I don't write reviews very often, but I feel like this movie deserves one. Yes it is a normal romance, very predictable from beginning to end, HOWEVER, I don't think I have seen anything like this before.
Somehow it is an original story, something that we don't often see in romance doramas.
I feel like the movie transmits the character's feelings and growth in a very natural way. Nothing feels forced, nothing feels rushed.
If someone is looking for a movie that will give you butterflies, I hope that this review can help to give it a try.
PD: I gave it a 7 on the rewatch value because it overwhelmed me with feelings, I will not rewatch it any time soon, but probably in the future on a day when I am emotionally underwhelmed, I will come for this again. This is how strong it is.
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"I've lived my entire life looking up"
The Starting Point is a Korean snowy crime drama directed by Lee Man Hee. Crime, murder, prostitution, and dancing by a campfire, this film covered all the noir bases. Lol. If you watch any Korean dramas or films you know better than to be suckered into those happy moments for too long.Seok Gu (though never actually called by name in the film) breaks into a building to steal files from a safe. Hunted by a determined security man, the two fight to the death with Seok losing the briefcase of files. Boss Choi is none too happy and feels that somehow Seok is a threat to the gang’s Seven Year Secret. Choi sends Seok off to Mt Sorak with a prostitute named Seon (whose name is never mentioned in the film) to act as newlyweds. The newlyweds are in a group with other singles and couples, one of whom is a shady gynecologist who treats prostitutes and recognizes Seon.
We never know why Seok thinks he’s been sent to the mountain. Seon was supposed to be sexually available to Seok, but was their a more sinister order at play? We also never learn what the Seven Year Secret plan is. An assassin was sent to the mountain to partake in the fireside festivities as well. And later more bad guys showed up. It seemed like there could have been a much simpler, less convoluted plan to kill Seok. Watching the characters climb, scramble, and fall off the mountain did make use of the gorgeous scenery even if it was shot in black and white. The middle section of the film gave the two main characters a chance to fall in love as they participated in the lodge activities and for some humor to be injected, but as a whole it left that section flabby compared to the thrilling opening and ending segments.
The opening espionage scene was exciting and disconcertingly quiet. Ten minutes passed before a brief word was spoken. The final act with chases up and down the snowy mountain had to have been rigorous and exhausting for the actors. Shin Sung Il and Moon Hee had strong chemistry as two withdrawn people who trusted no one and with good reason. They were also stunningly beautiful to gaze upon. Seon talked Seok into making the difficult climb to the mountaintop. Her whole life she had been looked down upon, just once she wanted to be able to look down instead of up.
Despite concerns I had with the script, The Starting Point was entertaining and only a couple of steps from being very good. If nothing else it was quite aesthetically pleasing and benefited from being restored in 2023. Seon wanted someone to see her and get to know her, “He didn’t hate me,” was as close as she got to true love. In a life filled with pain and shame, maybe it was enough.
7 June 2025
Note: YouTube issues all sorts of warnings about age appropriateness and not for all audiences. There was no nudity. No sexual scenes. No gratuitous violence or gore. There was a notice about the birth control pill being available. People did seem to be concerned about a population boom, but other than that, I’m not sure what the warning was for. The women all clutched their pearls upon finding out Seon was a prostitute, so maybe whoever posted the film was concerned about a prostitute being a main character. I honestly I have no idea what the problem was.
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For fans of action thrillers, Thai cinema and stories that expose the dark layers of a big city, this film is a good choice. Prepare yourself for an intense and relentless journey through an urban hell where danger is always lurking.
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For fans of darker, more thoughtful crime dramas that explore the complexities of morality and the harsh realities of life on the margins of society, “Outside” is a solid choice. It’s a reminder that even for those who seek a second chance, the road to redemption can be brutal and fraught with obstacles.
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While it may have some dramatic elements that lean toward melodrama (common in productions based on real events), the execution is so engaging and the performances so sincere that these moments are easily overshadowed by the raw emotion of the story. It is a film that captivates the audience from start to finish, leaving the viewer with a sense of admiration for human resilience and capacity in times of extreme adversity. Recommended for fans of disaster films, dramas based on true events, and anyone who enjoys stories of heroism.
