Reviews

The story, just like Death itself, is quite simple and could be told in a few sentences.

What makes this movie amazing is how script, settings, nature, music and acting make a whole that is more than the sum of it parts.
The script itself - a journey to self-discovery, a story about leaving and letting go --has some rearkable lines that could sound cheesy but the way they are spoken, feel like profound truths of life. The acting makes as much use of silence as of speaking. The ritual of nokan has few words spoken, but the body language of the nokanshi and the bereaved speak volumes.

The music with it's leitmotif of "the Traveller" bridges the gap between what we see and what we feel.
And nature itself follows the flow of the story. The ending of the dream happens in late autumn, the winter storms accompany the lowest point of Daigo's lfe. Spring brings new hope and new life.
Similarly, the houses tell the stories of their owners: The bath house is run-down but lovingly maintained, Daigo's house where his mother lived is full of her own life and the memories of Daigo's father, and last but not least, the Nokanshi's living space is full of green and flourishing plants.

All of this is done with lovingly attention to detail: The ritual itself, of course. But have you seen that when Daigo washes the bath house owner's body -- the bowl Daigo uses is one of the bath house's?

When so much of the movie relies on silences, on the music and on the settings themselves -- what use is a review that uses the written word? Go, watch for yourself and feel what you see and hear.

Leia Mais

Proceed with caution if you're seeking a cohesive and satisfying teen romance.

I have never read the manga so my review of the movie was based on what was presented within it.

One of the film's major shortcomings is its rushed pacing. The narrative hurtles forward, leaving little room for meaningful character development and depth. As a result, key aspects of the story feel disjointed, and certain character motivations remain unclear. This lack of context left mw scratching my heads, especially as I was unfamiliar with the source material.

The chemistry between the main leads, portrayed by the talented actors Suda Masaki and Tsuchiya Tao, adds a spark to the film. Their performances bring the characters to life, and the on-screen connection between Mizutani and Haru is one of the movie's highlights. However, even their commendable efforts cannot fully compensate for the underdeveloped plot.

The cinematography deserves praise, particularly during the film's cute and romantic scenes. The camera work effectively captures the emotions of the characters and adds a visually appealing layer to the storytelling. The music, though enjoyable, may feel overwhelming with the abundance of songs, occasionally distracting from the narrative.

One of the film's disappointments lies in the underutilization of certain characters, such as Minami Hamabe's role, which seems promising but ultimately falls flat. This lack of attention to supporting characters contributes to the feeling of missed opportunities within the story.

In conclusion, "My Little Monster" has its moments of fun and endearing romance, but the rushed pacing and insufficient character development may leave viewers wanting more. Fans of the original manga or anime may find some enjoyment in seeing the characters on the big screen, but for those new to the story, it might be worth exploring the source material for a more satisfying experience.

Leia Mais

Must-watch that turned me into a romance-fantasy groupie

Hold on to your enchanted hats because "As Long as We Both Shall Live" is the ride of a lifetime, blending romance and magic in a way you didn't know you craved!

Let's talk about the movie's fancy production – it's so top-notch that even my neighbor's cat would be nodding in approval. They turned heritage sites into a Pinterest dream board, and the costumes are giving off elegance with a side of tradition – basically, a fashionista's paradise.

Ren Meguro as Kiyoka Kudo is the eye-candy you never knew you needed. Grey wig, long hair, and a navy military uniform – he's like the James Bond of fantasy romance, minus the martinis and with a heart of gold. And Mia Imada as Miyo? She's the wide-eyed charm we all wish we had, making us believe in love and magic, even if our love life is more like a sitcom.

Now, let's talk magic – Kiyoka slinging fire like he's headlining a magic show. No abracadabra here; it's embers dancing like they're at a rave. The fight scenes are like a Hogwarts duel but cranked up to eleven – sabres flashing, cloaks swirling, and magic doing its thing.

And the music? It's the DJ at a mythical rave, dropping the beat for intense fights and serenading us with slow jams for those heart-melting moments. It turns every scene into a dance party, and who can resist a dance-off with a sprinkle of magic?

But here's the twist – the showdown with the villainous family is pure soap opera drama on steroids, and I'm living for it!

"As Long as We Both Shall Live" isn't just a movie; it's a rollercoaster of emotions, doused in fairy dust, and served with an extra helping of sass. If I could give it more than 10/10, I'd toss in a unicorn and a disco ball. This film turned me into a romance-fantasy groupie, and I'm counting the days until the next chapter of this epic saga. Let the love flow, the magic sparkle, and the sass reign supreme! ?✨?

Leia Mais

Get ready for a teen drama that's as twisted as your last breakup

"He Won't Kill, She Won't Die" takes high school drama to a whole new level, and I'm still catching my breath from the emotional rollercoaster it threw me on!

So, picture this: three seemingly unrelated stories – a grumpy guy who thinks 'die' is his favorite word, a girl going through more boy troubles than her Wi-Fi signal, and a relentless romantic warrior who could give Cupid a run for his money. Confused? Good, that's the point!

At first, I was like, "What's going on here?" I felt like a detective trying to crack a high school mystery, and I didn't even have my magnifying glass! But hold your horses; it's all part of the master plan.

The movie's got this crazy, genius timeline that'll make your head spin faster than a teenager's mood swings. Just when you think you've got it figured out, bam! It hits you with the unexpected – a plot twist that's more shocking than finding out your crush doesn't like pineapple on pizza.

Now, let's talk characters. Rei, our grumpy protagonist, has a unique way of expressing his love – by telling Nana to 'just die already.' Sounds twisted, right? But guess what? It's their secret love language! Who knew 'die' could be so romantic? These two made me laugh, cry, and question my entire high school experience.

And then there's Kyapiko, caught up in a whirlwind of boy drama. I swear, her romantic life is more complicated than solving a Rubik's Cube blindfolded. But hey, she adds the perfect sprinkle of chaos to this high school concoction.

Let's not forget our romantic warrior, Jimiko, who's the MVP of one-sided love. The girl deserves a medal for persistence. I mean, I'd give up after the third rejection, but not our Jimiko. She's like a love superhero – no cape, just undying affection.

Now, the cinematography is no joke. It's like the filmmakers raided the coolest Instagram filters to match every high school mood – from cafeteria drama to rooftop confessions. The colors are poppin', just like the unexpected emotions this movie throws at you.

And hold on to your popcorn, because "He Won't Kill, She Won't Die" dives into some real talk. Depression, bullying, and one-sided love – it's like they went through my high school diary and turned it into a movie. Props for keeping it real, though!

The ending? Oh boy, it's like a mixtape of emotions. Some might love it, some might not – it's the pineapple on pizza debate all over again. But one thing's for sure, you won't leave without feeling something deep in your teenage soul.

So, is it rewatchable? Maybe not for everyone, but for the sheer wild ride, it's worth revisiting at least once. "He Won't Kill, She Won't Die" – a movie that's crazier than prom night and surprisingly heartwarming.

Leia Mais

Like a cool breeze of nostalgia and a slam dunk of emotions!

Picture this: Haruno Miziku, your regular high schooler, takes a wild turn when she befriends the oh-so-handsome F4 basketball team. Let's spill the tea on this rollercoaster without giving away the whole plot!

Themes and Feels:
It is a feel-good fiesta that humanizes its characters, making them the BFFs you wish you had. The F4 boys aren't just eye candy; they're a squad of individuals with quirks and vulnerabilities, and we're here for it! The movie dives deep into the theme of friendship, taking us on a journey where growing up feels like a mixtape of emotions.

Romance (Shhh, No Spoilers):
Hold on to your hearts, because this movie adds a dash of spice with Aya Kamiyama, stirring up some romantic tension in the air. Miziku's caught in a love triangle, and it's like watching your favorite rom-com without the spoiler overload. The film dances through teenage romance, keeping us hooked without giving away all the deets.

