Reviews

A reminder that communication is deeper than sound

What may first appear to be a simple love story is quickly transcended by the film’s deeper, more powerful theme: the reality of living with a deaf disability.

The movie gracefully explores a range of topics, from the everyday challenges of deafness to the subtle and not-so-subtle discrimination faced by those in the deaf community. It gives voice to a group often unheard, and it does so without relying on gimmicks or pity. One line in particular captures the heart of this message: “Being able to hear and speak doesn’t mean they know how to communicate”. That alone is worth reflecting on.

At its core, the film is about empathy and connection. It highlights how difficult it can be to live in a world that lacks understanding and how isolating it is when others assume communication only exists in spoken words. The love story, while slightly rushed, is still charming and sweet, thanks in large part to the natural chemistry between the leads.

There is also a meaningful layer about the struggle to find balance as a person, especially if you’re someone who constantly puts others before yourself. The film is a gentle reminder to those people: your happiness matters too. This theme is beautifully reflected in the dynamic between the two sisters. It draws a parallel between those who are isolated by a disability and those who isolate themselves by sacrificing their own desires.

The performances across the board are excellent. The soundtrack is tender and fitting, with emotional instrumental tracks that enhance every key moment without ever feeling overbearing.

In the end, the film is deeper than it first appears. It is thoughtful, moving, and an important reminder that disability doesn’t mean inferiority. As one character wisely says, “They are different from us, but they are not in a different world”.

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"Socialism is not about you making money while you sleep"

The Hedonists is a short film by Jia Zhang Ke following a group of three miners after their mine is closed. The little guys once again take it on the chin when forces bigger than themselves are at work.

San Ming, Liang Zi, and Wen Qian begin their day like any other at the mine. Unfortunately, for them and everyone else at the mine they are told it is their last day. It’s become cheaper to import coal than to produce it at home. Their boss tells them there are lot of opportunities out there, “Go fight for yourself!” Problem is, the same economic forces causing the mine to close are also depressing the job markets elsewhere. The three middle-aged men with limited education and skills begin their job search. No job is off the table for these three, including bodyguard work for a big boss or acting at a new Shangxi Folkland as a royal court.

While the subject matter was dreary, Jia kept the mood light. Unemployment in mid-life is never something to look forward to, especially when the people involved are barely making it as it is. These three were willing to try anything except farming. Wen Qian’s “mental boxing” skills and a wrestling tryout set to the Blue Danube waltz were funny. Liang Zi’s smiling Qing emperor and San Ming’s smoking Ming guard showed the men may not have taken their jobs and lives too seriously.

Jia had been known to run afoul of the censors with his critiques, he even mentioned a historian who’d had his own run ins. This film managed to be critical and hopeful at the same time. The tone of the film suggested that these three lovely losers all stacked on the same motorcycle would find a way to survive and have a good time while they were at it.

23 May 2025

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Love, Virus, and Unexpected Hope

I'm just a simple person—give me the virus if it means curing my depression and finding the love of my life, just like in this film

What really stood out to me is how well this movie progressed, especially considering it was filmed in 2019—the same year COVID-19 began. Despite the timing, the story feels surprisingly relevant today. The filmmakers incorporated terms and themes that we now use daily, making the experience feel current and relatable

I also appreciated how the film offered insight into viruses in an educational yet entertaining way. It wasn’t just about drama or romcom—it gave me something to think about. The way it explored scientific ideas without overwhelming the viewer was refreshing

Overall, it's a unique blend of emotion, science, light-laughter in mundane days, and realism. I didn’t expect to connect with it as much as I did, but here we are. Definitely worth a watch

Gemini, play Bloom by Dabin and Dia Frampton for me :")

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National treasure of a tragic love story

The (incomplete) list of related titles will give you an idea of how popular the legend of Mae Nak, which has its roots in the 1800s, is amongst Thais. This version - the 1999 film with Inthira Charoenpura and Winai Kraibutr - has the clearest explanation of the story I've seen. If you're only going to watch one, this is the one to choose. If you're inclined to watch more, it's the best to begin with. Even one which stands alone as well as Pee Mak has additional layers if you know Nang Nak. For other subsequent adaptations, it really does help to have this as reference so you understand how each one finds its own way to move our emotions.

And as a film, it's well done. Moody, atmospheric, but also balanced with light and warmth. Some excellent cinematography (like the way the film-maker used light, shadow and Kraibutr's musculature), just enough horror, and of course the love story at its heart. If you don't know the story, just watch it and get caught up in the suspense.

I've seen this four times now. When I began seeking out all the Nang Nak/Mae Naks as I could find, it was out of interest in the different ways film-makers find to tell stories. What I've come away with, six different movies in, is how much love Thais have for the story, and this version in particular. Is it perfect? No. But that's not what matters. It's Nang Nak.

