122
414
15
2
6
2
7
9
3
11
1
1
1
1
2
4
7
4
9
"I went far away only to find nothing was different"
The Breaking Ice was a slice of life film that was more mood than plot. Filmed during the frigid winter in Yangi, China near the North Korean border, the snowy mountainous setting was easily the fourth main character in the story of three young adults disenchanted with their lives and in need of healing and connection.Na Na leads tours in the Korean prefecture of Yanbian and doesn’t hesitate to ask for tips and good reviews with a smile on her face. Han Xiao works at his aunt’s restaurant in Yangi where Na Na brings the tour groups to eat. Hao Feng has come to town for a wedding. He spends most of his time dodging phone calls about his missed mental health appointments and staring down from the building wondering whether he has the courage to jump. He sees Na Na’s tour group and joins it the next day. When Na Na lets her mask slip around him, he finds a kindred spirit. After his phone is lost with his virtual wallet, Na Na invites him to dinner with Xiao. The three drink, dance, and later sleep it off at Na Na’s apartment. The next day they jump on Xiao’s motorcycle and travel on their own tour of the area.
“Whether I like it or not, I still have to do it.”
Zhou Dong Yu managed to lift dour Na Na above the material and give her emotional depth where the script did not. Liu Hao Ran brought a fragility to Hao Feng even though the writers were stingy with his backstory. Qu Chu Xiao’s Han Xiao wisely underplayed any jealous feelings Xiao might have had as Na Na and Hao became more intimate. The men’s friendship overcame hurdles that would usually derail them. Xiao was a good apple who even gave Hao a coat when they went hiking in the knee-deep snow, showing that the German saying, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothes,” worked in China as well. Though Xiao wasn’t a well-developed character his compassion toward a stranger was revealed in different significant layers.
“I’ve been away so long, I’m not even sure where home is.”
Xiao and Na Na had moved to Yangi and became stuck professional and emotionally. Both of their jobs had been adversely affected by the pandemic and both dealt with family separations. Hao may have had a good job in Shanghai, but he was equally disaffected. The three people were as isolated and closed off as the snow-covered mountains surrounding them. Yet they found warmth and healing connections as they spent time together.
“I don’t want to be alone.”
Director Anthony Chen and cinematographer Yu Jing Pin created beautiful shots of ice and mountainous roads and trails, lighting everything with exquisite care. The interior shots in contrast were warm, although the clubs highlighted the remoteness of the individuals as they drank and danced in the crowd. The film was gorgeous to watch and the music set the mood perfectly. The acting was all on point. My only complaint is that little was revealed about the characters, especially Hao Feng. Sometimes I had to create my own dots to connect. Despite my reservations, I quite enjoyed this film of three people reaching out and accepting each other where they were for the time they had together.
2 November 2024
7.75
Was this review helpful to you?
"This is not the place for you to seek the truth!"
Under the Microscope was an interesting title/translation for this drama focusing on a math obsessed male lead who used zero microscopes. Why not “You Can Count on Me!” or “Who Is Plotting Something Evil?” lol I may not have understood a “fraction” of the math involved but the story was “greater than” the “average” drama.“Arithmetic is the most honest thing in the world”
Jia Mo and his buddy Bao Yu make extra cash at gambling dens by utilizing Jia Mo’s savant-like math skills. They run afoul of new casino boss Lu with Bao Yu’s sister Bi Yu coming to their rescue. Having helped with surveying property, Jia Mo can’t figure out how his calculations for property lines aren’t adding up. He has Bao Yu gain him entrance to the official archives to check the records. While he’s researching the books he finds the number 3530 that his deceased father had told him to remember. He discovers it’s in conjunction with a Silk Poll Tax that appears to be in error. When the friends bring this up to the local authorities, instead of being pleased that their tax bill should be shared with 7 other counties reducing the amount the people pay, the 8 county magistrates close ranks casting aspersions on them. “If someone is diligent for no reason, he must be up to no good.” Jail and floggings can’t deter them. Jia Mo and Bao Yu move forward to try and find someone to hear their case.
“The silk is only a cover. The thing wrapped inside is the most valuable.”
