Reviews

Good prequel but it doesn't matter If you don't watch this!

In this prequel there are 7 parts of the story where 8 actors are the main leads. Every couple of minutes, the story will only focus on one/two leads (with some supporting roles also). Mostly looks like a monologue rather than dialogue between the casts. Compared to the drama, I much prefer the cast in there also Im Siwan, he was born to play Jang Geurae!!!!! I'm quite surprised that there is Moon Seyoon here. Imo his acting in here is the most unstable(?) among the 8 leads in this prequel, I would rather to see his live acting for Comedy Big League (He was a permanent member in 2013).

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"it's our duty to protect our own"

Right off the bat, I think it wasn't better than the prequel. With 12M box office and quite a lot saying it was better than the first, with those expectatuins I was a bit disappointed leaving the cinema, but don't get me wrong it was still a great film.

We follow the same police force with Ma Seok Do and the rest, this time around they try to arrest a suspect overseas, where they experience numerous struggles

No it doesn't have a mind-blowing story, it will probably go the way you expect it to be. However it does have a gripping action scenes and gore, sided with good humor.

Not sure if this is filmed overseas or not but I liked the cinematography this time around, it gave good distinction between Vietnam and Korea.

Son Sukku being the main antagonist this time around was probably a big burden, Jang Chen was an icon and it would have been hard to top it off. Still despite that he was aboe to deliver a chilling performance, big props.

It's an easy film to understand and a perfect watch with the entire family, will for sure rewatch this when it releases in streaming platforms.

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It's impressive

I am not going to lie, this was a harrowing experience which I do not recommend for people that are easily triggered by body violence. But if you can stomach it, let me tell you why this is worth a try.

Let me prephase by saying that if you are one of those people that watch BL just for sexual content this review is not for you, also don't talk to me. THIS IS NOT fun, this is not BL, this is a story of guilt, grief, violence and many other emotions that come with the loss of a loved one.

The plot shows us a protagonist that when about to commit suicide is saved and kidnapped by a man that keeps him chained up and strips him of his freedom, his body autonomy and his (already damaged) mental stability. But the whole point of this literal torture is to awaken the most animalistic part of him, the survival instinct. It's only on situations that threaten our lives and our dignity that we hold on to life.

We are shown the story of our protagonist and the reason behind his suicide attempt which is the death of his parents and the guilt he felt as he thought it to be his fault, and we witness him struggle with himself as he is violated but and presented with chances to die but ends up refusing.
Then, we follow the story of the kidnapper, and we understand his grief and his reasoning for all the atrocities he comitted. We watch him lose the love of his life to suicide, explaining his obsession with convincing his victim to live through any means possible.

The parallels of both stories makes you experience stockholm syndrome along with the main character, who feels sorry for the crazy broken man before him.

It's painful to watch, but that's the point. It's a violent story of insanity and being broken, but wanting something or someone to complete you.

Both men end up saving each other.
They learn to let go.
The story goes from darkness to the light.
From fear and being used to consent and closeness.
From screaming to quiet whispers of reassurance.

Maybe I'm reading way too much into it, but maybe I'm not.

Honestly the image that will haunt me forever is one of the calmest in the movie. An open window with cherry blossom petals falling into cold skin. And comparing memories with a drug that one always carries around waiting for the perfect moment to give into them and die really took a toll on me.

Again, if you're watching this for the sex or the strong images... you'll miss the narrative. So maybe skip this one. But if you can look past that and can stomach it... I can definitely recommend it.

Also the acting is very good as well as the visual and sound resources that add another layer to the story. Thank you.

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Dorian “Flash Legs” Tan and Doris Lung team up to take down the murderous Devil’s Swordsman. All they need is the Sunshine Sword and to find out the identity of the masked swordsman.

The Devil’s Swordsman was killed two decades ago but has reappeared and is assassinating the heads of the tribes who brought him down with his hypnotizing sword. Discord and distrust reign as everyone is blaming Lung’s Maple Leaf tribe. There were double crosses and hidden identities. Unfortunately, the pacing was slow and very talkie for a kung fu flick making this 90 minute movie feel more like 2 hours.

As with most of these Taiwanese martial arts movies much of it was shot outdoors from the opening fight to the ending one.

The movie would have benefited from more flash legs and less talk. Dorian and Doris delivered in their fight scenes. Lo Lieh played an ill-fated fighter. The movie could have used more of him, too. The fight scenes were passable with lots of trampoline work.

The version I watched was badly faded and cropped on the sides which cut much of the fight scenes off. Like many of these old kung fu films, when the last fight ends so does the movie.

I watched this under the title of Thunder Blade and Lightning Foot. Under any name it’s an average at best film from this era.

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The Witch Without A Twist

I am a fan of the The Witch Pt. 1 so I have been waiting the sequel for years. I am happy I finally had a chance to watch it on big screen! I followed the production journey and as the team had a copyright issue with their previous film distributor ( Warner Bros. Korea ), they had to butcher up their original The Witch stories with Jayoon as main character. Hence why I lowered my expectation for this part 2.

