Tag Archives: Coming-of-age drama

Predator: Badlands (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): You will root for this alien lad a lot

Posted on November 7, 2025 by kaist455

“Predator: Badlands”, the latest installment from the Predator franchise, is another surprisingly solid piece of entertainment to admire and enjoy. Like its two recent predecessors “Prey” (2022) and “Predator: Killer of Killers” (2025), the movie tries some refreshing and interesting … Continue reading →

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The World of Love (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): How she is

Posted on October 23, 2025 by kaist455

South Korean film “The World of Love” is simply extraordinary for how it is about as well as what it is about. As gradually and sensitively conveying to us its heroine’s inner struggle along the story, the movie will make … Continue reading →

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Journeys in Math and Genetics (2025) ☆☆(2/4): Looking for his biological father

Posted on October 19, 2025 by kaist455

South Korean film “Journeys in Math and Genetics” is so formulaic from the beginning to the end that I hardly cared about its story and characters during my viewing. While this is certainly intended to be an earnest coming-of-age drama, … Continue reading →

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Parthenope (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Wandering Beauty 

Posted on October 2, 2025 by kaist455

Paolo Sorrentino’s 2024 film “Parthenope”, which belatedly came to South Korean theaters a few weeks ago, tries something different compared to many of his previous works, and that made me interested to some degree. As shown from “Il Divo” (2008) … Continue reading →

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3670 (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A double minority

Posted on September 4, 2025 by kaist455

Good movies can be a vivid window to the lives of others different from us in one way or another, and South Korean independent film “3670” is one of such excellent examples. Closely and sensitively following the personal drama of … Continue reading →

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The Final Semester (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Before he graduates

Posted on September 4, 2025 by kaist455

South Korean film “The Final Semester” follows a plain teenager boy about to enter what may define the rest of his life. Still not knowing well what he really wants for his life, he simply follows what he is expected … Continue reading →

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The Friends (1994) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Three kids and an old man

Posted on August 7, 2025 by kaist455

Shinji Sômai’s 1994 film “The Friends”, whose 4K restoration version was released in South Korean theaters yesterday, is gentle, humorous, and poignant in its unadorned coming-of-tale to remember. Calmly and sensitively following its three little young heroes’ eventful summertime, the … Continue reading →

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The Uniform (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A tale of two students

Posted on July 27, 2025 by kaist455

Taiwanese film “The Uniform” is a typical coming-of-age tale about two different female high school students who happen to share the same desk in their classroom right from their first year. As their accidental friendship goes through several ups and … Continue reading →

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Queen of Katwe (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): An unlikely chess player in Uganda

Posted on June 24, 2025 by kaist455

Mira Nair’s 2016 film “Queen of Katwe”, which is currently available on Disney+ presents a remarkable story about one extraordinary female chess player in Uganda. She was born in a slum neighborhood of Kampala, Uganda, but she and several other … Continue reading →

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Happyend (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): The defiance during their last high school year

Posted on May 1, 2025 by kaist455

Japanese film “Happyend” observes a group of high school kids showing some spirit and defiance during the last year at their school. While they try to go further for more fun and freedom day by day, they are also often … Continue reading →

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