Reviews

Gripping and SO watchable... all 5 films together!

July 2024
I watched, back-to-back, in this order:
Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, 2021
Rurouni Kenshin: Origins, 2012
Rurouni Kenshin 2: Kyoto Inferno, 2014
Rurouni Kenshin 3: The Legend Ends, 2014
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, 2021
I watched the first 3 ages ago, but decided to watch all of them again, in story, not release, order, which I recommend doing.

I absolutely love these films to bits. The life of the main character is a mix of almost aimless at times, tragic, enlightenment and atonement.

The fact the film about Kenshin's origins, was made 9 years after the character first appeared on screen, is amazing. The main reason being, when watched in the order I did, it is a seamless story.

Many cast members appear throughout, pieces from the earlier, film 1, are blended in so when watching the next instalment, it makes complete sense. I was honestly blown away.

Satoh Takeru is brilliant in every film. The sword fights are incredible and they must have taken all the cast involved, a huge amount of work and energy.

The pace of each film is excellent, with a balance of action, everyday life, love, friendships, fighting for a cause (sometimes blindly) and defeating not only enemies, but those taking advantage of the powerless. Some sad elements too. There is also humour and a growing camaraderie between some characters that began as enemies.

I love Himura Kenshin and how he evolves. Supporting characters are varied, some villains are pretty OTT, strong female characters and the cast in all the films is great.
Films are rarely, if ever, perfect, but these just do it for me. Firm favourites.

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An Interesting Horror Mystery!

I decided to watch this movie because Up and Phuwin were in it.

The story begins with Phuwin's character, Term, arriving on an island to look for his brother, Tee, who has become a monk. Upon arriving, Term is told by the monks that Tee killed the abbot and fled. Unconvinced that his brother could do such a thing, Term decides to investigate the island.

Meanwhile, Up's character, Tae, is an autistic and pure-hearted young man living at the island's temple. He helps out at the temple and the fishing port. Term befriends Tae, and together they investigate the temple. The island has a strong faith in a statue called the god Phor Pu, which is enshrined in the temple. There is also a custom on the island of placing a part of a deceased person's ashes into a clay statue called Hun Payont. When Term finds the villagers' fanatical belief strange and breaks a part of the statue, terrifying events start to occur one after another.

The first half of the story isn't that scary, and it’s somewhat unclear what’s happening. Several similar events repeat themselves. Just when you think the movie is only trying to startle the audience, the twist at the end surprises you. The story's value emerges when you see the ending.

The performances of Up and Phuwin were as excellent as expected. Up's acting, in particular, was outstanding. Additionally, Emi, who played Mina, was fantastic. I didn't realize she was on the movie poster! Her portrayal of a woman possessed by a curse was truly eye-catching.

Watching the movie a second time, with the knowledge of what happens, will likely be more enjoyable than the first viewing. I plan to watch it again.

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TOLD MYSELF I WOULDN'T CRY BUT STILL DID.

*This is my opinion, you are entitled to have your own opinion! :)*
i literally have no words for this. i just like idk. it's left me with an empty feeling and i just cant stop thinking about them. honestly i would've given this movie a 10 if it wasn't for that flipping ending. also i took so many notes about this movie so im going to share them with you. honestly, if you want to cry, watch this. i don't usually cry because of movies so i told myself this would be an easy watch for me. (i knew the ending btw and i just wanted to see what people meant by "it's so sad") despite literally knowing the ending, i poured my heart out watching this movie 4 times.

firstly, the acting is really good. kim yoo jung did a great job but she's definitely better in my demon. and byeon woo seok also did pretty good. honestly, idk if i like how he looks here more or how he looks in lovely runner more. the casting for this was really good, both the main leads are really attractive and good actors. and tbh the FL could've worked with hyun jin (SML) too because their friendship was really funny lmao.

i honestly wonder, in the start how they didn't notice her literally following them around??

LIKES:

so i have a few moments that i found funny and some cliche. firstly, lmao when hyunjin was in love with her and basically asking her out and she tried so hard to make him not like her. literally went to the point of talking about how much she farts. and when woon hoo and her were about to kiss but a fucking plum hit her on the head.

the plot twist though, her friend getting them mixed up and so bo ra had to keep her feelings a secret. im happy yeon-doo wasn't a stuck up bitch about it and let bo ra have him.
and gosh, this movie had SO MANY sad moments where i was either tearing up or bawling my eyes out. like when he wrote her a letter talking about his feelings and he dropped it on the floor bc she just rejected him. and him waiting for her all night at her house. and when he was leaving and said "i'll definitely come back for you," LIKE MY HEART??? and then after time passed and they weren't in contact anymore, bo ra thought he flat out ghosted her when he was DEAD.

