Category Archives: Movies

No Heaven, But Love (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A modest high school queer romance film

Posted on October 19, 2024 by kaist455

I could not help but get distracted more than once as watching South Korean independent film “No Heaven, But Love”. While it mostly works as a modest but intimate high school queer romance film, the movie is rather uneven on … Continue reading →

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Debt (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A little comedy about debt

Posted on October 19, 2024 by kaist455

When I saw South Korean independent comedy film “Debt” early in this morning, two audiences sitting behind me, who were incidentally the only other audiences in the screening besides me, frequently chuckled from the beginning to the end. I wish … Continue reading →

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A Normal Family (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): They need to talk about their kids

Posted on October 19, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean film “A Normal Family” is a darkly tense drama about the two different couples facing a serious moral issue involved with their respective kids. As they become conflicted more over their shared matter, the movie coldly exposes more … Continue reading →

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Dirty Money (2024) ☆☆(2/4): A clumsy genre product

Posted on October 19, 2024 by kaist455

I do not mind watching movies about unlikable characters, but South Korean thriller film “Dirty Money” did not engage me at all. The movie is not only utterly contrived but also quite mediocre in terms of story and characters, and … Continue reading →

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Worlds Apart (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): As life goes on for her and her aunt

Posted on October 17, 2024 by kaist455

Japanese film “Worlds Apart” simply strolls along with its two very different main characters who somehow find a way to get along with each other as respecting each own boundary. While the movie itself is mostly mild and gentle on … Continue reading →

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Single8 (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): One little summer filmmaking

Posted on October 13, 2024 by kaist455

Japanese film “Single8” will bring a smile to anyone who has ever been fascinated with filmmaking. Like many similar films such as other recent Japanese film “It’s a Summer Film” (2020), the movie is brimming with the joy and excitement … Continue reading →

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The Notebook (2004) ☆☆☆(3/4): Sappy but still effective

Posted on October 13, 2024 by kaist455

“The Notebook”, which happened to be re-released in South Korean theaters in this week probably because of its 20th anniversary, is inherently sappy but undeniably effective as before. Yes, this is basically your average romance story, but it is still … Continue reading →

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Suzhou River (2000) ☆☆☆(3/4): A gritty and bitter urban tale of romantic obsession

Posted on October 13, 2024 by kaist455

Chinese film “Suzhou River”, whose 4k restoration version was somehow released in South Korean theaters a few days ago, is a gritty and bitter urban tale of romantic obsession. Like many of other contemporary Chinese arthouse films, the movie requires … Continue reading →

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Tokyo Story (1953) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): A great family drama

Posted on October 13, 2024 by kaist455

As revisiting Yasujirō Ozu’s “Tokyo Story”, whose 4K restoration version is being shown in South Korean theaters now, I was reminded again how it is sublimely gentle and bittersweet in the intimate depiction of the human sadness and melancholy observed … Continue reading →

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How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Being with his grandma for money

Posted on October 13, 2024 by kaist455

Thai film “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies”, which was recently selected as the official submission of Thailand to Best International Film Oscar, is alternatively humorous and poignant in its gentle mix of human comedy and drama. While you … Continue reading →

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