Category Archives: Movies

A Woman’s Life (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): Ups and downs in her life

Posted on April 23, 2017 by kaist455

Life can be pretty disappointing at times, and the heroine of French film “A Woman’s Life” faces that painful truth again and again throughout the movie. It is quite depressing at times to watch her youthful ideals and dreams being … Continue reading →

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Dancer (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): Reaching for his second chapter

Posted on April 21, 2017 by kaist455

While watching the ballet performance scenes in documentary film “Dancer”, I thought about how much effort ballet dancers have to put into their performance. For achieving those brief but precious moments of grace and perfection, they must push themselves as … Continue reading →

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The Founder (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): The aggressive takeover of an American dream

Posted on April 19, 2017 by kaist455

As a story about the early business years of McDonald’s, “The Founder” is fascinating as observing how this famous fast food restaurant chain company was pushed up to a bigger success to come, but it is also cautionary at times … Continue reading →

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The Fate of The Furious (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): There will be more….

Posted on April 17, 2017 by kaist455

“The Fate of the Furious”, the eighth entry of the Fast and the Furious series, tries quite hard to impress its target audiences, but it ultimately is stuck in its enduring but predictable formula. Yes, it surely serves you with … Continue reading →

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Eve’s Bayou (1997) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A black family drama in the bayou town

Posted on April 8, 2017 by kaist455

The opening scene of “Eve’s Bayou” is one of the most captivating opening lines I have ever encountered: “Memory is a selection of images, some elusive, others printed indelibly on the brain. The summer I killed my father, I was … Continue reading →

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The Innocents (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): A terrible secret in their convent

Posted on April 1, 2017 by kaist455

Loosely inspired by a sad real-life story during the aftermath of the World War II, French film “The Innocents” is an understated period drama with thoughtful moments to appreciate. While never overlooking the dark, tragic aspect of its story, the … Continue reading →

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Chocolat (2016) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A pair of different clowns

Posted on March 27, 2017 by kaist455

Inspired by the career of two real-life clowns who were famous around the early 20th century, French film “Chocolat” is an old-fashioned show business melodrama which is a little too rote and predictable at times. It often works whenever it … Continue reading →

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On the Beach at Night Alone (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): As she wanders (and drinks)

Posted on March 25, 2017 by kaist455

Alternatively playful and melancholic, South Korean film “On the Beach at Night Alone”, the latest work from Hong Sang-soo, gives us a somber character study which amusingly resonates with what happened in its auteur’s personal life. To be frank with … Continue reading →

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The Light Between Oceans (2016) ☆☆(2/4): A tepid melodrama between love and guilt

Posted on March 21, 2017 by kaist455

While it is filled with melodramatic elements ready to be utilized, “The Light Between Oceans” feels tame and bland in its frustratingly low-key approach, and it remains inane and tedious even as it doles out several plot turns one by … Continue reading →

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Beauty and the Beast (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): A tale as old as time…

Posted on March 19, 2017 by kaist455

This may sound contradictory to you, but the main highlights of “Beauty and the Beast”, another live action remake film from the Walt Disney Company, often feel like the weakest things in the movie. The movie is indeed enchanting and … Continue reading →

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