Never read webtoon, so I'm objective
I enjoyed it and I'm glad I read the reviews after watching because I might not have watched. Its a decent movie with good acting and as someone who has never read the webtoon I now want to read.It's a good story and because it was a movie they had a limited amount of time to tell as much of the story as they could, I would have loved an 8 or 6 episode drama, it would have given the maker more room to tell the story.
With all that said I'd recommend this movie, its an easy watch, easy to follow the story even the gore was done very well you can watch with the kids. I'd love a part 2 or even a series.
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1The Beauty Saves the Hero 美女救英雄
Demon Force is the long-awaited second chapter in the Creation of the Gods trilogy. Compared to the first film, it’s a massive letdown. The heart of the disappointment? It strays wildly from the classic novel. The whole “Demon Force” (魔道争锋) arc is a made-up conflict that stuffs the screen with Hollywood-style cosmic battles at the expense of the original’s political scheming and philosophical depth.The story resumes with Ji Fa defending Xiqi against the Shang king’s demonic hordes. He’s thrown head-to-head against Deng Chanyu, a rising Shang general leading the siege. Mongolian actress Nashi brings her to life with exotic, whip-thin athleticism—she owns every frame, radiating lethal power and feminine fragility in the same breath. I actually cheered this update to the old tale: slipping a fierce, layered woman into the mix. No question, she’s the beauty who saves the hero 美女救英雄 and runs away with the movie.
Too bad director Wuershan seems so smitten with Deng Chanyu that everyone else—from Jiang Ziya to Yang Jian—gets shoved to the margins and practically forgotten. The real crime, though, is what they do to Ji Fa: dumbed down into a lovesick, reluctant hero drowning in self-doubt just to prop her up. Then, to rub salt in the wound, Yin Jiao gets turned into the genie from Aladdin. I swung between fury and helpless laughter at the sheer ridiculousness—and at the total waste of Chen Hailiang’s stunning good looks.
There are enough jaw-dropping (if slightly overcooked) battle set-pieces to keep it from being the worst fantasy flick out there. But it never touches Kingdom of Storms in storytelling. I did love Deng Chanyu’s arc—even if it has no business in the Fengshen trilogy. For me, that lands it at 7.5/10.
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The last aspect is something the film doesn't do very elegantly, obviously to the confusion and disappointment of other viewers -- they feel that it's almost two different films, one a silly comedy, the other a serious crime thriller. I think it's certainly no "Le Salaire de la Peur" or even a "High Noon", but it does have its own charm and rhythm, if you're comfortable with the Thai way of switching moods within a story. Also, I felt that the comedy was still there, mainly carried by Noi, but also in some of the interactions between the bandits.
There is some romance, which I (and Noi!) felt came out of nowhere, but it seems that a romance is part and parcel if you have two main characters in the appropriate age range. (Also, it was kind of a long-term-setup for another joke at the end, so I don't mind too much.)
I grew to like the characters -- Noi, of course, who charmed me instantly, but also the prickly Chana and the wilful Riam. Even some of the villains were kind of sympathetic, although I agreed with Noi that "they [should] just kill each other".
When I looked up more information about the film, I learned that it's one of the first Thai films which were filmed on 35mmfilm, which means it has synchronized sound, i.e. that the actors' voices were recorded along with the image. Usually, Thai film makers usually used a cheaper sort of film, and the voices were either dubbed later or sometimes even dubbed by live voice actors in front of the audience. What a wild concept! I never knew that this was a thing.
I suspect that this was one of the reasons why there's so much singing and music in the first half -- Rattana Pestonji, who wrote, directed and produced this film, seems to have used the possibilities of the more expensive film stock to the fullest.
Rattana Pestonji is, according to Wikipedia, "the father of modern Thai film" -- which could explain why some aspects of "Country Hotel" feel very familiar. I will definitely check out his other works if I can find them, it should be worth it to understand where modern Thai films come from.
