Reviews

whole review

okay so honestly i only watched the whole thing because of nijiro but if i hadnt i wouldnt have watxhed the whole thing because honestly it was a little boring.
acting-
the mother speaks eng alot and shes not a native english speaker so i think she has a hard time actually delivering the english lines, but when she speaks japanese she does just fine but her tone in eng makes it sound like shes just reading a book out loud. the actual english speakers sound weird also, they also sound like they are just reading a book and when i first started watching it i genuinely thought that i had picked the dub instead of sub because it was so bad. the only good actors are nijiro and his friend in the movie and when the mom speaks japanese.
story-
slow moving and a bit pointless and boring.
music-
i barely remember it
overall- wouldn’t rewatch

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Aberrant romance and captivating mystery that leads to making a difficult decision to leave

A multilayered neo-noir with a dash of eccentric yet almost inappropriate romance. This film conveys an outlandish narrative wherein the rigid, workaholic police officer Hae-joon (Paek Hae-il) obssesses then falls for the main suspect of a murder case he is investigating, Seo-rae (Tang Wei).

The first half was not immediately engaging, but it was able to successfully build-up tension between the complex lead characters while in a middle of an intricately-created murder mystery. What I find unique here compared to previous Park Chan-wook's filmography was that I was able to follow the plot easily compared to some of his works yet there were still subtle context clues and nuances that I had to think twice. Unfortunately, the second half was not able to hold the same calibre of obsession and tension as the first half. For me it was quite draggy, and the runtime could've been shortened since it already had a tight and suspenseful first half.

Also, the well-thought cinematography helped the overall quality. It was carefully crafted which was very prominent on the scenes where Hae-joon was imagining he was on Seo-rae's side. The camera angles and shots amplified his obsession towards the case and towards her as well. The foggy weather, the mountain and the sea (based on the Confucius quote mentioned) striked to me and perhaps to the storyline as well.

Aside from that, I highly applaud Tang Wei's performance here. It's the first time that I watched her and the fact that she's not Korean but speaks the language suprisingly well, together with her morally-gray characterization, speaks amounts of her effort as an actress to nail the role. Park Hae-il's performance is also nothing to be brushed off. I think that this might give him a nomination for this year's Baeksang, if not win just for that final scene where he was able to portray anguish and longing emotions (very well).

Overall, a great movie despite with its fuzzy moments. This may not have the same quality as Oldboy and The Handmaiden, but Decision to Leave creates a distinct caliber that proves why Park Chan-wook definitely is a master of this craft. The neo-noir element was not as intense as the aforementioned movies, but the addition of the aberrant romance and captivating mystery ultimately proves why there was a difficulty to make a decision to leave.

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An Extremely Powerful Piece of Art

"Method" is a compelling and mature film that portrays the trope of a forbidden romance while exploring mental health and obsession- the concept of "taking things too far."

Story - The entire storyline from start to finish will push you through a whirlpool of emotions and gives you a lot of food for thought. While I see a lot of people reflecting on the more romantic side of the story, I looked more in the direction of someone so obsessed with doing things ''right'' that it weighed heavily on their psyche. This caused the lines to truly blur between what is real and what isn't, which inevitably lead to changing the lives of not only the afflicted person but the people around them as well. The story just had so many layers to it that it made for an extremely interesting watch.

Acting/Cast - All the actors did an amazing job, Park Sung Woong's performance in particular. He really brought out the manic energy in Jaeha that guided the story. Oh Seung Hoon and Yoon Seung Ah also played their roles very well, they nailed their expressions which really brought out the emotions in their characters.

Music - The music was well done and matched well in different scenes. It enhanced the actor's performances and completed scenes perfectly.

Rewatch Value - While I genuinely loved this film, I will be honest- it's kind of a downer. While I don't plan on rewatching it on my own, I would watch it with friends and family to show it to them.

Overall - "Method" is an amazing film that even if you aren't interested at first glance, I think you should give it a try anyway. It's a change of pace from the more happy-go-lucky attitude of descendant films/shows of the same genre.

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Grief Knows No Boundaries!

14/01/2023

This is not based on a true story, but takes elements of what likely happened after the Sewol ferry disaster back in 2014 as well as what most might experience when losing a loved one.

