A Colt Is My Passport (1967)

A hitman Kamimura takes a job to kill a yakuza boss who’s gotten greedy. The rival yakuza boss who hires Kamimura and his driver Shun pays them and sets them up in a hotel for a night while arranging safe passage on a ship but the son of the dead yakuza boss and his cronies are on the hunt for them. He goes to his rival and offers a partnership and cash in exchange for Kamimura’s death. The boss considers his choice: morals or money? As the net begins to close on the two fleeing men, a beautiful maid at the hotel where they are holed up gets involved and tries to help them out but can they escape with their lives intact?

A quite brilliant Japanese film noir classic with some overtones of the Italian spaghetti western genre thrown in. Even though this is a Japanese movie, it seems the director tried to give it a European vibe. It’s also very stylish and well made throughout. Jo Shishido gives an excellent performance as the maverick hitman Kamimura and his appearance with his puffed up cheeks certainly make him stand out and looking like a chipmunk!! Apparently he had implants inserted in his cheeks for that effect. The action is exciting and gripping especially the explosive finale. At only 85 mins long, the plot rifles along at a rocket’s pace. Once you start watching it you will not want to look away from the screen as the storyline sucks you in. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and I heartily recommend it.

Sadako’s Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

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Sanjuro (1962)

In this unofficial sequel to Yojimbo, a lone crafty samurai helps a young man and his fellow clansmen save his uncle, who has been framed and imprisoned by a corrupt superintendent.

This movie is one of Kurosawa’s lighter efforts – being played mostly for laughs. Even though Toshiro Mifune plays the same character as he did in Yojimbo the mood could not be any different. There’s plenty of gags which will make you smile – Kurosawa is basically taking apart the samurai genre with tongue firmly in cheek and a running joke sees a prisoner kept inside a cupboard who pops out every so often to give his opinion. Even though this is a comedy don’t think for a second there’s no action involved in this movie as there is with Mifune’s nameless character showing us what he’s made of by taking on 7 or more people in a swordfight but the best is saved for last with a very bloody ending that nobody sees coming. I think I’ve said in my other reviews what I think of Toshiro Mifune and I certainly won’t repeat them again but the man is pure class when it comes to acting. Another awesome performance from him in this movie – as his character runs rings around everybody such as the young men in the story. Mifune’s samurai can clearly see they are incompetent fools and feels compelled to help them out to seek justice.

All in all, a very enjoyable and well-crafted movie.

Sadako’s Rating: 4 stars out of 5

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Twenty Four Eyes (1954)

Twenty Four Eyes tells the story of a bright young teacher, Hisaki Oishi and the ongoing and dedicated relationship she has with her first class of twelve children over a period of 18 years on a remote island with a poor community. Hisaki is mistrusted by their parents at first as she is too flashy and modern for their liking, however, soon both children and adults fall under the spell of this headstrong, city-girl only to see the impending war irretrievably change their lives for good.

What an amazing movie this is and is guaranteed to get you crying before the end credits roll. It is heartbreaking to say the least. The director expertly presses all the emotional buttons of the audience. There are some people who detest this sort of thing, but I’m a sucker for it. In the hands of an expert director, and for the purposes of entertainment, there’s nothing wrong with being taken on a emotional roller-coaster ride. There are some high points and many sad events in the story, which moves along at a pace which is sometimes leisurely but never dull. Hideko Takamine is outstanding as the smiling and caring teacher who loves her students very much. It made me wish that I had somebody like her as a teacher when I was growing up. We get to know all twelve children (“24 eyes”) in the movie, and eventually learn about their fates as adults – not all of it is happy.

The fact that “Auld Lang Syne” and “There’s No Place Like Home” are used at times for background music heightens the feelings of loss & sadness, which does make up some of the story. This is somewhat of an anti-war movie, but only as it affects the children and the teacher. Some might say it’s at times too sentimental and melodramatic especially during the 2nd half of the movie as tragedy after tragedy occurs but I didn’t think it was.

This is one of Japan’s favorite movies of all time and it’s easy to see why. Wonderful acting by all the cast but especially from the teacher and her students plus a poignant storyline makes this a must-see for any Asian movie fan.

