Custom that kills
From the synopsis provided in the description of this movie, that’s basically this movie is all about. If you plan to watch this movie, better not to read the description and just jump straight into the movie with a clean slate. In my opinion, it’s a pretty direct storylines, there’s no really a plot twist. It’s 2 hour long only because the sound effects or visual effects idk how to explain it. Reaching almost the end of this movie makes me dozed off and once I wake up, it’s still on that scene, that’s how slow the progress is.Nevertheless, it’s an interesting movie maybe for that period of time. Right now, maybe our generation will find it hard to watch this kind of movie even more to understand it. It’s a movie that tells you about a Chinese custom, what women will experience if they married into a husband who practiced polygamy and those who practice this kind of custom where whenever a husband chose to sleep with his wife, the red lantern will be raised in front of that chosen wife’s house. So, in order to get into your husband’s arms and getting the red lantern to be light on your house area, you need to compete with another wives, the scheme, the betrayal, either will put you through or will make you fall into the madness. It’s a battle that will drenched you with loneliness and tears.
Song Lian starring Gong Li was so good for this role. This movie focusing on her role most of the time, I barely remember others roles except Meishan, the 3rd wives, and Zhouyun, the 2nd wives. This movie reminds me of Ruyi’s Royal Love in The Palace and Story of Yanxi Palace drama. Got the same vibes but Raise the Red lantern is the shorter version that made into a movie, also only differences is the status. While the two happened in the palace between the king and his concubines, the later one happened between the rich man and his four wives.
Overall, not gonna rewatch this again for sure. However, it’s a good movie that will teach you some of good lessons so please go ahead if you wanna give a try.
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I loved about 99% of it
This movie was so entertaining. There were a few moments that (in my opinion) were taken a bit too far.... but it was made light by the characters. I thought the music and casting was great. I loved it up until about 2 hours and 17 minutes.Spoilers:
I loved that the main character was flawed. I love that she wanted her revenge and could be a total bitch but was able to grow and come around. It made her so much more human, somebody I can relate to a lot more than the average Asian drama female lead.
I was actually shocked when we found out the male lead had been there the whole time, and it was so adorable and made me fall in love with him. He also wasn't afraid to pull his punches with her and I think that's a good thing, especially in a budding relationship that has long term potential.
But c'mon, that ending? Where she tells all of the women they need a man to be happy? For a second when she ran back to the mic to "clarify" and said that men aren't important but love is I thought they were gonna save it.... but no. I'm super disappointed that after all of that positive "single woman" energy she just goes on to tell them to find mr. perfect, and of course all of the women in the crowd instantly pull out there phones. Up until that point I was ready to give the movie a 10.
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Simple but Poignant: A Tale of Unrequited Love
Krit's longtime crush on his questioning best friend has started to drive a rift between them. But in one last bid for time together, Krit invites Vin to join him on a journey in the wilderness to 9 Buddhist temples and the 7th tier of the neighboring waterfall. He had only planned for a journey filled with Vin's company, beautiful flowers to collect and press, and a wish to granted at the end of his quest. What he didn't anticipate was 2 other guests, as well as a journey that inspired feelings of nostalgia and lostness, before teaching him of peace and acceptance.Despite a brief morbid moment and concerns over how the film would end, I found this to be a beautiful exploration of an unrequited first love. The backdrop of wilderness and Buddhist temples was well-chosen. And I'm not sure that this film would have had the same oddly comforting vibe had the music not been so well chosen (which, honestly, seems to be a trait of P'Nuchy's productions). And then there's our main character Krit: a young boy who sees beauty in everything and always wishes for happiness for everyone, and an eternal love for himself - wishes that Buddhism tells him is impossible. Wishes that society shuns. When he starts to feel lost, we can tell. There may not be explosive anger or giant tears, but we can tell.
It's simple. But it's poignant. The script, directing, and music left nothing to be desired for viewers. But the acting was a little stiff and I feel like Vin should have gotten more character development. I also think that there was a scene that was a bit too morbid, at least for my tastes anyway.
