Tag Archives: Family

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A mildly pleasant product from the Sandler family

Posted on September 2, 2023 by kaist455

Probably because I am a South Korean nerd who was mostly occupied with getting good grades except when reading a book or watching a movie, many of American coming-of-age drama or comedy films feel like alien stories from very different … Continue reading →

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Speak No Evil (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Their disturbing hosts

Posted on August 12, 2023 by kaist455

“Speak No Evil” warns us right from the very beginning that something bad will happen sooner or later, and that turns out to be quite disturbing to say the least. Starting from one sunny and pleasant environment, the movie eventually … Continue reading →

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Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The tale of a Kraken girl

Posted on July 29, 2023 by kaist455

Animation feature film “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kragen” might have felt a bit more refreshing if it came out a few years earlier at least. During my viewing, I was reminded of several other recent animation films including “Luca” (2020) and … Continue reading →

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The Son (2022) ☆☆(2/4): The disappointing second film by Florian Zeller

Posted on July 29, 2023 by kaist455

Florian Zeller’s second film “The Son” is disappointing for seeming to have all the right elements to give us a fairly good family drama on the surface. Again, Zeller adapted one of his acclaimed plays along with Christopher Hampton, but … Continue reading →

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My Sailor, My Love (2022) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): One winter romance coupled with a family issue

Posted on July 13, 2023 by kaist455

“My Sailor, My Love” tries two different things together, but the resulting mix is often clunky and unconvincing. On one hand, we have a supposedly intimate romance drama between two aging people, and the movie did a fairly good job … Continue reading →

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The Hill of Secrets (2022) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): A little young girl’s secrets and lies

Posted on July 13, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean film “The Hill of Secrets” is a seemingly simple coming-of-age tale which turns out to be much more complex than expected. As calmly and sensitively observing its little young heroine’s secrets and lies along the story, the movie … Continue reading →

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Evil Dead Rise (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Another case of demonic possession

Posted on July 12, 2023 by kaist455

“Evil Dead Rise”, the latest installment from the Evil Dead series, did not impress me enough. While I appreciated how it tries to bring some fresh air to its very familiar genre premise, I was only mildly entertained by all … Continue reading →

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The Shining (1980) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): A Madness Odyssey

Posted on June 30, 2023 by kaist455

Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”, whose 4k remastered version was recently released by a local movie theater chain in South Korea, is utterly eerie for its baroque uncertainty. As its three main characters are hopelessly isolated inside its vast and ominous … Continue reading →

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Elemental (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): An elemental romance of fire and water

Posted on June 15, 2023 by kaist455

Latest Pixar Animation Studios film “Elemental” is an elemental but engaging romance story with enough fun and charming stuffs to enjoy. I wish the film had some more time to explore more of the mood and details of its amusing … Continue reading →

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Magnolia (1999) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): One Day in the Valley

Posted on June 12, 2023 by kaist455

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” still knocks me down although it has been almost 25 years since it came out in 1999. Masterfully and electrifyingly juggling many different narratives unfolded in the San Fernando Valley, California during one particularly eventful day, … Continue reading →

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