Tag Archives: Romance

A Midsummer’s Fantasia (2014) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4) : Two soothing summer tales in Gojo

Posted on June 14, 2015 by kaist455

In its calm, delicate pace, “A Midsummer’s Fantasia” slowly and subtly draws us into the sunny and soothing summer days in a rural Japanese city. During its first part, it leisurely looks around the city with meditative curiosity, and we … Continue reading →

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A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4): The Vampire Wears Chador

Posted on June 7, 2015 by kaist455

While injecting some fresh blood into its genre conventions, “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” wanders around its strange and familiar world filled with bleak beauty and ominous aura. As an eerie and melancholic vampire tale set in some … Continue reading →

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The Voices (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A whimsical comedy about madness and murder

Posted on June 7, 2015 by kaist455

Alternating between whimsical comedy and disturbing horror, “The Voices” is an uneven but amusing black comedy about one very nice guy who simply cannot himself as driven by his murderous compulsion. Even when he is well aware of how problematic … Continue reading →

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Patang (2011) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4) : The Day of the Kites

Posted on May 23, 2015 by kaist455

What a lovely little film “Patang” is. With no need to follow conventions, this small, vibrant independent film freely floats around many wonderful moments closely observed from one Indian city and its people during their joyous festival days. As we … Continue reading →

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Dear White People (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A witty college comedy on race and identity

Posted on May 2, 2015 by kaist455

“Dear White People” is a witty college comedy ready to talk openly about its rather sensitive social subject which, to be frank with you, I am not that familiar with. While there are a number of scenes I had to … Continue reading →

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Cinderella (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A straightforward fairy tale with charm and pluck

Posted on March 21, 2015 by kaist455

“Cinderella”, another adaptation of a famous fairy tale known well to most of us, takes a straightforward approach to its original story, and that is sort of refreshing to me after many revisional versions of fairy tales I encountered at … Continue reading →

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Sunshine on Lieth (2013) ☆☆☆ (3/4) : Love, music, and Edinburgh

Posted on March 13, 2015 by kaist455

Although it has usual weaknesses as a musical film mainly depending on individual moments of music and choreography more than plot and characters, “Sunshine on Lieth” is not without charm and energy to entertain us. Its plot revolving around several … Continue reading →

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The Well-Digger’s Daughter (2011) ☆☆☆ (3/4) : A relaxed rural tale in Provence

Posted on March 8, 2015 by kaist455

French film “The Well-Digger’s Daughter” gives us a likable case of how good storytelling can engage, surprise, and touch us. While its main characters may be broad and simple, they are presented as people filled with life and personality, and … Continue reading →

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Focus (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4) : Romance or Con game?

Posted on March 2, 2015 by kaist455

As a comedy movie about con artists, “Focus” is entertaining enough to overlook its several weak points. Mainly because there is always a possibility that its main characters are holding something behind their back, we come to look at them … Continue reading →

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The Humbling (2014) ☆☆1/2 (2.5/4): A ‘romance’ before his last act

Posted on February 8, 2015 by kaist455

Like King Lear, the aging hero of “The Humbling” is a character to be played with age and experience. He feels getting old and tired more than ever as he faces the last act of his remaining life, and he … Continue reading →

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