Japanese Live Action Movies I've Seen
by megamixx | created - 01 Jun 2011 | updated - 15 Dec 2017 | PublicMade from looking over my ratings list. List order is more or less from favourite to least favourite. This was pretty difficult to do for two reasons:
1) There are so many genres to compare, from Kurosawa to Robogeisha.
2) My memory of some of these movies has faded over the years. It's hard for me to believe, but I watched some of these almost 15 years ago! I don't know where exactly to slot in new movies because of this.
If you're looking at 'list order' and you want a recommendation:
From 1~35ish is a favorite of mine, so I highly recommend it (my taste and yours will vary, of course...)
35~65ish is a recommend,
65~110ish is a hesitant recommendation (basically, if you're into that sort of movie, you'll probably like it),
110+ is a no
(anything after 'Keitai Kareshi' and 'Keitai Kanojo' is a HELL NO. I use them as the line between 'fun bad' and 'bad bad').
I would love your suggestions! I don't intend to watch Battle Royale though, so please refrain from recommending that. I love the novel too much to see the film, so I won't watch it because I will invariably end up complaining.
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1. Nobody Knows (2004)
PG-13 | 141 min | Drama
In a small Tokyo apartment, twelve-year-old Akira must care for his younger siblings after their mother leaves them and shows no sign of returning.
Director: Kore-eda Hirokazu | Stars: Yûya Yagira, Ayu Kitaura, Hiei Kimura, Momoko Shimizu
Votes: 31,423 | Gross: $0.68M
Absolute classic
2. Kimi ni shika kikoenai (2007)
107 min | Drama, Romance
Ryou is a girl isolated by everyone else in her class, she doesn't even have a cell phone because no one would call her anyway. One day, she suddenly starts hearing voices of Shinya, who lives in a different prefecture.
Director: Tatsuya Hagishima | Stars: Riko Narumi, Keisuke Koide, Mika Hada, Shinichirô Ishikawa
Votes: 252
I really love this movie. I cried like five times watching it. The short story is great, but the movie has a stronger focus, making it absolutely beautiful.
3. Lalapipo (2009)
120 min | Comedy
A nice looking SCOUT hooks a future PORN STAR near the department store one day. It didn't take her long to be the highest paid porn actress, which eventually leads her to meet her ... See full summary »
Director: Masayuki Miyano | Stars: Yuri Nakamura, Sayuki Matsumoto, Miyavi Matsunoi, Meguri
Votes: 286
Really fun series of vignettes
4. Avatar (2011)
93 min | Horror
A student in high school obtains a rare avatar on a social networking site and the boundary between her real and online identities becomes blurred.
Director: Atsushi Wada | Stars: Ai Hashimoto, Rikako Sakata, Nako Mizusawa, Yuri Hane
Votes: 117
I really love this one because I play a dress-up avatar game like these characters. Even if you don`t, this movie is really really fun, and obviously more interesting than the big-budget movie of the same name.
5. Like Grains of Sand (1995)
129 min | Drama, Romance
The movie is built around the very complex relationships between Yoshida, leaving Shimizu for Aihara (or at least he tries to), and his friend Ito, whose love for Yoshida seems to have ... See full summary »
Director: Ryosuke Hashiguchi | Stars: Yoshinori Okada, Ayumi Hamasaki, Kouji Yamaguchi, Kumi Takada
Votes: 1,546
Extremely romantic and heart-wrenching
6. Tokyo Story (1953)
Not Rated | 136 min | Drama
An old couple visit their children and grandchildren in the city, but receive little attention.
Director: Yasujirô Ozu | Stars: Chishû Ryû, Chieko Higashiyama, Sô Yamamura, Setsuko Hara
Votes: 68,650
A real classic
7. Second Virginity (2011)
105 min | Drama
Set 5 years after the ending of the NHK drama series "Second Virgin," Nakamura Rui is transferred to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia while still taking care of Suzuki Marie.
Director: Hiroshi Kurosaki | Stars: Kyôka Suzuki, Hiroki Hasegawa, Kyôko Fukada, Yoshihisa Amano
Votes: 51
A deeply romantic movie that I would recommend to anyone. You don`t need to be familiar with the drama to enjoy this.
8. Confessions (2010)
Not Rated | 106 min | Drama, Thriller
A psychological thriller of a grieving mother turned cold-blooded avenger with a twisty master plan to pay back those who were responsible for her daughter's death.
Director: Tetsuya Nakashima | Stars: Takako Matsu, Yoshino Kimura, Masaki Okada, Yukito Nishii
Votes: 42,081
Very very very memorable and interesting, and pretty nuts. I enjoyed this one a lot. I would say that this is required viewing.
9. Kotoko (2011)
Not Rated | 91 min | Drama, Horror
When a single mother suffers a nervous breakdown, she is suspected of child abuse and her child is taken away. Her mental suffering escalates as she succumbs to her darkest fantasies.
Director: Shin'ya Tsukamoto | Stars: Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Yûko Nakamura, Cocco, Eiichi Takahashi
Votes: 2,228
A great look at mental illness. The editing style is so intense. I wouldn`t want to watch it again though - it`s quite disturbing.
10. Yuriko's Aroma (2010)
74 min | Drama, Romance
30 something year old Yuriko (Noriko Eguchi) works as a aromatherapist at an aroma salon. She uses essentials oils and her hands to soothe her client's inner well-being. Yuriko also has a ... See full summary »
Director: Kôta Yoshida | Stars: Noriko Eguchi, Saori Hara, Yui Kaneko, Noriko Kijima
Votes: 209
Leads have good chemistry, the story moves along briskly and Noriko Eguchi and Saori Hara are both very beautiful.
11. Close Your Eyes and Hold Me (1996)
Unrated | 89 min | Drama, Romance
Tenderly played Japanese love triangle between a man, his girlfriend and a transvestite hooker.
Director: Itsumichi Isomura | Stars: Kumiko Takeda, Kazuya Takahashi, Natsue Yoshimura, Kunihiko Ida
Votes: 93
Wild pink film...it's just *beep* insane. I was able to take it seriously and revel in the madness.
12. Love & Pop (1998)
110 min | Drama
A high school girl engages in compensated dating in order to buy an expensive ring before the day ends.
