Anthony Kao, Author at Cinema Escapist

Xu Zheng’s latest movie in China’s famous “Lost In” series mixes mother-son bonding with superficial glances at Russian life.

Japan

Review: “Hit Me Anyone One More Time” Is A Playful Political Comedy From Japan

BY Anthony Kao

Starring Kiichi Nakai and Dean Fujioka, “Hit Me Anyone One More Time” offers a jovial and rather idealistic portrayal of a boorish Japanese Prime Minister...

South Korea

Review: “Beasts Clawing At Straws” Stars Jung Woo-sung In A Taut Tale of Chasing Money

BY Anthony Kao

Jung Woo-sung and Jeon Do-yeon headline Korean crime thriller “Beasts Clawing At Straws,” which premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2020.

South Korea

Review: “The Man Standing Next” Stars Lee Byung-hun As Park Chung-hee’s Assassin

BY Anthony Kao

"The Man Standing Next" re-interprets Korean President Park Chung-hee's assassination using elements of Shakespearean tragedy.

South Korea

Review: “Secret Zoo” Looks For Laughs With Humans Dressing Like Animals

BY Anthony Kao

Korean comedy “Secret Zoo” elicits light laughter and offers slight social commentary in its heartwarming but forgettable story.

Malaysia

Review: Netflix’s “The Ghost Bride” Brings Malaysian Chinese Superstition To Life

BY Anthony Kao

Netflix's first Malaysian Mandarin-language original series offers a compelling premise and memorable production design amidst a rocky narrative.

Taiwan

The 10 Best Taiwanese Movies of 2019

BY Anthony Kao

Cinema Escapist reveals the top Taiwanese movies of 2019, across genres like romance, horror, action, crime, drama, sports, and more.

South Korea

Review: “Ashfall” Is An Epic Disaster Film With Korean Flavor…And Tropes Galore

BY Anthony Kao

Starring Lee Byung-hun, Ha Jung-woo, Bae Suzy, and Ma Dong-seok, “Ashfall” (a.k.a. “Baekdusan”) combines big-budget Hollywood tropes with inter-Korean politics.