TaylorYee94 Reviews

Life on Mars (2018)

How the director Lee uses and treats women in 'Life on Mars' is abhorrent.

[6/10 · 2 May 2025]

'Life on Mars' is a series that deals with horrible crimes especially against women. I surely understand that there will be some scenes that would make me uncomfortable. Lots of rape and killing scenes. However, the same scenes are repeated in multiple episodes, especially the most brutal parts as flashbacks. The close ups of panties or inner parts of the legs stand out. The director has no empathy towards the victims while the main characters show some respect for the dead. Jung-Hyo Lee should be ashamed that he treats female victims just as dead bodies.

Women are hit so many freaking times. Okay, I will try my best to put myself in the director's shoes. 'It's the 80s, and that's what happened in the 80s in Korea.' My answer is that I got it the first time Officer Yoon was slapped in the face. Officer Yoon, victims, and witnesses all get slapped at least once in every episode. More absurd things happen after they get hit. Not one character really cares or points out there's something wrong with it. They are just observers of women hitters, and the show goes on as if nothing happened. This is what Korea is like in the 2010s as well? The series is based on the 1980s, but the audience is living a life in the 2010s.

How Jung-Hyo Lee utilizes actresses in the series is disgusting. Officer Yoon solves almost all the cases, finding the most crucial clue and presenting impeccable research, not Han Tae-joo. She does not get the recognition she deserves IN the story or OFF the camera. As a character, she remains serving coffees to co-workers till the last episode. As an actress, she is used as a prop to 'explain' the details of the crime rather than to actually 'show' her doing police work or taking initiative. Director Lee loves to show the skin of actresses unnecessarily. In the last episode, when prosecutor Jung tries to get out of the media crowd, her blouse rips, and the camera zooms in her spaghetti sleeves and shoulders (again), and it's freaking creepy. Even without that particular scene, the high level of attention from the media is already delivered to the audience.

Is the series well-made if it does not have aforementioned problems? Not really. Plot organization is amateur. I stayed on watching till the episode because I wanted to know the ending of the present time of Han Tae-joo. The process of getting there is painful to watch. If this is how the police procedure worked in the 80s, South Korea would be a cesspool of crime by now. The plot development is crude and has many holes. The pacing is slow and elongated. 'Signal' wannabe, and it failed miserably.

Emily (I) (2022)

Broken hearts

[7/10 · 30 April 2025]

Strength:

1. 'Emily' successfully creates an eerie, dark, and secretive yet romantic and warm atmosphere just like 'Wuthering Heights'. The opposite aesthetics stay in one movie harmoniously (which is hard to do).

2. Music is top-quality. It fits perfectly with scenes and delivers them even more effectively. It's most effective when it becomes all silent because Emily's mind is blocking the reality and then it's filled with corresponding music.

Weakness:

1. Lines are so pretentious. I get that the writer is trying to capture Emily Bronte's poem and writing styles in the lines. However, they have to fit with the story and the sequence.

2. Sudden change in characters' emotion. I'm not sure if it's intended or not. However, even Charlotte laughs in the rain one moment and abruptly warns Emily to behave.

Come As You Are (2019)

I'm laughing and crying at the same time.

[8/10 · 29 April 2025]

When a movie talks about people with disabilities, it usually has a serious tone and is hard to be funny. However, 'Come as You Are' is actually funny. At the same time, does it go over the line to be insulting just to be funny? No way. Perfect balance between the fun and the message. AND the movie is not preachy, telling you how to think or act. It just shows what the lives of Scotty, Matt, and Mo look like and laughs along with the audience. The story flows so naturally step by step that it feels as if I'm taking the trip with them and getting to know them deeper as time goes. Adorable, hilarious, and heart-warming all at once.

Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)

Litmus paper for distinguishing red flags.

[5/10 · 27 April 2025]

If a guy says "My favorite film is 'Everybody Wants Some'.", run away. The film is about a group of college jocks trying to get into some pants for three days. It brings vivid memories of college frat guys doing all the stupid things and saying all misogynistic comments without being ashamed. The movie does not lie about anything, though. It is honest that most college guys look at girls as sexual objects and that they cannot not talk about girls in sexual ways especially when there are only men. Nothing really happens for two hours. It rather focuses on showing what the 80s looked like plainly. I really enjoyed music, though: disco, country, punk, and resolution. The movie is basically divided into four parts like that. Of course, it's the story about a bunch of college baseball players trying to hook up in each part.

