Sunday, July 20, 2025

Last Woman on Earth (2025) Fantasia 2025


Gu Hanah's film idea imagines a world where all the women are dead ecept for one and the sole woman is trapped by men. Her pitch is kind of ignored by the people in her class, except for Song Cheol who tells her it if too full of hatred for men to work. Song's film ideas are going nowhere because they are all retreads of Hollywood films. Desperate to get a film made the pair decide to work together.

This film is very funny, and even funnier if you love film and know about the pains and sorrows of making films. It's a film that nails the creative process.

More importantly this is a film about two outsiders who find a place. Gu and Song are not your typical film characters (Hollywood studios would have had copious notes). They are people  more like people you know than people you see on the screen. There are times when they annoy the hell out of you, but that makes their arcs all the more delightful. We get to watch them change and grow in ways that aren't predictable.

Cinematic joys like this is why festivals like Fantasia are so important. They bring these cinematic wonders to wider audiences. Because their reach is so wide, even if the films festival screenings don't reach a wide audience immediantly, their inclusion and the coverage at the festival make people want to see the film. You are going to want to see this wonderful film.

I loved this film and I laughed and got misty all the way through.

What an absolute delight.

A must see.

Saturday, July 19, 2025

Possession Street (2025) NYAFF 2025

A zombie apocalypse happens when a sealed bombshelter is opened and a zombie virus is released. Its up to the residents of a mall to try and stop the approaching end of civilization.

Give director Jack Lai bonus points for trying to change things up and a lot to chew on, but at the same time there is a point where too much is not a good thing.There is historical commentary, and magic, and zombies, and ghosts and martial arts, and a bunch of other things. The film wants to be scary, and funny, and heart breaking. Lai is trying to juggle a lot of balls the trouble is there are too many and they end up crashing. The result is the tone never comes together and the narrative only works in fits and starts. 

With the film more clever pieces rather than a unified whole  we never connect. Yes I will wax poetic about the zombies or some the fights but I'll never speak glowingly of the whole because I only like the bits.

A disappointment with cool fights and monsters.

A pointer toward Garo Taiga (2025) Fantasia 2025

 


20th anniversary entry in the Garo franchise  is going to delight fans of the series.

I'm not going to go into great detail but this is about a mystic knight battling horrors from another world. Think Kamen Rider or Ultraman. If you know the series or others like it you know what you are in for. Bloodier than most series that people in the US is used to, it is going to confuse people who think this is a kids show. I know it's not really, and I enjoyed myself.

I don't know how to review this. Either you know what this is, or what the series this are like or you don't. If you do know Garo then you know whether this is for you or not. I've been aware of the franchise so I knew what I was getting into. If I didn't know about this or series like it I would have been confused. I say that because despite there being an effort to fill in details, this is best if you know some of what went before.

Worth a look for fans

Battle Wizard (1977) Fantasia 2025

 Shaw Brothers nonsense based on Demi Gods and emi Devils by Jin Wong. Called by some as a martial arts Star Wars or a Star Wars rip off..

It has a prince who refuses to learn kung fu drinking the blood of a giant snake and become invulnerable. He hooks up with a woman who has snake friends and another who knows martial arts... 

...and this is just bat shit crazy. Its a mix of martial arts, fantasy and people shooting lazers from their hands. It's a so bad its good film.  Its a film that will make you roar with laughter as your head explodes with disbelief.

I completely understand why it has people who love it even as I wonder about their sanity

A one of a kind cinematic experience that must be experienced

BEARDED GIRL (2025) Fantasia 2025


A young bearded girl living in a sideshow/circus decides she doesn't want to be the next bearded lady in the circus like her mom and goes off to find herself.

This is a sweet little film. Yes, this is a just a story about finding yourself and your place in the world. At it's heart it's a story we've seen before. However the filmmakers have spiced it up with a one of a kind setting, a wicked sense of humor and life, and some of the best characters you'll find in any film all year. I absolutely loved the people on screen and I would love a sequel just so we can see what happens next. 

What an absolute joy.

This is the sort of gem that I cover Fantasia to find.

Recommended.

Nawi (2024) plays the Stony Brook Film Fest 2025 July 21




A lovely film about young girl dreaming of an education who is sold by her father for livestock. While in some ways the film is by the numbers, the characters and craft of filmmaking is so strong you really won't care. This is an absolute gem of a film and one of the great finds of 2024. 

Brief thoughts on Nyaight of the Living Cat (2025) Fantasia 2025


Takashi Miike exectutive produces this manga adaption about world where cats are infected with a virus that turns people into cats if they com into contact with them. 

I'm not going to say a lot about this series owing to the fact that its available on Crunchy Roll. Word is already leaking out and it doesn't need my selling it.

This is a wonderful little series that turns the whole zombie apocalypse genre on it's head. It perfectly sends up the tropes while paying them reverenace. I had a blast.

