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A Charming Twist on Love: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
Overview:"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" tenderly explores the nuances of first love, offering a heartwarming journey that resonates with viewers. Released in 2010, this Thai classic delicately captures the bittersweet essence of initial romantic experiences, combining humor, self-discovery, and an unexpected twist.
Plot:
At its core, the film beautifully tackles the heartbreaks associated with first love. Nam's journey, from her initial self-perceived 'ugliness' to the amusing attempts to catch Shone's eye, serves as a relatable and endearing narrative. The revelation of Shone's longstanding love for Nam adds a touching layer, turning the expected heartbreak into a tale of mutual affection and growth.
Performances:
Baifern and Mario Maurer's performances shine in portraying the vulnerability and authenticity of first love. Baifern, in her breakout role, adeptly conveys the emotional rollercoaster of initial heartbreak and self-discovery. Mario Maurer's portrayal of Shone is equally commendable, capturing the complexities of teenage emotions with charm and sincerity.
Music:
The music in "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" plays a crucial role in enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative. While not groundbreaking, the soundtrack effectively complements the film's exploration of the highs and lows of first love, creating an immersive experience for the audience.
Final Verdict:
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" is more than just a romantic comedy; it's a heartfelt exploration of the emotional landscape of first love. The film skillfully navigates the delicate balance between humor and heartbreak, leaving the audience with a warm and nostalgic feeling. It serves as a poignant reminder of the universal experiences associated with youth and the enduring nature of first love.
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This review may contain spoilers
This was my first Thai movie I watched and I won’t say that I didn’t enjoy it. I enjoyed it, I laughed, and also shed a little tear. I’ve read many reviews saying that it was sad, but I didn’t find myself crying in the sad scenes. In fact, I cried when Nam reunited with her forever best friends.I had to admit that the comedic parts were funny, especially the teacher. But the storyline was pretty much cliche for me, the cinematography was also quite dramatic, which kinda bothered me (especially in the last scene). I see the resemblance in the pool scene with Our Times (my all time favorite romance movie) but what differs is that I don’t find myself crying in that scene.
So, if you’re desperately searching for a rom-com, I would probably recommend this for you. An 8/10 ⭐️
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First Love at its best!!
The way I cried at the end!! What a beautiful movie!! I can't believe I hadn't watched this till now in spite of it being in my to watch list since a long time..It captures the essence of first love and all the awkward and cute things associated with it. Part funny, part romantic and part heartbreaking the movie never fails to keep you entertained throughout its runtime.Baifern is a wonderful actress and never fails to amaze in anything she does. To see that she was so talented right from her starting days is not a surprise considering the powerhouse performer she is today. Her eyes alone convey so many emotions. Mario Maurer as Shone is extremely handsome and a perfect boyfriend material. The confession scene towards the end was heartbreaking and the twist right after though a little predictable was so poignant and heartwarming.
The supporting cast does an excellent job in making the movie very relatable and special mention should be given to Nam's friends and the drama teacher.
It has definitely made a place in my all time favorite movies and I will surely rewatch it multiple times!!
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Super lovely movie! One of my favorites!
Story: I love love love the story. It is so cute how Nam crushes on Shone!!! fangirling :)))) The story is really cute, and fluffy to me. :)Acting /Cast: I think everyone in this movie did an amazing job! Everyone fitted very well. I love Nam a lot!
Music: Sorry, I didn't pay attention to the music.
Rewatch Value: There is a strong chance i'll be rewatching this! Really good!
Overall: Overall, this is amazing! I can't say anythihng more about it! It's a beautiful movie about the lives of students! Truly recommend it! I love Shone and Nam! ❤
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This review may contain spoilers
Nostalgic Re-watch
I re-watched this recently and I have to say it was nostalgic to watch it again. I watched this for the first time in 2010 and it was my first time watching a Thai movie. My first impression was that it is a good movie.,After re-watching it I have to say it is a very cute and funny movie, but there are somethings that did bother me now, that I did not notice in 2010 because I was 13 years old then. I think one of my issues with not giving the movie a higher rating is because of their view on beauty.
Nam is such a beautiful girl already, but people disliked because she was to "dark." In Asian culture, girls generally are viewed to be more beautiful if they have "whiter skin." Girls who are tanner, are seen as less beautiful. I do not know why her friend had to bath her in Tumeric? She was already beautiful as is, she just needed braces to keep her teeth straight and glasses to see. She eventually got her braces and contacts, probably. Her tan skin made her different, but beautiful. Some people are born with darker skin colors. There is nothing wrong with that. The perception of having "whiter skin" is what makes you more beautiful in Asian culture make me sick. All people are beautiful no matter the tone of the skin.
