Jan
22
Country: Japan
Genre: Action/ Drama/ Swordplay/ Martial Arts
Director: Kazuo Ikehiro
Year: 1964
Rating:
TRASH CINEMA RECOMMENDED MOVIE
Considering how simple the central conflict of Zatoichi And The Chest Of Gold is, the film can be awfully confusing.
When Zatoichi (Shintarô Katsu) happens upon a celebration, it turns out that the villagers are happy because they have managed to scrape together […]
Jan
12
Country: Japan
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Action/ Martial Arts/ Swordplay
Director: Takashi Harada
Year: 1969
Rating:
TRASH CINEMA RECOMMENDED MOVIE
By the third installment of the Wicked Priest series, Shikai (Tomisaburo Wakayama) has apparently overcome his aversion to violence. Before the credits even begin, Shikai has slaughtered a room full of people (probably a flashback to Wicked Priest 2, but I […]
Jan
4
Country: Japan
Genre: Action/ Swordplay/ Drama
Director: Tai Katô
Year: 1969
Rating:
TRASH CINEMA HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MOVIE
Here we have yet another wonderful entry in the Red Peony Gambler series.
As our story begins, Red Peony Ryu (Junko Fuji) is continuing her training as a gambler so she can assume the role of leader of her clan. She does this by […]
Nov
9
Country: Japan
Genre: Action/ Drama/ Swordplay
Director: Daisuke Itô
Year: 1970
Rating:
NOT WORTH YOUR TIME
One of the best bets in film is any Japanese movie from the 60s or early 70s set during either the Edo period of the Meiji period. It’s astonishing to me how consistent the acting, art design, and writing is in those flicks.
But there’s […]
Oct
28
Country: Japan
Genre: Action/ Drama/ Swordplay
Director: Kimiyoshi Yasuda
Year: 1963
Rating:
WORTH A LOOK
Within the first five seconds of Zatoichi On The Road, you know you’re in good hands. Director Kimiyoshi Yasuda starts the picture in darkness. You hear a sound, which you quickly identify as the shaking of gambling dice. Then a voice: “Game.” The first image […]
Oct
12
Country: Japan
Genre: Action/ Swordplay/ Drama
Director: Noribumi Suzuki
Year: 1968
Rating:
TRASH CINEMA RECOMMENDED MOVIE
The second installment of the Red Peony Gambler series is not quite as surefooted as the first, but it recovers nicely for a powerful finish.
In the first installment of Red Peony Gambler, plot, character, and theme were almost flawlessly integrated, but that isn’t true […]
Sep
18
Country: Japan
Genre: Action/ Swordplay/ Drama/ Pinku Eiga
Director: Yoshihiro Ishikawa
Year: 1968
Rating:
TRASH CINEMA ESSENTIAL MOVIE
I have to admit, when I saw that Female Demon Ohyaku was going to be in black and white, my heart sank.
I figured that since Female Demon Ohyaku was a forerunner to the Pinku Eiga (pinky violence) genre, the levels of […]
Sep
12
Sep
8
Country: Japan
Genre: Action/ Drama/ Swordplay
Director: Tokuzô Tanaka
Year: 1963
Rating:
WORTH A LOOK
Tane: We’ve both done bad things to make a living.
Ichi: Life’s dirt sticks to everyone. To me, you’re the same old Tane.
Tane: Ichi, you say such cruel things.
Ichi: What?
Tane: I’m glad you lost your eye-sight, so you can’t see what I’ve become.
The Ichi series has […]
Sep
4
Country: Japan
Genre: Action/ Drama/ Swordplay
Director: Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
Year: 1971
Rating:
WORTH A LOOK
The Ginza district in Tokyo in the 70s is much like red light districts anywhere. People live by their wits and the predominant ethic is hustle or be hustled. In such circumstances, when kindness is extended to a stranger, bonds are formed.
Such is the experience […]
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