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Anime has become such a global phenomenon and an artistic style of its own that its influence — both in visuals and writing — can be felt in major Hollywood films. What's more, some of the most popular and respected filmmakers and actors in the industry produced these films. From sly nods to massive tributes, these Hollywood films made sure that audiences around the world knew how much they owed to anime's creative spirit.

It should be noted that these films wore their anime influences proudly on their sleeves, unlike the oft-cited Black Swan and Inception. In the latter's case, directors Darren Aronofsky and Christopher Nolan denied any overt or subtle similarities between their films to certain anime. Respectively, the late great Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue and Paprika.

Creed III's Fights Were Inspired More by Anime Than Real Boxing Streaming on Prime VideoImage via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures

When Michael B. Jordan...

Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.

Daredevil: Born Again by Marlon Diniz

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind by Salvador Pombo

Heart Eyes by Bob Bob

Lady Snowblood by Alicia Berbenick

Ocean’s Eleven by Aurelio Lorenzo

Reservoir Dogs...

Quick Links The Times, They Are A-Changing, Including Theaters Tarantino's Comments From the Ivory Tower

My perception of Quentin Tarantino and his works has always been a love-hate relationship. Films like Pulp Fiction mesmerized me in my youth, and the release of Jackie Brown timed perfectly with my growing interest in exploitation films. Yet the hype and sensation around Kill Bill began to sour me on his work. At that point, I was deeply obsessed with Japanese cinema and was hyped to see great works paid homage on screen. Lady Snowblood, Zatoichi, and Goke: Body Snatcher From Hell were among my favorite features referenced in the movie. However, the discussion around these films was minimal when it came to Kill Bill outside of those in the know.

While some personal reflections may seem like a non-sequitur, Quentin Tarantino's recent comments about the state of the movie industry seem to take a very pro-corporate,...

Director Addison Heimann's Touch Me is a horror film that will likely turn a few heads. Starring Olivia Taylor Dudley, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jordan Gavaris and Marlene Forte, the movie almost defies exploration. It's a tale of trauma, magical aliens and self-help gone awry, wrapped in a nightmarish, technicolor package. Touch Me is visually and topically unique — more than earning its place on any list of unconventional horror movies.

The film centers around Brian — a charismatic, shape-shifting alien with an erotic touch so magical, it can erase all anxiety and pain. When Brian invites Joey and Craig to his mountaintop resort for a wellness retreat, the alien psychosexual therapy devolves into a spiral of addiction, abuse and manipulation that will turn the friends against one another. In this interview with Cbr, director Heimann and actors Dudley, Gavaris, Pucci and Forte share the surrealist and psychological inspiration behind Touch Me,...

Originally intended to be a single film, Quentin Tarantino’s sprawling revenge epic Kill Bill was split into two parts by Miramax for ease of theatrical distribution. But if the bifurcation was imposed on the director, the split nonetheless draws attention to the stark difference in style and tone between each part. With the benefit of hindsight, however, it’s easy to see the division between the films as the line of demarcation separating Tarantino’s early career from his more measured, even mature second phase.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1, released in 2003, represents the aesthetic and tonal pinnacle of Tarantino’s juvenile cinephile side. The Bride (Uma Thurman), a former member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, is ambushed on her wedding day by the members of her former gang and its ringleader—and the Bride’s ex-lover—Bill (David Carradine), who promptly slaughter the guests and groom and leave the pregnant heroine comatose.

Writer and director Quentin Tarantino is a well-known true-blue cinephile, a deeply devoted fan of films from a variety of genres and eras. He's a fan of everything from sleazy grindhouse exploitation films to classic westerns like the films of Howard Hawks, and he wears his influences loudly and proudly in his own films. So when asked about his favorite films of all time, he has different answers depending on how he feels. There is one movie that he claims to always include in his favorites, however, and he's been pretty effusive about his love for it on more than one occasion.

In an interview with The Talks, Tarantino shared his favorite three films (at that particular moment) and explained that even though two of his top three might shuffle around, he will always feel the need to share his love for the Sergio Leone spaghetti western "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Blue Eye Samurai is an absolute gem of a show. Since its debut in November, this animated Netflix hit has become a major cult favorite, with many claiming it’s one of the best shows of its kind…well…ever? In it, Mizu, a female mixed-race blue-eyed samurai (voiced by Maya Erskine) seeks revenge against the four men (one of whom is her father) who did her wrong. With an all-star voice cast that includes George Takei, Kenneth Branagh, Masi Oka, and many others, it’s quickly become a favorite of our own Taylor James Johnson, who you may know as the host of one of our most enduringly popular series, Wtf Happened to this Celebrity, as well as the recent reboot of C’Mon Hollywood.

