Tag Archives: South Korean Film

Forbidden Dream (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The King and his favorite inventor

Posted on January 10, 2020 by kaist455

South Korean historical drama film “Forbidden Dream” puts its two well-known real-life figures into a sappy old-fashioned bromance tale which did not engage me much. Although I have no problem with its many fictional aspects, the movie is rather flat, … Continue reading →

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Moonlit Winter (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A letter from her first love

Posted on November 19, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean film “Moonlit Winter” reminds me that it is always more compelling to observe star-crossed lovers in agony and restraint. Here are two very unhappy women who have quietly yearned for each other since they were separated from each … Continue reading →

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Sub-Zero Wind (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Her bleak adolescent years

Posted on November 17, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean film “Sub-Zero Wind” is as bleak as its very title suggests. Like many of recent South Korean coming-of-age drama films, the movie is often shrouded in stark and gloomy realism, but its story and characters are thoughtfully handled … Continue reading →

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Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An ordinary South Korean female life

Posted on October 24, 2019 by kaist455

I could not help but respond to a number of seemingly mundane but undeniably strong moments in South Korean film “Kim Ji-young: Born 1982”, which has been one of the most anticipated movies of this year in South Korea thanks … Continue reading →

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My Punch-drunk Boxer (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Pansori boxer

Posted on October 12, 2019 by kaist455

The promotional poster of South Korean film “My Punch-drunk Boxer”, whose original title is “Pansori Boxer”, looked pretty odd and silly to me when I came across it a few months ago. After all, the juxtaposition of boxing and a … Continue reading →

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Crazy Romance (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Very ordinary to say the least

Posted on October 12, 2019 by kaist455

To my disappointment, South Korean romantic comedy film “Crazy Romance”, whose original title is “The Most Ordinary Romance”, turns out to be very ordinary while not bringing anything particular new to its genre territory. Although it is not entirely without … Continue reading →

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Maggie (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A sweet and whimsical comedy featuring a talking catfish

Posted on October 4, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “Maggie”, which actually means ‘catfish’ in Korean, a sweet and whimsical comedy which gives us a number of odd and quirky moments to be savored while also quite sensitive and thoughtful about its subjects. As we … Continue reading →

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Our Body (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Running after her

Posted on October 3, 2019 by kaist455

As your average chubby overweight guy, I frequently exercise at a local gym for getting healthier, and my eyes sometimes cannot help but notice how fit and muscular some guys at the gym look. Whenever I briefly stare at their … Continue reading →

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House of Hummingbird (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): This girl’s life in Seoul, 1994

Posted on August 30, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean film “House of Hummingbird”, which received the Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury when it was shown at the Berlin International Film Festival early in this year, observes a young ordinary girl’s life in specific place … Continue reading →

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Tune in for Love (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): As they try to be in tune with each other

Posted on August 29, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean “Tune in for Love” is so familiar in terms of story and characters that you will clearly guess what you are going to listen and watch even before tuning in to it at the beginning. While it is … Continue reading →

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