Fulltime Killer

0801
Fulltime Killer review

"A sprawling action/crime blend, bustling with cinematic joy and providing ample opportunities for To show off his unique talents. Stylish, fun and never a dull moment in sight."

Code 46

0802
Code 46 review

"Code 46 serves a vivid vision of the future, a world that looks and feels plausible, even when reality should've caught up with it by now. A sign of clever, relevant sci-fi if there ever was one."

15: The Movie

0803
15: The Movie review

"The vibrant cinematography and the poppy score set the mood for a mix of light-hearted fun and more deep-digging drama, perfectly carried out by the actors."

Go, Go Second Time Virgin

0804
Go, Go Second Time Virgin review

"The gritty and grainy cinematography and the harsh thematical content contrast superbly with the poetic soundtrack and its emotional core, creating a stylish firecracker of a film."

Pretty Persuasion

0805
Pretty Persuasion review

"If you're looking for some snide high school comedy, with a memorable lead performance, some upscale visuals, and a challenging finale, give this little gem a shot."

Mandibles

0806
Mandibles review

"The stand-out performances, the downplayed craziness, the chill atmosphere and more than a handful of memorable moments make this another lesson in dry and absurd comedy."

Taboo

0807
Taboo review

"Oshima delivers a very polished and accomplished film, offering splendid cinematography, a lovely score, stellar performances of its main cast and an intriguing plot."

Songs from the Second Floor

0808
Songs from the Second Floor review

"If you care for absurdist tableaus, bleak, dry, and dark comedy, unpleasant characters, and a relentless unwillingness to push forward a clear narrative, this film will be right up your alley."

The Machinist

0809
The Machinist review

"While many of its peers have trouble keeping themselves standing the second time around, The Machinist thrives on a strong and gloomy atmosphere, intriguing characters and a stand-out performance."

Girlfriend: Someone Please Stop the World

0810
Girlfriend: Someone Please Stop the World review

"Girlfriend: Someone Please Stop The World is a solid, smart drama that serves as a good entry point to his oeuvre. The film showcases his talent and houses many of his trademark elements."

Bus Stop

0811
Bus Stop review

"The stylish presentation, the refined pacing, and layered performances support a smart and well-balanced drama that isn't afraid to confront the audience with some challenging questions."

Trap

0812
Trap review

"It's hard to recommend this film without prior knowledge of the previous films."

Suzhou River

0813
Suzhou River review

"The moody and vibrant city shots, the stand-out performance of Xun Zhou and the mysterious romance all add up to a slightly grittier film set in the outskirts of a booming Shanghai."

Canary

0814
Canary review

"Shiota proves himself a gifted drama director and balances cinematography, score and performances to draw the most out of the conflict between the two leads."

Antenna

0815
Antenna review

"The presentation is still pretty fitting and stylish, the performances are top notch and the somewhat edgier dramatic elements give the film a unique perspective."

Eagle vs. Shark

0816
Eagle vs. Shark review

"There's loads of quirky comedy, the delivery is dry and disorienting, but the characters have soul and even though the film keeps throwing problems their way, it never gets too heavy-handed."

Adoration

0817
Adoration review

"Adoration is a very impressive film that feels like a complete and unique experience, thriving on sublime cinematography, a perfect score and amazing central performances."

Eden Lake

0818
Eden Lake review

"Eden Lake is a prime example of British harshness combined with good old-fashioned horror, increasing the insanity notch by notch and delivering a great finale."

Strobe Edge

0819
Strobe Edge review

"In many ways, Strobe Edge is a typical manga adaptation as much as it is a typical romance. But Hiroki builds upon that to make a sweet, cute and genuine little love story."

The Black Box

0820
The Black Box review

"The Black Box is a film for loving genre fans."

Seven Swords

0821
Seven Swords review

"The lush visuals, great score and superb cast all add to this epic journey, which truly shines whenever people dig out their swords and start to hack, slash and twirl."

Afro Samurai: Resurrection

0822
Afro Samurai: Resurrection review

"If you're up for some good solid fun and don't have too much trouble neglecting the grating dub and soundtrack, there is plenty of amusement to be had from this film."

WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3

0823
WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3 review

"The animation is strong, the art style detailed, the soundtrack a real treat. And how often do you get to see mechs battle it out against a giant monster in a future-realistic setting?"

House 475

0824
House 475 review

"This may just be Iseya's second film, but it feels a lot like the work of a confident, accomplished director."

Zhou Yu's Train

0825
Zhou Yu's Train review

"There's a basic quality that keeps Zhou Yu's Train on its feet, even though I've seen better and more creative variations from China in more recent years."