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I watched some stuff but can not be bothered to type out full length reviews for them so here:

The Age Of Shadows

South Korean film I've waited ages for. There was a high quality copy available for months, but no English subtitles. I actually tried translating the Spanish subtitles into English, but the end product was less intelligible than listening to it in Korean.

A group of rebels in 1920's Seoul attempt to blow up Japanese-held facilities. It is kind of a spy/action film, but is more like a thriller than anything else. Song Kang-Ho is the lead actor, and he is great. I don't think he has ever been in a bad film, and would recommend literally anything else he is in. I might do some reviews for his other films at some point. Check out Joint Security Area and Memories of Murder.

Good directing, good acting, decent storyline and they really nailed the tension in the train scenes.

8.4/10

Nausicaa: Valley Of The Wind

Technically not a Studio Ghibli film, because it was made a year before Studio Ghibli was founded, but it is directed by Miyazaki. While it definitely isn't the best of his films, I really like it for a few different reasons. It is a pretty old film, so the animation doesn't have the same fluidity as the more recent ones, but for the time it really does look amazing. It has a really nice aesthetic, and is interesting because it sort of sets the tone for the films that would come after it.

Upon rewatching it, I noticed that there are no filler scenes. Sometimes in Ghibli films you will get a few different scenes that are only there for eye candy, but almost every scene in Nausicaa is essential to the plot in some way. Another thing I noticed this time around is the lack of music in most of the film. Instead of music you will only hear the wind, and sometimes there is no audio at all. Rather than being a negative point, it actually immerses you in the world more.

8.6/10

Your Name

This is the gayest film I have seen all year. But the animation is stunning and I love it. Don't read anything about it, just watch it.

10/10

A Scanner Darkly

Based on Philip K Dick's book of the same title, Keanu Reeves stars as an animated future DEA version of himself investigating himself. This film can be confusing as shit because it doesn't really explain the story that well, but it's decent if you've read the book as it is a lot clearer.

It has a really unique animation style, kind of like a mix between animation and live action. I suspect they recorded the scenes in live action and then drew over the frames. After watching it again, I have come to the conclusion that the film would probably be shit if it wasn't for Robert Downey Jr. As much as I love Keanu's expressionless face, he pales in comparison.

Worth a watch, but only if you read the book first.

7.8/10

One False Move

Billy Bob Thornton snorts coke and brutally murders black people.

Honestly, I really enjoyed the first half hour or so, but then it slows way down and gets kind of boring. It had potential to be way better. The characters are just too stereotypical for them to have any depth, and the same could probably be said for the plot. Everything is a little bit too predictable for it to stand apart from other films in the genre.

Watch the first half hour 3 times and pretend you saw the entire thing.

7.2/10

I watched some stuff but can not be bothered to type out full length reviews for them so here: ##The Age Of Shadows South Korean film I've waited ages for. There was a high quality copy available for months, but no English subtitles. I actually tried translating the Spanish subtitles into English, but the end product was less intelligible than listening to it in Korean. A group of rebels in 1920's Seoul attempt to blow up Japanese-held facilities. It is kind of a spy/action film, but is more like a thriller than anything else. Song Kang-Ho is the lead actor, and he is great. I don't think he has ever been in a bad film, and would recommend literally anything else he is in. I might do some reviews for his other films at some point. Check out Joint Security Area and Memories of Murder. Good directing, good acting, decent storyline and they really nailed the tension in the train scenes. 8.4/10 ##Nausicaa: Valley Of The Wind Technically not a Studio Ghibli film, because it was made a year before Studio Ghibli was founded, but it is directed by Miyazaki. While it definitely isn't the best of his films, I really like it for a few different reasons. It is a pretty old film, so the animation doesn't have the same fluidity as the more recent ones, but for the time it really does look amazing. It has a really nice aesthetic, and is interesting because it sort of sets the tone for the films that would come after it. Upon rewatching it, I noticed that there are no filler scenes. Sometimes in Ghibli films you will get a few different scenes that are only there for eye candy, but almost every scene in Nausicaa is essential to the plot in some way. Another thing I noticed this time around is the lack of music in most of the film. Instead of music you will only hear the wind, and sometimes there is no audio at all. Rather than being a negative point, it actually immerses you in the world more. 8.6/10 ##Your Name This is the gayest film I have seen all year. But the animation is stunning and I love it. Don't read anything about it, just watch it. 10/10 ##A Scanner Darkly Based on Philip K Dick's book of the same title, Keanu Reeves stars as an animated future DEA version of himself investigating himself. This film can be confusing as shit because it doesn't really explain the story that well, but it's decent if you've read the book as it is a lot clearer. It has a really unique animation style, kind of like a mix between animation and live action. I suspect they recorded the scenes in live action and then drew over the frames. After watching it again, I have come to the conclusion that the film would probably be shit if it wasn't for Robert Downey Jr. As much as I love Keanu's expressionless face, he pales in comparison. Worth a watch, but only if you read the book first. 7.8/10 ##One False Move Billy Bob Thornton snorts coke and brutally murders black people. Honestly, I really enjoyed the first half hour or so, but then it slows way down and gets kind of boring. It had potential to be way better. The characters are just too stereotypical for them to have any depth, and the same could probably be said for the plot. Everything is a little bit too predictable for it to stand apart from other films in the genre. Watch the first half hour 3 times and pretend you saw the entire thing. 7.2/10

3 comments

[–] Mastercat 3 points (+3|-0)

It's a pity about Philip K Dick. He had fuck all money while he was alive, then right after he dies Hollywood wants to turn every other piece of prose the guy wrote into a feature film.

Thanks for the tip on The Age of Shadows.