Tag Archives: War

Uprising (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A bitter and brutal period drama

Posted on October 28, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean Netflix film “Uprising”, which was released a few weeks ago, is a bitter and brutal period drama about an intense class conflict in the background of a big historical war in Korea during the 16th century. While it … Continue reading →

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Civil War (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): America Under Fire

Posted on May 27, 2024 by kaist455

Alex Garland’s latest film “Civil War” is a chillingly powerful dystopian war drama. Starting with a grim story promise which may not be that implausible considering the ongoing polarization inside the American society, the movie takes its time for immersing … Continue reading →

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Noryang: Deadly Sea (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Driven into the last battle

Posted on December 21, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean film “Noryang: Deadly Sea”, the third and (definitely) final film of the trilogy after “The Admiral: Roaring Currents” (2014) and “Hansan: Rising Dragon” (2022), is often relentlessly epic and loud in what it is expected to present on … Continue reading →

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Napoleon (2023) ☆☆(2/4): Napoleon dully in love and war

Posted on December 9, 2023 by kaist455

Ridley Scott’s new film “Napoleon” is surprisingly flat and bland despite its ambitious intentions. While it tries to be an epic historical drama revolving around one of the most prominent figures in the 19th century Europe, the movie curiously lacks … Continue reading →

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20 Days in Mariupol (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A close look into one Ukrainian city under siege

Posted on December 6, 2023 by kaist455

Ukrainian documentary “20 Days in Mariupol”, which received the Audience Award at the World Cinema Documentary Competition of the Sundance Film Festival early in this year, is a vivid and disturbing presentation of the first 20 days of one Ukrainian … Continue reading →

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Benediction (2021) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The final film by Terence Davies

Posted on October 10, 2023 by kaist455

“Benediction”, which is now the last film by Terence Davies after he died a few days ago, is a melancholic collection of personal memories from a real-life British poet who had a fair share of bitter anger and sadness as … Continue reading →

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The Creator (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A knockout SF film from Gareth Edwards

Posted on September 23, 2023 by kaist455

Gareth Edwards’ latest film “The Creator” intrigued me and then engaged me much more than expected, and that is quite an achievement. Yes, its story premise and ideas are quite familiar to say the least, but the movie handles its … Continue reading →

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Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Another very serious work from Guy Ritchie

Posted on July 12, 2023 by kaist455

“Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant” is something I have expected to come sooner or later after the fall of Kabul in Afghanistan in 2021, though I did not expect it to come from its director. While he deserves to be recognized … Continue reading →

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Retrograde (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): The final months of the Afghan War

Posted on May 5, 2023 by kaist455

It is a sad and bitter experience to observe what is so vividly presented in Matthew Heineman’s latest documentary film “Retrograde”, which is currently available on Disney+ in South Korea. Closely following what happened during the final months of the … Continue reading →

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A House Made of Splinters (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): They still have hope, though

Posted on April 22, 2023 by kaist455

Documentary film “A House of Made of Splinters”, which was Oscar-nominated early in this year, simply but closely observes the children and staff members of a special orphanage in Lysychansk of eastern Ukraine. As following how they live day by … Continue reading →

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