Monthly Archives: July 2022

Chorokbam (2021) ☆☆☆(3/4): An atmospheric slice of life

Posted on July 31, 2022 by kaist455

To be frank with you, I felt growing frustration while watching the first 30 minutes of South Korean independent film “Chorokbam”. In terms of story and characters, the movie is adamantly dry and minimalistic to the core, and it was … Continue reading →

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Hansan: Rising Dragon (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Epic, tense, and efficient

Posted on July 28, 2022 by kaist455

South Korean film “Hansan: Rising Dragon” is a war historical drama about one big sea battle which was a significant turning point in the Imjin War, which is also known as the Japanese invasions of Korea of 1592–1598. Although I … Continue reading →

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Alienoid (2022) ☆☆(2/4): A bland and bloated teaser for whatever will come next

Posted on July 28, 2022 by kaist455

South Korean film “Alienoid”, which is actually the first half preceding the second half which will come in next year, is bland and bloated to say the least. Although I watched the film during last evening, I cannot recall any … Continue reading →

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Anything’s Possible (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): The conventional romance of a transgender girl

Posted on July 25, 2022 by kaist455

Billy Porter’s debut feature film “Anything’s Possible”, which was released on Amazon Prime in last week, is a conventional coming-of-age romantic comedy revolving around one transgender high school girl. While it is pretty safe and predictable in terms of story … Continue reading →

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It’s a Summer Film (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): Their little summer filmmaking

Posted on July 23, 2022 by kaist455

Japanese film “It’s a Summer Film” is as perky and lively as you can expect from its very title. Mainly revolving around one modest but amusing filmmaking process, the movie gives us a series of funny moments to be appreciated … Continue reading →

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Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): They’re back – with their little boss

Posted on July 23, 2022 by kaist455

Animation feature film “Minions: The Rise of Gru” entertained me more than I expected. Yes, I only mildly enjoyed “Despicable Me” (2010), its following 2013 sequel, and its spin-off entry “Minions” (2015), and I am not a big fan of … Continue reading →

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Don’t Make Me Go (2022) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A road trip with her dad

Posted on July 18, 2022 by kaist455

“Don’t Make Me Go”, which was released on Amazon Prime in last week, is predictably sappy but fairly engaging before taking a sudden distracting left turn in the last act. While I will not go into details here for not … Continue reading →

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Persuasion (2022) ☆☆(2/4): A mediocre Jane Austen adaptation from Netflix

Posted on July 18, 2022 by kaist455

I sometimes wonder what Jane Austen would have written if she had not died not long after her last novel “Persuasion”, which is one of her moodier works in my humble opinion. While it is another story about courtship and … Continue reading →

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Gunda (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Animal life at farm

Posted on July 16, 2022 by kaist455

Documentary film “Gunda”, which is finally released in South Korean theaters in this week, gives us a seemingly plain but ultimately extraordinary look into animal life at farm. Mainly revolving around one particular sow and her piglets, the documentary has … Continue reading →

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Elvis (2022) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Extremely excessive and incredibly superficial

Posted on July 16, 2022 by kaist455

Baz Luhrmann’s latest film “Elvis” is extremely excessive and incredibly superficial. Like many of his previous works such as “Romeo + Juliet” (1996), “Moulin Rouge!” (2001), and “The Great Gatsby” (2013), the movie is full of Luhrmann’s own dizzy stylish … Continue reading →

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