Reviews

A movie about Mark

Although the film doesn't quite reach its climax, it is tender in that it describes an intergenerational and interracial relationship where Mark, a young Chinese student living with his aunt in Hong Kong, falls in love with his middle-aged English professor, and I don't think he is worthy of the time , was created shortly after the "return" of Hong Kong to China, and such stories can take place anywhere and at any time even in today's time...
Although the film doesn't quite reach its climax, it is tender in that it describes an intergenerational and interracial relationship where Mark, a young Chinese student living with his aunt in Hong Kong, falls in love with his middle-aged English professor, and I don't think he is worthy of the time , was created shortly after the "return" of Hong Kong to China, and such stories can take place anywhere and at any time even in today's time...

Leia Mais

50 First Dates without the comedy

Silent Rain was like 50 First Dates but without the comedy. Yukisuke and Koyomi found each other and then found themselves in a life neither could have ever imagined. The film showed the everyday moments that build a relationship, it also showed how lack of communication and not taking pre-emptive action could cause emotional hardships.

Yukisuke visits Koyomi's taiyaki stall each day as much to catch a glimpse of her as to enjoy the tasty treat. When Yukisuke helps her deal with a drunk customer a barrier is broken and the two gradually become closer. Fate is not that kind in a Japanese romance and after spending a strange evening together stalking a customer, Koyomi is injured on the way home. After two weeks in a coma, she awakens with all of her long-term memories intact though her short-term memory is damaged. Each day the previous day is wiped clean from her memory. Apparently having no family and friends to help her, the mother visits while she is in a coma and leaves, Yukisuke invites Koyomi to live with him. Every morning they share the same routine. "Is this your home?...It stopped raining." "It's a long story, but can you listen?"

Koyomi doesn't seem to be too rattled by the news upon waking and carries on as usual. She goes back to working in the stall and the two become closer. But as the days continue on and she has no memory of what they did or shared together the day before, it begins to wear on Yukisuke.

I enjoyed the slice of life element to this film and the slow buildup of the relationship. However, it could be frustrating watching two people with inadequate communication skills try to handle this new development in Koyomi's life. Both were emotionally closed off with others. Yukisuke refused to acknowledge to co-workers that he had a girlfriend much less share her short-term memory issues. Koyomi lived a solitary life as well.

Along with their social ineptness, they never brainstormed to see what they could do to ease Koyomi into the day and give her access to what happened the previous day since her brain could no longer grant her that information. Why was there no therapy to help her adapt to her new situation? Why didn't they use journals or her phone or computer to record what she needed to know to ease her into the new world each day? She'd made a few sticky notes but didn't seem to read them and some were in ridiculously obscure hiding places. Neither knew anything about the other, but at least they could have worked toward written shared memories. This lack of communication and understanding left the characters feeling flat.

Silent Rain was a languid walk through the daily lives of two awkward, kind people dealt a life altering blow. As often happens, it was the mundane daily events and interactions that slowly drew them together. Their behavior could be perplexing after Koyomi's accident, as they never felt pressured to find answers or change their lives in any meaningful way even when it could have made things easier for both of them. Perhaps neither was ready to come to terms with their new reality. It would take a series of cathartic events for these two loveable and socially inept people to find their way out of the rain.



8/31/23

Leia Mais

Spoiler for story 4.

Story 1:

The acting was unnatural and felt very forced and awkward. I'd take into consideration that she as most likely a child at the time, but if I'm going to be real harsh I've seen younger children with better acting. It wasn't like she was feeling the emotions, it felt more like she was forced to express them. Story was empty and nothing was really connected or at least they didn't make it obvious. Her actions didn't make sense.

Story 2:

Acting is a little better, but really awkward and unnatural during some parts. But I can't say the acting was good. Or decent to be frank. I'm writing this as I'm watching and nvm, the acting is bad here too. The story doesn't make sense. But the sound effects are okay. Special effects were nonexistant. Literally. it was clearly a human in a cheap suit. Also do they live alone? They look like 14? Some of the close up looks like CP.... very uncomfortable to watch.

Story 3:

Acting wise i guess it's a little better as there are now adults involved. The main actress acts like 4 but looks at least 16, it's weird. Sound effects were good. No, nevermind. This is the worst acting I've ever seen. It's like watching a weeb doing the HMPH! KYUUU uwu sounds. This is awful. It hurts.

