Here are our latest reviews of films for home viewing.
Pre-2024 Film Reviews
1984 (1984)
- Excerpt: …you can make your own judgment about how much of the fictional world created by Orwell (which he described as a satire) applies to present-day America.
Blood of Rebirth (2009)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: “Blood of Rebirth” is not an easy watch, nor does it attempt to be. It is a film driven by instinct, anger and creative freedom, which functions as both a comeback statement and a declaration of a new cinematic style for Toyoda. While the overall approach can be challenging, those willing to engage with its unconventional approach may find a uniquely powerful experience.
Captains Courageous (1937)
Rick Aragon @ Rick’s Texan Reviews
- Excerpt: Strong performances all around, including an Oscar-winning one, elevate Captains Courageous to a film well worth watching.
Caroline Strubbe’s Trilogy of Forgetting (2009-2025)
Cesar Chavez (2014)
Rick Aragon @ Rick’s Texan Reviews
- Excerpt: No one could have foreseen that a mere twelve years after Cesar Chavez was released, and over a quarter-century after his death, this biopic’s subject would be tossed out like rotten grapes.
Character (1997)
Bavner Donaldo @ Cinejour [Indonesian]
The Dream Songs (2023)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: “The Dream Songs” is not an easy movie, despite its seemingly accessible coming-of-age surface. Its emotional force depends partly on how much the viewer knows about the Sewol ferry disaster, and some of its symbolism may feel too elusive or heavily arranged. Nevertheless, Cho Hyun-chul’s debut remains an impressive and deeply felt work, one that uses the story of two girls to speak about love, loss, memory, and national grief.
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)
Rick Aragon @ Rick’s Texan Reviews
- Excerpt: This simple story of a teacher’s lifelong commitment to his profession and the woman who loved him will win you over in the end.
I Will Buy You (1956)
Rick Aragon @ Rick’s Texan Reviews
- Excerpt: A portrait of players both getting played and playing the financial field, I Will Buy You will make the viewer think about the high cost of a nation’s pastime.
In the Bedroom (2001)
Iron Crown (1972)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: “The Iron Crown” is a film that resists easy categorization. It is part horror, part erotic drama, and part theatrical experiment, all filtered through Shindo’s distinct sensibility. While not always entirely cohesive, its ambition and intensity make it a compelling watch, particularly for those interested in the intersections of traditional Japanese art and modern cinema. All in all, a film that fits ATG’s style to the fullest.
Mother (2009)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: Ultimately, despite its seemingly simple premise, “Mother” emerges as a deeply unsettling and thought-provoking work that transcends genre boundaries. By blending elements of thriller, drama, and dark comedy, Bong Joon-ho crafts a narrative that is as emotionally engaging as it is intellectually provocative. The film’s exploration of distorted maternal love, combined with its precise technical execution and outstanding performances, results in a work that lingers long after its conclusion, leaving the audience in a state of discomfort that mirrors the ambiguity at its core.
Potato (1968)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: Ultimately, “Potato” stands as an excellent example of how melodrama can transcend mere sentimentalism and offer something far more substantial.
True Grit (1969)
Rick Aragon @ Rick’s Texan Reviews
- Excerpt: The West was wild and wooly, but it also managed to be wryly amusing in True Grit. With strong performances and a good balance of serious and offbeat, True Grit is a strong film.
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