Reviews

Wholesome and brave: focuses on their future, which is SO important

I'm no expert, but I think this is a great addition to Asian queer cinema, especially when you think about how same-sex marriages isn't even legal in Japan (as of June of 2022). This movie gave a sincere and wholesome story to a gay relationship and, most importantly, let them have a future of happiness. I think it's a brave movie.

This review will have vague/brief comments and then will have more detailed-specific spoilers.

Vague spoilers:

From the trailers, it seemed like the entire plot of the movie was going to be about their separation due to work and how they were going to struggle with communication and not being together. Which, I think, would've been fine too but it would've been a lot of strain and angst for a new budding relationship. Instead, the movie pivots halfway and adds another layer: it's about them, after figuring out what they truly want, moving forward together. It's a coming out story to the people they love. And it is handled so carefully, so beautifully. And the supporting cast makes their appearances, which was a delight, but this story is really about Adachi and Kurosawa's future. And I cried, laughed, and my heart was full. I'm so so happy for them. There is a tiny thread about the second couple that I felt could've been better, but I still enjoyed seeing them again on my screen.

The pacing may not be to the liking of those who wants something more fast-paced and exciting. This movie (and this drama) has never been about that. It's always been a gradual reveal and gradual understanding. It's tender. The quietness of the film amplifies the importance of their expressions, actions, and words. Truly well done.

Please go watch this movie (after watching the drama). You won't regret it.

Now, here is where I gotta be more specific and spoil the movie because I need to address a main complaint that I keep seeing from viewers.

STOP HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT THE MOVIE.
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I'm just going to say it: we do not get an explicit, lip-to-lip kiss. There. So if you're here to see that, you won't get that. They do kiss but, with the camera angle, you are not shown the lips touching.

People complaining about not seeing a kiss in the movie is a valid opinion, but a lot of people seems to fetishized it more than anything. They just want to see two cute/hot men kiss. That's, well, problematic. Especially when it's coupled with wrong reasonings like claiming that the movie "queerbaited" the audience. Please, stop throwing that word around like that. Please, look up the definition of "queerbait." You are wrong if you think that this movie (or the drama) queerbaited. Oh my goodness. Also, please stop assuming the actors' sexualities and stop assuming that they have complete control over how the movie is made. They're actors. They're not the producers, directors, editors, or stakeholders. Unless the actors have said it themselves that they don't want to kiss same-sex actors, please stop claiming that it's the actors who are "too straight" to do a gay kiss. I beg you.

Personally, I think a kiss could've been cool but I have no issue either way. I think this movie could've championed LGBTQ rights even more than it already does by showing an explicit kiss, thus breaking the taboo of seeing same-sex people kiss. But it didn't do that. Fine. I can understand in some ways considering Japanese's current trend of BL dramas and how Japan literally still don't recognize same-sex marriages.

The movie still delivered a beautiful story that focused on the main characters' growth, especially Adachi, and focused on choosing to be together publicly. It's well done. Adachi in the drama and at the start of the movie has often relied on his power to understand people and to gather the courage to communicate to others. Sometimes, he relies on it TOO much and so the movie focuses on getting Adachi to move away from that. Once they truly settle into one another, they think about their future together--and they do want that: to be together for as long as they live. And they don't want to be hold back by laws and society. So the movie gently shows the anxiety and difficulty in coming out to the people you care about but the necessity in doing so and the importance of it.

I love this movie, this drama, and these characters. It never fails to make me feel a whirlwind of emotions. Also, the fact that they get married--when Japan again literally does not recognize same-sex marriages at this time--is SO important. The lack of explicit lip-to-lip kissing truly doesn't undermine anything in this movie.

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Kurodachi taught me to love the simple things in life.

Cherry magic has always had a special place in my heart, it's by far one of my favorite japanese dramas so, having their content after months of wait is such a rewarding thing, it saved my week...for sure.

The film is a very simple little cliche but with a lot of tenderness and love. It's definitely made for those who LIKED the drama,
the characters' motivations, insecurities and personality traits remain the same. And now we see all of that interacting with new characters.

