“Sakamoto creates a nice, pleasant ride, but one that will be easily forgotten.”
Sep 29, 2021 • Subscribe
More like this
Closet (2020) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“A filmic piece that will not only induce a forlorn feeling in its spectators but also invite them to deeply question their own interpersonal functioning.”
Bushido (2024) review [Camera Japan Festival]
Kazuya Shiraishi proves that the frame of the samurai and the Edo society can still be utilized to deliver refreshing narratives.
Ripples (2023) review [Camera Japan Festival]
With her quirky sense of humor, she delivers one of the most illuminating explorations of the effect the gap between the imaginary equilibrium of the ego and the…
Alivehoon (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
Shimoyama hits all the common beats of the sports-genre, but succeeds in elevating his exploration of the art of drifting by framing the battling cars in an exciting…
Tea Friends (2023) review [Camera Japan festival]
Sotoyama investigates, in a very touching way, the radical discordance between the societal field and the elderly subject.
Bad City (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
Sonamura delivers everything one expects from an action-thriller.
Riverside Mukolitta (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
A highly touching narrative about re-finding social life.
Prior Convictions (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“A very relevant exploration of the fact that the criminal act is, in many cases, born from an antagonistic relation between the subject and the Other.”
Nagi’s Island (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
The power of Nagasawa’s narrative does not simply lie in the engaging emotional rhythm, as dictated by the musical decorations, but in the genuineness that oozes from every…
Between Us (2021) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“A great narrative that celebrates the energetic art of Japanese drumming in pleasing way.”
I Never Shot Anyone (一度も撃ってません, Junji Sakamoto, 2020)
An unsuccessful writer staves off a sense of existential despair living by night in Junji Sakamoto’s darkly comic tale of late life ennui
Remain in Twilight (2021) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“Matsui delivers another masterpiece that will long linger in the spectator’s mind.”
Afternoon Angler’s club (2023) Review [Camera Japan Festival]
Hideo Jojo’s heartwarming tale of subjective growth and salt-water fishing is a pleasant watch.
Let’s Go Karaoke (2024) review [Camera Japan Festival]
This is perfect film for anyone who, after a long day full of struggles, wants to sit in a comfy chair and relax.
The Box Man (2024) review [Camera Japan Festival]
An incredible satisfying cinematic experience, one that enthrals the spectator from start to finish
Is This Heaven? (2023) review [Camera Japan Festival]
An experimental narrative that gives the idea of wandering spirits a fresh and whimsical spin
Natchan’s little Secret (2023) review [Camera Japan Festival 2023]
Introduction More and more directors take the opportunity to explore the complex dimensions of sexuality within the Japanese societal field within their films. In recent years, more films…
Shrieking In The Rain (2021) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“A narrative that does everything well, but lacks the emotional punch to make the experience unforgettable.”
It’s a summer film (2021) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“A highly entertaining film that offers a nostalgic and touching dive into youthful passion and romantic feelings and lighthearted celebration of indie-filmmaking and often-forgotten beauty o…
Eternally Younger Than Those Idiots (2021) review [Camera Japan Festival]
A narrative that, due to its elegant engendering of genuine emotions, offers a touching exploration of the subjective obstacles that complicate the subject’s coming-into-being and his inter-persona…
It’s All My Fault (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival 2022]
A touching narrative that explores how difficult it is for subject to assume a place for himself, a place from where he/she can desire, without the structuring influence…
Tamano Visual Poetry: Nagisa’s Bicycle (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
Despite delivering three engaging and visually beautiful narratives, the short nature of overall narrative undercuts the impact the movie could have had.
Love Will Tear Us Apart (2023) review [Camera Japan Festival]
A narrative that blows a refreshing wind in both the slasher and the romance genre.
Life of Mariko in Kabukicho (2023) review [Camera Japan Festival]
Katayama and Uchida does not merely offer a glance at the relational drama that hides behind the neon-lit night-life and pleasure district, but also delivers a narrative that…
461 Days of Bento: A Promise Between Father and Son (2020) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“A heartwarming narrative that does not only affirm that food is what brings people together, but also that the very act of preparing food, in many cases, functions…
The Fable: The Killer who Doesn’t Kill (2021) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“A satisfying sequel that fans of Fable’s first outing should not pass this up.”