Taylor recently sat down with the creators of Blue Eye Samurai (which is nominated for two Emmys including Outstanding Animated Program), Amber Noizumi & Michael Green...

Anime distributor AnimEigo returns to anime's golden age in the 1980s as it announces the Blu-ray home media release on October 8th of Otaku No Video. The anime Ova spoofs the life and culture of otaku as well as the history of Studio Gainax and its creators.

The Inside Story of Anime's Late, Great Anime Studio!

Director Takeshi Mori (Gunsmith Cats) and the anime madmen of Studio Gainax (Neon Genesis Evangelion) gather with their friends for the most explosive club meeting ever! Bolstered by Kenichi Sonoda's (Bubblegum Crisis) charming character designs and the great Kohei Tanaka's (Gunbuster) rousing soundtrack, Otaku no Video bursts onto Blu-ray in stunning 1080p high definition! Featuring the original Japanese language with English subtitles!

The original anime club is back in session!

The year is 1982 – one year into the glorious New Anime Century! Unfortunately, college freshman Ken Kubo has yet to bask in the...

Due to Akira Kurosawa and Masaki Kobayashi's directorial prowess within the samurai genre, crafting a list of the greatest samurai films of all time is essentially just assembling the best works by Kurosawa and Kobayashi. Nine of the 32 films Kurosawa directed were within the samurai genre and each of the nine is iconic enough to qualify as one of the genre's very best. Kobayashi's two seminal samurai movies, Harakiri and Samurai Rebellion, are also undeniable masterworks of the genre that arguably belong among the top five samurai movies ever made.

While Kurosawa and Kobayashi's samurai films are more well-known to Western audiences, the samurai genre has a plethora of other brilliant movies that are formative works of Japanese cinema. Auteurs such as Hiroshi Inagaki, Hideo Gosha, Kihachi Okamoto, and Kenji Misumi played an equally important role in the development of the samurai genre as Kurosawa and Kobayashi. Films such as The Sword of Doom,...

As one of the most pure auteurs working in Hollywood today, Quentin Tarantino's films bear the unmistakable imprint of his vision and mad genius. He has written every movie that he's directed but also authored scripts produced by other filmmakers, which still carry that signature Tarantino style. His penchant for colorful dialog is a dead giveaway that he's had a hand in something.

Following the success of Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino became a hot commodity, and his unproduced screenplays were snapped up, but he was also given several uncredited writing gigs to punch up listless stories. From films as diverse as Crimson Tide to the SNL stinker, It's Pat, Tarantino has played the script doctor. The real meat of his career, however, is the interesting stories and eclectic characters that have flowed from his scripts to the big screen.

Four Rooms Is A Quarter Of Quentin Tarantino

Related Top 10 Movies...

If you are a fan of Kill Bill, the two-part martial arts revenge epic from director Quentin Tarantino, you may not recognize the name Meiko Kaji, but you have heard her voice. Near the end of the climactic fight between The Bride, played by Uma Thurman, and Lucy Liu's deadly O-Ren Ishii, a song begins to play. This song is the theme from Toshiya Fujita's Lady Snowblood, a 1973 Japanese revenge film starring Kaji. She performs the theme herself, as Kaji is a talented singer in addition to her ability as an actress. The influence of Kaji's work in Lady Snowblood can be traced directly to Kill Bill, which has overt musical and visually stylistic homages to the film, as well as a narrative that is strikingly similar. So who is Meiko Kaji in the larger context of Japanese cinema?...

Each new episode of Shōgun raises the stakes, deepens the political intrigue, and brings us closer to the brink of war. It’s a description that, years ago, would have applied to Game of Thrones, a show to which Shōgun has been compared ad nauseam. It’s not an inappropriate comparison. Both tout sprawling casts, sweeping locations, political intrigue, backstabbing, and characters residing in moral gray areas, ready to surprise and disappoint. Though, it may be more apt to compare the show to Japan’s Chanbara or samurai films.

Given Shōgun’s intensity and cliffhangers, waiting a week between episodes is excruciating. Digging back into Game of Thrones or even House of the Dragon might not scratch that Shōgun itch in the long days between installments.

Instead, let’s dive into samurai epics in and around the Edo period when Ieyasu Tokugawa unified Japan and built a shogunate that ruled for more than two centuries,...

Blue Eye Samurai draws inspiration from a variety of films and shows, including Yentl, Kill Bill, Mulan, Samurai Champloo, The Legend of Korra, Cowboy Bebop, Lady Snowblood, Blade Runner 2049, Afro Samurai, and Arcane. These works share themes of revenge, gender identity, discrimination, and the pursuit of freedom, which resonate with Blue Eye Samurai's story. The artistic styles, character development, and action sequences in these films and shows parallel the unique blend of genres and visual storytelling that make Blue Eye Samurai stand out in the world of animation and modern television.

