The Kinema Junpo 'best of Japan' lists happen once every ten years. It's a list filled with many obscure films, most of which are impossible to watch with English subtitles. I love this list due to the high hit/miss ratio, and that no-one has heard of 90% of these films. The titles in green are the films I have seen, the titles in red are the films I have not seen. This list is by the readers instead of the critics.
LINK TO FULL LIST
01 SEVEN SAMURAI- Akira Kurosawa
LINK TO FULL LIST
01 SEVEN SAMURAI- Akira Kurosawa
Considered by everyone to be the greatest Japanese film ever. It's number 20 on the IMDB top 250, and is loved by everyone.
SCORE 87
02 TOKYO STORY- Yasujirô
Ozu
Placed number 1 on the Director's Sight and Sound top 10. I find people only watch this Ozu film and move on, but he is a flawless director. My favourite would be Tokyo Twilight.
SCORE 83
03 IKIRU- Akira Kurosawa
The story is a man gets cancer and builds a playground. It doesn't sound like a number 3 film, but it really is. Takeshi Shimura appeared in 21 Kurosawa films, but this is his career defining performance.
SCORE 86
04 THE CASTLE OF SAND- Yoshitaro
Nomura
Incredible film. One half detective drama, one half gliding epic. The police investigation will keep you gripped and the ending is absolutely wonderful.
SCORE 85
SCORE 85
05 FLOATING CLOUDS- Mikio
Naruse
Number 202 on the Sight and Sound top 250. Naruse is often mentioned in the same breath as Ozu, Mizoguchi and Kurosawa, but not many people have seen any of his films. 'Floating Clouds' tells the story of two lovers who never seem to be together. Hideko Takamine plays the "strong willed woman" which seems to be evident in most of Naruse's films. The opening is beautiful and the ending is devastating, although the rest of it could have been improved.
SCORE 76
SCORE 76
06 TWENTY-FOUR EYES-
Keisuke Kinoshita
Loved in Japan, but was released in the same year as Seven Samurai so is often overlooked. The film spans 20 years in the life of a school teacher in a remote rural area of Japan. The wonderful relationship between the students and the teacher could only be made by the Japanese.
SCORE 84
07 A FUGITIVE FROM THE PAST-
Tomu Uchida
Enthralling crime thriller, where there is a ten year gap between the crime and the investigation. The acting is incredible.
SCORE 79
08 RED BEARD- Akira
Kurosawa
Slow start, but a flawless final third. The three hour runtime flies by, with some great acting and fantastic character development. The last Mifune/Kurosawa collaboration.
SCORE 85
09 HIGH AND LOW- Akira
Kurosawa
Kurosawa's best crime film. It stars both Nakadai and Mifune, Japan's two finest actors, and is tense throughout its 143 minute runtime.
SCORE 89
10 MUDDY RIVER- Kôhei Oguri
Very subtle film, inspired heavily by Ozu, about a child and his new neighbours that live on a boat in the river.
SCORE 79
11 YOJIMBO- Akira Kurosawa
The story of Yojimbo was adapted into A Fistful of Dollars. Currently 106 on the IMDB top 250. The sequel is Sanjuro, which I think is better than the original, but both need to watch again before I can confirm a score as there has been years since I have seen either of them.
12 LUPIN III: THE CASTLE OF
CAGLIOSTRO- Hayao Miyazaki
This very early Miyazaki work is a fun and clever caper.
SCORE 77
13 NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY
OF THE WIND- Hayao Miyazaki
The first film that obtained Studio Ghibili world-wide recognition. The film is a fantastic piece of science fiction, with a message that should resonate even more today then when it was released.
SCORE 86
14 THE MAN WHO STOLE THE SUN-
Kazuhiko Hasegawa
15 HARAKIRI- Masaki
Kobayashi
Word is spreading about how amazing this film is. Tatsuya Nakadai's best performance in this unforgettable film. Definitely in my all time top 10.
