Category Archives: Movies

1BR (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Trapped in a deadly neighborhood

Posted on August 2, 2020 by kaist455

“1BR” is a little devious horror thriller film which pushes its modest story idea a bit more than I expected. While initially reminiscent of several other similar horror films including Roman Polanski’s “The Tenant” (1976), the movie gives us a … Continue reading →

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Better Days (2019) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): Her bodyguard

Posted on August 2, 2020 by kaist455

Chinese film “Better Days” is a familiar but compelling mixture of brutal school drama, sensitive coming-of-age tale, and unabashedly old-fashioned romance. Right from the beginning, you can clearly discern what you are going to get, but then you will find … Continue reading →

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Young Ahmed (2019) ☆☆1/2 (2.5/4): A young fanatic

Posted on August 1, 2020 by kaist455

The Dardenne brothers’ latest film “Young Ahmed”, which won the Best Director award when it was shown at the Cannes Film Festival early in last year, gives us a phlegmatic observation of a young adolescent boy who happens to be … Continue reading →

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Steel Rain 2: Summit (2020) ☆☆(2/4): A jumbled South Korean geopolitical thriller

Posted on July 30, 2020 by kaist455

South Korean film “Steel Rain 2: Summit”, which is a sort of retread instead of being a direct sequel to “Steel Rain” (2017), a jumbled geopolitical thriller which tries too many things at once. While it strives to maintain its … Continue reading →

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Water Lilies (2007) ☆☆☆(3/4): A tomboy’s first crush

Posted on July 30, 2020 by kaist455

Céline Sciamma’s first feature film “Water Lilies”, which is going to be released belatedly in South Korean theaters in next month, is a detached but compelling coming-of-age tale of sexuality and maturation. Mainly revolving around the viewpoint of its young … Continue reading →

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Steel Rain (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A race against another Korean war

Posted on July 29, 2020 by kaist455

South Korean film “Steel Rain”, which I somehow missed when it was released in South Korean theaters around the end of 2017, is so fast, efficient, and urgent during its first half that it let me down during its middling … Continue reading →

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A Most Beautiful Thing (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Rowing for changes

Posted on July 22, 2020 by kaist455

Documentary film “A Most Beautiful Thing”, which was supposed to be shown at the SXSW Film Festival before it was unfortunately canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, is about a group of African American guys who try to bring … Continue reading →

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Father Solider Son (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): A solider and his family

Posted on July 21, 2020 by kaist455

Netflix documentary film “Father Soldier Son” gives us a close and intimate look into the 10-year story of one ordinary American soldier and his dear family. While it remains rather apolitical about the war which is still being continued even … Continue reading →

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First Cow (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Two men and a cow in the Wild West

Posted on July 21, 2020 by kaist455

Kelly Reichardt’s latest film “First Cow” lingers on my mind more than expected. While seemingly plain and modest in terms of story and characters, this little period drama constantly engaged me via its palpable realism and elegant storytelling, and I … Continue reading →

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Palm Springs (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): Stuck together in a time loop

Posted on July 21, 2020 by kaist455

“Palm Springs” is a smart and funny comedy film which deftly handles a story promise which has been quite familiar to us since “Groundhog Day” (1993). Mainly driven by the good comic chemistry between its two appealing lead performers, the … Continue reading →

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