Sadako’s Rating: 5 stars out of 5

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Throne Of Blood (1957)

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth tale is transferred into the feudal era of Japan as brave and loyal samurai warrior Washizu encounters a ghostly female spirit deep inside a spooky forest who foretells his future by telling him that he is destined to become ruler of a great fortress. Egged on by his wife, Washizu kills the current ruler of the fortress so that his prophecy can come true. However, his guilt soon starts to get the better of him and other people get suspicious of how the previous ruler was murdered. Soon a great army headed by his former friend starts to advance on his great fortress and Washizu once more seeks another prophecy by the female spirit who says that when the trees of the forest rise up against him then his reign will come to an end. He mocks this prophecy as trees cannot move but tragedy is about to befall Washizu.

Kurosawa’s take on Macbeth is nothing short of sensational and this might be the best movie of any of Shakespeare’s works. It’s THAT good. The visuals employed by him is brilliant such as the use of swirling fog, black volcanic sand on bleak landscapes and huge fortresses. Toshiro Mifune who is definitely my favorite Japanese actor of all time gives us yet another awesome performance as the guilt stricken Washizu but somehow he is also given a good run for his money in acting by Isuzu Yamada who plays his power hungry wife Asaji. There are many highlights when you watch this movie such as the encounter with the spirit in the forest for example but for me the climax tops it all when Washizu’s treachery is discovered by his men and they start to shoot a load of arrows on him in his fortress.

Even though a lot of people will no doubt point you towards The Seven Samurai as a good first movie if you want to start watching Akira Kurosawa’s back catalogue, I would nevertheless tell you to watch this one instead. It’s atmospheric, gripping and just fantastic. I can’t praise this movie enough. Highly recommended.

Sadako’s Rating: 5 stars out of 5

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Battles Without Honor And Humanity 3:Proxy War (1973)

The 3rd in the Battles Without Honor movie series find our protagonist Shozo Hirono in Hiroshima during 1960 (with the story having moved on from 1945 in the first movie) and he’s done very well for himself – he is now head of his own little yakuza clan and friends with 3 more bosses of small clans. However it doesn’t take long for suspicion and betrayal to rear it’s ugly head when Hirono’s previous boss Yamamori comes back on the scene after the head of Hiroshima’s biggest yakuza family is bumped off and Yamamori takes over. Naturally his resentment of Hirono comes to the fore and he would be more than happy for somebody to take him out. Alliances are formed and broken as the streets of Hiroshima explode into all out wars with Hirono in the middle of it all.

Another very enjoyable entry and probably an improvement on the first movie (I will watch the 2nd movie in the series when I get a chance). The plot of this movie is  very much like a chess game – bosses trying to make other bosses into  making a mistake so they can take over Hiroshima’s biggest clan. Trying to keep out of the situation at first but inevitably being forced to take sides is Hirono in the hope of deposing his hated enemy Yamamori. Bunta Sugawara is fantastic once more as the bad ass Hirono. You’ve got to feel sorry for his character. People he calls friends betrays him time after time. Director Kinji Fukasaku keeps us interested in the storyline with plenty of backstabbing, suspense and heavy violence. Fukasaku’s vision of yakuza life is there’s no such thing as loyalty – you can be friends with a rival clan one minute and the next you’re plotting their downfall. The movie chugs along at a nice energetic pace so you’re never bored watching it. The only problem with watching this movie is you want to know what happens next – nothing is resolved in the plot so I guess I’ll have to watch the final 2 installments to find out the conclusion to the whole saga.

No trailer I’m afraid.

Sadako’s Rating: 4 stars out of 5

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Sonatine (1993)

Takeshi Kitano is Murakawa, a successful yakuza officer who has grown weary of the violent life, so much so that he has even considered retirement. Thus, he is not pleased when he is asked to lead a team to help defuse a gang war in Okinawa but agrees when he is assured it will be an easy job. It proves anything but, however, and he soon finds himself in the middle of a complex, bloody conflict. Fearing that he has been set up, Murakawa withdraws to a remote beach house where he and his gang hope to lie low for a little while by relaxing and having fun. This sunny idyll cannot last forever, however, and soon the realities of the criminal life catch up with them.

