Movie reviews of Niels Matthijs

Jam is great entertainment, sporting a healthy amount of black comedy, coupled with solid performances, refined styling and some interesting narrative twists. Review

This sequel is a vibrant action spectacle, sporting some of the most impressive fights in the genre, colorful background drama and perfect pacing that won't leave you a chance to get bored. Review

With its wonderful cinematography, outstanding score and enigmatic lead, Okuyama serves a puzzling trip through the mysterious mind of one of Japan's most prestigious horror writers. Review

A film like this may not be the easiest sell as it lacks a strong dramatic undercurrent, but Yamashita compensates with lovely characters, a beautiful setting and tons of charm. Review

Solid performances, fine cinematography and a noteworthy score all add to the fun, it's just a shame the film faces some pacing issues halfway through. Review

It's a small-scale, subtle and introverted drama that slowly blossoms into a pleasant, comforting and warm-hearted film. Review

Aramaki serves a very capable genre flick, making great use of the Appleseed setting and going beyond technological excellence to create a stylish, extravagant action spectacle. Well recommended if you're looking for some kick-ass, mecha fueled adrenaline. Review

The story may be familiar territory for most, but the exquisite designs, the stylish cinematography, great score and excellent performances make this a film like no other. Review

Gojoe is an energetic film, built on intriguing lore, sporting a stellar cast and delivering one of the most explosive finales in the genre. Review

Final Mission is a slightly more toned down finale to the series, but it's still an extremely stylish, dynamic and blissfully extravagant film that knows no equal. Review

DeBoer & Luebbe made a film that's delightfully unique, genuinely funny, completely perplexing and ultimately satisfying. A comedy that delivers from start to finish. Review

Herdal delivers a very moody and stylistically impeccable mix of mystery and horror, an audiovisual experience that washed over me and stayed with me until the very end. Review

Final Wars brings together all the things that made the Godzilla series great and stitches them together in such a way that there's never a dull moment in sight. It's decidedly cheesy, nonsensical and grotesque, but Kitamura's smart blend of vintage and modern makes it a grand spectacle that honors one of Japan's most iconic monsters in the best way possible. It was a risky bet, but it paid off extremely well. Review

They delivered a raw, energetic and wildly entertaining film that felt fresh and unique. The solid dub, booming soundtrack and exceptional animation are the icing on the cake. I can only hope this wasn't the end of their successful collaboration. Review

The moody and vibrant city shots, the stand-out performance of Xun Zhou and the mysterious romance all add up to a slightly grittier film set in the outskirts of a booming Shanghai. Recommended for people willing to leave rural China behind. Review

End of Sky is a seemingly endless attempt at making every moment bolder, bigger and better than the one that came before, the beauty of it is that Kubo actually succeeds in his mission. Review

Code 46 serves a vivid vision of the future, a world that looks and feels plausible, even when reality should've caught up with it by now. A sign of clever, relevant sci-fi if there ever was one. Review

When Doremus ventures into genre territory, he hits my sweet spot. This is genre cinema with the signature of an auteur, mood cinema with smarts and depth. Lush visuals, a superb soundtrack and slick performances only make it better. Review

The comedy is hilarious, the pacing is excruciating, the film rolls from one memorable scene to the next and the level of variation is exemplary. Review

There's no guarantee you'll end up liking it, it has quite a few technical shortcomings and it might even bore you out of your wits, but it's one of the craziest films I've ever seen. Sakaguchi's performance is stellar, the action is almost meditative and Shimomura's direction does everything in its power to draw the attention towards the implausible feat they pulled off. Review

The sense of adventure, wonder and delight is what set this film apart, combined with a great eye for detail and perfect pacing it makes for a sprawling, joyous fantasy film. It's not Miyazaki's ultimate masterpiece, but it's a confident and powerful step forward that would foreshadow his dominance in the animation scene. Review

Antiviral is unsettling and disturbing, an uneasy take on obsession and celebrity culture that mixes moments of surreal body horror with an extremely stylish delivery. Review

Guns Akimbo is extremely energetic, in your face and funny, packing a couple of neat surprises, a splendid central duo and enough action to fill at least two 90-minute films. If you're looking for some madcap, over-the-top action, don't miss out on this one. Review

Inugami offers a unique trip through Japanese folklore, serving rural mysticism and respect for tradition with fine cinematography, a beautiful score and solid performances. Review