REVIEW: ROMANCE DOLL (ロマンスドール)

4/5

Love, Death + Robots. 

123 Mins. Starring: Yū Aoi, Issei Takahashi, Pierre Taki, Tôko Miura, Eri Watanabe & Kitaro. Director: Yuki Tanada. 

Love is not an application. Bumble your way through Tinder all you want. Love is a chance meeting. Even under nefarious circumstances here. But like a Netflix 'Naked Director', fear not guys and dolls. The baring all here has nothing to do with the 'Romance Doll' or more aptly sex toy concept. The love doll theme is merely a mannequin to this production, not an avatar. I see you Yuki Tanada. Romancing the chrome, the 'Tokyo Girl', 'Moon and Cherry' and 'One Million Yen Girl' director gives us a perfect picture of love amongst the lustful, perverse and puerile modern day settings of how we treat matters of the heart. Offering solace to those still searching for a soul amongst all the swiping and shopping list love. Shining a light on one of the darkest corners of neon Japan-the sex industry-but showing in the grey areas just like the idiosyncratic characteristics of its characters that not all is so black and white. There's a moment where 'Shin Godzilla', 'Kill Bill: Vol. 1' and Studio Ghibli, 'Whisper Of The Heart' actor Issei Takahashi is moulding his model muse in a 'Ghost' like clay, bringing to nostalgic mind Stephan James purists passion creative craftsmanship in Barry Jenkins' 'If Beale Street Could Talk'. And just like that book adaptations romancing iconic author James Baldwin's use of the word sex for genitalia, the sex scenes in this movie make love with beauty, not pornographic exposure to indecent affairs. Even if the first time Takahashi and 'Japanese Girls Never Die', 'Hula Girls' and 'Tokyo Ghoul' actress Yū Aoi (reuniting with Tanada after being the 'One Million Yen Girl') meet it's under the white lab coat ruse of posing as doctors taking moulds of a models breasts for medical purposes...when really it's all to do with the weird science of creating the perfect love doll. But nothing can beat the real thing...romance. And this is the substance of this story that is more than what you see on the surface and what it's all about.

Love blossoms like Sakura season from there in a cherry sweet story amongst all this sour candy going Gaga like Blackpink. Aoi and Takahashi get on as famously as their big names in Japan, even if the elephant in their bedroom is wearing heels and lipstick. We all have our secrets and we we all sometimes are ashamed to admit our line of work to people we fall in love with. But imagine keeping THIS type of job away from your significant other...especially when she thinks you're a medical man for the greater good. Not someone who builds something so they will come...and that's not a 'Field Of Dreams' reference I regret. But I digress. Now if you thought that was bad, to make matters worse imagine trying to hide that the Barbie doll you're peddling like Ken behind on a bicycle is selling like hot cakes because of your girlfriends...well how can we put this...breasts. Again the seedy nature of this narrative actually tenderly turns into something sweetly sentimental and sobering straight forward. It's not about the doll. It's about the woman within. Built into this story even a test proves testament to these two and the love that they share together only. Even with an offload of dolls being flogged by the f###load. Sorry to be so bold and brash, but that's life these days...however Tanada's 'Romance Doll' is beauty beginning again amongst all that. Tanada's take on technology and tribute to love is a terrific legacy making legend and an inspired Issei and amazing Aoi are at their best yet in this perfect portrait. Just like the promotional pictures for this movie bordering on the beauty of amazing art. Wrapped up in each others arms, perspiring with passion like a cicadian Summer. Screaming in the sanctuary of each others hearts, until death does them part.