I think the moral of the story is very much about embracing and loving the simple side of life, Honestly, I learned a lot from Adachi in his self-esteem improvement process and I learned a lot from Kurosawa in his personal validation process.

At the end of the day, It doesn't matter if the production is 10 10 10 across the board in all tecnical categories, or a simple tale of love, if the story makes me think and motivates me to think about my life, I will always praise.

Thank you so far Kurodachi, I will miss you guys so much. May you be very happy now and always. <3

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a countryside slice of life

Overall: this is a nice slice of life story set in the countryside. Now available on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/2623/restart-after-coming-back-home-2020

Content Warnings: non con kiss (sleeping)

What I Liked
- the countryside setting
- felt realistic, people trying to figure things out
- I generally don't like a carefree happy golucky personality with a reserved/sullen one but there is character growth and more than what first meets the eye

Room For Improvement
- it did feel a bit slow in places
- the non con kiss
- lack of communication (though they did have some good conversations at the end)

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Please don’t watch it if you have a weak heart like me!!!

I cried my heart out and it was something that I never expected. The description should contain some information regarding it turning to a sad movie.. this can’t be a romcom!! They changed everything for me and it was something I didn’t wanted .. I am so upset with the ending.

It could have been a happy ending and I was soooo hoping for it, if not then please give us some hints in the description so that people like me can avoid watching it.

The actors were so good .. their chemistry and acting was top notch no doubt in that.
All togethet if we leave the ending the movie was fantastic but still sad at many points.
If the writers wanted to give a sad ending then they should’ve atleast given us a reason for his death. It was so unfair for the watchers.

I so regret watching it because it made me sad without a warning at a time I didn’t wanted to be moreover I really wanted to watch these actors more and happy..feels like they wasted such a good opportunity :”(
Nevermind we can’t change it now.

So watch it at your own risk please!

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Love it!

Ji Chen alias Mr Blind Man. Ever since the Tomb of the Sea series, he is my favourite character.
I've seen the Reunion: Sound of the providence and the Ultimate Note series as well and out of all these Glasses characters, Ji Chen's is my favourite.
I was so happy when I found the Reunion: Escape from the Monstrous Snake, that is an excellent movie. After that I was so much waiting for another film with him and ta-da here comes this one, yeahhh!
I loved this movie. He is so cool. I had to watch it twice. First, I actually read the subtitles. Second time I was just staring at him all the time!
He is so damn hot! I wouldn't mind more films with him. I want more, more, more, more :) Sorry, but seriously he is my ultimate favourite!

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Beyond appareances lies sin

This film was not on my radar and probably without Fatema's post about it on the feed, I wouldn't have even been tempted to watch it.

First of all, it's important to know that the red flags mentioned in the tag are mostly implied, however, even so it's still super heavy because of the atmosphere conveyed by the film's narrative.

This film turned my head upside down as I saw, on the surface, a seemingly mundane story of the murder of a happy couple and their daughter, an emotionally unstable young woman and an investigative journalist in search of the truth. But the truth is hidden elsewhere, the truth isn't so bright, it's even dirty, and in retrospect we find that monsters aren't always as we imagine them.

Unlike many viewers, I like the hyper-slow aspect of the story. We have time to settle down and follow Mitsuko's thoughts, the intensity of her feelings which differs from the coldness of her actions. As for Tanaka, the character makes us uncomfortable, wanting to know everything, there is really this "too much" side to his behaviour which does not bode well.

