Author Archives: kaist455

Happyend (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): The defiance during their last high school year

Posted on May 1, 2025 by kaist455

Japanese film “Happyend” observes a group of high school kids showing some spirit and defiance during the last year at their school. While they try to go further for more fun and freedom day by day, they are also often … Continue reading →

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The Old Woman with the Knife (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Old but lethal

Posted on May 1, 2025 by kaist455

South Korean film “The Old Woman with the Knife” looks promising at first but ends up being quite bland and middling to my disappointment. While it is carried to the end by the strong performance from its lead actress at … Continue reading →

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

Posted on April 29, 2025 by kaist455

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

Posted on April 28, 2025 by kaist455

“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

Posted on April 28, 2025 by kaist455

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

Posted on April 27, 2025 by kaist455

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

Posted on April 26, 2025 by kaist455

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 

Posted on April 26, 2025 by kaist455

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

Posted on April 25, 2025 by kaist455

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…

Posted on April 22, 2025 by kaist455

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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