The Butterfly

"Sis, daringly keep going ahead"

Red Sorghum was the film that launched Zhang Yi Mou's and Gong Li's careers. For his directorial debut, Zhang's movie won many awards including the Berlin IFF's Golden Bear Award for Best Picture. Saturated in deep colors and textures and accompanied by music that fit every scene perfectly, this 1987 film showed what the world was in for with his mesmerizing style of moviemaking.

A radiant 22-year-old Gong Li played Jui/Grandma, a bride being carried along in a palanquin to be married to a 50-year-old man with leprosy. Jiang Wen as Yu/Grandpa was the expert carrier. The men sang a bawdy song of her fate as a young "ugly" bride marrying an old leper. As she bounced up and down in the small litter you could feel her nausea growing. When they reached the wild red sorghum fields a bandit attacks the group, but the men are not so meek as to let him take the bride into the fields. After the wedding she is allowed to return home with a donkey as a wedding gift/payment to her father. Along the way she is once again set upon, this time alone, and Jui runs frantically through the wind driven sorghum chased by her assailant. The masked man turns out to be Yu. He stomps the sorghum down into a verdant bed with all the gentleness of a wild beast. It was difficult to tell whether Jui initially gave her consent, I hope so, because afterwards, she fell in love with Yu. On her return to her legal husband, she's told he was murdered by an unknown killer. The workers prepare to leave but she convinces them to stay in a profit-sharing business. A drunken Yu shows up and she kicks him out. She's kidnapped for ransom by other bandits. After her return, Yu pees into the wine crocks as if marking his territory and carries her off like a sack of potatoes. Instead of ruining the drink, it is now transformed into an exquisite elixir and business booms.

Yu was often portrayed as a primitive male, dirty and brash, and Jui rarely called him on it. Thank goodness, Zhang displayed a more favorable view of women in future films. It was also a credit to Jiang's performance that Yu was considered even somewhat likeable. With the exception of her relationship with Yu, Jui came across as a competent and independent woman.

Jui gives birth to Yu's son and all seems well. It's a magical winery where anything can happen. Life is often lusty and humor filled. Then the movie switches from How I Met Your Mother to The Deer Hunter. The Japanese invade the peaceful village and one of the villagers is flayed. The film ends in a blood bath, as if everyone had gone swimming in a vat of the red sorghum drink under an eclipse. ***

I am a big fan of Zhang Yi Mou's style. His movies are luscious to drink in, the lighting, sets, costumes, and props are all feasts for the eyes and this one was no exception. I would really like to have a set of the drinking pottery, they were beautiful. Few people can capitalize on scenery as he does, color-soaked fields and skies were suitable for framing. A young Gong Li already exuded the power and sensuousness of a grown woman. Her character took over the winery, mothered a child, and called men to battle quite believably. With a running time under 90 minutes, the characters were not well developed, we know little about them except what we see on the screen. Gong Li's and Jiang Wen's exceptional performances helped me to overlook some narrative issues. The change in mood was abrupt and jarring when the shocking violence erupted, I suppose much like in real life when horror and tragedy hit out of the blue.


Red Sorghum showed the fierce tenacity of the rural people in northern China as they faced a variety of adversities and most times were able to create victory and song out of difficult situations. The film was imperfect, but very much worth the effort to experience the premiere stunning collaboration of Zhang Yi Mou and Gong Li, one of the best partnerships in filmdom.

6/30/23



*** A word of warning, there were disturbing scenes. Animals being butchered and skinned were shown up close as well as the human flaying which I could not watch. There were two urination scenes as well. And depending on how you interpret it, a possible rape.

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Time manages to weave together the disparate stories of a retired assassin team, the problems of the elderly, assisted suicide and team pregnancy. It brings together a cast of well-known older Hong Kong actors---PatrickTse, Bobo Fung, and Lam Suet and gives them a chance to shine. They did not fail to take advantage of the opportunity to show that they've still got it.

