Reviews

I quite enjoy it.

Probably, this film could be something like eat the rich but it ends up flimsy.
As a revenge film, it feels weird. I feel like the antagonist is anxious throughout the film about Amelie's best friend died while doing anal with him, but it seems forgotten by Amelie but still affects her in a way, with all the things going on in her life that she sees a guy as her oasis, then the guy become the reason she need to get revenge while the antagonist still thinking about what he did, that's what's in my thoughts tho.

There's bunch of flashback between Amelie and her father, quite touching but it seems like it just for setting up the ending, which is quite good.

That's all I think. Thanks.

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Great cinematography and acting, storyline confusing and unsatisfying

This BL, much like its main characters, is very soft and quiet in its expressions of gay love. The movie is 2 hours long, and it could have made much better use of the time. A lot, and I mean a lot of scenes are way longer than they need to be, probably to give the sense of how slow time flows in the small town where the movie takes place. Even still, there is little happing during these prolonged scenes. In other BLs, the main characters would glance at each other and the time the scene takes makes you feel like something is happening. In this movie, it feels more like the movie is paused and you are waiting for the next scene to take place. Another gripe I have with the movie is that the scenes shown and the story told are confusing. What I mean is that I don't feel the depth that the director wanted the viewer to feel. The feelings of the main character and what goes on inside his head remain a mystery, and the ending is open and feels very incomplete, like there is no ending.

The acting overall is good and the characters are recognizable and deep. The lighting and the camera angles are satisfying as well. I wish that the movie was stronger. So either, have a stronger emphasis on love or a stronger emphasis on dealing with homophobia and feeling rejection from society. The general sense I got was: main character has daughter and moved to small town because he is gay and rejected by his surroundings, he has a lover and wants to be together with him but feels uncomfortable that he will be seen as gay and rejected again. I don't understand what the main character wants other than being accepted (not expressed directly) and living with his daughter. Interesting watch I suppose but not as deep and meaningful for what it's worth. Still, nice to see a more manly Korean man in a gay role like this in a Korean BL, most are or look like idols so this is nice for the larger gay population in Korea.

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I am crying and I know you are as well...

Watching this movie, was one of the best things I've done in my life. At first I was like, "what could possibly happen and ruin this relationship?", then her friend told her that the one she actually liked was him, Woon-Ho, out of all people. I was shocked.. I didn't think things would turn out like this. I still had hope tho, that Bo-Ra and Woon-Ho will be together in the end and after half an hour in the movie, he's 'gone' (meaning he weant to New Zealand) I was glad they didn't lose contact... for awhile at least.. who would've thought that she won't be hearing, seeing, talking to him, ever again.. who would've thought that meeting at the train stasion, would be the last time they see each other.. After his brother said he was gone, actually GONE this time, I couldn't help but tear up. Why? Why didn't fate want them to be together? Why break my heart and not let them have their 'happily ever after'? (sure it's a movie, but still..) I knew, ofc I knew that things won't go as I wanted them to, I knew that the movie was gonna be sad and that's why I watched it in the first place. But as I did, I totally forgot all about it, about that the movie was a Drama and that it wouldn't have a happy ending. I even thought that people were exaggerating about it being sad (until the last 25 minutes at least). And here I am, writing this review while trying not to cry once again. I won't say that I regreat watching this movie, bc I DEFINETLY don't, even if it'll leave me depressed for the rest of my life, I'll be rewatching it, when I have the need to feel happy, I'll be choosing this movie, over and over again. Well, at least until the last 20 minutes. I loved Woon-Ho's character so freaking much, he was THE STANDARD. And ofc we cannot forget about Bo-Ra, I don't know why, but for some reason she inspires me. She makes me want to become a better version of myself. I loved this movie and I'll always will.

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Confusing what it was actually trying to say

I'm still a bit confused what the main theme of the movie was supposed to be. We have a sapphic relationship here, along with disapproving mother, infidelity, dubious consent (not between the main couple), and a very questionable decision at the end.

