Reviews

Ning had a condo that she rented for extra income to help Kawin who was the sole breadwinner for the family. Their real estate agent advised them to live in the condo and rented their house instead as it can bring in more cash. Kawin was against it. However, he agreed to show the house to a retired doctor and her daughter, after Ning pleaded. When they asked when can they move in, Kawin said next month which shocked both Ning and I.

Ning started getting suspicious with the new tenants and a video sent by her old neighbor, enhanced those suspicious. And then Kawin started acting strange. With the help from her friend, Ning found out that the retired doctor was not as what she portrayed.

I watched it with zero clue on everything. I didn't know the cast or plot. I was a bit disappointed. I mean, I was hoping for something along the line with the title. It's not much about the home but, more towards the obsession of the occupants.

I was angry on behalf of Ning. She and her daughter, were the collateral damage for this obsession.

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Great acting for a simple story abt marriage breaking down

Just chanced upon this short clip…was looking for something to past time.

This isn’t something exceptionally written script but the acting by both main leads were good, especially ML being a veteran together with FL they’re able to have great emotions transitions from deliriously happy to sudden skeptical of each other to anger and then return to emotionally in love. This emotion rollercoaster ride was unexpected as all taken place within just 30mins…as their stories and characters being revealed layers by layers…and at first I thot it’s one of the funniest thing (thief in their hse) didn’t appear to be funny in the end…guess the thief felt bad of causing havoc and wreaked their already-fragile-marriage…

I do feel the msg is quite good…tht in a marriage sometimes can be quite fragile and needs to handle with care, needs to continuously (probably at the beginning of the relationship something was built but along the years, with busyness of life, may have forgotten to maintain it!) build a stronger foundation of emotional supporting each other in order to withstand whatever that may come by unexpectedly such as this story…to some this story cld be exaggerating the outcome but thankfully that means it doesn’t happen within your household, but sadly this cld be happening in other people’s household for all we know marriage is a fragile thing after all!

Here goes for whoever who might wanna feel this emotionally rollercoaster for just 30mins+ to experience what’s it like:
https://youtu.be/fQ4i-a6lCmM

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"Patience is all" but might not be enough to help you enjoy this movie

The Iron Fisted Monk was Sammo Hung's first directorial endeavor. He also wrote the script with the help of Wong Fung and served as the martial arts director. I'll chalk this shaky movie up to a first-time effort.

Sammo played Hawker/Husker/Luk (depending on the version you watch), a man studying at the Shaolin temple to become skilled enough to enact his revenge. His uncle, the ever-present Hao Li Jen, was killed by a bunch of Manchus looking for trouble at his food stand. Chen Sing as San Te/Tak, the Iron Fisted Monk, sent Hawker to be trained so that he could help the common Han folk. James Tien made a brief appearance as Hawker's instructor before Hawker left on his revenge quest.

Hawker met up with Lo Hoi Pang as Ah Niu/Liang after the dye worker's sister had been raped by Fung Hak On, the Big Bad Manchu. Hawker trains the dye workers in kung fu so that they can defend themselves. Wang Hsieh later shows up as a baddie wearing what looks like a hermit's wig and beard and wielding a kung fu metal yo-yo. When Wang Hsieh and Fung Hak On make a bid to take over the dye factory it becomes apparent just how ineffectual Sammo's training was. At that point Sammo and Chen Sing decide it's time to do some tag team action on the baddies.

Truthfully, the story wasn't any more convoluted than most kung fu movie plots. What I had a problem with was the gratuitous nudity and not one, but two rape scenes. The first was one was appallingly long and graphic. Sammo wasn't known for nudity in the films he directed, maybe he needed to get it out of his system, but the scenes were not warranted in a movie that also had quite a bit of slapstick comedy.

What worked for me in this film were the fights. Sammo and Chen Sing were fun to watch fight together. Chen Sing rarely played the good guy. I almost didn't recognize him at the start of the film without his mustache. Plus, as a monk, he had his shirt on, Chen always found an opportune moment to take it off during his movies. Spoiler alert—by the final credits the shirt had come off! He also smiled and not with the "I just burned down an orphanage" smile he usually had as a baddie.

Chen Sing was still quick and performed a nice splits stunt in the final fight. Sammo showed off his acrobatic skills in an early fight, flipping and somersaulting. The fights were fairly quick and creative, Sammo is always entertaining in a throw down. Several kung fu styles were used including, mantis, snake, and tiger. There were a couple of gory scenes in the fights for those who are sensitive. The movie was populated with stuntmen and actors who would go on to star in their own movies later. Hsiao Ho played at least three different roles---in a beard or sans beard he could be seen in the background often even after one of his characters had previously been killed.

