Ya Ya Yakuza

THE YAKUZA PAPERS (1973-1974) is a five part movie series directed by Kinji Fukusaku. It follows the rise and fall of different crime families mostly through the eyes of one character named Hirono played by Bunta Suguwara, who stars in all five. Most of the time rival gangs are arguing, killing or double-crossing each other. It hardly seems they have time for actual criminal activities! It’s very bloody and fast paced with some crazy camera angles and unintentional laughs but seems to carve out a pretty bleak future for crime fighting.

Sonny Chiba co-stars in the second one (DEADLY FIGHT IN HIROSHIMA) as a sleazy hood. Part 3 is called PROXY WAR, followed by POLICE TACTICS and FINAL EPISODE. Director Fukusaku (who died in 2003) made many other Yakuza related dramas but took time out in to make two wacky Sci-Fi movies THE GREEN SLIME and MESSAGE FROM SPACE.

“Regret for things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for things we did not do that is inconsolable”. …Sidney J. Harris

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Yokai

THE GREAT YOKAI WAR-2005-This is a great serio-comedic fantasy from director Takashi Miike. At small town local festival a young boy named Tadashi (Ryunosuke Kamiki who's great) is chosen to be the Kirin Rider, a protector of good. Eventually while weilding a legendary sword he leads the horde of Yokai, ancient Japanese spirits in a battle against the half human Lord Kato, his white haired servant Agi and their metal army.

This film draws a lot on the Yokai legends of Japan. (Also used in Anime) Spirits of all kinds (good and bad) that inhabit everything like umbrellas and walls. I liked the Kappa (a frog like water spirit) and Bean Washer the best! Miike really goes over the top but it's great for children as well as adults! Bunta Sugawara the star of THE YAKUZA PAPERS series is in it too!

Kool stuff!





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