Reviews

The happiest 1h49min of the day

What a healing movie❤️
I personally loved it and gave it 10/10. The plot is well written. The lesson is clear and the acting is on point. Throughout the movie, you learn to appreciate the hearing ability you have and sounds around you. How scary the world would be without sounds. :'(
I particularly liked how "calm" it was. Who said you need a script and words to convey messages and emotions? Everything was crystal clear through the facial and body expressions of the actors, especially Hong Kyung.
Romance wise I'd say it was actually natural and relatable. They're at a stage where they get to know each other. You can't take shortcuts in love so their relationship is slowly building up and I could feel it.
Anyways, I highly recommend it if you're looking for something healing and stress relieving.

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Movie VS Series - A Case of Perspective!

Having watched the series earlier this year and now the movie, you can see that they come from the same source material, but there are stark differences between the two productions.

The series tells the story of the male lead and his struggles to find love in the big city. It takes us through his different encounters in the gay scene. It shows you his life and friendships in the city and it also takes you through his growth and development as a writer. It does this in detail, because it has 8 episodes and has the time and space for exploration, which the movie cannot do.

The movie tries to tell the same story, but places more focus on his friendship with the female lead, ending sweetly with her wedding. The series continued past her wedding and showed what happens with this friendship when she is now in her marriage era. I enjoyed seeing her husband’s character in the movie which I feel I missed in the series.

I also feel the audiences may have been different for the series vs the movie. The series was indeed a queer love story and was enjoyed and treasured by those who consume the media. As a fan of BL, I found the story was steeped in realism and didn’t have time for fluff, leaving many of us breathless.

Oops, I think I just gave myself away. I absolutely prefer the series. It gave me a glimpse into real gay lives which I deeply appreciated.

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Story was all over the place

Let me start by saying that this is an honest reaction as a viewer. I'm not trying to ride the hype train, nor am I discrediting the actresses for their hardwork and effort.

Going into the movie, I was super excited. After all, this is the first sci-fi film for a Thai GL pair. However, during the first 20 mins, it was clear that the creators wanted to convey too many messages and decided to just add everything all at once. The story was going in so many different directions that the viewer is left wondering what is going on. They could have refined the dialogue as well. A lot of lines were repeated and didn't feel natural between the supporting actors. Whatever they were trying to do with this film, it did not work. I wish they went for a more thoughtout script than this.

By the middle of it, the movie was just dragging on. The soundtrack was its saving grace, tbh.

Again, no hate or ill intentions towards the actresses at all. They did a good job with what they were given. That said, this movie isn't worth the hype.

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Good things, are felt in the heart

“Her” stories can sometimes feel like one step forward two steps back. With so many feminism themed stories, what makes Her Story special?

Grounded. Relatability. Chemistry.

First, Her Story found the right balance between our female leads’ strengths and weaknesses. As one of the quotes I read online before mentioned, “There is no perfection, only beautiful versions of brokenness.” For a movie that’s character focused, half the battle is won when it has main leads whom we can relate to.

In Her Story, we are able to see Tie Mei’s capable sides - upright, honest, independent, forgiving, helpful and adaptable. We also see her cowardly sides - strong facade, bad temper, insensitive and unwilling to rely on others. Not only Tie Mei, other characters have multi dimensional facades that make audience relate to them. Ah Ye, though a hopeless romantic and has low self esteem due to family upbringing, is courageous in her pursuit of love. Sure, she is the friend that we will scold for giving attention to a guy that’s undeserving. But she is also honest with herself and always willing to take the first step in relationship. The last person who forms this stable triangle is Tie Mei’s young daughter, Mo Li. A little perceptive beyond her age, she is often able to point out the crutch of the issue in a few words. Though this child also has her moody, sensitive and more innocent side befitting of a child.

With such strong characters and great actresses portraying them, the other half of the battle comes the script and messaging of Her Story.

Remember the one step forward two steps back I mentioned at the beginning? I am glad Her Story is taking two and probably three steady steps forward - which I hope will be the wave that leads feminism themed story to a positive direction.

Her story openly explore and ask us whether we should question some of the common mindsets we have been holding for awhile now - the open talk about menstrual cycle, saying No firmly to behaviours you don’t like about sex, the shallow mindset of feminism that misses the mark, the “rule” of capitalism and pragmatism, being honest about your own experience and feeling, judging people when you aren’t in their shoes, as well as being our own harsh critics and prisoner.