Of course, it's mostly about the relationship between Por and Jane, who want to tell Por's mother about their relationship, but she isn't happy that her daughter is with another woman. The reason why isn't explained much, whether it's because she is afraid of what the world will think of them or whether she wants grandchildren, which is hinted towards the end of the movie, when she tells Jane (who got pregnant after having a drunken one-night stand with a guy) to not get an abortion. The mother compares Jane's situation to her own when she was pregnant with Por, but I feel like that was an entirely different thing because she was dating Por's father at that time and it was her own decision to keep and raise the baby on her own, while Jane had a drunken one-night stand and even offered Por that she would get the abortion only if they got together again. I feel like the mother had the most say in what happens when it obviously should have been Jane's decision and she should have discussed it more with Por but at the end Jane should be the one to have the most say in this.

I would appreciate more sweet moments between Por and Jane before everything went downhill and also if the story focused more on their relationship rather than the abortion part.

The fact that this was a student film and also based on a true story is what made me give this movie a higher rating than I initially wanted which is 7/10 stars.

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Romantic movie when you need one

There is nothing new here- the storyline has been done before many times. But what makes it really work is the actors’ sweet, intensely romantic performances. The two leads have excellent chemistry. The music suits the movie, the sets work well, the supporting actors have little screen time but handle what time they have with ease. If you need something to remind you about the importance of treating our lovers with great care and romance here it is. Highly recommended for those snowy or rainy days to lose yourself in the feeling of being swept away watching a depth of love we all want to find and keep.

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Antis are jealous fr..

I was literallty waiting for this movie to air, after watching bit of its scenes from its trailor .. also recently i fell in love with Chen feiyu and his acting in Lighter and princess which is definitely a must watch and can be the best drama of the year, not only because of its story but its acting too was a chef's kiss. When this movie aired, i decided to watch it but got disappointed after seeing this much low rating here * is 6.9 when i am writing the review * and I usually skips those dramas and movies that have rating less than an 8 even if it got the amazing cast. but then i read some comments that this rating is fake and antis have done it , then thought to try a shot and watched the movie and was quite surprised that story was quite interesting and acting was amazing too as both the leads are amazing actors .. so all the watchers who are planning to watch it but got scammed with the rating here should definitely watch it because its worth it.

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Side eye...

So the only real issue I have with this movie really is the implications of it. The older I get, the more irritated I become with media having irresponsible messaging and this could totally be me having missed something or not understanding.

There is NO consequence for Yoda's actions. None. He kidnapped, tortured, violated and repeatedly raped katsuguri and NOTHING happened to him. In fact, the story is told in such a way that you're supposed to PITY him and feel bad!!

Let's be clear, there is NO excuse for what Yoda did and I don't care what state katsuguri was in. My problem is that the story implies that this behavior is fine if you have enough trauma and you choose "the right" target which is insane.

Overall the movie itself was fine but the undertone is absolutely terrible.

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"Hope is within yourself"

Ilo Ilo is a domestic slice of life film played out in a middle-class family's time of challenges during the financial crisis of the 1990's in Singapore. When the mother hires a Filipino nanny to care for her mischievous son, the move only exasperates an already tenuous situation. The deceptively simple story hides layers of social and familial concerns augmented by a capable cast and an unsentimental approach.

Lim Keng Teck tries to hide the fact he was fired from his sales job and is now working as a security guard from his wife Hwee Leng, a clerical worker who spends much of her day typing up termination notices. Their son, Jiale, spends most of his time being disciplined at school which causes headaches for his mother. She decides to hire a Filipino nanny to watch over him with the hopes of him staying out of trouble. Hwee Leng doesn't hide the fact she is suspicious of her nanny, holding onto her passport, and thinks less of her due to her status and background, offering her only the plastic to cup to drink out of. Terry is prepared to deal with her employer's condescending attitude but is unwilling to be bullied by a 10-year-old child which she quickly makes clear to the impish and at times, cruel Jiale.

