Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2009 Live-action remake, in English, of the classic 2000 anime about an ass-kicking, supernatural samurai demon-killer named Saya who is possibly one of those cinematically convenient human-vampire hybrids. Disguised as a schoolgirl, complete with…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2009 Director J.J. Abrams’ mission is to boldly reboot a sagging franchise by starting at square one, and he manages the phenomenal cinematic feat of keeping Trekkies happy while being moderately entertaining to actual…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2009 Graphic novelist Frank Miller throws away all the points he gained for Sin City and 300 by trying to direct, resulting in this joyless, emotion-free extreme example of style over substance. The reborn…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2009 Or not. Aaron Eckhart dutifully but futilely dumbs down in this leaden screwball comedy, playing a self-doubting sad-sack stuck in a useless non-job at his father-in-law’s bank while his wife fools around with…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2009 And just about everything else, including technique, acting and taste. Consider this a warning. You might not even want to read the rest of this review. Story is about a woman with seven…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2009 Previously respected French-Vietnamese writer-director Anh Hung Tran (Cyclo, The Scent of Green Papaya) convinced some of Asia’s hottest teen heartthrobs (plus Yank Josh Hartnett) to appear in the same movie, and then inexplicably…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2009 Aging pro wrestler Randy (“The Ram”) Robinson is battered, broken and broke in this elemental character study by Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream), but he keeps on getting in the ring…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2009 Okay, it was cool when the first, Austrian-accented robot showed up in our theaters 25 years ago. There was a sense of wonder and discovery, at least in terms of summer blockbusters. It…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2009 This oxymoronic Disney reality movie (jeez, that phrase hurts just to think) is a relentlessly upbeat adventure documentary about a group of squeaky-clean college-age kids who get the opportunity to compete in a…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2009 On August 7, 1974, French aerialist Philippe Petit tightrope-walked between the World Trade Center towers. Then he turned around and did it seven more times, even dancing on the wire and juggling. This…

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2009 This multi-arc, rather perfunctory romantic comedy has four main plots, some slightly more interesting than others, and none that I have the space or any real desire to go into. This overlong belaboring…