Category Archives: Movies

Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) ☆☆(2/4): Or regurgitation, shall we say

Posted on July 3, 2025 by kaist455

“Jurassic World Rebirth” should be titled “Jurassic World Regurgitation” instead in my trivial opinion. While it is supposed to try to do some new stuffs, it only serves us the same old kinds of terror and action without bringing anything … Continue reading →

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Crash (2004) ☆☆☆(3/4): Crashes among racial stereotypes in LA

Posted on July 1, 2025 by kaist455

I must confess that I had a rather complicated history with Paul Haggis’ 2004 film “Crash”. When it won several Oscars including the one for Best Picture right before getting released in South Korean theaters in early 2006, I was … Continue reading →

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Brokeback Mountain (2005) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A classic tale of star-crossed romance 

Posted on July 1, 2025 by kaist455

Ang Lee’s 2005 film “Brokeback Mountain” has endured the test of time pretty well during last 20 years to my little surprise. While I regarded it as a major breakthrough in several aspects at that time, I also wondered whether … Continue reading →

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Sally (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Her personal sacrifice for being a trailblazer

Posted on June 29, 2025 by kaist455

Documentary film “Sally”, which is currently available on Disney+, presents the complex life story of Sally Ride, who was one of the most famous female trailblazers in US during the 20th century. She really tried hard to become a notable … Continue reading →

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Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): Miyazaki’s first big break

Posted on June 29, 2025 by kaist455

Hayao Miyazaki’s 1984 animation feature film “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”, which happens to be re-released in South Korean theaters a few days ago, is still a rich and enchanting work of awe, wonder, and interest. Although it … Continue reading →

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F1 (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Driving fairly well along a familiar course 

Posted on June 29, 2025 by kaist455

“F1” drives fairly well along a familiar course, and I enjoyed that to some degree. Although predictably following numerous genre conventions and clichés, the movie gives us a series of top-notch car racing sequences definitely worthwhile to watch on big … Continue reading →

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Kneecap (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Meet Irish rappers

Posted on June 28, 2025 by kaist455

“Kneecap”, which was selected as the Irish entry to Best International Film Oscar in last year, is a typical rapper movie with some local flavor. While it has a substantial amount of irreverent wit and bouncy energy to hold our … Continue reading →

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Naked Lunch (1991) ☆☆☆(3/4): Welcome to Interzone

Posted on June 27, 2025 by kaist455

David Cronenberg’s 1991 film “Naked Lunch”, which happens to come to South Korean theaters shortly after the local theatrical release of Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer” (2024), tackles on an impossible task, and the result is alternatively interesting and baffling. Loosely based … Continue reading →

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Saving Private Ryan (1998) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Just for one private

Posted on June 26, 2025 by kaist455

Steven Spielberg’s 1998 film “Saving Private Ryan”, which happens to be re-released in South Korean on this Wednesday, definitely earns its own place in the pantheon of war movies via its stupefyingly stunning opening battle sequence, but it is much … Continue reading →

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Alphaville (1965) ☆☆☆(3/4): A literally distant SF noir from Godard

Posted on June 25, 2025 by kaist455

It is ironic that Jean-Luc Godard’s 1965 film “Alpaville”, whose 4K remastered version is being shown in South Korea at this point, is quite dry, distant, and abstract to the end without much feeling to sense. While the story itself … Continue reading →

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