Tag Archives: South Korean Film

The Drug King (2018) ☆☆(2/4): The trite rise and fall of a drug lord

Posted on December 20, 2018 by kaist455

South Korean crime drama “The Drug King” bored me without much interest or excitement. While there is nothing particularly new or fresh here in terms of story, characters, and other genre aspects, the movie does not even have enough distinctive … Continue reading →

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Door Lock (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Somebody tries to unlock the door….

Posted on December 9, 2018 by kaist455

South Korean film “Door Lock” terrified me more than I expected. When I saw its poster and synopsis a few weeks ago, I thought it was just another woman-in-danger movie, but then I heard some good words from others, and … Continue reading →

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For Vagina’s Sake (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Of Menstruation and Women

Posted on December 8, 2018 by kaist455

I remember well when I happened to get a brief glimpse of menstruation a long time ago. It was around 1992, and I noticed a piece of toilet paper smeared with blood in a bathroom not long after my calligraphy … Continue reading →

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Default (2018) ☆☆☆ (3/4): A broad look into the South Korean financial crisis in 1997

Posted on November 29, 2018 by kaist455

South Korean film “Default” intends to give us a broad look into the South Korean financial crisis in 1997, and it did a fairly good job despite its several weak elements. While occasionally hampered by its rather heavy-handed storytelling and … Continue reading →

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Young-ju (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): A simple but bleak drama about guilt and torment

Posted on November 25, 2018 by kaist455

South Korean film “Young-ju” is a simple but bleak drama about guilt and torment. Although there are several moments which are quite difficult to watch for their considerable emotional intensity, the movie steadily engages us as closely observing its main … Continue reading →

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Ode to the Goose (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Ode to Gunsan

Posted on November 10, 2018 by kaist455

The works of Zhang Lü, who drew my attention for the first time with “Dooman River” (2011), always have a palpable sense of people and locations. While “Dooman River” immersed us into the realistic daily life of Korean Chinese characters … Continue reading →

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Intimate Strangers (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A dinner game gone wrong

Posted on November 1, 2018 by kaist455

South Korean “Intimate Strangers” is an amusing comedy film about secrets and lies exposed via a dinner game gone wrong. As cheerfully pushing its main characters into more troubles and embarrassments, the movie generates a number of humorous moments which … Continue reading →

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Grass (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A simple observation of several conversations

Posted on October 28, 2018 by kaist455

South Korean film “Grass” is pretty simple, but it is also quite frustrating at times. Simply observing a number of small conversation scenes, the movie provides some good moments to savor, but the movie somehow fails to engage me as … Continue reading →

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Miss Baek (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): She just wants to save this desperate girl…

Posted on October 13, 2018 by kaist455

South Korean film “Miss Baek” is a glum tale of a woman who simply wants to help a young little girl who is not so different from who she once was. While it is often uncomfortable to watch due to … Continue reading →

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After My Death (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Whose fault was it?

Posted on September 21, 2018 by kaist455

I winced at times while watching South Korean film “After My Death”, a stark, melancholic drama about the anger, frustration, and grievance revolving around one devastating incident. Although this is not a pleasant experience at all, the movie is alternatively … Continue reading →

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