The Iron Fisted Monk was an uncomfortably uneven film. The comedy felt out of place with the numerous deaths and sexual assaults dominating the screen. The character whose sister was brutally raped and committed suicide afterwards was frolicking about with Sammo in a brothel not long after as if nothing had happened. A character would be ready for a revenge rampage and then like a dog when someone yells "Squirrel!" would become distracted and then it was all fun and games. There was little continuity of mood and action. It's too bad because the combination of Sammo and Chen was entertaining. Unless you are just really in the mood for a Sammo Hung movie you haven't watched you might be better off watching one of the others in his long list of credits.

6/3/23

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There's depth. This ain't your shallow, fluffy shoujo.

Ever grew up closely with someone in your childhood, only to drift apart once you grow older? I feel we've all had that happen.

The beginning half is rather slow and rocky. It starts off episodic, introducing the cold dynamic between Minato and Toru. But once you keep watching, it becomes a lot better. Minato basically ends up dressing as her high school self, "Mina," and bumps into Toru on the street. And from there, Toru asks her out because she looks like his first love.

The story becomes a lot deeper than your basic shoujo/josei. It's supposed to be cringey because Minato is pretending to be someone else. Once Mintato accidentally dates Toru, she learns there's more to Toru and she starts examining what she's been missing out on their relationship. They're step siblings that basically don't get along. While she's with him as Mina, she starts grieving over what she could have had with him: he could have actually been in her life instead of her pushing him away. At the beginning, she even tells Toru to not talk to her while they're attending the same college. As the story progresses, you learn that Toru is the reason why she's a germaphobe and why she incessantly cleans.

I found that to be a lot more interesting. She met Toru as a child but once they grew up, they drifted apart. She basically thinks that Toru doesn't like her, not even as a person. I can feel the deep longing Toru had for Minato. It came across as purer. My heart did skip a beat. The ending felt a lot more romantic; I was so turned off by the way the manga handled the ending.

The manga is funnier than the movie, but I'm glad the story was streamlined, without taking anything away. It takes volumes for Toru to find out she's pretending to be Minato, whereas in the movie, Toru has a brain. The love triangle didn't drag out as long as it did in the manga. And I'm glad that Minato put down a lot of boundaries while she was dating Toru as Mina. The manga was a lot more graphic in the romance scenes, and I found that to be too much to handle. Whereas the manga didn't sell me on their relationship, the movie did.

I wished there was your classic love confession. I get that Minato's been wanting to know what Toru really thinks of her. They basically apologize to one other, explaining their feelings: how they both thought they had hated each other, which makes sense. But where was the love confession? We get it on Toru's end, that he's been in love with her since they met. But we didn't really get that on Minato's end. Because that is kinda a big bomb to drop, when she's assumed he's hated her all this time! Toru assuming that she's ok with it. But what if she wasn't ok with that???

Toru's the better love rival than her "so called male friend" who forced her to go to a hotel with him.

My verdict: skip the manga and stick to the movie. The manga did better in the beginning chapters, but the movie made the story a lot more concise and tolerable.

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Poor Agatha Christie Imitation

If you have read Agatha Christie's famous work, Murder on the Orient Express, then you may have an idea what this movie is about. If you haven't, then I suggest you read it anyway before watching this disappointing imitation of one of the most well-known murder mysteries in fiction.

The main complaint I have with this movie is the lack of actual investigation involved in solving the crime. We were shown that the detective in charge, Choi examining all the possible suspects by using questionable old-school interrogation like accuse he person of committing the crime straight up and then watch their reaction. This technique was repeated for all the suspects involved. Choi also solicited the help from unconventional sources in order to progress his investigation, which earned the ire of his direct superior. His subordinate was not pleased with him either. The entire film was dictated through a meeting room where Choi was questioned for his behavioural conduct during his handling of the case.

We were shown what really happened in the suspects' lives, some suspects have more screen time than others, and again, no actual investigation was actually made. There was no detailed forensic analysis, even though for a murder case that is at least 8 years old, it would require some form of advanced technology to solve. There was no verification of the testimonies provided by witnesses or suspects. Choi dismissed most of them as "straight-up liars" without providing a deeper rationale to his assumption.

This could have been a good movie, but it took a famous work and made a clown out of it. I have no other analogy for this otherwise.

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Gentle reminder to cherish your love

"Yesterday, Once More" is a film that treads familiar ground, exploring a story that has been done many times before. However, the outstanding performances and storytelling of the leads make it a movie that leaves a lasting impact.