First of all, story wise. They basically have almost showed everything in the trailer except the ending. It is those common stories of lab victim run away, find good ally, enemies catch them, but they win after their loved one got hurt. The acting wasn't my taste, instead of embracing the characters personalities- some of their acting feels staged to me. They tried so hard to look cool. There are english dialogue in it, but it sounds so awkward. I'm sorry I am not really familiar with chinese language so I couldnt judge it. Positive side, I like a lot how they open the story and I didn't expect them to start it like that. The unique "countrified" vibe is shown again in it. The opening and the ending would be a main key for the whole franchise. Please stay until after credit, because they show post credit scenes like those marvel movies!

They casted a ton of people for side characters and cameos but they are all like a copy to each other. I was thinking "Is it on purpose they look similiar as it is a cloning stories?". I also feel like there are quite a lot unnecessary scenes, with the jokes and comedic-like scenes. I wish them to show more the bonding between "The Girl" and Kyung Hee-Dae Gil sibling. That is what I have been waiting as I read the director explaining the differences between her and previous witch, Jayoon.

I have to be honest, I am kinda disappointed with the characters building for the new witch. The director went with repeated heroine route we could find in those human experiment stories. Emotionless, no personality ( yet ), fascinated to outside world like a baby bird, and once again overpowered. But after watching, I do feel curious how he would come up with the next part and how he build her character in the future. "The Girl" is still like a white paper to me.

Action Sequences. There are quite a lot of cool awesome battle scenes and it still has that anime-like battle touch in it. They definitely improved it with their big budget. There is one fight with beautiful billboard lighting, and that is my favorite one. Unfortunately, if you are a slow watcher, you would be troubled with pt 2 fighting style because all the characters are so powerful and their fighting is so fast- blip blip - shoot - blip - slash neck - that is my description. Warning, the rating is 18+ so the killing wound part is quite explicit.

Overall, I gave it a 7.5. I think new audiences would enjoy it so much, but the previous part 1 fans like me- would be in love and hate relationship with the sequel.

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This J-Horror movie is from 2000. You have been warned.

Dear Nokia Brick, I miss you. Your glaring greenish screen was the star of this movie. Oh, yeah, and there were some Japanese schoolgirls doing dumb horror movie things. They could never take your place as the center of attention, Nokia. Never....

Serious review time:
Opening of movie- girl jumps off school building.
Next scene- we should totally perform that doomed love story play our un-alive friend wanted to do!
Hilarity ensues?

Because this is a Japanese horror movie, we already know the ghost rumors are true. We already know that mysterious new student in the back of the class is going to be a love interest/ plot point/ ex machina soon. And of course, we already know that the original doomed lovers were MURDERED!!! (probably) There is also almost always the one-sided schoolgirl crushing on her dashing male teacher, someone with trouble at home (dead or divorced parents) who seems to have the most time available to be haunted.

I don't know if any of this makes sense, I'm just trying my best to get through this movie. The pacing makes me feel like I could have filmed another movie in this amount of time. It's 100 minutes long, and we don't get anything spooky until the close-up of sneakers at 24 minutes. Send help.

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Two young brothers have to adapt to their new surroundings and unexpected social stature in I Was Born, But…

Bullied after they move to the suburbs the brothers start ditching school only to be found out. The father gives them the age old, and what every kid knows is useless, advice when he tells them to ignore the bullies and they will leave them alone.

The two find an unexpected ally who aids them and the brothers end up the de facto leaders of the little gang. The interactions between the boys and their school mates seemed natural and believable even after nearly 100 years.

Convinced of their place in the world they declare their father the most important out of the fathers of the boys. When they find out their dad is only an office worker and one who plays the office clown for the boss’ amusement they are devastated. Even worse, the boss’ son is part of their gang. They’ve gone from feeling like kings to peasants and they take it out on their father.

Being safe and cared for they couldn’t know the world was in dangerous economic times and their father’s job was vital to their survival. Aside from the economic depression, the viewer will know war was brewing as Japan would invade Manchuria and later move on to other countries. The headstrong, cocky boys came across as ungrateful for their father’s love and sacrifices.

The boys had to learn the lesson every adult is reminded of almost daily…the world isn’t fair. Competence isn’t always rewarded. Fortunately, if they didn’t eventually learn gratitude, they learned acceptance.

This film was similar in nature to director Ozu’s film Good Morning. I found Good Morning to be the more charming film. These children could be difficult to like at times.

I watched part of an unrestored version, it was glitchy and without music. Fortunately, I found a restored version though the music was heavy handed in it and didn’t always fit the mood.

I Was Born, But was a quiet slice of life film showing the growth of two little boys and the reality of the social hierarchy. How well you like the two boys scrambling for stature and unable to see their parents’ need for acceptance, may determine how much you enjoy this film. For me, though well made, slightly missed the mark.

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A kidnapper gets more than he bargained for when he lures “A Straightforward Boy” to his lair by buying him treats and toys.

