A wild and enjoyable ride
What a nice surprise! I had no idea what to expect from this movie but the poster caught my attention and I added it to my watchlist. The premise sounded interesting too so I decided to randomly watch it one day.I fell in love with the mother-daughter chaotic duo and their mission through Itaewon to find their missing relative. It was almost detective-like, leading them from one place to another, meeting all sorts of people, and resulting into serious, funny, and heart-warming situations. And altough I managed to guess the plot twist around 2/3 of the movie, it was still very entertaining to watch it all unfold.
The representation in this was amazing! It isn't everyday when you see a good representation of LGBTQ people, foreigners, BIPOC, single mothers, drag queens, all in one movie!
Cheetah's rapping and singing took my breath away, it was really really great. Just *chef's kiss*, it made the movie even better.
One last thing, there's A LOT of swearing in the movie so just be warned of that. :D
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Action Done Right
Hollywood producers can definitely learn a thing or two about how action should be done from High&Low The Worst. This movie is an absolute gem in its genre – the best that I have seen since Crows Zero. Whether you are looking for a well-written plot, realistic fight scenes, or fun, likeable characters, you will find all of these and more. Now let me tell you in detail what makes this movie so great.1. Top-notch Action.
The highlight of this movie are the long fight scenes. What distinguishes them from those in most action movies that I have seen is that they do not rely too much on slow motion. The viewer is exposed to the full chaos of a battle between two large groups of violent delinquents. The changing camera angles and the fact that the lead character does not miraculously emerge unscathed from every fight adds realism to the scenes, while the witty banter between opponents and the absence of excessive gore makes them satisfyingly entertaining. Although I usually skip the fighting in movies because it bores me, this time I was glued to the screen.
2. Gorgeous Guys.
The visuals in this movie are jaw-dropping – and I do not mean only the lead actors. The number of Oya High and Housen Academy students that can become top models is really high. Almost every scene left me wondering at whom I should stare. They all look like they have stepped out of an anime! Whoever was in charge of the casting deserves a raise. My only complaint is that the majority of extras looked too old to be high school students.
3. Well-developed Plot with Likeable Characters.
This movie is a great reminder that action does not have to be plotless. It has an interesting and well-written storyline that drew me in almost immediately. Although I am a newcomer to this franchize, I did not have any difficulties understanding what is happening.
I also appreciated the fact that the main characters are all fleshed-out well. Each one of them has his own problems and motivations that make him easy to sympathize with. The eccentric Murayama became a favorite of mine by the end, but I rooted for everyone else just as much.
The spin that this movie does on the power of friendship and found family tropes also works really well and does not seem clichéd. Despite all the fighting and screaming, there are many heart-warming moments of genuine friendship – something that is difficult to find in movies nowadays.
Most importantly, the ending ties everything together, leaving no plot holes.
4. Bromance.
The bromance is the second highlight of this movie. I do not know if the production team chose to underscore the chemistry between Fujio and Sachio on purpose, but more sparks flew between those two than between most onscreen romantic couples that I have seen.
Overall, if you have two hours to spare and you are in the mood for action, watch this movie.
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repetitive and sluggish
In the remake of the Canadian film, six of varying ages and backgrounds find themselves locked and confined in a mysterious cube shaped room. They do not have any ideas where they are and decide to escape. They need to work with one another and decipher the code needed to exit the cube.The movie could be considered as being one of the pioneers of the now-infamous torture porn genre, pre-dating films like Saw and Hostel that have exploited the idea so much with countless sequels, spin-offs, and rip-offs over the years.No more talking. No more guessing. Don’t even think about nothing that’s not right in front of you. That’s the real challenge — you’ve gotta save yourselves from yourselves....
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A MASTERPIECE !
A classic! A must-watch! I swear this movie will haunt you till the day you die. I believe Raise the Red Lantern is one of the best films by Yi-Mou Zhang. He criticizes Capitalism, Patriarchy, Misogyny, and the power structures in society. Also, dammmn Gong Li is something else. When a man wished Songlian to live 100 years, she says, " Oh Please I don't want to live that long ".I felt that...bro, I felt that deep down my body.
This movie will haunt me for sure. Classic! The cinematography, screenplay, music, color...every single aspect of it is to be lived for.
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Can't believe I cried for a Pig!
Completed: 10/1/2022What an adorable and heartwarming movie! This movie boasts a big and popular cast with 6 individual stories. Each story features a family or a couple and their pets. These stories are simple but very relatable. Each of them is heartwarming in their own unique way. I am pleasantly surprised that I am satisfied with the amount of screen time for each story. Oftentimes with such a big cast, you feel something is missing, screen time is not evenly distributed, or not enough time dedicated to tell a complete story. However, I don't feel that at all.