For those who are wondering about Miike's involement, itn actually makes perfect sense. Miike has always bent genres in whatever direction he needs to tell a good story and the send up/homage nature of this seies makes sense.

This series is going to be a delight for horror film fans in addition to anime fans. 

Recommended.

Friday, July 18, 2025

Brief thoughts on My Sunshine (2025) JAPAN CUTS 2025

 A hockey player becomes enraptured of the figure skaters who share the rink where he plays. One of the girls coach sees potential in him and begins to train him as a part of duo.

This is a nice little drama. While the setting is some place most of us haven't been before, the story is a familiar one involving sports and potential romance as well as films of first love. That's not a problem because cast sells it.

Worth a look.

Transcending Dimensions (2025) NYAFF 2025 Fantasia 2025


Toshiaki Toyoda is a director I like. He's made some interesting films over the years and some real head scratchers- frequently at the same time. I don't always like his films but if nothing else they get me thinking.

This time out Toyoda has made an absolute head scratcher. Yes it has some magnificent moments, but there is a point, say about ten minutes in where you you're going to know if this is going to be on your best of the year list or the worst. No that isn't fair, it won't be on your worst of the year list because you probably will have fallen asleep.

The plot has a hit man being paid to kill a guru and to find one of his followers who disappeared. At some point a conch shell is blown and a trip into space ensues...and then there is a return to earth with people changing identities. You are either going to be on the film wavelength and love the heady discussion or you are going to call horse hockey. Personally I liked the head games up to a point until I realized that this was similar to the directors 2020 film DAY OF DESTRUCTION  which threw a bunch of ideas out there and never quite connected them up.

Is it worth seeing? If you don't mind a film that is way better in the parts then as a whole. If you don't want mind games or narrative that doesn't come together stay away.

No Sleep Till (2024) opens today


Docu-narrative look at the people in a small Florida town as a hurricane bears down on them.

This is a series of unrelated stories only connected to each other by the location and by the approaching storm. Each film is told in more or less its own way, with its own pacing.

This is a film you are either going to love or hate. The low key approach isn’t for anyone. This is a film full of silences and random conversations. Its film that isn’t telling a set story but a lot of little tales that make up a larger portrait.

It looks great and the characters are interesting, but I don’t know if it all really comes together. To me this feels like a lot of pieces looking for a home.  While it’s looking for the bigger portrait, it kind of fuzzes out and pixelates. Yea, the pieces are great but over all… not so much.

One thing I did in reading on the film compared it to the work of Kelly Reichart, which is kind of understandable, but which I don’t like Reichart’s films, I at least thought they are more exciting than this.

I honestly drifted off  about half way through. I was watching but not as intently as I could have or should have.

I have no idea what you’ll think but I think it’s fair to say your mileage will vary.

Travel PLans (2025) LA Shorts 2025


I'm not going so say much about this film because it only runs 3 minutes. The film is the story of a bride who is having a conversation at her wedding. Where it goes is the film... and it's not what you expect.

Track this down.

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Brief thoughts on Promised Land (2023) Japan Cuts 2025

 


Two hunters go into the wilderness to hunt a bear despite there being a ban on hunting.

A film of quiet and of beauty this is a tale of men in the wilderness. There are long takes are long takes and long silences. We are in the wilderness with two guys who don't have to say a great deal.  It's a film we fall into and traveling with.

I enjoyed the film a great deal. It's a lovely change of pace compared to the loud summer movies playing out side of Japan Cuts.

Recommended

Small Garden by the Window (2025) Fantasia 2025



THE SMALL GARDEN BY THE WINDOW this is a great looking film that I have no idea what it's about.

So Beautiful Wonderful and Lovely (2024) Japan Cuts 2025

 This is a sweet little confection of film. It's wild and crazy and shouldn't work but it does.

This is the story of a young woman who is dumped by her boyfriend so that he can marry someone else. This sends her off in odd direction as she begins doing weird things, photo bombing her ex's wedding and running around with an imaginary version of him.

This is totally crazy, and so much fun. At first I thought I was going to be certain I had seen this before and then suddenly I realized I had no idea what was happening. Sure some of it makes no sense. At the same time it doesn't matter because there is just so much fun and too many smiles.

This is a small gem of a film.

Recommended.

HOLD THE FORT (2025) Fantasia 2025 is one of the great films of the year


This is absolutely a must see. If you haven't bought a ticket to see this stop reading this piece and go buy them. This review will wait.

The plot of the film has a couple who just moved into a development going to a party at the HOA association.  They think they are going to get to know everyone. The reality is that the are there fight the monsters that are going to be coming through the gateway to hell that will soon be opening up.

This film is an absolute blast.  A blood soaked horror comedy that gets everything note perfect. The action is jaw dropping. The comedy is funny. The characters are people we can take to heart.  And best of all it moves like the wind and then ends. 

