Category Archives: Movies

Tom at the Farm (2013) ☆☆☆(3/4) : His lover, His brother, and His mother

Posted on December 20, 2014 by kaist455

 It just looked like a simple visit at first – but then it is gradually turned into something which is very twisted to say the least. Xavier Dolan’s “Tom at the Farm” is a darkly fascinating psychological thriller with quiet … Continue reading →

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The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An elegant Japanese folk tale

Posted on December 18, 2014 by kaist455

  Japanese animation film “The Tale of Princess Kaguya” dazzles us with elegant style to enjoy and haunting tale to reflect on. Based on the 10th century Japanese folk tale “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter”, this simple but superlative … Continue reading →

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The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) ☆☆(2/4) : Is he back yet?

Posted on December 18, 2014 by kaist455

 Now we finally arrive at “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”, the final chapter of a bloated trilogy which just went on and on in the previous films and then gets sunken into one very, very, very long … Continue reading →

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Stranger by the Lake (2013) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : Lust, Sex, and….

Posted on December 15, 2014 by kaist455

 Right from its first act, “Stranger by the Lake” strikes us with its frank, direct presentation of nudity and sex. While naked male bodies are usual sights as required by its story and background, the movie never pulls its punches … Continue reading →

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The Theory of Everything (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4): The Theory of Love, so to speak.

Posted on December 14, 2014 by kaist455

Needless to say, the life of Dr. Stephen Hawking is an inspiring story to tell. When he was about to begin his promising academic career, he was diagnosed to have Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and it was assumed that he … Continue reading →

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Land Ho! (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4) : Two aging tourists in Iceland

Posted on December 14, 2014 by kaist455

 Sometimes, two real characters interacting with each other can be a far more interesting sight than usual CGI spectacles, and “Land Ho!” can be a prime example of that. While it is just a simple story about two old guys … Continue reading →

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God’s Pocket (2014) ☆☆(2/4) : Before the Funeral

Posted on December 14, 2014 by kaist455

 Some movies can be interesting as simply showing talented actors doing what they can do their roles, but that is not the case with “God’s Pocket”, which strangely feels tedious and lifeless in spite of its talented performers assembled on … Continue reading →

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Omar (2013) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : An informer tiptoeing between both sides

Posted on December 12, 2014 by kaist455

 While working as a thriller with its taut, suspenseful moments, Palestinian film “Omar” looks below an ongoing conflict through its fully-realized characters and their gloomy, desperate drama. As observing the characters stuck in an impossible situation full of gray morality … Continue reading →

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Bethlehem (2013) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A police procedural around both sides

Posted on December 12, 2014 by kaist455

 Israeli film “Bethlehem” sometimes loses its focus on the relationship between its two different characters as looking around many other things in the story. Its story is inherently engaging as a tense drama mixed with current topics, and there are … Continue reading →

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The Rover (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4) : Across a heartless apocalyptic world

Posted on December 7, 2014 by kaist455

  “The Rover” is an atypical film putting far more emphasis on mood and background than story and character. When you read its simple synopsis, you may expect something like Mad Max movies, but, though it has a similar type … Continue reading →

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