Mikio Narita Movies
- 1987
In this gruesome and extraordinarily explicit wartime medical horror story, based on a 1948 novel by Simsako Endo, two rival surgical teams at the University Hospital in Kyushu begin on a course of practice which violates every concept of medical ethics after the moderately innocent decision to disguise the death of a patient on the operating table as a post-operative mortality. Before long, the teams are performing needless, lethal and experimental surgeries on captured American servicemen. The scenes and sounds depicting these operations are exceptionally graphic and detailed and, despite warnings during festival showings of the film, many viewers had to leave the room. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ken Watanabe, Mikio Narita, (more)
- 1983
Detective Seiji Otaki (Ken Ogata) is determined to find the psychopathic killer of a young woman who was ostensibly a student but in reality a high-priced prostitute. Even though he has been taken off the case for beating up a suspect, he refuses to let it go and recruits his mistress to act as a decoy for the killer. Her involvement turns out to be a fatal mistake, and when her husband gets out of prison, Detective Otaki is in worse trouble than ever. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ken Ogata, Ayumi Ishida, (more)
- 1982
The world of drugs, mobsters, fascists, and assorted other criminal types is taken on single-handedly (almost) by the hero (Hiroyuki Sanada) as he fights for justice. His chief enemy is a man dedicated to Hitler, with a sadistic female sidekick thrown in for good measure. Other foes keep the hero and his few friends (a secret agent and the owner of a bar) busy fighting off the forces of evil right through to the end. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Hiroyuki Sanada, Sonny Chiba, (more)
- 1978
- PG
Message from Space, a bargain-rack Japanese Star Wars clone, stars Vic Morrow as the token American. Responding to a plea for help from a faraway planet, A young, idealistic four-person crew hurtles to the rescue. Along for the ride are two funny robots. As could expected from the Toei Studios, Message from Space is a clearing house of good, bad, and "aw come on!" special effects. Vic Morrow followed this film triumph with the equally unforgettable The Evictors (79) and Humanoids from the Deep (80). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vic Morrow, Sonny Chiba, (more)
- 1977
Utamaro was an artist who lived in Edo (which was later to become modern-day Tokyo) in the late 18th century. This film, which has a complex and wide-ranging storyline, recreates the world of that time, as it appeared in Utamaro's paintings. In one the many scenes captured by the story, Utamaro watches the goings-on in a brothel while hidden in its attic. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Shin Kishida
The great Zatoichi, gambler and ex-samurai extraordinaire, returns in this installment of the Japanese adventure series. This time, the blind warrior makes friends with another fighter/chess-player during a voyage to Honshu island to attend a gambling match on Mt. Fuji. Zatoichi's new friend finds the old master fascinating. The two become involved in adventure when they are set upon by bandits when landing. During the ensuing battle, a young girl is harmed and Zatoichi heads off to right the wrong ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Shintaro Katsu, Mikio Narita, (more)
