Mifune: The Last Samurai (US/Japan, 2015)

A feature-length documentary about the life and films of legendary actor Toshiro Mifune, weaving together film clips, archival stills, and interviews with such luminaries as Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese. Narrated by Keanu Reeves.

If you're at all interested in actor Toshiro Mifune and Akira Kurosawa's collaborations, Mifune should prove to be a fascinating look at their work together with the most focus on Mifune's filmography. Not just is Mifune an in-depth look at his life, but an incredible source of information and trivia from his entire film career; e.g . the man who played the original Godzilla (1954) was a petty samurai who got killed by Mifune once, and there's a lot of interviews with old actors who used to act alongside Mifune who all shares their stories of what happened on set. Even actor Koji Yakusho weighs in on how huge Mifune was in the industry.

Sure, it's a little jarring to hear a tired Keanu Reeves narrate the whole thing, but you quickly get used to it and after a while you're absorbed by stories of how Mifune loved to eat ramen between takes. Being a film with limited time, Mifune can't go into details with absolutely everything but at least it touches upon what happened between him and Kurosawa at the end of their work together. It's painfully bittersweet to hear an actress read Kurosawa's last word to his favorite actor.

All in all, this is a captivating time capsule showing the massive impact one single actor had on the film industry, and how his acting inspired people around the globe.

Genre: Documentary

Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (Japan, 2001)

Strange incidents occur when an American submarine has been destroyed by a mysterious force at sea off the shores of Guam. Only Admiral Tachibana was certain that behind the disaster was none other than the destructive King of the Monsters, Godzilla! 50 years after his attack on Tokyo in 1954, Godzilla has mysteriously returned to life to destroy Japan, and General Tachibana, whose parents died in the monster's destructive wake, was prepared for his return.

In these days of never-ending, disappointing remakes it's always nice to fall back on the originals. GMK does what a billion dollars worth of computer graphics can't: create timeless, wildly entertaining destruction. Watching this film today is just as fun as it was back in the day, and will be in many years from now due to the fact that everything is made of real props and every exploding building is an amazing spectacle. Here, the monsters have gotten an updated look, King Ghidorah is a nice guy (!) and Godzilla is back to being the main baddie. 

The plot is of course nothing to write home about, and basically follows a B-movie storyline pattern but that's forgiven the second Godzilla shows up. Cue an amazing amount of destruction, cool monster fighting scenes and a bit of hilarious monster choreography and you know you're in for a good time. GMK is a great example of what's being lost when everything is made inside of a computer, you're no longer watching hollow action but carefully planned scenes and detailed set designs.

Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama

Parasite (South Korea, 2019)

All unemployed, Kim Ki-taek's family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.

It really starts to feel like a big event everytime director Joon-ho Bong releases a new film, and this time it's his first movie made in his native country since Mother (2009), after having being active in the west with films such as Snowpiercer (2013) and Okja (2017). Parasite is a naked look at social class, poverty and the means which we will go to to escape it, even if it means letting go of our own morality. Joon-ho portrays a scenario where a poor family get a taste of the finer things in life, but also one where you know that it'll spell disaster for everyone involved. 

As always, Joon-ho spoils us with well-crafted shots and gorgeous scenery, and constantly his direction feels so immensely thought-out where nothing is just being filmed, it's being filtered through his eyes and angled to evoke something in all of us. Parasite, which was the first Korean film to ever win the Palme d'Or, is a rush of black comedy and a look at what happens when the most fortunate meets the most desperate, no one saner than the other.

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Thriller

Long Day's Journey Into Night (China, 2018)

Luo Hongwu returns to Kaili, the hometown from which he fled 12 years earlier. As memories of an enigmatic and beautiful woman resurface - a woman he loved and whom he has never been able to forget - so, Luo Hongwu begins his search for her.

Here's a film which was caught in a bit of controversy at its release. It was marketed as a film for the general public, and nothing more of its contents were disclosed, so after the premiere there was an outrage from mislead viewers. You see, Long Day's is an art-house film and not at all the quick-paced detective drama people first thought. Film critics loved the film though and it won  a prize for Best Cinematography. That award was an obvious choice given how this movie shines with beauty. Some shots are a wonder to behold, and there was a huge buzz surrounding it's last 59-minutes which amazingly is a single no-cut tracking shot. 

For film fans in search of that kick you get when watching a fantastic director put his soul into his film. More mainstream viewers should approach with care, due to the film's tempo and overall long, lingering shots. 

Genre: Drama/Mystery