Here are our latest reviews of films for home viewing.
Pre-2023 Film Reviews
Brazil (1985)
- Excerpt: A new 4K restoration of the revised director’s cut of Brazil—142 minutes long, with Gilliam’s preferred ending—reminds us that the film’s satirical depiction of everyday life in a dysfunctional dystopia remains powerfully prescient, not to mention stunningly imaginative, forty years after its original theatrical release.
The Bridge (1959)
- Excerpt: …the young men function most importantly as a collective, together representing everyone called to war before they are ready for it.
Burning Dog (1991)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: Yoichi Sai’s direction manages to tie many of these elements together, at least partially. While his talent for capturing atmosphere and emotional tension is evident, “Burning Dog” ultimately emerges as a flawed production—one that includes several strong individual components but fails to come together cohesively. Both Sai and Toei’s V-Cinema line have produced more successful works, making this an intriguing but ultimately uneven entry in their respective catalogs.
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Death Threat (1991)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: Ultimately, “Female Prisoner Scorpion: Death Threat” has its moments of visual flair and genre homage, but as a whole, it remains a mediocre entry—arguably the weakest in the V-cinema box set. Nonetheless, its value as a tribute to the original series is undeniable.
The Front Line (2011)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: Ultimately, “The Front Line” stands as a powerful and enduring war epic. Its thematic depth, compelling performances, and technical excellence make it a title that continues to resonate, and one that fully deserves to be experienced on the big screen.
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses (1991)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: Ultimately, “The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses” stands out as one of the more rewarding entries in Arrow’s boxset. With its brisk 84-minute runtime and its heady blend of sex and action, it captures a particular moment in Japanese genre cinema, flawed, provocative, and undeniably entertaining
Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
A Touch of Cloth: Series 1 (2012)
Sebastian Zavala @ NoEsEnSerie.com [Spanish]
- Excerpt: Not all of the jokes land, and some are more clever than truly hilarious, but if you like this kind of comedy, I highly doubt you’ll have a bad time with the first series of “A Touch of Cloth.”
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