Category Archives: Movies

Land of Mine (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): A small, dark epilogue of the World War II

Posted on February 17, 2017 by kaist455

Through its fictional story, Danish film “Land of Mine” illuminates a small, dark epilogue of the World War II which has not been known well to most of us. Although it often feels heavy-handed especially during its third act, the … Continue reading →

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Trolls (2016) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): They sing, dance, and hug a lot….

Posted on February 16, 2017 by kaist455

Animation feature film “Trolls” is as bright, fluffy, and chirpy as it can be during its 92-minute running time, and that is all. While it serves us with not only many colorful sequences which will exalt young audience but also … Continue reading →

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Silence (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): That deepening silence on human suffering

Posted on February 13, 2017 by kaist455

At the beginning of Martin Scorsese’s “Silence”, we hear the sound of insects on the soundtrack. Recurring throughout the film, that plain sound of nature becomes more chilling as accentuating the deepening silence on human suffering in the film, and … Continue reading →

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Personal Shopper (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Shrouded in odd, nervous ambiguity

Posted on February 12, 2017 by kaist455

Shrouded in odd, nervous ambiguity, “Personal Shopper” floats around several different story elements as alternatively baffling and fascinating us. While it is basically a ghost story, the movie also works as not only a clinical character study but also a … Continue reading →

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The Lego Batman Movie (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Batman’s relationship matters

Posted on February 11, 2017 by kaist455

As I was watching “The Lego Batman Movie”, my mind often went back to when I watched “The Lego Movie” three years ago. I did not expect much when I watched its trailer, but then I heard some good words … Continue reading →

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Hacksaw Ridge (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): A pacifistic medic struggling in a brutal war movie

Posted on February 10, 2017 by kaist455

“Hacksaw Ridge” is rather interesting for its ironic contradiction. While evoking those sincere old-fashioned Hollywood war films such as Howard Hawks’ “Sergeant York” (1941) on one side, the movie is also far more brutal and sanguinary than them on the … Continue reading →

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Moonlight (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A specific lifetime observed in three acts

Posted on February 8, 2017 by kaist455

Sensitive and empathetic, “Moonlight” is a simple but eloquent coming-of-age tale packed with haunting human moments. While its hero and background are quite specific, we notice universal themes from its intimate drama as watching its hero struggling to find his … Continue reading →

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Manchester by the Sea (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Living with broken heart

Posted on February 5, 2017 by kaist455

They say time can heal us, but that is not true for the gloomy hero of “Manchester by the Sea”. Gradually revealing the emotional scar and pain in his heart, the movie gives us a vivid, intimate slice of his … Continue reading →

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Arrival (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): When they arrive…..

Posted on February 4, 2017 by kaist455

Can we possibly communicate with aliens if they ever come to our planet? Can we and they really understand and emphasize with each other even if that were possible? “Arrival” begins with these familiar but undeniably fascinating questions which have … Continue reading →

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Lion (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A long way to his hometown

Posted on February 3, 2017 by kaist455

Based on one remarkable real-life story, “Lion” tries to tug at our heartstrings, and it succeeds with several powerful moments during its first half. Although it stumbles a bit during the second half which is more conventional in comparison, the … Continue reading →

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