The copy that is available via the Film Archive Thailand on YouTube seems to not have been digitally restored, there are quite a few artefacts from degradation of the original film material. At times, the background score overwhelms the actors' voices, and there are strange cuts here and there. But to expect modern standards would only be an exercise in frustration.
Was it good?
It's not global top-tier in comparison to high-budget films from the same time. But I do think that it was made with love, and with all the expertise and abilities the crew and the actors had. The script and how the story is developed is very Thai, and that might not be to everybody's taste or feel unusual or surprising to Western viewers.
Did I like it?
Yes! I loved the comedy, I grew to like the characters, and I wanted to know how it would end. Afterwards, I felt fullfilled, and just wanted to sit a few minutes, not doing anything.
It was definitely entertaining and educational, and well worth my time.
Who would I recommend it to?
To anyone who is interested in Thai / SE Asian film history, or in Thai films in general.
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1
1"Let love be your guide!"
I was in the mood for a heartwarming story and the synopsis for Little Q drew me in. That and a beautiful Labrador retriever on the poster was all I needed to watch this film. While it portrayed the value of the guide dog program, it also failed rather spectacularly as well.Temperamental pastry chef and general all around jerk, Li Bao Ting, is losing his sight which makes him even crankier with everyone around him. At the same time, a family agrees to foster a lab puppy, Little Q, for a or the Hong Kong Seeing Eye Dog Organization. Despite the rules, the little girl largely attempts to undo Little Q’s training so that she will fail the stringent training and Chan Tsz Kiu/Chan Yu Qiao will be allowed to keep her. Q prevails and is paired with Li who wants nothing to do with the dog. When not sitting at home drinking he’s berating his apprentices at his pastry shop. He repeatedly tries to rid himself of the dog until he realizes Q’s value and attempts to get his life back on track.
So far, this general synopsis of the first part of the film plays out like many other redemption stories. The only problem is, Q would never have been given to Li in real life. There are far more people in need of guide dogs than there are guide dogs. Even if he had received one due to his family connections, the minute they discovered his mistreatment of the loyal pup, Q would have gone to a deserving person. For the first 49 minutes of this film, I have never hated a movie character more. Li’s 180 in outlook was enough to give him and me whiplash. There was no gradual buildup, just an unearned personality change. And in the final quarter another action happened that had me spitting nails I was so angry**.
I had a friend in college with a guide dog. Dennis was a beautiful black lab that was all business when my friend and I walked about campus as we shared several classes. But when he was off duty, I was able to pet him and give him treats and play with him. In the film there seemed to be a real concern that guide dogs lead a too serious life. When Dennis wasn’t working, he played with his golden retriever sibling and his human parents just like any other dog. The thought of someone treating one of these highly trained dogs so cavalierly was infuriating, even if it was just a film. Especially with a need greater than a supply of these loyal friends.
Yes, there was a nice little middle with happy, bonding moments with Q, but they were bookended by actions that were reprehensible. I appreciated that the film gave a shout out to the importance of guide dogs as it appeared to be a fairly recent program. Yet I was also appalled that Q was left with someone completely unqualified for receiving such a gift despite movie magic turning him into a loving caring person in a matter of minutes.
As a work of art, the writers worked hard to manipulate the viewer into feeling sorry for the little girl and eventually the owner. Due to the callousness and utter stupidity of the humans, my only concern was for the ever faithful yellow lab. If ever there was a film that showed we don’t deserve dogs, Little Q was it.
10 November 2025
**Spoiler comments below! **
When Li prepares to go to the US, he takes Q off the leash and throws the ball down a city sidewalk for Q to chase to distract her. What? He can’t see where he’s throwing putting Q at risk in an urban environment. Then Q chases his van down the road. The driver and Li’s sister see Q but do NOT stop the car and get Q out of harms way. Only when Q was physically blocked from following did she finally give up. Who would let a dog run down the middle of the street in a city?
