Movie toplist: 451 to 475

"While Yoshida has quite a few stories to tell and quite a few angles to explore, the film still feels like a very tight package, sporting little to no cruft."

"The remarkable trip of one farmer and his huge cow. My advice: just watch it and marvel at this unlikely piece of genre mash-ups."

"Disagreeable characters, dark drama, fitting cinematography and a completely mental soundtrack create an uncomfortable, unpredictable atmosphere that eats away at the audience."

"Superb cinematography, sharp editing, a very moody score and some truly creative world building all help to keep the film fresh, attractive and most importantly, original."

"It all adds up to something quite weird and quite unique, but also quite specific and niche. Going in with a good understanding of how and what the film makes fun of is probably a prerequisite."

"The Storm Warriors is definitely not a masterpiece, but taking it at face value, it's an almost perfect piece of entertainment featuring some stunning art direction."

"Ming Ming remains a fun, entertaining and dashing little film. The editing is slick, the visuals are stylized and Xun Zhou's performance is perfect."

"Luk shows she has talent as a director and delivers a powerful, confrontational yet endearing drama. Hopefully her talent is recognized and she isn't shot down for the unconventional choices she made"

"Witching and Bitching is a true visual orgasm, a film that looks amazing from the very first to the very last frame."

"A smart, funny and original film that charms all the way through. The direction is steadfast, the film looks gorgeous, sports a neat soundtrack and has a billion little touches that inspire joy."

"Tsui Hark at his best, the film is lush in its visuals and score, is entertaining to the core and wastes no time on unnecessary things. Very likeable and extremely well-made."

"The Chrysalis is pure genre cinema. It operates on textbook mechanics and follows an all too familiar path, but the execution is flawless while Chu-ji Qiu demonstrates his skills as a director."

"130 minutes is quite long for an anime feature, but Yamada need every minute of that to tell this story."

"Van Hees really proved his worth with his second film. Dirty Mind is funny, bears a good and original story and is well directed on all fronts to help create a solid feel for the film."

"The Tale of Iya is a film that comes with a built-in audience."

"Switchblade Romance is a very basic horror film, but executed to perfection. The presentation is flawless, the killer is grotesque and the finale is brutal."

"Partners in Crime is quite the calling card for a director like Jung-chi Chang."

"The Head Hunter is beautifully shot, sports a great soundtrack and has a solid cast. Most notably though, it offers an amazing experience on a shoestring budget."

"The film is up to par with the earlier films while still being different and distinctive enough to avoid turning into a cheap, cash-obsessed sequel."

"It's a stylish, relentless and moving drama, sporting excellent performances, a superb score and some high quality cinematography."

"Dead or Alive 2: Birds is an important step in Miike's progression as a director. It's a well-rounded film, one that works as a drama as well as a crime flick."

"Ink shows enormous potential, executed well beyond what anyone could expect considering the limitations. A little gem that will one day find its audience and is destined to become a cult hit"

"Black Swan sees Aronofsky back in good shape. Opinions differ, but I'm glad he left the gritty dramas alone and went back to more familiar territory."

"It's a unique film that thrives on mood, appears polished all the way through, and offers familiar themes in a novel and often surprising genre package."

"Not only is May We Chat a very welcome and needed addition to the Hong Kong filmography, it's also a great film regardless."