Category Archives: Movies

Steel Flower (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): Working and living alone by herself

Posted on April 16, 2016 by kaist455

While it may often frustrate you because of its dry, clinical storytelling, South Korean independent film “Steel Flower” has several things good enough for recommendation. As it never goes that deep into its young desolate heroin, the movie occasionally feels … Continue reading →

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10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): Three below the ground

Posted on April 11, 2016 by kaist455

As the opening sequence of “10 Cloverfield Lane” is unfolded, we know that something bad will happen sooner or later. Everything looks mundane on the surface as its young heroine leaves her place, but the ominous score on the soundtrack … Continue reading →

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Grandma (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A day with her pregnant granddaughter

Posted on April 10, 2016 by kaist455

To be frank with you, it took some time for me to notice Lily Tomlin. I encountered her for the first time when I happened to watch “All of Me” (1984) on TV during the early 1990s, but they showed … Continue reading →

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Hail, Caesar! (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): There is no business like movie business

Posted on April 5, 2016 by kaist455

The Coen brothers have never been boring throughout their long, illustrious career. For instance, after a gripping cold-blooded neo-noir thriller in their terrific debut film “Blood Simple” (1985), they went all the way for cheerful wackiness in “Raising Arizona” (1987), … Continue reading →

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A Bronx Tale (1993) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A Bronx boy between two father figures

Posted on April 2, 2016 by kaist455

Any good coming-of-age tale is bound to be evaluated by two questions. What happens to our young lead character in the end besides looking older on the surface? And what happens to us as observing that inevitable process of maturation? … Continue reading →

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Hunger (2008) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A striking debut work by Steve McQueen

Posted on March 28, 2016 by kaist455

On one day in 2009 June, I happened to get a chance to watch Steve McQueen’s debut work “Hunger”, and it was one of the most memorable movie experiences during that year. The movie struck me hard with its uncompromising … Continue reading →

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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) ☆☆(2/4): Dawn of Tiredness

Posted on March 26, 2016 by kaist455

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is a glum, humongous chunk of mess weighted further down by solemn ponderousness to bore us. Although its story doles out some interesting ideas and materials, they are all discarded, smashed, and pulverized in … Continue reading →

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The Wave (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): A tsunami movie from Norway

Posted on March 15, 2016 by kaist455

Norwegian film “The Wave” sets its modest goal and then delivers its goodies as intended from the start. When it stacks up various stock genre materials during its first act, it is lean and efficient as skillfully building tension on … Continue reading →

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The 33 (2015) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Trapped 700 meters underground for 69 days

Posted on March 14, 2016 by kaist455

Based on a dramatic real-life story which drew lots of public attention around the world in 2010, “The 33” attempts to give us a close, vivid look into that extremely risky period. As many of you remember, 33 miners of the … Continue reading →

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Snow Paths (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): A confused alcoholic at Catholic sanatorium

Posted on March 13, 2016 by kaist455

South Korean film “Snow Paths” is seemingly simple at first. A man struggling with his personal problems comes to a quiet place, and then he meets someone who brings some bright change into his troubled state. While this is a … Continue reading →

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