2025 was a significant improvement for cinema compared to 2024. Not only did we see a skyrocket of beloved original movies financially succeeding at the box-office such as “Sinners” or “Weapons,” creating memorable cultural phenomena, but in general, original movies seemed to have exclusively made up the best of the year. This list will highlightContinue reading “The Fifteen Best Movies of 2025”
Tag Archives: reviews
Bi Gan and the Pursuit for Auteurship: A Resurrection Review – The 26th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival Recap
In “Resurrection,” 36-year-old director Bi Gan reveals a very telling thesis that helps explain the storytelling ethos of his previous work: humans cease to be humans without dreams; what it means to be us is to pervade logic from time to time. In 2015, at the age of 26, he released his feature-length debut “KailiContinue reading “Bi Gan and the Pursuit for Auteurship: A Resurrection Review – The 26th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival Recap”
Opening Night “Forge” – The 26th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival Recap
Following an exceptional 25th Birthday Celebration, the San Diego Asian Film Festival returned in 2025 for yet another round of quality filmmaking from Asian voices. The 26th Annual San Diego Film Festival opened in a different location from last year, the La Paloma Theater in Encinitas. It’s a historic venue and something of a changeContinue reading “Opening Night “Forge” – The 26th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival Recap”
‘Blue Sun Palace’ – 14th SDAFF Spring Showcase Recap
We’re far past the immigrant story in modern cinema. It’s a concept that’s been done to death but somehow continues to dazzle audiences. It’s not so much that these stories are bad or invalid, but they’ve become insular, the opposite of what they’re supposed to be. Many immigrant stories have become self-obsessed portraits meant forContinue reading “‘Blue Sun Palace’ – 14th SDAFF Spring Showcase Recap”
Turn off the Bright Lights 