Latest Posts
Reviews, Features and Podcasts…
-
Film Review – Love Exposure (2009)
If you’re like been a fan of Japanese pop culture it’s been a journey of many great times but also a journey of many stressful when those who don’t understand the finer details attack unselfishly. If we where to choose a sole representative to let the world know the reasons why we love this culture,…
-
DVD Review – Kotoko (2011)
Mental Illness is no laughing matter nor should it be something we should ignore either and it comes in all shapes and sizes but most of all it can affect us all. We sometimes think we understand the illness or selfishly think we have all the answers to curing the illness, in Shinya Tsukamoto‘s Kotoko…
-
Film Review – When Marnie Was There
To many it’s a bittersweet ending to a animation powerhouse, When Marnie Was There is been billed as Studio Ghibli‘s final in-house production proving life does exist post Miyazaki and Takahata. But how long will the Studio be in hiatus,will we ever see them as we love them again? The Oscar nominated film directed by Hiromasa…
-
DVD Review – Crows Zero 2 (2009)
Takashi Miike has provided some of my favourite films from the other side of the world in the past 15 years or so. From the horror classic Audition to the cult classic Ichi The Killer and more recently 13 Assassins. Manga / Anime is another passion of mines (though a little non-existent past few years)…
-
Blu-ray Review – From Upon Poppy Hill (2011)
Teenagers in love Post World War Japan is the setting for the latest Studio Ghibli home release. With Hayao Miyazaki-San ready to hand over the reigns of Japan’s greatest ever to younger hands is Goro Miyazaki’s From Upon Poppy Hill a worthy application for his father’s crown? Set in 1963 Yokohama, From Upon Poppy…
-
Blu-ray Review – Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
Whilst many have attempted and failed to deliver a coming of age story with sincerity as well as the charm it seems the masters of animation Studio Ghibli seem to have found that winning formula. Once again they show the world how it’s done with broomsticks, talking cats, deliveries, growing pains and been independent, step…
-
Blu-ray Review – My Neighbour Totoro (1988)
When you look at the history and worldwide reputation it’s had over the years, it’s hard to believe Studio Ghibli having a film open so badly in it’s native Japan.Hayao Miyazaki’s My Neighbour Totoro did suffer that poor opening but like a certain famous high street chain store ‘ this is no ordinary animation, this…
-
DVD Review – Adrift In Tokyo (2007)
In today’s financial climate it’s very rare to find someone who is in debt any shape or form,so if someone offered to wipe those debts how would you react?What’s the catch? All you have to do is accompany that person on a cross city walk and at the end of the walk 1 million Yen…
-
DVD Review – Arrietty (2011)
When your part of a wonderful legacy and you’re looking to pass on the torch you always want to make sure whoever picks that torch up is worthy of doing so. Studio Ghibli the animation house Hayao Miyazaki & Isao Takahata built was always going to be a mammoth task for whatever new pretender stepped…
-
Blu-ray Review – Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)
For years critics, cinephiles, so called experts have battled over the decades to give animation the right and respect it deserves to be judged on the same par as feature films. The right to say animation is not for just kids but for everyone, Japanese animation (or anime) has been a forerunner for many years…
Chronicles In Film 