Reviews

Really Good Story About Friendship and Sacrifice

I loved it.

Story
- It's a bit predictable and simple but it's well-told.
- I loved the characters and the story of a friendship between fox and mortal

Acting
- Li Xian being the playful fox spirit Bai Shi San here is ... His performance was unexpected. Playful, mischievous, funny, yet vulnerable
- Chen Linong is new to acting but he's not bad
- They have good chemistry together.
- Hanikezi is super cute and sweet and so funny.

VFX
- I like the CGI foxes hahaa

OST
- Definitely adding the themesong to my Spotify playlist
少年无邪 by Chen Linong

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Seoul Vibe is mostly style over substance, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't an entertaining ride

PROS
+ The cars and music have a cool, retro vibe
+ There are some exciting pursuits and extreme stunts that give the film a unique charm
+ It's refreshing to see the team function well together and pull off the complex and far-fetched plans (it's similar to something like the A-TEAM)
+ The sense of danger is conveyed very well once things start going bad

CONS
- The depth on each character is paper-thin and often made me lose interest
- Even some of the story seems lackluster in its writing
- A lot of the racing scenes in the beginning seem to be pretend with a heavy reliance on quick camera work and varied action shot rather than legitimate driving/racing
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I don't think I would re-watch this one, but I'm glad to have seen it once. It's nearly 2.5 hours and some of it just feels like a highlights mashup of a TV drama series.

If you're like me and recently watched Special Delivery, then this might help you come back down to earth.

7.5/10

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Misfortune Teaches Us the Truth

What would you do if you had six months left to live? When we are young, aflame with dreams and a perfect view of what our world will be we never think that one day due to life circumstances we might become a mere cog in a machine and the weight of corporate or public bureaucracy will extinguish that flame with its inertia crushing in on us. If we are not careful each day can become the same without making any difference in the world. Director Kurasawa breaks through the darkness of merely enduring the days by elevating a civil servant nicknamed "The Mummy" who hasn't really lived in 20 years to hero status. The hero's journey is not without suffering and heartache, and a behemoth of a monster to face before he leaves this plane of existence. With the sands of the hourglass rapidly streaming out he has one goal to reach, one thing to do to have made his life worth living and in the final moments to give it meaning.

Ikiru begins with a death sentence being handed out to the Public Works Chief, Watanabe Kanji. Watanabe sits at his desk stacked high with papers just as he has for 30 years without taking a sick day, shuffling and stamping the papers validating his reason for being there. Once 20 years ago, he submitted a proposal for making the job better only to be shot down. Now he uses the proposal pages to wipe his glasses.

Upon finding out he has stomach cancer he is devastated. Kurasawa gave us a brilliant scene as Watanabe leaves the hospital so absorbed in his own thoughts that the world is silent. When he is jarred into reality the loud noises of life intervene once again. His son and daughter-in-law only want his money to buy a house and don't even ask what's wrong when they find him sitting in the dark. With no one to talk with, in a powerful moment he covers his head and cries himself to sleep.

At a chance meeting in a bar, Watanabe meets a small time writer. The writer plants seeds in his brain about no longer being a slave to life but being its master. Never having ordered a drink before Watanabe asks for help in having a night of fun out. The writer takes him out on a raucous night on the town. At their last stop the piano player asks for suggestions and Watanabe asks for "Life is Brief". In a low deep voice, the older man sings as the pianist plays silencing the revelers around them as the listeners reflect on the words of the song and Watanabe's grief.

A young girl from his office shows up the next day at his house because she needs his stamp to hand her resignation papers in. When he asked why she is leaving she tells him the boredom is killing her, that the only thing of interest that's happened in over a year is when he didn't come into the office. Her youthful exuberance and their casual meetings lay the step for his next revelation. He needs to make something to feel useful and relevant. Happy (Re)Birthday Watanabe Kanji!

With the energy of a man possessed he determines to answer the pleas of some local women who have been given the run around about a cesspool in their neighborhood. The women want it filled in and turned into a park but had been shuffled between 20 different departments before being sent back to Public Works.

The film jumps to his funeral and the last half of the movie is shown in flashback as the mourners piece together his motivations and what courageous steps he took as he fought the machine he was a cog in by wearing it down to have the park built. At first the upper echelon patted themselves on the back saying he had nothing to do with the new park. After they leave the cogs in different departments start comparing notes and realize how hard he fought even as he was dying to do something worthwhile, no small feat in a world of petty bureaucratic fiefdoms.

