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Shin Nichibei/New Japanese American News

Tomatometer-approved publication.

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Rating Title | Year Author Quote
The Hidden Fortress (1958) Fred Taomae [The Hidden Fortress] is overlong and drawn out in the beginning but once it gets moving, is filled with interest, suspense, action and comedy. I enjoyed it immensely.
Posted Jun 28, 2022  Edit critic review
Escape from Hell (1963) Hoshi Soffen Keiji Sata, often referred to as the Gregory Peck of Japan, stars in this thrilling epic of men forced by cruel prison officials and guards to break their backs digging for precious gold in the mines and quarries of Sado Island.
Posted Mar 04, 2022  Edit critic review
Seven Samurai (1954) George Yoshinaga The outstanding feature of the picture is the photography. At times the camera angles are sensational.
Posted May 04, 2021  Edit critic review
(undefined) June Kurisu Since the film was made in Japan, about Japan, by Japanese, I couldn't help but feel it was authentic, right down to the patched paper shoji screens.
Posted Apr 09, 2020  Edit critic review
Yojimbo (1961) Fred Taomae Kurosawa combines his genius with Toshiro Mifune's Venice Film Festival's "best actor'' performance to come up with a film as suspenseful as [High Noon,] in which Gary Cooper dispatched his foes in the early 1950's American western.
Posted Feb 07, 2020  Edit critic review
I Bombed Pearl Harbor (1961) Fred Taomae It was a fair recounting of the attack.
Posted Feb 07, 2020  Edit critic review
Behind the Great Wall (1959) June Kurisu Believe me, your nose would have had to be in very poor working, condition not to be able to get a strong whiff.
Posted Feb 07, 2020  Edit critic review
Hell to Eternity (1960) Fred Taomae Although the film ran for two hours and twelve minutes, it did not seem that long as suspense was carried throughout.
Posted Feb 07, 2020  Edit critic review
Born in Sin (1962) Hoshi Soffen So it is with the film makers of Japan, they are having a ball going overboard, exploring and exposing the domestic and social avenues that once were the “forbidden areas.”
Posted Dec 18, 2019  Edit critic review
(undefined) Fred Taomae Full of tenderness and melodrama, Till Tomorrow Comes is a reversion to the movies our parents used to like.
Posted Dec 18, 2019  Edit critic review
(undefined) Saburo Kido When I saw the Japanese movie, Kiku and Isamu... I did not question the statement that it was one of the most popular hits in Japan last year.
Posted Dec 18, 2019  Edit critic review
The Youth and His Amulet (1961) Hoshi Soffen Don't go expecting to see much of Toshiro Mifune, for his appearance in the film is brief and his acting forced and superficial. (We're still wondering why he ever accepted the part). But the children are great.
Posted Dec 05, 2019  Edit critic review
(undefined) Jim Henry The scenery of this film is quite lovely in Tohoscope and the cast features a fine young group of mixed up lovers including Akira Takarada as Yuichi, Yu Ming as Ai-Ling, and Yuzo Kayama as Jiro.
Posted Dec 05, 2019  Edit critic review
Gate of Hell (1953) Hoshi Soffen More than anything else, it is the color and photography which makes this production that of a superlative quality. Each scene is a priceless picture in itself, and the whole thing is a rare pictorial poem.
Posted Nov 22, 2019  Edit critic review
Stray Dog (1949) Fred Taomae I enjoyed it very much, although not as much as some of the [other Kurosawa films].
Posted Nov 22, 2019  Edit critic review
(undefined) Jim Henry A deeply moving story of young love.
Posted Nov 22, 2019  Edit critic review
The Harder They Fall (1956) Hoshi Soffen A lousy racket lurking around some of the prize fighting arenas of the country is being depicted in one of the most gripping films to come out of Hollywood crucible.
Posted Nov 22, 2019  Edit critic review
The Walls of Hell (1964) Jim Henry The scenes in the film are quite realistic and blaze with action and excitement. This is enough to please most fans. But despite these merits the characters in the screenplay are otherwise of conventional mold.
Posted Nov 20, 2019  Edit critic review
(undefined) Jim Henry Otto ga mita is undoubtedly the boldest, sexiest, erotic and shocking dramatic film shown here in many months.
Posted Nov 20, 2019  Edit critic review
Chushingura (1963) Hoshi Soffen On the screen in breathtaking technicolor, it is a memorable experience. Every scene is poetry in movement.
Posted Nov 13, 2019  Edit critic review
The Bad Sleep Well (1960) Hoshi Soffen [The Bad Sleep Well] is a daring film revealing the existence of corruption and scandal within any high financing enterprise in any society. The message that haunts us is that everything will be hushed up again by the smooth operating higher-ups.
Posted Oct 22, 2019  Edit critic review
Robo no Ishi (1964) Hoshi Soffen You will enjoy this masterpiece, but I believe your parents will even more. The Wayside Pebble is the Japan of their youth.
Posted Sep 09, 2019  Edit critic review
Diabolique (1955) Hoshi Soffen Mr. Clouzot has concocted a grueling dish fit only for the cast-iron stomach.
