Reviews

This story was on thin ice

Donnie Yen took a dramatic turn without the benefit of his martial arts skills in Comeback Home aka Polar Rescue. This family thriller about a lost child set in a beautiful snowy wilderness was marred by poor storytelling.

A De and his family are on their last day of vacation having a blast playing in the snow at a resort. He has promised his son a trip to Lake Tian to see the monster living there. Finding the road closed due to inclement weather they take an alternate route where their car ends up stuck in a snowy pothole. A De and his wife manage to dislodge the car but their son Lele throws a fit and nearly gets everyone injured when another car comes up the road. When the eight-year-old’s temper tantrum escalates, A De leaves him there to teach him a lesson while he drives his wife and daughter to a nearby store. When A De returns, his son is nowhere to be seen.

I was looking forward to watching Yen in a non-martial arts film and he did fine here as the worried and hotheaded father. The winter scenery was gorgeous. The music while melodramatic fit the film. Where Polar Rescue slipped and fell was in the writing. A De’s initial response seemed utterly unbelievable for a caring father. At times the search and rescue teams were portrayed with all the propaganda they could fit in. At other times they were incompetent, unprofessional, and petty. If only perfect people were worthy of rescue, no one would ever be rescued. I found most of the characters’ actions baffling and at times infuriating.

Comeback Home had interesting moments and many that strained credulity. If you are a fan of Donnie Yen or family dramas where a member is in danger you might want to give this a try. Or if you are simply in need of a film with snow continuously falling. If you’ve ever known someone who has worked search and rescue or you need your thrillers to make a modicum of sense, you’ll want to avoid this one.

19 November 2024

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very lovely love story

I recently watched several Japanese movies, this one is in the top 5

the story built with a strong base premise, we can not see it in our everyday life but anyone can relate
the storyline move with deep wave, prepare yourself with a box of tissues

the characters are quite strong with unique personalities and I hardly find the flaw from the casts performance as if I didn't see they're acting, seems like real life conversations, gestures etc.

at the last 40 minutes a few plot twists came to my mind, and I tried to numb my feeling before I see it, but none of it came true

bravo for the teams behind this movie
I will watch this movie again in the future

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I did not exactly like it "per se" but I found it interesting

This movie is foremost a dark comedy about marriage as the main male lead Doo Hyun cannot stand living with his wife anymore but do not know how to face the situation other than being conflict avoidant. I found this premise very interesting but at the same time some of the over-the-top comedic moments mixed with some really dramatic moments did not work well with me. I did not enjoy the way the humor was set, it was a bit too absurd while trying to make it as what felt like a life lesson on marriage and relationship overall.

Except the "Casanova" character that I found properly repugnant all along, the main characters (Doo Hyun, the husband and Jung In, the wife) who were really not likeable at first to me, grow on me as their story unfolded.
Despite me liking the cast (- with Lee Sun Kyun, Ryu Seung Ryong and Lee Kwang Soo being actors that I enjoy), I found the acting was bad in the most absurd and comedic scenes (especially on the side of Ryu Seung Ryong but maybe it is because I disliked strongly his "Casanova" character). Lim Soo Jung was probably the best in terms of acting and with the evolution of her character.

I found the production value pretty good, there are a couple of scenes with mouth-watering food which is always a nice bonus in my book. However, I'm not a huge fan of the soundtrack tough it clearly fulfilled its purpose at creating a certain ambiance fitting the plot of the story.

I would recommend this to people looking for a dark comedy. It is for sure not a fluffy romance and there are a lot of absurd moments that are a bit strange because of the shift in tones given the intention of the story. Despite its flaws, it has an interesting premise, so I think it is worth a watch.

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Fresh like a virgin snow !

When any drama or movie makes you read more about it, more about the references it was there, then consider that movie has accomplished its task of impressing you.

"job done efficiently"

This movie 18×2 done exactly the same.
The mention of japanese movie "love letter" in it with Shunji Iwai.

just like the fiction anime pixar movie "Collation", which is about a stapler and a piece of paper that fall in love, from drama "Dash& Lily".
Then there was this references of songs mr. children, mayday, which made me dig in that too.

Without giving away any spoilers,
i must tell you after a long time have seen something fresh.

I was already fan of this actor Greg Hsu (someday or one day fame).
the girl and the character (Kaya Kiyohara/ Ami )is simple and beautiful.

short crisp and meaningful quotes always finds the way to my heart.

Quotes like -
1) "Rest paves the long road ahead."
2)"Traveling is fun,because you never know what will happen".
3) L'air du Temps - "flow of time."

4) "why did you decide to travel?
Soul-searching?"
"Not exactly."
"I wanted to reassess my own life."
"What do you mean?"
"I wanted to go to various places and meet various people to confirm that I'm OK the way I am".

although its a cliche, but the way of story telling was just too good for me to be glued.

