Category Archives: Movies

Calvary (2014) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : He’s going to be killed because he is a good priest

Posted on July 28, 2014 by kaist455

 He is a good man with faith and compassion, but now he is going to be killed just because of that. “Cavalry”, a somber drama with a little touch of absurd comedy, slowly moves to its inevitable point like a … Continue reading →

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Kundo: Age of the Rampant (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A merry band of Korean thieves

Posted on July 25, 2014 by kaist455

 South Korean film “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” is a funny mix of period drama, action comedy, and Spaghetti western. Although it is frequently incoherent and feels dragged especially around its last chapter, there are many fun moments of humor … Continue reading →

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Under the Skin (2013) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : Fascinating ambiguity under its SF skin

Posted on July 16, 2014 by kaist455

 “Under the Skin” will baffle you and frustrate you with its cold, abstract style, but it is also a weirdly fascinating experience you cannot easily forget. The movie only gives us a few bits of vague information on what is … Continue reading →

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Confession (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4): A friendship cracked by noir

Posted on July 13, 2014 by kaist455

 They have been close friends to each other since they were very young, but now their long friendship is threatened by a devastating incident which shakes them all. Calmy observing the guilt and torment resulted from that incident, South Korean … Continue reading →

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The Raid 2 (2014) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4) : More of the same relentless extreme violence

Posted on July 12, 2014 by kaist455

Breaking legs, twisting arms, slashing throats, smashing heads, stabbing bodies, shooting anyone, crashing one car into another, burning face on hot plate, and, above all, kicking and punching hard each other. All of these acts of violence and mayhem are … Continue reading →

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Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : The Clash of Species

Posted on July 11, 2014 by kaist455

 As the second chapter of the rebooted series, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” fully develops the potentials shown in the previous film which breathed fresh air into the franchise with a surprising result. As a blockbuster film, the … Continue reading →

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The Signal (2014) ☆☆1/2(2/5/4) : They follow it, and then…

Posted on July 9, 2014 by kaist455

 In my humble opinion, style and substance are necessary for making a good SF film. For drawing our curiosity, SF film needs some style to create its own mood and reality, and that will make us believe that something fantastic … Continue reading →

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One to One (2014) ☆☆(2/4) : A repetitious diatribe against South Korean society

Posted on July 5, 2014 by kaist455

 Kim Ki-duk’s twentieth film “One to One” feels like listening to the same angry words over and over again in a barren empty class room with no particular interest. I can accept that it is angry about the injustice and … Continue reading →

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Neighbors (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4) : Young Parents Vs. Fraternity Boys

Posted on July 3, 2014 by kaist455

 Although hampered by its weak story and shaky characterization, “Neighbors” tries many gross or outrageous things to maintain its comic momentum, and I must duly report that the movie did a fairly nice job of inducing me and the other … Continue reading →

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Frances Ha (2012) ☆☆☆(3/4) : Lightweight aimlessness in black and white

Posted on June 29, 2014 by kaist455

 When I watched “Frances Ha” around the end of last year, I was amused by its lightweight charm. I briefly mentioned it along with other good films in my annual movie list of 2013, and I thought I will probably … Continue reading →

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