Makoto Ueda proves that cinema is alive and kicking.
Category: Sci-Fi
The Godzilla Project: Godzilla versus Hedorah (1971) review
Banno, despite re-emphasizing Godzilla as hero, exposes the deceit of the ‘nationalistic’ narrative structures by showing, with irony, that Godzilla’s passage does not result in societal change
Short Movie Time: Cheating Office Lady: Wet Galaxy (2016) review
Ono and his cast’s enthusiastic dedication to the absurdity fills the film with a winsomeness that allows the short to surpass its limitations.
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.
Garo: Taiga (2025) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
Keita Amemiya does not only please fans and newcomers alike, but proves the continued appeal of the tokusatsu superhero genre
Rewrite (2025) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
Daiga Matsui’s narrative ultimately develops into something that expands beyond mere romance, a surprising and highly satisfying time-loop drama.
Tokyo Revengers 2: Bloody Halloween – Destiny (2023) review
A prime example of a cinematic narrative that is solely made for the fans of the manga and the anime.
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 hits all the right emotional notes.
Son Of Godzilla (1967) review [The Godzilla Project]
Fukuda’s second narrative nevertheless constitutes an infantilisation of the evocative and metaphorical dimension of Godzilla.
River (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]
If you like low-key humour and some time-twisting fun, you should not miss Yamaguchi’s latest.
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.
Ebirah, Horror Of The Deep (1966) review [The Godzilla Project]
A pleasant Kaiju film that continues to emphasize the imaginary dynamic of us (i.e. societal harmony) against them (i.e. the Otherness that threatens it)
Short Movie Time: Glitch (2022) [JFFH 2023]
A pleasant horror-action that beautifully shows that what can poison the subject is the Other he is subjected to.
Mondays: See You This Weekend! (2022) review [Nippon Connection 2023]
A highly enjoyable experience that ends with a touching celebration of the joys of cooperation.
Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965) review [The Godzilla Project]
A great narrative that is marred by budget and time-constraints.