The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962) Review

 

Second film in the Zatoichi series and last in black and white.

This film follows Zatoichi as he returns to the village from the previous film to pay respects for a man he murdered. Along the wa,y he is chased by Yakuza who after him for a rather flimsy reason, so there's not much to care about with that aspect of the story.
The more interesting plot point is the addition of a samurai that a girl who Zatoichi once loved had left him for.
There are a couple more interesting details that are revealed about the whole affair towards the end too and it makes for some good drama. However, it does feel like it's not focused on enough throughout the film, until towards the end, and so it doesnt quite have the emotional impact you would hope for, but it's still pretty effective.
The film also does end in very abrupt manner that's more akin to a cliffhanger,
but it was rushed out only a few months after the first and has a runtime of only 77 minutes, so the sudden ending could be a consequence of those factors.
Overall, it's a step down from the previous, but still a good second film overall. ***1/2

The Tale of Zatoichi (1962) Review

 

This is the first film in the Zatoichi series, which between 1962 and 1973 produced 25 movies, all starring the same actor Shintaro Katsu in the titular role of Zatoichi a blind masseur/swordsman.

This is one of only two films in the series to be black and white (other being the second) and  sees Zatoichi being hired by a Yakuza gang leader and gets caught up in the conflict they have in the rival gang.

The way they establish some of Zatoichi's character early on is great. There's a bunch of gamblers who try to take advantage of him but he instead fools them and takes all their money, showing that he is smart and knows full well people how people will underestimate him because of his blindness.

Throughout the film more of his traits are revealed and you really get a rounded picture of the character and take quite a liking to him (well i did anyway). He's not perfect person but definitely has an empathetic side as well is an all around strong main character to have.

He also doesn't care much for the Yakuza conflict that is ongoing and actually befriends one of the samurai in the rival gang, building this real nice rapport with him. However, there is this looming sense that they will have to inevitably face off, and this the key that leads to great dama and really elevates the film, building up to a fantastic climax  and ending that is quite emotional with a stella performance from Katsu who really makes you feel for Zatoichi.

The film itself is also shot very well, and the rest of the performances are good too.
There is of course also some samurai action, with the rival gangs clashing in a very messy and chaotic manner, which contrasts nicely with Zatoichi who is precise and focused with his swordplay, usually ending things in a quick manner.

Overall, this is a great introduction and first film in the series that does good job at establishing the Zatoichi character and nails some  damn good drama in the process.

I look forward to exploring more of the series. ****

Gamera vs. Barugon (1966) Review

 

 

The second Gamera film, sees the giant turtle take on his first monster, Barugon. A giant lizard who can spit freeze gas from his tongue and rainbows from his back. An odd but certainly fun set of powers.

With a higher budget and production standards, the film is a marginal improvement over the first one and definitely has less of its clunkiness.
The monster action is some good stuff, and includes a nice bit of destruction and a little ounce of blood. 

The human element isn't bad either, they chuck a bit of adventure in there with the character going off to an island to get ahold of a giant opal. This of course leads to characters getting greedy and we even get a couple of human scraps, which they put a bit effort into. It all gave me a bit of a Godzilla vs. Mothra vibe, except not as engaging.
The rest of the human stuff though is the usual thing of them working out how to get rid of Barugon, and this is where the movie really starts to drag and running at 100 minutes (which is kinda long for these kinds of movies) the film has some really severe pacing issues which really bring it down.

Despite its issues though, the film certainly put Gamera on the right track, leaving us with a competent kaiju film that has some fun monster action.

Gamera, The Giant Monster (1965) Review

 

 

 

As the 1960s saw a boom in the Kaiju film genre, there was one giant turtle in particular looking to be a true rival to the King of the Kaiju himself, Godzilla.
His name was Gamera, and in 1965 came his first movie Gamera, The Giant Monster.
And while it was success and spawned a franchise inlcuding at present, 12 movies, this first film isn't exactly Gojira, in fact, when compared to the majority Godzilla's other movies,
at this early stage, Gamera seems less like a rival and more like a bargain bin cousin.