Story 4:

Here is when I realised the girls are connected. But story wise it still doesn't make sense. Acting is better. it actuallly didn't hurt watching.

Leia Mais

Confused about end ***SPOILER***

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So I’m confused did Joon not get out? It showed him going back in so did he die? But at the end it showed him covered and hold his camera ??
Side note it reminds me of the movie ‘Silenced’ well more like a sequel years later.

Ignore this part I just needed 500 characters lol
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la

Leia Mais

A deeply romantic, atmospheric, nostalgic story packed into two hours . . .

In 2 hours, I loved and connected more with these characters than I do for dramas that are 16 hours in length.

It's a simple story just enough hurdles, love triangles and other dynamics to keep it interesting. But it isn't the plot points, it's the way the actors, writing, and director were able to build out full characters that grow to love each other on screen. It's also the way this is it shot with a poetic, dripping with golden nostalgia, millennial way.

By the end, this show hits on the high school dreams of many of us, to find love, unexpected, spontaneous and early with someone caring and mature and good looking. It's the thrill of realising that you can have a crush on someone and they can have a crush on you back. It's the knowledge that some of our best life moments are behind us, and there is no way to get them back.

For lovers of slice of life, love set in a short period of time, stories tinged with equal hope and sadness, this one is for you.

Leia Mais

Action movie with a sci-fi angle: not that original but beautifully acted and produced

This movie is about the encounter of former intelligence agent Ki Heon and Seo Bok, a human clone whom the mere existence might have a huge impact on the globe if made public. The story is not really original in terms of concept as well as pacing and resolution but it hits at the right times the right notes, making it an entertaining watch.

The biggest flaws in terms of the story relies in its villains which are really dislikeable and lack too much of nuances to be interesting. The dialogs between Ki Heon and Seo Bok with some of their most peaceful moments really strike a chord with me but at the same time, it was totally counterbalanced by the antagonists scenes which were worth quite a few eye-rolls.

The acting was amazing. It is a well known fact that Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum are great actors, and here they are really stellar and bouncing back on the talent of each other. The secondary cast did a good job overall despite the lack of subtlety and substance for some of the roles. Moreover, the foreigners performances were okay overall and not distractingly bad like it can happen sometimes.

The production value was really nice. I was super impressed by a lot of the action scenes, with both main male leads totally credible in it. The props, accessories and scientific aspects of the film were well conceived and believable. The soundtrack did not necessarily leave a deep impression on me but was suitable.

I would recommend this to people looking for an action movie with a sci-fi angle and some stellar acting. It is not original at all and the antagonists actions and dialogs can be a little cringe, but if you love Gong Yoo and/or Park Bo Gum, it is for sure worth the time.

Leia Mais

2 yeas ago, I watched the Chinese version with Jackie Chan & Dilireba, this year finally decided to watch the original or Japan version. Still love the concept of the story surrounding Namiya Store. How the advice help people & give warmth in their heart.

Not much a different with the story between this version & Chinese version. But somehow, I don't know what or how this version feel more warm than the Chinese version. It feels more like Mr. Namiya cover me with blanket and tell me everything gonna be OK.

And somehow I also more like the version of the youth here, Yaguchi Atsuya, Kobayashi Shota & Aso Kohei, than the Chinese version. I forget or just simply don't know what make the different to be exact. But maybe the youth here feel more bitter & how Mr. Namiya in his last letter really give the warmth in one of their heart (I forget which one. Haha...)

Oh and I really love how they give us preview or a glimpse about the 3 youth future, this is a big different, cause as I remembered Chinese version don't have this. But just correct me if I'm wrong. Overall this one of the movie that give warmth to our heart after watching...

Leia Mais

ghost x human

• obvious naman sa title kung ano magiging storyline nito, & yes tungkol 'to sa isang police na nakapulot ng red envelope not knowing that will lead to him marrying a ghost.
• i can say na maganda ang flow ng story since magaganda talaga mostly ang napproduce ng taiwan. this is not a love story at all, but it's still a good way to waste time. nag-expect nga lang ako ng isang kiss pero wala bEh, lumbay.
• halata naman na may edited na mga scenes but the editing skills are good. also, casts are good. maraming scenes na natawa ako, and sa part na nagtanong 'yong co-worker "who are you talking to?" ta's teary eyed aq sa sagot ni wu ming han na "my husband" T___T
• overall, ito 'yong movie na kareco-reco kasi masasabi kong may quality, maganda ang twist, and hindi gano'n kalumbay ang ending unlike sa MODC (ang layo hane pero naisip ko kasi modc lol). want ko ng sequel nito ta's magmeet ulit sila pls pls pls!!

