Reviews

The mystery and action is why the Tomb raider series is so popular

This is an older movie, but it is one that is worth a watch for the day you don't need to think too much. Mystery combined with action and a bit of comedy is always a winning formula in my eyes.
The story follows 2 teams of tomb raiders as they complete to find the tomb and treasure.
The acting in this movie is good, I like it. It is nice to see Jiang Meng Xuan in a non-costume, fantasy show, but I think she is great, to be honest after seeing her in several movies now. Hopefully, she will continue to grow in the future.
There isn't much of an OST to this production but the story is light and quick to catch on.

Definitely a movie for one of those light, relaxing evening and popcorn.

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Blood Brothers went where many Shanghai gangster films have gone before, but they did it with style and a stellar cast.

The three blood brothers started out dirt poor in rural China. Two were actual biological brothers, one the ruthlessly ambitious brawn (Kang) and the other, the follower lacking in confidence (Hu). The third blood brother (Fung) would be considered a more thoughtful character who wanted to earn enough money to take care of his mother and marry the girl he cared about. The three traveled to Shanghai and ended up working at the Paradise Club, a front for gangland activity. Kang took to it like a fish to water. Merciless and determined to rise in the ranks, he enjoyed the killing. Hu and Fung struggled with the violence and death.

Shu Qi played the enchanting singer and dancer, Lulu, caught between the deadly gang boss and the man she loved, Chang Chen's assassin, Mark. She toyed a little with Fung, but he was never in serious contention. Mark wanted to free Lulu from the boss by killing the big man but had been unable to do so. Lulu's desire to become an actress overrode her survival instincts causing her to refuse to leave Paradise.

The story started out slow, building steam until the stories converged, ultimately exploding into death and mayhem. Most of the story was predictable which is not always a drawback with this genre. The biggest problem it had was with pacing and editing. Some of the transitions were not seamless and felt like footage connecting the scenes had ended up on the cutting room floor.

Another drawback was that the audience was supposed to shortcut to understanding the depth of the bond between the brothers because we've seen it in so many movies. This created problems as the movie went along and I was left wondering if I should really care about these men.

What Blood Brothers lacked in story, it made up for in sets and costumes. Gorgeous and lush, lovingly shot, Blood Brothers was a very stylish film. Shu Qi and Chang Chen's performances carried much of this film. The brothers could be vaguely interesting, but again, they never reeled me in.

Five Venoms Phillip Kwok was the action director and kept the movie interesting with the action scenes when the story had trouble moving forward. People were killed in a variety of gruesome manners. Because most of them were bad guys, their deaths carried little weight.

Despite the pacing issues and bland performances by the brothers, I never lost interest in the movie and enjoyed it for the most part. Other than dressing itself in beautiful clothes and sets, Blood Brothers did little to set itself apart, but sometimes a familiar story in a pretty package is enough to spend some time with.

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Director Naruse Mikio's first talkie was a comic take on a "modern" marriage. The financial roles were reversed in this 1935 film.

Chieko was an actress and the breadwinner of the family while her spouse, Geppu, was a househusband who wore an apron and occasionally submitted poetry without much luck financially. The couple went along day in and day out as if all was normal. A nosy neighbor and the women in the neighborhood didn't understand it. While they liked Geppu, they didn't understand exactly what he did for a living. The men didn't understand why he did the laundry and cooking while his wife slept in late after rehearsals.

The nosy neighbor and her husband had a traditional marriage, yet it didn't insure happiness. She brow beat her husband into selling life insurance one night to their new neighbors. An act that would have consequences later on. The new neighbors were dressed in Western clothes and looked fabulously in love wanting only to be alone. Throw in a wannabe writer who owed everyone he could swindle and that was the main cast. Nose, the writer, was both catalyst and annoyance. I never did find his selfish antics amusing.

The turning point came when Chieko asked Geppu to run lines with her. The characters were a husband and wife fighting over the husband allowing a deadbeat friend to stay with him. As in real life the wife was the owner of the home and in charge financially. The two had never fought in real life and Chieko didn't know how to portray this part. Soon enough life imitated art and a real fight took place shaking up the status quo.

Spoilery comments below...



The acting was adequate, nothing very memorable. Overall, the film was well made. The story made nice arcs with the husband and wife. Geppu gently asserted himself and Chieko learned to treat her husband as more than an errand boy. The Nosy neighbors were brought in for contrast and comic relief. Nose was the irritating stone in their and my shoe. The real fight became physical which seemed out of place and unnecessary. The new neighbors' story took a dark turn which stood only to create conflict in the nosy neighbors' marriage.

For much of this film the couple's relationship seemed more modern than many recent marriages I've seen portrayed in Jdramas and movies. The wife was not berated by the husband and told repeatedly that her main job was to serve him and take care of the household. Their unique paradigm came across as fresh and I wonder how this was received early in the 20th century. The moments when he balked against their dynamic seemed natural when he felt underappreciated.

