Happy weekend, people!
I hope everyone is feeling fine.
This week has been one of clearing the decks in order to get going with research and studying for my day job so I got through my last Sono film review for this half of the year with Antiporno, which was released in the UK at the beginning of the week and then I started my month-and-a-bit-long catch-up on some of my work at the Osaka Asian Film Festival with a round-up post and then a review of Ordinary Everyday (2017). That’s enough about me.
What’s released this weekend?
Laplace’s Witch 
ラプラスの魔女 「Rapurasu no Majo」
Running Time: 116 mins.
Release Date: May 04th, 2018
Director: Takashi Miike
Writer: Hiroyuki Yatsu (Screenplay), Keigo Higashino (Original Novel)
Starring: Sho Sakurai, Suzu Hirose, Sota Fukushi, Mirai Shida, Hiroshi Tamaki, Eriko Sato, Rei Dan, Lily Franky, Tao, Etsushi Toyokawa,
Synopsis: When two people die after being poisoned by hydrogen sulfide at two different hot springs in two different areas, an environmental analyst named Professor Shusuke Aoe (Sho Sakurai) is drafted in by the police to work his magic on the geochemistry of the area and determine whether the deaths are freak accidents or murder. His investigation becomes distinctly strange when he encounters Madoka Uhara (Suzu Hirose), a youg girl who can correctly guess when a natural phenomenon will occur. Her powers make her a suspect when a third person is killed…
D5 5 Detectives 
D5 5人の探偵 「D5 5nin no Tantei」
Running Time: 116 mins.
Release Date: May 05th, 2018
Director: Gen Takahashi
Writer: Gen Takahashi (Screenplay), Lotus Town (Original Work)
Starring: Hikaru Midorikawa, Daisuke Kishio, Katsuyuki Konishi, Daisuke Namikawa, Shotaro Morikubo, Junichi Kawamoto,
Gen Takahashi directed Goth, an interesting murder mystery.
Synopsis: Five very handsome independent detectives are gather in a theatre around the corpse of Koichi Hachiyo, a young man who has made millions from the IT industry. These detectives have been called together by Koichi’s friend, “Master Q,” in order to find the murderer. Master Q tells them that if they can find the murderer within 48 hours, while hiding everything from the police, they will be paid very handsomely.
Kokoro ni yorisou 
心に寄り添う。 「Kokoro ni yorisou」
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: May 05th, 2018
Director: Kouji Matsumoto, Ui Takashi,
Writer: N/A
Starring: Rin Kijima, Yumi Kobayashi, Akinori Fujimoto, Yoshiaki Miura,
Synopsis: Happy Science University (HSU) is a controversial religion which some label a cult. It has some reach in the media and has produced this documentary interviewing people involved with HSU’s NPO activities designed at helping children with disabilities and children who do not go to school due to bullying. We also get interviews with the children.
Kamen Rider Amazons Season 1 the Movie: Awakening 
劇場版 仮面ライダーアマゾンズ シーズン1 覚醒 「Gekijouban Kamen Raida- Amazonzu Shi-zun 1 Kakusei」
Running Time: 99 mins.
Release Date: May 05th, 2018
Director: Hidenori Ishida, Ryuta Tasaki, Osamu Kaneda,
Writer: Yasuko Kobayashi (Screenplay), Shotaro Ishinomori (Original Creator),
Starring: Tom Fujita, Masashi Taniguchi, Rena Takeda, Ayu Higashi, Yu Kamio.
Website IMDB KAMEN RIDER WIKIA
Synopsis: This is the first of two compilation movies based on the Kamen Rider Amazons series which was released on Amazon prime in 2016. This collects the first season. The story follows Jin Takayama and Haruka Mizusawa, two Kamen Riders who battle against people who have dormant, experimental cells which turn them into creatures called “Amazons”.
Gekijouban PriPara & Kiratto Pri☆Chan ~Kira Kira Memorial Live~ 
劇場版プリパラ＆キラッとプリ☆チャン きらきらメモリアルライブ 「Gekijouban puripara& kiratto puri ☆ Chan kirakira memoriaru raibu」
Running Time: 60 mins.
Release Date: May 05th, 2018
Director: Nobutaka Yoda
Writer: Yuuko Fukuda (Script), syn Sophia (Original Creator)
Starring: Coco Hayashi (Mirai Yokoyama), Miyu Kubota (Emo Moegi), Yu Serizawa (Anna Akagi), Yuki Wakai (Sara Midorikawa), Nanami Atsugi (Rin Aoba),
Animation Production: Tatsunoko Production
Synopsis: The PriPara and Kiratto anime franchises get a crossover movie.
Digimon Adventure tri. 6: Our Future 
デジモンアドベンチャー tri. 第6章「ぼくらの未来」「Dejimon adobencha- tri. Dai 6-sho ‘Bokura no Mirai’」
Release Date: May 05th, 2018
Running Time: 98 mins.
Director: Keitaro Motonaga
Writer: Yuuko Kakihara (Series Composition), Akiyoshi Hongo (Original Creator),
Voice Actors for the Human Characters:Natsuki Hanae (Taichi Yagami), Yoshimasa Hosoya (Yamato Ishida), Suzuko Mimori (Sora Takenouchi), Junya Ikeda (Jo Kido), Junya Enoki (Takeru Takaishi), MAO (Hikari Yagami), Mutsumi Tamura (Koshiro Izumi), Hitomi Yoshida (Mimi Tachikawa),
Voice Actors for the Digimon: Kinoko Yamada (Palmon), Chika Sakamoto (Agumon), Miwa Matsumoto (Patamon), Mayumi Yamaguchi (Gabumon), Junko Takeuchi (Gomamon),
Animation Production: Toei Animation
Synopsis: This is the finale of the movie series and it sees the Real World threatened by the Digital World and a threat from newly formed Digimon. Only the DigiDestined can save everyone and they must dig deep and find their determination to save the future.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Rise of the Red Comet 
機動戦士ガンダム THE ORIGIN 誕生 赤い彗星「Kidou Senshi Gundam: The Origin Tanjou Akai Suisei」
Release Date: May 05th, 2018
Running Time: 85 mins.
Chief Director: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
Director: Takashi Imanishi
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa (Screenplay), Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (Original Manga), Hajime Yatate, Yoshiyuki Tomino (Original Creator),
Starring: Shuichi Ikeda (Char Aznable, Edouard Mass/Casval Rem Deikun), Mayumi Tanaka (Casval Rem Deikun), Megumi Han (Artesia Som Deikun/Sayla Mass), Kenta Miyake (Dozie Zabi),
Animation Production: Sunrise
Synopsis: Gundam: The Origin is a retelling of the original 1979 series’ story. This episode reveals how Char Aznable from the Principality of Zeon side earned his nickname, “Red Comet” and the beginnings of the Earth Federation’s “Project V” which will lead to the RX-78-2 Gundam during Zeon’s battle for independence.