Straying (2022) review [Camera Japan 2022]
A pleasant and charming exploration of the fact that, within the game of love and romance and beyond, subjects often rely on acting-out to reveal to the other…
Ninja Vs Shark (2023) review [Camera Japan 2023]
A pleasant B-film action experience.
Manga Review: Death Note (2020 One-Shot)
Review Death Note is a complex series that has been written about…a few times here. For those who know nothing of the series, here’s brief summary: Shinigami or…
TV vs Movie I: Shot-by-Shot Comparison
This is a thorough overview comparing changes made between Gundam Reconguista in G Episode 1 to 5 and Movie I. This includes cuts, new shots, new animation, alterations,…
Camera Japan Announces Complete Programme for 2023
In Rotterdam 21st to 24th September and Amsterdam 28th September to 1st October
Camera Japan Announces Complete Programme for 2024
In Rotterdam 26th to 29th September and Amsterdam 3rd to 6th October
Camera Japan Announces Complete Programme for 2022
In Rotterdam Sept. 22 to 25 and Amsterdam Sept. 29 to Oct. 2.
Camera Japan Announces Complete Programme for 2021
Runs in Rotterdam 23rd to 26th September & in Amsterdam 30th September to 3rd October
Copious Haemorrhaging Never Harmed Anyone: My Hero Academia The Movie: World Heroes’ Mission Review
So today I had to explain to my previously excited 10-year-old son why I was unable to take him to the cinema to see the new MHA movie…
I Gave BABYMETAL Another Shot!
In one of my older posts, I ripped into everyone’s favorite Japanese kawaii-desu metal crossover band: BABYMETAL. In their defense, I only listened to their first two albums,…
Menace, Anyone?
detective fiction, 推理小説、games, mystery, murder, locked room, Japanese, translations,
Hold Me Back (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
“Ohku delivers, once again, a refreshing and highly touching romance-comedy.”
Review: Never Say Never (2023)
Never Say Never 八角笼中 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 117 mins. Director: Wang Baoqiang 王宝强. Rating: 6/10. In his second outing as a director, popular goofy comedian Wang Baoqiang…
Japan Nature Caught On Camera! A Chat w Japan Trail Cam | Japan Station 102
On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we talk to Wombat, one of the creators of Japan Trail Cam. About Wuon-Gean Ho Wombat spends his day in…
Episode 296, "I Shot The Law"
On this episode of The One Piece Podcast, Stephen and The Dude join hosts Zach and Steve to go through a double Toonami Recap for Episodes 232 and…
Episode 296, "I Shot The Law"
On this episode of The One Piece Podcast, Stephen and The Dude join hosts Zach and Steve to go through a double Toonami Recap for Episodes 232 and…
May 2020 BONUS - Death Note One-Shot
In this special BONUS episode of Screentone Club, Elliot and Andy talk about Apples, spooky notebooks and "President Blinton" as they dive into the recently released Death Note…
101 - Death Note 2020 Special One-Shot
14 years after the original Death Note run ended, we were blessed with the return of familiar characters and introduced with a new one, Minoru Tanaka. A character…
Hyper Japan Festival, London 2022
For three days in late July, Battersea Park in London England was taken over by Japan. I’m talking about the Hyper Japan Festival, of course! Going strong since…
Before Anyone Else (2023) Director: Tetsuya Mariko [Chicago International Film Festival 2023]
Before Anyone Else (2023), by director Tetsuya Mariko, is a very atmospheric and well-acted short film set in Chicago. A gritty and believable ride done with restraint and…
Georama Boy Panorama Girl (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
‘Seta’s poetically composed narrative blows a fresh breeze into the ‘traditional’ Japanese romance genre.’
Japan Sinks 2020 Anime Review – 22/100
Masaki Yuasa is, without a doubt, my favorite director in anime. His 2014 adaptation of Ping Pong the Animation is my favorite anime of all time, while Tatami…
2020 the Anime: Japan Sinks-2020
Greetings, fabulous people of the Internet! Hanime on Anime here, and some part of me wants to remember 2020 before moving on with the new year. And what…