Reviews

The Triangle of Warfare

You know how some movies feature a love triangle, where three people are involved in a romantic drama that can only end with two? Here, we have something akin to a *fighting triangle*, interestingly set up to represent the three parties involved in the conflict: the imperial guards, the slaves, and the Japanese enemies in this historical period of Korean history.

Korean movies usually succeed in conveying strong emotion, and this movie has all the elements of a great drama, spiced up with thrilling battle choreographies. But for some reason, I couldn't empathize with the characters emotionally— basically none of them. The story is great, the actors are very good, and the production is top-notch, but something was not in the right place for a perfect epic, so I couldn't fully enjoy the film. I definitely appreciated the scenery, with its beautiful and sometimes brutal shots, but where the film should have been strongest—in the emotional clashes between the protagonists—something was missing, and I can't fully explain what it is. One of the reasons could be the movie's pacing, which wasn't fluid and jumped from one thing to the next, making it seem like the director didn't focus enough on the central plot.

What I really liked, however, was the theme about Korean society and the relationship between the upper and lower castes. There are echoes of a message that we should all be equal, whether someone is an emperor or a slave, and we know that because of this very message, the Catholic faith in Korea was violently suppressed in the early 19th century.

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Even someday I may fall hard

Story of friendship, perseverance, and the power of dreams.

At its core, the movie shows that success isn’t just about reaching the finish line but about not giving up, even when the odds seem stacked against you. This theme is beautifully woven throughout the story, as the characters face one setback after another, yet refuse to give in. Their determination becomes a symbol of hope for anyone who has ever struggled with making their dreams a reality.

The theme of trust is equally important. The film makes a clear statement that partnerships built on faith and honesty are key to overcoming obstacles and achieving dreams.

I hate to admit but I only watch this because of Peng Yu Chang. While two other main actors deliver the role requirements, for me, Peng Yu Chang delivers an outstanding performance as one of the lead characters. He has a natural charisma that draws you in from the very start, making the audience smile with his light-hearted and humorous portrayal in the early part of the movie. But as the plot thickens and he is forced to make difficult decisions—ultimately choosing to favor his people over his personal desires—he brings a deep emotional intensity to the role. His portrayal is so moving that I found myself genuinely affected by his choices, and at one point, I even got goosebumps. Peng Yu Chang’s ability to balance both the joy and heartbreak of his character’s journey is truly remarkable.

The movie will leave the audience with a lasting message— “never let go of your dreams until you are ready to wake up and make it happen.” It’s a reminder that dreams are worth fighting for, but they also require action, hard work, and, most importantly, faith in yourself and in the people around you.

This film is light-themed, short and sweet, a must-watch for anyone who believes in the power of chasing dreams.

Will I consider watching it again? Yes, probably if Im having wasted effort and needed an inspiration.

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A bloody, vibrant adventure with lots of action

First of all, it was a beautiful movie. It was an exciting, adventurous, action-packed movie from beginning to end. I think the striking title was friendship. It started as friendship, but continued with backstabbing, misunderstandings, betrayal and fighting. Finally, they settled accounts. They also resolved the misunderstanding. But it was too late.
What is essential here is the strict rules of the past. Freedom being in the hands of others and the pain this caused to humanity were revealed. It turned into a struggle for rights for people classified as noble, common and slave class. The kingdom is also in a separate place. No one thinks about their people. That's why the kingdom collapses. The people rebel. Freedoms are gained.
Of course, we couldn't see the gain, but maybe a sequel will be made.
The story was well thought out, but some things were skipped, the easy way was preferred, and simplified in order to fit into a movie. Also, there are very bloody scenes, the excessive exposure of organ severings is annoying for the audience. I don't know if it will be encouraging, but it may seem disgusting and oppressive to some people. I think it should be less and should be glossed over more simply, it shouldn't be shown too much. Other than that, the acting was good. I liked it. Especially Cha Seung Won, who played the king, was the most prominent in my opinion. He played it very well. I can even say that he added a role to his role. I liked it. Kang Don Won, Park Jeong Min, Kim Shin Rok, Jin Seon Kyu, Jun Sung Ill are the ones I like. I recommend it to those who like this kind of action. Watch it. It's very good.