Patrick Tse at 85 showed he could still be a menacing threat as the flying blade assassin who had been relegated to cutting noodles in his golden years. Bobo went from terrorizing her victims with her throwing weapons to singing in a small-time cabaret. Lam Suet, the getaway driver, now suffering from various illnesses and struggling to pay for and receive proper medical care spends his free time with a prostitute he's fallen in love with.

Without being morbid, Time shines a light on the plight of the elderly---illness, loneliness, ungrateful children, poverty, and the knowledge that more sand has run out of the hourglass than remains. The old team gets back together when they find the older population requesting their services and they earn extra spending money respectfully doling out assisted suicide. This works out fine until the blade man discovers his intended victim/client is a teenage girl.

Bobo did an amazing job as the mother with a child who believed because she gave birth to him, she was eternally responsible for him. The fact that he was a grown man who was married and a father and responsible for his own child escaped him. Lam Suet gave a heartwarming performance as the team member who kept them all together, finally getting his chance at a quality main role. The actress who plays the teenage girl was the weakest link in this movie. She was unable to keep up with the rest of the experienced cast. The youth story threatened to take over the narrative, but stopped just short, or maybe went slightly over the line. It did give Patrick's loner character a chance to connect with someone and discover a part of himself he didn't know existed.

There are many touching scenes in this movie and Time deals with its gray-haired characters and their problems with sensitivity and gentle humor. It shows that people of a certain age need love, time, attention, and care. And in the case of Time, it showed that actors who are no longer young still have stories left to tell.

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I liked this sweet little drama. I found myself smiling through a majority of the episodes. The romance worked for me. The ML was fairly established in his career so there was none of the usual hand wringing about the older FL stifling his dreams and potential. The conflict was largely familial. They both learned from each other and both made mistakes. My only caveat was that if felt like the writer had problems with the last couple of episodes disrupting the flow of the storyline.

Also, I liked that the FL didn’t recoil from the ML’s kisses as if he was going to give her a root canal. They had a healthy tactile relationship. One of the few Kdramas I’ve seen where the couple was in a believable intimate relationship.

I found the acting solid all the way around.

Regarding the OST: I dinged it for the overuse of Stand By Your Man. They could have cut the use of that song by 80%. Bonus points though for Rachael Yamagata’s Something in the Rain. Already downloaded it.

I will rewatch all or at least parts of it when I’m having a bad day and need a smile and a warm feeling in my heart. I definitely recommend giving this drama a try.

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"It takes a village to keep a person alive"

When Life Gives You Tangerines was a lovely bittersweet story of three generations of women, each desiring to do better than the previous generation. While the male characters were important, it was Ae Sun, her mother and her daughter that were the core of the story.

Much of the drama took place on Jeju Island centered around the haenyeo and fishermen. Most of the people struggled to live day to day, relying on each other when things became dire. The sea is a harsh mistress and not only sustained life but took it as well. Yet there was laughter amongst the tears. And most importantly, there was the great love story between Ae Sun and Gwan Sik.

The different generations demonstrated the sacrifices that parents make for their children as well as their mistakes. Children learned that regret was a bitter pill to swallow once a parent was gone. The village relied on each other giving with compassion often accompanied by biting humor. Sometimes love was enough to sustain a relationship and sometimes it wasn’t. Life wasn’t easy about handing out answers regardless of the season people were in.

“It takes a village to keep a person alive.” The people of Jeju Island were generous, reconciliation often came after many tears, and the people showed great resiliency in the face of a collapsing economy. “Go together with others. If you do, 100 miles will feel like 10.” When Life Gives You Tangerines also reminded us that growing up is a lifelong process.

3 April 2025

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"Only good things lie ahead"

The makers of Karma liked to take the viewer on a ride that jostled back and forth and side to side for the most part in familiar territory. While I’m sure they thought we’d be shocked and awed, there were few surprises. I do admit to falling for one of the red herrings for part of the drama. Sometimes this style of filming and script writing can feel overly contrived, but for me, it worked in Karma…for the most part.

Six people’s lives became entangled both from despicable actions in the past and foul deeds in the present, the majority of whom deserved whatever karma dished out. And karma was as ruthless as a finely honed scalpel but not nearly as kind.