Now to be fair, it didn't have the biggest budget and that smooth of a production, and I certainly don't think the movie isn't enjoyable becuase I do like it.
But it is incredible clunky, and can get a little tedious in its third act and just lacks the overall polish that the Godzilla film has.

The actual monster action is quite fun, you get a nice little bit of destruction in there and I like Gamera's look, though it is the typical type of action you usually see in a solo kaiju movie.

The human stuff on the other end isn't so good. The acting is definitely mixed particularly early on when you've got these American Navy seals who are so bad they're literally just reading from the script at a couple of points, though it does admittedly provide a few laughs.
The majority of these human scenes however, are made of them trying to figure out what Gamera is and how to stop them, so again, the typical kind of thing you get in these movies, and that's what provides tedium, especially with it not being paced very well, it can tend to drag.
They also have the addition of some delusional kid who is obsessed with Gamera and thinks he's good, being competely clueless to the death and destruction he causes, which is a funny thing to witness.

The film is also shot in a black and white, which isn't really an issue, and it does certainly looking pretty good in places, but quite often the film is incredibly dark looking and almost indistuingishable on occasion, and that's even with Arrow Video's lastest HD remaster, which is probably the best that it could look in this present day.

Overall, the first Gamera film is a very generic schlocky solo giant monster film, that doesn't really do anything new to make it stick out, with most of its enjoyment stemming from its monster action and its clunkiness. It's pretty fun, but definitely one that I would only recommend to the hardcore Kaiju crowd. ***

The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi (1979) Review

This is a comedy by Nobuhiko Obayashi that is based on the fictional detective Kosuke Kindaichi created by Seishi Yokomizo. I have no familiarity with the character at all but there have been numerous TV and film adaptations done on him, and in fact, the main actor who plays Kindaichi, Ikko Furuya, had played him previously in a TV show and would go on to play as him in subsequent movies.
The film itself is pretty oddball, it jumps around quite a bit and at first, I was a little confused about what was going on, and throughout there's bits of nonsense and randomness scattered about, which do at times provide some good laughs. And it even at times gets a little meta, including Yokimozo playing himself in a cameo, where he gets royalties and says he didn't want to be in the movie.

The story itself is, of course, a detective mystery where Kindaichi has been urged to solve a case that was left unsolved in a book about his cases. It is fun to watch unfold and has some interesting little twists, though as the film does like to jump about and gets a bit jumbly, you could get a little lost, but it all wraps up well towards the end.

What makes this film really stand out though, is the aftermath of the case being solved.
The last 10 minutes of this film blew me away, I can't really reveal anything but it definitely takes and turn and I love it.

Overall, the film's rather unhinged approach may prove to be off-putting for some. But I found it to be a very fun detective comedy, and that ending really brings it up a level. ***1/2

Take Me Away! (1978) Review

Take Me Away! is a film by Nobuhiko Obayashi starring the Golden Combi 70s Idol film stars
Momoe Yamaguchi and Tomokazu Miura. It's pretty much a romantic fluff piece with the basic story of girl meets boy abroad, she has to leave him behind, and then there's some conflict and a happy resolution. It's a very shallow film that follows all the usual general tropes without adding anything new, but it's still rather cute in places, even if the character motivations could be rather questionable.

The film is quite well shot, and Obayashi incorporates a couple offbeat elements here and there, though it's very sparingly. It does, however, a recurring song and theme throughout that is linked to the characters, a trope that Obayashi has a used a few of his films before.
Although the opening bars to the song are exactly the same as Fly Me to the Moon.

Overall, I found the film somewhat enjoyable, it rushes about it at times and is a very basic run-of-the-mill romantic film, but it has some charm and I particularly liked the first 30 minutes or so.
Not sure how much I'd necessarily recommend it,  maybe if you really like your smulchzy romance films, other than that , this one's that's more for the Obayashi completionists. **1/2

My Films of the Decade (2010-2019)

There's no doubt that film has played a major part in my life this decade.Not only did I watch more films than I probably ever will in a decade again, but I also went and studied it at Uni and have since been developing some kind of career in the medium.
The decade also saw my approach and perception of films change and shift.
At the start of the decade, I was heavily into the critics, always checking Rotten Tomato scores, reading Roger Ebert reviews and looking at everything with a very critical eye.
But as the years went by and the end of the decade comes along, my critical approach has lessened, I cared less and less about what the critics said and adopted more of a empathetic approach to the way I view things, though still maintaining somewhat of a critical view as it never really goes away.


