Pasha's Film Reviews Etc.

  7/10 Ryota is a middle aged man who is frustrated with his life. Many years ago he had high expectations of becoming a famous writer and had even published an award winning novel. Now he is working part time in a detective agency, pretending it's a research for his new book, he spends time gambling and spying on his ex wife who since had moved on with a new man. Why did his future turn out like this? An approaching storm will reunite him with his ex wife and his son for one night at his mother's apartment. Will they finally find understanding and what happens next when the morning breaks? Reflecting of how one sometimes has to let go of some ambition to enjoy everyday life, the movie contemplates that people need time to develop their "flavour". Just like a stew, as the mother of the main character wisely admits. AFTER THE STORM is a subtle drama, a very Japanese movie which unfolds slowly, taking time introducing the characters and situations. It is no...

3 1/2 /5 A hundred years from now creatures called TITANS had destroyed the world, pushing humanity behind the giant walls. Eren Jaeger is twenty something young man who dreams of one day leaving his home country and see beyond the walls. He does not believe in the existence of the Titans. But that is all about to change as the wall is suddenly breached, letting the monstrous creatures in… Attack on Titan is an incredibly popular manga and anime series and created a huge following all around the world. While movie remains true to the story’s major check points, it re-imagines the original plot in many ways. Just like in the source material, we get the usual trio of young, wide-eyed innocent friends, who face unimaginable horror sand have to become a part of the fullscale war against the dangers they don’t fully understand. But the movie leaves out most of melodramatic moments, focusing on action and horror. This year’s MAD MAX showed us the new ways of establishing c...

* *  Young cop Redji never though he was particularly good at his job, so it doesn't come as a surprise when he is fired from police force. What comes as a surprise is an offer to become a police informant - to infiltrate yakuza and stop the trafficking of a deadly drug. On his way up in Japanese mafia hierarchy Reidji meets weird friends, acquires deadly enemies, looses virginity to the girl he loves and never forgets to wear his leopard coat. Here comes one of the most bizarre movies about yakuza you would ever see on a big screen! Based on a popular manga, which spans more than 40 volumes, MOLE SONG is an acquired taste. Takashi Miike is one of the few directors who still manages to truly surprise and manipulate - the comedy is never too far away from tragedy in his films. Not trying to smooth the sharp angles, his film is a raw sketch - partly modern trash, partly stand up comedy. With his boasting colours and ridiculous dialogue THE MOLE is the one for the f...

* * * * * In pre-war Japan young boy Jiro Horikoshi dreamed of building planes since he was a child. Determined to turn his dream into reality he tries his best. There will be losses, there will be wins. And there will be one true love that will carry him forward like the wind. THE WIND RISES is a new film from great Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, and, as announced, his final one. For this final song the great master chose a controversial protagonist, a real historical figure Jiro Horikoshi, a plane designer who’s creations had taken many lives during the second world war. Frame by frame Myazaki re-creates the “innocent” Japan, still unhurt by the horrors of conflict. Structured as biopic the movie is far from it, with the personal details from Jiro’s life being a work of fiction. The engineering side of the story however follows the real path of the creation of the prototype plane for model ZERO - the deadliest plane that came out of Japan. The theme of f...

* * * * A woman is stubbed to death crossing the bridge on a winter night. Another woman tells her daughter that they have a secret they will keep forever. Many years later a murder occurs in a quiet Inn on the ocean side. Are two murders connected? It’s up to professor Gallileo to find out. A MIDSUMMER EQUATION is based on the fourth in the series of novels by  Keigo Higashino featuring professor of physics Manabu Yakawa (AKA GALLILEO). Unlike many mystery writers Higashino takes the focus off “who-dun-it” to “how it was done”.  All his novels a praised for an original twist that was worth to look forward while reading the book. A MIDSUMMER EQUATION has it’s twist. And the journey towards it is no less but remarkable. At the heart of the story is a friendship between a middle aged professor of Physics who cannot stand children (he even gets hives around them) and a little boy, who is surprisingly insightful into the details of a murder mystery ...

*  *  * I n future police implemented the new technology of DNA recognition. When everyone’s DNA is stored in the main database called PLATINUM DATA it becomes impossible to get away with any crime. But then a terrible murder occurs inside the headquarters of the PLATIMUM DATA institute. When the head scientist of the program, a young genius Ryuhei Kagura tests DNA of the culprit he finds that computer incriminates him. Believing that something had gone wrong deep in the system itself he becomes a fugitive. A detective named Reiji Asama, who had never approved of the program on the first place, is hot in pursuit. PLATINUM DATA is a cross between the MINORITY REPORT and THE FUGITIVE. Bring in the split personality issues and some BIG BROTHER twists and here’s is a new angle of a familiar story. PLATINUM DATA is an action film at its best with the chases, explosions and a murder mystery to compliment. With the running time of over two hours the movie is...