High as a Comet

     This week- two films about mind altering events.

     Bob leads a crew that rods pharmacies in 1971. After a successful job, a local cop picks up after them without any sign of letting up and forces the gang to hit the road for a tour across the Pacific Northwest. Before long, Bob will have to face the worst hex of all and a few difficult life choices. The second feature from Gus Van Sant, Drugstore Cowboy.
     High School students Taki and Mitsuha switch bodies. Without any known reason or connection. Immediately they begin to cause massive chaos on each other's lives. Shinkai Makoto's Western breakthrough feature and the third highest grossing Japanese film of all time, Your Name.
     All that and a tiny titan plots from the shadows. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 347- High as a Comet

Bay of Witches

     This week Japanuary 2024 kicks off with a pair of films about bold, strong women who refuse to compromise to their oppressive societies and the idiots they love.

     Kinta is put in charge of his Yakuza gang's pig farm and dreams of the large paydays that were vaguely promised. Haruko, his girlfriend, works as a waitress and dreams of getting away from their port city that only lives on the whim of the nearby American Navy base. When Kinta's bosses push him to be the fall guy in a murder and Haruko' mother pushes her to be the paid mistress of an American business man. Shōhei Imamura's breakthrough work and a masterpiece of the Japanese New Wave, Pigs and Battleships.
     On Jeanne's wedding night, the local baron and his courtiers brutally violate her in a ritual deflowering. That night she begins to see visions of a phallic spirit that offers her power and her fortunes rise until they lead to ever increasing clashes between Jeanna and the ruling class. Mushi Production's final entry in their Animerama series of adult animations with gorgeous watercolors designed by Kuni Fukai, Belladonna of Sadness.
     All that and Dave sings a jaunty tune, Kevin closes the books on last year, and Tyler unfurls his hoard of Japanese erotic cinema. Join us, won't you?
    Episode 342- Bay of Witches

Runny Yolk

     This week- two entries in long running series. 
     Nami works at a large upscale department store. Except for some heavy breathing phone calls, she is fairly satisfied being alone. When a coworker talks her into being a substitute for a fetish model photo shoot, it kicks off many complications in her life. I hope she was well compensated for... Angel Guts: Red Porno.
     The SDF-1 Macross, exhausted and desperate and cut off from Earth, has been chased across the solar system by a fleet of Zentradi, a race of giants who only know war. During the most recent skirmish transforming mecha pilot Hikaru saves pop idol Minmay. This sets off a course of events that will bring the galactic war to a dramatic ending. The feature reworking of the classic music and mecha anime- Macross: Do You Remember Love?
     All that and Dave watches some TV, Tyler reminisces, Kevin tries to cheat his last from last year, and Craig has a laugh. Join us, won't we? 
  Episode 293- Runny Yolk

Wicked Project

   This week we kick off the New Year and Japanuary with a double dip of classic anime from the 1980s. 

     For centuries a treaty between the demonic Black World and our own has kept both sides living in relative peace. A peace enforced by the Black Guard. As the timeframe of the original treaty draws to the end, radicalized extremists from the Black World begin a campaign to stop a new treaty from being signed. Human Taki and Black Worlder Makie are tasked with protecting the ratifying human signatory. Will they be able to deliver him safely? Will the radicals succeed in breaking the peace? Can Taki suppress his Bondian sexual compulsions? Can anyone stop molesting Makie? Who will make it out of Wicked City.
     Magical, super powered, and ginger A-ko Megami, and her best friend C-ko Kotobuki, are starting their first day at a new high school. Unfortunately, they immediately land in the sights of Biko Daitokuji, a jealous rich kid with a murderous mecha building hobby, and intergalactic forces speeding their way to Earth searching for their lost princess. Will Biko steal away C-ko? Will the aliens find their royal? Will A-ko ever make it to class on time? Just what is going on with Project A-ko?
     All that and Kevin drags himself across the holly jolly finishing line, Dave doesn't understand the appeal, and Tyler goes completely digital.
     Join us, won't you?

Episode 238- Wicked Project

Necro Firearm Escape

      This week the last hand painted film, the most recent war blockbuster, and our third Asami film!

      A pair of assassins drive through the dessert. To cover the hours one tells the tale of a doctor who becomes a revenge focused mastermind when his wife is murdered. The doctor buys a woman, an addict sex worker, and molds her into the ultimate killing machine. An amazing physical lead performance drives this exploitation action fest. As the blood flies and the nipples expose, can anything stop Gun Woman?

     British and French forces are pushed to the northern beaches and surrounded in the town of Dunkirk. Looking at the evacuation from land, sea, and air, Christopher Nolan wrangles a large ensemble cast between epic war story of Dunkirk.

     Prestigious Ginei Studios has gone bankrupt and shut it's doors for the last time. In celebration of it's glorious past television interviewer Genya and his cameraman Kyoji have a life spanning interview with the studio's biggest star, Chiyoko Fujiwara, who disappeared from the spotlight thirty years earlier. A surreal work from one of Japan's undisputed masters of animation, Millennium Actress.

     All that and next week we bring Japanuary to a close with a look at the seminal J-horror series JU-ON. Join us, won't you?

Episode 189- Necro Firearm Escape