Ready Player One (I) (2018)

Children's movie

[6/10 · 27 April 2025]

'Ready Player One' is like playing a video game for 140 minutes. Just like video games, visual effects and technology are fantastic. They can fixate your eyes on the screen how much they want. However, the movie is different. It's about great story and message (writing) and about the way it's delivered to the audience (direction). They are almost non-existent. What is Spielberg's role in this movie? Creating the world of OASIS is a big part, but it's a game developers' job and special effect specialists' job. Maybe Spielberg played a role in hiring the best of them?

The plot development is almost extinct, but what the movie's left with for a little amount is amateurish as heck. When a hero is faced with obstacles, they are solved so easily and by luck. I understand a movie will side with a hero, and luck will play in favor of a hero. However, 'Ready Player One' is too much. Everything happens by accident and is solved by accident. Character building is trite; two orphans with a common enemy to avenge share the pain and fall in love. The movie does not even try to freshen it up a little and to be told in a creative way.

'Ready Player One' is a kind of movie that parents bring their kid who is addicted to the video game to tell him or her that 'you have to come out and face reality.' I cannot guarantee that even that child will be fooled with this childish, unnatural, and fake movie.

Magpie (2024)

So much more cathartic than average action movies

[8/10 · 24 April 2025]

Nothing is more exciting than well-planned revenge, especially when a protagonist has to be patient for such a long time. Anette's been quiet and reserved through gaslighting and emotional abuse from her husband. Daisy Ridley plays Anette successfully, emphasizing her poise and elegance & coldness and intelligence at the same time. The ending turned out differently, but she almost killed her husband with kindness. The build-up process to climax is well-developed, not losing tension and thrill till the end.

Nothing is more exciting than well-planned revenge, especially when a protagonist has to be patient for such a long time. Anette's been quiet and reserved through gaslighting and emotional abuse from her husband. Daisy Ridley plays Anette successfully, emphasizing her poise and elegance & coldness and intelligence at the same time. The ending turned out differently, but she almost killed her husband with kindness. The build-up process to climax is well-developed, not losing tension and thrill till the end.

Mickey 17 (2025)

So much potential to be great

[7/10 · 24 April 2025]

Satire on incompetent leaderships around the world, dictators, religions becoming more and more like cult, killings of Natives, destruction of environment, and others. Very intelligent AND enjoyable movie. However, I cannot get over the major fault in the premise as soon as Mickey 18 appears in the movie and till the end. Every human has one soul in one body except for Mickey. That's why Mickey is special: one soul and more than one body. However, Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 are totally different souls, different personalities, different people. They are not expendables; they are just twins. Unfortunately, the writing gets loose and disorganized around that time as well. 'Mickey 17' tries to pour so much into two hours that it overflows. It not only satirizes many social problems but also questions what it means to be a human. All two chunks are huge to digest in two hours, and the movie tries to do them both in a light way. I feel a huge discrepancy between form and content throughout the movie.

The Invitation (I) (2015)

Mixed feelings

[7/10 · 22 April 2025]

It was the cringiest 90 minutes of more than 1000 movies that I've watched. Then, this additional 10 minutes dissolve the cringiness, complaints, and dullness. (Not gone, dissolved.) I get that the awkward atmosphere and setting were necessary for the build-up. However, acting awkwardness and acting awkwardly are two different things, and the cast of 'The Invitation' chooses the latter. I'm glad that I've gone through the whole 100 minutes to see what the heck is going on in that house, I guess? The whole story looks okay, but the process of the story-building is a little amateurish.

Ten characters short.

All the Money in the World (2017)

Mediocre

[7/10 · 18 April 2025]

The story should be gripping, and the wrapping paper of the content looks lofty and luxurious. However, there's nothing left after the movie. The movie looks so great from one step behind, but when you take one step closer, it's just meh. I have a variety of fresh and quality fruits and a high-tech mixer. When I make juice out of them, it tastes worse than eating each fruit raw, and it's only a small amount, not even filling the cup I prepared. I cannot pinpoint the reason for feeling as if it's missing something, but 'All the Money in the World' feels incomplete and mediocre.

Short of seventeen characters.

Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey (2018 TV Movie)

Some of the TV films are better than expected.

[7/10 · 17 April 2025]

They are underrated. 'Believe Me''s plot is very well organized in chronological order. Part 1: what happened during her abduction. Part 2: family and police's distrust of Lisa. Part 3: Lisa and Larry's cooperation on solving the case.