Visual Fiesta:
Visually, is a feast for the eyes! High school vibes, vibrant scenes, and cafés that'll make you wish you were sipping a latte with the gang. The cinematography is on point, creating an Instagram-worthy backdrop for the characters' emotional rollercoaster.

Conclusion :
It's a wild ride celebrating the beauty of genuine connections and the unpredictability of youth. The cast delivers performances that hit you right in the feels, making the characters your instant BFFs. As the credits roll, you're left with that warm fuzzy feeling and a reminder that high school, with all its craziness, is one heck of an adventure!

Leia Mais

Socially Conscious, Barely a Film

Next Sohee is a socially conscious screed that barely puts in the effort to pose as an actual story. While its core concern strikes an interesting turn as an expose, its messaging—though wholly sympathetic—is the be-all/end-all of the film, sacrificing all pretense of narrative for “pretense” and “narrative.”

Dull, preachy, and too lazy to do anything but the most perfunctory gesture at storytelling. Its one saving grace is the character work for its protagonists—though that may owe more to the solid performances from the lead actresses than anything in the script. It could and should have been able to rage against the machine while still weaving a compelling tale (either about an exploited worker or the investigation into exploitation), but it fails to deliver on it’s fundamental responsibility as a film: tell a good story.

There’s certainly something there, and the most fervently “activist” among the audience will undoubtedly forgive its failings regardless. But for anyone else, it will be an occasionally interesting swing and miss—sympathetic though it may ultimately be.

Leia Mais

Will someone please think of the children!

When your introduction to a movie is a mad scientist and then an alligator wandering in the ruins of the city, you know you are in for a wild ride. Badland Hunters won’t be remembered for its riveting plot but when you have Ma Dong Seok swinging his mighty fists and a giant serrated machete it really doesn’t matter.

Three years after an earthquake that leveled Korea, Nam San along with teenagers Choi Ji Wan and Su Na live in an encampment called the Bus District. Due to a devastating drought, water is the most precious commodity. Nam San and Ji Wan are hunters for the people. They trade meat for whatever their neighbors can spare. A well-dressed group comes to the encampment looking for teenagers. The newcomers promise Su Na and her grandmother all the fresh water they can drink, shelter, and food at the only apartment complex to survive the quake. In a dystopian future when armed men come promising “heaven on earth”, best to be suspicious. It doesn’t take long for everyone to realize that heaven is not all it seems to be when a mad scientist is running the place. Nam San was ready bring hell to the complex to rescue Su Na.

It would have been nice to have some background info on our main characters, but in this sort of movie it’s not overly necessary. Though it stumbled about in regards to narrative, the fights were right on point. Nam San had to take the scenic route on the way to the apartment complex so that he, Ji Wan, and newcomer Eun Ho could battle their way through two gangs. While the story didn’t add anything new to the genre except for maybe the whole “I am the Lizard King” angle, the fights were well choreographed. Most of the hand-to-hand combat was in close quarters and bloody. Very bloody. Lots of dismemberments and decapitations. The big draw to a film like this was watching Ma Dong Seok do his stuff. I love this big ahjussi hitter.

The production values were fairly high though some of the destroyed city sets looked familiar from other dramas and movies set in the dry ruins of Korea. Badland Hunters didn’t set itself apart in this genre but it was entertaining. I could have used 25% more ahjussi hitter. I’m just happy Ma Dong Seok is still making this kind of fun action film at the age of 52. If you are looking for a taut script with new thrilling elements in the ruins of the future, you might need to look elsewhere, especially if you’ve seen a number of this type of movie. But if, like me, you enjoy watching the big guy pummel his way through baddies, even ones with long forked tongues, you might want to give this a try.