While waiting for the highly anticipated second season of Blue Eye Samurai, looking into film and television that served as inspiration for the show is a great way to discover new content or scratch the same itch as the series. The show is a unique blend of genres, writing, and visual storytelling that makes it stand out...

Quentin Tarantino has dangled the possibility of Kill Bill: Vol. 3 for years — almost twenty years, to be exact. Affirmatives and negatives appeared and disappeared like so many ninja assassins over twenty years. Sometimes, a third entry seemed a certainty. Other times, it was a dream for fans and Tarantino himself. As of summer 2023, the director has seemingly confirmed that Volume 3 will never happen; Tarantino plans for his next and 10th film to be his industry curtain call. Tarantino's two-part (but one film in spirit) martial arts epic from 2003 starred Uma Thurman as the Bride, aka Beatrix Kiddo, a former assassin and wronged woman out for murderous revenge after she was left for dead on her wedding day. In line with Tarantino's love for homage, Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Volume 2 contain elements of samurai films and Spaghetti Westerns, specifically drawing inspiration from the 1973 Japanese film Lady Snowblood. Those components...

When Guillermo del Toro accepted the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature ("Pinocchio") in 2022, he proclaimed during his speech, "Animation is cinema. Animation is not a genre. Animation is ready to be taken to the next step, we are all ready for it." Well, 2023 certainly heard him, because this year we were gifted an embarrassment of riches — all using the animated medium to push the limits of storytelling and visual artistry. At the same time, animated projects are constantly under attack by powerful millionaires in positions of power who can't or refuse to see the value in animation and instead still operate under the false assumption that it's nothing more than "kid's stuff." And even still, there was plenty of incredible animation this year specifically targeting young audiences, like the "Craig of the Creek" prequel film "Craig Before the Creek," Apple TV+'s "The Snoopy Show," and of course, the undisputed children's champion,...

Netflix is undergoing cuts and changes to its animation department yet again, but thankfully good work is not going unrewarded. One of the most celebrated Netflix animated shows of the year, "Blue Eye Samurai," is getting a second season. The show is essentially an animated riff on "Lady Snowblood" that was created by Amber Noizumi and Michael Green and directed by Jane Wu.

The adult animated series is a tale of revenge and blood, following a young biracial woman born out of sexual violence in early Edo period Japan who embarks on a journey of vengeance to find out which of the four remaining white men in Japan is her father. As our own Bj Colangelo wrote, "With only eight episodes, 'Blue Eye Samurai' is an easily digestible watch, but with an addictive story that you'll have to fight yourself from binging."

The show has been praised by animators,...

(Welcome to Animation Celebration, a recurring feature where we explore the limitless possibilities of animation as a medium. In this edition: "Blue Eye Samurai.")

When's the last time you watched something and felt compelled to fist pump at the TV? For most, it was probably a favorite sports team winning the big game. But for me, it was the first episode of the new Netflix series, "Blue Eye Samurai." During the premiere of the show (attended by /Film's Jenna Bush-Henderson), it was revealed that the seed for the new animated series from Michael Green and Amber Noizumi was first planted about 15 years ago after the show creators welcomed the birth of their daughter. She was born with blue eyes, and Noizumi, who is half-Japanese, found herself wondering, "Why am I so excited that my daughter has blue eyes? What's the big deal about that? And why am I so excited...

The showrunner of Netflix's Blue Eye Samurai says they ensured their animation team was always comfortable in fleshing out the protagonist's blood-soaked revenge story.

Blue Eye Samurai's content warning is appropriate for viewers who might mistake it for a typical action-adventure story. The violence is immediately evident in the trailer, which features the same graphic brutality as Invincible or Arcane. Showrunner Michael Green admitted they regularly touched base with Blue Eye Samurai's animators just to make sure they're comfortable illustrating the visceral scenes of the series. In a /Film report, he also asserted that everyone in their animation team had the same disposition towards the show's mature themes.

20 Best Samurai Anime

"We definitely shook some people who saw what we were doing," Green said. "When we were giving assignments out, some came with a content warning, 'Are you okay with this?' Giving it the context for...

Set in 17th-century Edo-period Japan, the new Netflix series "Blue Eye Samurai" follows Mizu (voiced by "Pen15" star Maya Erskine), a mixed-race master of the sword who lives a life in disguise seeking to deliver revenge. "It's an Edo-period tale of revenge — Kill Bill meets Yentl," co-creator Amber Noizumi told Tudum. During this time period, borders to Japan were closed to other countries, with the exception of illegal trade. Knowing that there were only four white men in Japan at the time of her conception, Mizu decides to track them down and kill them in the hopes of enacting revenge against the man who made her a "creature of shame." Her quest requires her to hide not just her blue eyes but also her gender, because as is narrated in the series' trailer, "Under the law, revenge is a luxury for men. Women must be practical."

