November 30, 2012
Space Battleship Yamato
The Yamato has only 365 days to make a 148,000 light year voyage from Earth to the planet Iscandar and return with a neutralizer that will cleanse Earth's irradiated atmosphere. To avoid nuclear fallout, survivors of a surprise attack from the planet Gamilus are living in underground cities--but the radiation is seeping down. On their trip, the Yamato surives oceans of concentrated sulfuric acid, a metal eating gas attack in space and battles with Lord Desler's fleet.
This is a very good film with great special effects. Sacrifices must be made to save the planet. This is the live action version we also have the animated version, see below. ~Mike
Askwith Media Library 56549-D 131 minutes 2010
Uchū senkan Yamato
An edited version of the television program that aired 1974-1975, tells the story of the space battleship Yamato that plays an important role in saving twenty-third century Earth from total destruction.
Askwith Media Library 53950-D 135 minutes 1977
Posted by mcmike at 04:13 PM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2012
Magic to Win (Kai xin mo fa)
"The world constituted of five elements: gold, wood, water, fire and earth. In the wizardry world of Happy Ghost: Magic to Win, it revolves around the story of 'Five Element Wizardry.' Hong Sum-Kwai, a university professor, is the wizard of water of 'Five Elements Wizardry.' Although he casts magic spells in daily life, his superpower remains a secret. Then by accident, his power is transmitted to his student, Macy, bringing an enchanting and meaningful adventure to his ordinary girl."
A bored and disenchanted high school volleyball team with Macy as their captain, decide to help others with Macy's new found magic. While enjoying the success, Macy is confronted by another magician who has had his power taken away. After finally convincing Macy to help, the adventure begins.
This film is fine for children: Probably ages 7 and up. Some action and explosions and some low key violence (pushing each other and disappearing using magic) between the magicians. ~Mike
Askwith Media Library 57720-D 100 minutes 2011
Posted by mcmike at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)
June 21, 2012
Princess from the moon (The tale of Taketori)
After what looks to be a meteor crashes into a bamboo forest, a man finds the crash site and discovers an interesting shaped rock. The rock cracks open and a baby emerges, the child grows quickly, it is able to walk by the time it gets completely out of the "rock." The man takes the baby and the rock home and he and his wife decide to raise the baby as if it were their own. The rock turns out to be made out of the purest gold, raising the status of the man and wife. As questions mount they move away from the village. What seems to be a few short months the child has grown into a young woman. Dad thinks it's time to find a suitable husband. The adventure starts. This is a wonderful mythical tale from Japan and thoroughly enjoyable. ~Mike
Askwith Media Library 57232-D Original release 1987 DVD 2002
PAL Region 2 format
Posted by mcmike at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)
April 17, 2012
Himitsu no hanazono (My Secret Cache)
What does it take to make someone happy? Wealth? Fame? Power? For hyperactive, materialistic Sakiko, it's finding a suitcase stuffed with 500 million yen. She sets out on a manic quest to track down the case, mastering a bizarre range of activities, like rockclimbing and scuba-diving, as she goes. Her relentless pursuit, combined with her wicked sense of humor, makes for a wild satirical commentary on the human conditions of conformity, materialism and obsession.
This is a very fun, nice film. With a smart, wise mother, detached father and bratty sister watching and wondering, Sakiko loves counting money. Her whole life is about the accumulation of money. After getting a job at a bank, it is robbed and Sakiko is taken hostage because she will not let go of the suitcase full of money. All and all film offers insight to the silly side of modern life. ~Mike
Askwith Media Library 50603-D 83 minutes 1996
Posted by mcmike at 01:35 PM | Comments (1)
April 05, 2012
Kamome Diner
Set in a Japanese diner in Finland, the story revolves around the diner and its owner, Sachie, and the friendships that Sachie develops with her customers and employees.
Also includes a 40 min. film about Helsinki where the film was shot, film trailer, and trailer for the film "Megane."
Kamome is a very sweet, quirky film. It is wonderfully shot with a great cast. The Finnish scenery is outstanding. ~Mike
Askwith Media Library 56768-B Blu-ray 102 minutes 2006
Posted by mcmike at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)
March 21, 2012
The exquisite short films of Kihachiro Kawamoto
Minimal, delicate and wonderfully detailed Kihachiro Kawamoto was a master puppeteer ~Mike
Askwith Media Library 47949-D 1968-1979 DVD release in 2008 99 minutes
01 |a Hanaori = The breaking of branches is forbidden (14 min., 1968,) -- Oni = The demon (8 min., 1972,) -- Farce anthropo-cynique = An anthropo-cynical farce (8 min., 1970,) -- Tabi (zenchōban) = The trip (12 min, 1973,) -- Shijin no shōgai = A poet's life (19 min., 1974,) -- Dōjōji = Dojoji Temple (19 min., 1976,) -- Kataku = House of flames (19 min., 1979,)
Breaking of branches is forbidden: A monk orders a young acolyte, who has a fondness for sake, to guard a cherry tree.
Demon: Two brothers, living with their aged mother, go out into the forest to hunt. In the forest, a demon's arm attempts to overpower one of them. They cut off the arm and bring it home, only to find a more horrible fate at home.
Farce anthropo-cynique: A dog race is interrupted by a ringmaster who mistreats the animals. The crowd becomes incensed and the ringmaster runs for his life.
Trip: A young girl sets off on a surreal metaphysical voyage to the learn the pain and joy of life.
