The Monk and The Samurai The lives of two men, a monk and a samurai suffer unbearable loss. Heroic to the end their tales intertwine as...
Nov 26, 2022 • Subscribe
More like this
![Featured image for The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220809/1660011540.41549.71643.jpg)
The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
A very engaging samurai narrative that does not only offer an intriguing glance at one of the most important crossroads of Japanese history, but also a melodramatic exploration…
![Featured image for The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220810/1660170540.41650.71763.jpg)
The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
A very engaging samurai narrative that does not only offer an intriguing glance at one of the most important crossroads of Japanese history, but also a melodramatic exploration…
Bamnol - The Debt (2021) [Short Film Review]
Bamnol - The Debt My granddaughter works hard! All you do is get drunk everyday! It has been roughly two months since my The Monk and T...
Mr. Monk and the Miracle
detective fiction, 推理小説、games, mystery, murder, locked room, Japanese, translations,
Boy Sprouted (Japan, 2021) [OAFF 2022/Short Shorts and Asian Film Festival 2022]
Jason Maher reviews Yuko Watanabe's short film Boy Sprouted.
Love and Leashes (2022) [Film Review]
Love and Leashes; or, In the Realm of Domination I told you I don't think you're a pervert. Or maybe you are. Aren't we all somewhat pe...
How the Film Influenced Anime: The Seven Samurai vs. Samurai 7
Seven Samurai is one of the most influential movies ever made, yet its anime adaptation continues to languish in relative obscurity. We take a look back at both…
Short critiques: Homestay (2022) review
Seta’s narrative is, despite its flaws, a pleasant narrative that offers an important message.
The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl – Film Review
A spin-off of The Tatami Galaxy, this film builds on the style of the acclaimed series with a youthful, feel-good story bursting with fun and creativity!
Monk and Robot and the Spirit of Iyashikei
Talking about Becky Chamber’s newest novella series Monk and Robot and it’s relationship with Iyashikei.
Beloved (2022) [Film Review]
Beloved; or, Stay With Me I have an idea. How about we spend one last day together? Go somewhere, walk around, have dinne r… Director B...
![Featured image for Short movie Time: The Stolen Ocean (2022) review [JFFH 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220707/1657166551.39064.68529.png)
Short movie Time: The Stolen Ocean (2022) review [JFFH 2022]
Noaya Asanuma proves that he has a creative voice worth listening too.
AND THEN: A Girl-Meets-Girl Short Film
In the middle of spring 2020, Jenn Ravenna Tran launched a Kickstarter for a short film And Then, which she described as “A Girl-Meets-Girl Short Film Set in…
The Fox & The Monk – a Dream Hunters review
Yuko Shimizu’s iilustration for one of the covers of the graphic novel edition. You can find more covers on my new Instagram account, @ren.foxwitchling A humble young monk…
Kurobozu – The Black Monk
Translated and Sourced from Mizuki Shigeru’s Mujara, Japanese Wikipedia, and Other Sources If you wake up after a restless night, with reeking breath and gasping for air—beware! You…
![Featured image for Short Movie Time: Outsourcing (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220417/1650154478.34711.63198.jpg)
Short Movie Time: Outsourcing (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
“A very satisfying satirical short thta shows that, within the job-seeking process, only the image matters.”
Review: Stitch and the Samurai, Volume 2
Summary Have you ever watched the movie Lilo and Stitch and wondered to yourself, “Man, what would happen if Stitch crash landed in feudal Japan instead of modern…
Interview with Yuko Watanabe, Director of Boy Sprouted [OAFF 2022/Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia 2022]
Jason Maher talks to Boy Sprouted director Yuko Watanabe.
Shin Ultraman (2022) [Film Review]
Shin Ultraman; or, In the Tokuverse of Madness Some things are only clear when you are in between. I believe this is why I exist. Shinj...
Pure Japanese (2022) [Film Review]
Pure Japanese; or, Bilateral Frenzy Raised right paws beckon fortune, raised left paws beckon people. Both paws raised means beckoning ...
Plan 75 (2022) [Film Review]
Plan 75; or, The Death of Society It’s something I should think about doing for my grandchildren. Plan 75 is one of those films that I...
![Featured image for Short Movie Time: Bagmati River (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220324/1648086514.33344.61503.jpg)
Short Movie Time: Bagmati River (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
“A beautiful poetic short that elegantly plays with the contrast between life and death.”
Short Movie Time: Kaiju Girl (2022) review
A pleasant short about the need to find a desire to be able to give direction to one’s subject.
Short movie time: Norioka Workshop (2022) review
A great short film that illustrates the necessity as well as the inherent danger of the imaginary dimension in social interactions.
![Featured image for Short Movie Review: Natsuko (2020) [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220327/1648345715.33499.61693.jpg)
Short Movie Review: Natsuko (2020) [OAFF 2022]
“A splendid debut by Shuna Iijima.”
