Author Archives: kaist455

12.12: The Day (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): That infamous night in Seoul, 1979

Posted on November 22, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean film “12.12: The Day” is an intense fictionalized version of what happened at one terrible night of December 1979 in Seoul. Although I and many other South Korean audiences are well aware of how the story eventually ends, … Continue reading →

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Rustin (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A gay organizer behind the March on Washington in 1963

Posted on November 21, 2023 by kaist455

Netflix film “Rustin”, which came out in last week, wants to be two different things at once, but I do not think it succeeds as much as intended. On one hand, it wants to present a monumental historical event of … Continue reading →

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The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): How he came to rise

Posted on November 21, 2023 by kaist455

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is totally unnecessary but fairly watchable at least. As a redundant prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy in the early 2010s, it will not give you much substance in terms of … Continue reading →

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Iron Mask (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A kendo player under challenge

Posted on November 17, 2023 by kaist455

In my trivial opinion, there are not many things as intense, spectacular, and compelling to watch as a human mind under challenge, and little South Korean independent film “Iron Mask” is a terrific example of that. On the surface, it … Continue reading →

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Juhee from 5 to 7 (2022) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Her and some others from 5 to 7

Posted on November 12, 2023 by kaist455

I was disappointed to see that South Korean independent film “Juhee from 5 to 7” does not focus on its titular heroine as much as I expected from its very title. Here is a potentially interesting female figure to illustrate … Continue reading →

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A Wild Roomer (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Things somehow happen to him…

Posted on November 12, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “A Wild Roomer” surprised me in one unexpected way or another. While it mostly feels dry and detached in terms of mood, character, and storytelling, the movie often catches us off guard with a series of … Continue reading →

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The Marvels (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A little too late for the ladies

Posted on November 10, 2023 by kaist455

Probably around “Avengers: Endgame” (2019), Marvel Comics Universe (MCU) passed its peak period mainly due to giving us so many similar products for more than 10 years. After the immense success of “Black Panther” (2018), the franchise belatedly started to … Continue reading →

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Quiz Lady (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Two different sisters

Posted on November 7, 2023 by kaist455

“Quiz Lady”, which came to Disney+ in South Korea in last week, is a predictable but delightful comedy often buoyed by the undeniable comic talent of its two wonderful lead actresses. Although we can clearly see where its story and … Continue reading →

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Fingernails (2023) ☆☆(2/4): Can true love be measured?

Posted on November 7, 2023 by kaist455

“Fingernails”, which was released on Apple TV+ on last Friday, starts with an intriguing story promise. What if being truly in love can be actually measured? What if the result of such a measurement is different form what one is … Continue reading →

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Wingwomen (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Ladies are simply having a fun…

Posted on November 6, 2023 by kaist455

French Netflix film “Wingwomen”, which came out a few days ago, is a flawed but enjoyable crime comedy simply having a fun with its three female main characters. Whenever they gather on the screen, the movie cheerfully coasts along the … Continue reading →

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