Hello readers! I hope you are well!
I saw Rurouni Kenshin: The Kyoto Inferno in a cinema yesterday and I loved every second of it! I’m still hyped up after seeing it and I’m considering going again! I also watched a couple of other films like Manufactured Landscapes, a documentary about the artist Edward Burtynsky and his work which consists of photographs that show the environmental impact people have on the landscape. Mari Asato, a director who has been mentioned here a few times has directed a few horror films like Ju-On: The Girl in Black and Project Zero, well I watched Bilocation, a fun little thriller about doppelgangers (technically not doppelgangers but bilocations) where the characters suffered occasional moments of silliness but that made the events even more unpredictable as a twisted story played out.
In terms of writing, I published my review of Nightcrawler (2014) and the first part of my Winter 2015 anime guide is in the process of being proofed at Anime UK News. I have tomorrow free so I’ll have a chance to write up more reviews for films I have seen as well as some “other” acts…
like practicing my Japanese…
What’s released in Japan this weekend?
Parasyte Part 1 
Japanese: 寄生獣 Part 1
Romaji: Kiseiju Part 1
Release Date: November 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Running Time: 109 mins.
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
Writer: Ryota Kosawa (Screenplay), Hitoshi Iwaaki (Original Manga)
Starring: Shota Sometani, Ai Hashimoto, Eri Fukatsu, Nao Omori, Pierre Taki, Hirofumi Arai, Kazuki ktamura, Tadanobu Asano, Jun Kunimura, Kmiko Yo, Masahiro Higashide,
This got its premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival where it has earned some great reviews but I have to admit that I’m very taken with the anime right now which has been on a run of greatness lately. I rewatched episode seven about five times and tried explaining it to people in work!!!
Mysterious worm-like aliens tumble from the sky and penetrate people through their ears, nose and mouth and head to the brain to live-off and control it. Shinichi Izumi (Shota Sometani) was an ordinary high school student who was suddenly attacked by a parasite but he fought it off. For the most part. The thing still exists inside him but it lives in his right hand. Izumi learns to co-exist with the parasite and because of this he discovers the presence of the others. He’s being monitored by another parasite that inhabits the body of his teacher Ryoko Tamiya (Eri Fukatsu). With only his best friend Satomi Murano (Ai Hashimoto) to rely on, what can Izumi do?
The Next Generation Patlabor Chapter 6 
Japanese: THE NEXT GENERATION ‐パトレイバー第6章
Romaji: THE NEXT GENERATION ‐PatlaborーDai 6 Shou
Release Date: October 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Running Time: N/A
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Writer: Mamoru Oshii, (Screenplay), Masami Yuki (Original Novel)
Starring: Erina Mano, Toshio Kakei, Seiji Fukushi, Rina Ohta, Shigeru Chiba, Yoshinori Horimoto, Yoshikatsu Fujiki, Hinako Saeki, Daisuke Takashi,
This is the sixth in a seven-part series of films that act as a continuation of the Patlabor series with a brand new set of characters. For those late to the party, Labors are giant robots. In this one we get episode ten and eleven. Ten is titled “Bōsō! Akai Labor” (Rampage! Red Labor), which is about a battle between the police Labors and a military Labor from the former Soviet Union. Episode eleven, “The Long Goodbye,” sees Labor pilot Akira Izumino (Mano) reunited with her first love. A feature length film is set for release after the next episode and will open during Japan’s Golden Week holidays next year.
Coming Out 
Japanese: カミングアウト
Romaji: Kamingu Auto
Release Date: October 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Running Time: 98 mins.
Director: Kautoshi Inudo
Writer: Kautoshi Inudo (Screenplay),
Starring: Naoto Takahashi, Yu Okamura, Yuko Takayama, Kosuke Akiyama, Fumika Ichinose, Emi Tsuji,
There are a few films released where you have lbgt characters but so many seem to be comic relief or pretty dolls in some sort of OTT meldrama. This looks to be a serious one looking at the implications of coming out, how it affects family and friends.
Fruit of Love 
Japanese: 愛の果実
Romaji: Ai no Kajitsu
Release Date: October 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Running Time: 93 mins.
Director: Satoshi Kaneda
Writer: Takayuki Morita (Screenplay),
Starring: Yoko Kamon, Ryunosuke Kawai, Mutsuo Yoshioka, Ryo Ueda, Tomoe Suzuki,
Love Stories Volume 5! This is a drama about a married woman torn between two men called, her husband Koji who has gotten himself involved in some bad business decisions, and a former classmate named Anzai, who has been successful in IT business. Anzai offers money to solve the money problems of the couple but only on the condition that he can spend three months with Mariko. She is tired of her normal life but will she find happiness with Anzai?
