What with one thing and another, I’ve only got two reviews in today’s Metro — both of which, oddly enough, focus on the struggle of older men to remain relevant.

First, there’s “The Ants“, a grim documentary about an eighty-year-old Japanese man on a quest to come to terms with his part in the atrocities commited in China by Japanese soldiers in the years immediately following World War II. I’m not entirely sure who’d want to see this, but it’s a solid piece of work.

Less solid, unfortunately, is “George A. Romero’s Diary of the Dead“, which finds the genial horror director once again trying to burnish his rep as a piercing social commentator at the expense of his beloved zombie franchise.

Look, he’s a sweet old man, and he means well, but … well, let’s just say that his problems with characterization and dialogue haven’t gone away since “Land of the Dead”, and that everything “Diary” wants to do, “Cloverfield” did much more effectively, backwards and in high heels.

Also opening today: “The Band’s Visit”, which Chris reviews here, and “Garbage Warrior”, which Rick covers here.

Check in over the weekend, if you have a chance. Big news coming.