Author Archives: kaist455

High and Low (1963) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A top-notch police procedural from Kurosawa

Posted on August 12, 2025 by kaist455

On the surface, Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film “High and Low” simply follows one kidnapping case from the beginning to the end. While the overall result works as a dry but undeniably compelling police procedural, the movie also gives us some … Continue reading →

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Ballerina (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Brutally Redundant to say the least

Posted on August 10, 2025 by kaist455

“Ballerina”, a spin-off installment within the John Wick franchise, is brutally redundant to say the least. While surely serving us a heap of extremely brutal and violent action scenes as expected, this slick and competent genre piece does not bring … Continue reading →

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Materialists (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A matchmaker between two choices

Posted on August 10, 2025 by kaist455

Celine Song’s second feature film “Materialists” is a calm romance film about one matchmaker who both calculates and cares a lot. While her practical mind seems interested in someone supposedly quite ideal for any woman out there, her heart cannot … Continue reading →

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The Friends (1994) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Three kids and an old man

Posted on August 7, 2025 by kaist455

Shinji Sômai’s 1994 film “The Friends”, whose 4K restoration version was released in South Korean theaters yesterday, is gentle, humorous, and poignant in its unadorned coming-of-tale to remember. Calmly and sensitively following its three little young heroes’ eventful summertime, the … Continue reading →

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Jaws (1975) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): Still on the top of the field

Posted on August 7, 2025 by kaist455

If there had not been any shark movie at all after Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film “Jaws” came out, we would not complain that much in my humble opinion. After all, this great film tried and then succeeded in nearly everything … Continue reading →

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Shall We Dance? (1996) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): His little lively hobby

Posted on August 5, 2025 by kaist455

1996 Japanese film “Shall We Dance?” humorously and touchingly reminds us that we human beings often need a bit more than merely going through our life day by day. Leisurely following its plain middle-class hero’s accidental venture on dancing, the … Continue reading →

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My Daughter Is a Zombie (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): It’s hard to take care of a zombie daughter…

Posted on July 30, 2025 by kaist455

South Korean film “My Daughter Is a Zombie” tries to be a cross between horror comedy and family melodrama, and the result is mildly engaging on the whole. As a horror comedy, it is not absurd enough to be, shall … Continue reading →

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Happy Gilmore 2 (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): He’s back on the green…

Posted on July 27, 2025 by kaist455

Netflix film “Happy Gilmore 2”, which was released a few days ago, made me laugh and chuckle much more than its predecessor did, and that is sort of achievement in my inconsequential opinion. While I dislike “Happy Gilmore” (1996) a … Continue reading →

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Happy Gilmore (1996) ☆☆(2/4): There is something schizophrenic about Sandler

Posted on July 27, 2025 by kaist455

Dennis Dugan’s 1996 comedy film “Happy Gilmore” is a prime example of how schizophrenic many of those early comedy movies of its lead actor Adam Sandler feel even at present. Sandler always seems ready to go all the way with … Continue reading →

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When This Summer is Over (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A bad influence

Posted on July 27, 2025 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “When This Summer is Over” is often disturbing for good reasons. Phlegmatically following how its plain young hero tumbles down into a number of crimes and misdemeanors thanks to his new “friends”, the movie gives us … Continue reading →

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