Category: Japan
Battle Royale
2000 Director: Kinji Fukasaku Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Tarô Yamamoto, Takeshi Kitano Words: Katherine Guest Battle Royale, a Japanese dystopian thriller, is a film in which violence is made into a spectator sport. More specifically, it is about children on children violence as… Continue Reading “Battle Royale”
Princess Mononoke
1997 Director: Hayao Miyazaki Words – Christian Abbott. Ghibli fans are like a loving mother, they would never pick a favourite. All are equal in their eyes, each different, each unique, each loved. Yet, there seems to be this vocal minority rising-up that challenge… Continue Reading “Princess Mononoke”
Spirited Away
2001 Director: Hayao Miyazaki Words – Christian Abbott. Asking someone to choose a favourite Studio Ghibli film is like asking someone what their favourite song is. It is an ultimately pointless question, as much like music, Ghibli’s filmography feels subjective to mood and emotion.… Continue Reading “Spirited Away”
Shoplifters
2018 Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda Starring: Lily Franky, Sakura Ando, Mayu Matsuoka, Jyo Kairi, Miyu Sasaki Words – Joe H. Winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, Shoplifters is an exploration of relationships from director Hirokazu Kore-eda; known for exploring themes… Continue Reading “Shoplifters”
Mary and the Witch’s Flower
2018 Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi Words – Joe H. The dearly loved Studio Ghibli announced it was stopping production in 2014, alongside director Hayao Miyazaki announcing his retirement, and with the passing of Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata (director of Grave of the Fireflies and… Continue Reading “Mary and the Witch’s Flower”
My Neighbour Totoro
1988 Director: Hayao Miyazaki Words: Christian Abbott. Some have called this the gateway film into the works of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, even Japanese animation itself, and it isn’t hard to see why. This is a film about, and a celebration of, child-like wonder.… Continue Reading “My Neighbour Totoro”
Shin Godzilla
2017 – Japan Directed by – Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi Starring – Hiroki Hasegawa, Satomi Ishihara, Jun Kunimara, Ren Osuga Words: Nathan Scatcherd Shin Godzilla is the first Godzilla movie from Toho Studios in twelve years. The studio’s last instalment, Final Wars, was… Continue Reading “Shin Godzilla”
The Boy and The Beast
2015 Director: Mamoru Hosoda Words – Joe H. The fourth Anime feature from award-winning director Mamoru Hosoda – who previously brought us the spectacular vision of the danger in our digitally connected world in Summer Wars, and the critically acclaimed The Girl Who Leapt… Continue Reading “The Boy and The Beast”
Ran
1985 Director: Akira Kurosawa Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu Words – Christian Abbott. Director Akira Kurosawa was 75 when production on this film ended. At this point he was already renowned as one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century, with a… Continue Reading “Ran”
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