The Last Dance (Japan, 1993)

A successful Japanese movie director in his 60s becomes increasingly ill while working on his latest film. His family, friends, and doctor try to keep the secret of his terminal cancer from him, but it gradually becomes clear. Coming to terms with his own mortality is painful, and involves some major conflicts with his wife and the hospital staff. But having done so, he realizes he doesn't want to die in the hospital on a life support machine.

Director Juzo Itami is a master of satire and dark humor, his Tampopo (1985) and Minbo (1992) are fantastic and hilarious movies. The Last Dance is more of a look at how we react to the news that we are going to die, and outdated doctor's ethics rooted in old Japanese customs. Itami got the idea for the film during a long hospital stay where he was treated after being attacked and slashed by gangsters who were angry at his previous Yakuza films. Much more somber than his other films, but that's fine because you can tell Itami wants to tell a story dealing with heavier topics.

Genre: Comedy/Drama

The Untold Story (Hong Kong, 1993)

In 1978 in Hong Kong, a grisly murder takes place. Eight years later, on a Macao beach, kids discover the severed hands of a fresh victim. A squadron of coarse, happy-go-lucky cops investigate, and suspicion falls on Wong Chi Hang, the new owner of Eight Immortals Restaurant, which serves delicious pork bao. The hands belong to the missing mother of the restaurant's former owner; he and his family have disappeared; staff at the restaurant continue to go missing; and, Wong can't produce a signed bill of sale: but there's no evidence. The police arrest Wong and try to torture him into a confession. Can they make him talk? And what was in those pork buns?

Oh my God. It's been a long time since I saw something this gruesome. It's based on real events too so that makes it even more insane. The Untold Story (a.k.a. The Eight Immortals Restaurant) is an insanely twisted story of a murderer who's trying to outsmart the local cops, all while he's slaughtering people in his restaurant and makes pork buns of them. I couldn't believe that scene with the whole family who're captured by Wong. No wonder the film was awarded a Category III (Persons aged 18 and Above Only) rating i Hong Kong, the equivalent of the United States' X-ratings. 

Even though we got all this disgusting killing going on, the writer still manages to fit in some humor. The group of policemen who're trying to nail Wong always banter with each other and jokes around, and it's a stark contrast to laugh at them just a second before a five minute rape/torture-scene takes place. Crazy movie. 

Genre: Comedy/Crime/Drama

Ocean Waves (Japan, 1993)

Taku travels to his hometown for his high school reunion. During the trip, he recalls the memories of the days in high school. Friendship, subtle love, a trip to Tokyo and so on, all came back to him as the film evolves.

Ocean Waves was made by Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away) and also was the first film directed by someone other than Hayao Miyazaki. Instead, Ghibli wanted only the youngest staff members to make a film with a smaller budget than before (though it ended up going over both budget and schedule) and what we got was something really special. To think that an animated film from '93 is better framed and paced than many movies made today is also pretty cocky. Ocean Waves (a.k.a. I Can Hear the Sea) was a more mature film involving a love triangle and reminiscing about the past, and it's a crime that whenever people talk about Ghibli's stellar filmography this rarely gets brought up.  

In the same way Taku remembers his school days, maybe you will too think back at people you've met, and old friends you'll never meet again.

Genre: Animation/Drama/Romance

Sonatine (Japan, 1993)

A world-weary yakuza in Tokyo is assigned to take his clan to Okinawa to help settle a dispute between two factions. He's suspicious of the assignment, but he goes, and within a couple days, his role remains unclear and several of men are dead. He retreats to a house on a remote beach to wait. The first night there, he rescues a young woman from an assault, and they develop a playful relationship. Over time, it becomes clear he's been set up, sent to Okinawa so that others can take over his lucrative territory. As his clan dwindles, he plans a revenge.

It's hard to believe, but Sonatine actually was a commercial failure in Japan so when foreign directors wanted to buy the movie and release it abroad, the movie company said no with the reasoning that it was "too Japanese" and that western audiences wouldn't understand it. Eventually, Sonatine found its way to foreign cinemas and the director, Takeshi Kitano (Hana-bi), was praised by critics all over the world. 

It's not a traditional Yakuza flick in my opinion, Sonatine has a deep emotional curve and Kitano (who also plays the main character) takes his time to develop his characters. So you could say the the film has more heart and soul than firepower. The shootout scenes are short, but very effective, sudden and graphic. If you want to see Yakuza films that's done with care and has personality, check out Kitano's stuff.