Now, according to my letterboxd, I've watched over 800 films released in this decade, alot of which were thankfully in the cinema. There are a lot of great films in amongst it all, but I really tried to narrow it down to the films that have really stuck with me the most with a few being picked due to other factors outside of their actual content.
Now I've pretty much done away with ranked lists, since I never fully agree with the order of things which makes ranking them feel pointless, so for this,  I'm just gonna list the films in a chronological order, from the start of the decade to the end. Let's go.

Inception (2010)

 To kick off this list is a film that certainly represents how my tastes and interests have developed over this decade. As at the time, this film was probably in my top 10 favorite films of all time. Since then, it's dropped down a lot in the ranks and I haven't rewatched it in a good number of years, but I know I'd still find it great, and there's no denying how much I loved this film at the time. 

Christopher Nolan was one of the first directors I acknowledged as someone I was a fan of. He's very good at taking interesting ideas and turning them into very accessible movies.

Inception is a prime of example of this, as it's essentially a mind-bending movie for the mainstream. I remember when it first came out and people had  trouble fully wrapping their head around it, even though the movie lays out everything for you and is easier to follow than a lot of  people may have realized. It is a highly enjoyable thriller though and was an undeniable influence on me at the start of the decade.

Submarine (2010)

 This quirky, cute debut film by Richard Ayoade shot in Wales holds a special place for me as it's the first film I watched in the cinema by myself. That same day I also went to my first concert by myself. So a pretty monumental day for me doing things solo. But i really loved this film when i first saw it and even named it my favorite film of 2011 (since that's the year I watched it). It's a well acted coming-of-age-comedy drama that's funny, sad and an overall lovely experience that really stuck with me.

13 Assassins (2010)

 I got into Takashi Miike at the very start of the decade and he quickly became a favorite director of mine. Then in 2011, I got to see my first Miike film in the cinema in the form of this great samurai epic. This decade saw Miike continue on as a big mainstream director, which I know  a lot of people lament over, but he's always been more of a workhorse director than a visionary auteur, and I've still enjoyed his output regardless. Now I've not seen every film he directed this decade, but from what I have seen, I'd argue that "13 Assassins" is his best film from this decade, although "Over Your Dead Body" certainly comes close. It's well shot, well acted, and has a huge climactic battle that is highly enjoyable.

Himizu (2011)

 Sion Sono is another director I fell in love with at the beginning of the decade, but more than that, if a director was to be my spirit animal, it would probably be him as I seem to connect with his work more than any other..

His output was pretty crazy this decade, with him even directing six films in 2015 alone.

And whilst I have not seen all of it, what I did see was really good to great.

Himizu is my joint favorite with another film that I'll get to later on. 

Based on a manga, the film is set against the backdrop of the 2011 Tohouku earthquake and tsunami, and follows a teenage boy who struggles to live a normal life due to the hostile environment around him. It's a film filled with a lot of anger and sadness, but also hope, leading to a strong ending that always makes me tear up. The performances are fantastic, and the whole thing is just really engrossing.

The Raid/The Raid 2 (2011/2014)

 I knew I had to include both the Raid films, since they are two of the best action films of the decade, and whilst I prefer the second, there's no denying the big influence the first one had on mainstream action and changing the way it was handled for the better, after the Bourne films had caused a shaky-cam hellfest to infect mainstream action films for many years.

The films form one big story but are very different in their structure and content. The first one is an awesome self-contained action film set in one location, whilst the second is a gorgeously shot gangster epic with superb action sequences. Both are highly enjoyable and must-see movies for fans of martials art action.

Holy Motors (2012)

 Onto something much more strange, unique and brilliant. Holy Motors is a film that follows the day of an actor who is driven around in a limousine to various places to play different characters for a range of events and situations; some of them dramatic, some of them funny and some of them a little disturbing, but all are very compelling. And as the film goes on, small details of the world that this film inhabits are revealed, before ending on a rather bizarre note that will leave many baffled. Really great movie and a performance masterclass from Denis Lavant.

