Reviews

A masterpiece

I usually don’t like overly stylish movies that look like a perfume commercial or music video, but when it’s so incredibly well done like this one, I make an exception. Everything was top-notch: the directing, photography, editing, music, writing, and acting. I was especially impressed that the actors playing the students were actual teens, and they did an amazing job. And I need to give a shout out to Masaki for totally nailing his role as the inspiring young teacher from the typical J drama or movie, but this time subverted as a clueless laughing stock. He was absolutely perfect for the part.

Out of all the Japanese movies I’ve seen from this millennium, Confessions, along with Love Exposure and A Bride for Rip Van Winkle, were the greatest.

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Could have used more rom and more Tang Wei

Despite starring Tang Wei and Jacky Cheung, this ended up being Jacky and Pau Hei Ching’s movie. Tang Wei was criminally underused. Crossing Hennessy was a scrambled ensemble that too often pulled focus from the main couple.

Loy is a 41-year-old man who sleeps until noon and has difficulty with responsibility. His mom owns an appliance store where he fixes equipment and does installs near as I could tell. His aunt dotes on him while his mom berates everyone around her. Queenie, the mom, sets him up for a matchmaking dinner with the woman whose uncle owns a shop across the street. Oi Lin, much like Loy, has no intention of following through with the match. She has a jailbird boyfriend and Loy is seeing his ex-girlfriend. Later, after meeting coincidentally the two find they share an interest in mystery novels. Kismet! Queenie, family friend Uncle Ching, and Loy’s aunt end up in a love triangle of their own.

I watched this film mainly because Tang Wei was starring in it. Before the hour mark she all but disappeared from the screen until the end of the film which was quite disappointing. Her character was given little to do overall. I also struggled to understand what thirty-year-old Oi Lin would see in a forty-year-old man (49-years-old in real life) who had no direction and nothing to offer her but the ability to make her laugh. Jacky Cheung’s acting style is not my cup of tea. I find his mugging for the camera and eyerolling more annoying than cute. It was difficult to understand what lit the attraction between Oi Lin and Loy. Pau Hei Ching as Loy’s mother was continually loud and overbearing with no nuance. I kept waiting for her older sister to finally snap after being continually rundown by the family diva. I only know Danny Lee from old kung fu movies so it was interesting seeing him as the henpecked, dog carrying Uncle Ching. The veterans’ love triangle dominated the second half of the film along with Loy’s challenges while Oi Lin sold toilets offscreen in her uncle’s shop.

Crossing Hennessy had some cute moments but then the film would go in another direction leaving the burgeoning romance on the backburner. Tang Wei’s return to film after being blacklisted (apparently, she did those spicy Lust, Caution scenes all by herself? None of the men suffered any consequences) should have highlighted her acting abilities instead of sidelining her in her own romance. Jacky Cheung’s hangdog, lazy character and verbally abusive mother weren’t interesting enough to carry the film for me.

8 August 2024

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The Fine Line Between Laughter and Tears

In this movie, two aspects stood out as less appealing. Firstly, the transitions between flashbacks and the present storyline were challenging to follow. It felt as though the editing or execution wasn't as seamless as it could have been, making it difficult to fully grasp the timeline at first. Secondly, a key character who tampered with evidence or ignored a critical situation was not held accountable. This lack of justice left a loose end that was hard to overlook.

Despite these issues, the film was a blend of humor and deep emotion, successfully tugging at the heartstrings. It made you laugh, cry, and genuinely connect with the characters' journeys. The movie's ability to evoke such a wide range of emotions is a testament to its overall impact, even if certain elements fell short.

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fascinating

This movie is a fantastic series of twists and turns. One of the few I've seen recently where I genuinely couldn't predict what would happen next the majority of the time. Very decent quality too - pretty good actors, cinematography, etc. And the effects aren't terrible.

Some later parts in the film might be a little unsatisfying (no spoilers here) but even those parts are thought-provoking and interesting so I'm unbothered. When it's funny it's very funny, and when it's dramatic you can feel the suspense. Overall a very decent movie much better than the cheap lighthearted film I figured I was getting into.

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terrible but fun

Far from the worst movie I've ever watched but also far from the best. The aesthetics are pretty great even though they're cheesy and dated - that's the point. Same with the fight scenes. Watch for that and you're good.

The actual plot isn't great but at least it's fairly original. The acting is decent enough and I like the actors themselves.

My main issue was that despite it being an action movie I was repeatedly left bored for long stretches despite how the weird premise should've kept me very entertained. When it was fun, it was very fun. It just isn't fun all the time, so loses a couple stars for that.

Not a bad thing to watch anyway. Turn your brain off for a bit and enjoy.

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weird and great

In some ways it's a really standard action movie of its time and not very good. In other ways it's an incredibly weird, twisting adventure. I loved and hated it at the same time.

I mostly watched for the dated aesthetics which are great, as well as the actors. The plot is mediocre, effects are mediocre, but the fight scenes are extensive and visually appealing. Sometimes a little too long, but it's the kind of movie where you expect that, if not look forward to it.

