Category Archives: Movies

Heart Blackened (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Flawed but not without entertainment

Posted on November 4, 2017 by kaist455

South Korean film “Heart Blackened” starts as a typical courtroom mystery tale but then later becomes something more serious than expected. As its plot often trudges around a number of predictable narrative turns, I frequently felt impatient during my viewing, … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

A Perfect Day (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): The trouble with a well

Posted on October 30, 2017 by kaist455

Leisurely alternating between comedy and drama, “A Perfect Day” works as an absurd farce about war and its tragic mess. While its story and background are specific, those human absurdities of war depicted in the film feel universal in many … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

1922 (2017) ☆☆(2/4): The year when he killed his wife

Posted on October 29, 2017 by kaist455

Since the considerable success of “Carrie” (1976), many of Stephen King’s novels and short stories were adapted into movies during last 41 years, but 2017 is quite an interesting year because we have no less than four feature films based … Continue reading →

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

Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold (2017) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): Meet Joan Didion

Posted on October 28, 2017 by kaist455

I value good documentary films presenting interesting subjects unfamiliar to me, and Netflix documentary film “Joan Didion: The Centre Will Not Hold” is one of such documentaries. Here is a smart, intelligent woman who has been leading a long, fascinating … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Thor: Ragnarok (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Thor stuck with Hulk

Posted on October 26, 2017 by kaist455

Among the superhero characters of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Thor is the least interesting one for good reasons. Merely a mighty alien god mainly defined by his brawny appearance and that big hammer, he does not have anything else to … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

One of Us (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Out of their insular community

Posted on October 23, 2017 by kaist455

Netflix documentary film “One of Us” looks closely into one insular religious community in New York City, and what it shows us is not so pretty at all. Here are three individuals who simply did not conform to the rigid … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mother! (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): A no-holds-barred allegory from Darren Aronofsky

Posted on October 21, 2017 by kaist455

Regardless of whether you love it or hate it, “Mother!” is a no-holds-barred allegory which will shake you up a lot during your viewing. I must confess that I was baffled during its rather ponderous first act, but then I … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

It Comes at Night (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Fear eats their soul…

Posted on October 21, 2017 by kaist455

While firmly and intensely sticking to its minimalistic setting, “It Comes at Night” works as a terrifying psychological horror film. As its few characters struggle with fears and uncertainties in their gloomy circumstance, the movie pushes them further to its … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Marjorie Prime (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): An somber, intelligent SF chamber drama

Posted on October 19, 2017 by kaist455

“Marjorie Prime” is a somber, intelligent SF chamber drama which turns out to be more intriguing and thoughtful than I expected. While it shows its theatrical origin at times, the movie is an engaging intellectual experience nonetheless, and it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Life with their father

Posted on October 17, 2017 by kaist455

“The Meyerowtiz Stories (New and Selected)” is as amusing as its whimsical title suggests. As dryly depicting the rocky relationship dynamics among the members of one dysfunctional family, the movie entertains us with small humorous moments generated among them, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | 1 Comment