Category Archives: Movies

The Seeds of Violence (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): A soldier’s hard day

Posted on November 12, 2017 by kaist455

Unlike many South Korean lads, I did not have to go through two years of mandatory military service. Because I was a graduate student studying in Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), all I had to do during … Continue reading →

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Loving Vincent (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): An impressionistic animation film a la Van Gogh

Posted on November 12, 2017 by kaist455

Animation feature film “Loving Vincent” gave me one of the most colorful experiences of this year. Vividly and authentically recreating that recognizable oil painting style of Vincent van Gogh, the film puts us right into its stylish world filled with … Continue reading →

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Gaga: Five Foot Two (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Gaga the entertainer

Posted on November 11, 2017 by kaist455

Although I do not know much about Lady Gaga, I found that Netflix documentary film “Gaga: Five Foot Two” is an interesting behind-the-scenes documentary about one of the most popular entertainers in the world at present. Although I was a … Continue reading →

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Bad Genius (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A smart, exhilarating heist film from Thailand

Posted on November 5, 2017 by kaist455

Thailand film “Bad Genius” surprised me a lot. Bringing some fresh air into its genre conventions via its seemingly mundane story material, this smart, exhilarating heist film is constantly electrifying as serving us a number of memorable moments to amuse … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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