I recently signed up for a temporary “Plus” account with Hulu.com so I could sample some of the hard-to-see Japanese films Criterion has made available there. According to Criterion their partnership with Hulu “gives viewers a chance to explore our library, sample films they might want to buy, discover films they never knew they would want, and … Continue reading SEIJUN SUZUKI’S EVERYTHING GOES WRONG (1960)
Masahiro Shinoda’s Pale Flower (1964)
I find it incredibly hard to write about my favorite films, directors and actors. When I really love a film as much as I love Masahiro Shinoda’s Pale Flower (1964), I tend to gush or the words just stumble around in my head and refuse to form into coherent sentences. I've been eager to write … Continue reading Masahiro Shinoda’s Pale Flower (1964)
Remember My Name (1976) & TCM News
Anthony Perkins & Geraldine Chaplin in Remember My Name (1976) I've been really busy lately so please excuse the lack of updates around here. Lately it seems like I only have enough free time to share my Movie Morlock updates and today is no exception. I recently got the opportunity to watch Alan Rudolph's unusual … Continue reading Remember My Name (1976) & TCM News
FAVORITE DVD RELEASES OF 2010
Every year I try to compile a list of my favorite new DVD releases. These lists tend to focus on films from the ’60s and ’70s since they’re my favorite film eras. This year I decided to expand my view a little and disregard limitations so I could share a varied list of all my … Continue reading FAVORITE DVD RELEASES OF 2010
Yeti Holiday Fun
Xmas card illustrated by SHAG that I sent to friends & family in 2002 One of my favorite monsters is the elusive and mysterious Yeti or Abominable Snowman and during the winter months I always start thinking about my favorite Yeti movies. I decided to compile a brief list of viewing suggestions for Movie Morlock … Continue reading Yeti Holiday Fun
Jewel Thieves & Giant Monsters
After recently reading and writing about Peter H. Brothers’ book Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda, I was motivated to watch one of Honda’s lesser-known films that I hadn’t had the opportunity to see yet, Dogora (1964). I’m not sure how I managed to overlook this little gem involving a … Continue reading Jewel Thieves & Giant Monsters
The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda
I recently read Peter H. Brothers' informative new book Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda and really enjoyed it. It's the first English language book written about the Japanese director Ishiro Honda and it's a must-read for fans of Japanese science fiction and fantasy films. I love giant monster movies … Continue reading The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda
Happy Birthday Akira Kurosawa!
Takashi Shimura and Toshiro Mifune in Stray Dog (1949) Stray Dog (1949) was the ninth film made by Japanese director Akira Kurosawa and I think it's one of his very best. Like many of my favorite Kurosawa films, Stray Dog features no rogue samurai or mad emperors and it's set in modern Japan instead of … Continue reading Happy Birthday Akira Kurosawa!
Akira Kobayashi Turns 72
Akira Kobayashi One of my favorite Japanese actors turned 72 yesterday so I thought I'd make some time to wish Akira Kobayashi a very happy belated birthday. Earlier this year I had planned on paying tribute to Kobayashi during the Japanese Cinema Blogathon but at the last minute, I decided to write about director Yasuharu … Continue reading Akira Kobayashi Turns 72
Modern Mondays: Bright Future (2003)
My regular readers may have noticed that my blog was impossible to access for 3 or 4 days. This was due to a major problem with the blog servers. They're still ironing out the bugs so don't be surprised if Cinebeats disappears again. Hopefully the problems will be worked out soon. In the meantime, Modern … Continue reading Modern Mondays: Bright Future (2003)
Remembering Yasuharu Hasebe (1932-2009)
Akira Kobayashi in Yasuharu Hasebe's Black Tight Killers (1966) While I was trying to compile a post for the Japanese Cinema Blogathon currently happening at Wildgrounds I read the sad news that one of my favorite Japanese directors, Yasuharu Hasebe, has died after he contracted pneumonia on June 14th. Hasebe was 77 years old, but … Continue reading Remembering Yasuharu Hasebe (1932-2009)
Spend Springtime in Japan
Left: Joe Shishido & Reiko Sasamori in Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards! Right: Hiroyuki Nagato & Jitsuko Yoshimura in Pigs and Battleships We're only four months into 2009 and the year is already becoming more interesting in terms of DVD releases than 2008. I've been impressed with Warner's decision to open up their … Continue reading Spend Springtime in Japan