SCORE 100
16 I ARE YOU, YOU AM ME- Nobuhiko
Obayashi
A tale of boy meets girl, boy and girl switches body, boy is now a girl and girl is now a boy. Two great (and brave) performances by the lead actors. Its hilarious and moving at the same time. I just really love Obayashi and his wonderful world he has created. This was remade in 2007. Both the original and the remake are completely unknown outside of Japan.
SCORE 82
SCORE 82
17 UGETSU- Kenji Mizoguchi
One of the films that introduced Japan to the world. It's a ghost story set in 16th Century Japan during the civil wars. There is nothing like it in the whole of cinema.
SCORE 83
18 LOVE LETTER- Shunji Iwai
19 LONELY HEART- Nobuhiko
Obayashi
20 THE LIFE OF OHARU- Kenji
Mizoguchi
The life of a prostitute set in 17th Century.
SCORE 79
21 VENGEANCE IS MINE- Shôhei
Imamura
A violent and shocking film about a serial killer.
SCORE 80
22 THE YELLOW HANDKERCHIEF-
Yôji Yamada
A melancholic road movie between three strangers. as they journey to Hokkaido. A beautiful film that is sure to make you cry during the finale
SCORE 83
SCORE 83
23 EARLY SUMMER- Yasujirô
Ozu
Very similar to all of Ozu's other seasonal works. This one is about an arranged marriage.
SCORE 82
24 GODZILLA- Ishirô Honda
It has 27 sequels and has been remade by Hollywood twice.
25 THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH
TIME- Nobuhiko Obayashi
Remade as an anime in 2006 and remade again as live-action in 2010. The only Obayashi film currently available is the cult favourite Hausu. His experimental films are scattered all across this list. I enjoyed this film more than I felt I should have. Tomoyo Harada plays Kazuko, a teenage schoolgirl, who spills a chemical in the school science lab and is then able to travel through time. Excellent film, especially the time travel scenes. This is more of a love story than a sci-fi, so it is not to everyone's taste (there have been some really negative reviews).
SCORE 85
SCORE 85
26 FALL GUY- Kinji Fukasaku
27 CASTLE IN THE SKY- Hayao
Miyazaki
A wonderful Studio Ghibili film. Definitely one of their most loved.
SCORE 82
28 THE INUGAMI FAMILY- Kon
Ichikawa
Ichikawa's most known film in Japan, but is completely unheard of in the west. A death and the reading of a Will leads to a series of murders in the large and despicable Inugami family. Quite confusing in places, but very entertaining.
SCORE 79
29 THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI- Yôji
Yamada
The most critically acclaimed samurai film made in the 21st Century.
SCORE 78
30 RASHÔMON- Akira
Kurosawa
Japanese cinema was completely unknown in the west before this came along in 1950. Currently 93 on the IMDB top 250. I need to watch it again to give it an honest score.
31 THE SUN LEGEND OF THE END
OF THE TOKUGAWA ERA- Yuzo Kawashima
I watched the blu-ray and enjoyed this film immensely. It's both funny and heartwarming, with a great finale.
SCORE 80
SCORE 80
32 THE EMPEROR'S NAKED ARMY
MARCHES ON- Kazuo Hara
Featured on A Story of Film: An Odyssey. This documentary is unlike any thing I have ever seen. It follows Kenzo Okuzaki as he visits the members of his army regiment, to uncover the secrets about the deaths of two soldiers. It is a really thought-provoking and ground-breaking documentary.
Featured on A Story of Film: An Odyssey. This documentary is unlike any thing I have ever seen. It follows Kenzo Okuzaki as he visits the members of his army regiment, to uncover the secrets about the deaths of two soldiers. It is a really thought-provoking and ground-breaking documentary.
