Godspeed

0801
Godspeed review

"Depending on where you're coming from, Godspeed is either a superb crime flick or an ever so slightly disappointing Mong-Hong Chung film."

Villain

0802
Villain review

"Overall Villain is a strong film with a clear goal in mind. Know that you need to get through the first hour, trusting Lee that the second half will be much richer and better."

District B13

0803
District B13 review

"There's plenty of variation in the action scenes, the action choreography is splendid, the styling is bold and the pacing is slick. It's everything a modern action film should be."

Radiance

0804
Radiance review

"It's not a film that reinvents the genre, it's not a breathe of fresh air, but it's a beautiful, respectful and endearing film that charms the whole way through."

Adaptation.

0805
Adaptation. review

"Jonze's sober presentation puts Kaufman in the spotlight and looking at the stellar script he wrote that might have been a good call."

Swordsmen

0806
Swordsmen review

"Chan's attempt is definitely a good start, sporting high production values, a classy and stylish atmosphere and a strong mix of varied genre elements."

Gojoe

0807
Gojoe review

"Gojoe is an energetic film, built on intriguing lore, sporting a stellar cast and delivering one of the most explosive finales in the genre. A true Ishii blockbuster film."

Days of Being Wild

0808
Days of Being Wild review

"Wong created a touching portrait of a flailing soul. Thanks to the moody soundtrack, sumptuous cinematography, and strong performances, this turned out to be a film for the ages."

Tales from Earthsea

0809
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."

Yoshino's Barber Shop

0810
Yoshino's Barber Shop review

"And while all of that might sound pretty serious and even heavy-handed, it's amazing how light and flirtatious Ogigami manages to keep her debut film."

Like a Dragon

0811
Like a Dragon review

"On a technical side the film is more accomplished than his earlier work, it contains more than enough quirky Miike touches and while certified strange and off-kilter, it's not all-out insane."

25th Hour

0812
25th Hour review

"When I first watched 25th Hour the film left a bigger impression on me. Maybe it's because I hadn't seen that many films back then, maybe it's because time has blunted some of its initial impact."

Deerskin

0813
Deerskin review

"If you love absurd comedy, executed with a deadpan disposition and styled conform the overall tone of the film, with some additional horror elements to boot, then Deerskin is bound to delight."

This Is the End

0814
This Is the End review

"Rogen deserves a lot of praise for this film. It may drag a little in the middle, but whenever the film seems to be hitting a dead end another neat thing happens that propels the film forward."

Go, Go Second Time Virgin

0815
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."

Perhaps Love

0816
Perhaps Love review

"Chan managed to combine a great many things into one comprehensive package. Perhaps Love looks great, sound good and is backed by three superb performances."

Kids Return

0817
Kids Return review

"The solid cinematography coupled with the nice soundtrack, the fine performances and the pleasantly subdued drama all help to highlight Kitano's talent as a bona fide director."

Zatôichi

0818
Zatôichi review

"Kitano's version is playful and quirky, but also pretty badass and harsh when need be. The film looks great, sports a sublime soundtrack and Kitano himself shines as the titular character."

Triangle

0819
Triangle review

"Triangle looks stylish, sports a great soundtrack, leans on a superb central trio and highlights the talents of its lauded directors. A true flagship project if there ever was one."

Umbrella Flower

0820
Umbrella Flower review

"The stellar lead performance by Tadanobu Asano, the crisp styling, and the balance of delicate drama with some rougher edges turn this into a quality film.~"

T2 Trainspotting

0821
T2 Trainspotting review

"T2 Trainspotting is a damn good companion piece to the first film."

Blazing Famiglia

0822
Blazing Famiglia review

"Blazing Famiglia looks appropriately gritty, it sports a fine soundtrack, some great performances and a cool plot with a proper dramatic foundation."

The Kiyosu Conference

0823
The Kiyosu Conference review

"The Kiyosu Conference is good, solid, old-fashioned fun. Mitani has a great cast to his disposal and goes with colorful visuals and an upbeat soundtrack."

Life Show

0824
Life Show review

"A pleasantly executed film featuring a strong lead and some good solid drama, splendid scenery and just breaths the couleur locale."

The Loafers

0825
The Loafers review

"Miki has a unique, dead pan sense of humor that pushes the film forward. I can only hope he continues to make films in the same vein as his work doesn't really compare to anything else out there."