The ending felt like a step backwards in this progressive relationship, for a moment I had a flashback to the Stepford Wives movies, but I choose to believe Chieko stayed an independent woman, only one who paid more affectionate care of her husband instead of being shoved into a household role for which she wasn't made. And Geppu continued to be a loving househusband who learned it was okay to disagree with Chieko. Perhaps the marriage needed a shake-up to let each other know what was missing in their relationship. On a different day I might have rated this a 7, the ending, some dangling plot holes, and Nose's tiresome presence graded it down for me.

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unremarkable

The narrative is unimaginative. That's fine for a rom com. i wouldnt call this as a rom com, though. there are a handful of moments that i think were supposed to be funny, but even they didnt land.

Little effort is made to establish emotional connections between characters, and like with the attempts at comedy, they don't work. The performances also fail to convey any sense of emotional connection between any of the characters, much less the leads. As such, when plot complications arose i don't feel like there are any stakes and i felt no satisfaction at events that were supposed to be emotional pay off moments.

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Calming, uneventful charm.

Nothing really happens in this movie. It’s a bunch of random stories and at times completely out of context conversations between characters you know close to nothing about, and somehow it was truly enticing.

After finishing the movie I truly wished there was a guy like Master with his small diner somewhere in my neighborhood. The small sanctuary after the hard day of work, that sense of a small community the regular clients created.

It would be a crime not to talk about the amazing aesthetics of the show. The camera angles, the lighting, the editing and directing - it all created a beautiful movie that was just pleasant to watch.

The acting left nothing to desire. With characters that are not exactly well defined, it might be tricky to truly present them as unique individuals, but Midnight Diner made it. All performances made me believe these are the people I could potentially meet on the street myself. Normal, relatable people with their normal, mundane lives.

Overall, I have no idea why I liked it so much, but I did and that’s what matters. A movie about technically nothing, yet it never felt boring. I was engaged from first to the last scenes.

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waste of time

They barely filmed anything new for this movie, it's just a bunch of scenes and flashbacks from the series so it got me very disappointed. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Movie vs Series

I always watch the series as they come out then the movie version once it is available. I usually prefer the movie over the series because it just flows better.

However this is the first time I have preferred the series. Mainly because the story line is a bit weak and I think it becomes more evident in the movie version. Everything is just kinda vague. Even the explanations when given are vague. You have just enough information to keep you from scratching your head in confusion.

I still enjoyed this series. It was very sweet and tender. It is quiet and peaceful. You'll understand those two statements if you warch it.

Will I rewartch it again? Probably just because it is a calming show to watch and sometimes I just need that.

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An Upgrade Permit of a Better Scale

The followup of The Outlaws series, this sequel elevates to a (better) level. Although the theme is quite as repetitive as the first one, it gives a new vibe of a different setting: SEA or Southeast Asia (only Vietnam, don't expect other countries tho). Storywise, this gives a good combo of action-comedy essence as usual (I have a good laugh for their roles in-between. Not terrible, yet not that cringey, just a good one)

However, what makes this movie outstanding? Yes, like domestically: Kang Haesang, this brutal villain to the core... you can say that at the scariest level: Kang Haesang > Gu Jakyeong (My Liberation Notes). Although I admit, he's not as iconic as Jang Chen (I frankly understand why the 1st villain stands out the most); but oh my god... his IT factor wowed me all over whenever he shows up. He shooked me to the floor, not gonna lie. And also, Jang Isu... I cracked up whenever his turn comes up. But it's too bad that he doesn't give a backstory on how he came back alive

So, is this worth recommending? Yes. Should you follow up the 1st, then watch the 2nd? Actually, depends; because as I've stated, it's a total repeat (similar storyline from the beginning of the film: police part) [not villain one, mind you], just different villains and fewer settings from the first movie. Have good support for this movie in your local cinemas, or wait for them released on the OTT platform in a later date

I shall volunteer myself deported if I've got myself criticised on this one

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If he goes to heaven, I'll him pull him down...

Dancing Kung Fu was an odd juxtaposition of a comedy and a drama both paralleling each other for a time by two groups chasing the main lead until everyone crashed together in the end.

Doris Lung played Ping Erh, an 18-year-old girl, deemed ready for marriage by her grandfather. He took her to the market square and called out that anyone who could beat her in kung fu would win her hand in marriage. Over the next 20 minutes a very odd assortment of men took their shot, including a pair of guys who "do everything" together. Don't even want to ask. She made short work of her opponents until Szema Lung's Kan somehow ended up fighting her and won. He had no desire to wed her and made a hasty exit with his traveling buddy. Grandpa and Erh spent much of the rest of the movie chasing them down and ending up in grand fights with random others at an inn and then a brothel.

