We already know the original story of the Red Riding Hood, yet this movie was not about the young girl's trip to visit her grandmother and encountered the Big Bad Wolf. Akazukin has set out on a journey, yet along the way encountered an incident that led to the discovery of a murder! And it's up to Akazukin to identify the real culprit.
Akazukin met with Cinderella, and decided to help her to go to the ball. Yet they ended up involved in a murder investigation. And the truth later on end up unlike what anyone could've expected.
I totally didn't expect how Gintama-like this movie end up being. And Sato Jiro playing the king just brought back the old Kagura-Henpeita banter that always amuse me. And seriously I love the different take on the 'fairy god mother' trope in which in this movie was just an old witch who's a bit bad on magicking people's shoes and her niece who's a bit better at it.
I really enjoyed this movie, and it's a pity that it's not a serial drama. I would've love watching what other kinds of adventure that Akazukin would encounter.
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Romanticizing abuse in relationships..
Okay so first of all, this movie is veryyyyy graphic. In terms of sexual content and abuse. I spent half of my time pausing this movie because of the very very nauseating scenes. I may sound extra, but as all the other reviews say this movie includes rape.What I don’t like about this film is the fact that it leads the victim back to his abuser and accepts him back to whatever you call a toxic relationship. I feel like stories like these just make out the victim to be clueless and “ask for it”. Like the amount of trauma this character had been through. Like the first chapter of the story was already upsetting, but the next one is a whole different story.
The only thing I could pick from this was, “there’s not much left until you experience the reality of life.” In the sense of this whole movie and manga included, that this movie is essentially about life and death.
One character wants to die but cannot bring himself to die. While the other character just wants to die. There’s nothing more to it. The overall story was compelling and it was very intimidating. I guess it would somehow make you think in the end.
But this also all roots down to consent and what to bring in a relationship. What the second main lead had, to him it was something special, and because he never had that closure of his other partner passing, he chose to “save” the first main lead. And sort of keep him away from him doing anything to himself. And I think because he chose to set him “free” in the end was because he knew he’d come back.
“Dangerous drugs of sex” has nothing to do with sec other then the dynamics of a toxic relationship with an abuser and a victim that has been affected by Stockholm syndrome. Because no one in a sane mind would willingly go back to such a person.
But regardless I think everything else was good. The acting was good, the music, etc.
I just would’ve liked a much less predictable and graphic story.
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inutile
Affrettato e infantile, pieno di buchi nella trama e, in definitiva, abbastanza inutile.La coppia principale, che è anche l'unica, tutto sommato ha una chimica decente e la recitazione non lascia troppo a desiderare, così come i costumi, per quanto abbastanza dimessi, e le ambientazioni decisamente anonime. i combattimenti almeno, non fanno rabbrividire come quelli di altri drama. Il lieto fine è d'obbligo, ma il colpo di scena finale è talmente telefonato che la produzione deve aver pagato un capitale in bollette.
Il fatto che ne abbiano fatto un film forse l'ha penalizzato, magari ci avrebbe guadagnato un po' con la formula del mini drama, alla quale si perdona qualcosa di più. Il fatto che, invece, si trattasse di un film, ha fatto brillare tutte le cose negative. appena sufficiente, buono se si hanno un paio d'ore da buttar via.
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incredible use of time
i'm stunned at what they managed to portray in just 20 minutes. the characters were lovely and realistic, the dialogues hit, the chemistry was incredible (!!! the tension/release was palpable), the conflict was unique and semi-realistic. all of it was visually stunning, too. (plus, the fish allegory?????) i could totally see this being fleshed out for a miniseries. then again, they did say all they needed to in such a short amount of time. congrats to the cast and crew on this compelling piece of work.Was this review helpful to you?
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More teeth but not more fun than the original
If you watched surprise hit, The Meg (2018), and go into The Meg 2 expecting Shakespeare, you get what you get. The first Meg film was so bad it was hilariously funny. The second film had better acting than the first and tried to have a stronger plot and slightly better science. Unfortunately, it made the cardinal sin of focusing too much on the humans and not enough on the monsters. Which was perplexing given there were more Megalodons and a dangerous menagerie of creatures from the mysterious depths of the ocean.Jason Statham returns as Jonas the Daredevil Diver who has turned into a fighter for eco-justice. Cai Shu Ya once again plays The Special Child, Mei Ying. This time Mei Ying is motherless and seems to be living at the Oceanic Institute either with Jonas or her uncle Jiu Ming. Jiu Ming (Wu Jing) is brilliant and reckless. He attempts to train a young Meg named Haiqi and is unafraid of being in the water with her. Cliff Curtis as Jonas' friend Mac and Page Kennedy as DJ (who can now swim and is no longer a terrible stereotype) are back as well. Along with new guy Jiu Ming, Melissanthi Mahut joins the good guys as Rigas, the fearless pilot.
