Labyrinth of Cinema

Labyrinth of Cinema's breathtaking journey through time is a stunning endeavor, as timeless as they come, like much of the master's work.

Emerges as a touching plea for peace and an exuberant celebration of the artifice and transformative power of cinema.

Labyrinth of Cinema is tremendously affecting, frequently beguiling, usually exhausting, and on, and on, and on.

If this sounds like too much for one filmmaker to tackle tonally - as "Duck Amuck" meets the most horrifying of historical tragedies - it would be for almost anyone who wasn't Obayashi.

Manic, maximalist, and bristling with postmodern bells and whistles, Labyrinth of Cinema is exactly what its title suggests.

Obayashi Nobuhiko's three-hour swansong is a pop-art paean to pacifism and unity in the form of an exploration of Japanese film history and, in particular, its many depictions of armed conflict.

Labyrinth of Cinema still serves as a justified sendoff for legendary director Nobuhiko Obayashi, even if it wont go down as his magnum opus.

Ôbayashi’s swan song proves that his passion, loopy sense of humor, and visual ingenuity remained fully intact until the end.

"Labyrinth of Cinema" is good film for us movie buffs out there but it may be too long a slog for the average movie lover, especially because the octogenarian spends the last hour preaching his philosophy and political stance.

...in his final film writer/director Nobuhiko Obayashi ("Hausu") once again makes his strong anti-war sentiments very clear while being riotously entertaining - if you can keep up with it...a worthy capper to the career of a true cinematic maverick.