A highly engaging and twist-rich narrative that beautifully illustrates the continued importance of the image for the subject as well as the disastrous effects of the frustration of the desire to b…
Dec 6, 2023 • Subscribe
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Cafune (2023) review [OAFF 2023]
A very strong debut by Haruki Kinemura.
Village (2023) review
Introduction Michihito Fujji might not be a big name in Japanese cinema, but he has, over the last few years, put himself on the international map, be it…
Immersion (2023) review
Spectators looking for something new and fresh will find little to like about Shimizu’s latest.
2023 in Review
A year of retreads and repeats, none of them good: War in Ukraine. War in the Middle East. Covid, flu, and RSV. Donald Trump and Joe Biden r...
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Review: Flashover (2023)
Flashover 惊天救援 China, 2023, colour/b&w, 2.35:1, 113 mins. Director: Peng Shun 彭顺 [Oxide Pang]. Rating: 5/10. Solid, procedural firefighting movie is short on character development and has a…
Monster (2023) review
Kore-eda succeeds in delivering an utterly engaging narrative about the fundamental misunderstanding that underpins our fabrication of our truth.
Review: Revival (2023)
Revival 回廊亭 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 98 mins. Director: Lai Mukuan 来牧宽. Rating: 4/10. Atmospheric, well-cast whodunit, set in a remote villa, is severely unbalanced by an over-twisty…
Review: Cyberheist (2023)
Cyberheist 断网 Hong Kong/China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 109 mins. Director: Huang Qingxun 黄庆勋 [Danny Wong]. Rating: 5/10. Crime drama centred on an IT specialist targeted by a money-laundering…
Review: Hachiko (2023)
Hachiko 忠犬八公 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 124 mins. Director: Xu Ang 徐昂. Rating: 8/10. A high-quality heartwarmer, inspired by a true story of canine loyalty, that features strong…
Review: Papa (2023)
Papa 学爸 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 117 mins. Director: Su Liang 苏亮. Rating: 5/10. A working-class widower becomes obsessed with his young son’s education in this light drama…
Yoko (2023) review
A complex full-bodied filmic wine that cannot but stir the spectator’s emotions.
Undercurrent (2023) review
Imaizumi delivers an engaging but understated emotional experience that explores the deceptive nature of imaginary veil that binds two subjects together.
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Single8 (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]
Konaka offers the spectator a heartwarming invitation to re-find, within oneself, one’s (nearly extinguished) passion for creation.
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Winny (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]
Matsumoto offers a serene insight in how the Other of the law curtails a subject and, indirectly, sabotages the prospects of a new industry.
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Plastic (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]
Miyazaki creates a moody narrative that highlights the equivocal functionality of music for the subject as well as the destructive impact of not being able to create an…
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Side by Side (2023) review [OAFF 2023]
A peaceful dream-like visual experience that celebrates both the impact subjects have on each other as well as the manner in which the subject remains opaque to himself…
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River (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]
If you like low-key humour and some time-twisting fun, you should not miss Yamaguchi’s latest.
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Ice Cream Fever (2023) review [Japannual 2023]
A gorgeous stylish exploration of the subjective struggles and the solutions subjects invent within the field of love and desire.
2023 Year in Review
Books Book that made me nod my head again and again and also left me deeply unsettled: Naomi Klein’s Doppelganger Best book about scary caves: The Luminous Dead…
Review: Moscow Mission (2023)
Moscow Mission 93国际列车大劫案 莫斯科行动 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 127 mins. Director: Qiu Litao 邱礼涛 [Herman Yau]. Rating: 6/10. Action-packed crime story, based on a real event, with Chinese…
Review: Last Suspect (2023)
Last Suspect 拯救嫌疑人 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 118 mins. Director: Zhang Mo 张末. Rating: 4/10. Remake of Korean crime thriller 7 Days, about a hot-shot lawyer and her…
Year in Review 2023
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Trapped Balloon (2023) review
A touching and visually pleasing narrative about the importance of finding an address for one’s signifiers of suffering
2023 Reviews in Review
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Anime Boston 2023 Review
Katy, Chris, and Bill went to Anime Boston 2023! Here's our overall thoughts, hiccups we ran into, and enjoyment of this east coast anime convention!
Review: Wonder Family (2023)
Wonder Family 超能一家人 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 111 mins. Director: Song Yang 宋阳. Rating: 5/10. Ma Hua FunAge comedy about a crazy family with super powers has a…
January 2023 Manga Review
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Setagaya Game (2023) review
The Ohara Bros do not only offer the spectator a pleasant concatenation of kicks and punches, but also deliver a touching emotional pay-off.
