BIG TITS ZOMBIE [KYONYU DORAGON: ONSEN ZONBI VS. STORIPPAA | 巨乳ドラゴン 温泉ゾンビ VS ストリッパ]

http://kyonyu-dragon.com/

JAPAN 2010  Directed by: Takao Nakano Written by: Takao Nakano  Manga by: Rei Mikamoto  Produced by: Seiji Minami, Hideaki Nishiyama  Cinematography by: Kazuaki Yoshizawa  Cast: Sora Aoi, Risa Kasumi, Mari Sakurai, Tamayo, Io Aikawa, Ini Kusano, Kazuki Tsujimoto, Mame Yamada, Yumi Yoshiyuki, Hachiro Ika, Daisuke Iijima, Minoru Torihada, Saori Ando

It took me until the 62^nd minute or so to finally see some tits the way god meant them to be seen, but the way to get there was just as entertaining. A surprise, but not the only surprise it should be noted.

BIG TITS ZOMBIE is actually the film adaptation of Rei Mikamoto’s manga KYONYU DRAGON, and if the English title seems a bit farfetched then that’s all right. BIG TITS ZOMBIE, directed by satirist Takao Nakano, clearly is a satire indeed: what may seem like just another one of those no-frills-gore-flicks made in Japan is an ironical take on that exact genre and in a way also on Japan’s Otaku culture in general.

A medieval book of the Evil Dead is discovered in some godforsaken outback village right under the local strip club, and when the dead begin to rise then that’s not because there was no more room in hell, but because it was too tight in the club’s basement. Whatever the reason, it’s a good reason to kick-ass.

The main problem with the average low-budget gore fest is that it takes itself too seriously. In the end, we’ve seen it all, been there, done that. We’ve seen it better, bloodier, somewhere, somewhen. If there is no other achievement than scenes of bloodletting, then that’s not only pitiful, it’s tiring. Few films can do this kind of stuff in genuine fashion.

BIG TITS ZOMBIE takes another direction, and if the English title hasn’t told you yet the film will. Most of its scenes are remade from other movies, but for a parody it’s done pretty damn well most of the time. Forget about production value, and you can enjoy a fine and funny film, with loads of gore, stupid jokes, bad zombie make-up and hilarious slapstick. Even if it was serious BIG TITS ZOMBIE might still be better than many of its peers, but given its nature the film is highly entertaining and never plain stupid.

What’s left to say is that it’s a pleasure (no, not that kind of pleasure) to see Sora Aoi transform into the female Riki Takeuchi. Next time they should star together in a Takashi Miike movie. I’d definitely line up for the premiere.

J.

 

 

 

MADE IN JAPAN: CATERPILLAR [KYATAPIRA | IMOMUSHI | キャタピラー]

http://www.wakamatsukoji.org/

http://www.dissidenz-intl.com/2010/01/caterpillar-by-koji-wakamatsu/

A once-banned story is finally coming to the big screen: based on Edogawa Rampo’s 1929 horror-fantasy short story CATERPILLAR offers a critical look at Japanese nationalism, sexual transgressions as a result of sexual politics and the hypocrisy of patriotic duty.

The story is about the relationship of a horribly maimed soldier returning home from China and his wife. Set during the second Sino-Japanese war, Koji Wakamatsu’s work will most certainly stir controversy in Japan, but without any doubt is an important contribution to the discussion on Japan’s fascist past. The movie was first screened during the Berlinale Festival and now opens in Japan in August. The cast includes Shinobu Terajima, Keigo Kasuya, Sabu Kawahara, Go Jibiki, Arata, Karsuyuki Shinohara, Daisuke Iijima, Ichiro Ogura, Sanshiro Kobayashi, Mariko Terada and Ken Furusawa.

J.