Reviews of films and movies.
Commanding performances from Kim Hye Soo and Kim Go Eun power the bloody and heartbreaking 2015 film Coin Locker Girl (차이나타운/Chinatown). The stylish crime-noir is wrought with pulpy action, but well-balanced with an unexpected bit of heart and emotion.
The 2020 film Justice High (공수도) takes the all-too familiar theme of school violence and turns it into a fascinatingly fun and charming story. Endearing characters and the actors bringing them to life carry the film that has much more potential than there is room for in two hours.
The feature film Double Patty (더블패티) is a thoughtful slice of life drama about a pair of young adults trying to find their way and fighting for their dreams, even if they may not know what those dreams might be just yet.
After thoroughly enjoying Kamen Rider Zero-One: REALxTIME, I was even more excited to see that Zero-One Others: Kamen Rider MetsubouJinrai (ゼロワン Others 仮面ライダー滅亡迅雷 ) had also been released and was waiting for me to quickly jump right in. And my goodness. If I wasn’t sure just a day ago, I might be sure now. Kamen Rider Zero-One might have just solidified itself as my favorite season after this film. And there’s still more to come!
Build and Zero-One rival each other as my favorite Kamen Rider seasons. But with the latter still fresh in my mind and me craving for even more, it has the slight edge. Needless to say, I was beyond excited to be able to watch Kamen Rider Zero-One: REALxTIME (劇場版 仮面ライダーゼロワン リアルタイム), the first of several (!) post-series movies. And it absolutely delivered.
Lee Isaac Chung’s 2020 film Minari is a captivating slice of life story. Following a Korean family as they move to rural Arkansas in the 1980s, Minari brings to life a uniquely immigrant story while also being a universal and relatable story about family, community and the American dream.
It’s always a nice treat when you go into a film expecting one thing and it ending up being something completely different. But in a great way. That’s the 2011 Korean film Always (오직 그대만/Only You). The film is a romantic drama that hits every mark and delivers a roller coaster of emotions powered by wonderful performances and sizzling chemistry from stars So Ji Sub and Han Hyo Joo.
Montage (몽타주) may have been ahead of its time. The 2013 suspense-thriller was released in theaters. But its thematic elements would be seen many times over in television series over the years. In that sense, the two-hour film is the perfect alternative if you’re looking a quicker roller coaster than a typical 16-episode drama.
The 2017 film A Stray Goat (눈발) is a fascinating, melancholic and timely film. Dealing with some of the harsh realities of today’s society, the film offers up a pensive slice of life in a real and blunt way.
The 2019 film My Bossy Girl (너의 여자친구) is a fluffy romantic comedy done right. An irresistibly charming couple and the right amount of depth turn out to be the perfect recipe for a thoroughly engaging and warm-hearted story of self-confidence, selflessness and the innumerable value of the connections people have with one another.