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Emotional and Graceful
At first I was a little distracted by the amateur filming style and quality, but the plot took me away from this distraction and blossomed into something that made me tear up.In general I am a sucker for the idea of ¨is this really over?¨ ¨is everything we had really gone?¨ and this concept attached to the trope of childhood friends???????? Absolutely not, I was totally targetted and am now completely destroyed.
Fortunately, this is a quick and touching watch - it´s not sad like you might have misinterpreted from the statement I made above, but it is emotional.
Overall, this short film is super well done even if some of the shots were a little awkwardly shot or poorly lit because the story is awesome and the actors performed beautifully as well.
Highly suggested that you watch this - the link to it on YouTube can be found in my notes about this film.
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Two out of three ain't bad
Gamera 2 was my least favorite of this particular Gamera trilogy. With a larger budget than Gamera 1, the special effects were bigger and louder, but its heart wasn't.In a world with Kaiju, a meteor headed toward the Earth is never just a meteor and this one was no exception. Before you knew it, Japan had a silicone-based infestation on its hands.
I didn't find Destoroyah, I mean Legion, particularly terrifying even with the blood spurting and city annihilations. Neither Legion's costume nor Gamera's were particularly inspired. I love guys in rubber suit Kaiju costume movies so that wasn't a problem for me. Most of the fight scenes were done in the blurry dark which obscured the suits even more. The immediacy and scale of these creatures compared to the populace and buildings was lacking. There weren't any real money shots of Gamera up close either. And I wasn't a fan of his new flying capability, I liked the retro spinning saucer style.
Gamera is a Kaiju if not for the people, at least for the Earth, and he's always on hand to dispense with whatever malevolent force comes along (look out humans, you may be on his list!). He usually has someone who has a personal connection with him and that was missing from this movie. While there was a group of children keeping watch over a possibly dead Gamera, that personal connection felt disconnected. None of the main characters ever felt like they were in imminent danger either further distancing them from the action.
The human cast was all fairly likeable and easy on the eyes, even if too much of the movie centered on them. At least they were able to take care of one problem with the Legion near the end of the movie instead of being completely reliant on Gamera.
For low budget 1996 special effects, Gamera 2 did an adequate job. The miniatures were excellent and were believably blown up and torn down. How they ever find someone to do tank duty when a Kaiju comes to town, I will never know! And in a world with Kaiju, if a giant extraterrestrial that is on a killing spree torches a building and lays a huge pod on it, I would get out of town---fast! See ya! Wouldn't want to be ya! But instead, people are still milling around the streets and have to be told to leave.
For me, this Gamera felt impersonal, and I never connected to the monster risking his own life and shell to protect Japan. There were still some entertaining scenes and the humans weren't annoying, a huge plus in this genre. If you are a fan of Gamera it is definitely one to try. It can stand on its own, but best to watch this trilogy in order to better experience it.
10/04/22
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Instant formular of cliche storyline and artificial sentiment.
Unoriginal plot. Their story is like the instant noodles that just aims to finish things quick without creating anything worth cherish. Their story accumulates so many cliche plots that we've seen so often in other movies and make them even more cliche by not adding any new element into their own work. It's the pop star falling in love with an ordinary girl. Also a one-night falling in love in a foreign land. And Confessing love at a friend's wedding (by stealing the scene from the bride and groom -- which is very impolite in real life, I would say. And very cringey when it appears in the film.)Things in this movie pass by in a very superficial style. Nothing deep but they try to force the audience to perceive what happen as something deep. There's almost nothing happen between the ML and FL during their time together, which is not more than 12 hours, apart from running in a spooky cemetery and baking a cake together. But ML, who is a celebrity, is so naively certain this is true forever love and ready to give up everything for FL.
