Reviews

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TACFEST 2026: SUPER COURIER Review: From Kazakhstan to Hong Kong, Timur Baktybayev Revives the Jackie Chan Spirit

With Kung Fu Rookie, Timur Baktybayev introduced himself to the world via an undercover remake of Jackie Chan’s classic RUMBLE IN THE BRONX. It was a humble take on the classic, yet it captured the right essence, with the Kazakh actor mimicking the “Hong Kong Tornado” by replicating his every move and camera mannerism. There is no doubt that Chan is his idol and that Baktybayev knows his filmography by heart. However, despite that film’s indisputable quality, there is little virtue in pure imitation. It is difficult to carve out a name for yourself while standing in the shadow of a legend—especially someone like Chan, who acts as a total eclipse to anyone standing before him. That is why Super Courier feels like a genuine step forward for Baktybayev, who not only stars in the film but also serves as its producer. The influence of Jackie Chan and classic Hong […]

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JFF Theater: CONFETTI Review: A Delicate and Moving Portrait of Youth, Tradition, and Hidden Love

Yuki is a high schooler living a nomadic life, tied to his family’s traveling classical theater troupe. Constantly switching schools has made him introverted and weary of making connections—until he meets Ken, a bright classmate who breaks through his shell. While Ken is more obsessed with idol culture than traditional stagecraft, Yuki’s only goal is to have his new friend see him perform just once.   It’s a shame the international release didn’t stick with the original Japanese title, Mabuta no Tenkousei (“The Transfer Student’s Eyelids”), as it perfectly captures the soul of the film. The movie wraps its tribute to Taishu Engeki (Japanese popular theater) in a story of innocent friendship that, beneath the surface, reveals itself as a delicate tale of adolescent queer love. It’s told with quintessential Japanese subtlety, avoiding the heavy-handed tropes or “message-first” approach often found in Western productions.   The final scene is a […]

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ANDERSON SPIDER SILVA Paramount+’s miniseries Review: The Burden of being The Best

In 2013, after losing his long-held UFC middleweight title to Chris Weidman, Anderson Silva described the immense pressure of his 2,457-day reign as a “burden.” It is precisely within this psychological weight that the 2023 Pródigo Filmes miniseries for Paramount+ gravitates. Contrary to what fight fans might expect, this five-episode miniseries is not merely an epic chronicle of a fighting career; it is a poignant family drama. Here, the former UFC champion reveals the side of himself that remained hidden from the spotlight: a human approach to a man struggling to hold together something far more sacred than a championship belt—the family that remained by his side from poverty to stardom. As an executive producer, Silva clearly didn’t intend to create a vanity project to stroke his ego, but rather a tribute to his roots. The series kicks off with his legendary first bout against Chael Sonnen before diving into […]

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JFF THEATER: THERMAE ROMAE Review: A Time-Traveling Dip That Runs Lukewarm

Back in 2012, Thermae Romae was at the top of my “must-watch” list. Like many things, it slipped into limbo—until today. Fourteen years later, and thanks to the Japanese Foundation, I finally stumbled upon it, feeling much like the protagonist: suddenly transported through time and water into a different era. At the time, I was deep into an Aya Ueto phase. Having seen her in the cult classic Azumi, I was following everything she did. In Thermae Romae, she plays an aspiring mangaka and Kenshiro superfan who becomes the guide for Lucius (Hiroshi Abe), an ancient Roman bath architect who accidentally time-travels to 21st-century Japan.   Based on Mari Yamazaki’s manga and directed by Hideki Takeuchi, the premise is wonderfully absurd: Lucius visits modern Japan to find the “lost inspiration” needed to design baths back in Rome and, inadvertently, save the Empire.   The highlights are undoubtedly the transitions between […]

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