Director: Hideaki Anno | Stars: Tadanobu Asano, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Megumi Hayashibara, Akira Ishida
Votes: 1,871
Really touching
13. Family X (2010)
90 min | Drama
In this story of a dysfunctional family all the stereotypes of a Japanese unit come to the fore when the wife works the kitchen, the husband is focused on his work and the son does not have... See full summary »
Director: Kôki Yoshida | Stars: Kaho Minami, Mariko Tsutsui, Tomorô Taguchi, Yoshiyuki Morishita
Votes: 38
Ambitious and atmospheric, just five-minutes in I was feeling the heavy burden of the main character. It really drags you in and it affected me while I was watching it. If you like indies, you will love this one.
14. A (1998)
136 min | Documentary
Aum Shinrikyo, the Buddhist sect led by Shoko Asahara and responsible for the 1995 Sarin gas attack on a Tokyo subway, becomes the subject of this documentary.
Director: Tatsuya Mori | Star: Hiroshi Araki
Votes: 305
Very insightful documentary. I'd recommend it to anyone.
15. Adult 24sai no Koi (2011)
72 min | Drama
Director: Saku Nakamachi | Stars: Naohiro Ariyama, Taigo Fujisawa, Juokaei Ikeguchi, Aya Kanai
I am so fascinated by this movie. It`s apparently a pink movie for straight men (I rented the DVD, but found it streaming on a hardcore porn site later when researching info about the movie), but it has a decidedly female viewpoint. What ends up on the screen could be better. Especially the random rape scene of a nameless female character could be removed entirely and I would bump this movie up higher. That scene just HAD TO be added in later for the intended male audience, because up until that point the rapist was supposedly gay. In fact, all of the men in this movie are presumed gay at one point. Every last one. A gay love triangle is the linchpin of this movie about a 24-year-old woman trying to lose her virginity. And when she does, it is just horrifying. This movie was really out-there. It`s not the ideal version of this movie that I have in my head (it wraps up a little too quickly for me - although I love the totally-random-but-not-really ending), but I love it nonetheless. I want to see more movies about lonely women and gay guys, like this and `Onnagokoro`.
16. The Snow White Murder Case (2014)
126 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A young woman who works at cosmetic company becomes the prime suspect after her beautiful co-worker is murdered.
Director: Yoshihiro Nakamura | Stars: Mao Inoue, Gô Ayano, Nanao, Misako Renbutsu
Votes: 2,099
Loooved this movie. Great plotting and characters, with relevant critique of today's society. I went in expecting nothing and I came out amazed.
17. Rent-a-Cat (2012)
110 min | Comedy, Drama
A single woman runs a rent-a-cat service to provide companions for lonely people.
Director: Naoko Ogigami | Stars: Mikako Ichikawa, Reiko Kusamura, Ken Mitsuishi, Maho Yamada
Votes: 2,191
A very lighthearted movie. It`s a little repetitive at times, but I enjoyed it whole-heartedly.
18. Hospitality (2010)
Unrated | 96 min | Comedy, Drama, Mystery
The film follows the follies that ensue when a man and his wife shack up with a family that owns a printing press in their building, the husband takes it over, and the couple begin inviting a motley crew of friends.
Director: Kôji Fukada | Stars: Kenji Yamauchi, Kiki Sugino, Kanji Furutachi, Bryerly Long
Votes: 539
A very character-driven movie. I really enjoyed the clashes between the 'normal' lifestyle and the 'different' one. I watched this movie a long time ago (it was screened at a local museum!), but I can still remember it well, and that says a lot.
19. Female (2005)
118 min | Drama
Five short films by different directors.
Directors: Ryûichi Hiroki, Suzuki Matsuo, Miwa Nishikawa, Tetsuo Shinohara, Shin'ya Tsukamoto | Stars: Misaki Ameno, Nozomi Fujiwara, Rie Hagiwara, Kyoko Hasegawa
Votes: 168
Set of sexy short stories. There's one to like for everyone.
20. Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
Not Rated | 124 min | Drama
In medieval Japan, a compassionate governor is sent into exile. His wife and children try to join him, but are separated, and the children grow up amid suffering and oppression.
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi | Stars: Kinuyo Tanaka, Yoshiaki Hanayagi, Kyôko Kagawa, Eitarô Shindô
Votes: 18,238
An engaging older film
21. Departures (2008)
PG-13 | 130 min | Drama
Soon after buying an expensive cello, Daigo learns that his orchestra is disbanding. He moves back to his hometown with his wife, where he answers an ad for what Daigo thinks is a travel agency but is, in actuality, a mortuary.
Director: Yôjirô Takita | Stars: Masahiro Motoki, Ryôko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kazuko Yoshiyuki
Votes: 54,997 | Gross: $1.50M
It feels tightly paced, even though it's two hours long. Very good.
22. Rashomon (1950)
Not Rated | 88 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The rape of a bride and the murder of her samurai husband are recalled from the perspectives of a bandit, the bride, the samurai's ghost and a woodcutter.
Director: Akira Kurosawa | Stars: Toshirô Mifune, Machiko Kyô, Masayuki Mori, Takashi Shimura
Votes: 180,555 | Gross: $0.10M
Also an engaging older film
23. Helter Skelter (2012)
Unrated | 127 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
Top star Lilico undergoes multiple cosmetic surgeries to her entire body. As her surgeries show side effect.
Director: Mika Ninagawa | Stars: Erika Sawajiri, Nao Ômori, Shinobu Terajima, Gô Ayano
Votes: 3,329
Decadent and wild, this movie really plays to my sensibilities. I enjoyed it very much, even though it`s stylishness was suffocating at times.
24. Nanimono (2016)
97 min | Drama
Looking for jobs, five young friends regularly meet at one's apartment. Judging and gauging one another by their ability to land job pits the friends as also competitors. When one of the ... See full summary »
Director: Daisuke Miura | Stars: Kasumi Arimura, Fumi Nikaidô, Masaki Okada, Takeru Satoh
Votes: 753
When I walked out of the theatre, I was like "huh, that happened". But the more I thought about it, the more I liked this movie. It really captured the feeling of "what should I do now" when you're graduating university in Japan - you're either joining a company now or your choosing to withdraw from traditional salaryman life. A Japanese blog on movies suggested that this might work better as a horror movie and I agree to a point...? This movie is short, so if you have access to it, just watch it. ad judge for yourself
25. Koibumi-biyori (2004)
111 min | Romance
Directors: Koto Nagata, Mika Ohmori, Taikan Suga, Mahoko Takanari | Stars: Ayaka Komatsu, Hosachi Mori, Eri Murakawa, Noriko Nakagoshi
Votes: 13
A great anthology film that ends up being more memorable than the manga it`s based off of.