This time instead of stumbling upon the Megs on their maiden voyage, the crew is studying the bottom of the Mariana Trench with better equipment and understanding of what lurks in the scientifically inexplicable dark…or so they believe. When they stumble upon a secret facility at the bottom of the ocean, they face betrayals and bad guys willing to do anything to protect their valuable secrets.
Statham made for a serviceable good guy who can face 90ft/27m ancient sharks without flinching and take down bad guys with his bare hands. Wu Jing was also shown as being super heroic and invincible. While I'm usually disappointed when an actor replaces an actress, Li Bing Bing struggled in her role as scientist and Mei Ying's mom in the first film. Wu Jing seemed to be enjoying his time running from prehistoric creatures and attacking a giant octopus. Curtis and Kennedy had more to do in this film instead of standing around wringing their hands. Mei Ying as the adventurous fourteen-year-old and Rigas as the tough talking pilot at least made viable female characters. The Big Bad and her minions were all but cartoon characters.
Once the critters in the water and on land showed up the movie became more interesting. Guys with guns, and not done well, really weren't. Were the confrontations between man and giant fish/octopus/freaky amphibians realistic? No. Were they fun? Most of the time, yes. There were a couple of very funny moments. The underwater scenes that should have been frightening and claustrophobic, weren't done particularly well. It was hard to care about the people who died because we didn't know them and didn't provide the jump factor either. My biggest complaint with the Megalodons was that they didn't show the size perspective very well. But there were plenty of fins and teeth. The monsters always appeared on the surface where there were revelers in the water to give the ginormous sharks and creatures plenty of people to choose from and the heroes lots of innocents to save. For those who are very squeamish the chomping wasn't too blood thirsty with a PG-13 rating.
It's hard to not compare the two movies. The Meg 2 had better acting and in some ways a better script than the original because while it also used stereotypes at least they weren't racist and sexist stereotypes. The drawback was that it took nearly a third of the movie to pick up traction. Jonas' fight with polluters in the opening scene had nothing to do with the rest of the movie except to give him a reason to pummel people. No one wants to watch someone talking on a microphone at the beginning of a giant shark movie either. Bring on the talent! For the genre, TM2 wasn't bad, if you watched Big Octopus you'll know what I'm talking about. Those who enjoyed The Meg may enjoy this one as well. If your tolerance for clichés, stilted dialogue, and people being chomped on by creatures is low, better to avoid this one. The Meg 2 may not have been an ex-squid-it Shakespeare Underwater, yet for a ridiculous movie about Megalodons, it wasn't carp either.
10/1/23
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O:G1 - Exactly what I hoped for
I've had my eye on this series for a few years now, but the boxset has been hard to come by (for a decent price). I had high hopes going into it, probably higher than they should have been too. However, I am so happy this film lived up to everything I wished for.The movie moves at a breakneck pace, much like other Yakuza films from this period. What sets this one apart, however, is that we're given characters we can actually like and feel for, which is a bit of a rarity with this genre. While I found the twists to be a tad on the predictable side, it was still a pretty satisfying venture despite that. The only "real" criticism I have for this movie is, as is usual for these Japanese oldies, the fight scenes were pretty awful. This would have been a solid 10 if they had managed to fix that up. However, you know what you're getting into with these.
Can't recommend this enough if you're lucky to stumble across this set for a decent price.
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Executed Poorly but...
This is one of those movies where the story is there but the execution is not. For a low budget movie the production was excellent however, the story is lost in all of the mood and suspense building. The title is also not the best especially when this is more of a ghost story. I mean I guess one of the characters can be considered a stalker but not for the title to be Stalker.The cast is really good too so that's a plus for the film. The FL is outstanding but unfortunately I don't know her name. She's not listed in the credits here and tried every avenue I could to try and find who she was. She was very believable as a person who seemed to be losing their mental faculties and Kim Jung Han was great as the perceived, crazy next door neighbor.
The movie is worth the watch at least once.
10/1/23
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F**k ideology
It is said that no happiness thrives during war times. You either kill or get killed, it’s all about survival no matter who you are against to. And yet, movies and pieces of media like this teach us that modern times are worry free and meaningless in the face of true mid-war misery. Even so, we would like to imagine they still had at least one drop of happiness during these times, be it fictional of not.This movie not only portrays the fight for life that is war, but also sensitive topics that still apply to this day: ideology, power abuse by high ranked people, race discrimination, poverty instigated by war, domination and territory take over. All people are more or less equal and entitled for survival during war, even so, the best to deceive and take advantage is the one to win. Fool or be fooled kind of situation. Amidst all of this, five random people form a group to… dance? Who would have thought tap dance would be so entertaining to watch? I had a good feeling about this movie once I saw the poster and read the synopsis. I do not know much about tap dance or 50s American dance and culture, but I know for a fact that a bunch of bullied and discriminated people portrayed what freedom through dance means so damn well.
