Reviews

Gay-themed short film, not BL

Warning: not a happy ending

It is easy to tell what is happening in this short film, but it is much more difficult to say why everything is happening.

We know it is practically love at first sight for Soon-ho, the delivery boy who frequently delivers Yu-jin's meals to him. In contrast to how transparent Soon-ho is as a character, Yu-jin is very much opaque to the end. Perhaps it is meant to be this way--the intention could be to show the struggles of a gay man who won't know the attitudes of other people towards him when they find out he is gay. There can be a 180-degree change in attitude.

Yet the film is can be rather baffling. The simplest reading is probably that Yu-jin is homophobic and turns nasty when he realises that Soon-ho is gay. But it is anyone's guess when Yu-jin discovers it--does he assume that Soon-ho is gay when he sees Soon-ho sniffing his (Yu-jin's) shirt? If so, why does he have no apparent immediate reaction to Soon-ho (whose action actually is admittedly inappropriate)? In fact, he proceeds to start eating his meal without seeming affected until he picks up a piece of friend pork and pauses . . .

Perhaps Yu-jin is put off by Soon-ho's action (not necessarily because he is homophobic but because he finds it disturbing). Or perhaps he is actually homophobic. Or perhaps he is trying to repress his own sexuality and emphasize his supposed heterosexuality by getting a woman to go to his apartment at the time when he knew Soon-ho would turn up, acting intimate with this woman AND even telling her about the delivery boy who is gay. Things would be easier to grasp if we can see malice or cruelty in Yu-jin as the woman taunts Soon-ho, but he keeps quiet and appears quite expressionless (perhaps even coldly hesitant). After closing the door at Soon-ho, he says something sexual to the woman (despite not even showing any interest in her while Soon-ho is looking at them), but is he deliberately saying it loudly enough for Soon-ho to hear?

It is easy to focus on Soon-ho's heartbreak and his friendship with his employer. However, Yu-jin is ultimately the truly intriguing character. I do wish there were more in the film to nudge us towards a more concrete interpretation of Yu-jin's character. He is either a really poorly written and acted flat character or an unsuccessful attempt at creating a truly interesting character within the span of 20 minutes.

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enjoyed the movie version more than the series version

Overall: this is a condensed version of the series which was 12 episodes about 40 minutes each = 480 minutes. The movie version is 125 minutes long and I liked it more than the series version because it cut out boring side couple stuff and stuck with the focus of Ai and Nhai. You can read my full review of the series here https://mydramalist.com/profile/blcompilations/reviews/233757/ I'm going to point out some differences.

What I Liked
- left out the cute rooftop/coupon scene and there might have been other cute scenes they left out as well
- better ending with the stargazing instead of that random store/shoe tying scene
- had transitions between scenes to help make it feel more cohesive/time had passed (though it can feel a bit choppy)

Room For Improvement: if I had edited this I would have changed a few additional things and then I would have rated it an 8.5
- in the flashback (which I would have shortened) cut out the dads being awful to Ai, the dads lied to him and he has a right to be angry/confused
- added back some of their cute scenes

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Please give this movie a chance to hug you.

I read the book-the book made me cry. When that happened, after learning there was a movie I was hesitant to watch it, despite my baby Yamachan starring in it... Because i thought, there's no way it will be able to make me feel the way that book did.
That book made me stand back and study this world, and the people I'm with everyday. That book made me scared because of thinking that if I don't hurry up, I'll only become a torch for someone else's dream... and that book made me cry because how can so many people not believe that God exists when we are all connected, when life makes sense in such a complicated way.
But time went by and I forgot a little. So i watched this movie. And it made me remember-more than that, it took away my fear; Even if your life is really only meant to encourage the other dreamers to achieve their dreams, and yours is un-reached... That's okay too. Dreamers-don't we dream to encourage others anyway? Most often, with becoming a singer or a writer, an actor or a doctor-isn't that what you want to do? You want to reach others, and help others...and be remembered.
So not just the authors, the singers, the pilots, the fashion designers and the presidents make their mark here...The people who encourage us. . . They turn into memories too.

Every actor and actress did well. The music in this film lingers long after it stops... perfect feelings were captured in 'Reborn'.The only thing that holds me back from giving this movie a complete 5 stars is that some letters were left out,and i wish they showed more anguish for the musician-there was not enough longing shown there, there was not enough cinematography for him.
but i love the way the movie retold the book, and i love what details it added. If you're ready to remember what it is to live, watch this movie. Or, maybe you just need a hug? Okay, watch it then.