Of course, there are some weaknesses, and some scenes look amateurish. Clothing and cars look 80s, but the police building and interior look so modern. The movie should hide it more, but everytime the scene moves to the police station, it keeps showing the outside of a glass building, and I come back to the 2020s.

Acting is a little disappointing. Lisa's emotions are complicated. She is scared but brave and detached but dedicated to the mission. She's not entirely sad or hopeless nor too optimistic or passionate. Douglas is a little short of bringing that complicated emotions to the screen.

When I come to think of it, the reason 'Believe Me' could be a good movie even though it has many flaws is that the real life event is too absorbing and unbelievably miraculous, and the real life figure is brave and smart as heck.

Unforgiven (1992)

Revisionist Western

[8/10 · 16 April 2025]

It's strange. Whenever I watch Clint Eastwood's films, I go into this deep contemplation mode after watching them. They are so attractive and lonely at the same time. They linger on. Not only the content but also the feelings.

'Unforgiven' is different from a typical western. I like that the movie is not morally black or white. William Munny is an anti-hero who had an unforgivable past and now struggles with morals when he chooses to kill. Not all characters are like 'Kill! Kill! Kill'. They hesitate and regret killings, and this is way more realistic. It makes them humans that we can connect to.

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

Simple and neat, and still good

[7/10 · 9 April 2025]

I like this kind of movie in which there is no clear right or wrong. I would not blame Patrick for whatever decision he had made. Life is more about morally grey areas than pure black or white. It's the choice, and people can only try hard to make the best out of the choice.

I'm not a fan of how the story is told. The story jumps and leaps, leaving chunks behind when moving forward. How Patrick arrives at the conclusion and decides to face Lionel is too sudden. There are still not enough reasons for Lionel and Remy to bring Patrick and Angie into the case because they are much more of risks than help from the get-go.

However, I really like the story itself. It asks many questions at the end of the movie. If someone's intention and outcome are good, is it okay to have an evil process in the middle? How much of a child's life is influenced by adults? How much should it be?

The Society (2019)

I want more!

[8/10 · 8 April 2025]

Netflix has got to bring it back. So much potential and so much left to tell. The story is gripping, and each character is unique and represents someone you might have seen in a group. Ensemble cast members have chemistry, and the actors are doing a good job even though they are relatively newcomers. There are so many unanswered questions. What happened to them, and how could they arrive in the exact same town and home as it was the day before? Who is the bus driver, and what is the smell? There are so many questions to ask what will happen in the future? Who is the real father of Becca, and what will happen to Becca's little family? Will Grizz and Sam end up together? Will Elle ever have courage to leave Campbell? Will parents and kids ever meet again? Mostly, I want justice done to Campbell.

Revelations (2025)

Right movie at the right time.

[8/10 · 1 April 2025]

Ryu plays a multi-faceted character with convincing emotions. Sung is a dorky, cowardly, greedy, power hungry, but incompetent pastor. Ryu portrays all five personalities at the same time and throughout. 'Revelations' reveals current social problems existing in Korea. It is very pungent, accurate, and realistic. Journalists give mike to perpetrators more than they listen to victims' stories. Korean churches become more like a cult, a shaman, or a political party. They truly believe they are chosen ones, but in reality, they are just doing WHATEVER they want under the name of God. 'Revelations' speaks what had to be said for a long time boldly and loudly.

Ne Zha (2019)

No legitimacy to be heroes

[7/10 · 31 March 2025]

If Ne Zha is that much violent, destructive, and rude, he IS kind of a demon. A hero is about saving and helping common people, and both Ne Zha and Ao Bing have zero concern for villagers. Lord Li and two masters are blind to people's happiness as well. Both Ne Zha and Ao Bing crave for people's approval and inclusion, but I'm actually on villagers' side that they would be so much happier without both of them. When people gather and kneel in front of them to show respect and appreciation, it's laughable and ridiculous because they burn all houses down, and the audience can see it so clearly in the background. The story lacks logic while the animation is showy.

Miranda (2009–2015)

I want to gallop, too!!

[8/10 · 25 March 2025]

Just freaking adorable and cute series. Borderline annoying, but mostly adorable. Each episode is chaotic and funny. A little bit childish, old-school, and far-fetched sometimes, but mostly hilarious and warm. Sitcoms sometimes throw plot arcs away from the window just to be funnier (ironically, this makes the series less funnier), but 'Miranda' has a plot structure, and it is very organized and solid.