Chen Fei Yu and Zhou Ye shine in their roles, delivering amazing acting that brings their characters to life. Their ability to convey emotions is exceptional, and throughout the film, they take the audience on an emotional journey. Their performances will move you, immersing you in the story and making you truly care about their characters' experiences.

One of the highlights of "Yesterday, Once More" is the depiction of the protagonists' evolving relationship. Chen Fei Yu and Zhou Ye excel at showcasing the cute and heartwarming moments of their characters' romance. Their chemistry is palpable, and their on-screen connection feels genuine. As the story progresses, you can't help but be invested in the growth and development of their relationship.

While the storyline may not break new ground, the strength of "Yesterday, Once More" lies in the exceptional performances and the skillful storytelling. Chen Fei Yu and Zhou Ye's talent and commitment to their characters make the film stand out, despite its familiar premise. Their performances demonstrate that even in a well-worn narrative, the right combination of acting and storytelling can have a significant impact on the audience.

In conclusion, "Yesterday, Once More" may not offer a groundbreaking story, but the exceptional acting and heartfelt storytelling of the leads make it a movie worth watching. Chen Fei Yu and Zhou Ye's performances bring depth and emotion to the characters, and their portrayal of the evolving relationship is both endearing and captivating. If you're a fan of touching romantic films, this one will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart.

Note: This review is written by me, edited by ChatGPT for readability.

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I’m not sure how I feel about this movie. First half could be easily taken as an audiobook - you don’t have to watch the movie, just listen. Even if you decide to actually commit to the viewing experience, you will not see much - small, dark, close space and constant close ups to characters faces hidden in the shadows. It was still fairly interesting, but just listening to it might actually give you a better experience, as you will have to imagine the place yourself, and it would make it easier to immerse yourself into the situation.

It’s a rather slow take on how regret and guilt can really mess you up and lead to unfortunate decisions… you will end up regretting yet again. The ending ties it all up quite well, explaining many details presented along the way.

The performances were great in terms of line delivery, but because of the set up, it was not always as easy to judge anything beyond that - I just simply could not see much.

And that’s the flaw of the production. I understand that the set up was intentional and the dark claustrophobic small space was part of the storytelling, yet I cannot stop myself from being disappointed with the result.

Overall, a decent watch. I feel like the ending might seem a bit confusing at first, but by the time credits roll in, it’s not hard to put the puzzles together.

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While the first and second half of the movie did not exactly fit in themes, both had quite good ways to create suspense and scare the audience - be it with visuals or the story itself.

Personally I enjoyed the first half far more - the mystery of all the supernatural events, the small details in the background that you need to pay attention to. The directing truly made me focus on what was happening on screen, since I did not want to miss any one of the bizarre moments - all thanks to some small detailed images.

And then the story started to get explained and for me it lost a bit of its charm. The scares shifted from unexplained supernatural to human’s evil deeds - it made me more uncomfortable than scared. There is value in exploring such themes, but it was not something I was looking for in this specific title.

The acting was decent. Nothing too outstanding, but good enough not to get distracting. Koki did a good job with the duality of her performance.

Overall, kept my interest till the end, even if the second half was slightly disappointing.

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To find beauty in horror

When you watch this movie, the first thing that you will realise is that it has a completely different feel to it as compared to many other recent horror movies. Although most of the movie is shot in a single building, there isn’t a dearth of creative ways to use that to their advantage. Right from the get-go you feel a sense of foreboding and that continues till the end.

The movie is about four students in an isolated school that are part of a study group of Grand Guignol. This school of troubled youths get two new entries. Homura Itsuki a new student and a mysterious new teacher. As soon as Homura joins the school it starts a series of deaths by a strange figure that is targeting the school students and faculty. With no way out of the island and the only escape is via a boat the next day, the residents of the school are forced into a desperate struggle to survive the horrific night and capture the killer.

Considering it’s a slasher movie, the horror should stem from creative death scenes. However, the movie keeps you entertained with gallons of blood spraying out of victims during every kill and the final rolling of heads post decapitation. There is a lot of shaky cam to create an atmosphere of dread but in some scenes it feels overdone. There is a hint of mystery to find the real killer but it fails to capitalize on that story instead investing in making the audiences wonder whether all the kills are staged or is it real and the movie ends beautifully leaving you with your own interpretation and theories.

The movie has a line-up of some great actors and they do not disappoint. There are times when they ham it up and you cheer their performance. Although the movie is tagged as a BL, it certainly isn’t the main plot. It’s a mystery wherein the audiences get to decide what is true.

