Great Actors, Terrible Movie — What Went Wrong?
I went into this movie with low expectations, but I still hoped the amazing cast could save it. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a complete disappointment. The CGI was sloppy, the script felt amateurish, and the whole production looked like the work of someone with money but no real filmmaking experience, just desperate for fame and recognition. What a waste of such talented actors. It’s hard to believe Ahn Hyo Seop and Lee Min Ho’s agencies didn’t see how bad this script was before signing on. Maybe the webtoon was popular, but this adaptation is nothing short of a disaster.Was this review helpful to you?
When xio ma finally hears
I just finished watching the movie today and i absolutely loved it. Every scene from the movie touched my heart at a level i hoped that it would. Especially the scene where mumu parts from the mahjong family while all of them waved her tearful goodbyes. The story very accurately depicts the life of the deaf community in the society where they almost feel paralyzed due to people's inability to understand them. The sad part of the movie is just how much a hearing impaired individual has to rely on external help to survive in day to day life that we live in a blink of an eye without any problems.Lay did an amazing job at acting out the father role oozing with pure and innocent love for his daughter wanting to give his all to her. The naive want of making his daughter stay by hiring top class lawyers without any money to give and the problems in getting a normal job to fulfill basic wants and requirememts of his life was sad yet very understandable.
All in all, the whole movie was absolutely beautiful and a must watch for people who might want to watch something with a deep topic and heart-touching story.
Was this review helpful to you?
Tepid documentary, worthwhile topic
A documentary about anti-racist counter-protesters, or more precisely the slightly more combative internal section of the Counters, the Otokogumi. It's interesting, and the figures featured are somewhat reminiscent of the kind of personalities we saw among the yellow jackets.Overall, however, it feels like both the director and the people on screen are fairly apolitical, which leads, on the one hand, to a somewhat silly presentation reminiscent of a YouTube video, which dilutes the importance of the subject matter, and, on the other hand, to a parallel being drawn between the ultra-racist leader and the noble struggle of the Counters, as if the two were equally valid.
This is all the more so because we have to dissect the powerful contradictions of Takahashi, who is very repugnant in certain respects (the gift he gives to his friend's daughter, his visits to the Yasukuni shrine); the substance of the message can become a little murky at times. The moment of gathering and sharing that we see towards the end, with a left-wing woman (one of the few female characters in the film), intrigued me and I would have liked to know more about these meetings with this lady. I found that there was very little diversity in this group, particularly the absence of women and people of color, the latter being completely absent. That said, I believe that the protests and counter-protests are aimed more at Japanese-Koreans and Japanese-Chinese.
There is also something of a feel-good drama happy ending with the enactment of the new law at the end, which rings a little hollow when you consider how little use this law is. That said, I'm certainly not throwing stones, as I wouldn't have the courage of any of these people and I applaud any social struggle. It's mainly the cinematic aspect that I'm commenting on. This makes me want to explore these topics a little more.
Was this review helpful to you?
Waste of time.
It's not a great movie. But the acting was not bad. They say's it's a horror movie but it's not scary at all for me.The story is also not that great. A below average movie. The sound effects were okay not that bad. There is no more to say about the movie.
Just don't waste time on this one. It's not for first time watch too.
Was this review helpful to you?
_
Mansuang is a visual treat and Apo looks spectacular, just the most beautiful human to exist, dances gracefully and his acting deserves all the awards. The title track is haunting and beautiful, tong and bas did a great job too. The plot could have been stronger but looking at it overall nothing to complain.Was this review helpful to you?
Δυνατή ταινία
Βαθιά, σπαραχτική ταινία που πραγματεύεται την αγάπη, την ασθένεια και τον θάνατο.Υπόθεση: Ο Jong-woo πάσχει από τη νόσο Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – που είναι γνωστή και ως νόσος του Λου Γκέριγκ – και η Ji-soo εργάζεται ως υπεύθυνη σε γραφείο τελετών. Ανανεώνουν μια παλιά γνωριμία, ερωτεύονται και παντρεύονται, όμως η υγεία του Jong-woo επιδεινώνεται με τραγικές συνέπειες.
💬 Η γνώμη μου: Υπέροχη, δύσκολη και δραματική με εξαίσιες ερμηνείες από τους δύο πρωταγωνιστές. Ο Kim Myung-min έχασε περίπου 20 κιλά για να ερμηνεύσει τον ρόλο του ασθενή με ALS.
✔️Μόνο για ‘δυνατούς λύτες’.
Βραβεία & διακρίσεις
Η ταινία κυκλοφόρησε στη Νότια Κορέα στις 24 Σεπτεμβρίου 2009.