26. High School Debut (2011)
93 min | Comedy, Romance
Haruna who devoted herself to softball decide to find a boyfriend in high school by instruction from Yoh, who is willingly to teach her how to get a boyfriend but with only one condition, don't fall in love with him at all.
Director: Tsutomu Hanabusa | Stars: Junpei Mizobata, Ito Ono, Masaki Suda, Rina Aizawa
Votes: 636
Wickedly funny movie. Like the manga, it`s better than it looks.
27. Onna gokoro (2009)
Drama
Director: Ayato Matsuda | Stars: Erina, Ayaka Maeda, Kenji Mizuhashi, Yôji Tanaka
Looks like it was filmed for 200yen, the `story` moves very very very slowly, but I was very invested in it for whatever reason. It is a very fascinating character study of a self-destructive woman.
28. Flying Colors (2015)
117 min | Comedy, Drama
Fact-based tale of a slacker high-school girl, years behind in her studies, who decides to start working hard and pass the entrance exams to a prestigious university in Japan.
Director: Nobuhiro Doi | Stars: Kasumi Arimura, Nanami Abe, Morio Agata, Atsushi Itô
Votes: 4,008
This movie is objectively 'bad'. It's cheesy, it's dumb, the characters are cliche. It's everything the average imdb user should hate. But I LOVE THIS MOVIE. As with a lot of native English speakers living in Japan, I have experience teaching English. I have experience dealing with this type of student - unmotivated, doesn't care about anything. The teacher in this movie was a 100% perfect, do no wrong type of character but damn it, I wanted to be him. I really bought into Sayaka's journey, that education can change your life, that kids like her can want to change their lives. Basically, I was the target audience, so I loved it. I fell for it. I can't be unbiased.
A note though, probably people raised in average North American families would take objection to the way household violence is dealt with in this movie (which is to basically do nothing). There needs to be more resources for families living in violent situations in Japan, no question. So if you are sensitive to depictions of household violence that has no real recourse for the perpetrator, you might want to avoid this.
29. Kabukicho Love Hotel (2014)
135 min | Drama, Romance
Over one day at this love hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo - where guests have the choice of staying for a short time or overnight - the dreams and desires of these characters intersect while aspiring for something greater.
Director: Ryûichi Hiroki | Stars: Shôta Sometani, Atsuko Maeda, Roy 5tion, Asuka Hinoi
Votes: 850
A few too many 'coincidences' in order to move the plot along, but it's a thoroughly enjoyable movie nonetheless. It's just really fun to watch, and it kept my attention throughout the long-ish running time.
30. RoboGeisha (2009)
TV-MA | 102 min | Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
After receiving robotic implants, two sisters compete as assassins.
Director: Noboru Iguchi | Stars: Aya Kiguchi, Hitomi Hasebe, Takumi Saitô, Etsuko Ikuta
Votes: 2,680
Yeah, I liked this a lot. Pretty fun movie.
31. Laundry (2002)
126 min | Drama, Romance
A young man named Teru, mentally altered by a childhood injury, runs a laundry and falls for Mizue, a lonely young woman with internal scars.
Director: Jun'ichi Mori | Stars: Yôsuke Kubozuka, Koyuki, Takashi Naitô, Ken'ichirô Tanabe
Votes: 658
A really interesting movie. There is not really a focused plot, but it is a really good human drama.
32. Like Father, Like Son (2013)
Not Rated | 121 min | Drama
Ryota is a successful workaholic businessman. When he learns that his biological son was switched with another boy after birth, he faces the difficult decision to choose his true son or the boy he and his wife have raised as their own.
Director: Kore-eda Hirokazu | Stars: Masaharu Fukuyama, Machiko Ono, Yôko Maki, Lily Franky
Votes: 28,155 | Gross: $0.28M
Captivating, and makes relevant points about masculinity and class-ism in Japanese society without beating you over the head about it. The viewer can come to their own conclusion about who and what was 'right', and each viewpoint would have supporting evidence. I don't trust that the planned American remake can capture that.
33. My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday (2016)
111 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance
On the way to his university in Kyoto, a 20 y.o. man falls in love with a woman on the train. He tells her. They start dating. She has a supernatural secret.
Director: Takahiro Miki | Stars: Sôta Fukushi, Nana Komatsu, Masahiro Higashide, Yuki Yamada
Votes: 5,266
The first half is straight romance and it's sooo good, but there is a bit of a confusing twist in the second half that limits the time the characters have together. I'm glad that the movie stuck to the twist and didn't give the characters a happy ending.
34. Koi no mon (2004)
114 min | Romance, Comedy, Drama
Live-action adaptation of a madcap manga about art, opposites, love and a whole lot of cosplay.
Directors: Suzuki Matsuo, Hideaki Anno | Stars: Ryûhei Matsuda, Wakana Sakai, Suzuki Matsuo, Kiyoshirô Imawano
Votes: 582
It's kind of a mess, but any nerd can enjoy this immensely. P.S. - If you're reading this, then that's likely you.
35. 10 Promises to My Dog (2008)
117 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A teenage girl adopts a homeless puppy and names it "Socks". They take care of each others since then, until one day when she is thinking Socks to be smaller than she thought it used be...
Director: Katsuhide Motoki | Stars: Rena Tanaka, Ryô Kase, Mayuko Fukuda, Chizuru Ikewaki
Votes: 707
I'm a sucker for animal movies, especially with dogs, so I loved this.
36. Nana (II) (2005)
Not Rated | 113 min | Drama, Music, Romance
A chance encounter between two girls of the same name, "Nana," triggers a series of events and relationships.
Director: Kentarô Ohtani | Stars: Mika Nakashima, Aoi Miyazaki, Hiroki Narimiya, Yûta Hiraoka
Votes: 4,021
Very solid film
37. Lesson of the Evil (2012)
Unrated | 129 min | Horror, Thriller
A popular high school teacher concocts an extreme plan to deal with the rise of bullying and bad behavior among the student body.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Fumi Nikaidô, Takehiro Hira, Hideaki Itô, Shôta Sometani
Votes: 6,796
It`s dark with a quantifiable trashy side. Great build-up with just enough character development to make me care. And a fantastically violent climax that was ear-shattering in the cinema. Didn`t feel like it was over two hours long.
