FrothyMix

Are you implying that she suddenly died of Covid19?

Who cares what "they" said? "They" is an entertainment company that wants us all to STFU about what most likely happened here.

oh...my take was that "that thing" IS suicide.

I'll write it: Let's see what happens. She most likely died by suicide and it's sick how Korean entertainment and press conspire to cover it up when they can.

Exactly. What normal, thinking person would NOT wonder what the hell happened when a person this young, who was not known to be physically ill, drops dead? This press release sounds like all the others issued after actor/entertainer suicides.

No. No, they can't. She is a public figure and most likely the latest victim of the savage Korean entertainment/press industrial complex. We all know what most likely happened. I always wonder how much the companies dole out to the families to help keep cause of death secret.

You're not allowed to ask that in Korea when very young entertainers/performers suddenly pass away. On the other hand, we all know what most likely happened. That's why the agency pro-actively tells us in its press release to SHUT UP.

More stupid condescension and arrogance and misdirection. If you are Japanese or whatever else, that simply means you're a liar. So...what? I can't control your being a liar who posts false comments on the Internet because you are mentally ill any more than I can control your misbelief that having been "other'd" in Japan is the equivalent of having been raped. It seems the overall message of this comment is that you might well be lying about everything you wrote, and since this is a possibility, no one on the Internet should ever proceed as if what they read is true. OK, that's an option I guess.

No, it's not the least bit "weird." What's weird is your having been "triggered" by the sight of some lettering in a movie to the point that you stopped watching it, despite the fact you say it was a good movie. What's weird is your co-opting terminology that describes the after-effects experienced by people who have been raped or otherwise sexually assaulted, physically abused, kidnapped, tortured, mentally or emotionally abused and much more to describe your reaction to some hand-lettering in one scene of a movie. THAT'S weird. You must be surrounded by people who are hesitant to call you on your bullshit; hence you find my doing so outrageous.

The arrogance and condescension in your reply tells me all I need to know about you. You want to make this about my emotional state rather than the content of your original post. For instance, I never said you "can't be offended..." Go ahead and be offended all you want, and if your additional offense is as stupid as this one I'll comment on that too. "Going through something in my life..." wow, what a douche. Misdirection much?

And why do you keep putting your comments under a spoiler tag as though they will reveal plot elements? That's really "weird." I can only assume you are subconsciously ashamed of your own reasoning here and want to hide it from most commenters. You should be.

I don't "need" to do anything, but thanks for your concern.

I just have to disagree with you entirely. I never for one second picked up on any indication in the character's actions or demeanor that indicated he was slow-witted. I felt he knew he was invading a space that was not his and doing so by surprise, and as a result he was hesitant and tentative. The mental deficiencies you claim to have picked up on are in your head, not on the screen.

You might consider that you have a running resentment/grudge against the people of Japan for the way you feel YOU were treated that colors any interaction with that culture. It sounds as if you're a long way from perceiving anything Japanese through an unbiased lens.

Lame. Your opinion is no more "important" to me than any other. But don't we all reply most often to comments we either agree with or disagree with strongly? Why would I reply to some bland comment that I hardly noticed?

As much as anything, it's your silly use of the already-cliche' term "triggered" that triggered me. Everyone's so eager to be offended now, it's as funny as it is pathetic. You were triggered by the way a Canadian character who learned Japanese in Canada wrote on a sheet of paper. SO triggered were you that you couldn't continue to watch. I guess you expected more and more and more scenes of improper Japanese writing that would drive you over the edge into madness! or...something. You saw many other positive qualities in the film, as you note, but you dropped it because a style of writing that brought back deeply painful memories was shown in one scene. That's it! It's the LAMENESS of it all that triggered me!

Oh, and..."worked for the production..." lol Yeah, that's it. That's why I was annoyed: My dad is the director.

Well, there WAS sort of a teensy little problem with people invading from the North if I recall...

Newsflash...there are big, fat, reddish-brown-haired, tall-ass gay dudes in the world. And some men and women find them very sexually attractive. I have zero idea where you got the idea that he was "dumb." I never got that impression in the slightest. I'm guessing you see a big, fat, bearded guy and YOU assume he is dumb, but that's your problem, not the person's.
"Mentally impaired..." WTF?

