Tag Archives: Kidnapping

Bugonia (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A nasty and clinical remake by Yorgos Lanthimos

Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest film “Bugonia”, the American remake of South Korean cult film “Save the Green Planet!” (2003), is as nasty and clinical as you can expect from his work. While trying to push its darkly absurd story premise as … Continue reading

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Save the Green Planet! (2003) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An odd South Korean mixed bag

South Korean filmmaker Jang Joon-hwan’s 2003 debut feature film “Save the Green Planet”, which recently received more attention thank to the recent American remake version directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, is probably one of the weirdest mixed bags I have even … Continue reading

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A Working Man (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Statham on John Wick mode – no surprise here

David Ayer’s latest movie “A Working Man” is a run-of-the-mill action flick which will not surprise you a lot if you are a seasoned moviegoer like me. As a sort of cross between “Taken” (2008) and “John Wick” (2014), it … Continue reading

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It Was Just an Accident (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A absurd revenge drama by Jafar Panahi

During last 10 years, I have admired the strenuously defiant artistic efforts of Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi. I must confess that I was not so familiar with his filmography when I heard about his ongoing political conflict with the Iranian … Continue reading

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Highest 2 Lowest (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A colorful NYC remake from Spike Lee

Spike Lee’s latest film “Highest 2 Lowest”, which was released on Apple TV+ in last week, is an interesting remake of “High and Low” (1963), one of the classic films from great Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. While mostly following the … Continue reading

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Eyes Without a Face (1960) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): As she waits for another surgery

French filmmaker George Franju’s 1960 horror movie “Eyes Without a Face” is quite striking for its eerie qualities. While it initially feels merely bizarre and disturbing on the surface, the movie gradually draws us into the evil and madness at … Continue reading

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High and Low (1963) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A top-notch police procedural from Kurosawa

On the surface, Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film “High and Low” simply follows one kidnapping case from the beginning to the end. While the overall result works as a dry but undeniably compelling police procedural, the movie also gives us some … Continue reading

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Drive (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A kidnapping on live 

South Korean film “Drive” drives along a rather predictable course without surprising me that much. While reminiscent of many other similar thriller films out there, the movie is frequently hampered by thin characterization and contrived plot, and I can only … Continue reading

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The King of Comedy (1982) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A classic comedy of embarrassment

Congratulations, Mr. Rupert Pupkin. You are definitely one of the creepiest movie antiheroes in the history of cinema, but you and your little “comedy” movie, Martin Scorsese’s “The King of Comedy”, have somehow persisted for more than 40 years, despite … Continue reading

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The Black Phone (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): A familiar but solid genre mix

“The Black Phone” did not surprise me much, but I was entertained nonetheless. As your average seasoned moviegoer, I clearly discerned what I was going to get from this effective genre piece, and it did not exceed my expectation much … Continue reading

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