The government bureaucracy was the least of Jia Mo and Bao Yu’s “problems”. When the “count(y)” magistrates were “irrational” and refused to listen to “empirical” evidence, it was a “sine” that the 3530 taels of silver held less “value” than what they were hiding. The “algebros” were often in “real” danger from the enemies who grew “exponentially.” Every time Jia Mo was on the “cusp” of success, the people in “power” would try to “point” out flaws in his equations. They were “mean” and seemed to “derive” great pleasure from the “inequality” they had created in their “operations.” Jia Mo also had flashbacks of his parents that he wasn’t sure were “real” or “imaginary”. Bao Yu was a “positive” and “constant” companion on their journey though he had a tendency to fall into “trap-azoids.” As the two “squared” off with their “calculating” enemies,
other players with their own “angles” joined to help “solve” their “prime” issues. Though the “probability” of success was a low “percentage”, the new allies stayed strong in the face of greedy men on a “tangent.”
“If the numbers are wrong, they should be corrected”
Under the Microscope was engaging and though the math wasn’t as easy as “pi,” the “sum” “total” of its parts “added up” to a drama that wasn’t “perfect” but “finite” entertainment with characters you could “root” for. The “common denominators” being strong performances, realistic “sets”, and a story “integral” to the real world where “negative” and “obtuse” people think money “equals” righteousness and honor. Fortunately, every once in a while, “ordinary”, but “significant” people step up and “point” out “solutions” to “problems” that will help society to “function” better.
18 September 2024
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
How to write a review on a 3-minute short movie? Make it short as well and hopefully meet the MDL word requirement. She Brought Colour into My World pushed the boundaries of censorship with this story of love and friendship between two women. A lovely young woman resides in a world of stony black and white. The new neighbor has just returned from studying abroad wearing an ethereal white dress. Dressed in beautiful clothes both traditional and Western, the two neighbors meet and have an instant rapport and the young woman's world is filled with color. The woman in white regales her with stories from outside the walls and gives her a gift. They explore the city, dance and hold hands. In 3 minutes a whole relationship blossoms free from censorship or at least for a while and a choice must be made. Stay in the world of color or return as before to cold stone.
I enjoyed this short film that pushed the boundaries with its open subtext and told how love can bring color into our lives and just as easily take it away.
29 January 2024
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The devil is in the details
As this is a 14 minute short film I won’t say much. You need to be prepared for very graphic talk about sex. It is not for the squeamish.The premise is a man meeting a school girl to have sex with her thinking she is a virgin. They begin to talk and he nauseatingly starts negotiating the price according to what he thinks her experience is. If you’ve gotten this far and are as repulsed as I was by him, don’t give up, keep going…
For a short film the production values were good as was the acting. The filmmakers packed a wallop of a story in those short minutes.
Again, not for the squeamish.
11/14/22
Was this review helpful to you?
Shujiro Saga is a skilled samurai who has been retired after a devastating battle that obliterated everyone on the battlefield with new weaponry. Swords have been outlawed in the new government and the samurai have been shuttled aside. Suffering from debilitating PTSD, he couldn’t use his sword if he had to. To top things off, his family is suffering from cholera and he has no money for medicine. When he hears about a gathering of samurai for a contest with a 100,000 yen prize, he has no choice but to join. At the gathering he finds other desperate people and also samurai desperate to fight, a deadly combination made worse by the conditions of the contest and the ever watchful, heavily armed guards. Along the way from Kyoto to Tokyo, Saga becomes allied with, or rather babysitter for an eclectic group. Aside from the rank-and-file contestants after them for their tokens, is also a shadow from his past intent on taking more than his token.
The comparison to Squid Game was inevitable despite the fact that these kinds of gruesome games have been played out in the movies and television shows for decades. The main thing the two have in common aside from pitting players against each other is that both focus on people who have been pushed to the edge economically and emotionally. I suppose the other is that whenever the camera diverted to the wealthy elite betting on the contestants, the emotional momentum came to a standstill. None of the people behind the game was particularly compelling, in fact, the Big Bad was downright disappointing. The drama was at its best when it focused on the contestants.
