Appleseed (2004)

A Japanese animation with a unique visual flair that’s CGI motion capture but respectful to cel animation colouring methods, and also faithful to traditional Japanese styles. It's hard to describe in words. It’s much too polished at times but it’s undeniably beautiful to look at.
It attempts to inject some emotion into a typically exposition-heavy Masamune Shirow narrative about future societies and what it is that makes us human, and occasionally it succeeds.

3½ sins of humanity out of 5

Ping Pong (2002)

Japanese drama based on a manga about two friends and their love of ping pong. It’s a sports movie on the surface but that’s just a device, it could be any sport, even golf (yawn) and it’d still have a beautifully crafted heartfelt story of friendship and honour beneath.
Dir Sori keeps the story focussed on the players, adding just enough flair when needed. If it was an American production they’d be pulling off impossible shots and I’d have cringed.
It's clear from the beginning what you're going to get, but it won't diminish the enjoyment gained from watching it.
It’s hard to find in the West, but it’s worth the effort.

3½ eyebrows out of 5

Ichi (2008)

Ichi is a beautiful blind girl with a knack for spilling CGI blood and keeping her sword magically clean in the process. She's a wandering goze (musician), and as she travels across Japan searching for her mentor she's befriended by a troubled samurai and a young boy, despite her best efforts to dissuade them.
It's principally Sori's version of Zatoichi, and more. Being female means Ichi's troubles are often of a different kind, and consequently her temperament is different, but overall it's both respectful and reverential to the spirit of the series. I liked how even though she has no comical Katsu walk the music nevertheless alludes to one. I'm surprised there wasn't a sequel.

3 back-hand single slashes out of 5