America, Movie
Devil (2010 film): A solid situation with a strong religious flavor
Five men and women are trapped in an elevator. A murder occurs in the sealed elevator, leaving them unable to escape. Then, suddenly, another murder happens. The killer is among them, and everyone is consumed by suspicion.
Blaming the murders on demons might seem too simple, but the film makes great use of the elevator setting to explore guilt and suspicion. The way the characters interact maintains high psychological tension throughout.
Fans of American dramas like The X-Files or Supernatural will likely enjoy it. It feels more like a two-part extended episode than a single one.

America, Movie
Locke: “A Closed-Room Drama by Tom Hardy”
From the start, you wonder why he’s driving alone and what leads him to make such questionable choices. The ending is somewhat abstract, so it may not appeal to everyone.
Tom Hardy’s acting is outstanding.
Even though he only talks to others by phone while driving, you can easily picture the people on the other end. Holding attention for 80 minutes alone in a car must have been tough, but the film remains gripping throughout.

America, Movie
Demonic(2015): The Suspense Horror Woven by Haunted Houses and Séances
The story follows a séance in a haunted house with a mysterious and troubled past. As the characters try to protect themselves from spirits, things don’t go as planned and tension builds. Rather than pure horror, the film feels more like a suspenseful thriller, with a mix of about 30% horror and 70% suspense.

America, Movie, United Kingdom
The Imitation Game : The anguish and solitude of a genius tackling cryptanalysis are laid bare.
The Imitation Game is a well-made biopic about Alan Turing during World War II. Although it takes place during the war, the film’s real strength lies in its portrayal of the challenges and impact on one person’s life. The story moves at a good pace, and the ending leaves a strong impression that stays with you.

Anime, Cinema
Made in Abyss Movie 3: Dawn of the Deep Soul
Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul is a film filled with intense and sometimes upsetting moments. While the story is often dark, it also highlights how people continue to search for hope, even when things seem impossible.

Japan, Movie
KOKUHO: The Story of a Man Who Devoted His Life to Kabuki
The film “KOKUHO (National Treasure)” truly lives up to its reputation as a rare cinematic event. It goes beyond simple entertainment, offering a poignant glimpse into the performing arts. By combining traditional Japanese culture, memorable acting, and beautiful visuals, it creates a film that will be remembered for years to come.


Devil (2010 film): A solid situation with a strong religious flavor

Locke: “A Closed-Room Drama by Tom Hardy”

Demonic(2015): The Suspense Horror Woven by Haunted Houses and Séances

The Imitation Game : The anguish and solitude of a genius tackling cryptanalysis are laid bare.

Made in Abyss Movie 3: Dawn of the Deep Soul

KOKUHO: The Story of a Man Who Devoted His Life to Kabuki
MOVIE
-
3.6Movie America
Devil (2010 film): A solid situation with a strong religious flavor
Five men and women are trapped in an elevator. A murder occurs in the sealed elevator, leaving them unable to escape. Then, suddenly, another murder happens. The killer is among them, and everyone is consumed by suspicion. Blaming the murders on demons might seem too simple, but the film makes great use of the elevator setting to explore guilt and suspicion. The way the characters interact maintains high psychological tension throughout. Fans of American dramas like The X-Files or Supernatural will likely enjoy it. It feels more like a two-part extended episode than a single one. -
2.5Movie America
Locke: “A Closed-Room Drama by Tom Hardy”
From the start, you wonder why he’s driving alone and what leads him to make such questionable choices. The ending is somewhat abstract, so it may not appeal to everyone. Tom Hardy's acting is outstanding. Even though he only talks to others by phone while driving, you can easily picture the people on the other end. Holding attention for 80 minutes alone in a car must have been tough, but the film remains gripping throughout. -
2.5Movie America
Demonic(2015): The Suspense Horror Woven by Haunted Houses and Séances
The story follows a séance in a haunted house with a mysterious and troubled past. As the characters try to protect themselves from spirits, things don’t go as planned and tension builds. Rather than pure horror, the film feels more like a suspenseful thriller, with a mix of about 30% horror and 70% suspense. -
3.3United Kingdom Movie America
The Imitation Game : The anguish and solitude of a genius tackling cryptanalysis are laid bare.
The Imitation Game is a well-made biopic about Alan Turing during World War II. Although it takes place during the war, the film’s real strength lies in its portrayal of the challenges and impact on one person’s life. The story moves at a good pace, and the ending leaves a strong impression that stays with you. -
3.8Movie Japan
KOKUHO: The Story of a Man Who Devoted His Life to Kabuki
The film "KOKUHO (National Treasure)" truly lives up to its reputation as a rare cinematic event. It goes beyond simple entertainment, offering a poignant glimpse into the performing arts. By combining traditional Japanese culture, memorable acting, and beautiful visuals, it creates a film that will be remembered for years to come. -
3Movie Japan
ZAKUROZAKA NO ADAUCHI
Amid ongoing turmoil, the enduring spirit of the samurai remains. Not only are the performances of actors such as Kiichi Nakai and Hiroshi Abe outstanding, but the scenery is also breathtaking. The deep red camellias blooming desperately despite the snow made me feel the beauty of life. Watching this film, I felt my heart being cleansed.
ANIME
-
3.5Cinema Anime
Made in Abyss Movie 3: Dawn of the Deep Soul
Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul is a film filled with intense and sometimes upsetting moments. While the story is often dark, it also highlights how people continue to search for hope, even when things seem impossible. -
3.2Cinema Anime
Code Geass: Akito the Exiled is the first spin-off of the popular original anime series from Japan.
"Code Geass: Akito the Exiled" is a spin-off of the television anime series "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion," which aired from 2006 to 2008. -
3.5Cinema Anime
Inside Out, Characters that Personify Emotions Move Around Cutely.
The movie "Inside Out" is a masterpiece because it powerfully conveys the essential message that recognizing and accepting all of our emotions, especially sadness, is vital for emotional well-being. By personifying emotions as characters, the film not only entertains audiences of all ages but also helps viewers understand the mechanics of emotions and relationships, making the importance of sadness especially clear. Pixar's innovative animation and storytelling make this message both impactful and accessible. -
3.5Cinema Anime
Weathering with You: “Weathering with You: As usual, I watched the world of Director Shinkai.”
There are various points to criticize, but the combination of weather fantasy and coming-of-age movie worked well, resulting in a remarkable animated film. -
4Cinema Anime
Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse.
Spider-Man was an innovative character typical of American comic books. The art (cartoon animation) differs from Disney's, and the old-fashioned American comic cartoons are well integrated into 3DCG. However, if this is your first time seeing this kind of picture, it may be hard to get used to it. -
3Cinema Anime
The Lion King
The story continued the anime. The visual beauty of the images, which were full CG but looked like live-action, was terrific. However, the realism made it challenging to distinguish between the same characters. I vaguely recognized Mufasa and Scar, young Simba, and young Nala. Still, I don't recognize Sarabi and Nala when they talk side by side.