Movies
A fun and entertaining little brawler, but a bit too basic to stand out from its peers. With films like High & Low still doing very well, expectations for something like this are a bit steeper nowadays. Out doesn't do anything wrong specifically, there just isn't enough there to set itself apart. After Iguchi is released from a juvenile detention center, he is forced to work in a restaurant, far away from his own gang. It doesn't take long before he meets some of the local gang members. He befriends them but he also doesn't want to betray the trust of his guardians. A tough task when a rival gang starts making trouble. The styling is proper, the performances are fun and energetic and the comedy is on point. The film is a bit too long maybe and the action scenes aren't all that impressive, which is where the film loses out compared to its competitors. Still, if you like a fun brawler, Out won't disappoint. Good fun.Read all
A wild mix of action, horror and comedy. Deadman Inferno is a zombie flick with flashy fight scenes and plenty of fourth wall breaking comedy. Shinagawa's direction is notable and the pacing is incredible, but it's not quite insane enough to be a real masterpiece. Still, if you're looking for some brutal entertainment, this film delivers in spades.
A simple but fun documentary. The concept is familiar enough. Put two renowned people who have never met each other in a chair, give them some starter questions, and just observe where the conversation goes. The fireside was notably absent here, other than that this chat delivered exactly what it promised. Anno is the creator of Evangelion, Matsumoto one of Japan's most renowned comedians. Both are responsible for some of my absolute favorite films (top 20 material), and with so very little opportunities to see these creators outside their work (certainly in the West), this proved an ideal chance to watch these men in a more open setting. It's intriguing to see how much in awe Matsumoto was, it's fun to see Anno wince at compliments, and the talk does offer some neat insights in how they approach their work. It's only interesting if you care about their work, and the conversation does get pretty nerdy (with lots of otaku talk about Kamen Rider and Ultra man). I wouldn't mind seeing more of this with other renowned (Asian) directors.Read all