Release Year: 2009

If they’d actually bothered to spend some time on the script or even just made a more likeable leading character, ‘Looking For Jackie’ could have been a half decent underdog story.

A 4 hour, yes 4 hour, epic about love, religion and all manner of weirdness from one of Japan’s most out there directors, Sion Sono.

The high standards of satire and sentimentality that had previously been attained have been sacrificed in a bid to be ’more accessible’ – a double-edged sword if ever there was one.

‘Merantau’ is a good-looking film, but in every other department it is just a touch too average to stand out from the crowd.

Despite going the exploitative route and therefore diluting some of the mystery, the film still grips thanks to the ever present sense of something horrible about to happen and a cast who give it their all.

A beautifully and intricately crafted film that is given an emotional heart thanks to Kim Hye-ja and while it has lots more to say than just simply thrill, is still also an often gripping thriller.

It never quite capitalises on a spirited beginning, eventually becoming more of a leaden-footed drama than a blood and thunder action flick.

It’s more than acceptable to use two hours to tell a rom-com if there’s enough plot to go around, but ‘My Girlfriend Is An Agent’ is another Korean film that uses flimsy material to achieve its goal.

Non stop, expertly put together fight scenes, ninjas back on the screen and two leading men cutting loose with intensity and slick fight moves, make ‘Ninja’ a hugely enjoyable ride.

This is certainly not a flick for mainstream critics and while it could have eased up on the over stylisation of the action, ‘Ninja Assassin’ is still a big, bloody hoot.

The film is a fairly tedious mystery that will do little to excite or entertain even the most desperate viewer.

Chen Wen Pin and his on-screen daughter are excellent in the films two most important roles, bringing a humanity to characters who represent a sad underclass in Taiwanese society.