Love doesn't come easy though. And hard times come to us all. "The price of love is grief" as Her Majesty once said and this King and Queen have plenty of trouble on the throne. Desperately devoted, darkness lies within the delights of love and marriage like secrets and lies. 'The Naked Director', 'Outrage Coda' and Denki Groove music star Pierre Taki's tacky and handsy (with the valleys of silicone only...thank goodness) boss actually is in charge of charisma here and has a decency behind that crass charm that shows there's more at heart behind the harlot, humanity devoid hawking. Whilst like 'Shall We Dance' and 'Memories Of Tomorrow' actress Eri Watanabe's (reuniting with Tanada after, 'My Dad and Mr. Ito') solidarity and support, legendary musician Kitatro in mentoring form steals the show. The 'A Story Of Yonsuke' actor over a drink raises the most memorable and moving speech, that like Michael Stuhlbarg's fatherly wisdom by the fire and ashtray to Timothee Chalamet in 'Call Me By Your Name' warns you not to live and love with regrets. One that sheds tears like memory over lost family and the cruel twists of fate and empty words of when we're too late in this life for what we love as dear as the heart we wish we could keep them as close as and to. Oh and if that's too much for you he's heartwarmingly hilarious too. We need it in a movie where things like 'Cherry Blossom Memories' and 'Weathering With You' anime star Tôko Miura's lonely salary woman character throws a spanner in the works like a claw machine plucking at cuddly plush characters or hearts. Before a Dutch courage couple of karaoke numbers turns into that Bill Murray for Scarlett Johansson in a pink wig singing The Pretenders 'Brass In Pocket', 'Lost In Translation' yearning like Roxy Music's 'More Than This'. Just like Spike Jonze's rumoured reply movie to ex Sofia Coppola's 'Translation', 'Her' (also starring Scarlett). This film takes a look into love in times of technology and how it's deeper than just the one design that takes a million hearts for profit like the Joi and then heart and USB breaking beauty of Ana de Armas in 'Blade Runner 2049'. Making in cinematic creation one of Japan's best movies of recent times like the 2018 Academy Award nominated 'Shoplifters' in a South Korean 'Parasite' Best Picture age of Asian cinema. Now on Netflix like the anime adaptation of 'Japan Sinks 2020' in a locked down year in quarantine. Still burning like the Olympic flame until next year. Subtle beauty of nuances amongst all the Hollywood hallmarks are what takes Far East moviemaking artwork even further. And this one that shows that even with cinematic closure, movies are still alive, also shows that romance is far from dead. No need to doll it up. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Lost In Translation', 'Her', 'Shoplifters'. 

T.V. REVIEW: JAPAN SINKS 2020

4/5

After The Quake. 

10 Episodes. Starring: Yuko Sasaki, Regina Ueda & Tomo Muranaka. Director: Masaaki Yuasa.

Tokyo, 2020. This was supposed to be the year. Right now the capital city of Japan was meant to play host to something that comes around only once every four years. The five rings of the Olympic Games. Not since 1964 has this neon dream of a city held the games here and the already ultra modern city surrounded by traditional temples was being Tron transformed. This eager English writer even started a teaching job here, moving Far East upon a dream but what also seemed to be the perfect timeline for this guy who moonlights as a Basketball writer looking for gold like LeBron James and Team USA. But instead a cruel calender began with the tragic loss of Kobe and GiGi and all those who lost their lives on that fateful January day. The first night were I also came back here via a hotel in Yokohama forebodingly shaking at the foundations. If that wasn't bad enough people lost more even closer to home as COVID-19 made 2020 a year we wanted to forget, but will always remember like the names of those who lost their lives to police brutality that we shout in unifying protest like, "Black Lives Matter' again and again until we are really heard. Coronavirus cancelled everything from cinemas, to concerts and now Basketball back on court in a Disney World Bubble like Football...and that's the tea. Even the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo will be postponed a year later, we hope in 2021. Although merchandise and signage will still read the same. So doesn't Netflix's 'Japan Sinks 2020' seem like tasteless timing? Well this amazingly anime that is hauntingly and horrifyingly the most heartbreaking and terrifying thing since Tokyo's 'Terror In Resonance' may be what we all need right now, coming to terms with this brutal, but brave new world. Based on the 1973 science fiction novel by Sakyo Komatsu, this anime adaptation like a Haruki Murakami 'After The Quake' book report brings us all back together in a reuniting, emotional embrace, whilst some of us are still socially isolated, locked down in quarantine, staying safe at home. Just don't watch this on your phone as an actual real alert blares through (trust me, nothing seems as scary) and shows you lost in translation why you feel like you've been sleeping in a hammock for the last two minutes.

