Movie review - "Ran" (1985) **** (warning: spoilers)

 I'll admit to being a phililstine and to drifting off occasionally, wishing there were more close ups and struggling to tell people apart (a few more close ups would've worked wonders). The beautiful images sometimes distance me - musical scores over battles. This was deliberate to avoid feeling of pain.

But it's certainy rich and I'm still thinking about it. Even if the main lord is a dill - a man who murdered and massacred his way to the top dividing his land into three; the elder two sons start fighting almost immediately, the "good" son is smart at war but dumb enough to be attached to his dumb dad.

Nice characters - third son, the jester (I guess), the second son's ethical general, the second son's nice wife, her blind brother. They all end up dead except the brother. (Well we don't see the second son or ethical general die we just assume).

Nasty characters - the lord, the elder two sons,  the wife of the eldest who shags the second one (easily the best character with the most brilliant scenes and death). They all die too.

I was confused who was the army at the end against the second son - the people who won I guess.  I assume neighbouring lord.

Movie review - "You Only Live Twice" (1967) **** (re-viewing)

 Connery seems bored at times but he's still Connery. Great settings and lines and moments. Tanaka is tremendous. Blofeld fun. Piranha lakes and Ninja armies and secret trains and Ken Adams being a genius. They kill off Aki too late and Bond gets over her too soon - that's the main flaw.

Movie review - "Tidal Wave" (1975) **1/2

 Japanese film The Submergion of Japan was retitled by Roger Corman for New World, who added a few scenes with Lorene Greene though not many. Decent effects but I think the successs was due to its concept - they figure out tidal waves will wipe out Japan causing the whole country to be evacuated. Massive stakes. Great issues. Refugees etc.

Aussies will enjoy a scene where a Japanese politician asks the Australian ambassador to take people.

Movie review - "Private Lessons 2" (1993) *

 Cripes. Officially a sequel to the 1981 hit but actually a remake in Japan,with the kid played by an old looking pop star so the whole point is diluted. Joanna Pacula, who had a moment back in the 80s, pays the rent.

TV review - "Shogun" (2024) ***1/2

 I loved the original novel which isn't a white saviour story - it's a stranger in a strange land story, where that stranger becomes a pawn. I like that they started him as an arrogant Protestant bigot.

The opening ep had some women having sex and a man being boiled alive in a pot noisily so that's the Game of Thrones territory. There's not a lot of it in the series. There is a lot of chat in darkened rooms and plotting. The violence is well handled. It did get a little less gripping as it went along.

Movie review - "War of the Gargantuas" (1969) **1/2

 Handsome looking kaiju with impressive effects and photography as two creatures run amok, a goodie and a baddie. Not Godzilla but Gargantuas, Frankenstein's monster types.

Russ Tamblyn ambles through it seemingly stoned. Apparently he improvised his dialogue. But his presence adds to the fun.

There's some singing people at camp, lots of destruction, a decent budget (it seemed to my eyes). Fun.

Movie review - "Silence" (2016) ***1/2

 It's got a fascinating world - Japanese Christians being persecuted in the 17th century - and a terrific set up two priests (Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, both ideally cast) set out to find their mentor (Liam Neeson) who has gone missing. (Sidebar: I'm surprised WW2 Allied propaganda didn't use stories of persuctions of Christians in Japan. Maybe they did.)

There's also an intriguing Japanese character,a. former Christian who repented who is their guide. But once that's set up in the first ten minutes the film doesn't really have any more ideas. Japanese Christians are glad to meet them, but also scared. They are persecuted and killed. Martin Scorsese gets to do lots of violent scenes that he likes of Christians being crucified, burned, tortured, decapitated, in amognst the long running time and minimal female presence.

I really liked the ambiable Japanese politician who does great evil, an all too recognisable type from history. It's well acted, looks terrific, with lovely photography, sets, costumes, etc.

It just suffers from lack of structure and character development.  The last third is strong. I really liked it. It was dramatic conflict not just repetitive torture. It's just that middle section.

Garfield and Driver go full actor. Both seem like priests, Garfield goes believably nutty. I wonder if the film would've done better had they just thrown rocks at him for half an hour. (How long did Driver go without sex for?) I think it was a mistake to allow them to have Portugese accents. Also the piece could've done with some humour - it comes in the end, I guess.

I wonder if Mel Gibson ever considered filming this novel it feels right up his alley with its suffering and violence. He might've ensured a better structure too

Script review - "The Yakuza" by Paul Schrader (warning: spoilers)

 Based on a novel by Leonard Schrader, says the cover page - I thought both were to work together. A great yarn. Interesting set up. Good star part for the old American soldier called back to Japan; flashy support roles for Dusty, the young Yank who goes with him, Tanner, the guy who calls in Tanner. Terrific co starring part for Tanaka Ken, the bass ass lone wolf who gets involved to his regret. 

