Reviews

TAKE MY ADVICE: check out some form of the original story before you watch this!!!

In this review I'll be talking about my most anticipated movie this year. Like, I've been waiting for this thing for more than a year. Was it worth the wait? Did I expect too much? Was it adapted well?

I'll be answering all these questions in this review of My Happy Marriage 2023

(if you want to watch it, it's available on myasiantv)


So first I want to start off by saying:

READ THE LIGHT NOVEL/MANGA or WATCH THE ANIME

before you watch this movie, otherwise you'll be quite confused.


So, I get it. They had to squeeze A LOT into a 2h long movie. BUT STILL. So many things weren't explained! To the point where my knowledge of the original story came in handy more than a few times. They left out some important plot points and I think some were a bit rushed.


Spoilers Ahead:

FIRST IMPRESSION:

So I heard about this story through the manga first. Then I found out they would be making a live action and anime and seeing how I enjoyed the first 3 volumes of the manga, I was really looking forward to it. Another reason being, I love period romance movies! And was really looking forward to a Japanese one, since there aren't that many (that interest me). I'm not such a fan of (dark) fantasy, but it's okay in moderation.

Come 17th of March. The day this movie releases in Japan, I was really excited. Until I learned that I would have to wait a few more months for the international release!

This summer the anime aired, so I started watching it.

After finishing the anime, I admit I was a bit disappointed with where the story went. I am looking forward to the second season! I hope there will be more romantic scenes. I think the anime delivered some nice scenes with the couple, but not enough. I was disappointed there wasn't even one kiss scene! Even though I don't think their relationship got that far in the 1st Season.

I do like the cinderella aspect of this story.


LIVE ACTION STORY:
The beginning of the movie doesn't show a lot of Miyo's life at her family's Estate. In fact they rush over it a bit and very soon she's already sent to the Kudo household. But they don't really explain much! If I hadn't known the story beforehand, I would be quite confused. Oh well, then we have the official meeting scene for our couple! I liked this scene.

I feel like a lot of screen time goes to the fantasy aspect. I liked the scenes between Kiyoka and Miyo though, but I wish there were more. They did skip some of my favourite scenes from the manga!

The story feels a bit rushed at times and like I said before, doesn't make sense without knowing the story.

They left out the Kiyoka-Sister Arc! I wish they would have kept it. And because they left it out, the Usuba Arc also seems rushed. They didn't explain the mother's backstory either.

another thing: When Miyo meets her sister in town and doesn't dare to stand up to her, she gets very depressed and stays in her room alone for a few days in the manga/anime, but in this movie it doesn't really show much of that. Then she meets hana again and again the scene in the manga made the most sense! They rushed this in the live action.

I know that screenplay works differently, but I wish they would've adapted it better.

The ending of the movie with the demonic possession outbreak and all was a bit cringey, also that wasn't explained so well.

ACTING/CAST:
Meguro Ren does look good in kimono and with white hair :) He's also nice and tall (comapred to the other actors hehe)
And I think the actress portrayed Miyo very well. I've only seen Watanabe Keisuke in a few good roles, otherwise he usually acts as bad guys lol, but I think he suits the role and there were a few moments my heart skipped a beat cause of him (though I hate to admit lol)
I always picture Yurie as a nice OLD woman, that's how she's portrayed in the manga/anime. I would've preferred another actress.


MUSIC:
some of the music felt a bit overdramatic at times, but I think it was fine. There weren't very many great OSTs, but it's still fits for the most part. I did like the violin OST.


OVERALL THOUGHTS:

Was it worth the wait? Did I expect too much? Was it adapted well?

Even though it wasn't what I initially expected it to be, I did enjoy it for what it was. Despite some bad points I mentioned, it does have it's good ones. Cinematography for instance was good and the colouring is nice as well. Like mentioned before, I like the setting.

Not only with the live action, but the anime and story as a whole, wasn't how I expected it. Like I said I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in Season 2 of the anime. Based in the end credits scene of this movie, I'm guessing there will be a sequel?? I hope so.

Some scenes where done well. The CGI was relatively good. Although the story wasn't as clear as the original work, I think some scenes were good.

overall I'll give this movie an 8/10 (which is good, but not amazing)

8/10 is quite high for me.

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very sweet movie

I absolutely loved this movie. I saw a gifset of a scene on tumblr and it looked right up my alley, so I hurried to watch it, and tbh I'm going to recommend it to my friends, because this movie was great

The romance is very sweet and caring, and the ML is one of those types said to be cold and unfeeling but is actually quite tender. The FL's growth feels very natural -- her confidence takes steps forward and backward at times, and I really appreciated how it was both affected by and affected the plot. The climax scene was amazing, and the ending was very squee-worthy hahaha

The visual effects of the powers are super cool, it never disappointed me. Also the colors of this movie are gorgeous, be it the scenery or the clothing, just an overall beautiful movie

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So sweet, so short but so content

It's one of those dramas that you can be satisfied with the ending but would think of the "ifs" if it can continue cause there's still a lot of things that the movie can go from after. overall everything is cute and well done! i don't have hearing impairment so i cant judge how well they portrayed the disability but from a person who doesn't have it, it's very understandable. It is sad but it's not something to be pity about yet society still makes people who have hearing impairment or disability be ashamed of themselves and make things more harder so I'm glad sugihara met sagawa! I wish every people with hearing impairment or disability have someone who will be there for them, treat them the same way as others and understands them the way they want to.

The only problem I have is the unrealistic way of making a connection between the leads, so one of the leads have hearing impairment and it's getting worse but still, the only one he can hear clearly is the other lead which is so stupid and so selective that destiny just made a miracle come true lol

It could've been more, like a season 2 or just another movie that is a continuation of this, I would love to see them explore their relationship and be able to show how relationships works on partners that have hearing impairment especially homosexual relationship will still be an obstacle, I wonder how they will get through and their adultery journey would've been nice to see but it's okay with it cause you can imagine it yourself.

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A no mercy with something more.

"No Mercy" style revenge film with the great
Lee Si Young. Here the theme is the same, with a somewhat confusing narrative plot. But at a certain point everything is clearly explained to you, a bit of "red light crime", a bit of "rape and revenge", and that's it. Nothing original, but pleasant to follow if you want to spend a couple of hours full of unbridled violence. Usually these films do not shine in artistic details, or excellent interpretations. They focus everything on the bloody scenes and action typical of Hollywood films. The cast knew how to do well what they had to do, performances a little subdued, but in line with the type of film. Both the bad and the good antagonist demonstrated a black and white face to face. Him Kim Ji Hoon who fits in very well in the role of the villain, and her Jeon Jong Seo with that sweet little face, but at the same time ruthless and vindictive. For me it was enjoyable and I would easily watch it again with a few beers and some chips.

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Known concept, interesting execution

The amount of movies and dramas I have seen about this kind of topic is high, but this particular movie stood out for me. The storytelling and the movie's portrayal were really good and kept me hooked for the whole time. I liked how some of the cast members reunited from Money Heist: Korea and it was nice to see them together again. Although there were some moments that I didn't find interesting, but they were important for the action passages and other scenes so it's okay. Finally, there was a movie where revenge was really what I wanted and it was a book example of how to avenge people.

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A love story, that is told in a completely unorthodox way. Impressive in a refined manner

Capturing so much feeling quite sensitively and lifelike, “Remember you” is definitely for KMovie connoisseurs - with a memorable story and two wonderful leads deeply touching the audience's soul.

However, the story is not at all concerned with meeting common audience expectations. The KMovie chooses its own pace while poetically linking the loose threads into a three-dimensional pattern – in a stringent but by no means linear manner, purposefully but without any haste.

“Remember you” (or rather “Don’t forget me”, as the original title says) is mostly a love story through and through. However, it is a love story, that is told in a completely unorthodox way.
The past that lies behind – with the memory of it having the potential to ripping emotional abysses with brute force. The future, that lies ahead – with hope dwelling inside. The present – in which the ´now´ can become a safe zone. Within and throughout: the transcendent power of love.

There is something meditative about “Remember You”. We´re stumbling alongside the amnesiac protagonist through his (to him) strange present, with people coming and going. It almost feels like in a dream. He acts on the outside while inwardly commenting and silently asking his questions to an inner authority that should know... But the inner authority is mute.

The memories of the male protagonist, who suffers from amnesia, come back in fragments and immediately collapse again. The soul has found its own ways in dealing in a somewhat more bearable way with an almost unbearable reality. But ultimately, this situation, too, still is not really bearable either. The KMovie portrays a desperate psychological wrestling with reality - of the male lead on the one hand, and the female lead on the other.

Before we notice it, at the latest as soon as the puzzle has been put together, we suddenly find ourselves very close to the no less desperate inner world of the female lead. After being very close to HIM for so long and learning to feel with HIM, we suddenly find ourselves compassionate with HER emotional horror trip...

Impressive in a refined manner!




PS:
The KMovie “Remember You” is based on a short film by the same director. Based on this template, crowdfunding was used to raise funds for an international independent cinema film production. $32,000 was donated for this purpose. When it premiered in South Korea, “Remember You” grossed around $2 million already.

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Chinese equivalent of Game of Thrones

I must say that this is quite a good effort for such an epic show. Plot is based on a very famous ancient Chinese novel and this film tried their best to condense/summarize the story within the limited time they have. I did not read the novel and am only familiar with some of the characters (Nezha, Yang Jian) so some of the parts regarding the immortals and supernatural beings were a little confusing. The storyline involving the mortals was easier to follow and I'm guessing that the 2nd and 3rd movies would be focusing more on the immortals plotline. Acting and cast were excellent and they really embodied the role well. I'm glad that the director chose to feature newcomers and they really are a breath of fresh air compared to the usual Chinese idols that seem to be a permanent feature in wuxia/xianxia chinese dramas.

Only gripe is the CGI is still miles behind the standards of Marvel movies. But I must say that there has been vast improvement from previous movies. This movie is really worth watching if you're chinese and are familiar with The Investiture of the Gods. Western audiences may have a harder time following but that isn't to say that it isn't worth a watch. Possibly waiting till the rest of the movies are out may make for easier watching.

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Make sure to shut your brain off before watching!

To watch this movie you must turn off your brain! The lack of logic in the plot made it hard to immerse myself in the film. Combine that with the lack of character depth given to the MC and you have a dropped film.

I was looking forward to this movie when I first saw the trailer but then forgot about it since I haven't been watching Netflix much recently. I go on Netflix looking for something fun to watch, remember this film, and saw it had finally been released so I started watching. I love revenge plots, regardless of the sex of the MC that is getting revenge. This film fell short in so many ways and I only got through less than 40 minutes of it. My gripes in no particular order:

Camera Work: They tried wayyyy too hard to be artsy + unique. The shots and angles did nothing to enhance the story.

Acting: Was not bad, I only got through 38 minutes so I can't give a well-founded opinion on their acting. I think the actors did the best they could with lackluster writing.

Music/OST: It was so terrible. Did not match anything that was going on.

Writing: You really need to turn off your brain to enjoy this. The story and character motivations made no sense. Based on the bit that I watched I do not believe the friendship between the two girls was deep enough for the MC to do all she did. After not talking to your friend in a while, they call you up and ask you to come over. You get there and find a note, allegedly from them, asking you to get revenge for them. Then you see they unalived themselves in the bathroom. Maybe if they had made them romantically involved, or even made it clear that the MC held an unrequited affection for her friend it would have made more sense for the MC to carry out the ballerina's last wishes. But that wouldn't explain the ballerina's illogical actions or the fact that the MC went through all these things for some estranged friend. Maybe if they did more to showcase the dependency the MC had on the ballerina it would have been better because MC being emotionally dependent on her would explain her dedication but then again it doesn't look like they have been friends for that long.

If they had made the MC obsessed with the Ballerina that would have brought a lot of depth to the story and made it much more interesting. MC would have been obsessed/in love with the Ballerina but satisfied/content with the scraps of attention/affection the Ballerina gave her regardless of how infrequent they may have been but then finds that the Ballerina unalived herself because of that guy. That would have made a very compelling story and although disturbing, anything the MC did after that would not need any explanation because of the obsession. As it stands I just can't believe she would do all that. Like she could end up in prison for killing all these people, even if they are criminals, so why does she not weigh the consequences? She's smart enough to be a bodyguard for foreign officials but acts so impulsively, too unrealistic.

Also, why did that guy feel the need to drug women when they had already agreed to sleep with him since they went to the hotel consensually? Maybe I missed it since I didn't finish the film and they kidnapped women from the club as well as there being girls that happily went. Like even though it may be rare, there are women into CNC who would happily play along with that guy's fantasies. Especially since he is attractive. Again I could have missed later explanations but if he does that to satisfy his desires it doesn't make sense to do it illegally when you could have willing participants. I get that he's a drug dealer and he does other illegal things with people but to be this crazy serial rapist who can get women to go to a hotel with him willingly only to drug them when they are already there just makes no sense. Maybe he's had bad experiences after he convinces a woman to go with him then she runs away after finding out he's into BDSM so he started drugging them... I don't know.

Maybe I am so disappointed because I went in with high expectations? I usually have a good time watching Korean movies and they are really good at revenge storylines so I definitely had my hopes up. Anyways, now I have to find something else to watch...

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No way this got me crying almost like 2521

I'm writing this one while crying so hard. As a person who is afraid of changes in her life this really got me. I've seen videos of this movie mixed with 2521 when we got that terrible ending too (not overcome it yet) and when I started watching this one because I wanted to watch every movie or drama where Park Bo Young appear, everything looked so familiar and then, the ending. wtf? I mean is so realistic, its something that everyone could face one day, but it still hurt me so much.

So im rating this one with a 7.5 cause I wont be able to watch it again without feeling the bittersweat feeling im having rn and bc the story got me ruined even if its realistic.

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Not Fab-boo-lous, but not completely boo-ring either

Show Me the Ghost failed to break any new ground in the Ghost Whisperer genre. If they’d trimmed the film by 20 minutes and tightened up the story it might have made a good episode in one of the many ghostly dramas dedicated to the same theme.

Ye Ji and Ho Doo are friends dating back to childhood. When Ye Ji fails yet another job interview she casts her troubles on her friend reminding him that he owes her money. Ho Doo takes her to his new house that is spacious and came completely furnished and as they would find out later, complete with its own ghost. Unable to break the contract the two determine to either fob the apartment off on someone else or drive the ghost out.

The plot was threadbare and I knew within five minutes exactly where it was going. Some of the scenes felt incredibly forced. It was billed as a comedy and that was a reach unless you find Han Seung Yeon’s relentless screaming and ear-piercing fake crying hilarious. There was only one segment involving four pair of shoes that made me chuckle. Kim Hyun Mok’s performance was as understated as Han’s was shrill. The rest of the cast was adequate but not much more.

For a big fraidy cat like me, this was the perfect kind of ghost story. It wasn’t scary and there was a bittersweet resolution to the haunting. Despite being cursed by an over-used paradigm, with a more imaginative script and compelling acting it might not have been spooktacular, but it would have had more spirit.

10/15/23

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This love needs CPR

FL sucks and it's okay if a character sucks but she should get some character development. I'm not saying she didn't get character development, she did, but it was sudden and it didn't make sense.
She only cared about herself and she repented at the end, when everything escalated.

She also approached ML with ulterior motives but then she fell in love with him and forgot about that. Honestly, I'm glad she did because if she asked ML to sue the guy after they were together (in love and happy), I don't think a truck of character development could make anyone like her.

The romance was cute but rushed, one moment ML is thinking of his dead wife and crying and the next he is kissing the FL.

Then they break up at some point and after that, the movie became more stupid but also more entertaining. One example, a bunch of concrete fell on ML but he is completely fine after that and running around. A bunch of concrete never fell on me but I think that's unrealistic.

Also, what was the point of FL being sick. It did nothing except make her faint at very convenient times.

Despite the garbage plot, the leads kissing and being cute together made me smile. The side characters are also nice, no one was annoying.

Overall, it's an okay movie. There's some humor and cute romance at times.

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Started with a laugh, ended in tears

I watched this movie with my friend and we wanted to watch something light and funny. So we searched movies with the comedy genre. The start was looking good and we had a few laughs. However at one point, the movie takes a drastic turn.

At the start we see a man sneaking into another person's house. We then find out it's his half brother's house. Since Doo Shik hasn't been there for Doo Young during his life, their relationship isn't good. They are fighting and complaining about each other all time and Doo Shik seems like a prick honestly. However as the movie goes on, their relationship becomes better and Doo Shik helps Doo Young with the things that scares him. This truly shows how a brother should be, even if you hate him for a moment, he is there for you and you still love him, even though you might forget that.