Leia Mais

Second vote for best so far!

Okay, this is like the 5th movie I've seen, and I was already anticipating what they could change in this one to keep my interested. Well, the movie was the best so far! Every one of the characters is logical or likeable, and there weren't any dumb characters or plots that lowered the ratings I had on some of the previous movies. I expected a twist at the end, but if I could say, the "double" twist and character behavior shook me, but left me feeling ready for the next one. Because we hopefully are getting closer to finding out who is behind this game.

The music was dramatic, and I especially liked the ending song. By far the best music in the series so far.

Theory/perspective: Why are there only girls as really the main character or protagonist throughout this series? And I won't say who the other lover is, but that makes it even more interesting too. This isn't a complaint, but just an observation. It probably makes it more entertaining for the alleged people behind the game. Anyways, watch this movie even if you don't see all the rest, and you won't be disappointed.

Leia Mais

I liked the parallels between Shima's past and present

I didn’t read the manga that the movie is based on before watching it. Which might have affected my perception of the movie, making my opinion differ from the opinions of people who have read the original first.

The plot is quite simple, but there is nothing wrong with that. It’s an office romance between two very different men, who both suffer from past trauma and / or heartbreak. Their pasts do differ, but that doesn’t mean that the pain of either one is lesser.

Togawa & Shima: Togawa seems to have an addictive personality, in the sense that he tends to get hooked on things. Drinking, smoking, and later Shima. It is not necessarily portrayed that way, but it is a conclusion that it could lead to. Shima is quite introverted, he doesn’t do well in workplace social interactions because of his past, his previous job. He is also someone who tends to put everyone before himself and tries to do what he thinks is best for others, even if it means hurting himself. The two do start on the wrong foot, but Togawa quickly proves himself as a good person, even if Shima’s first impression of him was not the best.

My favorite part of the movie is how it draws parallels between Shima’s old relationship and his relationship with Togawa. There are plenty of similarities between the two and Shima even points out how he apparently tends to repeat his mistakes. It really showed how similar situations can be handled differently.

There are a few scenes that are a bit problematic, especially considering that Togawa is Shima’s boss. I know that what he said was meant as joke, but I don’t think Shima knew him well enough to know that. Which is why it did feel like he was using his position to pressure him. But it was not a reoccurring situation which I am grateful for.

The movie lacked chemistry, at least from my point of view. I am not sure if this is due to the personality of Shima, or due to the lack of chemistry between the actors. It’s also almost 10 years old, which probably also plays a role in this.

The cinematography was beautiful, but a lot of scenes were very dark, so it was hard to see. Or they were shot from far away. That is something that I didn’t really enjoy.

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Story: Two friends on a motorbike because one is jobless and the other left his things at his ex-girlfriend’s place. With this plot, I really do not expect much of a story.

Acting/Cast: Middling as this was supposed to be an LGBTQ story but the way the two actors portray it, they could just be friends. I could not even feel the pining.

Music: Bland at best.

Rewatch Value: Nah.

Overall: This short film tries to be artistic and profound but fails in execution. Although we are supposed to believe that one MC is in love with the other who is oblivious to his friend’s feelings, but the portrayal leaves so much to be desired. All we see is one trudging up a mountain just following whatever the other says, and coming down without accomplishing anything. It’s like taking a trip to the department store but coming up empty-handed.

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Story: Cat and Dog are actually people and not animals who chase each other around: one seeks pleasure outside of his supposedly-committed relationship, while the other seeks stability, but neither really getting what they wanted.

Acting/Cast: No acting prowess to speak of, but what can you expect from an adult entertainer.

Music: Nothing to write home about.

Rewatch Value: If only to figure out the logistics of how two men can fit in a small bath tub.

Overall: The film poses the question whether a “carnal connection can transcend into love?” And for me, the film does not answer this hypothetical query, and only serves to be gratuitous and self-indulgent.

Leia Mais

Story: A teenage boy suffers from panic attacks every time his girlfriend wants to be intimate. He is not sure whether the reaction comes from his distaste of girls’ bodies or something else, as he finds himself being fascinated with a naked boy lounging on the rooftop. But almost the same thing happens when the other boy tries to touch him. The short film presents a backstory of trauma suffered by the MC at the hands of his father, but it was unclear whether the father sexually abused his son, or whether the boy was being punished for having impure thoughts and acts of pleasure are heavily reprimanded.

Acting/Cast: Mediocre at best.

Music: Mediocre at best.

Rewatch Value: If only to analyze why the MC hyperventilates with the thought of impeding physical contact as there maybe differing interpretations.

