So I'm looking for some Japanese films

I will be going to San Fran in about a month, and was told of a Japanese movie store that I have to go to. I love the Japanese films I have seen,but I am also interested because I will be going to Japan over the summer for a study abroad program, and I wanted to have a bunch f good and interesting movies to watch before I go as well as to watch with the other people.

I already own Versus, Itchi the Killer, Battle Royale, Samurai Fiction, Seven Samurai, The Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo, and Sanjuro. I really want to stay away from the old classics as those are esier to find around here compared to the new wierd Japanese movies.

Also, for those that live in Japan, whats the best way to go about buying DVDs there? I believe Japan is Reion 2, so will I have to buy a cheap portable DVD player to bring back so I can watch the movies here or is it possible to buy region 1 dvds as well?

A movie I saw recently that I really like was called Loved Gun. I watched it because the soundtrack is amazing, but the rest of the film was really good too. Lots of fresh cinematographic work. I don't think there's been an American release so it should be hard enough to find!

Love Battlefield is also pretty good, but I don't actually remember if it was a Japanese film.

I reach on Japanese cinema is sadly limited. I really haven't seen much outside of a few Kurosawa movies, but, those are great (and you've already seen them as well).

Some Japanese movies I own and have been meaning are Floating Weeds, Ikiru, Ugetsu, and Fires on the Plain. But those are really heavy handed art house type movies that I really kind of have to mentally prep myself for. So, of course, I haven't watched them.

I actually am only finishing Seven Samurai tonight, which really isn't a difficult viewing at all, it's just really long.

Get Beat Takeshi's Zatoichi. Zatoichi is a good movie, but it's a double disc set with Sonatine which is a fantastic movie.

I'd also recommend Kamikaze Girls because it's fun and funny.

bbobb's Movie Club pick, Nobody Knows is a great movie, but is fairly heavy drama and has a slow pace, but I highly recommend it.

Another movie with the same kind of pace, but a completely different tone is Linda Linda Linda, which is about a group of girl high school students who are in a rock band and are preparing to perform in the Fall Festival's talent show. Love this movie, but it's not for everyone.

Oh, also, the original Japanese version of Shall We Dance? (not the Richard Gere remake) The region 1 dvd released here was edited by a few minutes, but that doesn't keep it from being awesome. It's one of my favorite movies.

You should watch Miike's Audition. It's a slow paced movie that will have you cringing by the end.

Try Suicide Club and 7 string samurai.

All About Lily Chou Chou

Hanna & Alice

Aragami has been one of my favorites for a while now. Directed by the same guy who did Versus, the entire movie takes place in one room and there are only 3 main characters.

Although this has been released here in the states now.