Author Archives: philipbrasor

Review: Black Adam

Posted on December 2, 2022 by philipbrasor

What’s most compelling, if not downright shocking, about Jaume Collet-Serra’s attempt to inject some much needed thematic mojo into the so-called DC Extended Universe is that while the origin story of a character that was mostly relegated to either villain … Continue reading →

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Media watch: Death row inmates question the way they meet their ends

Posted on December 1, 2022 by philipbrasor

Several days ago, most major media outlets reported on a ¥33 million lawsuit filed by lawyers for 3 inmates on Osaka Detention House’s death row to change their execution method due to the cruel nature of the way those executions … Continue reading →

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Review: Happening

Posted on December 1, 2022 by philipbrasor

The Japan distributors of Audrey Diwan’s 2021 Venice Golden Lion winner are probably patting themselves on the back for having waited so long to release Happening in Japan, since Annie Ernaux, the author of the novel on which it’s based, … Continue reading →

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Review: The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

Posted on November 30, 2022 by philipbrasor

History mainly views Louis Wain as the Englishman who made the world safe for cat pictures. He didn’t photograph them. He drew them, initially with great verisimilitude and then in a more whimsical, anthropomorphic style, but when his feline illustrations … Continue reading →

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Media watch: Is Japan ready for uterus transplants?

Posted on November 28, 2022 by philipbrasor

According to an article published by Asahi Shimbun on Nov. 25, Keio University has applied to the health ministry for permission to carry out uterus transplants. If permission is granted, the ministry will start screening applicants for the procedure early … Continue reading →

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Review: Shades of the Heart

Posted on November 26, 2022 by philipbrasor

Kim Jong-kwan’s 2020 Korean adaptation of Josee, the Tiger and the Fish, titled simply Josee, was a minor hit in Japan, owing most likely to its source material, Seiko Tanabe’s 1984 short story, which has been adapted in Japan for … Continue reading →

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Review: The Green Knight

Posted on November 25, 2022 by philipbrasor

Given the way he has decided to adapt the epic 14th century poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” for the screen, director David Lowery might seem to be putting himself out there to helm an MCU or DC comics … Continue reading →

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Review: Sister

Posted on November 24, 2022 by philipbrasor

Not even 20 years ago, most prominent films from China, whether officially approved or not, could expect a release in Japan, but not any more. It has less to do with content or even popularity than with lack of local … Continue reading →

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Media watch: Japanese actor gets grief for apologizing to Korean press

Posted on November 20, 2022 by philipbrasor

Japanese actor Yoko Maki is the target of online vitriol for comments she recently made in South Korea. According to a Nov. 18 post on the website Shukan Josei Prime, Maki was interviewed by the Korean “media company” OSEN and … Continue reading →

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Review: Silent Night

Posted on November 19, 2022 by philipbrasor

This apocalpytic satire, the debut feature of Camille Griffin, seems stuck somewhere between existential melodrama and biting social commentary, mainly because the unidentified crisis that determines the actions on screen isn’t explicated enough to make the viewer really care. As … Continue reading →

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