Reviews

Well done adaptation, should have been a series not a movie

Not gonna lie, my fav thing about this movie was Lord Kudo's glorious hair. And his uniform.

I jest but if you are looking for a quick watch with a bit of romance then this hits the spot. If you have read the manga/watched the anime, just watch it for the hair and don't care about the MASSIVE pieces of story missing from this. I understand that while condensing this into a 90 min movie give or take , you would have to cut some things, I feel they cut way too much and because of that, I didn't really care about any of it, I just sat there, thinking ' Yeah, I would fall in love with that hair too, girl'. Because so much was cut, there were so many payoffs that didn't land. The step mother and sisters comeuppance was a one line throw away voice over. And it didn't matter cause cause you didn't really see the absolute depth of Miyo's mistreatment and bulling by this family. Or the extent of her PTSD.

It was all just not there. I can't imagine what watching this having not read the manga or seen the anime would be like as I felt it was so disjointed. The only thing I enjoyed that perhaps not present in the other forms of this was the absolutely creepy, chilling vibe the film had.

I'm making it sound like this film was bad. It wasn't but it is not as amazing as other reviews on here would have you believe. It was always going to be hard to adapt this into movie. The story really demands more time and it shows. The actors and all the team were done dirty in my opinion. Go watch the anime. Its got much more in it.

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It's a fun-to-watch action film.

The film begins with Ryo and his colleague investigating a case in which a gorgeous girl mysteriously disappears, maybe as a result of some strange happenings in the city. While researching what occurred, Ryo and his partner become entangled in something deadly that could cost them their lives.

There are many adaptations, so we already know ML's characteristics: he is brilliant, charming, has excellent communication skills, and, ultimately, he is proficient in martial arts. There is no doubt about Suzuki Ryotei's acting skills, his lines, facial expressions, and body language are exceptional. While Kaori, I'm not invested in her character at all because she is a little bit annoying.

I felt a little bit frustrated about the plot because it quite lacking some intense scenes and character development, but after all this movie is worth watching because of its humor and relaxation.

Lastly, I thought it was a mini-series at first though.

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Imagine a Qing Dynasty themed movie with an actual HAPPY ENDING !

As the headline already suggests this movie was actually a happy surprise for me . Just imagine : a Qing Dynasty themed drama set in the palace , concerning the Imperial Family yet there are no villains, no concubines therefore no harem fighting , no evil schemes . Just cooking , genuine relationships, pretty sceneries and costumes and yes the HAPPY ENDING.

And I can’t forget mentioning the Empress who actually said something that goes like ‘’ You’re all my children , even the Royals are humans . They have feelings’’ .

Now the plot was rather simple however a good watch if you’re looking for something lighthearted that will give you a good and peaceful mood . You can’t expect a detailed plot and lines from a 1 h 27 min long movie . If that’s what you’re looking for I’d advise you to go look for a drama instead .

The costumes were beautiful and high quality, so were the hairstyles and the cinematography.

Definitely Underrated! Do give it a try !

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Everything is lacking

I understand the synopsis. It should be angsty, sad, and heartbreaking, but I didn't feel that at all. I almost couldn't continue watching the movie because of disappointment, as it didn't reach my expectations.

First of all, the acting of both leads needs improvement here, especially the FL. I couldn't feel their frustration, hope, want, sadness, and how desperate they were. The narration and their lines mention their emotions and reactions, but I couldn't see it in their faces.

On the other hand, the storyline feels so rushed. They say they were happy together, they had fun, etc. etc. But the movie barely showed their affection. So, I couldn't sympathize with them because it was lacking.

Also! the plot and characters (the way they were written) are faulty like there were many plot holes, which should be there but seem to be forgotten after. Anyway, everything feels missing.

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The male lead frustrate me

Great! It's not really applicable in reality because who would pick up a random guy along the road and trust that person to live in your house for months? Lol, not me. Still, as a fictional movie, I liked it. It's comforting to watch. One thing that bothers me is that the male lead left and only wrote "Thank you", then came back like nothing happened. Although he said that it is for him to become a better version of himself or whatever, I am surprised that he really trusted the female lead not to find another romantic partner. He should have mentioned in his letter to wait for him because who knows what will happen in a few months when he's not there? Also! What's wrong with sharing his last name or what he does in life? It's not that big of a deal, just say he ran away to find his own path, that's all. Do not suddenly leave like that without any explanation.