Without giving spoilers... the skeleton part was my favorite part, hands down. How bizarre.

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The Forbidden Kingdom is a fun-filled martial arts adventure that pairs Jackie Chan and Jet Li in a unique East-meets-West fantasy. The film’s strength lies in its thrilling action sequences and the undeniable chemistry between the two legendary actors. The choreography, courtesy of renowned stunt coordinators, is impressive and showcases both Chan’s and Li’s incredible skills. The whimsical plot, centered around a young American who travels back in time to ancient China, provides a fresh twist on classic adventure tales.

However, the film’s story can feel overly simplistic and somewhat predictable, especially for those familiar with the genre. The dialogue and character development are often shallow, which can detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the film’s pacing occasionally lags, and some of the humor misses the mark. Despite these shortcomings, The Forbidden Kingdom delivers enough high-energy action and nostalgic charm to entertain fans of martial arts cinema. Overall, it's an enjoyable watch with memorable fight scenes, Must watch and highly recommendable!

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Dragon Blade (2015), directed by Daniel Lee, presents an epic blend of Eastern and Western cinema, anchored by Jackie Chan’s dynamic performance. Jackie Chan delivers a performance that is both charismatic and physically impressive. As Huo An, a former general who becomes a defender of the Silk Road, Jackie Chan brings his signature martial arts skills to the forefront, offering some of the film’s most dynamic and engaging action sequences. His ability to convey both physical prowess and a sense of honor and justice is a highlight of the film. John Cusack, playing the Roman general Lucius, provides a grounded but somewhat restrained performance, while Adrien Brody's portrayal of the villain Tiberius is intense but occasionally melodramatic.

The film’s story, set during the Han Dynasty, attempts to merge Roman and Chinese elements but ends up feeling predictable and underdeveloped. The script’s dialogue is often stilted, and the pacing is uneven, affecting overall engagement. However, the action sequences are a highlight, featuring impressive choreography and grand-scale battles that capture the epic nature of the narrative.

Visually, Dragon Blade impresses with its elaborate sets and costumes, enhancing the historical atmosphere. Despite its flaws in storytelling and character depth, the film offers an entertaining spectacle, particularly for fans of action and historical epics. Overall, it’s a solid 7/10, with notable strengths in action and visual presentation.

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'Triple - Do You Want?' (트리플 - 해볼까? / Teuripeul - Haebolkka?) is a South Korean dramatic-romantic film, which in 19 minutes tells the story of three couples; lesbians, heterosexuals and gays. They are all stuck in the rain and decide to kiss.
In the review I will refer to the story of the two boys who, in my opinion, are heterosexual and discover, in the rain, their same-sex attraction.
Directed by Kim Seon-hyung and script by Kim Eun Hye, this story tells the chance meeting of young people Ji Min (Yoo Kyung Seon) and Soo Huyn (Go Hyoung Woo) on the stairs of the first floor of a residential building. They both seek shelter from the sudden rain.
The beautiful photography by Jo Yoon-ju and Choi Ji-won captures the moment when a simple attitude changes everything. When the boy in white asks the other if he wanted to kiss him because he was staring at him insistently, the other could have simply said "no", but he did what most of us would like to do, he said what he wanted and that It generated destabilization and indescribable emotions.
The response gave the other the courage to be more incisive and realize that they both really wanted to kiss. Then, the one in white finally found the courage to express what he wanted and the two kissed.
To reach the climax, the short film captures eye contact, not being able to avoid looking at each other, the looks that one gives and the other returns, the increasing attention that one pays to the other. All this reflects that there is chemistry.
Jo Yoon-jeong's sound captures the falling rain, the nervous and labored breathing of the protagonists. I can almost guarantee that I hear the rapid beating of their hearts.
Seonhyeong Kim's editing is beautiful.
The viewer can quickly recognize that there is mutual interest, a manifest and growing attraction between the two through non-verbal language, that is, communication that reveals gestures, glances and body movements, among others.
As some would say, "the eyes are the window to the soul." Sometimes our gaze can unconsciously reveal our feelings. Therefore, when you want to find out if two people are attracted to each other, the first place to look is their eyes.
I would just like to add that I would like Ji Min and Soo Huyn to continue returning glances, smiles and kisses long after the rain that brought them together stops.

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"They'll tire of it, they're just women"

Cart was loosely based on the 2007 E-Land strike that went on for 510 days. Workers were striking against the corporation abusing irregular workers, not promoting them to regular work, not paying for overtime and most egregiously, a whole sale firing of workers for cheaper alternatives and to avoid promoting workers under the Irregular Employment Protection Act of 2006. Most of the irregular workers were women over the age of 30. Cart focused on women fighting not only for their jobs but their dignity and fair pay.

