Category Archives: Movies

Akilla’s Escape (2020) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A cycle of violence he wants to escape

“Akilla’s Escape” frustrated me more than once during my viewing. The movie tries to explore the cycle of violence over generations via two connected stories, but it is glaringly deficient in terms of storytelling and characterization in addition to often … Continue reading →

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Miss Juneteenth (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): She lives and dreams through her daughter

“Miss Juneteenth” is a plain but heartfelt drama about a hard-working mother who lives and dreams through her daughter. While this is surely a familiar type of tale to you especially you are a seasoned moviegoer like me, the movie … Continue reading →

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The Amusement Park (2019) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): A little hidden masterwork by George A. Romero

Here’s what happened. In 1973, George A. Romero, who had just made “Season of the Witch” (1972) and was about to make “The Crazies” (1973) at that time, was hired to make a little educational film about elder abuse, and … Continue reading →

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Jakob’s Wife (2021) ☆☆☆(3/4): The preacher’s bloody-thirsty wife

“Jakob’s Wife” is a little horror comedy film about an ordinary preacher’s wife who suddenly finds herself becoming blood-thirsty under a certain insidious evil influence. While it is not particularly scary as a horror movie, the movie still works as … Continue reading →

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Wrath of Man (2021) ☆☆☆(3/4): Gritty and remorseless to say the least

Guy Ritchie’s latest work “Wrath of Man” is gritty and remorseless to say the least. While this is surely your average revenge action flick about a taciturn tough guy with a particular set of skills, it is at least packaged … Continue reading →

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Small Axe: Education (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A kid stuck at the bottom of the system

As your average constant movie reviewer, I was certainly quite interested in watching Steve McQueen’s exceptional movie anthology series “Small Axe”, which happened to be selected as one of the best works of 2020 among many film critics groups in … Continue reading →

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Small Axe: Alex Wheatle (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): How he came to tell his story

Steve McQueen’s movie anthology series “Small Axe” firmly held my attention as I watched its first three movies, which were incidentally shown at a number of major films festivals including the New York Film Festival before all of five films … Continue reading →

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Small Axe: Red, White and Blue (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Against the system he walks into

During last two days, I finally watched Steve McQueen’s movie anthology series “Small Axe”, which generated some hoopla during the recent Oscar season as receiving a bunch of nominations and awards from several major film critics associations including the LA … Continue reading →

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Small Axe: Lovers Rock (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Their one romantic night to remember

Steve McQueen’s remarkable movie anthology series “Small Axe” impressed me a lot for many reasons. Although I have only watched its first two movies at this point, I already marvel at the vivid presentation of Black British people and their … Continue reading →

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Small Axe: Mangrove (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The Trial of the Mangrove Nine

During the latest Oscar season, there was a rather trivial controversy on Steve McQueen’s ambitious film anthology series “Small Axe”. While its first three films were respectively shown at a number of movie festivals including the New York Film Festival … Continue reading →

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