Delightful family dramedy While browsing Netflix and its international shows available, I was delighted to find many Japanese productions. Some produced by the streaming service, others classics or popular shows made on channels like Tokyo Broadcasting System. Such as Ikebukuro West Gate Park; starring Junya Nakano whose performances impressed me. And from discovering that artist, … Continue reading Tiger and Dragon (タイガー＆ドラゴン) – Kankuro Kudo (宮藤官九郎) (screenwriter), Fuminori Kaneko (金子 文紀) (Director), Osamu Katayama (片山 修) (Director), Toshio Tsuboi (坪井敏雄) (Director)
Tag: drama
Majo no Jouken (魔女の条件) (Terms for a Witch) – Nobuhiro Doi (土井 裕泰) (Director), Kazuhiro Nanba (難波 一弘) (Director), Osamu Katayama (片山修) (Director), and Kazuhiko Yukawa (遊川和彦) (Screenwriter)
Excellent, provocative and a great debate instigator In manga and anime cultures, many series are set during high school years. Some involve academic life, others extra curricular activities (tennis, basketball, volleyball baseball, martial arts, board games like Go, etc.); and some explore romantic relationships between students. However, for the romance genre, another scope is explored; … Continue reading Majo no Jouken (魔女の条件) (Terms for a Witch) – Nobuhiro Doi (土井 裕泰) (Director), Kazuhiro Nanba (難波 一弘) (Director), Osamu Katayama (片山修) (Director), and Kazuhiko Yukawa (遊川和彦) (Screenwriter)
Midnight Diner (深夜食堂) and Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories – Joji Matsuoka (Director), Nobuhiro Yamashita (Director), Shotarou Kobayashi (Director), and Yaro Abe (Co-screenwriter and author of the original Manga)
A jewel within Netflix If you are new to Netflix, the monopoly of North American and British productions on it might overwhelm you. You can watch on it movies, tv series, mini series, cartoons, short films, and even documentaries; though that term is now very questionable as so many documentaries are becoming manipulative, tabloid, and … Continue reading Midnight Diner (深夜食堂) and Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories – Joji Matsuoka (Director), Nobuhiro Yamashita (Director), Shotarou Kobayashi (Director), and Yaro Abe (Co-screenwriter and author of the original Manga)
Hakuchi (The Idiot) (白痴) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer) and Eijiro Hisaita (久板栄二郎) (Co-writer) and Fyodor Dostoevsky (original novel’s author)
"In this world, goodness and idiocy are often equated." - Akira Kurosawa Last year, and also during the renovations of my work space, I watched many times this peculiar production from Akira Kurosawa. His adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s The Idiot; set in post-war Japan. Set at almost three hours. Through this film adaptation of The Idiot, … Continue reading Hakuchi (The Idiot) (白痴) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer) and Eijiro Hisaita (久板栄二郎) (Co-writer) and Fyodor Dostoevsky (original novel’s author)
Far from the Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy (Author)
“Love is a possible strength in an actual weakness.” - Thomas Hardy Thomas Gainsborough RA, 1727–1788, British, Wooded Landscape with a Cottage and Shepherd, 1748 to 1750, Oil on canvas, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1976.2.1. When I first discovered the cinema of UK actor Alan Bates, I found out that he … Continue reading Far from the Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy (Author)
City Hunter (シティーハンター) – Kanetsugu Kodama (こだま兼嗣) (showrunner), Sunrise (animation studio), and Tsukasa Hojo (北条司) (original author)
One of the 1980s manga culture's jewels; adapted into an amazing series The Shonen Jump magazine's height occurred during the 1980s; thanks to successes like Dragon Ball, Hokuto no Ken, Saint Seiya, City Hunter, and other classics. Obtaining astronomical book sales, these series would be adapted into anime adaptations. Through memorable shows that would be … Continue reading City Hunter (シティーハンター) – Kanetsugu Kodama (こだま兼嗣) (showrunner), Sunrise (animation studio), and Tsukasa Hojo (北条司) (original author)
Written on The Wind – Douglas Sirk (director), George Zuckerman (screenwriter), and Robert Wilder (original novel)
"Welcome to Hadley. The town and the family." - Jasper Hadley During the 1950s, Douglas Sirk did in Hollywood various melodramas. Movies depicting and denouncing various aspects of American society. Suburban cliques, culture of materialism, racism, loneliness: various topics that made his movies important productions to watch. For their thematics, but also their beautiful technicolor … Continue reading Written on The Wind – Douglas Sirk (director), George Zuckerman (screenwriter), and Robert Wilder (original novel)
Destination Moon – The Adventures of Tintin (1950s-1960s TV/movie series) – Ray Goossens (Director), Charles Shows (screenwriter), and Hergé (Original author)
One of my favourite comic book adaptations of the Tintin Series. A jewel that deserves a proper re-release Before Nelvana and Steven Spielberg did their adaptations of Hergé's The Adventures of Tintin, the Belvision studios, helmed by Raymond Leblanc, the editor in-chief of the Tintin Magazine, produced their movies of the Tintin comic book series. … Continue reading Destination Moon – The Adventures of Tintin (1950s-1960s TV/movie series) – Ray Goossens (Director), Charles Shows (screenwriter), and Hergé (Original author)
Interiors – Woody Allen (Director and Screenwriter)
"You'll live to be a hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to." - Pearl After the astounding success of Annie Hall worldwide, both with the public and with critics, Woody Allen was given by his producers and studio heads the liberty to make any kind of movie he wanted … Continue reading Interiors – Woody Allen (Director and Screenwriter)
Stage Fright – Alfred Hitchcock (director), Alma Reville (adaptator), Whitfield Cook (Screenwriter), and Seleyn Jepson (original novel’s author)
"When I give all my love and get back treachery and hatred its - its as if my mother had struck me in the face." - Charlotte Inwood When you look at several of Alfred Hitchcock productions, you might notice how some of them have a theatric quality. Lifeboat, Rope, The Man Who Knew Too … Continue reading Stage Fright – Alfred Hitchcock (director), Alma Reville (adaptator), Whitfield Cook (Screenwriter), and Seleyn Jepson (original novel’s author)
Omnes's Oasis 