Okada Junichi made for an excellent conflicted lead. A loving father and husband, he was also believably Kokushu the Manslayer. I won’t go into his entourage so as not to spoil too much. The acting there was hit or miss. One of the villainous contestants was simply drawn as a mindless killing machine, though the actor chewed through the scenery in the bloody performance. In this contest, aside from Saga, mercy or complexity was rarely a strength.
The Last Samurai Standing was on its way to an 8.5 from me as I was quite enjoying it. For the genre, it delivered on what you’d expect, though no real surprises. The fights were well choreographed and not for the squeamish. The last episode veered into unrealistic territory which was jarring. Yet it also set up huge stakes beyond the contest for our intrepid little band of contestants. Surrounded by powerful enemies, it will be interesting to see how or if the writers can bring this to a satisfying conclusion when the second season rolls around.
14 November 2025
Trigger warnings: The heads rolled in this drama like a macabre bowling match. If you ever wondered what the Yojimbo blood spewing fight would look like in color, well, here’s your opportunity.
Was this review helpful to you?
Perception is reality even when it's a poem
Walking to the Moon is a 2022 short film. The actual film was under 8 minutes yet resonated long after. Seen through the eyes of an autistic boy, the world alternated between nightmare and poetry in motion.Ning An lives with his mother who runs a hair salon. Her boyfriend is derogatory toward him as Ning An is autistic. During a distressing moment, Ning An flees the salon and runs to the ocean.
Much of what transpires in this short film is from Ning An’s perspective, how he sees and experiences the world. A mirror is a window to the moon and ocean. A walk in the surf becomes a dance to the music of the whales and gulls all to the rhythm of the waves. The moon calls to him at the door to the ocean, personified, in a gentle underwater ballet.
This film is ethereal, enigmatic, a song, a dance, and a reminder that everyone sees the world in a deeply personal manner. I suspect viewers will interpret this film that glides between “reality” and “illusion” differently.
“You keep calling me, so I came here.
At the entrance to the deep ocean.
While this moment, ocean and ocean,
I’m here to bring you back.”
19 May 2026
Was this review helpful to you?
After being publicly canceled in August of 2021 and dragged through the mud by netizens, Zhang was afraid to leave his house and be seen in public. (Having read the complaints, it seemed like the punishment did not fit the crime at least from this outsider’s perspective.) Music helped restore the embattled actor and he found new ways to express himself, find work, and begin healing his wounds. This documentary was one of the ways he let people know that words can hurt and that he was choosing to focus on the positive.
There were times the set-ups felt overly staged as he played with children, helped a restaurant owner cook and serve, learned from river raft guides about their business and relationship, or interviewed a Tibetan musician. Having said that, I enjoyed the bits and his chats with the different people who opened their lives to him. The scenery, as expected, was stunning. Mountain vistas, glaciers, rivers, green fields with nomadic herds, all were soothing as Zhang experienced them.
If you are a Zhang Zhe Han fan, I could highly recommend “August” as he bared his heart and discussed his life without going into the “scandal” that nearly broke him. If you don’t know who he is, the documentary is still a sweet ride through the Tibetan mountains with brief glimpses into the people who live and work there.
4 May 2026
Was this review helpful to you?
"They are my family, no reason is needed"
Yakuza and the Family aka A Family showed the changing world of the yakuza in three acts through the eyes of Yamamoto Kenji. A fatherless child lashing out at the world, he found a place to be with Shibasaki’s yakuza family. He was to learn that a family born of violence would teach him the meaning of suffering and loss.Yamamoto Kenji spirals out of control after the death of his father that was drug related. His subsequent actions lead him to the door of his own demise when a slip of paper offers him a chance at survival and a new home. Shibasaki gifts him a new father and a place to belong. As the world changes so does Kenji’s fate.
When the film started, we’re watching the classic, cool guys, sunglasses at night yakuza with their pomp and circumstance. As Kenji moved up the ranks he walked openly down the middle of the street and straightened out problems with his fists. Even then, change was in the wings as their turf was scheduled for new development and the police and government were looking to sweep the yakuza away. A further jump in time and the traditional yakuza families were dying from attrition as society had deemed them unworthy. Leaving the yakuza offered no comfort as the men were faced with societal and economic ostracism. Where once Kenji had a found family, now any ties he had were unraveling.
