Reviews

A Punk Rock Band Saves the World!

"Fish Story" is about a punk rock band who unwittingly wrote a song that would save the world decades after they split up -- and split up because that very song, and the album on which it appeared, were utter flops. Hence, it's not merely a movie about a punk rock band who saved the world, but a FAILED punk rock band who saved the world! And the movie is just as clever, witty, and fun as that premise would lead you to expect. Hell, there's a reason this movie lands on so many different critics' lists for, "The 100 Best Japanese Movies of All Time." The reason is that it is perfection.

Consider the opening scene, which depicts a meteor on its way to destroy the earth in a couple of hours. Corporate buildings are deserted; cars abandoned in the middle of the street; and litter strewn everywhere in the wake of a public panic. It's an apocalyptic scene of the sort we got in Stephen King's horror-fantasy, "The Stand." Only we quickly learn that unlike "The Stand," this apocalyptic plot is comedic.

Because there, in a vintage record store, two dudes are blithely unconcerned with the comet hurtling toward planet earth preferring, instead, to discuss why a particular band qualifies as authentic punk rock. It's funny as hell because it evokes how society ridicules certain communities with the aphorism: "Those people think such-and-such is more important than the end of the world!" Well, music nerds truly do think a precise distinction between "rock" and "punk rock" is more important than the end of the world. And so it is that with this we have a perfect opening scene that aptly sets the tone for what continues to be a perfect movie every second of its duration.

Now, one must be patient, because it's one of those movies wherein multiple narrative threads with multiple sets of characters from different eras are being woven together as we go; and you won't recognize just how intricately they'd been woven until the very end. But you'll have fun with the characters and the dialogue even when you don't know how the hell these various narrative threads can possibly come together. Then, man-oh-man, when they do come together you'll find it was well worth the wait. Indeed, it was spectacular!

Leia Mais

beautiful!

This movie follows the journey of Mitsuomi, who decides to leave his office job in bustling Tokyo and return to his hometown. Upon his arrival, he encounters the warm and friendly Yamato, whose bright personality leaves a lasting impression.

The storyline is light and enjoyable, offering a well-thought-out plot that leaves a heartwarming impact. Unlike many films, it doesn't rely on unnecessary sex scenes to captivate viewers. Instead, it beautifully portrays the tale of two individuals seeking to mend their emotional scars and discover healing within themselves.

Leia Mais

2 parts. Review for One Night only.

2 parts! Night Bug and One Night. I watched One Night. *My rating is for that only. Watched on GagaOOLala (Dec 2023).
General Spoilers below.
The theme of expectations vs reality came up repeatedly throughout, in big and little things, though in a way that was intrinsically part of the storytelling (not hit over the head with it). It was a well done 35min film. It is not a happy ending but it's not tragic either, and it IS a realistic young adult gay experience. The feelings can be relatable for others too- the ease and naivete of young crushes, especially when sex is involved, and disappointments from realities.

The bond and playfulness between the three young friends is great and often humorous. I loved them. For two of them, their experiences from their visit to Seoul will leave an emotional wound but they will continue on with their lives. The acting felt natural, especially from the three boys, as did the intimate scene between Geun Ho and Joon.

Leia Mais

At first it looks like one of the other stories of meeting after years, of which we already have several here. The plot and the funny conclusion made the film above average, which does not solve the hidden homosexuality (or bisexuality or straight open mind???), but overall I had a pleasant feeling about the film and I do not regret the half hour of time at all.


Zpočátku to vypadá na jeden z dalších příběhů setkání po letech, kterých už tady máme několik. Do nadprůměru film vytáhla pointa a vtipný závěr, který sice neřeší skrytou homosexualitu (či bisexualitu nebo že by straight open mind ???), ale celkově jsem měl ze snímku příjemný pocit a půlhodiny času vůbec nelituji.

