Reviews

"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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Dark comedy (sprinkled with action) at its finest

Was this movie made for me or something?

It's a dark comedy, utterly cynical movie about 2 deadly jaded assassin girls—that look anything but—living a boring but strange life in-between jobs that culminates in an utterly awesome final fight the likes of which you rarely see due to a functional choice of choreography I very much approve of.
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Stunts - 80/100 | Everything contained in the paragraph above is why I loved this movie. The rest is gravy.

Narrative - 80/100 | If you think you wanna watch a movie where 2 bored assassins do literally nothing except an occasional murder (and waste time in-between), then you'll probably enjoy this. Otherwise, you'll probably dislike this. I enjoyed it because their lack of purpose in life was a sight to see and Mahiro was strangely captivating as a character. Also because of the recurring funny little gags with the objects falling out of place, I've always loved those kinds of small visual gags. I don't know, it came together nicely for me.

Fight Choreography - 90/100 | The final fight is choreographed to look real instead of looking choreographed, an odd contradiction that works when done properly. Action choreographer Kensuke Sonomura will be one to watch for sure.

Enjoyment - 90/100 | Needed more fights. Needed better sound mixing for the guns in the 3rd act. More of this please. Thank you.

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Both the song and the film (intertwine) are about the problems of couples with a larger age difference, in this case 24 years. Very solid acting, Arnold Reyes is also still in great physical shape, tasteful love scene. There are clouds in every relationship, if there are clouds, it's for consideration. Everything comes to an end. A good idea to connect the song, the text and the action.

Píseň i film (prolíná se) je o problémech párů s větším věkovým rozdílem, v tomto případě 24 let. Velmi solidní herectví, Arnold Reyes je navíc stále i ve skvělé fyzické formě, vkusná milostná scéna. V každém vztahu jsou i mráčky, pokud mraky, je to na pováženou. Všechno jednou končí. Dobrý nápad propojení písně, textu a hraného děje.

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Relationships between beings are so complicated and raise a lot of misunderstandings and questions ... This is also the case in this very successful Pinoy movie, when Gabriel and Jared clarify the weight of their relationship. The film is intimate, modern, I was particularly attracted by Gio Gahol in the role of Gabriel, good script and flair, but I would have liked to edit some of the scenes of the little people around a little, but that's just my opinion and taste. Anyway, a very above average project.

Vztahy mezi bytostmi jsou tak komplikované a nastolují řadu nedorozumění a otázek ... Tak je tomu i v tomto velmi podařeném pinoy filmu, kdy si vyjasňují mezi sebou Gabriel a Jared tíhu svého vztahu. Snímek intimní, moderní, oslovil mě především Gio Gahol v roli Gabriela, dobrý scénář a švih, ale klidně bych některé scény těch lidiček okolo malinko sestříhal, ale to je jen můj názor a vkus. Každopádně vysoce nadprůměrný projekt.

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It was very boring but interesting, the acting and chemistry was off...

I liked it...but it just wasn't to my average liking, it was so stressful that I started to think it wouldn't even have a happy ending imo. I liked it and enjoyed it, but there was something that made it seem off. They hardly had on-screen chemistry, and it was so hard to believe they were even a couple in this movie, honestly. It was like they were friends or even brothers. But other than that the story in this movie was so confusing but interesting. I had fun watching this and the characters had good acting (besides the distant hugs because they were so far apart even when hugging), they were very funny at times, and I liked it.

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who's the monster ?

"se não é para todos então não é felicidade."

"quem é o monstro?"


essas duas frases são exatamente o que define o filme como um todo. a felicidade aqui vem da pior forma, que é extremamente passageira, que parece boa demais para ficar durante muito tempo. como se os personagens não merecessem ter acesso, o que chega a ser cruel pois há personagens aqui que definitivamente deveriam ter um acesso ilimitado a ela.

sobre a segunda frase, é o que faz o filme ser tão transformador. toda a construção da narrativa durante o filme é algo hipnotizante de se acompanhar. os questionamentos que são levantados e as respostas que são obtidas a cada novo ponto de vista faz com que o filme seja um deleite de se ver. as nuances entre os personagens e as dúvidas sobre quem fez o que, ou que simplesmente deixou de fazer, e consequentemente os impactos que foram resultados dessas ações levanta um tipo de questionamento de que até qual ponto saber a verdade é o que realmente interessa ? como definir que o que aconteceu nas entrelinhas tem um valor menor do que a verdade?

eu havia visto uns paralelos comparativos com close do lukas dhont, e a minha semelhança favorita é a criação de um mundo que mistura realidade e fantasia em que nada importa além dos momentos que estão sendo criado entre duas pessoas, em que a felicidade parece ser o único sentimento possível e nada externo tem poder ali.

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I wanna hug those trees!

I laughed so hard at the scene towards the end during the festival. Epic!

It has some breathtaking views, I wish I am climbing up those trees too!
Despite it being on forestry setting, it isn't boring at all.

