What makes us human? It’s a question science fiction* has long explored, particularly through stories about robots and artificial intelligence. The new film Klara and the Sun, based on the novel by Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro, offers an intriguing take on the subject. Unfortunately, while the movie has some lovely moments and compelling ideas,… Read More Film Review: Klara and the Sun
Kenichiro Akimoto’s directorial debut is nothing if not ballsy, taking on Hollywood action film royalty and effectively rebooting one of the most highly rated sci-fi films of all time. And it absolutely holds its own, and then some. All You Need Is Kill adapts the same source material—the light novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka—as Doug Liman’s… Read More Film Review: All You Need Is Kill
There’s something satisfying about an old-fashioned revenge story—seeing justice served and the bad guys getting their just deserts. But what is the price of vengeance? And what sort of culture does it breed? These are some of the questions Mamoru Hosoda explores in his latest film, Scarlet, a reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Scarlet retains the… Read More Film Review: Scarlet
Original video animation is a phrase that evokes nostalgia from the bygone era of the 80s and 90s, when direct-to-video original anime ruled the industry. One of the rising stars of that era was Yasuomi Umetsu, who found his niche directing OVAs in the early 90s. Now, with studio Shaft, he’s back to bring us… Read More Film Review: Virgin Punk, Clockwork Girl
Chinese animation has exploded onto the Western screen in recent years. Along with The Girl Who Stole Time from this summer, we now have The Legend of Hei 2, releasing in America months before the rest of Asia! Now, don’t be afraid of that tiny little 2 at the end of the title—the film was… Read More Film Review: The Legend of Hei 2
In an era of pointless sequels, Mononoke The Movie: Ashes of Rage bucks the trend—with a flourish! The animation is immersive, dazzling the senses as it balances a psychedelic color palette with a parchment paper aesthetic that makes for a unique fusion of modern and feudal—a combination that is echoed in the soundtrack, with its… Read More Film Review: Mononoke The Movie: Ashes of Rage
“If only I had more time!” We’ve all said that at one point or another, but what would it actually look like to have limitless time? Would it be all it’s cracked up to be? The Girl Who Stole Time explores these questions and more, blending historical fiction, fantasy, romance, and action together into a… Read More Film Review: The Girl Who Stole Time
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