The cogs are jarred out of their complacency and vow to make a difference and not let the machine kill their desire to make meaningful changes. But as they find out as well, the machine doesn't like change, making Watanabe's work all the more heroic.

There are moments in Ikiru that will give you pause, make you misty-eyed, and even laugh. As the mourners gossip and take credit your blood will boil at the injustice and cause you to cry out for Watanabe. The silenced voices of small cogs eventually join the viewer in being advocates for the man willing to change and willing to make a change, regardless of the cost. A man no longer afraid to keep persevering in the face of the word "no". No longer having the time or energy to hate. No longer afraid of death. This hero had only one enemy-time and only one super power-tenacity.

Watanabe had faced an existential crisis. Not only had he been handed a death sentence but he was faced with the realization that he had only been going through the motions for 20 years, wasting the precious gift of life. We are all handed a death sentence the moment we are born, we just don't know its date. Ikiru is a beautiful film that asks the viewer as much as the central character to self-reflect on their life and its meaning, whether it is being lived with purpose. The final scene of Ikiru is poignant and reminds us all that Life Is Brief, remember to live it while you can.



9/16/22

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North-South conflict with Americano blend

The usual formula of North-South conflict but with a style of "Americano" blend, overall a pretty high quality production but does have its shortcomings. Despite the complicated three way multinational storyline, it still pale in comparison like this year's best selling korean movie The Roundup, it lacks defining thrills as the villain doesn't even look intimidating enough, and most of the time it was overwhelmed by comedy all over the place. The meaty part kicks off too late and the first half of the movie is basically lifted only by comedy, fortunately it gets better when the main case is on track which provided a satisfying ending sequence with enough pressure points. Action scenes do look very gripping with accurate sound effects and exhilarating scores, but i guess most audiences will be moved by the visuals of the two male leads which is prominently highlighted in here.

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A Quiet Message Received Loud and Clear

This was a really beautifully executed short film that addresses in a subtextual manner the importance of equal marriage rights - something that is still not seen in South Korea even 4 years after this film. Our female lead is faced with the fact that she has no legal rights over her partner's medical treatment - compounded by the disapproval and homophobia of her would-be in-laws. It's not a happy film, but it's not supposed to be. Because this is a reality faced by numerous LGBTQ+ relationships. And it bears the answer to the oft quoted question "why do gay people need/want to get married?"

The music was understated but very fitting to the tale. The cinematography was also quite gorgeous and clear. And I liked how the film didn't shy away from intimacy like many others - even if it (and a few other scenes) felt poorly-acted. But these are new actresses, so I think that the scenes they did well are more of a testament to their ability.

There's not really much to be gained message, nuance, or enjoyment-wise from a rewatch though. The film is pretty "take it and leave it" in that regard. The only thing that really inspired deeper attention, in my opinion, was the ending. I believe that might stick with me for a while.

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Fine I'll Do It

Seeing the extreme lack of reviews (0) for this I shall do the honor of sharing my thoughts.

I went into this super blind. Did not even read the synopsis, and if you haven't yet, don't do it. Watch it right now.

Who is this for?
1) People who want something snappy to watch in less than 15 minutes
2) People who enjoy horror stories that start off happy-go-lucky
3) People who like Park Chan Wook or Bong Joon Ho

In general we don't get a lot of GL, and the GL we do get is often 50% surreal. This is not that, but it's also not the GL we usually see. If you're looking for romance, try somewhere else! But if you're just looking for silly and provoking wlw content stick around for something odd.

What I love about this: It's a clearly well thought out movie from a directing/editing point of view. I like the way the music aligns with beats in the story, the cinematography is crisp, the acting is actually good, and I enjoyed the comedy, suspense, and goosebumps rising horror element. Honestly I can't find much to criticize. I like weird shit, and this got weird. Not super weird, but weird enough. 9.5/10 would recommend.

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Let's Start Over!

Hand Rolled Cigarette is an old school violent crime drama that almost makes itself into something a little more special, but just misses the mark. Even in the face of debt and despair, two criminal misfits keep marching forward, hoping for that chance to start over. Along the way, the disparate strangers find themselves counting on each other to survive.

