Reviews

I'm not sure

I don't know how to rate this, so I just rated it, middle of the road. On one hand, it's based on a true story and I don't like rating true stories because you can't rate someone's life, but on the other hand, it had very graphic drug usage and I don't particularly like to see it up close and personal, it also had some X scenes that were extremely graphic that I was not prepared for, nor did I want to see. I like spice probably more than the average person but that was too spicy, like P*orn spicy and I didn't like that. I appreciate the light shed on the whole "what happens when you get involved with this stuff" it showed the decline that Fei had to face all up till his death. I also feel like it was a little too realistic and it needed trigger warnings for sure.

Also, we saw the dealer upset over Fei's death BUT I wanted to see the friends that he called because they blew him off, I would've liked to see their reactions to his death.

Also, the breaking of the 4th wall was. not my thing. I could've done without that.

Then the end when the dealer goes back to dealing as soon as he got out of jail was crazy to me, I mean he was already clean from being in jail for 8 years and he was distraught over Fei's death, so you would think he would change his life but he goes right back to it.

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An Unnecessary Prequel

Wandering Earth 2 does not pick up at the end of the first movie or even some time later. Instead, it opts to go a couple decades earlier before the lead character of WE2, Liu Pei Qiang, met the mother of the lead character of WE, Liu Qi. WE2 shows us what happened on Earth prior to movie 1 and how the plan to move the planet was initiated and accomplished. The problem with that is that I don't think anyone was really asking.

The story drags, especially around Andy Lau's character, Tu Heng Yu, who perfects the A.I. program. The end of WE2 connects us to the beginning of the first movie and to a comment made by Pei Qiang toward the end of WE. It gave 2001: A Space Odyssey vibes. The movie has excellent graphics. Honestly, my favorite parts of the movie came from the suppporting and guest roles. The Chinese excel at making side conversations interesting (or funny) as opposed to mummbles when you know people are speaking you just don't know what they're saying as with most movies. It's an anime trope that works very well in a scifi movie where there is a lot of action and movements going on simultaneously.

The cast is good. There are little scenes that stand out and gestures by some actors. Li Xue Jian plays a politician and his facial expressions and small gestures gave life to every scene he was in. There's a scene where he is just clapping, but the way he claps & his facial expression speaks volumes. That's an actor! When you can command a scene and get your point across without opening your mouth. You're a master. Kawawa Kadichi plays South African astronaut, Herbert Copley, who goes through training with Liu and has a running gag of Pei Qiang not understanding him. Another character (either his name is Chief Wang or I have 2 characters mixed up) was great. The scenes between the Chief and Liu were touching. Wu Jing as Liu Pei Qiang and Andy Lau as Tu Heng Yu were good. Nothing really stellar to write about except for Yu's creep factor. He was a creepy grieving scientist on the verge of maybe becoming the quintessential mad scientist.

The music partly made the music. It set the tone and provided suspense in scenes that wouldn't have had any otherwise. Re-watch is low, but I can see myself re-watching scenes.

Over all, it's entertaining... enough. It's not a movie that I would tell people they had to see even if they saw the first one. If I heard someone saying they were going to watch the WE series, I'd advise them to watch chronologically and watch 2 before 1, especially since 2 is more story driven while 1 is almost non-stop action.

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A creatively thrilling ride.

I will keep this review spoiler-free. I saw this in the cinema today and it was not what I would have guessed in any way (nor did it resemble the works some commenters have mentioned).

All the way through this film had me fully engaged. It didn’t rely on any cheap jumpscares or implausible elements that would lead to plotholes or break immersion; if anything, what’s scary is the plausibility. There was some serious attention to detail from the cast and creators, which lead to me well and truly enjoying the experience.

The actors all nailed their parts, the soundtrack was unobtrusive but used perfectly when it had its moment (a hard feeling to describe but that moment was perfect). I was left with two small questions that would likely be answered by being better at Japanese, however I can also say I was left deeply satisfied with what I watched.

A little point of caution is that this film is graphic - the murder cases aren’t glossed over and there’s injury detail.

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The tale of two cowards

The first part of this review doesn't contain spoilers; the second does - read at your own discretion.

First part:

I think I went in with absolutely, utterly low expectations due to other reviews and I think that helped when it came to my enjoyment. Some of the things other reviewers talked about didn't take the spotlight during my own watching, but I must admit that I could be biased due to my love for shoujo manga and their adaptations in general. If you want to watch a movie which doesn't take itself too serious and talks about high school romance, this could be the movie for you. The leads did a pretty good job with the script they were given.

Second part:

I think a lot of people missed the point of this movie. They are both 17 years old and have no other experience in romance. Both are too afraid to speak out their feelings, but it's obvious to both of them they're in love with each other. FL's reason for not confessing was weak, but she's a teenage girl dreaming of being confessed to. ML's reasons for not confessing were much deeper - the feelings of insecurity and not being good enough.

