Category Archives: Movies

The Master (2012) ☆☆☆(3/4) : What do you see from them?

 Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” has every potential for greatness it can get. However, while it seems to reach for something great and sublime, this ambitious film is oddly distant and enigmatic. Its every element comprising itself is fascinating and … Continue reading

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Anna Karenina (2012) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4) : Their life is theater, after all

Being famous as one of the great works in Russian literature, Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel “Anna Karenina” has been adapted into movies and TV miniseries so many times since 1910 that I am sure most of you are already familiar … Continue reading

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Run to the South (2013) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4) : Going his way to the South

Although you cannot wholly agree with what he thinks and believes, the hero of South Korean comedy movie “Run to the South” is an interesting man to observe. He just wants to live his life in his own way, but … Continue reading

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The Berlin File (2013) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A Cold War espionage in the 21th century

“The Berlin File”, a gritty action film from South Korea, is a respectful homage to those cold, gray espionage films made during the 1960-70s. With its melancholic mood reminiscent of John le Carré’s novels(one of his books briefly appears in … Continue reading

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Miracle in Cell No.7 (2013) ☆☆(2/4) : I am Yong-goo

After 20 minutes it began, I concluded that I was not a good target audience for South Korean comedy film “Miracle in Cell No.7”. I understood what it intended to be, but I kept annoyed by its blatant comic/melodramatic approach … Continue reading

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The Hunt (2012) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : An unjust ordeal caused by an innocent lie

 It was just one small innocent lie, but, once people start to believe it, it topples one man’s life upside down, and his life becomes a living purgatory as a result. Through the unjust ordeal of its ordinary hero, Danish … Continue reading

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Mama (2013) ☆☆☆(3/4) : It’s a tough supernatural custody battle

 “Mama” is a little scary horror movie ready to scare you and then shock you from the very beginning, and it does its job well even when we can instantly see through its shock and awe tactics. There are many … Continue reading

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ParaNorman (2012) ☆☆☆(3/4) : He can see dead people…

 “ParaNorman” is a moody but cheerful stop-motion animation film nicely packed with the familiar elements from horror movies. As a horror/comedy involving ghosts and zombies, it has good spooky moments coupled with its dark but lightweight humor, and I enjoyed … Continue reading

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Silver Linings Playbook (2012) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : A conventional but offbeat rom-com

 I have heard from many people that “Silver Linings Playbook” is a conventional romantic comedy. They are right about that, but, as they also pointed out in their praises, the movie is a conventional romantic comedy stuffed with offbeat charms … Continue reading

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The Impossible (2012) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : A devastating and hurtful disaster drama

I have seen many disaster films, but few ones were as devastating and hurtful as “The Impossible”. Inspired by a real-life story inside the most disastrous Tsunami incident in the human history, the movie reminded me of how little I … Continue reading

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