Rurouni Kenshin Trilogy (2012/2014)

 This decade saw an explosion in manga adaptations in Japan, with them dominating their mainstream landscape. Obviously, the results of these varied in quality, but this trilogy stands tall in amongst them. Every time I think of these movies, I get this urge to rewatch them and that's rare for modern mainstream action movies. These films have it all, great action, acting, music, cinematography and even some emotional and moral depth. I was honestly surprised by how much I would love these films, but I would happily pick them over all the superhero movies I've seen this decade. They are far from perfect and still have their flaws, particularly the last two, but they are three of the best modern day samurai films around.

Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2013)

 Whilst Himizu may of been a film full of anger, here is a much more joyous film from Sion Sono, that always has me smiling from end to end. It follows a group of struggling filmmakers who get caught up in a Yakuza feud. The film is a homage and celebration of gonzo cinema as well as guerrilla filmmaking. It's outrageous, funny and even has a bit of an emotional core. I just adore it.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)

 Isao Takahata's final film before his death, and it's a masterwork. Based on the Japanese folklore tale of the same name, the film is done in a simple watercolor style that matches the film's period setting and makes for a very a beautiful looking movie. Takahata's masterful craftsmanship really brings out the story's depth and emotion, and then you have Joe Hisaishi, who once again produces a great a musical score that adds that extra finishing touch. Takahata is a talent that will sorely be missed, one of the greatest animation directors who ever lived.

Gravity (2013)

 Now here's a film I have picked more for the memorable experience I had with it than anything else.

I watched this film once in IMAX when it first came out and have not rewatched it at all since then, because I don't think I'll enjoy it as much in any other format. But that first time viewing in IMAX was very special and blew me away. It was an enthralling immersive experience with great visuals and a superb performance from Sandra Bullock. It may not stack up as well with all my other favorites, but that experience will always stay with me.

Under the Skin (2013)

 If I told you this film is about Scarlett Johansson as an alien, picking up men and devouring them, what you're imagining right now is the complete opposite what this film is. Minimal on dialogue and narrative, but constantly compelling, this is a really fascinating and unique film with a fantastic soundscape and some very haunting moments scattered within.
It also keeps a feeling of isolation throughout, which I remember having a real effect on me, on my way home from the cinema. A truly remarkable and stand out film.

Birdman (2014)

 Just like a lot of other films in this list, this is one of those the ones where I had a feeling beforehand that I was gonna instantly connect to it and I certainly did. Not only is this film a grand technical achievement with its one take illusion, but it's also got great performances which includes a revitalized Michael Keaton and a very engaging narrative that just kept get better and better as it went along.
 

The Witch (2015)

 The trend of jump scare heavy horror was more prevalent than ever this decade. So having a brilliant slow burn horror like this in amongst them was always a breath of fresh air. 

There's no reliance on jump scares here, just good tension and a constant unsettling atmosphere. And all its other aspects like the cinematography, soundtrack and acting are all great as well, creating a very effective horror that is a superb debut for director Robert Eggers.

The Lobster (2015)

 I remember this film coming out of nowhere for me, just a random movie I saw was at the cinema that  I went and watched and ended up loving it. This is a strange asburdist black comedy that is thoroughly entertaining with moments of unusual brilliance and a real good cast of actors. I had seen his film 'Dogtooth' a few years prior, but it is this movie and that ones that followed which really made Yorgos Lanthimos became a favorite director of mine. Just a really weird and wonderful film.

Your Name (2016)

 An enthralling romantic fantasy anime that is thematically rich and highly emotional with super likable characters, stunning visuals, a constantly intriguing narrative, and some great drama and humour. May not have watched a whole lot of anime this decade but I'm very happy that I managed to catch this at the cinema when I did, 'cause it really blew me away.

Neon Demon (2016)

 Nicolas Winding Refn's sinister look into the modeling industry that is both horrifying and fascinating. It;s a brilliant piece of work with a great central performance from Elle Fanning. It's incredible to look at, surreal at times and overall totally engrossing. I love it.