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If you’re looking for two hours of impressive fight scenes, an expansion of the John Wick lore, and a lethal new protagonist, “Ballerina” is a first-class ticket to an adrenaline-pumping ride. It’s a worthy addition to the universe, one that reinvigorates the franchise with new blood and promises a bright future for Eve Macarro.
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Visually strinking thriller, with a good production value & solid writing while mostly predictable
This chilling thriller features an aspiring mangaka who accidentaly found a serial killer crime scene. This impacts him drastically, allowing him to elevate his art skills and his career, as he draws inspiration from this encounter for his debut series. I predicted quite a few twists and still I liked a lot how the movie ended. The main character was really ambivalent : a very grey, pitiful hero, which I truly enjoyed.The acting was pretty good overall, a bit less on the side of the villain : he was frightenaning but it could have been even stronger. The Art was so strong that the actor playing the serial killer could not really measure up against its fictional manga counterpart.
The production value was very good. The sketches, fictionnal manga drawings were all very well made and participated a lot to the angsty and dark atmosphere of the central story. I liked how the production showcased the Art, making it a clear mirror of the real life crimes. It was chilling how close it was, which was the point. The OST had a nice ending song but nothing really noticeable during the movie.
I would recommend this to people looking for a gripping thriller. If you like stories featuring artists as well as the creation process, I think this will for sure be an interesting watch as it takes you on the journey of an assistant mangaka drawing inspiration from real life crimes to start a career and the dramatic consequences of doing so. Be mindful of the triggers if you any as there is quite a bit of gore and blood due to the nature of the film itself.
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This review may contain spoilers
Funny...Not funny
The acting was wonderful. The story was tight until the end of the movie. Then the plot plummeted.The context of the movie leaves room for conversation and reflection. If nothing else it portrayed the brain washing of abused children who followed blindly the authorities who used them.
This movie had humor, love of family and the sense of community that is the real heart of why anyone would protect and serve. The ending offered no path to redemption. I thought the ending sucked large!
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"My ear works better than your nose"
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka was not what I expected. The titular Ishinaka showed up in all three independent love stories to give his own brand of wisdom to characters in need.Buried Gasoline
Kawai mentions that late in the war he was part of a group that buried over 400 drums of gasoline on the property of orchard owner Yamazaki. Writer Ishinaka, villager Nakamura, and Kawai dig with permission on Yamazaki’s land dreaming of what they will do with their new found wealth. It doesn’t take long before the men realize Kawai is far more interested in Yamazaki’s daughter than he is the buried gas.
An Argument
Mariko and Shuichi are embarrassed when they find out their fathers have gone to a burlesque show. They decide to shame them and maybe get some new clothes out of the deal as well. The tables turn when each child takes their father’s side in the argument tearing the lovebirds apart.
A Carriage of Hay
Yoshiko makes the long walk to town to visit her sister in the hospital. At the hospital a fortune teller says she’ll meet her future husband within the next day. After a long visit Yoshiko begins the walk home. A neighbor lets her hitch a ride in his hay wagon. They stop for a quick break and food. When it’s time to leave Yoshiko accidentally climbs up on the wrong hay wagon and falls fast asleep. It’s dark when she wakes up in a strange place. Shy farmer Teisaku and his family take her in for the night.
Each story featured gentle humor and young romance. Kawai used subterfuge in order to see pretty Moyoko. Mariko and Shuichi’s relationship and love were tested as they picked sides in their fathers’ fight. Yoshiko found the nearly mute Teisaku endearing as they spent an evening together.
The story was not Naruse’s but men were still shown falling back on their baser natures, especially in the second story where all the respectable men in town were eager to see the naked women dance even as they derided the show. During the third story, Teisaku’s mother summoned a constable to write up a letter stating that the mother had protected Yoshiko’s virginity and that she left intact. I suppose anyone seeing that sexy beast Mifune Toshiro would be given cause to wonder. Yet it was still a distasteful leftover of a rigid patriarchal system. Ishinaka appeared in each story to give the lovers’ romances a little push in the right direction, like a middle-aged Cupid. Happily, this movie was in very good shape, so many of Naruse’s older ones have been degraded with time. Elements of the stories were heavily dated, but overall the stories were charming and uncharacteristically romantic.
