"No one can beat me"
Dorian “Flash Legs” Tan and Don Wong teamed up to take on an evil counterfeiter in Hot, Cool, and Vicious. This Taiwanese kung fu flick surpassed my expectations, albeit they were very low to begin with. Not gifted with the budget of a Shaw Brothers production, director Lee Tso Nam and martial arts director Gam Ming made the most of what they had, namely Dorian Tan’s excellent kicks.Capt. (Northern Leg) Lu takes care of the law and order in a village run by Mayor Yuen. When Yuen’s son commits a murder the two men clash. Southern Fist Pai Yu Ching, a known killer, arrives in town with his buddy Tieh and begins working for Yuen. Newly arrived Miss Lee and her uncle bear a grudge against Lu. Before long everyone seems to be trying to hire Pai to kill Lu.
There were no secret lists or manuals, but there were plenty of hidden identities and subterfuge. The plot led to the fights nicely. Gam Ming’s choreography utilized the cast’s abilities and those with lesser abilities well. Speaking of Gam Ming (aka Tommy Lee), he showed up in the final act as the dangerous golden haired albino fighter. Dorian’s kicks are always a joy to watch and the choreography showed them off splendidly. There was a modicum of wire-fu when characters did some high jumping but it was kept to a minimum. Sun Chia Lin even got in on the fighting. Most of the action was fairly fast though there were some glaring misses. The final fight was worth the price of admission.
Dorian Tan and Don Wong made for a fun dynamic duo as they took on Gam Ming and a host of minions led by Phillip Ko Fei, Li Chiang, and Lung Fong. If you enjoy old kung fu movies, especially the low budget Taiwanese flicks, this is one to try.
10 July 2024
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This review may contain spoilers
Lovely little 7 minute drama/commercial?
Another completely biased review from me to youI've been watching Gao Han Yu series/movies lately (cause he is just so damn fine) and saw this one on MDL. Since it's only 7 minutes long it doesn't take up a whole of of your time to watch. But it's amazing what a feel-good story it is for just that 7 minutes. The dynamics between father and sons is just so fun and the end just made me smile and put me in a great mood. 😄
There isn't much of a story line, no drama, just a few lines and a few scenes but damn if they don't make them interesting! I would love to see a feature length movie with these characters.
Of course, I don't know if it was a longish commercial for a drink product or just a cute little webisode but I liked it! 😀
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A very heartwarming story
Its a heartwarming story of a boxer that experiences a very bad past never gave up on what he loves to to which is boxing. He continues his journey as a boxer inspite of his medical condition, he continues his passion for he doesn't want to regret it someday that he didn't try to do it. With the help of the people who were with him and believe in his capabilities he never give up abd it pushes him to do it for himself and to the people that believe in him.There are many regrets that he experienced that is why he holds no bar in continuing his passiop. The boxing may have given up on him but he is so determined to make it.
Its a heartwarming story wherein a person can be a survivor in facing any difficulties thay may come as long as he fights on what he loves to do. Just like the ML never gives up inspite of his medical condition .
He does boxing with a different twist he plays boxing with Pansory Style that makes him unique.
You will love to see his determination here, irs a cute and funny movie.
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Epic final to a great saga... I still want more!
I watched, back-to-back, in this order:Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, 2021
Rurouni Kenshin: Origins, 2012
Rurouni Kenshin 2: Kyoto Inferno, 2014
Rurouni Kenshin 3: The Legend Ends, 2014
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, 2021
I watched the first 3 ages ago, but decided to watch all of them again, in story, not release, order, which I recommend doing.
I absolutely love these films to bits. The life of the main character is a mix of almost aimless at times, tragic, then enlightenment and atonement.
The fact the film about Kenshin's origins, was made 9 years after the character first appeared on screen, is amazing. The main reason being, when watched in the order I did, it is a seamless story.
Many cast members appear throughout, pieces from the earlier, film 1, are blended in so when watching the next instalment, it makes complete sense. I was honestly blown away.