/Film's own Jenna Busch-Henderson...

Blue Eye Samurai's protagonist, Mizu, is not based on a real person, but her character draws inspiration from the real-life Englishman William Adams, who had a similar life during the 17th century in Japan. The creators of Blue Eye Samurai drew inspiration from various sources, including their own daughter's blue eyes, the experiences of a woman in Hollywood, the Clint Eastwood archetype, and the film Lady Snowblood. These influences contribute to the show's unique and fresh feel. The adult animated series explores themes of revenge and subverts patriarchal structures as Mizu navigates her journey. It aims to have an impact on the samurai genre by offering a story that is both violent and subversive, different from traditional samurai movies.

As the protagonist of Netflix's Blue Eye Samurai, Mizu's mixed race and adeptness with a katana during Japan's Edo period might inspire viewers to question whether the strong and...

This article contains no spoilers for Netflix’s Blue Eye Samurai.

Academy Award nominee Michael Green and co-writer Amber Noizumi have created Netflix’s latest original animated series Blue Eye Samurai. Set during the Edo Period, the height of feudalism in Japan, a mixed-race samurai woman named Mizu traverses the countryside hunting for those responsible for the death of her mother. Along the way, Mizu incurs the ire of dangerous enemies who pursue her as she quickly realizes her vendetta has far greater consequences and implications for the Land of the Rising Sun.

Packed with blood-soaked fights, Blue Eye Samurai doesn’t pull its punches when it comes to on-screen sex and violence as Mizu seeks vengeance. But more than just being a sweeping revenge yarn, filled with memorable enemies and visually stunning set pieces, the animated series is truly a love letter to classical Japan. Backed by an all-star voice cast,...

You can tell in every minute of Blue Eye Samurai that husband and wife duo Michael Green and Amber Noizumi have a vast knowledge of and passion for samurai films. The confidence and excitement radiate on screen throughout the first season's eight episodes. Blue Eye Samurai has echoes of Toshiya Fujita's jidaigeki film Lady Snowblood, Akira Kurosawa's revered masterpiece Seven Samurai, and more recent additions to the genre like Takashi Miike's 13 Assassins.

Quentin Tarantino has long made it clear that he would direct ten films as a filmmaker and then hang up his pretty impressive director's hat. In March of this year, Tarantino announced that he had completed a script called The Movie Critic, which is rumored to be his final film and will reportedly be based on a movie reviewer who wrote for a pornographic magazine. The details are still very vague, but the film is sure to showcase all of Tarantino's love as a filmmaker.

He has been viewed as a true encyclopedia of movies and a true movie fan who happens to direct pretty fantastic films. Scanning across his filmography, fans are likely to have their own personal favorites, but in 2003, the director released what is arguably his true masterpiece in Kill Bill: Vol.1. The film taps into so many of Tarantino's loves as a filmmaker and is a...

Rousing action films get your blood pumping and lift your spirits. In some respects, they're even more thrilling when women play the action hero. Though ladies have been kicking butt in movies for decades now, it's still just as exciting when a new woman fights her way to the big screen and into our hearts. If you're a fan of action films -– and hopefully if you're a fan of women –- you've probably seen many of this century's most popular female-led action epics. There are the "Kill Bill" films, of course, Ripley's badassery in "Aliens," and more recent fare like "Atomic Blonde" and "Mad Max: Fury Road."

These are all incredible films that certainly deserve their place in the action pantheon, but others deserve our attention, too. For one thing, there actually were a few female-led action films made before the year 2000, something you might not be aware of...

If there's a basic, no-frills definition for movies, it's that they're made to be seen. Cinema is a populist medium, attempting to reach as wide an audience as possible for as long as possible.

Perhaps that's why the feeling of "discovering" a movie can be so powerfully enjoyable. It gives you the sense, however false, that you're stumbling upon a secret piece of entertainment made just for you. If you happen to discover such a movie in the wee hours of the morning, so much the better — the surreal setting only serves to make what you're watching seem that much more unreal, richer, and special.

It's that sensation that the programming block on Turner Classic Movies known as "TCM Underground" sought to capture every Friday night-turned-Saturday morning. Begun by Eric Weber in 2006 and continued by programmer Millie De Chirico starting in 2007, TCM Underground made it its business to curate some of the most obscure,...

When a filmmaker writes and directs their own script, they run the risk of comparing their strengths and weaknesses. Take Zack Snyder — few would say he can wield a pen as well as he can a camera. On the flip side, there's Joss Whedon; his writing has shaped pop culture, for better or worse, but his visual craftsmanship never grew beyond 1990s network TV.

