I don't do plot overviews or safe, spoiler-free summaries. For that stuff, there's Wikipedia.
What I DO: I share my raw, unfiltered experience and thoughts on movies and TV shows. That means MAJOR SPOILERS could hit you in the very first line of any review.
I talk about films the way you'd chat with a friend who's already seen them. No dancing around plot points. No vague hints. Just honest, spoiler-filled conversation.
You've been warned. Now let's have a real talk about movies! πΏ
Cold Fish (2010)
Cold Fish is a 2010 Japanese serial killer film directed by Sion Sono. The film is about a quiet and unambitious owner of a tropical fish shop whose life and family are taken over by a fellow fish entrepreneur who happens to be a serial killer. The film is loosely based on the exploits of two Tokyo serial killers, Sekine Gen and Hiroko Kazama, a husband and wife duo who owned a pet shop and murdered at least four people.
When Syamoto's teenage daughter is caught stealing, a generous middle-aged man helps resolve the situation. The man and his wife offer to have Syamoto's troublesome daughter work at their fish store. Syamoto soon discovers the horrific truth of the seemingly perfect couple.
F: You get the info at the beginning that the movie is based on a real story. I didn't know anything about the murders which inspired the story, so I was pretty astonished with all the grotesque stuff going on, and wondering how much of what was happening was true. After the crazy killer duo snuffs the 1st victim, the film gets pretty intense. I was fully absorbed at that moment. All hell breaks loose on that scene, along with great music, great direction, and great acting.
P: The movie was interesting and I had high hopes for it, but it turned out to be kind of hard to watch at some points. The characters don't inspire much sympathy; they all seem to lack realism. Maybe it's the Japanese way that's so different from our western culture, but it didn't stick with me.
F: The cultural difference you mention works for me, but yeah, sometimes Nobuyuki's pussyness and lack of action was hard to believe.
P: Had a few funny scenes :SPOILER ALERT: like the blood wrestling, and I really liked that one where Mr. Murata is pushing on Syamoto's ass to make him have sex with his wife. Crazy ass Japanese! But it was all about Mr. Murata and he was just too much of a weird and annoying character.
F: I laughed out loud when Syamoto punches his daughter to sleep while he is raping his wife. Jeez this last sentence feels so wrong, but the truth is, I'm 100% desensitized to movie violence by now and that throw was hilarious. I liked Mr. Murata. He creeps the fuck out of me.
F: One of the writers of the movie, Takahashi Yoshiki, also drew inspiration from the Kitakyushu Serial Murder Incident; you can check out that sick motherfuckin' hard to believe stuff HERE. The writers added much of their twisted imagination to the script, also, specially on the sex scenes. As you can see in the following picture of Kazama Hiroko (the real murder wife), she didn't look that hot.
P: Some scenes dragged on for too long, and I thought the ending was rather clumsy. All in all, an OK film because of Taeko's titties. Good job!
F: Yes, let's forget all the macabre and fiendish blood violence and make a full disclosure on the breasts present in this movie. We've got 2 pairs for you this time, boobie lovers!
F: Anyway if you're into twisted serial killer flicks, you should definitely see this one.
Sonatine is a 1993 Japanese yakuza film directed, written and edited by Takeshi Kitano, who also stars in the film. It won numerous awards and became one of Kitano's most successful and praised films, garnering him a sizable international fan base. The title Sonatine comes from the musical term sonatina. Kitano said that when learning the piano, when the learner gets to sonatinas they have to decide where they want to go, whether it is to classical, jazz or popular music; marking the point of crucial decision making. This refers to the character Murakawa in the film. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_Return Several yakuza from Tokyo are sent to Okinawa to help end a gang war. The war then escalates and the Tokyo drifters decide to lay low at the beach. source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108188/ ***SPOILER ALERT*** K: So, the list of Kitano films we watched continues to grow. This time we had an absolutely amazing picture - Sona...
Plot Summary: Three talented young K-pop trainees discover they have supernatural abilities to battle ancient demons lurking in modern-day Korea. They must balance their demanding training for a much-anticipated debut with their secret mission to protect the world. Directors: Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans Screenplay: Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan, Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans Producer: Michelle Wong Music: Marcelo Zarvos Starring: Arden Cho as Rumi May Hong as Mira Ji-young Yoo as Zoey Ahn Hyo-seop as Jinu Yunjin Kim as Celine Ken Jeong as Bobby Lee Byung-hun as Gwi-Ma ***SPOILER ALERT*** Peer Pressure & Pleasant Surprises My daughter came home from school the other day looking like she'd been left out of the cool kids' club because she was the only one who hadn't seen Kpop Demon Hunters. I knew right then my Satur...
My Last Day at Cinanima (With Eva) For my second and, ridiculously, last day (lol) in Espinho for the 49ΒΊ Cinanima Festival, I took my daughter Eva to the Family Screening. This one was called "Mini Micro," a selection of short animations put together by Casa de Animação, held on November 9th at the Centro Multimeios. I'm gutted that I couldn't stay for the whole week... π I really wanted to see the international and national competition screenings. But for now, I'm just doing my own little competition here at Cine It. π So, here's the full list of the shorts we saw, ranked from my favorite to my least favorite. π A Quick Note By the time I'm posting this, the festival is still running (it ends on November 23rd). If you're anywhere near Espinho, make sure you catch it. It's seriously worth the visit. π₯ Cine It Gold: Tiger (2010) In first place, no contest, is Tiger (or Tige...
Plot Summary: In 1903 New York, a former gunslinger who has sworn off violence gets pulled back into a world of crime and betrayal when family secrets and old enemies resurface. Director: Brian Skiba Screenplay: Brian Skiba Producers: Randall Batinkoff, Brian Skiba, Laurie Love, Scott Reed Cinematography: Patrice Lucien Cochet Music: Richard Patrick Starring: Nicolas Cage as Ben Stephen Dorff as Thomas Keller Heather Graham as Val Scarlet Rose Stallone as Bella Tzi Ma as Lin Jeremy Kent Jackson as Robert Keller Costas Mandylor as Jericho ***SPOILER ALERT*** An AI-Generated Mess The first thing that hits you when Gunslingers starts is an AI slop rendition of New York in 1903. Oh boy, I thought, we're off to a great start. The film then throws this bizarre mix at you: amateur-looking shots that seem filmed on a smar...
Plot Summary: Based on Stephen King's novel, The Institute follows Luke Ellis and other kidnapped children with psychic abilities who are held captive in a sinister facility where they're subjected to brutal experiments and torture to harness their powers. Based on: The Institute by Stephen King Developed by: Benjamin Cavell Executive Producers: Jack Bender, Benjamin Cavell, Gary Barber, Sam Sheridan, Shane Elrod, Ed Redlich, Stephen King Episodes: 8 episodes (Season 1) Release Date: July 13, 2025 - August 24, 2025 (MGM+) Starring: Ben Barnes as Tim Jamieson Joe Freeman as Luke Ellis Simone Miller as Kalisha Fionn Laird as Nick Hannah Galway as Wendy Gullickson Julian Richings as Stackhouse Robert Joy as Dr. Daniel Hendricks Martin Roach as Chief Ashworth Mary-Louise Parker as Ms. Sigsby Jason Diaz as Tony Season 1 Ep...
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