Monthly Archives: July 2026

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) ☆☆☆(3/4): Brand Old Familiar Day

Posted on July 29, 2026 by kaist455

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” works best whenever it is just about its earnest superhero character. As a matter of fact, it could just try less on connecting itself with those other notable characters of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and then … Continue reading →

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Serpent’s Path (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A passable French remake by Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Posted on July 29, 2026 by kaist455

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s 2024 film “Serpent’s Path”, which is the remake of his 1998 film of the same name, is an interesting attempt which does not always work in my humble opinion. While mostly not so different from the original version … Continue reading →

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Serpent’s Path (1998) ☆☆☆(3/4): A darkly twisty revenge thriller

Posted on July 27, 2026 by kaist455

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s 1998 film “Serpent’s Path”, which happened to be released in South Korean theaters in last week, is darkly twisty and compelling as gradually revealing its disturbing big picture of remorselessly cold-blooded revenge. At first, the situation surrounding its … Continue reading →

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The Fin (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): An odd and strange South Korean dystopian film

Posted on July 27, 2026 by kaist455

I could not help but become mesmerized more and more by the dystopian world of South Korean independent film “The Fin”. Although I found its supposedly futuristic background a little outrageous at times, the movie is filled with a considerable … Continue reading →

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Contempt (1963) ☆☆☆(3/4): Until there is nothing but contempt for him

Posted on July 25, 2026 by kaist455

Jean-Luc Godard’s 1963 film “Contempt”, whose recent 4K restoration version was released in selected South Korean theaters in last week, is a distant but fascinating cinematic experiment. Although I am not so enthusiastic about the film unlike many others, the … Continue reading →

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Dead of Winter (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Emma Thompson can also do some action, folks

Posted on July 25, 2026 by kaist455

Brian Kirk’s 2025 film “Dead of Winter” is a small but efficient thriller which will draw your attention for not only its competence but also its lead actress. Although she is approaching to 70 at present, Emma Thompson demonstrates another … Continue reading →

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The Return (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The bitter return of the king

Posted on July 24, 2026 by kaist455

Uberto Pasolini’s 2024 film “The Return” is a grim, shabby, and bitter tale based on the second half of Homer’s “The Odyssey”. Unlike Christopher Nolan’s new film “The Odyssey” (2026), the movie does not have much action or spectacle on … Continue reading →

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Hokum (2026) ☆☆☆(3/4): In a spooky Irish hotel

Posted on July 21, 2026 by kaist455

Damian McCarthy’s latest film “Hokum” is a solid genre flick filled with dark mood and details to be admired and appreciated. While it surely evokes countless other similar horror films about haunted places, it has its own distinctive elements to … Continue reading →

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Passenger (2026) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A little road trip horror flick

Posted on July 21, 2026 by kaist455

“Passenger” is a little modest horror flick which mildly entertained me without surprising me that much. While it is a bit too thin and generic in terms of story and characters, the movie works to some degree in its familiar … Continue reading →

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Normal (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A sheriff in one supposedly normal town

Posted on July 20, 2026 by kaist455

Bob Odenkirk is surely an interesting actor to watch. At first, he drew my attention via his scene-stealing supporting turn in American TV drama series “Breaking Bad”, and then he took the center in the following spin-off TV drama series … Continue reading →

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