How often we wish for our dad to say this !
"You only live once, so don't leave any regrets"
Normally close friends and that too after 2-3 mugs of beer would come up with this line for you.

"you are too pure man" by koji seals the line of our thoughts which was not finding its track earlier and kept you wondering why you are falling for this Jimmyguy?

cameo by Shunsuke Michieda(Aoki) in the form of koji was welcoming (btw me yet to come out of his "my love mix-up" zone)

"Sng-lah"... Feels great !

XOXO

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The Boys from Fengkuei was a coming-of-age film from Hou Hsiao Hsien. Three aimless teenage boys waiting to be called up for mandatory military service move to a larger city and find themselves to be small fish in a big pond.

Ah Ching, Ah Jung, and Kao Tzu spend most days drinking, playing pool, playing pranks and getting in fights. Ah Ching’s mother is constantly criticizing him hoping to set him straight. When the boys have a brush with the law they travel to Kaohsiung for work. They are looking for independence and new experiences before they are called into military service. Hsiao Hsing is their cute neighbor with a sleazeball boyfriend who is stealing from work. Ah Ching begins work at the factory where Hsiao is employed while the other two friends seek alternative income sources that puts a strain on the friendships.

I enjoyed this film more than some of Hou Hsiao Hsien’s other films. The characters weren’t as remote and unknowable as in his later films. Ah Ching was relatable and despite his poor behavior in his hometown, he was more sympathetic than the other two boys. The teens went from being cocky fish in a small pond to insignificant fish in a big pond. They weren’t well educated and lacked marketable skills. All three faced uncertain futures and were still learning who they were as young men. Complicating things, it was the time of life when relationships were made and broken with friendships in flux.

The Boys from Fengkuei was an entertaining slice of life film more about the experience of watching it than any sort of compelling plot. It evoked emotions of a last summer vacation before adulthood kicks in and wanting a little romance and adventure, but not knowing how to manifest either.

18 November 2024

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"Men like us don't deserve a woman"

Soul on a String was an unusual combination of cyclical revenge and spiritual journey, fantasy and reality. Somehow, it worked…for the most part. Beyond the story and acting the breathtaking scenery of Tibet starred as the main feature.

“Treasure your new life and be kind to all.”
After he kills a deer, Tabei finds a sacred stone in the animal’s mouth. Lightning promptly strikes him. He is revived by Buddhist monks and the Incarnate Lama Zatroe. Because the holy Tibetan treasure chose Tabei he is tasked with delivering it to the Palm Print Land. Tabei will also be given the chance to redeem his sins and awaken his soul. Along the way, Tabei reluctantly ends up traveling with a female sheepherder and a small, mute boy. Hot on his trail are an enigmatic cowboy, two vengeful brothers, and numerous shady men who desire the priceless stone.

“The distance is under your feet and the road is on your back.”
Soul on a String felt like a cross between fairytale and reality. It could be hard to tell where the lines between the supernatural and natural crossed. More than one mystical being guided the characters to where they needed to be. While there were plenty of people who wanted to rob or murder Tabei, this was not an action film. The cyclical nature of revenge did take center stage though. Two brothers spent their lives hunting Tabei because his father killed their father in a fight. One brother killed several men named Tabei during his relentless search creating new enemies for his family. Though Tabei understood the brothers’ need for vengeance, he’d never even met his deceased father yet still was held responsible for his actions. As Tabei crossed the endless landscape in front of him with two people who cared for him, he began to gain some introspection and appreciation for life. All life.

“With a snap of my finger, I can take all of you out of this universe.”
Most of the actors gave natural performances, nothing too complex or nuanced. Without a better working knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism there were a few elements in the story that were somewhat confusing to me, but most of the story was easy to follow. The timelines were fluid and didn’t always move in a linear fashion. Because much of the action took place in the vast, scarcely populated areas of grasslands, desert, and mountains, where a person could die of thirst or hunger, something as simple as a Walkman seemed anachronistic. The cinematography showcased extraordinary landscapes that often competed with the actors for attention.

Soul on a String explored the useless blood feuds that destroyed the next generation’s lives and created more feuds for the continuing generations. Without being heavy-handed Tabei gained his redemption arc, step by agonizing step. Accompanied by a woman who cared for him whether he liked it or not and a pint-sized supernatural helper whether he liked it or not. I freely admit I may have rated this film too high, redemption stories are like catnip to me. 7.75 rounded up to an 8, on another day it might be a 7.5

“To turn spiteful curses into forgiving smiles
Let me understand others
Without asking to be understood
Let me love others
Without asking to be loved.”

18 November 2024

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*Sob sob* I'm not crying . . . you are!