Earthquakes here and everywhere they are, are no joke even if kids nonchalantly play video games under the table of a position they assume like convenience store shopping routine. The blood and falling bodies tell another story here and it will stay with you like the sound of the crash. The first effects here are harrowing, even captured in animation which for this anime is as "slice of life" real as it gets. But oh how it breaks your heart-just when you thought everything was OK-when you go through another episode in the second one and its aftershock. Same song for Episode III like a 'Revenge Of The Sith', even if it is called 'A New Hope' like 'Star Wars'. This series of earthquake events grabs you by the lapels and won't let go as a 'World War Z' supermarket stock up for supplies turns into a Hawkeye like shooting gallery like when Clint Barton was lost in translation in Tokyo as Ronin. Then there's the utopia that's anything but a sanctuary that will give you 'Midsommar' vibes. A 'Life Of Pi' like lifeboat that lights up like a Coldplay 'Paradise'. But blindsiding you at any moment with heartbreaking and wrenching moments this will leave you shaken to the core. Just when you thought you'd had enough to bear, it claws you again like 'The Revenant', when all you want is the rapture. Quicksand sinking in on itself, like the hourglass running out before Mount Fuji explodes, this eruption of action picks-up to the back of a orange banded truck like the one Kurt Russell drove off the planet in 'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2' for this escape from Tokyo. But the mere fact that it can evoke this much emotion from you-from stressful aggravation to perplexed sadness-shows you just how special a slice of animation it well and truly, really is.

Anime is already amazing artwork in itself, but how about the perfect pastels and pure white curtains that drape the traditional title sequence that ends with a 'Kafka On The Shore' like kitten, cutely looking on? Just an intro? A prelude to this chapter by chapter, episode by episode book translation and adaptation? No! It's necessary and needed, especially in a time where anime is for some reason going the C.G. Pixar route (however the same can be said for the cute Wall-E like robot looking a halfway house between a 'Short Circut' Johnny 5 with batteries not included or that office table bird from 'The Simpsons' that keeps drinking water ("IT'S DRINKING THE WATER")). From Netflix's very own 'Ghost In The Shell: Sac_2045' edition to God forbid the amazing art of the Studio Ghibli movies. But not this one. Or Netflix's cat tails 'A Whisker Away'. Still weathering with you in that department like 'Your Name'. There have been a fair few adaptations of Sakyo Komatsu's novel idea. From the fresh out the docks 1973 'Tidal Wave' movie in the same year the book debuted fresh off the page, to the 'Sinking Of Japan' 2006 remake to all of this. But nothing strikes the strings quite like 2020's 'Sinks' directed marvelously by Masaaki Yiasa. Just like some of the episodes cliffhangers from a cupids arrow to a helicopter pad at red blinking light sea level. And with the vocal talents of Yuko Sasaki, Regina Ueda and Tomo Muranaka on hand to elicit more motion you really do feel this in all its tremors as your nerves tremble as your hands shake like the thing we can't do anymore when we meet. So how about a nod of approval to something so close to the bone and foundations, but still holding respect like a bow? Besides in a 2020 bruised by brutality and terrorised by tragedy sometimes we need something in solidarity as we stay safe and socially distant, home alone. Even if it does gives us that sinking feeling. It still brings us back up again like the one thing that will never leave our side in this year of sickness and health...family and the one unit that says together when the world and its leaders fall apart. And this modern day adaptation-that makes use of everything from apps to social media-may show us just how different the world is, but it's still traditionally caught in the pages of the '73 novel in this e-reader age update of something that was Philip K. Dick ahead of its time. All the way to today and the elated ending that comes from the depths of the darkest depressions. All to rise again like an Olympic flame in the following years waving the flag like everything else that will fly again like the land of the rising sun. Like every single one of us. Together. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Terror In Resonance', 'A Whisker Away', 'Earthquake Bird'. 

REVIEW: GREYHOUND

4/5

Das Hanks. 

91 Mins. Starring: Tom Hanks, Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, Chet Hanks & Elisabeth Shue. Director: Aaron Schneider.

