Category: Review

DryedMangoez reviews of television series, films and music.

Good Ol’ Review: “Kamen Rider Heisei Generations FOREVER” a Thrilling Finale to an Era
Good Ol’ Review: Exciting and Enlightening “Kamen Rider: Reiwa The First Generation” One of the Best Rider Films in A While

Kamen Rider: Reiwa The First Generation (仮面ライダー 令和 ザ・ファースト・ジェネレーション) is a stunningly thrilling and surprisingly emotional passing of the torch. Bidding another quick final farewell to the Heisei Era of Kamen Rider (with a quick shoutout to the Showa Era too), the film is really the loud, explosive and official arrival announcement of the Reiwa Era to the long-running franchise.

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Good Ol’ Review: Sci-fi Action Compliments Emotional Mystery in “Circle”
Good Ol’ Review: Sincere “Dew the Movie” Hindered by Emotional Disconnect (and Perhaps Something Lost in Translation?)

Twelve years after the release of the groundbreaking Love of Siam, director Chookiat Sakveerakul is back with Dew the Movie (ดิว ไปด้วยกันนะ/Dew, Let’s Go Together), a film that shares some of the former’s heart and sincerity. But somehow loses a bit of the emotional connection to truly make for a profound experience.

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Good Ol’ Review: Breezy Web Series “A-Teen” a Solid Watch
Good Ol’ Review: “The Garden of Words” is Definitely One of Makoto Shinkai’s Best

After watching Weathering With You, I decided to immediately jump into an earlier Makoto Shinkai work I had been meaning to watch for a while now: The Garden of Words (言の葉の庭).

And after watching Shinkai’s 2013 film, I can’t help but feel like it is able to present similar themes and imagery as Weathering With You, but in half the time and in a more affecting way.

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Good Ol’ Review: Makoto Shinkai’s Visually Stunning “Weathering With You” Stumbles

Perhaps Makoto Shinkai’s Weathering With You (天気の子) faced some unfairly high expectations after the global success of Your Name. But while Shinkai’s stunning vision and creative storytelling is still present, something somewhere stumbles. And that leaves the film struggling to avoid comparisons and struggling to give itself its own memorable voice.

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Good Ol’ Review: Cinematic KBS Miniseries “How to Buy a Friend” Illustrates the Strength of Connections and Bonds
Good Ol’ Review: JTBC’s “At Eighteen” is an Honest, Sincere and Powerful Slice of Life
Good Ol’ Review: Makoto Shinkai’s “Voices of a Distant Star” an Early Preview of His Storytelling Talent
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