Country: Japan

Despite doing some things right in terms of the look and feel of the franchise, it never quite seems to re-capture the atmosphere or the magical abilities to the point where they truly captivate.

Not quite as tight and effective as ‘White Ghost’ but still a freaky little tale featuring a rather memorable exorcism scene.

If you think Japanese horror cinema is becoming mired in recently coined cliché, or you simply love being scared, the troubling, dreadful world of ‘Ju-on’ is required viewing.

While ‘Ju-on 2’ is another rewarding journey through a landscape of fear and loathing, now is the time for its creator to terrorise avenues new.

Well acted, tightly plotted and directed ‘White Ghost’ piles on the scares thick and fast cramming in an awful lot of ‘Ju-On’ ghost weirdness into its short running time.

It’s a stylish and enjoyable nod to the adventure serials of yesteryear that for the most part provides some good looking blockbuster thrills.

‘Kabamaru the Ninja Boy’ is the typical ‘fish-out-of-water’ comedy but lacks the necessary qualities to succeed beyond its premise.

‘Kaiji: The Ultimate Gambler’ is a unique and very entertaining film if you can get on board with its offbeat vibe and characters. Different but good.

‘Kamikaze Girls’ is a fun, gentle(r) slice of kooky Japanese celluloid with a refreshing female slant and enough gentle kookiness to put a smile on your face.

A mixture of beautifully written, slightly quirky and completely endearing characters, this is the kind of ensemble comedy drama that Asian cinema does so well.

Colourful, comic booked tinged ninja tale, ‘Kamui’ is a fun sword swishing time that packs in action, drama and some striking scenery.

While there is an abundance of neatly choreographed action, there is a vast black hole where a proper plot and believable characters should be.