The Boy and the Heron

0776
The Boy and the Heron review

"The animation is wondrous and detailed, the dub is powerful, the fantasy world feels exciting and adventurous and the finale is appropriately overwhelming."

Love on Sunday: Last Words

0777
Love on Sunday: Last Words review

"For Western audiences the themes of Last Words may be quite sad and depressing, but Nagisa's acceptance of her nearing death paints a very different picture."

The Insects Unlisted in the Encyclopedia

0778
The Insects Unlisted in the Encyclopedia review

"Miki has a very peculiar sense of humor. The jokes can be pretty absurd and out there, but the delivery is always deadpan."

Trap

0779
Trap review

"It's hard to recommend this film without prior knowledge of the previous films."

Twin Warriors

0780
Twin Warriors review

"Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh are a delight to watch, the action choreography is spectacular and the mix of daft comedy and sprawling martial arts makes for amazing entertainment."

Bus Stop

0781
Bus Stop review

"The stylish presentation, the refined pacing, and layered performances support a smart and well-balanced drama that isn't afraid to confront the audience with some challenging questions."

Nasu: Summer in Andalusia

0782
Nasu: Summer in Andalusia review

"Nasu is a great seasonal film. Its summer vibe is tangible, it coincides with the Vuelta and it gives one of the best depictions of cycling ever caught on (fictional) film, let alone animation."

Home: The House Imp

0783
Home: The House Imp review

"Home: Itoshi No Zashiki Warashi is a great film if you don't mind a serious dash of extravagant feel-good."

White Vengeance

0784
White Vengeance review

"A slice of tactical warfare that, at least to me, is a lot more challenging and interesting to follow. The climax is both exciting and emotional, the ending is smart and a small punch in the gut."

The Acid House

0785
The Acid House review

"The acting is good, the stories are smart and the sense of humor is typically Welsh: dark and tragic. The Acid House won't disappoint Welsh fans, but a Danny Boyle film it is not."

Silence and Sunset

0786
Silence and Sunset review

"The beautiful cinematography, the stylish score and the raw performances make for a powerful and entrancing experience, establishing Umemura as a potential future stronghold of Japanese arthouse."

Goodbye, Dragon Inn

0787
Goodbye, Dragon Inn review

"Tsai allows you to slow down along with it, transporting you to a wet and distant place where you can enjoy the final day of a local cinema."

Songs from the Second Floor

0788
Songs from the Second Floor review

"If you care for absurdist tableaus, bleak, dry, and dark comedy, unpleasant characters, and a relentless unwillingness to push forward a clear narrative, this film will be right up your alley."

Godspeed

0789
Godspeed review

"Depending on where you're coming from, Godspeed is either a superb crime flick or an ever so slightly disappointing Mong-Hong Chung film."

Villain

0790
Villain review

"Overall Villain is a strong film with a clear goal in mind. Know that you need to get through the first hour, trusting Lee that the second half will be much richer and better."

District B13

0791
District B13 review

"There's plenty of variation in the action scenes, the action choreography is splendid, the styling is bold and the pacing is slick. It's everything a modern action film should be."

Radiance

0792
Radiance review

"It's not a film that reinvents the genre, it's not a breathe of fresh air, but it's a beautiful, respectful and endearing film that charms the whole way through."

Adaptation.

0793
Adaptation. review

"Jonze's sober presentation puts Kaufman in the spotlight and looking at the stellar script he wrote that might have been a good call."

Swordsmen

0794
Swordsmen review

"Chan's attempt is definitely a good start, sporting high production values, a classy and stylish atmosphere and a strong mix of varied genre elements."

Gojoe

0795
Gojoe review

"Gojoe is an energetic film, built on intriguing lore, sporting a stellar cast and delivering one of the most explosive finales in the genre. A true Ishii blockbuster film."

Days of Being Wild

0796
Days of Being Wild review

"Wong created a touching portrait of a flailing soul. Thanks to the moody soundtrack, sumptuous cinematography, and strong performances, this turned out to be a film for the ages."

Tales from Earthsea

0797
Tales from Earthsea review

"A stylish and well-executed fantasy film, sporting Ghibli's polished animation, a lovely soundtrack, and a morally ambiguous lead character."

Yoshino's Barber Shop

0798
Yoshino's Barber Shop review

"And while all of that might sound pretty serious and even heavy-handed, it's amazing how light and flirtatious Ogigami manages to keep her debut film."

Like a Dragon

0799
Like a Dragon review

"On a technical side the film is more accomplished than his earlier work, it contains more than enough quirky Miike touches and while certified strange and off-kilter, it's not all-out insane."

25th Hour

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25th Hour review

"When I first watched 25th Hour the film left a bigger impression on me. Maybe it's because I hadn't seen that many films back then, maybe it's because time has blunted some of its initial impact."