Favorite films

Recent reviews

• 

  Blade 1998

  ★★★½ Watched 19 Sep 2023

  In a world of humans, vampires, and everyone in between, who’s to say who should be on top? It’s refreshing to see a comic book film as a distinct piece rather than as a part of a franchise. You can see the reflection of the popular culture at the time with a more vulgar and grimy aesthetic.

  We're just a function of natural selection, man.

• 

  The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice 1952

  ★★★★ Watched 16 Sep 2023

  Unconditional love is easier said than done, especially in committed relationships. After a while there only seems to be room for complaints and stoic silence. However, Ozu astutely observes that when such a couple is in a rut no radical transformation is required. Small acts of care and consideration will suffice. The foundation of any long-term bond.

  Also loved that everyone received a complementary Ochazuke afterwards!

  New 35mm print!

  Introduction by Jay Sakamoto (CEO, Shochiku)

Popular reviews

• 

  The Novelist's Film 2022

  ★★★½ Watched 12 Sep 2023

  Some muses are powerful enough to spark instant inspiration and erase all mourning for loss of creativity. When you strip filmmaking of all its decorations and demands you get to focus on its essence. You end up with a pure naturalism that shows us much about filmmaking itself. Yet we wonder whose film is it anyways?

  The day is still bright, 
  but soon it grows dark. 
  While the day lingers, 
  let's enjoy a nice walk.

• 

  Pi 1998

  ★★★½ Watched 24 May 2023

  This is what happens when you get a 5 on AP Calculus.

  1. Mathematics is the language of nature.
  2. Everything around us can be represented and understood through numbers.
  3. If you graph these numbers, patterns emerge. Therefore: There are patterns everywhere in nature.

  25th Anniversary