PROS:
+ Totally impressive storytelling method that tricks the viewer by starting out as a mundane, follow-along and transforms into an intelligent and unique dramatic thriller
+ There is a powerful point to the film that reflects upon society's often apathetic views on mental health
+ Once the movie rears its thriller head, the atmosphere is chilling and tense
+ Unlike many other thrillers, there is a perspective element that reveals exactly HOW one mentally ill person could become a _______
CONS:
- The first half of the movie ranges from being (tonally) silly to becoming dialogue-heavy and sleep-inducing
- The weakest link in the film is the lack of appropriate understanding of the main characters' motives/beliefs; a lot of these aspects are assumed until some revelations near the end
I'm speechless. While this movie requires some personal analysis/ponderings to properly reflect on the substances, it became a totally unexpectedly precious experience.
Prepare for some tears. Prepare to reflect upon your own life legacy.
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PROS:
+ A fun and silly tone that consists of slapstick comedy and impressive kung-fu fights
+ Great cast of interesting, memorable main characters that have equally good chemistry
+ A couple of memorable scenes feature some awesome stunts
CONS:
- Disjointed and messy plot that seems random many times
- Most of the movie is just a comedy film, rather than a marital arts film
- There are only a few scenes that feature Jackie Chan
- Some of the humor carries on for too long (Example: setting up pranks takes several minutes for a single laugh)
This was surprising, because I was going in anticipating another funny and cool kung-fu film starring Jackie Chan. This is none of that. However, it is still a great time!
I laughed a lot and got even more excited when I saw the (seldom) more action-packed parts that I initially anticipated to be the majority of the film.
Side note: There is literally a car chase scene where Jackie Chan pursues thieves while on roller skates. If that doesn't sound amazing, this movie is NOT for you.
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PROS:
+ Pretty much everything that made Winners & Sinners good is present here, just in MUCH smaller amounts
+ There is actually more action present [if you can make it past the first half]
+ A couple of the comedic elements are actually quite funny
CONS:
- The overall pacing is EXTREMELY slow for this kind of movie
- There are also many issues with the plot as it is boring and confusing a lot of the time
- At least one of the jokes is uncomfortable to be seen around family members [dealing with r***]
- Ironically, even though most of the cast is the same, the new characters are less likeable (even Jackie)
I actually wanted to fast forward through most of this movie... I enjoyed parts of it, but I can't wholly recommend this.
The payoff for all of the boredom was mediocre at best.
6.5/10
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PROS:
+ Decently well casted action film with a likeable protagonist (Chow Yun-Fat)
+ LOTS of crazy gun fights and explosions, especially the during finale
+ (Mostly) cheesy tone that has its charming qualities [full of attitude and quippy rhetoric]
+ 90s hyper-violence galore
CONS:
- There is a lot of room for improvement in the editing department [some cuts/transitions even give off a SEGA CD "full motion video" game attribute]
- While the plot is simple enough to figure out once it gets started, it can be a mess to follow in the beginning
FINAL THOUGHTS - Well, there isn't a ton to say about Hard Boiled besides it is a John Woo movie that ticks most of the boxes.
What Hard Boiled lacks is the finesse that normally accompanies Woo's signature style. The one positive aspect to take away from this fact is that the movie is chaotic and less predictable.
This will be best enjoyed by 90s action fans who want to see the early legacies of action pillars, John Woo and Chow Yun-Fat.
7/10
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PROS:
+ The dense, dark, unusual tone adds lots of intrigue to the film
+ Some of the obsession themes are very well done and actually disturbing
+ There is some extremely graphic imagery that is utilized well to create shock and fear of the mysterious obsession taking over the town
+ Cool and unorthodox camera shots that spin in spiral motions to mimic the plot device
CONS:
- The mystery is quite interesting, but has quite a few issues
- Many details in the plot are sorely missed
- Most of the acting is stoic and unexpressive
I have a soft spot for early 00s era J-horror movies. Uzumaki really makes me want more though. I guess I will just read the Junji Ito manga of which the film was adapted from.
The overall mood is absolutely amazing to experience! It reminds me of the live action sections of James and the Giant Peach, because it's almost dream-like.
Even though some aspects are disappointing, I really think this is still a good time.
7/10
(Now, I will never look at the Sega Dreamcast logo the same...)
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PROS:
+ Outstanding 2000s, moody tone that pairs nicely with the story
+ Interesting story/concept
+ While the pacing is slow, it never gets boring
+ Deep amount of details to the main characters
CONS:
- Despite dishing out plenty of action, GANTZ is more of a mystery/drama
- Some scenes are unsettlingly silent and absent of notable background music
I'm glad I finally got around to watching GANTZ! There are several aspects of other movies present here. Surprisingly, it handles everything in a cohesive, mature, and interesting manner.
I've never watched the anime, so I don't know how this compares. This film is strange and cool enough for me to recommend regardless!
8/10
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PROS:
+ Deeper explanation of the mystery presented in the first film
+ The plot is still pretty interesting with multiple layers to ponder
+ Cool characters return
CONS:
- The run-time feels too long
- The pacing is extremely slow, even after the action starts
If you liked the first one, check this out! There are a lot of things keeping this from being as cool as the first one, but it is still entertaining.
