Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)

  A spaceship carrying two astronauts lands on Planet X which is near Jupiter. There the two astronauts discover that the planet is inhabited by the Xians who officially ask help from planet Earth to destroy the monster, King Ghidorah. Godzilla and Rodan are captured and sent to Planet X to aid them in their fight but little do humans know that they have just fallen into a trap...
  A fascinating entry in the story of Godzilla and his monster friends. Directed by Ishirô Honda, this film combines all the elements of a classic successful KaiJu film. The basic storyline of the film may be too progressive (aliens invading Earth etc.) but all the beautiful monsters work their way out. There's not a chance you can't fall in love with the special effects which however non-realistic show a great talent. And of course, don't miss Godzilla's busting into a gleeful dance when he defeats Ghidorah.
  Akira Takarada as Fuji may be too rough with his sister but he also has to save the entire planet together with his partner Nick Adams as Glenn. Akira Kubo saves the world by mistake when he can't even defend his love with Keiko Sawai, Fuji's sister. It is interesting how little drops of drama can work out so well with a heavy Sci-Fi story like that but hey, this is cinema after all!
Must watch this : lightly drunk on sake will do the trick. Remember to accompany with noodles or sushi (choice is yours) and friends who won't laugh too hard with the film's special effects!
Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059346/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Oh, yeah! We are gettin' high indeed

Flying monsters with electric beams! Welcome to Japan fantasy

Hahahaha, it tickles there. Stop!

Yojimbo (1961)

  A wandering ronin arrives in a small town that has plunged into ruination after two opposite gangs have settled there. The ronin finds himself in the middle of an ongoing war and has to pick sides. Eventually he chooses the right side, his own...
  Critically acclaimed Akira Kurosawa directs this classic Jidaigeki (a.k.a period drama) and God damn if this isn't good! Considered by many the point of reference (alongside other films of the genre) for many outstanding spaghetti westerns, this film pays respect to the forgotten ways of master-less samurais and their times. Amazing settings and costumes,incredible atmosphere (it's like time-travel) and a story as heavy as the hero's balls!
  Any Japanese film that respects itself has a cast that respects itself too. Thankfully, that's the deal with this film too! Toshirô Mifune plays an incredible macho ronin with a glance as scary as a samurai demon and rage as fierce as the Japanese wind. By his side, an amazing,  highly acclaimed cast from which Tatsuya Nakadai stands out, as the arch enemy and only worth opponent of the hero.
Must watch this : on a windy autumn night, with the wind howling wildly out your window. Dim the lights, have some incense burning, get a cup of Japanese herbal tea and a bigger cup of sake. Let the liquids drown you slowly in the film's mood while you seek to find your inner vicious man inside you!
Trailer 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055630/ 

Damn, you big!

Gotcha!

That's right, ladies. Panties be dropping down slowly!

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), by Silent Guardian

  A hired African American killer, who lives under the "Hagakure" Code of the Samurai, is hired for the murder of a mobster. During the execution of the contract, an eyewitness is there, creating a problem in the evolution of the murder. From this moment onwards, the bosses want him dead ...
  Live by the Code, die by the Code. Jim Jarmush takes a hit at contemporary ethics and criminals, with a  touch of melancholy, within the meaning of fine lines and balances. Modern-era hitmen, Samurai ethics, hip hop and Black culture and the shaky ethics of living outside and against the law. For real people with real values only.
  Forest Whitaker probably gives his life-time quality performance. Balancing gracefully through Jim Jarmush's ironic, poetic and smart scenes under the sounds of old-school hip-hop RZA-style, Whitaker is the Last Samurai way before Tom Cruise. Flanked by John Tormey, Isaac De Bankole and Camille Winbush, he really gets him message through : Do not be compatible with any new reality and always choose a law and a code to live by.
Must watch this : on a regular September afternoon with a cup of green tea. After the film, spend some time meditating on some tripped-out tunes like that and then go out and look for a reason to beat down a random motherfucker that deserves it. The only way to let off steam!
Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165798/

Oh,glorious pigeon overlord, give me your secrets.

But if you practice here then where am I going to grow all my weed?

Mothafuckas tryin' to ice me, but mothafucka iz immortal!

The Last Samurai (2003), by Silent Guardian

 1876. Captain Nathan Algren, a former war legend and drunkard, is hired by the Japanese military forces as an advisor in order to destroy the samurai clans that still resist to surrender. Captured by the samurais in a battle, he gets stuck in their village and finds out that he was on the wrong side after all...
  Edward Zwick, as a director, captures unprecedentedly and effectively the meaning, the honor and the tradition of the Samurai. A concept forgotten in an era where the value of the ethical code of the Samurai seems to be a thing of another dimension, this film succeeds in portraying only a glimpse of their long lost glory.
   Tom Cruise does surprisingly well in his role as a Japanised newborn American who finds a way to escape from his shit, booze-soaked life. Ken Watanabe is the man who captures him at first but then ecomes his teacher, mentor, new-life initiator and finally a friend in battle! Finally, Koyuki plays Taka, an dead samurai's wife and the love of Captain Algren. Heavy mood, heavy acting about something that needs even heavier balls ; freedom!
Must watch this : with your father, your grandfather and your best friends. Gather, make primitive manly food and try to hide your tears in the end. Besides, you are men and men just weep.
***Dedicated to the writer, because it helped him gather powers to move on in a very difficult period of his life, teaching him that honor is a rare value that slowly disappears from our times.
Trailer 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0325710/ 

I am utterly drunk right now. Can you tell?

