Reviews

Tender, Charming, Funny, and Altogether Moving

The Best Film prize that this won in the Hong Kong Film Awards was entirely deserved, as was every word of praise it received in the Western Press. It's fresh, original, and sincere, while also imparting a terrific sense of the grittiness of a street kid's life in 90's Hong Kong. Best of all, it has real heart. The characters were conceived with a feeling so true that it translates to the viewer in ways at once tender, charming, funny and, alas, sad.

For instance, the male lead's love for the pretty, pixie, teenage girl is adorable since he says all the goofy things to court her that we'd imagine a sweet, yet word-addled, high school dropout saying to his crush (eg, he looks at her manicure the first time he asks her out, and defiantly says, "Who do you think you are, Madonna?"). Yet we no sooner laugh at his clumsy pickup line than we're aching for him as he struggles to come up with cash for her life-or-death kidney surgery. The stakes are high, and this is signaled in a standout scene of the 2 teens -- each deep in the throes of first love -- joyously kissing in a cemetery.

I was equally touched watching the lead take care of a large, but slow-witted, boy whose family had abandoned him. There's a tenderness in how the small, skinny, clever lead cares for his big, dumb sidekick that's just beautiful. Indeed, it has echoes of Lenny and George from "Of Mice and Men." And without giving spoilers I can say that this film, like that novel, kicks you in the stomach at the end. But the journey toward that ending is well worth it because the emotions are earned, and nothing felt false or contrived.

"Made In Hong Kong," was completed for a mere $80,000, but had me more emotionally invested than any $200,000,000 Hollywood Blockbuster where each star's individual paycheck is fifty times that of this film's entire budget. Indeed, the actors in this were all virtually unknown novices. Which makes it all the more impressive that they put in such ace performances evoking their characters' innocence, confusion, and love for each other.

Lastly, do not be fooled by the small number of viewers, nor the low rating on this MDL page. MDL is a new site wherein people rarely visit pages for movies made over 5 years ago, and this was made 25 years ago. For a truer measure of this film's quality just google the professional critical reviews and you'll find it was highly regarded both at home in Hong Kong, and internationally.

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A tribute to youth and Hello!Project

Even though I would not recommend this movie to anyone who isn't familiar with Hello!Project idols, this is a must-watch for all fans of the said music collective. Not only is H!P music and contents are heavily featured in the movie, it also reflects the passage of time as the releases and events of H!P also move along with the lives of the characters. Underneath the basis of just a group of idol fans spending time together, the film becomes a story of the bond between a group of people who represented each other's "good old days."
With no lovers, no money, and no future, these idol-devoted group of men are viewed as perverted "geeks" by others, but the film portrayed them as normal humans going through lives together. Beyond just sharing a common interest, these people also form friendships as individuals and still remain around each other's lives even when their interest for H!P has slowly fade away with time. However, the music of Hello!Project still remained a precious part of their memories. It shows how powerful and lovely it is that a common interest can connect people and resonates so deeply in their lives.
Despite most of the characters being well over in their adulthood throughout the film, those days when they were together bonding over idols were considered their "youth". This proves that the time that is called "youth" is not about age at all, but rather the time people look back as the days they were having the most fun. Even if life moves on, it is always a time where everyone can look back fondly on.

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an hour and a half of boredom and pokerface

Ooh, i wait this movie for a long time. The principal reason i wanted to watch it because the two protagonist of this movie, in 2018 were one of the couple in the drama Youth ( the multiverse is a concept about which we know frighteningly little). Let's start by saying that apart from the story that is boring, banal, withouth anything original (was to be expected) one of the biggest problem is the acting . The ML actiong is terrible, he is in pokerface for an hour and a half without any emotion because of this he looks like a big porcelain doll ( I'm not criticizing his physical appearance only his bad acting) . He is not just expressionless but also how he moves, how he performs certain actions ( there is a scene in which he wakes up in the morning , is extremely fake and unrealistic ). if you really are a fan of Cyc and you want to see him, please stay away from this movie rather go and look at his photos on his weibo (he's definitely more expressive).

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Lovesickness At Its Finest.

I began this as a filler to watch Luo Yunxi in a normal piece of entertainment where he isn't spitting blood or in pain. And holy... I will not recommend this movie to anyone. Perhaps its directed particularly to a certain audience who have actually gone through such emotional turmoil, but unfortunately, I do not fall into that category.

