Highly Recommended
Bad Genius (2017) (Thai Drama/Suspense) – A smart girl decides to concoct an intricate plan to help other students cheat on their exams. Motivation of our protagonist is out of pure spite for the education system, as well as to make money. A very unethical person for sure, but I ended up rooting for her success because of a few reasons: (1) the lead actress is great; (2) the methods and schemes are very interesting to watch and surprisingly intense (especially during the second half); and (3) most of my teachers in real-life were lazy and pretentious, so I like seeing them get irritated in movies. There are also some big twists and plot developments that I was not expecting.
Recommended
Descendants of the Sun (2016) (Korean Romance/Thriller Television Series) – This K-drama focuses on four characters (played by Joong-ki Song, Hye-kyo Song, Jin Goo, Ji-won Kim) who are sent on a peacekeeping mission to a foreign country, which tests their skills and romantic relationships. This K-drama (16 episodes, 60 minutes each) is different due to its setting, which is distinctively non-Korean. The romantic relationships were developed quite well, and that’s especially true of our main couple. Performances are solid. The variety of conflicts creates a welcome unpredictability, but at times it feels like these events come from out of nowhere (which eliminates a sense of anticipation or suspense, and also makes certain events down the stretch feel rushed).
Bone Tomahawk (2015) (American Western Thriller/Horror) – Four men set out in the Wild West to rescue a group of captives from cannibalistic cave dwellers. Right from the start, you know the good guys are completely outmatched, which creates a stifling tension and sense of danger. Always nice to see Kurt Russell in a lead role, and he’s good as usual. This film features a few hideously graphic murder scenes (with some fantastic special effects) that some viewers may have trouble sitting through. One problem is the pacing: 132 minutes does feel too long, especially during the middle section, which features too many scenes of our protagonists walking in the wilderness. Nevertheless, director S. Craig Zahler is one to look out for.
Brawl on Cell Block 99 (2017) (American Drama/Thriller) – A former boxer-turned-drug runner lands in a prison after a deal gets deadly in this film by S. Craig Zahler. This director is very proficient and methodical in his approach to filmmaking, which means that he takes his time to set things up. The opening hour does a good job of developing the protagonist and the situaton. Vince Vaughn gives a surprisingly good performance too. Special effects are not as realistic as “Bone Tomahawk”; in fact, they are rather cheesy. Don’t go in expecting a lot of action, because the “brawl” itself only lasts a few minutes.
IT (2017) (American Horror) – In the summer of 1989, a group of bullied kids band together to destroy a shapeshifting monster, which disguises itself as a clown and preys on the children of Derry, their small Maine town. It’s always nice to see violence against children in movies, and this movie does it within the opening 10 minutes. For a film with a runtime of 134 minutes, this is paced rather well, with lots and horror sequences that are peppered throughout. The scare tactics also have a nice variety, despite the fact that jump scares are used fairly often. The kid actors are generally good. Most of the characters outside of the protagonists are cartoonish to the point of being distracting, but overall this is good stuff.
The Tag-Along 2 (2017) (Taiwanese Horror) – When social worker discovers that her pregnant teenage daughter has disappeared, her search leads her to many horrifying mysteries. This sequel does use some CGI imagery that is unconvincing, but there are quite a few creative visuals and images that are created along the way and the horror sequences are generally impressive. There’s a very creepy scene involving a room that’s used for black magic, the spirit will physically attack people on screen, and the very lengthy finale takes place in a dense foggy forest that is very atmospheric. Sound design is very strong. There are also some cultural nuances. It does get melodramatic near the end, but the script does a good job of establishing the dramatic connections between the mothers and daughters; so it is successful at being heartfelt. Not quite as good as its predecessor, but worth watching.
Wild Card (2015) (American Crime Drama/Action) – When a Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal skills and a gambling problem gets in trouble with the mob, he has one last play...and it's all or nothing. This is a slower paced drama, with minimal action. It’s difficult to tell where the film is going, which is actually a good thing. There are some interesting plot and character turns that I did not expect. Jason Statham is a fun leading man, and he seems to be at home in this role. Features an amusing interrogation sequence near the end. Anne Heche is still looking hot nowadays!
Not Recommended
A Special Lady (2017) (Korean Crime Drama/Thriller) – A woman within a criminal organization fights for her own survival. Characters are undeveloped and wafer thin. None of the conflicts or storylines are strong enough to make up for it. Not one memorable thriller or action sequence either (with the exception of one great beating involving a car). A good cast is wasted in this boring flick.
