Tag Archives: High School

Critical Thinking (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): Predictable but exemplary

Posted on September 7, 2020 by kaist455

“Critical Thinking” is another inspirational sports drama film based on a real-life story, but it distinguishes itself to some degrees compared to other similar films out there. While it is rather predictable and contrived at times, it still holds our … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Chess, High School, High Schooler, Real-life figure, Real-life story, Teacher | Leave a comment

Chemical Hearts (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): His new partner at his school newspaper

Posted on August 23, 2020 by kaist455

“Chemical Hearts”, which was recently released on Amazon Prime, looks plain and predictable at first but then comes to engage us more than expected. Yes, this is another case of troubled adolescent romance, but it distinguishes itself a bit via … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Adolescence, High School, High Schooler, Newspaper, Romance | Leave a comment

Detention (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): A historical horror based on video game

Posted on August 17, 2020 by kaist455

Taiwanese film “Detention” is an interesting piece of historical horror which is incidentally based on a popular video game of the same name. Although I do not have any particular experience or knowledge on the eponymous video game, I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Ghost, High School, High Schooler, Horror | Leave a comment

Work It (2020) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A mild underdog movie with predictable movements

Posted on August 10, 2020 by kaist455

Netflix film “Work It” is a mildly enjoyable underdog movie with predictable movements which will not surprise you much especially if you are familiar with its genre territory. As a high school comedy movie about dance competition, it is fairly … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Adolescence, Dance, High School, High Schooler, Romance | Leave a comment

Better Days (2019) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): Her bodyguard

Posted on August 2, 2020 by kaist455

Chinese film “Better Days” is a familiar but compelling mixture of brutal school drama, sensitive coming-of-age tale, and unabashedly old-fashioned romance. Right from the beginning, you can clearly discern what you are going to get, but then you will find … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Adolescence, Bullying, College entrance examination, Coming-of-age drama, Crime, High School, Romance | 2 Comments

Baseball Girl (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): You will definitely root for her

Posted on June 21, 2020 by kaist455

I love it when I come to root for a movie character a lot more than expected, and South Korean film “Baseball Girl” is one of such wonderful examples. Like a number of certain unforgettable movie heroines I encountered during … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Baseball, High School, South Korean Film, Sports | 1 Comment

The Half of It (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A refreshing coming-of-age drama by Alice Wu

Posted on May 9, 2020 by kaist455

To be frank with you, I did not expect much when I watched the trailer of Netflix film “The Half of It”, which received the Founders Award at the Tribeca Film Festival before released on Netflix in last week. While … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Adolescence, Coming-of-age drama, High School, Homosexuality, Romance | 1 Comment

Selah and The Spades (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): A little distinctive debut work to notice

Posted on April 20, 2020 by kaist455

“Selah and the Spades”, which was released on Amazon Prime in last weekend, is a little distinctive debut work which may be regarded as the starting point of a major talent to watch. As a guy who did not have … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Adolescence, Coming-of-age drama, Crime, High School, High Schooler | 1 Comment

Big Time Adolescence (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Still not growing up at all

Posted on April 12, 2020 by kaist455

“Big Time Adolescence” is about one problematic friendship which seems to be going nowhere even at the end of the story. As observing its two different lead male characters, we come to see that one of them must grow up … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Comedy, Coming-of-age drama, Friendship, High School | Leave a comment

All the Bright Places (2020) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An earnest young adult romance drama

Posted on March 3, 2020 by kaist455

Netflix film “All the Bright Places” is an earnest young adult romance drama about two troubled adolescents with each own issue. While I appreciate its somber and sensitive approach to its dark subjects including grief and mental illness, the movie … Continue reading →