austin0731

Chan-wook Park, the visionary director behind Korean classic cinema like 'Oldboy' returns with The Handmaiden, a story with twists and turns best watched given the slightest context of what the film is about. This film is impressively atmospheric as it immerses audiences in the Gothic, grimy setting the juxtaposes that of the sublime aesthetic the architecture that blends European and Japanese cultures. Without giving away the plot, The Handmaiden creates a world that sucks audiences in, with its atmosphere and number of plot twists, resulting in an excellent work that discusses themes of taboo and cultural/ideological clashes.

Crime thriller?/Rom-com that had its moments, I had a fun time watching this movie, there were fun moments that while unfortunately, many were spoiled in the film's trailer still managed to bring me chuckles. The Lovebirds doesn't try to 'bite more than it could chew', a fun afternoon watch that would have the staying power as a light, fun film that is top notch at conveying what it wanted to but doesn't take a step beyond that.

Pixar's Onward is unfortunately mediocre to a degree of being passable, which is something that for a while seemingly impossible for Pixar to 'accomplish'. There is nothing glaringly wrong about Pixar's latest but unfortunately it misses that Pixar magic. While there were certainly elements that elevate the films status in its great animation and an overall important central them and core message; it told a fairly by the book and safe story of brotherly love and a coming of age. Onward reminds me of the dark days of Disney when they failed to produce top hits and were releasing mediocre animated movies that while wholesome misses the mark at delivering the magic that is the heart and soul of family films. I think in this case Pixar could've taken a much bigger risk in storytelling but resorted to what is simply not that special overall.