Overall: The film leaves a lot for improvement, and poses more questions than answers, like how brazen are the two boys cuddling almost naked a few feet from another group of boys ogling at girls. Or how the girls, knowing that they were being spied on, still tried to put on a show in the hopes of catching the perverts in the act. The inclusion of this latter part seemed off-tangent and unnecessary in such a short film. At the end, nothing is resolved but only offer up more confusion.

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"Some swords are useless no matter how you polish them"

Sword for Hire AKA Vagabonds in a Country at War told the tale of three samurai who survived the destruction of their castle and where they ended up afterwards. Two intersecting love triangles formed with one man at the point complicated matters between the former allies. It is important to note that the surviving print is missing 30 minutes, so while you may see running times of 2 hours 15 minutes listed, at present, the film is only 1 hour and 45 minutes long. It is also badly faded and degraded making some scenes difficult to see.

Mifune Toshiro as Hakate, Mikuni Rentaro as Jurota/Jurata, and Ichikawa Danshiro III as Yaheiji are facing imminent death when opposing forces are set to overrun their castle. Jurota abandons the fight taking Hakate's love, Kano, with him as cover. Hakate escapes during the fighting even though he is badly wounded. Yaheiji is captured but is able to overpower his captor and also escapes. Jurota joins another army hoping to make a name for himself. Hakate is rescued by the female bandit Oryo and nursed back to health. Yaheiji becomes the leader of another band of bandits. Hakate once more is on the run when it looks like he killed Oryo's father. He joins a competing army to Jurota's. Put that all in a blender and the characters start mixing, and falling in love, and just missing each other or running into one another. It becomes a complicated mess of human emotions.

Sword for Hire was entertaining but came across as a low budget samurai movie. The sets made the scale of the film quite small. Kurosawa Akira was credited as one of the writers, but there seems to be some debate as to how much he contributed.

Of all the characters, I was at first intrigued by Shirley Yamaguchi's Oryo. She was fierce and flamboyant but quickly devolved into the stereotypical obsessive and hysterical female character from this time period. Asaji Shinobu's Kano was the typical cardboard female character who could have been played by anyone. I enjoyed seeing Shimura Takashi as an inn/restaurant owner who gave completely ignored advice and snippets of wisdom to Jurota. When you could make him out through the foggy weather and foggy film, Mifune Toshiro looked sublime. Ichikawa made for a rough and tumble "rock" with a heart of gold. Mikuni was relegated to the braggart and self-serving character of Jurota, the "useless sword" Shimura's character spoke of.

I'm not sure where the missing minutes were from as there was a proper beginning, middle, and ending to the film. The story didn't feel strong enough to add 30 more minutes of flabby middle to it, or perhaps it would have enthralled me. Maybe the added scenes would have filled out the love triangles/pentagram/hexagram (these rotating couples are beyond my geometric skills) that ultimately seemed pointless in this version as the women only had eyes for Hakate. There wasn't enough fighting for a good civil war film or enough loving for a romance which left this Sword for Hire without a buyer.

7/3/23

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YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS

If you don't want to regret, watch it, you can watch it with you friends group or family, it's great unique story and exciting scenes ✨
Guys it's "park seo joon" , it's gonna be great of course ? ?
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"To Truly Love Someone, Is For Them To Become Your Only Exception"

The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese is a beautifully melancholic movie that is very artistic. Everything feels very deliberate from the choice of lighting down to the clothing color choice. And it all comes together into this intricate web and it just draws you in. It's not a movie that leaves you smiling at the end, but rather one that leaves you silently pensive.

This truly is a dark and gritty movie. The characters are deeply flawed human beings engaging in a toxic relationship and that relationship is not romanticized like it is in so many other BLs. On the one hand, you have Otomo Kyoichi who, despite being married has engaged in repeated affairs and has no real understanding of what love is. And on the other hand, you have Imagase Wataru who has been in love with Otomo for some 8 years, since their university days. Neither character has very many redeeming traits. Otomo can't remain faithful to anyone, is deeply selfish, cold, cruel even. He's manipulative and remorseless at times. And Imagase is a study in unrequited love, but the kind of love where there's not really a reason, you just love them. Because why would he love Otomo with the way he treats Imagase? But he does love him, not that it's in any way healthy. It's the kind of love that he's willing to do anything for a chance, even blackmail or stalking. And also under that love is a level of fear and paranoia that eats away at him until he breaks.