These aren’t anything new or groundbreaking. And they sound like heavy, sensitive topics. But I love how Her Story raises them rightfully, carefully, heartwarmingly and wittily through the chemistry and love we feel Tie Mei, Ah Ye and Mo Li share. This gives a positive, forward momentum to face these common issues we face day to day.

I generally instinctively avoid heavy themed social stories because there are often more noises than groundbreaking insights among the opinions. Her Story feels special because it contains a level of grounded optimism and wit in delivering a feminism themed story. And so, this is Her Story, moving forward.
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“Because we are optimistic and confident enough, we thus can face tragedy head on”. ~ from Her Story
“因为我们足够乐观和自信，我们才能直面悲剧”. ~ 好东西

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Merry Christmas

Unattainability. No other word so clearly defines Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. Unattainable pursuits for perfection, connection and forgiveness. An affecting and hauntingly beautiful experience about finding common ground even in the most hellish of circumstances, an undercurrent of revolutionary discourse in masculinity subversion bubbles furiously throughout the film deepening its already poignant lamentations about war's humanity-stripping effect and the self-imposed prisons that are obsession, honour and shame. Cultural divide and human nature encapsulate Nagisa Ōshima's film and one that he directs with the utmost care and attention, every shot is purposeful and framed with an immaculate beauty. It's relentlessly grim, constantly off-balance, periodically moving and continually striking thanks to Tōichirō Narushima's enchanting photography. There's a certain mystical quality to the performances of Bowie and Sakamoto both as arresting as each other, most likely a causality of their star power as musicians. However, it's the all-too-human reflections of Kitano and Conti that make this a true tearjerker with the duo sharing the film's final and most powerful moment, sometimes all it takes is a "Merry Christmas" to get the tears flowing. The real kicker for many is the film's utterly intoxicating musical score by Sakamoto; it stays with you long after viewing, conjuring up an atmosphere of regret, lost love and repressed heartbreak that we see in Yonoi's unrequited love for Celliers bloom. One of the most powerful pleas for tolerance ever committed to celluloid, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence is one of the most captivating and mournful looks at the atrocities man commits to himself, so much is said without words, sometimes just emotions are enough. One that acquires depth and emotional scope the more you dwell on it, I should know, I've been thinking about this film since I first watched it two years ago and it's every bit a masterpiece now as it was back then.

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Don't Shy Away From Being Yourself ❤️

Life becomes a little easy - when you find people who accept and love you for who you truly are. This message is exceptionally narrated in this movie through the main leads who are deemed "different" by society but manage to hold on to each other and fight through prejudices/biases of society, friends, family and their own self to eventually loving and accepting themselves for who they truly are.

From the moment we're born, society judges us for our looks, height, skin color, skills, sexual orientation, behavior, and more. Biases and prejudices are ingrained in people’s minds upon first meeting us, and while some may change with understanding, many remain. Despite progress, there’s still a long way to go to eliminate these judgments in today's world. "Love in the Big City (2024)" is a commendable step in the right direction, and I applaud the cast, crew, and original novel creators for this remarkable film.

The movie powerfully portrays the challenges of "being different" through a heartfelt narrative that evokes a range of emotions—smiles, tears, and everything in between. The female lead is someone I've admired for a long time, but this was my first time seeing Steven Noh in action. Known from "Pachinko," his portrayal, even within a limited emotional range as his character demanded, showcased his immense talent. The main leads bond together on the common ground of being labelled outcasts and the movie progresses from their 20s to early 30s showing us how they fight the societal prejudices, missed chances at love, inner fear of showing their true self, facing their family, overcoming failed relationships to ultimately accepting their own true self, and being proud of it.

The line "How can being yourself be a weakness?" resonates as the film’s strongest message. Personally, as someone who has faced various judgments from young age from strangers/close relations alike movies like this offer a solace of sorts - a feel-good factor that reinforces the importance of learning to love your true self, before seeking it elsewhere.

The film does not come across as preachy - but rather resonates with me (and am sure others) because it does not shy away from showing the good/bad and ugly side of journey towards self-acceptance. Profound, Powerful, Engaging - from start to finish, would highly recommend it as a must watch ❤️

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As a stand-alone, pretty good. As a continuation, empty.