6 June 2025
Little note: Shimura Takashi made a tiny cameo as one of the high ranking burlesque show customers
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Ironic story
Whether it's the narrative structure, character development, or the balanced interplay of humor and pathos, everything is masterfully executed. The story's premise isn't groundbreaking—similar plots can be traced back to Gogol's The Government Inspector in 1836, which exposed the corruption of high-ranking officials.Yet this film goes beyond mere satire of modern workplace slogans like "996" and "optimization." It raises a profound question for our era: How should society treat those deemed "inefficient" in the face of progress? The answer it offers is collective resilience—we must weather the storm together.
Even with its utopian ending, the film's substance is undeniable. It forces a reckoning: Do we become willing agents of self-exploitation, or dare to pursue our ideals?
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My Review of the Movie Revelations:
I watched the film over two days. It falls under the genres of horror, mystery, and fantasy. At first, I was intrigued by the poster—it gave off a strange and gripping vibe that made me want to understand the meaning behind it. However, by the second day, I found myself confused due to a lack of clarity in several key points.The movie is interesting and manages to keep the viewer engaged, building curiosity about who the villain truly is. But halfway through, the amount of unexplained mystery becomes overwhelming. It leans more towards a Western horror style rather than the Korean touch I expected.
There were several logical gaps that felt overlooked during the storytelling. For example:
The criminal was wearing a sensor bracelet—typically, any attempt to remove it should trigger an alert, yet no one seemed to notice in the film.
The villain suffered multiple severe injuries, including falling from a cliff, hitting his head on a rock, and being thrown from a high place—yet he only died after falling from the seventh floor. This defied logic.
Although the film includes religious themes, I want to clarify that I have complete respect for all beliefs. My criticism isn’t directed at the religion itself, but rather at how the concept was executed. There were too many inconsistencies that made me lose interest and excitement about how the story would unfold.
In summary:
Revelations has a captivating premise and an intriguing visual style, but it suffers from weak storytelling logic and unresolved plot points. With more attention to detail and narrative clarity, it could’ve been a much stronger film
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Okoma is the young conductress on an old, dirty bus. The driver and her friendly colleague is Sonoda. The two love their jobs even as the company they work for is being edged out by a new company that has cleaner, more modern, and faster buses. Their passengers tend to be poor or in need of a largely empty bus. Passengers bring baggage, children, even chickens with them. Okoma comes up with the idea of acting as a tour guide along with her other duties to liven up the ride and draw in more customers. The two bus workers ask a visiting writer that Okoma had helped out to write them a script. Ikawa is more than happy to pay back the favor he owes Okoma and sets to work writing the script and teaching her how to speak like a tour guide.
Takamine Hideko was delightful as the good-hearted conductor. In one scene they stop the bus so she can deliver a gift to her mother who scolds her for spending money. She had no problem sharing her meager earnings on something for her mother yet at this stop she had to trade out her badly worn cloth shoes for her traditional geta. Fujiwara Kamatari played the congenial but slow driver willing to go along with Okoma’s ideas. He took her ideas to the boss as it was unacceptable for Okoma to present them to the toe digging, lemonade drinking, back stabbing leader. Natsukawa Daijiro as Ikawa supplied the two bus workers with creative and legal advice. More educated and cosmopolitan, Ikawa came to their aid when the bus company boss crossed an ethical line and pressured the two to do the same. The trio of comrades were affable and easy to root for.
Naruse made use of the rural scenery as a silent fourth character. Most of the roads appeared to be dirt with the bus kicking up a trail of dust behind it. The opening sequence and jaunty music reminded me of Mr. Thank You (1936), another film dedicated to a bucolic bus route and happy driver. The copy I watched was sadly in need of restoration, like peering through murky water that caused the faces to be badly obscured. I would love to have seen the countryside more clearly as well.
Hideko the Conductor wasn’t deeply profound, nothing exciting happened, yet Naruse once again showed us regular people choosing to make the best of difficult situations. He also provided gentle laughter, friendship, and a twinge of pain on the scenic ride.
5 June 2025
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