Author Archives: kaist455

After My Death (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Whose fault was it?

Posted on September 21, 2018 by kaist455

I winced at times while watching South Korean film “After My Death”, a stark, melancholic drama about the anger, frustration, and grievance revolving around one devastating incident. Although this is not a pleasant experience at all, the movie is alternatively … Continue reading →

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Crime + Punishment (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Against a systemic injustice

Posted on September 17, 2018 by kaist455

Documentary film “Crime + Punishment”, which is currently available on Hulu, exposes and examines a serious injustice in the system which is supposed to protect and serve people. Mainly via a group of brave people determined to fight against this … Continue reading →

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Foxtrot (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An absurd war drama dancing around pathos and humor

Posted on September 16, 2018 by kaist455

Right after the end of the first act of Israeli film “Foxtrot”, I completely caught off guard by a sudden shift in its mood and narrative. I will not go into details here for avoiding spoilers, but I can tell … Continue reading →

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Happy Death Day (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A slasher movie in repeat mode

Posted on September 16, 2018 by kaist455

To be frank with you, I am not a big fan of slasher horror films, but I sort of enjoyed “Happy Death Day”, another small, modest horror flick from Blumhouse Productions. Although it is not as entertaining as “Get Out” … Continue reading →

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Thank You for Your Service (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Coming home from a war

Posted on September 16, 2018 by kaist455

“Thank You for Your Service” is another war drama film associated with the second Iraq War, but it has an engaging story to interest us. Mainly focusing on the aftermath of what its main characters went through, the movie is … Continue reading →

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City of Joy (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): From devastation to resilience

Posted on September 15, 2018 by kaist455

I like documentary films which enlighten me on unfamiliar subjects, and Netflix documentary film “City of Joy” is one of such cases. While looking into a small center for the female survivors of rape and other gender violences resulted from … Continue reading →

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RBG (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): The indomitable RBG

Posted on September 15, 2018 by kaist455

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a remarkable woman for many reasons. While she has been known to us mostly for her enduring presence in the US Supreme Court during last 25 years, she already accomplished quite an impressive legal career before … Continue reading →

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Megan Leavey (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): A soldier and her military dog

Posted on September 10, 2018 by kaist455

“Megan Leavey” is better than its rather plain title suggests. Based on a touching real-life story between one US Marine soldier and her military dog, the movie gives us a vivid, close look into a relatively unknown military subject, and … Continue reading →

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Last Child (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): After a tragedy

Posted on September 9, 2018 by kaist455

There is the palpable sense of grief and desolation right from the beginning of South Korean film “Last Child”. Calmly observing its three main characters who have been stuck in the gloomy and suffocating aftermath of one irreversible tragedy, the … Continue reading →

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Butterfly Sleep (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): A romance before she is faded away

Posted on September 8, 2018 by kaist455

To be frank with you, I could not help but envy the heroine of South Korean-Japanese film “Butterfly Sleep”. As watching her cozy modern house filled with various books, I became curious about those books even though they are written … Continue reading →

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