Review: Moonlight Warrior (2023)
Moonlight Warrior 月光武士 China, 2023, colour, 16:9, 109 mins. Director: Hong Ying 虹影. Rating: 5/10. Decent but conventional light drama between a young teenage boy and an older…
Review: Trending Topic (2023)
Trending Topic 热搜 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 120 mins. Director: Xin Yukun 忻钰坤. Rating: 8/10. Actress Zhou Dongyu shines in a quality mainstream drama centred on corporate corruption…
Lonely Glory (2023) review
Sakon succeeds in infusing his narrative about selfish benevolence with a rough emotional naturalness that engages and affects the spectator.
Review: Seven Killings (2023)
Seven Killings 刀尖 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 120 mins. Director: Gao Qunshu 高群书. Rating: 7/10. Low-key but absorbing WW2 spy thriller set in Japanese-occupied Nanjing, with a strong…
Review: Endless Journey (2023)
Endless Journey 三大队 China, 2023, colour, 1.85:1, 132 mins. Director: Dai Mo 戴墨. Rating: 6/10. The best is in the first half in this performance-driven drama centred on…
MAD CATS (2023) review
A dose of cinematic pleasure that does not only provides the laughs but also engages the spectator with well-choreographed action.
Review: Delicious Romance (2023)
Delicious Romance 爱很美味 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 120 mins. Directors: Chen Zhengdao 陈正道 [Leste Chen], Xu Zhaoren 许肇任. Rating: 6/10. This big-screen sequel to an online drama series…
Review: Hidden Blade (2023)
Hidden Blade 无名 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 128 mins. Director: Cheng Er 程耳. Rating: 9/10. Cracking WW2 spy drama set among collaborationists in Japanese-controlled Shanghai is challenging but…
Review: Death Stranding (2023)
Death Stranding 困兽 China/Hong Kong, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 96 mins. Director: Peng Fa 彭发 [Danny Pang]. Rating: 5/10. Generic, Hong Kong-style crime drama is poorly scripted, but watchable…
Bad Lands (2023) review
The incredibly well-crafted narrative structure, fuelled by Sakura Ando’s extremely satisfying performance, ensures that the spectator remains engaged from start and finish
Review: All Ears (2023)
All Ears 不虚此行。 China, 2023, colour, 16:9, 117 mins. Director: Liu Jiayin 刘伽茵. Rating: 4/10. Over-long study of an introverted funeral eulogist and his various clients doesn’t go…
Review: Wolf Hiding (2023)
Wolf Hiding 怒潮 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 105 mins. Director: Ma Yuke 马浴柯. Rating: 7/10. A hard-driven, stygian tale of gangsterly ambition, deceit and murder is a striking…
Review: Ocean Rescue (2023)
Ocean Rescue 深海危机 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 92 mins. Director: Shen Dong 沈东. Rating: 4/10. Routine, poorly plotted action movie, with Mainland operatives taking on terrorists with a…
Review: Death Notice (2023)
Death Notice 暗杀风暴 Hong Kong/China, 2023, colour/b&w, 2.35:1, 99 mins. Director: Qiu Litao 邱礼涛 [Herman Yau]. Rating: 6/10. Despite a shapeless script, this serial-killer mystery is largely entertaining…
Monster (2023) – Movie Review
I won’t say that Koreeda Hirokazu is a must-see director for me. I honestly didn’t connect the dots between some of my favorite films, and his screenwriting/directorial talents…
Review: The Procurator (2023)
The Procurator 检察风云 China, 2023, colour/b&w, 2.35:1, 112 mins. Director: Mai Zhaohui 麦兆辉 [Alan Mak]. Rating: 6/10. Part courtroom drama, part crime procedural, this ends up being not…
Review: Flaming Cloud (2023)
Flaming Cloud 三贵情史 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 106 mins. Director: Liu Siyi 刘斯逸. Rating: 6/10. Mainland actress Yao Chen is the main delight in this post-modern fairytale that…
Review: Tainted Love (2023)
Tainted Love 鹦鹉杀 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 100 mins. Director: Ma Yingxin 麻赢心. Rating: 4/10. Ambitious but stylistically messy drama about a woman who hunts down her online…
Techno Brothers (2023) review
An amazing blend of arthouse minimalism and weird deadpan comedy.
River (2023) [Film Review]
River; or, The Edge of Afternoon What will you wish for? The year 2023 is coming to an end soon, but I managed to find some time…
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Shin Kamer Rider (2023) review [Fantasia Fest 2023]
Anno delivers an action-hero experience that is both incredibly fun and emotionally touching.
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Okiku and the World (2023) review [Japannual 2023]
Introduction Junji Sakamoto (Another World (2019), I Never Shot Anyone (2020), My Brother, The Android and Me (2022)) might not be as well-known by international audiences as other…