Reviews

Hollywood movie adaptation with better ending

If the summary & title don't give u clue, I tell you once more... This is the remake of the American film “Bride Wars” [2009]

Story not so much different. But with a little twist in the end & also through out their wedding preparation journey.
He Jing and Ma Li is best friend for 20 years. Pressure by their family, they decided to propose to their long time boyfriend, instead just waiting around for them to do the proposal. But their friendship of many years is put to the test when they both end up scheduling their wedding on the same day. They refuse to adjust and make plans to sabotage each other's weddings.

And that pretty much what the same with the original Hollywood movie. Now what I like & don't.

What I like:
+ The ending of this movie. From the journey of their wedding preparation, I already can guess what will the end of both movies, Hollywood & China. That's why I'm quite confuse of how different it is from the original version. If you want to know just watch it urself or u can DM me. That's why I really like the ending of this movie...

What I don't like:
- Although it's quite different between both movies, Hollywood & China. But I find the journey of this one, quite boring. That's why I can only give this 7,5 the tops.

Overall I quite like the twist this movie gives us...

Below I'll write who as Emma (Anne Hathaway) & Olivia (Kate Hudson). But that also means SPOILER ALERT!!! So read it at your own risk!












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SPOILER ALERT!!!
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For you who want to know, He Jing is Emma (Anne Hathaway) & Ma Li is Olivia (Kate Hudson)

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It feels like I can hear only YOUR voice..

Watching the movie after I've already watched the series made me see sides of the story I didn't think I could discover and gain more respect for Kohei and Taichi as characters.

The movie in itself was a beautiful story and represented the experiences and struggles of those with hearing disabilities while having an incredible bond between the leads develop steadily.
When you look at it as a parallel to the series, you can fill in some gaps that I think would have been left up to interpretation in the movie and have more dialogue for certain scenes in the series that I thought could have been explained better or rather, clearly.

This was a great watch, for the story, the emotions, the thoughts it provoked and simply for Kohei and Taichi ♡

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revenge fantasy

I thought this was like a cringe and silly romcom, then I saw a clip of the last fight on insta and i was like ooh this isn’t a cheesy romcom

But as I watched this I realized this was about school bullying, and sadly no rom

I’m so sorry but Jun is so hot, I mean he’s psychoness is scary but idk if it’s cuz I know his uwu side, or if I have a crazy side but he’s so hot when he’s mad

And fl is xingback approved

The other teacher screaming don’t take off the mask made me laugh so much I think that was another reason beside the fl fighting that made me wanna watch this but I forgot it

Then SHS hitting Jun and him face slamming the principal was hilarious
And her high kicks were so satisfying
Poor bullied ml when he had his meltdown, it BROKE me


I’m kinda disappointed Jun and HSH didn’t have a love line, I’d love to see them in a drama together


I personally think this lvl of bullying is “fantasy” idk like anyone can record and expose bullies if they’re this severe
So in return it was a fantasy to have a former boxing champion who wanted to live a peaceful life but had to unrealistically beat the heck out of a bully to win
I also loved the comedy in the last fight
Also another aspect of severe bullying, leaving is simple and the easy way out

The com tho made me laugh especially two scenes at the end almost made me cry laughing
Jun was hot eventho he was a psycho and shin hye son eventho i see she always does the same type of character, i liked her here especially the fight scenes , I’d totally watch a drama about her fighting, I’d even watch a second season of this

I was gonna say it’s an 8, but soshimin made it a 9 and the comedy made it 9,5

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Komorebi

A profound and introspective look on everyday life.

This may have been a slow burn but it never bored me even once. There's a sort of satisfaction in the mundane, repetition may not be exciting, but finding the happiness in the smallest of things, the sun that shines through the leaves, birds chirping early in the morning, a child waving to you. There's even happiness in the chaos, a move away from the schedule can bring about cathartic and moving experiences.

The entire movie may have been the story of a week or two, or that of months, but the essence and emotions were just the same. With a minimal amount of dialogues, the acting and depth created a great balance.

“Komorebi - is the Japanese word for the shimmering of light and shadows that is created by leaves swaying in the wind. It only exists once, at that moment.”
The final frame of the film, and an apt description of the film itself.

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This film reminded me of the action comedies that were shown on TV during my childhood -- so, about thirty years ago. The "humour", the story, the sexism -- all of it is about the same level.

