This review may contain spoilers
This is the first time I am writing a review, but I feel like I need to talk about this movie. I loved the setting and the cinematography, yet the whole historical aspect wasn't that important. What I liked most about this Drama was Sul Hee and the emotions she portrayed. What made this movie good was, in my opinion, the intense (yet unreasonable (will talk about this later)) family conflict. We see Deok Gi and Sul Rang have this intense relationship full of hatred, love and the past. Their romance was tragic and everything about it seemed doomed. These two individuals have really gone crazy throughout the movie and the one suffering because of it was Sul Hee. Deok Gi and Sul Rang used Sul Hee the whole time as a toy in their revenge game.
Sul Hee was such a sad character, stuck in between the conflict of her parents and forced to mature and grow up within such a short time. Her parents drew her into their fight and revenge plan, leading to Sul Hees life being turned upside down. And the saddest part was, that there was nothing she could do about it since her parents just decided what her life and choices will be like.
Now onto the illogical part. Why were Deok Gi and Sul Rang doing all this stuff? So many choices remained with no explanation and even after everything was over the question remains. What was the point of starting this game? And was it worth it? The ending was great, but it still left a bitter taste. Was all that really necessary? I really wondered if, at the very end, Geok Gi and Sul Rang ever regretted what they did to that poor child.
So, I liked it very much. To me, it was an emotional, sad and beautiful movie, although somewhat illogical.
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This review may contain spoilers
it could have been better if the script was written differently....
Story: the story is a good one.The way the script is written is another story: bottom line, when the plot really started, the movie ended! I don't know why in every Japanese movie I've watched was a big drama, there was damaged people, and the moments of happiness seemed unreal! For me, the movie seemed like a line of events, somehow separated form each other, they were lost in details that could have been compressed easily in less then half of hour. There was no time to get into detail of the main story, the love between them.
The thing that I liked were the quotes. Were so many and they completed and explained the story line.
For example: "Wherever is one of us, the other is present" or " The moment one begins to love another is when life really starts. "
The very last quote said it all and explained the ending: "If somebody asks why I loved he way I did I'll answer hat both of us were authentic. That is my only answer" (Montaigne).
It could have been a great movie, but the one who wrote the script didn't do a good job.
Acting/Cast: Both main actors were really beautiful! It was a pleasure to watch them. Taking into account that they were 24 and 25 years' old, their acting was ok, not very impresive, as it should be at the beginning of the acting career. Only one or two scenes impressed me; I felt their chemistry, their emotions. It is true that a good actor can play everything. But also is true that always the script is the one which offers to the actors the opportunity to show their value. This wasn't the case here.
Music: To be honest, I don't know what to say about music. There was moments when I liked it, but there was nothing to impress me.
Rewatch: I will never rewatch it. The ending took me by surprise and made me cry even if I understand their idea. It could have been different ending, not necessarily a happy one, but just different.
I need to watch a comedy now......fast!
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Pleasant and Captivating
I can understand this isn't for everyone but I was incredibly intrigued by this film.This was a one-scene film of a 30 minute conversation between two friends, August and Kit, and in those 30 minutes we were given so much. Goofy and playfulness, frustration and doubt, romance and flirtation. The chemistry and conversation felt natural- almost as if I was right there in the cafe with the two. It was slow but they had my full attention the entire time.
The set was positively adorable- I felt like it was created for a bubbly Kpop MV but it works nicely. The camera work also caught my eye- slowly going "in" and "out" (likely a reference to what Kit talks about at the beginning of the film) was a nice touch!
Give Love Advisor a try! It's quick and easy, and who knows... maybe you'll even be surprised by the ending.
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Doesn't try to do too much
This is a 30 minute film that focuses on a single conversation between two boys. Because that's all there is, the writing and acting have to carry it. I thought they did a great job!They somehow manage to get backstory in there without an infodump (I hate those), the conversation never gets slow, and it's always going somewhere. By the end you feel like you understand where they came from to get to this place.
Then at the end there's a surprise, which I won't spoil, but which seems to signal a sequel?
