Cast Member: Akira Emoto

Unpretentious, well crafted, a great central performance and some excellent action make ‘Ichi’ a hugely enjoyable experience and refreshing take on the samurai genre.

It may not be to everyone’s taste but ‘Moon And Cherry’ is a little heard of gem, which features excellent performances and a mature view on some serious and saucy subject matter.

A slick looking thriller set and shot in Tokyo, ‘Rain Fall’ had all the makings of an exciting Bourne type action ride but unfortunately ends up as a dull, dreary and often pompous experience.

Not sure what it wants to be, the latest Japanese production of their beloved property is not the triumphant return some had hoped.

If you’ve seen any of the recent Hollywood disaster movies, then you pretty much know exactly what to expect from ‘Sinking Of Japan’.

Imbued with that understated eccentricity that many Japanese comedies have used so effectively, Masayuki Suo’s homage to his country’s unique culture proves to be a winning effort.

The humour is never forced and the drama never over-cooked, meaning that as a whole, the film hits its targets with remarkable accuracy.

‘The Admiral’ is often thrilling and stirring, if a little over stretched on the running time, and it’s refreshing to see a war film not just rely on lots of huge battles scenes for entertainment.

There are so much better examples of Japanese comedy out there which means that ‘Time Trip App’ has very little to recommend it.

‘Villain’ is not a whodunnit – the identity of the killer is uncovered early on in the film. It is, however, a whydidtheydoit (that’s not going to catch on is it) and quite an excellent one too.

Kitano directs with his usual quirky measured style punctuating the narrative with his classic odd ball humour.