 DEVIL SURVIVOR 2 THE ANIMATION - Episode 5 - Tuesday of Turbulence - I May 2nd 2013, 18:05 
At JP's Tokyo Branch, Prof. Kanno works to rebuild their Terminal technology from scratch as the threat of renewed Septentrion attack looms. Elsewhere, Io and Daichi arrive in Nagoya in search of Hibiki, and soon find themselves drawn into the band of insurgents that has recently waged war against JP's.
 |  | Iron Man 3 – Review May 2nd 2013, 00:04  
Expectations from Marvel were high after last year’s excellent Avengers, and the disappointment that was Iron Man 2. While it seems to be the last of a trilogy, the good news is that it ends with a bang. Iron Man 3 is full of thrills, verve and humor- a big budget summer blockbuster firing on all cylinders. The best addition is the inclusion of Xueqi Wang of Bodyguards and Assassins and Warriors of Heaven and Earth fame. As for the Mandarin…Firstly, Sir Ben Kingsley puts in a masterful performance, a truly terrific piece of acting. However, that’s where the Mandarin’s accolades end. I can understand that Marvel would have to adapt their screen version of the character for film. I can even swallow (and did) that the ten rings were symbolic (and not actual mystical rings) and that there was a necessity to tie him back to IM1′s villains. I can even accept that he’s not oriental! What I cannot accept is that his ENTIRE existence in the movie is that of a farce, that there is no full circle in Tony’s enemies (by way of the Ten rings mentioned in the first film) and neither can I accept that really has no place in the movie! Whoa, now now…the plot! Yes, Iron Man 3 is very different to the previous films. He sets out on finding and eliminating Mandarin, and Afghan terrorist who is spreading terror in the USA and who interferes in Iron Man’s life. Tony is also faced with a psychic who is trying to use gene control over significant people to achieve his wicked purposes, and soon surprises are on the way for Tony, all of which he has to handle. The overall feel of the film has also changed from the previous titles. This is down to a change in the director this time round, with Jon Favreau sitting this one out to concentrate on playing his character. Shane Black does a decent job and brings much more humour and bigger action to the series. 
So, with my complaints aside, Tony’s resourcefulness I will agree on though – he had various tricks up his sleeve and that’s what did it for me, it was one of the few things that kept me interested and one of the only parts of the film that felt like a true Iron Man movie. The 3D effects were astonishing. CGI was stunning and couple of scenes are enthralling and is sure to excite you with adrenalin- pumping action scenes. Robert Downey Jr is excellent. The way he suits up in Iron Man clad ,the same way he gets into character of Iron man as if it has been tailor-made for him. He is expressive and will leave you spellbinding with stupendous performance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CzoSeClcw0 The main attraction, however, is still the spectacle. Here, the movie makers are clever in not overdoing it. The movie is basically bookended between two most spectacular set pieces that you can find anywhere. No description is necessary. Just go and enjoy. Oh and obviously by good “word of mouth” from the success of The Avengers. to No doubt Iron Man 3 will be a big hit by riding on the success of The Avengers. And at very least, it paints a successful trilogy whose first film gave birth to Marvel’s cinematic universe.
 | | Budo: The Art of Killing – Review May 2nd 2013, 00:02 
"When one has a weapon it is easy to delude oneself into believing that he is better than his opponent. To be a samurai means to avoid this self-conceit and to constantly train oneself to face death." Opening with seppuku and shot with stark ritualistic detail, a sunrise soon follows signifying the conquest of the internal enemy. The film will never recapture the quiet intensity of this moment, but that is not because of any slacking in the cinematography department (rather, the music department which sporadically kills the film's atmospherics). Director Nemoto is sensible enough to allow many quiet sequences, voiceovered by Harry J. Quini (who had previously narrated Goto's Fighting Black Kings), and demonstrations by such expert martial artists as Satoru Suzuki and Teruo Hayashi. Hisao Masuda's comprehensive (though the way of the bow is excluded) documentary details the many styles of Budo, the Way of the Warrior, in classic reverential style. The focus of the gendai budo is less on a reckless art of killing than, "The weak must defend from the strong." The choreographed scenes are well-done and the training session scenes are energetic and spontaneous, but one must note that this is not an instructional film. It is merely an introduction to the concept and form of these styles. What is most significant about the film, however, is the striking camerawork and sharp editing, all contained with sagacious direction. Fists and crashing waves, a white crane landing in slow motion – there are many figurative associations penciled-in periodically which beautifully complement the formalistic exercises. 
Following the seppuku segment, yabusame follows: Samurai mounted archery where precision and control are paramount. The loyalty of the samurai to their lord is mentioned, their most glorious death: sacrifice. "And so they lived each day with a constant desire for beauty in death." The traditional garb of the samurai, vibrant and pronounced is a fascinating visual when on the battlefield: the variety and eclecticism of the designs, the colours extensive. Many other forms are displayed as well: naginata-do, aikido, traditional Judo training, Okinawan fighting techniques used to defend against samurai ("Although the Japanese sword is synonymous with the soul of the samurai, it became a source of great fear; one that changed both human character and social situation"), sumo wrestling, tameshigari, and firewalking. Various weapons are exhibited throughout the film as well such as nunchaku, nicho gama (two farmer's sickles), the sai, sansetsukon (three-section staff), and of course the nihonto. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1S7atVhUqc The discipline inherent in the art is demonstrated visually in the rigorous training required for karate (meaning 'empty-handed' – "Karate training can be both severe and cruel, yet a sword can take away a life with one swing") and the endurance required in sumo. "The enjoyment of pleasures can only mean the negligence of practice," intones the narrator and this segue ways to the final connection drawn to budo, Zen Buddhism; in particular, zazen, the primary method of the art. The calming of the body and mind is significant in clearing the psyche of distractions, allowing one to act purely, instinctually. "Through cruel physical training and with it, the cultivation of a dauntless spirit so that one can stand any pain, the entire body is converted into a steel weapon." Overall, it must be said that the film is a rather flawed one but also sincere in its reverence for the subject. The material is tame and fundamental, often elementary, but the vigorous training matches and deliberate pace conspire to make it an enjoyable experience.