The film was cyclical in its familial, especially fatherly, interactions. As father figures came and went, new ones took their places. Kenji went from having a drug addicted father to a criminal replacement. The viewer had to fill in the shortcuts implying Shibasaki’s paternal feelings for Kenji and vice versa. Violent, loyal men were now Kenji’s family and role models. I’m not sure if it was the director’s goal but it ended up feeling like a nostalgic and sentimental retrospect of the criminal organizations using the family motif.
Kenji’s utter lack of polite social skills became more apparent as he attempted to find a girlfriend. “Get in the car!” is not exactly the line most women are hoping to hear from a potential suitor. The romance was the real weak point in this film and I found it incredibly difficult to buy into. Kenji was capable of showing emotions, but often when he did, the audience was left out of their true depth. His first loss as a yakuza, one he grieved and whose death turned his life upside down, was a character who had few lines. Again, the audience was required to do the writer’s work.
A Family wasn’t just one unit, it was a dysfunctional extended family entangled with other families and loved ones spanning generations. Kenji’s made family was complicated and fraught with danger and slowly disappearing. He fought for them, suffered for them, and even killed for them, only on rare occasions allowing himself to show the personal costs to himself. Kenji might have secretly wished for a normal existence, but a yakuza’s path rarely proceeded peacefully as he discovered. All he could do was what seemed right though it might not be right, to avenge or help the people he cared about despite the price he would have to pay. I’m not sure if it was the director’s goal but it ended up feeling like a nostalgic and sentimental retrospect of the criminal organizations.
3 May 2026
Trigger warnings: Sexual assault, smoking, bare butts.
Was this review helpful to you?
"Games between men are pathetic"
I don’t require a lot from martial arts films. Give me some good fights and a somewhat coherent story, maybe even one compelling character and I’m in. 100 Yards had maybe one out of those three criteria.Shen An’s father is the head of a martial arts academy and dying. His best student comes home and his father has him dual his son for the academy. The academies are part of The Circle which helps to keep the peace. Once upon a time each academy was responsible for policing 100 yards around their school and gradually those territories grew. Now the student and the son butt heads over the future of The Circle and the city.
The fights were well shot without wires and without ridiculous undercranked or sped up shots. They were also sans CGI and extreme close-ups ---thank goodness. No one was thrown twenty feet into the air and bodies didn’t crush brick walls. The fight choreography was more realistic and Jacky Heung had nice moves. His acting, on the other hand, was painfully bad. He only had one facial expression in his bag of tricks which began to wear thin. Andy On’s Qi wasn’t much better. The never-ending fights began to feel pointless and in the end were pointless. The writing and directing went too heavy on the try and instead of cool came across as overly dramatic and cringey.
100 Yards is worth seeing if you are interested in a variety of fights with different weapons and styles. As long as you don’t expect any sort of compelling story or characters.
27 March 2026
Trigger warnings: there were a few slicey scenes but nothing egregious.
Note: The original Circle Chairperson was an actress they styled to look like a cross dressing Brigitte Lin. Hoping it was a respectful homage.
Was this review helpful to you?
"I can't jump! I'm not Tony Jaa!"
If you are looking for a tight, nail-biting action film with strong acting, Striking Rescue ain’t it. If you are in the mood to see Tony Jaa cut loose with fierce elbows and knees on his opponents like he hasn’t done in recent history…this is it. My rating is comparing this film against other Jaa films.Bai An is on a vengeful rampage after his wife and daughter are gunned down in front of him. Believing the perpetrator to be his wife’s boss, Chairman He Ying Hao, Bai An leaves no stone unturned and no body unbroken in his hunt for He. Lying in wait for He and his caravan travelling through the jungle, Bai An is surprised to find He’s crew attacked and He taken prisoner. In a strange trick of fate, Bai An ends up saving He’s daughter, Ting. The two join forces to find He with nearly everyone in town hunting the pair including Ting’s dutiful bodyguard, Wu Zheng.
