, and soon will be the ones responsible, too. Opening half in the first volume of Neo Action double features (unevenly paired with the harmless Tokusatsu comedy The Masked Girl), Takanori Tsujimoto’s ultraviolent revenge tale is solid low budget action. Lead actress Miki Mizuno is terrific – an ice cold avenger that is light years away from the typical Japanese pop idols that populate most action films nowadays. The film’s violence is extremely strong and occasionally going over the edge; newborn baby’s mistreatment (burned and smashed into wall) leaves a bad taste in mouth. There is, however, some humor, including the Takashi Miike esque ending. “The best Japanese soundtrack ever” advertising non-sense; the music varies between atmospheric and superficial.

Hard Revenge Milly: Bloody Battle (Japan, 2009) – 4.5/5
An absolute blast of a sequel, Tsujimoto’s bigger budgeted follow up to Hard Revenge Milly picks up from where the original left off. Chased by assassins Milly travels in post apocalyptic Japan and agrees to help a young woman to avenge her lover. On the enemy side stand homosexual gang leader, his fashion aware brother, and dozens of gas mask wearing hired guns. Visually stylish, excessively violent with gore artist Yoshiro Nishimura’s handwork on wide display, and featuring jaw dropping action choreography that furiously mixes swords, nunchakus and firearms, Bloody Battle is quite easily one of the best Japanese action movies in years, perhaps decades.

[J. Martinez]

PTU - I purchased this film quite a while back and I just saw it last night and it's a really great Johnnie To movie with the awesome actors Simon Yam and Sam Luet, they both were fantastic as always.

[Jason Lee]

MEAT GRINDER (THAILAND) 4/5

Thai version of the Chinese UNTOLD STORY with a twist....No silly HK humour here folks......If you thought Anthony WOng was nuts in his movie...you wait to you see this woman in action.....It's a bit too slow and going for arty bits, but the blood runs often and the bodies are carved up in loving detail..and, yes, she is crazy.....the SP FX are VERY realistic, and a few times I even winced as they do MORE than the ART OF THE DEVIL series even!!!


Miiko, I thought SAMURAI PRINCESS was even WORSE than you....totally hated that movie (apart from guitar guy!!!)

EVIL DEAD TRAP remeains one of my favorite Italian influenced Jaoanese movies (well, how many ARE THERE??)....I think i preferred part 2 though as it goes for the "weird" more....

I was looking ofrward to HIGHKICK GIRL ..but I have heard other reviews that dont rate it much too, so my expectations have gone down ,,,,,

I REALY wanna see the HARD REVENGE MILLY films now that you rave about them..I never even heard of them befor e(shame on me!!)

[Mikko Koivisto]

Zombie Hunter Rika (Japan, 2008) – 1/5
Stylish pop song, broken English, self-irony. The first 10 minutes of Zombie Hunter Rika show promise. But it’s the lack of the first two, and the overdose of the third one in the long run, that make the remaining 80 minutes nearly unbearable. Zombie Hunter Rika is a post modern zombie comedy that is trying to be clever awfully hard, but failing at every instance. There are few poignant observations being made, but instead much of the humor is even reminiscent of Hong Kong cinema’s worst low points. The unexciting action choreography is by Tak Sakaguchi – mainly displayed in two scenes, and judging by the the moves, performed by one stunt double in two roles. Gore effects are underwhelming – perhaps partly because the bar has been raised notably in the recent years by Yoshihiro Nishimura’s special effects company that was not employed here – but there are a few gut-wrenching bits that feel almost out of place. Oh, almost forgot. Three maids, two of them getting topless for a moment. That’s something, isn’t it?

The Girls Rebel Force of Competitive Swimmers (Japan, 2007) – 1.5/5
Gore meets AV girls, part 15. Following the popular trend of employing adult entertainers in Japanese splatter films, the brilliantly titled Girls Rebel Force of Competitive Swimmers stars two from the cuter end – Yuria Hidaka and top billed Sasa Handa. Their talents are in full use, despite the raging living dead epidemic that might tone down most people’s sexual desires. Low budget and executed with little skill or punch, the film sadly never comes close to living up to its title. As a cheap trash with good concept it entertains in bits early on, but ultimately becomes a living dead on its own. Gore effects are modest.

Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl (Japan, 2009) – 4/5
If Tokyo Gore Police had been a romantic high school comedy. Cute transfer student (Yukie Kawamura) and charming gothic lolita (Eri Otoguro) battle over the school's only decent guy. Love hurts, and leaves one hell of a mess. Yoshihiro Nishimura and Naoyuki Tomomatsu's film, drawing its inspiration from female manga artist Shungiku Uchida's comics, is hit and miss but with high accuracy. The sheer the amount of ridiculous jokes and gore effects is overwhelming. It's the combination of this kind of energy and cinematic skill – including terrific soundtrack that comes with a variety from chorus to cheesy love songs – that sets Vampire Girl apart from the standard Japanese gore film. Blood is plenty here too, although this time with CGI support. It's not a problem, as the film is a comedy, and there’s still thousands of liters of real fake blood. The visual look is competent with highly aesthetic bloodshed and eye popping caramel colors. The main actresses are both great and backed up by a load Nishimura regulars (Eihi Shiina, Takashi Shimizu, Cay Izumi、Jiji Bu) and some new faces, including Reiko Ike lookalike　Sayaka Kametani. Some genre and cultural knowledge is recommended, as the film is packed with references to Nishimura's past works and Japanese social phenomena.

Vampire Frankenstein Girl (Japan, 2010) – 3/5
A continuation in the very pleasant tradition of providing additional value to DVD buyers, Vampire Frankenstein Girl is Yoshihiro Nishimura’s 15 minute spin off for the main feature. Stylistically similar to the jaw dropping closing episode of Tokyo Gore Police Short Collection (63 Minutes in the Movie), Vampire Frankenstein Girl gathers familiar supporting players (the ganguro girls) and new characters, including leading lady Tsugumi Nagasawa, for a violent showdown. Opening scene aside it’s a completely dialogue free, music video style mayhem collage that starts out lazy but aims high and eventually explodes in its full gory, ridiculously imaginative glory. Nagasawa flies like a bird, Cay Izumi dances topless, Obama’s head explodes, and Trippi’s girls Maki Daimon and Youko Kobayashi dance to Pinky Love in front of camera. Bravo!

[J. Martinez]

High Kick Girl - The acting was bad but I'm pretty for most of the actors in this film was there first time acting, it was so annoying the slow motion repetition thing, some of the fight scenes were nice though it just didn't need all of that slow motion replays, I think the director had Ong Bak in his mind.