Quentin Tarantino is aware of this dichotomy and it has motivated him to push himself as an artist. In the wake of his breakout run in the 1990s, "Reservoir Dogs," "Pulp Fiction," and "Jackie Brown," Tarantino was especially praised for his dialogue. With conversations littered with pop culture ephemera, Tarantino's characters don't sound much like real people, but they certainly argue like them. Unlike many other writers famous for stylized dialogue (see the aforementioned Whedon), he gives all of his characters distinct voices too.

But Tarantino...

“People say you can’t wash away the mud of this world with pure white snow. You need asura snow – stained fiery red.“

The Strange Brew Cult Movie night returns at their new home, the Arkadin Cinema & Bar, with a screening of Lady Snowblood (1973) on Wednesday, April 6th at 8:00 pm. The Arkadin is located at 5228 Gravois Ave, St Louis, Mo 63116. The Strange Brew Cult Movie night takes place the first Wednesday of every month at Arkadin Cinema. Films are currently showing on the Backlot Patio (Enter through the Heavy Anchor) and bringing extra lawn chairs is strongly encouraged. Admission: 9.00. Tickets can be purchased in advance Here.

Yuki’s family is nearly wiped out before she is born due to the machinations of a band of criminals. These criminals kidnap and brutalize her mother but leave her alive. Later her mother ends up in prison with only revenge to keep her alive.

Following its well-received world premiere at Fantasia Film Festival, Yakuza Princess is now on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD from Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing, and we caught up with lead actress Masumi to discuss training in martial arts, working with her husband (renowned martial artist Kenny Leu), and collaborating with Vicente Amorim for Yakuza Princess.

How did you first get involved with Yakuza Princess, and what about the character and the story made you interested in taking on this role?

I had just started going to an acting school that my husband (Kenny Leu) introduced me to. Three months into the school, I found out that Kenny’s manager (Andrew Ooi) was at a meeting with Yakuza Princess’ producer regarding another project, and happened to have spoken about the movie. Andrew happened to have my self-tape (was given by my agent Sara at Brs/Gage days prior) at the time,...

Kazuo Koike was one of Japan’s leading seinen (“youth”) manga writers and several of his works, like “Lady Snowblood” and “Lone Wolf and Cub”, have seen big-screen adaptations that’re much loved the world over. However, one of his best adaptations that still remains less discovered and even lesser discussed is “Bohachi Bushido”. The rights to the manga were secured by superstar Tetsuro Tamba, who then brought director Teruo Ishii to make what would end up being one wild ride.

One evening, when fighting a horde of enemies, weathered samurai Shino Ashita just about has enough of life in general and, out of weariness from the constant fighting that he has always seen, decides to end his life. However, it doesn’t go quite as planned, as he is rescued by people of the Bohachi clan. This clan is notorious for having forgone eight important morals...

After their first quite successful collaboration, it was only a matter of time before Meiko Kaji and director Toshiya Fujita would revisit the story of Yuki Kashima, better known under her nickname “Lady Snowblood”. While the first entry into the series followed in the footsteps of the manga series by Kazuo Kioke and Kazuo Kamimura, the sequel titles “Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance” is quite an interesting entry into the franchise, but also within Kaji’s career, as the political undertones which were already present in its predecessor became even more evident, which might have been also thanks to Norio Osada’s script. In that context the second movie about the female assassin wandering the roads of rural Japan in the Meji era is again on the one hand a period piece, albeit quite exaggerated or “heightened” at times, and on the other hand a sign of its times,...

Although the role of Yuki Kashima, better known under her nickname “Lady Snowblood”, is one of Meiko Kaji’s trademark characters and perhaps has become increasingly more relevant within global pop culture, initially director Toshiya Fujita had doubts about Kaji, perhaps refusing to act as the titular character in his next project. However, Kaji, having worked with the filmmaker on the “Stray Cat Rock”-series, was quite eager to collaborate with Fujita on what was quite a risky project for both of them, given its period setting during the Meji era in Japan. In the end, “Lady Snowblood” would mark another milestone in the career of the actress, and even inspired the likes of Quentin Tarantino, to name the most prominent examples, with the finale of “Kill Bill, Vol. I” being the most direct homage to Fujita’s film and Kaji’s performance. Considering its status as exploitation cinema and its influence on pop culture,...

In her feature film debut, actress-turned-director Emerald Fennell swings for the fences with an unapologetically bold thriller rooted in the conversations about #MeToo, consent and slut-shaming. Written and directed by Fennell, “Promising Young Woman” is a twisted tale of trauma and revenge with so many surprises that it may be hard to guess where the movie is going at times. Things shift from bad to good, hopeful to dreadful at quick speeds, adding to the chaos already within the story.

In the film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, we first meet Cassie (Carey Mulligan) at a time when it looks as if she might be in trouble. As she unsteadily shifts in her seat from too much drinking, a man tries to take advantage of her until she snaps out of her false stupor to scare him out of his predatory behavior.

