Blog Archives

Samurai Jack: the Movie (2001)

(from , dir: )
Posted on December 2, 2007 by Samson

Samurai Jack is one of the many popular cartoon series from the Cartoon Network, and also one of the best. Created by Genndy Tartakovsky, who was well known for making Dexter’s Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack is arguably the most successful of his creations. Samurai Jack: The Premiere Movie tells the story about the origin of the title character, and how he turns from a prince into a powerful samurai and the arch rival of the evil … (read more)

Comments Off on Samurai Jack: the Movie (2001)

Excel Saga (2003)

(from , dir: )
Posted on December 2, 2007 by Deni

There is a certain pointless charm in self-referential entertainment. On a good day, it can be almost painfully clever, but on the other hand there is only so much tongue/cheek action one can handle in one session and self-absorption can get a little old after a while. One might even wonder, in this case at least, exactly how much of an increase in pointless charm certain genres of anime can actually take before critical mass is exceeded and they collapse … (read more)

Comments Off on Excel Saga (2003)

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2006)

(from , dir: )
Posted on December 2, 2007 by Tom

Let me start off by saying I’ve put off reviewing this for as long as possible. It’s not because the show is bad, it’s because I’ve been suffering a kind of writers block. To do justice to the review I felt I needed to get over that but in the end I’m not sure it’s going to help, mainly because it’s hard to pin down the show. Mainly because I think the title is a misnomer; it possibly should have … (read more)

Comments Off on The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2006)

Spring Snow (2005)

(from , dir: )
Posted on December 2, 2007 by Deni

As with many films derived from serious Japanese literary works, there often seems to be a depth of meaning that lingers just out of reach for the Western audience member. Sometimes it’s the language barrier in action; certain nuanced concepts in Japanese just cannot be expressed as neatly in English. Sometimes it’s the cultural differences; the historical and social influences that have shaped both the Japanese spirit as well as the Japanese narrative can occasionally seem, well, utterly foreign. Sometimes, … (read more)

Comments Off on Spring Snow (2005)

Om Shanti Om (2007)

(from , dir: )
Posted on November 17, 2007 by Ching Yee

No one and I mean no one could have been having a better time at the cinemas than I did last Sunday. If they claimed they did then they’re fibbing. That or they were part of the raucous crowd who were cheering along with me. Such was the effect of Farah Khan’s sophomore effort – a splashy, cheeky and retro-looking masala film that made everyone walk out with a smile on their faces and no socks on (they were blown … (read more)

Comments Off on Om Shanti Om (2007)

Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor (2005)

(from , dir: )
Posted on November 17, 2007 by Tom

To those new to the Guyver franchise, it’s based off some Manga from the eighties, which then spawned a movie, an OVA series, two live action movies (one starring Mark Hamill in a supporting role, which I had the misfortune to see) and finally a new TV series.

Sho Fukamachi and his doofus of a friend decide to wag from school for the day to go off to a lake in the mountains that they know from childhood. Little do … (read more)

Comments Off on Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor (2005)

Brothers (2007)

(from , dir: )
Posted on November 17, 2007 by John Snadden

The past twelve months have seen the release of three excellent crime films from Cantonese film-makers: Johnnie To’s Leone flavoured, Macau-based flick Exiled; Derek Yee’s drug trade expose Protege; and Brothers, which opened this week at Melbourne’s Chinatown cinema. Directed by Derek Chiu who is more known for his work with Peter Chan’s UFO company, helming quality dramas such as Ah Fai The Dumb. With Brothers, Chiu has created a very canny crime movie: a … (read more)

Comments Off on Brothers (2007)

Highlander: The Search For Vengeance (2007)

(from /, dir: )
Posted on November 4, 2007 by Tom

The Highlander franchise has been around since the mid eighties. It is famous for the catchphrase: “There can only be one”, referring of course to the centuries old battle of the Immortals that die only by having their heads removed form their shoulders. They really should have had that catchphrase in mind when they decided to make four more live action films, three Television series (one animated) and various novels and comic books, and that includes this anime entry directed … (read more)

Comments Off on Highlander: The Search For Vengeance (2007)