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I just can't
Ok, so legit I'm only here cause my subscription was about to end and I didn't want to renew it lmao Ran outta stuff to watch so I gave this a shot... not worth it! Everything about this was scattered and smothered all over the place from beginning to end. Something about China they just can't get the hang of good graphics. I suffered through the whole thing, but I'm no quitter and forced my way through. I praise anyone who made it through this movie without questioning ANYTHING. So many loop holes and downhill plots, it's like they threw this story together overnight. The synopsis didn't sound terrible but... I've been proven wrong before. I think it's downfall is 100% the plot. The actors did what they could and the costumes where decent.Enjoy...
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more time, please.
I don't like to write the synopsis, what i can say about this movie is: watch carefully, slowly and try to enjoy the mind of the main characters.In the beginning I was confused, I was bored, but slowly the movie started to catch me, the actors are surprisingly good, the story itself is confusing but I think it's worth it. This movie doesn't have a good ost, doesn't have a fantastic history but the talent of the actors carry the movie. I really want to see a second movie, what is missing is the time, with a little bit more time we can see art in this movie.
In general its that, if you watch it after you read this review, it is a good movie.
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confused
yes i'm a glutton for punishment and bored, otherwise wouldn't go watch this movie after the mess the prequel Bittersweet Chocolate was/is. this aint any better - there James cause of his addiction(?) cause of Playboy / Mac is driven into prostitution to finance his habit. as confusing as that movie was, this point was clear. considering Playboy / Mac was the drug dealer.here for some reason Playboy / Mac the proustite and if that not enough, he into S& M and James is the pimp or dude that makes sure the whores r in line - or something along those lines - well he the one with the gun, so he not another boy selling his ass - even though he doing drugs - so i was like what did i miss
let alone how this starts off, with that poor boy chained like a dog - who he is or why he is being treated this way, from start to finish u never find out - another one of life's mysteries i guess... well this whole movie is tough to comprehend, cause its just a bunch or random scenes slapped together and u never quite understand the why of anything. is Gold Hair the client or the whore? where the frack LadyBoy and the Big Boss come in or disappear to. why James keeps spitting like a moron - and on and on the list of unanswered questions goes. would say one off but aint recommending either of these movies so whatever
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James for sure didn't take a bite out of the cake she baked - and there was no context as to how he got to know Playboy. or what happened after the mother caught on her son gay -
even the added violence - cause Playboy's "shit" was missing, was a WTF moment - and why James hooking(?) cause his mother tossed him out after catching him in the bathroom - like an actual coherent plot would be great - symbolism is all good and well, but if u got a message to convey - sometimes dumbing it down helps better getting ur point across - but whatever... weird one off
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I was reticent about watching this as I'm not a huge Jimmy Wang Yu fan nor Chang Cheh. To my surprise, I enjoyed this movie. Either lovingly restored or lovingly cared for it was sharp and vibrant. Those who have watched old kung fu movies know what I'm talking about. Some of them look like they've been drug over 20 miles of bad road. While most of the scenery was filmed on a lot, the sets were very nice to look at.
Most of the actors performed well for the time and genre. I was surprised to see Tien Feng and Ku Feng playing good guys, they usually played wicked men. Lisa Chiao Chiao, no stranger to holding a sword in a movie, played the gentle love interest with no desire for her man to ever pick up a sword again. Fortunately, her character just happened to have a secret book on how to fight left-handed hidden away and was able to give it to Wang's character after he lost his right arm and fell into a depression. This role fit Wang's screen personality like a glove and it made him famous.
The sword fights were typical of the time, with quite a few, uh, disarming scenes. Bloodier than movies that came before it, but not as bloody as Chang Cheh would make in the future, the fights were mostly entertaining.
The One Armed Swordsman excelled more in storyline and mood than in the actual fight scenes. The one-armed swordsman received a gift in his loss as he came to learn compassion and affection. Though he lost everything he knew, he gained a way out of the cycle of violence. For martial arts movie enthusiasts, it's a good one to watch in homage to the past and also to see how far these movies have come.
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The Korean Fast & Furious
This movie was worth watching at 3am and it kept me alert and wide awake despite the late hour. The police politics, the twist, the high speed car chase was so satisfying that I didn't even need a snack to go with the movie.Each of the actors did an amazing job at portraying their characters. Jo Jung-suk was as charming as he always is even as an antagonist. Contrary to some comments from other viewers, Gong Hyo-jin's monotonous and expressionless acting made her role as a strong female officer appear and feel more realistic and reminds me of how Vin Diesel was in F&F, you see the emotion in their eyes, not their face. It was the first time ever that I saw Ryu Jun Yeol and he easily made it to my long list of budding actors to watch out for. Then, as the cherry on top, seeing another top favourite, KGE at the end was a pleasant surprise. I hope there'd be a sequel with her in it.
