Reviews

Movie of the episodic series Love O2O without all the filler

Condensing 22.5 hours down to two hours, you're going to lose a lot. Missing was a lot of character development, but we also lost all the unnecessary silliness, extended game play, and multiple mean characters. I enjoyed the movie from this standpoint.

The acting was pretty good, and the couple was cute together. I like it anytime a man sees a woman and is fascinated by her first.

There were a couple of sweet lines, a major swoony kiss, and a happy ending. It felt abrupt to me, but only because I had just finished watching the 30-episode series.

It's a cute movie to watch between more in-depth content.

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A short but sweet palate cleanser.

As far as Cultivator x Demon wuxia romances go, this short film does a decent job of delivering its own take within the confines of its budget.

The title removes any surprise that the plot twist may have provided, so the story ends up being less about a hidden identity and more about an underestimated woman trying her best to prove herself in a male-dominated trade. She may be childish and naive, but she has a big heart and a strong will that never cracks. Watching her play off the demon cult leader's more stoic personality is a treat and it's a shame that there wasn't enough time to really develop their budding relationship.

The ending leaves behind more questions than answers and the holes in the story are glaring, but overall it is worth the watch.

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it was so good at first, until it wasn't.

Honestly, I love this at first. It's such a good choice for you if you want to get hurt by those "sad" movies you are always looking for. But then I realized that its ending was so unnecessary, such a waste. I don't think there's a good point for the writer to twist the plot at the end, they twist from a great start - a colorful and bright opening - to a waste of ending like the efforts that the characters bring all the time ended up fading away with a pointless ending just for wrenching viewers' hearts.

It will be a great movie if they execute them with another plot, the brighter one. Because sad movies aren't always the best.

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An attempt was made, but unfortunately falls flat.

Imagine if, after Rosaline scorned Romeo, she suddenly decided that she was jealous of Romeo's new love affair with Juliet and went out of her way to pick on the poor girl instead of just talking about her feelings... You still wouldn't have the plot of this movie, but it's the closest you're going to get!

Instead, this is a collection of melancholy moments that use Romeo & Juliet as set dressing to convey a high school story about love and loneliness. Typically with media centered on high school kids putting on a Shakespeare play, I end up wishing that the entire story could have just been the play because the final act production tends to be far more interesting than the character interactions leading up to it - and, while the version presented in this movie is no great shakes, it brought forth a lot more entertainment than anything else the writing had to offer.

The pacing is deader than Romeo and Juliet, but at least I can appreciate that the characters are allowed to be awkward kids. There were more than a few moments that didn't feel properly explained either through subtext or exposition, but the second the movie suddenly broke into a stop-motion segment it officially lost me.

Admittedly, the story clearly tries to take Shakespeare's dialogue and juxtapose it with the feelings of present day teenagers in an effort to show that the more things change the more they stay the same. It's unfortunate that the movie doesn't seem to show any deep understanding of the play's themes, but evidently that wasn't the point. Just like Seon Hwa, the audience is expected to float along in a haze for the nearly two-hour runtime as the characters contemplate what it means to be in love.

Whether a tragedy or a comedy, I just wish I had been allowed to see an interesting love story unfold, but there was so little romantic chemistry anywhere to be found. The main friend group had the most believable chemistry and were more enjoyable to watch whenever they were casually hanging out.

Overall, the cinematography tries its best to be pretty and sometimes succeeds. It just couldn't make up for the rest of the elements not coming together despite everyone's best efforts.

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Sweet and relatable

As always, thoughts and opinions are my own and not intended to offend :) (lets be honest, these are just my ramblings)

I felt like this was a little different from the previous Strongberry shorts I've watched - and I liked that. This wasn't just fluffy and sweet, it was calm but with this feeling of loss as an undertone. Two men who once had a relationship coming together to help one another in a non-flirty, just platonic way was nice to see; that's not to say that there is no romantic feelings bubbling, but it felt like there was a possibility being recognised but not acted upon. I hope that makes sense!

