Log: week 31 / 2025
Russia's Gravity, but with a bigger focus on style. I'm a bit bummed I wasn't able to watch this in theaters, but happy it was released with the original dub intact. That's a win for Russian genre films nowadays. Don't even attempt to take this film seriously, it's a rollercoaster experience that is all about the glitz and vibes. There's no filler to be seen, it takes the action about five minutes to start, and it doesn't let up until the credits start rolling. I had a real blast with this one, but the current political situation will make it tricky (if not impossible) for Free Fall to reach a broad audience.
A dark and grim police procedural. I almost skipped this one because of the long runtime (in combination with the focus on police work), but Sai turned this into an intriguing thriller. It's not for the faint of heart, and the film might be a little too ambitious, but that's still better than showing no ambition at all.
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It's always nice spotting familiar faces (Endo, Nishijima, and Kishibe were all there), the presentation was better than expected, and despite the longer runtime, the pacing was perfect. Add some pretty gruesome moments and a fitting finale, and you have a more than solid film. I'm surprised this one has remained under the radar in the West.
An amusing action romp that brings together various influences, but gets a bit too serious in its second half. The premise is cute, but it's not particularly original. Thanks to the spirited leads (Akari Takaishi in particular) and some sly comedy, it's at all times an easy and pleasant watch.
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The second half is a little darker and more serious in tone, which doesn't quite fit the sillier premise. There are some impressive action scenes to compensate, but the shift in tone was unnecessary and disrupted the pacing. It's not that it ruins the film, it's just a weird choice. I still had good fun with this one, but I was probably expecting a tad more.
Compared to some of Feuillade's other films, the films in the Fantomas series are relatively short, but maybe that's just the format they've been distributed in (because his longer films are usually split into different episodes too). Despite this being only 60 minutes, it still felt overly long and unengaging.
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I found the soundtrack grating and the chase between a policeman and a criminal uninteresting. These films are also way too narrative-focused for my taste, which isn't great for a form of cinema that relies on intertitles to drive the plot. I can see how these films earned their place in history, but I had to slog through them.
Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds
A fun and fantastical French animation, but it felt a little too inspired by the Ghibli universe. On top of that, I didn't fully appreciate the dub, which made some of the characters a bit more annoying than necessary. But there's still a lot to appreciate here, as there's more wonder and whimsy compared to most other fantasy films.
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I also wasn't entirely sold on the art style. Though it has its moments and it's colorful and unique, it lacked a bit of detail. If all of that sounds somewhat negative, it's because I felt the potential was there to do even better. It's miles ahead of your average US CG animation, but it's not up there with the best either (I would suggest watching Busifan's The Storm instead).
A fun little genre film with an interesting premise that offers interesting single-location entertainment. But it's also predictable in its structure, and the finale wasn't quite as nifty as it hoped to be. A slightly shorter runtime would've been better, though the pacing was overall decent enough.
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The performances were fine, the premise showed promise, and I always appreciate films that stick to a single location. The presentation was proper, and the build-up of tension was by the book. It's just that it didn't do quite enough to stand out from similar films. This isn't the next Cube or The Platform, but it's still an entertaining diversion.
Clearly for a younger audience, this one. I'm not entirely up to speed on the Ultraman lore, but the premise here is certifiably bonkers. It felt like a live-action Thunderbirds episode made for kids aged 6-10, with silly characters, weird plot twists, and simple comedy. But then there's also a bit of Kaiju fun.
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It's a good thing this was only 50 minutes long, otherwise it would've been way more annoying. Thanks to the fast pacing and silly lore, it was still somewhat amusing, even if I never quite figured out how this ties in with the rest of the Ultraman films and series. Great cinema this is not, but if you can appreciate Kaiju films, there's some fun to be had with this one.
The plot of Fukuda's latest is silly nonsense, and the fight scenes aren't top-notch, but like most of his films, the comedy is what makes it worth your while. The nonsensical, dry banter is pretty hilarious, and even though it often slows down the movie while adding absolutely nothing to the plot, it saved the film for me.
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Not that the rest isn't fun, but it's simple entertainment with a bit of low-brow, mid-budget action. It doesn't stand out, which is kinda worrying for a 2-hour film. But Fukuda is a comedy master, and there was more than one scene where I had to laugh out loud. Don't expect anything too insane, but if you're looking for proper entertainment, look no further.