Is it the most serious movie you'll ever watch? No, not by a longshot.
Is it as bad as others present it? I'd argue no.

Honestly, shoujo manga's are famous for their dramatic shenanigans and over-the-top events. It comes with the territory. And when I put into perspective myself at that age I kind of understand the impulse to do stupid things even when you know better - you're only 17. The whole point of growing up is making mistakes and having enough time to correct them, learn and develop. Which is something their characters managed to do by the end of this movie.

Second lead syndrome did hit kinda hard, though. Damn.

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Uneven story with wildly over-the-top wuxia action

Butterfly and Sword was a bloody, high flying, star-studded, overly complex, mess of a movie. And entertaining in a way only an over-the-top wuxia starring Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen, and Tony Leung Chiu Wai could be.

What was it about? Good question. I've watched it twice and it still has confusing elements. Every synopsis I read had a slightly different take on it. Lady Ko, Meng Sing Wan, and Yip Cheung have been together since they were street kids doing what they had to do to survive. All grown up, the three are assassins who often take well paid jobs from the eunuch. Lady Ko is the boss, motivated by gold and power. Sing is lovers with Butterfly, the daughter of a martial artist killed in battle. Sing pretends to not know any martial arts, telling her he has to go on business trips every once in a while. Yip also works for Ko and spends his spare time peeping on her when she’s bathing. It’s not really a love triangle, this is more like a love conga line. Yip loves Ko, Ko loves Sing, and Sing love Butterfly. When the eunuch sends Ko and her Happy Forest to take down the Elites Villa and retrieve a letter listing rebels, the blood begins to spew and body parts start flying.

Michelle Yeoh gave a nuanced performance of a deadly assassin who grieved her lost childhood and love. I wasn’t crazy about the jealousy trope for a strong woman, but she made it work. Donnie Yen was the love sick puppy lacking the courage to tell Ko he’d loved her since they were children. Tony Leung gave a lighthearted take on the assassin in love. I’m not familiar with Joey Wong, but her Butterfly was annoying. Despite all the strategizing, spying, betrayals, and gruesome fights, the story came to a screeching halt every time Butterfly came on screen.

The fight choreography was wildly excessive. Sing was able to launch himself like an arrow from a line in a tree or Ko’s body. Was the craziest technique I’ve seen in a wuxia, especially when he blew through people’s bodies. Nothing could withstand the characters’ abilities, not even buildings. Donnie and Michelle had a great fight scene in a bamboo forest that left most of their opponents skewered. It also showcased Michelle’s flexibility. Even though there were numerous gruesome decapitations by a variety of methods, they were fake enough to be more humorous than terrifying. There was even lethal soccer action! If you don’t like wire-fu, skip this one. Most scenes used wires and sped up action. Tony Ching put his imagination to good use developing the maniacal fight choreography.

Butterfly and Sword was not a great movie, but it was fun. The story was maddeningly disjointed and edited. Fortunately, Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen, and Tony Leung were in their prime and held nothing back. When scenes cut abruptly into a different one or the reason behind certain actions weren’t explained, it helped to keep an eye on the stars. This is a movie for fans of the genre and who don’t mind a film that isn’t polished and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

11 March 2024

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"My heart belongs to me"

Raging Phoenix starred Thai kicker Jeeja Yanin. The story was weak as was some of the acting, but those are not the priorities in this genre of movie. Did Jeeja kick, elbow, and pummel her enemies in style? Yes. Was the fight choreography as incredible as Chocolate? No. But most of the fights were entertaining.

Brokenhearted Deu escapes from a kidnapping and is rescued by a stranger named Sanim. He battles fighters that wouldn’t have been out of place in a Road Warrior movie. Or a parkour street fight with razor prosthetics. His team is made up of three other fighters-Dogsh*t, Pigsh*t, and Bullsh*t. They’ve all lost women in their lives to the kidnappers and are resolved to bring the Jaguar gang down and rescue the surviving victims. The men practice Meyraiyuth, a form of drunken Muay Thai. Before you can say, “Wax on, wax off,” Deu is a proficient fighter. She’s willing to be used as bait to find the headquarters of the bad guys and where the women are being kept. Nothing goes that easy and they will all find themselves in considerable peril.

The story was thin and filled with man pain tropes. Jeeja Yanin had enough acting ability for what the role called for and there’s something about her that is likeable. Kazu Tang who was usually employed as a stuntman or fight choreographer was fine as the determined Sanim and object of Deu’s unrequited love. The Poop Brothers weren’t very strong actors but conveyed enough meaning to keep the story going. Though their first thirty minutes was filled with slapstick comedy that five-year-olds would appreciate.

