Serve the People
Serve the People: Beyond the Screen Looking back at the film “Serve the People” in 2022, this film was not just a film, but an exciting exploration of desire, power, and ideology in a fictional socialist country. Directed by Jang Cheol-soo and adapted from a novel by Yan Lianke, the film investigated the complexities within […]
A Frozen Flower
A Kingdom of Desire and Duty A Frozen Flower was released in 2008. It was noted for its innovative portrayal of the relationships that comprised the Goryeo dynasty. It was directed by Yoo Ha and focused on King Gongmin (Jo In-sung), his bodyguard Hong-rim (Joo Jin-mo), and Queen Jang Nok-su (Song Ji-hyo). It went from […]
Dirty Work
Dirty Work: When Comedy Meets Chaos Dirty Work was ridiculous, irreverent, and full of chaotic comedy. Relax and enjoy. Order revenge on your enemies and watch as life injustices unfold. Watch 1998’s Dirty Work, a comedy, which was a vehicle for the unrecognized and unappreciated work of its runt, Norm Macdonald. Macdonald gets the unique […]
Pompeii
Pompeii: When Fire, Love, and History Collide Released in 2014, Pompeii was a romance, action and disaster film depicting a fictional account of the last days of the iconic Pompeii in the year 79 AD. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Kit Harington and Emily Browning, the film revolves around Milo, a Celtic slave […]
Wet Woman in the Wind
The Unstoppable Shiori: A Force of Nature In the Japanese film Wet Woman in the Wind (Kaze ni nureta onna), released in 2016, Shiori, played by Yuki Mamiya, stands out as a captivating and enigmatic character. Among the highlights in the film is Shiori’s audacious entrance as she rides a bicycle into a river and […]
Perfect Addiction
The Build-Up: Wattpad Fame and Fan Expectations Before Perfect Addiction hit screens and streaming, there was already a buzz. It’s based on Claudia Tan’s novel, a Wattpad romance story that amassed over 80 million reads. That kind of fanbase brings strong expectations: people who already know Sienna, Jax, and Kayden wanted fidelity to the book, […]
Online Selling
When the Screen Mirrors Life The film Online Selling captures the cinematic portrayal of Melissa and Osang, two women selling sex toys and providing “extra service.” Complicating matters, Melissa’s old flame returns in the form of a customer, threatening the world she has desperately tried to conceal. JaQ Carlos, the film’s director and writer, provides […]
Butas
Butas: Exposing Layers of Lust and Self When Butas was released under the Vivamax label on August 30, 2024, it was more than a take in the expanding list of Filipino erotic dramas. Directed by Dado C. Lumibao after F-Buddies and Throuple, the film was a more serious take on the complexities of sexual identity […]
Boogie Nights
A Tapestry of Lives Intertwined Boogie Nights is not just the story of Eddie/Dirk—it is more of an ensemble feature capturing the aspirations, betrayals, and relationships of all the people in the orbit of Jack Horner. Heather Graham’s Rollergirl evoked a youthful sense of innocence and rebellion, with her roller-skate-entrances capturing a paradox of both […]
Los Frikis
The Story That Shook the World In the realm of cinema, few films dare to tread the line between historical truth and emotional fiction as boldly as Los Frikis. Released in late 2024, this Spanish-language drama, directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, delves into the audacious lives of Cuban punk rockers in the early […]