Han Sun Hee was close to being promoted to regular employee at the store after five long years. With a husband who traveled to find construction work, a teenage son and young daughter, her income was vital to the family. Lee Hye Mi was a single mother of a little boy and needed the job but refused to work unpaid overtime. One day everyone received a text message stating their contracts would no longer be honored. Hye Mi and older cleaner Kang Sun Rye gathered everyone to form a union and asked Sun Hee to help them lead it. Management refused to meet with the women, viewing them as “whining” and that there was nothing to worry about because, “They’ll tire of it. They’re just women.” Upper management couldn’t see what the problem was because the low pay was considered “pocket change” to them. The women were viewed as disposable and less than human. When the workers went on strike, the company played hardball utilizing brutal enforcers and police riot squads.

Cart had a strong cast. Yeom Jung Ah and Moon Jung Hee as cashiers, labor leaders, and Unnies gave heartfelt performances. Kim Kang Woo as assistant manager and labor leader Dong Jun added the one positive male portrayal. The story seemed unfocused at times and when an older lady told a speaker to put what he was saying in simple language, I repeated, “What she said!” Because I wasn’t familiar with the abusive working conditions and E-Land strike I ended up hitting Wikipedia to fill in the gaps. There were also events the writer failed to explain exactly what happened and it could feel like pieces of story were taped together with no connective material.

In my own country I’ve seen how people fighting to be seen, to be treated fairly, and paid fairly can run up against the wall of political or corporate bureaucracy. Goliath has the money and resources for long, drawn out fights. In the film, the women not only had to face a huge corporation, they failed to garner public support even after jackbooted enforcers pummeled them and tore down their encampments. Large corporations often have an easier time gaining the ear of reporters than disgruntled ahjummas. But when the chips are down, my money will always be on the fierceness of ahjummas, especially ahjummas willing to battle for 510 days to secure better and more fair employment.

7 August 2024

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'Pretty Boys is a romantic comedy that follows Grey, a flamboyant and charming young man, and his lifelong best friend, Jonas (Kiel Aguilar), a heartthrob with masculine appeal. While Jonas effortlessly navigates the gay dating scene, Gray struggles to find love, convinced that his effeminate style is an obstacle. But despite countless rejections, Gray remains hopeful.
Their world turns upside down when Yates (Markus Paterson), Grey's crush, returns from the United States. Grey's heart races at the chance to rekindle his old love, but his plans are derailed when Yates unexpectedly confesses his feelings for Jonas.
By enlisting Gray's help to win Jonas's heart, Yates puts Gray in a love triangle he never saw coming. As the plot unfolds, Gray is faced with a crucial decision: support Yates in her conquest of Jonas or take the opportunity to rekindle her own love story and prove that love knows no stereotypes.
This is another film about a boy (or three) facing his sexuality and searching for love and happiness. In reality, a film that dealt well with this topic would be novel, but that is not the case. And what bothers me the most is that it is directed and written by Iván Andrés Payawal and Ash Malanum, respectively, the filmmakers of 'Gameboys', 'Gameboys: The Movie', among other series and films, and the lovers of series and feature films LGBT+ Filipinos (and universals, why not?) recognize what this means.
What bothers me the most is that it stars Tommy Alejandrino, whom I loved in his role as Nikko in 'The Day I Loved You', Kiel Aguilar, who stole my heart playing Dave in 'Osmosis' and Jerome in 'Our Story', and Markus Paterson, who still steals my smiles and sighs since I discovered him in the role of Simon in 'Hello Stranger: The Movie', three actors who, with a better script and better constructed characters, would have made the film hit the mark.
'Pretty Boys' is a simple story with fairly flat characters. The girl in love with the confessed homosexual, the three declared homosexual boys who are not sure of anything or are too silent or declare their love so superficially that they do not move anyone, the members of the technical team of the play who contribute nothing to the story... All very topical and, deep down, a reflection of a reality.
The problem is that such a serious topic requires being treated in another way, at least with credible characters. Furthermore, the story seems to be in a nebula, since the protagonist's objective seems to change with each scene; and suddenly, everything happens in the last four, maybe two minutes, leaving only dissatisfaction.
The film is entertaining, but it doesn't contribute anything because not even the director knows what he wants to tell.

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Beautiful and meeh

This is a movie that has beautiful people, beautiful people and a hint of nostalgia but not much more. As the story is a bit slow paced and sweet yet lacks that little extra something (other than the leads) to make it stick out from the many movies and dramas that tell a similar story. While it does have a little something that I personally appreciate seeing mentioned on screen, I find myself conflicted about how that special something is showen or more like ignored and only mentioned very briefly. Is it too briefly or is the little bit it is mentioned just enough to make it part of the plot that does not outshine the human behind it...
Sorry for not writing what that something is, but I fear it could be a spoiler for some, if you watch this then keep an eye out for how little screen time a major part of the plot actually gets and everything I just wrote will make sence (if not feel free to ask).

I am not really sure what the message here is, and even if I did I am pretty sure it could be my nemesis healing and stuff... But all in all a beautiful watch worth it if not for anything else than for Greg Hsu and all the beautiful, talented screen time with him this movie offers.

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