Producer: Joe Ma

There is no doubt that this quirky and engrossing production has its faults; not all of the loose ends are successfully tied up and those that are seem to work out a little too neatly.

While Jiang Lu-Xia is definitely a talent for the future the film itself barely seems to register on the excitement scale.

The film is reliant on the gentle charm of its principal cast and the genuine warmth of the relationships therein.

By avoiding Hollywood histrionics or schmaltz, a well-worn plot again manages to seem fresh and deeply moving.

While ‘Glass Tears’ is a solid debut for Carol Lai, it has a few signs of directorial immaturity within it.

At nearly two hours long, ‘Hidden Heroes’ is an ordeal that only those versed in S.A.S. survival tactics should ever attempt.

‘Juliet In Love’ could be well-described as an economic and perhaps minimal love story; there are no grand gestures or over-the-top histrionics.

Each of the protagonists has their own trial to overcome, each has a solid character arc, and each contributes to the infectious enthusiasm created herein.

‘New Blood’ is a smart, efficient and alarmingly effective genre piece that sits effortlessly alongside some of the finer horror entries of the period as an unremittingly morbid and blood-curdling exercise in unadulterated terror.

When the closing credits rolled, I opined that I had lost a full ninety minutes that would’ve been better used watching one of these sub-genres more accomplished works.

‘The Lion Roars’ is slickly produced, well performed by its beloved leading couple and not without its moments of amusement.

‘Three Of A Kind’ is harmless enough as a stand-alone feature despite its serious flaws. It isn’t necessarily painful to watch, but any film that has such a lack of creativity is hardly going to inspire.