Στην πρώτη της προβολή κατέκτησε την πρώτη θέση στο box office για 3 συνεχόμενες εβδομάδες.
Κατέγραψε συνολικές εισιτήριες πωλήσεις περίπου 2.150.000 εισιτήρια, καθιστώντας την τη 10η πιο εμπορική ταινία του 2009 στη Ν. Κορέα
* Στα 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards (2009): ο Kim Myung-min κέρδισε «Καλύτερος Ηθοποιός» και η Ha Ji-won «Καλύτερη Ηθοποιός».
* Στα 46th Grand Bell Awards (2009): ο Kim Myung-min κέρδισε επίσης «Καλύτερος Ηθοποιός».
Was this review helpful to you?
Yosaku and his mentor Shigetomo, have trekked into the snow covered mountain forest and find the perfect tree they can use to sculpt a Kannon. When a blizzard hits, they take shelter in an empty hut. That night a figure in white enters and freezes everything including Shigetomo. She spares Yosaku’s life as long as he never mentions having seen her. The day he recounts what he saw to anyone is the day she will kill him. After Yosaku recovers, a young woman named Yuki seeks shelter at his home during a rain storm. His mentor’s wife invites her to stay not knowing the shadow she has let in. Yuki and Yosaku fall in love, but can two lovers from different worlds have a happy ending, especially when human demons lurk in their village?
The Snow Woman was adapted from a tale in Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things by Lafcadio Hearn. The 1964 film Kwaidan contained a well-made short film about the Yuki Onna starring Nakadai Tatsuya and Kishi Keiko. This film expands upon it without losing any tension or the emotional punch of the tragic love story.
Fujimura Shiho was mesmerizing whether playing the ice-cold Snow Woman or warmhearted Yuki. Ishihama Akira’s naïve sculptor Yosaku didn’t have as much to do, nor did his character develop much. Murase Sachiko as the shaman who perceived Yuki’s true form set the scenes she was in on fire. The special effects were limited yet effective. Ifukube Akira (Godzilla) provided his own special brand of music which echoed the characters' moods. While there were outdoor scenes most of the film was indoors and felt almost like a play. The judicious use of lighting added to both the eerie otherworldly elements and the ordinary household setting as a Yuki Onna learned about love and family.
The Snow Woman was a product of its time in terms of acting and film and yet was still captivating largely due to Fujimura’s loving eyes that could grow icy when threatened. If you enjoy older films or you liked Kwaidan, this is one to try.
23 October 2025
Triggers: Attempted sexual assault
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Mixed Feelings
For this movie, I'd say it's one of the most silent films I've ever seen (considering that it's not actually a silent film). I had no problem with that, since I actually watched silent films & enjoyed them (A.K.A Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring (2003), Bad Guy (2001), 3-Iron (2004)...etc).However, the story started super vague & a little weird to me.
I was asking myself the whole time: Why is the delivery guy is going to such lengths for someone he just met?
Also, at times, I felt like reaching into the screen and actually fight the other guy because of how many times he actually ignored answering any of the delivery guy's questions. I mean, we had one of the warmest characters (delivery guy) & one of the coldest characters I've ever seen (the other guy) put together in one dynamic.
It all came together at the end with the story revealing itself & we lean about the character's past trauma & how the delivery guy had sympathy for his situation. But, that came AFTER the refugee guy finally decided to speak, so I still couldn't put together why delivery guy was way too cooperative with him from the first minute.
Anyway, the story was good still & I did feel a lot of emotions watching it. If I'd describe these feelings through music, then I'd say that it's a combination of Elgar’s "Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 - I. Adagio" & Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga's "Die With a Smile".
Not to forget, the soundtrack on the movie itself was expressive & melodic.
In all cases, I did enjoy encountering & adding this movie to my completed list.
Was this review helpful to you?
simple short story
it tells a simple yet deeply emotional story about grief, guilt, and sisterhood.The acting was subtle yet powerful, with very realistic and emotional storytelling. There is no over explaining, and the silences throughout the scenes truly capture the heavy, lingering feeling of grief. Jeon Yeon been portrayed those emotions wellWas this review helpful to you?
