Monthly Archives: July 2024

Attila Marcel (2013) ☆☆☆(3/4): A Proustian tale presented by Sylvain Chomet

As watching Sylvain Chomet’s live action film “Attila Marcel”, which was somehow re-released in South Korean theaters in last week, I could not help but wonder whether it worked better it were an animation film. In my inconsequential opinion, many … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Before Sunrise (1995) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): When Jesse and Céline Met

Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunrise”, the first movie of his Before trilogy which was incidentally re-released in South Korea in a few weeks ago, is charming and delightful as before. While it surely feels all the more poignant now thanks to … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Jinju’s Pearl (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Save the old cafe

South Korean independent film “Jinju’s Pearl” is a simple but intimate drama to be appreciated for several good reasons. Although it stumbles more than once due to the uneven mix of comedy and melodrama during its last act, the movie … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The King of Comedy (1982) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A classic comedy of embarrassment

Congratulations, Mr. Rupert Pupkin. You are definitely one of the creepiest movie antiheroes in the history of cinema, but you and your little “comedy” movie, Martin Scorsese’s “The King of Comedy”, have somehow persisted for more than 40 years, despite … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An IP smorgasbord, shall we say.

As you probably remember, I belong to a minor group of audiences who feel that Deadpool is a pretty annoying superhero dude. I understand well that he is often incapable of not being your typical wisecracking loudmouth, but I do … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Despicable Me 4 (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): As passable as it gets

Animation film “Despicable Me 4” is as passable as it gets. While I do not deny that I chuckled more than once during my viewing and it is better than “Despicable Me 3” (2017), the film is pretty much like … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Love Lies Bleeding (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A lesbian crime noir film on steroid

“Love Lies Bleeding” is a little crime noir film which tries some interesting variation on its genre elements. As its two different female main characters pull or push each other in their dangerous erotic liaison, the movie occasionally jolts us … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Immaculate (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Another Catholic horror flick of this year

“Immaculate” is a little too eager to give shock and awe for us. Right from the very first scene, we can instantly discern whatever we will behold in the end, and the movie has a substantial amount of spooky insidiousness … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Black Barbie: A Documentary (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Hidden Figures behind the Black Barbie

When I saw Greta Gerwig’s enormous hit film “Barbie” in last year, I instantly noticed how racially diverse the Barbie (and Ken) characters in the film are. We now take that for granted, but Netflix documentary film “Black Barbie: A … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Escape (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An old-fashioned South Korean thriller

South Korean film “Escape” is something I might enjoy more around, say, 30 years ago. During that time, I was an avid consumer of those grim horror stories about North Korea, and I must say that the movie is curiously … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment