Bloom Into You Collection

Bloom Into You Collection (Cert PG) 2 Discs Blu-ray (Distributor: MVM) Running time: 318 minutes approx. Love in real life is never as it is portrayed in fiction (not that I would know), so anyone expecting to hear violins and see giddy hearts whenever somebody catches their eye is in for a big  shock. So, …

Zero Point (Nullpunkt)

Zero Point (Nullpunkt)   Estonia (2014) Dir. Mihkel Ulk Some people just can’t get a break. They toe the line, are good to others, work hard, and always do what is right, yet they are the ones who end up royally shafted whilst others coast through life with a copy book soaked in blots. Johannes (Märt …

Hold Your Breath (Dans la brume)

Hold Your Breath (Dans la brume) France/Canada (2018) Dir. Daniel Roby Parents are forever in the bad books with their children for making decisions directly affecting them which they believe are in the child’s best interest but are rarely are seen that way. Of course, it is seldom appreciated or understood until the child gets …

The Last Princess (Deokhyeongju)

The Last Princess (Deokhyeongju) Korea (2016) Dir. Hur Jin-Ho One of the moe painful chapters in Korean history was the Japanese occupation at the turn of the 20th century, Many films have been made about this already, dramatising the effects it had on civilians, military personnel, resistance fighters, and even artists. As he title implies, …

Penguin Highway (Pengin haiwei)

Penguin Highway (Pengin haiwei) Japan (2018) Dir. Hiroyasu Ishida Unless they are seen at the zoo in their bespoke enclosures, penguins will most likely be found in the Antarctic. Therefore, one wouldn’t expect to see a waddle of this aquatic flightless birds running along the street in rural Japan during the summer but in anime, …

Raining In The Mountain (Kong shan ling yu)

Raining In The Mountain (Kong shan ling yu) Hong Kong/Taiwan (1979) Dir. King Hu “Those who really seek the path to Enlightenment dictate terms to their mind. Then they proceed with strong determination.” This could also apply to many people in their life’s endeavours but this quote is aimed at those seeking spiritual wisdom from …

A Quick Note About Anime Reviews

Hello dear readers, Some of you may have noticed a slight dearth in reviews for new UK anime releases on this site recently. This is due in part to some of the titles having their release dates delayed by the distributors. However, in lieu of the current situation with the Coronavirus and the widespread lockdown …

Welcome To Germany (Willkommen bei den Hartmanns)

Welcome To Germany (Willkommen bei den Hartmanns) Germany (2016) Dir. Simon Verhoeven Immigration is a divisive issue that has proven ripe pickings for filmmakers in delivering stark and thorny social dramas on the subject, mostly in depicting the negativity and hostility it engenders. So, it is to some surprise that the one country to make …

Blinded By The Light

Blinded By The Light UK (2019) Dir. Gurinder Chadha It is said music can cross boundaries and cultures unlike any other form of art, which is debatable as the same can be said for film, paintings, or literature. Yet, there is a reason why musicians can travel the world, be instantly recognised, and hold court …

The Son Of The Sheik

The Son Of The Sheik US (1926) Dir. George Fitzmaurice It’s the same old story - boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl fall out, boy whisks girl away to be his slave… okay maybe that last bit isn’t quite the norm, and definitely wouldn’t fly in 2020 (except maybe …