So we have Yakuza protecting a small town, when the gang is betrayed to a rival Vampire/monster gang. I was only slightly amused until I see ANIME CHARACTER(tm) who speaks English and carries a gun name Jesus Christ. His gang consists of a martial artist, a Stinky Kappa, and later a Man in a Frog Character Costume. Like you would see at Disney. The man in the frog suit has a super power akin to the carebear stare that paralyzes people.

Heres a side note Ichihara Hayato does not even list this on his official page among his works(http://official.stardust.co.jp/hayato/biography/). Which i think is pretty telling in and of itself.

I liked it but i like cheesy action movies that border on absurd. I love showing them to people and watching their reactions.

Read More

I watched this for Yamapi, not going to lie. I am shallow when it comes to my Johnnys. This is a very typical Hollywood Hacker(tm) movie. While the story gives us all the back story, the movie feels rushed or clipped in spots. Yamapi as the bad guy comes off as cold and calculating and damned fine. His scenes are few and far between but he is not the main so it is expected.

The hacking does not even pretend to be real hacking, but some of the visuals reminded me of a shadow run game we had on the SNES. Specifically the Black Ice cracking.

The acting? Well its an action movie and I don't expect much acting from those.

The music was good.

I would rewatch it again just to watch yamapi scenes.

Read More

Writing a review because there isn't one.

This movie has no surprises if you are already familiar with Japanese Historical dramas. Politics override everything and is the cause of 99% of everyone's problems. This story revolves around a country Samurai and his one true love. Both their lives take the to unexpected places.

The quality of the movie I watched was low, although it may have been because it was a 2005 Film, the acting was excellent, not over done or wooden. The movie itself just seemed to drag. One highlight was the sword fight, the initial reaction to the samurai's first kill was a good one and the entire fight itself was not too cinematic.

The music had no impact on me, there is a slow instrumental at the end and the beginning and a period Japanese song song at the bar .

Overall it gets a5.5 from me..the sword fight earned it a .5 but the story itself down right bored me, I saw everything coming. Predictable.

Read More

This is a comedic look at First Tensh? Iga War (1579) and the life of the best Ninja in the clan. All he wants is for his woman to let him back into the house and to make just enough money to get by but she wants him to get a better job than just a Genin.

This role was almost taylor made for Ohno Satoshi with comedic confidence and talent. The choreography in this is excellent. Do not look for realism in this as it has lot of wire work in it, but sit back and enjoy the story and the fun. Mumon has the feel of an updated, comedic version of Sanjuro for those familiar with the Kurosawa film.

The music Tsunagu by Arashi and I fell in love with it before I watched the movie.

I would watch this again if I had people to share it with.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did and I hope Ohno-san takes more roles like this one in the future.

Read More

This movie is based on Ooku: The Inner Chambers  an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fumi Yoshinaga. The plot follows an alternate history of medieval Japan in which an unknown disease kills most of the male population, leading to a matriarchal society in which the Ooku becomes a harem of men serving the now female shogun. Set in 1715 (Shotoku era in real world) and it is a peaceful time where Samurai do not know the fear of dying in battle.

The inner workings of the harem are shown to have politics and romances (800 men to 1 woman) between harem members.  The story follows the life of a man who holds the bushido code dear, but is from a poor samurai family.  His path takes him places he never dreamed possible.  Ninomiya, as always, excelled with the part, you felt all the emotions with the character he portrayed.  Every one did a good job and not once did I feel not immersed in the story. There is BL elements to this story and it is folded in nicely and not portrayed as comical or over the top, it just is.

I would definitely re-watch this again with the right person.  I might even buy it on dvd.  Overall I gave it a 9.5 because yes it was kind of rushed but on the other hand nothing was really lost in the story telling you knew the protagonists story arc, and it showed there was more story to be told about the Shogun.

Read More

I want to begin by stating the fact that I am woman over 40 with a family of my own so my views are influenced by my life experience.  

I read an article one time that stated the fact that every one that goes into Johnny's (it was an articles on JE so I will expand and say Asian Idol Entertainment in general) knows that this is part of being an Idol.  That the people are groomed and trained and are a part of the managing staff's Product to present to the fans or Customers.

