Category Archives: Movies

Picnic (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Returning to the hometown with her best friend

Posted on February 10, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean film “Picnic” is an unabashedly sappy character drama which actually earns some poignancy in the end. While it sometimes feels quite blatant in the attempts to pull our heartstrings, the movie is thankfully anchored well by two strong … Continue reading →

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Plan 75 (2022) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): No Country for Old People

Posted on February 9, 2024 by kaist455

Japanese film “Plan 75”, which was selected as the Japanese entry for Best International Film Oscar in 2022, is calm and dispassionate about its gloomy dystopian subject. While its main subject is certainly thought-provoking to say the least, the movie … Continue reading →

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Orion and the Dark (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): His friend, Dark

Posted on February 8, 2024 by kaist455

Netflix animation film “Orion and the Dark”, which was released in last week, is a simple but engaging children’s story decorated with interesting ideas and visuals. While its narrative structure may be a bit confusing to its main target audiences … Continue reading →

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Of an Age (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Of a Romance

Posted on February 7, 2024 by kaist455

Australian film “Of an Age” works best whenever its two main characters dance around their mutual attraction. While both of them become more aware of their developing feelings along the story, they hesitate to step forward for each own reason, … Continue reading →

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Beyond Utopia (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Away from North Korea

Posted on February 6, 2024 by kaist455

Documentary film “Beyond Utopia”, which won the Audience Award when it was premiered at the US Documentary Competition section of the Sundance Film Festival early in last year, is alternatively chilling and harrowing in its close observation of several North … Continue reading →

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Club Zero (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Teaching “conscious eating”

Posted on February 5, 2024 by kaist455

Jessica Hausner’s new film “Club Zero” coldly unnerves us with a series of increasingly disturbing moments. While these very uncomfortable moments are presented with artistic precision and control, the movie merely feels distant and hollow in terms of story and … Continue reading →

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Wild Tour (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A modest early work from Shô Miyake

Posted on February 4, 2024 by kaist455

Japanese film “Wild Tour” is a small early work from Shô Miyake, who recently drew my attention for his latest film “Small, Slow but Steady” (2022). While it occasionally feels like a short film extended a bit to long, “Wild … Continue reading →

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Badland Hunters (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A post-apocalyptic flick starring Ma Dong-seok

Posted on February 4, 2024 by kaist455

Netflix film “Badland Hunters”, which was released in last week, is a redundant sequel to acclaimed South Korean film “Concrete Utopia” (2023), which was incidentally one of my best South Korean films of last year. While “Concrete Utopia” is a … Continue reading →

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Ballerina (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): For her best friend

Posted on February 2, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean Netflix film “Ballerina”, which was released several months ago, is an intense action thriller film which distinguishes itself to some degree. While it lacks substance in terms of story and character, that weak aspect is compensated at times … Continue reading →

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Wonka (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): When Wonka was young and innocent

Posted on February 1, 2024 by kaist455

“Wonka” is a sweet lightweight piece of entertainment which made me less cranky than usual. Sure, this is another redundant character origin story like “Joker” (2019) and “Cruella” (2021), but it is packaged with enough humor, spirit, and heart, and … Continue reading →

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