Author Archives: kaist455

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nuggets (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): The chickens are back…

Posted on December 18, 2023 by kaist455

Netflix animation film “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nuggets”, which was released a few days ago, is the latest work from Aardman Animations, which has given us a series of charming and entertaining animation films ranging from “Wallace & Gromit: … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Adventure, Animation Film, Chicken, Comedy, Family | Leave a comment

Leave the World Behind (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Is this the end?

Posted on December 18, 2023 by kaist455

Netflix film “Leave the World Behind”, which was released a few week ago, is a very familiar type of thriller which does not bring anything new or fresh into its genre territory. This is a fairly competent product on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Family, Post-apocalyptic world, Thriller, Vacation | Leave a comment

Joyland (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): A queer drama from Pakistan

Posted on December 17, 2023 by kaist455

Pakistani film “Joyland”, which was selected as the Pakistani submission to Best International Film Oscar in last year (It was subsequently included in the shortlist, by the way), is a sensitive mix between family drama and queer story. Although the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Dancer, Family, Romance, Transgender | Leave a comment

Batman (1989) ☆☆☆(3/4): That indelible darkness

Posted on December 16, 2023 by kaist455

The most timeless part of Tim Burton’s “Batman” is that indelible darkness of its superlative Oscar-winning production design by late Anton Furst. Burton and Furst created one of the most visually striking cities in the movie history which deserves to … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged action, Crime, Superhero | Leave a comment

Ikiru (1952) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): To live for the rest of his life

Posted on December 16, 2023 by kaist455

Not long after I watched Akira Kurosawa’s great film “Ikiru” for the first time around 20 years ago, I read a review written by one anonymous but prominent South Korean critic who argued that “Ikiru” is the funniest film ever … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Public servant, Terminal Illness | Leave a comment

Home Ground (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Welcome to Lesvos (No, not that island)

Posted on December 13, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean documentary film “Home Ground” introduces us to one extraordinary figure who deserves to be known more to not only thousands of LGBTQ+ people out there in the South Korean society but also many other South Korean citizens. Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Bar, Documentary, Lesbian, LGBTQ+, Real-life figure, Real-life story, South Korean Film | Leave a comment

A Letter from Kyoto (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Three sisters and their aging mother

Posted on December 13, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean film “A Letter from Kyoto” is a little family drama revolving around the relationships among three sisters and their aging mother. As these four different women cope with each own daily matters along the story, the movie slowly … Continue reading →