American Pie Presents: Girls’ Rules
When the Girls Took Over: The Story and Spirit Behind American Pie Presents: Girls’ Rules Some movie franchises fade and become forgotten while others continue to reinvent themselves with each new generation. American Pie has always been the latter. The franchise has evolved from the awkward and racy meet teen comedies of the late 90s […]
Empire of Lust
Power, Passion, and Pain: The Story Behind Empire of Lust (2015) In 2015, South Korean theaters first showed Empire of Lust (Hwajung, 2015). It was marketed simply as a historical drama with a ‘forbidden romance’ and ‘political intrigue.’ However, audiences received something more complex and far more layered. Behind the politically royal costume and candle-lit […]
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 […]
Scarlet Innocence
An Updated Take on a Classic Story Scarlet Innocence (2014) directed by Yim Pil-sung is an erotic thriller that retells the Korean folktale Simcheongga. It is also an obsession and betrayal tale that focuses on a small-town university. Shim Hak-kyu (Jung Woo-sung), a literature professor, spends a scandal in Seoul and is relocated to teach […]
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 […]
The Virgin Suicides
The Virgin Suicides: How a Quiet Tragedy Became a Cultural Storm The Virgin Suicides came out in 1999, and at first, it appeared to be just another indie movie on the festival circuit. This was Sofia Coppola’s directorial debut, and it was an adaptation of Jeffrey Eugenides’ novel about the Lisbon sisters, a family leading […]
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, […]
Lick (2024)
Lick (2024): A Rock Romance Brought to Life When Lick premiered on Passionflix in December 2024, it was more than just another romance film—it was a heartfelt adaptation of Kylie Scott’s bestselling novel, infused with raw emotion and palpable chemistry. Directed by Louise Alston, the film follows Evelyn Thomas, a 21-year-old woman who wakes up […]