Reviews

romCOMEDY

if this was a comedy movie without the rom, i will gladly accept it as a masterpiece because it was funny as helll. but thenn the plot was meh, there were no characters development whatsoever, and i still don't understand why in the world they fell in love again. what were the moments that outweighed the bad memories? like...they showed how they met and how they date. that's it? mere physical attractions and 'love at first sight' thing are not big enough for me to outweigh the fact that they were NOT COMPATIBLE at ALL as a married couple.

plus, the fl character was sooo not it. i was sooo annoyed at how crazy she was. like all the bad or gross things that the ml did was reasonable (except for the cheating part ofc) and it was nothing compared to what the fl did. her personality boils me. and the ml's mother was also annoying as helll.

but the good part is the acting were phenomenal. kang haneul, jung so min and everyone in it really outdid themselves. i just didn't like how the characters were written. i liked how cool were the fl's mother in this, and how loving she was towards her daughters. i could feel her unconditional love as a mother. i also liked the bromance between ml and his friends. i found it very cute and funny haha. liked the comedy, i laughed way too hard watching this. and the cinematography experience were satisfying too. i like how the comedic editing works, the transition and the comedic pans. chef's kiss, kudos to the director. i would say this film is a very well directed comedy piece.

last but not least, i think this movie will be better if they divorced at the end. comically.

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Movie has Retro Vibe..

I love a movie that makes me sob uncontrollably. This movie wasn't just romantic, it was generous and the characters had so much compassion for each other. Woon Ho loved Bo-ra so much and he did so much for her. Whenever he moved to New Zealand, I thought we was going to come back for Bo-ra. But then there was such an unexpected plot twist. I didn't expect it but most people probably did. The story was both tragic and loving. The actors did a wonderful job portraying the characters emotions. I've watched this movie twice now and will most likely watch it even more in the future. 10/10 would recommend

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Disappointing

Considering all the hype surrounding this film, I was expecting to find a top notch romantic comedy about a couple getting a second chance at love. Instead what I got was the most generic and predictable story that was at times funny but mostly plain boring. I had a really hard time connecting with the characters and, worse, understanding why they should get back together at all. Yes, relationships are difficult, love it's not enough, and those involved need to put the work but this was never properly developed through the excruciating two hours film.

The acting is okay, mostly coming from supporting characters because it can't be from the leads. I am baffled as people seems to think Jung So Min and Kang Ha Neul give great performances when I have seen them do 100 times better, in the same genre, than what they delivered in this film. Personally, I don't think they are the problem. The cast was perfectly selected for each role, I would argue this film suffers from its director or scriptwriter. Maybe both.

It makes me sad to say this but Love Reset was not worth it.

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Less action than expected, more courtroom drama

The Great War of Archimedes is Takashi Yamazaki's second stab at similar themes he would later refine further in the glorious Godzilla Minus One, yet he handles said themes in a way more cynical approach than what we saw with the Big Lizard. With The Great War of Archimedes, Yamazaki explores all the political and personal ramifications of building what would become the Yamato would cause Japan, inevitable war. In a way, it feels extremely derivative of Yamazaki's earlier The Eternal Zero, acting as a self-aware commentary on Japan's militarism and contemporary national ethos. Much of the film is a courtroom drama, but Yamazaki does manage to sneak in a lot of fabulously executed action, he's one of the best Japanese filmmakers when it comes to utilising CGI to augment his set pieces. Combine this with some stirring performances from its cast and a gorgeous score by Naoki Satō leaves The Great War of Archimedes as another underseen gem in Yamazaki's extensive filmography.

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Same as usual

This cute short movie popped up on my youtube queue and since it was short, I gave it a go.

The story is rather basic: three university students, two boys and a girl, Pukan, Paper and Bell, form a group for an art assignment. Two boys fall for each other. The end

As you see nothing much happens, they notice each other, they get closer while visiting a museum and then they confess, encouraged all the way by the girl best friend. I loved her, by the way! Great character and a talented actress.

As Always was made by an unknown producer (they have only this on their youtube channel) with unknown actors (who are cute in a sort of normal not model kind of way!) who probably never acted before but after the initial uncertainties, they obviously become more confident and the acting gets to be much better. The short movie looks like something made years ago by the way they used those pesky sound effects (my pet peeve, sorry!) in the first half. Cinematography is a bit vague and blurry giving it a dreamy feeling.

Thanks to Google lens I got this:
The cast: Pukan Akarawat Prathumthong
Paper Natthaphak Witsiri
Bell Sasikarn Singsi
Director: Patcharaporn Thiangsantia

And they used a song by PPKrit & Billkin "Same As Usual".