We have a very experienced cast and there's really nothing to criticize about their acting. However, the MVPs are the pets. I don't own any pet and am not especially fond of dogs and cats (I am fine with them). This movie makes me want to be a pet owner, well, maybe not a pig owner.
If you love animals, especially dogs, cats and pigs, then I strongly recommend this movie to you. It's an easy watch and will make you feel very loved and warm inside.
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Cast was great, especially the male lead, this hair is on fleek, so hot. Really recommend, very short but I kinda wanted like an after story, cause this all happened while their in school, so like there is a possibility that they might break up later in their lives. But really nice movie.
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Mind blowing multidirectional intelligence mission
The plot is a totally unexpected mind blowing multidirectional intelligence mission that involves tons of critical stakes at war. The story is so complex it comes with an incredible amount of political factors that one could never imagine, but only to be impressed again and again on how the writer could let it play out in such a way. At the start it may seem a bit generic, but as the story progresses it bites on and keeps getting better by pushing its limits while still able to throw in multiple twists that makes a whole lot of sense foreshadowing on conspiracies of the real political world. The vintage setting and tight action choreography are all in jaw dropping fine quality, they definitely deserve the 2022 Cannes invitation which lives up to its name.Was this review helpful to you?
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I'd like to take praise at the cinematography, direction and editing. The film looks so stunning visually, everything framed perfectly, scene transtions done well. Big plaudits for Kim Ji-yong on (Cinematography) and Kim Jee-woon (direction and writing)This was quite an eye opening film with Song Kang-Ho, once again, delivering an outstanding performance as Lee Jung-chool, the conflicted police captain stuck between the might of Japanese rule and the heart of the Korean Resistence. The fight against the oppressive regime of the Japanses occupation. But along side that and the trueish stories of the time, we have a cat & mouse game of politics between Lee Jung-chool and Hashimoto. The film is jammed with tension filled scenes as well as great, but short action fights. The torture scenes near the end are violent but pivitol to the story and add tons of drama. A very down to earth tale of patriotism with a great unique style of film making on top.
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The story is all over the place. A generic simple detective mystery gets blown to wide proportions with fake deaths, unnecessary twists and turns and poor special effects. However the first edition of Detective K delivered with strong performances from its main cast - Kim Myung-min as Detective and Oh Dal-su as Han Seo-pil. In terms of establishing these characters and their journey with each other, the film was worth watching. Virtuous Widow gave the audience tons of clever gags that ranged from absurd to extremely clever both verbally and visually. Plus the film casted the typical Sageuk antagonist, Lee Jae-youg in his comfortable role and that’s always a positive. Was this review helpful to you?
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#Justice for Manda!
Godzilla royalty-director Honda Ishiro and composer Ifukube Akira were behind the Kaiju and Sci-fi movieAtragon. Given that pedigree I expected it to be better. With all the allusions to the destroyer goddess Manda, I definitely expected to see her before the last 15 minutes of the film and for more than 5 minutes. Atragon instead focused on old naval officers and whether to resurrect an Imperialistic Japan.
The film opens with two photographers taking pictures of their bikini clad model at midnight near the bay because everyone knows the lighting is so good at that time of the day. When up from the water comes a steamy man. There's an investigation regarding the steam man that leads nowhere. The photographers spend a lot of time hunting down a beautiful woman they see on the street so that they can make her a model. Turns out the would be model is the daughter of a naval commander who disappeared during the war and she became the ward of a retired admiral. Next thing you know a man with special powers from the ancient submerged city of Mu shows up to kidnap the woman and the admiral to take them back to Mu and make them slaves. His plan is foiled by the nosy photographers. After some city destruction by the vapor creatures the admiral finally realizes he's going to have to reveal that her father is not dead and take her to him. Not the happiest of reunions after 20 years especially since dear old dad has created a super sub that can also fly and burrow through the earth and has a freeze ray all in order to resurrect Imperial Japan. Not sure if that means he wants to go back on a destructive rage against China, Korea, and the US, but the admiral and his daughter try to change his mind. Only when the Mu kidnap his daughter and threaten to overthrow the world does he decide to use his sub for good.
Given that this was a Honda film, Manda was a huge disappointment in both design and execution. She's just the third female Kaiju in this particular franchise and she didn't show up until late in the movie and was dispatched rather easily. The high tech sub and city miniatures were all beautifully created for the time and budget. Ifukube recycled Godzilla's music for this one, I kept expecting to see the big guy stomp onto the scene. Goodness knows it might have made this movie more interesting.
