Bad Genius

A wonderful, standalone based-on remake, with so thrilling and intense situations that you could compare it to an academic entrance exam heist. Superb acting by Lynn that drives the whole movie forward. She needed a "friend and partner" as charismatic as she in the name of Banks.

The movie flew well up until their "escape" and after the ending that felt unsatisfying but universally just, we need a more intense sequel with at least three "Callina Liang". She already is a trademark.

• Screenplay/storyline/plots: 7
• Production value/impact: 7
• Development: 7.5
• Realism: 7
• Entertainment: 8
• Acting: 8
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 8
• VFX: 8
• Music/score/sound: 7
• Depth: 6.5
• Logic: 4.5
• Flow: 8
• Thriller/drama: 7
• Ending: 6.

Bad Genius is a remake of the Thai film of the same name from 2017. This remake was directed and partly written by J. C. Lee. With this remake he makes his directorial debut.

The brilliant, scholar Lynn Kang (Callina Liang) would like to continue studying at a university, but unfortunately she and her father Meng Kang (Benedict Wong) do not have the money for this. In order to get money, Lynn decides to abuse her intelligence and help other students by letting them copy the correct answers for school tests. In return, Lynn is paid by them. With this money she hopes to be able to go to university, but when she is caught for her false actions, she risks her chances of still being admitted.

This more western remake seems to modernize the film a bit, not doing much special than just copying the original version. This remake also seems to have been put together a bit too quickly, so that you do not really get to know most of the characters, so that you do not really care about them. This can make it feel a bit long-winded at times.

Due to the rushed, copied aspects, most of the cast also don't really manage to do anything special with their roles. Benedict Wong comes out best as a caring father, who tries to be there for his daughter despite his financial problems. Unfortunately, he doesn't have such a big role in the film.

Bad Genius blew me away with its unique take on the heist genre. Instead of your typical bank or casino robbery, this film turns the world of academic exams into a high-stakes game, and the results are nothing short of brilliant. The tension is palpable from start to finish, and every scene feels meticulously crafted to keep you on the edge of your seat. I have not seen the Thai movie that it was apparently adapted from but I so enjoy this one that I think I just might try to find it and watch it was well. I always like to compare how the same story is told differently from a different filmmakers point of view.

Remake from thai version.. even This version can't compare with original but Story look interesting.. not boring, not bad.. like i can see how to cheat exam in America version.. not much American movie doing kind of this movie much.. so it's like fresh thing to see... and movie show real life American people that people in the world always see American people rich or have money nice job blah blah but this movie show poor life, ruch life so goodd and that funny that they took thai name in to us movie.. so weird hahahahah but it's a little detail.. Actress who play lin played this movie so so gooddd.. i want to see her in next movie againn.

Loved this movie. It has suspenseful moments where you're on the edge of your seat hoping they don't get caught. But, you're not rooting for the good guys, rather, the students who are cheating who really should be caught. They try to justify their actions by claiming it's a rigged system run by the elite rich. But cheating on tests, so you get into a better college, is just as bad as getting hired because of your ethnicity or social grouping. We also find out that one of the characters who is a "victim of the system" is actually gaming the system themselves as an illegal immigrant.

It ends well when Lynn turns down an offer to make sure she gets into Juilliard when she says "I want to believe I got in because I deserved it."

It does contain a couple of F-bombs which are totally unnecessary. It also reinforces the notion that minorities can't get by without welfare assistance. Overall, it's good entertainment and keeps you guessing what's gonna happen next.