This is a tricky one. Nihilistic and slow during the first half, utterly cynical and uncomfortable during the second part. But the twist is that the mood during the final 20 minutes is factually light and upbeat. It's an odd setup that is alienating, but at the same time, it's also extremely powerful.
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The presentation is relatively basic, and the performances are solid but nothing too exceptional. But it's really all about the structure of the narrative, the juxtaposition of what you see/hear and what you know is going on, and what that tells us about the world around us. Intriguing, but I suspect quite niche.
A decent horror film that's served with the right amount of glee, but fails to stand out. Harrison is a rather bland lead, while Courtney isn't quite as mental as he could've been. And the film reveals its true face very early on, so people who believe they'll be watching a simple shark flick will quickly catch on within the first 10 minutes.
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The setting is nice, the performances aren't terrible, and there are some amusing moments. The film doesn't take itself too seriously, and there's a pleasant amount of kookiness. It's just not enough for a seasoned horror veteran. Dangerous Animals is a fine option for those looking for proper horror filler, but it's not the most memorable film.
A cute little mid-length feature that reminded me of Obayashi's early shorts. There'sn't much in the way of a coherent narrative, apart from the film's brief premise. It's a sort of road movie that's more about cinematic wonder and experimentation than it is about anything concrete, unless I'm missing the symbolism.
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The film is shot as if it were a 20s silent. There are lots of jump cuts, removed frames, text inserts, and stop-motion animations. The pace is high, there are many cute ideas and details, and the upbeat mood makes this extra pleasant. It's not quite unique or original enough to be a true personal favorite, but this is exactly the type of cinema I appreciate.
A solid mix of horror and thriller elements. It lacked a nod to Anthony Wong for sure, but New Life takes itself rather seriously, so that probably wouldn't have been appropriate. If you're looking for a compact, indie-sized horror film that isn't too fantastical or outrageous, be sure to check it out.
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The presentation is one point, the gore is properly gruesome though not abundant, and the performances are good. The pacing and runtime are also just perfect. But the film lacks any standout moments or truly memorable scenes. It's nice genre filler, at the same time, it's a bit too comfortable serving just genre material.
Stolen Identity: The Last Hacker
The third (and hopefully final) part in the Stolen Identity series. This still felt too much like an extension of a TV series, not exactly what you hope to see from a Nakata film. Police procedurals aren't Japan's strong suit, so maybe that's the underlying problem, but I never saw the urgency needed to make this a proper thriller.
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The performances aren't too bad, but the plot is too simple for a 2-hour film, and the presentation is somewhat bland. The cinematography is too functional, the score a mere afterthought. There's still some basic genre fun to be had here, but I'm expecting more from a Nakata film.
Fritz Lang's pivot to film noir was a bit of a bummer. I've seen a couple of his US films, and while I wasn't the biggest fan of his older work, it's miles ahead of these simple, often dull and unadventurous genre films. Ministry of Fear is no exception. Even at 86 minutes, this film was way too long.
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The performances are poor, the plot isn't interesting, and the action feels muted and lifeless. If you're not a fan of noirs, there's little reason to even give this film a chance, but there are still many people with a soft spot for the genre. I didn't find anything of interest here, but I can't say I was too surprised.
A cute little drama that blends Japan's love for traditional crafts and arts with some simple but thoughtful life lessons. There's not much time, so the film isn't quite as subtle as it needed to be, but take away some of the more sentimental leaps, and what remains is a sweet and genuine drama.
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The performances are decent, the presentation is basic but agreeable. What shines through is the love and dedication some people put into their craft, a firm and definitive rejection of whatever capitalism tries to sell you. Sure enough, it's a bit idealistic, but in a film that's not necessarily a bad thing. Pleasant.
For every Chinese streamer film I watch, there are ten I skip, and half of the time, my picks are completely random. Journey of East is yet another action-driven fantasy spectacle, mixing the various realms, Taoist spells, martial arts antics, and angry dragons to crank out some fast-paced entertainment.
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The CG is better than usual, the cinematography is on point, and the costumes are lush, especially those of the villains. Other than that, you get the usual mix of action and fantasy, with a little romance and comedy thrown in for good measure. It's not a film that stands out. It's just extremely capable and trimmed of any fat.