Leia Mais

Brutaly real

A two-and-a-half-hour Filipino film, and it's a blast. Anyone who likes dramatic stories will find something to their liking. And also an excellent concert of well-known Filipino actors (and very nice!!) in the main roles ... and in general, the first part - the prison part - was played very well by the other actors. Cruel, raw, real. Dirt, betrayal, violence. Friendship, feeling, tenderness, love. Dismemberment, death, hatred. So much goes into few films, only the child victims bothered me there, and therefore a step lower than the highest rating ... Very good, Rommel (Sid Lucero) and Esteban (Emilio Garcia) ... the film is absolutely BRUTALLY REAL, portrays life without embellishments in this island nation, which is also a Christian island in a sea of Islam and Buddhism, and that just got me, even though I'm more of a lover of romance and non-violence. And the fact that the film lacks a higher meaning is something we who want to understand Asian or Pinoy productions have to get used to, that's just the way it is ...

Leia Mais

Mind Blowing!

Just watched "The Moon" ! I feel like everyone should watch it atleast once! I can't believe CGI of Korea have so improved, it actually felt like watching a hollywood movie. It deserves a lot more recognition than it has now. I was quite indulged in this movie. I cheered with them, got stressed out with them, got emotional with them. I wish if I could've watched it in the theatres, in 4DX, it would've been such a wholesome experience. Now I even want to learn more about the moon, its craters, physics and everything.
As weknow, Korean movies specialise on emotional part in each movie or drama and never fails it. The same happens here too. Kyungsoo is proving his acting skills to be unmatched again. Even if every breath,I could feel the tension the scene required. And as always, Sol Kyung Gu nailed it. Kim Hee Ae's Role was such a powerful one. And all the supporting actors did a great job. The political issues about the missions, the worries of every scientists, the hardwork, everything was delivered on point with a little bit of thrill at every bit of the movie.
I feel stupid for us giving metaphors to moon, calling it a symbol of love and as of what is happening there actually, is quite ironic. Its chaos right there.
Anyway, as said in the movie, the moon is for none, its not a place which we could fight for. Rather, its for the whole planet, where every person could undoubtedly say "its ours".

Leia Mais

Totally not what i expected

I watch this because people talk about this a lot. I know nothing about this movie but "Straight police and gay ghost." Just like other people, i was intrigued by that. I don't watch the trailer, I don't even know the genre, but i read about people saying to prepare for some tears. So I'm expecting some heartwrenching LGBTQ+ movie like YNEH.

This movie totally not what i expected. Comedy+Horror+Action. What a combo!

For the comedy, they nailed it! It's so darn funny!! I swear the english subtitle ain't do the movie any justice if you know the language trust me it'd be more funnier LOL!

I didn't expect they'd use lots CGI for this movie, like the gunshots, the truck, etc. Not that good but for a movie whose genre not even action?? They totally got a hell of budget ((not complaining)).

Also, I like how the movie flowing, the pace is perfect. The comedy is sooooo good lmao like I'm laughing so hard that i forgot about 'prepare for some tears' part. It's too funny that I can't take the movie seriously, and when it gets to the serious part i was totally stunned.

I thought the story would lean towards the love between them, between the Police and the Ghost, but they showed us more. The unconditionally love from a parent. The story is so GOOD, so good that i can go from laughing to crying real fast. And the ending— I can't describe it, I can't even watch the movie clearly bcs of my tears.

The tears so good it gives me headache lol.

Also let's talk about the acting??? BRUH THEY ALL KILLED IT. The ambulance scene where Ming Han about to passed out, the captain said "who are you talking to??" And Ming Han said "My...Husband.." and then passed out. Hate me as much as you want, but that scene for me is equal to Tom Holland's "I don't wanna go" scene! It's so good that you'll moved to tears!

Wriing this while wiping the tears i shed on the chair. Totally recommended!