I don’t want to say much more because this short drama is best enjoyed coming to it fresh. The cast was strong, not that you’ll like most of the characters. Even the “good” characters harbored abhorrent secrets. Karma was a dark and twisted knot of the worst of humanity’s foibles. A better title for this drama might have been “Just Deserts.”

8 April 2025
Trigger warnings: Foul language. Gruesome scenes.


Tiny spoilerish comment below:






There were a few scenes that came across as comical when the drama began to feel like Weekend at Bernie’s gone awry. lol

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"I'll take you along to hell"

The Whirlwind was a high stakes political drama that pitted two formidable players against each other. Lies, corruption, bribery, murder, there was nothing off the table in this deadly game for power. In the end, the winner would be the one who was willing to place all their chips on the table in a daring bet, risking everything.

“Just when you think you have it under control, you find that you don’t.”
When there is an assassination attempt on the President, Prime Minister Park Dong Ho becomes the acting president. Only problem is, he’s being investigated for bribery. Dong Ho plans to use the office to rid the government of corruption and exonerate his friend who was also framed for bribery and died. Deputy Prime Minister Jung Soo Jin is determined to bring down Dong Ho due to his investigations into the Daejin Group and its control of various judges, prosecutors, and politicians such as herself. The two play a relentless game of cat and mouse always trying to stay one step of the other, never worrying about getting their hands dirty…or bloody.

“At your age, courage can be dangerous”
Just like a twister churning up everything in its path, Dong Ho and Soo Jin were willing to destroy anything and anyone in their way. Dong Ho’s powerful mesocyclone was fueled by his burning desire for justice. Soo Jin’s corrupt cloud of energy came from the need for power and influence. Dong Ho found that in order to achieve his goals, he would have to borrow the playbook of his enemies all while trying to not become what he hated. Soo Jin and the comatose president both started out fighting the dictatorship in the past but had transformed into the very things they’d fought. Political alliances changed rapidly and both manipulated the media. No one was safe with a crooked prosecutorial system and judges for hire.

“Only a greater lie beats a lie”
While The Whirlwind was intriguing it could also be exhausting. There was no room to catch a breath from the oppressive atmosphere. The whirlwind of plot twists turned and flipped in every episode. The characters’ emotions and relationships had little nuance. Everyone was taciturn and calculating with little to offer to those closest to them, even their children. Park Kyung Soo’s script never slowed down even when bouncing over enormous plot holes. Kim Hee Ae played the duplicitous Soo Jin well with one exception. I don’t know if she kept her mouth open to make it look as if she was feral and always baring her teeth or has a breathing problem but I found it distracting when she was onscreen. Sul Kyung Gu was given little emotional depth to explore and often wore the same expression from scene to scene. Kim Mi Sook as Dong Ho's Chief of Staff was the MVP for me as the person who knew who, how, and when to attack. Numerous veteran actors played unscrupulous politicians on both sides of the aisle.

“There’s only one cross”
An old saying goes, “A lie travels halfway around the world before the truth puts on its shoes. By the time the truth catches up, it’s too late.” Dong Ho quoted a variation of this and sadly it is all too true. Once a lie becomes embedded, especially a lie people want to hear, truth becomes overshadowed. Many of the things that occurred in this drama have correlations in real life around the world. A powerful corrupt leader manipulating his followers to overturn the government, manipulation of and by the media, judges taking bribes, and powerful corporations buying support for the changes they want enacted, happen all the time. In this drama, one man was willing to sacrifice everything to wipe the slate clean like a whirlwind. But how long before new players move into the void to once again purchase favors? How long before those longing for power and influence sell themselves to the highest bidder at the cost of justice? Despite its flaws, The Whirlwind was an infuriatingly compelling drama.

15 September 2024

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" A married daughter is like water that's poured out"

Director Tsou Shih Ching created a chaotic yet charming film using an iPhone and some of her own memories. Three generations of women working to support their families reveal archaic beliefs about gender and superstitions about left-handedness.