The fights were well choreographed and the wire-work, for the most part, blended in. There was plenty of action that didn’t require any special effects help. Jeeja and Kazu were fun to watch as they kicked, bounced, and spun. Both were quick and athletic. The fight between Jeeja and Roongtawan Jindasing’s evil Jaguar had some moves that appeared all too real and bone crushing. The Poop Brothers’ style came across as a combination of Meyraiyuth and break dancing. I’ve never seen a fighting style that required spinning on one’s head! Raging Phoenix wouldn’t win any awards for the CGI backdrops to the fights, they were pretty bad. For a lower budget film, I didn’t mind.

If you are looking for a coherent and tightly written story, this won’t be it. If you are looking for superb acting, best to pass. If you enjoy high flying, flipping, crushing knee kicks and elbow hits and kickass women fighting, this might be the ticket.

11 March 2024

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Falls somewhat flat compared to the drama (but still a good watch)

First part of my review contains no spoilers and the second does. Read at your discretion.

First part:

I'd generally recommend this drama to people and this movie as a continuation of it. It's a solid ending which wrapped all of the fluffy things in neat wrapping paper. You see characters grow and develop alongside some side stories which do make an impact as to how this entire Cherry Magic ordeal is perceived.

Second part:

Their chemistry was lacking compared to the drama. It felt as if though I was constantly at the edge of my seat waiting for that impressive finish line cross and it didn't happen. Not even a singular kiss. It was certainly interesting seeing how queer people navigate interpersonal relationships with their families and friends in Japan (as opposed to where I'm from), but I anticipated just a tiny bit more skinship - or, if that wasn't an option due to the actors, more romantic scenes. But it just felt as if the energy was off a bit overall.

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This short pinoy film told me what he had. Viewers who can and understand the Philippine production with all its mistakes and missteps will certainly be interested in the fact that the farmer after the loss of his beloved wife went completely crazy and the originally antagonistic relationship between the farmer and the activist became dull and secondary. Both the main protagonists cut these roles two years before playing the main characters in Lodi. I do not recommend this short to most viewers, especially critical ones, don't waste your time.


Tento krátký pinoy film mi sdělil, co měl. Pro diváky, co mohou a rozumí filipínské produkci se všemi jejími chybami a přehmaty, jistě zaujme to, že farmář po ztrátě své milované ženy se dočista zbláznil a původne antagonní vztah farmíř versus aktivista vyšumněl a byl podružný. Oba hlavní protagonisté si střihli tyto role dva roky předtím, než si zahráli hlavní postavy ve filmu Lodi, který zde máme přeložen do cz. Tento kraťas nedoporučuji většině diváků, hlavně těm kritickým, neztrácejte čas.

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to anyone actually reading my review…PLS IGNORE ALL MY TYPOS !!!

so this film actually took me a solid day of reflection to understand. maybe it wasn’t the MOST exciting movie but this is a (low-budget) masterpiece. i’ve heard really negative things about this film but i think a large part of that negativity simply comes from people not understanding the film. i actually kinda hated it right when it ended, but, fast forward a day…i’m obsessed.

STORY:
genius. incredibly confusing but it a great way. it starts out and u think it’ll be a little high school romance, but about half way through, the confusion hits and then u have no idea what’s real or not.
i strongly believe tam has some kind of identity disorder or has schizophrenia. he himself has no clue what all he’s done. throughout the film, from tams POV (also the viewers) he is the victim in this story. but at the end, i think it finally hits him that he’s the reason behind everything.
my theory: i unfortunately believe phom isn’t even real. i think he is some typa hallucination or tam’s “alter ego”. one reason i think this is because the only time phom is shown is with tam. phom doesn’t exist without tam. and i actually believe tam realized this in the very last scene but i don’t think he cared because i think as long as he got to be with phom, he was happy.

CAST:
gun atthaphan. sooo obviously it’s a 10/10…i don’t even think i need to say any more.

MUSIC:
ok so the soundtrack was basically non-existant but the silence itself was able to say more than i think any music could’ve. it also just made the movie feel incredibly realistic and i think it was a genius move made by the production team.

i doubt anyone is actually gonna read this lmfao but i just needed some place to sort out/ share my thoughts:) bye bye now

Leia Mais

Very Disney esque

I wouldn't say I liked it, but I wouldn't say I hated it also. It's just "eehh... it's aight" because I rarely watch Disney-esque movies anymore unless I'm forced by my sister or cousin.

The story was fine, but they really took their time on the childhood part, I was like "They are carefully setting up the story, huh?" it's not like fast-paced random flashes of scenes and then time skip to teenager. Once you get past that, it'll start rolling, but then again, once it got to the witch part, they kinda got stuck, In my opinion, the writer kinda overwritten that part, because they spent so much time in there, by the time that finished, the ML was like "Oh yeah, I forgot what my true goal was" and then resumed rolling the story. To be fair it kinda helped with ML's growth, but again that part was just too long for me because by the time we got to FL, she barely had any screentime for exploration, It was just like *snap* *snap* *snap* things started happening.