I have so many complaints about him, but anyway, I still liked it overall.

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Finding the real story of your life takes more than one minute

WOW ... I started watching this movie out of curiosity, but then descended into despair ... job hunting ... it can really put you through the wringer ... rejection after rejection even though you put your 'best self' out there and when that doesn't work you put your best rendition of what you think the kind of person they are looking for ... and when that doesn't work ... what the hell do you do ヽ(•́ᴥ•̀)ノ ... if you are not backed by money or family supports ... it is your very existence, your survival that is on the line ... in the face of this onslaught of rejection and negative opinion, some people are resilient, some lie through their teeth, others wrap themselves up in a delusional world of their creation ... and so on.

However, this depressing start soon became psychologically fascinating and the way the movie brought that to the screen was very clever ... "real life" turning into a boxed room stage play ... that was a visual profound shift in awareness ... the staged play reflected the true life of Takuto ... his 'real' life just a 'stage play'.

There were some powerful concepts that were repeated during the moving ... words and sentences that were densely loaded and worth time to reflect on.

"Someone" ... when Kotaru said "The job hunt is over, but I don't feel like I have become someone." WOW that is a profound observation ... how do we become 'someone' and what does that even mean ... how do we know when we actually become 'someone' and is the process and end the same for everyone (◑_◑)?

"The masterpieces in our own head ... the ones that we cannot get out of." WOW ... so true ... we have these grand masterpieces of how our life is going to be, how we are going to be 'someone' ... but bridging the gap (or chasm in some cases) between our mental masterpieces and real life, is easier said than done. Takuto himself threw this statement in the face of others more than once and yet he himself remained unaware or ignored the fact that he himself was still living in the masterpiece in his own mind ... the only way he could bridge the gap was to bring everybody else down through his alternative twitter account.

"reeked of desperation" ... yes indeed ... to one degree or another ... desperation for what ... to be someone BUT not just society's expectation of what that 'someone' should be, but rather to 'find the story of your own life' ... only to be told "Please express who you are in one minute." .... like what the photon ... one minute ... "I can't do this in one minute." Finally, Takuto became 'real' ... that brought tears to my eyes (༼☯﹏☯)༽ ... and then I thought well done Takuto, well done ◝(ᵔ‿ᵔ)◜

For me this movie was brilliant ... profound ... heartbreaking and yet potentially transformative as well ... applicable not just to the job hunting stages of life ... but life in general regardless of what stage we are at ... why ... because we all get out of the masterpieces of our own head at different times ... and some never escape it. The way they all brought these deep concepts to the screen in an hour and a half was very impressive indeed.

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A story of healing, love and the fusion of two opposite worlds

