@jmhimara
Scientist. Film enthusiast. Writer. Reviewer. Fascinated with classic SF. Former contributor of http://vcinemashow.com and http://sffreviews.com. Co-host of the Heroic Purgatory podcast: @heroicpurgatory.bsky.social
Time flies!
It's already February 2026 and with the new year comes a new season of #HeroicPurgatory. Before then, John @jmhimara.bsky.social and Jason @filmnohito.bsky.social look back on 2025 and list their favourite films of the year.
www.heroic-purgatory.com/2026/02/best...
With awards season in full swing, #HeroicPurgatory looks at Park Chan-wookβs 2025 feature NO OTHER CHOICE.
The podcast covers the genesis of this critically-acclaimed satire of the dog eat dog nature of capitalism, Lee Byung-hun's compelling performance...
www.heroic-purgatory.com/2026/01/awar...
Probably same reason why serial killers collect trophies.
John Carpenter's THEY LIVE (1988) is #HeroicPurgatory 's 2025 Xmas Special
John @jmhimara.bsky.social and Jason @filmnohito.bsky.social look at this bro-tastic action/romance's critiques of Reagan-era America, iconic lines, and influences.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/12/xmas...
The film selected for the 2025 #HeroicPurgatory Halloween special is John Carpenter's Halloween (1978).
@jmhimara.bsky.social and @filmnohito.bsky.social discuss slasher genre standards, themes of women vs patriarchy and sequels!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/10/spec...
The #HeroicPirgatroy podcast took a bit of a break over the summer because Jason @filmnohito.bsky.social was in Japan for Osaka Asian Film Festival's Expo edition / #OAFF2025.
Stay tuned for a podcast special with director interviews and views on upcoming and award-winning Asian films!
idk, what's that saying about cockroaches and how they live forever?
For episode 8 of season 5, which is dedicated to historical martial arts films, #HeroicPurgatoryβs John @jmhimara.bsky.social and Jason @filmnohito.bsky.social return to Jackie Chanβs body of work with an episode dedicated to Project A (1983).
www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/07/s5e8...
I mean, South Park had been on the anti Trump train since around 2015, so this is definitely not new. I think people are extra amused because this is exactly the kind of toilet humor that may get a rise out of Trump, more than anything Colbert or Stewart might say.
Not explicitly but kinda. They did say in an interview a couple of years ago that they were wrong about many things.
Witness the Qing invasion of Joseon-era Korea alongside John @jmhimara.bsky.social and Jason @filmnohito.bsky.social as the boys takes on Kim Han-minβs historical actioner THE WAR OF THE ARROWS for Season 5 episode 7 of #HeroicPurgatory
www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/07/s5e7...
I when I lived in Greece in the early 2000s, Ancient Greek was mandatory in high school. It was part of the exams you had to take to graduate. Pretty much every kid hated it. I left Greece when I was still in elementary, so I never got to take it. I heard some schools did Latin as well, though idk.
And even your local library. They have amazing stuff.
Early Heinlein was amazing. Late Heinlein, eh....
Do you have a different version of windows than I do? I don't see any adds in mine. I'm always confused when people say this....
Joe is kinda dumb but not that dumb. I still think this is him trying to appear as the "centrist" and playing both sides.
John @jmhimara.bsky.social l and Jason @filmnohito.bsky.social ky.social are joined by Jack Eason @jackeason.bsky.social ocial of Optimism Vaccine to discuss Hideo Gosha's 1965 nihilistic chanbara THE SWORD OF THE BEAST for #HeroicPurgatory.
www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/07/s5e6...
To be fair, most science fiction predictions (realistic or not) do not end well for humanity. Murray Leinster predicted the internet and that people would use it for nefarious reasons.
The research institution where I work claims it will reimburse you if you want to take a class at a nearby university. They do, but anyone who's tried it says it's a major pain in the ass to actually get it.
I think it's about time you guys buried the hatchet. Do a youtube stream together and let bygones be bygones.
This didn't really grab me. Chained Echoes did a much better job at evoking 90s rpgs while also being a pretty great game on its own.
Continuing their Wuxia wanderings, John @jmhimara.bsky.social and Jason @filmnohito.bsky.social drop by Dragon Gate Inn, the 1967 movie directed by King Hu, and also pay a visit to Raymond Lee's 1992 remake, New Dragon Gate Inn, for #HeroicPurgatory.
www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/05/s5e5...
Maybe because I'm not American and I've never owned a car, but I don't really see the appeal. Still, I'm glad people have something they enjoy listening on long rides.
Missing Child Videotape γγγ·γ³γ°γ»γγ£γ€γ«γγ»γγγͺγγΌγ, by director Ryota Kondo, is light on scares but big on chills due to its rich horror atmosphere borrowed from venerable forebears, [Nippon Connection 2025]
#nipponconnection25 @nipponconnection.com
genkinahito.wordpress.com/2025/05/28/m...
After "The Seed of the Sacred Fig", another Iranian film made in similar circumstances, was snubbed last year, I'm happy to see the jury reward courageous and bold filmmaking.
Not having read the book, I do wonder.... Is the character meant to be unlikeable? Perhaps the author doesn't see her that way.
George Wendt holding a glass mug and smiling. A headline reads: βGeorge Wendt, Norm from 'Cheersβ, Dies at 76.β Photo credit: NBCUniversal, via Getty Images.
Breaking News: George Wendt, a six-time Emmy nominee for his role as the beer-chugging everyman Norm Peterson on βCheers,β is dead at 76. nyti.ms/3ZuGwrN
I was wary about a remake to Akira Kurosawa film but this review has sold it to me.
"[Spike] Lee has taken βHigh and Lowβ to new highs, delivering a soul-searching genre movie that entertains while also sounding the alarm about where the culture could be headed."
variety.com/2025/film/re...
This episode of #HeroicPurgatory features John @jmhimara.bsky.social and Jason @filmnohito.bsky.social examining Zhang Yimou's 2002 wuxia film, Hero.
Zhang's first wuxia, this is a visually sumptuous and epic tale of assassins and the forging of a nation.
www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/05/s5e4...
Until quite recently, I thought "bootstraps" (as in "lift yourself by your bootstraps") were a different kind of suspenders. Not sure how or why, the word "boot" is right there in the name.