With that being said I enjoyed how Shone loved Nam through everything. He liked her since the beginning and always was there for her when needed. He was there from day 1 and admired her since day 1, even before her "self-transformation" to impress him. I liked that he looked beyond looks and liked her for her personality. Personally, I think the cast did amazing job playing their roles.
The only other think I would pick at is the ending. I think that having them meet again on a TV Show with the host having the notebook he made about her was too cheesy. Don't get me wrong, I loved that, and it is assumed, they probably ended up together because he has been waiting for her. In general, the ending felt rushed and cliche, like that would not happen in real life.
I think a better ending would have been, both of them developing successful careers and bumping into each other again randomly when she came back from the US. He is a photographer and she is a fashion designer. He could have met her while he was taking pictures at a fashion show? (This is just an example) To me felt like that would have been a better ending. Is it cliche? Yes, but I feel like it would have been a more natural way for them to be able to see each other again and discuss what happened and how they were feeling after the events by the pool that day.
Outside of those 2 critiques I had about the movie, I have to say I would not sleep on watching this again. I thoroughly enjoyed it then and thoroughly enjoy it now. Again I like how Nam and Shone's love for each other is very pure, innocent and sweet. They always want what is best for each other and the people they care about.
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"All Of Us Have Someone Who Is Hidden In The Bottom Of The Heart...We Will Feel Like 'Umm'""
I glanced at some of the other reviewers and they said that it ended 'badly'...how do they come to this conclusion?
In a coming-of-age movie, Nam (Baifern Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul) has a crush on Shone (Mario Maurer) since around 7th grade; he is a10th grader at the beginning of the movie. handsome, good at sports, and all-around nice guy to the school girls.
However, as many young inexperienced girls having their first crush, Nam doesn't believe that she is 'pretty enough' to be Shone's girlfriend. so she admired him from afar but still tries to arrange to see him and be around him at school as much as possible.
Knowing that she is interested in Shone, her girlfriends, who have hung together since 1st grade, do home 'beauty treatments' on Nam, which adds to the comedy of this movie!
While name is occupied with her crush, Uncle Chang (Jaturong Mokjok) arrives from America, where her father (Off Pongpat Wachirabunjong) is working to feed his family and get ahead. Uncle Change tells Nam and her sister, Paeng (Kajathaneeya Srirotwattana, not listed on MDL: last column on cast at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Love_(2010_Thai_film) that their father will pay for their ticket to America if they score at the top of their class.
Although she is ranked mid-class, Nam starts giving her all to be able to go and see her father!
The majority of the story centers around friendships, normal school activities, et al (I will let you watch the movie for that part!) and Nam being chosen for the part of Cinderella in a school play, which makes her become more visible to the -pubescent boys.
Of course, a new girl enters the scene, Pin (Wittawat Arisara) who becmoes nam's adversary for Shone's affections, and Top (Not Akkaranat Ariyaritwikul) another friend of Shone, who becomes an adversary for Nam's love during the last year and a half of high school.
The side stories are also interesting; but I will let you watch them yourself as well!
The high school year for Shone ends with Nam confessing her love for him, and being heart-broken when she finds out that he started dating someone else just before she worked up the nerve for her love declaration. She gives him a momento of his (which becomes another misunderstanding) that she had kept since an altercation between Shone and another high school boy a few years earlier.
A unexpected 'twist' happens just as Shone is going away for training as a professional soccer player; it seems that Shone, an amateur photographer has been secretly been photographing Nam throughout the years; I haven't the faintest idea why some high school boy like Shone would be taking copious photos of Nam, especially since Nam doesn't feel "pretty enough' to be his girlfriend, would you?!
Fast forward - 9 years; after Nam has graduated high school in America's I believe and made a name for herself in the fashion industry as well here.
I was so heartbroken when I saw Shone taking a baby to Pin's place of work, but breathed a sigh of relief when Pin said she wished her baby's father loved the baby as much as Shone did! He hadn't married her!
Returning to Thailand, Nam is honored by a television show for her contributions to the fashion industry in the States and promoting Thailand as well; the hostess of the show has a special guest waiting backstage for Nam, someone who waited 9 years for the 'love of his life' to return from the States, where she went to live with her father and study fashion...