In conclusion, give this one a watch with an open mind. As its name suggests, the movie pays homage to the style of horror plays made popular in the Grand Guignol Theater which typically depicted gore and explored the human psyche when faced with insanity, panic or hypnosis.

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first half is so much better, u should close b4 the end. (Bad Grammar)

This movie could have been one of my favoritos, but i just think the end breaks it. She just HAD tô end up w the guy she just couldnt get over bc she is uncapable of forgeting him. Ik real life dont work life, "oh this one is better, so im gonna fala in love with him instead of that shtty one", trust me, i really do; but its also not just one love for her whole life fr. It really seems like she liked the other guy and it would be a really good ending, with the consequences of not giving vale to the person who is with you now, and just caring for them when you lose then. And real life aspects, like losing people bc of lies and etc, getting over someone, shopping that it IS possible (as someone who like a person for year i would really like this ending, but all personal opiniões here)
+, if the ML wasnt kento i would despise him lol.

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I quite enjoy it.

Probably, this film could be something like eat the rich but it ends up flimsy.
As a revenge film, it feels weird. I feel like the antagonist is anxious throughout the film about Amelie's best friend died while doing anal with him, but it seems forgotten by Amelie but still affects her in a way, with all the things going on in her life that she sees a guy as her oasis, then the guy become the reason she need to get revenge while the antagonist still thinking about what he did, that's what's in my thoughts tho.

There's bunch of flashback between Amelie and her father, quite touching but it seems like it just for setting up the ending, which is quite good.

That's all I think. Thanks.

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Great cinematography and acting, storyline confusing and unsatisfying

This BL, much like its main characters, is very soft and quiet in its expressions of gay love. The movie is 2 hours long, and it could have made much better use of the time. A lot, and I mean a lot of scenes are way longer than they need to be, probably to give the sense of how slow time flows in the small town where the movie takes place. Even still, there is little happing during these prolonged scenes. In other BLs, the main characters would glance at each other and the time the scene takes makes you feel like something is happening. In this movie, it feels more like the movie is paused and you are waiting for the next scene to take place. Another gripe I have with the movie is that the scenes shown and the story told are confusing. What I mean is that I don't feel the depth that the director wanted the viewer to feel. The feelings of the main character and what goes on inside his head remain a mystery, and the ending is open and feels very incomplete, like there is no ending.

The acting overall is good and the characters are recognizable and deep. The lighting and the camera angles are satisfying as well. I wish that the movie was stronger. So either, have a stronger emphasis on love or a stronger emphasis on dealing with homophobia and feeling rejection from society. The general sense I got was: main character has daughter and moved to small town because he is gay and rejected by his surroundings, he has a lover and wants to be together with him but feels uncomfortable that he will be seen as gay and rejected again. I don't understand what the main character wants other than being accepted (not expressed directly) and living with his daughter. Interesting watch I suppose but not as deep and meaningful for what it's worth. Still, nice to see a more manly Korean man in a gay role like this in a Korean BL, most are or look like idols so this is nice for the larger gay population in Korea.

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I am crying and I know you are as well...

Watching this movie, was one of the best things I've done in my life. At first I was like, "what could possibly happen and ruin this relationship?", then her friend told her that the one she actually liked was him, Woon-Ho, out of all people. I was shocked.. I didn't think things would turn out like this. I still had hope tho, that Bo-Ra and Woon-Ho will be together in the end and after half an hour in the movie, he's 'gone' (meaning he weant to New Zealand) I was glad they didn't lose contact... for awhile at least.. who would've thought that she won't be hearing, seeing, talking to him, ever again.. who would've thought that meeting at the train stasion, would be the last time they see each other.. After his brother said he was gone, actually GONE this time, I couldn't help but tear up. Why? Why didn't fate want them to be together? Why break my heart and not let them have their 'happily ever after'? (sure it's a movie, but still..) I knew, ofc I knew that things won't go as I wanted them to, I knew that the movie was gonna be sad and that's why I watched it in the first place. But as I did, I totally forgot all about it, about that the movie was a Drama and that it wouldn't have a happy ending. I even thought that people were exaggerating about it being sad (until the last 25 minutes at least). And here I am, writing this review while trying not to cry once again. I won't say that I regreat watching this movie, bc I DEFINETLY don't, even if it'll leave me depressed for the rest of my life, I'll be rewatching it, when I have the need to feel happy, I'll be choosing this movie, over and over again. Well, at least until the last 20 minutes. I loved Woon-Ho's character so freaking much, he was THE STANDARD. And ofc we cannot forget about Bo-Ra, I don't know why, but for some reason she inspires me. She makes me want to become a better version of myself. I loved this movie and I'll always will.

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