26 January 2024

Leia Mais

towa was such a loveable male lead :(

honestly , at first I thought that would be a nice funny movie but towa , that boy , made me so emotional at some point. he was so sincere. his sincerety literally made this not so special movie a lot memorable for me. his honesty , his neverending effort to get her love but his first priorty always being her happiness to the point he did everything he can to make her meet masaki thinking she would confess to him. he really was a loveable male lead.

on the other hand , miwa was kinda messy for me :( I wish the story and the actress could make me believe miwa was actually also in love with towa but somethings just felt empty about her feelings.I dont know ,maybe it was because of towa's strong way of expressing his love and him making a lot of effort but she still didnt feel like she loved towa THAT WAY. it just looked like she was enjoying his sincerety and company so the romance factor was all one sided for me. I dont know about acting either ,maybe it just wasnt my style but the acting of the actress felt a bit weak as well but of course , maybe she just wanted to not show much expression since miwa is a cold one , not saying anything about her general acting skills.I just wasnt satisfied with her performance at this one.

at the end , the actor of towa did a great job and the character towa makes this non special yet funny movie a lot special with his sincerety. like I said tho , even without towa it was enjoyable and funny but towa really made it special somehow. i am obviously a sucker for loser like sincere male leads...

its not too long , i definitely recommend this for 1.5 hours of giggles. it was cute and warm

Leia Mais

Amazing! Deserves All Awards!

DO NOT READ THE SYNOPSIS FOR THIS MOVIE!
The long synopsis at the top of this page spoils too much.

All you need to know is: One mute guy and one girl, Japanese romance, maybe sad times ahead.

Honestly, this is one of the best films I've seen in years.
I'd say this is Yamada's best movie since Grasshopper. His performance is always solid but he excels in this; how he conveys and comunicates in this is just amazing. Hamabe, I wasn't familiar with going in but I think she was absolutely perfect too! Her acting was amazing and you could feel her emotions and her journey clearly.
The story itself is just way more than you expect and it's so beautiful and emotional and pure.

If this doesn't win any awards at the end of the year, I'll be shocked and disgusted.




***

Slight Spoilers: I cannot describe how misadvertised this movie is, and I am kinda glad it is. You go in thinking it's just gunna be your typical Japanese romance but it's so much more. I cried the entire time, so definitely prepare tissues!

Leia Mais

it was so heartwarming and breaking at the same time...

I dont even know where to start. the movie points out lots of hardships a disabled person can face, from the other companie girls' comments about itsuki "you can never have an actual relationship with him" , to tsugumi's dad's attitude "I dont want my daughter to face so many diffuculties". they were cruel as they were unfortunately realistic , there are a lot of people who would say these as the movie analized them so well. my heart ached a lot for itsuki yet tsugumi really made me relaxed as I saw how much she cared for him. what made that care special for me was that she didnt only worry about him ,but she also let him do what he wants and showed him she trusts in him multiple times which was just what itsuki needed. he was suffering to see people around him feeling sad for him but our kawana came and ask the nurses if he could just contunie working , because she knew if he didnt complete his task because of his condition , his confidence in himself would be damaged. I really loved how kawana treated him , she was really gentle and supportive yet really wasnt acting like he cant live on his own , she always showed she trusts him on doing anything he wants. that was the most touching part for me.

in the end kawana builed , protected and proved this relationship to everyone. she even convinced her dad which I think was the hardest because a father worrying about his daughter wont give up easyly. I was really touched by that girl during the whole movie. she really didnt hesitate to make decisions and she knew how to treat people and how to care for them without making them feel miserable. For me , she was one of the most memorable charachters in the japanese movie history for me.

Our ML on the other hand , was also pretty cute and kind but just like I said before , that girl kawana really stealed my heart with her beautiful attitude towards him.

the ending felt just a bit rushed tho , but I loved how they showed us the wedding

I just rated music a bit low because I really didnt pay much attention to it , i hope everyone who needs to feel strong instead of needs to be treated like a baby , i hope you will all find your kawana ( I wish this for myself as well at some point)

it was beautiful , I just stole tiny points because the ending was just a little bit fast , it was realistic and heartwarming

Leia Mais

Mindless actions for late night fun

Set in the future timeline inspired by Concrete Utopia, this Netflix originals film does little to retain that brilliant legacy, but instead turning it into a trashworthy bloody action B movie that's hot for streaming services. Gone are the deep level of social commentaries, here it's all about mindless actions for late night fun. Make no mistake, the fighting sequences are actually really impressive with striking martial arts techniques and crispy visual effects, but the storyline is such a huge disappointment which is going nowhere. The plot didn't fit well and it felt like they overdid most of the elements without sufficient reasoning, however for those who're ready to see Ma Dong Seok packing mighty punches, this could be great.

