Death Trance desperately wants to be a Ryuhei Kitamura movie. And it succeeds. Unfortunately, only about half of Kitamura’s movies are really entertaining; the other half are stupid and boring. Death Trance, as a Kitamura wannabe, falls into the latter …

So, The Sky Crawlers might actually be the best Mamoru Oshii movie I’ve ever seen. There, I said it. I know, right? I feel like I don’t know who I am anymore.

I generally like Oshii, though I know all …

One night last week Shapiro Keats came home late to find me curled up on the couch, the living room lights blazing, clutching the cat like a feline shield. “Did you watch a scary movie?” He sighed.

Yes, yes I …

Due to some weird shifting of the Earth’s crust, every continent and island in the world sinks beneath the ocean waves in full-color CGI. Every continent and island…except JAPAN. This wee island chain is promptly overrun with refugees from all …

Trailer Addict has a spot up for Priest, the Paul Bettany film based on the Korean manwha that was kind of popular about a decade ago (I chose to read another horror manwha, Island, that was released by Tokyopop around …

Here’s a couple videos about the latest from the revered Studio Ghibli- an adaptation of Mary Norton’s The Borrowers. We’ll definitely be seeing it (Shapiro Keats is all about stories concerning little tiny people, and hey, it’s Ghibli).

Teaser Trailer…

For many of my generation whose initial exposure to anime was through imported television series of inconsisten quality, the movie Akira was revolutionary in the artistic brilliance of its animation. Now one man has teamed up with Pittsburg’s ToonSeum to …

Space Battleship Yamato Undies, like Underoos for grown-ups.

I like the ones that say, “Save our Earth Yamato!” I’m not sure the crew will see your heartfelt plea, unless you’re showing off way too much flesh.

Desslock will be eager …

I’ve gone on-call at the bookstore where I used to work, and last night was my first night back. I got to have this great conversation:

Co-worker: “AnaKhouri, there is a customer on the phone who wants this movie…” >consults …

Finally, the last of my Halloween Asian horror reviews! Unfortunately, the movie sucked. There are spoilers.

Cure (Japan, 1997)

Cure is billed as a horror movie, but it’s really more of a psychological thriller. I wanted to like Cure, I …

You go on a British TV show and wow everyone. You become a Youtube sensation. You start recording a CD.

But you haven’t really made it until you do an anime theme song.

Susan Boyle Does Anime Movie Theme

I …

If it’s released under the Criterion Collection label, it’s probably either awesome or boring. Which is this?

Jigoku (Japan, 1960)

In the beginning of Jigoku, two young men hit someone with their car, then drive off, leaving him to die …