It’s been a while since I reviewed a martial arts film from Hong Kong, and even longer since I reviewed a film from Shaw Brothers. With Netflix including more and more of the Shaw Brothers filmography, now is as good a time as any to revisit the studio and their works. Continue reading
Category Archives: film
Film Review: The Yakuza Papers Pt. 3 – Proxy War
Proxy War, along with the second film in the series, Hiroshima Deathmatch, are really where the Yakuza Papers series really kicks into high gear with showing the real nature of the Yakuza life. Where the sophomore film in the series introduced a new character, followed him through his induction into the yakuza, until his ultimate death, Proxy War returns us to following Bunta Sugawara’s character, Shozo Hirono, as factions within the old guard start playing the new generation of yakuza against each other, while Hirono himself tries to reconcile this current chain of events with the yakuza code of honor. Continue reading
Sealed Envelope – Star Wars, The New Era, and The Prophecy
This week I’m putting together a video with some speculation on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and how The Prophecy from the prequel trilogy might tie in to the film’s plot (if it comes up at all). This was recorded Thanksgiving Weekend, well before the film came out, as a little sealed envelope – if my predictions are right, then I’m a genius! If I’m wrong, I look like a moron! Either way, you win! Continue reading
Film Review – A Christmas Carol (1999)
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is probably the work of literature that has been most frequently adapted to the screen that wasn’t written by William Shakespeare. With so many adaptations, it’s probably hard to pick the best. I’d probably put the Muppet version at the top of my list, but aside from that, the 1999 made-for-TV version starring Patrick Stewart as Ebenezer Scrooge is my number two pick. Continue reading
Film Review: The Yakuza Papers Pt. 2 – Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
After the original The Yakuza Papers came out and did incredibly well at the box office, a sequel came out with a relatively fast turnaround. Unlike the first film, the sequel, Deadly Fight in Hiroshima, bypasses Bunta Sugawara’s character, Shozo Hirono (who does appear in this film as a cameo appearance), for a new character, and new story of induction into the world of the Yakuza.
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Film Review – Rashomon
It’s weird watching Rashomon after seeing multiple films and episodes of TV shows that used the central narrative device of Rashomon after the film came out. On the one hand, it’s a film that did a lot of this stuff first, but on the other hand, it is still, in a way, somewhat old hat.
Probably what makes Rashomon work as well as it does is how the lies in the story are presented. We have the initial witness testimony, showing the discovery of the body. Continue reading
Movie Review – The Yakuza Papers, Vol. 1: Battles Without Honor and Humanity
Due to the copyright strike on my Youtube channel, I’m going to hold off on doing film video reviews for the immediate future, aside from works from companies with a proven track record as being forgiving when it comes to film criticism (such as the Criterion Collection). However, I still want to keep talking about film so, for now, I’m going to do those review as prose reviews. If there is an interest from my Patreon Backers (which you can be one of), once the copyright strike is up, I’ll go back to re-do some or all these reviews as video reviews (depending on what films they’d like to see reviewed).
These reviews are also being posted on my Letterboxd page. I’m cross posting them here because I remember what happened to Screened, and I’d like to make sure I don’t lose any of my reviews.
With that out of the way, I’m taking a look at a Japanese Yakuza film from the 1970s – and the first part of the Yakuza Papers/Battles Without Honor Or Humanity series of films. Continue reading
Movie Review – Kuroneko
This time I’m reviewing another Japanese Horror film – Kuroneko. Continue reading
Movie Review – Black Sabbath
I haven’t done a movie review in a while and it’s October, so this week I’m reviewing a horror anthology film from Mario Bava, starring Boris Karloff.
Anime Review – Rage of Bahamut: Genesis
This time I have another anime review, of the recent title “Rage of Bahamut: Genesis”, licensed by Funimation.
