Ashura-jo no Hitomi (2005)

Starring:
Somegoro Ichikawa - Izumo Wakuraba
Rie Miyazawa - Tsubaki
Kanako Higuchi - Bizan
Atsuro Watabe - Jaku Abe
Fumiyo Kohinata - Nanboku Tsuruya IV
Takashi Naitô - Nobuyuki Kuninari
Yukijiro Hotaru - Magotaro
Hanae Kan - Emishi
Kazuo Kuwabara
Sarutoki Minagawa - Takiji
Koji Ookura - Hyozo
Erika Sawajiri - Yachi
Kumiko Tsuchiya - Oiran

"Prepare to gaze into Hell."

Set in 19th Century Edo, the story begins with demons, led by the beautiful and nefarious Bizan, plotting to wreck havoc in old Edo with the ultimate aim of bringing their queen, Ashura, back to life and taking over the world. Who can stop them?

The government forms the Oni Mikado, an elite government force dedicated to defending the capital from demons.

An original - and most talented - member of the elite, Izumo "Demon Slayer" Wakuraba, has since resigned and become a kabuki actor with a travelling troupe. Meanwhile the Oni Mikado leader, Nobuyuki Kuninari, and his fierce, canny lieutenant Jaku Abe carry on, slaying demons along their way.

However, a troupe of female acrobats is wreaking havoc of another kind by turning thief at night and fighting running battles with the authorities.

One of their number, Tsubaki, stays free with Izumo's help, but as their acquaintance blossoms into love, a painful red scar appears on her shoulder: the mark of Ashura.

She struggles to remember an incident five years earlier that holds the key to her current dilemma and eventual fate.

Then Jaku falls under Bizan's erotic spell and goes over to the dark side. She sends him after Tsubaki to bring about the horrific transformation of Tsubaki.

Based on Kazuki Nakashima's famous kabuki play.



This was a fascinating movie. From the get go, excitement. Totally entertaining.

Izumo's jokes and sword play kept me invigorated. I couldn't turn my eyes away. He wasn't the prettiest of men but his presence and charisma made him handsome...extremely.

I can't explain the movie. It wasn't high tech. It didn't have "A" class actors but yet this could be one of my favorite movies. I can't understand it myself.

The story was reminiscent of an old American 80's flick. It kind of reminded me of the movie Legend (the Tom Cruise movie). The story is not even close but yet the effects and acting were about the same.

This movie has gotten a bazillion mixed reviews...some can't stand it. Where as, I totally thought this movie rocked my socks off. So I guess this movie would be for discriminating tastes. You either love it or hate it.

If I were to ever find this movie at the store, I would definitely pick this up and buy it.

Hachi-One Diver (2008)

Starring:
Mizobata Junpei as Sugata Kentaro
Naka Riisa as Nakashizu Soyo / Ukeshi
Kohinata Fumiyo as Suzuki Hobbito
Yasuda Misako as Muguruma Rika
Date Mikio (伊達みきお) as Kakuta Goro
Tomizawa Takeshi (富澤たけし) as Hidaka Yasuo
Kinoshita Yukina as Tsukishima Misaki
Watanabe Tetsu as Tsukishima Fumio
Guests
Tsuruno Takeshi (つるの剛士) as Kazuya Yoshihide (ep1,9)
Kyo Nobuo as Mamushi (ep2)
David Ito as Katsura (ep2)
Osugi Ren as Jinno Shintaro (ep2-3,6)
Gekidan Hitori as Mojiyama (ep3-5)
Ikeda Tetsuhiro as Iruka Ichiro (ep3,6)
Kyomoto Masaki as Kirino (ep5-7)
Omasa Aya (大政絢) as Sugata Ayumi (ep6)
Hakamada Yoshihiko as Kasuga Kyosuke (ep8)
Oshinari Shugo as Kasuga Tomoya (ep8)
Fuku Matsumi (ふくまつみ) as Mikado (ep9)
Ishibashi Renji as Kirishima Seijuro (ep10)
Toda Naho as Kirishima Nagi (ep10)
Morimoto Leo as the TV drama director (ep11)

