Member Michael L. Posted October 19, 2010 Member Share Posted October 19, 2010 I love Japanese movies, but I don't know as much about them as Chinese film. This is probably because I read a little Chinese, can muddle my way through spoken Mandarin or Cantonese, and study Chinese martial arts. Because I want to cover more Japanese stuff in my podcast, I'd like to find a book on Japanese cinema that I can trust... not something that is all Akira Kurosawa (as much as I am a fan), but the cool stuff. I want something that covers not only the internationally respected "films" like Kurosawa but also the extra bloody cheaply made ninja flicks. If it covered TV too, that's great. I'd like to be able to figure out who that actor was that I recognize in the odd episode of Shadow Warriors, for example, or find out if the girl in Red Baron ever did another show. Since I might be watching anything from Tokyo Drifter to Hanzo the Razor to Super Giant, I might need a couple of books! Don't exclude books on Asian cinema in general if they are worth owning. Yes, I could just do an Amazon search but I want to hear what is worth buying first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member ben Posted October 19, 2010 Member Share Posted October 19, 2010 An author by the name of Mark Schilling has written some good books about Japanese cinema. This list might help you find exactly what you want though, including reviews of Mark Schilling's books which have a good reputation. http://www.midnighteye.com/books/ Hope it helps. Like you I am also seeking to have more knowledge about Japanese cinema. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member masterofoneinchpunch Posted October 19, 2010 Member Share Posted October 19, 2010 A great starter book on Japanese Cinema (all of it from the beginning) is A Hundred Years of Japanese Film: A Concise History, with a Selective Guide to DVDs and Videos by Donald Richie: I'm a fan of Richie most known for his "The Films of Akira Kurosawa" but he is quite knowledgable. Then you might need to get books specifically on Japanese New Wave or Anime or particular directors you like. Since the book is covering a lot of territory he doesn't go as much into pulp and covers the more artistic directors from Ozu, Kurosawa, Shimizu Hiroshi, Mizoguchi Kenji, Ichikawa Kon, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member KyFi Posted October 19, 2010 Member Share Posted October 19, 2010 Three that I'd highly recommed are: For Samurai: "Stray Dogs and Lone Wolves" (the guy also has a follow up book called "Warring Clans and Flashing Blades---I don't have that one yet, but I'm sure it's just as good) http://www.amazon.com/Stray-Dogs-Lone-Wolves-Handbook/dp/1880656930/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1287507153&sr=1-6 For Action: "No Borders, No LImits: Nikkatsu Action Cinema" http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_22?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=nikkatsu+action+cinema&sprefix=nikkatsu+action+cinema For Toho sci-fi/ Honda's movies: "Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men" http://www.amazon.com/Mushroom-Clouds-Men-Fantastic-Cinema/dp/1449027717/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1287507430&sr=1-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member bunta Posted October 20, 2010 Member Share Posted October 20, 2010 hope this doesn't come across as shameless self promoting, but click on the link below. i have a section of interesting books to read, many of which regard Japanese films. i don't have any linked, but if you can't figure out the title, let me know and i will give it to you. http://stevenpmcvey.blogspot.com/p/reading-material_06.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Michael L. Posted October 21, 2010 Author Member Share Posted October 21, 2010 Hardly shameless self promoting and even if it was, you might note that in my original post I am asking because I need the research for my podcast! Thanks everyone; I'm going to check out some of these titles (and your blog) tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member waywardsage Posted October 22, 2010 Member Share Posted October 22, 2010 I have both of the samurai books: Stay Dogs and Lone Wolves and Warring Clans and Flashing Blades by Patrick Galloway. They are amazing! I highly recommend both of these! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WuxiaFan Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Also highly recommend Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film: http://www.amazon.com/Outlaw-Masters-Japanese-Chris-Desjardins/dp/1845110862/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288028722&sr=1-1 Excellent book! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Karlos Posted October 25, 2010 Moderator Share Posted October 25, 2010 Also highly recommend Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film: http://www.amazon.com/Outlaw-Masters-Japanese-Chris-Desjardins/dp/1845110862/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288028722&sr=1-1 Excellent book! Spooky - my copy of that just arrived today!! Did you see that the author has another book coming out, Gun and Sword: An Encyclopedia of Japanese Gangster Films 1955-1980 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WuxiaFan Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Did you see that the author has another book coming out, Gun and Sword: An Encyclopedia of Japanese Gangster Films 1955-1980 No I didn't know that, but it sounds awesome! I didn't see it on amazon.com - Do you have a link for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member inframan Posted October 28, 2010 Member Share Posted October 28, 2010 This one is pretty good, covers a little of everything, Kaiju, Sonny Chiba, Yakuza, etc. http://www.amazon.com/TokyoScope-Japanese-Cult-Film-Companion/dp/1569316813/ref=pd_sim_b_16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Karlos Posted October 28, 2010 Moderator Share Posted October 28, 2010 No I didn't know that, but it sounds awesome! I didn't see it on amazon.com - Do you have a link for it? Sadly, I don't - it looks like it's still a "work in progress" (the author claims to have spent the last 20 years researching it), but hopefully it might be here soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member JimPV Posted February 26, 2011 Member Share Posted February 26, 2011 This one is pretty good, covers a little of everything, Kaiju, Sonny Chiba, Yakuza, etc. http://www.amazon.com/TokyoScope-Japanese-Cult-Film-Companion/dp/1569316813/ref=pd_sim_b_16 I love, love, LOVE "TokyoScope: The Japanese Cult Film Companion"! If you have any interest in Japanese film at all (or just film in general), you need this book. Absolutely indispensable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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