Shallow 出拳吧妈妈 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 95 mins. Director: Tang Xiaobai 唐晓白. Rating: 6/10. Despite a few shortcomings in the script, under-rated Mainland actress Tan Zhuo throws herself into the role of a boxer who must fight to retrieve her young son. STORY Tianhai city, somewhere in coastal northern China, winter. Police come to the … Continue reading Review: Shallow (2021) →
Jun 22, 2022 • Subscribe
More like this
(REVIEW) Reckoning with MAGIA RECORD: DAWN OF A SHALLOW DREAM
Last night a magical girl saved my life.
Shallow Dives in Anime: Anniversary Posts
Hey guys Every now and then I like to catalogue my posts and give you an easy place where you can find links to them. I normally do…
Chivalry of a Failed Knight, Neon Genesis Evangelion, The Testament of Sister New Devil
Five Years of Shallow Dives in Anime
This week marks five years, five years! Of Shallow Dives in Anime! To think that I’ve been able to keep this blog going for that long is nothing…
Three Years of Shallow Dives in Anime
This week will mark the 3rd anniversary of Shallow Dives in Anime! I can’t believe that much time has passed, and frankly, I can’t believe that I’ve managed to…
Four Years of Shallow Dives in Anime
This week will mark the 4th anniversary of Shallow Dives in Anime! I can’t believe that much time has passed, and frankly, I can’t believe that I’ve managed to…
Two Years of Shallow Dives in Anime
This week will mark the 2nd anniversary of Shallow Dives in Anime! I can’t believe that much time has passed, and frankly, I can’t believe that I’ve managed…
Six Years of Shallow Dives in Anime
Hey guys Last week marked six years of Shallow Dives in Anime! I can’t believe it’s fucking six years since I started this blog. What a journey it…
![Featured image for Goto-san (2021) review [OAFF 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210513/1620894243.12248.36802.png)
Goto-san (2021) review [OAFF 2021]
“Gokan expertly reveals the position of the freeter as an attempt to escape the capitalistic machinery but also as a position that most easily falls prey to the…
February 2021 Review
Ah, February is here and thus another traditional post to be done-a review focused on character relationships and/or romance. Hard to believe I have done reviews of this…
Review: Secret (2021)
Secret 秘不可言 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 90 mins. Director: Cao Yong 曹涌 [Cao Yong 曹勇]. Rating: 5/10. Intriguing, well-mounted psychodrama-cum-mystery starts well but becomes scarcely credible later on.…
March 2021 Review
You know, I have never been too keen on superheroes. Not much a comics guy, nothing against them, but just never struck my interest. Hell out of the…
Frantic (2021) review
“Fuji delivers his best movie yet and, quite possibly, the cult-film of the year.”
Blue (2021) review
“A very emotional journey about the difficulties of dealing with loss and lack.”
Review: Synesthete (2021)
Synesthete 越界 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 80 mins. Director: Liang Honghua 梁鸿华. Rating: 3/10. An interesting idea never comes to fruition in this messy, low-budget ghost movie with…
Review: Yanagawa (2021)
Yanagawa 漫长的告白 China, 2021, colour, 1.85:1, 112 mins. Director: Zhang Lv 张律. Rating: 3/10. More accessible than most of Zhang Lv’s features, this indie confection is still a…
Character (2021) review
It might not be a film that challenges or subverts the tropes and dynamic of the mystery and thriller genre, but it sure does deliver a satisfying and…
Underdog (2021) review
“Take’s film powerfully shows that the heroism of the art of boxing lies in the very subjective meaning that power the jabs, the hooks, and the uppercuts.”
2021 in Review
The world continues to go to hell in a handbasket. The pandemic continues to rage. The world supply chain is borked. Inflation is rampant. W...
Rain Boy, Yawara!, Bakumatsu no Spasibo, Super Cub, Horimiya
Homunculus (2021) review
“A worthy attempt to offer something fresh to the horror-table, but Shimizu struggles to blend the many pleasing parts into a whole that truly engages and pleases the…
Six Years of Shallow Dive in Anime: Queen’s Blade
For six years I have posted every week on this blog. Six years of blogging about anime, manga and everything in between. Each anniversary I have taken time…
Wolf girl and Black Prince – Shallow and Hopelessly bad
Hey guys what is up welcome back to my blog I’m so thankful that you guys took the time out of your day to read my blog post.…
Wolf girl and Black Prince – Shallow and Hopelessly bad
Hey guys what is up welcome back to my blog I’m so thankful that you guys took the time out of your day to read my blog post.…
![Featured image for Sweet Bitter Candy (2021) review [OAFF 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210513/1620894253.12230.36800.png)
Sweet Bitter Candy (2021) review [OAFF 2021]
“An amazing exploration of the clash between a sweet youthful romantic desire and the bitter urge of a wounded subject to defend his subjective wounds.”
