DVD Talk Forum - The Seventh Annual May Make-Your-Own Challenge (2024)

omike's Made In Japan Challenge Raids Again

2011: Special Features / Japanese Movie Challenge (19 items)
2012: American Movies of the 30's, 40's, and 50's Challenge (30 items)
2013: Fantastic Heroes From Comics, Pulps, and Radio Challenge (38 items)
2014: Made In Japan Challenge (44 items)
2015: The Exploring Poverty Row Studios Challenge (50 items)

Movies, TV shows, direct to video
Live action or animation
Subbed, dubbed or raw (no, I don't understand Japanese)
Edited or complete
All count for this challenge as long as it was made in Japan or by a Japanese production company.

Traditional counting system. Commentaries count. Special features with a total of 90+ minutes count.

Goals: At least 30 movies plus any TV shows I can fit in --- Movie count: 32 TV count: 20
The Extended Edition: Movie count: 44 Short films: 1 TV count: 40

* = first time viewing

May 01
01. New Tale of Zatoichi (1963)* (Criterion Collection Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman) Blu Ray
Dir: Tokuzo Tanaka Zatoichi visits his master, who taught him the use of the sword, and is pursued by the brother of a man who he killed in the previous movie. The third Zatoichi film and the first one in color. I thought I would miss black and white but this one is the best so far partly because we delve further into Zatoichi's past and the cinematography is excellent. The score by Akira If*ckube (of Godzilla fame) adds a dramatic touch to the story. The swordsman's human side is also explored through a difficult decision he must make and its consequences. 7.5/10

May 02
02. Massacre Gun (1967)* Blu Ray
Dir: Yasuharu Hasebe Yakuza hit man Kuroda (Jo Shishido) quits after several personal loses caused by his boss. The conflict continues to escalate with Kuroda's best friend still working with the mob. Good crime story with a nice bluesy score and some powerful images, not to mention healthy doses of violence and action. There are one or two gaps in the plot and nothing really surprising happens but this is a well told tale with a very noirish feel. 6.5/10

May 03
02.50 Interview with Jo Shishido (18 min.); Interview with Tony Rayns (37 min.) (Massacre Gun Disk)
Jo Shishido, star of Massacre Gun talks about his early life (he liked playing samauri when he was a kid) and a little about making the film. Tony Rayns is a writer and film historian and his interview was a lecture about the history of Nikkatsu Studios, which produced Massacre Gun, from its beginnings in the silent era through its Roman p*rno phase. This may seem dull but I found it very engaging. Rayns is a good speaker and I found the topic very interesting.

May 04
03.50 Retaliation (1968)* Blu Ray
Dir: Yasuharu Hasebe A mid-level yakuza member just released from prison agrees to work for the family which now controls his old territory. He is sent to take over a newly industrialized boom town which is being fought over by two other gangs. The same director and some of the same actors as Massacre Gun but a different kind of movie. It is in color and is more violent, has more nudity and a more complicated story with more depth. It is more of a modern crime story although the final battle uses blades and not guns. 7/10

May 05
4.0 Interview with Jo Shishido (14 Min.); Interview with Tony Rayns (32 min.) (Retaliation disk)
Shishido talks about some of the people he worked with at Nikkatsu, his televison career, and surgery on his face to remove the implants which gave him prominent cheeks. Rayns delivers another interesting lecture, this time covering the careers of director Yassuharu Hasebe, who directed both Massacre Gun and Retaliation, and actor Jo Shishido who was in both films.

May 07
05. Gigantor (1964): 10,000 Gigantors* E:27 (Gigantor The Collection Volume Two)
.Aura Battler Dunbine (1983): Laas Wau Once Again* E:7
.Kaleido Star (2003): Fire It Up! Amazing Mia* S:1 E:17
.Kamen Rider V3 (1973): Oh! People are Melting! Enter, Marshal Armor* E:41 (Special Edition DVD Box Set)
Three anime and one live action superhero show.
06. Scandal (1950)* (Eclipse #7: Postwar Kurosawa)
Dir: Akira Kurosawa An painter and a singer are wrongly accused of having an affair by a scandal magazine. The two decide to sue but the lawyer they get tries to play on both sides of the case. Although the artists provide the motivation for the lawsuit, it is their lawyer, played by Takashi Shimura, who is the focus of the film. He has some fine scenes and although the movie might be a bit sentimental it is extremely well told and displays a real ambivalence about the modernization and westernization that Japan was going through at the time. 7/10
07. Dogora (1964)*
Dir: Ishiro Honda A series of large diamond thefts and disappearing coal piles cause concern for both a gang of professional jewel thieves and the police. Could it be a monster from outer space? Despite an experienced crew and a cast with several familiar faces, this is not one of Toho's best kaiju films. There are some nice visuals as the creature goes through several forms. One scene in particular has Dogora looking like a cross between a jellyfish and an octopus and is very well done. The script is a mess though with time split between Dogora and the diamond thieves and the means to defeat the monster being much more arbitrary than usual. There are some production pictures included which indicate a more ambitious story was considered with many of the jellyfish like creatures attacking landmarks all over the world. 4.5/10