The more serious plot involved Kan and his unnamed traveling companion needing to deliver a secrety, secret list to the rebel forces. Ching agents were chasing them to obtain the list as well as Grandpa and the jilted fiancée wanting to obtain her a husband. As so often happens in kung fu movies, laughter turned to tears. Eventually, Kan met up with the rebels only to be betrayed and had to face off with Lo Lieh in his white wig. Every kung fu fan knows Lo Lieh in a white wig means big trouble. His henchmen wore leopard skin off the shoulder shirts, not sure if their outfits were supposed to invoke fear in their opponents or laughter on the audience's part.

The comedy wasn't too cringey. Grandpa and Erh seemed to be one step ahead of the secret list carrying men and ruffling their feathers along the way. Because there was also a serious tale embedded in the story, the comedy went down easier. Comedy that included a man beaten so badly by Erh that he peed himself in public and a romantic couple were interrupted by the fighting. How much you enjoy this movie will in large part depend on how much you like this kind of visual humor.

Most of the fights were well choreographed by Huang Fei Long. Some could be slow and there were a few shots that missed by a mile. Overall, the fights were entertaining. Lo Lieh's Sorrow and Joy technique was new to me. He was either laughing or sobbing to keep his opponents off-guard. The Yin-Yang attack was unique, if not a little cheerleady. If cheerleaders carried swords and used their pyramids to kill people.

Most of the acting was fine. Szema Lung didn't make very many movies, but he managed to carry off the fights well and look properly horrified at the thought of marriage. Doris Lung had a chance to shine and have some power of her own, completely unfazed by the men she fought. Yi Yuan as a comic good guy was nice, playing the aged grandpa with plenty of kung fu tricks in his magic staff. Nancy Yen joined in the fighting near the end. Lo Lieh in his wig and smirk gave the incongruent team a worthy foe, causing them to have to band together to survive.

Dancing Kung Fu, aka The Cavalier, aka The Smart Cavalier needs some loving restoration. It has faded badly and much of it had a blue hue to it. Though the version I watched was dubbed in English, they did leave in some Chinese songs and music which added a modicum of authenticity to it.

I enjoyed the unique take on a kung fu movie with the chasing Grandpa and kung fu girl. The fights were worth watching. But parts of Dancing with Kung Fu were incomprehensible either due to shoddy editing or writing. And as I mentioned, the humor could go over the top and vulgar. It had its fun moments, and, in the end, I didn't think I'd wasted my time. Not exactly exultant praise but there are some movies I wish I had the 90 minutes back, though this isn't one of them thanks to Erh and her grandpa.

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A hidden gem with Kaleb Ong and David Revilla

I must admit that I missed this short film when it premiered, but I am happy that I found it at last, because it is one of the most beautiful short films I have ever seen. So I call it a hidden gem, because a gem it really is!

The title ”Lihim” means ”secret”, and I won't spoil what this secret is, but I must warn you that it is so sad that it made me cry.

The movie tells the story of Kaleb (Kaleb Ong) and David (David Revilla) who bump into each other in a coffee shop, become friends, then lovers, and finally decide to spend the rest of their lives together. So far, so good, you might say. Sounds like a conventional love story, and in a way it is exactly that, but the script from Lawrence Nicodemus manages to tell the complete story of the various stages of their relationship in little more than 20 minutes.

There are several things that make this short film very worth watching. First and foremost, that's the lead actors, Kaleb Ong and David Revilla. I have been Kaleb's fan since ”Meet my Angel” where his performance would have deserved an actor's award. In the series ”Love is”, where he was also paired with David Revilla, his acting was quite restrained, but in this short film he shines brightly as he did in ”Meet my Angel”, and David Revilla is a perfect match for him. Both actors' performance, their timing and little gestures, are just on point. They actually draw the viewer into their characters' stories so that we are happy with them, fight for their love with them, and finally suffer with them.

This is a BL short film that touches the viewers' hearts because it focuses on the protagonists and does completely without the overused BL clichés like evil ex-lovers, shrieking yaoi girls, accidental kisses and so on. The only trope that is there is the bumping into each other at the beginning of the movie, but at least there is no accidental fake kiss in this scene.

There is another element that makes many Pinoy BL movies and series so worth watching, and that is the OST. There are scenes where only music plays, but it fits so well that we can imagine what Kaleb and David are saying.

The technical quality of this production is very good, too, cinematography, directing, editing, and sound are better than in most Pinoy BL productions.

To sum it up – if you are looking for a beautiful BL story, and you have 20 minutes to spare, this is what you should watch. You won't be disappointed. But make sure you have a box of tissues in your reach. You'll need it.

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Wasted Superb Cast On A Movie That Could have Been Better!