No one can resist the charm and cuteness of pets; Regardless of whether it is a parrot, rabbit, dog or kitten, they win your heart and little by little they end up being part of the family. Most human beings enjoy spending time with their pet, which is not surprising since while you indulge in the moment, your brain feels happy and secretes "the happiness hormone."
'Love is Like a Cat' (사랑은 고양이처럼), also known as 'Sarangeun Goyang Icheoleom', the romantic comedy from South Korean director Kwon Nam Ki ((권남기), revolves around Piuno (Mew Suppasit - 'What The Duck ', 'TharnType' and 'TharnType2: 7 Years Of Love'), a well-known Thai star who doesn't like animals, and her romance with Lee Dae Byeol (Chu Jimin, known as JM, from the South Korean idol group JUST B), the director of a pet daycare.
Every time he crosses paths with an animal, Piuno remembers a traumatic episode he experienced in his childhood that makes him not want them around. Pets do not awaken that feeling of love or tenderness in him. He suffers from zoophobia. He is aware that this phobia is considered an irrational act of human beings, but he cannot help it.
It has been suggested to him that his "illness" can be treated with professional help, since he can find the necessary support to overcome the trauma and gradually manage to coexist with the animals. But he has not paid interest to the matter, thinking that it would not be of much use to him, and he has moved on with his life.
However, when he finds himself threatened by those who wish to see him brought down, there is only one thing he can do to save his reputation and his career: work at a pet daycare in South Korea.
Putting aside his severe dislike for animals, Piuno begins working alongside Dae Byeol, who will help him find ways to overcome the trauma that first inspired his hatred of animals. This is how he will end up appearing in a reality show set in a pet cafe in Seoul.
But these will not be the only surprises that the protagonist encounters: as his heart begins to soften, unexpected feelings begin to arise for the young owner of the daycare center. What will happen between the cold and enigmatic actor who doesn't believe in love, and the outgoing and romantic pet daycare owner when their lives intersect?
Lovers of the BL genre in general, and of Mew Suppasit, in particular, will be pleased with the reappearance of the renowned Thai actor, singer and producer in a romance drama between two boys of the same sex. On the other hand, JM, his co-star, shows his youthful charms and the dreamy aura of the idol, as well as his talent as an actor, in this, his first appearance in a drama.
In addition to the aforementioned actors, on screen we will see GeonU, also a member of JUST B, also in his acting debut, playing Gi Min, one of the pet daycare workers; and Kim Kyoung Seok ('Hot And Sweet' and 'Someday Office'), as Jun Hyuk, a friend of Dae Byeol and one of his biggest followers. These secondary characters play a very important role and contribute intensity and complexity to the conflicts.
With a seductive cast, in addition to wonderful chemistry, the direction, cinematography, writing, music and staging transport the viewer to a dream and fairy tale universe in which everyone involved, including the Animals, especially dogs, contribute their own, to achieve a series capable of marking a milestone within the genre, as it escapes stereotypes, and shows human beings with their nuances and in various circumstances. The narrative maintains a good rhythm that enhances the emotional closure of each episode and the series in general.
All these details give an idea of ​​the story told to those who still do not know it, a narrative firmly based on the love stories between two young men of different personalities, countries, professions, languages ​​and cultures, but determined to sustain their idyll against all obstacles. , prejudices and cultural, linguistic or temperament divergences. One looks like a dog, while the other looks like a cat.
What an actor lacks because he is new to these issues, the other provides, due to his extensive experience. It's fascinating to watch the couple navigate their uncertain feelings. One of the main reasons audiences will admire the series is the simplicity and relatability of the story, as well as the good visuals.
Once the romance escalates, 'Love is Like a Cat' shows one of its greatest strengths. The series has the ability to create many tender moments between the two young people. We will see them flirting in the garden of the animal nursery and kissing in the sunny corner of the clinic room, under the knowing gaze of their friends, including the four-legged ones.
Every affectionate interaction is like a treat for BL fans, making these scenes even better thanks to the beautifully polished visuals. The public will witness the generous abundance of romantic images. The cinematographer captures every intimate look and every loving gesture with pinpoint precision.
Dae Byeol is a well-defined protagonist. He knows his work and loves animals. He is sincere, responsible and faithful to his friends, both those who bark and the others who accompany him on this journey of taking care of pets and falling in love with a famous television star. His qualities create a memorable character with nuances. His charm emerges once the performer gains confidence in the role he plays. Just then the couple's chemistry strengthens, going from being a little embarrassing at first to building a more comfortable and deeper relationship.
In comparison, Piuno's backstory will also draw the viewer's sympathy with high marks. He likes it more and more, especially when he overcomes the somewhat mysterious, reserved, fearful attitude when encountering the animals for which he has always felt rejection, when leaving behind the weight of the circumstances that forced him to move away from his comfort zone, and when you begin to adapt to the people, the language, the customs, the culture of a foreign country.
The series explores the couple's bond physically, emotionally and spiritually. When I think about how Piuno and Lee Dae Byeol started the story of "strangers to friends and friends to lovers", both of them, side by side, went on an eventful journey. They overcame personality clashes, misunderstandings, and even cultural and language differences. Best of all, there's a lot of cute BL content.
One of the strong and striking points of the series is the fusion of two worlds. Piuno and Dae Byeol come from two different countries and cultures. Their universes will collide when their paths cross. Everything that separates them will not be an impediment for the two main characters to get closer, fall in love and begin a journey in search of happiness.
Each episode aims to ensure that the viewer is not disappointed, that they remain hooked, that they have a closure that lives up to expectations. The technical and artistic teams worked to achieve it. The arc of the characters, their development, as well as the events and conflicts, are very coherent.
The script, the depth of the themes addressed, and the aesthetics with which they are presented, the attention to detail to be as realistic as possible, the convincing performances, with a cast made up of established and young actors and actresses, determine, among others , the elements that mark the success of 'Love is Like a Cat'.
'Love is Like a Cat' is a story of healing and love. In addition to the entertainment factor and the fun and tender interactions between Piuno and Lee Dae Byeol, the series tells a story about overcoming trauma, opening your heart, and falling in love.
The inclusion of the adorable animals will provoke a positive reaction from pet lovers and the general public.
This is one of the four joint Thai-Korean BL projects from Hanyang Studio, from the same WeTV Original production, 'Peach Of Time'. The remaining dramas are 'Eccentric Romance', 'Wuju Bakery' and 'The First Love Manual', scheduled to premiere in 2024.
This collaboration between the two countries demonstrates once again that BL series defend the correct formula to sustain and consolidate the genre with the aim of satisfying an audience that craves authentic and moving love stories.
Personally, I liked the way the plot was executed, subtly exploring the characters' personal stories.
This romantic comedy is designed and taken from the script to the images with the potential audience being fans of the romantic genre in general, since love is universal and knows no genres, as well as fans of romances between boys in particular, and makes it clear that its objective is to portray love, acceptance, self-discovery, sexual diversity, the search for happiness, the influence of reality shows on viewers, the perception of the image of actors and idols by the public. , the pressures of the entertainment industry on artists, the challenges that come with being a queer person in today's world, themes explored through the dynamics of the characters.
Conceived to move people and involve audiences, through the main story and secondary plots, the series proposes to generate controversy about other dominant, current and universal elements, such as the tumultuous relationship between father and son, the love of animals and how they influence children's behavior, workplace camaraderie, sexual exploration, positivity, self-validation, and maturation issues. There are cultural debates and topics related to veterinary medicine and animal adoption, which helps make all the stories relatable.