Cheng Shu Fen with her daughters I Ann and I Jing move from the countryside to Taipei where Shu Fen sets up a noodle shop stall in the busy night market. Their apartment is crowded and the market noisy. While Shu Fen works the noodle shop, high school dropout I Ann chooses employment at a betel nut and smoke stand. I Jing goes to grade school and helps her mom afterwards, making friends throughout the market. When Shu Fen becomes saddled with debt connected to her ex-husband, her business hangs in the balance. Born without a Y chromosome, her family refuses to lend her money as they would have if she had been a son. Shu Fen’s father refuses to let I Jing use her left hand around him saying it is evil and the Devil’s hand. The old superstition leads to some curious consequences. I Ann begins a relationship that leads to its own consequences.

At the beginning it was difficult to tell if the little family actually cared about each other. Much of the film was shown through I Jing’s innocent eyes or I Ann’s jaded ones. Young Nina Yeh as I Jing gave a wonderful performance for one so young. I Jing struggled with her grandfather’s order to comply and conform to his societal view on left-handedness. She was the sunshine in the dark alley of their lives. Ma Shih Yuan’s I Ann was a tough nut to crack, always cloaked in a hard shell. Yet there were scenes where her vulnerability broke through revealing the caring, loyal young woman beneath. Ever exhausted physically and emotionally, Janel Tsai showed how Shu Fen had her own unmet needs. Each of the three longed for acceptance, affection, and attention, never daring to speak their inner desires. All three exhibited tenacity and independence often clandestinely supporting each other. One of the more touching and relatable scenes in the film took place with I Ann and I Jing traversing the market lacking any words of affection but overflowing with poignant emotions.

Left-Handed Girl followed Shu Fen and her family as they faced opportunities and set-backs in the chaotic, busy streets of the night market. Starting over is never easy when gender obligations and limits rear their ugly heads. All told, four generations of women had their own secrets that culminated in a catharsis that led to the truth, forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation. Everything you could want from a spunky family drama of women looking for a better life.

2 December 2025
Trigger warnings: Smoking. Sexual content. Brief nudity.

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Even if you start at a disadvantage, you can still be first across the finish line

Zero to Hero is an inspiring biopic about twelve-time Paralympic medalist So Wa Wai. So was the first para-athlete from Hong Kong to win gold and still holds the record in the 200m sprint. Zero to Hero is a feel good movie that also doesn't shy away from it's characters' faults and harsh reality.

So Wa Wai was born with haemolytic jaundice which resulted in cerebral palsy. His mother was told he would never walk or be able to hold chopsticks. And he would only be able to hear 10-20%. She carried him on her back, literally, until he was four. In a desperate life or death moment, the mother challenged him to walk. As he gained more ability, they learned he may not walk well, but he could run.

As a teenager he joined the para-athlete's association and trained to run in competitions. The way to his success did not always run smoothly. His family was poor and used desperately needed funds to help him achieve his success. The movie highlighted how difficult it was for Paralympic athletes to continue training and competing with few subsidies from the government.

The true heart of this movie was the mother-son relationship. Sandra Ng gave a beautiful performance as the resolute mother who refused to give up on her child and sacrificed greatly to ensure he became all he could be and that he would have a financially secure future after she was gone. This created conflict with Wa Wai as he worried she was using him at one point and with his younger brother who felt at times that his only role was to be Wa Wai's future caretaker. Though perhaps flawed, the strength of this mother's love and determination to gain the best for her son and for him to overcome his limitations shined through. "Run to me at the finish line."

Leung Chung Hang's performance never felt patronizing. He poignantly portrayed a child dependent on his mother who grew into a man with his own goals and need to help his family. Yet in the end, it was the love for his dedicated mother that gave him the strength to attain those goals.

Heartwarming and inspirational with enough realistic edge to keep it from being treacly, Zero to Hero is a winner.

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"Nothing matters more than staying alive"

Legend of Zang Hai combined China’s corrupt imperial court system with a hint of tomb raiders’ creatures and a whisper of LOTR’s “my precious.” Though the titular character had Sherlockian genius, the plot’s logic didn’t always make sense. That didn’t stop this drama from being entertaining to watch.

