Movie Reviews

Commentary, Movie Reviews, Raffles Reviews

A Twisted Tale: “Crocodile Tears” Sinks its Teeth in
Reading Time: 3 minutes

By Jane Ng (25S03D)

This review was written as part of the 35th Singapore International Film Festival’s (SGIFF) Cinephile Pass programme. 

For most of us, our experiences with crocodiles stop at the murky enclosures in Mandai Wildlife Reserve, or maybe the small circular logo on the side of our white rubber Crocs. However, for Johan and his mother (or “Mama”), the titular characters in Crocodile Tears (2024), it’s impossible to imagine a life without these reptiles. Indeed, Tumpal Tampubolon’s directorial debut foregrounds their family-run crocodile farm in Indonesia, and the dangers that lurk within.

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Movie Reviews, Opinion, Raffles Reviews

‘Dìdi’: A Well-worn Polaroid of Adolescence
Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Jane Ng (25S03D)

As they say, “To be cringe is to be free.” 

Unlike other coming-of-age films, Sean Wang’s directorial debut and winner of the prestigious Sundance award, Dìdi (2024) is interesting because it almost exclusively focuses on the parts of growing up that nobody wants to talk about. It’s a semi-autobiographical ode to the late-aughts and the universal experience of adolescence, and grapples with cultural upbringing, growing up with the internet, and finding your place in the world. 

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Movie Reviews, Op-Eds, Opinion, Raffles Reviews

Disney Doesn’t Feel The Same Anymore.
Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Kavya Thirunavukkarasan (25S03I)

Sitting on a couch in the centre of my living room, four-year-old me was awestruck by the Disney film Tangled. It was a pivotal moment in my young life: magic flower, magic hair, magic powers. 

That was the start of it all. Toy Story, Cinderella, Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, Sleeping Beauty—the list goes on. It was truly incredible when the shoe fit Cinderella, when Ariel reunited with Prince Eric, and when Prince Philip kissed Princess Aurora to break the curse. They all lived happily ever after.

Until they didn’t. The magic seemed to fade, perhaps because the pixie dust wore off, or maybe because I was no longer the four-year-old kid sitting on that couch in the centre of my living room. The wonder of a new world in Toy Story, the breathtaking underwater scenes in Finding Nemo, and the unforgettable taste of dreams in Ratatouille—they don’t evoke the same feelings now. 

Disney doesn’t feel the same anymore. 

So, what changed? And whose fault is it? Mine? Or Disney’s?

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Movie Reviews, Raffles Reviews

Feeling Ennui? Read this ‘Inside Out 2’ Review
Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Arshia Mahajan (25S06R)

Remember Inside Out, the movie that answered the question “What if our emotions had thoughts and feelings?” Believe it or not, it’s been nine years since the loss of our favourite imaginary friend Bing Bong, and its sequel, in true Pixar style, is full of laughs and perhaps a few tears too.

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Movie Reviews, Opinion, Raffles Reviews

‘How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’: A Lesson in Love and Loss
Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Jane Ng (25S03D)

Don’t let its wry title fool you—truth be told, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024) is a deeply sentimental movie that’s sure to pull at your heartstrings.

Pat Boonnitipat’s latest film, which has already become one of the highest-grossing domestic Thai flicks, is a charming tale of family, kinship and second chances. It’s no wonder that this movie has achieved immense success on social media and in cinemas region-wide, given the universal catharsis and charm it offers.

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