Monthly Archives: January 2018

Darkest Hour (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Oldman’s Finest Hour

For Winston Churchill, 1940 was one of the most dramatic years in his illustrious life and career. While everything seemed to be over for Britain as Nazi Germany swiftly advanced over the Europe continent during that turbulent and perilous time, … Continue reading

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Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) ☆☆(2/4): The tedious last chapter of the trilogy

“Maze Runner: The Death Cure”, the last chapter of the trilogy which began with “The Maze Runner” (2014), is a tedious mix of familiar things you can expect from a SF action film set in dystopian world. While “The Maze … Continue reading

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Lady Bird (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Precisely funny and effortlessly poignant

At first, “Lady Bird” looks like another conventional adolescent coming-of-age drama. Again, we have a young heroine eager to go further with her burgeoning life and she surely comes to grow up a lot in the end as being ready … Continue reading

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I, Tonya (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): The rise and fall of Tonya Harding

I could not help but shake my head while watching “I, Tonya”, a darkly funny cautionary tale based on the rise and fall of Tonya Harding. While she might have some right stuffs for being one of the best figure … Continue reading

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The Florida Project (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Their young innocence in hard reality

Full of a vivid, palpable sense of life, “The Florida Project” is simply unforgettable. While constantly recognizing a hard reality surrounding its young heroine and other characters around her, the movie also finds precious moments of joy and happiness as … Continue reading

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Coco (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A lovely Mexican fantasy tale from Pixar

Alternatively enchanting and moving, “Coco” is another lovely work from Pixar Animation Studios. Right from its very first scene, I was instantly charmed by its colorful style and vibrant spirit, and that was just the beginning of more things to … Continue reading

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Downsizing (2017) ☆☆(2/4): Let’s get small!

At first, “Downsizing” starts with an absurd but intriguing science fiction premise. As it keeps its attitude straight during its first act, it gives us a series of nice deadpan moments, and I and other audiences around me had some … Continue reading

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Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): When she goes further

“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”, the third feature film from director/writer Martin McDonagh, surprised me in many aspects. Although many of elements in the film often feel disparate or disjointed, the movie somehow works better than expected thanks to its … Continue reading

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After Life (1998) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Before they go away

I remember well when I happened to watch Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “After Life” for the first time. I did not expect much when it was shown on TV during one hot Sunday afternoon of 2006, but I became intrigued by its … Continue reading

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Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Another game begins…

There was a time when my taste in movies was rather immature. Around 1995, I became more serious about movies after getting exposed to the works of Alfred Hitchcock, but I also enjoyed some silly Hollywood blockbuster films such as … Continue reading

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