Jonathan Wroot
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jlwroot.bsky.social
Jonathan Wroot
@jlwroot.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Greenwich. Researcher of Zatoichi movies and other Japanese films. Part-time film critic (open to offers). All views and opinions shared are my own.
Reposted by Jonathan Wroot
"Like an ancient cyborg culling through the ruins of a post-apocalyptic planet (twitter, derogatory), Joyce Carol Oates recently fired her full-power death ray at aspiring trillionaire Elon Musk."
November 10, 2025 at 8:13 PM
I am thrilled to confirm that I have recorded commentaries for these two works from a master of Japanese cinema. Many thanks to the team at Eureka for asking me to be involved. I really hope everyone enjoys these two enigmatic but captivating Kiyoshi Kurosawa films.
***ANNOUNCEMENT***

Coming on January 26th on Blu-ray in the UK from #EurekaEntertainment as part of their #MastersOfCinema line: #Cloud / #Charisma: Two Films by #KiyoshiKurosawaw (2024/1999)!

A revered auteur noted for his deliberate pacing and haunting, methodical style,
November 10, 2025 at 7:32 PM
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***ANNOUNCEMENT***

Coming on January 26th on Blu-ray in the UK from #EurekaEntertainment as part of their #MastersOfCinema line: #Cloud / #Charisma: Two Films by #KiyoshiKurosawaw (2024/1999)!

A revered auteur noted for his deliberate pacing and haunting, methodical style,
October 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
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Yeah, this is a serious failing. Same as when Thatcher's pick, Marmaduke Hussey, forced out Alasdair Milne: hushed up, opaque, behind closed doors, secretive. This is a public body, using licence fee funds, operating according to the scrutiny of an elected government. It should be transparent.
Question are the BBC Board minutes in the public domain? Or is it just a summary? Wondering why other 'independent' institutions like the BoE Monetary Committee do put out reports & not the BBC @iandunt.bsky.social
@peterjukes.bsky.social
@hardeepmatharu.bsky.social
@johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 3:13 PM
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Get ready to get CRAZY!
Crazy Thunder Road x Crazy Family
A double bill from the Japanese master of punk cinema SOGO ISHII is coming to London's @thenickelcinema.bsky.social on November 19!
With an introduction by @jbalmont.bsky.social
thenickel.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
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who was earl grey
November 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
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***ANNOUNCEMENT***

Coming on January 20th on #4K and Blu-ray in the US from #CultEpics: #TheGirlWhoLeaptThroughTime (1983)!

Adapting sci-fi author Yasutaka Tsutsui's famous 1967 novel, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time cast Tomoyo Harada in her feature film debut, launching the
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
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Mind you, Richard Tice would have lost when he threatened to sue the BBC for calling Reform Far Right. But still the BBC caved: it's strong with the weak and weak with the strong.
Trump won't sue for defamation because he'll lose. End of.
November 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
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Available as part of our Nine Film Oshima boxset, RADICAL JAPAN: CINEMA AND STATE, open for orders now and shipping very soon:
Radical Japan: Cinema and State - Nine Films by Nagisa Oshima (LE)
This first volume in an ongoing series explores the films of new wave icon Nagisa Oshima (Cruel Story of Youth, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence).
www.radiancefilms.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
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A failed execution sparks bureaucratic panic and existential questioning in Nagisa Oshima’s dark satire DEATH BY HANGING.
November 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
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🚀 Mario Bava’s influential sci-fi horror PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES is our film this week, with new guest @www.johnbleasdale.com arriving via space-podcasket podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/v...
November 10, 2025 at 5:36 PM
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Businesses in Japan are ramping up safety measures amid record numbers of bear sightings, with convenience stores and delivery firms acting to protect employees and customers.
Businesses in Japan tighten bear safety measures as sightings surge
Convenience stores and delivery companies are taking action to protect employees and customers as the predators are spotted in record numbers.
ebx.sh
November 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
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Next weekend, Masters of Cinema presents Kinji Fukasaku's Message from Space (often unofficially called Japanese Star Wars) at the Showroom Cinema, Sheffield. This is such a fun film, recommended to any fan of science fiction or special effects cinema. Tickets: showroomcinema.org.uk/film/masters...
November 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM
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Coming out in January from @88films.bsky.social , Ti Lung kicks a lot of people and I ramble on about the history of Wu Song onscreen!
November 10, 2025 at 11:07 AM
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True dat. Look after your supporters and let your haters look after themselves. if the #BBC would only realise that it's in their best interests to cherish the people who actually don't mind being forced by law to pay for their keep, instead of behaving like a bunch of gilded entitlocrats...
Gary Lineker: "This is the mistake the BBC makes. The BBC tries to appease the people that hate the BBC, rather than worrying about the people that love the BBC."
November 10, 2025 at 11:09 AM
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Join us for a special Film Stories event in London to celebrate our 500th episode, with tickets now on sale. More information right here:
filmstories.co.uk/news/film-st...
Film Stories 500 | Join us in London for a very special event
Join us for a special Film Stories event in London to celebrate our 500th episode, with tickets now on sale. More information right here:
filmstories.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:25 AM
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But that is not enough. No.10 should never have been in a position to install Gibb in the first place. It shouldn't control the board membership, the DG appointment, or the purse strings. What's required is genuine independence for the BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
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putting her phone in a pouch would have made her killers less transphobic and violent?
November 10, 2025 at 12:48 PM
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Action fans take note! LAST SAMURAI STANDING is a fantastic chanbara spin on Battle Royale & Squid Game starring Junichi Okada, who also produces and serves as action choreographer. Drops on Netflix this Friday: www.scmp.com/lifestyle/en...
Review | Last Samurai Standing: 1800s Japan meets Squid Game in bloody Netflix drama
Thrilling saga with Junichi Okada as a warrior in a deadly race across Japan gives a new perspective on a sadistic premise we’ve seen before.
www.scmp.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:28 PM
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This, from an organisation that has previously denounced sex tests as "unscientific and unethical" and has prioritised inclusion above all, is profoundly depressing.
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 PM
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Japan has far fewer bears than North America — yet far more fatal encounters. Why are the nation’s bears so uniquely dangerous? 👉 ebx.sh/rrYlla
November 10, 2025 at 4:59 AM
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I Photoshop Paddington into a movie, TV show, or pop culture until I forget: Day 1701
November 10, 2025 at 7:02 AM
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I wish I was in more of a position at the moment to celebrate this, but I think I'm still allowed to be a little bit chuffed. Film Stories has got to 500 episodes...

filmstories.co.uk/film-stories...
Podcast | Episode 500 celebrations - a long conversation with Kevin Smith
Film Stories hits a milestone - and Kevin Smith kicks off our episode 500 celebrations with a very special episode.
filmstories.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:05 AM
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🪐 PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES (1965)

We’re back! In space! Mario Bava’s cult classic is up for discussion, with new guest @www.johnbleasdale.com beaming up to talk about it…

www.vampirevideos.co.uk/126-planet-o...
November 10, 2025 at 8:05 AM
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The Panorama edit was clumsy. But the facts remain. It was a violent insurrection to upend a democratic vote. Looking at the wild outrage here, we’d be forgiven for thinking Jan 6th never happened. In terms of bias, this is off the scale worse. With Farage delighting in the damage.
(Extracts iPaper)
November 10, 2025 at 8:09 AM