Kono Danshi, Sekika ni Nayandemasu (OAV) 
Japanese: この男子、石化に悩んでます。
Romaji: Kono Danshi, Sekika ni Nayandemasu (OAV)
Release Date: October 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Running Time: 26 mins.
Director: Soubi Yamamoto
Writer: Soubi Yamamoto (Screenplay),
Starring: Daisuke Hirakawa (Koya Onihara), Shouta Aoi (Ayumu Tamari)
Straight from Anime News Network:
The story revolves around high school boy Ayumu Banri, who has an illness that makes him start to turn to stone when he’s stressed. Since he couldn’t fit in with his class, after repeating a year, he declared that he wanted to have a “Sparkly youth” as well. To do this, he changed his hair and clothes to be more fashionable, and constantly checked for popular topics to stay in the know. In the midst of Ayumu’s life of making a facade, his homeroom teacher and stone-loving geology teacher Kōya Onihara says that Ayumu’s stone transformation is beautiful. Ayumu begins to become attracted to Kōya, who starts to give him advice.
Yuruyuri Nachu Yachumi! (OAV) 
Japanese: ゆるゆり なちゅやちゅみ！
Romaji: Yuruyuri Nachu Yachumi (OAV)
Release Date: October 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Running Time: N/A
Director: Hiroyuki Hata
Writer: Michiko Yokote (Screenplay), Namori (Original Manga)
Starring: Minami Tsuda (Yui Funami), Rumi Ookubo (Chinatsu Yoshikawa), Emiri Katou (Sakurako Oumuro), Ayano Sugiura (Saki Fujita), Aki Toyosaki (Chitose Ikeda), Shiori Mikami (Akari Akaza), Yuka Otsubo (Kyouko Toshinou) Suzuku Mimori (Himawari Furutani),
The staff from the TV anime return to make a OAV about the girls on their summer vacation it involves a tea ceremony and going to a camp.
Hikoki Korin 
Japanese: ひ・き・こ 降臨
Romaji: Hikoki Korin
Release Date: October 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Running Time: 88 mins.
Director: Yoshikawa
Writer: Daisuke Miyazaki (Screenplay),
Starring: Mika Akizuki, Kazuha Komiya, Kaori Cyborg, Masaki Sawa, Shigeru Haribara,
Something about three women involved in a website which broadcasts isturbing images, extreme violence and a skinless monster?
The Nutcracker 
Japanese Title: くるみ割り人形
Romaji: Kurumi Wari Ningyo
Release Date: November 29th, 2014
Running Time: 80 mins.
Director: Sebastian Masuda
Writer: Takae Kawamura (Original Essay), Tomoe Kanno (Screenplay)
Starring: Kasumi Arimura, Tori Matsuzaka, Masachika Ichimura, Ryoko Hirosue, Takashi Fujii, Takuro Ohno, Kei Aran, Tomomi Itano, Kotaro Yoshida, Saori Yuki,
We’re seeing Sanrio bring back its 1979 Christmas film Nutcracker Fantasy (Kurumiwari Ningyō) to Japanese theaters in a new edition which comes from director Sebastian Masuda, an artist and collaborator of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu who helped popularise Harajuku Kawaii Culture. Kyary provides the theme song.
One snowy night, Clara’s (Arimura) precious nutcracker (Matsuzaka) doll is swept away by a tide of white rats. Clara chases after them and winds up in Doll’s Nation where the princes have been afflicted by a sleeping spell cast by the White Rat Queen (Hirosue). Clara gets involved in a battle between the dolls and the rats and learns the sad secret behind the nutcracker doll.
Ultra LIFE
Japanese: 超LIFE
Romaji: Chou-LIFE
Release Date: October 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Running Time: N/A
Director: Takei Goodman
Writer: N/A
Starring: Kenji Ozawa
Kenji Ozawa is a famous musician and it’s the 20th anniversary of his famous release, “LIFE” and so Space Shower TV are showing limited screenings of a special program which includes video of hi making the music in 1994 and going on tour.
RADWIMPS 2014 Document 4×4 
Japanese: RADWIMPS 2014 Document 4×4
Romaji: RADWIMPS 2014 Document 4×4
Release Date: October 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Running Time: 95 mins
Director: Tetsuya Nagator
Writer: N/A
Starring: Yojiro Noda, Akira Kuwahara, Yusuke Takeda, Satoshi Yamaguchi,
Earlier this year RADWIMPS went on tour and a film has been made of it which gets released today.
