Author Archives: kaist455

Meru (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): Reaching for a challenging peak in the Himalayas

Posted on February 27, 2016 by kaist455

Documentary film “Meru” works best when it functions as a vivid, extraordinary record of one arduous quest for conquering one of the most challenging mountains in the Himalayas. Yes, those three mountaineers in the documentary really climbed up there with … Continue reading →

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Best of Enemies (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : Buckley Vs. Vidal

Posted on February 22, 2016 by kaist455

Focusing on the tense, dynamic progress of the infamous TV debates between two antagonizing American intellectuals, documentary film “Best of Enemies” observes their turbulent era which ironically mirrors the current sociopolitical status of the American society at present. Through their … Continue reading →

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Zootopia (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A rookie bunny officer’s first case

Posted on February 21, 2016 by kaist455

While it is somehow released earlier outside US, new Disney digital animation feature film “Zootopia” is better than I expected. It is colorful and spunky with its amusing variation of buddy cop movie conventions, and there are enough funny, exciting … Continue reading →

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DongJu: The Portrait of A Poet (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): The short life of a Korean poet

Posted on February 21, 2016 by kaist455

Wishing not to have so much as a speck of shame toward heaven until the day I die, I suffered, even when the wind stirred the leaves. With my heart singing to the stars, I shall love all things that … Continue reading →

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Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Behind the belief

Posted on February 20, 2016 by kaist455

As far as I can remember, the first time I heard about the Church of Scientology was when I read a review on “Battlefield Earth” (2000), an infamous Hollywood turkey which was based on the SF novel of the same … Continue reading →

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Deadpool (2016) ☆☆(2/4) : Isn’t he nasty? Isn’t he raunchy? Isn’t he funny?

Posted on February 18, 2016 by kaist455

“Deadpool”, the latest superhero film based on Marvel Comics character, is a one-joke stretched too long and too thin. It is amusing during its few early scenes, but then it ultimately follows those usual conventions of many other superhero movies … Continue reading →

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Cartel Land (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): The drug war viewed through vigilantes

Posted on February 15, 2016 by kaist455

“Cartel Land”, which was recently Oscar-nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film, is sobering and disturbing to say the least. If you are already familiar with its subject through other movies and documentary films such as “Narco Cultra” (2013) and “Sicario” … Continue reading →

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Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): That turbulent winter

Posted on February 14, 2016 by kaist455

Oscar-nominated documentary film “Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom” presents a close look into the Euromaidan protest in Ukraine, which was ignited in 2013 November and then blazed for 93 days until President Viktor Yanukovych left the country in … Continue reading →

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The Dressmaker (2015) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): She’s back in the town – with a sewing machine

Posted on February 14, 2016 by kaist455

Australian film “The Dressmaker” is mildly entertaining as it tries to stitch different patches together for dressing up its comic revenge story. The overall result is not that satisfying, but it is not wholly without fun and charm thanks to … Continue reading →

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Affliction (1997) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : A cold but harrowing mediation on domestic violence

Posted on February 12, 2016 by kaist455

The hero of “Affliction” knows how messy his life has been, but he tragically lacks the perspective of what has made him so miserable and pathetic throughout his meager life. He wants to believes that he is a good man … Continue reading →

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