Sleepy Edits of Life

I have just added a 12 films series to my recommended live action movie list.

This is the famous Sleepy Eyes of Death series staring kabuki actor Ichikawa Raizō as Nemuri Kyoshiro. While there were many films series made regarding Nemuri Kyoshiro the films with Ichikawa Raizō are among the most famous.

I have also done a major edit to the recommended pages. When an individual is credited with two or more titles in the Creators - Those Behind the Works I Recommend page I will have links from those titles back to that person's entry. This is handy as some creators work in more than one medium and it is a good way to track down some works involving the same person.

The Bad Sleep Well

The latest title I have added to my recommended live action movie list is The Bad Sleep Well , one of Kurosawa's most powerful films.

I have a special liking of his films set in contemporary Japan as they have an edge of social commentary that enhances the story.

Fools on the road

Many of you are familiar with Jippensha Ikku's comedic classic Tōkaidōchū Hizakurige known in the West as Shank's Mare. If not you are in for a treat if you decide to read the book.

My latest addition to my recommended title lists is a movie adaptation of, or more accurately a movie inspired by the story of two travelers on the road in Edo Period Japan. In this case there are three travelers, and that just adds to the humor.

This is Yajikita Dochu Teresuko - Hana no Oedo Ban. The main reason I bought this movie is that Yaji is played by Nakamura Kanzaburō, one of my favorite actors. This particular movie has yet to get a U.S. release but the Japanese DVD has excellent subtitles.

This funny and gentle film is a worthy addition to any serious collection of Japanese cinema.

Kabuki Revenge

Again I post a recommended live action film in my recommended title lists.

This time one that hits several buttons for me:

1. Set in the Edo Period.

2. Involves kabuki.

3. Directed by Ichikawa Kon

The film is his 1963 classic Revenge of a Kabuki Actor. This one I especially recommend as one of his best films.

The Great Yokai War

Again I post about a great film in my recommended title lists.

Miike Takashi developed a reputation for shocking and at time violent movies. However the man's skills go far beyond that and one great example is The Great Yokai War a great kid's film about a ten year old who ends up going on a great adventure.

This is a great movie that would be a great addition to any great video collection.

Sazen and Sazen

Again I post about a film and a remake, actually about two films in my recommended title lists that themselves are excellent, and very different, remakes of an earlier film.

These are two Tange Sazen films released on DVD as Sazen and The Secret of the Urn. The first of these two is out of print in Japan and has yet to be released in the U.S. The second is still available on DVD in the U.S.

Both films are highly enjoyable and are different enough from each other to be both worth watching as well as buying.

Sanjuro and Sanjuro

I have added two new films to my recommended title lists.

The first is Kurosawa Akira's classic lone swordsman film Sanjuro with Mifune Toshiro in the title role. The second is the 2007 remake of the same film, Tsubaki Sanjuro, with Oda Yuji playing the title role. The remake is very much a scene for scene redoing of the film, it uses the same script by Kikushima Ryuzo, Oguni Hideo, and Kurosawa Akira. This fidelity to the original film works rather well.