This week I’m doing a documentary review of the film “The Ackermonster Chronicles” Continue reading
This week I’m doing an anime review, with a look at the first two seasons of the anime series “Hayate the Combat Butler”. Continue reading
I’ve still got a pending copyright claim on my review of Jamie’s Food Revolution by Jamie Oliver’s production company, so I’m doing a vlog-style review of the Arnold Schwarzenegger film “Sabotage”. Continue reading
Vlog – The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – And Also New Super Mario Bros. 2
This time I give my thoughts on the conclusion of Peter Jackson’s latest Tolkein Trilogy, as well as New Super Mario Bros. 2 for the 3DS.
Thoughts from my re-watch of Akira
Akira (film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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I’m re-watching Akira again, for the first time after having seen the first part of Megazone 23. It’s interesting to compare Megazone 23 Part 1 and Akira. Both came out within 3 years of each other – Megazone 23 in 1985, the year I was born, and Akira in 1988. Both have similar leads – biker punks who get in over their heads with sinister government conspiracies. Both series have hawkish military figures who overthrow the elected government in a coup, and both figures are certainly antagonists. However, it’s interesting to see how in Megazone 23, the military figures are clearly evil, while in Akira, the Colonel’s actions are given a stronger justification.
This is kind of a spoiler for Megazone 23, so don’t read further if you’re worried about having the story spoiled:
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Well, this month I’ve been swamped with school, but I have had a little time to watch a couple movies, and read one book, so I might as well give my thoughts on them. Specifically, I’ll be discussing the films Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, and the Hugo Award nominated (and now Nebula Award Winning) science fiction novel 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson.
Related articles
- SF and Fantasy Awards Season Heats Up; Hugo and Nebula Awards Still to Come (kindlepost.com)
- Nebula Award Winners Announced: Kim Stanley Robinson, Nancy Kress, and More (omnivoracious.com)
Film Review – Heaven & Hell
This week I’m reviewing a little known film from the Shaw Brothers. How little known is it? So unknown that I couldn’t find an IMDB page for this film! Continue reading
Film Review – Is Paris Burning?
This week I’m doing another film review – this time of a World War II Ensemble film – Is Paris Burning?
Naturally, this includes some discussion of this sub-genre as a whole. Continue reading
Vlog – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
On New Years Eve I saw The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Here’s what I thought of the movie.
This week I’m reviewing another film in the Criterion Collection – the samurai film “Sword of the Beast”.
After a short break caused by school work, I have a vlog for the new James Bond film, Skyfall.
Related articles
- James Bond film Skyfall breaks seven day box office record (telegraph.co.uk)
- ‘Skyfall’ Co-Writer Is Already Writing The Next James Bond Film (screencrave.com)
- Skyfall Becomes The The Biggest Movie Of The Year In The UK! (lukewilliamsgossip.wordpress.com)
- Movie Review: Skyfall (cwtampa.cbslocal.com)
- James Bond Film Skyfall Inspired By Stuxnet Virus (entertainment.slashdot.org)
- Skyfall Filmmakers 3D-Printed This Rare Aston Martin So They Wouldn’t Damage the Original (gizmodo.co.uk)
This week I’m taking a look at a Japanese anthology horror film, and part of the Criterion Collection – Kwaidan.
Help out victims of Hurricane Sandy by donating to the Red Cross
Related articles
- Kwaidan: Hoichi, the Earless (ladyphilosopher.wordpress.com)
- Bede’s Halloween Viewing List: 62 Horror Films In 31 Days (supermarcey.com)
- Become a Horror Lover in Nine Easy Steps (tdylf.com)
Movie Review – Guyver
This week I’m taking a look at the 1991 Live action adaptation of the popular anime.
Apollo Z Hack and Obscurus Lupa‘s review of this film currently isn’t available online anyway, so I couldn’t have watched it before my review, whether I’d wanted to or not.
Related articles
- Bio-Booster Armor Guyver (megabert.wordpress.com)
Movie Review – McQ
This week I’m returning to the world of the cinema, with a review of the John Wayne film “McQ” – a film that gives a glimpse of what Wayne might have been like as Dirty Harry.
Also, I’m going to be at Portland Retro Gaming Expo on Saturday 9/29/2012 & Sunday 9/30/2012. If you see me, say hi! Also, check out the 100th episode of the Dangerous Kids podcast on Saturday.