SCORE 84
33 TORA-SAN: OUR LOVABLE TRAMP-
Yôji Yamada
The first of 48 Tora-San films, following the life of a yakuza returning to his hometown. Each of the films have a similar story (he returns to home, he falls in love, things go wrong), but were deeply loved in Japan. I had to import the dvd from America to watch these (a month later someone uploads all 48 to YouTube -.-), and thought they were great. Yoji Yamada, a master director, together with the wonderful cast (including Chrishu Ryu and Takashi Shimura), create a franchise which is truly heart-warming and magical.
SCORE 82
SCORE 82
34 KIDS RETURN- Takeshi Kitano
35 MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO- Hayao
Miyazaki
Studio Ghibili's most iconic film. It's impossible not to smile throughout making it great for kids.
SCORE 82
36 HUMANITY AND PAPER BALLOONS-
Sadao Yamanaka
Sadao Yamanaka's last film before he was sent to war and killed. Not as brilliant as his 100 Ryo Pot film, but still bloody marvellous.
SCORE 75
SCORE 75
37 SHALL WE DANCE?- Masayuki
Suo
38 TANGE SAZEN AND THE POT
WORTH A MILLION RYO- Sadao Yamanaka
Only three of Sadao Yamanaka's films exist. This is the earliest, and is a pretty well-known story in Japan.
MY REVIEW HERE
SCORE 82
MY REVIEW HERE
SCORE 82
39 THE FAMILY GAME- Yoshimitsu
Morita
This hard to find film, is about a typical Japanese family, thrown into jeopardy, when a private tutor is hired to help the son. This film is very 80s. Morita focuses on the relationship of the son and the tutor, and how daunting society's expectations of success in school are.
SCORE 85
SCORE 85
40 ZIGEUNERWEISEN- Seijun
Suzuki
41 LATE SPRING- Yasujirô
Ozu
The first film in his seasonal series of films. This one concerns a widowed father and the marriage of his daughter.
SCORE 82
42 THE HIDDEN FORTRESS-
Akira Kurosawa
One of my favourite Kurosawa films. George Lucas stole part of the story for Star Wars.
SCORE 86
43 PASTORAL: TO DIE IN THE
COUNTRY- Shûji Terayama
I randomly watched this, and was stunned. It's a crazy Japanese new wave film, about remembering childhood. Everything is nice and happy, until about a third of the way through the runtime, when he realizes his childhood was terrible. What ensues is a nightmarish version of what happened previously. Terayama is an brilliant auteur, and this is a great starting place for those new to him.
SCORE 97
44 SONATINE- Takeshi
Kitano
45 NOBODY KNOWS- Hirokazu
Koreeda
Beautiful and devastating film about a group of children, whose mother leaves them alone. My favourite Koreeda so far (He is one of the few auteurs that is still making fresh and exciting films).
SCORE 85
46 THE CRUCIFIED LOVERS-
Kenji Mizoguchi
Another great period film from Mizoguchi. His most tragic.
SCORE 80
47 STRAY DOG- Akira
Kurosawa
A man steals a colt from a policeman, and goes on a killing spree with the seven bullets in the gun. Not as good as Drunken Angel, but still a great film.
SCORE 79
48 DEPARTURES- Yôjirô
Takita
It won the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film in 2009. Definitely deserved. A wonderfully crafted film, that is genuinely beautiful.
SCORE 87
49 WHERE SPRING COMES LATE- Yôji
Yamada
A film that shows one family's struggles as they migrate to Northern Japan. Completely breathtaking and deeply engrossing. Yamada's direction and the remarkable performances by the cast made me care about this family as I personally knew them.
SCORE 88
SCORE 88
50 THE HUMAN CONDITION-
Masaki Kobayashi
My favourite film. Set in three parts and lasting almost 10 hours. Every camera shot is beautiful, Tatsuya Nakadai is a phenomenal acting as the protagonist, and the story is about as epic as you can get. The first part is set in a Chinese POW camp in Japan, the second part is training for war and the third part is behind enemy lines in Russia.