This drama humanizes my above statement, having recently watched all the apologies from KAT-TUN in the 10ks Tour for Taguchi leaving to be with his longtime girfriend, I know that the drama represented here is real, probably dramatized, but real.  I watched this to complete "Sho-Kun's" acting list for me, but was surprised how much I loved watching all of Kanjani 8 and Nikishido Ryo in this.  The acting was well done and the situations were as real as one can get with a blended family.  As far as the romance not being to showy...comfortable love is sometimes like that.  Sharing the burden with someone you will be with for the rest of your life is sometimes more important than a kiss or even a hand hold.  You get that from this drama.

Read More

I watched this raw and no I do not speak Japanese but i have watched the first 2 so I figured I would give it a try. I know it was filmed in a short amount of time due to scheduling and it is the first movie they starred in together since 2007, which was Yellow Tears.

The story basically told itself , I may have missed out on the dialog but just watching them reprise these roles I now know where Haru, Shun, Chuu, Bon, and Takuma’s  life have taken them now that they are in their 30's.  Trying very hard not to post any spoilers but if you watch this for nothing else the costumes are uniquely Arashi.

And pimp daddy Nino : )

If you liked the first 2 which I found english subbed relatively easily, you will love to reminisce with  the characters with or with out subs.

Read More

Don't watch this while eating

Ok not too many spoilers but a few to give you an idea. 1 and second task is to kill and eat a bug, one task is to make children cry, and another is to eat Sh** served on a silver platter. His actions just get worse and worse. As an avid watcher of Death Game dramas and movies with a higher power running the deeds, this is crap that stinks worse than that silver platter entree.

Now i know what you are going to say.. The social commentary on the evils of money and greed, blah blah Blah...that was better illustrated in Liar Game. And what a disappointment the ending was. Nope.

This is a fail Movie.

Read More

This movie is ia all about getting married. The main heroine has has taken care of dad since mom dad, and is totally happy doing it for the rest of her life.
Letting go of an establish life to a new one can be a very scary experience. The time that this movie was set in it was not uncommon for arranged marriages to happen and often between people of different towns.
This show cases a splendid father-daughter relationship where both parties are so concerned for the other they dont realize they are actually just in a holding pattern with their lives.

The movie was acted really well with only one minor detail that may have only bothered me. The Main actresses smile throughout the entire movie just felt so fake. I understand it was supposed to portray a specific facade or mindset, but the actress didnt sell it. Other wise you believe this was a busy-body aunt with well intentions, The friend thats been there done that, and dad who just wants what is best for his little girl.

Mood music typical of the era and rewatch value low because the outcome is known.

Read More

Ok so here my take on Afro Tanaka 2019 which I just completed. I am going to give it a 9.
It showcases all the awkwardness of first time love. All the beautiful clumsiness that you will never reclaim once you passed the mile mark. It also shows that no matter how bad those first few dates go (or how you perceived they went), its not the end of every thing.

Accepting a human to share your time with despite their flaws is not an easy task : ) This drama held my attention enough I did not notice any slow parts, everything just went naturally.

If you like a romance where the only thing stopping the couple from being together is both parties lack of confidence, this is great : )

Score on music is low because i did not notice it, Rewatch value is low because the ending is spoiled.

Read More

Shota Matsuda and Kuroki Meisa back in the day this romance story is sweet with out a lot of hard drama.  Drama exists just not joltingly like Hana Yori Dango or Itazura Na Kiss.  I still like it and I happy I watched it.  Not sure I would re-watch it as it was a very light story, almost Hallmark story-ish.  I am trying to not say anything bad cause it wasn't it was more good than bad. CUTE thats the word it was CUTE. Quaint would be another. Make sure to watch until the very end for a snippet with the actors on the beach.

this is just my opinion, yours may differ

Read More

REVENGE!

REVENGE! that is the theme of this drama, so watch as karma removes bad people in the way of revenge, but do not look for a strong plot outside of REVENGE! cause there isn't any. Not super memorable out of any of the other female revenge killer movies. This is supposed to be the inspiration for the Kill Bill movies.

This is like a super hero origin story. "Born in dark prison, father unknown, her destiny to carry out her mothers revenge for the death of her husband and son" . (Make sure to say that previous line with movie trailer voice over). She is then sent to train with JiJi hard-ass, master of making little girls stay in moving barrels. The Deaths are super hilariously over acted. Like VERY BAD. The blood color and thickness off even for the 70's.

Watch it if you liked Kill Bill or you crave ladies with Katanas and lotsa fake blood.

Read More