May 08
08. Sleepy Eyes of Death 5: Sword of Fire (1965)* (Sleepy Eyes of Death Collector's Set Vol. 2)
Dir: Kenji Misumi Once again world weary ronin Kyoshiro Nemuri wanders into a complicated conflict and many of the players attempt to get his services. This time the last survivors of a pirate gang are being killed off in order to secure a treasure that was stolen from them. Action and a plot full of greed and betrayals along with stylish direction make for a very entertaining film. 7/10
08.50 Super Sentai Zyuranger Ep. 1: The Birth (1992)* / Ep. 2: The Revival (1992)*
The first show to be mined for the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. These first two episodes are wild and frenetic -wall to wall action with just enough plot to get to more action.

May 09
09.50 Walk Cheerfully (1930)* (Eclipse #42: Silent Ozu Three Crime Dramas)
Dir: Yasujiro Ozu Kenji, a small time crook and aspiring boxer, falls in love with an honest office worker and promises to go straight when she finds out who he is. Clearly influenced by American films and more drama than crime with a touch of comedy (gang members do silly little dances to greet or taunt each other). The story really isn't much but characters and relationships are well drawn, especially the friendship between Kenji and his best buddy Senko. There are several interesting visual touches scattered throughout the film. 5.5/10

May 10
10.50 That Night's Wife (1930)* (Eclipse #42: Silent Ozu Three Crime Dramas)
Dir: Yasujiro Ozu A poor man robs an office to help pay for medical treatment for his critically ill daughter but the theft goes wrong and he is pursued by police as he tries to get back to his apartment. An amazing film. The first part is a noirish crime and a chase through dark, shadowy streets. The rest of the movie plays out in a small, shabby apartment with only four characters and is more of a family drama, filled with strong emotions and a touch of social commentary. Much of what happens is predictable and the resolution seems overly optimistic today but the story telling is so compelling that you just don't care. I still don't get the title though. 8/10

May 11
11.50 Dragnet Girl (1933)* (Eclipse #42: Silent Ozu Three Crime Dramas)
Dir: Yasujiro Ozu Yoji, former boxer and the leader of a small gang, and his moll become involved with a young hoodlum wannabe and the youth's pure-hearted sister. The lives of the two criminals are changed by the encounter. Another well told story with a more complex plot than the other two films in this set but again with strongly drawn characters. This time events do not go as expected which is a good thing although the only real crime in the film has got to be one of the dumbest on record. Fine acting and a lot of creative camera work. 7/10

May 12
12. Super Sentai Zyuranger Ep. 3: Fight in the Land of Despair (1992)* / Ep. 4: Reawaken, Legendary Weapons (1992)*
The Rangers go on a two part quest in the Land of Despair to find weapons which can stand up to the baddies. Pretty darned good.

May 13
13. The Haunted Castle aka Secret Chronicles of the Ghost Cat (1969)* (Sinister Cinema)
Dir: Tokuzo Tanaka The lord of a castle kills a blind man who would not let his daughter become the lord's concubine. The daughter kills herself and uses a cat to place a curse on those who killed her father. Nice little horror picture full of creepy and atmospheric scenes and supernatural doings. The ghost-cat-monster looks good. 7/10