SCORE 100
51 HER BROTHER- Kon Ichikawa
More commonly known as 'Younger Brother', Ichikawa's film shows the ups and downs of the relationship between a sister and her juvenile brother. One of the saddest films on the list, so bring tissues if you like a good cry.
SCORE 71
SCORE 71
52 THE MAKIOKA SISTERS- Kon
Ichikawa
53 THE STORY OF THE LAST
CHRYSANTHEMUM- Kenji Mizoguchi
The best 1930's Mizoguchi film. It's not flawless, and is remarkable for the time.
SCORE 77
54 HULA GIRLS- Lee Sang-il
55 THE NAKED ISLAND- Kaneto
Shindô
Not a word is spoken throughout its runtime. The peaceful yet harsh life of a family living on a desolate island is utterly mesmerizing.
SCORE 91
56 THE INSECT WOMAN- Shôhei
Imamura
57 THE YAKUZA PAPERS: BATTLES
WITHOUT HONOR AND HUMANITY- Kinji
Fukasaku
The first of six films in the Yakuza Papers series. Plenty of lively characters, many gruesome deaths and a fast-moving plot make this engaging and hugely enjoyable to watch. All 5 films in the series are brilliant, although I agree with Kinema Junpo that the first and third are superior.
SCORE 87
SCORE 87
58 THE DEVIL'S BALLAD- Kon
Ichikawa
59 TIMES OF JOY AND SORROW-
Keisuke Kinoshita
60 SANJURO- Akira Kurosawa
Better than the first one. I still need to rewatch them.
SCORE 78
61 TORA-SAN MEETS THE
SONGSTRESS AGAIN- Yôji Yamada
The fifteenth Tora-San film.
62 THE ROCKING HORSEMEN- Nobuhiko
Obayashi
63 CHIZUKO'S YOUNGER SISTER-
Nobuhiko Obayashi
64 THE CHERRY ORCHARD- Shun
Nakahara
65 FOUNDRY TOWN- Kiriro Urayama
66 ALWAYS - SUNSET ON THIRD
STREET- Takashi Yamazaki
67 AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON- Yasujirô
Ozu
All of his films in his late period are great movies. This film is one of his most profound.
MY REVIEW HERE
SCORE 83
All of his films in his late period are great movies. This film is one of his most profound.
MY REVIEW HERE
SCORE 83
68 WET SAND IN AUGUST- Toshiya
Fujita
69 BULLET TRAIN- Junya Sato
70 THE YAKUZA PAPERS 3: PROXY
WAR- Kinji Fukasaku
The third Yukuza Papers film. The whole film is build-up, with underbosses switching sides and pledging allegiances with other Yakuza. Even though the pay off is in the fourth instalment, it doesn't stop this film being constantly exciting.
SCORE 87
SCORE 87
71 CURE- Kiyoshi Kurosawa
72 THE YOUTH KILLER- Kazuhiko
Hasegawa
73 KAMIKAZE GIRLS- Tetsuya
Nakashima
74 LOVE EXPOSURE- Sion Sono
The best four hours you can spend. You won't want it to stop
SCORE 96
75 HANA AND ALICE- Shunji Iwai
76 FIGHTING ELEGY- Seijun
Suzuki
My first Suzuki film. I have heard many things about how crazy ad whack his films are. Turns out they are true. This film is about rebellious youth, young love and rival gangs. It's told in a zany and uncontrollable way, that makes the film stand out above the rest. It's a great, fast-paced film to watch.
SCORE 79
SCORE 79
77 THE IVORY TOWER- Satsuo
Yamamoto
78 BROTHEL NO. 8- Kei Kumai
79 DISTANT
THUNDER- Kichitaro Negishi
80 BREAK THROUGH!- Kazuyuki
Izutsu
81 A GENTLE BREEZE IN THE
VILLAGE- Nobuhiro Yamashita
82 THE SUBMERSION OF JAPAN- Shirô
Moritani
83 MEMORIES OF MATSUKO- Tetsuya
Nakashima
Visually crazy, and uses a few awful choices of soundtrack. Confessions is a far superior film.