Our hero’s family is wiped out by corrupt officials with only ten-year-old Zhi Nu surviving. Saved by a masked man he’s secreted off to a special revenge training camp designed just for him. Ten years later and renamed Zang Hai, he and his sifu, Gao Ming, head for the capital to take down his mortal enemy---the Marquis/Duke Ping Jin. Before you can say, “Mycroft is a moron,” Zang is working for Ping and putting his plan into motion. He has to amend his game plan when he determines other dastardly villains were involved with the demise of his family.

This is another Cdrama where I had to SORAS (Soap Opera Rapidly Aging Syndrome) the main lead in my mind as thirty-three-year-old Xiao Zhan did not look 20. I enjoy his screen presence so it wasn’t a big problem for me. It was a little harder to accept that Zang was an expert in nearly everything at such a young age. I also liked Zhang Jing Yi as Xiang An Tu, the owner of the Zhen Tower and also a hostage Dongxia princess. She was calculating and independent until like most FLs in Cdramas, she became less so as the drama went on and the romance heated up. Huang Jue as Duke Ping Jin did too good a job of making the villain sympathetic. The writing for him also made it difficult to believe he was the same guy who had a macabre wardrobe hiding in his basement. The last evil character revealed was the weakest for me, I found his character, motivations, and acting less than compelling. Though it was really hard to top the scenery chewing Huang. And of course, Liang Chao as ZH’s sifu who had a complicated loyalty was endearing.

The cinematography, scenery, costumes, and sets were all lovely. The music wasn’t intrusive which was a win for me. The cast was huge which meant many characters were thinly drawn. They still filled their jobs effectively-the loyal childhood friend, the dutiful but not too bright bodyguard, and various and sundry minions and court officials. I made a comment about Lord of the Rings and one scene was directly lifted from the first film. I kept yelling, “Ride, Arwen, ride!” In another instance, a person holding the artifact stroked it with a crazed look and I thought he might actually say, “My precious.”

A brilliant lead who can think and talk his way out of nearly any situation is nothing new, but that’s okay. “There’s nothing new under the sun.” It comes down to execution and for the most part Legend of Zang Hai did a good job. This story with Zang’s uncanny rise through the court and search for a magical artifact were not meant to be realistic, just entertaining. The final 12 episodes weren’t as tightly constructed as earlier ones and the third arc felt particularly uneven. Yet overall, I had a good time with this drama and binged it rather quickly. If you are a fan of Xiao Zhan or dramas that don’t adhere to a realistic storyline, it’s one to try.

5 July 2025
Spoilery comment below:






















* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Finally! A male version of La Femme Nikita!

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"Your love has made me human"

Dear Hongrang was a dark, twisty, tropey drama featuring two of my favorite Jae Wooks. Instead of the familiar fight for the throne and court politics, this fight played out within a wealthy merchant family that’s made a deal with the devil. When a long-lost son returns it sets a powder keg of greed and avarice on fire.

Jae I has spent the last twelve years searching for her lost younger brother Hongrang after the family mostly gave up on him. Her stepmother wants her dead. Her father only sees her worth in the columns of assets and liabilities. Her older adopted brother Mu Jin is being groomed to take over the family business and has a not so secret crush on her. One day a stranger with no memory of his childhood is brought in who turns out to be her brother Hongrang. Or is he? And what murderous mysteries are hidden behind the expensive walls and hanboks of the wealthy and nobility?

Dear Hongrang takes a strong stomach to watch. Children were kidnapped and tortured in painful and vile ways. Wives who no longer fell into the asset column were taken out to be murdered. Slaves and those without power or prestige were considered less than human and expendable while those with power often walked a fine line between sanity and insanity with overtly sadistic tendencies. Into this bloody mess Jae I and Hongrang went from being adversaries to allies, and “siblings” with complicated feelings for each other.

The cinematography, lighting, and music were overtly gloomy and melancholic. One particular scene went ATLA Tui funeral with red lighting. Deceptive sunshine only gave the viewer a breath to brace for upcoming pain. The sole spoilery comment I’ll make is that you need to prepare yourself for a high body count, many of which you’ll hope will be boiled in bronze. I didn’t find the drama particularly suspenseful as most of the turning points were well foreshadowed. I did, however, find it entertaining largely due to Lee Jae Wook and Kim Jae Wook’s performances. Kim has definitely found a niche for himself playing handsome, criminally maniacal characters. While this short nightmarish drama will not be for all tastes, it managed to tell its gruesome tale without overstaying its welcome.