Submarine submerged, locked down in the perfect claustrophobic, quarantine metaphor, get your puns armed and ready like torpedos or 'Splash'. Saving 'Captain Phillips', 'Cast Away' under the sea like 'Philadelphia' co-star Denzel Washington's 'Crimson Tide' with Gene Hackman, this is a miracle UNDER the Hudson for the 'Sully' star in leagues of his own. Catch him if you can, a blue and green mile below for an 'Apollo 13' like mission with as much problems as Houston or the Hudson. But this time colder than a 'Bridge Of Spies' war the 'Saving Private Ryan' star leads a 'Das Boot', 'Band Of Brothers' to another World War II story wrote by the 'Uncommon Type' novelist himself like that other thing he does. Post 'Post', this is big and coming off 'A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood', the Hollywood star of Hollywood stars who is so nice Mr. Rogers should play HIM reaches new depths with his latest greatest and Hollywood history lesson. Catching a 'Greyhound' like he was driving coach from New York to Boston, here's 'Peter Pan' thinking he had enough trouble with Captain Hook. Mr. Movies who has the Paul Greengrass Western, 'News Of The World' and 'Elvis' biopic on his jukebox about to play (although the 'Hologram For The King' star is not playing Presley) has plenty of time with that typewriter too, staying home and staying safe right now. Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson (who also has some great music out this Friday release day) both contracted Coronavirus whilst vacationing Down Under in Australia earlier this year (although they are now safe and well, fully recovered). Following them and two Utah Jazz players getting it (Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell) COVID-19 became all too real in the all too tragic 2020 that started with the tragic loss of Kobe, GiGi and their friends and their family and continues with police brutality as in protest we take to the streets that read 'Black Lives Matter' like they should until it is understood. As we kept socially distant and as safe as the houses that surround us in four walls...except those like Trump who think this thing is as real as he thinks climate change is. Fox newsflash for you Donald, is your seat starting to get hot? If you don't wear a mask America's Dad, Tom Hanks doesn't respect you. He's even taking to the cinematic closure in a world of cancelled concerts and sport bubbles by taking this dog off the big-screen it belongs in epic entertainment (imagine seeing those torpedos stream without the need of a solid internet connection for this solid movie)  and sense of scale and taking a bite with Apple TV. Hey at least he didn't shoot it on his iPhone...although Steven Soderbergh has shown ('Unsane', Netflix's 'High Flying Bird') you can make a decent job of that to boot.

Saving America more times than he did Ryan (Tom was willing to hunt like the 'Red October' for a coronavirus cure using his blood as a Hanks-cine too). Or more times than Hollywood does 'The Martian' and said soldier himself, Matt Damon. Based on the book, 'The Good Shepherd' by C.S. Forester, Hanks' adapted screenplay directed by former 'Kiss The Girls' cinematographer, 'Two Soldiers' short and 'Get Low' director Aaron Schneider, back to the beautiful battalion basics, sees him encounter the grey seas of a perfect storm that has nothing to do with the kind of "chop" character actor legend Shea Whigham warned Leonardo DiCaprio about in 'The Wolf Of Wall Street'. From 'Captain Phillips' to Captain Ernest Krause (as first name symbolic and defining as they come. Upon sinking an enemy ship in a sea of slick oil inked with a crimson tide he remarks on the "50 lost souls"), the all-American actor takes patriosm back to World War II and the high seas of the North Atlantic. Escorting allies and convoys of supply ships with his destroyer and his first command crossing to good ole Liverpool like he was heading for the Albert Dock. This Hanks for the history vehicle...or should we say vessel, takes this navy codename Greyhound on a shore to shore trip that's anything but a milk run as a pack of wolves, howling and hailing in the form of some German U-boat smell blood in the water like circling sharks, as Hanks' Captain tries to avoid them like Matthew McConaughey and Jon Bon Jovi's 'U-571' couldn't critics, trying to claim they cracked the Enigma code like 'The Imitation Game'. Crossing the infamous, 'Black Pit' like hot coals (which is as bad as it sounds), requires 50 hours without air support and maybe four square meals, or cups of coffee. Supplies are as slim as their chances, but hope is as in their hearts as the recited words of a Bible verse hung above the outposts of their bunks like crosses to bear. As authentic as 'The Pacific', you will be feet first all in when it comes to this artillery attack in the Atlantic in comfortable, but bloody slippers, that's more a chess game of wills than a checkmate cancellation like those trolls taking to Twitter. Hanks yet again proves in such a simple genuine gesture that he has real character in command.