So many things happen nonsensically and baselessly. The production team absolutely doesn't care to lay out any solid foundation for the leads' feelings. Until to the point that they kiss, I still don't feel they have feelings for each other. It's more like a suit-for-the-moment kiss than any deep-meaning kiss. Throughout the movie, from beginning to end, I don't feel any chemistry between ML and FL at all. And ironically, there's this dialogue of FL around the beginning saying it's funny for her that people in entertainment business can fakely love each other on a show because love can be portrayed through the eyes and when she sees the eyes, it tells whether the love is real of not. People can't fake love -- Yes, she surely can't fake it. I don't feel any feeling in her eyes towards ML at all, and to be fair, it's vice versa.
A few positive points about this movie is that they have proper production. They know how to use the camera and set the setting well. FL seems to be able to speak Italian as well. If she can't, she came prepared. Her mounth shape while speaking goes along with Italian language sound making it looks natural when she have a conversation.
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Alzheimer's disease closes all doors and exits. There is no escape.. unfortunately
The film seems rather rough in the sense that it neglects other contextual details to logically support the situation to give more weight, such as the origin of the father’s life. Su-jin’s relationship with her parents in the past Sujin’s marriage Gina’s life in America including solving problems in a concrete way at the end Instead, the film focuses on conveying Su Jin’s physical and mental suffering from Alzheimer’s. Squeeze the emotions of the audience in the most heartbreaking..Her father decided to move in with her. At the age when the child is young He continued to work abroad. let the child grow on his own Now your child is suffering from a serious disease that impairs his ability to live, remember, speak, and regulate his emotions. faecal control They all went back to being like children again. So he tried his best as a new father. This is the main content where the film will convey the relationship between father and daughter to the audience with warm and heartfelt appreciation. ‘Thinking about Dad’ come up immediately
Of course, the most powerful moment was the moment when his father intelligently took care of Su Jin. Based on his wisdom and calmness, he tries to encourage in all forms. Extend your child’s normal, independent life for as long as possible. and he was by her side as the disease progressed to such an extent that she lost her ability to live with it.
especially anyone who has had an experience with someone close to a loved one sick with this disease will understand each situation better. to the point where tears burst surely must be raised to the beauty of the craft This is Hyun Jin Who is your biggest fan? which should not be missed..
So why is the film called Cassiopeia What? Apparently Gina doesn’t just like to look at the stars. And the stargazing activities together are the only meaningful memories of this family. But by implication the importance of the brightest constellation is Cassiopeia ‘star mother’ in order to be able to find the North Star more easily The North Star is the star that guides us to identify the North. Like a father who comes by his side to make life go in the right direction.
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Watch the trailer in YT but forget about it & don't know the title, finally found it when searching for movie that I want to watch.Really like the brotherhood between Sky Ko & Paul Ahn. From the trailer itself I can sense they never really fight with the grudge between each other. But only healthy competition between them.
But this movie have some loopholes that not quite make sense, maybe because this just movie so they have shorter duration to explained all:
- The betrayal of Mayo. Not enough explanation through the movie. Where's the ambition comes from, so sudden.
- And although I really like the end where Sky Ko just walk out the stage. But the end just like leaving some more question than answer.
- The stupid owner of stellar restaurant. Just complete jerk & out of place.
Overall this is one good movie about healthy competition & brotherhood. Really hope this can make into drama, so we can get more elaborate about some of the things...
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one unique pampered girl
Watch the trailer in YT but forget about it & don't know the title, Finally found it when searching for movie that I want to watch.Quite intrigue when I see the FL, so pampered yet suddenly she like got surprises when after married she live like a normal person. But I really adored Oriyama Karin for not complaining her situation at all. Yeah she explode only once the day after married & make Tsuruki Nao realize how pampered she actually is. But after that not once she complaining, she walk on with her life like nothing really changing. And her word about what's wrong falling in love with someone base on their look really crack me up... Yeah we sometimes so hypocritical when we like someone only because of their look, but isn't we usually fall on someone based on their look, then we go forward to their personality, etc...
Quite confusing with Karin's dad actually. Why he must put Karin & Nao in that ordinary house? Is it request from Nao or what...? I think at first her dad really gonna just let Karin & Nao live with their own life, not care for Karin anymore, just some allowance (that 100,000 yen). But turn out no, he still care & want to involved in her daughter life. So why he must put Karin & Nao in that ordinary house? And what about the predecessor...? Who is he, what his connection to Nao...? And above all why must NAO become his son in law...?