Hwee Leng could come across as difficult to like. However, upon further examination, she was a pregnant mom who worked long hours all while trying to raise a troubled son. Her jealousy of the nanny as Terry's relationship with Jiale became closer was understandable if not particularly admirable. No one was there to comfort her, and she struggled to give comfort to others. Keng Teck was guilt ridden after he squandered much of their savings in the failing stock market. Though he endured the henpecking of his wife affably most of the time, he did crack and explode as well under the strain. Terry had a baby back home she was trying to provide for by working in a foreign country where she was treated as less than. She was fully capable of deception in order to earn some money on the side, but at heart she was a kind woman who managed to break through Jiale's shell. And it was Jiale who was the crux of this family, the desire to give him a good life, to raise him, to reach him that compelled many of the characters. The little lottery obsessed boy who desperately needed to feel loved and seen, who missed his grandfather, was the emotional center of the story that everyone else orbited.

The financial crisis was manifested through the crashing stocks, a shyster financial guru, suicides, firings, and a general air of desperation around the populace. In this little microcosm we were shown the pressure it put on the family and their relationships to each other. The story skimmed over what appeared to be racial and class disparities, the kind not singular to Singapore. Hidden habits like smoking and drinking, secrets kept from spouses, and typical extended family issues were touched on as well during this time of financial downturn.

Yeo Yan Yan, Chen Tian Wen, and Angeli Bayani made for very believable adults adjusting and adapting to their positions, sometimes in a deeply flawed manner and other times with gentle humor. Koh Jia Ler as the naughty yet fiercely loyal Jiale brought a naturalness and vulnerability to the problematic child.

Despite the title Ilo Ilo, which was the province Terry was from, and despite Terry being one of the most sympathetic characters, the story was not told from her point of view. This was a slice of this family's life and much of her background was left unknown. We saw her struggles, yet in the end it was always going to be about whether this family could pull together during a crisis and overcome their anxieties and shortcomings.

Much as in real life, the mood of this film could swing from tears, to anger, to fear to laughter. I would have preferred for some of the elements of the story to have been expanded on and brought to a close but like many slice of life films, Ilo Ilo doesn't tell us how the story ends, we are left to figure that out for ourselves. We can hope the characters take what they have learned and grow as individuals and strengthen their familial bonds but that is up the viewer in the end to decide. If you are looking for a film about family with all the good and bad that comes along with it, this is a film worth trying.

5/31/23

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Odd vampire/love story

I’m not quite sure what I just watched. The storyline was pretty straightforward except for the twist in the end - which I don’t know exactly how to interpret. It was like the show didn’t know whether to be a comedy or a vampire story so it landed somewhere in between - and not in the good way. I found myself skipping along the way because it was kind of boring.
Character wise:
FL is a vampire that despite her being that, is unable to fight other vampires. Perhaps she is too kind and sweet. ML is a movie director who is a scammer but also quite street-smart.
Acting wise this is pretty good but the directing made the characters odd and borderline silly.
Well, if you are into either love or vampire stories, this is not interesting enough. If you have some time to waste, this is an ok watch.

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No words.

No words.

This movie was beyond disturbing.

I watched the Noir version. And I'm at a loss for words.

The way it all end up playing out for Haruto/Yuki rubbed me the wrong way.

My question is how did Haruto end up falling in love with Aoyama/Mr. Aoyama? He, firstly, was just really weird around Haruto from the start. Like Aoyama was the biggest walking red flag and everything he did towards Haruto at the beginning was weird and creepy. Exchanging diaries with your teacher is WEIRD. Like nothing about that is okay whatsoever. Then he kissed him in his sleep...what? How. Does. That. Make. You. Fall. For. Someone? I am actually confused

Everything bad that happened to Haruto was tied back to Aoyama. That was fucked. Because his life was absolute hell.

After someone admitted all that to me, I WOULDNT SLEEP WITH THEM. Not that it is, you know, weird, but there has always got to be some anterior motive, and in that case, I was right. there was.

He wasn't actually in love with him. He, I think, just had a thing for teenage boys/younger guys. Because the ending showed him swiping through the pics and Ryoma, if I am not mistaken, WAS LITERALLY THERE SLEEPING.

I had to pause multiple times to rethink my life choices.

I truly don't think I want to watch the other movies.

Actually a bit of a spoiler (accidentally watched 45 seconds into the 2nd movie) **

Aoyama dies. ***

The acting also fucked with me. It was good. Too good. The actor of Haruto especially. He played the deadpan innocent naive young boy really well.

