Happy weekend, people!
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Hope you are all well.
I am currently nearing the end of a big proofreading job and it’s a month and a half ahead of the deadline and that was by doing it before work, on my commute to work, in work and after work. I intend to move on to really intensive Japanese practice so that will be after I wake up in the morning, during the day, and during the evening. I also intend to keep the reviews going by watching a couple of titles a week and exercise. Cannot forget about exercise. I’m packing as much in as possible.
In terms of reviews, I posted about Train to Busan and Seoul Station a week after my review of One Cut of the Dead. I will keep it up with the zombie movies with what I consider to be the best I have seen in a long, long time. Speaking as someone who watched Dawn of the Dead and Night of the Living Dead on VHS and then DVD multiple times, I was pleased to see how this particular movie shaped up. Okay. That’s enough disjointed hype.
What films are released this weekend?
Hikari no Uta Image may be NSFW.
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ひかりの歌 「Hikari no uta」
Running Time: 153 mins.
Release Date: October 26th, 2017 (TIFF)
Director: Kyoshi Sugita
Writer: Kyoshi Sugita (Screenplay)
Starring: Akie Namiki, Misaki Kitamura, Tomo Kasajima, Kana Ito, Keisuke Hidaka, Hiromasa Hirosue, Takenori Kaneko, Masaru Matsumoto, Leow Puay Tin,
This work is the second feature directed by Kyoshi Sugita, following A Song I Remember. It also goes under the name Listen to Light and it was at the Tokyo International Film Festival 2017.
Synopsis from the Tokyo International Film Festival site: Based on four tanka poems, selected from 1,200 submissions to a contest with the theme of light, this film illustrates the meaning of light in the lives of four female protagonists. Shiori, Yukiko, Kyoko and Sachiko continue to live each day with untold feelings inside. Unable to forget a colleague on a trip, a father who is ill, a friend who works at a store that is about to close, and a long-lost husband, each woman takes a step forward. There is a light that sometimes embraces them, calmly and gently.
Konomichi Image may be NSFW.
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この道 「Konomichi」
Running Time: 104 mins.
Release Date: January 11th, 2019
Director: Kiyoshi Sasabe
Writer: Riko Sakaguchi (Screenplay),
Starring: Nao Omori, Akira, Shihori Kanjiya, Wakana Matsumoto, Fujiko Kojima, Yutaka Matsushige, Michiko Hada, Kanji Tsuda,
Synopsis: This World War II drama is based on real people.
Hakushu Kitahara (Nao Omori) is a genius poet and a libertine who drinks and cavorts, apparently, with married women. He is partnered up with a musician named Kosaku Yamada (Akira) who is diligent and talented. The two men don’t get along but when they are hired by Miekichi Suzuki (Shingo Yanagisawa), a man who runs a magazine on children’s literature, to write children’s songs together, they strike the right note and make lots of songs to cheer up the children. Things get dark when they are asked to write pro-war songs.
Kinkyuu Kenshou! The Movie Nessie vs Nostradamus vs Uri Geller Image may be NSFW.
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緊急検証！THE MOVIE ネッシーvsノストラダムスvsユリ・ゲラー 「Kinkyuu Kenshou! The Movie Nessie vs Nostradamus vs Uri Geller」
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: January 11th, 2019
Director: Kei Takahashi
Writer: Nobuyuki Ito (Screenplay),
Starring: Tarou Itsumi, Kenji Otsuki, Uri Gellar, Naemo Shinsam, Akio Asuka, Bintarou Yamaguchi, Takeshi Nakazawa,
Synopsis: This is based on a TV show from the 2010s where people investigated supernatural phenomena. The “Occult Three Musketeers” investigate Nostradamus, the Loch Ness Monster, and Uri Gellar in this special.
The Saddest Audition in the World Image may be NSFW.
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世界でいちばん悲しいオーディション 「Sekai de ichiban kanashī ōdishon」
Running Time: 98 mins.
