Search: Starring Rinko Kikuchi

Assisted by the remarkable cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, Iñárritu moves seamlessly from the arid isolation of a Moroccan village to the gleaming modernity of Tokyo to the colorful chaos of Tijuana, his camera alternately capturing scenes of hope and des

For some viewers the build up of devious plot twists may be a little overwrought but it is nevertheless an effective way of skewering the cynical viewer.

The story sometimes lacks thrust, but when it isn’t working, something new will be on screen soon enough.

As Kumiko’s journey takes her deeper into Minnesota, the breathtaking ‘Americana’ landscapes and intriguingly surreal score work together to suggest a heightened state, or a fable.

Despite a certain listless pace at times, Norwegian Wood benefits from an energetic soundtrack that doesn't ram home too strongly the particular period setting.

The battle scenes are nothing short of astonishing.

At the most basic level, giant robots fighting monsters in the middle of Tokyo. Ultimately everything else sort of falls by the wayside.