The music was solid. It transitioned the gruesome shots nicely.

The story. What. The. Fuck. Not at all hard to follow, but brooo felt like I was in a fever dream and couldn't wake up. It was awful. OMG. I just remembered that weird goat scene. Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why WHYYYYYYYY was that necessary? And the look on that guy's face, as he was following the red collar, was scary and is now ingrained in my head.

It's the end of the review and I still haven't come up with a rating yet...

Final rating, 5.5/10. That's the lowest I have given a show or a movie. So wow.

Sorry for the grammar errors, English is my first language. Just bad at it.

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Wherever the road brings us!

I wanted to watch the original title before watching the actual drama 'Hometown Cha Cha Cha' cause i have this stupid rule to read/watch the OG first and then go to the adaptation.

The movie was pretty cute and little cheesy but it's a rom-com. It is what it is. It's after a long time i am watching a perfectly balanced rom-com. It's might not be the perfect rom-com but it did have a balance and didn't tip of the cringe scale.

It's starts out like any English movie and then to the dramatic scene. Then proceeds to have a annoying first meeting and then to a wide no. of coincidences and then the helping/getting to know each other scene even tho here it's just her getting help from him.

Since it's a Korean rom-com set in the sea side village, it might get some ppl annoyed cause in a village, your business is not your business alone anymore and privacy is not a choice anymore. Everyone cares abt what you do and you have to put an effort to remember what others do too. The drama starts out by random suggestions by ML in FL's lifestyle but then it's not like offensive.
Mr. Hong was the one character that was portrayed raw. He is good and everything but grounded. He has flaws but no one knows. He acts like an elder but that's just how he is.

The acting was pretty good but maybe cause it was old, i could see sometimes the acting was very stereotypical and straight of the textbook.
Other than that i loved the FL's BFF/assistant, she was so cuteeeeeee.

Music was nice. It really gave a feel good movie song vibe. Cliche but okay.

Overall, it was an nice movie. I won't re-watch but it has potential of a re-watch. Cute movie.

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A Charming Movie About Likeable Losers

The film is not a mass market, crowd pleaser because it has no major plot arc. It is, after all, about two slackers who just do handyman jobs. Thus, the pace is as meandering as their lives. But that is also it's charm. Because they are likeable losers and their conversations, antics and encounters with clients are all quite entertaining and funny. Moreover, it's endearing to observe them slowly -- and unwittingly -- develop a little bromance.

The most wonderful thing, however, is how they also unwittingly change their clients' lives in tiny, tender, ways. And it surprises you with moments of depth, such as when one lead tells a neglected child that life doesn't always have to be so cold because, as he puts it, "You can give the love that you did not get. You can offer love to someone else as long as you are alive." There are also bits of warm wisdom, as when a minor character tells one of the leads, "You don't look too good. Remember, smiling is the door to heaven."

Many comments here compared it with the sequel, which was created as a 12 part series. The series stars the same two leads, but it's written and directed by a different person and, hence, the sensibility is quite different. The main difference is that the series has a lighter sensibility designed for broader appeal, while this has the sensibility of an Indy film. In other words, the series lacks the darker, deeper qualities of the original film. I still recommend the series, but the film is superior, and you should either choose the film over the series, or watch the film first.

After all, it is a film with an abundance of depth, tenderness, careful character development, brilliant chemistry between the leads, offbeat humor, and true heart. If the best a person can say of a film is that they were "moved by it," well, I must say that I was genuinely moved by this film.

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Heavy watch

Honestly this movie will leave you extremely exhausted after finishing it. I remember watching this for the first time at night and it only made the experience realer, as if I was the one who was getting chased by a serial killer. It’s good and the actors’ great acting will suck you in on it and make it feel like you’re right there with the victim.

Though do beware that in this movie a lot of things happen at once, a lot of violence and emotional scenes. It feels as though you can’t even catch a breath for a moment. Everything happens in one day and it doesn’t let you to experience another day where you feel ease and catch a break- no, it ropes you in and it doesn’t let you go until the end.

So if you’re up for a very exhausting (yet good!) movie, then this is definitely it.

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