The Long Excuse (Japan, 2016)

A recently widowed writer whose wife died in a bus crash comes to terms with his grief, or lack of it, in caring for the children of a working man who also lost his wife in the same accident.

The Long Excuse doesn't specifically do anything that's been done before, but it still manages to feel very gripping and bittersweet. Masahiro Motoki from the fantastic Departures (2008) plays the main role, and I got a serious urge to watch all his films because he feels like a very charismatic and engaging actor. 

The film starts off pretty basic and feels like your standard melodrama, but it gets more and more interesting and really delivers, and towards the end you've worked up a genuine care for the characters. A sort of quiet, sorrowful but yet carefully optimistic, well-acted drama.

Genre: Drama

I Am a Hero (Japan, 2015)

One day, after returning from work late in the evening, Hideo witnesses a traffic accident in which a car crashes into a nearby pedestrian, killing the victim instantly. However, despite severe injuries including a broken neck, the victim's body stands up and walks away. Hideo questions whether this is another one of his hallucinations, but strange events begin happening around him.

I Am a Hero delivers exactly what I want from this type of film: large amounts of gore (well-done gore!), a simple story but still enjoyable and interesting, and lastly a main character that's easy to root for. This is an immensely fun film for zombie lovers, and a great action flick for everyone who just wants a good time. I liked this a lot more than Train to Busan (2016), another zombie film from South Korea, which was dragged down by endless scenes of crying and sentimental reunions and whatnot. I Am a Hero skips all but is all the wiser for it. 

It's based on a popular manga but no prior knowledge is needed to enjoy the film, and me who hasn't read it wasn't yelling at everything they perhaps got wrong in the transition from page to movie. 

Genre: Action/Horror