May 14
14. Gigantor (1964): The Plot to Seize Gigantor!* E:28 (Gigantor The Collection Volume Two)
.Aura Battler Dunbine (1983): Earth and Sky* E:9
.Kaleido Star (2003): Yuri's Amazing Trap* S:1 E:18
.Kamen Rider V3 (1973): The Snail Man's Human Experiments* E:42 (Special Edition DVD Box Set)
V3 had a particularly good monster the week which injected eggs into humans that hatched into snails.
15. The Golden Bat (1966)*
Dir: Hajime Sato A celestial object is headed toward Earth and a bunch of aliens in baggy costumes want it to hit. They are opposed by scientists lead by Sonny Chiba and aided by a creature from ancient times with a skull head, shiny gold suit (I suppose from the name - the film is black and white) and a wicked cape. Based on what is considered the first Japanese superhero created in 1931. This was fun if juvenile at times. No subs or dub so I'm little vague on the plot. Think Prince of Space but cheesier. Pretty neat stuff for my inner ten year old. 6/10.
16. Rebirth of Mothra (1996)* Blu Ray
Dir: Okihiro Yoneda Mothra is called to battle Desghidorah, a three headed space monster who was buried beneath the earth thousands of years ago but is accidentally released. There are several childish parts that I found tedious but little kids might enjoy. On the other hand the monster fights got downright brutal at times and were very well done. The Peanuts now have an evil older sister and Mothra's attacks are considerably beefed up. An ecological message isn't too obtrusive until the very end. 5.5/10
17. Daimajin (1966) Blu Ray
Dir: Kimiyoshi Yasuda A just lord is overthrown by a brutal and greedy official but the lord's two children escape. Ten years later they come out of hiding but need the help of a mountain god just to survive. Set in Japan's Warring States era there is only giant monster action at the end but it's very satisfying and well staged and there is a good story leading up to it. Nobody does giant monster on a rampage music like Akira If*ckube as he once again proves in this film. 6/10

May 15
18. Zatoichi the Fugative (1963)* (Criterion Collection Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman) Blu Ray
Dir: Tokuzo Tanaka Zatoichi discovers that a bounty has been placed on his head and when he goes to pay his respects to the mother of a man he killed he gets involved in local yakuza politics and finds out who placed the bounty. Good but not special movie until near the end where there is a nice fight with a very skilled opponent followed by a moving conclusion. Lots of lush summer outdoors scenes make this a joy to watch. 6.5/10
19. Jellyfish Eyes (2013)* Blu Ray
Dir: Takashi Murakami A boy and his mother move to a rural town after his father's death. While unpacking he discovers a strange looking creature with wonderful power and becomes friends with it. At school he discovers all the kids have different creatures similar to his. Starts out kind of odd but ends up as a predictable kids movie. There are some imaginative touches and the creature designs and effects are very well done. The child actors do a good job. 6/10

May 16
20. Interview with Takashi Murakami (23 min.); Making F.R.I.E.N.D.S (16 min.); Takashi Murakami: The Art of Film (40 min.); Trailer for Jellyfish Eyes 2 (2 min.) (Jellyfish Eyes disk)
Very interesting making of features seem to indicate that producer/editor Yoshihiro Nishimura, a director in his own right, did most of the hands on directing while filming and Murakami was heavily involved with story, concepts and design.

May 17
20.50 Super Sentai Zyuranger Ep. 5: Scary Riddles (1992)* / Ep. 6: Arise, Daizyuzin! (1992)*
The Rangers learn how to form the giant robot Daizyuzin by working together as a team.

May 18
21.50 Foul Play (1955)* (Sinister Cinema)
Dir: Sadatsugu Matsuda During a baseball game, a star player is killed after hitting a home run before he even gets to first base. More murders follow. The police and a quirky but tough detective investigate. One of eleven films starring Chiezô Kataoka as detective Bannai Tarao, a master of disguise who has seven different personalities he assumes. A lot of fun but the plot is hard to follow probably due to substandard subtitles. Kataoka is very good in the role and what I could make out of the story was pretty clever. A more literal translation of the original title is Bannai Tarao: The Demon King of Falcons which is much cooler than Foul Play. 5/10

May 19
22.50 Rashom*on (1950)*
Dir: Akira Kurosawa A man is found dead in the forest and four witnesses give very different accounts of what happened. Simple and yet complex at the same time with wonderful visual moments created by cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa and enhanced by the music of Fumio Hiyasaka. The crime itself takes place deep in the woods full of soft light on the dappled forest floor while the formal testimony takes place in a bare, brightly lit courtyard and the framing sequence is an open, ruined structure with a roaring downpour all around. The settings almost become characters in the film. There is much to ponder here and it will be worth it to watch this again. More of an intellectual than emotional hit. 8.5/10
Introduction by Robert Altman (6 min.); Excerpts from The World of Kazuo Miyagawa documentary (13 min.); Trailer (with kind of an exploitation slant) (2 min.)