Satoh Takeru is brilliant in every film. The sword fights are incredible and they must have taken all the cast involved, a huge amount of work and energy.
The pace of each film is excellent, with a balance of action, everyday life, love, friendships, fighting for a cause (sometimes blindly) and defeating not only enemies, but those taking advantage of the powerless. Some sad elements too. There is also humour and a growing camaraderie between some characters that began as enemies.
I love Himura Kenshin and how he evolves. Supporting characters are varied, some villains are pretty OTT, strong female characters and the cast in all the films is great.
This final instalment brings us full circle, with Kenshin's bitter past, rearing it's painful head.
Films are rarely, if ever, perfect, but these just do it for me. Firm favourites.
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Every instalment of Himura Kenshin's life is epic!
I watched, back-to-back, in this order:Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, 2021
Rurouni Kenshin: Origins, 2012
Rurouni Kenshin 2: Kyoto Inferno, 2014
Rurouni Kenshin 3: The Legend Ends, 2014
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, 2021
I watched the first 3 ages ago, but decided to watch all of them again, in story, not release, order, which I recommend doing.
I absolutely love these films to bits. The life of the main character is a mix of almost aimless at times, tragic, enlightenment and atonement.
The fact the film about Kenshin's origins, was made 9 years after the character first appeared on screen, is amazing. The main reason being, when watched in the order I did, it is a seamless story.
Many cast members appear throughout, pieces from the earlier, film 1, are blended in so when watching the next instalment, it makes complete sense. I was honestly blown away.
Satoh Takeru is brilliant in every film. The sword fights are incredible and they must have taken all the cast involved, a huge amount of work and energy.
The pace of each film is excellent, with a balance of action, everyday life, love, friendships, fighting for a cause (sometimes blindly) and defeating not only enemies, but those taking advantage of the powerless. Some sad elements too. There is also humour and a growing camaraderie between some characters that began as enemies.
I love Himura Kenshin and how he evolves. Supporting characters are varied, some villains are pretty OTT, strong female characters and the cast in all the films is great.
Films are rarely, if ever, perfect, but these just do it for me. Firm favourites.
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Every film in this epic saga is an amazing watch.
I watched, back-to-back, in this order:Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, 2021
Rurouni Kenshin: Origins, 2012
Rurouni Kenshin 2: Kyoto Inferno, 2014
Rurouni Kenshin 3: The Legend Ends, 2014
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, 2021
I watched the first 3 ages ago, but decided to watch all of them again, in story, not release, order, which I recommend doing.
I absolutely love these films to bits. The life of the main character is a mix of almost aimless at times, tragic, enlightenment and atonement.
The fact the film about Kenshin's origins, was made 9 years after the character first appeared on screen, is amazing. The main reason being, when watched in the order I did, it is a seamless story.
Many cast members appear throughout, pieces from the earlier, film 1, are blended in so when watching the next instalment, it makes complete sense. I was honestly blown away.
Satoh Takeru is brilliant in every film. The sword fights are incredible and they must have taken all the cast involved, a huge amount of work and energy.
The pace of each film is excellent, with a balance of action, everyday life, love, friendships, fighting for a cause (sometimes blindly) and defeating not only enemies, but those taking advantage of the powerless. Some sad elements too. There is also humour and a growing camaraderie between some characters that began as enemies.
I love Himura Kenshin and how he evolves. Supporting characters are varied, some villains are pretty OTT, strong female characters and the cast in all the films is great.
Films are rarely, if ever, perfect, but these just do it for me. Firm favourites.
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The complete saga is an amazing & gripping watch!
I watched, back-to-back, in this order:Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, 2021
Rurouni Kenshin: Origins, 2012
Rurouni Kenshin 2: Kyoto Inferno, 2014
Rurouni Kenshin 3: The Legend Ends, 2014
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, 2021
I watched the first 3 ages ago, but decided to watch all of them again, in story, not release, order, which I recommend doing.
I absolutely love these films to bits. The life of the main character is a mix of almost aimless at times, tragic, enlightenment and atonement.