For a woman, there are two most important relationships in life. One is with her mother, and the other is with the love of her life. That tricky and complicated relationship is accurately portrayed even in a short time and even in a comedy genre. Miranda's romance with Gary fully convinces and absorbs me because the script is strong.

I freaking love the endings. It would have been better if it ended with Miranda totally okay ending up alone. However, the final two episodes show real growth of Miranda, standing on her feet and determining and defining a healthy relationship with Penny and with Gary herself. Delightful and SO FUN ending as it should be.

Band of Brothers (2001)

The most disappointing series that I've ever watched.

[4/10 · 22 March 2025]

I was disappointed as heck. I cannot tell apart who's whom for God's sake. Only characters I remember are Winters, Nixon, and Buck. Even the series already showed the character development, how would I freaking know? People praise how realistic the combat scenes are. However, it was as if I was watching a good-quality real-life military simulation game because there is nothing, zero content, to connect from one battle to another. A bunch of battle scenes thrown without any plot organization. Hanks and Spielberg should have made a game show.

I'm currently short of about 50 characters. I meant what I said.

Nickel Boys (2024)

Being abstract is one thing, and being confusing is another.

[6/10 · 21 March 2025]

'Nickel Boys' tries new methods in the film. The camera stays at the eye-level of young Elwood, and this is effective because it embodies the happy and cozy childhood of small Elwood. This eye-level camera movement implies that he's taken care of, given attention, and loved. That's the only good part of RaMell Ross's 'NEW methods'.

I'm now going to list all those 'fresh' approaches of the director. However, I cannot find the 'purpose' of these approaches. Why does he choose these specific tools and forms to create what effect on the audience? None of them are answered. First, screen ratio. The director chooses a 1.33:1 ratio. It rather feels stuffed, blocking a wider view. My sight is blocked the whole time. Second, lots of montage, jagged editing, and lots of quick cuts. Again, I don't know why the director chooses this way, and I'm sure his intention has failed because It feels chopped and segmented, hindering the continuity and the flow of the movie and making the ending more confusing. In addition to these editing problems, story development is slow, making things worse.

Swallow (I) (2019)

Worth watching if you can endure the bad acting of the lead actors.

[8/10 · 20 March 2025]

The premise is fresh and worth materializing. The story-line is slow but organized and logical. Editing, colors, and composition of the screen is chic and stylish. The theme is clear and consistent throughout the film.

The style of 'Swallow' is distinctive and symbolic. For example, Richie's side of the family dresses modern, neat, and simple. The house Conrads bought for Richie and Hunter looks modern from the outside. In contrast, Hunter's clothing and hair style is from the 1950s. Interior design which falls on the responsibility of Hunter is mid-century modern, which was the most popular in the 50s. She's isolated from the rest of the family and stuck in time.

The problem is the acting. Haley Bennett's awkwardness is not the problem because Hunter is supposed to be socially awkward. I get that. However, every moment, every scene, I can see and tell that she is ACTING too hard. She is never Hunter but Haley acting as Hunter the whole ninety minutes. I freaking cannot understand why her performance is praised in 'Swallow'.

22 July (2018)

'I can't see the future.'

[9/10 · 20 March 2025]

Cross editing of the terrorist and the survivor is freaking effective. I also love the fact that '22 July' makes sure that they are survivors not victims. This juxtaposition does not unfold in a simple manner as if one is going downhill miserably and painfully, and the other is a glorious path. It eventually gets there, where it's supposed to be, but the road to recovery is opposite of expectation. The survivors go through more pain while the terrorist remains shameless. However, the ending is more glorious and hits harder because the movie realistically and honestly presents the survivors' trauma and journey.

I like that '22 July' does not stay on 22 July and solely on the terrorist and the survivors. It presents political reaction, social problems in Norway, emotions of Viljar's parents and brother, and the lawyer's stand on the event broadly.

Train to Busan (2016)

Unstoppable two hours

[8/10 · 19 March 2025]

The action and horror parts are surely great, but what I like more is how the director portrays human instinct and human interaction in society disgustingly realistically. The businessman is the most selfish man in the entire film history.. Just pure evil. However, when I see some part of me in him, it really hits hard and speaks loud. Even with all that going on, 'Train to Busan' manages to capture social problems prevalent in Korean society. Each section divided in the train represents a very stratified, selfish, and isolated society and groupism.

