Reviews

If you're looking for a good biopic movie centred on Ip Man, this movie is a good intro to you. Donnie Yen did do a good job in embodying the role of Ip Man and portraying the strength of the Wing Chun martial art style that may often get belittled, just because it was created by a woman. The storyline is pretty simple, as we get to see how Ip Man had been living peacefully in Foshan before his life was upended after the Japanese invaded China. While at first, he preferred to remain in passivity and refused to take in disciples despite his impressive martial arts skills, Ip Man ended up making a choice to stand up against the Japanese and help his fellow countrymen during times of need.

If you're expecting this movie to just be an impactful action movie, you may end up being disappointed since there were quite a number of slow scenes... as well as some interludes of several historical events that happened in between the story. There were some parts that weren't quite satisfying to me, as there wasn't much focus on Ip Man's relationship with his wife and son and how his status as a martial artist affects them indirectly, which made the latter scene that's supposed to be emotional, feel a bit lacking. And the movie seemed to be unable to decide between being a story about Ip Man or being a documentary about the life during the period Ip Man lived in. If you're used to high-impact action movies like those directed by Tsui Hark, you may find this movie a bit boring for most of its duration. But if you don't mind all that, you may give this movie a try.

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Came for the Action, Stayed for the Laugh

In the midst of transition between Goryeo and Joseon era, a loyalist soldier Jang Sojeong became a traitor when he went against his commander (who turned to be the future first king of joseon) and had to become a bandit in the mountains. As he led his small army of ex-loyalist bandits, they came upon the news that the Royal Seal bestowed by the Ming Dynasty was swallowed up by a whale on its way back to Joseon and that the navy is searching for it. Seeing this as an opportunity to hold the seal hostage against his ex commander now king, he led his ragtag of mountain bandits to the sea in search for the whale, clashing against the pirate Captain Yeo Wol and her shipmates in their fight against former pirate Captain Soma and the Joseon Navy.

The movie started off on a serious tone when ML had that fight against an army of soldiers during his mutiny, then that scene of Yeo Wol taking over the pirate ship after Soma decided to sell his men out to the Joseon Navy. I never thought this would turn out a comedy instead with the mountain bandits keep getting into mishaps in their efforts to hunt the whale. I laughed non stop, and the seasick pirate-turned-mountain bandit Chul-Bong who had to return to the sea when his chief decided to hunt a whale was the actual star of attraction. The mishaps that happened here looked so natural and fun. The waterwheel scene reminded me of the scene on Pirates of Caribbean though, they must have inspired by it cuz the similarity was too striking.

I love the FL Yeo Wol is such a badass that never really turn into damsel in distress for the sake of making the ML look cool. She has her own story, fights and make decisions that she doesnt falter from just because the ML hoodwinked her.

I love the ML too, he’s fun, he’s tough and he’s a gentleman enough for a bandit. Love seeing his banter with his banditmates. Psst, he’s good looking too!

The ending is somewhat depressing for the whale, but a good ending for the mainleads. Each had their revenge exacted the way they wanted it.

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Husbands and wifes dynamic we never thought we need

All this time, we think marriage is scary and terrifying, of course it is, still is.

The best part in this movie is the family dynamic, they still love each other in different ways after their divorce, and their new partner understood their partner past history and trusted them. even after a divorce you can still be family, even though you are not longer a lover.

i also absolutely love seeing the villain couple too, they loved each other so genuinely, they love their partner crime as well, so funny. Hyeran kidnap Sinae, to get her husband back. What a devoted couple.

not to forget the plot twist at the very end of the movie, hinting there will be a second movie is absolute cinema.

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Tai Chi Boxer aka Tai Chi 2 was Wu Jing’s first film and he did not disappoint even if the film was often lackluster. The cast was composed of nearly all fighting experts which made the fights exciting even when Yuen Woo Ping overdid the wires and trampolines.

