The Machine Girl (2008)
Japanese Cinema DVD Review
Yes, that's really a Vulcan Canon attached from her elbow down.
For those of you who loved Grindhouse, this fantasy-fest of gore, non-stop action, ultra-violence, flying bullets, and the wackiest collection of weapons you've ever seen (a drill bra?), will either have you howling with laughter or cheering at the exploits of the heroine. Either way, you'll be entertained, and that's what counts!
Sporting the largest amount of blood *ever* in a live-action film (characters are literally being firehosed with the stuff), Machine Girl is the tale of unrelenting revenge when Ami's brother and friend are killed by ruthless bullies. Although she makes a decent effort to avenge them, she soon finds herself in over her head, and minus her left arm. Barely surviving, she makes her way to two friendly mechanics who stitch her up and fit her with a high powered machine gun.
After that, well, things just get really, really, incredibly wacky. Let's just say that no matter how much you think you've seen everything, you won't be expecting this.
Chock-full of everything that makes killer movies like this only come out of places like Japan or Hong Kong, this film is not only sure to become a cult-classic, but may set a new standard for absolute schlock! It's a new high point for low!
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, June 2008
Below: The trailer for The Machine Girl.
Ringu (1998) Japanese Cinema DVD Review
Perhaps you remember the 2002 blockbuster "The Ring", which supposedly scared audiences from Coast to Coast. In Japan, however, the film was a yawn — because they'd already seen it.
This is the ORIGINAL film that "The Ring" was based on. Fans of the U.S. version will find a less elaborate storyline and more primal fear in the original; the basic plot, however, still has a worried reporter (Nanako Matsushima) tracking down the meaning of the video—and, having watched it herself, she has only a week to uncover the mystery of its origin. With a smaller budget, but a far more artistic flair, this film builds up the suspense and becomes much creepier than the American remake. It will have you unplugging the TV set at night so you can go to sleep.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, January 2004
Returner (2002) Japanese Cinema DVD Review
In yet another victory of style over substance comes this wonderfully derivative live-action anime film. Combining elements of The Matrix, E.T., The Terminator, and Independence Day, plus a dash of Back to the Future, director Takashi Yamazaki throws it all into a blender and hits frappe!
Returner is every sci-fi movie you've ever seen, plus a few more, and yet, it's vastly entertaining, and in an odd way, fresh. Miyimoto, played by the stunning Takeshi Kaneshiro, is really a live action anime character – perfect good-looks, a tough, brooding attitude hiding a sweet heart, brightly colored hair streaks, and volatile temper. Not for kids (due to excessive violence), but definitely cool.
Ringu Fan
A highly detailed fan website for the Ringu movies
A Hundred Years of Japanese Film
Japanese Cinema Book Review
Donald Richie is one of the foremost authorities on Japanese cinema. After serving as Curator of Film at MOMA, Richie moved to Japan, where he immersed himself in the Japanese film world, eventually producing several classic works, including books on the world-renowned directors Kurosawa and Ozu.
In this book, Richie offers a highly-readable insider's look at the achievements of Japanese filmmakers. He begins in the late 1800s when the incipient industry took its inspiration from the traditional stories of Kabuki and Noh theater, and finishes with the latest award-winning dramas showcased at Cannes.
For the movie-going reader, a selective guide in Part Two provides capsule reviews of the major Japanese films available in VHS and DVD formats, as well as those televised on standard and cable channels.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, August 2003
TokyoScope: The Japanese Cult Film Companion Japanese Cinema Book Review
There are quite a few books out there if you want to know a lot about Godzilla or Akira Kurosawa, but if you want to know about yakuza films, or great actors like Sonny Chiba and Bunta Sugawara, or Kinji Fukasaku, one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, thenTokyoScope is worth adding to your collection.
One of the cooler facts we found in this book was that Samuel L. Jackson's Biblical speech in Pulp Fiction was borrowed from the brain-damaged Sonny Chiba karate flick "The Bodyguard". TokyoScope is a densely packed and illustrated volume full of trivia, biographies, poster art, and reviews of some 100 of the top films to see. It provides an attractive and accessible introduction to the world's most notorious movies and is an indispensable reference that belongs in the library of any true cult film fan.
Sporting the largest amount of blood *ever* in a live-action film (characters are literally being firehosed with the stuff), Machine Girl is the tale of unrelenting revenge when Ami's brother and friend are killed by ruthless bullies. Although she makes a decent effort to avenge them, she soon finds herself in over her head, and minus her left arm. Barely surviving, she makes her way to two friendly mechanics who stitch her up and fit her with a high powered machine gun.
This is the ORIGINAL film that "The Ring" was based on. Fans of the U.S. version will find a less elaborate storyline and more primal fear in the original; the basic plot, however, still has a worried reporter (Nanako Matsushima) tracking down the meaning of the video—and, having watched it herself, she has only a week to uncover the mystery of its origin. With a smaller budget, but a far more artistic flair, this film builds up the suspense and becomes much creepier than the American remake. It will have you unplugging the TV set at night so you can go to sleep.
Returner is every sci-fi movie you've ever seen, plus a few more, and yet, it's vastly entertaining, and in an odd way, fresh. Miyimoto, played by the stunning Takeshi Kaneshiro, is really a live action anime character – perfect good-looks, a tough, brooding attitude hiding a sweet heart, brightly colored hair streaks, and volatile temper. Not for kids (due to excessive violence), but definitely cool.