The film begins with the turnover of Hong Kong and the servicemen previously in the Queen's army now being left behind. Chiu bolsters his military brothers by saying it's their chance to start over. Years later, some have made it better than others. Chiu and another military brother had borrowed heavily and invested in the stock market only to watch it crash and lose everything. Deeply in debt, Chiu hustles on the triad fringe to try and stay afloat, now shunned by his military brethren. His next big deal is as a middle man for a guy selling illegal turtles and a local kingpin, a deal that goes south landing Chiu in trouble.

Mani is an Eastern Asian immigrant, reluctantly in the drug business with his brother/cousin Kapil. Mani also takes care of his younger brother who is still in school. Due to racism, the family runs into financial and social walls everywhere. Kapil wants to take greater risks to make bigger scores which leads to deadly events after he makes a major mistake. They find out that drug dealers keep track of their product and are neither kind nor forgiving, especially with those who steal from them.

Desperately fleeing a vicious gang, Mani ducks into Chiu's apartment and hides. Chiu isn't thrilled when he finds the interloper but against his better judgement allows the young man to continue to hide there as long as he doesn't touch anything. They don't have many interactions but Chiu does help when Mani's younger brother gets into a fight at school.

Eventually, they decide to sell the stolen drugs to try and pay off everyone they owe. All of which leads to a violent no holds barred final confrontation.

Hand Rolled Cigarette is more of a character study at times than crime drama. Chiu keeps a video of his military days when he respected himself and what he did. He suffers enormous guilt over his past actions leading him to act self-destructively at times. Mani wants a better life for his younger brother, including a good education, even if it means sacrificing his own. The two small time criminals both are good men at heart forced into grim decisions by their crumbling circumstances. Recognizing that in each other they do make a bond.

Be advised there are scenes of torture and brutal murders. Mani is repeatedly called by a racist name. They don't shy away from expressing the racism underlying the society. It can be a difficult film to watch.

The cinematography while showing greater Hong Kong at night, also shows the suffocating world the men live in and all the deadly and dangerous things that can happen in small places.

This film is dark as the two men try to navigate the dangerous world of the triads, forming an unlikely bond. My only real caveat is that their friendship felt underdeveloped to me. I would have preferred a little more buildup of their relationship, events that might have shown the evolution of their devotion more. Or maybe they were just two guys that were hunkered down in the same foxhole with only each other to rely on as the bullets and bombs whizzed by. Either way it was an entertaining Hong Kong crime film, but with a little more relationship development I would have rated it higher.


9/15/22

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All the stories were nice if they were more solid and connected well
But with sorrow they were too shallow with no events and no details and wasn't connected well together
As if all the stories were parallel to each other

I know they want to make the Korean version from the American movies
Love actually or valentine's Day
But really they couldn't

The most story I liked was for Kang ha neul
The guy who want to suicide

Other stories were too much in rush which made me unpleasant or enjoy them

Anyway it's just a one time watching movie

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Sweet, Sweet, Sweet!

So short, yet so amazing. I love this one with all my heart. Though it's only about 8 minutes long, that didn’t stop me from falling in love with it. Yeon Ho and Jae Min are both adorable characters, you could feel and see immediately that they like each other but are too insecure to confess (a problem many teens have when experiencing their first love). The moment they finally kiss is heartfelt and absolutely adorable.
The height and body differences are what I liked most since it's something different. As a chubby person myself, I enjoyed seeing this change. :)
I wish it was an entire series, it surely deserves it!

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“It’s easy to find someone you love. But it’s hard to find someone who loves you.”

I truly enjoyed this movie. At first I thought it was going to be outright nonsense. A laugh here, a laugh there. Male lead is goofy with no real substance, and the FL with no backstory and just there to look pretty and dumb. But that’s what they want to fool you into thinking.

Also, there’s nothing forbidden or illicit (in terms of a relationship) between the ML and FL that makes them dislikable to the audience. They actually fit each other well, and the actors He Jiong and Vivian Hsu make a good team as they seem comfortable and at ease with each other. Vivian Hsu plays off of He Jiong’s humor perfectly.

Now back to the premise.

Tiffany and Huo Ke meet when he breaks into her house and tells her he’s kidnapped her husband. If she doesn’t give into Huo Ke’s demands, her husband is dead meat.