May 20
23.50 Kibakichi (2004)*
Dir: Tomo-o Haraguchi A powerful wandering samurai finds his way to an isolated village which has many secrets and seems to be plagued by monsters. Kind of a spaghetti western feel especially at the beginning and end. Several strange incidents set the tone and once the story is made clear there are some well staged action sequences. The monsters look good for the most part and there are some cheesy gore effects thrown in at the end. Good fun. 6/10
Panel with director and stars held just before the premier of the movie (17 min.)

May 21
24. Aura Battler Dunbine (1983): Father and Child* E:10
.Kamen Rider V3 (1973): Friend or Foe? The Mysterious Riderman* E:43 (Special Edition DVD Box Set)
25. Tetsujin 28 (2005)*
Dir: Shin Togashi Shotaro, a 12 year old boy discovers that his dead father left him a special legacy when a crazed scientist sets his giant robot loose on the city. Based on the anime and manga of the same name, known as Gigantor in the US. Much to my dismay, the film focused more on Shotara, who is a pathetic wiener through most of the film, than on giant robot action. He improves a little but it's tough going. There are also one or two plot points that didn't make sense. I suspect the target audience (kids) wouldn't have been bothered by any of this. The robot graphics and action were OK though. 5/10
26. Killing Machine aka Shorinji Kenpo (1975)*
Dir: Noribumi Suzuki Sonny Chiba plays a Japanese undercover agent who learned martial arts and worked in China and returns to Japan after World War 2 is over finding corruption and poverty all around. A wild movie with Chiba kicking some serious yakuza, police and American ass. He eventually opens a martial arts school and learns love can be just as powerful as strength and then proceeds to kick even more butt. I liked it. 7/10
27. Rebirth of Mothra II (1997)* Blu Ray
Dir: Kunio Miyoshi A creature created by an ancient civilization to feed on ocean pollution returns but now it is creating deadly starfish like creatures and will destroy the world if not stopped. Mothra is called in. The new kaiju Dagahra looks pretty good, the kids who are the lead characters are more than tolerable and there is a nice lost city aspect to the plot. The kaiju fights were good but as is typical in the newer movies consist mostly of shooting rays at each other. 6/10

May 22
28. Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy (1978)*
Dir: Kinji f*ckasaku The Shogun's fencing master and his clan do every thing possible to assure the eldest son will succeed his father to the position. Lavish period drama with a perfect balance between plot, treachery, and action. Set in the early 1600's but only generally based on historical events. Very absorbing with great performances, beautiful sets and excellent action scenes. 8/10
29. Return of Daimajin (1966)* Blu Ray
Dir: Kenji Misumi The Mikoshiba Clan, tired of living in a barren mountainous region, uses treachery and deceit to conquer the more fertile lands of the peaceful Chigusa and Nagoshi Clans but the invaders did not count on the demon god that protects the other two clans. Another well done period kaiju movie with a similar plot to the first but this one seems to move more quickly. 6.5/10

May 23
30. Humanity & Paper Balloons (1937)*
Dir: Sadao Yamanaks Excellent film set in feudal japan in the 18th century concentrates on the lower end of society, in particular a hairdresser who likes to gamble and runs afoul of the yakuza and a weak willed ronin who is trying to get help from a former associate of his deceased father. Very natural performances and a flowing, lyrical style. It takes some time for the story to unfold but we do get to know many of the denizens of a Tokyo slum. The end is not a happy one for either main character but life in the street does go on. 8/10

May 24
31. A Story of Floating Weeds (1934)*
Dir: Yasujiro Ozu An actor and his company return to a town where he fathered a child but the young man does not know who his father is. Very touching and ultimately sad but kind of hopeful as well. The story emerges as we get to know the characters in a slow paced but compelling way. The actors are all excellent. Very enjoyable. 8/10

May 25
32. The Only Son (1936)*
Dir: Yasujiro Ozu A widow who has sacrificed everything for her only son's education and who has not seen him in 13 years pays an unexpected visit to him in Tokyo and discovers he is not doing as well as she had thought. An emotional film which could have turned out to be pure melodrama but instead seems real and touching. There are awkward moments at first during the visit and several moments of sadness and disappointment presented in a straightforward way. There is a ray of hope at the end but it's unclear whether anything comes from it. 8/10
Interview with film scholars David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson (25 min.)

