Here are our latest reviews of films for home viewing.
Pre-2023 Film Reviews
Dracula (1931)
Sebastian Zavala @ Ventana Indiscreta [Spanish]
- Excerpt: Although the ‘Dracula’ movie hasn’t stood the test of time very well, Dracula the character, played by the great Bela Lugosi, will remain etched in the minds of moviegoers for all eternity.
A Muse (2012)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: Ultimately, “A Muse” functions equally well as an erotic narrative and a character-driven drama. Its thematic daring, refined direction, and standout performances secure its position as one of the more captivating and provocative Korean releases dealing with desire, creativity, and the abyss that sometimes separates youth from age.
Obsessed (2014)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: “Obsessed” leans heavily toward eye-candy territory; the quality of this particular aspect, however, is such that it makes the experience one definitely worth watching.
Predator (1987)
Sebastian Zavala @ MeGustaElCine.com [Spanish]
- Excerpt: One of the best American action movies of all time: an incredible mix of huge biceps, bigger firearms, blood, and a little bit of science fiction.
The Shining (1980)
Sebastian Zavala @ Cinencuentro.com [Spanish]
- Excerpt: The Shining’ is many things, but in the strictest sense, it is a highly disturbing and expertly crafted experience that, more than forty years after its original release, remains as relevant as ever.
The Town Within Reach (1983)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: The final moments of “The Town Within Reach” drift into an almost avant-garde register, as if Minh abandons realism for abstraction, leaving the viewer in a space between memory and dream. It is in these closing moments that the film transcends its propagandist trappings, achieving a tone of bittersweet nostalgia that lingers long after it ends. At the same time, though, its structural flaws do not allow it to be called great, particularly when on compares it with a rather similar film, Ann Hui’s “Boat People” for example.
Untold Scandal (2003)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: These shortcomings do not make “Untold Scandal” any less competent, but when compared to later works exploring similar territory, such as “The Concubine” or “The Servant,” it certainly stands on a somewhat lower tier. Still, its ambition, strong performances, and elegant craftsmanship ensure its place as a defining entry in Korea’s early-2000s wave of historical dramas — one that dared to explore the forbidden impulses beneath the polished surface of Joseon morality.
Volcano High (2001)
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: Despite its shortcomings, “Volcano High” holds interest as a transitional work, even if it does not as a separate entity. Korean cinema of the era was expanding from prestige dramas into ambitious, youth-oriented genre fare, and this film represents a sincere attempt to compete in that arena. For viewers drawn to the aesthetics of video-game action, anime absurdity, and hong-kong-style martial slapstick, the film offers a lot to like, particularly through a so bad it is good prism
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