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I see a thread of light at the end of the road

Through the intercultural relationship of Jie Cheng (Ivan), a well-behaved Taiwanese student, and Eric, a rebellious American exchange student, Californian filmmaker Steven Liang explores adolescence and acceptance in the society of Taiwan.
Despite his mother's objections, Jie Cheng, who lives under constant pressure from her, meets Eric and together they embark on a journey along the most dangerous road in Taiwan.
Their trip is cut short when Eric reveals that he must return home after graduation, forcing Jie Cheng to confront his darkest demons.
Beautiful, sensitive and charming, 'Coming Home' has been screened at 30 international film festivals, following its world premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival.
Having been selected to participate in the Beijing Queer Film Festival, LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, Outfest, San Diego Asian Film Festival, Asian American International Film Festival (New York), Boston Asian American Film Festival, Boston LGBT Film Festival, CineSLAM: Vermont's LGBT Film Festival, Festival de Cannes: Short Film Corner, InDPanda Film Festival (Hong Kong), International Student Film Festival PÍSEK (Czech Republic), KASHISH: Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, Marais Film Festival (Paris, France), Peace & Love Film Festival (Örebro, Sweden), Pride of the Ocean Film Festival, Q! Film Festival: Indonesia's LGBT Film Festival, Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, Taiwan Queer Film Festival, Bilbao International LGTB Film & Performing Arts Festival (Spain), Kansai Queer Film Festival (Osaka, Japan) and Asians on Film Film Festival (Los Angeles) ), speaks clearly about this film co-produced by Taiwan and the United States.
The film made history as the first gay-themed project funded by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and was distributed by Outplay Films.
Written by Timothy Chang and Steven Liang himself, the film stars Yu-Ting Hsu as Jie Cheng, Benjamin Turman as Eric and Bi Lan Li as the mother.
Interested in telling stories about the resilience of those living on the margins, Steven Liang, an award-winning director and House Ballroom scene photographer, addresses themes of homosexuality and transsexuality, as demonstrated in 'The Extra Mile' (2013), A Better Life (2014), Afuera (2017), Emma and the Butt (2017), Falling for Angels (2017), and Transplant (2018), Coming of Age, among other productions.
Screened in New York as part of the 2015 Asian American International Film Festival, the film, written by Timothy Chang and Steven Liang himself, stars Yu-Ting Hsu as Jie Cheng, Benjamin Turman as Eric and Bi Lan Li as the mother .
The story is populated with thousands of small details, which enrich the look, and a grayer color that carries with it questions that the viewer must answer, if he can.
The song "I Need Your Love", performed by Grace, plays magnificently with the story, and creates a unique and fascinating atmosphere that allows the plot to perfectly connect with the viewer.
The story does not leave anyone who approaches it indifferent, and we all wait for the boys to have a happy ending, and the mother to finally accept her son's sexuality.
The photography and direction are commendable. The plot is beautiful, and although it may seem that all is lost, I see a thread of light at the end of the road.

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A pretty face its all that matters, right?

I admit myself that it was Kim Woo Bin that made me want to watch this.
He and Kim Sung Kyun gives a wonderful synergy through the story.
Imho, it ends here. All the good bits.
The entire movie there were several things I just couldnt get my head around:

1. So.. anyone can become an officer and authority if they have the martial art skill?
2. Low level drones giving Ace quality nightvision (facepalm).
3. Ankle devices being able to be cut with scissors....
4. Regardless where they were, what dire situation they were in, they never ever called for police backup nor did they seem to work with the police force,,,
5.Bodywest that does not cover the entire torso...

Tbh, my list can go on. Normally I can ignore those details, but for me this time, it destroyed the story, as these details were the story. It feels they just wanted to showcase KWB's athletic skills but even that was kinda poorly executed.

When the end came I just felt utterly disappointed, what a waste of time.
The only reason it doesnt get a 0 in rating is because the acting of the actors was really good. It felt they did the best of the situation...

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Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson, Just Chinese and targeted towards modern youth

I did not think much when I chose this movie and I was nit ready to get so emotional watching it. I had been feeling like a failure and thinking that "the 18 years old me would be ashamed of the current me." This is almost what this movie explores: a character loosing its essence and will in pursuit of things that where once but a sideline in the overall plot of their life.
I cried my eyes out watching this movie and guess what? I have been feeling much better since. In the book "The Body Keeps The Score", the writer suggests that one way we can turn a traumatic memory into a normal one, is to re-narrate it and change the story; the exact thing that traumatic memories do not allow to happen. It seems like "Suddenly 17" and the way it narrates, did the re-narration for me and healed something in me that I could not completely formulize myself.
Bravo to all the hands in on production of this work. Everybit of the massage was perfectly delivered through nusances of colors, motions and sounds and the right metaphores.

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"Family is what you make of it"

Twinsters is one example of the internet and social media being used for good. After taking part in a YouTube video, American actress Samantha Futerman was contacted by a French woman living in London named Anais Bordier. The woman’s profile pic looked eerily familiar. Both women were adopted. Both women were born on November 19, 1987 in Busan. And both women looked exactly alike!

This documentary followed Sam making contact with her sister and their journey toward learning more about themselves and their past. Sam grew up with two brothers and feeling accepted at home and school. Anais was an only child and often felt lonely and had anger issues when she was young. She was taunted at school for being adopted and different and did not feel accepted. Both women were excited and nervous about meeting the other. Sam and her family visited Anais and her family in London. Anais later visited Sam in Los Angeles. The sisters traveled to Korea to do more research into their past. Sam had been to Korea before to gain information and had met her foster mom. This time Anais would be able to do the same and discover maybe she’d been loved and cared for more than she’d ever known.