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a movie ahead of its time

i tried to watch this movie a few years back but got piled up with uni work. picking this back up was a good thing. besides the hilarious moments, there were hard-hitting scenes that fully grips your emotions.

a part of me is happy that an lgbtq+ movie like this remarkably shows the deeply rooted feelings and struggles of internal homophobia. even though the real world is slowly becoming progressive, we can't deny there's still a long way to go. the wounds from words and abuse that lgbtq+ community face is very much present to this day.

min soo and hyo jin both deserve their lives free from discrimination. what i loved from this movie is seeing them standing up against the world and telling them, "if you can love, why can't we?" i liked kim dong yoon's performance during those powerfully emotional scenes. he truly knows how to deliver. hyo jin's scenes with min soo were fun to watch and the serious parts were done well.

what i was a bit bitter about was that i wanted to see more of hyo jin and seo yung. it's already a rarity to see a lesbian couple so i was bummed to not get much of an insight into their relationship. i mean, c'mon they're also main characters so why didn't we see enough of them? however, i do appreciate the actresses for playing their roles well though they didn't get enough screentime. despite it all, the ending does make up for it

one more aspect of this that i side-eyed was that there were gay characters that seemed to be stereotypes. even then, despite the acting being a bit over the top at times, g voice had a lot of comedic moments.

overall, this was a movie that aims to not only make you laugh but also open your eyes. with a great balance of comedy and seriousness, i'm not ashamed to recommend it.

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Love isn't always fair

What choice do we make when faced with fears? To run away or to stay, to fight for what you have the right to have and/or to live?

K and Cream decide to keep a status quo in their relationship despite a more than brotherly love for fear of hurting each other, for fear of losing themselves, for fear of losing the other and for the famous for you own good. But in the end what did they gain? Nothing except misery and loneliness.

It's a fairly classic melodrama with its share of sad moments, unknowns and angst. As a bonus if you feel the urge to get angry at characters for missing the main sauce to any relationship in a decent story "communication" then go for it.

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Watch alone. Watch conscious.

*A little bit of spoiler alert*

I just finished watching the movie and I won't say it is a "happy ending" because somehow it is not. It is a "twisted ending".
If people definition of happy ending is they ended up together than yeah, I give it to you, it is a happy ending, but is it?
He (Yoda Ryoji) saved him (Katsuragi Makoto) from the will and craze for killing himself, yes.
But did Makoto make Ryoji forget his past lover, not really, that is what the last scene is about, he said he is Alive. How many times will Makoto have to remind Ryoji that he is not his past lover, how many times will the trauma come back to him? Saving a person does not mean they are living, they are just alive.

(A simple example of that is when you are having a horrible day and someone, anyone comes to you and asks how you are, most of the time we don't answer that we are fine, we say we are alive or surviving.)
So they ended up alive and together but not necessarily happy.
Physical pleasure is not everything, they have a life to live, Ryoji has a hospital to go back to and Makoto has a job that he lost, he has to continue living somehow. How many things will they have to mend besides their souls?
But what makes it really twisted is that they will either have to die together or they are going to end up taking their own lives after the other dies.
They bound themselves so deeply that it is either alive together or dead together. It is twisted because they are literally bound to each other's heart.


The movie is great, I was hooked and deeply in. It is a great story/plot.
I enjoyed it and the actors, omg, they deserve an award for that.
If you have triggers tho, do not watch it.

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The beauty of everyday work and the value of the process

Shot on 16mm, "Small, Slow but Steady" has a texture that lends life and nostalgia to the tape, and fills Keiko's long training sequences with meaning.

STORY
We dive into the daily actions of Keiko, a recently turned professional boxer who works as a maid in a hotel to pay her bills.
Keiko has already won 2 of her fights, but suddenly she begins to feel exhausted, not only physically but emotionally and mentally, and this added to external events such as her trainer's illness and the closure of the boxing club mean that Keiko cannot bear more. We realize the great weight that our resilient Keiko has carried alone all this time while we see fights without an audience and people afraid to make physical contact in the streets.
In addition, the film makes an important social comment as well, since like all boxing classics it is shocking to see our champion leave the ring after enduring tremendous punches in the face and go to make a rich man's bed in a 5-star hotel, as well as worrying about not being able to afford a new gym far from home, etc.