Cassie has a habit...

Movie director Quentin Tarantino is known for being a cinephile who makes no secret of his influences. As a result, his movies often feature unashamed homages to the great directors, actors, and composers of days gone by. But amongst all this, he brings a bunch of style and ideas that make his movies unique, and he has also had a big influence on popular culture himself.

Of all his films, the one that best represents his habit of honoring his heroes, is the Kill Bill duology released in 2003 and 2004. Originally planned as a single movie, the movie’s producers indulged Tarantino by suggesting he could split the films into two volumes to avoid cutting some crucial scenes – there is even talk of a third movie in the pipeline, as discussed by www.variety.com. The two movies were heavily influenced by Asian cinema (amongst other genres) and are widely regarded as modern classics.

“Flowing , a woman’s tears pour out/

Softly floating on the river./

The river overflows/

Overflowing to the shore/

Overflowing, overflowing/

Drowning all the men.”

After the commercial success of the first movie, it was obvious Japanese production company Toei wanted a sequel to the “Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion”, a movie which not only manifested leading actress Meiko Kaji’s but also director Ito’s reputation among the Japanese film industry as well as audiences. The success was also proof Kaji’s and Ito’s approach to the role of Nami Matsushima nicknamed “Sasori” (scorpion) had been the right direction playing her in almost complete silence with only Kaji’s eyes doing most of the talking, a movie which would make the character iconic beyond the borders of Japan.

For Kaji, who was 25 at the time the second movie was filmed, the sequel was a blessing as well as a curse.

Although most people tend to think of Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” series when it comes to female-driven revenge films, the genre itself existed well before Uma Thurman donned her iconic Bruce Lee-inspired outfit. From classics like “Lady Snowblood,” “Carrie,” and “The Quick and the Dead,” cinema had been showcasing women with a vengeful bone to pick for years.

Continue reading ‘Reprisal’ Trailer: Abigail Spencer Does Her Best ‘Kill Bill’ In New Hulu Revenge Series at The Playlist.

Close-Up is a feature that spotlights films now playing on Mubi. Josef von Sternberg's Anatahan (1953) is showing June 4 – July 3, 2019 in the United States.Its premise alone is intriguing. A group of Japanese sailors are attacked at sea and become stranded on an island for seven years, with no knowledge of how the outside world carries on without them. A world, it’s worth noting, that is currently at war. The 1944 incident served as the basis for Michiro Maruyama’s 1954 novel, Anatahan, in which he detailed the ordeal and his time on the Northern Mariana island of that name. Intriguing, yes, but perhaps not a subject immediately associated with filmmaker Josef von Sternberg, a director best known for ornate, cloistered, exotic, and sometimes romantically convoluted dramas. Yet von Sternberg had, in fact, harbored an interest in Japanese culture and art for some time, and the prospect of translating Maruyama’s text to film,...

Review by Roger Carpenter

After experiencing huge critical and commercial success with the five-part film series collectively known as Battles without Honor and Humanity, the Toei Company asked director Kinji Fukasaku to continue the series. The original five films were based upon several magazine articles, themselves based upon the memoirs of an actual member of the Japanese mafia, or yakuza. The films proved to be so successful that Fukasaku essentially created a new subgenre known in Japan as Jitsuroku eiga, “actual record films,” or films based upon true tales of real-life adventures. But having run out of material with the first five films, Fukasaku would have to turn to more fictionalized stories as well as new characters if he wanted to continue the series. This three-film series became known as New Battles without Honor and Humanity and, though there have been other films in the series, these are the last directed by Fukasaku.

Craig Lines Apr 5, 2017

Marvel? DC? They have their moments, but how about Shogun Assassin, and in turn, the Lone Wolf & Cub movies?

Like most western viewers, I came to the Lone Wolf & Cub series via Shogun Assassin – a recut/mash-up of the first two movies, trimmed to 90 minutes and dubbed into English by a pair of enterprising Andy Warhol acolytes. It was one of the original 'video nasties' in the UK, banned for years, so highly desirable to a kid like me. And it didn’t disappoint. In fact, it was probably the goriest movie on the list.

While it may seem criminal now to butcher a pair of bona fide Japanese classics and completely change their meaning and tone, Shogun Assassin got away with it by being so vibrant and hyperactive. The inappropriate score is a joyful synthesiser meltdown and the spirited dub goes full-pelt, even if what they...