Leia Mais

Korean Mad Max

Badland Hunters (or in my language Lovci u pustoši) is a spectacular post apocalyptic action movie. I still haven't seen "Concrete Utopia" nor did i read a Webtoon on which this movie is based of, but that wasn't a problem because this movie works great on its own.

The movie starts with a little bit of comedy to attract interest but very quickly continues with brutal and intense action. Fans of action and fighting won't be disappointed. In fact this movie has the best fighting scenes i saw in a while, mostly thanks to, of course, non else then Ma Dong Seok who is playing the main hunter Nam San and reminds me of Mad Max. Actually, while still being quite different, there are many other things here that reminds me of Mad Max movie and I would wish to see more from this world and characters.

The story is also strong and makes us think about the meaning of life in the world without dignity and hope. Goodness and humanity are more important than just surviving.

Leia Mais

It needed to explore other aspects of a relationship. I was more interested in the daughter story and the killer thinking he was rank A than Bok-Soon. It was hard to understand why she was doing what she was doing and how she ended up there.
The action scenes are the reason I stayed especially the last one which shows all the scenarios thinking it was real but wasn't. The ending ruined it as I wanted an honest conversation between them so there are shields but I got deflated.
It could've done so much better as I wanted more character and their development in the movie

Leia Mais

Basic premise that had promise but did not deliver

Entering this movie with low expectations, especially since it looks like it's geared towards a younger audience. However, I will write this review only as an observation of the entire thing based on someone who generally likes coming of age, young love and all type of romance.

Let's start with the pros.
* The acting of the cast is decent enough to carry the movie. It helps that these actors have a friendship in real life because it shows that there is a closeness among them. There is a fair share of shenanigans that would have fallen short had the cast not been as talented as they are. A very good plus.
* The score. The music aptly fits the entire movie and it's both moving and sentimental. Something that you definitely feel when it comes to first love.

And unfortunately, that's the most highlight you can get from this story.

Everything else is wishy washy and sometimes feel half baked.
Let's get into it.
* They have a group of friends, who-- apart from their share of shenanigans have nothing that indicates there is a deeper relationship among them. Which, if there was no intention on touching up on this, should not have had a large group in the first place.
*Liking Lin. I know it's a trope to have a group of guy friends like a single girl who supposedly has all these ideal traits. Lin is not just some girl-- at least to the eye of this friendship group. But apart from that, I see no reason why they would fight over this girl when they really aren't doing anything to show their affection. Especially when a lot of the montage of the movie shares more on Tong's feelings and these friends play along--giving the impression that they all support Tong.
*Speaking of friends, I especially disliked the part where Tong and Lin cool it off and these friends jump at the chance to be with her. One had the gall to cry to Tong while the other asked Lin out. I know they are "close" friends but there was not enough in the movie to substantiate how they are close at all.
*Lack of anything else really. If maybe we solely focus on Tong and Lin it's cool, but a story only makes better sense if everything else is used properly. Like none of the other friends had personalities or story lines that make you care for them.

I could go on and on about those parts but at the end of the day, when you introduce a story about a friendship group and a girl, you expect the friendship group to feel like a friendship group and the girl to have more interactions with said friendship group beyond shenanigans. Apart from that, you expect that the coming of age part where they all graduate and go to the next chapter to feel more relatable.

I do commend the ending. The parallel universe and the acceptance that not everything lasts forever. But other events could have been executed better and the story could have been told with more depth. In any case, all kudos goes to the cast for making this movie a bit more engaging despite the story that they were given.

Leia Mais