When I was first reading the comments to decide whether or not to watch this, all of them were somewhere along the lines of, "oh my freaking god, I haven't cried so much since I found out that my boyfriend cheated on me with that one hot bartender that I used to have a crush on like a year ago." Okay, not really, but that was kiiinda what I was seeing.

So I was like, it cant be that sad right? So I went out and found the movie on youtube and watched it. I first discovered Bible around a year ago when I binge watched kinnporsche on my couch with my cat. And, just like then, I was amazed with his acting. The way he showed all of his emotions was BEAUTIFUL. His performance was so moving, and if you came up to me and said what happened in the film was real, I would believe you.

The film is short but filled with so many emotions that even full-length dramas can't compare. I was surprised by how perfectly it was delivered. Their relationship was realistic in a melodramatic way and even though the story is simple, their acting gave it so much depth.

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A little too formulaic

Just my personal opinion, but I REALLY don't like watching needy people. The FL was so desperate it really irritated me. I also wasn't feeling their relationship on a romantic level. I appreciated that they became friends, but it felt like the ending was forced to make is a HEA ending. When I watch shows, I'm all about the ML and FL ending up together, being the ultra-romantic that I am, but maybe because it was movie, there wasn't enough time to show why they fell in love. It also would have been good to have more of a secondary story about someone's choice to remain single. This movie definitely touted -- single is bad.

That being said, I did enjoy it for what it was.

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This by no means was a comedy and shouldn't have been labeled as such

This was a hard movie to watch due to the subject matter. The evil in the world is never easy to watch. That said, I really enjoyed the acting and the action. Kim Woo Bin does such a fine job with micro-expressions, and I really liked the development of his character. There was a possibility of him going down a certain path, and I'm glad they didn't take that direction. Also, thank you for not trying to add in romance. (though I'd love to see him in a romance!)

I thought that the action sequences were very well-done.

Personally, I was glad this was a movie and not a series. It got straight to the point without wasting time.

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An inspiring story about rising from failure and transforming into a better person.

Overall, the movie's narrative is successful-it communicates a clear moral message to the audience. However, I feel unable to give an objective assessment of a movie with LGBTQ content. This movie not only hints at but explicitly tells the story of transgender. Therefore, what should have been a positive rating for this movie is reduced by the content. In terms of acting, the cast has performed adequately. They managed to express emotions that can be felt by the audience. The music in this movie is adequate, not too dominant but also not disappointing. I assure you that a movie with an LGBTQ campaign would not be something I would consider watching again.

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Great adaptation!

As everyone else said, I think the actress who played Hachi didn't fit her. The Hachi from the first movie played her excellently. I will say that the Shin in this movie was a better cast.

I don't think I noticed this in the first movie, but for this one, wow! The wardrobe and accessories were very accurate; I think they did an amazing job. This is such a great adaptation; the script, cinematography, and clothing are spot on and it was satisfying to see. It felt rewarding to watch this after finishing the anime, I enjoyed it.

Overall, it is an excellent adaptation and movie; well done. I'll love the story of Hachi and Nana forever.

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it's too sweet for me ?

this is what sequel need to be made! even with different cast, they success to set their cast to be the exact same as the previous sequel. how takagi act as takagi it self so good. ofc for nishi too! overall it's too much sugar in it, it's too sweet <3

lastly, it yet slow paced but melancholic. how the acting, set and the storyline are perfectly balanced. easy one of the best ending for a series in my opinion, i hope if some production want to make a series from manga or aanime adaptation this is how they should be made. opinion are opened, but this is what my pure base on my honest opinion are.

once again, T H A N K S ❤️

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Uncut edition

One of the most iconic cult martial art films of all time, the influence felt by Master of the Flying Guillotine can still be seen in pop culture to this very day. Nothing captures the imagination of genre fans like the notion of a mechanical device being hurled through the air to behead its victims. With its nonstop flurry of fighting, ersatz bloodletting and incidental hilarity, this sequel to Jimmy Wang-Yu's earlier One-Armed Boxer doubles down on what made that film work, ultimately leaving this film as his most fondly remembered and signature work, very few films can compete with having a one-armed hero, a blind antagonist who wields a Flying Guillotine and a stolen Krautrock on its soundtrack. The main plot is completely nonsensical and only serves as window dressing for the film's bloody trail of vengeance and tournament antics, one that Yu directs with exhilarating energy. After a series of ultra-cool martial arts set pieces, choreographed fiercely and imaginatively by Lau Kar Leung, Yu eventually faces Kam Kong in an awesome coffin-tossing, wall-climbing, one-arm boxing, guillotine-throwing finale. As writer, director, and star Yu proved to be an extraordinary showman whose creativity, experimentation with genre conventions, and knack for surrounding himself with great talent results in a recipe for a marvellously manic film, Master of the Flying Guillotine needs to be seen to be believed, and even then defies belief.

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