Hok Man and his cousin have been stuck in a room studying the classics, regimented by his overbearing father. Luckily, his mother has mercy on him, allowing him to escape occasionally. After 10 years he and his cousin break out to do a lion dance in a celebration and Hok meets Rose who has recently returned from studying overseas. She is engaged to Lin Rong/Wing, though doesn’t take it seriously as it was a birth betrothal. She does take a shine to Hok. Hok’s mother studied abroad, too, and teaches her son some English and gives him the English name Jacky. The way of true love is not smooth, because Jacky and Rose don’t only have to deal with Lin, there are foreign opium dealers they run afoul of.

This film felt like a patchwork of other films, primarily, Once Upon a Time in China. The story was rather weak, but the fights were strong. Billy Chow, who was nearly allows cast as a villain showed up first to challenge Jacky’s father. Billy showed off his kicking skills even though his character got his butt kicked. The father was played by Mantis expert IRL, Yu Hai. I always love watching Yu fight, especially when he drops down into Mantis pose. Wu Jing as grownup Hok Man was quick, strong, and athletic. He’s always a delight to watch, even in this early film. Mark Cheng may not have been the most skilled fighter but he honed his acting skills in numerous kung fu and action films. The foreign villain, Mr. Smith, was played by Darren Shahlavin who trained in various styles. He also was accommodating enough to rip his shirt off and pose with his well-muscled body.

Yuen Woo Ping’s fight choreography was fun and destructive. Boards were splintered, vases were smashed, not much was left standing when the fights were done. In true 90s style, not so subtle wire work and trampoline work were used. Fortunately, when Yuen wasn’t undercranking the shots, seriously, these guys were fast enough, the pros took over. That’s not to say there weren’t a lot of missed kicks and hits but the guys and stuntmen knew how to sell every supposed connection.

This lite version of OUATIC was diverting enough, the fights were the reason to watch. Each one used the environment and different skill sets to perfection, in a 1990s way. You can't go into this film expecting modern polished overly crafted fights. Wu Jing hadn’t hit his stride as an actor, yet he was still charming as the impish and thoughtful kung fu hero. And it might also be the first time, or only time, you’ll see Pigtail Fu. Past the time I usually grant a grading curve, but for Wu Jing’s introduction, I’m feeling generous.

7 July 2026

Tai Chi Note: This film was billed as Tai Chi 2, but had nothing to do with the original, Tai Chi Master, which starred Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh. Much of the cast from this film did return for a 1998 Taiwanese television drama called The Tai Chi Master. I’d watch it for sure if I came across it.

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This movie is much more depressing than I ever anticipated it being.
At the same time it feels so incredibly real, I honestly keep getting surprised by all these short queer films.
Sometimes these indie films show more of an actual story than all of those big BL companies with their millions of series a year that are all of the same slop made with no actual soul behind it.
I'm saying all of this just to pinpoint how much better this one little indie film is in comparison to so many actual big projects with crazy budgets and productions.
It might not be anything crazy special, yet it's still great in its own way.

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Great visuals, fights, brotherhood and street vibe

“When you were in that coma, it was like a living hell. At that moment, time stopped for me” - You threw these words to your friend’s face, who just woke up from a coma, and then in the next minute you beat him to nearly dead again lol.

Although I didn’t enjoy this movie as much as the first series, I gave it the same rating. I think it’s a great movie, with great visuals, fights, street vibe, great music and brotherhood, as expected from the first series. I loved it, especially the final battle at the end when the five S.W.O.R.D gangs decided to team up and fight against Kohaku and those bad guys working for a big South Korean mafia group, in order to protect the town where they were born and raised from those dangerous criminals. I didn’t expect this saga to get involved in serious political matters, but it did and I love that. I think politics exists everywhere, and everything and everyone is involved in politic matters, whether we acknowledge or not.