If this movie stood on its own as a second-chance romance tale, I might've rated it higher. While the main characters were consistent to the drama prequel versions of themselves, they were perhaps too consistent. It felt as if they didn't really learn and grow from those events. Xavier especially easily fell back into his old cycle of giving up his own happiness for other's expectations. Which, yes, 1000% happens. But was was the point in the webseries then?

It was also too tropey for my liking. Not necessarily because of how many there were or even how they came in quick succession of each other... But because they didn't really DO anything. As one reviewer wrote, it was "like empty calories."

The movie ultimately felt like a waste of time. We didn't learn or see anything new from these characters. Nor did we even get any fluff of them being a couple. We cycled back into the same angst as the webseries, and ended in much the same place as the webseries too actually.

I will say though, JC (Milo)'s performance was quite spectacular. When he broke down in front of Xavier and asked for him to stop messing with his head... it was so real. I felt that.

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Visually pleasing and great film

Watched it because of the FL and what a great film it was.
FL, is great as a person who dreams about killing peoples, and can not understand why and who they are that she is killing in her dreams. She is suffering from self harm and it’s been getting worse. She lives with her aunt who wants to desperately help her. Aunt and her Sharman friend trying to help her to overcome her nightmares. A mystical film, that was so good I had to watch it straight again, in case I have missed anything from the storyline. The acting of the FL and the ML were very convincing. Visually the film was pleasing with at time dreamlike state. The OST was very nice as I think the ML and the FL sang it, but I might be wrong. Would recommend and would watch again .

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I didn't "enjoy" this movie

You know how there are things in our life that we don't necessarily want to do, but you do because they are important? Watching this movie was like that for me. I didn't enjoy it per se, but I was totally able to see the importance of watching it. It was very difficult to watch, seeing corruption and the toll it took on the students, demonstrators, and the townspeople of Gwangju.

I was especially impressed by the transition of the taxi driver from the beginning to the end of the movie. At the beginning he's just pitiful and can't catch a break. He then goes through a cowardice phase (but I couldn't fault him, with a young daughter at home), then ultimately by seeing this tragedy with his own eyes, decides to do the right things. Song Kang Ho was wonderful.

I was concerned about the part of the German reporter in this movie. Of the K-dramas that I've seen, whenever they have non-Koreans, the acting is really bad. The actor was great.

Was there music? I have no idea. As far as re-watch value, it was hard enough the first time! Would I recommend it? Absolutely, with the caveat that it isn't an easy watch.

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A journey to find yourself

Watched Mr. Zhang Zhehan's first documentary as director and actor "August", which is a warm and healing documentary about Zhang Zhehan riding thousands of miles to Tibet. The film has a rich plot and records the stories of ordinary people, which makes people feel warm and touching. The shots are smooth and natural, and the narration is warm and deep, which makes people feel the waves and growth of the director's heart while enjoying the beautiful scenery. In the film, director Zhang Zhehan used his own lens to capture the magnificent scenery from Shangri-La to Lhasa, and also recorded the moment of warm communication with strangers. These pictures not only show the natural beauty of Tibet, but also express the director's yearning and pursuit of truth, kindness and a better life. In the process of watching the film, people feel as if they are in it and have experienced a spiritual baptism with the director. With his talent and experience, Zhang Zhehan presents us with a warm and healing work, which makes people think in the moving, grow in the thinking, get the soul washing, and find themselves.

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Raw cinema

First off, I need to confess that I really like period drama. I'm a real nut when it comes to period drama so I'll watch even the most boring period drama/movie to the very end (I think I've only ever dropped one - some forgettable pained movie with lots of over-acting that was made in 1983).

This wasn't the most boring period drama I've seen but it was tedious - but that was (in my opinion) entirely the point of the movie. It was meant to depict the rawness of life during that time and especially the war, without any of the gloss that you've normally come to see in the recent movies/dramas that are filled with idol actors meant to pretty up the show, or breath-taking cinematic scenes comprising stirring music, beautiful costumes and makeup, glorious scenery, or perfectly choreographed fight scenes. Rather, it paints a realistic (notice I didn't say accurate because this is not based on historical events, just based OFF historical events) depiction of life back then. Lots of blood and gore, plain underwhelming costumes and even brutality and barbarity.

I'm in it for Kang Dong Won and Cha Seung Won and they didn't disappoint. Not something I'd re-watch in a hurry was it was just ab emotionally exhausting albeit fulfilling (and somewhat long) ride.

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