The Handmaiden (2016)

 Park Chan Wook is another one of my favorite directors, and this is another film of his that fits comfortably among his best. A masterfully crafted tale of desire and sexuality that is totally enthralling. It has strong characters, a great subversive narrative and a good sprinkling of dark humor.

The Florida Project (2017)

 As you can probably tell by now, the films I enjoy the most tend to be the ones that are a bit more out there, but I do still enjoy the more stripped back indie dramas, they just don't connect with me as much. But if I was to choose one that I felt was the best from the decade, it would be this one.

It follows a young girl and her mother who live in a motel a few miles from Disney World. It's told mostly from the child's perspective and draws you in with its fantastic genuine performances before hitting you hard emotionally and ending in a rather peculiar but effective way. A superb indie gem that really stood out for me.

Mother! (2017)

 Darren Aronofsky is another filmmaker whose work always seems to easily connect with me and I even really enjoyed his Noah adaptation from 2014.

Mother! was one of those films that was an instant love for me, it's a very gripping experience that follows a couple living in an isolated house, whose quiet life is disrupted and slowly descends into a crescendo of chaos. The focus stays mostly on the wife played by Jennifer Lawrence who gives a fantastic performance as a woman on edge that goes through a whirlwind of emotions. It is at times tense, distrubing, emotional and even blackly comical. 

Just an incredible film that stands among Aronofsky's best.

Annihilation (2018)

Man, am I glad that I was able to see this on the big screen, 'cause what an experience this was. This is a deeply fascinating sci-fi horror with great cinematography, acting and sound, as well as a tremendous climax that had my mouth agape in awe and wonderment, which had a lasting effect on me even after the movie was over. The kind of abosrbing cinematic experience that will always stay with me.

Midsommar (2019)

 I loved Ari Aster's debut film "Hereditary" the year before, but he really upped the ante and topped himself with this one. I do enjoy my films about weird cults and this one is particularl excellent. The cinematography is brilliant, the performances are superb, and much like Herditary it takes a slow burn approach that creates a constant sense of intrigue that just absorbs you into it more and more. Very excited to what else Ari Aster will present in the next decade.

Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood (2019)

I've enjoyed Tarantino's output this decade, but his latest is the one that really hit it for me. I found it to be oddly cathartic in a way, and it actually managed to hit me emotionally, moreso than any Tarantino film ever has. I got so immersed in the setting and the characters and then the ending just really resonated with me. "inglorious Bastards" is still my favorite Tarantino film, but this certainly came very very close to topping it.

 

 

So those are the main ones that really stuck with me this decade, though there are probably quite a few more I could've added and wrote about too, but here's a list of other films I really liked from this decade:

Four Lions (2010)

Cold Fish (2010)

Scabbard Samurai (2010)

Villain (2010)

Guilty of Romance (2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

Drive (2011)

Shame (2011)

Planet of the Apes Reboot Trilogy (2011 - 2017)

Spring Breakers (2012)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

 Evangelion 3.0 (2012)

Snowpiercer (2013)

Filth (2013)

 The Double (2013)

Nymphomaniac (2013)

12 Years a Slave (2013)

Trance (2013)

Stoker (2013)

R100 (2013)

X-Men Day of Future Past (2014)

John Wick Trilogy (2014 - 2019)

 Godzilla (2014)

The World of Kanako (2014)

Tokyo Tribe (2014)

What We Do in  the Shadows (2014)

A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Relfecting on Existence (2014)

Calvary (2014)

Interstellar (2014)

Nightcrawler (2014)

Gone Girl (2014)

Frank (2014)

New Star Wars Trilogy (2015 - 2019)

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015)

 Anomalisa (2015)

The Big Short (2015) 

The Revenant (2015)

Inside Out (2015)

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Antiporno (2016)

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

La La Land (2016)

Arrival (2016)

Swiss Army Man (2016)

 Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Sausage Party (2016)

Three Billboards Outside Ebving, Missouri (2017)

A Taxi Driver (2017)

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

 Eighth Grade (2018)

The Favourite (2018)

 The Night Comes for Us (2018)

BlacKKKlansman (2018)

Hereditary (2018)

 Mission Impossible - Fallout (2018)

Ready or Not (2019)

Us (2019)