The story was a flat framework used to hold up the fights. There were a half-dozen bad guys with their own crews of machete carrying minions that queued up for Bai An to pummel his way through. Despite his hatred of He, he risked his life repeatedly to keep Ting unharmed. Chen Duo Yi made the most of her damsel in distress role. Wu Zheng ended up being a nice fight buddy as the two reluctantly helped each other out. Two of the villains were wildly over the top which didn’t enhance the story. Shi Yan Neng played a villain he could do in his sleep at this point.
Now for a reason to watch this film. Tony Jaa at nearly 50 years old was amazing. I had to look up the fight choreographer and discovered it was Guo Yu Long. I’m not familiar with his work and it doesn’t look like he’s worked on many films, but he certainly knew how to showcase Tony’s talents. One of the best things about Tony’s fights was that he didn’t do a lot of rapid-fire punches that seemed pointless, unless it was the main villain. He aimed for the weak spots-elbows, shoulders, knees, and neck, which down an opponent immediately. Tony may be small but he’s mighty and a thing of frightening beauty to behold.
Striking Rescue may not have provided anything new in an action story and did run long, but it was good to see Tony in fine form again. I’ve missed his vicious knees and elbows. Don’t stay away so long, ‘kay? Rated on a Jaa curve. If you are a Tony fan, you’ll think it’s Jaa-some. If not, probably Jaa-ful.
21 March 2026
Trigger warnings: A few grisly fight scenes and a short operation scene. Child murder.
Was this review helpful to you?
"Liking someone has nothing to do with killing them"
The Vendetta of On was a fairly standard drama featuring a strategic genius bent on revenge after the murders of his loved ones. As always, when doing a familiar story, the execution is key and Vendetta acquitted itself well. Much like Mei Chang Su in Nirvana in Fire, Xie Huai An rocked his fur lined costume and stayed at least one step ahead of the bad guys…most of the time.Xie Huai An aka Liu Zhi has spent the last 15 years since escaping a massacre at his family residence plotting how to bring down the people responsible. The capital has changed ownership a couple of times and Xie is put to work by the new owner in finding the deposed previous owner as well as bringing down the traitorous and sly general of the Huben Army. Spies and sleeper cells abound, with layers upon layers of deceit and deception. Xie will have to count on his wits and friend circle to attain his goals and survive long enough enact his vengeance.
🟢What I liked:
It promised on revenge with the bodies stacking up early and often.
The tenacious and loyal General Gu. Despite being unable to walk he was still respected by his men. Was happy to see a wheelchair bound character written and portrayed so well.
Ye Zheng. I’m a bodyguard girl and was thrilled for Tong Meng Shi to play the role.
I wasn’t initially crazy about Faux Mo, but he grew on me and I was actually relieved his mask wasn’t removed later on as it helped my brain keep the continuity going.
The writers attempted to provide roles for women, even though most of the female guards were cookie cutter characters. I’m always astonished when these kinds of dramas all but omit women from the cast so I’m counting it as a win. Oddly, the casting director chose women who all looked quite similar despite the wide range of variety for the men.
The sets, wigs (important in these dramas!), acting, and fight choreography were all high quality. The drama also showed the cost of "othering" people.
Cheng Yi did a solid job as the obsessive Xie who had only one purpose in life. Even though Xie was usually ahead of everyone else, he did stumble on occasion without completely face-planting. I also enjoyed Wang Jin Song’s equally obsessive take on Wu Zhong Heng. There were numerous single-minded people in this drama who were in dire need of a trip to a bouncy house park.
❌What didn’t work as well for me:
Xie was an expert in nearly everything despite spending 15 years in the reeds. He left his home penniless, but somehow through the years acquired wealth and an extensive spy network. He was privy to secrets only a fly on a wall would know. He always seemed to have a change of clothes on him as well. Lol Pretty sure he had a Megamind “frequent kidnapping” card that was nearly punched full. He also had James Bond plot armor. Despite falling into his enemies’ hands time and again, no one immediately cut off his head, rather letting him hang around until he either escaped or killed them.
🤔Things that made me go hmmm….