DIVE! DIVE! DIVE (in his, "YOU ARE A TOY" voice)! As this game of "you sunk my battleship" is a red room alert of tension and taught nerves. Some critics are calling this bland...but I don't know what brand of biscuit they're buying, because this takes it. Damn the torpedos, sonar can't touch him. Because the critics can barely srape the hull like a shark swimming past...let alone scratch the surface of this big picture with more subtle substance than Hank's Steven Spielberg (the two personifying this perfectly in their latest and most recent 'Bridge Of Spies' actor/director, perfect partnership collaboration) like second-wind of a more mature, signature style, late career sea change after they were both big in the 80's (Hanks: 'Turner and Hooch' and 'The 'Burbs'. Speilberg: 'E.T.' and 'Indiana Jones') to their G.O.A.T. like M.J. dominant 90's (Hanks: 'Forrest Gump' and 'Apollo 13'. Speilberg: 'Jurassic Park' and 'Schindlers List'...and of course 'Saving Private Ryan' and then 'Catch Me If You Can'). As suffocating as the classic, good German 'Das Boot' series-especially in its football match runtime that uses the war clock as effectively as Hans Zimmer's 'Dunkirk' score-Hanks would probably fancy his chances with some Somali pirates again like 'Phillips' instead of this pit of despair, but he still holds his station. Evoking emotion in slight grimaces and gestures instead of the brutual breakdown he had on the last ship he commanded like the "my aircraft" of 'Sully' (or that flight manifest too), it would be wrong to not give him an Academy medal again, especially in a year of ration thin movie releases on the docket. This weekend being one of the biggest with the Atomic 'Bombshell' of a career Charlize Theron taking to Netflix for new life with 'The Old Guard'. Hanks heartfelt moments of presents and proposals on hold with 80's 'Cocktail' and 'Back To The Future' Lmlegend Elisabeth Shue, back with 'The Boys' on Amazon echos the airport roadside 'Cast Away' fleeting moments with another hallowed name in Helen Hunt, before they said goodbye for what looked like forever. Hanks has ship support however in the shape of probably the best character actor on the planet right now (from Elton John's 'Rocketman' to the shorts of 'The Irishman' (and that was just some of last year) and what looks like a perfect cast in the next season of 'Peaky Blinders' like the 'Taboo' of Tom Hardy or the tongue in the cheek of the Carnage of the 'Venom' sequel) in Stephen Graham backing his skip with the perfect American accent even though they are heading to his Scouse shores in this story. Whilst serving up cooked meals as arguably the second best character actor right now, 'Mudbound', 'Just Mercy' and every street-level Marvel 'Defender', Netflix heroes favourite hustling star Rob Morgan's kind mate just wants to see his Captain get a decent meal by the grace of his Godliness. This man is a saint in chef whites and the plain sight pure soul of this submerging story that strikes subtle and literal shots across your bow. Even Hanks real life son and star of 'Empire' Chet (not lookalike Colin) is on hand for some blink and you'll miss that it's him moments. Quarters don't get much closer than this in another personal, passion project for Tom setting sail. With 'Greyhound' this old sea dog still has some tricks trading war stories as this shepherd leads his flock through the Battle of the Atlantic. A fine film. Salute! TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Captain Phillips', 'Bridge Of Spies', 'Das Boot'. 

REVIEW: THE OLD GUARD

3/5

Old Guard, New Tricks. 

124 Mins. Starring: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Van Veronica Ngo & Chiwetel Ejiofor. Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood. 

Atomic 'Bombshell' Charlize Theron is furious (well no pun intended. She's more no hard feelings, "heartbroken"). A forthcoming prequel to the 'Mad Max: Fury Road' she show stole from Tom Hardy is seeing a younger actress cast as the fury of her iconic Furiosa. It's a good job the forever young actor has more 'Furious' action franchises under her utility belt than there are 'Fast and Furious' movies. You can see the 'Monster' Academy Award winning actress of 'Tully'-who should have got an Oscar for her terrific transformation into Fox News Trump beating anchor Megyn Kelly-as the hacker villain Cypher in Vin Diesel's next Universal vehicle that never seems to run out of road like it doesn't airport runways, even if it is Corona postponed right now like 'No Time To Die' (put that beer on ice Dom). As a matter of fact the thorough Theron, double-threat of action heroism and dramatic smart coin flipping (and let's not forget the 'Long Shot' into Seth Rogen hilarious comedy for the American/South African actress who has had a better run than anyone in Hollywood right now and for the last couple of calendars) has even more action franchises than fellow forever young, 50 year old Keanu Reeves (you remember those renaissance paintings of a young lookalike Keanu? Well there's a 'Wonder Woman' like one of a Civil War era Charlize here), and he has 'The Matrix 4' and 'John Wick 4' post COVID-19 schedule pending coming out on the same day next year. Now her Furiosa has run out of road though (give her at the very least a cameo), Charlize Theron says she'll be game for a crossover chapter with John Wick when it comes to the parabellum of her 80's era 'Atomic Blonde'. But whilst we can't wait for that like spitting out a one shot tooth let's take it back even further to the days were you'd toss a coin to 'The Witcher' for Netflix's latest action 'Extraction' during cinematic quarantine.