The fact the film about Kenshin's origins, was made 9 years after the character first appeared on screen, is amazing. The main reason being, when watched in the order I did, it is a seamless story.
Many cast members appear throughout, pieces from the earlier, film 1, are blended in so when watching the next instalment, it makes complete sense. I was honestly blown away.
Satoh Takeru is brilliant in every film. The sword fights are incredible and they must have taken all the cast involved, a huge amount of work and energy.
The pace of each film is excellent, with a balance of action, everyday life, love, friendships, fighting for a cause (sometimes blindly) and defeating not only enemies, but those taking advantage of the powerless. Some sad elements too. There is also humour and a growing camaraderie between some characters that began as enemies.
I love Himura Kenshin and how he evolves. Supporting characters are varied, some villains are pretty OTT, strong female characters and the cast in all the films is great.
Films are rarely, if ever, perfect, but these just do it for me. Firm favourites.
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Gripping and SO watchable... all 5 films together!
July 2024I watched, back-to-back, in this order:
Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, 2021
Rurouni Kenshin: Origins, 2012
Rurouni Kenshin 2: Kyoto Inferno, 2014
Rurouni Kenshin 3: The Legend Ends, 2014
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, 2021
I watched the first 3 ages ago, but decided to watch all of them again, in story, not release, order, which I recommend doing.
I absolutely love these films to bits. The life of the main character is a mix of almost aimless at times, tragic, enlightenment and atonement.
The fact the film about Kenshin's origins, was made 9 years after the character first appeared on screen, is amazing. The main reason being, when watched in the order I did, it is a seamless story.
Many cast members appear throughout, pieces from the earlier, film 1, are blended in so when watching the next instalment, it makes complete sense. I was honestly blown away.
Satoh Takeru is brilliant in every film. The sword fights are incredible and they must have taken all the cast involved, a huge amount of work and energy.
The pace of each film is excellent, with a balance of action, everyday life, love, friendships, fighting for a cause (sometimes blindly) and defeating not only enemies, but those taking advantage of the powerless. Some sad elements too. There is also humour and a growing camaraderie between some characters that began as enemies.
I love Himura Kenshin and how he evolves. Supporting characters are varied, some villains are pretty OTT, strong female characters and the cast in all the films is great.
Films are rarely, if ever, perfect, but these just do it for me. Firm favourites.
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This review may contain spoilers
An Interesting Horror Mystery!
I decided to watch this movie because Up and Phuwin were in it.The story begins with Phuwin's character, Term, arriving on an island to look for his brother, Tee, who has become a monk. Upon arriving, Term is told by the monks that Tee killed the abbot and fled. Unconvinced that his brother could do such a thing, Term decides to investigate the island.
Meanwhile, Up's character, Tae, is an autistic and pure-hearted young man living at the island's temple. He helps out at the temple and the fishing port. Term befriends Tae, and together they investigate the temple. The island has a strong faith in a statue called the god Phor Pu, which is enshrined in the temple. There is also a custom on the island of placing a part of a deceased person's ashes into a clay statue called Hun Payont. When Term finds the villagers' fanatical belief strange and breaks a part of the statue, terrifying events start to occur one after another.
The first half of the story isn't that scary, and it’s somewhat unclear what’s happening. Several similar events repeat themselves. Just when you think the movie is only trying to startle the audience, the twist at the end surprises you. The story's value emerges when you see the ending.
The performances of Up and Phuwin were as excellent as expected. Up's acting, in particular, was outstanding. Additionally, Emi, who played Mina, was fantastic. I didn't realize she was on the movie poster! Her portrayal of a woman possessed by a curse was truly eye-catching.
Watching the movie a second time, with the knowledge of what happens, will likely be more enjoyable than the first viewing. I plan to watch it again.
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TOLD MYSELF I WOULDN'T CRY BUT STILL DID.
