Trigun: Badlands Rumble Japan (2010) Dir. Satoshi Nishimura This spin-off film from the popular manga and anime series created by Yasuhiro Nightow arrived some twelve years after the TV series ended in 1998 which is quite a gap. Despite its lofty status among anime fandom, I have never seen Trigun so coming into this film … Continue reading Trigun: Badlands Rumble
The Mission (Cheung foh)
The Mission (Cheung foh) Hong Kong (1999) Dir. Johnnie To Over the past decade plus Hong Kong’s Johnnie To has established himself at the top of the table when it comes to crime/triad thrillers. He may not be alone with the likes of Ringo Lam and Herman Yau nipping at his heels but with such … Continue reading The Mission (Cheung foh)
The Ambition Of Oda Nobuna
The Ambition Of Oda Nobuna (Cert 12) 2 Discs (Distributor: MVM) Running time: 303 minutes approx. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: high schooler Yoshiharu Sagara suddenly finds himself transported into an alternate version of the Sengoku Period of Japanese history, right in the middle of a raging battle. His life is saved … Continue reading The Ambition Of Oda Nobuna
Bright Days Ahead (Les beaux jours)
Bright Days Ahead (Les beaux jours) France (2013) Dir. Marion Vernoux Paris may be the City Of Love but, if French cinema is to be believed, it also the epicentre of adultery and infidelity. Many a great romantic drama or the occasional comedy, has seen our Gallic neighbours failing to keep it in the family … Continue reading Bright Days Ahead (Les beaux jours)
The Abominable Snowman
The Abominable Snowman UK (1957) Dir. Val Guest The Hammer studio would become a household name in the late 50’s when, much like Universal in the 1930’s, they adapted two horror classics, Dracula and Frankenstein, for the big screen thus setting themselves up for an impressive run of hits and cult classics which had such … Continue reading The Abominable Snowman
Koimonogatari
Koimonogatari (Cert 15) 1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running time: 148 minutes approx. The tortuous piecemeal journey - at least for this reviewer - through the second season of Monogatari Series comes to an end with this release, covering episodes 21 to 26 under the subtitle of the Hitagi End arc. Central to this story is, … Continue reading Koimonogatari
Dead Snow 2 – Red vs. Dead (Død snø 2)
Dead Snow 2 - Red vs. Dead (Død snø 2) Norway (2014) Dir. Tommy Wirkola The horror genre is a tough one in which to create fresh ideas and the success of certain sub-genres will lead to an over-saturated market. Tommy Wirkola’s 2009 homage to the classic Evil Dead saw the zombie concept given a … Continue reading Dead Snow 2 – Red vs. Dead (Død snø 2)
Paddington
Paddington (Cert PG) 1 Disc (Distributor: Studio Canal) Running Time: 95 minutes approx. Those of us of a certain vintage no doubt cringed a little when the news came that a CGI film of Michael Bond’s creation was in production. Hollywood doesn’t have much of an impressive track record in this area so could we … Continue reading Paddington
Bleach Series 14 Part 2
Bleach Series 14 Part 2 (Episodes 304-316) (Cert 12) 3 Discs (Distributor: Manga Entertainment/Kaze UK) Running time: 313 minutes approx. After what feels like an eternity we finally come to the end of the Arrancar Arc. After almost SIX volumes and numerous pit stops for filler arcs the climax is nigh. Although you’ll have to … Continue reading Bleach Series 14 Part 2
(Sex) Appeal (Han chan xiao ying)
(Sex) Appeal (Han chan xiao ying) Taiwan (2014) Dir. Wang Wei-Ming This debut from former actor and TV movie director Wang Wei-Ming comes with the dreaded “Based on a true story” preface but from the way this drama plays out, it was more an inspiration than a direct adaptation. Thus we can at least breathe … Continue reading (Sex) Appeal (Han chan xiao ying)
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