Sugata Kentaro used to be one of the most hopeful trainee to be a professional Shogi (Japanese chess) player, but fails at the final test. Now he has become a "Shinkenshi," a gambler who plays Shogi for money, and boasts his 182 wins in a row. But he is devastated when he is beaten completely by a young woman known as "Ukeshi" who takes any challenges and never loses. As Shogi means everything to him, he decides to train himself harder to become the strongest player. Based on a popular comic, this comedy drama is about a young man's exciting journey to reorganize his life through a series of tough challenges in Shogi guided by a mysterious girl. --Fuji Creative


I so totally fell in love with this comedy/drama! It was unique. Quite unique. The story had me at the very beginning to the point I couldn't move from the sofa. I watched it all today. It's only 11 episodes but they are only, roughly, 30 minutes long.

Shogi, the Japanese chess game, has me intrigued enough to give it a go. Problem is....where does one find it in the U.S.? I guess I could find an online beginners game, huh?

The story, even though it rests primarily on the game, is mainly about not giving up on your dreams. To just keep fighting on and not giving up because the road will keep going as long as you do.

I did a check up on Mizobata Junpei. He was in Hana Kimi??? I think I might have to hop through some episodes to see him. It seems once I find a "new" guy...he isn't new. LOL! I was really excited to see him and really believe that he will be in the "in" crowd.

Mizobata Junpei

Casshern (キャシャーン, Kyashān-2004)

Starring:
Yusuke Iseya - Tetsuya Azuma/Casshern
Kumiko Aso - Luna Kozuki
Akira Terao - Dr. Kotaro Azuma
Kanako Higuchi - Midori Azuma
Fumiyo Kohinata - Dr. Kozuki
Hiroyuki Miyasako - Akubon
Mayumi Sada - Sagurê
Jun Kaname - Barashin
Hidetoshi Nishijima - Lieutenant Colonel Kamijo
Mitsuhiro Oikawa - Kaoru Naito
Susumu Terajima - Sakamoto
Mayu Tsuruta - Burai's wife
Ryo - San Ikegami
Tetsuji Tamayama - Sekiguchi
Yoko Moriguchi - Luna's mother
Miku Sato

Casshern is based on a Japanese TV-series. In it, the viewer is transported into the future where they world has just seen a big war between an army from the East and an army from Europe. The East won, even though there are still rebellious factions that try to overthrow the government. The war has ravaged the world, and more than ever there is a need for peace and harmony. A scientist is conducting research into a new technology, that can rejuvante bodies and make mankind feel more alive again. The government is not interested in this technology, since they fear it could endanger their position, and the scientist is forced to work together with a sinister organization. As you can probably guess, something goes wrong and before you know it a group of all-powerful superhumans roam the planet, intent on destroying everything and everybody, so that they can rebuild the planet from the ground up.
Enter Casshern, the son of the scientist responsible for these problems. He had died during the war, but his body came back to life in the same way the superhumans did. He gets a special super-armor in order to fight the superhumans and battle commences, especially when he discovers that the superhumans are for some reason holding his mother hostage.


Hmm? I bought this and finally watched it. I have to say there are some fansubbers out there who would do a way better job than this professional junk. LOL!

This movie is for an appreciating taste. This movie left me with a headache. It was good......for some people. I couldn't really get into it. I really tried but about found myself going to sleep. My oldest son seemed to like it.....I think.

Lots of action. Very, very, very fast paced. I think that is what made my head spin. I couldn't seem to catch up. There was tooooooo much going on and the story didn't seem like it was being held together. Something wasn't right with this movie.

This was Frankenstein meets Star Wars meets Tron. The visual effects didn't help one bit. I think that was bit of a distraction too. It was dark and the color red was prominent. This was a Japanese movie....the effects should have been over par. They weren't. Where was George Lucas when they needed him?

There was definite eye candy. Tetsuji-san only had a bit part. Ugh! He was dead in about 30 minutes of the movie. Damn!

Iseya Yusuke


Kaname Jun


Tamayama Tetsuji