Leia Mais

The story of Cesar and Ador dominated here for me, and it could easily have been set elsewhere, in another time, it was not connected to the dictatorship period as much as, for example, the movie Muli, but because of the way everything ends, it was probably the right choice, that the two first met as NPA fighters somewhere in the mountains of Quezon. However, the traditional wedding with the wife of one of them did not stick out here as some extra artifice, but blended naturally with the story, in addition, Cecilia Za mlada (Levi Poe) was a beautiful girl and Cesar (Jake Cuenca) was a hell of a guy. The story did not slow down anywhere, and even though I knew how it would end, I watched with rapt attention until the end, and the film still resonates with me ...


Tady pro mě dominoval jednoznačně příběh Cesara a Adora a klidně mohl být zasazený jinam, do jiné doby, nebyl u mě spojen s obdobím diktatury tak moc, jako např. film Muli, ale kvůli tomu, jak vše končí, to byla asi správná volba, že se ti dva poprvé potkali jako bojovníci NPA kdesi v quezonských horách. Tradiční svatba se ženou jednoho z nich ale tady netrčela jako nějaká umělina navíc, ale splynula přirozeně s dějem, navíc Cecilia za mlada (Levi Poe) byla krásná dívka a Cesar (Jake Cuenca) sakra sympoš chlap. Příběh nikde nebrzdil, a i když jsem věděl, jak to dopadne, dodíval jsem se v pozornosti až do konce a film ve mě stále ještě doznívá ...

Leia Mais

If I had my eyes closed and the movie started, I would have guessed from the great trumpet music that Jeffrey (1995 American gay movie - we have it here) is starting. However, the story of this short story is equally rambling to the point of craziness, even though it is otherwise completely different in plot, origin and date of creation. However, one of the fathers seemed too warm to the creators (Steven Jiang, who also played the main role of a teacher in HIStory2: Right or Wrong) to add more "comedy" (femininity, lace, etc.), but on the other hand, it can " to deceive" the audience that cohabiting men are all so "weird". But the film moved to the heights for me thanks to the great music /trumpet, piano/.

Kdybych měl zavřené oči a film začal, tipoval bych podle skvělé hudby trubky, že začíná Jeffrey (americký gay film z r. 1995 - máme jej zde). Ovšem stejná rozšafnost až potrhlost se nese i v příběhu tohoto kraťasu, i když jinak je zcela odlišný dějem, původem i datem vzniku. Akorát se mi zdál jeden z tatínků příliš tvůrci přiteplalý (Steven Jiang, který hrál i hlavní roli učitele v HIStory2: Right or Wrong), aby to dodalo větší "komediálnosti" (zženštilost, kraječky atd.), ale na druhé straně to může "klamat" diváctvo, že muži, kteří žijí ve společném svazku jsou všichni tací "divní". Film se ale posunul u mě do výšin díky skvělé hudbě /trubka, klavír/.

Leia Mais

Another of Miko Jacinta's films presented here takes us into the environment of the "production" of gay films a decade or more ago in the Philippines. Amateurism is present here, especially with regard to "acting" performances, with perhaps two or three exceptions. However, the story itself has its own depth and I rate it this way, but at the same time I do not recommend the film to the vast majority of the staff here and "professional" critics, turn your attention to other projects. It belongs to a set of Pinoy movies from a decade ago and more that I collect and we have quite a few listed here already, but a whole line is still missing and almost untraceable.

Další z filmů Miko Jacinta zde uvedných nás zavádí do prostředí "výroby" gay filmů před dekádou a více na Filipínách. Amatérismus zde je přítomen, hlavně co se týká "hereckých" výkonů, snad až na dvě tři výjimky. Samotný příběh má ale svou hloubku a hodnotím takto, zároveň ale valné většině zdejšího osazenstva a "odborným" kritikům snímek spíše nedoporučuji, obraťte svou pozornost k jiným projektům. Patří k množině pinoy filmů před dekádou a více, které sbírám a máme jich zde uvedeno již docela dost, ale ještě celá řádka chybí a je téměř nedohledatelná.

Leia Mais

Yes, friendship plays the most important role in the film, it is the main line and it is graduated in the end, but everything else is just average and the BL component - downright weak, I expected more from Jerome Ponce, rather a concoction, as I know him with Ben X Jim . Tony Labrusca solid and Albie Casiňo joined him, not only in acting, but also in appearance.