Fang Fang, who has always had a long crush on her childhood friend Guo Yang, decides to pursue him regardless of what awaits. She gets a whole makeover after her Gaokao and finally gets together with him... Only to discover that she had grown excessively obsessed about him.

Boy... the girl Fang Fang was downright scary. The whole movie is told from her point of view, which slightly made me sympathize with her actions, but as a whole, she suffered from such a severe case of lovesickness that it made me glad that I had never been in love. Even the breakdowns in their relationship were never "real", but more due to the female lead's inability to communicate and her wild expectations.
Guo Yang was the regular popular music guy who liked her, but he was also someone who liked to put peoples' priorities over himself and genuinely enjoyed spending time with his friends. We don't see almost anything from his point of view, so I can't speak much about his character.

The lead actors were excellent, though. Well... they managed to give the "kids" vibes really well.
Music was almost non-existent, except for Guo Yang singing and a few mellow piano tunes sprinkled here and there. But, it fits the lonely theme of the story.

On a side note, I was surprised by some of the "Not for Children" scenes. Did not expect to see that in a Chinese Movie.

Overall, a skippable watch.

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Just got done watching this movie, I think first and foremost I can just sum it up in one word, wow. At first I was a bit hesitant in the first half of the movie but after it gets closer to the end things start to make a lot more sense and things connect in ways that are super satisfying. I think at most I can say that one would just have to watch it to understand the twists that happen in the movie that make it truly an emotional journey. A story about friends that are super close throughout most of their years and develop their own lives whilst maintaining said friendship. I would recommend it to anyone that wants to feel something and would even recommend it to anyone just wanting to watch a good movie. I give the movie a 9.5/10 because I think there are some aspects that could have been a bit better but it was near perfection in my opinion.

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Whenever I see a major bullying themed series, I always immediately stay away from it. Iam not a fan of the genre as a whole because I often felt it was predictable in the manner in which the lead will want to get revenge and that is the main story line.
let me tell you that this is different, it is a breath of fresh air in this genre. Firstly, I loved the attention to detail the cast and the writers paid in this film, the cinematic experience as a whole was good because it had realistic color grading, that honestly did a lot of justice towards the film. Secondly the lighting, this was one of those details that simply carried the emotions of the film, in the manner in which the director maintains the melancholic feel of the movie.
A comment on each lead character:
female lead:
She had an extreme sense of wanting to survive and leave her old life behind, she wanted to escape and there was only one way to succeed. I loved the way she steadfast in her belief to see Beijing. All her actions are driven by her burning desire to escape her life.
Male lead:
The appearance of the female lead sort of gives ml something meaningful and worthwhile to live for, something to care about
and this allows the audience to see to what extent he is willing to go for his newly found sense of belonging.

Now I am by the part that I would say is the groundbreaking factor of this film, the chemistry between the leads, the way in which you felt their emotion and the way in which you understood their love yet neither of them ever said it out loud.
Yes, this is the kind of love I absolutely love.
The best part was the overall theme of protection and survival, they both were similar yet so different. Both abandoned in their own way. Him always being behind her was such a clever idea not just because of the plot but also because of the theme, she found peace knowing he was always behind her, and he found someone he wanted to protect more than himself.
This film showed me that even with no words said we can all feel, I cried so hard throughout this film because of subtle and delicate their love was yet it was just as passionate and strong.

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"It's only human to pretend nothing is wrong"

Director Naruse Mikio dissected a lifeless marriage without really digging into the reasons for the spouses' lack of fulfillment. Both lamented internally that they had no idea what their spouse was thinking and neither had the courage to ask. They were living in a Groundhog Day where every day was exactly the same and neither knew how to break out of the cycle of misery.

Toichi is a salaryman who never moves up and doesn't seem particularly interested in further success. In order to make ends meet, he and his wife rent out rooms in their house to an array of eclectic tenants. His wife, Mihoko, also sews/knits to earn extra money. While Toichi doesn't care whether the tenants pay their rent on time Mihoko is more practical. They bring in enough money for the basics but don't seem to ever leave their small living area. Married for ten years, they have no children and apparently no disposable money for attending movies, plays, concerts, or even going to restaurants. Mihoko's world resides in their cramped living quarters. Only the gossip from the artist who lives across the hall and the feuding couple upstairs brings any entertainment into her life. For Toichi and Mihoko, they have nothing to divert themselves or share together, they have only each other and neither has made the effort to reach the other emotionally.