Overall this really one unique movie with unique character that worth ur time to watch.
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Classic indeed. They don't make them like this anymore.
I can easily see why this was a hit with western audiences at the time of it's release, and is considered a classic masterpiece. The story is very reminiscent of some favorite western fantasy films being released around the time (DragonHeart being a personal favorite of mine), as well as having all the characteristics of a Wuxia production.The story is simple but action-filled. The motivations for the conflicts went beyond greed - instead erring towards the desire for a better future and justice for the past. It allowed the characters to have ample depth. Even when you were wholeheartedly against them, you could understand where they were coming from. And the action sequences were gorgeously choreographed and told stories beyond just "this is the characters fighting." There were some things that were not explained, as they would in several modern wuxia dramas, but it didn't make the story hard to understand. I wish modern wuxias would do similar, so that we are not bogged down by explanations, world-building monologues, and character introductions all at once.
Even the ending was well-done. It was very true to the story being told. And the one unanswered question being left open like it was makes it a perfect ending for divided watchers.
It's a perfect starter wuxia. A classic if you will. That even long-standing fans may go back to for the actor performances and exquisite fighting sequences (which are numerous).
The only reason why this didn't get a 10 from me is because of the lack of one subplot that deserved a few more minutes of attention.
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"I drink upon occasion, sometimes upon no occasion." Don Quixote
Ozu is one of my favorite Japanese directors/writers, but he missed the mark with What Did the Lady Forget for me. Not dramatic enough to be a drama and not funny enough to be a comedy, it languished in a dull middle ground somewhere lost in a mathematic word problem.I knew I was in trouble when for the first 20 minutes of a 70-minute film we were treated to a university lecture on Salmonella and junior high school boys dealing with mathematic word problems. I found myself wondering where Ozu had found the props and how hard the staff worked at polishing the sets to a shine as he required.
The premise of the story was a domineering housewife and a docile professor husband-a classic Ozu gender role reversal. Tokiko, the wife, insisted that her husband play golf each weekend which involved an overnight stay outside of town. The problem being, he didn't like to play golf, so he was always figuring out ways to make it look like he'd golfed but hadn't. Most women balk at a husband taking an overnight trip every weekend instead of encouraging it making this a very foreign concept. Maybe she wanted some peace around the house, but she wasn't doing anything interesting while he was away except gossiping with her friends.
In walked another of Ozu's standard story upheavals-a modern niece, Setsuko, who wore western clothes, smoked, drove, and drank. She and Komiya, the husband, became co-conspirators when he was staying with a male student during his aborted golf trip and they both showed up at the same bar. They had to hide where they had both been to Tokiko who was furious when Setsuko came home drunk after midnight and was brought home by Komiya's student. It actually sounds more interesting than it was, even a night out at a geisha house became a drag.
Setsuko began to berate Komiya for not being masculine enough and not wearing the pants in the family which after a fight between the three ended up with Komiya slapping Tokiko. Instead of throwing fuel on the fire, Tokiko was thrilled and felt like it showed her that Komiya loved her. She bragged about it to her friends and the role reversals were reversed and everything was put back into its proper patriarchal relationship. The cutest scene was at the end when Tokiko made a sweet move on Komiya which led to a night of bliss. It would have meant more to me if he hadn't slapped her to get it. That Setsuko was just as domineering as Tokiko and ordering Komiya about never seemed to occur to her or him. I'm guessing the title refers to Tokiko and how she had forgotten that Komiya was the head of the household and that is what would lead to harmony in their home.
This was supposed to be a comedy, but I didn't get it, if it was funny, it was far too subtle for me. I get that it was a classical farce set up, the situations just didn't come across as very humorous. Slapping Tokiko to put her back in her place ruined this film for me and for the most part I found it lacking in any emotional depth to begin with. The sets, costumes, and frames were attended to with the greatest care as is to be expected with Ozu, it just didn't feel like he developed the story with the same care.
