The Weird Man (3 Stars)

"The Weird Man" is one of the more eccentric supernatural films produced by the legendary Hong Kong studio Shaw Brothers. Blending martial arts, folklore and black comedy, the film tells the story of a man who uses dark magic to transform himself into a powerful monster, unleashing chaos in pursuit of revenge.

Director Chang Cheh pushes the material toward grotesque spectacle rather than traditional wuxia heroics. The transformation scenes, crude but imaginative by early-1980s standards, give the film a lurid energy that fans of Shaw Brothers' later supernatural cycle will recognise. At times the tone veers wildly between horror and slapstick, which can make the narrative feel uneven.

Nevertheless, the film has a certain charm. Its practical effects, exaggerated performances and bizarre storyline capture a period when Hong Kong genre cinema embraced outrageous ideas with enthusiasm.

While far from a classic, "The Weird Man" remains an entertaining curiosity; a strange hybrid of monster movie and kung fu fantasy that will mostly appeal to dedicated Shaw Brothers enthusiasts.

A Samurai In Time (4½ Stars)

In the year 1867 the samurai warrior Kosaka Shinzaemon is in a battle to the death with a young warrior from another clan. A lightning bolt strikes him, and he wakes up in the year 2007. He's at the same place, but it's now being used as a film set where Japanese period dramas (jidaigeki) are made. It's assumed that he's a non-speaking extra, so he's immediately involved in the production of the next episode. As the weeks go by, his fighting skills are recognised, so he's given bigger and bigger roles.

This is an amazing film. It was made on a small budget, but it was greatly successful in Japan. I have a few minor complaints about the film which I won't mention here. Maybe I'll write more when I watch it again.

Success Rate:  + 36.5

Flowers of War (5 Stars)

Directed by Zhang Yimou, "The Flowers of War" is a large scale historical drama set during the Nanjing Massacre of 1937. The story follows an opportunistic American undertaker, played by Christian Bale, who takes refuge in a church as Japanese troops overrun the city. Inside the church, a group of schoolgirls and a group of prostitutes find themselves forced into an uneasy alliance as they struggle to survive the occupation.

The film combines brutal wartime imagery with a melodramatic narrative typical of Zhang's style. The opening sequences depicting the fall of Nanjing are chaotic and frightening, capturing the terror of civilians caught in a collapsing city. At the centre of the story is Bale as a reluctant protector, a cynical outsider who gradually assumes responsibility for those sheltering with him. While the character arc is predictable, Bale gives the role enough humanity to keep the film emotionally grounded.

Visually, the film is striking. Zhang contrasts the devastation outside with the candlelit interiors of the church, creating moments of quiet beauty amid the horror. At times the stylised presentation risks softening the historical brutality, yet the film still conveys the moral desperation of people trapped in an impossible situation.

"The Flowers of War" may not be a subtle war film, but it's emotionally powerful. By focusing on sacrifice and solidarity among unlikely companions, it turns a vast historical tragedy into an intimate story about courage and survival.

Success Rate:  - 1.0

	Order from Amazon.com
	Order from Amazon.co.uk
	Order from Amazon.de

John Rabe (5 Stars)

"John Rabe", directed by Florian Gallenberger, dramatises the extraordinary true story of John Rabe, a German businessman who helped save thousands of Chinese civilians during the Nanjing Massacre of 1937. The film follows Rabe, played by Ulrich Tukur, as he reluctantly becomes the head of the Nanking Safety Zone Committee, organising a refuge for civilians while Japanese troops occupy the city.

The film's most striking element is Tukur's restrained performance. He portrays Rabe not as a conventional hero but as a pragmatic administrator who gradually realises the moral weight of his position. This understated approach helps ground the film amid the harrowing historical backdrop. The supporting cast, including Daniel Brühl and Steve Buscemi, add an international dimension that reflects the multinational effort behind the safety zone.

While the film inevitably condenses events and simplifies some political complexities, it succeeds in highlighting a little known chapter of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Its depiction of the violence in Nanjing is disturbing without becoming gratuitous, keeping the focus on the humanitarian struggle rather than spectacle.

Overall, "John Rabe" is a sober historical drama that sheds light on a remarkable figure whose actions saved many lives during one of the darkest episodes of the twentieth century.

	Order from Amazon.com
	Order from Amazon.co.uk
	Order from Amazon.de

The Bride (5 Stars)

Many people mistakenly call Frankenstein's monster Frankenstein, as if it were the name of the monster and not his creator. That's always annoyed me. However, in "The Bride" it's justified. The film takes place in 1936, long after the death of Victor Frankenstein, and the monster has travelled to America calling himself Frankenstein. So this time it's okay.

The film completely surprised me. It's been filmed as a surreal framework story, with Mary Shelly herself telling the story. It's beautiful. It's the best film I've seen so far this year.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (4 Stars)

This film is the fourth adaptation of the 1967 novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui with the same name. The films were made in 1983, 1997, 2006 and 2010. There was also a TV series in 1972. With all this interest in the story, I'm surprised it's never been filmed in other countries.

The film begins in 2010. Kazuko Yoshiyama is a university professor who has developed a means of time travel. She has a car accident, and she thinks she might not recover. She asks her daughter Akari to travel back to her school science lab in 1972 and give a message to Kazuo, her first lover. She says that Kazuo was waiting for her. Unfortunately, Akari travels to 1974 and can't find Kazuo. There's no record of him ever being in the school. Akari meets her mother and shows her a photo of Kazuo, but she doesn't recognise him. Akari says she'll remain in the past until she solves the mystery.

This is a slow-moving story. It's a love story. Akari meets a boy in her mother's school and falls in love with him. There are a lot of interwoven plots and subplots. It's a film that's worth watching a second time.

Marty Supreme (3 Stars)

I've been hearing about this film for weeks. It's received nine nominations for the Academy Awards, including best film. One of my friends has told me it's his favourite film of the year so far. So I expected to enjoy it today. I wanted to enjoy it. But I didn't.

It's difficult to say why I don't like a film without giving away spoilers, but I think I can do it with "Marty Supreme". The main reason that I don't like the film is because I find the character Marty unpleasant. He lies, cheats and steals to get what he wants. He's conceited. He's not someone I can cheer on. He's not someone I'd want as a friend.

A second reason is that he has no noticeable character arc, not even in his table tennis skills. He starts the film as the best, and he ends at the best. That's all I can say about him.

The critics disagree. They see something in the film that I don't. I don't want to put my readers off. Maybe you'll enjoy it more than me.