Did you just touch my ....? Da fuck?

I am here to kick some Japanese ass, no offense boys.

Rodan (1956)

  In the mining village of Kitamatsu, miners are starting to disappear in the vast, cold mines. A survivor tells a story of a giant insect roaming in the mines and soon the village is getting attacked by huge insects! If that was not enough, Rodan (a flying monster) also appears wrecking havoc in the are. Who will survive in the end?
  Rodan's first appearance in the big screen and it definitely is something else! One cannot but be impressed by the imagination of our weird friends, the Japanese. Ishirô Honda directs this film, as many others of the Kaiju genre, and he surely left his mark in the Sci-Fi world. Explosions, science and a weird demonstration of the readiness of the Japanese army (a different Cold War) all rolled up in a juicy sushi!
  In these films, he main protagonist is not a human being. In fact, little is said about the main human characters, only some mellow weddings or soft-core love stories. Instead, emphasis is given to the giant monsters that roam our world. Over the top special effects and sets that make Pacific Rim seem to unbelievable. This is where it all started!
Must watch this : on a hot summer afternoon with a bottle of the most exotic juice you can get your hands on and some shrimp chips! Then, go the sea but have a fear that something is lurking in the waters!
Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049782/

Motherfucker, you didn't wash the dishes, did you?

Weeeeee

Arise, arise,oh winged thee!

Yakuza Graveyard (1976)

  A delinquent cop on the verge of psychological breakdown, Kuroiwa, becomes "brother" of Nishida boss Iwata, who is at war with rival clan Yamashiro, and falls in love with Keiko, a former mafia boss' wife. Kuroiwa tries to put an end to the war between the Yakuza families but finds out that cops and mafia are equally corrupt.
  From the man that brought us the notorious Battle Royale, Kinji Fukasaku, comes this much older Japanese mafia film. A deep look into 70's Japanese lifestyle and society's morals, this film is more than just a cop movie. A man on the edge tries to find honor and dignity at both sides but sadly comes to the realization that almost everything except love is corrupt. For mature viewers only!
  Tetsuya Watari hits the spot! The paranoid and criminal on his hard, I-have-seen-it-all-so-try-me face blends perfectly with his character, lost in the streets of a lawless Japan that tries to retrieve its old-time glory. IImpressive skill, as most Japanese actors show. A huge thumbs up for the soundtrack too!
Must watch this : with a bowl of steamed rice and endless bottles of sake, enough to get you drunk the Japanese way.
Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075441/

Alright, I did it. I smoked two joints

My husband is a mafia boss. Wanna fuck me?

Sup, bitches?

 

Dead Man (1995)

  The wrong man in the wrong time, accountant William Blake ,after losing his chance at a job, gets caught up in a weird situation which results in him killing a man. On the run, trying to survive in the harsh American nature, he meets a Native American called Nobody who prepares for the next step of his life.
  Jim Jarmusch directs this poem of a film, a nostalgic black-and-white dream into the untold stories of the cowboys' era. Unique characters harmonically developed in 115 minutes, imprisoned by the complexes of their confused times (but then again what times weren't confusing?), captivated in an environment that looks out to kill them, all mystically bound together by old-time legends and Indian myths.
  Amazing cast, giving  life-time performances. Johnny Depp and Gary Farmer grab the wheel here with their unique style. Iggy Pop, Billy Bob Thornton, Alfred Molina and other notable actors fill up the rest of the scene and they all make one sick specimen of society. A must-see for anyone who appreciates anything tasteful.
Must watch this : on a windy November afternoon just as the sun sets. Leave the windows open to let the chill in, grab a well-done steak and your poison of choice and watch this alone or with a company that's worth it. Listen to that afterwards and let the darkness and cold take your mind away.
Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112817/

Allrighty then, I will swing by later.

I gotta lay off that weed for a while

Nope. Fuck it!

