Movie top list: 826 to 850

"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."

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

"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."

"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 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."

"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."

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

"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."

"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."

"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."

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

"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 is a film for loving genre fans."

"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."

"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."

"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?"

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

"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."

"The film is well acted, looks extremely lush and flies by in no time. And while many parts seem influenced by other films, the mix is completely unique and fresh."

"Focusing solely on technical qualities, Fudoh is ripping apart at the seams, but that would mean ignoring all the creativity, joy and sheer disregard for proper taste on display here."

"Jet Li is superb, the fight choreography raised the bar, the pacing is perfect and everything just feels extremely dynamic."

"The combination of strange plot twists and original turn of events with a warm but deadpan sense of humor is the true winner here."

"Warlords is an awesome film about three beardy men with balls taking their little army to conquer nations, but failing to keep in control over their own friendship."