Ok, finally managed to post that review of Female Prisoner #701 - Scorpion, which you can find here. It is both more detailed than planned yet very frustrating because the more I was writing, the more I was thinking "Oh yeah, there was that too....". It's such a rich movie, both visually and thematically, that from the moment you start detailing some aspects, it becomes very hard to know where to stop. At any rate, I hope curious minds will give it a go, because that's definitely an experience like few others....

Oh, and I am currently uploading pictures to add - hopefully they will already be available when you get there - if not, please give it a try a little later on ^-^

I have received, among others, the Goemon OST and am being completely hooked. I won't be seeing the movie before a while yet (I will have to wait for it to come out on DVD in Japan), so I really can't comment there except that reviews are, once again, very mixed. Still, I can't wait to see music and images brought together now *g*

And, because I know some people would probably get very upset at me if I didn't post it now, here is another Masaya Kato photoshoot, this one from Uomo of December 2008, which is pretty much a promotional shooting for a Swiss luxury watch brand (they were holding an event at their new shop the following month and Masaya Kato was their main guest, so I guess this explains that).....yeah, yeah, I know, Swiss have great taste like that *cough cough*

( Warning: highly handsome man under the cut )

Already posted the screencaps of Female Prisoner #701 - Scorpion here. It is however for members only: if people are interested, I might post them somewhere where everyone could have access though

I am currently writing the movie review which I'll probably have up by tomorrow; I'm also looking forward to watch the following movie in the series, Female Prisoner #701 - Jailhouse 41, which is the movie that got me started on the series in the first place. And of course there's also Red Cliff part 1, now that I've got it with English subtitles (as well as the Japanese guide book, he!)

As for other news, I was sad to learn that David Carradine had passed away; I've never actively followed his carrier but I've certainly enjoyed everything I've seen of him....also giving me pause of course is the anniversary of Tiananmen Square, or rather the way the Chinese government is trying its hardest to supress the memory. Not that it is surprising in any way, but it is a sad reminder that, while a growing part of the population has access to the "capitalist" way of life, some things will not change as easily. More than the issue of democratization though, what pains me the most is the way parents and family of those who've died must suffer in silence, and that's just not right

And because I want to end this post on a lighter note:

Hugh "Wolverine" Jackman and James Bond together on Broadway - this time it's confirmed!

First a word of apologize to everyone who's asked me to scan the Shel'tter Spring 2009 issue. I am sorry but my scanner gave up on me, and it took a month before I could have it more or less fixed. I have now re-started scanning this mag but can only spare about two hours a day for it, which means 20 pages scanned, and this one has more than 240, so you do the maths :s Anyhoo, I'm now past halfway so with a little bit of luck, I may get around to upload the whole thing sometime this weekend *fingers crossed*

Still, I HATE promising something and not being able to deliver, and I did say I would have it up last month *hang head in shame*

I've finally gotten around to watching the first in the Sasori series, Female Prisoner #701 - Scorpion, a couple of times now (they've released the complete boxed series in French which I bought....last year :p). Maybe it was because I was expecting it not to be as good as the one that made me discover this series (Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41) that I was so pleasantly surprised. Now, I don't think it quite as good as "Jailhouse 41", but it is nonetheless very much cult material, and for mostly good reasons. Yes, it is a Pinky eiga, (S)exploitation, WIP movie, which means you'll see plenty of naked women and blood spilling, but it is done in a way that's hardly shocking. Instead, Shunya Ito, the director, has chosen to be disturbing (the early rape scene, which is filmed in a way that shows you little more than heads and arms, yet will be burned in your brain for years to come, especially if you're a woman) which, coupled with stunning visuals and clever camera work (only topped by "Jailhouse 41") allow the movie to elevate itself way above your average exploitation fare

And then of course there's Meiko Kaji. She's in almost every scene, and close-ups on her face abound, but who can blame Ito? She's the stuff legends are made of

I hope to have screencaps (plenty of interesting stuff to show with this one *g*) and a full review up around the weekend as well. Especially since I have the first two parts of 実録・広島四代目 (実録 - meaning "Authentic Accounts" - are a series of Japanese Yakuza V-movie, and this one, made in 2004, stars Masaya Kato) as well as the Samurai 7 stage adaptation DVD and photobook (and Goemon promotional material) in the post and on their way from Japan (hopefully soon to be joined by 激動の1750日 - "The 1750 Terrible Days" - another V-movie for which I've only found positive reviews so far). Between that and the special drama airing on TBS next Monday, which also guest-stars Kato, I'll probably be too busy drooling and squeeing to be much use at anything else really *whistle*