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Wild Card (2003) Movie Review
It behooves me not to take everything I see in movies at face value, but if police work in South Korea is anything remotely similar to what’s portrayed in their cop movies, then I’m
Read More »My Dream Girl (2003) Movie Review
So excuse me if I thought I was watching a movie when I put on “My Dream Girl”, and not listening to a musical CD. Apparently my definition of movie, and that of the
Read More »Chasing Papi (2003) Movie Review
It’s probably no surprise to hear me say that “Chasing Papi” is light fluff. It’s harmless, thankfully quick (at 75 minutes of running time sans closing credits), and nearly all the faces that show
Read More »Out for a Kill (2003) Movie Review
Seagal’s latest DTV opus, “Out for a Kill”, proves once and for all that every conceivable Generic Action Movie title has been taken. Having squandered eye-catching titles like “Hard to Kill” and “Marked for
Read More »Identity (2002) Movie Review
“Identity” is a lot smarter than “Basic”, although the two movies essentially pride themselves on being Head Trip films and thus, fooling the audience with their cleverness. Whereas “Basic” really has no other reason
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Attila (2001) Mini-Series TV Review
After Attila the Hun has raided her village, slaughtered her people, and made her into a slave, a young woman name N’Kara falls madly in love with him, and vice versa. Your guess is
Read More »Freddy vs. Jason (2003) Movie Review
Here’s what I think happened. The original writers of “Freddy vs. Jason” realized very early on that their movie was going to be a combination of insider camp and over-the-top mayhem. After all, when
Read More »Drunken Monkey (2003) Movie Review
I must confess that when it comes to Old School Hong Kong martial arts period films, I’m not privy to a lot of background. For instance, I am familiar with exactly zero actors in
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Johnny English (2004) Movie Review
To be perfectly honest, I don’t know why spy parodies aren’t as funny as they should be. After all, when you’re freed of the responsibility of coming up with a half-decent plot, shouldn’t your
Read More »Gladiator (2000) Movie Review
Gladiator is a swords and sandals movie about revenge. Plain and simple. You killed my family, now I’m going to kill you. Director Ridley Scott (“Kingdom of Heaven”) has a very good handle on
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Demonium (2001) Movie Review
I knew I was in trouble when the first 12 minutes of “Demonium”, an Italian horror film, involved these scenes: a very unattractive woman having sex with her lover over the opening credits, then
Read More »Desert Heat aka Coyote Moon (1999) Movie Review
I999′s “Desert Heat” went through a title change before anyone even knew it existed. While the new title (“Desert Heat” replacing “Coyote Moon”) may be justified to the distributors for whatever reason, they fail
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Shogun Assassin (1980) Movie Review
Shogun Assassin is actually a series of movies made in the 1970s masquerading as an American release. Shogun Assassin was originally called Lone Wolf and Cub: (Enter Secondary Title Here), and I believe there
Read More »S.W.A.T. (2003) Movie Review
“SWAT” is one of those movies so unconcern with appearing intelligent or original that you just have to tip your hat to it. Mind you, viewers shouldn’t be too appreciative of the movie’s lack
Read More »Sopyonje (1993) Movie Review
What makes “Sopyonje” stand out is its unflinching look and interpretation of a Korea under assault — not assault from foreign attacks or invaders, but from something just as deadly: cultural imperialism. It is
Read More »Shiri (1999) Movie Review
“Shiri” has the distinction of being my first South Korean movie ever. The movie gained notoriety as the most expensive movie ever made in South Korean history (this was in 1999) and topped the
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Versus (2000) Movie Review
What “Versus” gives in place of a storyline is this: apparently there is a portal to some unknown dimension that promises good things for those who can open, and then enter, it. To achieve
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Seven Samurai (1954) Movie Review
When watching “Seven Samurai,” one must remember two things: The first is that Asian cinema has been at a great disadvantage to their western counterparts. At a time when Asia was still trying to
Read More »Chilsu and Mansu (1988) Movie Review
“Chilsu and Mansu” is a familiar movie. Taken in context as a South Korean movie, made at a time when the country itself was going through a tremendous upheaval, the movie might be better
Read More »Peppermint Candy (2000) Movie Review
First off, let me assure you that I am not spoiling anything by telling you that Yongho, the main character, commits suicide. This takes place in the movie’s first sequence, about 5 minutes into
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