Reviews

The Japanese film industry continues to captivate audiences in 2025. Anime leads the charge, with surprising domestic hits making waves. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s happening at the box office right now. Weekend Trends & Box Office Health On the weekend of September 20–21, 2025, Japan’s box office raked in about USD 22.7 million. This marks a hefty 47% increase over the previous weekend. Such volatility highlights how heavily Japanese cinema depends on blockbuster o

Garnt Maneetapho, better known as Gigguk, is one of the most popular anime YouTubers, known for his sharp commentary, comedic skits, and deep love for the "isekai" genre. But with his latest project, he’s stepping into a new role: not just commentating on anime, but creating it. I've been aware of Gigguk's content for years, especially his "In a Nutshell" series where he reviews the past season of anime projects is probably what I enjoy the most from his catalgue of videos. I

Cover for Kore-eda Hirokazu's film for Apple "Last Scene" What if one unfinished script could decide the future of television drama? That’s the premise of Hirokazu Kore-eda’s short film, Last Scene. On the surface, it’s a 28-minute time-travel short film. But underneath, it’s something bigger — a reflection on legacy, on the fragile place of television in our culture, and on how the stories we tell today shape the future. I want to explore how Last Scene uses a simple sci-fi

Hirokazu Kore-eda's haunting film, Nobody Knows , isn't just a work of fiction; it's a powerful and tragic reflection of a real-life event that shocked Japan in 1988. The movie draws its inspiration from the Suginami child abandonment case, using it as a foundation to tell a deeply personal story of resilience and neglect. The film introduces us to Keiko, a young, single mother, and her four children: 12-year-old Akira, 11-year-old Kyoko, and the younger siblings, Shigeru and

In the quiet opening of Hirokazu Kore-eda's debut film, "Maborosi" (also known as "Phantom Light"), we are introduced to a young Yumiko,...

A Journey Through Kore-eda's Masterpieces The time has come. I am finally putting pen to paper (virtually speaking) on my definitive ranking of Hirokazu Kore-eda's filmography (at least the ones that are available for me to watch legally!). Anyone who knows me or has been watching my videos on YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/@amview ) knows how much I admire Kore-eda's filmmaking. He is probably my favorite filmmaker of all time. Why, you may ask? Well, you'll find out thro