The guards who defended the walls were in desperate need of remedial training. It was painfully funny how easily the enemy could scale the walls without anyone knowing on numerous occasions.
Characters were often gut stabbed with no lingering effects. I don’t care how good their medicine was or how tough they were, peritonitis is deadly.
The most chilling thing said in the whole drama for me was, “Everyone is a shadow guard. That’s the price of protection.” Yep, nothing makes me feel more secure than knowing my neighbors and co-workers are spying on me 24/7, ready to turn on me at a moment’s notice.
Overall, I found The Vendetta of An entertaining. The fights were fast and furious and we were weren’t forced to wait until the last quarter of the drama to witness Xie’s enemies begin to pay for their betrayals. The stakes were high and good guy losses hurt as much as I cheered the heads of the bad guys rolling.
18 January 2026
Trigger Warnings: A snake in episode 22. Decapitations, spurting blood, numerous stabbings, suicide.
~~Very Spoilery thoughts below~~
Does everyone keep a perfectly preserved identical head in their junk drawer?
I didn’t care for the sister’s story. She was ill developed and only served to add to Xie's man pain of which he already had enough. It was literally overkill. Not sure why she’s listed as a main character given her limited amount of screen time.
One of the more interesting duos raised a lot of questions for me. Cen Pickles and Wu were slaves of the lowest order in Tiemo. As slaves they murdered a number of people. Did I miss their story arc? How did they escape punishment in Tiemo and then both become highly educated? Was Tiemo advanced enough to have universal schooling for everyone? Cen ended up working in the Chang'an palace and Wu had been a teacher at the academy where the Chang'an noble children attended. No background checks from the secret police? I could see Wu murdering his way to being king if the Tiemo just wanted the baddest dude to be the leader, but Tiemo nobility were mentioned often which was quite a social leap for a wolf killing slave. I actually found Cen and Wu's relationship intriguing mostly because of the actors' abilities. Wu might have had nefarious plans for the people he intended to conquer, but the actor was fascinating to watch.
I don’t have access to the special episode. My guess is, just like soap opera rules, without a body, Xie aka Liu survived. His death, mirroring Zhou Mo’s in episode 1, kept him from being killed by the Huben Army. Though I don’t see him making daisy chains and hanging out at a pub. I’m not invested enough in the ruling class to care who took over the throne…for now. That throne room had a revolving door on it.
Was this review helpful to you?
"It's not hopelessness that makes me suffer, but the endless hope"
When two grieving and angry mothers feel that justice has not been served, they bring a killer back to life in order to exact their revenge in The Resurrected. Vengeance turns out to not be so slick and clean, nor easily attained.Wang Hui Chun is vigilant in the care of her daughter Jin Jin who lies in a coma in the distant country of Benkha. Her abusive, unfaithful husband continually berates her for not pulling the plug on their daughter but Hui Chun clings to the hope her daughter will one day awaken. Widow Chao Ching’s daughter Hsin Yi was brutally murdered by the same people responsible for Jin Jin’s coma. The mothers use their own resources to bring the killer to justice with the aid of another victim’s mother. When the killer dies “with dignity” it is too much for them and they put into motion an unnatural plan to resurrect him. Chang Shih Kai is not so easily manipulated and begins to create doubt in the mothers. Hui Chun and Chao Ching also grapple with the powerful people behind Chang, who could prove to be far more dangerous than the dead man.
The strength of this drama lay with the lead actresses. Shu Qi as Hui Chun was the follower of the two, usually siding with whatever Chao Ching decided on. Her world was swallowed up in debt and caring for the comatose Jin Jin, and drowning in endless hope. Angelica Lee’s Chao Ching came across as hard, obsessive and ruthless in her desire for vengeance. Broken by the cruel death of her daughter and her own guilty feelings, her only reason for living was to punish anyone involved with Hsin Yi’s suffering. She doggedly followed every lead offering zero compassion. Fu Meng Po as the killer Chang Shih Kai spent most of his scenes bloodied and tied up. He had to dig deep to bring nuance to the mothers’ despicable foe. While the writers tried to soften him with a tragic backstory, it had no effect on my view of him. He and his organization emotionally and physically tortured young people, killing them when they were no longer useful.
