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Stars: Tori Griffith, Tomoki Kimura, Derek Mears, Damian Toofeek Raven, Joey Iwanaga, Matt Standley, Shelby Lee Parks, Stefanie Estes | Written and Directed by Kurando Mitsutake

Lion-Girl was written and directed by Kurando Mitsutake based on characters created by famed manga author and artist Go-Nagai who also created Devilman, Cutie Honey and Mazinger Z among others and produced by Toei Video. If that sounds like a recipe for a whole lot of weirdness, then you’re right.

The film opens in a Tokyo bathhouse with several nude people staring at a young woman named Botan. After, she refuses to be scared by their threats, they begin to transform. They sprout horns and fangs, their faces become brightly coloured kabuki masks as they snarl in anger. A glowing tattoo appears on her back as she turns to face them.

At which point Lion-Girl goes into exposition mode as the viewer learns how...

What I always admired from Japanese cinema is the powerful contrast it has: capable of creating the most psychological/eerie stories filled with blood and gore; meanwhile they are also capable of creating the most intimate and beautiful stories someone can tell. This film: “Journey of the Tortoise”, directed by Tadashi Nagayama, enters the second group, telling a family road trip drama mixed with some comedy elements

Shintaro is this man (Tomoki Kimura) who takes over his child Noboru (Mizuki Suwa). Both of them are on this trip accompanied by Shintaro’s brother (Yota Kawase) and his fiancée (Spica Yufube) to attend their wedding. Now, there is another member travelling with our main characters on this family trip, that is Shintaro’s pet turtle. Shintaro’s brother is this wacky and impulsive man who is always out of control, and it seems that Shintaro is dragged by his way of being,...