It's hearwarming, funny, touching, all in its own way.

I love the respect they have for nature, I love seeing the greenery mountain, I love those big trees that I wanna hug them, I love the laughter when they sing and dance, I love how oneness is portrayed in this show

What a healing and fun-filling show!

Highly recommended, I enjoy every moment. Seriously, Jap Movie did it again! n

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Bizarre.

Bizarre. A 12min long film that's not worth the time except for a realistic kissing scene at 5min 40sec in. Or unless you want to laugh at the cringness! It's a string of WTF moments.

It felt like scenes were shot to compliment the dramatic classical music chosen, instead of the other way around. Kind of like mini music videos with not much connecting them together. The pacing is weird; more time is spent on the music video vignettes than on conversations or realistic/meaningful interactions.

There's not much dialogue, but what is there is awkward and overly dramatic, starting with a sob story that felt like over-sharing in that context. There's an immediate power imbalance with a director and a newbie actor and after their first meeting, the film jumps to them acting like a couple for awhile, then jumps ahead again. There's nothing to get emotionally invested in because we're not shown any of the progression in their connection/relationship.

I found this on YouTube in the USA.

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1st person pov & jumpscares

7,2/10. Udah 2x rewatch tp deg-degannya masih sama ? awalnya haha hihi pas ending ☠️☠️☠️ builtnya keren sih ni film, dulu gw ga ngerasa ini serem. Tapi skrg serem njir. Seremnya karena jumpscare yg pas sama backsound yg bener2 top. Juga film ini tuh 1st person pov—which is the creepiest cinematography ever— kaya grave encounters. Atau mungkin gw ngerasa ini tuh serem karena udh lama ga nonton horror yg pure ghosts with lots of jumpscare, jadinya ngerasa beneran thrilling bgt. But idk which one is the truth so,, situasi & kondisi film bener2 gelap, cuma bermodal senter & kamera gopro. Makin bikin anxiety ? untuk acting pada bagus sih, bener2 menjiwai & mirip BANGET sama vlog2 horror yt. Endingnya abis gitu aja karena terakhir semua karakter bakal d word ?

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more punching and less talking

This movie can be best described as climactic. The action scenes are exceptionally well-executed, creating a sense of excitement and intensity. The protagonist's fighting style is both stylish and effective, making it satisfying to watch her take on multiple opponents effortlessly. Additionally, the movie delves into important themes such as exploitation and abuse, shedding light on power dynamics and the struggles faced by the oppressed. It also serves as an empowering story for women.

The plot circles around badass women killing men for revenge, if that doesn't sound intriguing to you then I don't know what is. I specifically love the ending, she should've burned him to toast that even dogs can't eat him anymore. I know it's for "a friend" but my delusions tell me she's gay and she's getting revenge for her girlfriend. Nonetheless, the chemistry was there. This film didn't focus much on the acting, plot, or dialogue. It was like more punching and less talking lol.

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I find it cute but I'm puzzled

I actually enjoyed 80% of the show, until towards the ending, because it's so abrupt and puzzling

Why did Tommy suddenly leave just because he wants to pursue music? I mean, did they break up or what is it? There's a one year gap left unexplained and then, suddenly they met and kiss like nothing has happened?

This really bugs me, and honestly, ending of a show is important. It's like the last 20% ruined the good moments of the other 80%, ugh...

Otherwise, I actually really enjoyed the front part, especially love the ML that plays chef! It's also fresh to see a new face in BL, Holland. I've heard about him but cool to see him act too

I love their chemistry and all. It's slow paced, healing, and just cute moments, except the ending

It's probably not as bad as MLD rating make it out to be, but I'd say it's the disappointment in the plothole that makes the rating drop. At least, we got a happy ending, otherwise, I'd be throwing my laptop LOL

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Plot twists don't make a good movie

If you like movies that give you shock value, this movie is definitely a must-watch for you. As for me, it's a movie I will probably not remember for long.

I liked the fact that everything the synopsis gives you happens in the first 9 minutes and then you're left wondering, but I would not say that whatever happens after that is anything exciting because it mostly relies, as mentioned, on shock value which I personally don't prefer. The way the story is told though, is unique and very much to be applauded for; the separation into parts which are not chronologically related is a pretty smart choice for a plot like this one.

As for the characters, they don't really leave anything in your memory because it feels like the moviemaker thinks they are so smart for leaving things unsaid and deceiving the viewer but it comes off as cheap strategy rather than the "unpredictable plot-twist" that it's trying to be. I really don't have much more to say about the characters, which in itself says a lot.

The cinematography is captivating so it does it job in setting the right atmosphere.

I got no message from this movie which kind of pissed me off because it was obvious they were trying to convey something with it. Didn't reach me, for sure.