10/3/22
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I know this movie is also a comedy. But it could be better balanced. The comedy bits were sometimes poor and as they dragged on throughout the movie, it felt like there were too many of them.
So of course your point of view depends on what you expect from the movie at the moment.
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Could have been amazing, if kept on a smaller scale.
My biggest issue was how unrealistic this whole plot was, and how it forced too many characters to act painfully stupid - this stopped me from getting immersed into the story and caring for the characters.The setting is truly interesting and allows you to slowly build the atmosphere. The dark tunnels, small spaces - all anxiety inducing. You could potentially feel the disorientation of the characters, when they are being chased by the killer. Sadly, I could not feel it. Why?
With the number of victims, the police reaction, or rather the lack of reaction, was quite ridiculous. It would be better to not involve the police at all, and make me wonder where they are when needed, than make me suffer watching this level of incompetence and lack of care.
I can deal with one stupid character… maybe two. But all of them? That’s just a pain for my brain. I get it, if everyone is smart, the movie ends before it starts. Just write a smart villain with a realistic setting that does not need characters with two brain cells to make it work.
Was the villain part of some supernatural evil gang? He was undestructable. I feel like one could cut his head off, and he would go: day like any other.
So, what’s good? Amazing performance. It’s Jung Kyung Ho we’re talking about. I am 100% certain he can sell literally any role and make it good. I also really liked Choi Deok Moon as Jong Ho, one of the victim’s father. Yun Seo had some clever tricks and moves, so it was truly entertaining to watch her navigate this deadly underground labyrinth.
Overall, good suspense, good visuals, great idea - if only they lowered the number of initial victims and kept the police away from it. Make it only a story of Yun Seo, Soo Jung and Jong Ho, and I would love it.
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Heard bad - expected bad - was not that bad
[Spoiler free version]I’ve seen negative thoughts on this movie. They were mostly based on the character’s actions not the story.
I admit, I did watch this movie because of Karry Wang, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with his acting. It’s not out of this world, but I’ve seen worse, so I’m not adverse to it.
The style that this is filmed in is what I like, it has a somber overtone, and a bit confusing with it’s cuts. I enjoy watching things that leave me confused. That may not be the thing for you, but it was a little confusing at times.
But in the end, it doesn’t leave you wondering in regards to plot. It ties everything up.
It’s not a gut puncher with emotions, but it’s definitely not happy either. I think it’s good for a watch when you have time, it’s a revenge plot, sort of mystery? It doesn’t really hold your attention, but it’s still entertaining to watch. The story is nothing new, but I’m fine with that.
It was pretty (visually) to watch, I like looking at sets and such, so that was one of the more interesting parts of this movie lol
The backgrounds were all really nice.
If you’re looking for happiness and such, don’t watch it.
[review with spoilers, beware, the whole ending is said]
SO.
People seem to not like the decisions that Xiao Yu (FL) made. Selfish and stupid. Unwise. If she had just gone to the police with the evidence Meng Yao (ML) wouldn’t have had to die.
While yes, logically, that is true. I didn’t get that all when I was watching the movie. Her actions (to me) fit with her current state.
While Zhu Fang Zheng (her beloved godfather) is the man who killed her father, she didn’t know that. At the time of her father’s death, he became her guardian and caretaker. She loved him, she trusted him, and she cared for him.
To learn of someone so close to you, not only being not who you knew them to be, but your father’s killer? That’s going to destroy you. Not only that, but you’ll have denial.
Her hesitating on wanting to turn in the evidence was annoying in terms of justice, but it wasn’t annoying regarding the character’s situation.
Meng Yao’s death.
I wasn’t expecting it, but it also didn’t really hit that hard. Not as hard that main character deaths usually do. I wasn’t too attached to his character, but I was sad for the FL.
They could have not killed him off, it wasn’t necessary. But it was just one of those plots I guess.
Overall, I did enjoy the movie. I don’t regret watching it. Will I watch it again? No.
It was a nice way to take a break (I watched this movie in increments while working, maybe that’s why I didn’t get attached to the characters lol)
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