SCORE 74
84 MR. THANK YOU- Hiroshi
Shimizu
85 DOUBLE SUICIDE- Masahiro
Shinoda
86 THE RENDEZVOUS- Kôichi
Saitô
87 MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR.
LAWRENCE- Nagisa Ôshima
Starring David Bowie.
88 TOKYO HEAVEN- Shinji Sômai
89 PRINCESS MONONOKE- Hayao
Miyazaki
My favourite Studio Ghibli film. A beautiful adventure into a wonderful fantasy world.
SCORE 94
90 SWING GIRLS- Shinobu
Yaguchi
91 THE LONG DARKNESS- Kei
Kumai
92 STILL WALKING- Hirokazu
Kore-eda
This could be an Ozu film. Peaceful, meditative and a expertly crafted.
SCORE 82
93 BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF
THE TODA FAMILY- Yasujirô Ozu
The worst Ozu film I have seen. It was also my second, so maybe it needs a second viewing.
SCORE 67
94 IMMORTAL LOVE- Keisuke
Kinoshita
Melodramatic with a Spanish flamenco soundtrack. Tatsuya Nakadai plays an evil character for a change.
SCORE 81
95 KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE-
Hayao Miyazaki
There is a live-action remake being released soon. The original is a classic that is criminally under-seen.
SCORE 80
96 GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE
UNIVERSE- Shusuke Kaneko
97 BLOOD OF REVENGE- Tai Katô
98 GONIN- Takashi Ishii
99 GRAVEYARD OF HONOR- Kinji
Fukasaku
Part of a Yakuza box-set I recently purchased. This film tells the true story of a powerful Yakuza member and his uncontrollable self-destructive behaviour. It's violent tale that is expertly told in an rock and roll way. The wide-screen action is very fast-paced, keeping me entertained and engaged thoroughly throughout.
SCORE 76
Part of a Yakuza box-set I recently purchased. This film tells the true story of a powerful Yakuza member and his uncontrollable self-destructive behaviour. It's violent tale that is expertly told in an rock and roll way. The wide-screen action is very fast-paced, keeping me entertained and engaged thoroughly throughout.
SCORE 76
100 SPIRITED AWAY- Hayao
Miyazaki
Won the Oscar for best animated film 2001. Widely considered to be the greatest anime film ever made. No wonder as its a colourful portal into a breathtaking world that's unlike any other.
SCORE 86
101 STREET WITHOUT END- Mikio
Naruse
102 I LIVE IN FEAR- Akira
Kurosawa
Kurosawa's worst film. Everyone else seems to like it though.
SCORE 62
103 HUSBAND AND WIFE- Mikio
Naruse
104 THE GHOST OF YOTSUYA- Nobuo
Nakagawa
Available on YouTube HERE
The scariest pre-1960 film I have seen. The film crescendos into some shocking final scenes.
MY REVIEW HERE
SCORE 78
Available on YouTube HERE
The scariest pre-1960 film I have seen. The film crescendos into some shocking final scenes.
MY REVIEW HERE
SCORE 78
105 THE CEREMONY- Nagisa
Ôshima
My first Oshima film is very dark.
106 STATION- Yasuo Furuhata
107 FIREWORKS- Takeshi
Kitano
Kitano's most critically acclaimed film about a cop with a dying wife and a suicidal friend.
SCORE 78
Kitano's most critically acclaimed film about a cop with a dying wife and a suicidal friend.
SCORE 78
108 THE HUMAN BULLET- Kihachi
Okamoto
109 A SCENE AT THE SEA- Takeshi
Kitano
110 THE HIDDEN BLADE- Yôji
Yamada
A retelling of The Twilight Samurai, but also very good. I actually preferred this! Fans of action will be disappointed, but its replaced with character development and beautiful landscapes. I adore the unique meditative atmosphere and the greatly developed characters.
