Tag Archives: Mystery

Phantom Detective (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): An offbeat noir from South Korea

Posted on May 8, 2016 by kaist455

South Korean film “Phantom Detective” is an amusing mixed bag stuffed with different genre elements which do not seem to fit together at first but somehow work on the whole in its offbeat concoction. After all, not many movies have … Continue reading →

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Zootopia (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A rookie bunny officer’s first case

Posted on February 21, 2016 by kaist455

While it is somehow released earlier outside US, new Disney digital animation feature film “Zootopia” is better than I expected. It is colorful and spunky with its amusing variation of buddy cop movie conventions, and there are enough funny, exciting … Continue reading →

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The Hateful Eight (2015) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): A snowy and bloody deathtrap a la Tarantino

Posted on January 11, 2016 by kaist455

 Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” is a violent, bloody piece of work drenched in stylish excess and vicious black humor. This aspect will not surprise you if you are familiar with many of Tarantino’s sensational works, but this eighth film … Continue reading →

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Mr. Holmes (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): The Detective’s Last Case

Posted on October 26, 2015 by kaist455

Since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A Study in Scarlet” was published in 1887, Sherlock Holmes has been one of the immortal literary characters along with Tarzan and James Bond. He has been portrayed by many plays, movies and TV series … Continue reading →

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Socialphobia (2014) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4) : A Death on the Social Network

Posted on March 18, 2015 by kaist455

 South Korean film “Socialphobia” is a very disturbing mystery film for our advancing era of online communication. Thanks to the rapid development of communication technology, we have more freedom to exchange and express our thoughts and feelings with many other … Continue reading →

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Inherent Vice (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A Californian film noir shrouded in marijuana haze

Posted on February 9, 2015 by kaist455

At the end of my reserved review on Paul Thomas Anderson’s previous work “The Master” (2012), I asked, “What will be the next step for him?” I could not get the answer at that time, but now I’ve got it … Continue reading →

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Ex Machina (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : A Turing Test gone haywire

Posted on January 24, 2015 by kaist455

 How will we react to artificial intelligence if that becomes possible through technological advance? There have been many science fiction tales fascinated with that question which is alternatively intriguing and disturbing for good reasons, and “Ex Machina” gives us something … Continue reading →

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Cold in July (2014) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4) : A well-made Texan noir with some holes

Posted on December 1, 2014 by kaist455

 Many of you have probably heard about that amusing anecdote behind classic noir film “The Big Sleep” (1946). Because the plot of Raymond Chandler’s equally famous novel is so convoluted, the director Howard Hawks and his screenplay writers were confused … Continue reading →

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Black Coal, Thin Ice (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A cold, stark winter noir from China

Posted on October 31, 2014 by kaist455

    After watching “Black Coal, Thin Ice”, a haunting noir film from China, you will probably want a hot cup of coffee to warm you. Besides its mystery plot involved with a grisly murder case which casts a long … Continue reading →

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A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A sombre but intense noir thriller

Posted on September 23, 2014 by kaist455

 Through its tarnished hero’s melancholic investigation process, “A Walk Among the Tombstones” looks into the dark, twisted face of human evil, and there are several chilling moments which will make you cringe or gasp for the horror implied during these … Continue reading →

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