Genre: Action/Crime&Drama

Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla 2 (Japan, 1993)

In response to Japan's request for a countermeasure against Godzilla, UN engineers construct Mechagodzilla, a giant robotic version of Godzilla. Nonetheless, Godzilla proves himself a force to be reckoned with against this monstrosity and battle ensues.

This will be my second and maybe last look at the Godzilla franchise. I mentioned in my earlier Godzilla post a few films that stands out from all the rest, and well, those films might be really great but in a sea of Godzilla movies, there's bound to be more that deserves mentioning. Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla 2 is one of those that just goes all out and reduces cities to burning rubble, it's genuinely awesome and the practical effects really impresses. 

One the other side of the spectrum we have the films that entertains us because they're so cheesy and funny, like Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975), a film that has that charm of the older Godzilla films. I couldn't help but laugh when the evil monster Titanosaurus kicks Godzilla's body and he flies away like a  pool toy. It's hilarious. So for me there's two kinds of Godzilla movies: the more serious and much more technically advanced one, which satisfies your cravings for insane destruction, and then there's the films that makes you laugh and are more goofy. To experience what Godzilla really is, one should experience both these sides of the franchise,  because they're both immensely entertaining.  

Genre: Action/Sci-Fi 

Farewell My Concubine (China, 1993)

In 1924 Beijing, the youthful Douzi and Shitou are brought together under the thumb of the strict master of a small acting troupe. It quickly becomes apparent that these are the most talented of the master's pupils, and he pushes them harder than his other students. Thirteen years later, their suffering has paid off. Douzi, now going by the name of Chen Dieyi, and Shitou, called Duan Xiaolou, are major opera stars, and their production, "Farewell My Concubine" is nationally known. The two are inseparable, until the woman Juxian comes between them.

Farewell My Concubine is an epic drama that spans 53 years, telling a story about two men who vows to stay together forever, and at the same time their home country is in turmoil. It's nearly three hours long, but that's what it took to tell a story of this magnitude and do it justice. 

Genre: Drama

Patlabor: The Movie (Japan, 1989)

A mysterious suicide and a series of unmanned robot run-aways sparks off a Police investigation into the suspicious software on-board thousands of industrial robots around Tokyo. Step by step, the police find themselves tangled up by the web of a perfect crime which awaits the approaching Typhoon to activate thousands of virus affected robots. As time runs out, Asuma and his team must complete a task that is doomed to be a failure before the Typhoon lands Tokyo.

You may think Patlabor is going to be the most awesome animated robot-film you've seen, but here's the thing; it isn't for everyone. Yes it has giant mechas that can turn other giant robots into scrap metal, but that stuff isn't what the main focus is on. Patlabor is a slow-paced film that takes time to develop a story about ethics regarding robot workers, and a crime which is way bigger than you'd thought. A sequel was made in 1993, and that one is even more complex. Sophisticated robot drama.

Genre: Animation/Action/Crime

Ninja Scroll (Japan, 1993)

Jubei Kibagami has always been the master dealer of death, but in rescuing a ninja woman from a monster he sets loose a chain of events that puts death in his own veins and sends them on a nightmarish odyssey through a surreal and devil infested ancient Japan. How do demonic possessions, an annihilated village and a man Jubei thought safely buried in his past all connect? If Jubei can't piece the blood-soaked clues together, his only consolation will be that he won't live to regret it for very long.

Ninja Scroll immediately shows its true colors as a slaughter fest, with plenty of graphic violence to go around and with lots of supernatural enemies. It's one of those 90's, super violent, animated feature films that you always remember as an awesome experience. 

Genre: Action/Adventure

The Scent of Green Papaya (Vietnam, 1993)

Ten-year-old Mui arrives from the provinces of Vietnam to work as a servant girl in the home of a Saigon merchant family. The year is 1951. She is a shy and resourceful girl whose tasks include preparing and stir-frying vegetables, serving meals, dusting, scrubbing the tile floors, and polishing shoes. While Mui adapts effortlessly to her responsibilities, the merchant family doesn't fare as well. The mother, who is still mourning the death of her daughter, is abandoned by her husband and her two youngest sons act out their anger on poor Mui.

One of the greatest dramas ever. Beautifully filmed, visually it's a true achievement in the art of film making, and has a haunting, bone-chilling score. Directed by the amazing Tran Anh Hung (Cyclo, Norwegian Wood). 

Genre: Drama