Leia Mais

Samurai daddy take your kid to work day

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance was the first in a series of movies about a disgraced ronin caring for his baby son while seeking revenge on the people who murdered his wife and framed him for treason. This ronin of few words left a trail of spurting arteries along with piles of limbs and decapitated heads.

Ogami Itto was the honored executioner for the Shogun until one day the treacherous Yagyu clan decided they wanted his position for their clan. They murdered his wife and set him up on treason charges. The wily swordsman not only escaped the executioner's blade but won his freedom as long as he stayed out of Edo. Pushing a secret weapon laden baby cart, he had a sign reading "Sword for Hire" and "Son for Hire." No longer using his feared name, he and his son were now known as the Lone Wolf and Cub. An assassination job took him to a hot spring in a mountain village being terrorized by bandits. Playing a sheep looking after his lamb he found himself among captured travelers. It didn't take a fortune teller to know what the fate of the bandits would ultimately be.

Ogami had his own code of righteousness formed by his job and his responsibility to his son. It meant when he saw a woman being raped and her father murdered that he didn't step in, which didn't exactly grant him a halo. Nor did it stop him from servicing a prostitute in front of crowd in order to "save" her. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Like other 1970's movies, there was plenty of sexploitation. Had they toned down the naked women and sexual violence I would have enjoyed this movie more.

This film felt like they were setting the table for more courses to come. I was surprised how quickly the movie was over and how little happened in the present as there was copious use of flashbacks. Wakayama Tomisaburo was an accomplished martial artist and his skill showed during the fights. At least the fights I could watch when I wasn't closing my eyes during the severing of limbs and buckets o' blood spewing everywhere.

Lone Wolf and Cub reminded me of the Mandalorian only with more blood and flying body parts. Ogami's son could have given Baby Yoda a run for his money in the cute kid with a lethal daddy department . If you can overlook the '70s sexploitation and are in the market for an old school gore fest samurai with a baby who is also seeking revenge film, this is it.

8/31/23

Leia Mais

Not the best iteration of the "Itazura na kiss" story but entertaining and nostalgic enough

This movie is a new adaptation of the well-know "Itazura na kiss" story. I have seen quite a few of those, the first one being the Taiwanese drama with its two seasons which will always probably the best to my eyes, for sentimental reasons. The story in itself might seem simple and cliché as it is centred around the one-sided crush of air-headed Yuan Xiang Qin toward cold genius Jiang Zhi Shu but there are a lot of elements being it. That is why despite the plot being very straightforward in itself, I must say that it seems like a daunting task to try to adapt this story into a movie, and it was done in a not too shabby way, it just cannot hold a candle to some of the other adaptations I have seen in my opinion.

There are just too much to say in not enough time. The story has very little time to be told given the movie format and therefore it feel a bit like if the film tries to tick a maximum of the box (comedy, romance, more emotional points...) but without having the time to build up really on any of it. There are a bit too much of slapstick and heavy comedy for me given the length of the film and the secondary characters are not exploited well enough. They do not have that much screen time and it felt a bit lacklustre (or ultra-irritating in the case of the role of Zhi Shu's Mother).

In terms of performance of the actors, I found that the male and female leads were both matching quite well the characters. I appreciated their acting in the more emotional and dramatic scenes where they did a suitable job but was less impressed by their comedic scenes. There was also not that much chemistry between them and the pace of their relationship is so fast that it makes it less believable. The secondary cast was mostly disappointing at best and really annoying at worst depending on the role played.

Despite those flaws, there a lot of the classical important moments of the romance that are present and provides some satisfactory moments overall (due possibly from my side to a strong nostalgy). There is just enough modernization of the plot and the set up to allow the story to fit better the current time and remain relevant as a teen rom-com. There is seemingly a lot of care that has been put in the filmmaking with a lot of vibrant colours, which make the overall vibe very rom-com colour-coded and charming.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a rom-com movie with a forced proximity trope between a genius, rich and cold male lead and an innocent, air-headed and clingy female lead. It is quite stereotypical and it has be done so many time, but it is still entertaining. If you have seen previous adaptations, you might find yourself disappointed like me as a lot was forsaken for the sake of brevity. If you are new to the story, you might no see as many flaws and be able to enjoy it for what it is: a cute and likely not that memorable romance.

Leia Mais