So up until now, I’ve been writing about Akira Kurosawa films I had already seen; only now have I taken advantage of the riches of the Film Forum going on now in New York and seen for the first time Kurosawa’s High and Low (1963). I do encourage everyone living in striking distance of New York to get out and attend this thing; it’s a great opportunity. As for High and Low itself, I strongly recommend it–perhaps not on a level with Rashomon and Ran, but at the same time, it presents a side of Kurosawa you don’t get from his best known films. More »

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It looks like the vampire movie craze has finally infected Japan. Higanjima, the latest film from director Kim Tae Kyun, has Japan, and Hollywood, buzzing with interest.

Based on the best-selling manga by Koji Matsumoto, Kyun brings vampiric monsters to life on a remote island set far out in a dangerous sea. Once teenager Akira hears word of his missing brother being seen on the island he brings a troupe of friends to investigate. The friends, many of whom serve as better fatalities than fighters, are your classic set of personalities from aggressive to bubbly and everything in between. More »

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