Category Archives: Films

Review: Films Set In Japan – The Karate Kid Part II (1986)

This sequel starts exactly where the original one finishes including an overly long re-cap of the first film. There is debate around whether the first part of this movie was made at the same time as the original or if it … Continue reading →

Posted in Films, Review: Films Set In Japan | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Kung-Fu Panda Kids Party

The release of ‘Kung-Fu Panda 2’ into cinema’s this Summer meant I wanted to seize the chance to do another Kung-Fu Panda lesson following my previous efforts in 2009 and 2010. However, this time it was different as I proposed … Continue reading →

Posted in English Teaching, Films | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Review: Films Set In Japan – Kagemusha (1980)

This ‘films set in Japan’ series is principally about international movies but I have made an exception for this purely because it was executive produced by George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola. In reality they did nothing other than persuade … Continue reading →

Posted in Films, Review: Films Set In Japan | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Review: Films Set In Japan – Wasabi (2001)

Jean Reno, of Mission Impossible fame, (the French guy with a beard) is a Cop who comes to Japan after he finds out his ex-Japanese girlfriend has died. The will is read out and what do you know but he … Continue reading →

Posted in Films, Food & Drink, Review: Films Set In Japan | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Review: Films Set In Japan – Black Rain (1989)

This was directed by Ridley Scott (of ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Gladiator’ fame) and filmed mostly on location in Osaka but due to the typical amount of red tape involved in doing things in this country he got disillusioned with it … Continue reading →

Posted in Films, Review: Films Set In Japan | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Review: Films Set In Japan – The Last Samurai (2003)

Back in 2006 I gave this film a very short brief review with brief being the word! I only said it was better than expected but too long for my liking which I say for any film over two hours. … Continue reading →

Posted in Films, Review: Films Set In Japan | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Kansai Trip Pt III: Himeji

The second full-day of my trip saw me go west to Himeji which is famous for its castle. At the moment its not too much to look at though and nor will it be for for the next five years … Continue reading →

Posted in Films, James Bond, Japan Filming Locations, Japan Travel, Movie Locations | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Review: Films Set In Japan – 3 Ninja’s Kick Back (1994)

I originally thought this was one of those made-for-TV kids movies; the kind of which used to be shown on BBC1 on Friday afternoons when I was a child. However, it seems I was wrong as its actually the second of four … Continue reading →

Posted in Films, Review: Films Set In Japan | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Review: Films Set In Japan – Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005)

Get beyond the whole Chinese actresses portraying Japanese geisha debacle and what you see in ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ (called ‘Sayuri’ in Japan) is a beautiful, colourful, gorgeous film showing the spirit of this one girl as she battles against the odds. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Films, Review: Films Set In Japan | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Review: Films Set In Japan – Into The Sun (2005)

Love him or hate him Steven Seagal films do a job. Admittedly its usually the same job and that is usually wooden acting, bad dialogue, unrealistic action scenes, pathetic plots and heavy duty martial arts action combat where the bad guys are … Continue reading →

Posted in Films, Review: Films Set In Japan | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments