Reviews

Chivalrous Forever is a low budget 2021 wuxia film featuring a swordswoman. A badass female lead is usually all it takes to perk my interest, however, this movie led me into a trap of mediocrity.

Most of the cast does a decent job of acting. The female lead gave it her all throughout the film and committed herself to the role. There were others who seemed to be reading their lines.

The biggest problem was with the production values. The first 10-15 minutes weren't bad. The cinematography and fights were okay. Then the quality plummeted. Some of the costumes and wigs were downright awful. The evil Japanese couple seeking to steal the list of corrupted officials from the swordswoman and the man she was protecting had wigs that looked like they came out of a bad comic strip. They tried speaking Japanese at one point and then gave up and went back to Mandarin. The evil eunuchs laid it on thick with the high pitched voices to the point it sounded like they'd breathed in helium before some scenes began. I rarely notice music unless it's really bad or really good. I noticed the music in this movie and it wasn't really good.

The movie played out like a wuxia sketch show complete with errors that no one bothered to correct. At one point an unconscious character lying in the road rolled away to avoid being hit by a carriage and then went back to being prone. The sword fights were slow, very slow and badly choreographed. Quite honestly, I laughed out loud several times during the movie at scenes that were not supposed to be funny.

Despite all the errors and bad fight choreography, there was an interesting story hidden beneath the rough appearance. The movie played out in earnest with many heroes and bad guys falling. Normally, I would have scored a modern movie of this quality lower, but because a swordswoman was prominently featured I gave it a little bump because a woman with a sword is my weakness. Unless you are looking to watch a very low budget wuxia you might want to give this one a pass.

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A must watch!!!

STORY: I hadn't seen the manga or anime beforehand so I went into it quite blindly. I knew that I just had to check it out after seeing such great reviews and knowing that Takeru Satoh was in here. I think the story is amazing and the way it portrays the role of samurais in the Meiji era was really interesting (thank you history class). The story moved at a perfect pace that didn't feel slow or fast. The end was satisfying and they did well to establish a bit of Kenshin's backstory in a very emotional way at the beginning.

ACTING/CAST: The cast were perfect especially Takeru Satoh and Emi Takei which took me by surprise as I didn't enjoy her other roles as much. Everyone fit their roles perfectly and I think that Takeru was able to balance between adorable and a serious killer well. I felt alllll the emotions watching this thanks to the cast.

MUSIC: The music is amazing and it gets me sooo hyped during the battles. While they do end up using this same soundtrack for the later movies I don't blame them because the music is really really great!

REWATCH VALUE: I will DEFINITELY rewatch this masterpiece because the battles are just that amazing. The running, sword fights, and quick movements are just absolutely amazing and stunning. I couldn't help but squeal and scream at every action that I thought was cool. I think it's awesome that the cast do their own stunts. After you watch the movie try to check out the behind that scenes because it'll make you appreciate it better!

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have to say watching this movie especially with that ending, feel really depressed - yeah very realistic and true to life, but in this case i would've loved if we got an escapist ending - something better then reality - as is the whole movie was chalk filled with character's that were hurt, hurting either themselves or someone else. yeah again very true to life, and yet cause of the "ugly" / brutal reality the ending should've been fanciful... but it is what it is -

before anything i get why people would love Rinko's mother (especially when u get to see the exactly opposite dynamic with Kai, his mother and his surrounding's), but she a tactless moron! i'm all for how she supported her son/daughter - at least at home Rinko had a safe haven cause of Fumiko. but u don't run all over people, just cause u have a misguided need to protect ur child - especially when that child aint a child and can fend and defend themselves - certainly not against an 11 yr old (that has more then enough on her plate) let alone the man ur daughter ended up with - her laughing and announcing "...Rinko lucked out with Makio..." (considering she more or less doesn't have in-laws to deal with) was revolting to witness, and the only thing in my mind at that sec was STFU - like with her intrusively asking a child, about her boob growth - like i said, tactless and utterly moronic ugh

everything else - was sad and sweet - bitter sweet if u will - Tomo didn't have a mother - a woman that even when she was around - wasn't really there for her child, as opposed to a woman that the sec Tomo walked into her life, she was her soul focus - ironic that the "child protective services" came to check on Tomo's living situation, when she was surrounded by love and care - while they (and the surrounding do-gooders, ironic that b*tch that pushed her own son to almost put an end to his life - freakin heart breakin) could care less when she was neglected on the daily, just cause it was done by the woman that gave birth to her - a lot of irony in this movie -

even the ending where the child had to again make the grown-up decision and chose her mother, instead of herself... i.e where she needed to be the adult in the relationship, instead of reaming with Rinko and being a kid - sad really. even though that scene where Hiromi visits her own mother, at long last (as she "abandoned" her when she got pregnant with Tomo) not to mention Tomo's coming back to a clean house - that looked like a home that was taken care of, as opposed to how we see it at the start.. guess u could interpret that into a "positive ending"...

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This is an erotic movie, it is basically porn but they won't show genitals.

*sighs, here goes my comment:

Good things:
-The actors are hot, I've to say they are really good looking, so I enjoyed the view.
I don't mind women with plastic surgery. I've to say the FL is hot, really hot, her body is absolutely gorgeous, I think it has the perfect thickness in the correct places, her legs and hips are to die for. Her waist and breast were fantastic.
The ML is also super pretty, at that time he portrayed a 19 years old boy, so I think it was just perfect, his body was not too big, not too small, exercised in the perfect amount with a really nice face.
The second ML was super handsome, really sexy. A jerk but I liked him.

-The chemistry between them was good, I like the scenes in which they had sex without rushing, I think that was the main point. I liked the way they portrayed the relationship, she was the hot FL that will sleep with whoever she wants, career focused, yet still silly because of her previous dramatic relationship. Talented but needing inspiration.

-The story itself is pretty simple, they met in an elevator, she looked at a guy that was cute and he seemed aroused by her and the scene, she liked him. He saw a hot woman, he wanted to get her.

-Interesting, realistic character, the boy: He is 19, his hormones are crazy but he has way too little experience with woman (I liked the fact that they didn't make him the super innocent guy, they said he had actually experienced touching women before is just that he didn't get to the point itself), he rushes to get females always so he is not able to make them orgasm and he has to learn. (sadly many males are like that and I think this is the reason why I liked this movie, men are always in a rush to get sex, so they don't dedicate the correct amount of time to kiss, to touch, to contemplate a woman's body. That is what the FL was trying to teach him.)

-A bit of a plain character, the FL: She is in her 30s, she is experienced and has a good libido so she is not caught in the moral question about if she should date or not a 19 years old. She feels attracted, she feels curious by him, she wants to teach him and so she does.

-The art, the boy is an amazing artist.

The so-so, meh, bad things:

-It was al fun and sex but there was a point in which feelings are mixed, she gets jealous and confused, she fucks her ex, the boy caught them in middle of the act. He feels betrayed, he left. The boy misses her, she needs him for inspo, they get back together but then she understands that what she is doing is not appropriate, that she has many issues, that she doesn't know what is love and that she is playing with the boys feelings, basically she is fucked up, so she leaves.

The bad:
-I absolutely hated the music, it should be better, they were supposed to be composers so I've no idea why they didn't invest in good songs.

-They missed the opportunity for a good ending, I mean, I like the fact that they are not together at the end because it is realistic, but the 'cheating'? or she getting back to her ex? that was unnecessary, they should portray a bit more of society's criticism or her fucked up trauma and mind, maybe with those elements the ending was a bit more interesting.

All in all, if this is a good or a bad movie is up to you.

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The story and the acting were mediocre at best. It had the feel of a cheap TV movie despite the decent special effects. But what disappointed me the most was Hei Yan Jing. He is one of my favorite character throughout the franchise and I like the actor who portrayed the role in Tomb of the Sea. But here, the same actor failed to the deliver the way he did in ToS. His performance literally made this movie less enjoyable. And don't get me started on the outfits for the female characters. It made absolutely no sense for them to be wearing super short shorts and mid drift shirts in the middle of bug and leech infested jungle.

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A romance on, and about, the reels.

THE PLOT:


I am a huge fan of classic cinema from the 1930’s through 1950’s, so the beautiful heroine of a black/white film coming to life to have an adventure in the modern world (the 1950s, but still considered modern in reference to the movie) was brilliant. It brings fresh life to all my favorite tropes. We have the rich chaebol princess looking for a change in her life. Forced cohabitation and work-related stressors. We have the fight between succeeding in a career or choosing love. All the basic plot points are there but it seems completely different when you add the whimsical elements into the mix.

CINEMATOGRAPHY:


The contrast of color with the black and white of the princess, Miyuki, was BRILLIANT! I especially appreciated how all the color seemed to be intensified whenever Kenji and Miyuki were together. It felt like the color was a character in itself with the way it was used to progress the plot.

CHARACTER OBSERVATIONS:


There was not a ton of side characters that took my attention away from our OTP (One True Pairing). The one exception is Shundo, the superstar of the movie company where Kenji works. Shundo’s character is exactly what they mean when using the term “scene stealer.” There was something about Shundo’s confidence that was charming and I couldn’t help but fall in love with this character. Who wouldn’t love a guy who wanted to create a horror musical about reincarnation on a whim? Is it too much to ask for a sequel based on Shundo and his ginormous ego?

FAVORITE SCENE:


I loved so many various moments in this movie. However, I had two that really stood out. My first favorite scene was Miyuki ordering Kenji to take her out into the world so she could explore all the colors. Her being black and white and sneaking around the movie studio was delightful.



My other favorite scene was the final ten minutes or so of the film. I won’t give details since that would spoil the story. But I did tear up multiple times–tears of joy from watching such a poignant and romantic movie.

OVERALL REACTION:


I give this movie a 8.5/10 for its creative plot, amazing cinematography and two characters that will stick with me for years to come. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves watching a sweet romance. The relationship between our two leads was delightful from beginning to end, and engaging the whole way through.

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When water is thicker than blood

The film navigates around the lives of two people brought together by fate in rather dismal conditions, to form a bond that is beyond that of blood relations. Being based on a true story makes it all the more convincing and hopeful...

It is a sentimental and heart warming portrayal of the lives of two disabled men...Se Ha who is paralyzed and wheelchair bound due to his quadriplegia but is otherwise extremely sharp with an active and able mind, and Dong Goo who is mentally challenged(autism I suppose) with an understanding of a 5 year old, is athletic and has commendable physical strength...it is almost as though fate meant for them to meet and complement each other, so much so that they become one complete person. Se Ha was dropped off at an institution of the disabled after the passing away of his mother and Dong Goo was abandoned by his mother finally to be taken in by the same institution, where they then meet, and Se Ha prevents the others from bullying Dong Goo, after which their loyalties never waver...For twenty years they stay together as the perfect partners, where Se Ha manages the finances and is the brain of the two and Dong Goo is the brawn and helps execute the orders given to him...

The story is written very well with an adequate dose of humour to lighten the otherwise heavy premise, they realistically portray all the problems faced by them, but also convey hope by how they implement counters to all of that and can find joy in their everyday lives simply because they have each other...The plot is simple but is riddled with its fair share of problems and has a predictable yet impactful ending which was cathartic...

The main leads were brilliant in their roles and executed them to perfection...Lee Kwang Soo doesn't have much to speak but makes endearing, large and ludicrous gestures which frankly just say it all...Shin Ha Kyun in particular relies on his words and facial expressions to convey his feelings and intentions since his body is motionless, neck down...and he pulls it off fantastically, portraying the frustration, anger, disappointment and fondness ensued by their brotherhood with utmost finesse...

Overall it is done quite delicately and with utmost respect to the differently abled...It was a symphony of emotions I felt while watching the film and that's what made it so pleasurable...
And indeed, family is the people in your life who want you in theirs and accept you for who you are, family isn't always blood...

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A GREAT MOVIE

If you want a movie that is definitely moved away from the formulated one, this is the movie you're looking for. The story is definitely new and a nice story to tell. It tells how loneliness affects a person mentally, physically, and emotionally. Also, the loneliness of getting old. It shows how being alone will change a person.

The screen ratio is nice which makes the cinematography really great. What I really love in this movie is the color grading. It is really pleasing to eyes. Screen ratio + Cinematography + Color grading = ❤️

It makes me realized that make every relationship because when you get old, it will be hard to create a new relationship.

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Salute to the brave men

A nuclear power plant is on a verge of a meltdown after an earthquake shook the small town.

I loved Kim Nam Gil as the reluctant hero. His character always wanted to work somewhere else to make more money, he hates the town and yet at the last minute he was the one who saved the town. His monologue at the last part made me ugly cry 😭😭.

I also loved the other nuclear plant workers, firemen etc who were willing to risk their lives to save their families.

The movie is a little too long and the injuries were 🤮 but still a solid watch.

Rating: 8.5/10

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Beautiful bromance

I watched both versions and I like this one better. Maybe because I watched this first or maybe because i like the emotional story more than the other one.

The visuals were amazing. Too amazing sometimes that it looks too unreal, then I realize I'm watching a fantasy movie so I should expect a lot of CGI.

I liked the friendship between Qingming and Boya. They started antagonistic with each other (well, more on Boya as the angry kid and Qingming as the cool one). I feel like Boya learned to mature because of Qing Ming while Qing Ming found a friend.