To sum up, the Korean mafia group wanted to use Kohaku to destroy the S.W.O.R.D gangs to destroy their rival, Kuryu Group, which is a big Japanese yakuza organization. They both wanted to take over the S.W.O.R.D district for a new illegal construction. The Kuryu Group had been using wealth and power to take control over the area for years, including bribing to the corrupt police with dirty money earned by committing several serious crimes in the area, such as drug manufacturing, murder, and human trafficking aiming at young women and girls. I think they can be considered as the main antagonist and the biggest threat to the allied S.W.O.R.D. gangs. In this movie, it was revealed that their goal is to destroy the 5 gangs to construct an illegal, government-backed casino used to conceal political corruption.

Those guys working for the Korean mafia group is just as bad as the Kuryu Group. In this movie, those evil crimes I mentioned above were committed by them. Ironically, it was that gross criminal Seungri who played the role of that group’s leader. I can’t stand his disgusting face and voice, and also wonder what he was thinking and feeling when he was offered to play this role, when he is also a disgusting criminal himself in real life. I bet that sick psychopath was just having fun showing a bit part of his true self to the world without anyone realizing.

I felt so bad for the Rude Boys gang, when this time a lot of their people were brutally killed, and their leader was seriously wounded and probably even terminally ill and could die any time soon. They are also the poorest among the gangs. Basically they are a found family including orphaned people, abandoned by their own parents since they were born, and live in a dump. Oh my god, whenever I think about them, it’s so heartbreaking.

I couldn’t fully enjoy the movie mainly because I couldn’t stand the face of that disgusting psychopath and those lame Might Warriors dudes whom I already disliked since the second season of the main series.

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One of Korea’s painful moments told with sincere honesty

The core story behind Ransomed is heart wrenching and inspirational at the same time. While the movie itself is a loose characterization of the facts, it is well executed and authentically presented as it pulls you in for a turbulent ride in 1987 Lebanon. IMO it is an excellent film. I dare say Hollywood could have done better.

The duo Ha Jung Woo and Ju Ji Hoon were funny, sincere, and believable as Diplomat Lee Min Joon and taxi driver Km Pan Su. They had great chemistry together and were supported by a wonderfully diverse mix of actors who held their own in each of their respective roles. I was impressed by the realistic use of several languages. None of the actors came off cheesy when speaking English, which so often is the case in foreign films.

While not attractive due to the film’s setting, the cinematography was excellent. The OST blended with and supported the film so well it was never a distraction .

Korea has a fascinating history including its recent, more modern period. This story is part of that and I appreciate and applaud Korea’s film industry for tackling even its painful moments with sincere honesty.

I highly recommend this film.

10/10

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I would walk 5000 miles for you or 8046 km, whichever comes first

Fair warning, Sunshine that Can Move Mountains is one of those mildly contemplative, slow paced, nothing really happens movies that are like butterfly nip to me. This is not the strongest Tibetan Buddhist film I’ve watched, but I still enjoyed it.

Twenty-four-year-old Tenzin Paljor/Banjue is a monk who has resided at the monastery near Lhasa since he was a child. He’s already completed 100,000 prostrations and is well thought of by the Lama/Guru. When a messenger arrives to inform Tenzin that his brother, Luoci, was badly injured in a mountain fall, Tenzin has to leave. The Lama calls on the monastery to pray for Tenzin as he knows this two-week period will be a trial for the young man and worries he might not return. The two weeks becomes an extended stay as Tenzin helps his mother care for his brother which puts him in uncomfortably close quarters with his beautiful and potential sister-in-law.

I shouldn’t have said nothing happens in this film. There was a love square, a missing yak, and beautiful snowfall. The Buddhist themes and symbolism were strong, many of which I’m sure I missed or didn’t fully understand. That didn’t stop me from settling into this film and going along with it. The scenery and cinematography were stunning and the small village was like stepping back into time albeit with motorbikes.

This film will not appeal to the majority of film fans, I’m sure. This sort of spiritual journey with a devoted monk tempted to set aside his calling for the secular life and love is my jam. The story definitely had a few hiccoughs, but overall, I enjoyed the mostly quiet contemplation on life and life goals. 7.75 rounded up to 8.0

6 July 2026

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