38. Ringing in Their Ears (2011)
89 min | Drama
Director: Yû Irie | Stars: Fumi Nikaidô, Kurumi Morishita, Tatsuya Sakamoto, Chibagin
Votes: 63
Very fun movie, even if you`re not a fan of Shinsei Kamatte-chan.
39. Dear Friends (2007)
115 min | Drama
Rina is the it girl. She is thin, has long hair, is flaunting and dresses attractively. Every man wants to be with her and every woman wants to be like her. She also happens to be ... See full summary »
Director: Kazuyuki Morosawa | Stars: Kentaro Arai, Avery Fane, Masaya Kikawada, Keiko Kitagawa
Votes: 444
This movie proves that Keiko Kitagawa is a true talent. She is able to elevate this cliche material to another level. Perhaps it`s because I am the target audience, perhaps it's because a high-tolerance for trashy cinema, but I really liked this one.
40. Ouran High School Host Club (2012)
105 min | Comedy
Haruhi Fujioka (Haruna Kawaguchi) is a female high school student the prestigious Ouran Academy. Unlike most of the students who come from wealthy families, Haruhi Fujioka comes from a ... See full summary »
Director: Chul Han | Stars: Haruna Kawaguchi, Yûsuke Yamamoto, Ryô Ryûsei, Masaya Nakamura
Votes: 231
Absolutely stupid, but equally fantastic. I enjoyed it, but only because I am a little bit of a fujoshi. If you are not familiar with/don`t enjoy the rhythms/storytelling mechanisms of anime then you should avoid this, as it would be absolutely foreign to you.
41. The Voice Makes a Miracle (2011)
Comedy
Director: Tomoki Sano | Stars: Kôhei Aoyama, Asuma, Shigeru Chiba, Takuya Eguchi
Votes: 16
A really ridiculous and hilarious (for otaku) movie that has a great energy. It`s a really stupid movie - I`m pretty sure the staff who made it think so too - so you can enjoy it ironically.
42. Life Is Dead (2012)
93 min | Horror
The film is spawned from the manga regarding the living dead and depicts a land where a virus causes the afflicted to become zombies. A young man, who is about to graduate from high school,... See full summary »
Director: Kôsuke Hishinuma | Stars: Shintarô Akutsu, Atsushi Arai, Aya Enjôji, Rino Higa
Votes: 20
A really fun interpretation of the zombie genre. I really enjoyed that the setting was not an apocalypse, but simply daily life plus zombies.
43. After the Storm (2016)
Not Rated | 118 min | Comedy, Drama
After the death of his father, a private detective struggles to find child support money and reconnect with his son and ex-wife.
Director: Kore-eda Hirokazu | Stars: Hiroshi Abe, Yôko Maki, Satomi Kobayashi, Lily Franky
Votes: 12,762 | Gross: $0.27M
The back end is soooo blatantly set up (trapped in a small apartment in a storm, it's now time the ex-husband and wife have a scene! Now the mother and the ex-husband have a scene! etc.), but forgiveable because it's a movie. It's messy and nothing is really resolved so it may feel pointless to some, but I enjoyed it.
44. Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (2004)
138 min | Drama, Romance
While searching for his fiancee Ritsuko, Sakutarou rediscovers through flashbacks the void deep within him caused by the events from his high school days.
Director: Isao Yukisada | Stars: Takao Osawa, Kô Shibasaki, Masami Nagasawa, Mirai Moriyama
Votes: 3,896
The novel was better (I AM DEFINITELY THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY THAT ABOUT ANY MOVIE EVER [/sarcasm]), but this is good in it's own right
45. Akihabara@Deep (2006)
TV-PG | 120 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Set in Tokyo's otaku mecca Akihabara, "Akihabara@DEEP" tells the story of five otaku who drop out of society and end up founding their own successful IT venture called Crook. But Nakagomi, ... See full summary »
Director: Takashi Minamoto | Stars: Hiroki Narimiya, Yû Yamada, Shûgo Oshinari, Yoshiyoshi Arakawa
Votes: 179
An enjoyable ride
46. A Taxing Woman (1987)
127 min | Comedy, Crime
If tax evasion is an art, wheeler-dealer Hideki Gondo is Rembrandt. And so, a determined taxing woman gets the tough assignment of trying to catch him.
Director: Jûzô Itami | Stars: Nobuko Miyamoto, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Masahiko Tsugawa, Yasuo Daichi
Votes: 2,246
A nice movie. Good intro to Japanese cinema (which it was for me)
47. Nude (I) (2010)
103 min | Biography, Drama
Young and attractive, northern Japanese girl from Niigata Prefecture makes the move south to the bright lights of the Japanese capital of Tokyo upon graduating from high school. Hiromi ... See full summary »
Director: Yûichi Onuma | Stars: Naoko Watanabe, Ken Mitsuishi, Aimi Satsukawa, Tsuyoshi Gotô
Votes: 298
A movie that sort-of glamorizes that AV industry. Kind of refreshing. We never got a look at the main character`s motivation though - she starts adult modeling for no particular reason and without much thought. Not that she needed to feel conflicted about it. Just that ANY deeper motivation would have made it easier to sympathize with the character. All we get is `I`m moving to Tokyo after university! I hope I`m scouted!` She seems like a fame chaser who will do anything to be in front of the camera.
48. The Cowards Who Looked to the Sky (2012)
141 min | Drama
A married woman has an affair with a high school student. A video of their exploits soon turns up on the internet affecting the lives of both couples.
Director: Yuki Tanada | Stars: Kento Nagayama, Tomoko Tabata, Mieko Harada, Masataka Kubota
Votes: 236
A series of five vignettes, the first two showing the same events from two different perspectives, the next two showing the lives of two other characters (and a little of the aftermath of the first two), followed by a wrap-up from the first character. Just based on this movie, the novel this movie is based on seems interesting. However, the vignette format did not translate well to the screen. I was very interested in the first two stories, and was not terribly interested when the third story was giving a lot of information about a new character. I think this movie would have worked better with the four stories intertwined rather than separated.
49. Rage (2016)
142 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
A grisly unsolved murder links three seemingly unrelated stories in three different Japanese cities.
Director: Sang-il Lee | Stars: Ken Watanabe, Mirai Moriyama, Aoi Miyazaki, Satoshi Tsumabuki
Votes: 3,409
Solid movie, if not obvious "oscar bait", but when you're dividing the time between three stories it becomes obvious that some are better than others (I liked the story in Chiba the best).
