Warudo apâtomento horâ - K.Otomo - Japan - (1991)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103286/

Based on a manga by otomo (yes, mister Akira, himself) and Satoshi Kon (yes, mister Tokyo Godfathers, Millenium actress, Perfect Blue, etc...) and with Sabu as the lead ,a cult director in Japan, this had all the chances to be a great movie. And it was, even if the general style is very dated. Otomo behind the camera is not a genius like Otomo the mangaka or as an anime director.

General plot is this: A Yakusa needs to clear an apartment (in fact a house) from it's foreign tenants before his bosses could destroy the house for some construction scam. Only problem is that the apartment is haunted. Of course, very soon, this poor young Yakusa will need the help of the foreigners to battle the evil spirit  inside. And will find out that all foreigners are not evil.

As a comedy, it's works great and it has a nice 80's positive feeling about it (the crap music, the haircuts, the happy ending). Not so much as a horror movie because of the cheesiness of the fx (the Evil Spirit giant  marsupial head is really lame - see pic below) and because it doesn't take itself too seriously.But it's a nice try and really totally different from Otomo's other work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bôkô Kirisaki Jakku - Assault Jack the ripper - Japan - (1976)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237045/

Plot by "Nippon Cinem"a:
A pair of restaurant employees accidentally run over a female hitchhiker and discover the act of killing to be a mutual turn on. From that point on they go on a brutal killing spree where they mutilate their victims and have violent sex in the aftermath.

Can't believe I had not seen this one, witch turns out to be great sleaze but slightly disappointing. The imagery and the 70's music make for the rather dull storyline and the uncharismatic performances by the lead couple: Nice little movie. Bleak enough to be considered a "classic" by some.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trailer from Nippon Cinema:

Five Elements Ninja - Chang Cheh - HK - (1982)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084921/

If there was a chinese equivalent to Mishima, the great japanese writer, it could be Chang Cheh. His obsessions are very alike  his (in)famous japanese counterpart: chest naked male warriors, covered in blood, sacrificing themselves for a higher cause. More homo sadistic erotism would be difficult to archive. That said, Chang Cheh is a very minor artist compared to Mishima but still his movies are great entertainments. (his masterpiece "The New One-Armed Swordsman" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069518/) literally traumatised me when I saw it as a kid, and it's still one of the best kung-fu movie ever in my opinion)
In this one, you'll spot one of the "Venom" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077559/), Meng Lo, always entertaining and always dying in the middle of the picture. The story is basic but the nice touches are the insane martial choreographies and the use of the ninja's weapon arsenal.: sticks, smokesscreens, hats that throws blades (wtf ?!) and for the "bling-bling" touch, a golden Ninja ! A few laughs also when one fighter fells because he stumbles on one of his own intestines...Or when a warrior fights a Tree-Ninja that tries to feel his breast...Yeah, I know...But if you're reading this, you're not so sane yourself !
On a more serious subject, this movie means the end of an era for the Shaw Brothers studio in HK, they were out of fashion and in serious financial trouble. So let's watch this as a reminder of their past glory...and enjoy !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Lions trailer

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1341167/

Looking forward for Christopher Morris (the guy behind genius comedy "Jam"), feature comedy movie about a group of British ...jihadists. Another landmark "tragicomedy" ?