Log: week 29 / 2025
This series is made for someone like Keita Amemiya. Crazy fantasy with fantastical creatures, high octane action, and some typical Japanese folklore mixed in. The budget was limited, but Amemiya is used to that, and he is skilled enough to work around those limitations. The result is pure entertainment. That said, the segments on the train are the highlight of the film, but they come relatively early. The later scenes are still fun, but not quite as weird or polished. The drama could've been toned down a little, and the runtime is a bit long for silly fodder like this, but I still had a good time with this Garo film. It does help to be familiar with the franchise, but it's not a necessity.Read all
An Indian film where the Bollywood elements were toned down a bit. There's still a plethora of genres and some big, sudden mood swings to deal with, but overall, it felt more like a coherent piece of cinema. There are some strong scenes here, but 150+ minutes is still a bit too much. The cinematography was slick, and the soundtrack had some proper highlights. The drama was overdone though, and the middle part could've used some trimming. The ending is better, the film never takes itself too seriously, and there were some memorable bits scattered throughout. Proper Bollywood cinema.Read all
Normally, I'm not the biggest fan of time loop films, as they all follow a very similar structure, but Araki's Penalty Loop throws everything upside down. The first loop is perfection, after that, everything starts getting more and more unhinged. It's an interesting take on a familiar niche, and one that is executed with the proper flair. Strong performances and meticulous styling choices turned this into a very cool and refreshing thriller.