I don't mind the rather predictable story about the men going on a drunken trip, and the ensuing entanglement with the local drug dealing ring -- but did they have to make it sexist? Especially the scene at the beach on the first day was terrible to watch. Also, the other female characters were at turns harassing the men and being the weak victim.

The stars are for the acting, the drug dealing plot, and the overall cinematography.

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Fun and beautiful fantasy movie

I really enjoyed this film, it is saturated with high fantasy and wonder. The setting is very much xianxia, with sects of cultivators and flying on swords and the whole works. They really portray cultivator magic much more than most shows in this genre.

The main 4 actors are all amazing, giving strong performances and making me want desperately to have more time with their characters.

Unfortunately this is a film and not a show, so the time passes much too quick. Also it seems that this is only a part of the story it is based on, but they never made the rest of the films, so the ending is pretty abrupt and not entirely satisfying.

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Feche seus olhos e curta as lembranças

A atmosfera noturna do bar do hotel é tão hipnotizante! Adoro muito as cenas dos globos de discoteca iluminando diversos locais lá...

Adoro que as lembranças são como fantasmas naquele lugar, mas não de forma aterrorizante, apenas nostálgico, principalmente pela decadência de agora e quem ainda sobrevivi dele.

As meninas são o retrato mais triste aqui. Do desamparo, a necessidade de sobrevivência pela prostituição.

Adoro a atuação da Kitty (minha Nanno loirinha) em uma das cenas, ela toca seu corpo e percebe que as lembranças dele, não são mais dela, como seu corpo não pertencesse a si mesma. : (

É um filme bem lento e contemplativo

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Interesting psychological mess

I understand why people are so divided when it comes to this movie. It's pretty hard-to-go-with, has lots of TW and it's definitely something different. For me it's more about new topic here, "broken people", which is really interesting for me to begin with.
I really like the psychological plot there. The theory about androgynous fits perfectly, because I really believe they would be the one person. Two crazy people who actually have met and completed each other in such an unstandard way, they whole story, how everything started is described that I as a spectator actually could understand, but not that clearly, so some scenes and ending are free to interpret. I have a weak spot to difficult and complicated relationships in BLs and I really got it here. Good work.

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Alan and Ben have an instant connection during a breakup party. They both leave the party to get a room to have a night of sex.
However, every place they go they find reserved rooms. It's a Saturday night, and many couples long to have sex and live a few hours of adventure.
As they wander through the streets and alleys of Hong Kong, from hotel to hotel, which at that time are completely booked, the two young men get closer and open up about their past: Alan tells Ben about his first hookup experience, At the age of 17, in a school uniform, he went with the only boyfriend he has had to a villa, where they do not allow two men to rent a room, and since then he has not found a place where she could have sex. Therefore, tonight, with Alan, she would have her first sexual experience.
While they spend the night walking together, Alan will confess that he hates McDonald's food and everything related to the services of this food chain, because he went with his ex-boyfriend to one of these places every day after class, and it was there where the boy ended the relationship.
For his part, Ben will reveal that he was also in one of these establishments when he last saw his mother, since the woman abandoned him with his younger sister, and since then he has not seen her again.
With his father dead for years, he had to separate from his sister when he was taken in by another relative, while he went to live with the family of the girl who organized the party where they met.
Answering questions, Ben also reveals his Chinese name: Won Ka Chun, and having been in five or six relationships up to that point.
As they chat about which male celebrities they would both like to sleep with, their day surprises them. At this point, their conversations have opened up many possibilities beyond erection and lust: Is love possible? Will there be a chance to move forward? Is sex the only bond that unites them?
With a duration of 20 minutes, 'After Erection', the short film filmed in Hong Kong in 2017, stars Lei Jeun Sek and Lee Wai Lok. The first, an actor, screenwriter and director known for directing the film 'Tracey' (2018), which tells the story of a transgender man and his struggles in Hong Kong, takes on the role of Ben.
In his fight to make the LGBT+ community visible, Lei Jeun Sek has worked on the films 'Drifting' (2021), 'Forever 17' (2019), and 'I Miss You When I See You' (2018), among others.
Meanwhile, Lee Wai Lok, who plays Alan, has his acting debut and only role in his career to date in this short film.
'After Erection' appears to be a version of the Taiwanese LGBT+ themed romantic short film 'YuXiang & Mark' (鈺翔和馬克), filmed in 2016, written and directed by Huang Sheng Tim, but in it instead of Ben and Alan the The names of the two characters are the same as those that give the work its title, as well as the setting is not Hong Kong, but Taiwan.
And although neither of the two short films has high levels of production and interpretation, I like the one produced in Hong Kong better, because I find greater depth in the script, I manage to empathize better with its protagonists by providing greater strength in their human connections, without ignoring music, editing, dramaturgy, photography, sets, among other technical aspects.
'After Erection' reflects some of the difficulties faced by the LGBT+ community in Hong Kong at the time it was filmed, specifically having trouble trying to find public places to have sex.
'However, films like this and actions such as those carried out by activists for the rights of this human group, such as Lei Jeun Sek, have made it possible for today, 7 years later, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Hong Kong to celebrate some achievements, such as that granted by the Court of Final Appeal, which in a historic ruling on September 5, 2023, urges the Hong Kong government to establish a legal framework for the recognition of same-sex couples, marking a milestone in the fight for equality and human rights.
Although it does not grant full marriage rights, this ruling represents a hopeful victory for the community, by supporting civil unions between people of the same sex, a legal process that has not yet concluded.