May 26
33. Sleepy Eyes of Death 6: Sword of Satan (1965?)* (Sleepy Eyes of Death Collector's Set Vol. 2)
Dir: Kimiyoshi Yasuda Kyoshiro Nemuri protects a young boy who is the last heir to the leader of a clan but who doesn't want any part of being a samurai. He also must contend with the sister of someone he killed who is out for revenge. Good but not as much intrigue as usual and Kyoshiro's abilities are starting to border on the superhuman, although he does seem more introspective this time out. 5/10

May 28
34. Gigantor (1964): The Space Submarine* E:30 (Gigantor The Collection Volume Two)
. Aura Battler Dunbine (1983): Offense and Defense of Kiron Castle* E:11
. Kaleido Star (2003): Amazing Family Ties* S:1 E:19
. Kamen Rider V3 (1973): V3 Versus Riderman* E:44 (Special Edition DVD Box Set)
35. Voice Without a Shadow (1958)* (Nikkatsu Diamond Guys Volume 1) Blu Ray
Dir: Seijun Suzuki A telephone operation accidentally hears a murder's voice on the phone and three years later she discovers that her husband's new boss is the man with that voice. The man is found dead and her husband is accused of the murder. A reporter tries to solve the case. Pretty good crime story with a complicated but reasonable solution. There are a couple bizarre touches tp the story. 5.5/10
36. Rebirth of Mothra III (1998)* Blu Ray
Dir: Okihiro Yoneda Mothra battles space monster King Ghidorah who returns to Earth in order to wipe out the human race by removing all the children from the planet. Some down and dirty kaiju fights make this worth watching. The plot is a bit of a muddle at times. 6/10

May 29
37. Three Outlaw Samurai (1964)* Blu Ray
Dir: Hideo Gosha Wandering samurai try to help some peasants who have kidnapped the local magistrate's daughter because he refuses to listen to their grievances, Related to a TV show, this film has a very grim and gritty feel to the story which is very well told and has some good action scenes. 7.5/10
38. Daimajin Strikes Again (1966)* Blu Ray
Dir: Kazuo Mori Four young boys travel across a mountain to find their relatives who have been enslaved by an evil general. Similar plot to the previous two movies but things are kept fresh by making much of the film a wilderness adventure focusing on the boys and their journey. The demon god rampage is also well done. 7/10
39. Miscellaneous special features:
Introduction by Robert Altman (6 min.); Excerpts from The World of Kazuo Miyagawa documentary (13 min.); Trailer (with kind of an exploitation slant) (2 min.) on Rashom*on disk
Panel with director and stars held just before the premier of the movie (17 min.) on Kibakichi disk
Interview with film scholars David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson (25 min.) on The Only Son disk
Interview with cameraman Fujio Morita who worked on all three Daimajin movies. (28 min.) on Daimajin Strikes Again disk

May 31
40. Pearl Harbor: The View From Japan (1994)*
Dir: Kunio Kurita Interesting Japanese made documentary is an overview of much of the war in the Pacific focusing on The Japanese Combined Fleet which existed from before Pearl Harbor to April 7, 1945 when the battleship Yamato was sunk. Gives high marks to Admiral Yamamoto for realizing the importance of air power in naval warfare, having a realistic view of war with the United States, and developing innovative strategies which were often ignored by higher ups. 6/10

June 02
41. No Blood Relation (1932)* (Eclipse #26: Silent Naruse)
Dir: Mikio Naruse A wealthy Japanese actress returns from America and tries to establish a connection with her six year old daughter who she abandoned shortly after birth. A melodrama but without what I would consider sappiness and well told to boot. Begins almost exactly like Ozu's Walk Cheerfully. 6/10

June 04
42. Gigantor (1964): Gigantor Who?* E:31 (Gigantor The Collection Volume Two)
.Aura Battler Dunbine (1983): Garalia's Pursuit* E:12
.Kaleido Star (2003): An Amazing Change From Zero to Hero* S:1 E:20
.Kamen Rider V3 (1973): Destron's Christmas Present* E:45 (Special Edition DVD Box Set)
In V3 the powerful Rhino-Tank disguises himself as Santa Claus to recruit children for Destron.
42.50 Darker Than Black: When One Takes Back What Was Lost Within the Wall Part 1* & Part 2* S:1 E:10 & 11

