Category Archives: Movies

Shin Godzilla (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): Cheesy but terrifying

Posted on March 11, 2017 by kaist455

Even though it has been mostly stuck in the realm of B-monster movies for many decades since its first appearance in 1954, Godzilla has been quite an iconic monster figure to many of us. Although I have not watched any … Continue reading →

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Snowy Road (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): Two girls in a sad, harrowing tragedy of war

Posted on March 5, 2017 by kaist455

The historical subject of South Korean film “Snowy Road” is one of many sad tragedies of the World War II. During that time, numerous Korean women were forced into sex slavery by the Japanese Army, and many of them could … Continue reading →

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Logan (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Wolverine on gritty, elegiac mode

Posted on March 3, 2017 by kaist455

Besides being the best work in the X-men series, “Logan” is possibly the best superhero film since Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy. While there are several top-notch action sequences in the film, story and characters always come first, and that is … Continue reading →

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The Salesman (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The trouble with their new place

Posted on February 27, 2017 by kaist455

At first, Iranian film “The Salesman”, which recently won Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, intrigues us with a fascinating case of cultural juxtaposition. Its main title sequence shows us a theater stage in preparation, and we soon come to see … Continue reading →

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John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): It’s so nice to see you again, Mr. Wick

Posted on February 25, 2017 by kaist455

In my review on “John Wick” (2014), I wrote, “While it is strewn with lots of dead or injured bodies, “John Wick” looks more like a stylish joke as I reflect more on its rather amusing aspects after watching it.” … Continue reading →

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Split (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): Shaymalan and McAvoy going way over the top

Posted on February 24, 2017 by kaist455

Among a bunch of books I have kept since my elementary school years, Daniel Keyes’ nonfiction book “The Minds of Billy Milligan” is one of more notable ones I still remember quite well. Its real-life story of a man struggling … Continue reading →

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My prediction on the 89th Annual Academy Awards

Posted on February 21, 2017 by kaist455

The Oscar season is almost near the end now, and, as usual, we are quite sure about several things while feeling not so certain about other things. As I and others predicted from the beginning, “La La Land” has constantly … Continue reading →

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The Red Turtle (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): A wordless fable on the island

Posted on February 20, 2017 by kaist455

“The Red Turtle”, an animation feature film co-produced by Wild Bunch and Studio Ghibli, looks as simple as its allegoric fantasy fable. Wholly driven by images and sounds without any dialogue during its 80-minute running time, this is surely your … Continue reading →

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A Man Called Ove (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A Grumpy Old Suicidal Man

Posted on February 19, 2017 by kaist455

Swedish film “A Man Called Ove”, which was recently nominated for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, looks typical at first. Here is a blunt, irascible curmudgeon who frequently gets annoyed by many things in his life, and it is not … Continue reading →

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The Long Excuse (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): As he ‘mourns’…

Posted on February 18, 2017 by kaist455

As an intimate story about loss and grief, Japanese film “The Long Excuse” is sometimes surprisingly amusing with small precious moments of wry humor and keen observation. While never overlooking the dark, melancholic elements of its story, the movie deftly … Continue reading →

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