Cinema Escapist
Explore and connect the world through a cinematic lens
Review: Netflix’s “The Victims’ Game” Brings Thrills and Gore But Mostly Plays It Safe
BY Anthony Kao
Crime drama “The Victims' Game” fares better than other recent Taiwanese Netflix originals, but doesn’t push storytelling boundaries.
With “Island Nation,” Taiwan Finally Has A Political Drama
BY Anthony Kao
“Island Nation” recounts Taiwan’s transition to democracy, and breaks barriers around depicting politics in Taiwanese television.
Review: “Lost In Russia” Blends Mother-Son and Sino-Russian Relations
BY Anthony Kao
Xu Zheng’s latest movie in China’s famous “Lost In” series mixes mother-son bonding with superficial glances at Russian life.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.