Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2009 Perhaps they thought that getting Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster back together from 2001 would be enough for the franchise’s fans, and that plot, character and acting were unnecessary….

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2009 This Death Wish wannabe from Saw director James Wan stars Kevin Bacon as the father of a murdered son who, to his own severe detriment, becomes a gangbanger slayer. Wan’s noble message is…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2009 In this Hollywood origin story of Japan’s Atom Boy, a brilliant robotics scientist who recently lost a son creates a super-robot kid with all his son’s memories, but then spurns the final product…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2009 Vying for the title of Best Living Japanese Filmmaker are Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Hirokazu Kore-eda. Both of their most recent works, Kurosawa’s Tokyo Sonata and Kore-eda’s Aruitemo, Aruitemo (“Still Walking”), were near-masterpieces. Now…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2009 Well, I’ve finally run out of rude things to say about Steven Seagal flicks. Actually, I don’t have anything at all to say about this latest waste of time because it’s so forgettable…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2009 A Steven Seagal zombie movie. I’m not kidding. Sometimes I think Steven does stuff like this just to make my job more fun. Most of it is boring footage of survivors wandering through…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2009 Screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga tries his hand at directing in the wake of his split with director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. Together, the two made the excellent Amores Perros, 21 Grams and Babel. This film…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2009 Talented writer/directors like Satoshi Miki (Tenten) and Kankuro Kudo (The Shonen Merikensack) have ushered in an era of Japanese comedy where surreal visuals, a frenetic pace and all manner of pop references prevail….

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2009 A former high school football star takes his upscale college girlfriend back to his hick hometown, where former hick girlfriend remains obsessed with him and insanely jealous. Clearly having seen Misery way too…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2009 This is not over the top. Crank was over the top. This freak show can’t even remember passing the top. It’s absurd and outrageous, which is cool, but there are diminishing returns. In…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2009 Much like Naomi Kawase’s 2008 film Nanayomachi, Pool is a slow, contemplative effort that pays more attention to mood than plot or character development. This kind of movie can be engaging if done…