The Twins Study Center did the DNA testing for Sam and Anais as well as testing them for similarities and differences. When in Korea the two women attended the International Korean Adoptees Association gathering where their birth country welcomed them. It was heartwarming to watch two sisters go from not hugging to holding hands and embracing each other. They faced the ups and downs of their adoption stories together and in the process found that they were surrounded by more love than they thought possible.

“Family is what you make of it. There is no definition.”

12 October 2024

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Confusing stuff

The movie "Pilot" reminded me of Korean movies from the 2000s that, through comedy, dealt with various sociological topics, i.e., they used different cultural themes to promote social values (Scandal Makers, Punch, A Man Who Was Superman, Quick, 200 Pounds Beauty, Penny Pinchers, The Quiz Show Scandal, Save the Green Planet, Highway Star, Mr. Housewife … well, I could count the movies for days). The point is that this movie stylistically fits into the Korean cinema how I remember it.

Unfortunately, this movie disappointed me in many segments. I expected more piloting from a movie with such a title. Also, it doesn't work as a comedy. Personally, I only laughed twice, and both times because of the mother's phone, when she calls and when she answers the phone, but never because of the main theme of a man pretending to be a woman. Perhaps I'm old-fashioned here, but those scenes mostly felt distasteful and unconvincing to me. I was especially disappointed that a child was brought into that theme. However, the movie's resolution does show a good message and gives some thought about the sociological reasons why someone pretends to be something they are not. The movie tries to stay in the middle, but in doing so, it satisfies neither the traditional audience (me) nor, I assume, the modern (progressive woke) audience. Still, I commend the movie for opening up this topic and offering us something for discussion.

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Gay teenager in 1990s Japan

This is not the usual school drama or movie we see these days. Usual school issues actually play little part in it (apart from one. instance touching on bullying). It starts as a realistic film of confused adolescent emotions in mainly school setting into which we are gradually introduced to a dark side of gender identity, sexual violence (Aihara, a female student transferred after being raped) and repression but especially the struggle for identity of a gay teenager, Ito, worked around his feelings for a classmate(Yoshida) in a still non-accepting society in the 1990s (though unhappily not so much changed 30 years later) an object of scorn by other students and his father( who still thinks he can be medically "cured" ), the movie climaxes (no pun intended) in a surreal meeting of the three on a beach in which the conventional boundaries are crossed this is a nuanced movie where the dark erotic instincts, feelings, motivations swirling in the protagonists are brought to the surface slowly but finally only in the dark isolation of a nocturnal seashore (the grains of sand) and yet still remain unresolved as they return to their habitual lives very good exploration of these difficult issues and must have been ground-breaking in 1990s Japan 〜

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A Movie that captivates the soul

This left such an incredibly deep impression on me that even now, as I reminisce and try to write a review, I have tears in my eyes. I've watched the film several times and will probably never get enough. It’s a beautifully heartfelt film with outstanding performances from everyone. When I first watched it, I was left with an intense and beautiful feeling about life, friendship, love, and the moment. I thought to myself that each of us has our own "Isle of Capri song" moment, one in which we’d like to stay forever, where we feel alive, strong, and happy. And even though it's not possible—or maybe precisely because it’s not possible—we should deeply cherish every such moment that comes our way. We should live it, not hesitate, maybe even take risks. That same moment will never return.

The creators play with time here—from the perspective of time travel, aging, waiting for love—allowing the viewer to think and feel. Love is beautiful, crazy, patient, painful, and cruel, but above all, eternal. It can endure through time, transcend illness, and heal the soul. It can be the only thing that keeps a person going. All the relationships in this film are so real and well-developed. How difficult it must have been to love someone of the same gender in 1991, or how hard it must have been to wait for your love for 31 years. Just as a son who can't understand his aging father, who is slipping away from reality, but with knowledge of the past, suddenly truly understand and love him. (The scene of the son bathing his father in 2022 is probably my absolute favorite, as is the ending itself).

I was completely absorbed by it in every way—whether by the beautiful scenes, the theme of time travel, the cast, the costumes, or the music. I don’t categorize this film as BL, or a gay film, or even an Asian film; it belongs in the general category of all films and has become one of my absolute favorites. It is my wish for this film to reach as many viewers as possible. It’s true that not everyone may understand it, or not on the first viewing, but the creators made it in such a way that we cannot say who understands it and who doesn’t. Everyone can perceive it in their own way; everyone can see something different in it, or a different detail may matter to them. It can evoke different questions and answers in each person—or perhaps leave them unanswered—but emotionally, I believe most people will agree that it touches the soul. It is unique and exceptional. And I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to recommend it to absolutely everyone.

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