Panic in High School (Japan, 1976) – 2,5/5
Punk director Sogo Ishii first film is an 8mm shot clocking at 16 minutes. A student goes insane and appears in school with a shotgun. Ishii shows the development of the situation and arrival of police, but doesn’t include any characterization. With almost no dialogue at all it feels almost like a news report with no voice over. Technically the pic is low grade, but packs a lot of interest value as the starting point of one of Japan’s most remarkable directors. Ishii later remade the story into a feature length film (1978) with Yukihiro Sawada, under Nikkatsu’s finance.
- dvd / R2J
Isolation of 1 Divided by 880 000 (Japan, 1977) – 3,5/5
In his second film Sogo Ishii triples the length (43 min) but also improves quality several notches. The biggest surprise, however, is Johann Sebastian Bach, who fights his way into the speakers time after time and refuses to make way for the punk mastro’s more typical tunes. But Ishii has ear for classical too, as he syncs the camera and editing with music while following a cripple young man alone in big city. At times it’s more of a collage of images than story driven film, but it’s an impressive piece.
- dvd / R2J
Doberman Detective (Japan, 1977) – 3,5/5
“I’m not a clown, I’m a crazy person”. A detective from Okinawa arrives Tokyo to inspects the murder of a prostitute in Kinji Fukasaku’s cop film. It’s not up to his best work, however, many viewers will no doubt appreciate the solid storyline and lack of overly hectic camerawork here. Shinichi Chiba gives yet another solid acting performance in the lead role. Hideo Murota co-stars as a trigger happy policeman.
- dvd / Toei
Roaring Fire (Japan, 1981) – 4/5
Masashi Ishibashi as a noble karate master. Hiroyuki Sanada learns axe throwing from indians. A monkey steals a girls bra and she chases the poor animal topples. A gigantic black wrestler fights Sanada in a pool. And that’s just the first 15 minutes. Before Shinichi Chiba appears. Before Etsuko Shihomi fights. Before some of the craziest action scenes in contemporary Japanese cinema are seen. It does slow down a few times, and the story and structure are a mess, but it is considered a deformed holy grail for a reason. 1980’s Hong Kong film makers took notes from this film!
- dvd / Toei
The Kamikaze Adventurers (Japan, 1981) – 3,5/5
Shinichi Chiba and Hiroyuki Sanada star in an enjoyable romantic caper adventure. A temptation to rob a money transportation brings Sanada’s guitarist and Chiba’s pilot character together. Kumiko Akiyoshi is the charming lady in between. Action fans may be disappointed as there isn’t all that much action going on, and practically no martial arts. However, Sanada and Chiba’s flawless tag team play is perhaps more enjoyable than ever before. The leads are placed in front of the camera together in most scenes, both scoring 90+ minutes screentime. At times, the film feels almost like Kadokawa Idol pic gone JAC mode.
- dvd / Toei
Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge (Japan, 2007) – 4/5
A masked chansaw man falls from the sky and fights a schoolgirl armed with golf club. Cheap exploitation? Or a childish manga adaptation full of pretentious visual tricks? Neither. Shot on HD and then blown to 35 mm Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge is the most stylish romantic action comedy chainsaw bundle of all time (yeah, it’s the first one of its kind). It’s also unexpectedly competently directed by first timer Takuji Kitamura and blessed with good leading performances by Hayato Ichihara (Rainbow Song, Lily Chou-Chou) and Megumi Seki. Don’t expect a massacre – this chainsaw maniac only duels his reqular opponent, night after night – but the humour is plenty and actually rather clever. The film knowns what it is, and makes no excuses for it. There’s a good amout of CGI but it looks better than most Hollywood blockbusters. The actual chainsaw fights are short and sparse, but count among the most exciting action scenes of the past few years.
- dvd / R2J
It’s Only Talk (Japan, 2005) – 4,5/5
Ryuichi Hiroki has been one of the most interesting Japanese directors for years, although many of his films have been plagued by slight angst. But his films are developing constantly. Vibrator was like grown up version of Tokyo gomi onna. It’s Only Talk is like fully mature, superior follow up to Vibrator. Hiroki’s razor sharp eye is still here, but now also soundtrack and characters are perfectly subtle. The film’s opening is so amazingly good that there’s a risk of the following film not being able to live up to it, but it does, appart from one short seqment. Around half way the film seems to take a dive, but it actually only changes direction… and does it very succesfully after the grounding. Shinobu Terajima, who was already very good in Vibrator, gives an amazingly good performance in the lead role. Very few actresses dare to be this real in front of the camera.
- dvd / R2J
Sukeban Deka – Season 1 (Japan, 1985) – 4,5/5
A delinquent girl detective (Yuki Saito) infiltrates corrupt high schools and fights crime with a steel breaking yo-yo. It’s obvious from the first episode why Sukeban Deka is the biggest Japanese cult TV show of the 80’s. The silly premise is played with rather straight face, only adding a kick ass soundtrack, cute lead, and an infinite amount of style. Quite possibly the coolest thing television has ever produced.
- dvd / Toei
So long. I’m done with Asia-diary. Thanks for the fish and something…