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Cinema Anime
Your Name: This is the work that brought director Makoto Shinkai worldwide fame.
Among Makoto Shinkai's works, which often feature tragic love stories, this film concludes with a happy ending, leaving the viewer with a sense of happiness. The promotional video led me to expect a gender-swap romantic comedy, but the film turned out to be a heartfelt coming-of-age love story. Still, it features the beautiful backgrounds Shinkai is known for, from rural scenery to city skyscrapers, pulling viewers into his world. As a result, this is a film crafted to appeal to a broad audience in the best sense, one that anyone can find moving and enjoyable. -
Movie France America
The Purge: Anarchy “A series that expands your worldview”
The new film cuts back on some of the annoying elements from the first movie, such as forced crises and weak defenses, but retains the Purge setting. This installment feels more expansive, and its satisfying ending makes it highly entertaining. The characters stand out: the deranged driver, the zealot woman, the mafia exploiting the Purge, and the rich treating it as a game. Sustained survival tension makes this an especially entertaining survival film. -
Movie Australia America
I, Frankenstein: “A dark hero who cares nothing for angels or demons.”
Made by the same studio as "Underworld," I, Frankenstein has a similar dark vibe, but it puts more emphasis on action than on horror. This movie is fast-paced and full of action, so there isn’t much time to take in every part of the story. I was glad to see that Frankenstein’s backstory stuck closely to the original, without any strange changes. The production quality and CG were impressive. I also enjoyed the Gargoyle character, which had a fun, exaggerated style that reminded me of stories I liked in middle school. -
Movie 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. -
Movie 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. -
Movie America
Alien: Romulus. Evoking the horror of the origins.
It depicted an encounter with an unknown life form and the fear and survival accompanying it. The entire film is classically structured to escape from a terrifying experience on a spaceship. Of course, Xenomorphs and face-huggers appeared, and the tense scenes between such creatures and the ship's crew allowed the audience to experience the essence of fear. -
Movie America
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Members of the first film reunite.
As always, the unique character of Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, "Jack Sparrow can't be replaced!" We will be able to say it throughout the future series. It was reaffirmed to be true throughout the future series. However, it is over 2 hours long and has a midway point. -
Movie America
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. A masterpiece of science fiction in which the Jedi do not appear.
Chronologically, this is how Princess Leila got the blueprint data for the Death Star, just before Episode 4. For those who have seen Episodes 4-6, this is a heartbreaking film, and I wondered how X-wings and AT-ATs could be so hopeless. -
Cinema 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. -
Movie America
The Maze Runner. The beginning of an epic trilogy.
Some labyrinths can't be honest, and there are mechanical monsters that can't be there either, and they attack. (Spoiler alert: I didn't know what these super sci-fi things were until I reached the end.) Even after following the artwork, I didn't know why the runners were there.