On days when he’s not too busy, he’ll watch three or four movies in one go. At the end of the year, he might even spend a whole day bingeing as many as seven. When he likes a director, he’ll sit down and experience their entire filmography front to back. HYUNMIN, in other words, is a cinephile, through and through.  Movies fill HYUNMIN with new emotions, courage, visions of his future, and memories of his childhood. By reading the ARrC leader’s film reviews, we get an insight into the personal life and deeper thoughts of someone for whom watching movies is more than just a hobby—it’s a way of life.

“Robot Dreams”
HYUNMIN: An animated film with a runtime of 103 minutes and not a single line of dialogue? I was extremely intrigued and very excited for this one. The story of love and affection between a dog and a robot is engaging enough already, but if you dig deeper, you’ll realize that this movie is about more than just love and companionship. It shows how a relationship starts, blossoms, and ends, and the process of moving on, all in a way that feels ordinary and very patient—uncomplicated, but delicate. First loves are always imperfect and awkward, but we learn so much through relationships and grow from the experience, and those lessons shape us. The cycle of goodbyes and hellos, where we learn to let each other go for the sake of each other’s happiness, and focus on the good times we shared together, rather than the painful parts, is, I think, what growth is. (The scene where Dog and Robot are out on a date and the song “September” plays filled me with so many feelings and made me feel wrapped up in happiness. Even if someone can’t be in your life forever, the memories you made with them will be.)

“Marriage Story”
HYUNMIN: This Noah Baumbach film is the heartbreaking story of just how broken a relationship with someone you once loved can become, and how ugly people can get in the process. When you’re a couple, no one’s closer to you than that other person, and they know exactly what can hurt you the most, so when the relationship falls apart, they know exactly what to say to cut the deepest. Relationships are extremely complicated. When a family breaks down, the differences in perspectives and the absolute stubbornness create a chaos that can lead to nothing but pain. Even with the bitter way the movie ends, I still want to believe that love is what keeps humanity going, and that it gives us the courage to keep moving forward. (The scene where Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver get into a fight was probably the most gripping moment of cinema I’ve seen in the past six years.)

“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”
HYUNMIN: This is the third installment in the legendary action-adventure franchise “Indiana Jones.” Personally, I consider this film, along with the first movie, “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” to be the highlight of the series. The plot revolves around Dr. Indiana Jones racing against the Nazis in the search for the Holy Grail to stop them from taking over the world. Sean Connery, the original James Bond from the legendary spy series, plays Indiana Jones’ father, and the father-son chemistry between the two really elevates the movie. (I can never forget the look in Sean Connery’s eyes when he tells his son to let go of the Grail, even though he’s spent his whole life looking for it himself.) I personally love action-adventure movies, so this is one of those movies I watch at least once a year, along with films like “The Goonies” and “The Mummy.” (For the record, the first time I ever watched this movie was when I borrowed it on DVD from the library as a kid, and some of the scenes were so scary to me that I remember them showing up in my dreams.)

“Monty Python and the Holy Grail”
HYUNMIN: This movie is nonstop laughs from start to finish—a satirical masterpiece from legendary British comedy troupe Monty Python that was ahead of its time. Between all the ridiculous but absolutely unforgettable characters, the stellar performances, and a storyline you’re better off appreciating viscerally than trying to mentally figure out, it truly is the Holy Grail of cult comedies. (This movie matches my sense of humor so perfectly that I’ve seen it enough times to have the characters’ lines, the sound effects, and even the timing of their movements memorized.)

“Hot Fuzz”
HYUNMIN: The second film in Edgar Wright’s iconic “Cornetto Trilogy,” “Hot Fuzz” is an action-comedy about Nicholas, an overly by-the-book London cop, who gets reassigned to the rural village of Sandford. Once there, he uncovers the dark secret behind the town. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost never disappoint, and the duo keeps up the chemistry and sidesplitting banter throughout the whole movie. This is easily one of Edgar Wright’s best works. It’s the perfect movie to pair with some popcorn on a casual night over the weekend. (The highlight is the action scene near the end where the two officers take on the townspeople after their true nature is revealed.)

“Big Fish”
HYUNMIN: If someone had asked me before watching this movie to choose between an alluring lie and a disappointing truth, I probably would’ve gone with the disappointing truth. But after watching this film, I realized that an alluring lie can actually be the perfect way of capturing a person’s entire life. The adventure stories Edward tells his son Will may seem farfetched, but whether they’re true or not doesn’t really matter. He’s not trying to brag—he’s just a storyteller. (The way the son finishes his father’s life story at the end made me wish my final moments on Earth could be just like that. It’s a scene I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life.) On top of that, Tim Burton brings out the beauty of the story with stunning visuals that perfectly capture why the fantasy genre exists.

“Big”
HYUNMIN: We all imagine what it’d be like to be grown up when we’re kids. I was the same way. I wanted to hurry up and be older. I thought being an adult would mean I’d be free to do whatever I want, but growing up means having to give some things up and make compromises for others. I looked at adults and thought they were free to do whatever, but they weren’t. In fact, they had to give up their free time and their dreams just to get by day to day. You can’t grow up and hold onto your childlike wonder. I’m an adult, and I lost that feeling a long time ago. But Josh, the main character in this movie, makes a wish to a machine that turns him into an adult with the mind of a child overnight. He has an eye for making toys kids like in a way adults just can’t see, and his pure-heartedness charms everyone around him. Maybe, as adults, we’ve forgotten so much. Thanks to Josh, us adults are reminded of that childlike wonder. (The piano scene with the owner of the toy company and Tom Hanks shows the childlike spirit that can connect the old and young and is, in my opinion, a masterpiece. Also amazing is how the adult Tom Hanks can act as a kid acting as an adult.)

“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
HYUNMIN: There comes a moment in every person’s life when they must face a choice: Will you choose dreams, or reality? There are times in life when you have to give up on your dreams and ideals in order to keep going. This movie is a tribute to those who work hard and dedicate themselves fully to their responsibilities, and offers a kind of solace, too. Some people might have dreamed of being a rock climber but ended up working in accounting, and some might have dreamed of becoming a sculptor and ended up working a completely unrelated job. Still, we all have our dreams, and we should never dismiss someone else’s. The movie also really makes you think by asking the question, “Are you living in the moment?”