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#511: Tokyo MER: Mobile Emergency Room - The Movie (2023)

This movie is a film adaptation of the popular TV drama series “TOKYO MER,” which follows an emergency medical team as they rush to accident and disaster sites in a large mobile hospital truck equipped for surgery. Although viewers unfamiliar with the TV series, like me, can still enjoy the film. The story’s highlight is a large-scale rescue mission to save people trapped at the top of the building after a massive explosion and fire, brought to life with gripping visuals and a strong sense of urgency. Blending the passion of life-saving with the thrill of entertainment, it’s a must-see for fans of drama films.

(Japanese title: “劇場版『TOKYO MER～走る緊急救命室～』”) (9 out of 10)

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#510: Snowflowers: Seeds of Hope (2025)

Set in the late Edo period, this film tells the true story of a local doctor who fought against the threat of smallpox and succeeded in introducing vaccination. Unlike the typical samurai drama filled with sword fights and power struggles, it focuses on doctors and ordinary people of the time, offering an interesting perspective to us. I felt some critical events in the story move forward too quickly, leaving moments where I wanted to know more details. Even so, the story of a doctor who tried to save lives based on the true story was well worth watching.

(Japanese title: “雪の花 ―ともに在りて―”) (6 out of 10)

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#509: Mickey 17 (2025)

This film is set in a world where human bodies and memories can be completely backed up, allowing someone to be revived by installing their memories into a new body after death. The film was not for me. I was interested in the theme of the film, but the storyline didn't engage me as much as I had hoped.

(Japanese title: “ミッキー17”) (5 out of 10)

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#508: Don't Worry Darling (2022)

A couple lives in a beautiful town where a perfect life is promised. But one day, the wife starts to feel something strange about the people and the town itself. The story becomes more mysterious and tense. The visuals and the cast’s performances are impressive, especially Florence Pugh, who gives a strong presence. However, the film ends without explaining an important part, which may leave some viewers feeling unsatisfied. Not everything works, but it still leaves an impression.

(Japanese title: “ドント・ウォーリー・ダーリン”) (6 out of 10)

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#507: She Taught Me Serendipity (2025)

The film was brilliant. The dialogue can be a bit too funny sometimes, but the story development is skillful and carefully planned, with all the foreshadowing tied up well. One moment I won’t forget is during the first café date, when Yuumi Kawai, who plays the heroine, says just one simple line: “This tastes good.” The expression, the way she says it, and the whole feeling of the scene were amazing and stayed with me. The second half has shocking twists and impressive foreshadowing reveals. If you like dramas, this movie is worth watching.

(Japanese title: “今日の空が一番好き���とまだ言えない僕は”) (9 out of 10)

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#506: The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe - True Version (2024)

This movie retains the world of "GeGeGe no Kitaro", but its story is aimed at adults. It's not only scary. The story is deep, and the characters' backgrounds and relationships are well written. It tells the origin story of "GeGeGe no Kitaro", making it enjoyable for even those unfamiliar with the series. For me, it was always strange that Kitaro and his father, Medama-Oyaji, looked nothing alike but were supposed to be father and son. But after watching this movie, it finally made sense. The film itself was terrific, but for me, it was especially worth it to finally understand that long-standing mystery.

(Japanese title: “鬼太郎誕生 ゲゲゲの謎 真生版”) (10 out of 10)

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#505: Conclave (2024)

This film shows what happens inside a "conclave," a secret meeting to choose the next pope after the current one dies. The film primarily focuses on the tricks and strategies employed by various candidates. In that sense, the storyline was what I expected. But in the last part, the plot went a bit beyond what I had predicted, which was a pleasant surprise. It was worth watching.

(Japanese title: “教皇選挙”) (7 out of 10)

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#504: Unreachable (2025)

Three women have been living together for twelve years for a specific reason. The film reveals the reason early on, but the real story begins after that. Even though the setting feels somewhat unrealistic, it’s incredible how real and engaging the drama becomes. It’s best to watch without knowing too much in advance. If you enjoy drama films, this one is a must-see.

(Japanese title: “片思い世界”) (10 out of 10)

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#503: Away (2019)

I watched this film after being impressed by the director’s newer work, "Flow >>>". A boy crashes on an island and is chased by a large black giant. There are no words, but the animation is beautiful and expressive. I felt themes like loneliness, freedom, and companionship, but everyone may see it differently. It’s a subtle and intriguing film.