50. Dreams for Sale (2012)
134 min | Crime, Drama
After losing their restaurant in a fire, a husband and wife come up with a strange plan to rebuild their shattered finances: marrying the husband off to a series of lonely women and defrauding them.
Director: Miwa Nishikawa | Stars: Yûsuke Iseya, Rena Tanaka, Takako Matsu, Teruyuki Kagawa
Votes: 526
Very interesting. The subtleties in the characters are well-drawn.
51. Tokyo! (2008)
Unrated | 112 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
A triptych examines the nature of one unforgettable city as it's shaped by the disparate people who live, work (and even run amok) inside one enormous, constantly evolving, densely populated megalopolis, the ravishing and inimitable Tokyo.
Directors: Leos Carax, Michel Gondry, Bong Joon Ho | Stars: Ayako Fujitani, Ryô Kase, Ayumi Ito, Nao Ômori
Votes: 11,872 | Gross: $0.35M
Don't know if I should include this on the list since the directors are not Japanese, but it's a pretty good film.
52. Watashi ga chinmoku suru toki (2008)
18 min | Short
Kyoko is an aspiring writer whose artistic vision is yet to be formed. When her girlfriend Rie asks her to move in with her, Kyoko begins to wonder about their uncertain future as a lesbian couple in Tokyo.
Director: Hyoe Yamamoto | Stars: Ayaka Maeda, Nahana
Votes: 18
Straight-forward short about a lesbian couple in Japan deciding what to do next in their relationship. There are a few gay movies lower on this list that could learn from this short film.
53. Operetta tanuki goten (2005)
111 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Musical
Amechiyo (The banished prince) falls in love with Tanukihime (a princess of raccoon dog disguised to human). This is an Operetta which includes comedy, singing and dancing, and a love story.
Director: Seijun Suzuki | Stars: Ziyi Zhang, Joe Odagiri, Hiroko Yakushimaru, Mikijirô Hira
Votes: 817
A musical with Ziyi Zhang, who doesn't know Japanese. But the movie is very interesting.
54. Suicide Club (2001)
R | 99 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
A detective is trying to find the cause of a string of suicides.
Director: Sion Sono | Stars: Ryo Ishibashi, Masatoshi Nagase, Mai Hosho, Tamao Satô
Votes: 22,227
Not as wild as I wanted it to be, but still pretty crazy
55. Ugetsu (1953)
Not Rated | 96 min | Drama, Fantasy, War
A tale of ambition, family, love, and war set in the midst of the Japanese Civil Wars of the sixteenth century.
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi | Stars: Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyô, Kinuyo Tanaka, Mitsuko Mito
Votes: 25,827 | Gross: $0.01M
Saw this along time ago, thought it was great.
56. Bread of Happiness (2012)
114 min | Comedy, Drama
Young married couple Rie and Sang move from Tokyo to Lake Toya in Hokkaido Prefecture to start a bakery restaurant named Mani. Sang bakes bread and Rie makes food. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, the customers leave in a happy state.
Director: Yukiko Mishima | Stars: Tomoyo Harada, Yô Ôizumi, Kanna Moriya, Yûta Hiraoka
Votes: 764
Gorgeous scenery and food make this a perfect escapist fantasy for those who wish for the country life.
57. Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog (2004)
Not Rated | 100 min | Drama
As a Labrador puppy, Quill is sent to live with a couple, Isamu and Mitsuko Nii, who work as volunteers, training guide dogs (seeing eye dogs). When he grows to an adult dog, he is taken to... See full summary »
Director: Yôichi Sai | Stars: Kaoru Kobayashi, Kippei Shîna, Teruyuki Kagawa, Keiko Toda
Votes: 1,766 | Gross: $0.01M
Another dog movie!! This one is very sad
58. Goth (2008)
95 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Morino and Kamiyama share a morbid fascination with cruelty and murder in this horror. Together they track down a brutal serial killer to find the latest two victims - not necessarily to ... See full summary »
Director: Gen Takahashi | Stars: Kanata Hongô, Rin Takanashi, Kunihiko Ida, Mika Kamiya
Votes: 617
Taking just one of the short stories\chapters from the book was a perfect choice - it allowed the movie to be moody and atmospheric. Kind of the opposite of the other Otsuichi short story adaptation `Zoo`.
59. Jûnen ai (2008)
75 min | Drama
Director: Nakaba Ueda | Stars: Mari Sakurai, Bobby, Aki Kawamura, Ten Miyazawa
Votes: 57
It's almost as if I wrote this movie myself. Any tragic prostitute storyline you can think of, it's in here. The main character is dumb as hell, the male characters are dumb as hell, this whole movie is dumb as hell (yet acts as if it is the most dramatic and amazing love story of all time). So, as someone who loves trashy movies, and can easily get swept up in 'drama', this was amazing.
60. The Light Shines Only There (2014)
120 min | Drama
Two troubled souls living on the fringes of a port town fall in love, but their trials are far from over.
Director: Mipo Oh | Stars: Gô Ayano, Chizuru Ikewaki, Masaki Suda, Kazuya Takahashi
Votes: 668
Well acted and directed, with good pacing. It kept my attention, but it really wasn't anything special. I have a soft spot for 'human drama' like this, so I enjoyed it, but it was lacking that special something.
61. Love & Loathing & Lulu & Ayano (2010)
105 min | Drama
A timid young woman who lives with her domineering mother accepts an Adult Video scout's offer to "become somebody else" by performing in porn videos. As she rises in popularity, the boundaries between her two lives begin to disintegrate.
Director: Hisayasu Satô | Stars: Tomori Abe, Hirofumi Arai, Toyotaka Hanazawa, Natsumi Kamata
Votes: 136
A little too blatant with the fan-service, but this is a good movie, especially for those who like movies about the porn industry. I cannot say that I understand the significance of the ending, but it is quite stylish.
62. Platonic Sex (2001)
104 min | Drama
On her seventeenth birthday Aoi is raped by her friends. Her family rejects her and she runs away from home. Because money and materialistic wealth is now all she cares for, she ends up working in the sex industry.
Director: Masako Matsuura | Stars: Saki Kagami, Joe Odagiri, Maho Nonami, Kenjirô Ishimaru
Votes: 386
Very straight forward movie about a fictionalized Ai Iijima's descent into the AV world. Ending was a bit too sentimental for my liking.