These are 17min well spent: noting earthshattering but for a basic story, it is really nice!

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Gay people having a sad story once again

Coming into this film I knew that it’s not going to be some wholesome movie where two gay guys fall for each other and live a happy life. So a story between these two ensues and it’s extremely sad, and it delivers it well!

Though I was confused sometimes if Birdy was gay at all or not, he just seemed to be a lil too comfortable with his friends (it’s confirmed he’s gay later though).

The movie wasn’t anything special in my opinion, I’ve seen plenty stories where two guys are in an environment where they can’t be who they are so an angsty romance story starts between them.

However the movie is really beautiful and well done in showing their love story. The one thing I liked most is how music is what connected them most and their song in the movie is actually the title of the movie (or just a lyric i’m not sure) but the song is beautiful and i’m definitely adding it to my spotify playlist.

I also appreciate how they made a timeskip and made their older versions reunite, it makes me hope that they continued their love- maybe not since they were hesitant with each other but I think in the end they did try again. Love never expires and i’m sure both of them were waiting to find each other again even after all the years that passed.

Anyway the story is really beautiful, I unfortunately have a very short time span so I kept pausing and stopping the movie which led me to finish it in 2 days so I couldn’t exactly bond with the characters on the level where I would cry on their sad scenes but watching the sad scenes I kept thinking to myself how hard I would cry if only I had connected to them better. Their sad scenes really do tug on your heartstrings.

So sad how love in different forms isn’t accepted. Beautiful film.

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an apple to my eye

• Taiwan | movie
• it has 1 hr & 49 min runtime
★ Starring Kai Ko and Michelle Chen

• this movie reminded me of the taiwanese movie "Our Times"
• i bawled my eyes out. kinompose ko pa sarili ko for this review kasi i was devastated. ganito 'yung nafeel ko nung may nagreco din sa'kin ta's hindi ako nawarningan na nakakaiyak. It is also recommended to me, nakakainis kasi hindi ako prepared. i thought it's just a simple straight romance */nagcry at hinagis 'yung tv/
• ang dami kong naalala here na nagpaaalala sa'king masarap maging estudyante kapag may tropa kang puro kalokohan & masaya makipagkaibigan sa mga lalaki. ay beh iba rin magseryoso sa pag-aaral mga bartikal, proven and tested. way back in elem, nakipagbeat din sa'kin one classmate ko ta's unexpectedly nataasan pa score ko kaya hindi ko na inulit hahahaha he used to be a good friend of mine. tulad nila, naranasan ko rin mapalabas sa klase, magsquat, maging childish, ma-in love, mabroken at makuntento---pero hindi ako kuntento sa ending nito tnginuhh
• kaya malapit ang loob ko sa mga troublemaker kasi masarap sila magmahal, immature or childish man sila kung titignan, iba 'yung nabibigay nilang saya at comfort sa taong special sa kanila.
• do'n pa lang sa part na concern si chia yi sa grades ni ko teng, may good feelings na e. why does she bother abt sa grades eh hindi naman niya kaano ano diba? she likes him first, desisyon ako! she likes him first, but he fell harder gano'n
• kaya pala ako pinasaya nung una kasi babawiin sa bittersweet ending
• nakakainis, nakakainiss, supeeer nakakainisss!!😠😡😠😡
• hindi mo na naman ako binigo, taiwan. a 9/10 for my shed tears T___T

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Funny

This was a solid 3/5. It was good but not extraordinary. It started out a bit too much like a drama, a bit heavy. But then it juat got super weird and that is the kind of Ossans love I live for. The sauna was the stupidiest thing ever and it was great. Also the scene in the burning building when the chief and Maki is coming to save Haruta.
Also don't think too much about how fire and explosions work because they have a life of their own in this movie.

But the top best thing with this whole series is how it is a non-issue that almost everyone is gay. I want more movies like this where it is just love, it doesn't have to be a statement or anything else behind it.

Leia Mais

I actually had to watch this for ib lit (my fav course ever 🔥🔥) and had only one night to complete it, so I watched it on 3x speed (definitely ruined the cinematic experience for myself).
From the casual movie viewer facet of me, this was honestly a pretty boring watch.
However, from the super critical, analytical deep thinker facet of me, I loved it. To be fair, I love analyzing even the smallest details in literature, so if you’re a fan of literary classics, I’m sure you would absolutely love this drama.

(I’d actually watched this movie a few years ago back when it was super hyped up, but dropped it after the 15 minute mark because I hate movies with manipulative protagonists no matter how warranted or justified their behavior may be. But I mean the title is literally PARASITE for god’s sake, so what was I expecting?)