*This is my opinion, you are entitled to have your own opinion! :)*i literally have no words for this. i just like idk. it's left me with an empty feeling and i just cant stop thinking about them. honestly i would've given this movie a 10 if it wasn't for that flipping ending. also i took so many notes about this movie so im going to share them with you. honestly, if you want to cry, watch this. i don't usually cry because of movies so i told myself this would be an easy watch for me. (i knew the ending btw and i just wanted to see what people meant by "it's so sad") despite literally knowing the ending, i poured my heart out watching this movie 4 times.
firstly, the acting is really good. kim yoo jung did a great job but she's definitely better in my demon. and byeon woo seok also did pretty good. honestly, idk if i like how he looks here more or how he looks in lovely runner more. the casting for this was really good, both the main leads are really attractive and good actors. and tbh the FL could've worked with hyun jin (SML) too because their friendship was really funny lmao.
i honestly wonder, in the start how they didn't notice her literally following them around??
LIKES:
so i have a few moments that i found funny and some cliche. firstly, lmao when hyunjin was in love with her and basically asking her out and she tried so hard to make him not like her. literally went to the point of talking about how much she farts. and when woon hoo and her were about to kiss but a fucking plum hit her on the head.
the plot twist though, her friend getting them mixed up and so bo ra had to keep her feelings a secret. im happy yeon-doo wasn't a stuck up bitch about it and let bo ra have him.
and gosh, this movie had SO MANY sad moments where i was either tearing up or bawling my eyes out. like when he wrote her a letter talking about his feelings and he dropped it on the floor bc she just rejected him. and him waiting for her all night at her house. and when he was leaving and said "i'll definitely come back for you," LIKE MY HEART??? and then after time passed and they weren't in contact anymore, bo ra thought he flat out ghosted her when he was DEAD.
DISLIKES:
i hate the fact he had to die. the ending was so unnecessary i hate it. this movie is so good, its a 9 but the ending just flat out ruined it. why couldn't they just end up happy? and together? married? now bo-ra's love life is ruined and love's probably too traumatic for her now. and when joseph was saying, "The happiest moments in his short life were when he was with you," I SOBBED. and then the video tape at the end, i cried during that too. why did the writers make him die.??? i swear
OVERALL:
it's amazing except for the ending. so i give it a 9. i still 100% recommend it just be prepared to CRY. and after you cry, watch lovely runner to heal your heart (i haven't watched it yet but im pretty sure he doesn't die in that)
have tissues and enjoy watching!
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Piecing Together the Shattered Mind!
As a fan of longer dramas, I usually avoid movies, but "Recalled" defied my expectations. This South Korean psychological thriller, directed by Seo Yoo-min, masterfully blends mystery and suspense. The story follows Kim Soo-jin, portrayed by the talented Seo Yea-ji, who wakes up with no memory and experiences unsettling visions. These visions blur reality and illusion, hinting at a dark truth.The plot twists in "Recalled" are brilliantly executed, reshaping the narrative in unexpected ways. Seo Yea-ji's portrayal of Soo-jin is compelling and believable, capturing her vulnerability and confusion. Her performance is the film's highlight, driving its emotional impact.
While the supporting cast is competent, they don't leave a lasting impression. However, the focus on Soo-jin's character keeps the narrative engaging. The screenplay is tightly written, and the cinematography enhances the story's atmosphere.
"Recalled" keeps the audience guessing with its unpredictable plot twists. Each revelation is well-earned, making the film a thrilling experience. For someone who prefers dramas, "Recalled" stands out as an exceptional movie that delivers the satisfaction of a longer format within its concise runtime. I highly recommend it for its suspense and substance.
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You need courage to take the next step
This movie with its simple love story has fast become one of my favourites -- a story about two very ordinary men who fall in love with each other and take the first steps into a relationship.I love how the film shows us the insecurities that come with having a crush on a man as a man, the questions that come with getting to know another person -- will you like me, too? Do we have a chance to come together? Will I take the step into the unknown?
And at the same time, both men as well as us get to experience the giddiness when we feel that our feelings might be reciprocated.