 | | Noriko's Dinner Table – Review May 1st 2013, 00:02
Winner of five awards, and received two nominations. It's a prequel, as well as a sequel to the independent horror film Suicide Club. Noriko's Dinner Table is a poetic masterpiece that transforms into something sinister. Although it shows a somewhat softer side of director Sion Sono, he still manages to make us terrified of what our children are capable of in this psychological horror. Similar to the 2002 Suicide Club : Complete Edition book written by Sion Sono, the movie is broken down into four chapters, narrated by each character telling their story. Chapter one is about Noriko, who later becomes Mitsuko. Fearing life itself, and possibly following in her parents footsteps, her only escape is a website called Haikyo, where she can socialize with faceless girls her own age. During a blackout, she decides to break from her insipid life and runaway to Tokyo to meet a girl named Ueno Station 54. Little does she know, these virtual friends are far from normal. Six months later, a mass suicide happens at Shinjuku Station where fifty-four girls jump in front of a moving train. Chapter two is Yuka's story, who is also Yoko. Six months after her sisters disappearance, she is very aware something bigger is happening. Also a member of Haikyo, she notices fifty-four girls had logged onto the site one night before the mass suicide. Deciding to become Yoko and eager to find her sister, she also runs to Tokyo, leaving only one clue for her father to find. 
Chapter three is about Ueno Station 54, also known as Kumiko. A site moderator of Haikyo.com, and owner of a family rental. She's a lost soul ready to manipulate anyone that comes into contact with her; whether its to better her business, or seek revenge from being abandoned in a locker as a baby. Upon meeting Noriko, she convinces her that a perfect family life is possible, then fools her into believing a staged death to see if she has what it takes to be apart of the "family circle". But that's not the half of it, Kumiko makes Noriko watch fifty-four girls jump in front of a train. Was it to simply prepare her for what the future could hold? To build a bigger clientele? Or was it for her own sick amusement? Chapter four is about Tetsuzo. After his daughters runaway, he is determined to find out the truth behind this so called "Suicide Club", only to find out that his daughters are way more involved then he could ever imagine. In order to push through this struggle, he must figure out if he's really connected to his family, himself and his role in life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urcpu4dC7ds Like the quote goes. "Everyone wants to be the champagne, not the glass. The flower, not the vase." Every role must be filled, even if it comes down to killing, or being killed in the process. Noriko's Dinner Table is one of many great works of art by Sion Sono, and is a must watch for all foreign movie fans.
 | | The Land of Hope – Review May 1st 2013, 00:02
Excellent portrayal of the devastation that was and can be caused by events that the indigenous people have no control over. Although a work of fiction, the story is incredibly real and the movie made you feel such an empathy for the characters and the horror of their lives changing so dramatically as a result of the disaster. From simple happiness living from the hard work of farming, to such sadness as everything falls apart. The wonderful strength and importance of family. Had me in tears! Reality check, big time. So many families have lost so much because of the actual Fukishima disaster, and while we live a charmed life by comparison, one must never take for granted what one has. The good life can disappear in seconds. People in the West should take note of his name, for his work transcends cultural barriers. He has the power to blow floodgates of emotion wide open. Sono has, indeed, after a series of great films, proved himself to be one of the most interesting and powerful directors living the world today. And here, perhaps, on the mellow suffering of his countrymen, he has crafted the crown jewel of his career. But even there, even when I thought the director had failed – in the placing of a long-winded scene or the evocation of an easy emotion – the dramatic pay-off ALWAYS justifies everything that has come before. The film provides, indeed, one of the most emotionally draining, spiritually breathtaking third acts that I have ever seen in a film. 
Over-effusive praise is self-defeating, because it can throw people off. It’s not a perfect film. There is still something in the Japanese style of movie making that allows for meandering shots at times. There are still ways of refining the craft forward; I have high hopes Shion Sono’s best film is still ahead of him. But honestly, there is not much else to criticize. All I can say is that this movie demanded everything, and gave back everything, in the course of its perfectly timed journey and the well-planned catharsis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W_mSZl2wNE This is a movie about roots, growing up, self-discovery, death, life and the possibilities of learning more about yourself through hardship. This is a movie about commitment – in love as well as in life – and how to make good things happen in a bad world. This is a good movie about bad things happening to good and bad people alike. The most astounding parts of this film is definitely the stellar acting, especially by the old couple who form the heart of the film, and the scenery of real-life Fukushima set in the fictive town of Nagashima. Sion Sono has crafted his most mature film to date with “The Land of Hope”. Highly recommended.
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