(Japanese title: “Away”) (8 out of 10)

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#502: We Made a Beautiful Bouquet (2021)

This film tells the story of a man and a woman who meet by chance, become a couple, and break up after five years. Nothing special happens—just their daily life together. But it’s strangely moving. The acting and script are both excellent, working together to make the story stand out. The last scene in the restaurant was especially memorable. A must-see for romance fans.

(Japanese title: “花束みたいな恋をした”) (9 out of 10)

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#501: 1st Kiss (2025)

This film tells the story of a wife who unexpectedly travels 15 years into the past. Her husband tragically died in an accident, and she is determined to rewrite the past to save him. While the premise is unrealistic, the carefully crafted details add a sense of realism, making it a highly engaging romantic drama. What makes this film unique is its narrative structure. The way viewers interpret the story can shift their understanding of the entire movie, creating a thought-provoking and memorable experience.

(Japanese title: “ファーストキス 1ST KISS”) (10 out of 10)

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My top 5 favorite films among the movies I watched from #476 to #500

#1: Flow (2024) (Japanese title: “Flow”)

#2: My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 (2025) (Japanese title: “山田くんとLv999の恋をする”)

#3: Missing Child Videotape (2025) (Japanese title: “ミッシング・チャイルド・ビデオテープ”)

#4: Let Me Go (2023) (Japanese title: “山逢いのホテルで”)

#5: Mysterious Skin (2004) (Japanese title: “ミステリアス・スキン”)

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#500: Maria Montessori (2023)

Maria Montessori’s story is set in the early 1900s, a time when women faced many barriers. Her determination to advance in society and develop education methods for children with intellectual disabilities is inspiring. However, the film doesn’t show much about the impact of her methods, which left me wanting to know more. Still, it’s a thoughtful look at one woman’s fight to challenge traditional ideas and create change.

(Japanese title: “マリア・モンテッソーリ 愛と創造のメソッド”) (7 out of 10)

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#499: Flow (2024)

"Flow" is an animated adventure film about A cat trying to escape from water by a boat in a world on the verge of being submerged by floods. The cat encounters various animals, including a capybara, a ring-tailed lemur, a secretary bird, and a dog, and forms strong connections with them as they flee together on the boat. I loved the visuals and atmosphere of the film, but I struggled to understand what it was trying to convey. Still, it was worth watching.

(Japanese title: “Flow”) (10 out of 10)

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#498: Confession (2024)

"Confession" is a Japanese thriller film about two men who almost got lost in a snow-covered mountain, but they could survive because they found a nearby mountain cabin. However, they have a big issue. As one of the men thought he was going to die due to getting stranded, he confessed to the other that in the past, he had murdered a woman. In other words, the man who revealed the secret and the man who heard it are now alone in the heavy snow-covered mountain hut.

Although the middle part of the film felt monotonous, the ending was full of twists and turned out to be engaging. In that sense, the movie was worth watching.

(Japanese title: “告白 コンフェッション”) (6 out of 10)

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#497: The Killer Goldfish (2025)

"The Killer Goldfish" is a Japanese comedy horror film about police investigating unfathomable incidents, such as murder cases by goldfish. They face more unfathomable issues while investigating the goldfish murder cases. They finally reach the root cause of such unfathomable events. The root cause is the revenge of the Neanderthals on Homo sapiens. The storyline of the film was a crazy story, but it was interesting. However, I wish I had known there was a sequel movie before watching the film.

(Japanese title: “THE KILLER GOLDFISH”) (7 out of 10)

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#496: Angry Squad: Civil Servant and Seven Swindlers (2024)

"Angry Squad: Civil Servant and Seven Swindlers" is a Japanese crime drama film about a civil servant at a tax office teaming up with a genius swindler to pull off an elaborate scam against one of Japan's most prominent tax evaders. The film was brilliant. First, the storyline was executed skillfully. Why has the civil servant decided to team up with the genius swindler to commit the scam crime? What was the purpose of the genius swindler? Why did the team of swindlers consist of not seven people but six? The movie was delightful and worth watching.

(Japanese title: “アングリースクワッド 公務員と7人の詐欺師”) (9 out of 10)