The best way to describe this film is as perfect festival/party film. It's a film to watch with friends and like minded strangers where you can talk to the screen and make wicked comments.

Honestly this is as good as films in 2025 get. This is one of my favorites of the year.

Highly recommended.

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

SMASHING FRANK (2025) NYAFF 2025


A group of bandits who fancy themselves as Robin Hoods turn their attention to a ritzy church, only to find they are in over the their heads and that payback can be a bitch.

Form and style over whelm the content in a heist/revenge tale where the narrative gets swamped. Give the filmmakers a bazillion points for making a hip and cool looking film, but  take a bunch of them back for allowing the narrative to beome frectured. There is a sense that they didn't feel details were always required with the result be don't connect as well as we should. Yes the short hand works in a music video or short film where time is not there, but in a feature you need to connect the dots occasionally.

Yes it's clear that director is the real deal technically, but he needs to work on fleshing out his storytelling.

Brief thoughts on Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Serpent's Path films Japan Cuts 2025

You will forgive me, but this is is not going to be what I intended. Originally I was going to watch both versions of THE SERPENTS PATH films (The original was shot in 1998 as a direct to video film and a remake was done in France for a much larger budget in 2024) but things happened. Mostly what happened was that after watching the two films merged together as a single film and I really couldn't write about them as seperate entities.

The basic plot of both films has a man, assisted by a doctor, looking to get revenge for the people responsible for the death of his daughter. The 1998 version was a more feral/gritty version with a male doctor. The 2024 version is more polished with a female doctor. The newer version is aiming to be something beyond a thriller.

Both versions of the film are really good. Both films are worth seeing, especially if you are a fan of Kiyoshi Kurosawa.

Thankfully the Japan Society is not running them back to back. The new version is running Thursday July 17. The original runs on July 19.

Cloud (2024) plays Japan Cuts 2025 before opening in NYC Friday and around the country soon after


Yoshii, a reseller with a questionable reputation, moves with his girlfriend to the country and finds trouble has followed him.

This is he latest of Kiyoshi Kurasowa's films and it's a very bumpy film that is the master at his messiest. Seriously, if you have been playing along and wondering about some of the weird turns in some of his films (a Plesiasaur shows up at the end of REAL), this film is probably going to confuse you more. The first half of the the film is a drama about a man focused on making a buck at any cost and then it morphs into a revenge/action film before summing up as a kind of rant against consumerism. While the film is watchable, I'm not sure it is any good. 

The problem here is the script. It doesn't feel like it ever got past a first draft. The characters are mostly not there. Yoshii is one note (he sits and watches his product sell), his girlfriend is not there enough to to have us truly buy how shallow she is (or the final turn), his assistant is nothing until he becomes James Bond and the people hunting Yoshii seem to have been made up randomly. 

Things get worse when you realize that the plotting makes no sense internally. For example Yoshii is so hated on line that the customers want to kill him, but the question becomes if everyone knows his products suck why do they continually buy from him? Worse, if he knows he's in danger why doesn't he change his on-line identity? One of the people hunting Yoshii is a wanted killer? The world we are seeing makes no real world sense, hell it makes no sense in its own world (I mean they trap Yoshii in a house but never look to see if there is another door- I mean they could have walked in as Yoshii did if they just went around back.)

To be honest the second half of the film mostly works, but it has had it's feet removed by the dead first half.

I've been a fan of Kurosawa's for 35 years and I've ridden his up and down slate of films, but this is the first time I ever wanted to walk out of a film because this is the first time I ever felt early on he was not going to pull it out. He kind of does but at the same time I don't think I will ever waste time on this film again. With all of the truly great films he's made of the years I'm left wondering why this one is getting the big push.

For fans only

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

BEHIND THE SHADOWS (2025) NYAFF 2025

 

Louis Koo plays a detective with potential martial trouble who is hired to to find a missing woman, and to find a man's lover, who turns out might be Koo's wife. In the middle of all this Koo finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation involving a serial killer.

Don't get excited, this is a rather dull film, with Koo not given much to do stand around looking tall and smoking. The film seems to think that the portential infidelity story line is more interesting than the murder, with the result the film really isn't all that interesting.

GIve the filmmakers points for trying something different, but take thos points and more that will make you wonder why you are watching it. It's not bad, it's just not compelling.

Brief thoughts on Japanese Avant-Garde Pioneers (2025) Japan Cuts 2025 Fantasia 2025


My brain exploded early in this film. There is too much here for any normal human to take in.

It's glorious.

This a look at the artists who define the Japanese Avant-Garde. It is a film film that blends scholarly discussion with the various artists talking about their art. It is also a film so full of images that my brain turned to liquid and leaked out my ears. I never expected to see many of the images as big as a movie screen and in some cases animated.

I am beyond words.

This is exactly what art documentaries should do- inform us about the art and then make us a fan- or a bigger fan of the artists on screen.

This is a singular cinematic experience and must be experienced.

Highly recommended.