Log: week 20 / 2025
A rather typical Japanese coming-of-age drama set against a genre-fueled backdrop. It's an interesting mix with a balance that never tilts to the genre side, even though its impact is felt in every scene. Strong performances, a great score, slick cinematography, and a nice blend of themes make this a quality release, directed by Ryuichi Sakamoto's son. It's not so much a revolution as it is a gentle shift, but in time, Sora could give the genre a much-needed makeover.
I'm aware that Italian neorealist cinema isn't my thing, so my expectations were limited when starting this film. The wealthier setting took me by surprise, but that didn't translate into more exuberant cinematic qualities. Europe '51 is quite sober and rigid, not the type of cinema that does it for me. The plot and drama didn't grab me, the performances were overdone, and the presentation was lackluster. The runtime was also excessive, though that's probably because I did not find anything to like here. It's not the worst of its niche, but it's not a film I'll be remembering for long.Read all
The first ten minutes could've been their own movie, but let's not focus too much on the plot. Even though a small army of writers was hired to come up with something, it's a generic blockbuster that does what every modern adaptation does. It's a dumpster of references built around a meager plot outline. The Minecraft world is kinda fun, but as I've never played the game myself, most of the references didn't really hit (then again, they didn't save the Super Mario movie for me either). The actors are terrible and annoying, the soundtrack is an insult, the comedy is bland, but at least the pacing is decent, and the film was surprisingly short. Slim pickings, but it's something.Read all
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades
The third entry in the series. What surprised me is that it still feels pretty fragmented, which is probably because the film seems to stick closely to the manga's structure. It feels like a couple of films crammed into a single narrative, which is nice for the pacing, but makes it somewhat of a disjointed experience. There are some fun and cool scenes scattered throughout, but it's all pretty standard samurai/ninja stuff. The presentation is decent but nothing too out of the ordinary, and the performances are spirited, though not exactly great. It's enjoyable, but a bit too random and messy to be an easy, worry-free watch.Read all
A TV reboot of the popular horror/comedy series. They stayed pretty true to the original, which is both good and bad. The ambitions of this film are low, and a lot of the good stuff is stolen from the older films, but at least it's quite charming. The Critters remain the funnier and slightly nastier alternative to the Gremlins. The performances aren't too great and the effects are cheesy, but the horror is bloody enough, the comedy is present, and the pacing is solid. It's not a great film, and if you're unfamiliar with the original films (or you simply didn't like them), then there's not much here. I just happen to like the original series, so I didn't mind this basic reboot.Read all
I was hoping for a bit more, but people looking for something weird and absurd in a hotel-like setting won't be too disappointed. The film reminded me of Delicatessen and Hotel Poseidon, although a lesser version of both. Which is a bit of a shame, as films like these are relatively hard to come by. Glover is great, so is the rest of the cast, but it's the presentation that felt a bit restrained. The cinematography wasn't as polished, and the score is downright disappointing. There are some memorable moments, and it's way more entertaining than the brunt of the movies out there, just a little lacking compared to its closer peers.Read all
A dry, slightly darker comedy that benefits greatly from Nicholson's stone-faced performance. I watched this very early on in my cinephile journey and liked it a lot. Upon revision, I think it's still a funny and capable film, but it lacks something to make it a true standout. Something I've noticed in other US comedies of that era. Nicholson is a delight, but the rest of the cast is good too, with Kathy Bates stealing the show in a supportive role. The main character's journey is fun, his letters are hilarious, and the comedy is on point. The film is a tad long though, and I prefer my comedy just a tiny bit edgier. Other than that, I enjoyed it a lot.Read all
Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance
The first film in the Lone Wolf and Cub series (of films). This cross-media franchise is quite popular, but so far, I'd only seen the US restitch of the first two films, and that felt a bit unjust. Sword of Vengeance is a step up from that, but it was still a bit more fragmented than I imagined. At its core, this is a pretty standard samurai film, but it's leaner and more action/genre-oriented compared to the big classics. It's also shorter than most, which is a nice little extra. The cart & baby add a little extra flair, the action scenes are decent, but the plot is rather plain, and the presentation could've been slicker.Read all
This film used to be a pretty big deal when it was first released. It's not exactly the first LGBTQ-themed film out there, but Moodysson had some reach, and the film was a pretty pleasant and gentle drama documenting a young girl's journey of coming out of the closet in a small provincial town. The performances are strong, the drama is fine, and while the focus lies on the lesbian relationship between the two leads, there's also a little more than that going on, making it a more rounded film. The presentation is a little bland, and the impact has subsided over the years, but it's still a pleasant enough film.Read all
Early Iguchi film where he managed to land some pretty interesting actors, though I'm not sure they're looking back that fondly on their involvement. This is a weird film, a strange mix between body horror and romance, done rather cheaply. It's interesting for sure, but I wouldn't call it quality filmmaking. The presentation is iffy, the effects are basic too, but there are some wacky and weird ideas here that keep things interesting. I think a shorter runtime and a little extra polish would've made a real difference, but people who appreciated Iguchi's later films should give it a go. It's not dull, I can say that much.Read all
This Black Mirror ep chases a more dramatic tone. These are usually the fan favorites, I can't say I've been impressed so far with these somewhat feeble attempts to mix sci-fi and drama. It's not that the premise is bad, it's more that the plot remains the main focus, and the drama doesn't get much room to breathe. Paul Giamatti does a solid job, but he isn't helped by the script. There are some bland twists, and the presentation is borderline cheesy, turning some of the dramatic potential into sentimentality. Maybe a longer runtime would've created a bit more space for genuine emotion, but I fear this particular terrain just isn't Brooker's strong point.Read all
Organized Crime & Triad Bureau
It's been a while since I've seen one of these Hong Kong films, probably because I've already seen most of them (at least, the more infamous ones). So this was a pretty nice discovery. I'm not the biggest Danny Lee fan, but I'll always make time for Anthony Wong, and he didn't disappoint. The film itself is a typical police procedural, with a cop chasing down a hardened criminal. Chases in the middle of Hong Kong, some gunfights, and some romantic roughhousing. It's all there, it's all executed competently. If you want something original, look elsewhere. If you want fun genre filler, give this one a go.Read all