Ano, přátelství ve filmu hraje nejdůležitější roli, to je nosnou linkou a graduje v závěru, ale vše jinak jen průměrné a BL složka - vyloženě slabá, čekal jsem víc od Jerome Ponce-ho, spíše odvar, jak jej znám se seroše Ben X Jim. Tony Labrusca solidní a k němu se přidal Albie Casiňo, nejen herectvím, ale i supr zjevem.

Leia Mais

Action, drama, romance - I would trade all of these for a comedy. Everything was so strange, gross (certainly on purpose), miserable from the point of view of a European viewer that I had to laugh at some scenes (instead of being afraid or crying). I recommend it to some viewers, as a "refreshment" after a day's trudging at work. Gentlemen tried, but I can't squeeze a higher rating out of myself ... Just an eye for an eye, a hole for a hole ... ??????

Akční, drama, romantický - toto všechno bych vyměnil za komedii. Vše bylo tak divné, toporné (určitě schválně), z pohledu evropského diváka mizerné, že jsem se musel u některých scén (místo abych se bál či plakal), smát. Doporučuji některým divákům, jako "osvěžení" po denním plahočení se v práci. Pánové se snažili, ale vyšší hodnocení ze sebe nevymáčknu ... Prostě oko za oko, díra za díru ... ??????

Leia Mais

Just okay!

Didn't expect it to be amazing and it definitely wasn't, I still liked it tho! The story wasn't anything special, it was very easy to watch. The actors were decent, it felt like the ml was whispering 80% of the time which was kinda weird. One problem I had is that I feel like we never got to know the ml? He was just really uninteresting. We could've gotten some more about his childhood or something. I really liked the fl! The couple's chemistry was meh but they were still sweet. Everything was decent but I didn't hate it. Movies like this are kind of my guilty pleasure, it's not amazing but still fun to watch haha!

You should watch this if you want something easy and sweet to watch! :)

Leia Mais

Cute!

I enjoyed it more than I expected! There are a lot of negative reviews which I kinda understand, it wasn't amazing but I don't think it was that bad either. It was cute and made me emotional at some moments too. I like cute and fluffy things so it was perfect for me I guess haha. I kinda relate to the fl too and that made me like her a lot. I liked all of the characters!

I watched the movie before I watched the anime. I don't think you'll like the movie as much if you watched the anime or read the manga tbh. I usually don't watch anime but I decided to after I watched the movie. The movie had a faster pace and was kind of rushed. I wanted to see more of the story and the couple so that's why I decided to watch the anime too. The anime was A LOT better! I honestly recommend you watch the anime instead even if I liked the movie too.

I wanted something soft and easy to watch and it was perfect for that. I don't think you should watch this if you want something "deep" and emotional. I also don't think this is for everyone. I'm a teenager and I loved this but you might not like this as much if you're an adult? I have no idea hahah.

I liked the actors, the music was good and I think there's a big chance I rewatch it! :) I liked the movie enough to watch the anime which I loved even more and now I'm planning on reading the manga too haha!

Leia Mais

Curious and Creepy Horror Story

Like with most horror movies almost all the characters were stupid save for writer who was trying to finish a book and so he left what sounded like his difficult marriage to live at this creepy apartment building (not mansion) so that he could focus on his work.

The pharmacist kind of deserved her fate considering she was willing to run off with the man whom she'd been having an affair even after learning he killed his wife and kid.

The student who'd returned from abroad should've left his "friend's" apartment immediately after arriving there and seeing what he saw.

Though nicely done for the genre. The audience never gets the real story behind why the apartment building is haunted. It's said that it used to be the sight of a church, but then a dead mummy is found in one apartment chain up in what appeared to be some ritualistic killing with a large amount of money hidden in a nearby closet. Weird. Also, it seemed that strange things happened to the residence of the apartment building even when they left the building, which wasn't explained. It was also never made clear how long the property had be closed and condemned and how long ago all these incidents happened with the people who'd gone missing while living in the building.

Despite these unknowns, this had some nice vignettes and a great, yet predictable, twist in the last chapter. The "scares" weren't scary, but this did have a creep factor. Good movie. Definitely worth a rewatch if one is in the mood for horror.

Leia Mais