63. Botanical Books (2016)
112 min | Drama, Romance
Sayaka works as a property agent. One day after work, she finds a man, named Itsuki, collapsed outside her house. She takes him in and they start to live together. Itsuki teaches her about cooking and plants, but holds many secrets.
Director: Kôichirô Miki | Stars: Jôji Abe, Kazuyuki Aijima, Duncan, Hana Imai
Votes: 515
I thought that this was going to have fantasy elements, and I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out that it didn't (maybe spoilers?). This is a very pleasant an nice romance movie.
64. Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
Not Rated | 67 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
A businessman accidentally kills The Metal Fetishist, who gets his revenge by slowly turning the man into a grotesque hybrid of flesh and rusty metal.
Director: Shin'ya Tsukamoto | Stars: Tomorô Taguchi, Kei Fujiwara, Nobu Kanaoka, Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Votes: 25,940
Kind of weird, but at least it tried something different.
65. As the Gods Will (2014)
TV-MA | 117 min | Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fi
A group of high school students are forced to play a game of death without knowing who, why or how.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Shôta Sometani, Nijirô Murakami, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Nao Ômori
Votes: 8,066
A version of 'Aku no Kyoten' for kids who can't sit through two hours of set-up before getting to the violence. I enjoyed it, but I wish that Miike had made an 'Aku no Kyoten' sequel instead of this.
66. Gate of Hell (1953)
Not Rated | 89 min | Drama, History
A samurai pursues a married lady-in-waiting.
Director: Teinosuke Kinugasa | Stars: Machiko Kyô, Kazuo Hasegawa, Isao Yamagata, Yatarô Kurokawa
Votes: 4,280
Saw a long time ago, thought it was alright
67. The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2003)
R | 116 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
The blind masseur/swordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda.
Director: Takeshi Kitano | Stars: Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Yui Natsukawa, Michiyo Yasuda
Votes: 51,545 | Gross: $0.85M
Very entertaining and engaging, but not enough to really "chew on" for my tastes
68. Peach Girl (2017)
116 min | Comedy, Romance
Momo Adachi is a female high school student. She appears to be a wild girl due to her tan skin and dyed hair, but she is a actually naive and sweet student. Since her days in middle school,... See full summary »
Director: Kôji Shintoku | Stars: Kei Inoo, Mizuki Yamamoto, Momoko Kikuchi, Daisuke Kikuta
Votes: 647
A perfect light and fluffy teen movie for those interested. Stays true to the spirit of the original manga.
69. Ichi (2008)
R | 120 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Ichi is a blind woman who roams about town with her shamisen (a three-stringed Japanese guitar), but she has exceptional sword skills with which she fights off yakuza and other villains.
Director: Fumihiko Sori | Stars: Haruka Ayase, Shidô Nakamura, Yôsuke Kubozuka, Takao Osawa
Votes: 3,979
More serious than Zatoichi, but also more generic
70. Afro Tanaka (2012)
114 min | Comedy
A young man with a new hair style falls for a beautiful neighbor in this romantic comedy.
Director: Daigo Matsui | Stars: Shôta Matsuda, Nozomi Sasaki, Atsushi Tsutsumishita, Kei Tanaka
Votes: 253
Better than you think it‘s going be. Not great, but better than average, especially if you like mild cringe humor.
71. Raito noberu no tanoshii kakikata (2010)
80 min | Comedy
Director: Ken'ichi Ohmori | Stars: Reiko Igarashi, Mariko Kôda, Arisa Noto, Hisanori Satô
Votes: 10
Very cliche story, but a certain warmth radiates from every scene. I felt like a lot of scenes were long shots, which added to the warm atmosphere. It was a very fun movie to watch, and not super long so it didn't outstay its welcome.
72. Scoop! (2016)
119 min | Adventure, Drama, Mystery
Shizuka Miyakonojo (Masaharu Fukuyama) is a 40 something paparazzi photographer. He is a skilled cameraman who has a gambling addiction and is in debt. An ex journo for a weekly picture ... See full summary »
Director: Hitoshi Ône | Stars: Masaharu Fukuyama, Lily Franky, Rika Izumi, Moemi Katayama
Votes: 515
Pretty much a 40-something male fantasy. It's still kind of interesting though.
73. Kirâ vâjin rôdo (2009)
97 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Hiroko is soon to marry when disaster strikes. On the road to Mount Fuji a woman falls on the hood of her car. The woman is Kobayashi Fukuko, and she attempts suicide again and again. The ... See full summary »
Director: Gorô Kishitani | Stars: Juri Ueno, Yoshino Kimura, Kazuki Kitamura, Sôichirô Kitamura
Votes: 178
Not as funny as it thinks it is, but it has some moments.
74. I'll Give It My All... Tomorrow (2013)
103 min | Comedy
A man who had raised his daughter after he was a divorced, quitted his job suddenly to find himself. Then he wastes his time for a while, but one day he begins to try to be a comic artist.
Director: Yûichi Fukuda | Stars: Shin'ichi Tsutsumi, Donald Ash, Gaku Hamada, Ai Hashimoto
Votes: 197
There was too much time spent on characters outside of the main one, but it was pleasantly funny enough and held my interest. Could have easily been 30 minutes shorter though.
75. Hush! (2001)
135 min | Comedy, Drama
Soon after the disparate yet compatible Naoya and Katsuhiro start to settle into a relationship, a slightly unhinged young woman named Asako asks Katsuhiro to father her child.
Director: Ryosuke Hashiguchi | Stars: Reiko Kataoka, Kazuya Takahashi, Seiichi Tanabe, Yôko Akino
Votes: 749 | Gross: $0.02M
It`s a slow, quiet movie, but it`s fine. I enjoyed the female character much more than the romance between the men.
76. Yellow Elephant (2013)
131 min | Drama, Romance
Movie adaptation of the Japanese novel "Kiroi Jou". A married couple Ayumu Muko (Mukai) and Aiko Tsumari (Miyazaki) live a peaceful life in a cozy old house in the countryside. Ayumu works ... See full summary »
Director: Ryûichi Hiroki | Stars: Aoi Miyazaki, Osamu Mukai, Tatsuomi Hamada, Himeka Asami
Votes: 249
Not nearly as precious as it thinks it is. I don't really pay attention to Japanese actors, but my God is Osamu Mukai a terrible actor and Aoi Miyazaki a fantastic one. A scene where they are eating dinner in the middle of the film and Mukai 'breaks down' says it all. Miyazaki is able to sell the more cheesy moments of the film (LIKE HER NIGHTLY CONVERSATIONS WITH A TREE), but Mukai and ultimately the script fail this movie. There is one amazing scene about 3/4 of the way through, though I really hated the final message of the movie... Overall, it held my interest, and I would recommend this over some generic pablum.