Action parts are very organized, like challenging each quest. First, in Dae-jeon, when people have to get back on the train. Second, when three men have to travel to section 13 to save remaining people and move to 15. Third, in Dae-goo, when they have to switch trains. Finally, the final battle between the hero and the villain. Each part is different from one another, different kinds of actions, keeping things interesting till the end.

Bloody Sunday (2002)

I decided to read about it after thirty minutes.

[4/10 · 17 March 2025]

Subject matter is interesting and not repetitive in film history, which is a rare opportunity. As I recently started reading about 'The Troubles', I was freaking curious and ready to be consumed in the movie. However, 'Bloody Sunday' cannot cook this first-class, fine-quality ingredient at all.

'Bloody Sunday' is good because it's realistic, and fails as a feature film because it's too realistic. 35mm film, washed out colors, and no artificial lighting make the film look like real footage from 1972. Camera movement is rather raw and shaky, heightening the sense of reality. Jagged editing and quick cuts raise anxiety and stress of a looming event.

In addition to all forms of cinema trying to look like a documentary, contents are more mundane and banal than forms. For example, when a unit is having a strategic meeting, I feel so left out. Rather than actors trying to deliver what's discussed in the meeting to the audience, they are just talking army argot like a real strategic meeting. Also, so many voices talk over one another, and it's hard to decipher what's being said. It gets harder because they all talk so fast. It's hard to connect to the movie, when it's pushing me away with all might.

I'm Still Here (2024)

juxtaposition and paradox & select and focus

[8/10 · 16 March 2025]

Juxtaposition of happy days on the beach and sudden raid and abduction of Paiva family is incredibly effective. It shows clearly and loudly that your peaceful and rather repetitive life can be changed into a nightmare in a second. The way Eunice handles the aftermath of arrest and the death of her husband so calmly and gracefully and the way the world does not change after she has experienced horrible mistreatmenton are surreal to me.

The atmosphere is paradoxical. In the beginning of the movie, when the family is having the happiest time in Rio, the movie shows helicopters and trucks full of armed soldiers from time to time, suggesting a looming and ominous vibe. In contrast, when Eunice comes back home from more than 10 days of imprisonment, 'I'm Still Here' shows a peaceful street, the same cheerful beach, and girls singing choir in the school garden. It was such a pleasurable cinematic experience.

Writers make an intelligent choice to focus on Eunice and narrate in Eunice's perspective of this multi-dimensional real-life event. It must have been a long and laborious journey from Ruben's capture to the government's acknowledgement of wrongdoings. It also involves an extensive range of people including five kids. However, writers trim it all down and dig deeper into Eunice's emotions. Very wise choice.

Three Months (2022)

Afterglow

[8/10 · 14 March 2025]

Content

Premise: A boy finds out that his one night stand is HIV positive, and his test result comes out in three months. 'Three months' documents his daily life and emotional state of those three months. When I read the plot summary, my first thought was 'is this gonna be another tear-jerker soap opera?'. It's my personal analysis, and it may be wrong; however, LGBQ awareness movies tend to be emotional, melancholy, and grey. 'Three months' does not scream the message, but it's still strong and powerful. The movie is not preachy about HIV awareness or does not describe Caleb as a sad misunderstood teenager.

Form

This is all possible because of how director Frieder chooses to tell the story in a composed way. There are not many scenes showing emotions of characters too directly. The lines are witty and short, and they do not overdo it. Writers really keep it simple but genuine and honest. It hits harder after the movie than during the movie. Emotions linger and resonate like afterglow. Photography, colors, and editing are very modern and young. Summery pictures and pastel colors allude to Florida and youth. Sivan's acting is something. He's so sincere that Caleb feels like a real person. I'm not sure he's a skilled actor, but I could tell that Sivan is telling his story in the movie.

Magnolia (1999)

Chaos

[4/10 · 13 March 2025]

Why on earth is 'Magnolia' praised? It's messy as heck, not the plot but all other things. Why does one background music keep playing for hours and hours? The supposedly suspenseful piece of music obscures an already multi-layered plot. The worst sound job in cinema history. My ears were never this tired. A mix of original scores, songs blasting in the audio, and everyday noise such as tvs and bar conversations is out of line. 'Magnolia' is the movie that needs a note and a pen. An ensemble of characters contributes an equal amount of importance to the movie, and the audience has to keep up. At the same time, the movie is yelling constantly in your ear, decreasing your ability and willingness to concentrate and follow the movie. AND what's up with Julianne Moore's acting? I've never seen her incompetent of acting before 'Magnolia'.