This story mostly focuses on one family that loses their 16 year old son in that incident and how each family member is impacted by his loss as well as others that knew him.

Grief knows no boundaries when it comes to a parent losing a child, a sibling losing a brother or sister, a relative losing a relative or a friend losing a friend.

We see a mother that has difficulty moving on who is stuck in grief and still in mourning, an estranged father trying to make amends and re-establish himself in the family and a young daughter being caught in the crossfire of that grief and sorrow standing in the shadow of her oldest brother who is no longer there.

There is definitely a void that can never be filled when we lose friends or family due to tragic circumstances.

About his friends...

His friends come into play as well - one that held him on pedestal, one that has survivor's guilt and even his best friend who is grieving deeply as well only can't find it in himself to interact with the family - especially the grieving mother. There is one part near the end in which he, the best friend, says to her he doesn't know why he avoids her yet I am sure most of us can guess why? Sometimes we don't know what the right words are to say or how to act towards someone that has lost someone to death, also, it can be a cruel reminder of who is no longer in our own lives anymore.

So, with this movie we also get to witness what it is like for others beyond the family just a bit.

It is a slow burn film yet it isn't really boring and the point of it I feel is powerfully delivered.

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On paper lovely and lighthearded, but what a dissapointment.

On paper this looks like a lovely, light hearted movie, but the acting... no thank you. Every single emotion was an act. Nothing felt real. Only watchable because of Kim Gun Woo. The only actor in this movie where you could feel some emotion and it didnt feel dull.

Jasper cho couldve been replaced by any other goodlooking actor, you probably wouldnt see the difference. His character... like missed everything. No depth, no real emotion an overall boring character and not very pleasent to watch.

Bela Padilla in this movie. She wasnt horrible, not unpleasent. She just ... wasnt memorable. I'd love to see her potential, to see was she can actually do.

The script itself didnt help the actors. The intro/synopsis was fine, so was the end. My problem with this movie is the entirely middle part of it. Instead of building momentum, it was just a flatline for me.

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Limitations Can Be Overcome!

14/01/2023

This is a story about a 30 something year old male with heavy debts that unexpectedly and quite unintentionally takes on the responsibility of a blind and deaf 7 yr old girl when her mother, an employee of his, dies suddenly in a freak accident.

He is only there really to get back the money that the deceased owes him through her apartment deposit so has to pose as the child's father temporarily.

However, what starts as an inconvenience eventually leads to a deeper relationship between the two when he actually starts to pay attention to her with patience, time and effort that leads her to thrive under his care, experience new things and quickly become emotionally attached to him. Her mother only took care of her basic needs really, but left her mostly alone in the apartment like a neglected little animal.

In part, this story addresses the lack of care and facilities in place for those born like this child because when he went to check out this institute for the deaf and blind she could only be placed under one category which I think was for those that are deaf. So, sign language was the only option opened to her, but when he challenged the educator on it it made no difference.

He more or less asked: " How can she learn sign language if she can't see?'.

Quite quickly he works out a way to teach her how to communicate with him so for the first time in her life she is able to learn what objects are by spelling letters out on her or his hand and she is no longer limited by her impairments.

As viewers we see her transform from a neglected unkempt child to one that is happy, taken care of and carefree.

It does get a bit messy because of him having debts and having to face the reality of taking care of her at the same time as being chased by his creditors no end - so it isn't a completely happy story.

What I will say is that it is a brilliant heartfelt story and one that will likely make you shed a tear or two.

The child actor in this is believable and acted her part to a tee. Faultless really. I have actually gone back to watch it again and replay certain memorable parts because it is that good.

If you are in the mood for a good crying session then don't hesitate to watch this one!

Ps Don't forget to have a box of tissues handy.

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A movie more emotional than expected.

I won't go into details but it was a good movie overall. I liked the production even though nothing was ground-breaking, and I must say that I followed the action and the intense moments with a bored eye.

I think what makes it a good movie is the acting of Lee Jong Suk and Cha Eun Woo, who play brothers in it. Without their relationship, the tragic choices and impacts due to it, I wouldn't have been so engaged. Their story really elevates the plot, I went from pretty bored to crying in minutes.