Kitano’s 4th movie is a masterpiece. Sonatine gives an insight into not just his Murakawa character, but also Japanese culture and behaviour. Kitano is clearly a “less is more” type of actor, but more is shown in his gaze than any other actor. His stand up history also comes across in Sonatine’s several humorous moments, such as the William Tell/Sumo Wrestling sequence on the beach. The cinematography is also absolutely beautiful, nice and simple static shots plus some pretty locations, such as the beach. Sonatine is recommended for its mixture of violent action, humour and fantastic performances from the cast.

Sadako’s Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

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Cruel Story Of Youth (1960)

Kiyoshi is a brooding young man who treats women solely as objects. Makoto is a young woman who is just reaching her sexual awakening. She and her friends accept car rides from middle aged men, although they state it is nothing more than fun with no intention of leading those men on. Kiyoshi and Makoto meet when he saves her from one of those middle aged men who tries to take advantage of her. Despite treating each other abusively, they start a relationship with each other which leads to what they call love, but feels more like an emotional dependence on each other to rebel against traditional society. Each with no money, they start to extort money from these middle aged men who she leads on. This act is only one demonstration of the only power they feel they have, namely sex, which they use against others as well as against each other in their doomed relationship.

This movie tells the story of two youths who suffer from the social malaise typical of their generation and how self destructive young people can be. They express their frustration in violent and poetic ways, which makes up the substance of the movie’s narrative. But putting all that aside, by it’s end it’s also completely heartwrenching. Besides following a good storyline, it is also well-shot. The cinematography is crisp. The overall nature of the photography gives the movie a fantastic quality. It’s gritty, and obviously seeks to be realistic, but it has the feel of a fable or a morality tale. At times it has the sensibility of a yakuza movie – violence abounds and the director gives it a very cool, retro feel. At it’s core it’s a love story, but of a sort that modern audiences will probably never see in a contemporary movie. It shows love as the cruelest thing imaginable, making it difficult to watch at times, but in the end, impossible to forget.

Sadako’s Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

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Floating Clouds (1955)

A woman suffers years of pain and humiliation when she reignites, upon her repatriation to Tokyo, an affair that had begun during the war with a married, philandering government worker, whose mistresses keep getting younger and younger. The meaning behind the title is that the woman is floating endlessly in her life, not knowing where she belongs in post war Japan.

This is a story about a couple (Tomioka and Yukiko) who met in French Indo-China working for the Forestry Department for Japan. The story is ultimately about the time they spend once they return to Japan, which is somewhat tumultuous, as he is married. They do not spend the whole movie together, at times Tomioka is with his wife and he even leaves Yukiko for another still younger woman, Osei. If this sounds like a tear-jerking soap opera, it kind of is. However, the movie is a powerful tale of love, betrayal and obsession. The beautiful Hideko Takamine is excellent in a very challenging role as Yukiko, conjuring raw emotions often. At times you are torn between them even wanting to be together and I think that is what gives the movie its compelling nature. If you are not fond of heavy drama, this is not your movie. I feel the acting is superb and the story very watchable. Another great movie by Mikio Naruse.

No trailer but there’s a montage of clips from Mikio Naruse’ movies including Floating Clouds

Sadako’s Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

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A Brand New Life (2009)

Jin-hee is a 9-year-old girl whose father leaves her at an orphanage after remarrying. Before leaving her at the orphanage, her father buys her new clothes and a cake to convince her that she is going on a trip.In the orphanage she tries to come to grips with the abandonment by her parents and insecurities about a possible adoption. She gradually makes friendships, although she retains the belief throughout most of the movie that her father will return to take her back.

Heartbreaking and emotional movie. What makes it even sadder is the story is loosely based on what the director Ounie Lecomte went through as child. The gem and revelation of the movie is the tour de force performance by precocious 11 year old Kim Sae Ron as Jinhee, who almost single-handedly lifts the movie from start to finish giving an unbelievably strong performance for her age, dealing with the range of positive and negative emotions like a seasoned veteran. You can’t help but to fall in love with the little girl, and share in her despair at being abandoned, and weep a little with her when promises made become shattered. The other child actors are no slouches either with their performances – each contributing to this sad tale. I did shed a tear near the climax as Jinhee leaves the orphanage to go to her new family in Paris and although we don’t see if her life changes for the better we hope it does for her sake.

