nuotio

57 _57%

Panique (1947) - Rated 05 May 2026

This starts off strongly: it looks great and has many beautiful shots. The characters are also interesting and nuanced - especially Mr. Hire, who comes across as a creep at first, but becomes more sympathetic as the story progresses, while the lovers grow increasingly unsympathetic. I enjoyed the film most when it remained a smaller‑scale thriller; the manhunt/angry mob ending was a bit too much for my liking, but I understand that it may have resonated differently with audiences at the time.

51 _35%

Swimming with Men (2018) - Rated 04 May 2026

I watched this because it’s one of the few films that features artistic swimming. It takes major liberties with the actual sport, but it also gets some things right as well. As a film, it’s quite basic; basically The Full Monty with men’s artistic swimming. The cast includes several familiar faces from British TV series and films. No surprises whatsoever, but it gets the job done.

57 _57%

Burai: Hitokiri Gorô (1968) - Rated 30 Apr 2026

I thought that this was the 3rd best of the series. The red light district setting gives it a sleazier feel that anticipates the pinky films of the 70's. It's also quite stylish with scenes taking place in rain and mist. I also enjoyed the supporting characters, although they are basically variations of characters from the first film. You could sum up that it's a good remix of the original, but doesn't really bring anything new to the table.

52 _37%

Burai: Barase (1969) - Rated 30 Apr 2026

A bit disappointing (lack of) conclusion to the series. I’d rank it alongside parts 3 and 5, and I’m sure I’ll have trouble remembering which was which in a week or two. It feels like the same script could have been recycled throughout the entire series. The main thing that stands out in this entry is the increased gore, especially during the beginning & the nasty bullet-removal scene and the cool night club finale. It is still a solid yakuza film, but simply too derivative of its predecessors.

61 _74%

Boiling Point (1990) - Rated 29 Apr 2026

At first this seems like a departure from Kitano's directorial debut. The slow pace, young protagonist and focus on baseball made me anticipate a coming of age drama. It gets darker shades when he gets mixed with yakuza and later trip to Okinawa feels like a different film; Kitano the actor enters the story and this section works a pitch black comedy and contains the bursting violence that we've come to expect from him. Visually the film looks good, but in the end it feels a bit disjointed.

45 _20%

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) - Rated 29 Apr 2026

This is a notch or two below the earlier film (which I wasn’t the biggest fan of). It still looks good, but there’s hardly any story, and it's more like a confusing collection of scenes set on different planets. Mario and Luigi’s relationship isn’t as important as it was in the previous film - there's no donkey kong - no needle drops. Fans will no doubt get enjoyment out of the Easter eggs, but there isn’t much here for the rest of us. You get the sense that this was rushed into theaters.

53 _41%

Ley Lines (1999) - Rated 29 Apr 2026

Third film in Miike’s thematic Black Society trilogy, and I’d rank it slightly above Rainy Dog but below Shinjuku Triad Society. It follows a group of young people of Chinese heritage who move to Tokyo and turn to crime as a means of finding a way out of Japan. Miike’s direction is solid and includes some impressive tracking shots, but I never really got a strong grasp of the characters, who feel underdeveloped. The highlight was seeing the seedy corners and alleyways of Tokyo.

65 _84%

Sympathy for the Underdog (1971) - Rated 29 Apr 2026

This feels like a companion piece to Japan Org. Crime Boss, as both share some actors and a similar setup. This one shifts location to Okinawa which is refreshing and brings American military bases to the mix. Fukasaku’s direction has also evolved; he keeps control over a lot of characters and delivers action scenes that still feel effective and modern. Tsuruta is very cool in the lead and keeps his shades on for most of the film. This is one of the best entry-point films to the yakuza genre.

63 _78%

Violent Cop (1989) - Rated 21 Apr 2026

Kitano’s Dirty Harry, filled with a lot of slapping, kicking and walking. He makes very effective use of long takes and the soundtrack. We’ve seen many of these scenes in countless U.S. procedurals, but they feel fresh here - like the extended chase sequence. There’s also plenty of black humor and sudden bursts of violence, as would become his trademark, and it all ends on a bleak note. I really liked this one and am eager to check out more films from his filmography that I’ve missed earlier.

59 _63%

Shinjuku Triad Society (1995) - Rated 21 Apr 2026

First of my Miike (re-)watches for 2026. This one is full of energy; neon-lit streets, bad cops and gangsters, bursts of violence, and outsiders - cultural and otherwise. Miike has empathy for all of them. The story itself isn’t that special, but the atmosphere and style carry the film. The detour to Taiwan was also refreshing. It feels like a ’90s update of Kinji Fukasaku’s yakuza films.

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