He is now a professional photographer after playing professional football for some years in Thailand...
I don't think that your eyes will be dry when the two get back together!
('Soccer' outside of America is called 'football')
I don't understand how some reviewers thought that this ending was so terrible!
I loved the attraction that the two main cast members portrayed for each other; perfect acting from both of them!
Baifern Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul portrayed the young Nam, who considered herself ugly, perfectly...she went into squealing, and congratulating herself every time Shone gave his attention to her, or when Shone smiled or spoke to her...all are well done, making the screenwriter and director portray Nam as a real girl who goes bananas when Shone communicates with her.
Mario Maurer also portrayed the young man very well, showing that he also was interested in her, excellently. However, the director didn't allow him to show his interest in Nam until near the end...this story reminds me of Su-ki-da (2005), and the laborious time it took for the main cast in that movie to proclaim love to each other.
The support cast, as well, were excellent both in the side stories and also supporting the main story that the lead cast were telling.
The music was different, but nice, and the cinematography is excellent, as far as I am concerned. I do like th4e 'twists' that the directors added in places, both for the main and support cast' stories; this movie si romantic, comical, and dramatic, all wrappe d into one movie!
I want to give an extra kudo to Teacher Inn (Sudarat Butrprom), who was a great comic relief in the movie. She has to either be a comedian or have comedy training in her past! Her 'exploits' during this film filled in the segways between the main story and side stories as well.
This movie was slow in the beginning but picked up speed during the 2nd half; probably to fully develop the characters in the first half. This movie is also family-friendly, as Nam's parents are both hard-working and seem to care about their daughters; and Nam mentions her mother as one o f the reasons for coming back from the States.
This movie is geared toward the 12- to 18-year old range, but would make a great after noon or weekend movie for the entire family...
This is a half a box of Kleenex movie, by the way.
I am looking forward to watching more of Puttipong Promsaka Na Sakolnakorn's movies; however, i think I have already seen his "Yes or No (2010)" already!
RE-WATCH VALUE: Yes!
If you like this movie, may I suggest Su-ki-da (2005) or By Stealth Like You (2021, available in one combined film at YouTube movies).
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A Cult Classic
This is another drama I found again after many years. It’s a cult classic. It’s an utterly relatable first love story, which was quite unexpected given the unrealistic nature of some parts of the movie/story. It has a grounded charm to it that makes you fall for it despite this. I think this might be why the later iterations of this failed to capture the same magic.If you’ve ever had a crush on someone. If you’ve ever wanted to better yourself for the person you like. If you’ve ever experienced teenage heartbreak; this is the story for you.
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Crazy thing to watch
It's been so long 9 years ago the first the I saw this movie, I love watching horror Thai movies. It just happens, that almost all those Thai horror I have already seen it. By searching, I saw this try on it and the rest is history. I made myself so crazy about this movie so much fun everyone can relate to the story. The typical high school crush and the story so simple but everyone would love it.First, Why I love these movies first brings me back to my high school memories. It was totally related to the story. Here in the story, Nam is just a simple-looking girl not so popular having had a crush on Shone. Shone was a handsome guy so popular that almost all girls had on crush on him. Honestly, if you watch it I can say OMG! this is my story.
The Story so light to watch, so funny, the most thing I love the acting of the teacher so much fun. Nam(Baifern), was not a comedian but the way she delivered on the lines so funny. I love those best friend moments so much funny and cute. Mario(Shone) was handsome you will love to watch it on the screen (hahaha) acting is just okay so far so good to me. In color, it seems to be part of me growing up that if you have a crush you start to be conscious of your body not because she doesn't like the skin color she had.
I recommend this to my friends they relate to the story so much to watch it. Honestly, I really don't know how many times I watch this this (hahaha).
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I watched the chinese drama version so i was familiar with the story. This movie has no family drama involved unlike the drama, it has the story of just the two leads.
Nam does everything in order to get a little attention from the senior guy she has crush on. She also gets these faboulous opportunities as she becomes a favourite student of teacher Inn.
Mario mourer as a teen was awesome. Baifern amazing transformation was worth applause
I don’t really understand the motivation one gets when they fall in love. As in I have only seem people getting ruined in the name of love.