18 May 2025
Trigger warnings: Dismemberments, more gruesome deaths than an average Kdrama, torture scenes, and child torture scenes

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"No reward comes without a cost"

The Blossoming Love took 10,000 years to flower and at times it felt like it. A beautiful cast and a strong start, began to wilt by the final episodes.

What worked for me:

I’ve had a soft spot for Bin Bin since TMOPB. He may not be the greatest actor but I find his presence comforting. Plus, he’s gorgeous.

Sun Zhen Ni gave a refreshing performance as Mu Xuan Ling.

Wang Duo once again came through as the elegant, but morally ambiguous character who threatens to steal the show.

The first half to two-thirds felt cohesive, and I was actually invested in the story.

Now for what didn’t work for me:

When the drama focused on Zhao Ming, it began to feel repetitive. While I preferred dark Bin Bin (he looked delicious in black and the darker guy-liner), the more childlike Pearl was a step backward.

There were numerous side characters, some worked, some didn’t. I tend to lose interest the further away from the main characters a story goes.

This drama is one of the most blood spitting dramas I've seen in a while. The props department must have shopped at Buckets O' Blood to keep the red fluid flowing. They also might have needed oxygen on hand for some of the long exposition dumps the actors had to spit out as well.

The last third of the drama as they hip-hopped through time began to drag. While waiting on the final episodes I watched other things and read books and completely forgot about the drama until I noticed it in my Currently Watching List which I rarely use. Forgetting a drama is not a good sign for me, despite enjoying the earlier episodes. The drama’s ending was convoluted in a timey-wimey twisted way to try and make all the pieces fit.

Final analysis:
Blossoms of Love was entertaining and pretty to look at. For the most part it kept my attention, and I enjoyed Vin Zhang and Sun Zhen Ni’s chemistry. I would have liked for it to have been shorter and had a more coherent ending. I don’t regret watching it at all, but would be hesitant to recommend to others without some serious caveats.

27 February 2025

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"I gradually lost my sense of time"

Buenos Aires Zero Degree: The Making of Happy Together was an interesting if overly long documentary. There were tantalizing “what could have been” storylines and deleted scenes. The film was directed by Amos Lee and Kwan Pung Leung attempting Wong Kar Wai’s style.

*What worked for me:

The early clips of Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Leslie Cheung practicing the dance scenes made me want to watch the film all over again. Their intensity, even in rehearsal, was mesmerizing. When the documentary focused on these two whether in outtakes, deleted scenes, or rehearsals, just like the film, you can't take your eyes off them.

There were snippets of interviews with Tony. He told of his desperate homesickness while they were stuck in Argentina hanging out when Leslie had to return to Hong Kong for his concerts. The six-week Argentina film shoot turned into four months putting pressure on everyone. Tony wondered if Wong had done it purposefully to drive them to the edge for the film.

Wong Kar Wai only knew he wanted to tell the story of Ho Po Wing and Lai Yiu Fai in Argentina and little else upon their arrival on the other side of the world. He proffered several story concepts, including Leslie playing both characters and dressing in drag among other ideas. Deleted scenes were shown and a much different ending was discussed. Crew members gave a tour of the various locations used in the film and told of the troubles they encountered.

*What didn’t work as well:

Initially, the interviews with crew members were insightful, but then it faltered as fewer compelling stories were shared. The last third of the film lapsed into a musical montage featuring supporting characters and their story possibilities.

The shaky, out of focus camera style was more annoying than intriguing.

*Was it worth watching?