DISLIKES:
i hate the fact he had to die. the ending was so unnecessary i hate it. this movie is so good, its a 9 but the ending just flat out ruined it. why couldn't they just end up happy? and together? married? now bo-ra's love life is ruined and love's probably too traumatic for her now. and when joseph was saying, "The happiest moments in his short life were when he was with you," I SOBBED. and then the video tape at the end, i cried during that too. why did the writers make him die.??? i swear

OVERALL:
it's amazing except for the ending. so i give it a 9. i still 100% recommend it just be prepared to CRY. and after you cry, watch lovely runner to heal your heart (i haven't watched it yet but im pretty sure he doesn't die in that)

have tissues and enjoy watching!

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Piecing Together the Shattered Mind!

As a fan of longer dramas, I usually avoid movies, but "Recalled" defied my expectations. This South Korean psychological thriller, directed by Seo Yoo-min, masterfully blends mystery and suspense. The story follows Kim Soo-jin, portrayed by the talented Seo Yea-ji, who wakes up with no memory and experiences unsettling visions. These visions blur reality and illusion, hinting at a dark truth.

The plot twists in "Recalled" are brilliantly executed, reshaping the narrative in unexpected ways. Seo Yea-ji's portrayal of Soo-jin is compelling and believable, capturing her vulnerability and confusion. Her performance is the film's highlight, driving its emotional impact.

While the supporting cast is competent, they don't leave a lasting impression. However, the focus on Soo-jin's character keeps the narrative engaging. The screenplay is tightly written, and the cinematography enhances the story's atmosphere.

"Recalled" keeps the audience guessing with its unpredictable plot twists. Each revelation is well-earned, making the film a thrilling experience. For someone who prefers dramas, "Recalled" stands out as an exceptional movie that delivers the satisfaction of a longer format within its concise runtime. I highly recommend it for its suspense and substance.

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You need courage to take the next step

This movie with its simple love story has fast become one of my favourites -- a story about two very ordinary men who fall in love with each other and take the first steps into a relationship.

I love how the film shows us the insecurities that come with having a crush on a man as a man, the questions that come with getting to know another person -- will you like me, too? Do we have a chance to come together? Will I take the step into the unknown?
And at the same time, both men as well as us get to experience the giddiness when we feel that our feelings might be reciprocated.
We get to see how these two men, who seem to be very different in their hobbies and lives, try to find the courage to open up to each other -- only then the relationship may move forward.

The film makers obviously had to make do with a low budget, there are some sound issues in outdoor scenes. But they did not need much more -- as I said before, this is a simple love story of two ordinary men, who could be our neighbours, our colleagues, ourselves. Accordingly, the use of places, of light that is already there makes the film feel very real.
I also love the sets, which are lovingly filled with small details: There's the changing date on the white board behind Koiwai's desk. There's the small detritus of the life of a working person in Yamashita's room. There are the messy bed sheets near the end of the film.

I'm looking forward to rewatching the story of these sweet and gentle people.

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joy/ peace /hope 3 words describes this masterpiece

this movie came to me as a light in the darkness when for months i was not able to cry..watching Haruna being sick and smile gave me hope that i must love life and thank God that im healthy enough..she is a symbol of resistence even she was alone she was never selfish, she just wanted to live a little bit longer with her hero Akito.. she fought until her last breath till she went to heaven..her acting was sumblime u cannot not fall in love with her cuteness she is adorable..i really hope to see her in more movies or Jdrama.
The lesson that it was applied here was that people can become a reason to survive and even with few of them you can create the best memories before ur farawell..I hope one day i will find my own Akito he is the true definition of a caring man..imagine u still have few months for urself to live and u decide to use them to make happy ur lover instead of urself...the definition of a true gentelman..i do not think boys like him exist what he does for her is the heart of the movie...she so lucky to have him as her angel.
This movie must be more and more popular and win many awards...people must watch it to find joy in their heart. This movie will make u cry like a river even if u are a stone..i still cannot believe that after years of watching movies i came across something like that...thank u netflix

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Curly hair mystery

As much as I was glad to watch Totono again, this film is a slight disappointment since it is missing everything that made the drama such an unmissable watch: Goro, curry and police! Well Goro does show up for 30sec at the beginning and the police are the extras in the last scene.... Still, definitely not enough! And the film is worse for it!

Totono is in Hiroshima (there is history there but we are not let on it! Yet!) and is dragged into a family inheritance mystery. Well, the mystery is unfortunately very predictable and the culprit is obvious the moment he shows up. Totono does his Sherlock Holmes thingy and the culprit is caught red handed and turned over to justice. THE END

The story behind the mystery involving "demons" and curly hair was quite interesting: showing the lengths the people are willing to go in order to gain and to keep the wealth over generations. There is another issue connected to the previous one and it concerns how the adults treat children who are, according to Totono like "wet cement": getting information from kids is like writing on wet cement, once it is dry, the marks remain and the kids are scarred for life! The young girl, who pulls Totono into this mess is an example of such damage having been done to.

Totono actually made this worth watching: with his quirks, his scarf and his dead pan revelations deliveries! I was also happy to see Machida Keita (Cherry Moon) being his understated extremely charming self and Higawara Riku (Utsukushii Kare) being a weirdly explosive self.

As usual I find the background music (classical) out of place in this film, just as much as I disliked it in the drama. The songs are nice but why do japanese like using western classical music so much?