77. Tokyo Family (2013)
146 min | Drama
In this update of Yasujiro Ozu's "Tokyo Story", a retired schoolteacher and his wife visit their three working children in modern-day Tokyo.
Director: Yôji Yamada | Stars: Isao Hashizume, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Masahiko Nishimura, Yui Natsukawa
Votes: 2,237
Not especially well-acted (especially from the daughter) and incredibly generic, yet it somehow captured my undivided attention. It`s well-made pablum.
78. Densha otoko (2005)
101 min | Comedy, Romance
The supposedly true story of a 23-year-old otaku (Japanese geek) who intervenes when a drunk man is harassing several women on a train. The otaku ultimately begins dating one of the women, ... See full summary »
Director: Shôsuke Murakami | Stars: Takayuki Yamada, Miki Nakatani, Ryôko Kuninaka, Eita Nagayama
Votes: 2,428
Kind of a cold movie for such a silly story.
79. Tadon to chikuwa (1998)
120 min | Fantasy
A cab-driver spends his days listening to his passengers' conversations. A writer faces a creativity bottleneck.
Director: Jun Ichikawa | Stars: Koji Yakusho, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jinpachi Nezu, Satoko Abe
Votes: 36
Comprised of two short stories, the first one being a really interesting look at a lonely taxi driver, the second being a really annoying look at a delusional author. Overall, it's not bad, but it's no classic either. It's too unbalanced to fully enjoy.
80. Zoo (2005)
120 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
Hiroshi Ando aka "Zoo"
Synopsis.....This collection of shocking, unpredictable stories feature the first screen adaptation of the number one young author of his generation, Otsuichi. Working... See full synopsis »
Directors: Ryu Kaneda, Masaki Adachi, Hiroshi Ando, Masatetsu Komiya, Junpei Mizusaki | Stars: Patrick Harlan, Yui Ichikawa, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Ryôko Kobayashi
Votes: 591
As with most any anthology movie, I enjoyed some shorts more than others. I was impressed with the twin story, but beyond disappointed with `Seven Rooms` (my favorite from the book). `Seven Rooms` probably could have been a good 90-minute movie by itself. Kind of the opposite of the other Otsuichi short story adaptation `Goth`.
81. Joshi kamera (2012)
Comedy
Director: Munetoshi Mukai | Stars: Kaoru Mitsumune, Miyako Takayama, Yukiyo Sono, Mika Kumagai
A pretty small movie. Kind of calm, maybe bland even, but it's short enough that is goes by quickly. I feel like the initial idea was for the four characters to go on a road trip instead of just three of them. But perhaps because the actress had health issues or contract issues she didn't participate in the road trip. So, that weakened the theme of the movie as well (after university we will all be separated -- oh no, even now we are separated, OK...).
82. Fujoshi kanojo. (2009)
97 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
College student Mutou Ookawa catches a glimpse of Ametani Yuiko, his co-worker from a former part-time job and falls immediately in love. Summoning up his courage, he eventually confesses ... See full summary »
Director: Atsushi Kaneshige | Stars: Shunsuke Daitô, Jun Fukuyama, Yuta Furukawa, Satoshi Hino
Votes: 217
More romance than fujoshi jokes, this one is a fine time-filler.
83. Thermae Romae (2012)
108 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Lucius, a Roman architect, is transported through time to modern-day Japan, where he learns about Japanese bathhouses and uses this to his gain back home.
Director: Hideki Takeuchi | Stars: Hiroshi Abe, Aya Ueto, Kazuki Kitamura, Riki Takeuchi
Votes: 2,695
The first half is HILARIOUS, the second half is very generic and boring. If only it decided to go with full-on comedy...
84. Death Note (2006)
Not Rated | 126 min | Crime, Drama, Fantasy
A battle between the world's two greatest minds begins when Light Yagami finds the Death Note, a notebook with the power to kill, and decides to rid the world of criminals.
Director: Shûsuke Kaneko | Stars: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Asaka Seto, Yû Kashii
Votes: 31,873
I was surprised at how "Hollywood" this felt.
85. Arakawa Under the Bridge (2012)
TV-PG | 115 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Kou Ichinomiya comes from a wealthy family and his father runs a famous company. Kou is smart enough to already run several high-flying firms. From an early age Kou's father taught him to ... See full summary »
Director: Ken Iizuka | Stars: Shun Oguri, Takayuki Yamada, Mirei Kiritani, Nana Katase
Votes: 83
A nice, wacky movie that still has a crowd-pleasing bent. It`s nice enough. I enjoyed it.
86. The Vancouver Asahi (2014)
132 min | Drama, History, Sport
1918 -1942 , A Time Period passed . Vancouver Canada , a Japanese Community and the struggles and triumphs they faced , and the Spirit of a Baseball Team that won over many, and overcame ... See full summary »
Director: Yûya Ishii | Stars: Satoshi Tsumabuki, Kazuya Kamenashi, Ryô Katsuji, Yusuke Kamiji
Votes: 260
As a Canadian, I felt like I had to watch this even though historical movies aren't my thing. I enjoyed the time period, the sets, and the overall 'mood'. Unfortunately, the story was just your average drama with some racism thrown in. It was well made, it was just very very average.
87. Ace Attorney (2012)
135 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Following the murder of his mentor, rookie Defense Attorney Phoenix Wright must find the truth behind not only her death, but that of an unsolved case from 15 years prior.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Hiroki Narimiya, Takumi Saitô, Mirei Kiritani, Akiyoshi Nakao
Votes: 3,058
A love letter for fans of the game. I can`t say if anyone who hasn`t played the game would enjoy it. I am only a casual fan so I was only mildly enthused.
88. Taboo (1999)
Unrated | 100 min | Drama, History, Thriller
The new member of a samurai militia unit causes disruption as several of his colleagues fall in love with him, threatening to disturb the rigid code of their squad.
Director: Nagisa Ôshima | Stars: Takeshi Kitano, Ryûhei Matsuda, Shinji Takeda, Tadanobu Asano
Votes: 8,077 | Gross: $0.05M
Didn't live up to the potential
89. Dark Water (2002)
PG-13 | 101 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
A mother and her 6-year-old daughter move into a creepy apartment whose every surface is permeated by water.