7/10
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PROS:
+ Even the cheesy camera shots and music are tastefully and artistically executed
+ The cool, and stylish aesthetic is incredibly strong and almost self-aware
+ Each and every gunshot and explosion is incredibly satisfying and fascinating to witness due to the unrivaled film choreo/direction
+ There is a sense of tragic humor, irony, and justice present in the overall tone that few films have attempted
+ Purely awesome characters that are as memorable as they are cool
CONS:
- Lots and lots of violence and over-the-top scenarios will turn some away
- Many action moments aren't quite believable (this could also be a positive aspect)
I'm glad to say that I'm a big fan of John Woo's style!
This has many parts from Woo's other older films and executes an action drama that may be his strongest classic film.
9/10
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PROS
+ Well-paced story that has everything you'd expect plus a little bit of emotion
+ Clear character motives and a very likeable protagonist
+ While there aren't a ton of fight scenes, the ones shown are very satisfying
+ Nice balance of comedic relief and serious moments keep the plot interesting
CONS
- Although the runtime is 2 hours, it seems short
- The movie feels very comfortable, but lacks anything completely new or unique
- - - - -
This is a good intro to Korean movies, since it feels pretty familiar to some American action thrillers.
Don Lee is too cool to be missed.
8/10
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PROS
+ Cool and stylish neo film noire structure and atmosphere
+ Incredibly interesting plot (with some issues in execution)
+ Some nice acting performances that remind me of the silent era with the exaggerated motions and expressions
CONS
- The first half is well done, however the second act unravels a bit with its pacing
- All of the action is presented in an uninteresting way with slow movements, knife fights, floor grabbing/stabbings, etc. (not much kinetic action to be seen)
- A lot of scenes are slow, silent, and have sub context to be pondered which makes the direction feel like a straight up drama rather than a satisfying thriller
- - - - -
Honestly, this wasn't really what I wanted or expected, but I'm glad I watch it! Soo makes up for its short-comings with a lot of interesting ideas in its plot, tone, and strangely haunting final fight.
If you watch Soo, pay attention and soak in the aesthetics and you'll surely enjoy something about it like I did!
6.5/10
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PROS
+ Outstanding cast and performances, especially from lead Kim Sang-Kyung (a personal favorite for good reason)
+ Nice variety of moods/emotions to balance to tense action and the heavy peril
+ Surprisingly engaging and fitting score
CONS
- Some visual effects early on look strange; however, they look nicer later on
- Many films have executed similar disaster plots, but few have this emotional impact
- Some of the goofy moments work as comic relief, while others are very off-putting
- There are a lot of characters who feel underdeveloped
- - - - -
I'm very pleased with The Tower! It captured my attention and kept me interested until the credits. A fine disaster action thriller hides behind the generic poster and plot synopsis. Turn up your subwoofer and give it a shot!
8.5/10
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PROS
+ The concept is really interesting
+ Most of the later half is unpredictable and surprising
+ Seo Yea-ji is a babe
CONS
- Some of the shock elements are humorous, rather than intense
- There is very little logic to the writing in some of the supplemental plot elements
- The mystery starts to lose its intrigue early on due to the pacing and "safe" tone
- The metaphorical/phycological additions to the plot are extremely hard to take seriously at times
- There is a lack of emotions conveyed in tender moments
- - - - -
I don't know if I'd wholeheartedly recommend this one. Check it out if you think it sounds cool and don't mind just being entertained without thinking too logically... or if you just want to see Seo Yea-ji look good the whole time!
7/10
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PROS
+ Unique and stylish high-tech aesthetic creates an interesting setting
+ Healthy balance of storytelling and intense action
+ Cool and likeable cast of main characters
+ Awesome car chase sequences
+ Nicely fitting electronic score
CONS
- Early on, expectations are low from the rushed feel of the plot pacing
- Not many details are given on some of the cool side cast
- One of the "surprise" villains is easy to spot and a little cheesy-looking
- - - - -
Wow! I had a good feeling about Fabricated City and I was right. It is one of the most exciting and engaging modern action films I've experienced.
Find a way to watch this!
9/10
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PROS
+ This has some of the same magic that was captured in My Sassy Girl
+ It's also cool how they retroactively made a prequel in a way
+ The amazingly loveable main cast is the best part
CONS
- Some of the movie feels unstructured and a bit random, even though it's still entertaining
- If the dense, serious tone of the opening and the contrasting goofy scene that plays right after bothers you, find a different movie (it can be off-putting at best and upsetting at worst)
I think I would prefer My Sassy Girl 9/10 times, but there is still something a little special about Windstruck. I almost wished that I watched this one first to avoid this illogical "lesser than" comparison.
Windstruck is not for everyone, but it is a fun, yet emotionally mature adventure that I'm thankful I got to experience.
8.5/10
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PROS:
+ The story is told in an interesting method where you discover more about the characters throughout with a non-linear method
+ These are some nicely developed characters with a good amount of depth
+ I never expected the emotional pull the story would leave on me; it is so sad, yet so meaningful
+ The character portrayals by the cast were outstanding
CONS:
- It's a shame this was left in the "standard definition" era (at least the fuzzy picture doesn't take away from the story)
- Some of the content/subject matter is extremely upsetting and serious; thankfully, it was handled in a tasteful way
I love movies like this. Nobody ever talks about some of these gems that seem forgotten. This story should be experienced, if you're able to handle and process emotionally challenging and thematically heavy content.
In a few years, I will want to see this again. I'm sure at that time, I'll be able to learn something new again upon a second watch.
8.5/10
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