I have to admit my first viewing of this movie was not good; it had English subtitles superimposed over three or four Asian translations as well...not good!

I finally found a clean copy which led to a better experience.

Our story starts out with Woo Ju Ho (Park Gun Hyung) living it up around the night circuit of his city; later we find out that it is his grandfather's wealth that he is blowing!

His grandfather, played by Jung Wook, has a serious medical problem (I will let you find out what it is when you watch the movie), and he is adamant to give his wealth to charity; unless or course, Ju Jo reluctantly mends his ways and teaches school for two years to earn his inheritance!

Being a former top administration, (I guess) grandfather pulls a few strings and gets Ju Ho into a high school teaching sophomore math. I wondered if you need a special "teacher's certification" or not in South Korea, or did "grandpa" pull some strings and get this waived somehow; it never tells you what degree if any Woo Ju Ho possessed.

Anyway, without even registering with the school, Woo Ju Ho shows up for the first day of class as any other playboy would: arrogant, self-assured, and completely without a clue about the educational system.

Even though he is 'teaching' he is still playing the night life; he gets into trouble several times; due to his 'social ineptness' Teacher Yun So Joo (Kim Hyo Jin) decides to teach him the social skills necessary to navigate the social climate of a high school...little did she know what she was getting into!

The first half of this movie basically follows the above outline; however, even though this is not a 'bad' movie, it is not a great movie!

I saw Park Gun Hyung in the movie Innocent Steps (2005) with the great Korean actress Moon Geun Young (I haven't had time to review it yet!). Park Gun Hyung seemed like he was not really interested in acting in this movie, or the director isn't
giving him what he needs.

He was so much better in Innocent Steps!

It is as if someone is telling him to "suppose" something is supposed to happen without a script, then after filming that scene, him being told to "suppose" something else, but different, is going to take place.

The scenes don't seem to have go together; there is comedy and some innuendo, but it doesn't seem to all work together like a movie should.

If you want some laughs go ahead and watch this movie, but it doesn't seem to "fit together" well.

The second half is better, with Woo Ju Ho actually beginning to 'act' like a teacher and gives some good advice to the students coming to him for help.

In this segment, student Choi Jin Ju (the lovely Song Eun Chae) who plays a young girl who experiences an 'incident' which causes her to want to drop out of school, or at least 'that' school, and Woo Ju Ho attempts to help her with this problem: he also chooses (again kind of "out of the blue" to attempt to woo teacher Yun So Joo after she has been helping him: there was really little inference as her being interested in him, but again, the story seems to change all the way through with little hints or setup for changes.

I liked the scene where Yun So Joo sings for her ex-boyfriend and best girlfriend: one of the best scenes!

The music wasn't bad and the cinematography also is really good. The main cast keep the story going, except for the fact that the connections aren't there always; and the support cast is also good at aiding the two main stars in the movie.

Two kudos for support staff: 'Grandpa' (Jung Wook) and the side story with Ju Ho; and Song Eun Chae, whose side story basically saves the second half!

The other problem with my enjoying this movie is the fighting between the male students; I guess if I understood Korean culture better I would understand why the last fight occurred.

It ended different that I expected, but it still was good: not great, but good!

One final note: the support cast actor Moon Ji-yoon passed away from blood poisoning on the 18th of March 2022, about the time I watched this last.

Condolences to his family, friends, acting connections and others.

RE-WATCH VALUE: Only occasionally.

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Hopping on the train or following ones line is not alway an easy choice to make..

This movie is an emotional ride, as we get to follow the lives of these two boys to men... from the wild imagination to the bitter reality struggling and trying to balance the pressure of leading a normal life and being true to ones self.

This drama shows quite a few issues in a very honest and I dare say real way, as many people will /have found them selfs dealing with these struggles, gay or not. Life is always harder on those who stick out and while it may be easier to just hop on that normalcy train... It is a lot more painful.

The leads are in no way perfect, while one is more lovable than the other (in my opinion), both have their flaws just like most humans making them relatable, and making me feel for them. I did of course also want to beat a few people up as we get to see both racism and homophobia disguised as concern how this could be concern is of course beyond me but I know there are a whole bunch of people who actually do believe their racism is concern and well this movie does a pretty good job showing both the internalised homophobia one may feel as well as a whole bunch of shades of homophobia, but also a whole lot of love, lust and everything in-between.

The movie has quite a few really good inner monologs showing just how important (yet again) communication is, as well as just taking a step back and listening to ones partner instead of assuming things as one of the leads does get a lesson in both consent, and regret and so on and so on...

So what can I say... It is a good movie, not always easy to watch but it is a good movie

In numbers:
Consent: 7
Chemistry: 10
Romance: 8
Real feel: 9
Lovable characters: 8 (one of the male leads is a d*** sometimes)
Depth: 10

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