Author Archives: kaist455

The Journey to Gyeong-ju (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): There bumpy family trip for revenge

Posted on September 1, 2026 by kaist455

South Korean film “The Journey to Gyeong-ju” is a mixed bag which actually works better than expected. Although it often feels rather uneven as frequently bumping back and forth between comedy and drama along the story, the movie is somehow … Continue reading →

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Leave the Cat Alone (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): No cat here

Posted on August 31, 2026 by kaist455

2025 Japanese film “Leave the Cat Alone”, which was premiered in the Busan International Film Festival in last year and then was released in South Korean theaters in last week, is frustrating at times as we try to grasp what … Continue reading →

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The Love of Truman (2025) ☆☆(2/4): The Tedium of Truman

Posted on August 30, 2026 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “The Love of Truman” is a piece of tedium about which I cannot care that much. At first, it begins with an interesting SF/fantasy story premise, but then it unfortunately drones on and on without much … Continue reading →

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The End of Oak Street (2026) ☆☆☆(3/4): A family under fantastic crisis

Posted on August 27, 2026 by kaist455

David Robert Mitchell’s latest film “The End of Oak Street” is a fairly entertaining genre piece despite not surprising me that much. Because I was exposed to its trailer more than once, I had a pretty good idea about what … Continue reading →

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Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): A little one-cut SF comedy film

Posted on August 23, 2026 by kaist455

Japanese filmmaker Junta Yamaguchi’s 2020 debut feature film “Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes” tries to roll a preposterous but interesting story premise as much as possible within its limited space and time. While you may often get confused at times … Continue reading →

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The Wicker Man (1973) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The return of a classic British horror film

Posted on August 23, 2026 by kaist455

As many of you know well, Robin Hardy’s 1973 film “The Wicker Man” has a pretty complicated history. Not long before it was released in movie theaters in UK at that time, the movie, whose initial running time was around … Continue reading →

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Warfare (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Presenting warfare itself

Posted on August 20, 2026 by kaist455

2025 film “Warfare”, which belatedly came to South Korean movie theaters yesterday, attempts to do nothing more than presenting warfare itself on the screen. Based on the testimonies of a bunch of U.S. Navy SEAL platoon members on one intense … Continue reading →

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The Dreamers (2003) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): With his two strange new friends in Paris, 1968

Posted on August 19, 2026 by kaist455

Bernado Bertolucci’s 2003 film “The Dreamers”, whose 4K remastered version was released in selected South Korean theaters in last week, is a tale of love, youth, desire, friendship, and movies. While often striking us with its forthright depiction of sexuality, … Continue reading →

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Vive L’Amour (1994) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): How lonely they are…

Posted on August 18, 2026 by kaist455

I found myself caring a lot more than expected as watching Taiwanese filmmaker Tsai Ming-liang’s 1994 film “Vive L’Amour”, whose recent 4K restoration version was released in South Korean theaters in last week. Leisurely revolving around three different main characters, … Continue reading →

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Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) ☆1/2(1.5/4): Such a bloody boring bad place this hell is…

Posted on August 15, 2026 by kaist455

Tony Randel’s 1988 film “Hellbound: Hellraiser II”, a sequel to Clive Barker’s “Hellraiser” (1987), is a bloody boring mess I observed from the distance without much care or attention. Sure, there are a number of well-made moments intended to disgust … Continue reading →

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