Here are our latest reviews of films for home viewing.
Pre-2024 Film Reviews
14 Amazons (1972)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: Ultimately, “14 Amazons” is a fascinating artifact of its time, a film that combines spectacle, ideology, and tradition into a singular cinematic experience. While it may fall short in terms of narrative depth and character complexity, its ambition, scale, and cultural significance ensure its lasting appeal. Even decades after its release, the film retains a certain charm, not only as entertainment but also as a reflection of the values and aesthetics of early 1970s Hong Kong cinema.
Days and Nights in the Forest (1970)
Laura Clifford @ Reeling Reviews
- Excerpt: shows us a playful Satyajit Ray working on a global stage while still exposing the class injustices of his home country. Janus’s 4K restoration release of this 1970 film deserves celebration.
The Lady Hermit (1971)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: “The Lady Hermit” stands as a highly entertaining and well-crafted wuxia that may follow a familiar formula but elevates it through the rare female dynamics in its center, the acting, and the overall audiovisual presentation. Furthermore, it it remains a significant entry in the genre for its emphasis on female warriors and its symbolic role in the transition between two generations of stars.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Josh Thayer @ The Forgetful Film Critic
- Excerpt: The moral code is simple and brutal: get yours while the gettin’s good, because everyone else around you is trying to do the same. Enter Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon.
The Runner (1984)
- Excerpt: Amiro is something of a precursor to the young version of Dev Patel’s character in Slumdog Millionaire (2008), except that The Runner lacks the poverty tourism and imposed palatability that I found so off-putting in Danny Boyle’s film.
Testament (1983)
Lia Matthew Brown @ Screen Anarchy
- Excerpt: The Criterion Collection captures Lynne Littman’s 1983 post-apocalyptic horror-drama.
Thampu (1978)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: “Thampu” is an excellent movie, a testament to the quality of Malayalam cinema of its time and a true triumph of cinéma vérité, ultimately standing as a genuine masterpiece.
Vidheyan (1994)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: “Vidheyan” is a masterful work whose psychological depth has clearly stood the test of time, resulting in an experience that remains both impactful and necessary to watch today.
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