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The rowdy Dino finally has his own apartment, a safe space to embrace his sexuality. So closeted that he doesn't even tell his parents or almost anyone about his sexual orientation: only his sister knows.
Look for safe sex and a decent chat. Through a gay dating app, he has scheduled to meet Vince, the attractive and discreet neighbor, but the sexual encounter is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of his parents, and before them he will once again restrain his deepest but most difficult desire: "come out of the closet."
However, Dino cannot prevent the brand new dildo from being seen by his mother.
Vince is willing to wait. The wait is worth it: a friendly relationship begins to emerge between the two that may very well lead to something more.
With solid performances, a beautiful script, magnificent camera work and charming surroundings, the short film 'This Is Not A Coming Out Story' (2022), by Filipino filmmaker Mark Felix Ebreo, brings us fun moments and an irresistible visual chemistry of its two protagonists: Dino, played by AJ Sison, known for his role in 'U-Turn (2020)', 'Dito at doon' (2021) and 'Love in the Ungodly Hour' (2021) and Vince, a character assumed by Jel Tarun, actor known for his role in 'Silent Cries' (2023).
The short film also tells us about homophobia.
The soundtrack fits perfectly with the film story.
With a script by Mark Felix Ebreo himself, the cast closes with the performances of Jun Nayra, known for his performance in 'Bonifacio: Ang unang pangulo' (2014), 'Darna' (2022) and 'Sandwich' (2023), and Gigi Hernandez, known for her role in 'Sandwich' (2023), 'Ikigai: Life Is a Beautiful Ride' (2023) and 'Alapaap' (2022), playing Jerome and Liz, Dino's father and mother, respectively.
Committed to bringing queer narratives to spaces to increase the visibility of the stories of people who have not yet discovered their true identity, Mark Felix Ebreo won with this short film the Best Director award at the 1st Pelikulaya LGBTQIA+ International Film Festival, as well as a Honorable Mention in the Short Fiction category at the 34th CCP Gawad Alternatibo.
Additionally, 'This Is Not A Coming Out Story' won the Cardinal Gold Award with the highest honor, as well as the award for best screenplay at the 20th CineMapua International Student Film Festival.

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Story: A boy gets "saved" by a life-guard who mistakenly thought that the swimmer was in dire danger. However, Wu doesn't protest and lets himself be assisted by the lifeguard to shore. Wu fantasizes about this encounter, especially when their bodies were touching. He tries to dispel these carnal thoughts by meditating, but this doesn't seem to work when he finds out that the lifeguard also happens to be a patient at his father's clinic.