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Extreme Amount of Slapstick and Dumbness Go Hand in Hand

Congrats My Ex! is a Thai comedy film starring Bella Ranee, Bright Vachirawit, Mahir Pandhi and Anahita Bhooshan in lead roles. It is about Risa, a wedding planner who has to plan an extravagant wedding of Arun, her Indian ex-boyfriend, to his fiancée Monica and accommodate their extremely large respective families, all for the money. To make things worse, she has to hire her jack-of-all-trades younger ex Tim to be their wedding photographer under certain circumstances, leading to chaotic and comical events.

The start of it was a chaotic mess, but in a good way. I enjoyed the first half of it a lot, especially when Risa’s friends embarrass her with the story of her and Arun’s past, which they did it in a musical, that was enjoyable since I am a music person, and when Risa went to meet Tim, while he was doing a magic show and the chase sequence followed by them arguing was hilarious. The other things I liked about it was that the depiction of Indian wedding was a lot on point, and Coolforthesummer already mentioned it so I’d suggest you read their review first for better insight, but I also liked the Sangeet the mot, because I loved how “Bollywood” it was and that all of the four actors mentioned danced to a Hindi song. I also liked the chemistry between Bright and Bella, much more than that of Bella and Mahir. I liked it when they were in conflict because it was the most fun out of the movie (plus when Tim couldn’t swim in shallow water, it had me in splits). I somehow find it refreshing that they incorporate a lot of Bollywoodness in another movie though I’m not the biggest fan of Bollywood musicals. In short, the depiction of Indo-Thai culture was nice, because a lot of it didn’t feel real, and I’ll get to that. The settings and location was very pretty, as well as the costumes (I can’t stop gushing over how good Bright and Bella look in Indian cloths in the Sangeet part).

This is my first-time seeing Bella Ranee’s work, and she did well in her job. She and Bright made me laugh. Mahir Pandhi was decent, though I didn’t like his character at all, and his line delivery seemed forced. Anahita Bhooshan was actually good.

Now to what I disliked about this movie. The second half of it got on my nerves, and I only endured it for Bright, not only because I like him, but also his character is the most tolerable out of all the characters on this movie. I hated how the part that Monica knew that Risa was Arun’s ex and that Arun is still in love with her was dealt with, and when Arun was about to have a moment with Risa in the climax, and I really felt sorry for Monica at that time. They could’ve kept the basic plot with Arun being open about Risa being his ex and having conflicts about it prior going to Thailand to get married. Or if this was dealt with better.

Risa also annoyed me to an extent. This character lacks maturity as a full-grown woman. However, out of all the characters, Arun annoyed me the most. God, whenever I see him confused/still in love with Risa, I was like, “Indian men, Indian men”, yeah!! Like please make a clear decision, and also what’s there to hide about the fact that Risa was his ex to his fiancée? Why did you even choose to marry her and at the same time have a moment with Risa, a day before the wedding? This is beyond my comprehension, and I actually felt sorry for Monica in the end. But it was dealt with poorly, when Monica chose to marry him anyways! They wouldn’t even last a month of divorce was seen on a more positive light and if anyone stopped caring about “log kya kahenge?” (What will people say?). Another thing I want to point out is that when Arun’s dad had a heart attack, why did Tim do the CPR himself instead of calling the ambulance?

The English dialogues made me cringe. It was written in a really cheesy way that no one would be convinced by that kind of speech, especially Arun’s monologues and all! And also, it makes sense for young generation urban Indians to speak English to each other but I didn’t understand why the older generation Indian characters in this movie spoke English? As an Indian myself, I observed that older-generation Indians would speak to each other in Hindi, unless if they’re from different states or so. But in this movie, all of them are families, and even Arun’s parents are speaking to each other in English in private. That robs the authenticity of the portrayal of a different culture. Although the Hindu/Indian culture was depicted well, I wish a native Hindi-speaking scriptwriter wrote the dialogues spoken by the Indian characters, because the characters seem to come from North India if I’m not mistaken.

Overall, it was a fun watch, with a lot comedy and all, but the story was really dumb in the end, though I’m glad Risa and Tim actually got together in the end because Bella and Bright indeed have chemistry. But it got straight-up dumb in the end combined with slapstick comedy. It isn’t completely unwatchable, but the only way to watch and tolerate this movie is 1. Turn off your brain and enjoy the ride and 2. Only focus on Bright.

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An unexpected kick-ass duo!

Initially here for Lee Jee Hoon, but ended up finding a gem in the K-world! I can't believe we don't find such good movie anymore. This is really meaningful, inspiring and touching all at same time

It's been years since I watched this and here I am- still remembering the details, that's how much impact the movie has made

It really has an amazing plot twist towards the end, which left me crying and having respect towards the grandma who seemed to be irritating at the beginning of the show

It shows us that sometimes, when we dig a little more, there's more than meets the eye, if we are willing to be open to listen, and understand one another, like Jee Hoon's characteer did here

It really is a show that has potential to touch heart and uplift humanity

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