As for the characters, I don't know... no one really stood out to me, but they are all funny, I'll give them that. I guess, just to pick someone, probably the most memorable would be 'Yu yu' because of the things that she kept doing in order to satisfy her own desires, it looked horrible on paper, but they came out as funny moments on the movie, and to be honest, I was just here because of her actress 'Zhou Ye'. ML, 2nd FL, and the Witch had good dynamic; as for ML and FL, I didn't really feel the chemistry between them. That child actor for ML at the beginning was good despite his age. I was amazed.

The acting. I didn't really notice it until I got in deep, but it felt like I was watching a theatrical play, add some singing scenes, and then you got a western-like fairy tale movie. Like I said, this film is like Disney-esque. When I realized it, I was like "Yeah, I'm noticing it now, it feels like they are acting like they are in a theater" Now, I'm not implying that as bad, but it just felt like a change of pace for me.

So yeah... overall, it's aight. I would probably enjoy this when I was still into fairytale stuff.

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Sexual Fantasy Film About Two Childhood Friends.

Plot Summary: In this short film, friends reunite after one of them returns to their hometown. Unfortunately, the story feels scattered and lacks coherence. The acting quality is subpar, which further detracts from the viewing experience.

Redeeming Aspect: The only redeeming feature is that I won’t need to rewatch it—once was enough!

Plot Disarray: The narrative jumps all over the place, leaving me bewildered. It’s as if the story took a wrong turn at every corner.

Character Dynamics: The male lead does have a moment of decency—he helps the female character when she’s caught in an unfortunate situation. Their eventual connection is a silver lining.

Flawed Execution: The plot suffers from poor execution, and the overall pacing feels off. Perhaps more focus on coherence and character development would have helped. Movie could have been a whole lot better as a 30 minute movie not almost 2hrs.

Language Barrier: Watching it in Korean without subtitles limited my understanding. My Korean skills need improvement, but even with better comprehension, this film wouldn’t have fared much better.

Rating: 2 out of 10 While the film had its moments, the overall experience was lackluster. It’s a forgettable watch. I can say im glad I got this off my list to watch.

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"I'm going to get revenge, I hope I see you later!"

The Brave Archer was Chang Cheh’s take on Legend of the Condors. This movie was the first of four following Kuo Tsing’s adventures. Chang was known for ushering in the more machismo and bloody era of kung fu so this film focusing on a romance was a rare departure for him.

This film moved hard and fast through the source material. It had the longest intro of any kung fu movie I’ve ever seen. Not only did it have the typical narration explaining the basic historical setting but also the different characters and which group they belonged to during the opening on a stage. As someone who has not read the book it was my first clue that this two-hour film was going to be packed with characters with little time to develop.

The story began with the classic tale of two babies separated and trained by different people, babies who were born to be blood brothers but who ended up on opposite sides. Alexander Fu Sheng played the “clumsy, slow” but good-hearted Kuo Tsing who was trained by the 7 Weirds. He runs afoul of the deadly Iron Corpse Mui Chiu Fung. Later he befriends Huang Yung dressed as a boy with romance soon to blossom. There were not one, but two battles for marriage scenarios, someone came back from the dead, a large snake played a role in Kuo’s development as did two other masters he made the acquaintance of.

Famous kung fu faces passed by in nearly every scene. Alexander Fu Sheng played a perfect not too bright hero. Tien Niu as Huang was a fiery companion for him. Five actors from the Five Deadly Venoms had special appearances. Ku Feng made for an entertaining 9 Fingered Beggar, and one of my favorites to see. Johnny Wang in silver lamé looked every inch a bad guy. Kara Hui had a short, but important role along with Dick Wei. Yu Hoi Lun played the female fighter so fierce with her lethal Skeleton Claw technique that most of the men in her path ran away. There were four female warriors and not a bare breast in sight, just competent women.

The fights were unimpressive. Most of them were kung fu posing and not very fast. At least Ku Feng knew how to keep them interesting with his acting. Yu Hoi Lun scared her opponents with her fierceness rather than lightning speed. Philip Kwok showed off his athleticism with his slightly mad master in an awful wig. Shaw Brothers didn’t scrimp on the sets where all the action took place, including Peach Blossom Island.

If you’ve watched one of the dramas based on Jin Yong’s books or read the books themselves, this will likely look like a highlight reel. If you don’t have any experience with either, like me, the characters are tough to keep up with. I had to make a cheat sheet to remember the different characters and factions involved as the action moved quickly from one group to another and then suddenly came to a dead stop. For a 1977 Shaw Brothers movie it looked good and for a Chang Cheh 1970’s kung fu film it was a more well-rounded story than many of his were.

10 March 2024

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