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an emotional mustwatch

i have never cried more to a film. so beautiful and so raw. the ending hurt so bad that i almost wish i didn't watch it, but at the same time i'm so glad i did. i'm honestly at a loss for words.

spoliers:

a lot of these reviews say they don't like the fact they we don't figure out what happens to poong woon-ho, and to that i disagree. i think it was very purposeful. we're almost left with that same empty feeling ba bo-ra likely felt. all these questions left unanswered, all this anxiety wondering why? it's likely exactly how one feels when the person they love over distance suddenly drops off the face of the earth and they have no reason as to why. and this is the reality for a lot of people, living their life with a question never answered. if the story were different and we did figure out why, i think so much wouldve had to be rewritten and changed. it would've removed so much of the emotional turmoil that the power of the unknown left us with. i'm uncomfortable, sad, and somehow warm after finishing this movie. i think that is what good media does to you. overall, i think it was done very well. and when it comes to the plot twist, i also think that was done very well. watching the whole movie i kept thinking kim yeon-du would die, and that would be the (predictable) tragedy. to my suprise it wasn't and that's when i knew i was glad to have not skipped this title.

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A Sad Melancholic but Ultimately Uplifting Tale

I happened to come across this film on an airplane halfway across the world from Japan and gave it a try.

It's a slow melancholic but ultimately somewhat uplifting tale centered on how parents mourning for their daughter and a woman mourning for her best friend are eventually able to find comfort as they uncover a series of (mostly very positive) surprises about the life of the dead girl, whose example eventually helps encourage them move on with their own lives.

The acting was good, but they could have done more with this plot to make a bit more lively.

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It speaks to us about all the closets we create throughout our lives

A film transcends its entertainment dimension to become true art when, beyond its narrative anecdote, it reaches a universal magnitude, beyond the particular story it tells.
In 'At First Glance To See It With,' Chinese writer and director Wong Chun Wai embraces the essential through the intimate, which is why hi film connect with audiences so profoundly. This 2017 short film is much more than just another queer coming-of-age story.
The protagonist of this film is Gu Jinxuan, an athlete and instrumentalist who lives a stereotypical life denying his sexuality.
One day, Gu meets Huang Lin, a music lover and fellow university student, and they establish a connection. This moment ignites a spark within him that grows, and which has the power to open a door to achieving the emotional and physical satisfaction he longed for. However, Gu is unwilling to leave the closet and admit that he is actually gay.
In this short film, also known as "As Cheerful as Ever", from the first moment we see Yang Qinkai in this repressed, sad, and painful role, it's unimaginable that another actor could have done a better job.
Despite being a low-budget student production, Wong Chun Wai, in addition to writing the script and making a valid personal statement, is a master at directing actors. Equally exceptional are Luo Panpan as Huang Lin and Hao Ningbo as Ye Yuhan, a girl unfortunate enough to fall in love with a gay man who refuses to acknowledge his sexual orientation or gender identity.
The ending is very sad: three years after breaking up, Gu Jinxuan and Huang Lin reunite on the streets of the city. And even though it is perceived that love still floats in the air between the two, the first one goes hand in hand with Ye Yuan, with whom he lives a lie, and the second one, despite having a boyfriend, he eyes and gestures denote the desire to hug and kiss he first love, the boy he has not yet forgotten.
Woody Allen said that his most faithful companion had been his fear, because she had never cheated on him and left him with another man. 'At First Glance To See It With' speaks to us of all those closets we create throughout our lives, of the impossibility of opening the closet doors and embracing our gender identity in the face of the fear or risk of being discriminated against, harassed, even of losing our lives, by dint of not living it, if we continue to think that the worst is on the other side. Without realizing that the enemy is very comfortably installed within us, which is ourselves.
The signs are there from the beginning, the clearest of them being Gu's need to pretend to his heteronormative and conservative sister that he has a girlfriend, and to deny being gay.
Ultimately, the film is not exactly original, but it is interesting as a critique of those who put fear and silence before their own happiness. The execution is quite good: the camerawork, all the technical parameters, the acting...
Also starring Huang Zhenwei, Guo Xubo, Wang Qi, and Ding Junyan.

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all my criticisms of the first movie PAID OFF!

much, much better than the first movie! 💯

in terms of story and execution, it is very different, although its characteristics are still there. more technical, more competitive, more watch value. and what I criticized from the first movie, here it all paid off

if the first movie focused on Zhang Chi returning after a 5-year hiatus, then in Pegasus 2 it focuses more on Zhang Chi creating his own racing team, preparing himself and young drivers to compete, and proving that he did not make a mistake during the previous incident

Each character is also more solid, Zhang Chi's confusion about whether he can return to racing is also highlighted well. New characters like Li Xiaohai and Xiande get a good spotlight, then Manager Ye who was previously mediocre here gets an "upgrade" to being annoying 🤣

absolutely the main reason I like this movie is because it focuses more on the race than the comedy. the duration is longer, the build up to the climax is also very fitting 💯 the comedy is still there but it is placed at the right time, the humor is also more in line with me

more serious? yup, it also shows a lot that internal and external factors in racing are not only looking for sponsors but also skills, weather, rivalry, the gap between rich and poor teams, the unfair committee, etc.

