Time Renegades [2016]

Time Renegades [2016]
Original Title: Siganitalja
South Korea
Director: Jae-yong Kwak
My Rating: 10/10

This is as good as it gets for time travel movies.  It's a very solid story, with lots of twists and turns, and altering of time lines.  The time travel gimmick is never explained or really explored, but that seems to be the case in all Korean and Japanese time travel movies.  Another feature I've noticed is that things don't always work out with a perfectly happy ending.  It actually had me fooled for most of the story in regards to who was behind it all.

This is a solid 10, it has a compelling story, it's well acted and it just looks good (use of colors, sets, costume design, etc...).  I've mentioned my bias for time travel movies, but I think even casual fans of the genre will enjoy this one.

Sky Blue [2003]

Sky Blue [2003]
Original Title: Wonderful Days
South Korea
Director: Moon-saeng Kim
My Rating: 6/10

For being released almost 15 years ago, this film looks beautiful.  The animation is really well done, it appears to have blended CGI and traditional animation styles quite well.  Like many animated films however, it has some of the usual flaws.  Characters with ridiculous/stupid hair aren't so bad here, because it takes place far enough into the future that a pompadour that sticks out half a meter could just be a future thing.  It's the dialog that kills me.  Most animated movies have great ideas and look great, until you hear them speak.  I'd like to say that the voice actors in a lot of movies aren't very good, but they aren't really given much to work with in terms of scripted lines.

The run time is pretty short for a Korean film.  Given the interesting world they've created here, more time exploring it would help the story.  Unfortunately, the characters don't have much motivation or development, so watching them deliver more crappy lines for another hour might not actually help the overall story.  I think this movie had a lot of potential to be good.  There were a few moments that made me cringe though.  A character stoically staring ahead when someone hurls a meat cleaver at them... yeah, of course it missed, but not by a lot.  It doesn't make them look super cool not to react, it's a child's idea of how a super cool person would react.

Despite having some problems, I'd still give this one a 6.  It's entertaining mostly and that's really all I can ask of a film.

The Cure [1997]

The Cure [1997]
Original Title: Cure
Japan
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
My Rating: 9/10

Among fans of Japanese horror films this is considered a classic, and I can see why.  It has similar overall vibe as the equally good Suicide Club.  The overall mood is bleak and mysterious.  The mystery isn't a typical whodunit, but more of a what the hell is going on?  It's violent and disturbing throughout.  Basically it's everything I like in a horror movie.

The acting is solid all around and the two leads were especially good.  The whole thing has a definite urban 90's feel to it.  There was one scene in particular, a long-shot, that I thought was especially effective at combining the senselessness of the violence with the matter of fact way it appears to be happening.  This is a near perfect film, a solid 9.

Rigor Mortis [2013]

Rigor Mortis [2013]
Original Title: Geung si
Hong Kong
Director: Juno Mak
My Rating: 8/10

I found this one under a list of vampire movies and I guess it technically is, but the vampire seems to be much closer to a zombie than anything else.  Along with this vambie, there are a number of ghosts in this story as well, and the special effects are superb.  These ghosts are wonderfully done.  Not only that, but the whole film looks equally superb.  There is a consistent feeling of menace and impending doom throughout.

The only problem this movie has is one of clarity.  It's a bit hard to follow, and left me scratching my head when it was over.  Overall, it doesn't detract much from an enjoyable story.  Apparently this is based on an earlier series called Mr. Vampire which is well liked as well.  I don't know if it has the same level of monster madness or excellent fight scenes as this one has, but it might be worth checking out.

Death Bell [2008]

Death Bell [2008]
Original Title: Gosa
South Korea
Director: Chang
My Rating: 7/10

This was an interesting enough film, with elements of typical ghost, revenge, and slasher stories.  I actually wasn't sure which way the story was heading, except for one aspect that was a little obvious if you've seen a few Korean horror movies.  I don't need to be completely stumped to enjoy it though.  The movie seems to have been heavily influenced by the Saw series, you'll find quite a few intricate death scenes in this one.

The reveal at the end is ultimately satisfying.  It's not a twist nor is it entirely believable, but it's overall worth watching.  The whole concept is interesting.  It seems almost like the equivalent of a school shooting in a culture that doesn't really have any guns available for one.  Another interesting thing is that unlike an American slasher movie the teens in this movie are not the promiscuous delinquents (that are supposed to deserve it?), but rather the smart ones who may be able to solve the mystery.  While not a masterpiece, it's a solid 7.

Time Traveller [2010]

Time Traveller [2010]
Original Title: Toki o kakeru shôjo
Japan
Director: Masaaki Taniguchi
My Rating: 5/10

 This a sequel to 1983's The Little Girl Who Conquered Time.  There are two other film adaptations of the original novel it seems.  It's a little confusing.  Anyway, the little girl from the first story grows up and has a child of her own.  This child goes on to have her own time travel adventure.  Even though this is a movie about time travel, it is much more of a romantic drama than it is a science fiction movie.

What can I say about the drama here?  It's pretty basic.  The whole movie is pretty meh.  Not the worst thing I've seen, but not all that good either.  Forgettable (despite it's oddly spelled title) and meh.

Cold Fish [2010]

Cold Fish [2010]
Original Title: Tsumetai nettaigyo
Japan
Director: Sion Sono
My Rating: 9/10

 This is the second in Sono's "hate trilogy", and this is a depressing and bleak film.  So, obviously I liked it.  Not only is everyone flawed but everyone is awful, this movie confirms my perceived notions of humanity quite nicely.  I'm only half joking there, and I do enjoy a "feel good" movie occasionally, but stories like this provide a nice counterpoint.

Similar to the film Creepy, this is based on a true story and has an antagonist that relies on coercion, intimidation and mind games.  The difference is that this story is believable.  He may not be charming, but it isn't a total mystery how he gets his way.  All the characters are quite believable, whether they are weak and ineffectual, quietly bitter and malcontent or just a bratty teenager.

The story doesn't really build the tension in the first and second act, but instead the events unfold in a more mundane and matter of fact way.  This isn't a bad thing, it gives it a real life sort of feel even as the crimes escalate.  This also makes the ending more dramatic.  The ending is shocking and satisfying, no one gains any deeper knowledge or at least not in a way that is helpful.  It just reaffirms the sadness of life and how disappointing the world and it's inhabitants all are.

Creepy [2016]

Creepy [2016]
Original Title: Kurîpî: Itsuwari no rinjin
Japan
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
My Rating: 1/10

During the first hour of the film I was completely on board.  I thought it was compelling and masterfully working the slow build of tension and unease.  It was coasting to an easy 10/10 if the ending was good, or 8/10 if it was disappointing.  The second hour crashed and burned so intensely and I'm so bitter about my wasted time that I can't give it anything other than a 1/10.

This is not a paranormal movie, but it does have a drug that I can only describe as magic.  I almost expected a supernatural reveal at the end, possibly that a character was literally Satan, because I found his abilities to be so far beyond the realm of possibility that anything less than being the Prince of Darkness would be an insult to the audience's intelligence.  Also, the police in this film demonstrate Korean level of police incompetence.  That's impressive.

I understand there may be some cultural aspects I'm missing.  Maybe Japan is entirely populated by people like the ones in this film.  However, the nation's continued existence as a place with people who are alive and walking around... this makes me think otherwise.  I also understand that the story is loosely based on real crimes.  Look, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is also loosely based on the real crimes of Ed Gein, the two have nearly nothing in common.

I won't tell you to avoid this movie, instead I would recommend it if only to serve as an example on how to utterly ruin a near perfect first half.