Author Archives: kaist455

Millennium Mambo (2001) ☆☆☆(3/4): Looking back at her messy life

Posted on January 4, 2025 by kaist455

Hou Hsiao-hsien’s 2001 film “Millennium Mambo”, whose 4K restoration version was released in South Korean theaters on the first day of this year, is an acquired taste for me just like many of Hou’s films, but it somehow engaged me … Continue reading →

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Armand (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): At her son’s school

Posted on January 4, 2025 by kaist455

“Armand”, which was selected as the Norwegian entry for Best Internation Film Oscar in last year, attempts a sort of high-wire stunt between the chamber drama films of Ingmar Bergman and the psychological thriller movies of Roman Polanski. While I … Continue reading →

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The Apartment (1960) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): A definite comic masterpiece by Billy Wilder

Posted on December 31, 2024 by kaist455

Billy Wilder’s 1960 film “The Apartment” is about two desperate people who come to reflect more on what they really want during one particularly melancholic Christmas season. This is surely a gloomy story in many aspects, but the movie did … Continue reading →

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10 movies of 2024 – and more: Part 3

Posted on December 30, 2024 by kaist455

Now here are 11 South Korean films of this year.

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10 movies of 2024 – and more: Part 2

Posted on December 30, 2024 by kaist455

And here are the other 5 movies in my list – with other films good enough to be mentioned.

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10 movies of 2024 – and more: Part 1

Posted on December 30, 2024 by kaist455

So here are the first five films of my annual list.

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10 movies of 2024 – and more: Introduction

Posted on December 30, 2024 by kaist455

Here are we again as expecting the beginning of 2025, but, boy, what a depressing year 2024 has been. While we were all surely hopeful around the beginning of this year, there were actually some good moments of hope and … Continue reading →

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Harbin (2024) ☆☆(2/4): A piece of dry and mediocre seriousness

Posted on December 29, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean film “Harbin” is so serious and ponderous that it often forgets engaging or entertaining its audiences. I do understand that it attempts to be a grim and gritty period drama about one famous real-life national hero and his … Continue reading →

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Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): They’re back!

Posted on December 28, 2024 by kaist455

Animation feature film “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”, the latest work from Aardman Animations which will be released on Netflix on next Friday in South Korea, is as funny and delightful as we can possibly expect. Although it may … Continue reading →

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A Christmas Story (1983) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): Still witty, funny, and sweet

Posted on December 26, 2024 by kaist455

Bob Clark’s 1983 film “A Christmas Story” is quite typical but also very special in many aspects. Yes, this is mainly about one ordinary American kid trying to receive a certain toy for the upcoming Christmas, but the movie somehow … Continue reading →

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