If you only see this movie for 1 thing, do it for Kim Sae Ron’s performance. Highly recommended.

Sadako’s Rating: 4 stars out of 5

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Revenge Of The Zebra Mini Skirt Police (2010)

This is a spin-off feature from Zebraman 2 which focuses on 3 of the sexy mini-skirted female police that was in the movie.

Set before Zebraman 2, an orphan girl hacker Masami is caught by the police run by the Zebra City Governor and ‘asked’ if she wants to join a team of 2 other females tasked with protecting his life. However all that Masami cares about is trying to find the killer of her parents who were murdered when she was a child. After an unsuccessful break out attempt from her training school, Masami slowly but surely comes round to her 2 colleagues’ way of thinking and joins up with them.

This was a fun 41 minute direct to DVD movie starring 3 incredibly beautiful gravure idols. Miki Inase, Yuko Shimizu and Sayoko Ohashi make a hot trio and seeing them kick ass was fantastic to watch. The movie’s runtime swiftly goes by and there’s enough action to keep anybody satisfied. Of course it helps a lot when there’s such lovely eye-candy to see! It’s a shame the movie was so short, it would have been great to have seen some more. But I can’t complain – what you get is an entertaining little action movie which is worth checking out.

No trailer but take a look at this action scene from the movie

Sadako’s Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.

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The Man Who Stole The Sun (1979)

This is a cool, insane big-budget Japanese movie from the late 70’s, in which a trendy young high-school science teacher Kido Masato (nicknamed Bubble Gum by his students) somehow makes a nuclear bomb in his Tokyo studio apartment by breaking into a nuclear reactor station and stealing plutonium, in order to hold Tokyo to ransom for his rather odd demands. The movie plays on the public’s fear of nuclear weapons, but whether or not you’re scared depends on how far you’re willing to suspend your disbelief. After some early attempts at political commentary, it turns into a full-blown action movie, with endless jaw-dropping stunts which includes a fantastic high speed chase on the streets of Tokyo as our anti-hero is pursued by dogged police detective Yamashita throughout the movie.

However serious you might think this movie is at first will have you scratching your heads at the ridiculous things that happen in the final third of the movie. Detective Yamashita is quite literally The Terminator as he dodges explosions, survives falling from a great height by a helicopter and then won’t die from 6 or 7 bullets to the body including 2 to the heart. Although overlong at 2 and a half hours, this movie is constantly mad, OTT, unpredictable and unintentionally amusing. I really enjoyed it and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. Highly recommended.

Sadako’s Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

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Yojimbo (1961)

A lone samurai finds himself in the middle of a feud-torn Japanese village. Neither side is particularly honorable, but the samurai is hungry and impoverished, so he agrees to work as bodyguard (or Yojimbo) for a silk merchant against a sake merchant. He then pretends to go to work for the other in order to watch as each side takes each other out.

Akira Kurosawa once again shows why he is the greatest director that ever lived. From start to finish Yojimbo is a true masterpiece without flaw. The atmosphere that is created by the sound and camera work instantly grabs your attention and refuses to let go at any point. Toshiro Mifune is, as always, superb in the leading role as a masterless samurai who plays two rival gangs off against each other. His portrayal of the strong but kind samurai rivals his great performance in The Seven Samurai. With a brilliant cast, great humour and quality action scenes – don’t miss out on this classic movie.

Sadako’s Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

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Battles Without Honor & Humanity (1973)

In the teeming black markets of postwar Japan, Shozo Hirono and his friends find themselves in a new war between fractious and ambitious yakuza. After joining boss Yamamori, Shozo is drawn into a feud with his sworn brother’s family, the Dois. But that’s where the chivalry of traditional yakuza film ends and the hypocrisy, betrayal, and assassinations begin. Who will manage to survive these bitter battles?

