Mar 11, 2023 Anime Movies The Princess and the Pilot by Jun Shishido (Review) Thanks to detailed artwork and solid animation, The Princess and the Pilot isn’t a bad movie. But it had the potential to be much more.
Sep 10, 2022 Anime Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s Wicked City Is a Sleek, Stylish (and Stomach-Churning) ’80s Anime Classic (Review) Wicked City tells a compelling story with style to spare, but its body horror and sexual violence is probably too much for most viewers (myself included).
Aug 16, 2022 Movies Renaissance by Christian Volckman (Review) Visually and technically breathtaking but riddled with a number of sci-fi/action movie clichés.
Apr 10, 2017 Movies Summer Wars by Mamoru Hosoda (Review) Summer Wars adroitly balances sci-fi geekiness, technology-focused social commentary, and family melodrama.
Apr 5, 2017 Movies The Sky Crawlers by Mamoru Oshii (Review) Mamoru Oshii’s films are usually more satisfying and challenging than this.
Jun 26, 2015 Movies Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’ Is Pure, Heartbreaking Cinematic Magic (Review) Pixar’s Inside Out is pure cinematic magic. Also, it reminds me of Mad Max: Fury Road. (No, seriously.)
Apr 5, 2013 Anime Sword Art Online by Tomohiko Itō (Review) Sword Art Online starts out with a lot of promise, but a poor narrative decision takes its second half in a much less interesting direction.
Apr 28, 2008 Anime 5 Centimeters Per Second by Makoto Shinkai (Review) Here’s hoping that “5 Centimeters Per Second” represents one last hurrah for Shinkai before moving on to new, and equally fertile territory.
Jul 29, 2007 Anime Movies Paprika by Satoshi Kon (Review) To attempt to come up with a more detailed plot synopsis is sort of beside the point, and to be honest, I don’t even know if it’s possible.
May 16, 2006 Anime Movies Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children by Tetsuya Nomura (Review) Your enjoyment of the film will be almost entirely dependent on how well you knew and enjoyed Final Fantasy VII, the game.
May 10, 2006 Anime Eureka Seven, Volume 1 by Tomoki Kyoda (Review) In short, the series simply looks and sounds amazing, with detailed and distinct character designs, solid mecha designs, and plenty of solid action.
May 6, 2006 Anime Karas: The Prophecy by Keiichi Sato (Review) It’s like style took substance out behind the woodshed, beat it to a bloody pulp, and dragged it behind the car on the way back home.
May 3, 2006 Anime Samurai 7, Volume 1 by Toshifumi Takizawa (Review) This first volume just doesn’t quite realize Samurai 7’s amazing amount of potential.
Sep 4, 2005 Anime Movies Howl’s Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki (Review) This may be my least favorite Studio Ghibli film to date.
Jun 25, 2005 Anime Movies The Place Promised in Our Early Days by Makoto Shinkai (Review) Ultimately, the film is a nostalgic and romantic tale of childhood promises and dreams.
May 18, 2005 Anime Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu by Yasuhiro Takemoto (Review) Skipping the fan service, this Full Metal Panic spin-off focuses on goofy humor.
May 11, 2005 Anime Movies Appleseed by Shinji Aramaki (Review) Much of Appleseed’s appeal will undoubtedly be due to its unique visuals.
Feb 27, 2005 Anime Movies The Five Star Stories by Kazuo Yamazaki (Review) What we have here is merely a taste, and I, for one, am left wanting much more.
Feb 26, 2005 Anime Movies Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind by Hayao Miyazaki (Review) Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind is worth watching if only to give one a much better context in which to appreciate Miyazaki’s movies.
Feb 5, 2005 Anime Gantz, Vol. 1 by Ichiro Itano (Review) Gantz is positioned as a dark, nihilistic story about mankind’s darker nature. That doesn’t mean it’s any good.