178) 20th Century Boys Chapter 2: The Last Hope

178) 20th Century Boys: The Last Hope (2009) Dir: Yukihiko Tsutsumi Not Yet Released Date Seen: June 12th, 2009 Rating: 3.75/5

Though I initially had some problems with the film's lack of common sense logic at times, the pervading sense of dread and paranoia really worked me over. See my mention of this in my forthcoming piece on this year's "Japan Cuts" program at Japan Society for The Onion's New York Decider.

177) 20th Century Boys (2008)

177) 20th Century Boys (2008) Dir: Yukihiko Tsutsumi Not Yet Released Date Seen: June 12th, 2009 Rating: 3.5/5

From what I'd heard from NYAFF overlord Grady Hendrix, I was expecting this one to be an unbearably long set-up for a superior sequel, like a weird reversal of the quality of the Death Note live-action movies. Boy, was I wrong. See my mention of this in my forthcoming round-up of this year's Japan Cuts program for The Onion's New York Decider.