![Featured image for Short Movie Review: Faaawww!!! (2022) [JFFH 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230622/1687412321.63324.97819.png)
Short Movie Review: Faaawww!!! (2022) [JFFH 2023]
Oniki’s twisted finale does not only visually impress but also underlines that the hunger of the Uber-Ich is never stilled.
![Featured image for The Fish Tale (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220731/1659234541.40977.70834.jpg)
The Fish Tale (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
A very heart-warming and touching narrative that shows that a subject does not necessarily need to make use of the neurotic solution to inscribe himself within the societal…
![Featured image for Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220806/1659781140.41407.71316.jpg)
Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]
Miki delivers a great psychological mystery narrative, yet it might not be for everyone.
Lackadaisy is a Fantastic Short Film!
Prohibition hasn’t been easy on the Lackadaisy speakeasy. Is it worth Rocky, Freckle, and Ivy risking their lives to bring back lackluster hootch to survive?
Film Review: The Boy and the Heron
The Boy and the Heron, Hayao Miyazaki’s first film in a decade, is both his most personal and the most ambitious in his venerated catalog. Delving into the…
The Samurai and the Prisoner Novel
Advance to reach heaven. Retreat to know hell. This precept forms the basis of Honobu Yonezawa's Naoki award-winning novel, The Samurai and the Prisoner.
Taiso Samurai – 06 [Samurai Father and Daughter]
I’ve been opening these posts with some variation of, “I can’t believe Jotaro wasn’t the focus of this episode!” for three weeks now, so it’s about time I…
A Man Called Otto — Short Report (Film)
Every Saturday at 1:00 PM, Otto and Sonya visited a little café in town and ate eclairs, which were messy but very tasty. At 2 o’clock, they left.…
Josee, The Tiger and the Fish Film Review
Last week, I caught Josee, The Tiger and the Fish at the Tokyo International Film Festival 2020. My full review is up over on Anime News Network
![Featured image for Shin-Ultraman (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220728/1658971741.40668.70474.jpg)
Shin-Ultraman (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
Higuchi and Anno deliver an impressive love letter to their childhood, yet their devoted love, which is sensible in every aspect of the narrative, might not be able…
Japanese and Korean Films at the Cannes Film Festival 2022
HUNT, BROKER, PLAN 75, DECISION TO LEAVE – A preview of the Japanese and Korean films at the Cannes Film Festival 2022
![Featured image for Short Movie Time: Necessary & unnecessary (2022) review [JFFH 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230628/1687932521.63707.98259.png)
Short Movie Time: Necessary & unnecessary (2022) review [JFFH 2023]
A quirky little narrative that explores the necessity of forming inter-subjective social bonds.
The Gymnastics Samurai and The Ninja Ballerina
The Gymnastics Samurai was a lot more endearing than I expected and I had a great tie with the series. If you missed out, you should give it…
Benkei: The Warrior Monk Who Died Standing
Benkei was a Warrior Monk whose life was filled with rich history and folklore. Or at least, that's how the tale is told...
Review: SHORT SUNZEN
The Tokyopop library is riddled with manga like this - no-name titles with a few interesting ideas that were unceremoniously dropped because...
Seven Samurai and Hanebado
The Chicago Bears are the champions of the NFC North! It has been a long journey toward...
Seven Samurai and Hanebado
The Chicago Bears are the champions of the NFC North! It has been a long journey toward relevancy for the Bears, but we’re finally here again. It’s been…
Film Review: The Concierge
There is a certain department store with a very peculiar clientele. It’s not just that it caters to the rich and famous, though many a celebrity, business mogul,…
The Imaginary Film Review
My review of The Imaginary is now up over on Anime News Network. Check it out!
SAMURAI MAIDEN (ACTUAL Review)
The devs behind the questionable Kandagawa Jet Girls are back, this time with their own take on something like Senran Kagura or OneeChanbara. I have played way too…
Manga Review – Rogue Samurai
Rogue Samurai 無頼侍 (Burazamurai) SUZUKI Masakazu Seinen – Historical, mature 1 Volume of 3 Volumes (complete) Media Do (MediBang) Summary: Ganjūrō, a samurai with no lord, is wandering…
Popcorn Pulse 74: Diversity Monk
We’ve talked at length about comic book movies pre-Iron Man and the shared universe phenomenon at least once. There are a lot of relics of that passing age…
![Featured image for Short movie time: North Shinjuku 2055 (2021) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220330/1648608514.33660.61893.jpg)
Short movie time: North Shinjuku 2055 (2021) review [OAFF 2022]
“A pleasant experimental short.”
![Featured image for Short movie time: Reason To Oblivion (2021) review [JFFH 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220704/1656900333.38882.68310.jpg)
Short movie time: Reason To Oblivion (2021) review [JFFH 2022]
A pleasant horror short-narrative that showcases Miyahara’s talent.
Pick of the Week: Samurai and Kings
KATE: There is SO MUCH GOOD MANGA coming out this week, y'all, I don't know where to begin! VIZ is unveiling two new series with grown-up appeal—Steel of…