This is another film I would love to have a longer version, or even just a follow up.

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In Strongberry we trust indeed!

As always, thoughts and opinions are all my own and not intended to offend anyone :) (let's be honest, this is just me rambling)

This was so adorable. As always, I'm sad it was a short and not an actual series, but it was a gorgeous little look into a budding relationship between two boys with secret feelings for one another. The acting was fantastic, and the set up/execution was just so natural.

Both leads felt very comfortable, if that makes sense? They seemed at ease and even though the film is so short, they made it feel real and relatable. I would love to see these two together again, in something longer.

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THIS IS THE BEST MOVIE I WATCHED IN SO LONG

I watched this movie because of a tiktok edit yes kinda embarrassing but I am so glad, I watched it. I've never expected myself to like this movie as much as I did. I even maid my cousin watch it that's how obsessed I was with it. Anything related to someone getting bullied and them healing. I eat that shit up every-time. But this story it was something special the acting, the way the ml cared so much about her, It mean't so much to me. Also that one line in story where he says "You protect the world, I will protect you" HAS ME ON A CHOCK HOLD EVERY TIME OMGG. The only sorta complaint I got is the ending well personally I'm not a fan of bittersweet ending it could even be called an open ending. I've noticed a pattern that all the good things in media always have endings like this which makes sense because if there's a very specific ending people will always get hate for it example would be the author of AOT I totally recommend watching this movie, I wish I could watch it again or even see someone watch it for the first time.

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Sensível

Um filme que me disperou muitos sentimentos.
Pude me identificar com cada um dos personagens e seus desenvolvimentos.
Os atores fizeram um ótimo trabalho.
A história foi como uma dose de experiências de adolescência.
A fotografia foi confortável como um cobertor e refrescante como água gelada.
A trilha sonora perfeita, tenho uma admiração muito grande pelas músicas tailandesas.
Desde que vi o lançamento na Netflix fiquei pulando de alegria, infelizmente não temos (Brasil) muito acesso à obras tailandesas.
Espero ver mais obras tão incríveis quanto essa, que me fez sentir diversos sentimentos e amar tudo isso.
Toda a equipe fez um ótimo trabalho, muito obrigada. 💗💐

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A Smart, Funny, Wildly Original Cult Classic

I can see why this flopped in Korea when it came out 20 years ago, just as I can see why it was a huge success on the American College circuit back then. Indeed, it still plays at some colleges due to its strong cult following. It appeals to a certain crowd because it's smart, funny, original and, finally, wildly creative in the way it criticizes how capitalism tramples on both human rights and environmentalism. More than anything, it's just plain weird. And that's its charm.

The set up is pretty simple. A beekeeper thinks aliens are going to destroy the earth in 2 weeks during the lunar eclipse and that the alien leader hides among us disguised as the CEO of a vast chemical corporation. The beekeeper kidnaps the CEO and, together with his dimwitted girlfriend (who happens to be a circus tightrope walker), he commences to torture the CEO to glean information on how to save the planet from impending annihilation. The next 2 hours are a cat and mouse game between the beekeeper and the kidnapped CEO, while detectives search for them.

While one might think the film did not always succeed in tonal evenness because it vacillates between humor and violence, this was part of its brilliance. The viewer is not ever quite sure if they are supposed to be laughing at the hero for his ideas about aliens, alarmed by his violence, or sympathizing with him. But it's precisely this uncertainty that keeps us on our toes and gives an extra frisson to the viewing experience. We also don't know who to root for because as much as the CEO whom the hero kidnaps is a "victim" he is also the CEO of a chemical company notorious for polluting the environment. Moreover, he was shown in an early scene to be a rich jerk who stiffs poor working people like a cab driver. So we can't feel too much pity for this schmuck.

However, it's also hard to root for the hero because we simply are not certain of his sanity for most of the film. We don't find out if he's sane or not until the final 2 minutes. Keeping your viewer in doubt that long is a real risk, but the payoff was there when we got the answer at the end. I noted that some disliked the ending because it was simply too darn weird. But I see it as just one more of the film's riskier, wild, and out there twists. Besides, it afforded the single funniest line in the entire film when the guy said, "Of course I couldn't signal you, I had no hair!" You'll get the joke if/when you watch the film.