After we find out Doo Shik has cancer, we get to see how devastated he gets. When everything was going well, he got kicked in the stomach with that message. We get to see how he lives his life to the fullest extent, doing what matters to him the most, spending time with and helping out his brother. I think the movie portrayed this in a very good way, and makes you think "would I have told the closest people to me if I had cancer?". It also reminds us that we should do the things we like, live a life that makes us happy, because one day, we might receive a similar message.

I also really liked the character development of Dae Chang and Doo Shik. They went from enemies to friends, helping each other out in their own ways. The same thing with Doo Shik and Soo Hyun, it starts off rough, but when they find out they got something in common, their love and care for Doo Young, their relationship also takes a turn.

This is the first movie that has made me laugh so much and also made me cry so much. It truly is a masterpiece that I would recommend to anyone wanting to watch an emotional roller coaster.

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Great action movie but lacking plot

I was actually hyped to watch this action movie starring Wi Ha Joon. After reading the synopsis, I was expecting great action scenes and a great character development.

Even though the actions scenes were good, some parts of the movie was still lacking. I was watching this movie together with my friends and one of my friend said "the action part was great, but I felt like there was no end goal in the movie. He got in prison, learned how to fight and beat up a guy, thats it". So yeah, my friend also felt like there was some lacking parts.

If I'm going to be specific about what was lacking, I can start with the beginning of the movie. We see two parts, one part for each main character. The first one is about Do Hyun and it shows what led to him getting in prison, what I wanted to see more of here was the longing and sadness he felt for his family members, you don't really see him thinking about them throughout the movie. About the part with Woo Sol, it just shows them having a fight and Seok Chan provoking him into stabbing him with a pen. All of that felt unrealistic.

Halfway through the movie, we see Seok Chan joining a gang because of his harsh and brutal fightingstyle. However, it didn't really make sense for him to join this gang, it didn't add anything to the story, it's not like we see the gang members attack Woo Sol.

At the end of the movie, we see Woo Sol free and he is visiting Do Hyun in prison. Again leaving us with a sense of wanting more to the story. E.g Do Hyun could have been set free from prison and we could see them back in their normal lives, but yeah, we didn't get to see any of that.

In comparison to the lacking parts, it was great to see the inmates going from stonecold enemies to friends with a little bromance. All it had to take, was them accepting each other.

I think I would recommend this movie to someone who doesn't really care about the plot and just wants to see some action scenes.

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Sequel is better

I happened to warch The Great Illusionist first before this one and although this gave a small introduction to the main character, the sequel would still be understood without watching this prequel.

The main character's personality is so different in this prequel, it is like night and day. I however prefer the character of the main lead in the sequel than here.

So unlike other mystery that later on gets explained how it was done, don't expect it from this film. The story is about Illusions that is a fantasy.
There is a crime commited that needs to be solved but it isn't a normal crime like in the real world.
Though humor was inserted here, the sequel made me burstbout laughing and it didn't do that for me here.

I will recommend seeing this only if you are searching for something to pass time. If you have to choose between this and the sequel The Great Illusionist to watch then watch the sequel.

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A diaspora diary of home, maturing and love.

As a diaspora myself, I appreciate how this movie highlights that thriving a life outside your home country can be a challenge. You’re faced with choices that make you lose and find different possibilities. It's also one of the bravest things one might do.

On the production side, the cinematography and characters introductions are great. There are a lot of scenes without words that are meaningful, they’re the best show not tell executions.

This is a very personal statement: I don’t feel any emotion to Nora’s romance life nor the longing or yearning. More than the plot shrouded by the fate analogy, I enjoyed the mature interactions among the three leads; Nora, Hae Sung and Arthur. They act natural and casual. there’s definitely a clear chemistry. It is refreshing to find no typical dramatic love triangle here. No one is toxic nor being overprotective.


Final remark without spoiling it, I wasn’t expecting the sudden ending. Just like that the movie ends and we know what happen. It has a clear conclusion and I agree with everything, but there's no build up that make the grand feeling of "ahh, ending!“

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