Archive for June, 2010

Movie Impressions: Sleepy Eyes of Death Collector’s Set Vol. 1

I heartily enjoy my Japanese films – the more I can devour the better! You might have seen from previous movie reviews that I’m a fan of some of the older, classic ninja and espionage films put out by the country so many years ago. I’m continuing my journey today through Japanese film history with the four-DVD set Sleepy Eyes of Death, the first volume of a multi-part DVD series, starring Raizo Ichikawa as a nihilist ninja known as Nemuri Kyoshiro. These four films follow a series of novels by the same name, cleverly titled as titular Nemuri’s name in Japanese means “sleep.” The four films included with this set are: The Chinese Jade, Sword of Adventure, Circle of Killing, and Sword of Seduction. As you wade through each film. you’ll note the characters and subplots taking on more and more of a concrete stance rather than just ideas brought to light by simple movie plots or novelizations. I greatly enjoyed the adventures of this chronic nihilist, and I’m certain that if you are at all a fan of films of the period you’ll find something to enjoy here.

Continue Reading →

Movie Impressions: The Samurai I Loved (Semi Shigure)

I typically don’t bother wasting my time with romantic and sappy films, because the lot of them I feel are far too idealistic and frivolous. However, I will give foreign films dealing in genres I generally do not care for a chance since they tend to approach the subject manner in a far different manner than their Western counterparts – i.e. without beer and one-night-stands. When it comes to Japanese films I am instantly interested, as you have no doubt likely guessed by now judging from my previous published works on Popzara. I was given the chance to view the film The Samurai I Loved (originally Semi Shigure) based on a series of novels by acclaimed writer Shuhei Fujisawa and expertly directed by Mitsuo Kurotsuchi.

Continue Reading →

Movie Impressions: Black Rain (Kuroi Ame)

The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki occurred over sixty years ago, though they are still a topic of regular conversation, especially to those whose families were involved in the blasts. Even political figures regularly hotly and firmly debate the efficacy and moral standing of the last-ditch effort to end the war. Even films and television shows created to address the issue are tough to pick apart, seeing as many either paint one or both of the nations in dissenting lights – America as the victor, Japan as the victimized country, and so forth. As one of the seemingly few films to address the tragic end of the war, Shohei Imamura’s Black Rain is a harrowing account of those caught in the aftermath of the bombings and paints a picture that soundly illustrates both the implications and repercussions of war in all forms.

Continue Reading →

Impressions: The Plateau

It’s always a tough decision to make when you’ve just purchased an iTunes card or come across a few extra virtual dollars to spend. Which app to get and why? What are you going to enjoy above the other thousands of apps online? Luckily you can make these decisions and branch out to discover new things without cutting too much into your budget. At just 99 cents, Spoonjuice’s innovative puzzler The Plateau is a game that you won’t have to feel guilty about buying. It packs high production values, responsive controls, and an interesting premise into one small package. Talk about value.

Continue Reading →

Impressions: Jammit Classic Rock Track Pack Volume 1

Rhythm games are great for letting you emulate your favorite rocker, DJ, or even dancer – if you even have a favorite dancer. However, they haven’t gone far in the way of actually teaching you how to perform on an instrument. Still, there are many useful applications that can be utilized in order to put those skills we like to pretend we have in-game to the test. One application in particular is the Jammit series, iPhone apps that come bundled with song packages that strive to teach would-be rockers exactly how to perform some of their favorite songs.

Continue Reading →