Director: Hideo Nakata | Stars: Hitomi Kuroki, Rio Kanno, Mirei Oguchi, Asami Mizukawa
Votes: 34,940
Saw the American remake first, the two are virtually identical. Good horror flick.
90. Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012)
TV-MA | 134 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A former assassin who has resolved to never kill again has his vow sorely tested.
Director: Keishi Otomo | Stars: Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei, Yû Aoi, Munetaka Aoki
Votes: 29,023
It did a good job of erasing the episodic nature of the early volumes of the manga, but in the end it tried too hard to shoehorn in famous scenes and characters from the manga, causing it to drag.
91. Shikoku (1999)
100 min | Horror, Thriller
When Hinako was a child she was separated from Fumiya and Sayori as she moved to Tokyo. Now she has returned to Shikoku, but it turns out that Sayori drowned. When Hinako starts seeing Sayori in her dreams, she seeks help from Fumiya.
Director: Shunichi Nagasaki | Stars: Yui Natsukawa, Michitaka Tsutsui, Chiaki Kuriyama, Toshie Negishi
Votes: 748
Kind of cheesy, but pretty good
92. Ju-On: The Grudge 2 (2003)
R | 92 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
As their curse spreads on, the ghosts find their chance to live once again through the pregnancy of a cursed woman.
Director: Takashi Shimizu | Stars: Noriko Sakai, Chiharu Niiyama, Kei Horie, Yui Ichikawa
Votes: 10,885
Felt like it had more direction than the first one.
93. Joker Game (2015)
106 min | Action, Thriller
In Japan, Lieutenant Colonel Yuki (Yusuke Iseya) recommends the creation of spy training school "D Kikan".
Director: Yû Irie | Stars: Kazuya Kamenashi, Yûsuke Iseya, Kyôko Fukada, Richard Shelton
Votes: 518
My friend said it best - this movie played like a cartoon. It was a fun adventure movie, even if the action did seem quite Lupin-esque at times.
94. Shinjuku Swan (2015)
139 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A down-and-out man finds a new job in Tokyo's red-light district as a scout who recruits women to work in the adult-entertainment business.
Director: Sion Sono | Stars: Erika Sawajiri, Gô Ayano, Kôsuke Toyohara, Takayuki Yamada
Votes: 1,262
It was totally different than what I expecting from the trailer (which made it look like a revenge flick). It was more of a 'yakuza' flick if anything (yes, I know that they were not technically 'yakuza'). It was fine. I liked the final montage at the end, the main character was compelling, and was generally invested in Erika Sawajiri's story line. I'm not generally a fan of crime movies, so the main story line didn't really hold my interest. The fights were good and this movie was well made, but it just seemed to be going through the motions at times.
95. Thermae Romae II (2014)
112 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
A sequel to the comedy Thermae Romae, an adaptation of Yamazaki Mari's popular comic. A Roman Empire bathhouse architect learns how to travel through time when in need of inspiration. Then, a conflict could divide the Roman Empire.
Director: Hideki Takeuchi | Stars: Hiroshi Abe, Aya Ueto, Kazuki Kitamura, Kai Shishido
Votes: 825
I liked the 'story' part of this one better, but unfortunately the humor just didn't work as well the second time around (as is usually the case).
96. Snakes and Earrings (2008)
Not Rated | 123 min | Thriller
19 year old Rui finds life deeply disappointing until she falls in love with Ama in Shibuya, Tokyo. She was attracted by his piercings so decided to have her tongue pierced too. Pain is the... See full summary »
Director: Yukio Ninagawa | Stars: Yuriko Yoshitaka, Kengo Kôra, Arata Iura, Ennosuke Ichikawa IV
Votes: 861
Dully weird. It`s not great, but at least it has some ambition. The novel is better though (of course).
97. Be Crazy About Me (2012)
91 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
Mizuki looks like a boy and she also leads the all girl rock band Burauerozen. Then Akira, a boy who looks like a girl sneaks in to watch Burauerozen concert and confesses his love to Mizuki. Will Their love begin?
Director: Sakurako Fukuyama | Stars: Ito Ono, Karam, Akira, Yuta Furukawa
Votes: 46
Just as ridiculous as you'd expect. Not as manic as the similar-energied 'Koukou Debut', so it ends up being dragged down by it's love story more than it should. If there was more focus on the gags and side-characters in the second-half, it could have been better.
98. Night People (2013)
90 min | Crime, Drama
Shinji runs a bar. A woman named Moeko appears in front of Shinji. In the past, Moeko stole 200,000,000 yen from member of the National Assembly. Shinji , Moeko, Detective Sone and a gang soon begin to collide because of the money.
Director: Hajime Kadoi | Stars: Eriko Satô, Kazuki Kitamura, Tetta Sugimoto, Mayumi Wakamura
Votes: 11
The first two-thirds are quite interesting, with the audiences' perception of the characters' allegiances shifting frequently and the violence quick and a natural part of the movies' world. The last third makes the allegiances of the characters 100% clear (and as expected), and ends with a typical-action movie shoot-out (I did like the first shoot-out in the sparse forest though). Add in a requisite 'happy ending', and this movie just straight-up missed it's potential.
99. Ju-on: The Grudge (2002)
R | 92 min | Horror
A mysterious and vengeful spirit marks and pursues anybody who dares enter the house in which it resides.
Director: Takashi Shimizu | Stars: Megumi Okina, Misaki Itô, Misa Uehara, Yui Ichikawa
Votes: 48,097 | Gross: $0.33M
Whooo scary kids...
100. My Man (2014)
129 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
After losing everything in a tsunami, 10-year-old Hana is taken in by 26-year-old distant relative Jungo Kusarino. They live as father and daughter but share a profound sense of loss. Jungo... See full summary »
Director: Kazuyoshi Kumakiri | Stars: Fumi Nikaidô, Tadanobu Asano, Aoba Kawai, Tatsuya Fuji
Votes: 710
I was aware of the nature of the content before going to see this (QUASI INCEST!), but it was just super uncomfortable. I was with this movie until the main female character entered high school. After that, Fumi Nikaido's acting was terrible, and I couldn't feel why she would want to do what she was doing. On the flip side, I guess it's a testament to his acting, but I totally hate Tadanobu Asano now, as his character was replusive. The movie was artfully put together, but the pacing was just too slow.
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