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"Those who had feelings were caught in them"

Donnie Yen starred in and directed Sakra, a wuxia based on Jin Yong’s novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. As I haven’t read the book I’m only critiquing this movie as a stand-alone. Kiu Fung was a man who had to figure out who he was and what he stood for after tragedies and treacheries befell him.

The infant Kiu Fung was left on the doorstep of a Song couple and grew up to be a master in the infamous Beggar Gang. After rescuing a caged young man from turning into a sacrifice he returns home only to be accused of murdering a fellow Beggar by the man’s wife. The wife also produces a letter revealing that Kiu is actually a Khitan, the most hated of enemies. He’s not given a chance to refute the “evidence” and ends up turning in his Dog Beating Staff. It goes downhill from there for Kiu as the bodies begin to rack up with everyone blaming him for the deaths. During one of the angry mob scenes, he rescues an injured thief and romance blossoms.

This was one of those movies where it was hard to like any of the characters. Donnie’s Kiu was a masterful fighter but came across as not terribly bright. He was framed and double-crossed on a routine basis. And when it was his turn to communicate and seek the truth he reacted like the Beggar Gang, Shaolin monks, and townspeople had and jumped to an illogical conclusion which led to deadly consequences. The rescued thief, Ah Zhu, had only one job-to be carried around and make big puppy eyes at Kiu.

Parts of the story needed to be explained better. Kiu had stood up for the downtrodden, sought to be moral at all times and yet everyone believed he could murder the people close to him. Was it jealousy? Or were they all simply awful people who refused to hear Kiu’s side of the story? The romance fell flat, partly because of the development on screen but also because the 60-year-old Yen was twice as old as his costar. He came across more paternal or perhaps as a kung fu master to her. I could see him feeling sorry for Ah Zhu and she in turn hero worshipping him, but romance didn’t come across on the screen. And while I’m at it, why would he ever think he could pass for thirty?

There were numerous fights as the world took on Kiu. I understand Yen is 60 and his body has taken enormous abuse through the years. It would make perfect sense to rely on camera tricks and stuntmen to sell the fights. What ended up on the screen were ridiculously undercranked/sped up moves as if The Flash and Quicksilver went at it. When fights are repeatedly sped up in martial arts movies, it usually means the moves were slow or missing their targets. I don’t mind light body work with people leaping and skipping over rooftops, but they seemed rather awkward here. Wuxia “magic” doesn’t bother me either except how many times can you watch people being blown through walls or floors before it becomes exceedingly redundant? I would normally enjoy watching Donnie pummel his opponents but the exciting brawls were few and far between in this one. It didn’t help that before one long drawn out fight, he had to have a drink with anyone who wanted to take him on---which turned out to be everyone. The scene dragged on interminably.

Sakra was watchable, but at 2 long hours, just so. The natural scenery was gorgeous and a couple of fight sequences were entertaining. The rest of the time it was painful watching the hero be slow-witted in thought and artificially accelerated with his fists.

6 January 2024

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A Charming Twist on Love: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"

Overview:
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" tenderly explores the nuances of first love, offering a heartwarming journey that resonates with viewers. Released in 2010, this Thai classic delicately captures the bittersweet essence of initial romantic experiences, combining humor, self-discovery, and an unexpected twist.

Plot:
At its core, the film beautifully tackles the heartbreaks associated with first love. Nam's journey, from her initial self-perceived 'ugliness' to the amusing attempts to catch Shone's eye, serves as a relatable and endearing narrative. The revelation of Shone's longstanding love for Nam adds a touching layer, turning the expected heartbreak into a tale of mutual affection and growth.

Performances:
Baifern and Mario Maurer's performances shine in portraying the vulnerability and authenticity of first love. Baifern, in her breakout role, adeptly conveys the emotional rollercoaster of initial heartbreak and self-discovery. Mario Maurer's portrayal of Shone is equally commendable, capturing the complexities of teenage emotions with charm and sincerity.

Music:
The music in "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" plays a crucial role in enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative. While not groundbreaking, the soundtrack effectively complements the film's exploration of the highs and lows of first love, creating an immersive experience for the audience.

Final Verdict:
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" is more than just a romantic comedy; it's a heartfelt exploration of the emotional landscape of first love. The film skillfully navigates the delicate balance between humor and heartbreak, leaving the audience with a warm and nostalgic feeling. It serves as a poignant reminder of the universal experiences associated with youth and the enduring nature of first love.

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