There's a pace slump after the girl is rescued but it recovers. Lots of expositiony dialogue and interesting asides - easy to edit.

TV review - "Tokyo Vice - Ep One" (2022) ****

 Directed by Michael Mann, so I wanted to see it. Starts off great, thrown into story, with all this stylish photography and look and Ansol thingy looking like Chris Hemsworth looking like Val Kilmer looking like Peter Strauss. The authenticity is so powerful and it feels different that it's not until 40 minutes in the lack of story got to me. I mean, things happen, it compelled, I just sensed tap dancing towards the end. Will this hold for eight eps?

Movie review - "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" (1971) ***

Godzilla vs the Smog Monster was the American title and it gives a better idea of this ecologically friendly entry in the series. Its very groovy with some animated sequences, funky music and a scene at a nightclub where a woman dances and sings in a colored body stocking like out of The Trip and there's a right-on-man guitar playing college student hero who sings songs around the campfire. But there's actually not a lot of him.

There's a decent amount of monster acting - I like the idea of a smog monster, Hedorah's a worthy adversary (getting beaten easy enough straight up but then coming out really dangerous) and the final fight with Godzilla is fun. The hero is a doctor who spends most of the movie lying in bed recovering giving advice.

This was silly but the environmental stuff worked well (after all the first movie started with a social message) and was a lot more fun after two weak entries.

Movie review - Godzilla#10 - "All Monsters Attack" (1969) **

There's nothing wrong with centering a Godzilla film around a little kid - and the actor who plays the kid is good. Some reliable tropes like bullies, and parents not being around, to make sympathy. I love the idea of the kid befriending Minilla.

But the film lost me when the kid dreamed of going to Monster island. It make the whole thing fake, there were no stakes. They throw in some robbers in the real world and I like how the experience of dreaming of the monsters encouraged the kid to take on the bullies, but mostly this was annoying.

Movie review - Godzilla#9 - "Destroy All Monsters" (1968) **

A legendary Godzilla film because of the audacity of its central concept - 30 years in the future all the monsters are shoved on to one island. Monster Island! This is great - but it totally wastes that idea to focus on a story about aliens invading. They use the monsters sure but there's very little monster stuff. There's a lot of aliens and the standard large group of men and a smurfette girl and a hot alien chick. It has its moments but it's an opportunity missed.

Movie review - Godzilla#8 - "Son of Godzilla" (1967) ***1/2

Every Godzilla movie at this stage tried to add something new - a battle, aliens, a sea monster. This one adds a son, which is a cute idea. There's some funky music, a sexy island girl, an island setting, some bugs (I think), weather scientists, a special web, a killer spider, an American submarine, a weather device that unleashes snow.

But the best thing about it is Minilla, the little Godzilla. Yes it's a silly and over the top creature, looks like it was designed by a six year old as does Godzilla (this was pointed out by Justin Decloux, I think) but it has a great deal of personality. He adds to the excitement as he's little and often struggles in the battles - you know Godzilla is going to be okay but not the little one.

And the ending is genuinely moving - the human induced snow falling, the battle with the spider, Godzilla walking off, Minilla stumbling and crying out and Godzilla coming back to hug the little one as they freeze in hibernation. Sniff.

Movie review - Godzilla#7 - "Ebirah, Horror of the Deep" (1966) ***

Probably my least favourite Japanese Godzilla to date. It's cheaper which is a shame - but I don't think a lower budget is part of the problem. It's not that dramatic - too many scenes of characters poking around the island base. And too many characters. I like that it's an island movie but feel more could have been done with the robbery plot and with the James Bond like bad guys on the island - I mean, they had real potential, but it's not exploited.

The twins in the pearl who look after Mothra are back but played by different actors who aren't as good. I wish the leads on the yacht were differentiated more . The concept of a sea monster taking on Godzilla is great but they don't do enough with the water factor.

Still there are good things - that lovely 60s colour, the concept of an island Godzilla movie, the basic story is actually pretty good (it's potential is not realised), Kumi Mizuno is a winning native girl,  I liked that the baddies were making heavy water for a nuclear bomb and the ticking clock was literally a bomb, I loved Mothra coming to the rescue picking up people in a net and how she and Godzilla still didn't get along, the lobster sea monster is charming (if funny rather than scary). So I'm giving it three stars even though in it's heart this is probably more two and a half stars.

