Monthly Archives: April 2025

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A family funeral

Runagno Nyoni’s second feature film “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl” is about a family funeral of one middle-class Zambian family. Mainly following one of the younger family members, the movie gradually reveals the secrets and traumas suppressed inside this family, … Continue reading

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Gondola (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A romance on gondola

“Gondola” is a simple but charming romantic comedy film to be cherished. While it often feels more like an extended short film especially during its second half, the movie thankfully has enough wit, style, and personality to fill its 82-minute … Continue reading

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The Other Way Around (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A separation comedy

Spanish film “The Other Way Around” is a lightweight comedy about one young couple who suddenly decides to have a “happy” separation for no apparent reason. As they prepare for their separation step by step, the movie provides a series … Continue reading

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A Minecraft Movie (2025) ☆☆(2/4): A goofy beginning

I must confess that I am not a target audience for “A Minecraft Movie”. Even when I was young and wild, my mind was mostly drawn to movies and books instead of playing video games, and, yes, I am not … Continue reading

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Bullet Train Explosion (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A Thriller on Bullet Train

Japanese Netflix film “Bullet Train Explosion”, which was released on this Wednesday, provides enough fun and thrill along as your typical disaster film. While its course is predictably bumpy to say the least, the movie diligently and excitingly rolls its … Continue reading

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Havoc (2025) ☆☆(2/4): Merely bloody and violent 

Gareth Evans’ latest film “Havoc”, which was released on Netflix yesterday, is merely bloody and violent without bringing anything new to its familiar genre territory. If you simply want a lot of extremely brutal action and mayhem, the movie will … Continue reading

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I Am Not a Witch (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An absurd drama about African witchcraft hunt

You will not easily forget Rungano Nyoni’s 2017 feature debut film “I Am Not a Witch”. Following the plight of one little girl accused of witchcraft, the movie presents a somber but powerful contemporary story about an outrageous social injustice … Continue reading

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The Iron Claw (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): It’s a tough family business…

What a tragically pathetic family the Von Erichs are. While they attained some fame and recognition in their sports field, whatever they achieved during that short period came with a lot of pain and misery, Sean Durkin’s latest film “The … Continue reading

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The Boys in the Boat (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The rowing underdogs

George Clooney’s latest film “The Boys in the Boat” is a typical underdog sports drama which does not have much surprise for us. As a story about one underdog sports team which surprises everyone as going up and up against … Continue reading

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And Your Bird Can Sing (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Three free spirits

Shô Miyake’s 2018 film “And Your Bird Can Sing”, which happened to be released in South Korean theaters several days ago, seems to be merely following the aimless daily life of its three young protagonists, but it turns out to … Continue reading

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