Blog Archives

Repatriation (2003)

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Posted on May 12, 2005 by James

Among the best, most touching, politically explosive, and formally engaging documentaries I have ever seen, Repatriation is an incredible testament to the power of independent filmmaking when in the hands, voice, mind and heart of a a remarkable individual. My feelings about the film and the man who made it are inextricably bound together. Repatriation is as much about Kim Dong-won’s connection to, and friendship with, a group of political prisoners as it is about the questions of injustice related … (read more)

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A Perfect Match (2002)

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Posted on February 24, 2005 by Eugene

Hmm. A matchmaker who has trouble finding a match for herself – sound familiar? Well it is a romantic comedy and once the basic premise of the film is established, you can pretty much guess how it will turn out in the end. Still, doesn’t mean it isn’t watchable.

So how does it stand as a Romantic Comedy? Well, I will admit it is quite enjoyable and something that doesn’t take much effort to watch. With the plot well established, … (read more)

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The Uninvited (2003)

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Posted on February 24, 2005 by James

Low-key supernatural thriller, psychological courtroom drama, Jeon Ji-hyun in a serious dramatic role … The Uninvited arranges a complex story that intrigues at first but fails to reward viewer patience with a coherent finish.

Most will watch this for Jeon’s performance in a role far removed from her halcyon My Sassy Girl days. For those of us who enjoy her as a manic honey/enemy, it might be a surprise, if not an annoyance, to discover that Jeon barely raises a … (read more)

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Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000)

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Posted on February 24, 2005 by Alison

You can guess by the synopsis that this is a difficult film to write about: it wriggles about like a live thing, refusing to be pinned down by genre, plot, or style. And that alone makes it interesting. Add in a simple yet unusual plot, a ghost story, realistic characters played ably by a talented cast, and you’ve got a fine film.

First, though, I must make a confession: it took me three sessions to get through this film. Yes, … (read more)

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Guns and Talk (2002)

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Posted on February 24, 2005 by Ching Yee

Do you want to know what love is? Well, whether you do or don’t, you will understand it a lot better after watching this film. Sorry for being cryptic, I will be direct from now on. So let’s get to it by starting at the end.

Rating: Guns and Talks gets a 7 out of 10 from me.

Check one point for creating having a good first 15 min where there’s enough eyepopping action to keep you interested. Explosions, high … (read more)

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Face (2004)

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Posted on February 24, 2005 by Eugene

Do you see dead people? Do you ever wonder whether what goes bump in the night is something that is not quite real? Does everything you perceive fit nicely into your neatly organised rational world view?

Well, if you answered yes to any of the above three questions, then Face may very well be a film you have sympathies with. It seems to be quite fashionable in Korean films to involve the supernatural and the dead in a very real … (read more)

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My Sassy Girl (2001)

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Posted on February 24, 2005 by Alison

There’s no easy way to start this, so I’ve just gotta blurt it out: this is a great movie. The characters are fresh and engaging, the plot is simple yet manages to surprise, and the whole is just superbly well-crafted. It’s long, but well worth it: there’s a bit of sag in the middle, but otherwise it’s a goer from beginning to end.

Now it gets even harder: why is it so great? Well, the actors handle their roles with … (read more)

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Last Present (2001)

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Posted on February 24, 2005 by Alison

This is a movie about two people who never find the right words to say to each other. Jeong-yeon, devoted though she is, always seems to be scolding her husband, while he in return pretends not to care.

It takes a while to get going. For this grumpy-faced reviewer, the scenes in the babies wear shop that Jeong-yeon owns were about as appealing as baby food that’s already been through the baby. My heart, in short, was not warmed. And … (read more)

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