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 final act. STORY Houshan Hills, Haidong municipality, somewhere in southern China, the present day. Following the sudden death of billionaire businessman Gao Jin at the age of … Continue reading Review: Revival (2023) →
Jan 22, 2024 • Subscribe
More like this
GTO Revival (2024) [Special Review]
GTO Revival; or, A New Lesson Even if you don’t have these, you are you. You’re the cutest. I have to start this review with a big…
Time Bokan: Royal Revival Anime Review
Well, here we are. Originally, I didn’t think it was worth writing about Royal Revival because it’s a short 90’s ova to a longer 70’s anime series. Those…
An Uncanny Revival
Fill your largest bowl up with the most American sugar-laden cereal you have and drench it with whole milk. The X-MEN are back, bub, and you don't want…
List | 2023 – 2024 and The Revival of Romance Anime
A love letter to romance anime, my favorites of 2023 and what I’m looking forward to in 2024.
Digimon History 7: Digimon Revival
Before moving away from “Digimon Chronicle” completely, let’s talk a bit about other things that were being worked on in that era. Ever since “Digimon Adventure 02” th…
Overlord IV – 06 – Runes for Revival
Feo Jera is about to be besieged by the Quagoa, and the Drawves’ scant military contingent prepares for the fight of their lives, but their general is suddenly…
The Mysterious Revival of Captain Okita
Illustration by Yutaka Kondo. Sado: “Looks like he’s dying.” Okita: “It’s too early to tell…” I thought he was dead, but he’s alive! The reason Captain Okita came…
Review: SSS-CLASS REVIVAL HUNTER Volume 1 brings the hit webtoon to print
Relive the climb to the top as K-Comics Beat reviews Volume 1 of the hit Tapas.io webtoon brought to print by Ize Press
![Featured image for Cafune (2023) review [OAFF 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230328/1679965210.56239.89158.jpg)
Cafune (2023) review [OAFF 2023]
A very strong debut by Haruki Kinemura.
Bill Gates and the Revival of the Meguro Parasitological Museum
A unique museum in Tokyo's Meguro ward that has been struggling to stay afloat got a boost in the arm from a surprise visitor.
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…
Immersion (2023) review
Spectators looking for something new and fresh will find little to like about Shimizu’s latest.
Yoko (2023) review
A complex full-bodied filmic wine that cannot but stir the spectator’s emotions.
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...
Laughing Salesman, Noel's Fantastic Trip, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Tomo-chan Is a Girl!, Undead Murder Farce
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…
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…
Undercurrent (2023) review
Imaizumi delivers an engaging but understated emotional experience that explores the deceptive nature of imaginary veil that binds two subjects together.
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: 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…
Review: Godspeed (2023)
Godspeed 人生路不熟 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 99 mins. Director: Yi Xiaoxing 易小星. Rating: 5/10. A comedy road movie centred on a dysfunctional family is strongly cast, starts promisingly…
#Manhole (2023) review
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…
Monster (2023) review
Kore-eda succeeds in delivering an utterly engaging narrative about the fundamental misunderstanding that underpins our fabrication of our truth.
![Featured image for Plastic (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230819/1692410921.66848.102075.jpg)
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…
![Featured image for Winny (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230805/1691243321.66097.101192.jpg)
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.
![Featured image for Single8 (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230816/1692176321.66687.101896.jpg)
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.
ERASED / Boku dake ga Inai Machi #1 – Regrets, withdrawal and revival
Notabilities: Itou Tomohiko is an accomplished director with a wide range of series he’s had under his belt, primarily at A-1 Pictures and Madhouse. Occult Academy, Silver Spoon and…
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Arc – Revival of a classic Magical Girl
As the quintessential Cardcaptor Sakura fanboy around the blogosphere, I felt it was only right for me to start writing about my thoughts on this at some point.…
Cardcaptor Sakura, Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, Digimon: Digital Monsters, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Super
![Featured image for Side by Side (2023) review [OAFF 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230319/1679205610.55672.88465.jpg)
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…
![Featured image for Ice Cream Fever (2023) review [Japannual 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20231019/1697676721.70884.106919.jpg)
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.
![Featured image for River (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230801/1690853321.65844.100891.jpg)
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.
The History of Kazumasa Habu and Digimon – The Revival of Digimon games
IntroductionBefore his focus as a Digimon ProducerGetting into DigimonBecoming the Digimon ProducerTemporarily Moving onJust Getting StartedThe past and the future are an ununified puzzle Introduct…
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: 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: 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: 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…
Techno Brothers (2023) review
An amazing blend of arthouse minimalism and weird deadpan comedy.
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: 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…
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: 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: 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…
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!
Lonely Glory (2023) review
Sakon succeeds in infusing his narrative about selfish benevolence with a rough emotional naturalness that engages and affects the spectator.
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: 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…
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: 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…
Trapped Balloon (2023) review
A touching and visually pleasing narrative about the importance of finding an address for one’s signifiers of suffering
Year in Review 2023
A new year, a new reflection on the past year’s events. These posts have become somewhat therapeutic over the past few years, helping me look back at the…
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…