SCORE 80
SCORE 80
111 SUMMER DAYS WITH COO- Keiichi
Hara
112 THE DEMON- Yoshitaro
Nomura
113 MACARTHUR'S CHILDREN- Masahiro
Shinoda
Post-war Japan set on an island village, showing the struggles of the villagers attempting to return to normal life after the losing the war. It's comical and upbeat, making the film easy to enjoy. Although it is nothing too significant.
SCORE 77
Post-war Japan set on an island village, showing the struggles of the villagers attempting to return to normal life after the losing the war. It's comical and upbeat, making the film easy to enjoy. Although it is nothing too significant.
SCORE 77
114 SHE WAS LIKE A WILD
CHRYSANTHEMUM- Keisuke Kinoshita
115 RED PEONY GAMBLER 5:
ORYU’S VISIT- Tai Katô
116 THE EEL- Shôhei Imamura
Takuro comes home to find his wife having intercourse with another man. He kills her. 8 years go past and he returns to the small village, and opens a barber shop. Imamura is fantastic, with each of his films having a distinct vibe and striking visual detail. However this film is the least distinctive. Still, a fine film that doesn't quite go the mile, like Imamura's other films.
SCORE 76
SCORE 76
117 I JUST DIDN'T DO IT- Masayuki
Suo
118 LIGHTNING- Mikio Naruse
119 INTENTIONS OF MURDER- Shôhei
Imamura
120 DAIMAJIN- Kimiyoshi Yasuda
121 BOY- Nagisa Ôshima
122 THE CATCH- Shinji Sômai
123 RYUJI- Toru Kawashima
124 SANSHO THE BAILIFF- Kenji
Mizoguchi
Mizoguchi's finest film. A tragic story about two wealthy children which are taken from their mother to live a life of slavery. Set in medieval times, the mythic landscape is gorgeous.
SCORE 89
Mizoguchi's finest film. A tragic story about two wealthy children which are taken from their mother to live a life of slavery. Set in medieval times, the mythic landscape is gorgeous.
SCORE 89
125 TOKYO OLYMPIAD- Kon
Ichikawa
126 TAKE CARE, RED RIDING HOOD-
Shirô Moritani
127 EUREKA- Shinji Aoyama
I saw this film far too long ago, so I'll have to give it a second watch before submitting a score.
I saw this film far too long ago, so I'll have to give it a second watch before submitting a score.
128 THE FACE OF JIZO- Kazuo
Kuroki
129 CARMEN COMES HOME- Keisuke
Kinoshita
130 VACUUM ZONE- Satsuo
Yamamoto
131 YEARNING- Mikio Naruse
132 JAPAN'S LONGEST DAY- Kihachi
Okamoto
133 WOMAN IN THE DUNES- Hiroshi
Teshigahara
An entomologist gets trapped in a hole in the middle of the desert, with a widow for company. They eventually fall for each other as his escapes get more and more desperate.
SCORE 79
An entomologist gets trapped in a hole in the middle of the desert, with a widow for company. They eventually fall for each other as his escapes get more and more desperate.