Good God, you say how wonderful this film is and then you root around in meaningless minutuea to find something like that to complain about? And you freaking DROPPED IT, as in stopped watching the movie because of it? If you really did that, how do you know how great the drama was? You must really LOOK for things to be unhappy about. This was a lovely movie, told by Japanese screenwriters with a Japanese director featuring Japanese actors, SET IN JAPAN. Who's eyes would you expect it to be seen through? And why would you think someone, even if they spent their entire four years of college studying Japanese, would write and speak flawlessly as though they had been born into the language. By the way, the Japanese people type and text into their computers and phones in...wait for it...ROMAJI. Was there some point at which he "stumbled over" Japanese written words? Never mind...like I said, you likely seek out things to turn your nose up at. Too bad, your loss. You missed a lovely film.

Beautiful. I bawled my eyes out...again. This story became especially moving to me because it used no melodramatic overkill to play itself out. It simply unfolded and the developing interplay that came as a result was more than enough. I love that Mike wanted just to be around Ryoji's family and spend time with them. Time is the greatest gift we give. Bravo.

8.5/10

Thanks for the recs. I already watched The Front Line and found it very effecting. I just added Joint Security Area to my watch list. Gradually, through my discovery of Asian cinema over the last year and a half, I am learning a great deal about the Korean War which, here in the U.S., is often referred to as The Forgotten War. From a U.S. historical perspective it gets squeezed out of view by World War II, the Cold War with Russia which began immediately following WW II, and the Vietnam War which nearly tore this country apart politically and socially. I still haven't taken the time to read exactly what led up to the Korean War but I look forward to doing so. At the same time I know it will be the usual, same old story of wealthy and powerful cultural forces and the amoral men at their helms sorting out their differences at the cost of the bodies, blood and lives of the powerless.
One of my uncles served in the U.S. Navy in Korea during the war.

Well, that was certainly pretty much the opposite of what the title and synopsis led me to think it might be. Let's see...five or six Asian movies in the last week, five or six rolls of paper towels consumed.

Even though at one point I thought..."wait a minute, I wonder if THIS is what's really going on..." I quickly forgot about that and got sucked into the vortex of joy and sadness that Asian flicks do so well. And of course, I'm glad I did. The pivotal near-ending scene with Komoto and the bosses near the end was wrenching. Very touching movie. I think the friendship could have been more fully developed and they could have aged the actors a bit better near the end but whatever...I'm nitpicking. Well done.

Oh, one thing: The comedy bits were, um, not very comedic, which was odd. Either that or it's a cultural thing and I don't get the Japanese sense of humor.

8/10

I like this movie quite a lot, but I'm going to have to take a break and come back for the rest tomorrow. To be honest, the main reason I'm hanging in there with this flick is that Kwon Sang Woo is almost impossibly handsome and I don't mind one bit simply soaking in his beauty. He's a good actor too. His facial features and body language here remind me a great deal of James Dean in "East of Eden," playing another shy, sweet but brooding young man in love with his best friend's girl.

But damn, is he handsome.

THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER.

oh, what a lovely film. This is my second watch after maybe 16 months and it reminds me once again that for me at least, seeing a movie the first time is really just getting ready to see it a second time...the second watch brings out so many details and richness of character/place/interactions that it's not possible to absorb the first time around. And so here I am, crying my eyes out in a good way all over again. I knew I loved this flick and now I remember why...I'm looking forward to the third watch down the road. I was half-terrified they were going to kill off Grandpa toward the end, but figured I'd remember if that had been the case. :)

I'm all over the map here...I don't know what part of this film to praise first. I do know that I fell in love with Yamato from that first big hello wave of his. Mitsuomi took awhile, but even behind that cynical facade from the first, I knew his heart was gold.

This movie so badly needs a sequel. There are so many possibilities to be explored. These two have so much, individually and as a couple to give to this town. Obviously that won't be a cakewalk, as we saw from the small-minded chatter of the idiot "elders" Mitsuomi overheard and confronted. But that is the older generation...younger people like Ueda and Ryoko already kjnow the scoop with these two and are ready and eager to support them. I think Grandpa knows too. Mitsuomi's mom and dad maybe not so much...that facet of the coming story would be so fascinating to see explored.

9/10

Silly. Ridiculous. Cute. Adorable. Annoying, bordering on stupid. And I loved every minute.
Put these two together and film them watching paint dry.
I will watch.
Feng Jian Yu has stolen my heart and he is welcome to keep it.
Wang Quing can come along too, if only because he compliments FJY so beautifully.
How do we get these two defected to Taiwan?
How do we get them to leave those clothes behind OUTSIDE the shower?
Counter-Attack is my guilty pleasure. This is my guilty oddity.
Sorry, but when they BOTH ran into the street to be hit by the oncoming BL death-car, I laughed.

Anything with these two together in it gets at least a 9/10 from me.

Note to self: If a potential romantic partner goes that psycho over their cigs, reconsider.
Especially if they light up and blow smoke in your face.