June 05
43. Super Sentai Zyuranger Ep. : I Cab See! I Can See! (1992)* / Ep. 8: Terror! Eaten In An Instant (1992)*

June 07
44. Flunky, Work Hard (1931)* (Eclipse #26: Silent Naruse)
Dir: Mikio Naruse A poor insurance salesman tries to outwit a rival for a big sale while his son bullies the neighbor's children. Short film is an odd mix, for me anyway, of slapstick comedy (which really can hurt someone), family drama and near tragedy. Some amusing bits. Nothing really gave me a good laugh but enjoyable. 5,5/10
Apart From You (1933)* (Eclipse #26: Silent Naruse)
Dir: Mikio Naruse The story of two geisha who are friends. The older has a teenage son who no longer respects her and the younger is trying to prevent her little sister from following in her footsteps. A quiet and sad story with somewhat of a resolution for one of the geisha but not one that brings a lot of happiness for anyone involved. Some interesting scenes of Japan as it was in the early 30's. 6.5/10

June 08
45. Every-Night Dreams (1933)* (Eclipse #26: Silent Naruse)
Dir: Mikio Naruse A poor single mother works as a bar hostess in order to provide for her son. She is surprised when the ineffectual husband who abandoned her three years ago returns and wants to be part a family again. This is downright depressing. A good film with the mother as a real survivor but still depressing. 6/10

June 11
46. Gigantor (1964): The Robot Olumpics!* E:32 (Gigantor The Collection Volume Two)
.Aura Battler Dunbine (1983): Todd's Violent Advance* E:13
.Kaleido Star (2003): The Amazing Mystery Star* S:1 E:21
.Kamen Rider V3 (1973): Riderman, Where Will You Go?* E:46 (Special Edition DVD Box Set)

June 12
47. Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare (1968)*
Dir: Yoshiyuki Kuroda A Babylonian monster, asleep for four thousand years, awakens and takes over a samurai official but is then opposed by local spirits. Fun, with a great beginning, a little bit of blood, and a pretty nasty looking monster. 5.5/10
48. Red Pier (1958)* (Nikkatsu Diamond Guys Volume 1) Blu Ray
Dir: Toshio Masuda A gangster from Tokyo is laying low in Kobe where he falls in love with the sister of man he had killed. OK crime drama with almost "heart of gold" protagonist has great location footage which adds a lot to the atmosphere. I was pretty cool to the characters and story though. 5/10

June 13
48.50 Super Sentai Zyuranger Ep. 9: Run! Prince of the Eggs (1992)* / Ep. 10: Monkeys No More! (1992)*

June 14
49.50 Zatoichi On the Road (1963)* (Criterion Collection Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman) Blu Ray
Dir: Kimiyoshi Yasuda Zatoichi tries to get a young woman safely to Edo but also becomes involved in a fight between two gangs. Pretty good entry with a strong cast, the usual twists and betrayals and some good sets. The deserted village where the final battle takes place is particularly good. Zatoichi really does have a weakness for the ladies. 6/10

June 15
50. Super Sentai Zyuranger Ep. 11: My Master! (1992)* / Ep. 12: Papa's A Vampire!? (1992)*

June 17
51. Port of Flowers (1933)* (Eclipse #41: Kinosh*ta and World War II)
Dir: Keisuke Kinosh*ta Two con men arrive in a small coastal village each claiming to be the son of a deceased businessman who once tried to start a shipyard there. Both are soon seduced by the friendliness of the people and the natural beauty of the area. Pleasant and amusing rather than funny although I did get one good laugh out of it. The story seemed very familiar even including the patriotism everyone feels when war is declared on the United States. 5/10

June 18
52. The Haunted Lantern (1997)*
Dir: Masaru Tsushima A samurai becomes engaged to a woman whose sister is the reincarnation of his great love from centuries ago. Very slow setup but the last half is pretty good, full of creepy fun. 5.5/10

