Movie Guide
This guide aims to highlight a few of the many Japan themed movies out there. Some are by Japanese directors, some are filmed in Japan, others are only about Japan. For a good overview of modern Japanese cinema, check out Asian Invasion: Japan. The list will be updated frequently and lots more added, so check back often. Give us your recommendations!
Click the poster art for the IMDB link. Torrent links have been included when available.
| Japan Made | |
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Gojira. (1954) The one that birthed a multitude of sequels. Known as Godzilla in the west, this is the original guy-in-a-monster-suit movie! American nuclear weapons testing results in the creation of a seemingly unstoppable, dinosaur-like beast. [torrent] |
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Ran. (1985) Akira Kurosawa masterpiece, loosely based on ‘King Lear,’ about a Japanese warlord and his subsequent downfall. Epic feudal battle recreations. Filmed on Kyushu too!torrent |
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Seven Samurai (Shichinin no samurai). (1954) Another Kurosawa’s masterpiece that’s considered one of the best films of all time. The plot revolves around a poor village hiring some samurai to protect it from bandits. [torrent] |
| Foreign Made | |
|---|---|
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Black Rain. (1989) Michael Douglas in a movie about New York cops who get involved in a Yakuza gang war. Ridley Scott also directed. [torrent] |
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Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2. (2003/4) Quentin Tarantino’s bloody, sordid tale of revenge in two parts. ‘The Bride’ wakes up after a botched assassination and sets out to kill, umm, Bill! Also includes an anime portion. [torrent] |
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The Last Samurai. (2003) Tom Cruise flick about an American military adviser who embraces the samurai culture he was hired to destroy after he is captured in battle. [torrent] |
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Lost in Translation. (2003) The unlikely pair of Bob and Charlotte (Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson) find themselves in the big strange world of Tokyo. Some love it for its sense of alienation, others hate it because everyone has seen it. [torrent] |
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Shogun. (1980) Based on James Clavell’s bestselling novel of the same name. This was actually a TV miniseries (10 hour long episodes!!) and stars the king of the genre, Richard Chamberlain. About an English navigator who becomes both a player and pawn in the complex political games in feudal Japan. [stream] |
| Horror | |
|---|---|
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Battle Royale (Batoru rowaiaru). (2000) At times, this movie is our dreams realized as ALTs. In future Japan, delinquent students are forced to kill each other until only one emerges victorious. Also spawned a not as good sequel. [torrent] |
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Ichi the Killer (Koroshiya 1). (2001) Horror master Takashi Miike’s graphic tale of a kidnapped Yakuza boss whose gang launches a hunt for him, only to run into the sadistic Ichi. [torrent] |
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The Ring. (2002) US remake starring Namoi Wats about a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone in a week of viewing it. Aghhh! Also spawned a not so good US sequel too.[torrent] |
| Documentary | |
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Johnathan Ross’ Asian Invasion: Japan (2006) Watch it here! The Japan edition of this three part documentary (along with Hong Kong and Korea) examines current trends in Japanese cinema. The interesting docu looks at the foremost directors, their best movies, and animation trends. |
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Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire. (2004) Excellent PBS documentary consisting of three 1-hour parts. Covers the arrival of the Portuguese in 1543 to the arrival of Perry and the Americans in 1854. Great reenactments. [torrent] |
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Kurosawa. (2001) An enlightening look at the legendary director. |
| Anime, Feature Length | |
|---|---|
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My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro). (1988) Miyazaki classic about two girls who move to the country to be near their ailing mother and have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby. This one is more kid friendly. [torrent] |
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Ninja Scroll (Jûbei ninpûchô). (1993) Ninja-for-hire Jubei fights a nemesis bent on overthrowing the Japanese government. Mythological demons and nudity ensue. [torrent] |
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Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi). (2001) Hayao Miyazaki’s beautifully animated tale of a girl moving houses. Her father takes a short cut and they find themselves in a world full of spirits and fantasy. [torrent] |
I can’t believe it! This site is a paradise for Japanese movie fans. My favorite director is Hayao Miyazaki. He is a one-of-a-kind filmmaker gaining reputation of his cartoons. Amazing! Any of his films is a must-see one. Interested in other films and movies as well, I sometimes take a look at the Toronto movie guide for a change. Enjoy.