Asian Cinema | Wildside Cinema

Film Review: ‘Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale’ (2011) Brings the Native Taiwanese Struggle Against Tyranny to the Big Screen

Action, Asian Cinema, B. Woodell, Drama, Taiwan No Responses »

Apr 232012

Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale is a new historical epic drama from Taiwan, which deals with a time of their history that is virtually unknown to people outside of the region. The film was Taiwan’s submission to the 2012 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale takes place in Taiwan in the early 1900’s. It follows Mona Rudao (Lin Ching-Tai) as he becomes a man by taking the head of a rival tribe’s hunter, and then Mona becomes the Chief of his tribe. One day, the Japanese army comes to colonize the area, and the tribes fight back, but they’re just not strong enough to defeat the Japanese army. Thirty years later Continue reading »

Film Review: ‘Japanese Wife Next Door’ (Inran naru ichizoku: Dai-ni-shô – zetsurin no hate ni – 2004) Sizzles with Passionate Neighborly Love

Asian Cinema, Erotic, Japan No Responses »

Mar 152012

The Japanese Wife Next Door” by Yuraka Ikesime is the most Americanized ‘pink’ film I have reviewed thus far. I mean this is term of its storyline. The female lead, Reiko Yamaguchi, is even berated for been too ‘Americanized’ in her view of sexuality. Perhaps this observation is best left up to the viewer’s individual tastes and ideas. It is by far the least involved plot as far as story complexity and character depth of the other ‘pink’ films I have watched… but those factors aren’t necessarily why we are watching the film anyway. In any case, the story starts with ‘Sakura’ before she becomes the aforementioned wife next door.

We meet Takashi at the workplace where his colleges drag him out for a night of fun at a party. He meets two women, Sakura and Ryoko. Sakura comes across as Continue reading »

Film Review: Yôjirô Takita’s ‘Sexy Timetrip Ninjas’ (Chikan densha: Gokuhi honban – 1984) Transports Viewers to a Deadlier, Sexier Time

Asian Cinema, Erotic, Exploitation, Fantasy, Japan, Martial Arts, Revenge No Responses »

Mar 082012

This Japanese film of the ‘pink’ variety delivers what it promises. There is a ‘timetrip’, some ninjas, and some sex. As a film reviewer I often get caught up in the details and forget to have fun. This film is fun. Sure the sets are terrible, the acting ‘hammy’, and the story is not going to win a Newberry Award any time soon, but this adds to the fun! If B-movies are your thing, Director Yojiro Takita film is definitely worth a look. It delivers what it promises – ninjas, sex, and a ‘timetrip’.

The movie opens as a period piece on the Osaka Castle in 1615. The obvious fact that it is a model cannot be overlooked. He we meet Lord Sanada as he summons Sasuke Sarutobi to his chambers for a meeting. It seems the castle Continue reading »

Film Review: Satô’s ‘New Tokyo Decadence: The Slave’ (Dorei – 2007) Based on the True Story of a Journey into the Bondage Underworld

Asian Cinema, Erotic, Japan, Thriller No Responses »

Mar 012012

This is the tale of a woman masochist who becomes a slave for a master. The film begins with the main character, the beautiful Rina (Rinako Hirasawa), hanging from a tree in the middle of a field. She tells us of her life in a flashback. I am not normally a fan of stories told from this point of view, but it works in this instance. Her monotone delivery actually adds to her character depth, as she is a slave. Now I must admit to some naivety in the S&M and bondage scene, so I was a little more interested into as why Rina was the way she was, then the sex, but the sex scenes were, well, captivating.

We meet young Rina who explains how she first discovered she was a masochist in high school. Her perverted math teacher can tell she is different from her classmates Continue reading »

Film Review: Kitazawa’s ‘Deep Contact’ (Pin-saro byôin 2: Nô-pan joi – 1998) Combines Paranormal Sex with a Thrilling End-of-the-World Scenario

Asian Cinema, Erotic, Fantasy, Japan, Sci-Fi No Responses »

Mar 012012

1998’s “Deep Contact” directed by Yukio Kitazawa is very much a product of its time. The whole ‘feel’ of the film states it. The script was silly and the acting average for this type of thing. This is not a knock on the film by any means. On the contrary I found it most enjoyable, the ladies attractive and the sets non-existent. The music was dead on with synthesizers ripping a glorious homage to Queen from the “Flash Gordon” soundtrack during one scene. This music fit right in with the films plot.

We meet up with our reluctant hero running down the streets and alleyways attempting to flee some unknown pursuers. All the twists and turns can’t save him as he is set upon. The two men grab him and confirm his identity Continue reading »

Film Review: Shuji Kataoka’s ‘S&M Hunter’ (Kinbaku – 1986) Ropes Viewers in with Outrageous Exploitation Action

Action, Adventure, Asian Cinema, B. Woodell, Erotic, Exploitation, Fantasy, Japan, Martial Arts, Rape/Revenge, Revenge No Responses »

Feb 282012

After having viewed a few of Japans Pink films recently, I started to get an understanding of how the films generally looked and were made. S&M Hunter thus far, has been the best all around Pink film I’ve seen to date from technical aspects to having a full, story.

A man’s partner is kidnapped by The Bombers, an all female gang looking to use men as their personal sex slaves. S&M Hunter takes the job of infiltrating the group, and finding the kidnapped guy, all the while using his rope skills to train the females to serve him. He saves the day, one of the women falls for him and he knows deep down their love can’t be because he has many women to train Continue reading »

Film Review: ‘Whore Angels’ (Pin-saro byôin 3: Nô-pan shinsatsushitsu – 2000) Promises Heaven but Cums Up Short

Asian Cinema, B. Woodell, Erotic, Japan No Responses »

Feb 262012

A deal has been set in place between humans and God with keeping peace in the world, but the contract must be renewed every thousand years. At time of renewal, the devil, a funny looking demon with horns named Rock and Roll, tries to stop the deal from taking place by having sex with Monroe.