Overall, it is a watchable film, well produced and acted but poorly constructed plot of the mystery. I'd recommend it only for th e die hard fans of Totono.

And finally, I would like to thank the Machida Keita fan who brough this to us with some amazing subs! Thank you so much!

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After having played Toyama Kintaro and Sadaharu Inui in 'The Prince of Tennis', the film directed by Abe Yuichi in 2006, Wada Toyama and Hirofumi Araki gave life to Amamiya Hokuto and Tatsumi Shinichirou, in that order, in the Japanese romantic drama 'Asymmetry', made in 2008 by debut filmmaker Sato Tetsuya.
With a script by Erika Seki, a prolific writer of films and television series, the feature film tells how the relationship between Hokuto, a generous and kind-hearted young man who dreams of traveling the world as a professional cameraman, and Shinichiro, the doctor of his hospitalized girlfriend, an old high school classmate, also a lover of photography and with whom he became estranged after an accident that caused the friendship between the two to be broken.
Meeting his old friend again will awaken dormant passions in both of them.
The audience is faced with a very sad film, but uplifting in its own way. Hokuto is worried about the pain of Tatsumi, who clearly loves his friend, but Hokuto can't do anything about it.

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Treasure map to a hidden gem of a film

I braced myself when I started Tange Sazen and the Pot Worth a Million Ryo. Having watched numerous films from the 1920’s and 30’s, I’m used to darker themes and sadness. To my relief and surprise, this 1935 film was a delightful, lighthearted romp with no undo suffering in sight.

A miserly daimyo lord discovers that the old, dirty, monkey pot he’d gifted his brother turns out to hold a map for a million ryo hidden treasure. The brother, Genzaburo, is dominated by his beautiful wife and offended at the cheap gift. When the daimyo’s retainer generously offers to take the "worthless" pot off his hands, Genzaburo refuses. He’s excited when he finds out about the treasure map, but also thwarted when his wife tells him she sold it for a pittance. The missing pot actually gifts him with something better than money. In order to search for the pot, he’s able to leave the house unattended!

“Edo is huge. It might take 10 or even 20 years. It’s like going out for revenge.”

The pot ends up in the hands of an orphan who uses it as a goldfish bowl. Both pot and child are taken in by the one-eyed, one-armed ronin, Sazen Tange. Sazen is also henpecked, not by a wife but by the proprietress of the shop he guards. There are gifts for sale and men can come in to eat and drink and shoot arrows at targets, much like at an arcade. The fun begins as multiple people search for the pot in earnest and Genzaburo delays finding it so that he can have some fun.

I don’t always connect with the humor in nearly 100-year-old films, but I laughed out loud a couple of times with this one. Even when they bickered and verbally refused to do the right thing, the characters always ended up being generous, protective, and kind. There were a few, quick samurai fights and sparring, but nothing to ruin the gentle mood.

This Tange Sazen film was a beautiful hidden gem, highlighting some of the best of humanity in a humorous way. I wish more of director Yamanaka Sadao’s films had survived. I look forward to trying his other two extant films.

8 July 2024

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We all need more Kuno Totono in our lives

Another completely biased review from me to you

I love this character, and the way Suda Masaki plays him. I have a thing for quirky characters and Totono is one of my favorites.

First of all, not enough Garo. It was nice to see a little bit of Garo in the beginning but that just leaves me wanting more!

There's not enough Totono spouting theories in this. That's one of the things I love about this character is the way he talks and talks and talks until he drives the villains/bad guys/antagonists crazy! (I knew I loved the character from the first bit of the series when he is being questioned by the police and just tears apart their reason for suspecting him. I laughed so hard when I saw that the first time, and still laugh when I rewatch! 'Maybe it was a twin who was separated from me at birth...Do you have a twin that was separated from you at birth?...I don't' The delivery from all in the scene was perfection!)

And there's not enough of the majestic King Gnu that played all the time in the series, except finally in the last couple of minutes. Damn I miss that! Yep, too much silence in some scenes, they need the music more.

Nanoka Hara was adorable and I love how the resolution of the story went.

I loved seeing Furomitsu Seiko, Ikemoto Yuto, and Aoto Nariaki, even if it was just in the last 3 minutes of the movie! And my heart is full, got to end the movie with Garo. What a smile. Where the hell is Season 2???

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A long episode of the drama

Note:
- I have read the manga volumes of the story the movie is based on. Hence my opinions will likely be skewed.

Likes:
- Feels like an extra long episode of the show. If you like the show, you will probably like this.
- High concentration of Totonou's appearance
- It is a very self-contained movie. It does not require audience to recall minor plot points of the drama while distinctly understood it itself is also an extension, leaving season 2 as a likely possibility.

Dislikes:
- Similarly while I do like it being self-contained, I also found myself wanting to see the continuation of the main series. though I am certainly someone waiting for a season 2.
- Certain acting can be slightly awkward.
- The movie cut out certain plot points from the original story, which I think would have helped to land the ending better.

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