Posted Sep 07, 2019  Edit critic review
White Rose of Hong Kong (1965) Jim Henry Deals with [the natcotics trade] in a straightforward manner, while avoiding most of the time-worn cliches, bloody gore, and violence that usually accompany such a topic.
Posted Jul 24, 2019  Edit critic review
(undefined) Jim Henry A picture of narrative charm and visual delight with an exotic setting.
Posted Jul 24, 2019  Edit critic review
The Mask of Destiny (1955) Saburo Kido The type of play is a little different from the others, such as the Rashomon, Gate of Hell or the Samurai. But in the beauty of the gorgeous costumes and background, this picture ranks on equal footing with the others if not better
Posted Jul 23, 2019  Edit critic review
Bushido: The Cruel Code of the Samurai (1963) Jim Henry A weird fascinating epic samurai story.
Posted Jul 17, 2019  Edit critic review
Seisaku's Wife (1965) Jim Henry [The actors] pour their enthusiasm into this visual drama winch attempts to deal with personal happiness being trampled down by social oppression.
Posted Jul 17, 2019  Edit critic review
Red Beard (1965) Jim Henry Every scene in this exciting film is tense, deep in focus, with long impressive cuts, ranging from five to eight minutes, in which the actors' potentials are exhibited to the fullest extent through the indomitable guidance of director Kurosawa.
Posted Jul 17, 2019  Edit critic review
A Wanderer's Notebook (1962) Jim Henry An art film of real distinction.
Posted Jul 17, 2019  Edit critic review
The Lower Depths (1957) Hoshi Soffen [The Lower Depths] falls short of his other Mifune successes, ie: Rashomon, Seven Samurais. Nonetheless, it is Kurosawa through and through, and if you are one of his ardent public, you will want to include this on the list of "have seens."
Posted Jul 17, 2019  Edit critic review
The Ballad of Narayama (1958) Hoshi Soffen The pace is slow and in spots monotonous and repetitious. It could have been a few notches better with a few knots less.
Posted Jul 17, 2019  Edit critic review
Madame Aki (Yushu heiya) (1963) Hoshi Soffen The film does not do justice to such talents as Fujiko Yamamoto who portrays the Madame, or Hisaya Morishige or Chieko Naniwa. Yes, we were disappointed with Madamp A.
Posted Jul 17, 2019  Edit critic review
Samurai I (1955) Hoshi Soffen Whether he is weeping, fighting, making love, [Toshiro Mifune] is consistent with the character of Musashi. As often as he is on the screen, you'll never have enough of him.
Posted Jul 17, 2019  Edit critic review
The Return of Don Camillo (1953) Hoshi Soffen Every so often out of the movie industry comes a picture that warms the cockle of your heart.
Posted Jul 17, 2019  Edit critic review
The Island (1960) Hoshi Soffen It is a monumental study in the mute determination, unfaltering dignity and monastic strength of the human being's day to day battle with life.
Posted Jul 16, 2019  Edit critic review
Ikiru (1952) Hoshi Soffen As in others of Kurosawa's films, photographic accomplishment is unforgettable.
Posted Jul 16, 2019  Edit critic review
Ugetsu (1953) Hoshi Soffen The acting is superb, and the ability to interweave fantasy and realism is evident through out the story.
Posted Jul 16, 2019  Edit critic review
The Wages of Fear (1953) Hoshi Soffen The Wages of Fear will keep you tipped forward on the edge of your seat, your palms sweaty and your heart thumping wildly.
Posted Jul 16, 2019  Edit critic review
Tokai yûkyôden (1964) Jim Henry Action-packed.
Posted Jul 16, 2019  Edit critic review
Tokyo Olympiad (1965) Hoshi Soffen I was prepared, but wondered vaguely how Ichikawa could hold the interest of the audience for almost three hours. Believe me, that he does.
Posted Jul 16, 2019  Edit critic review
(undefined) Fred Taomae The film was fast moving, and some of the Eastman color scenes were truly superb.
Posted Jul 11, 2019  Edit critic review
(undefined) Fred Taomae The plot is weak, but the humor, lightness, fast pace, and color carry it off in fine style.
Posted Jul 03, 2019  Edit critic review
The Ten Commandments (1956) Saburo Kido It is more awe-inspiring than words can describe.
Posted Jul 03, 2019  Edit critic review
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1959) Fred Taomae Even with a noble motive, the manner in which the picture was carried out offended my sense of justice.
Posted Jun 28, 2019  Edit critic review
Muhomatsu, the Rikshaw Man (1958) Fred Taomae Mifune, of course, is superb. There was a touch of comedy, and yet pity in his role.
Posted Jun 19, 2019  Edit critic review
Sanjuro (1962) Fred Taomae I was afraid the same plot of Toshiro Mifune as the unwashed vagabond who cleans up the town wgs becoming monotonous... But director Akira Kurosawa added something new in the incongruous humor injected.
Posted Jun 19, 2019  Edit critic review
Sanjuro (1962) Saburo Kido There is no question that Mifune gives another of his superb performances. In fact, this one may be called among his more enjoyable acting.
Posted Jun 19, 2019  Edit critic review
Sayonara (1957) Fred Taomae I especially enjoyed the theater fantaculars and thrilled that Japan's culture was so outstandingly portrayed.
Posted Jun 19, 2019  Edit critic review
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