Yes, with caveats. The first half of the documentary was well worth watching to hear how the director cobbled the story together and abandoned creative conceptions that would have carried the story in very different directions. As much as I loved the film Happy Together, the narrative was thin. Tony and Leslie made the film as they threw themselves into their roles. As their presence dissipated from the screen in the documentary, it quickly ran out of steam. Would recommend for anyone who has not read about the difficulties in making the film, but otherwise it was skippable. (7.25 bumped up to 7.5 only for the scenes of Tony and Leslie burning up the screen with their amazing chemistry and presence, even in short clips)

“…in a land of zero degree, with neither east nor west,
has neither day nor night, which is neither cold nor warm,
I learned the feeling of exile.”
-Wong Kar Wai

30 May 2026

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"People who know what they want scare me"

Blue Spring was a slice of life in a violent boys’ school filled with disaffected youth and indifferent teachers. Backed by a blaring rock score, the film was as much mood as it was message.

Seniors Kujo and Aoki take part in the Clapping Game on the school roof in order to see who will lead their gang. The boys stand on the ledge, let go and clap before saving themselves by grabbing the railing. Whoever claps the most times in a row, wins. With either nerves of steel or complete detachment, Kujo easily triumphs. Aoki is geared up to rule the school with an iron bat by his friend’s side, but finds Kujo disinterested in but not above the violence. The students are facing a black hole that is dragging them toward a future none of them is prepared for. Their days in the graffiti covered high school are filled with violence, monotony, even death, and yet the crumbling building still seems a better place than what awaits them.

None of the boys had much of a plan. One student bet his future on his arm, playing baseball. One wrong pitch and he believed his chances had evaporated. Every day the boys treaded water hoping to not drown or be dragged under. Outside the fence, the yakuza lurked, waiting for boys with a penchant for violence to succumb to them. Old dreams of becoming Ultraman or a pilot sank into the murky depths of despair. With nothing to look forward to, there were only thin safeguards between the teens and death. Most teachers were scarcely staying afloat themselves, writing rote memory notes on the blackboard, unconcerned about the students wandering in and out of the classroom. A teacher who tended the gardens attempted to throw a lifeline to the disillusioned youth. Few were willing to grab it.

Unlike Kdramas where the bullying took place in classrooms, the bullies in Blue Spring operated in the hallways and stairwells. The brutality escalated, becoming uglier and deadlier as frustrations and crushing disappointment grew. Empty lives searching for meaning and a sense of control without any guidance were doomed to pain. Yet even under the dirt and cigarette butts, there were flowers hoping to bloom. Not an easy watch, more experiential than plot driven, but worth a try if you are interested in the darker side of education and how some teens view their lack of opportunities in a world that feels out of reach to them.

"Even if my body is broken
and all my tears and sweat dry up
My dreams remain
The Nationals
No regrets for my youth
Loser."

20 May 2026

Trigger warnings: Violence though often more implied than graphically shown. One backside naked scene. What amounted to suicide in one scene.

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"You have my full support. Do as you please."

The Man Standing Next told the story of the KCIA director who assassinated RoK President Park in 1979. Forty days of intrigue, murder, and betrayals led to the fateful event. This particular snapshot in time is always hard for me because there were no good guys, just men willing to do what was necessary to maintain or gain power.

President Park is furious that the ex-director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, Park Yong Gak, has been called before the American Congress to testify regarding bribes and gifts given to lawmakers to win their support for his government. To make matters worse, PYG has written a memoir titled Traitor of the Revolution. Current KCIA director Kim Kyu Pyung is tasked with convincing his old friend to turn the manuscript over. PYG tells Kim to watch himself as the president has been siphoning money off into Swiss bank accounts and unknown to the KCIA developed his own secret spy agency. The president’s bodyguard, Kwak Sang Cheon, has been currying favor with the president angling to become his successor. Between PYG airing Park’s dirty laundry and riots breaking out in Busan, Kim finds himself in a precarious position.

