MovieRankingReviews

  I am not big on Idol anime series. However, Zombie Land Saga was one of the few idol series that I actually thoroughly enjoyed! It was a hilarious comedy on girls who died and got turned into zombies to become idols. Despite the wacky premise, it explored deep themes of death, regret and second chances that made it more than just a generic idol anime. This sequel movie isn’t really any of that… It’s a straight-up alien invasion film and less about the idol group singing or overcoming past regrets. It’s an incredibly weird and tonally different sequel but the ludicrous nature of the premise does result in the film being a lot of fun. Plus, the biggest incentive to this film is seeing an awakened Tae! The film is a bit long at 2 hours with some pacing issues, we don’t get much on Tae’s past despite her awakening, the ending is a little disappointing and there are still tons of loose plot threads. I hope we do get a proper and more authentic season 3 though.

  The story is incredibly predictable and some of the lines are very cheesy. However, this doesn’t stop the film from being wonderfully heartwarming. Brendan Fraser gives a believable and empathetic performance as a struggling actor while having a great supporting cast. The film also gives a thought-provoking look into a small part of Japan’s culture while exploring the theme of lies, loneliness and connection. This is a worthy watch that leaves you with a positive message.

  I was interested to see how they would adapt an indie game with no real plot into a film. In the first act, it felt like they accurately captured the eerie, claustrophobic psychological terror of the endlessly looping subway. The film draws the audience in by having them scan for anomalies, just like the main character. There’s also strong tension in watching him struggle with his asthma while trying to escape. However, this is largely lost from the second act onwards, as the film shifts toward being more character-driven and leans into a metaphor for fatherhood. The tension and sense of terror fade, and even the asthma subplot is completely forgotten. While the execution isn’t great, the film is still well-made, with excellent camerawork. It’s not overly long and is generally an enjoyable 90 minutes.

  Season 2 continues to deliver as a faithful adaptation of the manga by bringing all the iconic stories and scenes to life. It was incredibly wonderful to see! There are also some nice changes, such as teasing early plot points that have been revealed in the current manga, showing Zoro’s fight against 100 agents on-screen, and giving Vivi and Baroque Works more to do. I was worried about how they were going to handle Chopper, but that worry was unfounded because he looks terrific! Likewise, the casting of every supporting character, such as Vivi and Robin, is just perfect. Season 2 is simply fantastic. I genuinely cannot wait to see how they will adapt the Alabasta arc in Season 3!

  Scarlet is the next animated film from the acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda, who is notable for films such as Summer Wars, Wolf Children, and Belle. This new film is an alternate retelling of the classic Hamlet. Unfortunately, Scarlet has got to be Mamoru Hosoda’s worst film so far. The story never does anything interesting or new with the material it is inspired by. The writing is bland, the characters are underdeveloped, and the pacing is very uneven. The male lead, Hijiri, is rather irritating and takes screen time away from the titular character. There are also random music and dance set pieces that do not really add anything, aside from being incredibly odd. Additionally, the message of war and forgiveness is constantly and relentlessly shoved in the audience’s face. The 3D CG is also quite wonky and can look visually odd at times. Despite that, I do appreciate the ambition. There are some great visuals, the musical score is wonderful, and there are a few genu...

  I thoroughly enjoyed Chainsaw Man Season 1. As an avid reader of the Chainsaw Man manga, I found the adaptation to be terrific. However, I do understand why some people had problems with it. The more Hollywood-style cinematography, muted colours, and slower moments weren’t exactly the tone many people expected from the series. All of that is remedied in this sequel film! The chaotic, fast-paced energy, phenomenal visuals, vibrant colours, stunning musical score, and some of the best action set pieces in an animated film make it an absolute thrill to watch. Not only that, but the story also features great character moments, wonderful emotional beats, and engaging drama. This film is a phenomenal sequel, and I hope the next season retains the style shown here!

  The premise of a Battle Royale but with Samurais is an incredibly fun idea! The fight scenes are incredibly well-choreographed, bloody and a visual treat to watch! There is also some wonderful cinematography and it genuinely feels like they brought the Meiji era to life! The music score is also excellent. I found that all the actors did a terrific job and special praise has to go to Junichi Okada as the main character Shujiro Saga. He does a great job in bringing depth to the character and also performing the fight choreography. While the story sounds generic on paper, I do love how they explore conflict between the old Samurai era and the new one while also handling some of the politics in a digestible way. It does have a lot of generic tropes including the old broken down man, the young naive girl who can be quite annoying and overly silly bad guy. However, I enjoyed a lot of this show and it is a great start for Season 1. I am most definitely looking forward to w...