So, I would say, the movie is pretty basic, not really something that we haven't before, but it's the emotion and the acting of certain characters that did it all.

I do recommend, first for Cha Eun Woo fans where he shows his potential for more tragic and complex scripts in the future, and overall Lee Jong Suk's performance is top-notch as always.

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Heartless Monsters Do Exist!

14/01/2023

I saw this years ago and although it is disturbing, upsetting, distressful and truly heart breaking to watch there is also a side to it that shows undeniable courage, inner strength and hope.

This is definitely not a movie for everyone - not at all!

Who hasn't heard of a child or children being abducted on their way to school only to be savagely assaulted physically then left to perish or to never be seen again.

This movie is actually based on a true story from Korea regarding a little 8 year old girl that met such a fate in the hands of a sadistic male perpetrator who left her to die without a care in the world whatsoever.

The damage to her body was so extensive that it was a miracle she survived at all!

Mostly what we see is the aftermath following that attack of how she painstakingly rebuilds her life with the support of her parents/hospital/others to go onto confronting that piece of works in court in order to obtain justice and take him off the streets.

That in itself is another ordeal for her to cope with plus it is not easy as it comes down to the testimony of her, a child and victim, versus a seasoned adult criminal that knows the system.

But she does do it.

Not only is she resilient and brave, but she's also determined and strong.

The actors in this film are truly outstanding, but especially the female child actor who played her role so well.

Know that you will experience a roller coaster ride of different emotions watching "Hope", but also that the ending is somewhat satisfactory.

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it was okay…

I felt compelled to write this review since I saw so many good ones, and I kind of want to bring in a different perspective, and also see if anyone thinks the same as me.
I’ll start with the good parts:
The cast and the acting were spectacular! Honestly it was amazing… the emotion and everything was *chefs kiss*’
Now for the rest of it:
The story… I honestly didn’t find it that good at all. It got kind of good near the end, but the rest of it was a confusing mess to me.
The whole bomb thing was almost useless in my opinion. I can see where they were going with it, but I feel like they should have gone in a different direction with that. If they had focused more on the crew in the submarine rather than the main character just chasing bombs for half of the movie, then it would have been a 10/10 for me. Since most of the movie was just that, however, I was unable to grow any sort of attachment for the characters. I wish we could have gotten to know the crew a lot better than we did, but we only got glimpses of them throughout the movie and at the end.
To add to this, there was a fine line between the villains and the heroes in this show. This may have been on purpose, but then again, there wouldn’t have to be heroes and villains if the whole bomb thing didn’t happen, which would have been better in my opinion.
Instead of this whole hero/villain thriller stuff that was going on, I wish it could have been a different kind of thriller that focused more on the crew members in the submarine themselves. I don’t want to spoil the movie by giving away what I would have liked the plot to be about, so I’ll leave it here :)
And before all of the people who really liked this movie come after me, I know that the premise of the show was supposed to be about the bombs (hence the name “decibel”), but I do wish that they had done things differently (I am glad you guys were able to enjoy it though :)
So for me, this movie had some insane missed potential, and I just wish I could have loved it more :(

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"People are ghosts, and ghosts are people."

The cold stone complex with glowing red eyes in Zhang Yi Mou’s Raise the Red Lantern bids young women into its luxurious lifestyle. Afterall, it’s just as easy to marry a rich man as it is a poor man. Or is it?

Gong Li stars as Songlian the newest concubine of a rich man in this gilded cage of competitive horrors. Educated but with few options after her father dies she marries an older man. She quickly learns that the women and servants are pitted against one another in a popularity game to garner the master’s favor. Red lanterns are lit in the courtyard and living apartment of the woman he chooses for the night. The clickety clack of massage hammers used on the chosen one’s feet turns into a Pavlov’s bell for the women. The master’s idea of foreplay is something akin to “brace yourself darlin’” but the women do what they must to attract his attention and keep it.

Other than the privileges the chosen one temporarily receives, the concubines hold no power. They are largely interchangeable, this is the territory of the powerful master and his game and rules. The women’s fate is tied to pleasing him and gifting him sons. In the ruthless conflict between the concubines, betrayal and tragedy are always near at hand.