Poet's life: A worker fired from a factory for demanding higher wages is plagued by ghastly nightmares. Based on a story by Kobo Abe.
Dojoji Temple: On their way to worship at a Buddhist shrine, two monks stop over at the home of a young woman. Their hostess develops an all-consuming passion for the younger of the two, but he rejects her. When she finds that he has left, she follows him in the form of a serpent.
House of flames: On his way to the capital, a Buddhist monk stops over in a hamlet to ask the villagers the way to an ancient monument known as the Seeker's Mound. Though they cannot help him, he comes upon it by chance and meets the ghost of a young woman who, five centuries before, was loved by two men, a poet and a warrior. When they shot a paradise duck in order to prove their worth, she was overcome by guilt and drowned herself. As a result her suitors concluded a suicide pact and ever since her soul has been in torment, enveloped in a house of flame.
Posted by mcmike at 11:51 AM | Comments (0)
December 02, 2011
Gagaku: Japan's ancient music & dance
The music known as Gagaku spread from China throughout East Asia, reaching Japan in the 5th through 9th centuries. This traditional court music has undergone some changes, but its fundamentals remain unchanged. Gagaku is thus the world's most ancient form of orchestral music.
Excellent descriptions of some instruments and dance techniques. ~Mike
Askwith Media Library 56047-D 90 minutes 2011
Posted by mcmike at 10:34 AM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2011
Glory to the filmmaker! (Eiga kantoku, banzai!)
Takeshi Kitano plays a version of himself in which he's a struggling director cycling through a number of different genres in an effort to complete his latest project.
(Beat) Takeshi Kitano is one of Japan's greatest actor/directors. In this film he exposes his deadpan comic sense while those around him are slightly insane. This is a very funny film, although probably not suited for the whole family. ~Mike
Askwith Media Library 55704-D 105 minutes 2007
Posted by mcmike at 10:17 AM | Comments (0)
August 26, 2011
Princess Raccoon (Operetta tanuki goten)
Amechiyo is an exiled prince who meets the exotic and mysterious Tanuki in the forest and becomes smitten with her beauty. However, he discovers she is actually the Princess Raccoon. The two fall in love, despite everyone's warnings. When tragedy strikes after the celebration of the Princess' un-birthday, only true love can save her.
A great and surprising movie. It is wonderfully theatrical and has outstanding special effects. ~Mike
Released in 2005
Askwith Media Library 54772-D
Posted by mcmike at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)
August 10, 2011
Train Man (Denshaotoko)
A film adaptation of a true event, a shy nerd falls hard for a girl he rescues on a commuter train. Seeking advice on how to ask her out, he turns to the internet and begins soliciting help through an online forum.
Cool, sweet and enjoyable. ~Mike
Released in 2005
Askwith Media Library 50166-D
Posted by mcmike at 11:38 AM | Comments (0)
March 29, 2011
Always (sunset on third street)
A wonderful story. Of course very sentimental, funny, loving and beautifully shot. ~Mike
Released in 2005
Askwith Media Library 47161-D
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Tokyo Godfathers
The story takes place on Christmas Eve in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Middle-aged has-been Gin, aging transvestite Hana, and teenage runaway Miyuki are homeless friends who have formed a makeshift family structure bond. That bond is tested when they find an abandoned baby while searching for food in a trash dumpster. They try to care for the infant themselves, and travel throughout the city in search of the baby's parents.
Very enjoyable, fun and witty. ~Mike
Released in 2003
Askwith Media Library 37835-D 91 minutes
Posted by mcmike at 02:56 PM | Comments (0)
August 03, 2010
Memories of Matsuko
Father requests his son to clean out his aunt's apartment. The son finds his aunt had a life of broken dreams and abuse. This is a story of someone who cares for others and knows that good intentions can overcome only to be abused by those around her time and again. It is a sometimes funny, very stylized, sentimental, heartbreaking tale. ~Mike
Askwith Media Library 47162-D
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July 14, 2010
The most terrible time in my life
Detective Maiku Hama navigates the Yokohama underworld with super cool threads and two-fisted street smarts. But when he comes to the aid of a Taiwanese waiter at a local parlor, the unflappable Hama has no idea what he's in for. Though seemingly a luckless immigrant on the threshold of Yokohama's gutter, Hama's client holds the secret to a ferocious gangland revenge triangle that soon has bullets, fists, and severed fingers flying.
One for the personal collection. ~Mike
Askwith Media Library 42394-D and 37600-D
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March 24, 2010
Battle of Okinawa
This final stand against the Allied onslaught soon becomes the bloodiest battle of the Pacific Theater, taking the horrors of war to a level never before seen, as the desperate Japanese Army tries to demonstrate to the Americans what they should expect when they assault the Japanese mainland.
Askwith Media Library 47785-D
Posted by mcmike at 09:33 AM | Comments (0)
February 25, 2009
Casshern
Set in the late 21st century, Earth is in crisis and the future of mankind is at risk. Hope lies in a geneticist's discovery of a "Neo-Cell" which can rejuvenate the human body, but it is used by an evil corporation to create a race of mutants bent on the annihilation of humanity. A powerful warrior, Casshern, emerges in the battle against this new menace. Only he can save the human race as it fights an ultimate war against its own extinction.
Askwith Media Library 46479-D
2004 Japanese
Directed by Kazuaki Kiriya
Written by Dai Sato & Shotaro Suga
Special effects -Dreamworks
Posted by mcmike at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)