Another problem was when Li decided to walk into traffic to commit suicide. He caused a multi-car accident which might have injured drivers and passengers as well as the financial cost. If he had succeeded, a driver would have been traumatized for causing a pedestrian’s death. Somehow, right afterwards he was able to smile-about everything. I’m guessing all those people in the cars weren’t smiling much.
I'm not sure what else they could do to try and gain sympathy for Q as they put her through numerous physical ailments. I love organic moments that create sympathy and even sorrow for characters both two-legged and four-legged alike, but the writers used a sledge hammer with little nuance to try and create emotions.
And the less said about the Dog Meat Festival the better.
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it's getting more crazy
I went in not knowing a thing about this so it was a steady stream of surprises and quite engaging. Some good use of music and shadows in the cinematography as well.Only my second 1950s Thai film so it was also interesting to learn a bit more about the history of Thai movie-making, like how many elements I'm familiar with from the last 25 years of Thai films were already there in 1957 and that an exaggerated kRap isn't a modern affectation from cheeky young men.
It's fun, it moves, there's a sense of freedom to it despite the single set, and in the end, the story it eventually finds its way into was good too.
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Inspiring Turnaround
I am always looking for inspirational movies. And this one did not disappoint. And I love stories of mentor-mentee, teacher-student as I am also a teacher of some sort. Here we see not just a passing of knowledge, but rather a teacher investing his life for someone who has a potential to be great and get out of the wrong path.The actors - Lee Je Hoon and Han Seok Kyu did a wonderful job, had shown a wide scale of emotions throughout the story. Their characters may have resisted at first, but eventually something click within themselves. It may be a hope for a dream to come true, a hope to get out of the wrong path, the joy to invest on someone's life. Though I may not agree with the way the teacher treated his student, it was his tough love that set him straight. And the last song showed how much the student loved his teacher as well.
The timeline when he was in school to get the break may be too short, was he lucky? However, this goes to show that we all desire dreams fulfilled and celebrate success of someone in one way or another been part of that journey. I just wonder, who is the singing voice of Je Hoon?
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Had potential
Super flirty and has a great cast but poorly made. The editing is disjointed and even weird at times (one shot is played in reverse, so the snowfall goes upward.) There are plot holes and questions never answered. Sad because this could have been a really good drama.Was this review helpful to you?
Not bad but not good
I would have enjoyed it more if I had no idea what the movie was about. The softcore scenes in the first half would have had a greater impact if I hadn’t known the general twist.I thought the "solution" to the entire predicament was a bit too simplistic and in your face. Other than that the ending fit well enough for these crazy people.
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"A woman's grudge is not something that easily goes away"
A woman exacting revenge on those who have wronged her may now be seen as a cliché. However, this film from the 1960s is an early contributor to the "Wonhon" motif (the Korean version of this concept).A Devilish Murder subverts the expected revenge narrative and creates an interesting juxtaposition between the duality of women. Placing a spotlight on the relationships between the characters and their expected roles within the family, and society itself, provides an insightful reflection of the time period in which it was produced.
The premise is interesting and the use of music greatly contributes to the eerie atmosphere already established by the uncomfortable relationship dynamics and unsettling visuals. However, a lack of exposition makes the dated plot confusing and ultimately less enjoyable to follow.
Overall: 2.5/5
Quality: 3/5
Enjoyability: 2.5/5
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This review may contain spoilers
Red Flag Trope Cram session
Lemme save your brain from needing a good mentalbleaching.
1) Student/ Teacher
2) Child/ Adult
3) Half-Brothers
4) Rape and NonConsentual: Multiple times (A different couple)
5) You see all the human anatomy. All of it.
6) They hide the truth of their relationship until the very end. Which is the ONLY reason why I finished it. If I had known the truth, I would have never even attempted it. You THINK you’re watching a super artsy movie with a message waiting for you at the end… and then they smack you in the face with the truth and you want to take acid to your retinas because of the regret you feel from watching the depiction of so much wrongness. I feel lied to.