The story tended to wander around in circles for much of the movie until they showed up at the secret island with the sub's inventor. The last 15-20 minutes were the best part of the film. It was concerning that when they destroyed the hidden city of Mu, they destroyed everyone. The genocide was a bit concerning even for a Kaiju movie.
While I applaud the makers effort to try and craft a different kind of monster film and focus on more sci-fi aspects, I found it rather disappointing. Better to watch Destroy All Monsters, even though she only had a cameo in it, Manda had more to do than in this one. Only for those Kaiju fans who would like to see Manda's original film or have an interest in sunken cities where the people wear bright colorful wigs.
9/30/22
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PROS
- The themes are so well done and leave a memorable impression due to the significance to actual life
- Wonderfully crafted story that takes place in the present as well as the past
- There's a lot of purpose and care in each of the characters
- For how dense the drama is, there is actually a lot of great comedy to balance the emotional toll
CONS
- Don't read much about the movie's story; it's best to go in without knowing much
- Due to the masterful writing, Sunny isn't an emotional drain, but you WILL likely be moved to tears (so, don't try to act tough)
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Friendships, memories, regrets, and promises are all themes that are so very important. Pondering and reflecting upon them is sometimes a challenging circumstance that we don't see until it's too late.
Sunny not only demonstrates these in a beautiful and entertaining way, but it also paints a visual representation for even more complex emotions (like grief, heartbreak, or even acceptance and closure).
There are very few films that go beyond emotionally moving me. This movie was a healthy event that I didn't know I needed. Now, I feel inspired and eager to ACTUALLY live my best life and carry those dear to me along the way.
9.5/10
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A Very Heartwarming Movie
Watching this movie is just like healing my soul. I can cry and laugh my heart out.The story is very simple about everyday life as a mortician, the job that most of us consider its taboo and scary. But through this movie, they give us another understanding and its a very meaningful and respectful job.
The actors acted very well, the lead actor Zhu Yilong with his look as Mo Sanmei really blowns my mind. The child actor Yang Enyou as Wu Xiaowen is also brilliant. Their relationship throughout the story will remind us with Monkey king and Neza, as the movie pointed them out clearly such as posters, the two bun of Xiao Wen, the bracelet of Mo Sanmei, and even on their conversation.
The pacing of the story was just right. I can enjoy every scene without rush, well shot and directed. It will be perfect if I can watch it in the big screen because the detail and the lighting in every scene is just right and amazing.
So many life lesson I can learn throughout the movie. I can see new things in the new light. It feels refreshing. I can still feel the warmth of the movie and the message the movie was trying to convey.
Really recommended.
This will be one of my most favourite movie. And sure I will rewatch it. Thanks for the great show.
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Oh, what a tangled web we weave...
The legendary team of Kurosawa Akira and Mifune Toshiro tackle Shakespeare's Macbeth in Throne of Blood. While hitting most of the bard's main beats, Kurosawa takes the murderous couple to feudal Japan in this highly stylized film.Mifune plays Washizu (Macbeth) caging the frenetic energy always just below this actor's surface. Washizu and his friend Miki are returning to their lord's keep, aptly named Spider Web Castle, after defeating an opposing lord's army in battle. Lost in the woods, they come across a ghostly forest spirit who foretells their future. Washizu will become the next lord of Spider Web Castle and Mizi's son will become it's future lord. Both men are incredulous as they make their way to the castle through the fog, even more incredulous when the prophetic events begin to come true.
Washizu becomes the leader of the North Garrison where he and his wife (the talented Yamada Isuzu) live a comfortable life. Lady Washizu is not content though and stirs up feelings of ambition and dread in her husband telling him that the lord may seek to kill him seeing him as a rival, especially if Miki tells of the prophecy. Washizu is not convinced but when the lord ominously drops into their hands, it doesn't take much convincing from his wife to perform the murderous deed. Miki throws in with him out of his own ambition or pragmatism. The prince and Noriyasu (Kurosawa regular-Shimura Takashi) flee to their old enemy and make a pact with him.
Lady Washizu unrelentingly keeps up the murderous whispers until man after man is slain in order to keep their new status. Even as they work to stay on top, the doubts and guilt begin to build until the subtle and not so subtle signs of madness begin to creep in. With each passing day his men's doubts grow as does the strength of their enemy.