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The more you sit with it the more it hurts

This follows Jungdo who begins starts off as a martial arts expert who just wants to have fun. One event in which he saves an officer’s life leads him into the police service where he volunteers as a martial officer who hunts rogue criminals under house arrest.
I loved the initial humour of the show, it was interesting to watch Woobin in this movie, his charisma and ability to play the part of this younger guy who just wants to have fun and then gets this higher calling that makes him take stuff seriously finally.
However, I think the dark themes of child abuse and hunting pedofiles did not merge well with the action comedy genre of the show.
While the jokes were funny most of the time, it was jarring to have a joke or quirky quip be followed by the hunt for some notorious convicted child abuser.

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Kim Woo Bin is back!

I’m glad I finally decided to watch this, it’s good to see KWB back on screen, I prayed that he gets better & makes a comeback. This movie aside from his upcoming series with Suzy are my much awaited projects.

This could easily be turned into a series meaning it’s that good in my opinion. Emotions are all there happiness, laughter, sorrow, anger, love for family & friends, and so forth.

All cast did magnificent, it may be too gory for some but I’ve always enjoyed anything crime related, and this is quite a sensitive issue that involves minors, and has been really a problem not just in Korea. It was intense, but at the same time I felt every emotion in this movie.

if you have the time I hope you give it a try and watch it for yourselves. Good job KWB!

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Lingering Regrets

Well, that was depressing.
So how do you differentiate BL from queer art? Because...I see people refer to LGBT films and shows from Asia as BL as if the type of queerness is different from Western ones?! That's a bit weird. Gay is gay everywhere, no?!
Anyway, this is a story of sexual awakening in a crappy era in Taiwan and it's appropriately heartbreaking. You can't really expect all daisies and roses from an era where political and social upheaval are piled on top of dominant prejudices. It's not a cute, fluffy story. So the plot and the characters' characterization are appropriately bleak and raw. It's tragic and heartbreaking, not just due to the circumstances but also because of the regrettable choices made by the characters that make life even harder for them. Then, it is no one's doing but theirs.
I enjoyed this but the experience is bittersweet as the implications of the timeline and the story speak of lost time, irreversible mistakes, and regrets that haunt the characters 30 years into the future. But it's done very well so it feels satisfying to watch the story develop.
That said, I did not love the movie from start to finish. I found the conversation scenes with the priest to be stilted and unnatural. They felt too much like preaching and it made the whole thing awkward. I also disliked the flash-forward in the end; not because of the positive or negative ending but because it felt like over-explanation in a way that was not very graceful. There seemed to be too much conversation. Or the camera was following where it was not meant to go? I don't know, it just didn't feel connected to the rest of the film. It felt like a totally different movie and while I liked the atmosphere and aesthetic of the past (not just visually but the cinematography and the direction choices too) the modern bit felt like your run-of-the-mill indie film...I just didn't like it. It felt like there was a break in the film's flow. Maybe if they had maintained the vibes, I would have liked it better.
The acting...well, actually I watched this because I liked Tseng Jing Hua in a different project and came here for that so I knew the acting was going to be good. But the rest of the cast was great too. I really liked Edward Chen. They kind of break your heart throughout the film.
Music is a big part of this film and so they paid special attention to it. It pays off.
Would I rewatch? I would rather not, to be honest. I hate stories about regret the most. They make me so anxious. So once is enough!
Overall: I guess you can watch it if you don't mind a little heartbreak. It's not a feel-good film but it's also not high-art...still, I think it's worth a watch, for sure. The quality is genuinely high, the story is touching and the acting is moving. You wouldn't feel like you wasted your time. It will be well-spent watching this.
P.S.: A bit of an unrelated tangent but this movie just proved to me once more that with proper crew and budget, Taiwan can save us from certain bad adaptations and censored content...just putting it out there.