7) NO. Don’t do it. Just… No.
8) How did this get published for public viewing?
9) Did I mention it was awful? It’s awful.
10) The ACTORS do their job. They were great. Still… don’t do it. K? K. You’re Welcome.
Now go watch something lovely and fluffy. Like Moonlight Chicken or Reset or Your Sky.
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Powerful Performances, Gripping Story
Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy is an exciting and well-made film that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The story is creative and full of tension, with twists that keep you guessing. The cast delivers strong performances that bring the characters to life and make the world feel real.Overall, it’s a thrilling and memorable movie.
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Comepletely nonsense but very funny
The plot is completely illogical and silly, a total nonsense but it’s hilarious. I haven’t laughed so hard in a while. Although I didn’t like a few parts, especially the parts with the animals, overall, this movie is a pure comedy to me. It’s a good watch if we don’t take it too seriously.Bravo to the whole cast! All of them did a great job. The movie would just be trash without their comedic acting. I loved Go Kyung Pyo’s facial expressions so much. I find both he and Lee Yi Kyung effortlessly funny, and so is Eum Moon Suk.
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This review may contain spoilers
DONT waste 2hrs of your life on this
This movie is very boring, slow and doesn’t make sense.the plot was starting to form in the first 20 mins and got abandoned right after.the audience never got their answers about certain things the characters had mentioned which is very frustrating.The whole movie just consist with:
-sex
-violence
-sexual abuse/harassment/violence
-screaming
-unanswered questions
-spiting
-way 2 long scenes
Some scenes didn’t have to be almost 10 minutes long..for example some talking scenes. due the scenes being so damn long i just started to lose my focus and couldn’t concentrate at all.
The sex scenes were sometimes out of place which made me confused and wondering “is it really necessary?”
I understand this is a pink film but some pink films still put there sex scenes at times THAT MAKES SENSE.
The characters introduction was very weird and how some characters just appeared randomly and how gold boy just disappeared after 2 NC scenes and 1 talking scene.
Gun’s character (James) was something really awkward to look at bc Gun acting looked a bit awkward while playing this character and the spiting was so unnecessary which made it just funny each time Gun spat.
The acting overall was the best part due the actors doing justice for their characters and doing a good job at expressing.
The soundtrack with the weird drums was NAWT it but the punk one was a good one.
Overall dont waste your time for this unless you really wanna see gun or you’re into BDSM stuff.
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Great storyline with amazing acting
The film was immediately captivating right from the start. The storyline is brilliant, anchored by truly phenomenal acting.What makes it even more terrifying is the fact that the case is based on actual true events (the Hwaseong serial murders). The movie brilliantly captured the atmosphere of the 1980s, particularly highlighting the enormous difficulties the police faced compared to modern-day investigations with advanced technology.
On the darker side, it also serves as a stark commentary on the era, where the authorities felt entitled to use brutal methods—even beating suspects—to force a confession.
The final scene is masterful and gave me genuine chills. I immediately had to look up what eventually happened with the real killer—a testament to how deeply the film hooks you into the investigation's failure and enduring mystery.
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Fun story that doesn't reinvent the wheel but has a great kick to it
I also had a chance to watch this in theaters in Korea (like the other reviewer up now). Contrary to that reviewer, I did see what was coming pretty steadily. Some of the details of how were less clear, but the core emotional issue that is brought up later in the film was pretty clear to me within about 15-20 minutes.THAT SAID, a great film doesn't have to be shocking or surprising constantly, and that's how I felt about this. The acting and cinematography were solid, and even with my very lacking Korean skills and no subtitles, I found it funny and the characters highly relatable, if a bit cartoonish (that seemed to be the point, though, so it's not a knock).
It made me want to watch other things by this writer/director, and turns out I've seen Homme Fatale, too, which I also really enjoyed!
Mildly spoilery take below:
((And, honestly, I think you can guess that "core emotional issue" just based on reading the synopsis and looking at the casting, particularly the ages.))
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