In celebration of iconic Japanese actress Meiko Kaji's upcoming 70th birthday and Valentine's Day, Japan Society is throwing a mini retro party of the inimitable actress. Best known for her role as Nami "Sasori (Scorpion)" Matsushima in the Female Prisoner series and later as Yuki, the Lady Snowblood, Kaji dominated the exploitation-tinged 60s and 70s Japanese cinema. Marc Walkow, the man mainly responsible for bringing the Female Prisoner series to Arrow for restoration and subsequent Blu-ray releases, and who helped release the Lady Snowblood series at Criterion, curates the selections for the occasion. They are: New Battles Without Humanity: The Boss's Head, Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance, Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter, Blind Woman's Curse & Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable Please visit Japan Society website for...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

To celebrate The Criterion Collection’s 2016 releases — and there’s a lot to celebrate — Arik Devens, David Blakeslee, Keith Enright, Scott Nye, and Trevor Berrett gather to talk about the past year in Criterion, including their favorite three Criterion releases of 2016.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS or in iTunes

Episode Notes Arik’s List

– Favorite Cover: A Brighter Summer Day

– Favorite Packaging: Trilogia de Guillermo del Toro

– Favorite Releases:

3) Fantastic Planet

2) Wim Wenders: The Road Trilogy

1) Night and Fog

David’s List

– Favorite Cover: Lady Snowblood

– Favorite Packaging: Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

– Favorite Releases:

3) The Executioner/Death by Hanging

2) Chimes at Midnight

1) The Emigrants/The New Land

Keith’s List

– Favorite Cover: Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams

– Favorite Packaging: Valley and Beyond the Valley

– Favorite Releases:

3) Valley of the Dolls and Beyond the Valley

2) One-Eyed Jacks

1) The Kennedy Films of...

Christmas has come a little early to anyone hoping to score some Criterion Collection deals on Amazon today. While Amazon has been running a pretty good sale on a handful of discs throughout December, they’ve lowered the prices on lots of Blu-rays today, including a few pre-orders for next year.

Amazon doesn’t usually announce when an impromptu sale like this will end, so don’t hesitate. And don’t forget that you can lock in the pre-order price for some of the upcoming titles as well, but Amazon won’t charge you until they ship.

You can currently pre-order The Before Trilogy for $52.47 (48% off)

The following Blu-rays are currently (as of December 23rd at 10:30pm Pacific) down below $21 each.

The Asphalt Jungle Boyhood The Complete Lady Snowblood The Devil’s Backbone Diabolique Easy Rider The Executioner F for Fake The Game Harakiri Harold and Maude Hidden Fortress...

Ryan Lambie Oct 31, 2016

Before Resident Evil, there was Sweet Home. Ryan looks at how a half-forgotten film and game spawned a videogame genre...

Ring, Audition, Dark Water, Onibaba, House, Kuroneko... ask most film fans to name a prominent Japanese horror, and one of those titles would probably come up. Ask most videogame fanatics to name a Japanese horror game, and they'd probably reply with Resident Evil, Silent Hill, or, if they're feeling a bit retro, Splatterhouse or Castlevania.

See related  Marvel's Luke Cage episode 13 viewing notes: You Know My Steez The Punisher: 5 new cast members and 2017 release confirmed

There's one name that almost certainly won't come up in conversations about either category: Sweet Home. Yet this 1989 horror, and the videogame of the same name released with it, inadvertently helped define an entire genre - and even spawn the Resident Evil franchise, which is still going 20 years later.

The Sweet Home...

Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday morning. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?” can be found at the end of this post.)

At long last, the Alamo Drafthouse is finally opening in Brooklyn this Friday, complementing a new wave of New York City cinemas that already includes the Metrograph, the Nitehawk (which will soon open another location), and the iPic chain, and is scheduled to add several more exciting venues 2017. With that exciting news in mind, we’ve put forward the following question to our panel of critics: What is the best movie theater that you have ever been to, and what made it so special?

Miriam Bale (@mimbale), Freelance

The Castro Theater in San Francisco is obviously the best. See anything there and you’ll know why.

If you are a fan of Lady Snowblood, you’ll know doubt know the intensity of Meiko Kaji, and how iconic her performance is. This is why the release of the Female Prisoner Scorpion: The Complete Collection by Arrow Video should catch your interest straight away. If you’ve yet to experience the story of Nami Matsushima, also known as Scorpion this is your perfect chance.

The Female Prisoner Scorpion: The Complete Collection includes four films: Scorpion, Jailhouse 41, Beast Stable, and #701’s Grudge Song. Being exploitation movies it they take a route that you’ll likely expect. There is plenty of nudity, and violence against women. You’ll have to have a strong stomach for some of the scenes which do include rape.

While this type of thing is used as a shock tactic in many more modern exploitation movies, there is a reason for this level of violence though.

For fans of cult foreign cinema, actresses don’t come more badass than Meiko Kaji. The star of the “Stray Cat Rock” flicks and the “Lady Snowblood” films carved a unique path, but her boldest outing ever may have been across the four movies in the “Female Prisoner Scorpion” series. And thanks to the devoted folks over […]

The post Exclusive: Trailer For Arrow Video’s Newly Restored ‘Female Prisoner Scorpion’ Series Starring Meiko Kaji appeared first on The Playlist.

