Category Archives: Movies

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): An enjoyable adaptation of Judy Blume’s classic middle-grade novel

Posted on October 24, 2023 by kaist455

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.”, the adaptation of the iconic middle-grade novel of the same name by Judy Blume, has enough sincerity and sensitivity besides being a witty coming-of-age dramedy film to enjoy. While it may look relatively … Continue reading →

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The Pigeon Tunnel (2023) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): The last words from John le Carré

Posted on October 23, 2023 by kaist455

Errol Morris’ latest documentary “The Pigeon Tunnel”, which is currently available on Apple TV+, focuses on the life and the works of John le Carré via le Carré himself, who incidentally passed away in 2020 not long after interviewed by … Continue reading →

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In Our Day (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The 30th film by Hong Sang-soo

Posted on October 23, 2023 by kaist455

The most memorable thing in Hong Sang-soo’s 30th feature film “In Our Day” is one fluffy (and plumpy) cat, which always steals the show whenever it appears on the screen. Probably because the movie is relatively less interesting than Hong’s … Continue reading →

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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): When Halloween meets Christmas

Posted on October 22, 2023 by kaist455

Animation film “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, which was somehow released in South Korean theaters a few days ago probably because of its 30th anniversary, is still a joy to behold. When I watched it for the first time via a … Continue reading →

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Free Chol Soo Lee (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The injustice upon one Korean immigrant

Posted on October 22, 2023 by kaist455

Documentary film “Free Chol Soo Lee” presents the harrowing real-life story of Chol Soo Lee, a Korean American immigrant who was wrongfully accused of the murder he did not commit and then was unjustly incarcerated for that. It is touching … Continue reading →

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A Tour Guide (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): The loneliness of one North Korean defector

Posted on October 22, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “A Tour Guide”, which was released as “A Person to Trust” in South Korea, follows the struggles of one North Korean female defector in the middle of the South Korean society. No matter how much she … Continue reading →

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Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): An epic crime drama from Martin Scorsese

Posted on October 20, 2023 by kaist455

Martin Scorsese’s new film “Killers of the Flower Moon”, which was released in South Korean theaters on this Thursday, is a stunningly epic piece of work vividly looking into one massive injustice against a Native American tribe during the early … Continue reading →

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The Exorcist: Believer (2023) ☆☆(2/4): Friedkin Wept

Posted on October 19, 2023 by kaist455

“The Exorcist: Believer”, the latest installment of the series which started with William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist” (1973), did not scare or disturb me at all. While it surely tries to bring some freshness into its utterly familiar genre formula, the … Continue reading →

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Blue Giant (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): All for Jazz

Posted on October 19, 2023 by kaist455

Japanese animation film “Blue Giant” is simply riveting whenever it conveys to us that ecstatic quality of jazz music performance. Probably because of being singled-minded as its main characters’ artistic pursuit for sublime perfection, the movie often feels a bit … Continue reading →

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The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): William Freidkin’s last work

Posted on October 18, 2023 by kaist455

Willaim Friedkin’s last film “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial”, which incidentally came out a few months after his death, is a modest but engaging legal drama to watch. While looking inherently theatrical at times, the movie is also compelling enough to … Continue reading →

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