Reviews

Lively and Enjoyable

Evidently, "Mission: Impossible" is the inspiration for this movie. However, the film is quite entertaining; if you want to see something funny and vivacious, this is undoubtedly the movie for you. The story's comedic elements give it its own distinctiveness while still adhering to the plot's basic structure of a spy mission gone wrong. The fight scene at the end was also enjoyable to me because the main male character, who is more of a combat-trained military agent than a detective or investigator, finally got to demonstrate his fighting prowess.

However, nothing has happened since there were discussions about producing a second Mission: Possible film. I have not given up on it yet; if it happens, I will be happy to watch it.

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If there's more time given, this story will great

The plot is good but each episode is too fast. The acting is a bit off because FL's face is so always aegyo.
The ML is good in acting, I know him that's why I watch this but little disappointed with the story.

There is also a scene where I can see through the sunglasses the crews behind hehehe
It's a bit cringe but it's okay if you are not choosy for the drama.

There are also many unanswered questions, not enough time per episode, I think the credits are even longer. It's a little bit back from the last episode because the couple shared their setup but I will not recommend this :)

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"If you keep disturbing me, you'll get me angry"

King Hu's Dragon Inn was one of the bar setting martial arts films in the 1960's. Set in Taiwan, King made full use of the stunning scenery, capturing it lovingly on film. Polly Shang Kuan Ling Feng, Shih Chun, Miao Tian, Tsao Chien and Hsieh Han shone as the primary participants in the battle at the inn on the edge of civilization.

It was the time in martial arts lore when the ruthless Eunuch Tsao Shao Chin was massing wealth and power and crushing his enemies. He had loyal and ethical defense minister Yu beheaded and exiled his family to the outpost at Dragon Gate Inn. And because he was the bad guy he sent members from the East Agency to murder the children. The first attempt failed because Hsieh Han, in a rare good guy role, stepped in with his sword and protected the small entourage. Tsao sent Pi Shao Tung (Miao Tian) and nearly 30 men to intercept the surviving Yu family at the Inn.

The Inn is where the action truly begins and rarely slows down. Shih Chun's Hsiao Shao Tzu arrives after Pi and his men settled into the inn. Ostensibly he was there to see his old friend Wu Ning, the owner of the Inn and General Yu's former lieutenant. Pi's men attempt to take Hsiao out which results in several dead agents and a tenuous détente. Hsieh Han and Polly make their way to the crowded Inn forcefully insisting on accommodations. They also have to demonstrate that they are not to be trifled with. When finally the Yu children appear the sword-fights begin in earnest and the arrows start flying. Not to be left out, the deadly Eunuch Tsao makes a grand entrance with more men.

Dragon Inn kept the story straightforward, no secret lists, no secret kung fu books, or double-double crosses, just the goal of wiping out a good man's family and the loyal subjects who stood up for what was right. King would make the iconic A Touch of Zen in 1971 which had a richer story, Dragon Inn let its swords do the talking for the most part. Swordsman Hsiao injected humor into the lethal fights with Tsao, mercilessly taunting a man who was not used to being disrespected. Due to the large cast and near constant action, character growth was given short shrift.

Polly often played a hot-headed swordswoman, this time she was the cooler, faster blade and her brother played by Hsieh Han was the volatile stab first ask questions later swordsman. With a dancer's agility she moved quickly and gracefully. Shih Chun came across rather stilted to me, though he performed well in the fights. Miao Tian was a charismatic and daunting bad guy, I really enjoyed his performance in this film. As evil eunuchs often were, Pai Ying's Tsao was over the top---an asthmatic, blond-haired master of kung fu and sword fighting he made for quite the spectacle. Hsu Feng, who would later star in A Touch of Zen played the bit part of the young daughter on the run in this film.

The fights were more operatic than realistic, but not of the poorly done swipe and die choreography used in some films. Han Ying Chieh was the martial arts director and an imposing Lieutenant for the East Agency. There was judicious use of trampolines and wire work and on a couple of occasions sped up camera work. The fight at the inn introducing Hsiao made creative use of every day items. Instead of being relegated to the background, Polly was allowed to fiercely fight Tsao, Pi, and Ying Chieh's Lt. The final gruesome fight was well coordinated and showed how determined and unafraid of death each combatant was. Unlike some of the cheaper Taiwanese martial arts films that were grainy and shot amongst the trees, King made grand use of the scenery as backdrops for the bloody clashes. The desolate, rocky desert and lush forested mountains often stole the scenes as the battles played out in nature.