The first of this five part movie epic introduces the viewer to what will be a 30 year long struggle of gang warfare in Japan after the bombing of Hiroshima. These are violent movies, and director Kinji Fukasaku does not spare the viewer as to how, why and where these thugs were able to rise to power after Japan’s defeat in WWII. We are witness to betrayals, deceit and the methods of how the yakuza become organized. Everything in the yakuza clans were modeled along business lines–and we witness the so-called yakuza myth being destroyed. These are vicious gangs who will go through anyone, and everyone to get what they feel belongs to them. As for loyalty, forget about it, there is none. Many of those who started out with the yakuza after the war were former soldiers. One of these is the movie’s primary protagonist Shozo Hirono. Shozo Hirono is a former soldier who is initiated into the gang after an altercation with another yakuza. As Shozo rises through the ranks, we see his character going through the motions of honor and loyalty–even though his superiors are not entirely of the same mode.

If you like gritty gangster movies then you’ve come to the right place. The disjointed storyline might be a little disorientating to those who have never seen a Yakuza movie before, but director Fukasaku helps you out with a running total of who has died (using a similar method in Battle Royale). The movie was revolutionary because it was some of the first to depict the yakuza life as one without honor, as the title reveals.  It also showed the emptiness, brutality, destruction and tragedy of the yakuza lifestyle. The message of the movie is very in-your-face, because at the time almost every movie glorified the gangster life and heroic bloodshed. This movie is not just for yakuza fans, but for fans of all Japanese cinema, as well as fans of cinema in general. Though the series may portray a great gangster tale, it’s also a fantastic movie and the viewer need not be a fan of the genre.

Sadako’s Rating: 4 stars out of 5

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The Hidden Fortress (1958)

Two deserters fleeing from their army come across a general who is trying to lead the princess across enemy territory with a huge stash of gold to her homeland.

To put it blunty – without this movie there would have been no Star Wars! For those who haven’t seen a Kurosawa movie this is a great treat. Though I wouldn’t call it an incredibly serious movie, I also wouldn’t just call it a comedy, it mixes drama, action and comedy perfectly. The story here is very simple and linear. It deals with an escape of a princess, general and two peasants from an occupied province to a friendly one. Like any Kurosawa movie, the camera work and editing are absolutely top-notch. Using these two elements to increase the experience, Kurosawa creates a breathtaking story about honour, loyalty, and courage to do something dangerous as well as getting along with the people closest to you. Toshiro Mifune is excellent in the regular role of the tough guy.

If your a fan of Akira Kurosawa or Toshiro Mifune, watch this movie, if your a fan of Star Wars, watch this movie, if your a fan of samurai’s and that time period, watch this movie. If you have any sense, WATCH THIS MOVIE!

Sadako’s Rating: 5 stars out of 5

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Shall We Dance? (1996)

Shohei Sugiyama is a married, middle-aged, workaholic accountant simply going through the routine of his daily life who becomes obsessed with a sad and beautiful dance instructor he spies through the window of a dance studio on the train platform as he goes home. His dull life takes a funny turn when he signs up for ballroom dancing lessons to try to meet the mysterious woman and instead is assigned a plump, middle-aged instructor. Even though Sugiyama has two left feet to begin with, he gradually becomes better. His initial decision to join the lessons was only to meet the female instructor but now he finds that he actually enjoys dancing. Sugiyama’s wife soon starts to suspect that he’s having an affair behind his back when he comes back home smelling of perfume. She employs a detective to find out the truth…..

A fantastic feel-good movie about ballroom dancing. An accountant wants more from life than the approved conventional success. What makes it work so well, and makes it so different from the standard dance movie is that it really isn’t about becoming “great”, it is simply about finding a way to express one’s self. The big triumph at the end is not the winning of a contest, not the discovery of a whole new lifestyle, but the simple joy of doing what you want to fulfill the other parts of your life. No one is discovering their passion, they are finding their quiet soul. The acting all around is superb with a colorful cast of characters such as Aoki, Sugiyama’s co-worker who transforms into a flamboyant wig-wearing OTT dancer.

The Japanese psyche is such that they deeply distrusted any man that was seen to be doing any Western dancing such as ballroom. It was a given no-no – Japanese men don’t do such things. This movie opened their minds that there was nothing wrong with it and it was actually a cool thing to do. This movie was a huge success in Japan.

It’s know it’s a cliché, but this is a true “feel good” movie, and proof that you don’t have to have sex, profanity, and violence to have an engrossing movie.

Sadako’s Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

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