Reviews

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.

Leia Mais

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.

Leia Mais

There have been so many time-travel movies and TV shows in recent decades, and that has made the subject matter feel exhausted and sometimes downright boring. It is so hard to recycle an idea and present in a way that is creative and does not fall into the traps of all the previous cliched plot lines. This one is a gem. The storyline is well thought-out so that it doesn't have some silly plot holes. The cinematography is lovely, as is the set is magical. The best part is the acting by both young and old actors. Shin Eun-Soo and Lee Hyo-Je were so natural, esp. in the scenes where it might even make adults act awkwardly. Later on, Kang Dong-Wan and Shin Eun-Soo acted with such ease around one another, as if they really had known each other all their lives. It's a moving story about friendship, loyalty and having faith in people. I re-watch this movie once every couple of years just to relive the magic.

Leia Mais

Now THAT'S an original idea!!

I happened upon this movie quite by accident and it was fun. I loved how the ML was changed by the people he met and the experiences they had together. I laughed quite a lot during this movie and teared up at the end. The movie has a good message without beating you over the head with it. I have seen most of the actors in other works, so it was kind of like "old home week". And can I just say, I'm so glad to see Park Hyung Soo in a role where he isn't a complete jerk? Ever since Crash Landing on You, he always plays a bad guy. He does it well, mind you, but this was a nice change of pace for him.

My absolute favorite scenes were the scenes with the sloth, especially when she was practicing while she was at work at the market.

Cute and entertaining movie when you want something short to watch.

Leia Mais

a fun movie for the weekend

Never did I imagine I’d get to see all in one movie until I started this one. I actually started the anime, but only a few episodes came out since it’s getting delayed every now and then. So, this movie was a fun watch and got me hooked up since the start. It’s starts on a serious note, then we quickly get into the story with the zombies. Well, despite all that entertainment, the story got messy and ridiculous around the end, but still a very good watch. Also, that sh**k scene got me screaming and laughing hahaha.

It’s a 6.5/10 for me.

Check it out!

Leia Mais

Street dance vibe, not like step up at all but the best for dance movie

I watched this movie many days ago, but I can't get everything out of my head. I'm so overwhelmed with everything, storyline, 2 main actors, dance crew, Shou Shou family, so Worth IT! The main actor Shou Shou who Wang- Yibo plays has difficult life however he love breaking dance so he try practise it himself without proper lesson or coach but that not stop him for dream to be a part of dance studio E-Mark! I love how hard he try, how humble, dedicated, everyone around him fully support like his mom, I cry for this beautiful love I will definitely watch it again next weekend! Especially 20mins dance final so breathtaking!

Leia Mais

THE WEAKEST LINK IN THE VENGEANCE TRILOGY

I have to admit that this is probably my least favorite movie out of the Vengeance trilogy. The most prominent weakness this movie has is its story which is just not as impactful as the previous ones. If we just look at it as a standalone movie and not as part of a trilogy, it is still not a great movie and comes along the definition of just ok enough.

The second problem I have with this movie is its conclusion. When you've watched the other two movies in this trilogy, you kind of expect the ending to be unsatisfactory and gritty. But it just kind of changed that, it tried to make the ending satisfactory and didn't even succeed at that.

Final Verdict: I personally don't urge you to watch this. But if you've decided to watch this, I can only guarantee that it won't be completely bad.

Leia Mais

Interesting concept but I got super bored...Maybe a case of "it is me, not you"

The movie is centred around an interesting concept, as our hero Saijo is able see women in love surrounded by sparkling lights. The fact that he is able to visually perceive the love but does not understand what it is is, is the key element of the story. The viewer follows his evolution as he interacts with the three main female protagonists and learn more about himself and what love is.

Despite this intriguing premise, I found myself totally disengaged from the storylines. The discussions that the characters were having were highly theoretical and I got super bored as the story unfolded itself. The outcome was pretty obvious from start and the script did not manage to hold my interest. I was still hoping for a surprise until the end...but no, the resolution was exactly what I expected. Surprise and unexpectedness are not necessarily what I look forward in a romance, but still I need something to catch up my interest (passion, chemistry, poesy,....) but here it felt too bland for my taste.

I found the casting doing an adequate job but I was not super impressed by any of them. I must say that the pretty convoluted dialogs did not help keeping me invested in what was happening on screen, so I'm not sure if the problem in keeping my interest is the acting or the story, both or totally something else?

I would not recommend this to people. I feel there are better romantic movies out there and that this one is overall pretty bland and forgettable...

Leia Mais

Addicted

And so with this movie, the story of Hira and Kiyoi comes to the end. What a journey it has been. Probably the best BL series I have ever seen.

The story of two flawed men who early on realized that their missing parts are in each other, the true soulmates, complete only when they are together. On the surface it is an odd pairing. Hira is ugly, submissive, apparently weak and probably slightly Asperger's while Kiyoi is beautiful, popular and a leader. And here is what makes this story so amazing: when you lightly scratch the surface you find a different kind of people here. Hira is a talented photographer and actually a very strong person both physically and emotionally and he shows that side of him only when he's around Kiyoi. Behind his beauty and talent, Kioyi is very much insecure and uncertain of his abilities. The blind trust and admiration that Hira expresses, let Kiyoi lower his guard and be his real self.

In this movie they finally find answers to all questions that had been bothering them but mainly: how to stay together? While Hira is happy just to exist on the same planet as Kiyoi, who is the King, like a star to him; Kiyoi depends on Hira to give him strength, who accepts him no matter what. The story follows them after they graduated from the college. They both are working hard now and are facing their own lacking skills which reflects in their relationship.

The story of Hira and Kiyoi is a tale of the ultimate toxic relationship which works because they are both aware of it, accept it and are on the same footing and equal in spite of appearing to be otherwise.

This movie is literally beautiful: the cinematography is extraordinary- soft colours, dreamy exposure. Sets correspond characters : Hira's messy house, the photographer's white geometrical and empty house. Clothes too!

When the first season came out, I remember liking it enormously but then thinking I must have misunderstood it after reading what others were saying about it. Kieta Hatsukoi came out at the same time and everyone prefered it to this one. They are on a different level and cannot be compared: KH is rather straightforward and ordinary. My Beautiful Man has the depth no other series managed to touch. It is not an easy drama to watch, one needs to actually SEE what they are trying to show without it being in your face. And therein lies the beauty of this series.

Leia Mais

Quiet love story with random subplot

The love story between the lead characters was beautiful. I thought the way it was filmed was interesting. There were lots of close ups, kind of like we were trying to see like the ML was, and then there were scenes that were very quiet, like we were part of the FL's world. They reminded me of magnets, like they were inexplicably drawn together, then never wanted to be parted.

The CEO storyline absolutely did not work for me. It felt like it needed to be part of a different movie. It was too frenetic and slapstick for this peaceful movie. There was a lot of overacting going on as well.

I liked the ending, though I know a lot of people probably thought it was taking the easy way out. Japanese seem to be known for their tragic stories, so it was a relief for me. That said, the ending sequence was somewhat confusing because of the way it actually ended.

I might watch this again in the future because it was calming.

Leia Mais

Forever my favorite japanese bl ever..

Since i just watched the new movie that came out for them on kisskh with ai subtitles, it was kinda confusing at times since the caption wasn't always correct, but its really easy to understand after. This movie was as amazing as the series and i really don't care what anyone says, if its a toxic relationship, no its not, its just a lot more realistic and not all happy like some shows are. Its such a deep meaning inside of this movie and all the shows and i absolutely love it. I don't write reviews at all but i just had too. Please make sure to watch it ( after watching both series of my beautiful man though). It will forever have such a personal space in my heart and it kinda hurts knowing this is it and i have to let it go, but thank you so much for making such an incredible show/movie. Its a one of a kind experience i hope for everyone to enjoy, thank you so much whoever read this and i hope you enjoy as much as i did!

Leia Mais

"Every time you lose something, you have to discover another piece of yourself"

Summer Blooms was a gauzy slow journey through a young woman's grief and guilt. Hatsumi's life froze in one moment in spring, not looking back and not moving forward. A series of events jarred her loose from her self-imposed exile compelling her to face the truth of her life and the death of her ex-boyfriend.