Dragon Inn was a child of the 60's and reflected the acting and fight choreography of the era. When comparing it to other martial arts films of the time it displayed a greater elegance and cohesiveness. Not a perfect film, but for old martial arts movie fans, certainly an entertaining one.

8/16/23

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This year marks the 50th anniversary of Enter the Dragon, arguably the most well known of the Bruce Lee movies. Especially, for western audiences. I'll take Big Boss and Fist of Fury over this. I have seen this multiple times. We watched a lot of martial art movies when I was a kid and Bruce Lee was always everyone's favorite.

I just watched tonight on the big screen. It was my first time seeing on the big screen. It's the standard revenge story with a little espionage thrown in for good measure. It was the 70's afterall. It's definitely, a dated movie but It's still was enjoyable. Young me really like the movie. Old me thinks it's just ok; but Bruce Lee is a legend for a reason. His charisma and martial arts are top notch. He was also the fight choreographer on this film. The cast if pretty good and a young Angela Mao has a small role as Bruce Lee's sister.

8/16/23

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REVIEW

I really liked this movie. At first i thought there was a romance between the boy and the girl because of some tik tok edits but not at all. When i realised it was actually a movie centered in sport competition and the relationship between the two brothers I wasn’t disappointed by that. Because i think this type of movies don’t necessarily need a romance. And i was really interested during the whole movie, it wasn’t boring to watch. I think they knew how to make things interesting and how to make a catchy movie by developping the relationship between the brothers (SPOILER: for exemple why they seem to have some anger in their relationship etc… ) The storyline was good. But i also can understand why people would be frustrated by the fact that there was no romance. Because when we see the girl character i think we would like her to change the situation, maybe to play a role in the current situation. But she seems to just be an observer of what is happening, so it might be frustrating at some moments. But i think this is a chill movie to watch if you like sport movies and siblings relationship. If i have to find one negative point, I would probably say the development of the girl character. I think they could have done something better with her character! (sorry if i made some mistakes, english is not my first language!!)

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A day in the life of...a coffee shop table!

An oval table in a small coffee shop in a quiet part of the city. A tiny vase with three small flowers decorate it.

This is the backdrop of this omnibus movie which tells the stories of this particular moment in the lives of four women. They have arranged meetings and have chosen this table because it was the only one with flowers on it. We find out the reasons behind these meetings but do not know what happened afterward
The first to come is a famous actress meeting her old boyfriend frow way back when. The conversation is stilted, they are obviously uncomfortable and he keeps asking her if the rumors going around about her are true and not believing her. He is impressed by her success but is jealous at the same time and is trying to find a way to bring her down. She's very much aware of it and after a few minutes leaves politely but very certain never to see him again.
Cautionary tale of never looking up the past, you are bound to be disappointed when you see the true face of the people you were so much in love with ages ago. Let the past stay in the past.

The second woman to come to the coffee shop was invited by a man she met months ago. After a one night stand, he left to go travelling the world: India and Europe. She did not really want to see him again but he had left his watch in her place so she wants to return it. Again, the conversation is stilted while she incredulously looks at him saying nonsense about his travels. Suddenly he takes out a present he bought for her in Europe. And another one and another one.... She realizes their one night stand had left a lasting impression on him and that he actually wants to get to know her better. They leave together!
This story is a love story in the making. The actors were cute and we could see the changes in the woman's face as she realizes that he actually never forgot her. Very subtle and sweet: she starts off very guarded, suspicious and on a defensive but melts as the story progresses.

The third encounter is between a woman organizing her own fake wedding and a fake wedding planner. As they talk about the people they need to hire to pretend to be her family and friends we discover that she is actually a swindler who fell in love. The wedding organizer works on the edges of illegality and has regrets because this job has prevented her from attending her own daughter's wedding. She offers to play the bride's mother in order to feel, even if it is fake, what it is like to be at one's own child's wedding. The bride, behind her strict and professional cool exterior hides a person changed by love who dares not hope for a happy future. Still she tries! This is a poignant story of missed chances and bad decisions which ruin lives.

The coffee shop's closing hour sees the encounter between an older woman about to get married and an ex boyfriend. She offers him to spend the last night together. The feelings linger heavy in the air, he is sorely tempted to accept and she is aware of it so she keeps pushing. But he manages to resist the temptation sensing it would be so wrong to succumb. They have strong feelings for each other and the reason they broke up is not really evident but since she is apparently getting married to a rich guy....To be or not to be tempted? Did they make the right decision about their lives? Are they going to keep living with regrets or their story is well and truly over?

The movie focuses on women and their emotions and it shows them to be strong, intelligent and responsible, open minded and reasonable. The men in these stories are just the sounding boards for the women to make decisions about their own lives.
The actors are all excellent. The cinematography is soft, pretty and mostly in muted tones. The way we follow the life of the flowers on the table is so symbolic of the events happening around it. The flowers wilt slowly until they are picked apart by the man in the last story to the chagrin of the woman.

I am a fan of omnibus movies. This one was interesting, very slow burn and rather static: just people sitting and talking. The only person really moving around was the coffee shop owner serving coffee and clearing the table. It is not a very long movie or particularly exciting for that matter but it is rather for the people who enjoy the kind of a movie where everything happens through conversation.

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A multi-faceted classic.

This hit me right in the feels- I know that when I am able to watch something that makes me feel very deeply on normal speed (not 2x like a lot of the banal stuff) I glaze my way through), it is a timeless classic that I will inevitably come back to.

Although these older movies tend to be a bit drawn out, especially when less music is being played in the background, I only really felt this towards the very start of the film, before more of the plot had unfolded. If you do decide to watch it though, I urge you to hold out at the start if you don't think it is your cup of tea, and experience the film in its entirety.

There is something I must hasten to add. Indubitably, this is not, nor ever will be able to be called a BL, and I dearly love the film for that. This is a film about the relationship between three such close friends that remain each other's lifeline, no matter what society does to tear them apart.

As a sidenote, if you are looking for a less realistic film, that does not focus on proven historical periods. such as Republican China, and the criticisms that come with realisations of events, then this is likely not for you - be prepared for the realism to affect you if history and its omnipresence in the perpetual fluctuation of societal structure, propriety and banalisations are something that resonate with you though.

An alternative point of potential consternation, most of the music sung in the film is Chinese opera, a very unique form of music that one will likely either enjoy or dislike; other than that there are still quite a few classical pieces played, whether by Shaodung on his cello (to Ing Er and Lin Chung) or the background pieces that set particular scenes (notably the 'snow scene', and the ending scene)- the composition of these pieces really was masterfully done- they really fit the scenes they supported like a glove.

The one downside in plot that I must confess is the lack of detail regarding the relationship between Huang Zi Lei and Lin Chung- whilst the abstract, clandestine motions and gazes, as a result of such captivating acting, did convey everything that I'm sure the crew meant it to, it was unclear what their relationship was, obsession, fuelled by control and desire, or something more? The fact that Lin Chung cared for ZiLei until the end, despite wanting to be with Shaodung just adds a supplementary layer of fog over the bond between the two.

The dubbing throughout the film largely has the purpose of being an epistolary account between Shaodung and Ing Er throughout the years, and so complements the plot well, however there are a few times where dubbing occurs that was likely added due to the inaudibility of the voices in a particular scene (or lack of mouth movement/ vision of the face of the speaker etc)- it certainly didn't spoil the film for me (just like with the resolution).

All in all though, this definitely deserves the watch. So many different forms of love were displayed here, and I love how it was done (whether it be concerning philia, mania, pragma, or eros, it was well-thought out), combined with criticism of society, whether past or present, grounded in a good few scathing scenes that brought out a good few emotions; one of the times where I willingly sacrifice definition and audio quality for the portrayal of such significant messages.

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The lackluster script wasted these actors. I really was not enjoying it.

Dream is about a B-level soccer player, played by Park Seo Joon, who ends up ruining his public image upon assaulting a reporter. To redeem himself, he got a task to make a documentary where he coaches a soccer team of homeless men. IU is in charge as the director of this documentary and we quickly find out that she also doesn't want this job, which leads to some funny interactions between the two.

I only watch this because these two actors have such a good track record from my drama-watching experience, but I don't get emotionally attached to any of the characters. So the homeless soccer team members were there, and trying too hard to gain my sympathy, without showing any progression of our male lead's character arc. This movie was supposed to focus on him becoming grounded by the homeless men's backstories, and I was hoping by the presence of IU as the female director there will be more productive interaction between them as the leads.

I don't even understand the purpose of IU's character. Her character is pretty useless to the story and her mannerism is annoying. Overall, I think the script needs a more refine editing and make the characters a bit more interesting :/

-Aug 2023, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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offers a compelling cinematic experience that honors the story's legacy

“47 Ronin" is a film that beautifully captures the essence of the legendary true story, which has deeply resonated within Japanese culture. The narrative's emphasis on loyalty, sacrifice, persistence, and honor serves as a compelling reminder of virtues to uphold in our lives. As a tale of unwavering dedication to their master, and subsequently to the emperor, it has remained a powerful theme in various mediums, including cinema.

The film's cinematography stands out, offering stunning visuals that transport viewers into the world of feudal Japan. The meticulous attention to detail enhances the authenticity of the setting, immersing the audience in the cultural backdrop of the story.

The performances of the cast and the direction of the film are noteworthy. The actors bring depth and emotion to their characters, allowing the audience to connect with the turmoil and determination of the ronin. The director's skillful guidance ensures that the narrative unfolds with a sense of reverence for the source material.

This successfully pays homage to the timeless tale, preserving its significance while infusing it with modern cinematic flair. Through its captivating storytelling, impressive visuals, and strong performances, the film offers a compelling cinematic experience that honors the story's legacy and its messages of loyalty and honor.

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"Success always comes with a price in suffering"

In Uegetsu, Mizoguchi wove a strange tale of hubris out of fantasy and realism loosely based on Ueda Akinari's stories. The acting and story telling were well done as Mizoguchi explored militarism and the price women paid for it. At least I hope that was the message.

Spoilers Below:
The story opens with two couples-Genjuro and Miyagi and Tobei and Ohama. Genjuro decides to take his pottery to a larger town to sell with war on their doorstep, hoping to make a tidy profit. Tobei has dreams of grandeur as a samurai even though he doesn’t have enough money for a weapon or armor and heads to town with Genjuro. After Genjuro succeeds, he decides to make more pottery for a grander profit against Miyagi's advice. She wants them to be together happily and with soldiers headed their way they need to be prepared to flee. Genjuro ignores her and with Tobei, who was rejected by the samurais, works feverishly to fill his kiln. The soldiers arrive pillaging and enslaving, but the four manage to escape. Afterwards they rescue the pottery and take it to sell. Tobei uses his share to outfit himself and join the army. Genjuro is seduced by Lady Wakasa who says she will help him to make more money if he will marry her. He falls under her spell and forgets all about his wife and son. Ohama is captured by soldiers on the way home and gang raped. Miyagi is killed by ravaging soldiers for the meager amount of food she is carrying for her son. The husbands go about their lives enthralled with their circumstances, scarcely giving a thought to their wives caught up in the chaos of war.

Despite the negative ramifications shown of militarism and the effects it had on women, throughout the film I found the husbands reprehensible. Driven by ambition, lust, or a need for power, they hardly suffered. Yes, there was humor interspersed but the wives were not given the chance to laugh. After finally coming to their senses, Genjuro and Tobei both learned that home is where peace lies, coming full circle from the start.

Ohama's story was resolved too neatly for a woman who had been repeatedly "dishonored," not suffering the fate of so many comfort women from the previous war. I've read that Mizoguchi wanted a different ending, more in line with real life where she would have been shunned and Tobei would have stepped over her to grow his military power. Even with this "happy ending", had she been a real woman and not a man's version of a woman, she most likely would have suffered greatly from her painful and humiliating experiences and not immediately bounced back.