The film took a number of risks and nothing about it was formulaic. Indeed, I'd give it a 9.5 for sheer audaciousness alone. There must be others who agree, because Variety reported in February of 2024 that a Hollywood remake is in production with Emma Stone cast so far. I doubt it will be as good, so catch the original Korean version first.

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What a betrayal

Wow! Perfect story of manipulation and betrayal. Totally clear that you can be manipulated when it comes to assumption of trusting or liking someone you don't know fully. You really have to look in the mirror and ask yourself to get a clear mind of making the right choices and decisions with your life. She just realized that when she walked away from him in prison, lesson learned.
I really liked this kind of movies - suspense thriller. I was rooting for her and her friends at the yacht to save her or she would have been killed by Seong Yeol. At first, I was putting my trust on him too and thinking how he and her would get away with the murder or scheme after. Greed and revenge usually do not have good outcome. They will eat you up.

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Uneven romantic comedy

Wild Rose was a romantic comedy highly influenced by Japan's invasion of the country. The understandable propaganda due to the crisis, juxtaposed to the comedy could come across as a strange combination.

Wang Ren Mei made a delightful Wild Rose. Living in a small village with her father, Xiao Feng was vivacious and always with a smile on her face. Jiang Bo/Po, an artist from a wealthy family drives his fancy car into town and while painting pictures of the rural landscape becomes smitten with the wild girl. About this time Xiao Feng's father fights with a creepy old creditor who wants to buy Xiao Feng to square his accounts. Her father accidentally kills the man as the hut catches on fire. When he escapes and runs away it leaves Xiao Feng to believe he is dead. Jiang takes the newly orphaned Xiao Feng back to the city with him. He gives her a makeover before taking her home so that his father will accept her. After she commits a faux pas the father orders her out and Jiang went with her.

The coddled Jiang was introduced to how the other 99% live. With two low income friends they found a place to live already housing ten families run by a cranky landlady. Without his father's influence and connections, Jiang was unable to sell his paintings and turned to painting billboards. At first everyone was smiles and holding hands and then the unforgiving winter set in and the more unforgiving landlady. Playing housekeeping in poverty turned out to be a hardship with life and death on the line. Xiao Feng picked up a wallet dropped by a drunk but was chased by the police. Jiang and one of their friends take responsibility and are thrown in jail. Xiao Feng goes to Jiang's father, accepts full responsibility for his son's actions and promises to never see him again if he will save his son. Jiang's father agrees. Afterwards, Jiang and the boys search relentlessly for Xiao. In the end, when the movie takes a 90 degree turn, as support for the volunteer army is being drummed up, Jiang once again leaves home, this time for his country. In the recruiting parade are his old buddies and Xiao Feng. Even war can facilitate romance!

The print I watched was in bad shape with many scenes too dark to make out or cut off mid-frame. The acting overall was good, some better than others. This version had no music accompanying it.

Though it felt like we were supposed to side sympathetically, maybe even politically with the Wild Rose and eschew the filthy rich who focused on keeping the classes divided, the scenes involving the wealthy seemed lovingly luxurious. Only at the end when Jiang stepped away to pay attention to the volunteer parade did the oblivious dancing stop. The aristocrats seemed completely out of touch with what was going on in the streets. The military scenes and even the song and military inspection Xiao Feng performs with the children in her village could be jarring. "To love China is to love your mama!" Given their country was under attack it seemed reasonable to appeal patriotically to the audience even if it caused the movie to shift out of balance at times and could be heavy handed.

Wild Rose had some charming and inspiring moments interspersed, but overall felt uneven emotionally and narratively. As challenging as the degraded film could be to watch, most likely this is a film for silent film buffs or those who are fans of the director and/or cast.

5/11/23

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"Like teardrops, the petals from the peach tree fall..."

