Genre: Drama

Amusing (though never crude) and nostalgic (though never overly sentimental), Riley Yip’s gentle ‘coming-of-age’ comedy/drama earns a major recommendation.

‘Kaiji: The Ultimate Gambler’ is a unique and very entertaining film if you can get on board with its offbeat vibe and characters. Different but good.

A mixture of beautifully written, slightly quirky and completely endearing characters, this is the kind of ensemble comedy drama that Asian cinema does so well.

Colourful, comic booked tinged ninja tale, ‘Kamui’ is a fun sword swishing time that packs in action, drama and some striking scenery.

A cheeky and often funny, if overlong, look at how the need to act tough and prove you can fight never really leaves you, even many years after high school.

‘Kickboxer 5’ is far from perfect but it remains a solid action outing that is boosted by the inclusion of such a physically adept leading man.

Another superbly constructed piece of cinema that really captures the imagination and warms the heart.

Unlike many Hollywood takes on a similar subject, ‘Kikujiro’ prides itself on its unpredictability and genuine heart.

‘Killer Constable’ could have been a genre film with a heart as well as a brain; as it is, this is a good, but not great kung fu film in both action and content.

I really can’t find much to criticise in this movie. It’s a short, tight story that is well told, well acted, exciting and at times surprising. Good times.

There really is very little reason to recommend ‘Killers From Beijing’ as it is disappointing on just about every level of competent filmmaking.

Tsukamoto proves that he can stand with the filmic legends as he proudly represents a unique sense of style in a densely populated medium.