Death could not dim Miyagi's loyalty to her family. She who had been utterly abandoned by her husband continued to be caring toward him, looking out for him and her child by reuniting them. Miyagi who was forever separated from her child and husband due to his ambitious and lustful needs was never allowed to share the peaceful home fires she so lovingly stoked. Finally, Lady Wakasa could not be seen as a villain. She had been murdered along with her family by men bent on more power, and was only seeking the love she never lived to have.

The fantasy elements were well done and the film was well crafted. All of the performers conveyed their characters perfectly. The various soldiers and armies were routinely shown as out of control and often dishonorable---a scathing rebuke of militarism. This is one of those films that is considered a classic and one of Mizoguchi's best. While skillfully woven together, I could not get past the price of the husbands' hubris being paid by the women and why the dutiful wives were the ones who were destined to suffer for the men's misdeeds. How long Genjuro might have been haunted remained to be seen.

So even though the story taught a lesson to the husbands about ambition, and ultimately brought about the fulfillment of peace and harmony for those who remained, it came at a cost, a cost the women paid with their blood. Their selfish husbands finally did what was right for those who survived, but only after blowing everything up to begin with. Whether or not this was what Mizoguchi envisioned, as a woman it was a bitter pill to swallow.

8/15/23

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Don't expect too much if you're looking for horror

To be honest, I didn't find the movie as bad as the other reviews, but this is definitely not a horror.
Don't expect frightening scenes or zombies, or very elaborate characters. Those things don't exist here. It's just a few characters trying to survive, in a way that's almost comical.
Honestly, I saw it as a comedy movie, the kind we watch to pass the time, when we don't want to think too much or get agitated... it works. It's almost what you expect when you go to see "Zumbilândia" for the first time. It's good to pass the time.
If you want to watch it, don't wait for a movie like "Train to Busan" or "Alive", because it's not. It's not even intended to make you terrified, let alone the claustrophobic or desperate feeling of regular zombie movies. It got me more laughs than anything, although it scared me once or twice.

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Everyone is crazy

A little slow and confusing at the beginning (around 30 min) but after that it's a fast paced ride till the end.

I would lie if I said I liked this movie for the plot, it's interesting, it's fun but it's predictable. The heart thing, the son thing, I saw them coming early on. The real plot twist would be that the Nobleman is the real son but from what we saw, he is not (it was not shown or said).

Marco is your basic main character, he has no clue what's happening and he is just trying to survive. He has a sad backstory, he is strong, etc. Mostly, he is there to be chased and to move the plot forward.

The evil brother is crazy and evil. I first thought he wanted to kill the father (he probably would if he could) but he needed him for inheritance. He didn't really have much character depth except greed and craziness.

The Nobleman and my favorite character. He is doing things because he can. He is an expert (his words). He is a character with the most depth which is weird since he is the craziest of them all. Also, I like his smile even though it looks creepy as hell.

The action is top tier. Especially the scene at the end, the grand finale was extremely grand which is cool.

For such a dark and bloody movie, the ending was funny.

I hope they make a second movie but with the same vibe as the first one.

I would recommend this movie, it's pure action which is hard to find these days, nothing complicated, just fun.

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The Cost of Love

I normally don’t like love triangles but this one was a little different. This drama shows the cost of love when good friends are involved. You meet a man who captures your imagination only to find out that he’s the fiancée of your good friend. What do you do? The normal response would be to ignore him from that point forward and tell your friend, but love and destiny are unpredictable. One-night changes the lives of three people and a fourth one that is yet to be born. This is not a happy story where everybody rides off into the sunset, but it is an interesting story. The acting is fantastic. The story is gripping and hard to take at times.

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Strong beginning; Weak ending

What the description on Netflix and MDL, even the move itself, fail to note is this is loosely based on events during a 2003 SARS outbreak in Taiwan. Unfortunately, this is one of those movies that grabs your attention within the first few minutes and then just leaves you with a very abrupt ending. It just leaves you with too many loose ends and no overall resolution to events. This is sad considering the actors were wonderful portraying their characters. Even with the sudden ending, it had great cinematography and pacing. However, the editing can make viewers uncomfortable which I think was the purpose.

Random Note:
It felt like the writers did not want to fully commit to a sad ending or that they lost steam at the end and gave up.

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