Category Archives: Movies

The Layover (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Their one accidental night in Busan

Posted on April 3, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “The Layover” gives us three different two-handers unfolded within a limited background at one accidental night. Although it is rather plain and simple in terms of story and character, the movie is engaging mainly thanks to … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): All substance but no style

Posted on March 31, 2023 by kaist455

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” does not have much of a sense of awe and wonder to distinguish itself enough. While it has more humor and spirit than expected, my mind kept comparing the movie with countless fantasy adventure … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Man Called Otto (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): A solid American remake starring Tom Hanks

Posted on March 26, 2023 by kaist455

In his 2009 review on “Everybody’s Fine” (2009), my late friend/mentor Roger Ebert pointed out that its lead actor, Robert De Niro, is better than many other actors in many things but playing nice is not one of them. While … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon (2021) ☆☆☆(3/4): A Girl Escaped

Posted on March 26, 2023 by kaist455

Ana Lily Amirpour’s third feature film “Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon” is a saucy genre flick which intrigued me via its distinctive mood and style. While it is pretty simple in terms of story and characters, the movie tries … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Cocaine Bear (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): This bear is pretty wild and high…

Posted on March 24, 2023 by kaist455

“Cocaine Bear” is as cheerfully silly and gory as you can expect from its very title. Outrageously developed from one amusing real-life incident, the movie goes all the way for gore and absurdity, and the resulting shocks and laughs are … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Plane (2023) ☆☆(2/4): As plain as it sounds

Posted on March 20, 2023 by kaist455

I know it sounds like a cliché, but “Plane” is sadly as plain as it sounds, and that is a big disappointment for me. As your average B-action flick, it does not provide much fun or surprise as earnestly following … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Soulmate (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Two best friends

Posted on March 19, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean film “Soulmate”, which is a remake version of the 2016 Chinese film of the same name, revolves around the dynamic friendship between two very different girls. While mostly faithful to the Chinese original version, the movie distinguishes itself … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Another forgettable superhero flick

Posted on March 17, 2023 by kaist455

One of my friends once told me that he comes to care about superhero flicks far less than before, and I came to feel more like him while watching “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”. Although I was not terribly bored … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Janes (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Still relevant, unfortunately

Posted on March 11, 2023 by kaist455

HBO documentary film “The Janes” looks into a fascinating real-life story about a group of remarkable women in Chicago who willingly helped thousands of women in the urgent need of abortion from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. During … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Call Jane (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): A story about women called “Jane”

Posted on March 11, 2023 by kaist455

“Call Jane” presents a conventional fictional story inspired by a real-life story about a group of remarkable women who tried their best for providing safe abortion to many women during the late 1960s. Although its overall result is a bit … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment