Author Archives: kaist455

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): When Han Solo was young…

Posted on May 25, 2018 by kaist455

Despite its rather troubled production process, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” is fairly watchable on the whole, but it also feels redundant and unnecessary while not that terrific enough for recommendation. Although there are several entertaining moments in the film … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Claire’s Camera (2017) ☆☆(2/4): Hong Sang-soo’s misfire in Cannes

Posted on May 22, 2018 by kaist455

Several weeks ago, I belatedly read “Two Weeks in the Midday Sun”, which was written by my late friend/mentor Roger Ebert in 1987. The book was about numerous things he observed and experienced during the two weeks of the 1987 … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Trip to Spain (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Six days in Spain – with Coogan and Brydon

Posted on May 21, 2018 by kaist455

“The Trip to Spain” is as fun and amusing as I expected, and that is fine with me. Like two previous films “The Trip” (2011) and “The Trip to Italy” (2014), the movie constantly draws lots of small laughs from … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ethel & Ernest (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): The life story of one ordinary couple

Posted on May 20, 2018 by kaist455

British animation feature film “Ethel & Ernest” is about one ordinary couple who lived together for more than 40 years. Based on Raymond Briggs’ acclaimed graphic novel which was based on the life story of his parents in real life, … Continue reading →

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

Burning (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A slow-burning thriller from Lee Chang Dong

Posted on May 19, 2018 by kaist455

South Korean film “Burning”, which was recently shown at the Cannes Film Festival and is also currently being shown here in South Korea, is a slow but steady thriller drama which constantly baffles us throughout its 148-minute running time. Although … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Deadpool 2 (2018) ☆☆(2/4): Cynical, irreverent, and tiresome as before

Posted on May 17, 2018 by kaist455

Whether you will like “Deadpool 2” or not depends on how much fun you had with “Deadpool” (2016). Unlike many others, I did not enjoy “Deadpool” much while also quite annoyed by its increasingly obnoxious self-conscious attitude, so I became … Continue reading →

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

The Wound (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A queer drama film from South Africa

Posted on May 14, 2018 by kaist455

South African film “The Wound”, which was selected as South Africa’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in last year, is exceptional in many aspects. While intriguing us a lot with its vivid anthropological observation of a tribal … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Lean on Pete (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A boy and the horse

Posted on May 13, 2018 by kaist455

“Lean on Pete” surprised me with its considerable sensitivity and thoughtfulness. Here is a simple but heartfelt character drama which simply goes its own way as wisely avoiding clichés and conventions, and I was both entertained and touched by how … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Rider (2017) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): The tale of a young rodeo cowboy

Posted on May 13, 2018 by kaist455

“The Rider”, a small independent film which was recently shown at the Jeonju International Film Festival, is a quiet but mesmerizing work of haunting beauty and aching poetry. Calmly and closely looking into a plain young hero and how he … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Stronger (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Stumbling and struggling toward recovery

Posted on May 10, 2018 by kaist455

Based on an inspiring real-life story, “Stronger” wants to engage you and then touch you, and it did its job mostly well although it sometimes stumbles as much as its ordinary hero. While some parts in the movie feel artificial … Continue reading →

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