The Brink

0801
The Brink review

"Li delivers a fun, gritty and stylish crime flick with some very impressive action scenes and a stand-out performance by Shawn Yue."

Whisper of the Heart

0802
Whisper of the Heart review

"Kondo's first film is a perfect match for the Ghibli brand."

Bright Future

0803
Bright Future review

"The characters are interesting, the performances are perfect, the narrative structure feels fresh and the presentation is stylish without being overly detracting."

Daaaaaali!

0804
Daaaaaali! review

"Daaaaaali! is a fitting and refreshing ode to one of the biggest painters of the 20th century, and it's every bit as madcap as the man's paintings."

Tales from Earthsea

0805
Tales from Earthsea review

"A stylish and well-executed fantasy film, sporting Ghibli's polished animation, a lovely soundtrack, and a morally ambiguous lead character."

New Blood

0806
New Blood review

"Hyn Huet Ching Nin is a good place to start if you're interested in watching a Hong Kong horror flick. Maybe it's not really all that representative, but that's what makes it easier to digest."

Orochi - Blood

0807
Orochi - Blood review

"The addition of the fantastical figure gives Orochi a somewhat novel feel though."

Once Upon a Time in Shanghai

0808
Once Upon a Time in Shanghai review

"Between the stunning cinematography, the impressive fight scenes and the fast-paced plot it's hard not to like at least some part of Once Upon a Time in Shanghai."

Hard Luck Hero

0809
Hard Luck Hero review

"The actors are solid, there are quirky narrative details, the cinematography is on point and the pacing is slick. All that is needed for some prime entertainment."

Scabbard Samurai

0810
Scabbard Samurai review

"Matsumoto's new film is a little gem, a film that does not impress in spades but focuses on smaller details."

I Belonged to You

0811
I Belonged to You review

"Yibai Zhang's talent is beyond questioning. The stronger bits of his latest effort are stunning, dressed up in lush visuals and backed up by a strong soundtrack."

The Midnight Meat Train

0812
The Midnight Meat Train review

"The kills are gory, Jones is an amazing killer and Kitamura's direction is the right kind of flashy, which makes for a brutal, tense and very entertaining horror flick."

Flavors of Youth

0813
Flavors of Youth review

"A film that's rich in atmosphere, beautifully animated and with just the right amount of depth, a film that soothes and comforts but is more than simple sentimental fluff."

Ip Man 2

0814
Ip Man 2 review

"Visually a little better than the first film, awesome fight sequences where Yen is allowed to shine and a fully satisfying finale where the final blow caused a big fat inner "Yeah!"."

River of First Love

0815
River of First Love review

"That said, it's a film that caters to fans of light-hearted Japanese dramas, doing little to even try and persuade people outside of its niche."

Drunken Master II

0816
Drunken Master II review

"The pairing of Liu and Chan results in some of the coolest and frantic martial arts moments ever put on film, making it that much easier to forget about all the film's shortcomings."

Fulltime Killer

0817
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

0818
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

0819
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

0820
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

0821
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

0822
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

0823
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

0824
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

0825
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."