Akira (1988)

  2019. Neo-Tokyo. A biker gang consisting of high school students frequently clashes with another gang, creating violence and anarchy. Gang member Tetsuo will soon find out about his psychic powers and a governmental operation looking out to kill him. Tetsuo soon reaches the maximum of his potential and confronts his gang's leader, Kaneda, while Neo-Tokyo is being demolished.
  Written by Katsuhiro Otomo and Izō Hashimoto and directed by Otomo, this anime film is considered to be a breakpoint in anime and manga culture. Combining cyberpunk elements with sci-fi ideas in a classic manga style, Akira is a considered a reference in all anime creations after it. Not being a manga fan myself I have to agree that this is a trully good anime film. It can really put you in the mood of the manga genre even if you are a noob for it.
  Excellent old-school manga work done here! I don't find modern manga style attractive at all, but in this film the writers and sketchers really provide a high-end piece. The film is elevated to another level with its story, providing enough food for thought to last for days. High quality animation and character development, this film is a must-see.
Must watch this : in original Japanese audio for originality, on a chill November evening with noodle soup and some cranberry juice.
Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094625/

Dream on!

LSD is one hell of a drug

It was me! I farted!

The Green Slime (1968)

  A giant asteroid is dangerously heading towards our beloved Earth. A selected team of Astronauts embark on a seemingly difficult mission of loading explosives on the asteroid and detonating them. After the mission's success, the team returns to the space station without knowing that they have carried with them a gooey green substance that develops a one-eyed monster as soon as it reacts with electricity . Chaos ensues!
  Accomplished director Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale !) puts a lot of effort on this Sci-Fi gem! And his work is actually obvious as this movie does not lack special effects and detailed sets and costumes (ok, besides the monster that is). This is not an average Sci-Fi B-movie. It a real serious effort of its time and shows that collaborations can have admirable results (U.S.A and Japan).
  Robert Horton is a classic American hardass astronaut, Luciana Paluzzi is his movie amore who happens to be extremely hot too and Richard Jaeckel goes right in the middle! Due to the fact that this film is a collaboration between two countries you can actually identify which parts were executed by which country. American acting, American set and costumes, American seriousness but Japanese monsters, Japanese imaginative story and  Japanese directing and progress of the film! Really entertaining
Must watch this : with a person of the opposite sex that you want to impress. Impress them with your knowledge of such films and some geeky food (sushi or whatever) and then surprise them with a total twist of character and throw yourself on them for some steamy-geeky fun! In other words act Japanese and then American on them! Will totally work! Thank me later!
Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064393/

How can you not notice that?

Hard conversation between hard men

Where will you be when diarrhea strikes? (sic)

Sex and Fury (1973)

  Meet Ocho, a gambler and pickpocket in Meiji Era Tokyo. Her everyday scams end when she shelters a young fleeing anarchist and accidentally meets her father's murderers. Ocho unleashes hell on the Yakuza, employing her body and her excellent swordsmanship!
  This is a true milestone in the Pinku Eiga film genre and a reminder of what Japanese can achieve with a camera! Noribumi Suzuki , a known Pinku director, gives us a true Japanese film - katanas, Yakuza , poetic nudity , snow and revenge in the shinkendo manner! Films like these was probably the reason humans invented cinema, no words just moving pictures of magnificent beauty.
  Reiko Ike plays a role she was born to play! Her body (most of the time nude) moves so artistically in the choreography that this movie suggests. A big plus is the slow motion in the fight scenes where she can really unfold her talent. Christina Lindberg co-star here and plays her classic sweet-young-thing role she is so good at. They really make a good duo of beauty and badassness. And yes, this is the film that is used as an inspirational base for Tarantino's Kill Bill. You will understand this when you get to the final fight scenes.
Must watch this : with a bowl of good sake and cheap chinese take-out!
Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070085/

Japanese Poker Night

High-class plotting...

Period strikes back!

Onibaba (1964)

  Japan.14th century.With the ongoing war,a man is forcefully drafted in the army leaving his mother and wife alone and helpless in their bamboo hut by a swamp. Miserable and underfed they make their way through life by killing lost soldiers and selling their equipment to a local merchant for small amounts of food. A friend and co-fighter of the man escapes the army, returns to his hut by the women's hut and after he informs them of his death he sets out to disrupt their weird relationship and satisfy his post-war syndromes.But the mother knows better.Or does she?
  Poetry.Pure poetry.These two words simply define this masterpiece of a movie! Kaneto Shindô goes over the top directing this simple but emotionally charged story.War, human degradation, sensual and sexual climax, loneliness, revenge and folklore all blended well in this film. The scenery is purely magnificent (rural Japan) and combines perfectly with the characters' emotions.
  The acting load is divided into the three main characters - the mother,the wife and the man that returned - and all three portray their roles with the best way. My favorite is the mother, Nobuko Otowa, who truly gives a great performance. Bear in mind that Onibaba (鬼婆) is Japanese for Demon Hag.
  Don't watch this film if you haven't seen any other Japanese films of the same era. The awkward nudity and emotional hell that is common in Japanese films may make some uncomfortable.But do yourself a favor and watch this.They don't make them like that anymore!
Must watch this : with two or three people, without talking, each enjoying his favorite high-volume alcohol, sharing the awe.
Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058430/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Chillin'

The meeting

Shit!