The Peach Girl was a tragic tale of forbidden love between the classes. Ruan Ling Yu and Jin Yan made for a beautiful and tormented couple in this classic silent film.

Miss Lim (Ruan) and her parents worked on a large property. When Lim was a baby her mother planted a peach tree saying it was a symbol of her child's life. If the little girl was good it would blossom. Lim and the owner's son, Teh En, became friends despite his mother's disapproval. Even at the tender age of five, love blossomed along with the peach tree. Teh En moved away, later returning as a young man. He and Lim reconnected and their love continued. His mother still did not approve. Teh set Lim up in an apartment and told her his mother was going to let them marry. This was a bold-faced lie because his mother was arranging another marriage for him. When Lim's father found out what was going on and that Lim was pregnant, he confronted Teh En's mother who offered to pay them off. Insulted, Lim's father refused the money and was fired for his efforts.

"A man's life might be easily altered by circumstances." Teh En begs his mother to let him marry Lim and she responds by locking him up in their mansion. This was more in mind than physically because she was half his size and constantly shaking from her opium addiction. He could have easily pushed past her at any time. Teh's mom is worried about their "social dignity" more so than their familial integrity. Teh believes that "wealth or poverty does not come between love" but in real life that isn't always true, especially when descending from wealth into poverty and for a man who never worked a day in his life.

While Teh's mom tries setting him up with other girls Lim has their daughter. By this time Lim's mother has died and her father has been blinded. Melodrama thy name is Peach Girl. Lim's landlady attempts to pimp her out to an old man but upon seeing the peach blossoms she determines to stay strong.

"Sickness invariably visits the poor and helpless" especially in a Chinese silent films. Lim lays dying and Teh finally gains enough courage to push past his overly dramatic mother to run and stumble and run and stumble and run and stumble to the woman he loves. With Lim's last breath Teh promises to live to take care of their child and stand up to his mother.

The intertitles were beautifully decorated and had dialogue in English and Mandarin. In the version I saw there were also simpler English translations beneath for some intertitles. The print I watched had no music. I've read that silentfilm.org has added music on a DVD they released. By this time in Hollywood most movies, with the exception of Charlie Chaplin movies, had sound. Possibly due to access issues, lack of theatrical infrastructure, and Japan invading Manchuria in 1931, the Chinese were slower to add sound. Many frames were badly faded but did not take away from my experience.

Ruan Ling Yu's expressive face and the timeless story adapted well to silent film making the story easy to follow. This was not the best performance I've seen by Ling Yu, at times it was hampered by the thick white theatrical makeup. Without the gift of spoken words, she still conveyed a wide range of emotion brilliantly emoted through her facial expressions and body language.

Peach Girl's story at this time in history feels overly familiar, but in 1931 might have felt fresher. Perhaps due to the hard times, the plight of an abandoned woman often left with a child and living in poverty was a common theme in many of the surviving silent films I've watched. More often than not the woman was criticized by society but not the filmmaker as the film called out for audience sympathy. In this film, the director and writer highlighted the discriminatory gap between the classes. "Class distinction does not exist among children." The lesson was nearly always learned after a high price was paid.

The Peach Girl was entertaining and worth checking out if you enjoy older films and Ruan Ling Yu's performances. The alternate title, Peach Blossom Weeps Tears of Blood might have been more accurate for this film. "Observe how teardrops are petals of the peach tree…the peach tree speaks of love, of sorrow, and of tears."

5/11/23

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In what can only be described as the korean adaptation of the Nicholas Cage's Christmas classic The Family Man, Kwon Sang Woo's character gets a taste of what life could had been like if he had made different choices.

Switch (2023) captures the feeling of the original film and brings a new life, heart and laughter into the story. The director and writer, both, know how to make this adaptation feel fresh, even when it's a story we have seen before. The acting is the strongest point of the story, with everyone delivering their A+ game and making you feel everything their characters are feeling. The humor in this movie is also very good, so I am sure everyone can enjoy it.

Overall, I fully recommend it!

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