Pethushka

Okay, there’s definitely an idea there. But unfortunately I didn't like the depressing, actually almost unpleasant atmosphere, not to mention many of the actors. Starting with the weaker main character (the one from the present), then her husband, then the people surrounding them. Unfortunately, in the script the students are supposed to be mean and nasty, so they didn't improve my mood much either. Plus, the first episode is almost unnecessary for what comes after, so I don't really know why someone spent so long messing with our heads with troubles we didn't need to know about. 3 stars.

If anything makes this series special, it's the games. They are visually, musically, choreographically, and in terms of tension absolutely – I know, it's a stupid word to use given the content – fascinating. But unfortunately, behind that is a shallow story that is sub-par compared to what Koreans are capable of coming up with. The denouement, unfortunately, turned out exactly as I thought it would (I've read a similar book). There was no shock waiting for me at the end either, because I had already figured out the character in the first half (there are too many hints), and when the person under the mask spoke in English, I knew immediately who was hiding underneath. But a nice cameo, and not a pointless one. I feel like the viewer could have used more clarification. Unfortunately, I'm afraid the creators have yet to come up with it and will introduce it to us in the next season, which I’m doubting will be of any quality. So yeah, I think the next Korean wave should have been kicked off by a different series. But on the other hand, I can understand that a viewer not familiar with Korean filmography might enjoy it completely differently. And the games are really, really good.

I'm at a loss for words. It's like being in Korea again. And listening to a bunch of interesting facts about food, alcohol, its origins, and the customs associated with it. Enjoying that most unique atmosphere of Korean restaurants, reasonable guests, and pleasant conversations that become more and more relaxed as the level increases. That darn Chef Paik is a bit of a smartass at times, but otherwise he's a lot of fun. For me this was a really great way to relax.

Time travel exactly to my romantic taste. And a lot of laughs, it doesn't get any better than that. I was recently complaining about the writer Yang for the personalities she invents for her characters. This time I feel like praising her to the skies for it. I've adored Ji-min Han for some time and have seen a lot of things she’s in, but this is easily her best role yet. How I enjoyed her at all stages! Likewise Seong Ji. I've never found him this likable in anything else. Together, though I wouldn't have bet on it beforehand, they make a couple I couldn't get enough of. Plus, this series made me realize what progress Koreans have made in relationships over the last twenty years. At least on screen. Quite an enjoyable series, 5 stars.

The older I get, the more I realize that few things can put a smile on my face like animals. And these penguins are a heartbreaker for me because I had the opportunity to meet them in person in Simon's Town. Not to mention the people who watch out for them and try to protect them from extinction. I was expecting a documentary full of those people talking about why penguin populations are still on the decline, how they work in pairs, how they live together, how much they eat in a day. That they would show it so beautifully in practice, with really nice commentary, came as a pleasant surprise. And at the end, a happy tear almost joined the smile. Penguins, you’re so adorable.

Okay, I wouldn't mind the movie being superficial if it was at least appealing to the eye, with a simple story but at least a bit of character development. I'd have a nice laugh and enjoy it without worrying about whether the whole thing was believable or not. The only problem is, that aspect doesn't work here either. I thought the camera kept portraying the girls in an unnecessarily unflattering way. And by that I don't mean that you could see the fat on their bellies (as if they had any), but maybe the excessive amount of powder on their faces. And that's a big fault of the makeup artists, lighting, and direction. What’s more, you can sense an exaggerated effort to be stylish, some hints of feminism that nobody could articulate, and so it's all about nothing. I don't really understand why anyone had the desire to film such a flat story.

Jeong-seok Jo is delightful as always and Bo-yeong Park is also a good actress who handled her dual role with the greatest of ease. My problem is more with the fact that I didn't like how her character was written. She was so squeaky, frightful, and incapable of expressing herself it almost drove me mad. I've noticed that with this writer before, she doesn't hit my taste in the personalities she gives her characters. And that ruins the overall impression for me. My decision was ultimately clinched by the ending, when the script employed a plot I simply didn't like. At least it made my decision easier. 3.5 stars.

If you do a little research on past Korean presidents, you get the feeling that you don't even need to see the movie, that you've just read the most incredible screenplay. The one the film is about, though not specifically named in the film, still stands out among them for his crimes. I don't want to knock the content of the film, because the Gwangju Uprising is a terribly sad subject, but while I like the idea of revenge for the descendants of the victims 26 years later, the execution isn't that awesome. I didn't find the characters very likable, they have no chemistry with each other at all, and this carries over into the action. Then the only girl on the team got on my nerves at key moments and her emotions were portrayed in a really shallow way. But the others didn't save it either. A promising start, but in the end it fell apart like a house of cards. There are definitely better movies about 5·18, and books as well. A weaker 3 stars

My rating is a bit biased, because any time I’m lucky enough to see a Czech film in a cinema outside our country, I'm touched and proud. Especially when it's in a place where I wouldn't expect to see on of our movies. So for me it was more about where and how I saw the film than what it was like. I liked the complex and ambiguous nature of the character of the charlatan, I liked the cinematography, but the atmosphere was at times a bit more uncomfortable than I would have liked. Because of that, and a few distracting scenes, I don't think I'm going to catch it when it airs on TV. PS: So I thought it was impossible for me to forget to rate a film here, but actually you can. Thanks, user, for reminding me of Charlatan with your review today. 3.5 stars.

With comedy, I mostly want to laugh, and this requirement was met perfectly by Babysitting. It’s too bad that a party once again has to play the main role, but I guess that makes it a sure thing. And out of all the movies where a house party gets out of hand, this one stands out for at least some maturity and broadly set boundaries of humor. It basically takes on everyone and everything. And that's how I think comedy should be. A weaker 4 stars