But the arrangement is still innocent enough, and Huo Ke doesn’t take this opportunity to take advantage of Tiffany. Rather it's to just be a husband to a decent woman who cooks and cleans for him. Meanwhile, Tiffany is thinking about the danger her husband may be in, and gets out her Sherlock Holmes’ cap, and goes sleuthing when she has the chance to escape unnoticed. Eventually she figures out that her husband isn’t locked up in Huo Ke’s bathroom, getting ready to be fried in the bathtub… Tiffany is confused.

Regardless, she still plays wife to Huo Ke, and later finds out that their meeting wasn’t as strangers…rather, she and Huo Ke are old friends…

I could spoil more. But I don’t want to. Just know that the movie is heartwarming, and maybe you’ll have to rewatch in order to see what you didn’t notice the first time. Take for example, when they’re sitting on the couch and she’s telling him about “Amour Island”, they’re sitting so casually on the couch together, his head resting on her shoulder (mimicking the movie poster). It’s only when they notice this that they scoot away from each other. Or when Tiffany walks out to greet Huo Ke’s friends (while the song “Yumeji’s Theme” plays) to serve them drinks, and how Huo Ke smiles at her with admiration and a knowing glint in his eye (as though he knows a secret he’s only told himself). Another thing to pay attention to is at the beginning, right when the narration begins.

The supporting cast is good too. The nosy neighbor and son are hilarious, and the annoying police officer who just wants that promotion is pretty great. Wang Xumo Bing plays a great conniving, evil, manipulative, and some-what charming husband to Tiffany/Vivian Hsu (and he gets what he deserves in the end). Also, a young KUN is so sweet to see here. He was so young in this movie.

In the end, with enough patience and curiosity, you’ll realize that the watch was worth it. When looking at other reviews online about “Lock Me Up…” a reviewer on WordPress mentioned that one of the lessons in the movie is about “knowing when it’s right to lie”. And Huo Ke had that right. Tiffany’s husband didn’t.

Recommend 10/10.

It’s stayed on my movie shelf forever ever sense. I watch it a couple times a year when I’m feeling sad.

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this is a queer film made by a queer filmmaker

I liked the story it told, and I got the point it was trying to tell. I have a short attention span, especially if it doesn't catch my attention straight away, so I will most likely not watch it again. Also, I would like to mention that this short film isn't made to be all rainbows and sunshine like usual Taiwan queer stories show to the world; it's supposed to show how in some cases, this is someone's reality. The reality is that toxic masculinity is very much present in the society that everybody lives in and influences how people act in everyday life. In order to fit in, he acts and does things in the same way that his friends do, and although the main character is drawn to the victim, the only way he knows how to get closer to him is what he sees in everyday life. He does, however, try to lessen the punishments in ways others can't see. It's not like other queer stories that are portrayed in which the main characters are madly in love, but it still very much is one, whether you'll agree or not.
(I can't remember if there was music and what it sounded like if there was, so I gave it a 5.)

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Easy Watch for a Believe In Yourself Sports Movie

LIKES:
Cinematography, production, choice of cast, colour palate, scene locations, were all well done.
MUSIC for the Japanese cheer team was decent, but nothing memorable.
STORY: Based on a true story, which was nice because I didn’t know prior to watching this that Japan had any form of cheer competitions.
COSTUMES: I liked the Japanese cheer costumes, especially for the JETS.
CONCEPT: Youth sports and dancing, high school pressures, friendships, were all well delivered.

DISLIKES:
MUSIC: They used Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) song to depict the American cheer championships. So many other songs could’ve done the same.
DIRECTING & EDITING: a lot of moments too drawn out, pacing became an issue. Some parts were really choppy.
STORY: They didn’t need the boy crush angle between Mackenyu’s character and Suzu’s character or Ayami and Kentaro. Also it wasn’t a comedy, although there were some light hearted moments. Based on a true story, but even with 2 hours it mostly focused on training and not really the competition, so the end wasn’t as impactful. There was no adult version conclusion for some of the supporting, first string girls like Taeko or Yui, they only showed the future selves of Hikari and Ayano. That was frustrating because they did give some back story of Taeko.

OVERALL:
Easy and light watch, even though it was 2 hrs. I did tear up near the end. I would recommend watching it, however there’s nothing so appealing that I would want or need to watch it again.

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