1"The universe is filled with things of which mankind knows nothing"
Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell is a misleading title, the Gokemidoro were not from hell, but rather outer space. To be fair, the surreal orange and blood red sky they conjured did resemble a hellscape.A plane carrying passengers to Osaka appears to be cursed. Birds splatter against the passenger windows (how fast and high were those birds flying?). An assassin AND a suicide bomber are on the plane. A corrupt politician is being wooed with bribery by a defense contractor in the form of money and his wife’s services. A grieving American widow is on route to claim her husband’s remains. Rounding out the passengers are a space biology professor and a psychiatrist. When a glowing ball of light passes over the plane the instruments stop working and the plane crashes on a remote island. The only crew that survives are the co-pilot and a flight attendant. The assassin/hijacker takes the flight attendant hostage, leaves the plane and gets more than he bargained for when they stumble across the spaceship.
This film reminded me of the equally bizarre Matango (1963), except Matango’s stranded passengers kept their veneer of civilization longer than this cabin of miscreants. Immediately upon crashing the passengers began to turn on each other. Only the crew, Sugisaka and Asakura, were worth rooting for and even then Asakura was constantly fainting or screaming.
The space creatures and the special effects for them were on par with similar B movies. The pulsing mercury Blobs that inhabited the humans through a slit on the foreheads they created turned the bodies into mindless, blood sucking creatures. Similar to the phallic shaped mushroom creatures in Matango, Goke’s inhabited humans had giant female genitalia shaped creases on their foreheads. More frightening than the aliens were the way the humans betrayed each other.
Unusual for a creature feature from the mid-1960s, was the oft mentioned Vietnam war and war atrocity images highlighted in bright orange-red. There was a strong anti-war sentiment. Man’s senseless wars against each other was why the aliens were able to invade. Instead of working together against a possible invasion, people preferred to kill each other off themselves. I was reminded of the T2 quote: “We’re not going to make it are we?” “It’s in your nature to destroy yourselves.” Wars, political corruption, terrorism, assassinations, and utter selfishness coupled with a lack of compassion were real fears about the state of the world and humanity’s lack of humanity. This film was around a 6.50 for me, but director Sato Hajime’s disturbing ending driven by the hopelessness and despair permeating the previous 80 minutes followed through with the theme, so I bumped it up. Only for fans of the genre and the era, it’s effects and acting are dated.
22 October 2025
Triggers: for the squeamish-the alien possession was a little gross, but tame by today’s standards. The vampires drew no visible blood if you are concerned about that.
Was this review helpful to you?
A movie that will leave with you when you leave the cinema
It has been four days since I watched this film, and not a single day has passed without me thinking about it. Stunning storytelling, exceptional exploration of emotion, and a voice for women and families who haven't had words the silence within their words, shared before. It's a film about choosing to live in a world that is often cruel and leaves little choice.I loved it, I felt uncomfortable at times, I cried at others and but found moments to laugh and smile. I experienced many of the emotions the characters shared, and I breathed deeply in its raw honesty.
At the cinema, we all sat through the end and truly felt it. And I believe that, that is it’s point.
While it does require a trigger warning, it's very much worth watching. It’s subtle but powerful, and a film that will stay with me for quite some time.
A fantastic cast too!
Let me know how you felt!
Was this review helpful to you?
A quiet disturbing movie
Insane” is a Korean movie. The story revolves around a girl who was kidnapped and sent to an illegal mental hospital. The movie ends with a big secret. It’s quite engaging, although it has many disturbing elements.The performances are outstanding, particularly by Kang Ye-won, who portrays the kidnapped woman. Her expressions of fear, confusion, and silent strength are deeply moving. The supporting cast, especially Lee Sang-yoon as the reporter, also deliver convincing performances.
One more Mr. Han. Short role but performed well.
Was this review helpful to you?
Sad story
This was a very short movie. The story was ok, it shows that you have to cherisch the important people in your life.The visuals were a bit blurry and a bit dark.
The music very beautiful.
The acting wasn't very good, they didn't manage to bring over the feelings.
Overall, since it is a very short film i would say just watch it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Fun remake
So, lets get this out of the way right at the beginning, if you weren't aware, thus is a remake of the 2010 American move Tucker and Dale vs Evil staring Alan Tudyk.Me and my wife had both watched the original movie going into this, but still had a lot of fun watching this version. They kept a lot of the movie true to the original, we had a lot of fun figuring out how they were gonna implement the deaths from the original.
If you have seen the original though, it's important to note that the ending in Handsome Guys is completely different from Tucker and Dale vs Evil.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The most daring step to take
This was a simple, two-minute story, but it was effective in making its point. Here are two guys: pushing the boundaries, out late, running from the authorities, drinking, doing things that feel risky with little reward just for the sake of the thrill. However, something as simple as kissing his friend was deemed unacceptable and too risky. What a punch in the gut, watching the face of the one left behind as he realizes a line has been drawn. Love is the biggest risk of all.Was this review helpful to you?
