Monthly Archives: July 2017

Despicable Me 3 (2017) ☆☆(2/4): When he meets his twin brother

Posted on July 29, 2017 by

A few weeks ago, one movie critic I have known said that he was not sure about whether he really watched “Despicable Me 3”, and now I can understand his confusion after watching “Despicable Me 3” two days ago. As … Continue reading →

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The Battleship Island (2017) ☆☆(2/4): Spectacle over history

Posted on July 27, 2017 by

While inspired by one of many dark tragedies during World War II, South Korean film “The Battleship Island” ultimately chooses spectacle over history. That could not be much of a problem if it were equipped with engaging story and characters … Continue reading →

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Song to Song (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Moment to Moment

Posted on July 24, 2017 by

Terrence Malick’s latest work “Song to Song” will surely confound many of you for good reasons. Like any other films by Malick, it reaches for something sublime and transcendent as gliding along a series of beautiful stream-of-consciousness moments, but it … Continue reading →

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The Merciless (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): It’s merciless indeed…

Posted on July 23, 2017 by

South Korean film “The Merciless” is another South Korean gangster film which is as brutal and violent as you can expect. While it is not entirely without sense of humor and there is some interesting subtext glimpsed from its two … Continue reading →

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Frantz (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): Secrets, Lies, and Life

Posted on July 23, 2017 by

Sometimes lie is less inconvenient than truth, and François Ozon’s new movie “Frantz” presents that tricky fact of life via its somber period melodrama. Although it is not wholly successful in making its points especially during the second half and … Continue reading →

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Dunkirk (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A grueling but gripping war film from Christopher Nolan

Posted on July 22, 2017 by

“Dunkirk”, an ambitious World War II movie directed by Christopher Nolan, instantly grabs us right from its first moment and then never loses its grip on us till the end credits. Although looking rather modest compared to Nolan’s previous works, … Continue reading →

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Much Ado About Nothing (2012) ☆☆☆(3/4): A little charming Shakespeare comedy

Posted on July 20, 2017 by

When I was young and wild, I vaguely knew about William Shakespeare. To me, he was just a famous British playwright who wrote several classic tragedies including “Hamlet”, and I only read the Korean translation version of “Hamlet” and his … Continue reading →

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Maudie (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Her artistry and their life

Posted on July 16, 2017 by

Besides illuminating the undeniable artistry of its real-life artist heroine, “Maudie” focuses on small intimate moments from her plain, shabby life with a man she came to live with for many years. While it is interesting to get the occasional … Continue reading →

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Cars 3 (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Vehicles running on a clichéd route

Posted on July 15, 2017 by

“Cars 3” is a surprisingly conventional sequel from Pixar Animation Studios. While I chuckled several times along with a few audiences around me, it did not excite and amuse me enough during my viewing, and I walked out of the … Continue reading →

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Berlin Syndrome (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): A captive tourist girl in Berlin

Posted on July 11, 2017 by

Decidedly unnerving and uncomfortable, “Berlin Syndrome” calmly examines the disturbing relationship between its captive heroine and her twisted captor. Reminiscent of “The Collector” (1965) and many other similar thriller films, the movie is often very unpleasant to say the least, … Continue reading →

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