SCORE 79
134 THIRD- Yôichi Higashi
135 THE FUNERAL- Jûzô Itami
136 JOSEE, THE TIGER AND THE
FISH- Isshin Inudo
137 SISTERS OF THE GION- Kenji
Mizoguchi
138 STAKEOUT- Yoshitaro Nomura
139 THE RICKSHAW MAN- Hiroshi
Inagaki
140 DEATH BY HANGING- Nagisa
Ôshima
141 FAILED YOUTH- Tatsumi
Kumashiro
142 SAMURAI VENDETTA- Kazuo
Mori
143 MOTHER- Mikio Naruse
144 THE GARDEN OF WOMEN- Keisuke
Kinoshita
145 GIANTS AND TOYS- Yasuzo
Masumura
146 AKITSU SPRINGS- Yoshishige
Yoshida
147 SCATTERED CLOUDS- Mikio
Naruse
148 MIRRORED MIND- Sogo Ishii
149 TONDA COUPLE- Shinji Sômai
150 TYPHOON CLUB- Shinji Sômai
151 MY SONS- Yôji Yamada
152 (HARU)-Yoshimitsu Morita
153 LINDA LINDA LINDA- Nobuhiro
Yamashita
154 SUMMER TIME MACHINE BLUES-
Katsuyuki Motohiro
155 ONE MILLION YEN GIRL- Yuki
Tanada
156 I WAS BORN, BUT...- Yasujirô
Ozu
Ozu's most acclaimed silent film.
Ozu's most acclaimed silent film.
157 CAPRICIOUS YOUNG MAN- Mansaku
Itami
158 DRUNKEN ANGEL- Akira
Kurosawa
His first known film is a personal favourite. Shimura and Mifune are excellent in this gripping crime thriller.
SCORE 83
His first known film is a personal favourite. Shimura and Mifune are excellent in this gripping crime thriller.
SCORE 83
159 WHERE CHIMNEYS ARE SEEN- Heinosuke
Gosho
160 13 ASSASSINS- Eiichi
Kudo
Thirteen samurai vow to take revenge on a feudal lord.
161 THE AGE OF ASSASSINS- Kihachi
Okamoto
162 KAGERÔ-ZA- Seijun Suzuki
163 TSURUHACHI AND TSURUJIRO- Mikio
Naruse
164 KAMIKAZE TAXI- Masato
Harada
165 RING- Hideo Nakata
That horror film with the cursed videotape. Many sequels, remakes and sequels of remakes. I bought the trilogy the other day. The first is a tense and very claustrophobic horror film that genuinely scared me in places (nothing scares me, so this is an achievement). The Second film feels similar to the first one, but the story gets increasingly ridiculous, and the overall atmosphere never manages to reach the terrifying heights of the first film. The third film 'Ring 0-Birthday' is a pointless prequel that is completely unnecessary and not scary whatsoever. The first is most definitely the best.
SCORE 79
That horror film with the cursed videotape. Many sequels, remakes and sequels of remakes. I bought the trilogy the other day. The first is a tense and very claustrophobic horror film that genuinely scared me in places (nothing scares me, so this is an achievement). The Second film feels similar to the first one, but the story gets increasingly ridiculous, and the overall atmosphere never manages to reach the terrifying heights of the first film. The third film 'Ring 0-Birthday' is a pointless prequel that is completely unnecessary and not scary whatsoever. The first is most definitely the best.
SCORE 79
166 NABBIE'S LOVE- Yuji Nakae
167 PRIEST OF DARKNESS- Sadao
Yamanaka
His second existing film, and the least known. It is still enjoyable, and feels very similar to his other two films.
SCORE 75
SCORE 75
168 SINGING LOVEBIRDS- Masahiro
Makino
169 THE BALL AT THE ANJO HOUSE-
Kozaburo Yoshimura
170 TILL WE MEET AGAIN- Tadashi
Imai
171 SUSAKI PARADISE: RED LIGHT
DISTRICT- Yuzo Kawashima
172 GALAXY EXPRESS 999- Rintaro
173 A TAXING WOMAN- Jûzô Itami
174 TOKIWA: THE MANGA
APARTMENT- Jun Ichikawa
175 AFTER LIFE- Hirokazu
Koreeda
The film takes place in Limbo, where a group try and recreate the memories of the deceased. The wonderful story, peaceful tone and great direction make After Life a pleasant viewing.
SCORE 75
SCORE 75
176 PULSE- Kiyoshi Kurosawa
177 HUSH!- Ryosuke Hashiguchi
178 THE BURIED FOREST- Kôhei
Oguri
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