Movie toplist: 551 to 575
Laputa: Castle in the Sky
"The sense of adventure, wonder and delight is what set this film apart, combined with a great eye for detail and perfect pacing it makes for a sprawling, joyous fantasy film."
A Taste of Hunger
"The lush cinematography and outstanding soundtrack set the stage for a bristling, touching relationship drama, the superb performances seal the deal."
Tai Chi Zero
"The economic running time, the use of superb athletes, the visual imagination and the overall first-grade production values make Tai Chi Zero one of the more entertaining films of 2012."
Terminator Salvation
"If you think films like Terminator Salvation need a solid storyline and well-developed characters, you would do best to stay away from this film."
Noise
"A somewhat gritty but heartfelt and compassionate look at an underexposed part of Japanese youth culture, appropriately stylized and building up to a memorable finale."
The Burning Buddha Man
"Ujicha's passion is beyond question. The unique animation style, the grotesque art style, the off the wall plot and the immense scale of Ujicha's undertaking make this an experience like no other."
Shiver
"An extremely well-balanced album film, where the entrancing music and stylish visuals feed off each other, combining into an invigorating and encompassing experience."
L
"In the end, L is another typical Shimoyama film."
Human, Space, Time and Human
"A strong, visceral and aptly executed allegory. A rough ride that combines beauty and darkness in a way that invariably links them together as an inescapable part of the human condition."
The Neighbor No. 13
"There are moments of sheer genius here, hidden away in a film that comes off just a little to modest for its own good."
Pink and Gray
"Pink and Gray is a pretty great film, but some familiarity with the director will definitely help you to appreciate it to its fullest."
Crazy Samurai Musashi
"Sakaguchi's performance is stellar, the action is almost meditative and Shimomura's direction does everything in its power to draw the attention towards the implausible feat they pulled off."
Hidden Man
"Hidden Man is an insanely entertaining, clever, tongue in cheek revenge flick that features a stellar cast, stylish visuals and some very solid action sequences."
Asako I & II
"There's quite a lot of quirkiness to get through, but on the other side of that lies a beautifully made, emotionally touching and deeply humane drama."
New Dragon Gate Inn
"The actors are on point, the film looks great and there's a lot of fun to be had, especially whenever the films endorses its own mean streak."
A Gentle Breeze in the Village
"A film like this may not be the easiest sell as it lacks a strong dramatic undercurrent, but Yamashita compensates with lovely characters, a beautiful setting and tons of charm."
The Advent Calendar
"Patrick Ridremont serves a delightful mix of horror and dark fantasy, with stylish visuals, a fitting soundtrack, a solid cast and a great ending to boot. Perfect for the holidays."
Domino
"Domino is loud, bold and in your face, but it's also fun and entertaining while staying clear from Hollywood's usual pitfalls."
High & Low: The Worst
"High & Low: The Worst has everything I want from this type of film. Cool gangs, dystopian settings, huge brawls and lots of posing. And for every checkbox, it's best in class."
Hotel Iris
"The cinematography and score are polished and stylish, the performances are top-notch and the themes are dark and challenging, resulting in a very fine drama that underlines Okuhara's talent."
Smoking Causes Coughing
"The Tokusatsu angle is cool, the anthology structure is something new to Dupieux's work, other than that you can expect the dry delivery of wackiness that makes his films such a joy to watch."
Ninja Scroll
"It's delightfully and excessively violent, sporting superb creature designs, a bold and expressive art style and brisk pacing. Everything you'd ever want and need in a gory, macho action film."
Last Night in Soho
"A beautiful fever dream that transports you to the seedy underbelly of a different place and time, built on dazzling cinematography, a well-tailored score and excellent performances."
Ribbon
"The loveable characters, the stylish score and cinematography, and the slightly fantastical moments all add up to a very likeable and capable drama without any real weak points."
Ánimas
"Two excellent leads, a stylish and poignant presentation and a solid central mystery that stretches well into the second half of the film make Ánimas a very successful mindfuck."