One night, a woman finds Monroe being chased by Rock and Roll, saves her, but gets beat up pretty badly in the process. The next morning, Monroe kisses her to make it all better, and her wounds are gone. So the girl brings Monroe back to work at Hot Lips, a local “massage parlor”, where she is known throughout the land as the woman with the healing mouth. But Rock and Roll isn’t fully defeated Continue reading »

Film Review: ‘Sexy Battle Girls’ (Nerawareta gakuen: seifuku o osou – 1986) Takes Softcore Porn to Exciting Heights with Anime-Style Action

Action, Adventure, Anime, Asian Cinema, B. Woodell, Comedy, Erotic, Exploitation, Fantasy, Japan, Martial Arts No Responses »

Feb 232012

In recent years, we’ve seen a lot of crazy films coming from Japan like Machine Girl and Tokyo Gore Police, that have upped the gore factor in cinema, but also make the audience anticipate the next “out there” idea they’re going to come up with. Surprisingly, 1986’s Sexy Battle Girls gave me some thrills in the same exact way, and gave me an insight into what was probably the inspiration for a lot of the Japanese trash cinema directors out there now.

Mirai, a young girl who has to forever wear a high tech chastity belt, is transferred to a new school by her father. While there, she uncovers an underground human trafficking ring set up by the head master and his head detective Continue reading »

Film Review: Daisuke Goto’s ‘Blind Love’ (Waisetsu sutêji: Nando mo tsukkonde – 2005) Elevates Japanese Pink Cinema with Ventriloquism & Love

Asian Cinema, Drama, Erotic, Japan No Responses »

Feb 222012

Let’s be honest. When I sat to review the 2005 ‘pink’ film “Blind Love”, written and directed by Daisuki Goto, I was expected the usual. A thinly plotted, poorly acted affair. What I got was a surprise. This is the story of a lonely man, a self -described “ventriloquist on the cutting edge”, who falls in love. Our story begins with Daisuki meeting up with his estranged wife on his way to perform. After some reunion sex, we see our hero at work. He has an apprentice, Yoichi, who helps him and is learning the trade and maybe his only friend. Enter the blind woman, Hikari. She approaches him back stage after a show with praise and flowers. Startled, Daisuki allows Yoichi to stand in for him as his body. Daisuki has height issues and only speaks for himself.

What then happens is an odd take on Cyrano de Bergerac, with Daisuki romancing Hikari by proxy. Things get out of hand when Yoichi ignores his master’s wishes and copulates with Hikari while Continue reading »

Film Review: ‘Agneepath’ (Path of Fire – 2012) Sets Bollywood Ablaze with a Smoldering Tale of Revenge

Action, Asian Cinema, B. Woodell, Bollywood, Crime, Drama, India, Revenge, Thriller No Responses »

Jan 302012

Bollywood has started 2012 with a vengeance, literally, with Agneepath, a remake of a 1990 film. It includes everything you would expect from Indian cinema; romance, action, elaborate dance sequences, and lush colors, only this film has so much more violence and heartache.

As a child, Vijay’s father tries to talk the townsfolk of a small island off the coast of Mumbai out of loaning their land to Kancha, who wants to grow coke in their salt fields. Kancha will stop at nothing to get the land, so he has a little girl raped and murdered and sets Vijay’s father up, leading to mob justice and the father’s death. Vijay and his mother move to Mumbai where he comes across Rauf Lala, Mumbai’s top drugs dealer and human trafficker and becomes a member Continue reading »

Film Review: Cash Chin Man-Kei’s CAT III Classic ‘The Eternal Evil of Asia’ (Nan yang shi da xie shu – 1995) Still Delights with Sleaze & Frights

Asian Cinema, B. Woodell, CAT III, Demons, Erotic, Exploitation, Fantasy, Horror, Martial Arts, Revenge 2 Responses »

Jan 282012

The Eternal Evil of Asia is another wonderfully produced category III horror/voodoo/sex/comedy romp produced by legendary Wong Jing. Being one of the most prolific filmmakers in Hong Kong, anyone who knows what Wong is capable of, will have an inkling as to what they should expect in this hilarious tale.

Four friends travel to Thailand on a bachelor party excursion, but the trip goes awry when they befriend a local wizard and accidentally kill his sister. They return to Hong Kong, but the wizard follows and begins picking them off one by one. The wife to be has to decide to make a personal sacrifice to save the man she loves and her brother Continue reading »

Film Review: Yuen Wo-Ping Introduces the Action World to Donnie Yen in Kung-Fumedy ‘Drunken Tai Chi’ (Siu taai gik – 1984)

Action, Asian Cinema, B. Woodell, Comedy, Hong Kong, Martial Arts No Responses »

Jan 282012

Drunken Tai Chi is an absolute Yuen Woo-Ping gem from 1984, and is the very first film by the great Donnie Yen. Like many kung fu films made in the late 70’s and early 80’s by the Yuen clan, Jackie Chan, and Sammo Hung, Drunken Tai Chi is filled to the brim with mind bending feats of physical abilities, amazing kung fu sequences, revenge and comedy galore.

Being a revenge film, it follows the formula we’ve all come to know and love. Chan Chuen Chung’s (Yen) brother embarrasses Ta Sha, a rich schoolmate, and a rivalry ensues. It escalates to the boy having his father pay Iron Steel to kill Chan and his family. Chan is not home, but instead is fighting in a gambling hall Continue reading »

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