Log: week 13 / 2025
It seems Parkinson remade his 2019 film, only with a bigger budget and some familiar (Hollywood) faces. I understand why he accepted the offer. The original appears to be a TV project, which no doubt came with a lot more limitations, but I doubt this was a significant improvement over the original. The underwater scenes are pretty tense, and a tighter edit (or a bigger focus on the thriller elements) could've made this a fine little genre flick, but the drama, the sentimentality, and the extended finale take a way from the experience. It's a decent enough film, but nothing too memorable.Read all
A European attempt to emulate the big Hollywood epics. Apart from the bland and pompous presentation, I also wasn't a big fan of the themes here. Western religion saving indigenous cultures from invaders comes off more than a little tone-deaf, and it makes for a rather dull and unexciting film. The performances are decent but nothing to be excited about, the presentation is generic and unadventurous, and the plot is a real borefest. The setting is nice, but when the cinematic qualities of a film don't do it any justice, it doesn't amount to much. Not my kind of film, at least they didn't tack on an extra hour for effect.Read all
Lin's latest is probably his most arthouse-leaning film so far, but the push towards a purer result made sense. The stark black-and-white cinematography is impressive, the subtle score adds to the drama, and the performances are captivating. It's not the most complex or original drama, but it's one of those films where everything is perfectly balanced and in place to drag you into the film's calming vibe. I don't have anything negative to say about this one, I'm just happy to see Tom Lin is back where he belongs.
An interesting take on the apocalyptic niche. I'm not surprised this comes from the guy who made The Platform, as this is another more conceptual takedown of societal structures. It's also a film that speaks to the zeitgeist, with regular folk cheering on the misfortune (and sometimes deaths) of the wealthy. The film starts strong and bold, with some pretty over-the-top characters, and the first half hour or so kept me guessing where this was going. The second half isn't quite as intense, and there's a slight shift from genre to arthouse. I got the intention, but it didn't quite work for me. Other than that, it's a pretty cool and interesting film.Read all
A film with some very memorable scenes. Even now these still stand proud. The problem is more with the moments in between, which aren't quite as interesting or riveting anymore. When I first watched Jacob's Ladder all these years ago, it was a little easier to forgive. I guess I'm a bit harder to please now. Robbins gives a nice performance, the horror elements are pretty nifty, and the build-up of the tension is proper. But the real highlights are quite few and far apart, and the filler in between slows the film down. I think a tighter edit might solve some of the problems, but if you like tense movies, this is definitely worth a try.Read all
La Blue Girl: Revenge of the Shikima Realm
Some fun fantasy cheese, but if you're not familiar with the La Blue Girl franchise, think twice about watching this. This is an anime adaptation, and the original series is one of the main reasons anime had such a bad name in the West. Much like Legend of the Overfiend, there's some tentacle action here that isn't for everyone. The fantasy bits are cute, the film is short, and the pacing is pleasant enough, but the pinku elements are rather silly, and the shock value of the anime is mostly absent. Still, the content hasn't changed, so it's still tantacled monsters and young girls battling it out. Great cinema this is not, but it's better than your average pinku flick.Read all
Fenglou Chronicles: Tale of the Spirit Fox
And here's another one. Don't ask me to keep these movies apart, a week from now this one will have blended in with a dozen others, but they're still good fun. The usual mix of fantasy, action, and romance is on full display here, the limited runtime and slick pacing make sure it never tires. The CG is decent enough, but as always, the actual costumes and sets are way nicer to look at. The fight choreography is cool, the fantasy lore is fun, and the mix of genres works well. But when all is said and done, it's just another overly familiar film about fox spirits, no surprises here, just good fun.Read all
A decent crime flick, though not nearly as cool and/or dry as I remembered it to be. It's been a long time since I last watched it and my taste in films has changed a lot. While there are still some interesting scenes and memorable moments, overall it's a bit too generic and familiar to leave a sizeable impression. The performances are fun, but the presentation is a bit bland and the 2-hour runtime is excessive. The comedy is what saves this film, but it isn't that unique. The film thrives on the chemistry between its central duo, other than that, it's just a basic US crime flick. Not bad, but far from the personal favorite it used to be.Read all
A gentle, though somewhat predictable, film about a young boy who spends more time with his grandma hoping to get her inheritance. It's a pleasant slice-of-life drama that slowly makes its way to an inevitable ending, giving you time to properly bond with the characters while also showcasing some of Thailand's culture. The performances are nice, the presentation is pleasant and the pacing is okay for a film like this (but expect it to be rather slow). There aren't too many surprising elements though and two hours might've been a tad long, but I never lost interest. It's not the most notable film, but still worth it if you're looking for calming, somewhat emotional filler.Read all
I was a bit worried about this one as I usually don't love Japanese narratives about bands, but Naoko Yamada crafted such a sweet, innocent, and lovely little film that I didn't mind the music scenes one bit. It's one of those films where everyone is gentle and well-meaning. That doesn't mean the film is without drama, only that it's more related to the insecurities and fears lying within the characters themselves. Add some stylish animation and a lovely art style and this is another standout from Yamada.