The more Asian cinema I watch, the more I seem enthralled by a lot of what it’s about. The differences between it and its American counterparts really makes for a sweet break from what many American movie viewers might consider the “norm.” Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a film that I wasn’t exactly sure I [...]

The plight of the common man is a subject that many can relate to, especially now in these times of economic doom. The lower-class poor folks that are often looked upon as being weak are often fairly easy for film audiences to sympathize with. These facts and many more provide reasons for audiences to fall [...]

I’ve come to a conclusion on William Shakespeare adaptations. A filmmaker either knows what he or she is doing and sets out to bring to life and expand on the piece, or the filmmaker takes such a project on simply for the novelty of its reputation, with little or no idea as to how to [...]

While watching Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (the first film in a trilogy), two genres came to mind: the samurai genre (perfected by Japanese directors like Akira Kurosawa) and the “cop” film, which has its roots in film noir. Hanzo looks like a period piece samurai flick, but it has the conventions and plot [...]

The philosophy of the samurai is quite different from that of the ninja. Samurai abide by a strict code of honor, one designed to enable these warriors to engage in violent acts with some semblance of dignity. The ninja, on the other hand, is a much craftier creature, forced to go about his business under [...]