June 19
53. The Living Magoroku (1943)* (Eclipse #41: Kinosh*ta and World War II)
Dir: Keisuke Kinosh*ta The only male of a tradition bound rural family is thought to have a serious lung disease and his mother refuses to let the villagers cultivate a plot of land to grow food to help the war effort. A patriotic soldier, soon to be sent to the front, solves everything. At first the story seemed odd to me, although perhaps not to a native Japanese of the time, but the intent of the film as a patriotic story about farming and honor (influenced by the censorship rules in effect) was clear by the end. Still it was well made and I found it entertaining. 5.5/10

June 20
53.50 Super Sentai Zyuranger Ep. 13: Fire! The Golden Arrow (1992)* / Ep. 14: Become Small! (1992)*

June 21
54. Ultra Q Ep. 1: Defeat Gomess! (1966)* / Ep. 2: Goro and Goroh (1966)* (Ultra Q The Complete Series)
First of the Ultra shows which spawned Ultraman in the very next series. This was an anthology series with recurring characters although they did not appear in every episode. Several of the monsters made the transition to Ultraman and the first episode featured a modified version of a Godzilla suit.

June 22
55. Street Without End (1934)* (Eclipse #26: Silent Naruse)
Dir: Mikio Naruse After losing her first love due to a misunderstanding, a waitress marries the son of a wealthy family who is too weak to prevail aginst the disapproval of his mother and sister. Nicely made film with a very strong female lead and fascinating shots of Ginza street scenes of the time. 7/10

June 25
56. Aura Battler Dunbine (1983): The Battle to Capture Elf Castle* E:14
.Kaleido Star (2003): * S:1 E:22
.Kamen Rider V3 (1974): Ambush! The Destron Leader!!* E:46 (Special Edition DVD Box Set)
.Ultra Q (1966): The Gift From Space* E:3 (Ultra Q The Complete Series)
Another great looking monster in V3, Coclacanth-Kid, and in Ultra Q eggs from Mars hatch into giant slug creatures - very cool.

June 26
57. Japan's Longest Day (1967)*
Dir: Kihachi Okamoto Epic length docudrama focuses on Aug. 14-15, 1945, the twenty-four hours leading up to Japan's surrender. The first part concerns the political maneuvering around polishing the Emperor's announcement or Rescript. Things get very exciting and somewhat bloody when attention shifts to a coup attempt by mid-level officers of the army. Kind of confusing at first with many characters introduced in a short time but once that's over, very absorbing. 7.5/10

June 27
58. Yamato (2005)*
Dir: Junya Sato The story of the battleship Yamato told in flashbacks about a group of cadets who joined the ship in 1944 and the three "old timers" who were their immediate superiors. The framing story involves the adopted daughter of one of the old timers who wants to visit the spot where the Yamato was sunk. Good film with a very spectacular and bloody final battle but also quite sentimental in many ways. The end of the film is moving when we discover the reason the daughter wanted to be taken to that spot. 7/10

June 28
59. Sword of the Beast (1965)*
Dir: Hideo Gosha A samurai, fleeing after being manipulated into killing his clan's councilor, runs into a couple who is illegally panning for gold on a mountain belonging to the shogunate. Gritty and intense, filmed mainly outdoors the film shows the corruption of authority and that honor is not easily cast aside. 7/10

July 01
60. Jubilation Street (1944)* (Eclipse #41: Kinosh*ta and World War II)
Dir: Keisuke Kinosh*ta The story of a few closely tied families who are preparing to leave the neighborhood they have lived in for so long due to the necessities of war. Sentimental and occasionally outright patriotic but very well done with fully fleshed characters and creative use of the small area where the story takes place. My favorite of the set so far. 7/10

July 02
61. Sayonara Jupiter (1983)*
Dir: Sakyo Komatsu Symbols are found on Mars which indicate a visit from ET's in the past and a possible alien presence on Jupiter. A promising start with an interesting if slightly derivative premise is wasted as attention is turned to cheesy zero-g sex, a nature loving cult that likes to blow things up and kill people and a black hole that defies the laws of physics. The special effects are OK although some are obvious miniatures or just look bad. 3.5/10

July 03
62. Sleepy Eyes of Death 7: The Mask of the Princess (1966)* (Sleepy Eyes of Death Collector's Set Vol. 2)
Dir: Akira Inoue The disfigured and sad*stic Princess Kiku returns (from the 4th film) and is out for revenge aided by a squad of shadow samurai. Stylish direction makes great use of scenery and sets and a fun story makes for an above average entry. We gain more insight into the Full Moon Cut. 7/10

July 05