ACTING AND SOUNDTRACK

Kishii Yukino and Miura Tomokazu have exceptional chemistry that will make you want to break down in tears many times, especially in a beautiful sequence in front of a mirror.
The protagonist has one of the most beautifully expressive faces I have ever seen, and I think that contributes enormously to telling this story where the only soundtrack is the sound of the streets outside, the sound of punches with boxing gloves. and a faint tune hummed by Keiko's brother.

OVERALL
In short, "Small, Slow but Steady" is a must-see film that beautifully portrays the inner journey of a woman isolated (sonically and emotionally) from the rest. And it is also a reflection on the psychological weight of social distancing, the value of hard work carried out every day and the importance of deep respect even for the rival.

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This is a movie about Mei, a closed-off loner girl, and about Yamato, the most popular boy at her school who falls for her after she kicks him down the stairs, mistaking him for a pervert.

It's also a movie about bullying. Mei was a victim of it in elementary school and Yamato didn't stop others from bullying his best friend, also in elementary school, for which he feels guilty to this day.

It's also a movie about gossip and the damage it can easily cause. There's gossip about Mei, the ugly duckling who nabbed the most popular boy, and there's gossip about Yamato because all the girls want him and most guys hate him for it, even some of his friends, and envy turns people ugly.

Mei considers herself ugly and she doesn't understand why Yamato would date someone like her. Yamato doesn't understand why Mei would think like that when she's so cute and strong and she makes him smile.

What I love about this movie is that Yamato dated before and he kissed many girls and he slept with some of them - but he doesn't consider it something to be ashamed of. Yes, it happened and it's a part of him but it's not bad or wrong. He's always kind to everyone, even to his exes, and he treats them sweetly and cares about them and he has no regrets.

I also love that Yamato doesn't really give Mei a reason to be jealous, he doesn't cheat on her, it never even crosses his mind. Yes, he's nice to other girls but they're simply his friends and he never feels even slightly tempted to cheat. All the conflict stems from Mei feeling insecure about being his girlfriend - until she doesn't.

Overall, this is really sweet. I love the whole "Why me?" vs. "Why not you?"

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Why did it feel like a comedy?

Something about pathetic people thinking they are "all that" makes me laugh. I don’t think I ever laughed so much watching a film focused on so much murder, blood, gore and all the other awful things you can think of.

While I was rather entertained watching, this was not enough content for an over 2 hours movie, especially since this had less depth than a puddle. And there was some good potential, don’t get me wrong. Better writing could make it into some solid psychological thriller.

The thing I enjoyed the most about the movie was how amazingly sloppy Bayu was in ALL aspects of his life. Nomura Shuhei was not much better, but some practice made him deal with issues just slightly better.

The performances were good. Kitamura Kazuki’s english delivery was so exaggerated, it added to how hilarious the whole movie was. Loved Oka Antara and his portrayal of Bayu.

I did like some directing choices, especially the opening kill and the plastic bag shots. The last scene gave me a low budget bollywood, and it was the cherry on top I needed.

Overall, I had fun, I would have liked it more if it was shorter by at least 20 minutes.

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It's Bittersweet..

Beautiful cliché movie, you will rewatch the movie when a feeling of fluttering is needed... We all need those feeling every now and than...it's simple yet intriguing at the same time. That"if only" will take your mind while watching it first time and after that it will grow up to you.. A story which will take you to peak and pull down swiftly.. Tender and Heartbreaking... but you will never want to heal that broken heart, contraindicating

a ode for that

and in between the shade of that spade a story died
and in between the shade of that spade characters cried
and in between the shade of that spade music chimed that last good bye
-@spitefry

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A Nostalgic Air and Familiar Faces

This was such a cute film about friendship. It had this air of nostalgia to it that really found a way to touch my heart, even as we breezed through plot developments. The characters were admittedly pretty flat: the protective one, the resourceful one, the romantic one. But that turned out okay, because the focus wasn't on who the characters were, or what they were going through separately, but rather on the unconditional friendship that they shared with each other. And the ending was just so heartwarming.

All 3 of these actresses have made quite a name for themselves, and I think fans of Thai dramas would really like seeing their familiar faces in such a piece.

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