Hatsumi works part-time in a soba noodle shop, listens to the radio, and floats through her days. We're told her boyfriend had died three years ago in the spring, an event that upended her world. She gave up teaching and for the most part, living. Whether it was sorrow over the loss of a great love or something else we don't know. The noodle shop owner is retiring and closing the shop ending her tenure there. An old student attempting to make it as a jazz singer drops into her life. The energetic, kooky young woman shakes up her mundane routine. With the restaurant closing, a customer who had eaten there every day just to see her, finally works up the courage to speak to her. He wants more from her, but she seems reticent to go out with him. A pregnant ex-colleague asks her to substitute for her while she is on maternity leave, pressuring her to make a decision. And more dramatically, the deceased ex-boyfriend's last letter to her shows up at her door step.

After three years of existing, she decides to confront the past and travels to the town where her boyfriend's parents live. Here her truth comes out as well as the reason for his death. To be honest, I'd figured it out early on, but the movie takes us well into the last act before it shares these revelations. I found his letter to be self-serving and it seemed she did as well. It turns out it was one of many he'd written her, with her not responding to them. In the end she wrote him a letter that helped her move from spring to summer.

Asakura Aki was perfect for playing a reserved young woman with a fake smile. She gave us tiny glimpses into the pain beneath and through the former student Kaede, flashes of the fierceness she was capable of displaying. Kawasaki Yuriko as Kaede gave just the right balance of youthful bravura and frightened homeless waif with an abusive boyfriend. She also supplied a clue that Hatsumi's ex-boyfriend might not have been mentally well-balanced. Miura Takahiro's Totaro, the craftsman in love with her, was rather bland and something of a red flag with his behaviors.

Summer Blooms was a light exploration of Hatsumi's grief and guilt and her withdrawal from the world. It took a collision of circumstances to finally force her to face her monotonous life and the reason for it. Due to the reason for her seclusion, I was expecting more of a moment of emotional discovery and more revelations to the audience for why she felt she needed to suffer so much. What led to the fateful moment that crystallized her life in seclusion? In the end, it felt like the movie was skipping stones on the shallow surface of her life and only briefly touching on the real reason behind her actions when the stone sank below the waves. Though the film attempted to show how one young woman responded to loss and finally worked through it, the story lacked the depth to have a proper conversation and left many pertinent elements of her previous relationship unknown.

8/14/23

Leia Mais

Deeply moved by this heartfelt movie, a testament to love's timeless strength.

Rarely have I been so touched by a film, as this masterpiece beautifully evokes the tender and resonant emotions of the human experience. Set against the backdrop of wisdom-filled years, this cinematic treasure showcases the magnificence of love's enduring journey, proving that age is no barrier to the boundless power of the heart. Nevertheless, the remarkable casting of three main actors and actresses, each crowned with multiple HK movie awards for Best Actor and Best Actress in their other film performances, converges in a symphony of new combined performances that breathe life into a narrative of unwavering love and human resilience.

After watching, I find myself facing current life challenges that aren’t as challenging to the extent of how the main characters are facing. Of course, the characters in the movie don’t represent every person’s life, but it does address concerns that, at some point in time, anyone will encounter and need to face.

The inclusion of one couple’s offspring and their younger generations further underscores the gap difference that is a common concern in today’s society. Being blood-related may seem more distant than neighborhood friends.

Life may take a different route for many of us—far beyond what we thought ourselves capable of—hence, this film provides a profound reflection of life from many angles, aiming to shed light on blind spots we may be unaware of.

It’s a rewarding watch, either with someone we love or by ourselves, for thought-provoking exploration.

Leia Mais

Review for Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) by Park Chan Wook

Overview: This is my second Park Chan Wook's movie, the first one being Oldboy. I really enjoyed watching this movie, it was amazing. It really makes you feel confused as to who to root for since both sides were given an equal to shine on the screen.

Direction: The director did a fantastic job at trying to capture the story of both sides beautifully. The thing that I can criticize the director on is probably his timing for cuts. He would just abruptly cut a scene at probably the most weirdest time possible which sometimes made the scene really hard to understand because some cuts even had a lot of time skip. The only cut that I can appreciate him on is towards the end which I can't say a lot about because I don't want to add spoilers.

Acting: The cast did an amazing job at acting most of the time. The actors did an amazing job of portraying emotions. However, I did spot a problem. I don't know if it's the director's fault or the actors. But in one of the introductory scenes, Ryu smiles as if he could actually hear the radio when in reality, he's supposed to be deaf.

Soundtrack: The soundtrack is good, it's just nothing special that actually stands out on its own.

Final Verdict: If you've decided to watch this movie, I recommend it to you and I guarantee that you'll not regret it.

Leia Mais