This is one of director Ozu’s earliest films of which part is missing. It was still a funny film more slapstick in nature than his later films. This one played broader and more like some American silent films I’ve watched. Ozu’s silent films always struck me more as talkies but with placards.

This short film had some cute moments given the topic of kidnapping. The little boy tormented his kidnappers to the point they wanted to return him but they couldn’t seem to shake free of him.

Saito Tatsuo played one of the silly kidnappers. He was in some of Ozu’s more famous films. The actor who played the precocious little boy, Aoki Tomio, worked alongside Saito as father and son in the Ozu film “ I Was Born, But…” only three years later.

The version I watched had no music which wasn’t a problem for me. Depending on when the music was added to some of these silent films it can be more distracting than mood making.

A lighthearted quick watch, just short of 14 minutes it’s worth giving a try if you enjoy this director’s films.

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Adorable!

That was adorable!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTa92oDTLqA
for anyone looking for it.

And why do I need 500 characters when I just want to say that it was adorable???

Anyhow....I loved it. It was such a cute "short." My numbers do not average a 10, but I gave it a 10 anyway, because "music" is not really much needed in something this short, and it doesn't really have much "rewatch" value, but it was worth it. And, who knows, I might actually rewatch this for the feel-good value. I loved that the actors portrayed their characters so well that there was no cringe, at least for me.

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iron pussy

the adventures of iron pussy is one of the best movies if not the best movie I have ever seen
the story, acting, storytelling and the way the characters were portrayed in this film is amazing
this movie is a work of art
I hope that this movie gets more attention it is horribly underrated
my favourite movie
definitely would recommend to everyone gojnb to show it to everyone I know and rewatch it lots of times it's too good I'm literally dying
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A quite beautiful film

The initial attraction must be the cast. Both the leads are superb and i heard this movie won the best screenplay award in Baeksang Arts awards so that also made me curious to look forward. In a one word it's quite decent feel good film to watch.

The plot is not a usual sterio type, it more modern a realistic kind of approach. Dealing a quite common story in modern world and for your awareness it's an adult film and not by too much nudity but it has something and that's not so vulgar they filmed it in a very decent way. Am not entering in to the story part, because u can read that from Google if you want. But better watch without knowing anything.

Because of the duration, you can feel free to enjoy, no unwanted complications or dragging.. the plot is also looks refreshing. Also the chemistry of the leads are quite adorable.

Not a must watch one, but definitely a worth watch one.. try it...

#N45Views

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Korean adaptation of 2009 American film Nine Dead

(Puts on reviewer glasses)

So, there's 6 people who wake up in the dark, chained to pipes. Scared. It's gross and creepy, everyone's freaked out. They turn on the lights, find out it's actually a morgue, and there appears to be a 7th person. Well, now they all feel worse. Why are they all there, what is the point of all this? What do these people have in common? Why is there a massive red LED timer that keeps resetting every 15 minutes?

Anyone who's seen Nine Dead can fast forward through this to look for changes, but overall, the idea remains the same. Anyone who hasn't seen the American film should appreciate the acting and plot, at least.

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A quick feel good fluff

This movie is really sweet. It's a quick watch that will leave you feel really fuzzy and warm inside. Not a lot of people seem to know this show/movie, so production wise I was rather impressed as it is shot really well. Also, the acting was really good. I read some reviews on the drama entry here, and people were pointing out awkwardness. I personally didn't feel this at all in the movie version. Though it is Cha Woo Min's first acting role, his character seemed natural. As well as Kim Yoo Wan.

With these short productions I find that the romance usually gets rushed and we don't really get to root for them. But the relationship and feelings between the two seem to develop at a rather normal pace. Also, for a Korean BL, the amount of kissing scenes we get really surprised me. Their chemistry wasn't off the charts, but I felt a few butterflies here and there.

If I had to critique something about the movie, its that the conflict fell a little flat for me. We didn't get to learn ENOUGH about the relationship with Eun Kyu's and his father as well as with Ji Soo to really understand the conflict that happened. They scratch the surface, but we have no emotional scene between these characters - except the conflict - to make us understand what they are feeling.

Overall, the movie had a standard storyline, but I enjoyed it. There were no surprises, no unexpected plot. It simply portrayed a sweet romance. Sometimes, you really need that.

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So proud of BLACKPINK

This review may be bias since i’m a blink. But i had friends who weren’t kpop fans (at that time) watched this and they loved it. After watching this, they became a fan of BLACKPINK. As a blink, i’m so proud of them and their journey to get where they are now was touching. I liked how each member got to explain their journey and friendship. In my opinion, they have the best & strongest friendship in a kpop. Also, i loved each member was able to talk in the language they feel most comfortable in. I’m so glad lisa got to explain her story in thai. I loved this documentary so so much. I rewatched this so many times lol. I think this is a great way to start if you want to know about them or their story. I would recommend to anyone who is interested in kpop or BLACKPINK.

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