I had no problem with the mothers’ desire for vengeance on the man who tortured and killed their children. Hsin Yi died a horrific death. A mother’s need to protect resides deep in her DNA. Knowing her child was in danger, crying out for her and she’d been unable to save her, would be a parent’s worst nightmare. The first few episodes were enthralling. Even the social commentary on the wicked ways of the rich fit into the story. Then it seemed the writers didn’t trust their characters and added mysterious layers that were unnecessary and garbled things up. KISS is always best (Keep It Simple Stupid). The last few eps ran off the rails, though they managed to salvage the two mothers after tearing their characters up. The writers also reverted to a trope at the end that was tired and overused by the 1980s. I don’t think they were setting up a sequel, I think it was just a cheap trick at a jump scare.
I loved watching Shu Qi and Angelica Lee delve deeply into their characters’ pain and anger. They were quite compelling to watch. For these two alone, it was a drama worth giving a try. Despite the erratic and convoluted nature of the writing in the last three episodes, I still enjoyed this drama overall. The Resurrected was a dark, twisted vengeance drama that will not be for everyone. Please take note of the triggers. Others may find it far too tame. The supernatural element didn’t play into the story too much. The real draw for me was watching two, actually three women process their grief and rage in different manners, all by skilled actresses.
17 October 2025
Trigger warnings: Torture-both of the guilty and the innocent. Sexual assault. Sexual content. Brief nudity. Drug use. Smoking. The occult.
Was this review helpful to you?
"I'm not a step behind, you're always a step ahead!"
Inspired by a true story of a mom working in a laundromat who fell victim to phishing, Citizen of a Kind showed that bad guys really should avoid ticking off the wrong ahjumma. Especially if she has equally tenacious friends.Single mom Kim Deok Hui is in dire straits financially after her house burned. Initially denied a loan, a bank manager calls her suggesting a special loan for low-income applicants. In order to qualify she has to borrow money from loan sharks to meet all the requirements. Then the bottom falls out when Kim discovers it was all a scam. The police are no help and without the money she and her kids are left homeless. Misfortune continues to fall. When a Korean worker at the call center phones her asking for help to escape, Kim sees this as her chance to bring down the criminals and get her money back.
Ra Mi Ran was perfect for the role of Kim Deok Hui, the loving mom who was determined to find the people responsible for stealing her money. Kim fearlessly tracked down every lead, despite the police and Detective Park being fairly feckless. Yeom Hye Ran as the bilingual Bong Rim as usual gave a strong performance. Gong Myung as Kwon Jae Min acquitted himself well as the imprisoned caller desperately wanting to escape. Jang Yoon Ju was the weak link for me. Perhaps she was supposed to be the comic relief but her vocal intonation was set on shriek for most of the film.
Knowing it was based on a real woman who lost so much made the stakes high for the film. The film itself may have not broken new ground but the ahjumma posse tracking the criminal organization across two countries was entertaining to watch, largely due to the actresses’ performances. The film had comedy and thrilling moments with some violence and everything held together by Ra as the justice seeking ahjumma. Worth a try.
21 September 2025
7.75 bumped up to an 8.0
Was this review helpful to you?
"I've lost my breasts. What can I write about?"
Tanaka Kinuyo tackled three sensitive topics for 1955 in The Eternal Breasts aka Forever a Woman—divorce, breast cancer, and a woman’s sexuality. I'd watched the other four films she directed but saved this fifth one for last as I knew it would be the most devastating for me. Having lost the two most important women in my life to it, I take this disease personally.Fumiko and her two small children, Noboru and Aiko, make the most of their days. Her mother helps the family out when she can as Fumiko’s husband has given up on finding a job, is for all practical purposes a drug addict, and an unapologetic adulterer. After having enough, Fumiko files for divorce. Her only solace through her marriage and divorce was the poetry club she belonged to. Because of the depressing nature of her marriage her poems were described as “overblown.” An old friend sends her poems to a Tokyo newspaper looking for new talent and she is “discovered.” Unfortunately, Fumiko also discovers she has late-stage breast cancer. A young reporter enters her life, more concerned for her health than the story.