Demon Slayer finally begins its climactic arc with this film. Ufotable once again delivers a phenomenal adaptation, elevating the source material to new heights. The animation is breathtaking, and the Infinity Castle itself is mesmerizing in its design. The action set pieces are exhilarating and gripping, with stunning choreography throughout. The character-driven moments are emotional and powerful, and the soundtrack perfectly complements every scene, whether intensifying the battles or heightening the impact of quieter, dramatic moments. Overall, this is a beautifully crafted, high-production anime film. That said, the movie stumbles at times due to its repetitive structure and over-reliance on flashbacks, which slow down the pacing. The formula often goes: a battle begins, a flashback for an Upper Demon unfolds, then a flashback for a Demon Slayer character follows, before the fight resumes. This cycle repeats multiple times, with flashbacks occasionally stretching on...

  This is a beautifully animated film about self-discovery, connection, and creativity through music. The characters are super expressive, and the animation is colourful and vibrant in all the right ways. The relationships are a joy to watch, especially between our two main girls: Totsuko and Kimi. The music is great too, with a strong score and a fantastic performance at the end. What keeps it from being truly amazing is that it tries to juggle too many storylines without giving them enough time. Totsuko’s Synesthesia feels like it’s just there rather than something meaningful to her character. Kimi hiding the fact that she dropped out of school from her grandmother never really pays off, even though it builds a lot of tension. Rui, the third member of the trio, is the least developed, he barely gets screen time compared to the girls, and his conflict between music and inheriting the family clinic isn’t explored much at all. The Catholic school setting brings up an ...

  A very light-hearted, sweet romance between two teens who are both self-conscious in different ways. It has a vibrant art style with colours that truly pop. The animation is quite unique, especially in the way the characters move. This is particularly noticeable in the opening mall scene, but I didn’t mind it. The OST is wonderful, and the characters are all very likeable. The story isn’t particularly memorable, as it delves into a bit of mystery involving a music record they’re trying to find. It features lots of typical anime clichés, including the ending. However, it’s a fine watch if you’re just looking for a relaxing 90-minute romance.

  Blue Giant is an incredible film about passion and Jazz! The animation is superb with amazing use of clashing colours and vivid imagery during their performances. The music is spectacular and even if you’re not big on Jazz like me, the soundtrack will captivate you! The story is incredibly engaging, which is interesting as the director decided to cut out the entire first arc and some backstories that were present in the source material. However, you will barely notice this as what the director focuses is on the emotions and values of the character which works just as well. My only gripe with this film is the use of CG which is a bit jarring. It can go from amazing 2D animation of our characters to 3D which is not that great and mildly distracting. Nevertheless, this is a truly phenomenal anime movie that I highly recommend!

  Look Back is a phenomenal adaptation of the manga One Shot by Tatsuki Fujimoto of Chainsaw Man fame. The animation and visuals are incredibly unique yet beautiful. There are so many scenes that are mesmerizing to look at. The music score by Haruka Nakamura is wonderful and helps elevate the emotional impact of every scene. What makes this stand out against other animated movies is the exceptionally grounded and genuine story. It is a bittersweet and emotionally provoking look at pursuing passion while being a coming-of-age story. Even with the short hour-long runtime, the story delivers a rollercoaster of emotions that will definitely stick with you even after it is over. This is a must-watch!

  This is an excellent drama set in 1600s Japan. The plot is incredibly engaging, and it exceptional explores political tension, religion, and Japanese culture. Hiroyuki Sanada gives a phenomenal performance as Lord Toranaga, and Anna Sawai is a surprising standout as Mariko. Cosmo Jarvis plays the white man outcast John Blackthorn, and he can come off a bit stiff in his performance, but I think overall, he does a great job as an outsider. My only gripe is the final episode, with the series not portraying what it built up in a more impactful way. Nevertheless, this is still one of the best TV shows in recent history, and I highly recommend it!

  This movie is two hours of Spy X Family goodness! Everything you love from the show is in here: the fun family slice-of-life dynamic, the ridiculously fun comedy with wacky goofiness from lovable daughter Anya, the suave spy action from Loid, and badass fight action set pieces from Yor. The animation is mostly similar to the show, but there are moments in the final act where the animation is glorious! However, the story isn’t really much to write home about and the villain is very "underbaked” (pun intended). Overall, this is a very fun movie set in the Spy X Family universe. If you love the show, you’ll love the movie.

  My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018) I appreciate that this movie actually expands on the world of My Hero Academia and also explores more of All Might’s backstory. Apart from that the movie is very predictable and forgettable. My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019) One of my issue with the first My Hero Academia movie was the animation quality not being any better than the show. Well the 3rd act of this movie has an insanely good animation with one of the best fights seen in the series. It also explores a bit more of the relationship between Midoriya and Bakugo. It’s a shame that the ending ends up being dumb because they had to conform to the sake of canon. Additionally, the relationship between Midoriya and the new movie supporting character, Katsuma, is not interesting whatsoever. The first half of this movie is also quite slow and boring. Just watch it for the action and not the plot. My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission (2021) The premise of Midoriya being f...