Master Chen’s face is never focused on. His is the face of oppression and rigid familial customs, the ringmaster in the tragic circus.

Songlian discovers that the people in the huge complex are largely ghosts living in the house abiding by the rules of ancestors long gone. She tries to rebel, game the system, and in the end becomes ostracized and alone. When she witnesses an unspeakable act she realizes that she is trapped with only two ways out-death or madness.

Raise the Red Lantern criticizes a number of social structures as well as the plight of women during this time. Outdated cruel traditions that guide their everyday life are firmly in the director’s bullseye. It is gripping and difficult to watch at times.

Songlian is not an easy character to like as she can be very abrasive and snobbish. Her youth and independent nature cause her to chafe under the ridiculous rules and volatile hierarchy. She learns the hard way the price for disobedience. Gong Li’s expressive face helps us to understand how we should feel as well. Rebellious. Trapped. Isolated. Horrified. She gives a gloriously understated performance as a young woman caught in the chains of family customs; the players involved more like ghosts ensnaring fresh faces to drag into their macabre story.

Zhang Yi Mou saturates some scenes in a rich red light, the color of birth, life, and death. At other times an icy blue hue overtakes the scene driving home the solitariness of the one not chosen. The large complex could almost be given a credit as well the way Zhang lovingly uses the stunning architecture to showcase the concubines’ limited stone world. There was no soft place to land amongst the hard edges. The lush colors of their costumes played in stark contrast to the institutional banality. It was a remote facility both physically and emotionally.

The sets, concubines, and costumes are intoxicatingly beautiful but lying beneath them is a grotesque cruelty. Raise the Red Lantern is a treat for the eyes as most of Zhang Yi Mou’s films are. Though difficult to watch this story of the powerful’s abuse of women and tradition is one worth trying.

“What do people amount to in this house? They’re like dogs, cats, or rats, but certainly not people.”

1/12/23

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Perfect movie best actrees

Very impressive movie i have ever seen.lee chae dam very beatiful. love from uzbekistan.you look like kim tae hee
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You Have Been Weighed, You Have Been Measured, and You Have Been Found Wanting

This movie is a direct sequel to the 2019 TV series. However, by attempting to design a plot that does not require the audience to have watched the series first, it leaves the movie feeling a little flat. Ultimately, reducing the movie to a greatest hits version of the TV series. You got the longing for Li Zi Wei in Act 1, the mysterious package with the Wu Bai cassette tape and blue Sony Walkman II that sets up Act II, Huang Yu Xuan’s spirit possessing Chen Yun Ru’s body, etc. There’s even the same soundtrack cue’s from the series.

Following on the heels of a massively successful series is no easy feat, and I commend the production cast and crew for taking on the challenge. Screenwriter Hermes Lu, makes a valiant effort in attempting to recapture the mind-bending twists and turns of the series as well as tug on our heart strings as we eagerly await Li Zi Wei and Huang Yu Xuan’s happy ending. However, with a runtime of only 1hr 47min, it’s a lot of story to cram into a very short amount of time. Which results in a hasty resolution to the mobius loop paradox in Act III. With the original cut of the film being over 3 hours long, you have wonder what was left on the cutting room floor.

With that being said; if the film is available in your area, seeing this film in a movie theater is a must! Award winning sound designer, Kuo Li-Chi, weaves an audio masterpiece in simulating the sensation of traveling back in time. He interlaces the sounds of a clock ticking backwards with Wu Bai’s “Last Dance.” But not the original version of “Last Dance.” He manipulates the song by slowing down the tempo, and isolates the left and right channels to be out of sync. Giving the audience a sense of spacial dissonance. It’s an experience that can only truly be enjoyed in surround sound. Additionally, Kuo Li-Chi shared that the number of ticks of the second hand that the audience hears was carefully selected. Can you decipher its meaning?

Fans of the show who have eagerly been awaiting these long two years need no convincing to watch and root for their favorite couple. But for everyone else, I recommend you start with the series. If you are satisfied with that ending, you can stop there. If you need more, the movie will always be waiting here for you. Just as Li Zi Wei will always be waiting for his Huang Yu Xuan.

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