Crows Zero

0701
Crows Zero review

"The film never slacks and even gives the viewer a nice look into the whole gang structure in between the fights, making it a little more than just another butt-kicking action flick. "

Two Pigeons

0702
Two Pigeons review

"Two Pigeons is a small delight. It's not a big, swooping movie, but it offers plenty of nasty smiles, some genuine wonder and a very balanced ending."

Taboo

0703
Taboo review

"Oshima delivers a very polished and accomplished film, offering splendid cinematography, a lovely score, stellar performances of its main cast and an intriguing plot."

Skunk

0704
Skunk review

"Thanks to the raw cinematography, the polished sound design, and some stellar performances it hits all its emotional notes, without failing its cinematic roots."

Poser

0705
Poser review

"There is something wildly intriguing about young people carving out their own way through life, for that reason alone a film like Poser is worth championing."

Outcast

0706
Outcast review

"With Outcast he delivers a dark, hellish and barren fantasy grounded in obscure myths and set in a depressively dirty neighborhood."

Adrift in Tokyo

0707
Adrift in Tokyo review

"Adrift In Tokyo is a rather lovely film. It knows how to blend comedy and drama into a perfect mix of blanket-like warmth, covering the viewer with a world he'd somehow like to inhabit."

Zhou Yu's Train

0708
Zhou Yu's Train review

"There's a basic quality that keeps Zhou Yu's Train on its feet, even though I've seen better and more creative variations from China in more recent years."

Cub

0709
Cub review

"With his first feature, Govaerts delivers a rock solid genre film. It's tense and moody, never too gory, beautifully shot, aptly scored and generally well-directed."

Aragami

0710
Aragami review

"With the help of a perfect build-up, some solid performances, and polished cinematography, Kitamura delivers a fun and thrilling genre exercise that entertains from start to finish."

Bodyguards and Assassins

0711
Bodyguards and Assassins review

"Very much recommended if you've been enjoying the epic productions of the previous decade."

Life Can Be So Wonderful

0712
Life Can Be So Wonderful review

"I was happily surprised after watching Life Can Be So Wonderful. It's an upbeat, albeit slow and meandering, film that succeeds effortlessly in its goals."

Strobe Edge

0713
Strobe Edge review

"In many ways, Strobe Edge is a typical manga adaptation as much as it is a typical romance. But Hiroki builds upon that to make a sweet, cute and genuine little love story."

Eternal Summer

0714
Eternal Summer review

"After only two films Chen is well on his way to become a personal favorite. He has a keen eye and is quite versatile."

The Brink

0715
The Brink review

"Li delivers a fun, gritty and stylish crime flick with some very impressive action scenes and a stand-out performance by Shawn Yue."

The Warlords

0716
The Warlords review

"Warlords is an awesome film about three beardy men with balls taking their little army to conquer nations, but failing to keep in control over their own friendship."

Hansel and Gretel

0717
Hansel and Gretel review

"The film is well acted, looks extremely lush and flies by in no time. And while many parts seem influenced by other films, the mix is completely unique and fresh."

Eternal Moment

0718
Eternal Moment review

"Stylishly visualized, strongly acted and pleasantly diverse, Eternal Moment is another great film in Yibai Zhang's oeuvre"

Bright Future

0719
Bright Future review

"The characters are interesting, the performances are perfect, the narrative structure feels fresh and the presentation is stylish without being overly detracting."

Tai Chi Hero

0720
Tai Chi Hero review

"The production values are high, the acting is the right kind of tongue-in-cheek and the action scenes sparkle. Fung created a perfect sequel that leaves you begging for the final act."

The Crab Cannery Ship

0721
The Crab Cannery Ship review

"Kanikosen is a solid come-back for Tanaka. Visually impressive, boasting a superb setting and a strong cast."

Instant Swamp

0722
Instant Swamp review

"He falls back to his regular weirdness and dry, absurd comedy. It all leads up to a rewarding ending, leaving you with a fuzzy feeling and a sense of chill bliss."

Winds of September

0723
Winds of September review

"A very solid film with strong acting all around, some very strong shots and camera work and a pretty touching story about a group of kids growing up."

The Mystery of Rampo

0724
The Mystery of Rampo review

"With its wonderful cinematography, outstanding score and enigmatic lead, Okuyama serves a puzzling trip through the mysterious mind of one of Japan's most prestigious horror writers."

WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3

0725
WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3 review

"The animation is strong, the art style detailed, the soundtrack a real treat. And how often do you get to see mechs battle it out against a giant monster in a future-realistic setting?"