Author Archives: kaist455

How to Train Your Dragon (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Is this really necessary?

Posted on June 15, 2025 by kaist455

“How to Train Your Dragon”, the live action movie version of the 2010 animation film of the same name, is fairly enjoyable but also quite unnecessary in my humble opinion. Although this is a competent product which will probably satisfy … Continue reading →

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Bring Her Back (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Their insidious foster mother

Posted on June 14, 2025 by kaist455

Danny and Michael Philippou’s latest horror film “Bring Her Back” is an intense and compelling experience which actually made me cringe more than once during my viewing. Just like their previous film “Talk to Me” (2023), the movie is quite … Continue reading →

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Miyazaki: Spirit of Nature (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): The spirit and philosophy behind his works

Posted on June 3, 2025 by kaist455

Documentary film “Miyazaki: Spirit of Nature”, which happens to be released in South Korea in last week, focuses on the art and philosophy behind the works of Hayao Miyazaki, who has been regarded as one of the greatest animation filmmakers … Continue reading →

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Hi-Five (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A lively South Korean superhero film

Posted on June 2, 2025 by kaist455

South Korean film “Hi-Five” have some silly but cheerful fun with its colorful genre elements, and I enjoyed that more than expected. While this is another familiar superhero origin tale, the movie is funny and spirited with a lot of … Continue reading →

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Bono: Stories of Surrender (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Bono on Bono

Posted on June 2, 2025 by kaist455

Documentary film “Bono: Stories of Surrender”, which was released on Apple TV+ on last Friday not long after it was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, presents a series of personal stories from Paul David Hewton, an Irish musician who … Continue reading →

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Big Deal (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A conflict over one big soju company

Posted on June 1, 2025 by kaist455

South Korean film “Big Deal” presents a fictional story loosely based on the real-life business deal involved with one of the biggest South Korean alcoholic beverage companies in the late 1990s. While the story itself is fairly interesting, the movie … Continue reading →

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Sinners (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A bluesy Southern horror from Ryan Coogler

Posted on May 31, 2025 by kaist455

Ryan Coogler’s new film “Sinners” is an enthralling genre piece packed with style, atmosphere, and personality to be cherished. While it sometimes feels a bit too overstuffed with story ideas and elements which do not get totally mixed that well … Continue reading →

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Cuckoo (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): At one weird German Alps hotel  

Posted on May 31, 2025 by kaist455

“Cuckoo” alternatively baffled and unnerved me with its deliberate oddness. Although I am not sure about whether it is as effective as intended, I admire how it gradually dials up the level of its sinister suspense beneath the screen before … Continue reading →

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The Phoenician Scheme (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Wes Anderson on autopilot mode

Posted on May 30, 2025 by kaist455

Wes Anderson’s latest film “The Phoenician Scheme” has everything you can expect from his film. While it has a heap of notable performers who will function as variously colorful dolls to be utilized by Anderson, the movie is certainly full … Continue reading →

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Drop (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A tough date, shall we say

Posted on May 27, 2025 by kaist455

“Drop” works best when it stays along with its heroine within its limited main background for a while. Although it is instantly reminiscent of many other similar thriller flicks ranging from “Nick of Time” (1995) to “Carry-On” (2024), the movie … Continue reading →

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