There is all sorts of imagery in this film starting with Kurosawa's trademark wind and rain ushering in dark changes. Fog blinding the men as they try to find their way ushers in chaos and uncertainty. Washizu and Lady Washizu act almost as if they are wearing masks. She barely moves and when she does it usually means someone is about to die as the only sound you hear is the rustling of her silk dress as it slithers across the floor. At the end when the opposing army shows up, they are highlighted in sunlight while Washizu always seems to be in rain or fog or dim, claustrophobic lighting. The name Spider Web Castle reflects the deadly web the couple find themselves in, one they cannot extract themselves from.
The forest spirit tells Washizu and Miki,
"Human beings are so strange,
they are terrified to look into
the bottom of their hearts."
Washizu, his wife and Miki end up looking into their hearts and find more darkness than they were aware of. Paranoia drives Washizu to have his best friend murdered and see treachery all around him. The spirit's prophecy causes the chaos that sinks into a man's soul inciting greed and winning at any cost to take over. Was the spirit prophesying or setting events into motion with the prophecy? Did the men act of their own will or were they victims of predestination?
The sets were amazing. Always looking for that perfect shot, Kurosawa didn't like the initial castle set and had another imposing one built on Mt Fuji. In two different scenes, especially the final one, it didn't take much acting to show fear when arrows were being fired as they were really being shot at the actors.
Kurosawa wasn't afraid to use silence and time to create tension in scenes, something rarely used in today's films. The scene with the silent castle as the troops slowly approached not knowing if they would receive a welcome or death was particularly powerful.
Wind and fog come again at the end of the film along with the chorus, reminding the viewer that desire and fate are never changing. The castle of delusion is never far away when one gives into the baser ambitions at the bottom of their hearts. Throne of Blood uses no iambic pentameter, nor Shakespearean quotes, maybe it's the stronger for it.
9/29/22
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It's a good movie to make you cry, but don't expect too much from it.
I can't ignore the information that I was in tears for most of this movie.Initially, I thought that my rating would be higher despite the worse ratings of other viewers. I also expected much more from this film, because the plot itself seemed to be good, but the execution is average. Most of this movie is about waiting for something to happen, the characters will meet again, or just Haruto will find out what's really going on with Misaki. This makes over two hours of length a bit too long for this story. It also made the mid-section boring a lot and to be honest I speeded it up a bit sometimes.
It's a good movie to make you cry, but don't expect too much from it.
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Tunnel ★☆☆☆☆
The first short story ended, before it even started. It's hard to have any meaningful opinion or thoughts about it with how short it was. Sure, there was one nice semi-gory picture created closer to the end, but overall - too short to create the atmosphere or to deliver the scares.
The Woman in Red ★☆☆☆☆
Revengeful ghost and vague insinuation on why she even mad. What stood out in this short? Bad acting and bad special effects. When the ghost started to do Spiderman impersonation, I lost it.
Tooth Worms ★★★☆☆
I knew this is going to be a ride the moment they opened it with the perspective of being in someone's mouth as they get check up by hot dentist Hoya. I'm not sure how scary it was, but it did make me feel extremely uncomfortable. Acting wise - Hoya delivered!
Necromancy ★★☆☆☆
This story was more of what I was expecting to see when I started Seoul Ghost Stories - typical creepy pasta type of a deal, with decent effects for a short like that. the acting was also fine.
The Wall ★★★☆☆
That was a short, fun and wacky story. A unique love line if anyone asks me.
The Closet ★★★☆☆
This is scary because of the more realistic scenario. I do wish they were a little bit more clear if there was any supernatural involvement, but nevertheless, this still gave me the most creeps. A bit exaggerated, but something that could potentially happen.
Ghost Marriage ★☆☆☆☆
When horror stories deliver shower abs scenes - I cannot force myself to complain. Sadly, that was the best part of the story.
The Girl in the Mirror ★☆☆☆☆
When you are hunted by the horror snapshot filters, even outside of the app. That's the story. Yes, it's as boring as it sounds.
The Mannequin ★★★☆☆
This was a win. They were able to built quite a tension in just few minutes and the design for the mannequin was extremely good. It just looked so weird and uncanny - and the movement. I would pee my pants if I ever come across something like that.
Escape Games ★★★☆☆
I'm impressed with Alexa's acting (funny how her Korean line delivery was more natural than the English one) and the props aka the bodies. Good stuff. Probably best practical and special effects from all the stories. The concept was not exactly unique - Escape Room meets occultists. Still, a fun watch. Better than majority of the stories in this compilation.
The starts next to the title will tell you how good they are compared to each other, rather than overall quality.
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