Locking it down after Spike Lee's 'Da 5 Bloods' best and Will Ferrell's 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga' big hit due with the song 'Notebook' of Rachel McAdams. Wielding a circular axe think of this comic book adaptation of Greg Rucka's graphic novel as 'The Losers' (remember the umpteenth cult superhero saga for Chris Evans ("that's right bitches, I got a crossbow"), Idris Elba, Zoe Saldana and Jeffrey Dean Morgan?) gone medieval. These R rated superheroes minus the capes like the 'Aeon Flux' actress in 'Hancock' with Will Smith, stand on all that bulls### as they have to do more than punch their way out of this one a la, Captain America. You see cursed like 'The Green Mile' on the same day Hollywood war hero Tom Hanks turns a submerged submarine in quarantine into a 'Greyhound' run for Apple TV like 'Captain Phillips', these hero's for hire and rehire can't die like Mr. Jinx forever playing with that spool like last Hollywood action hero Tom Cruise doing his own stunts, Spider-Man crawling up and then sprinting down the Burj Khalifa in Dubai for the never ending fuse of Mission Impossible's 'Ghost Protocol'. It's 'Groundhog Day' all over again for three bullet time agents who don't have to dodge this or that like a 'Happy Death Day' or this weeks 'Palm Springs' rip off, or even a Bill Murray in a Jeep Superbowl commercial homage. But it's Theron that scores a touchdown here. Bringing even more athleticism to the gun-fu genre and another round to her action clip. And just you wait until she gets her hand on an axe to grind. Lumberjack-fu anyone? Bringing even more hearts and smarts to the bullets, blood and bruises. With all due respect to the great Gal Gadot and super Scarlett Johansson, we're beginning to think both DC and Marvel missed a trick with their direction of 'Wonder Woman' (they should have looked to 1984 like Orwell) and 'Black Widow' as this heroine leaves another villain in a cast like sign here for this autograph.

Guarding all that's tried and tested, even old guns need new ammo however and the hoop dreams of legendary 'Love and Basketball' (a movie this Lakers fanatic that has seen a roster worthy of hardwood Hollywood movies still hasn't "court" yet...I know) director Gina Prince-Bythewood goes 'Beyond The Lights' for this Friday film from a picture perfect postcard of action artillery shots from Morocco to London. But its going to take a team to capture it all on camera. From mesmerising 'If Beale Street Could Talk' breakout star KiKi Layne coming of age before she's 'Coming 2 America' with Eddie Murphy for the long awaited sequel. To Matthias (haven't we seen him before? Oh yes he was in 'The Drop', 'The Danish Girl' and 'Red Sparrow' star) Schoenaerts (and is that the bloody Dursley kid off 'Harry Potter' too?!), slicked back and cool as f###. But it's the loving relationship and partnership of 'The Mummy', 'Murder On The Orient Express' and 'Aladdin's' live action Jafar (we still can't get over his 'Austin Powers' orange sherbet like snake staff charming hypnotism) rising star Marwan Kenzari and 'Martin Eden' Venice Film Festival award winner Luca Marinelli that is the real soul of this sobering superhero movie that looks at the dark side of the injustice of God's among us like a Harvey like dent in Thor's hammer. Plus there seems to be so much more under the surface of '12 Years A Slave' and 'Doctor Strange' post-credits villain Chiwetel Ejiofor's seemingly underused character. And how about 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' catalyst character and 'Da 5 Bloods', "be safe" war report actress of the moment Van Veronica Ngo? It's clear from the newspaper clipping credits here that this first film is as much franchise building as it is character creating for an N Film latest like "is that Chris Hemsworth at the side of a pool? I thought he just took a bloody tumble into the river." Here just outside Tokyo streaming the world's leading entertainment service (especially so during COVID-19) on the same day as the new anime series 'Japan Sinks 2020', Prince-Bythewood hits nothing but net here like,"KOBE"! Wishing this year could be better is the understatement of the calendar, but at least movies like this bring new life to the end of our long weeks in. Day after day living, dying and repeating like the 'All You Need Is Kill' groundhog, 'Edge Of Tomorrow' with Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. "Do I have something on my face?" I got you babe. Welcome to the changing of the 'Old Guard'. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Atomic Blonde', 'Extraction', 'The Witcher'.