The Midnight Meat Train

0801
The Midnight Meat Train review

"The kills are gory, Jones is an amazing killer and Kitamura's direction is the right kind of flashy, which makes for a brutal, tense and very entertaining horror flick."

Flavors of Youth

0802
Flavors of Youth review

"A film that's rich in atmosphere, beautifully animated and with just the right amount of depth, a film that soothes and comforts but is more than simple sentimental fluff."

Ip Man 2

0803
Ip Man 2 review

"Visually a little better than the first film, awesome fight sequences where Yen is allowed to shine and a fully satisfying finale where the final blow caused a big fat inner "Yeah!"."

River of First Love

0804
River of First Love review

"That said, it's a film that caters to fans of light-hearted Japanese dramas, doing little to even try and persuade people outside of its niche."

Drunken Master II

0805
Drunken Master II review

"The pairing of Liu and Chan results in some of the coolest and frantic martial arts moments ever put on film, making it that much easier to forget about all the film's shortcomings."

Fulltime Killer

0806
Fulltime Killer review

"A sprawling action/crime blend, bustling with cinematic joy and providing ample opportunities for To show off his unique talents. Stylish, fun and never a dull moment in sight."

Code 46

0807
Code 46 review

"Code 46 serves a vivid vision of the future, a world that looks and feels plausible, even when reality should've caught up with it by now. A sign of clever, relevant sci-fi if there ever was one."

15: The Movie

0808
15: The Movie review

"The vibrant cinematography and the poppy score set the mood for a mix of light-hearted fun and more deep-digging drama, perfectly carried out by the actors."

Go, Go Second Time Virgin

0809
Go, Go Second Time Virgin review

"The gritty and grainy cinematography and the harsh thematical content contrast superbly with the poetic soundtrack and its emotional core, creating a stylish firecracker of a film."

Pretty Persuasion

0810
Pretty Persuasion review

"If you're looking for some snide high school comedy, with a memorable lead performance, some upscale visuals, and a challenging finale, give this little gem a shot."

Mandibles

0811
Mandibles review

"The stand-out performances, the downplayed craziness, the chill atmosphere and more than a handful of memorable moments make this another lesson in dry and absurd comedy."

Taboo

0812
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."

Songs from the Second Floor

0813
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."

The Machinist

0814
The Machinist review

"While many of its peers have trouble keeping themselves standing the second time around, The Machinist thrives on a strong and gloomy atmosphere, intriguing characters and a stand-out performance."

Girlfriend: Someone Please Stop the World

0815
Girlfriend: Someone Please Stop the World review

"Girlfriend: Someone Please Stop The World is a solid, smart drama that serves as a good entry point to his oeuvre. The film showcases his talent and houses many of his trademark elements."

Bus Stop

0816
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."

Trap

0817
Trap review

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

Suzhou River

0818
Suzhou River review

"The moody and vibrant city shots, the stand-out performance of Xun Zhou and the mysterious romance all add up to a slightly grittier film set in the outskirts of a booming Shanghai."

Canary

0819
Canary review

"Shiota proves himself a gifted drama director and balances cinematography, score and performances to draw the most out of the conflict between the two leads."

Antenna

0820
Antenna review

"The presentation is still pretty fitting and stylish, the performances are top notch and the somewhat edgier dramatic elements give the film a unique perspective."

Eagle vs. Shark

0821
Eagle vs. Shark review

"There's loads of quirky comedy, the delivery is dry and disorienting, but the characters have soul and even though the film keeps throwing problems their way, it never gets too heavy-handed."

Adoration

0822
Adoration review

"Adoration is a very impressive film that feels like a complete and unique experience, thriving on sublime cinematography, a perfect score and amazing central performances."

Eden Lake

0823
Eden Lake review

"Eden Lake is a prime example of British harshness combined with good old-fashioned horror, increasing the insanity notch by notch and delivering a great finale."

Strobe Edge

0824
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."

The Black Box

0825
The Black Box review

"The Black Box is a film for loving genre fans."