The character development achieved is very impressive, particularly with Otomo's character. It's a natural progression that feels well done and organic, not at all forced. His journey is not an easy or pleasant one, but it is a necessary one for him to grow and become a person capable of loving and being loved. Imagase's development is less overt, though no less powerful. His is a battle with self, the yearning to stay while also knowing that it's time to let go. The pacing in general of the movie is practically perfect. No scene feels extra or out of place, it all just flows together seamlessly.

The acting is absolutely phenomenal. Okura Tadayoshi had the challenge of playing Otomo who's fairly reserved, but the beauty of his acting was the sheer subtlety of it. Even if his face wasn't necessarily displaying a specific emotion, you could see wheels turning in his head. And Narita Ryo, oh my goodness, did he pull at heartstrings. Between the scenes where he breaks down, the beach scene, and the ending, he just broke my heart. He also has some of the best lines of the movie and he delivers them beautifully.

Yes, there is nudity in this movie, no full frontal, and several NSFW scenes, but I would not classify them as pornographic. They are tastefully done and they play a key role in revealing the development of the characters' relationship and emotions. If such scenes are off-putting to you, this is not a movie you should be watching.

I said this was a movie about flawed human beings and part of what gives it so much depth is that very nearly every single character in it is flawed, some more so than others. It doesn't try to rationalize or over explain, they simply are. I think there's a certain beauty in that rawness and lack of perfection. Theirs isn't a relationship to aspire to, but it feels real, more real than the pretty fairytales so many of us watch. But in the end there is a hopefulness, I think, however fragile, that they can rise above their flaws to create something beautiful.

Leia Mais

Solid if lacking

Just Heroes is far from John Woo's finest hour, but even then there's a lot to love about this minor classic, with Woo's trademarked heroic bloodshed coming out in full force during the finale. Commissioned by Tsui Hark to raise retirement money for a broke Chang Cheh, John Woo's main influence and tutor, Cheh then spent said money on making another film instead. Woo only directed about 60% of this and his style is plainly obvious when compared to the 40% helmed by Wu Ma. It's the kind of film that desperately needs another 20-30 minutes to let all its ideas flow, it feels rushed which doesn't surprise me given how quickly it was thrown together, the pedestrian script could have done with some tightening up. Despite this, Just Heroes boasts a funky musical score, some great performances from David Chiang, Danny Lee and a young Stephen Chow and is packed full of intrigue even in a routine-like mob world with elements that feel like they belong to a Takeshi Kitano yakuza thriller.

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You can see why Woo was hired for Mission: Impossible

John Woo's penultimate film before his emigration to America and produced during his two masterpieces of Bullet in the Head and Hard Boiled, Once a Thief is certainly more laid back than the two films it's sandwiched between which leaves it in an odd position. It's a loving send-up of the 50s globe-trotting capers with Woo's signature explosive style of hi-octane action, a nice mix of a playful, romantic love triangle between childhood friends in a relentless pursuit of impossible dreams and exuberant slapstick comedy (the wheelchair dance is truly kino). It's the sort of film atypical of Hollywood at the time and no wonder he was chosen to helm the best instalment of the first three Mission Impossible films, just a shame he didn't bring Chow Yun-fat along for the ride.

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Controversial Woo is Good Woo

Released during John Woo's so-called "Golden Period", Bullet in the Head is easily Woo's most personal and bluntest film that he himself financed single handily. While hits like The Killer solidified his bromantic style of filmmaking, Bullet turns it on its head. It's a disturbing masterpiece that he rewrote as a reaction to the June Fourth Incident and it doesn't pull any of its punches. Even opening the film to "I'm a Believer" doesn't prepare you for the sheer masterclass that is about to unfold. I really wish his original 3-hour cut would grace our screens one day, but even in its truncated form, Bullet in the Head is sheer perfection.

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Woo at his finest

Unquestionably the crowning jewel of John Woo's filmography, Hard Boiled is a film that doesn't have anything to prove and Woo's last hurrah to the industry that brought him lasting vitality as a filmmaker. Mayhem has never looked better. So many films owe their origins to this movie and Woo himself, his shootouts are a ballet; his firebombings are poetry. And while he lets the body count get away from him, he constantly fascinates, through a combination of chaos and an excruciating control over what we're allowed to see.

Boasting some of the finest action sequences ever filmed and beautiful emotional resonance Hard Boiled is a powerful thriller that hits hard in more ways than one. It's the very definition of an action masterpiece; Heroic Bloodshed that only Woo could deliver, give him a gun, he's Superman. But give the man two and he's a God.

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