Category: Mini Review
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Mini Review: Leviticus
A horror movie romance?? There are some very sweet moments between our leads, mixed in with an appropriate amount of nail-biting supernatural intensity. And while a lot’s left unanswered, it remains a great vehicle for exploring the stigma that still revolves around queer love.
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Mini Review: The Choral
I don’t think Ralph Fiennes’ The Choral does enough to set itself apart from other war time films, nor does it do enough to cement itself in my brain. And while the music is a nice element, and the cast apt, the whole film ultimately feels a little too safe and comfortable.
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Mini Review: I Swear
While nothing about the structure or narrative of the film is particularly surprising or innovative, I Swear is a genuinely heartbreaking and heartwarming tale of resilience and acceptance, anchored by an incredible performance from Robert Aramayo. A thoroughly great watch.
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Mini Review: The Christophers
Michaela Coel & Ian McKellan are truly the highlights of The Christophers, a film that settles for being an overly tranquil exploration of artistic legacy. It’s a slow build, & doesn’t necessarily hit any extreme emotional depths, but its wonderful to see McKellan play on screen. 2.5/5
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Mini Review: Supergirl
First off, Milly Alcock is great as #Supergirl, and brings a lot of spunk & emotional depth to an otherwise generic origin story. Which is much needed, because everything else – villain, plot lines, visuals – is oddly…bland. At least it makes me excited to see what comes next.
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Mini Review: Toy Story 5
Damn, they did it – Toy Story 5 is indeed a great movie. Sure its formulaic as hell, but its a formula that works, with a script, characters & plot that have been updated so well. And while the emotion doesn’t hit as hard as past entries, you best believe my eyes still got watery
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Mini Review: Kokuho
Wow! The visuals, costumes, sound & score of Japan’s Kokuho are downright breathtaking at times, giving us an intimate & captivating glimpse at Kabuki theatre culture. At nearly 3 hours, it’s a LOT of movie (maybe too much), but well worth it for the Kabuki performances alone.
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Mini Review: Disclosure Day
Disclosure Day is a true Spielberg film in many of the best ways, from its themes, orchestration & general sense of wonder. But its way let down by the writing, particular in its paper thin construction of its side characters, henchmen & villain. Still an entertaining watch!
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Mini Review: Another World
Tommy Ng Kai Chung’s Another World is thematically hefty, & has some truly nail-biting action scenes, all of which tend to overpower its underlying hopeful moral. That said, it’s an absolutely breathtaking visual spectacle, and well worth watching on the biggest screen possible.
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Mini Review: 1st Kiss
Ayuko Tsukahara’s 1st Kiss is a beautifully layered romance, using a simple time travel mechanic to tell a story of grief & a rekindling of a marriage gone wrong. Blending a nice amount of humour with the right amount of Asian melodrama, its a captivating watch through & through.
Year in Cinema 