Release Date: January 11th, 2019
Director: Hiroki Iwabuchi
Writer: N/A
Starring: Aina The End, Cent Chihiro Chittiii, Momoko Gumi Company, Lingling, Hashiyasume Atsuko, Ayuni D, YUiNA EMPiRE, Kamiua Saki, Yua Yumeno,
Synopsis: EMPiRE, GANG PARADE, BiS, BiSH are idol groups managed by the music office “WACK” and over a week in March 2018, the management made 24 idols take part in an audition which is done in the style of a boot camp style in Ikijima in Kyushu. The girls had to do singing and dancing as well as lots of exercise trials such as marathons. and squat confrontation, life game are given.
Gekijouban Fate/stay night Heaven’s Feel II. lost butterfly Image may be NSFW.
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劇場版 Fate/stay night Heaven’s Feel II. lost butterfly 「Gekijouban Fate/stay night Heaven’s Feel II. lost butterfly」
Release Date: January 12th, 2019
Running Time: N/A
Director: Tomonori Sudo
Writer: Akira Hiyama (Screenplay), Kinoko Nasu, TYPE-MOON (Original Creator),
Starring: Ayako Kawasumi (Saber), Noriaki Sugiyama (Shirou Emiya), Jouji Nakata (Kirei Kotomine), Sakura Matou (Noriko Shitaya), Kana Ueda (Rin Toosaka), Mai Kadowaki (Illyasviel von Einzbern),
Animation Production: ufotable
Synopsis: We are in the middle of The Holy Grail War, where Masters and Servants fight to claim the Holy Grail, something which can grant the wishes of the one who possesses it. The war takes the form of people, or Magi, who are aided by warriors who have the spirits of great people from history. Fuyuki City is the battleground and the protag is Shirou Emiya and his servant Saber. They find themselves followed by one of Zouken Matou’s summoned spirits, the Servant, True Assassin.
Kimi kara me ga hanasenai Eyes on You Image may be NSFW.
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君から目が離せない Eyes On You 「Kimi kara me ga hanasenai Eyes on You」
Running Time: 86 mins.
Release Date: January 12th, 2019
Director: Tetsuo Shinohara
Writer: Tetsuya Okabe, Shintaro KAnno (Screenplay),
Starring: Kentaro Akisawa, Masumi Sanada, Ryohei Watabe, Noriko Kijima, Sora Yoshida, Rino Aikawa, Tomoko Shimazaki,
Synopsis: Kenta (Kentaro Akisawa) to the older woman named (Masumi Sanada) as he takes control of a theatre company. Their relationship is shown through the three seasons of spring, summer, autumn.
Cinema Kabuki Hototogisu Kojou Rakugetsu Image may be NSFW.
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シネマ歌舞伎 沓手鳥孤城落月 「Shinema Kabuki Hototogisu Kojou Rakugetsu」
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: January 12th, 2019
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A (Screenplay), Shoyo Tsubochi (Original Work)
Starring: Tamasaburo Bando, Shichinosuke Nakamura, Matsuya Onoe, Baishi Nakamura, Yonekichi Nakamura,
Synopsis:The 32nd in the series “Cinema Kabuki” shows two performances from living national treasure Tamasaburo Bando, a kabuki actor who specialises in being an Onnagata and he has two roles on screen on Saturday. This one is an adaptation of the play The Sinking Moon over the Lonely Castle Where the Cuckoo Cries by Shoyo Tsubochi.
Cinema Kabuki Yang Qin Image may be NSFW.
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シネマ歌舞伎 楊貴妃 「Shinema Kabuki Yang Qin」
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: January 12th, 2019
Director: N/A
Writer: Baku Yumemakura (Original Work)
Starring: Tamasaburo Bando, Ichikawa Chusha,
Synopsis: The 32nd in the series “Cinema Kabuki” shows two performances from living national treasure Tamasaburo Bando, a kabuki actor who specialises in being an Onnagata and he has two roles on screen on Saturday. This tale is based on the Chinese historical figure Princess Yang Kwei-Fei which was written by famed author Baku Yumemakura.