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A Short Horror BL Movie
Content Warnings: it's in the horror genre so there are a few jump scares/gory make up (as someone who doesn't like horror I found it okay to watch but not right before going to sleep)Overall: not my favorite short from Strongberry, but an interesting entry in the horror genre
What I Liked
- tried to do something different and incorporate the horror genre
- the acting and production value was fine
- a very nice nsfw scene
- cameo from the actor in Some More
Room For Improvement
- it was rushed/choppy especially with the ending, definitely could have used a longer run time
(fyi you can purchase this on their Vimeo channel)
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This review may contain spoilers
sorry but i don't get anyone giving this a high rating - to each their own of course, but watching this i didn't find anything likeable in Jun - who is the MC. his attitude is reckless not rebellious, and we taking an adult here, not a teen - so rebellious really? against whom?!? his dead father or meek browbeaten mother?!? or the worse - a loving understanding partner that didn't and doesn't deserved what he got, in return for his love or trust.... so nah this not worthy of 5 stars, let alone 7 or moreif this was supposed to serve as a cautionary tale, to everyone not using condoms then good - cause the "i like to feel closer..." argument is moronic - closer to death more like - even though as the nurse pointed out, with medication nowadays u can control the disease and live a normal life - but lets face facts, if u sick no matter what u have once u have to live with it for life, it wont stay the same - it morphs and effects every aspect of ur life - let alone when u consumed medication regularly its side effects (that r usually warnings) take effect after a decade or two - that's unavoidable - so "normal" is subjective....
also i really felt sorry for the mother, who is not a mean - bad person that deserves her son disregard and disrespect - he staying with her and treating their house like a love-motel and i don't care what ur sexual orientation is, if ur not married and u bring every tom, dick and harry back to ur home to shag while ur parent's in the other room, that's down right disrespectful and deserving of u getting kicked out, let alone getting a scolding. but she did neither - just kept quite and suffered in silence, no matter what her son did. and she the bad guy?
but Jun's logic is off as he the one who went to meet his ex and then brought home trouble, making a show out of the whole family from the neighbor's to talk about (any Asian's worse nightmare), and if that's not enough he gets mad at the mother and runs off - even after the test he doesn't think it's right to contact his new bf - here Michel the one running around looking for this spoilt ass - why? heck Michel was a better son to Jun's mom then Jun and he understanding on top of it all, considering he also infected?!? this was sad, not sweet or lovely. Jun is selfish and undeserving of Michel's love.
he might hate his dead father but he off the same mold, and the mother had to suffer one when he was alive- now she got another version to take care off in her old age - donno this was kinda depressing and still can't get all the positive reviews regarding this movie.
the only positive i found - dude playing Michel - hella good looking - and i guess the acting was good. so one off
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A Quirky Short Film
Content Warnings: noneOverall: a cute short film (30min) with an art house film quirky vibe
What I Liked
- the set design is really nice
- the camerawork and lighting made it have an art film/quirky/unique tone
- I could see this being a whole series and I don't think I've seen a fortune teller reading tea leaves in BL yet...
Room For Improvement
- I think I know what happened at the end but I'm not really sure...which generally isn't how I like to feel after watching something
- the goofy sound effects were okay, I liked that they toned them/got rid of them later on
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Definitely recommendable to watch.
I Definitely liked the movie. From the Production, Cast, and the flow of the story itself. I can tell that some of the actors are like new to acting cause I haven't seen them before, but man they act so well and I'm amazed by that. The flow of the story is somehow unpredictable and that's kinda good way for the viewers to like keep on thinking that what would happen in the next seen. And I can also see some good points of this movie and I can't list them all but yeah! I enjoy watching this one. I'm a Fan of different genres of movies especially Filipino movies, and I can say that This was one of the film that will make its viewers thumbs up. Hope you guys have fun watching it.Was this review helpful to you?
