THE MOTEL (2005)

 

Written & Directed By: Michael Kang

Based on the novel “WAYLAID” By: Ed Lin

Cinematography: Lisa Leone

Editor: David Leonard and Colleen Sharp

Cast: Sung Kang, Jeffrey Chyau, Jade Wu, Samantha Futerman, Clint Jordan, Eleanor Hutchins, Ron Domingo, Jackie Nova 

Thirteen-year-old Ernest Chin lives and works at a sleazy hourly-rate motel on a strip of desolate suburban bi-way. Misunderstood by his family and blindly careening into puberty, Ernest befriends Sam Kim, a self-destructive yet charismatic Korean man who has checked in. Sam teaches the fatherless boy all the rites of manhood.

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Even though it offers a coming-of-age story from A different viewpoint. It also shows how universal themes and experiences most of us all have at some points.

It barely offers any answers or true endings, but that is how certain aspects and problems are in

Life also. Especially wanting to be an adult but still acting like a child. 

The film Feels unfinished to a certain extent. As it is already short in running time. That you in the audience wanr more from the film and the characters. You want to stay with them showing how much they mean to you and how strong the filmmaking is, that you have formed a bond with them.

The film is kind of a downer and has quite a few explicit material that might make some in the audience uncomfortable.

Showcasing a young man going through puberty with no male role Models. No real emotional support for his interests. Forced into the family

Business. Bullied and in the friend zone with his crush. 

It also showcases Sung Kang in an early

Role before being in the FAST & FURIOUS franchise. In a role that has the character who comes and shakes things up. Who becomes a debauched role model of sorts. Though has a tragedy behind him.

The film feels like a short story that was needed to be shared. A rarity that unfortunately is never followed up, but serves as an example of something shiny and worth your attention.

Though as an adaptation it seems like lighting in a bottle for both. 

Grade: B- 

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS (2025)

 

Directed By: Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang

Story By: Maggie Kang 

Written By: Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang, Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan

Head Of Cinematography Layout: Gary H. Lee

Editor: Nathan Schauf 

Featuring the voices of… Arden Cho, May Hong, Ji-Young Yoo, Ken Jeong, Daniel Dae Kim, Ahn Hyo-Seop, Yunjin Kim, Lee Byung-Hun,Liza Koshy, Joel Kim Booster

When they aren't selling out stadiums, Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat. Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet - an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise.

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Trust me, this film came totally as a surprise to me as the title pretty much says it all and I didn’t at first have too much interest in it but heard so many glowing reviews and word-of-mouth that I decided to check it out and I’m glad I did 

As this animated film was truly a marvel to experience and caught me totally off guard. It’s dramatic. It’s funny. It’s silly has supernatural elements, but is also a satire of K-pop music and the whole industry or phenomenon around it well also exposing the heart of it and how meaningful the music can be to not only the artist, but especially the audience

It also works as a full-blown musical with not only the stage performances of the songs, but also in their singing their emotions after certain dramatic scenes

This is also a film that could only be told truly an animated form as to make a live action version of this film. You couldn’t exactly get the angles and the budget would have to be super inflated, and it just wouldn’t lend itself to the silliness at certain times.

Now the film has action sequences, but it’s not heavily an action film. It seems to care more about emotions and humor as well as being an outcast.

This one just has an energy and excitement that feels contagious and you’re willing to follow the film wherever it goes. 

It’s quite enjoyable and I have to say so far one of the better films that I have seen this year I can say it certainly not for everybody but if you ever just wanna have fun and get lost in a film with a pretty good soundtrack to boot or just a fan of musicals you should definitely give this film a try

Grade: B

HAPPY GILMORE 2 (2025)

 

Directed By: Kyle Newacheck

Written By: Adam Sandler And Tim Herlihy 

Cinematography: Zak Mulligan

Editor: Tom Costain, Brian Robinson and J.J. Titone 

Cast: Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald, Benny Safdie, Ben Stiller, Sadie Sandler, Bad Bunny, Julie Bowen, Haley Joel Osmet, Lavell Crawford, Dennis Dugan

Nearly thirty years have passed since Happy Gilmore famously won the 1996 Tour Championship. For nearly twenty years after that victory his career flourished. That ended when his wife was tragically killed on a golf course. Distraught he gave up golf and turned to looking after his five kids. Over time, however, he has become an alcoholic and is working in a supermarket. Now his daughter has the opportunity to attend a prestigious dance school and the cost sees him contemplate taking up golf again.

