The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Filmby Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 9 The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film is another wonderful handbook from Stone Bridge Press. This one focuses on "new" or contemporary films and filmmakers and includes profiles of 20 notable directors, 97 film reviews, 151 images, and more! Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp first began writing on contemporary Japanese film on their web site MidnightEye.com. A few years later they decided to compile their information into a book, and the book turned into much more than just a compilation of their old writings. Rather, they used the information they had and expanded, rewrote, and updated it creating a handbook that everyone interested in Japanese cinema should have.The Midnight Eye Guide contains several titles and directors I was already familiar with including Battle Royale, Ichi the Killer, Ringu (whose director, Hideo Nakata also wrote the introduction for this book), Perfect Blue, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, and many animated films from Studio Ghibli and by Hayao Miyazaki. Even though I was familiar with these, the information provided in these sections was informative and eye-opening. The variety of directors and movies covered in this guide is remarkable. My interest was piqued more than once by information regarding the directors or their works, and before long I had to make a list of movies that I want to see. Mes and Sharp have taken their time crafting an insightful, highly interesting read, sharing their knowledge of and love for the Japanese cinema. It is exceptionally well-written in an easy-to-follow manner that you will enjoy reading no matter your previous knowledge (or lack thereof) of the subject matter. If you are unfamiliar with Japanese film, you shouldn't have a problem following any of this except possibly with unfamiliar terms which brings me to the one thing I wish this book had, and that's a dictionary or translation section. There are many Japanese words and phrases used (and put in italics so as to stand out), but there is not always an explanation provided as to what they mean, nor can it always be infered from reading. There is an index as well as a recommended reading list, and each profile of a director included a chronological filmography. Data on the films discussed includes synopsis, cast, and distribution companies. There are also many wonderful quotes from the directors about their works, influences, and inspirations. These are highlighted with boldfaced type that is also indented and slightly smaller in order to better offset it from the boldfaced synopsis. The Midnight Eye Guide is an excellent reference and information book that should be on the reading list of everyone interested in Japan and it's culture in any way. The films and insights into the directors provide cultural information as well as general info on Japanese film making it a great read on multiple levels. Written: November 29, 2005
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