Movie top list: 551 to 575

"The Bastard and the Beautiful World has everything I expect from a good anthology film. It is eclectic, creative, no weak links and each short comes with its own fun surprises."

"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."

"Cashback is a charming, inventive and dreamy coming-of-age romance with several stand-out moments and memorable ideas."

"The art style is wonderful, the animation is lovely, the characters are pleasantly different, and Watanabe's bold dramatic choices pay off nicely in the end."

"Like most anime anthologies, Robot Carnival is a film that seeks out the boundaries of anime. The animation is exemplary, the art styles wildly original and the stories support the madness."

"There aren't many directors who can pull of urban fantasy like Winans can, even when he only has a rather limited budget to work with."

"Both leads offer great performances, the cinematography is strong, the soundtrack on point and the cat and mouse game between the two protagonists is simply riveting."

"Secret Fruit is a stylistic highlight that feels cosy and warm and charms its way from start to finish."

"If you're interested to see a different side from Hong Kong cinema and if you can appreciate the adolescent styling of the film, be sure to check this one out."

"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."

"In the end, L is another typical Shimoyama film."

"It's a good thing Shoalin Soccer is this much fun, because beyond its successful comedy aspect it's clear the film is somewhat lacking."

"Electricity is a welcome change of pace for British drama. Higgins made a beautiful, unique and touching film that lives in its own little niche."

"Call Boy is a very direct, somewhat impenetrable yet beautiful and ultimately touching film that relies on sublime styling and great performances to craft a dark and alluring universe."

"If you appreciate Omori's uncompromising and bleak look at our society, Whispering of the Gods is one of the purest films you'll find out there."

"It's a truly pleasant experience from start to finish, but the lack of dramatic events is sure to leave some scratching their heads."

"I do think Night's Tightrope is a film that could please a broader audience, but it's pretty obvious that it's not going to get that chance."

"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."

"High & Low: The Worst has everything I want from this type of film. Cool gangs, dystopian settings, huge brawls and lots of posing. And for every checkbox, it's best in class."

"Necromentia belongs to the best Barker adaptations not written by Barker himself. If you like Barker's visions of demons and netherworlds, there's a big chance you'll love Teo's Necromentia."

"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."

"Uchida delivered this amazing genre bender that may leave the uninitiated a little stunned, but should be required viewing for everyone with a soft spot for Japanese genre cinema."

"As is always the case with anthology films the quality between the films varies strongly, but with no weak entries and two exceptional shorts Jam Films 2 is an interesting and worthwhile project."

"Oscar or no Oscar, The Shape of Water is a pretty magnificent film."

"The second time around I was little let down by the acting performances of the secondary cast. For a film that puts more focus on drama than usually the case, that's somewhat of a problem."