Discovering you had late-stage breast cancer that had metastasized to the lungs was a deadly diagnosis in 1955. In truth, if it was already in her lungs, it would have been in her brain and limbs as well. Mastectomies were the primary treatment. Chemotherapy was in its infancy and not trusted. Radiation and some hormone therapies were about the extent of possible medical regimens. Fumiko was confined to the hospital that had bars on the windows and doors, functioning effectively as a cage. Her children were not allowed to visit, which for a mother would be barbaric. Her roommates were transferred to a different room as they neared the end of their life and then the long dark hallway to the morgue. It seemed like a lonely way to spend one’s final days.
Despite being relegated to a room waiting to die, Fumiko began to work through her feelings and thoughts. At first, she felt less like a woman without her breasts. As time went on, she came to realize she still had longings and desires. Her poetry reflected her fight with cancer and death, and what it meant to be a woman. Could she still be a woman without her breasts? She began to speak her truth and her mind more openly. At this point what did she have to lose? The same society that kept her from attending her brother’s wedding and caused her to marry a man she didn’t care about could no longer censor her thoughts or actions. She was dying, what else could they do to her?
The women around her stayed by her side and cared for her and her children. Her brother won the good brother award as he, too, didn’t shy away from her as some men are wont to do. The young reporter, Otsuki, gave her the joyous gift she had longed for. While the mystery after death must be walked alone, Fumiko was fortunate to have loved ones who cared for her.
Tanaka Kinuyo created a strong film about an imperfect woman who loved her children and family, loved poetry, loved men, and in the end was able to love her “sinful” self, unconcerned about any “unreliable gods” out there. Nakajo Fumiko, the tanka poet this film was based on, died at the age of 31, leaving behind four children and her poetry. Your Auntie Butterfly implores you to begin doing breast exams in your 20s, talk with your doctor about your risk factors, and when the time comes, march right in and get squished. The treatments now are much more sophisticated and successful, especially if they catch it early.
"Death shall lighten
and free me
to even ride
on your shoulder"
2 September 2025
Triggers: F*cking cancer
Was this review helpful to you?
"Your lines are your emotions"
If you imagine a rabbit is blue then the rabbit is blue. Adapted from a manga, Blue Period was a gentle coming of age story about a high school boy going through the motions until he discovers his passion. I have not read the manga so my review will be based solely on the film.High schooler Yaguchi Yatora excels at academics and after classes hangs out with his three best friends. Life would seem to be perfect, but he’s merely going through the motions. He finds no meaning or thrill in his days until he’s forced to take an art class. In one blue moment, he discovers his zing and something that makes life worthwhile. He throws himself into his artwork, fighting to make up for a lack of natural talent with determined enthusiasm.
Full disclosure, this kind of film is my jam. I am a frustrated artist and love watching other people perform miracles on paper and canvas even when it is fictional. This was not a film with twists and turns, in fact it was quite predictable. Yet I still enjoyed watching Yatora’s artistic journey as well as his internal journey. Forever comparing himself to others and lacking in confidence, Blue Period explored his steady growth as an artist and as a young man. This film was far from perfect, but for me it was soothing and motivational
The supporting characters were given little time. Ayukawa Yuka (Ryuji), a young transwoman, received most of the attention outside of Yatora. For the most part, the writers were sensitive and showed the prejudice she faced especially within her own family. I disliked how Yatora continued to refer to her by her masculine name instead of her chosen name, other than that he strove to be a friend to her. And Yuka gave him the advice and push forward he often needed. The other supporting characters were there to fill in the canvas.
Blue Period had no villains except for the brutal inner critic that lives within all of us. Yatora came to understand that regardless of how “flimsy and pathetic” people appeared to be, everyone deserved to be loved. Through his art, Yatora began to really see the people and world around him. He learned to stop comparing himself to others and focused on his own path that held mistakes but also wonderful bursts of insight and creative innovation. Inspiration is contagious…pass it on!
"They can't create what I can, a world all my own."
11 July 2025
Was this review helpful to you?