Toichi is approached by Sagara, a young secretary in his office, to attend an art gallery. They have coffee and spend time together before she returns to Osaka to live with her family. On a business trip to Osaka with his boss, Toichi seeks out Sagara only to find she has a young son. They end up spending the night at an inn. Sagara is not only drawn to Toichi's looks but also the security he could bring. Whether Toichi was really in love with her or in love with the idea of a different life lived was difficult to tell. Mohoko was aware he was seeing Sagara and puts her foot down. Even his father-in-law visits him to discover his intentions. Whether Toichi would divorce his wife or simply have Sagara as a mistress was never revealed.

The film did show women either working or seeking a way to make a living on their own. One of the tenants supported her unemployed husband and mother-in-law by working as a bar hostess. Sagara intended to open a dress shop with a friend partly funded by an uncle. Mohoko could not fathom a way to be financially independent and at her age she would be unlikely to find a new mate. While much was brought up about women becoming independent by opening a shop, that move requires capital and a lot of luck. Perhaps that type of endeavor was too risky for Mohoko who would be left without a safety net.

Toichi held the power in the relationship. Men still dominated the workforce at the time and Toichi could always find a younger wife. Female characters constantly rhapsodized what a fine catch he was. It was also brought up that Mohoko wasn't a very good cook, didn't apply her makeup correctly, was old-fashioned, and too cranky. Her husband must be involved with someone else because she wasn't a good enough wife. Toichi worked, ate, and went to bed, scarcely acknowledging his wife's existence and leaving much of the job of being a landlord up to her. Despite the fact that he was in the wrong having an affair, with Mohoko clearly in distress, at no time did he ever show a modicum of sympathy or concern for her. In matters of the heart and in financial matters, he rarely displayed any valor. And while much was made about male pride, Mohoko asked what about her female pride and why did everyone want her to apologize and turn a blind eye to Toichi's affair.

Naruse didn't seem to take sides in this cynical view of marriage though attitudes toward Mohoko certainly reflected the times. Of the three marriages shown, one ended in divorce, and another one in suicide. Toichi cheerfully imagined that they could both have fresh starts with a divorce. Mohoko felt trapped, knowing her husband no longer loved her and that she no longer trusted him, but unable to move on alone with no financial security. Even with divorce becoming more acceptable there were societal norms that she was unwilling to step outside of which would relegate her to a loveless marriage.

By the close of the film, Toichi and Mohoko were inhabiting a silent world, going through the motions, miserable but unable to find any hope for a better life. " Wife" ended where it began, only in a worse version of a day repeating itself with the people involved still unaware and unable to remedy their unhappy situation. Though there were moments of comedy supplied by supporting characters, the film was a dark, bleak look at married life with few sympathetic characters.

5/8/23

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Cheated by disrespctful writers, again.

What an absolute waste of 2 hours' time!

Writers owe me a refund of my time.
What was the point of all that walking around in the park - and no picnic at the end of it?
Nothing. They even show the headlights pulling into the park ... but couldn't let us watch him meet the sister? 종말?
My blood boils.

Writers need to understand that they disrespect their audience with their perverse "artistic messaging" nonsense.


Viewers arrive at a show to collect a delivery.
The writers don't deliver.
The writers stood us up at the altar.

Bastards.

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Action-packed movie that strongly relies on the mother-daughter relationship

Just like the synopsis reads, the movie basically only focuses on Boksoon, a top assasin, in her role as a mother.
There is nothing wrong with that and it is a really good concept. The acting is superb from the star-studded cast and the action, stunts and visual effects are crazy good. But at the end of the movie, you're left with the feeling of having watched an unfinished movie. The story, whilst trying to juggle her workplace and her identity as a famous assasin, strays to far away from the core story of her being a mother.

When her relationship with her daughter becomes strained due to some events, there is a lack of the affection and honesty that is, in my opinion the key aspect of Boksoons life. Her struggling as an single mother. Her profession also puts a strain on her relationship with her daughter which is something that is emphasized alot in the movie.

Running parallel with the story of her daughter, we are thrown into a political, greed-driven plotline involving her workplace. This is the element that throws of the core storyline of the mother-daughter bond and forces us to try to understand the various characters operating in the assasins field. Finishing the movie, I had a hard time grasping what the backstory of some of the characters in the first place. I do think the movie lacks context in some key characters and relies instead solely on the action. It gives enough hints to kinda get by but i would have loved to have some more flesh to the bones on the questions of why some characters acted the way they did.