Less comedy makes this movie more exciting

the chemistry of this team is also more fitting because from the beginning it was shown that they have the same dream. their dumb & dumber personality also the same so when it reaches the climax, our feel also increases

in my opinion this movie is also more realistic, the scene when the Lightime racer having an accident made me a little amazed because Pegasus 2 didn't choose to be dramatic movie, they do what every race people do :

"worried the drivers everytime accident happens"

another realistic character is Li Xiaohai. there are so many potential drivers like LXH who have trouble getting a seat, for years only being a test driver. we all know being a racer is expensive. if not rich, most likely will be struggling to join the race and get a proper team

finally I can see Yuqiang as Zhang Chi's navigator after not being shown in the first movie 🥹 and since this is released in 2024 so the shot quality is also better. very pleasing to the eye

finally, I am very satisfied watching Pegasus 2. previously I was skeptical if there would be a 3rd movie because based on the first movie I was not satisfied

but if it is still consistent like the second movie, then I also want to watch Zhang Chi again.

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From Anime to Reality: My Happy Marriage Live-Action

I'm a big fan of this anime and have read the manga, so I was really looking forward to seeing this movie.

My Happy Marriage is a delicate and heartfelt love story set in an alternate Japan, where magic and supernatural abilities determine a person's worth. Miyo Saimori, a young woman mistreated by her family for lacking powers, is sent to marry Kiyoka Kudo, a feared military commander known for his cold demeanor.

What begins as a meeting between two people shaped by rejection and loneliness evolves into a deeply human story of healing, trust, and the quiet power of true love. The film blends romance, drama, and fantasy with elegant cinematography and moving performances.

Mio Imada delivers a tender, nuanced portrayal of Miyo, while Ren Meguro adds a new emotional layer to Kiyoka's character. Though some details from the manga/anime are omitted, the story’s core remains intact.

A touching film that lingers in the heart—and leaves you wanting more.

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What happens when you wake up back to reality!?

Overall 6.5/10
🌟🌟🌟

A time-loop and an immature protagonist, what could possibly go wrong!?

Earth, the protagonist, is stuck in a time loop and continues making selfish choices during that cycle. Once the cycle is broken, he is stuck with the consequences of his decisions and has to deal with the mess he created.

Overall, the movie is alright—a good time killer—but I wouldn't recommend it as a first choice. The vibes are fun and silly in the movie's first half, and then more serious as the cleanup of Earth's actions is played out.

Rak is an enduring character, and I loved seeing him on screen. (To have a friend like Rak is such a blessing tbh)

That's it from me,
ENJOY!

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Casanova Wong returns!

Tiger’s Trigger was a low budget, no actually low budget would be too high budget for this flick, spare change in the couch film. I knew within 30 seconds it was not going to be a great movie, but it starred Casanova Wong aka Wang Ho and that was enough for me to watch.

A nameless teenage girl takes care of her dying mother in the hospital. Her phone’s alarm is set to go off when she needs to roll her mother over. Sharing the same room is an older man taking care of his wife suffering from dementia. The two rarely interact and the older man rarely speaks, that is until fate brings a gun into the girl’s hands. The Korean mafia is on the hunt for the gun and the diamonds hidden in it. As fate would have it, Viper, the one-eyed villain, turns out to be the nemesis of the elderly man nicknamed Sabretooth. And Sabretooth has no intention of letting the dirty cops and gangsters harm his underaged roommate.

Casanova Wong aka The Human Tornado worked in many old Hong Kong kung fu flicks. With his long gray ponytail he looked like he stepped out of one of those 1970s movies. He left acting in the 1990s with this film marking his first return in front of the camera. He acquitted himself well, especially with his fight against old kung fu film actor Won Jin. Wong was nearly 70 at the time of this film and Won around 60. The two old dudes showed they still had something left in the tank.

While I may have been cheerleading for the aged kung fu fighters, the story was a let down as well as the direction. This looked like a high school student might have filmed it on his cell phone. The hospital was completely empty except for the main characters. Though Casanova still had a nice screen presence, the bad guys overacted and the teenager wasn’t one of the stronger young Korean actors around.

Tiger’s Trigger was far from a great movie but it was great to see an old kung fu artist have the chance to grace the screen again and show he still had a few high flying kicks left. And he was totally rocking that silver ponytail.

21 May 2025
Trigger warning: CGI spewing blood, dismemberment, and close range gun shots

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"Salvation is never painless"

I had great hopes for Confession as it starred So Ji Sub and Kim Yoon Jin (Lost’s Sun!). Instead of a sexy or cerebral thriller, I was treated to one of villainy’s lower wattage killers. While it had a nice little twist, it came so late in the film that I’d already emotionally checked out.

Yoo Min Ho is under investigation for the murder of his mistress, Kim Se Hui. It was a locked room killing, with only Yoo and the deceased Kim in the room. When Yoo meets with his new lawyer, Yang Sin Ae, at his remote cabin near a lake in the snowy woods, the stories of what really happened are slowly revealed.

Very slowly revealed. The story had potential, but the unraveling of the lies and the truth came across too clinically and illogically. By the time the denouement arrived, it was too little too late for me. I don’t want to spoil anything for potential viewers who have never watched a suspense drama like this and will quite probably have a better experience. In the end, for me, Confession ticked off all the requisite suspense boxes while stretching logic and police procedures to the breaking point.

21 May 2025

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