Mvd Entertainment Group furthers the distribution of "Arrow Video" in the Us with several new home video titles available July 2016, including "The Swinging Cheerleaders" [Blu-ray + DVD] (July 5th),  "Crimes Of Passion [Blu-ray + DVD] (July 12th) and "Female Prisoner Scorpion: The Complete Collection" [Blu-ray + DVD] (July 26th):

"The Swinging Cheerleaders" [Blu-ray + DVD] (July 5th): 

"'Kate', an undergraduate at 'Mesa University', goes undercover as a cheerleader for her college newspaper in order to expose 'female exploitation in contemporary society'. But instead of oppression she finds love, friendship and a bigger fish to fry: namely corruption in the football team, headed up by the coach and his pals..."

Cast includes Colleen Camp ("Wayne's World"), Rainbeaux Smith ("Caged Heat") and Playboy Playmate Rosanne Katon.

Bonus Materials include : 

- Brand new 2K restoration from original film materials

- High Definition (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD Presentations

- Optional subtitles 

- Audio commentary

- Brand new interview with Jack Hill

-...

Can’t get enough looks at Independence Day: Resurgence before its release on June 24th? Four new behind-the-scenes videos have dropped, giving us a look at some pivotal scenes in the film as well as a profile of director Roland Emmerich. Also: a Ghoster concept trailer, details on three new Arrow Video Us releases, and info on the Dances with Films screening of Beacon Point.

Watch Four New Independence Day: Resurgence Videos: “We always knew they were coming back. After Independence Day redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.

Directed by Roland Emmerich,...

Mark and Aaron change things up by talking about a variety of topics. We delve into Don Hertzfeldt, Lady Snowblood, our recent purchases, films we’ve seen lately, Criterion news, and a strange story about a trolling incident.

Episode Links & Notes

0:00 – Intro & Show Preview

2:15 – Show Format Changes

5:55 – The “Troll” Incident

14:00 – Don Hertzfeld

19:25 – Recent Purchases

31:05 – Lady Snowblood

38:35 – A Little Bit of Criterion News

51:15 – 4K TV Discussion

57:00 – Short Takes (A Poem is a Naked Person, The Miracle Worker, The Swimmer, Embrace of the Serpent, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Crimson Peak)

Wrong Reel: Episode 119 Don Hertzfeldt Kickstarter Ccu 23.5 – Star Wars: The Force Awakens Clouds of Sils Maria Movie Mezzanine. No Home Video: On Women-Directed Films. Criterion Response to Movie Mezzanine Criterion Forum Women Filmmakers Thread Episode Credits Mark Hurne: Twitter | Letterboxd Aaron West: Twitter | Blog | Letterboxd Criterion Close-Up: Facebook | Twitter | Email

Next...

Mark and Aaron are joined by Michele Rosenthal, professional illustrator and Criterion fan artist. She’s also a Criterion fan, but approaches the label from a different angle compared to most collectors. We talk to her about her process, passion, and dedication, and we also discuss the June 2016 release slate with her.

Episode Links & Notes

Special Guest: Michele Rosenthal from Criterion Affectiont. You can find her on Twitter, Tumblr, and at her personal/professional website.

0:00 – Intro and Welcome Michele

2:15 – Michele’s Criterion Connection

7:30 – Housekeeping

9:00 – Feedback from Gross-Out

10:45 – June Criterion Releases

31:10 – Michele Rosenthal

CriterionCast Interview with David Blakeslee Queers in History Tumblr Funny or Die, Robert E Lee – Children Beware! Funny or Die – Honest Snow Globes Head Antichrist Summer Hours Mon Oncle In the Mood for Love Get Michele’s Graphic Novel at FutureVisions Episode Credits Mark Hurne: Twitter | Letterboxd Aaron West: Twitter | Blog | Letterboxd...

With the exception of several crowd-pleasing samurai epics (like Zatoichi and Three Outlaw Samurai) and a few bargain-priced historical costume dramas (such as The Ballad of Narayama and Gate of Hell), the flow of newly released Japanese art films by the Criterion Collection has slowed to a trickle over the past five years or so. (And for the sake of politeness and avoiding pointless controversy, I won’t invoke Jellyfish Eyes in this argument either.) We’ve obviously enjoyed a steady stream of chanbara, Ozu and especially Kurosawa Blu-ray upgrades during this past half-decade, and there have been several outstanding Japanese sets recently issued as part of the Eclipse Series as well, but we really haven’t seen much else along these lines in the main lineup since Kaneto Shindo’s Kuroneko came out in the fall of 2011. That’s over 200 spine numbers ago! But I’m happy to report...