We get to see how these two men, who seem to be very different in their hobbies and lives, try to find the courage to open up to each other -- only then the relationship may move forward.
The film makers obviously had to make do with a low budget, there are some sound issues in outdoor scenes. But they did not need much more -- as I said before, this is a simple love story of two ordinary men, who could be our neighbours, our colleagues, ourselves. Accordingly, the use of places, of light that is already there makes the film feel very real.
I also love the sets, which are lovingly filled with small details: There's the changing date on the white board behind Koiwai's desk. There's the small detritus of the life of a working person in Yamashita's room. There are the messy bed sheets near the end of the film.
I'm looking forward to rewatching the story of these sweet and gentle people.
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joy/ peace /hope 3 words describes this masterpiece
this movie came to me as a light in the darkness when for months i was not able to cry..watching Haruna being sick and smile gave me hope that i must love life and thank God that im healthy enough..she is a symbol of resistence even she was alone she was never selfish, she just wanted to live a little bit longer with her hero Akito.. she fought until her last breath till she went to heaven..her acting was sumblime u cannot not fall in love with her cuteness she is adorable..i really hope to see her in more movies or Jdrama.The lesson that it was applied here was that people can become a reason to survive and even with few of them you can create the best memories before ur farawell..I hope one day i will find my own Akito he is the true definition of a caring man..imagine u still have few months for urself to live and u decide to use them to make happy ur lover instead of urself...the definition of a true gentelman..i do not think boys like him exist what he does for her is the heart of the movie...she so lucky to have him as her angel.
This movie must be more and more popular and win many awards...people must watch it to find joy in their heart. This movie will make u cry like a river even if u are a stone..i still cannot believe that after years of watching movies i came across something like that...thank u netflix
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Curly hair mystery
As much as I was glad to watch Totono again, this film is a slight disappointment since it is missing everything that made the drama such an unmissable watch: Goro, curry and police! Well Goro does show up for 30sec at the beginning and the police are the extras in the last scene.... Still, definitely not enough! And the film is worse for it!Totono is in Hiroshima (there is history there but we are not let on it! Yet!) and is dragged into a family inheritance mystery. Well, the mystery is unfortunately very predictable and the culprit is obvious the moment he shows up. Totono does his Sherlock Holmes thingy and the culprit is caught red handed and turned over to justice. THE END
The story behind the mystery involving "demons" and curly hair was quite interesting: showing the lengths the people are willing to go in order to gain and to keep the wealth over generations. There is another issue connected to the previous one and it concerns how the adults treat children who are, according to Totono like "wet cement": getting information from kids is like writing on wet cement, once it is dry, the marks remain and the kids are scarred for life! The young girl, who pulls Totono into this mess is an example of such damage having been done to.
Totono actually made this worth watching: with his quirks, his scarf and his dead pan revelations deliveries! I was also happy to see Machida Keita (Cherry Moon) being his understated extremely charming self and Higawara Riku (Utsukushii Kare) being a weirdly explosive self.
As usual I find the background music (classical) out of place in this film, just as much as I disliked it in the drama. The songs are nice but why do japanese like using western classical music so much?
Overall, it is a watchable film, well produced and acted but poorly constructed plot of the mystery. I'd recommend it only for th e die hard fans of Totono.
And finally, I would like to thank the Machida Keita fan who brough this to us with some amazing subs! Thank you so much!
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With a script by Erika Seki, a prolific writer of films and television series, the feature film tells how the relationship between Hokuto, a generous and kind-hearted young man who dreams of traveling the world as a professional cameraman, and Shinichiro, the doctor of his hospitalized girlfriend, an old high school classmate, also a lover of photography and with whom he became estranged after an accident that caused the friendship between the two to be broken.
Meeting his old friend again will awaken dormant passions in both of them.
The audience is faced with a very sad film, but uplifting in its own way. Hokuto is worried about the pain of Tatsumi, who clearly loves his friend, but Hokuto can't do anything about it.
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