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This review may contain spoilers
This movie has a really great indie vibe. Everything feels very real, very possible, very believable. The story is sweet and portrays exactly what young love can often feel like; exhilarating, overwhelming, but also heartbreaking and disappointing. The leads are very likable and relatable, and I felt a particularly strong connection with the female lead.But....
The ending has a completely different feel from the rest of the movie, ultimately doing a disservice to the story. I was very disappointed that they would take such a sweet little film and saddle it with such an over the top and implausible ending. (To clarify, it's only over the top and implausible, because they chose to speed forward in time to when the characters are adults but have the same, clearly teenaged, actors play the adult versions of their characters, and it just doesn't work.)
Still, this is one of my favorite Asian films, and favorite love stories, of all time. Definitely worth watching.
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This review may contain spoilers
Une jolie romance intemporelle...
C'est un film dont s'est inspiré "A little thing called first love", le cdrama avec Lai Kuan Lin et Zhao Jin Mai. Ce drama a été un de mes premiers cdrama et comme souvent possède le goût unique de la première fois. J'étais donc curieuse de sa grande soeur, plus âgée.Bien que j'avoue que le drama a ma préférence, pour les raisons que je vais développer en même temps que ma critique, le film a des points positifs et surtout a réussi à me surprendre ce que n'a pas fait le drama.
L'histoire reste inchangée dans les deux versions, et le film commence de la même façon. J'avais des doutes quant à l'évolution de Nam. En effet, dans la version chinoise, la transformation et l'évolution de Miao Miao est progressive et prend du temps à se mettre en place. Qui plus, le format des épisodes a permis une meilleure compréhension des protagonistes et nous voyons leur relation progresser, grandir au fur et à mesure que le temps passe. Le drama ne fait pas l'impasse sur les années de lycée ou universitaire et nous prenons plaisir à suivre leur parcours. C'est pourquoi, un film de 1H58 me paraissait dérisoire et difficile à nous pouvoir nous faire ressentir tout cette évolution. Que nenni!
Malgré le peu de temps dû au format par rapport à la version chinoise, la version originale s'en tire plus que bien! L'évolution et la transformation de Nam a été progressive et d'un tel naturel que je me suis retrouvée à penser bêtement "heu, à quel moment a-t-elle autant changée??" Alors, oui, nous voyons le processus mais contrairement à "my calories boy" par exemple où la transformation est soudaine, ou encore dans "my Gnangnam beauty" où nous ne voyons pas du tout la transformation, ici nous participons à la naissance du papillon, non seulement physiquement mais aussi mentalement. C'est extraordinaire, limite, nous la voyons grandir et mûrir en 1h et des brouettes. C'est donc un point que je salue tout particulièrement.
La deuxième chose parfaitement réussi est la romance entre Nam et Shon. Sincèrement, lorsque la scène de la déclaration arrive, je me suis dit "heu..... ils ne finissent pas ensemble???" par ce qu'à aucun moment du film nous ne voyons une relation entre deux, une étincelle ou un semblant d'intensité qui aurait pu me donner des papillons au coeur. Rien. Nada. Je me suis dit "heu, c'est une histoire à sens unique ce truc..." ou bien ils vont nous faire une fin pourrie, genre il se rend compte qu'il l'aime et blabla, le truc classique pour expédier une fin en 2 minutes chrono...Et puis vint, cette déclaration ratée, et l'après déclaration. Et là, je le dis carrément, ils ont réussi à m'avoir. A tel point qu'en ai pleuré d'émotions. Ouais, faut le faire, une blasée de la vie qui a tout vue ( du moins qui le pense) s'est faite avoir en beauté. Je n'en dirai pas plus, mais la fin m'a vraiment vraiment vraiment touché!!!!
C'est un film qui m'a sincèrement plus surprise que le drama chinois. Et qui m'a rappelé le moi de mes 15 ans. 15 ans et tellement amoureuse du plus joli garçon du collège. Sur son skate, toutes les filles se pavoisaient à son passage. Et la gamine que j'étais, maladroite, avec ses lunettes et sa coupe au bol, n'en faisait pas moins....Un premier amour, totalement fou, et qui aura duré 6 ans. Une histoire digne d'un drama entre une gamine insignifiante et le plus joli garçon du collège, une histoire qui m'aura aussi permis de me transformer, de devenir aussi un papillon....Que l'ayez vécu ou pas, peu importe, si vous aimez les jolies romances, n'hésitez pas à donner la chance à ce film touchant.
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