Tag Archives: Crime

Novocaine (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Numb and painless, shall we say

“Novocaine” is a one-joke comedy action film which goes too long and violent in my humble opinion. While it generates some funny moments from its exaggerated comic story premise, the movie is also often blatantly violent as its hero endures … Continue reading

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The Old Woman with the Knife (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Old but lethal

South Korean film “The Old Woman with the Knife” looks promising at first but ends up being quite bland and middling to my disappointment. While it is carried to the end by the strong performance from its lead actress at … Continue reading

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Havoc (2025) ☆☆(2/4): Merely bloody and violent 

Gareth Evans’ latest film “Havoc”, which was released on Netflix yesterday, is merely bloody and violent without bringing anything new to its familiar genre territory. If you simply want a lot of extremely brutal action and mayhem, the movie will … Continue reading

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Revelations (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A grim religion drama full of madness and despair

Compared to many of his notable live action feature films such as “Train to Busan” (2016), South Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho’s animation feature films are a lot more unnerving and uncomfortable. I still remember how disturbed I was as watching … Continue reading

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Cookie’s Fortune (1999) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A little Southern comedy by Altman

Roger Ebert once observed on Robert Altman: “There may not have been a director who liked actors more.” Altman’s 1999 film “Cookie’s Fortune” exemplifies that, and it is often fun to watch how its main cast members willingly embody the … Continue reading

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The Last Stop in Yuma County (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Stuck in a diner together

“The Last Stop in Yuma County” is a simple but effective genre piece to entertain you. While clearly influenced by the works of Quentin Tarantino and Coen brothers, the movie plays its genre game mostly fair and straight, and the … Continue reading

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Red Rooms (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The woman delving into a dark web crime

“Red Rooms” is a disturbing but compelling mix of psychological thriller and character study. Closely following the obsessive behaviors of its rather enigmatic heroine, the movie makes us all the more curious about what really makes her tick, and we … Continue reading

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Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): They’re back!

Animation feature film “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”, the latest work from Aardman Animations which will be released on Netflix on next Friday in South Korea, is as funny and delightful as we can possibly expect. Although it may … Continue reading

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The Berefts (2023) ☆☆(2/4): A fake marriage for better life

South Korean independent film “The Berefts” is another grim social drama about several economically disadvantaged people around the bottom of the South Korean society. As dryly following its main characters’ struggle for better life, the movie attempts to make some … Continue reading

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The Land of Morning Calm (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A fisherman’s insurance scam

You will not easily forget the old but tough hero of South Korean film “The Land of Morning Calm”, which won three awards including the Best Film Award at the New Currents section of the Busan International Film Festival a … Continue reading

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