Category Archives: Movies

Shades of the Heart (2021) ☆☆☆(3/4): A series of ambiguous episodes around one writer

Posted on April 5, 2021 by kaist455

It is a bit difficult for me to describe to you on South Korean independent film “Shades of the Heart”. When I saw this little modest film for the first time a few days ago, I was not so sure … Continue reading →

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The Book of Fish (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The Book of Bromance

Posted on April 4, 2021 by kaist455

Maybe I should have expected less before watching South Korean film “The Book of Fish”, which, to my dissatisfaction, turns out to be more about its two main characters’ relationship instead of how that old but famous real-life marine biology … Continue reading →

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Bad Trip (2021) ☆☆☆(3/4): You will wince – and then chuckle

Posted on March 31, 2021 by kaist455

“Bad Trip”, which was released on Netflix in last week, will make you wince and then laugh, and there are a number of outrageous moments mainly fueled by 1) the good comic timing of its few main cast members and … Continue reading →

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My Octopus Teacher (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): One year with an octopus

Posted on March 30, 2021 by kaist455

It took some time for me to get interested in watching Netflix documentary film “My Octopus Teacher”, which somehow eluded me when it was released on Netflix in last September. Although I have often heard words of recommendation from others … Continue reading →

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Over the Moon (2020) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An forgettable family animation film from Netflix

Posted on March 30, 2021 by kaist455

Animation film “Over the Moon”, which was released on Netflix in last October, is so familiar and predictable to the core that my mind often went somewhere outside the film throughout its 100-minute running time. Although it initially draws our … Continue reading →

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Collective (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A sobering Romanian documentary on massive systemic corruption

Posted on March 29, 2021 by kaist455

Romanian documentary film “Collective”, which was nominated for Best Documentary Oscar as well as Best International Film Oscar early in this month, is often sobering in its phlegmatic but angry chronicle of outrage and frustration toward alarming systemic corruption. It … Continue reading →

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The Mole Agent (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): The old mole operating at a retirement home

Posted on March 29, 2021 by kaist455

Documentary film “The Mole Agent”, which was recently nominated for Best Documentary Oscar early in this month (It was also selected as the Chilean entry for Best International Film Oscar and then included in the 15-film shortlist, by the way), … Continue reading →

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Ayka (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The Passion of Ayka

Posted on March 28, 2021 by kaist455

“Ayka”, which was selected as the Kazakhstani entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2018, is a cold and bleak presentation of one very desperate illegal immigrant worker. Although you will not be that surprised by its phlegmatic … Continue reading →

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Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) ☆☆☆(3/4): The Clash of Titans

Posted on March 26, 2021 by kaist455

“Godzilla vs. Kong” overwhelmed me more than once, and I sort of admired that. Like its predecessor “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019), the movie relentlessly flaunts excessiveness and outrageousness from the beginning to the end, and I finally came … Continue reading →

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Helene (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): How she evolved more as an artist

Posted on March 23, 2021 by kaist455

Finnish film “Helene” is about the late life and career of Helene Schjerfbeck (1862-1946), who, as far as I can observe from her several notable works shown at the end of the film, deserves to be mentioned along with more … Continue reading →

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