Shin Godzilla (2016)

Toho's 29th Japanese Godzilla film is another hard reset of the franchise, with a new creature design and a new origin story behind it.
The majority of the film involves politicians, bureaucrats, military leaders, etc, talking about how to deal with the daikaijū threat, with fast cuts to give the impression that things being discussed hurriedly is some kind of compensation for things being uninteresting - it's not. The first hour in particular is dense with such dialogue scenes, leaving no comfortable entry point for a viewer to connect, or even sympathise, with a single individual.
Godzilla, referred to as male more than once in the English subs, is mostly CGI, mo-capped so that it moves kind of like a man in a suit. Points for good intentions, but ultimately it's a CGI creature with zero personality.

2 bad choices out of 5

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013)

A documentary by Mami Sunada that transports us into the heart of Japan's Studio Ghibli, showing the animators at work and spending a great deal of time with its most famous face, Hayao Miyazaki, a spry seventy-two-year-old.
It's more a film for fans of the animation process than it is for folks who simply enjoy the films themselves. It moves at a slow, peaceful pace; purposely in tune with the studio atmosphere, perhaps? But it did make me wonder how candid it really was. The cynic in me nurtured a feeling that it merely skimmed the surface of the process, not delving too deep out of respect and reverence. If it is 100% representative of reality then it's a refreshing and beautiful environment in which to be. Ushiko, the studio cat, would surely agree.
Have you ever wondered, debated or even argued with friends about how 'Ghibli' should be pronounced? The film gives the definitive answer.

3½ daily rituals out of 5

Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance (2009)

The second film (of four) in the Rebuild of Evangelion series covers ep 7-19! Quite a task. It has the obligatory combat scenes, Angels attacking the city, giant Eva, big-ass guns and explosions, etc, but more importantly it attempts to make up for the lack of characterisation in the first film and it succeeds. The deep and introspective character studies are handled almost as well as Anno did in the TV series but in a much shorter time.
There's a surprise or two thrown in to keep old fans on the alert.
And the ending… oh my!

4½ fish and wings out of 5

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone (2007)

A cinematic retelling of the classic NGE TV Series. This first film (of four ) covers ep 1-6. It’s overseen by the same director, so is faithful to his original vision. It wastes no time getting to the action, but consequently drops some of the more interesting characterisation.
On the plus side, Shinji's neuroses are less irritating.
Newcomers may find it all a bit hard to assimilate on first viewing. In truth, even the series didn't make complete sense until the second sitting.
I'm usually averse to remakes but this one put me firmly in my place. It's a resounding success.

4 unfamiliar ceilings out of 5