Tag Archives: Romance

Mountain Cry (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Amongst mountains

Posted on July 4, 2016 by kaist455

Immersing itself deep into its isolated rural background, Chinese film “Mountain Cry” looks at one human relationship between two different people. While its story is essentially a typical melodrama about love and redemption, the movie takes its time as patiently … Continue reading →

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Mountains May Depart (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): Past, Present, and Future

Posted on June 4, 2016 by kaist455

The first part of Jia Zhangke’s new movie “Mountains May Depart” may be the longest prologue I have ever seen during recent years. The title of the movie appears on the screen only after the end of this part, and … Continue reading →

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The Handmaiden (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): Pretty, Kinky, and Naughty

Posted on June 3, 2016 by kaist455

South Korean film “The Handmaiden” is a droll, morbid exercise in sensuality and perversity. Besides being a sumptuous erotic melodrama which tantalizes and enthralls our eyes with its ornate moods and details, this is also a delightfully twisted thriller which … Continue reading →

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Sing Street (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : First Music – and First Love

Posted on May 30, 2016 by kaist455

“Sing Street” is a small but sweet musical movie with lots of charm and energy. While its musical period background is not that familiar to me, I was amused and entertained by its superlative soundtrack consisting of old and new … Continue reading →

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Mon roi (2015) ☆☆(2/4): And then she was miserably stuck with this king jerk…

Posted on May 29, 2016 by kaist455

During my viewing of French film “Mon roi”, I felt a constant urge to ask several questions to its unlucky miserable heroine throughout its two-hour running time. Madame, how can you possibly put up with this prick? Can‘t you just … Continue reading →

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A Bronx Tale (1993) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A Bronx boy between two father figures

Posted on April 2, 2016 by kaist455

Any good coming-of-age tale is bound to be evaluated by two questions. What happens to our young lead character in the end besides looking older on the surface? And what happens to us as observing that inevitable process of maturation? … Continue reading →

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Knight of Cups (2015) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A Terrence Malick film floated in fragments

Posted on March 11, 2016 by kaist455

Terrence Malick’s new film “Knight of Cups” is visually stunning and profoundly disorienting. We get lots of beautiful, mesmerizing moments as it is floated here and there along its visual stream-of-consciousness. We get fragmented glimpses into its detached, disillusioned hero … Continue reading →

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Anomalisa (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A quirky stop-motion animation a la Charlie Kaufman

Posted on January 31, 2016 by kaist455

“Anomalisa” is a stop-motion animated film from Charlie Kaufman, and this is certainly another odd, fascinating work from a talented writer/director who wrote the screenplays for “Being John Malkovich” (1999), “Adaptation.” (2002), “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004), and … Continue reading →

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Creed (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Something Old, New, and Unexpected

Posted on January 13, 2016 by kaist455

“Creed” is an underdog movie true to the dogged spirit of its old senior in many ways. Faithfully following its senior’s footsteps with some bittersweet sense of nostalgia, the movie also brings a considerable amount of fresh energy into the … Continue reading →

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Brooklyn (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : A young immigrant between two different worlds

Posted on January 6, 2016 by kaist455

“Brooklyn” is a simple but touching film with lots of heart and mind. This is basically a classic coming-of-age drama with an innocent touch of fairy tale, but it is told so well through exemplary storytelling, commendable period mood, and … Continue reading →

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