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this is why personally I don’t really watch Adam Sandler movies. when he is majorly behind the scenes in the writing and producing of his comedies anymore. I don’t mind when he’s working on the film, strictly as an actor because then you get films like UNCUT GEMS or his other two more dramatic Netflix movies where not perfect but the films were at least decent in someway.

this is a sequel to one of my favorite of his early comedies. As now he seems to be like Woody Allen, where if you were going to know his work, he would more praise his early funny films whereas now his comedies that he writes are kind of like Tyler Perry movies where it seems like he’s writing for himself or jokes that he finds funny, but he doesn’t seem to really care about the audience , which is a shame as Adam Sandler can be a likable screen presence at times at least back when he was making films that made audiences laugh

though now his films feel like they are parties or a reason for his friends to get Work and also for him to get to hang out with them. As it seems like they’re having much more fun hanging together than worrying about the actual script, character direction or making anybody laugh. as with each new film, it also seems like Sandler‘s entourage grows now not only does. He usually cast his friends, but now his family his wife and daughters are added into the mix of most of his films which he has a right to do, but I don’t think the audience was clamoring for it

This film seems to bring back every character from the first film in some sort of way even the minor ones who might’ve just been there for one scene and just in case you forgot the film seems to want to provide flashbacks for you to remember. The film also has a ridiculous number of cameos throughout the film even for no reason I don’t know if it was they wanted to be in the sequel or if he asked them it was fans or if this was all him trying to appeal to a younger audience as he has the usual commentators sports commentator celebrities but he also has influencers podcast Eminem for some reason throughout

not only is the storyline, stupid and ridiculous, but it also makes no real sense. As they play extreme golf and that must be played but worse of all it’s not funny at all so you are constantly wondering who is this for because it kind of insults, the originals audience and this film doesn’t seem like it’s going to influence the next generation to wanna watch it either. 

I really had hope that this would at least be decent, but if anything it just seems to Barry the remembrance of the original where you wish that it had been a one and done. If anything it also might just remind you of how good or decent the first one was and how fall this film has fallen from it’s legacy.

Grade: F 

THE GUTTER (2024)

 

Directed By: Isaiah Lester & Yassir Lester 

Written By: Yassir Lester 

Cinematography: Veronica Bouza 

Editor: David Dean and Josh Porron

Cast: Shamiek Moore, D’Arcy Carden, Susan Sarandon, Paul Reiser, Kim Fields, Paul Scheer, Jay Ellis, Langston Kerman, Jackee Harry, Adam Brody

Walt lands work at bowling alley AlleyCatz. He's pressured to embrace his bowling talent, which sparks backlash from detractors seeking to undermine his sudden pro success.

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This is a film that will instantly remind most of the movie KINGPIN. As a revolves around bowling and a come back for an alcoholic, former champion as well as an innocent newcomer, who is a natural at the sport, who gets a little seduced by the Fame and the money to a degree. 

So you can obviously see some of its inspirations. 

It’s also a goofy comedy like that film only not as focused on gross out humor. Here the film just get more and more ridiculous as it goes along, but it manages to keep It’s humor and a smile on the audiences faces. As you take nothing presented that seriously.

As the film has it’s basic story elements constructed but seems to through jokes all

Over the place. Where happy the cast seems more like guest stars or that they were friends with the cast and crew and decided to make cameos in small roles for the day. 

Most of the characters aren’t that successful and come actors as dumb. Some dumber than others. Though in all the silliness It’s ok 

You will more be shocked at the casting of the film more than anything. The film’s humor is more dirty than anything but not over the top. As the film is quite charming. Nevertheless over staying it’s welcome. 

It’s nothing too special, nor offers too many surprises but it has a good heart and likeable enough characters.

The film stays simple and entertaining. It’s not a film you will remember much about afterwards but you should enjoy as it plays. 

Grade: C+

THE FIRE INSIDE (2024)

 

Directed By: Rachel Morrison 

Written By: Barry Jenkins 

Cinematography: Tommy Daguanno and Rina Yang 

Editor: Harry Yoon

Cast: Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry, De’Andre Aziza, Idrissa Sanogo Bamba, Adam Clark, Olunike Adeliyi, Chrystian Buddington, Lanette Ware, Sarah Allen 

Claressa Shields becomes the first American woman to win a gold medal only to learn that not all dreams are created equal.

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That is truly what the film is about the passion that fires inside that won’t let you quit for any reason even when you try to walk away, there’s something that keeps bringing you back to it. That is what the film and the filmmakers tried to instill in this inspirational true story.

Though the second half of this film is more eventful. As well as the achievements of the person in real life this film is based upon. The film set up a strong foundation. Which we see as the discovery and maintenance of her drive and passion.

The film offers a look at her personal life, and those that she seeks out to support and those who truly support her. As the route, no character is one dimensional they managed to turn themselves around or show their true colors. 

In that way, the film already plays against the traditional where all of a sudden one character stays the same throughout except for one scene or one final act where all of a sudden they change it kind of an apology or change for the worse. 

The film is very inspiring, even showing what happens after initial success, and all the hoopla dies down. It shows how to maintain and find meaning afterwards, as well as the power of community when it comes to support in all different ways. 

The film is a familiar story of sports discipline and training and saving someone from a bleak future by fighting against all odds .

The film doesn’t have as much fighting scenes as he would expect as it is more dealing with the day-to-day drama of her life, and her family unit parental child bonding with her coach and his family, and the jealousy provides in her family who seemed dysfunctional they were always changing and evolving Usually for the better though there are some trials and tribulations for the worse.

No truthfully, it’s that drama that keeps the film afloat and keeps the audience interested as this is a film of hope and what can be achieved with hard work, finesse, and belief in oneself 

Grade: B-