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Recent Reviews
- Godzilla Minus One (2023)
- Midnight (2021)
- Magnificent Warriors (1987)
- Odd Couple (1979)
- Three (2016)
- Dreadnaught (1981)
- Decision to Leave (2022)
- Once Upon a Time in China & America (1997)
- Bad Guy
- Dali & Cocky Prince
- A Korean Odyssey
- Special Delivery (2022)
- Hwarang
- My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho
- Strong Girl Bong Soon
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Elsewhere on the Web
Sparrow (2008)
Johnnie To’s films have been favourites here at Heroic Cinema for years: Alison showed me The Mission years ago and got me hooked on modern Hong Kong film. Hong Kong and its surroundings transform through To’s pictures into somewhere preternaturally cool: all rain-slicked night metropolis, populated by street-crawling thugs (often played by Lam Suet) and the occasional ambiguously dangerous Anthony Wong. And he makes it look easy, too — most of Milkyway Studios’ pictures are beautifully shot, from … (read more)
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L: Change the World (2007)
After the runaway success of Death Note: The Last Name, and in particular, the impression Keniichi Matsuyama made on the world as L, the young, quirky uber-sleuth who plays God to Light’s devil, it was perhaps not such a surprise that an offshoot movie was almost instantly on the cards. Not only is it an offshoot however, but L: Change the World cleverly fills in the blanks from the twist ending of The Last Name, and nicely fleshes … (read more)
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Sword Of Doom (1966)
Sword of Doom is an acclaimed action film from director Kihachi Okamoto. It tells the story of a ruthless swordsman who is deadly with his sword. The fact that the central character is a very unlikeable character makes the movie different from many of the samurai films that have come out of Japan.
Ryunosuke Tsukue is this central character. He kills a man in a sword fight despite promising the man’s wife that he will give up winning if she … (read more)
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Transformers Super God Masterforce (1988)
In April 1988, Transformers Super God Masterforce first aired on Japanese television. Young children had their favourite Transformer toys in their hands, while yelling ‘Masterforce! Transform! Head on!’… In April 2008, Transformers Super God Masterforce was recently made available on DVD in Australia. An HC reviewer had the TV remote control in one hand, while quietly taking notes with the other. So how did he rate this 20-year old anime series? Read on to find out!
The Transformers Super God … (read more)
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Imprint (2005)
I had a difficult time reviewing this one. Why? For starters, writer’s block. The words didn’t come to mind to properly describe the experience easily. Secondly it is a little bit unconventional in that it’s not actually a film from our neighbors from the north. It’s an episode of a cable television series, from the USA — the Masters of Horror series. So why is there a review being written for it? This question brings me to the hardest thing … (read more)
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District B13 (2004)
Warning: District B13 is not an Asian film. It is made by French filmmakers, and it stars French actors. No doubt some of our readers will be asking: what is the review of this film doing on Heroic Cinema, the guide to Asian movies in Australia? Well, keep reading if you’re curious to find out the reason behind this madness!
The story is set in Paris. Faced with rampant crime in certain districts, the government authorises the construction of isolated … (read more)
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Maadadayo (1993)
Here we have a sentimental Kurosawa picture about an elderly teacher who, courtesy of his wise (and somewhat cracking) observations of life and times, has gained the veneration of his doting students. The problem for me with this picture was that I didn’t find my old chap particularly likeable. He seemed to me more an idling opportunist with a high opinion of himself than an erudite poet-philosopher worthy of adoration.
The experience of watching Maadadayo will probably be far more … (read more)
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Black Lagoon (2006)
Back in 2006 when our great land was run by a nerd with glasses and petrol prices were rising, I went to my first Anime Convention. Manifest ’06 was weekend of anime and the ultra addictive foodstuff that has become the food of choice for Otaku everywhere. Over that glorious wonderful weekend — where it can quite safely be said that I had developed a bizarre fixation on violence (known as a bloodlust) — I first saw Black Lagoon. … (read more)
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