New Japanese Cinema

List creator: xilerui Created on: September 7, 2003 - 7:08 PM PDT Description: Japanese films off the beaten track

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	movie title	related list	average rating	MPAA rating	watch	rent	buy
	Avalon [Japanese] (2001)
Anime meets live action in Oshii Mamoru's Polish-language meditation on the nature of reality. Comparisons have been made to "The Matrix," but the film owes more of a debt to Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" and "12 Monkeys."
	Battle Royale (2001)
Based on the novel of the same name, Fukusaku Kinji's statement on human nature and violence loses some of the novel's political commentary, but makes up for it in sheer violent spectacle.
	Bounce Ko Gals (1998)			Not Rated
Shot in a pseudo-documentary style, Harada Masato's film about high school girls caught up in the sordid world of "paid dating" draws intriguing parallels between present-day teen prostitution and the sexual slavery of Japan's wartime past.
	Cure (1997)
A master of psychological horror, Kurosawa Kiyoshi inverts standard filmmaking conventions to create a dreamlike world in which reality and fantasy are intermingled.
	Eureka (2000)			Not Rated
Don't let the long running time and monochromatic visuals fool you; "Eureka" is compelling storytelling.
	Inugami (2001)			Not Rated
A beautifully haunting tale by one of Japan's best contemporary directors of women.
	Kids Return (1996)			Not Rated
Forget "Fireworks" and forget "Brother" - before those there was "Kids Return," one of Kitano Takeshi's finest (and most autobiographical) films.
	Monday (1999)			Not Rated
Sabu is one of the most talented and exciting directors working in Japanese cinema. Impeccable pacing and innumerable twists and turns add up to an unforgettable film.
	Pistol Opera (2002)			Not Rated
This latest film by Suzuku Seijun features Esumi Makiko, one of the most intriguing actresses working in Japanese film (and television) today.
	Samurai Fiction (1999)			Not Rated
A must-see film for any fan of Japanese cinema, new or old! Beautiful black and white visuals are contrasted with a superlative guitar soundtrack by rocker Hotei Tomoyasu to create the perfect postmodern comedy.