'Tokyo Ghoul "S"': A college, a cafe and a cannibal

Film / Reviews Jul 17, 2019

'Tokyo Ghoul "S"': A college, a cafe and a cannibal

by Mark Schilling

Big pop-culture franchises generate movie sequels as naturally as chickens lay eggs. Directed by first-timers Kazuhiko Hiramaki and Takuya Kawasaki, "Tokyo Ghoul 'S'" is a follow-up to "Tokyo Ghoul," a 2017 sci-fi horror film based on Sui Ishida's hit manga about a college boy who ...

'Hero Mania': Japanese heroes are keeping it real

Film / Reviews May 4, 2016

'Hero Mania': Japanese heroes are keeping it real

by Mark Schilling

Why don't Japanese audiences turn up in big numbers for Hollywood superhero movies? The rare success in Japan of the Spider-Man series suggests one answer: Japanese like superheroes just fine, as long as they're flawed humans as well as heroic fighters for justice. Another case ...