A beautiful and genuinely endearing love-letter to the chanbara genre
Category: Action
Short Movie Time: Fashion Runner (2018)
An absurd little gem that is worth checking out.
Message from Space (1978) review
Any spectator who perseveres, swallowing all the visual discordances and false notes, will eventually finds pleasure in the action and effect-rich finale.
Wolves, Pigs and Men (1964)
Fukasaku and Junya Sato’s decision to go beyond Nikkatsu’s Borderless Action and Toei’s nostalgic Ninkyo fantasies to critique the capitalistic current within the post-war societal field and its perverting effects on interpersonal bonds gave birth to a shockingly beautiful experience that is as relevant today as it was in the sixties.
One Percenter (2023) review
Yamaguchi delivers a love-letter to down-to-earth action that proves that there is plenty of poetry to be found in the physical action-performances.
Red Peony Gambler 3: Flower Cards Game (1969) review
Tai Kato delivers an impressive visual experience that develops the themes of the series in a meaningful way.
Samurai Fury (2025) review
Yu Irie delivers a samurai narrative that, while not able to match the masterpieces of the genre, offers everything fans have come to expect from the genre.
Blazing Fists (2025) review
Miike delivers a drama of hope, a narrative that shows, in a satisfying manner, that a subject can materialize himelf within in the ring and by punching and kicking the demeaning discourses concerning criminality within the Japanese Other into shreds.
Under Ninja (2025) review
Great mindless fun, perfect to wash away the stress that has infiltrated one’s body during the week.
Demon City (2025) review
A fun, yet extremely forgettable experience.
The Godzilla Project: Godzilla Minus One (2023) review
A triumphant return of the most beloved Kaiju of all and a deeply emotional experience that re-assessing the themes of the original Godzilla in a refreshing way.
Golden Kamuy (2024) review
Shigeaki Kubo reaffirms that he has the skill and talent to bring action-driven narratives to life in a satisfactorily way.
Cloud (2024) review
Kurosawa delivers a biting critique of way capitalism and consumerism has transformed our subjectivity and the way we interact with others.
Ghost Killer (2025) review [Japannual 2025]
Sonomura’s narrative does little to re-invent the genre, but delivers everything one’s desires in such narratives in spades – a crowd-pleaser, indeed.
The Man Who Failed To Die (2025) review [Camera Japan Festival]
Seiji Tanaka refuses to colour within the lines of comedy, creating an eclectic collage of different genre-elements that does not fail to satisfy the spectator.