It is still an amazing action movie that is super cool if you are up to see jampacked bloody action scenes in between the communcation of the mother-daughter-duo!

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Carry your tissues everytime you watch this movie

The action and emotional depth of "Decibel" are both excellent for an action thriller. This film is a must-see for aficionados of the genre because of its skillfully developed characters, complex plot, and exciting action scenes.
The action-packed opening scene of the movie establishes the mood for the rest of the picture. The movie's strengths are its frantic, heart-pounding action sequences, which also feature excellent stunt work and special effects. The film also demonstrated how PTSD affects soldiers.
I saw the movie a few times, and although knowing what would happen, each time brought tears to my eyes. LJS's acting was outstanding. Every time they had a scene, his eyes would also show how much he loved his brother. I was devastated by the melancholy and breakdown he had in the submarine. Eunwoo's acting was exceptional despite the fact that he got fewer scenes.Raewon, the chief, made a difficult but necessary decision that, in my opinion, transformed his life, and this is basically how the tale was focused on him. How LJS lost his brother as a result of the choice of leaving some of his teammates due to a shortage of air LJS then targeted Raewon and his family as retaliation.The bombing scenes caused my heart to tighten.I thought the film was fantastic overall, and I left the theatre with bowled-over eyes.

Let's live, Let's Love and hope you enjoy your time by doing what you love ?

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He is Born To Fly

Born To Fly

This is heart warming movie which is revealing test pilots life and difficulties.
CGI effects and sound effects are perfectly presented in this movie.
The first twenty minutes of movie is a bit documentary style but which is better in the rest of movie. Overall script and plot is well-written.

Honestly, I am afraid of being documentary and propaganda movie but the final result is not l think. It is purely focused on test pilots life, training period difficulties, self-awareness of ability in “lei yu” character , how to improve in their aviation system of fighter Jet and how they sacrifice their life to test & improve their aviation system.

I got new knowledges of aviation system and more understanding of test pilots sacrificed. This made me heart-touching and heartbroken.

I really like and enjoy romance of main character Lei Yu and his crush doctor (special leading actress). I really want to see more romance and romantic scenes between them which will be better for movie.

Main lead Actor Wang YIBO’s acting is already approved in Hidden Blade. He is so fit in his character and delivered “Lei Yu” character perfectly and smoothly with his true feelings in this movie ?.

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Purely a propaganda film...

I watched this movie because I'm a fan of Wang Yibo and of course I had to show my support. I watched it at my local AMC and just returned home to write this review.

I am sadly not a fan of this movie and I might be the minority here. I will admit that the CGI was great and I do think that the action/flight scenes were very well done with the pairing and timing of the music to really keep you on the edge of your seat. Wang Yibo also had some really adorable funny scenes and you will see a few of his rare smiles, however, it really ends there.

There is no actual storyline besides focusing on the testing and training process of test pilots. The "bad guys" are some no-face pilots that went into their airspace for no reason - they sound and resemble stereotypical American jocks (so weird imo). The whole movie just reminded me of something that would be shown to recruit soldiers - being educational and patriotic and with very little entertainment value. Perhaps if they were able to put an actual plot together and if the patriotism was woven in more seamlessly, I would have enjoyed it more.

Moral of the story is, don't eject from a plunging plane or shy away from foreign invasion - even if it means you'll die because you're fighting for your country and for your comrades. They do spin it in a more marketable way though and call it "testing your own limits" (even if it means death).

Sadly, even Yibo's wide range of acting here couldn't convince me to like this movie. While I think Yibo and Hu Jun put on wonderful performances, there was little character development and barely any story buildup. Because of this, the supposedly heartwarming moments fell flat. If you're looking for well fleshed-out characters or a well-developed story, this movie isn't it.

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WHAT DID I JUST WATCH

The story starts out calm when suddenly the atmosphere changes. Just when you through you had figured out the plot, a new twist was added. I loved the many turns the story took, which never created a dull moment. Especially the end took me by surprise. I had to sit in silence as the credits rolled to process what I’d just watched.

One of the things I liked the most was the acting between the characters. The development of them and their interactions were very interesting to watch. Normally I would never rewatch a movie but for this I think I’ll definitely have to, to get a different perspective.
10/10 recommend!

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