The mystery of the villain was predictable and even though I hated the Princess and Shouyue, i still cried for their sad fate. A little too long for the in the second half but it gave some emotional depth to the story. I loved the giant serpent and the fight scene between it and Qing Ming /Boya. It was huge, I didn't know how Qing Ming can take down the serpent!

What I didn't understand is the presence of the hair demon. She killed the old master and tried to kill Long Ye, for what? It later turns out she was against the Empress (so why was she helping her?) Or was it because the hair demon was under the control of Shouye so she is forced to kill? Whatever, but it was creepy.

Rating: 8.5/10

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Visually pleasing

Visually pleasing and colorful. Really feels like a fantasy movie with the animals although the ferrets remind me of Rocket (raccoon) in Guardians of the Galaxy.

There wasn't much story, just more of an internal struggle of Qingming between good or evil but I liked the sad ending. Like the other version, the villain was predictable, but the giant creepy hand looked funny as opposed to scary and reminded me of Thing in Addams Family. The red hair and his posing also looked unnatural and not really menacing. I also wasn't sold with the romance (?) friendship (?) whatever it is between Qing Ming and Bai Ni.

The supporting characters felt more like fillers and were just there because they need Qingming to have some allies. Their stories didn't have much depth. Boya was way younger than what I was expecting, and didn't have much bromance with Qingming. Instead he matched more with Shen Le, who was a supporting character. She was cute but wasn't interesting enough. The red evil was so cute though and the fight scene was between him and Boya was fun!

Overall, this movie felt like a mishmash of different films. It could have been better if the movie was shorter and had more interesting characters that we want to root for, but overall it was enjoyable.

Rating: 8/10

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A NOSTALGIC MOVIE FOR THE 90'S KIDS

If you spent your adulthood during the '90s, then this movie is for you. You will get nostalgia in every scene, from the snacks that you always buy in a convenience store to the popular video games that you always play, to the technology available like telephone and television. And if you are born later than the '90s like me, you will also enjoy the movie.

The set design and costume are on point. It really feels like I am in that time. For the story, it doesn't cater to the new story but if you just want a feel-good movie, then this is it. The gender roles are also part of the movie which I understand because it is prevalent during that time. They show how the boys and girls were treated differently at that time.

Despite the difference in time of our adulthood, there are things that we share the same experiences. So it is definitely that you will relate. Their friendship which I relate to is awesome.

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A GOOD FILIPINO HORROR MOVIE

It's been ages since I watched a good Filipino horror movie. This movie quenches my thirst for a good horror movie made by Filipinos. It's horror, thriller, and also psychological. All the time I am watching it, my heart didn't stop beating fast. There is only a little scene that you can relax, but almost all scenes are a thriller.

The production designs are well-made. The place added thrill to the scenes. I just feel like some scenes will be scarier if it is CGI, but on the other hand, it is still scary. The cinematography was also good because of the setting and the well-made production design.

If you want a good horror movie made by Filipinos, then this movie is what you're looking for.

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Love can make you happier than you have ever been^^

It was pretty refreshing to be able to watch Korea’s rendition of it, which featured a spectacular star-studded cast list including Kim Kang Woo, Yoo In Na, Yoo Yeon Seok, Lee Yeon Hee, Lee Dong Hwi, Chen Du Ling, Yeom Hye Ran, Girls’ Generation’s Choi Soo Young and Yoo Teo.


I shall not go into the details of the story (as it would be a spoiler) but in simple words – it is a pretty lighthearted movie, capable of making you relate to it somehow. It touched on many small but important aspects of life, covering stories with themes relating to breakups, loneliness, healing, multicultural-marriage, and also the search for life’s meaning. The simple everyday moments definitely makes it relatable and could possibly make you feel reflective as well.



Another aspect of the film which I truly enjoyed was that I could re-live the travel memories while watching the film. Being travel-deprived for the past one year, watching scenes and locations of Seoul on the big screen (with Namsan Tower in the background) definitely brought some warmth to my heart and reminded me how much I wished I was there. There was another story with a ski field setting and it reminded me of snow and my skiing experiences. Furthermore, the cast even flew to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina for the movie! There were many beautiful destinations featured, including the famous and majestic Iguazu Falls. I’m not sure about you but it felt really good to enjoy ‘traveling’ while watching a movie.

Whether you are a rom-com fan or someone looking for a feel-good movie, this is definitely a good pick and the eye candies are really pretty too!

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