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Strangely paced "Pirates of the Caribbean meets Robin Hood" story - underwhelming

Unfortunately, I found this movie a bit underwhelming. I'm surprised because what's not to like about a 'Pirates of the Caribbean meets Robin Hood" film? Sadly enough, it takes almost half of the story to really have the pace picking up. The interactions between the two main characters were the best part of the scenario, but it fell too little too late. I truly enjoyed the last part for the action but at the same time, I felt the moral of the story and the resolution were very weak.

The acting was satisfying, with good chemistry and a strong ensemble cast. The action scenes were convincing and pretty varied. The music was not outstanding but suitable for an action movie, hyping the thrilling moments at the proper time.

I would recommend this movie despite its flaws because I think it might be a case of "it's not you; it's me". If you enjoy adventure movie, you might want to give it a shot for yourself. I did not find it that entertaining because of the pacing issue but I'm not regretting watching it. I will also be curious to have a look at the sequel. I was disappointed by the resolution and ending but I truly appreciated the acting as well as the action scenes.

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Jackie Chan in Thai.

For many, Thailand equals a dream vacation. For others notorious for drugs etc. The truth probably lies somewhere in between. There are many sides to Thailand: The beautiful exotic country in the far east with its amazing nature, its good food and nice, friendly and hospitable people. In any case, Ong Bak is a nice reel that offers a lot of action mixed with excitement and laughter.

The opening promises well: In the annual competition in the village, all the men who participate must try to get hold of a ribbon that is at the top of a tree. First man wins. It starts off well and pretty much keeps the same fast pace throughout the film. Already there you get to know Boonting, the winner with the extra features and the athletic qualities that get through most things, even the narrowest openings, over the really high obstacles and past the less friendly competitors. Despite his speed and strength, Boonting is also humble. He has trained in martial arts for many years but has to promise his master never to use his fighting skills. Every 24 years the village holds a special festival and sacrifices to the Gods for continued joy, happiness and good harvests. The village's own saint is a Buddha-like statue called Ong-Bak. It is of course sacred and it is the duty of all the villagers to protect it at all costs. Therefore, it is a big setback when, just before the festivities, they discover that the statue's head has been cut off and disappeared. Boonting then voluntarily steps forward as the one to recapture the head and bring it home to the village.

The hunt leads to Bangkok and an old clumsy acquaintance who will do anything for money. They have barely reacquainted themselves before Boonting, in search of his suitcase, follows his host to the local fighting and betting club. To get the money back, he has to box against a number of bigger and stronger shady types. He had promised not to use his skills but now he has no choice and stands up, and of course wins...

The hunt for the missing statue head leads to more shady acquaintances and more fights. Every time Boonting is forced to fight to move forward, he thinks about his previous promise, but to get the village's property back, he makes almost any sacrifice. There are so many who are waiting to see the statue head again and he cannot let them down!

The hunt goes higher and finally he meets the top boss who runs the betting and a lot of other shady and illegal business. Ong-Bak is a fun and watchable film. In Thailand it is a great success and it has also celebrated success in several other countries where it has been shown. The pace is high and there is a good mix of tension, comedy and drama. One of the most exciting and fun scenes is when he makes his way through several blocks, away from the gang who want their lost money. An armed gang of at least 20 people do everything to stop him but fail!

There is quite a lot of action and most of it is done for real without any stuntmen or other tricks! The main actor Tony Jaa is responsible for most of the scenes himself. Ong-Bak is also very reminiscent of Jackie Chan's films. Tony Jaa has admitted in interviews that one of his idols was the Hong Kong hero Jackie Chan. He could also be compared to Chinese born Jet Li.

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