The film attempted to show Kim in a sympathetic manner. This angle didn’t work for me. For 18 years Kim had unwaveringly supported the dictator and done his dirty work. The KCIA was hardly a Boy Scout troop and known for torturing people. He seemed to have no qualms about ordering a hit on a friend. Suddenly he’s willing to sacrifice all for democracy? What was his rationale? Did he want to be president? If his plan had been a coup, he did a terrible job of securing support and planning. Was it to save his own life? Or did Kwak telling the president that murdering 2-3 million people was justifiable in order to maintain power the final straw? How did he come to make his decision and how did he convince his few agents to go along with him? Kim Kyu Pyung’s motivation and loyalty bounced all over the place. Park Yong Gak admitted to being a bad guy so I was not vested in his outcome. President Park was a heartless dictator and Kwak was utterly ruthless. Kim’s actions allowed another villain to take over who was waiting in the wings for his shot (the man standing next). A usurper who was much better at consolidating support. Power loves a vacuum and it’s usually the most vicious who rise to the top.

Lee Byung Hun and Lee Sung Min gave strong performances. Lee’s Kim Kyu Pyung required a great deal of nuance as the KCIA director dealt with humiliations, betrayals, and loss. Kim slowly unraveled before our eyes. The rest of the large cast gave adequate performances, some better than others. Kwak was an integral character yet very thinly drawn to the point of being a caricature. Aside from the issues I had with Kim, the film spent too much time on Park Yong Gak. His story could have been expedited. Kim Young Sam’s expulsion was the stimulus for political unrest and violent riots and the characters mentioned him often but the film never gave him so much as a cameo. It also felt like they looked at the cast and realized they didn’t have even one female in the story and added Kim So Jin as the broker for PYG. She did what she could with it, but there wasn’t much to work with. Hers was another role that could have been far more compelling with better writing.

If you enjoy historical films, especially during this tumultuous time in Korea, The Man Standing Next had some positive things going for it. The film was beautifully shot. The two mains gave engaging performances and the history lesson was interesting. However, it wasn’t always absorbing. I found myself checking my watch numerous times because the film failed to reel me in emotionally. Despite limiting the time frame to 40 days, there was no sense of urgency, no tension. I don’t need someone to root for in a political “thriller,” but it really helps if I understand why the main character makes a dramatic life altering decision instead of it coming across as, “This guy is really pissing me off.” It works in kung fu flicks, but with the fate of a nation hanging in the balance, it came across as impulsive which didn’t seem to be what the writers were going for.

18 May 2026

"Sequel" Note: If you haven't watched 12:12 The Day and might be interested in it, this would be a good film to watch beforehand as the other film begins where this film ends. I don't believe they are related otherwise.

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"All you see is an illusion"

Master of Zen must have been a deeply personal project for Brandy Yuen. He was the director, writer, martial arts director and producer for this film. Based on the legends of Bodhi Dharma who is believed to have brought Chan (Zen) Buddhism to China and even given the Shaolin monks the basis of their kung fu. I do not practice Buddhism and do not have much knowledge of the history of this story so my review will be based on my opinion of the artistic merit of the film.

A third prince in India has a vision of himself as an old man when he’s out in the woods. Later, a Buddhist monk gives him this message, “Before my birth who was I to be? After I was born who became me?” Despite being the crown prince, he leaves the palace and goes to study Buddhism. He is renamed Bodhi Dharma. Sixty years later he makes the arduous three-year journey to south China. His message is often rejected as he travels among the populace as he is for being a foreigner. When he finds a cave at the backend of the Shaolin temple property, he begins his nine-year meditation without food or water that will change the perception about him. Elsewhere in China, a young monk is attempting to overcome his guilt over his bloody past. His journey will eventually bring him to Bodhi Dharma’s cave.

The presentation of the film was perplexing. It often came across as a documentary re-enactment, but then strayed into very magical wire-fu. The editing was painfully off-kilter. The most distracting aspect was Derek Yee’s makeup, from his early very dark brown makeup which lightened with each passing year. But most awful was his old man makeup. According to the film, he would had to have been at least in his 80’s. His aging prosthetics were abysmal. He looked much better when he hit 150 years old and lost the badly puckered brow ridge.

If you are looking for the miracles, many of them were in the film. There were also plenty of inspirational conversations and visits to temples. I just stumbled over the acting, and awkward stitching together of the stories. The scenery alternated between epic mountains and desert vistas to lower budget sets. If you are familiar with the stories and wish to see them on film, this may be a film to try. If not, the drawbacks may outweigh the more entertaining parts.

15 May 2026

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