The Host by Bong Joon-ho (Review) The Host’s incredibly strong focus on the family element gives the film a depth that no effects budget could ever achieve. Aug 16, 2022 Movies
The Phantom of the Air by Ray Taylor (Review) This classic serial from Hollywood’s pre-Code era features aerial stunts and sequences that are still thrilling to watch after almost a century. Jun 10, 2022 Movies
Everything Everywhere All at Once by Daniels (Review) Michelle Yeoh shines in this trippy sci-fi epic about a woman struggling to pay her taxes, run her family’s laundromat, and save the multiverse. Apr 14, 2022 Movies
Drive by Steve Wang (Review) Direct-to-video martial arts action comedies from the mid-to-late ’90s don’t get much better than this. Mar 26, 2022 Movies
The Paper Tigers by Tran Quoc Bao (Review) Tran Quoc Bao’s first feature film is a martial arts comedy gem. Aug 23, 2021 Movies
The Tomorrow War Is Amazon’s Forgettable Attempt at a Summer Blockbuster (Review) Even with Chris Pratt and J. K. Simmons, Amazon’s big-budget blockbuster falls flat on almost every front. Jul 6, 2021 Movies
Zillion: Burning Night by Mizuho Nishikubo (Review) Influenced by Walter Hill’s “Streets of Fire,” this OVA is a prime example of cheesy ’80s sci-fi/action anime. Jun 25, 2021 Anime
The Octagon by Eric Karson (Review) Because sometimes, you just need to watch Chuck Norris fight a bunch of ninjas. Jun 5, 2021 Movies
Iria: Zeiram the Animation by Tetsurō Amino (Review) Thanks to its exotic-looking visual aesthetic, this sci-fi/action anime title is an overlooked gem from the mid ’90s. Apr 11, 2020 Anime
Jonas Åkerlund’s Polar is Empty, Gratuitous, and Boring (Review) If you think this might be the next John Wick, don’t waste your time. Just watch John Wick again. Jan 27, 2019 Movies
Random Thoughts About Avengers: Infinity War and the Future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Review) The Marvel Cinematic Universe reaches an apocalyptic milestone ten years in the making. May 1, 2018 Best of Opus Movies
The Villainess by Jung Byung-Gil (Review) The film’s mind-blowing action sequences are ultimately undermined by a convoluted plot and characters you don’t care about. Jan 9, 2018 Movies
Why in the world did I watch Ninja III: The Domination? (Review) Making it through the final film in Cannon Film’s “ninja trilogy” required more than nostalgia. Oct 6, 2017 Movies
Derek Yee’s Sword Master Is an Underwhelming CGI Spectacle (Review) This CGI-filled remake of 1977’s Death Duel never quite reaches the martial arts heights to which it so clearly aspires. Jun 22, 2017 Movies
Netflix’s Blame! Adequately Captures the Spirit of Tsutomu Nihei’s Cyberpunk Manga (Review) But those hoping to see lots of the manga’s vast, dystopian weirdness may be slightly disappointed. May 22, 2017 Anime
The Good, The Bad, The Weird by Kim Ji-Woon (Review) Kim Ji-woon’s “kimchi western” is all about style as substance. Apr 10, 2017 Movies
13 Assassins by Takashi Miike (Review) I love the idea of a Takashi Miike samurai film, but 13 Assassins just doesn’t live up to its promise. Apr 9, 2017 Movies
The Sky Crawlers by Mamoru Oshii (Review) Mamoru Oshii’s films are usually more satisfying and challenging than this. Apr 5, 2017 Movies
Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone by Hideaki Anno (Review) The first Evangelion walks a tricky line between appealing to otaku without feeling like a shameless cash-grab. Apr 5, 2017 Movies Anime
Vexille by Fumihiko Sori (Review) Vexille’s CGI strives for powerful sci-fi storytelling but frequently lands in the uncanny valley. Apr 5, 2017 Movies