Author Archives: kaist455

The Measure of a Man (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): A man’s quiet economic struggle

Posted on January 28, 2016 by kaist455

Calmly looking into its plain working class hero’s quiet economic struggle, French social drama film “The Measure of a Man” shares his desperation and frustration with us during the first half and then throws some hard moral questions during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Zero Motivation (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4): Israeli female solders stuck in office job

Posted on January 26, 2016 by kaist455

Through the droll observation on a bunch of female soldiers who have to cope with their drab, suffocating daily life at the base, Israeli comedy film “Zero Motivation” delights us with unexpected moments of amusement and laugh. I did not … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Goosebumps (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): You know what is going to scare you…

Posted on January 23, 2016 by kaist455

Around this Monday, I finished reading “Joyland”, one of Stephen King’s recent novels. While its story revolves around a dark murder mystery involved with one plain but special amusement park in North Carolina, I enjoyed its vivid, affectionate description of … Continue reading →

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

Steve Jobs (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Jobs viewed through a three-act backstage drama

Posted on January 22, 2016 by kaist455

Through its fictional narrative structure, “Steve Jobs” attempts to give us a complex portrayal of one fascinating real-life figure whose grand, ambitious visions have influenced our modern world – or our modern electronic industry and market at least. Although its … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Big Short (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : Big Bets against the market

Posted on January 20, 2016 by kaist455

Cheerfully bouncing around a number of traders who perceived an imminent financial disaster in advance, “The Big Short” gives us an absurd, biting account of how everything was virtually destined to be collapsed before the financial crisis of 2007-08 finally … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Revenant (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Grim, Grisly, and Grueling

Posted on January 18, 2016 by kaist455

Grim, grisly, and grueling, “The Revenant” is determined to overpower you with its cold, stark beauty of vast wilderness as well as its gray, gloomy depiction of extreme human conditions. This brooding western tale of survival and revenge is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Trumbo (2015) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4) : A passable biopic about one legendary Hollywood writer

Posted on January 16, 2016 by kaist455

As a biography film about one legendary Hollywood figure, “Trumbo” looks trivial compared to his larger-than-life status. Here is a man who steadily fought against the injustices inflicted upon himself and his ill-fated colleagues for years while never bending his … Continue reading →

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

Joy (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): A messy rags to riches tale supported by Jennifer Lawrence

Posted on January 16, 2016 by kaist455

When I was going through another miserable day of my graduate course during the early 2010s, it happened to be my turn to clean the floor of my laboratory, and I used a newly bought mop for the first time. … Continue reading →

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

The Danish Girl (2015) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Which girl, you mean?

Posted on January 15, 2016 by kaist455

Unlike most of us who are fine with our sexual identity, some people are not comfortable with their body, and many of them are willing to go outside our conventional definition of sexuality. Regardless of whether we approve of this … Continue reading →

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

Creed (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Something Old, New, and Unexpected

Posted on January 13, 2016 by kaist455

“Creed” is an underdog movie true to the dogged spirit of its old senior in many ways. Faithfully following its senior’s footsteps with some bittersweet sense of nostalgia, the movie also brings a considerable amount of fresh energy into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 2 Comments