Category Archives: Movies

Next Sohee (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): She won’t be the last one…  

Posted on February 12, 2023 by kaist455

I got chilled and then saddened as watching South Korean film “Next Sohee”. If you are horrified and infuriated by what is so painfully presented during its first half, I guarantee you that you will be more exasperated and disgusted … Continue reading →

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Empire of Light (2022) ☆☆(2/4): Sincere but muddled

Posted on February 9, 2023 by kaist455

Sam Mendes’s new film “Empire of Light” is rather indecisive and muddled in its sincere love letter to movie theaters. On one hand, it attempts to emphasize the wonder of cinema, but nothing much sticks on the wall even though … Continue reading →

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See How They Run (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): See how they spoof Agatha Christie mystery

Posted on February 7, 2023 by kaist455

“See How They Run”, which is currently available on Disney+ in South Korea, is an amusing spoof on Agatha Christie mystery novels. Although it does not surpass its main source of inspiration, the movie is fairly entertaining mainly thanks to … Continue reading →

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Holy Spider (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Based on one real-life Iranian serial killing case

Posted on February 6, 2023 by kaist455

Ali Abbasi’s third feature film “Holy Spider”, which was selected as the Danish submission to Best International Film Oscar in last year and then included in the finalist in this category, is a calm but angry crime thriller film loosely … Continue reading →

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Mother Land (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A modest South Korean stop-motion animation film

Posted on February 5, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean animation film “Mother Land” is a precious work to be cherished. As a stop-motion animation film, it is rather modest compared to, say, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” (2022) or many of the recent acclaimed works from Laika Studios, … Continue reading →

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Irma Vep (1996) ☆☆☆(3/4): One troubled movie production

Posted on February 4, 2023 by kaist455

Olivier Assayas’ 1996 film “Irma Vep”, which happens to be released in South Korean theaters in this week, baffles me in enjoyable ways. Mainly revolving around one very troubled movie production, its story freely and unpredictably flows from one interesting … Continue reading →

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Babylon (2022) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Excessive to the extreme

Posted on February 2, 2023 by kaist455

Damien Chazelle’s latest film “Babylon” is a relentlessly excessive piece of work which quickly made me feel distant and exhausted even before its first hour passed. While I appreciated some admirable efforts from its crew and cast members shown from … Continue reading →

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To Leslie (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Can she really start over?

Posted on February 1, 2023 by kaist455

“To Leslie” is about the hard and difficult struggles of one messy human being to observe. She once felt like being on the top of the world, but she has hit one bottom after another due to her serious personal … Continue reading →

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Jackass Forever (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): They surely rise below vulgarity

Posted on January 31, 2023 by kaist455

“Jackass Forever” made me wince and cringe more than once for good reasons. The film is basically a series of vulgar and outrageous stunts to make your eyes roll, but they are presented with a considerable amount of wit, cheer, … Continue reading →

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Triangle of Sadness (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Three acts of absurd satire by Ruben Östlund

Posted on January 30, 2023 by kaist455

Ruben Östlund’s new film “Triangle of Sadness”, which won the Palme d’Or award when it was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in last year, attempts three acts of absurd satire which are often amusing even though they do gel … Continue reading →

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