Three Years of Shallow Dives in Anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Each year, we mark the anniversary of Shallow Dives in Anime with a special review. A show that for some reason or another holds a special place in my…
Five Years of Shallow Dives in Anime: Netflix’s One Piece
This was not the show I had planned to write about for this. I wasn’t even going to really talk about it on the blog, but apparently Netflix…
Review: Water Boys (2021)
Water Boys 五个扑水的少年 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 110 mins. Director: Song Haolin 宋灏霖. Rating: 7/10. Very free re-make of the 2001 Japanese hit comedy about a male synchro…
Review: Chinese Doctors (2021)
Chinese Doctors 中国医生 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 127 mins. Director: Liu Weiqiang 刘伟强 [Andrew Lau]. Rating: 6/10. Wuhan-set Covid drama has a propulsive, convincing first half but slacker,…
Make-Believers (2021) review
“Kenjo McCurtain mixes the right elements into a musical romantic cocktail that is both heartfelt and deeply satisfying.”
Review: Embrace Again (2021)
Embrace Again 穿过寒冬拥抱你 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 123 mins. Director: Xue Xiaolu 薛晓路. Rating: 5/10. “Inspirational” light drama, about volunteers in Wuhan during the Covid lockdown, is rescued…
Review: Ultimate Code (2021)
Ultimate Code 终极代码 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 89 mins. Chief director: Wu Zhiting 吴治廷. Director: Li Ke 李柯. Associate directors: Zhang Lizhi 张立志, Xiong Chunsheng 熊春生 [Xiong Jie…
Year in review 2021
As I sit at my desk typing up this long overdue post, I’m reflecting on all that has changed over these last 6 months. Normally this post would…
Review: Lie Detector (2021)
Lie Detector 测谎人 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 91 mins. Director: Yang Yuanhan 杨沅翰. Late-stage director: Qian Guowei 钱国伟. Rating: 5/10. Wry, well-cast comedy about two opposites disappointingly fails…
Zokki (2021) [Film Review]
Zokki; or, Too Many Secrets Lately, I've been thinking. If a living creature loses what it keeps secret, maybe it can't go on living. O...
Masquerade Night (2021) review
A pleasant and entertaining narrative that is ultimately victim of the demand to be consumable for as many spectators as possible.
Review: Knock Knock (2021)
Knock Knock 不速来客 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 104 mins. Director: Liu Xiang 刘翔. Rating: 7/10. Lightly comic crime puzzler, set in a grubby flat, holds the attention thanks…
August 2021 Review (Shirobako)
When I started this 10 years ago, blogging served as a way to pass the time when I went back to tech school for additional study to improve…
Review: Embrace Again (2021)
Embrace Again 穿过寒冬拥抱你 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 123 mins. Director: Xue Xiaolu 薛晓路. Rating: 5/10. “Inspirational” light drama, about volunteers in Wuhan during the Covid lockdown, is rescued…
Review: Farewell Beijing (2021)
Farewell Beijing 您好，北京 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 107 mins. Director: Cao Xixi 曹茜茜. Rating: 5/10. Interwoven stories of three Big City wannabes jogs along okay but is unoriginal…
Review: Be Somebody (2021)
Be Somebody 扬名立万 China, 2021, colour/b&w, 2.35:1, 122 mins. Director: Liu Xunzimo 刘循子墨. Rating: 6/10. Richly written and staged, this period Shanghai crime comedy is over-long and gets…
Baby Assassins (2021) review
“One of the most satisfying Japanese action films of this year.”
Somebody’s Flowers (2021) review
“A beautiful narrative that explores the mental and societal obstacles that litter the path of those subjects who suddenly need to grieve the loss of loved ones with…
Halloween 2021 Review (Yamishibai)
As we turn to October, and the leaves fall and shadows creep in, we tend to seek out stuff to give us thrills and chills. As such, I…
Moonlight Shadow (2021) review
“One of the most touching explorations of the inability to mourn and what can enable the subject to embark on the journey of saying goodbye.”
Review: Island Keeper (2021)
Island Keeper 守岛人 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 124 mins. Director: Chen Li 陈力. Rating: 6/10. Well-played drama, based on a real-life story, of a couple on a lonely…
Cube (2021) [Film Review]
Cube (2021); or, Running Scared I see a sin in your eyes. My first encounter with the Cube franchise was not a positive one. Back in…
Review: Tempting Hearts (2021)
Tempting Hearts 有一点动心 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 93 mins. Directors: Chen Jiashang 陈嘉上 [Gordon Chan], Zhu Xuefei 朱雪菲. Rating: 6/10. Offbeat, soso-scripted rom-com depends a lot on its…
The Family (2021) review
“A highly original yakuza narrative that beautifully touches upon the importance that the (idealized) figure of the father can have for a subject’s lifepath.”
The Women (2021) review
“A narrative with many beautiful touching moments but not a satisfying whole.”
Review: Daily Fantasy (2021)
Daily Fantasy 日常幻想指南 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 97 mins. Director: Liang Dong 梁栋. Rating: 4/10. Ambling, pointless fantasy about a professional thief who suddenly has the ability to…
Nichijou - My Ordinary Life: Episode 0, Nichijou - My Ordinary Life
Review: Never Stop (2021)
Never Stop 超越 China, 2021, colour, 2.35:1, 96 mins. Director: Han Bowen 韩博文. Rating: 6/10. Mainland actor Zheng Kai is impressive as a onetime sports star, though the…