Wu incorrectly assumes that the lifeguard's frequent visit is due to mutual attraction, and therefore is present whenever the lifeguard was there. Whereas Wu wasn't motivated before to study acupuncture, with the lifeguard's presence at the clinic, he becomes fascinated with the different types of therapy that his father uses on his patients.

Acting: The actor who plays Wu is expressionless, despite his supposed infatuation with another male. The other actors were even less memorable.

Music: Ho-hum.

Rewatch Value: Once is enough.

Overall Impression: Not abysmal enough to get a 1, but still a snooze-fest. The film was trying to be profound until it got convoluted in its attempt at symbolism.

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Story: The premise is simple. A young gay couple comes at a cross-roads upon graduation. They have opposing ambitions: one wants to be a pastor, and the other wants to be a soccer player, but neither wants to give up their dreams for their relationship to work.

Actors: Not too shabby portrayal of two boys who are supposedly in love, but conflicted.

Music: The religious hymns brought back memories when I studied at a Christian school. I was surprised that I even remembered some of the lyrics. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

Rewatch value: Only to figure out what really happened at the end.

Overall impression: After watching this short, I found that the more important part of the boy's relationship is that neither of them communicated to each other what they were planning to do with their future. They had to find out from their mutual friend about it. And then after they confronted each other about the possibility of one going into a seminary and the other going abroad to play soccer, they had to rethink what is more important to them.

At one point, when they tried to dissuade their partner from going through their plans, it seemed like they were bitter that their partner wouldn't compromise and support their own respective dreams. Kai's excuse was that his father wouldn't have approved his lifestyle choice since he came from a very traditional, religious background. Jay, on the other hand, thought that the opportunity to study abroad is hard to come by, and therefore, he had more potential to go further.

Actually, what surprises me about this film are the secondary characters, in the form of that mutual friend who served as a catalyst between Kai and Jay. She's the mediator in their relationship, like a voice of reason. Kai's father also wasn't as restrictive as he was presumed to be. Although he might not know the exact nature of Kai's relationship with Jay, the dad instinctively knew that there's something troubling his son, and Kai's decision to apply for the seminary might be misguided.

With this new revelation, you would have thought that the boys would have made different choices, but it goes to show that the thing you thought you might want, might not be the thing that you need. Would you give up on your dreams to have a chance at love, or would you abandon your partner to pursue your chosen career? This is dilemma that this short film is trying to address, and some people may choose differently than others.

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Respect the Dead

The atmosphere of the film is haunting. The only film I could compare this to is "The Wailing". Exuma has elements of belief in Feng shui, Buddhism, Shamanism and even Christianity. And if the viewer believes, they are guaranteed to be terrified watching this. Personally, I was completely engaged with the film, and although I was aware that it was about paranormal stuff, I was convinced that it was real, which made the viewing experience very intense for me.

I was confused by how our main characters, in the first part of the film, routinely and even disrespectfully carry out their work, but when they are faced with the special task of digging up a problematic mysterious dead body in a coffin, they become completely dedicated to their work. As a priest, I also perform funerals daily and sometimes I am not completely concentrated, so this film encourages me to try, as much as possible, to give sincere respect and a dignified tribute to each deceased person and assist their eternal rest.

All in all, the actors did a great job. The sequence of the story changed its course throughout the film, but at the end we still see a meaningful unity that leads us to appreciate the cooperation and connection between the four main protagonists.

After the news of the film's success in Korean cinemas, I had high expectations for this and indeed, Exuma didn't disappoint.

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Average

Honestly, this one was average at best. It's like a typical romance that I often see in some novels or dramas. The storyline is nothing special to me. I just like the youthful feeling it gives and I guess the cast? They're cute.

The storyline, on the other hand, contains no complicated plot. There may be a second male lead, but after getting rejected, he was like "Okay. Bye bye, Good luck." Also! I know the male lead is characterized as straightforward, but he really should learn how to say it nicely. Though he apologized for it, what he said hurt (really). Anyway, overall, it's a good movie I think (though it does not belong to one of my favorites), especially when you are in the mood for a not-so-complex plot, like you just want to see something romantic for a moment. Also! One good thing about it is that it's pretty much a story that flows naturally, so it does not feel rushed that much.

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