Movie review - Godzilla#6 - "Invasion of the Astro Monster" (1965) ***

The Godzilla series keep coming up with fresh angles - this one goes into outer space and has a Hollywood actor, Nick Adams, who made a few Japanese movies around this time. He's dubbed into Japanese and plays an astronaut who, along with his mate, gets a call from some aliens. They're having troubles with Ghidorah the three headed animal who ran amok in Japan and ask for Earth's help bringing Godzilla and Rodan out of retirement which is just too cute.

There's a subplot involving an inventor who falls for one of the sisters of an astronaut and Nick Adams has a hot alien girl fall in love with him - so much so she turns traitor for her people. Oh, Nick, you smooth talker.

The effects are charming - maybe the model work in some scenes are too obvious. Godzilla seems to take a back seat in this one... one gets the feeling he was inserted into the action down the development process, though I could be wrong. It's a lot of fun - an enjoyable light tone, decent production values, impressive look at the future, aliens and Godzilla.

I'm really enjoying these Godzilla movies haven't hit a dud in the bunch.

Movie review - Godzilla#5 - "Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster" (1964) ***1/2

I'm really enjoying these Godzilla movies they've got so much stuff in them. This one as Ghidorah a - you guessed it - three headed monster running rampant so the humans come up with the idea of uniting Rodan, Godzilla and mothra to take it on. What's more Mothra has to act as a peacekeeper for Rodan and Godzilla.

If that's not enough there's a subplot about a princess whose uncle his trying to kill her - she falls for a cop who protects her only she loses her memory and is convinced she's from Venus.. and she is. And she's played by Akiki Wakabayashi who was Aki  in You Only Live Twice (she was also in King Kong vs Gozilla).

And there's the return of the singing little twins who protect Mothra from Mothra vs Godzilla.

Movie review - Godzilla#4 - "Mothra vs Godzilla" (1964) ***1/2 (warning: spoilers)

After audiences loved King Kong taking on Godzilla, Toho decided to match big G with Mothra, star of their 1961 Kaiju. This is a fun movie with gorgeous 1964 colour photography and entertaining effects. It's a decent story too with Godzilla back on the rampage and lazy/desperate humans getting mothra to fight their battles.

The heroes are two guys and a girl - I think that was becoming formula around this time? The film is full of cool stuff like the two girls who are little people who want the mothra eggs, the islanders who worship mothra, the fact mothra dies fighting Godzilla but his kids come back to get revenge after being hatched, the army killing Godzilla. A very strong entry, high quality.

Movie review - Godzilla#2 - "Godzilla Raids Again" (1955) ***

Lesser known Godzilla movie, the first sequel which holds up very well. The tone is similarly grim and downbeat though not quite as hopeless as the first movie - this one is more an army film as the Japanese defence force especially the air force do their thing. It's actually a little unsettling to watch the pilots at work.

Godzilla gets his first non human enemy - Anguiris, who has been forgotten in time... I think because he doesn't do much, just sort of fights Godzilla, gets killed, and allows Godzilla to go on his rampage.

Great scenes like the pilots crashed on the island trying to get off in time. There's a prison truck hijack and Gozilla is buried in snow which is interesting. Solid acting, plenty of dinosaur action - I mean, there's heaps. This should be better known.

Movie review - Godzilla #1 - "Godzilla" (1954) ***1/2

The original is strikingly different from the many sequels that followed. It's dark, gloomy and pessimistic, with the nuclear war metaphor fairly throbbing - ships are wiped out, people worry, everyone freaks. It's a powerful, haunting movie. I'm talking the Japanese version not the American one. You can sense the devastation of war.

There's a thumping soundtrack, some decent acting, and a solid third act emotional pull as someone invents a device that could take out the big guy but isn't sure whether to unleash it. Strong effects for the time. A memorable experience. Godzilla really goes on a rampage in this one.

Movie review - Godzilla#3 - "King Kong vs Godzilla" (1962) ***1/2

The film that brought back both King Kong and Godzilla after a break - King Kong's was longer. This is the Japanese version - apparently the US one isn't as good - and it's great fun. The first section is mostly a Kong story, with a wacky TV producer sending a comedy duo on an expedition to go to a mystery island. We get Japanese actors in brownface playing islanders, which was unusual to my eyes, but it works on a junky level as they discover Kong, Kong fights a squid and is captured. There's a subplot about a US sub crashing into the ice and unleashing Godzilla and then Godzilla goes on a rampage and becomes the main plot. Fortunately Kong comes along.

Monster mash ups can be great fun - eg Frankenstein versus the Wolf Man - and this one is. I enjoyed the comic relief (no one ever admits that about monster movies as if admitting to some impurity or something). I love how they keep cutting back from monster rampages to various characters discussing them wondering what the creatures will do. And how the humans give up and get King Kong to do battle for them.

Very satisfactory final battle between Godzilla and Kong.