Category Archives: Movies

Alien: Romulus (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A well-mixed entry of the 45-year-old series

Posted on August 14, 2024 by kaist455

“Alien: Romulus” surprises me as showing that there are still enough fun and thrill in the series which was started 45 years ago. While there are nice old stuffs to be appreciated, there are also refreshing new stuffs to be … Continue reading →

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I Saw the TV Glow (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Obsessed with an old TV show

Posted on August 13, 2024 by kaist455

Jane Schoenbrun’s second feature film “I Saw the TV Glow” is a disorienting but compelling piece of work to admire for mood and style. While it feels rather thin in terms of story and characters, it is at least filled … Continue reading →

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We’re All Going to the World’s Fair (2021) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An elusive horror drama of online dysphoria

Posted on August 13, 2024 by kaist455

Jane Schoenbrun’s first feature film “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” alternatively baffled and fascinated me. On one hand, I was fascinated with its interesting storytelling approach which clearly shows its director’s distinctive personality and talent. On the other … Continue reading →

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Jules (2023) ☆☆(2/4): The Old Man and the Alien

Posted on August 12, 2024 by kaist455

My late mentor/friend Roger Ebert hated, hated, hated what he usually called “the Idiot Plot”, and here is his own definition: “A story in which every problem and conflict would be resolved in five minutes, if not for the fact … Continue reading →

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Shine (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A slow story in the island

Posted on August 12, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean film “Shine” is curiously somber and distant in terms of story and character. While it seems to care about its main characters at times, it also often observes them from the distance without delving that much into whatever … Continue reading →

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A Song of Korean Factory Girls (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): The oral history of Korean factory girls in Japan

Posted on August 11, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean documentary film “A Song of Korean Factory Girls” illuminates the relatively unknown history of many young Korean women who had to work in Japan during the Japanese colonial period in the early 20th century. As the documentary calmly … Continue reading →

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Revolver (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): She simply wants to get paid as promised…

Posted on August 8, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean film “Revolver” is a dry but wryly engaging mystery noir thriller which keeps its attitude as straight as possible along with its lead actress. While it takes some time for us to discern the rather complicated situation around … Continue reading →

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Brother (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Memories of his big brother 

Posted on August 5, 2024 by kaist455

Canadian film “Brother” surprises me for being more sensitive and thoughtful than I expected. On the surface, it may look typical as another black slum neighborhood drama film, but it comes to show more heart and soul as its introverted … Continue reading →

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Carmen (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): As they run away together

Posted on August 5, 2024 by kaist455

I am not sure whether I understood everything in “Carmen”, but that did not bother me at all during my viewing. Mainly driven by a series of musical dance sequences, the movie presents a very familiar type of story with … Continue reading →

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Will You Please Stop, Please (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): How she endures at her workplace

Posted on August 4, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “Will You Please Stop, Please” is often painfully funny as following the ongoing hardships of its rather meek heroine. While usually quite busy with doing one task after another at her workplace, she finds herself cornered … Continue reading →

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