“A group made up of a Chinese prisoner who would’ve been a brilliant choreographer if it wasn’t for war, a bright confident strong-willed young woman who was forced to provide for her family after losing both her parents, a civilian who became a prisoner only because he was wrongfully accused of being the commies; a Communist dance who could’ve stood on the stage of the Carnegie Hall if it wasn’t for the political ideology and… a humble black man who has found his only friends in life in this four individuals. Ladies and gentlemen… we are… the SWING KIDS!”
And so they danced, they danced like they were free birds on their way to Broadway and the great great country of possibilities and freedom, America. Dance and music, these two fine arts have existed since the time of Gods and before that, but they are still the most expressive and fascinating universal language that breaks any kind of prejudice, barrier or fucking ideology and as far as it gets until the world will collapse on itself and there will be no music, no dancing and no laughter.
During the entire movie we see here and there tactical and war focused strategy and terminology, but the ending, I believe it’s a realistic one. No war causalities or compensation can cover the tragedy that happened during every kind of war, yet still, humanity will find another reason to dance and sing as if nothing happened.
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Important staple of the South Korean cinema: thought provoking but not enjoyable per se
Going through the cinematography of the very famous director Park Chan Wook, I was compelled to watch this movie for which he was acclaimed for. I am happy to have seen it for my cinematographic culture but I must admit that it was not a gratifying watch. Even if I recognized the quality of the overall cinematography as well as the concept and ideas behind this movie, I cannot say that I enjoyed it.I found its pacing kind of sluggish and felt bored more than once watching it. I disliked quite strongly the main "hero" making it impossible to care and root for him. I also found the main female protagonist too meek and passive... Overall the female roles were really not the most developed which is honestly a shame as I feel that would have brought much more nuance and sensibility to the plot. Here, I was just not understanding those characters and was not able to empathize with any of them except maybe the "villain". It is the only character I kind of appreciated and was curious to see more of...I knew the film passed me by when I found myself more intrigued and supporting the antagonist than the hero...
The acting was good with solid performances from everyone casted. Even though their portraying is impressive, I had trouble to feel emotionally involved in what the characters were living through. In addition to a good cast, the production value is very nice as well. There are some really striking shots in terms of production, it is not as refined and polished as the most recent works of Park Chan Wook but there is clearly an already pretty strong identity and style to the work of this director. The soundtrack is not very memorable to me but felt very adequate while watching the movie.
I would recommend this to people that are looking for a noir action thriller centred around vengeance and quite enigmatic. It is an important piece for South Korean cinema and even though I did not "enjoy" it, I still think it is worth the watch and that it leaves a lasting impression on the viewer.
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Concrete description of human nature when in survival mode
Concrete Utopia doesn't do anything particularly new for the dystopian thriller sub-genre, but it’s consistently engaging and well-executed. is an emotional force of a film. Not concerned with the disaster itself or the spectacle it could employ to focus on the moment of tragedy, the film offers epic landscapes but always keeps an intimate eye on the people in the high rise.Concrete Utopia presents a disturbing picture of humanity that dribbles into the absolute worst when the social structure is dismembered and survival becomes the only need of the hour. Talking about the direction, Uhm Tae Hwa did a good job in capturing raw human nature in every possible way. The cinematography and acting, especially by Lee Byung Hun, were also enthralling.
Concrete Utopia is a gripping, disturbing, and powerful representation of the worst of society, yet equally showcasing the best qualities in humans and how hope, community, and decency will always exist through the dust and devastation.
My Rating : 8.5/10
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Classic set up with unexpected twists
The group of main characters is pretty formulaic - we have the beauty, the thinker, the rich guy, the arrogant guy etc. - and so is the setting, a big locked mansion. The victims died in a locked room. A simple setup that is a classic in the investigation genre for a reason. After that, a riveting story unfolds. With fresh twists that will surprise even long-time fans of the genre. There is also slight comedy which will make you laugh without throwing off the suspense and mystery.The actors did a great work embodying these characters so they feel like individuals rather than stereotypes. Special mentions Yin Zheng and Zhang Ben Yu. Yin Zheng lives up to every expectation I had for him in this movie, it is a delight to watch him act (if you are also considering watching this movie because of him you will not be disappointed). Now Zhang Ben Yu, I have never seen him before this movie, and I am very impressed - he brings all the mystery and wit his character needs to constantly keep you on your toes, well done!
The music works well and doesn't take away from the movie, but it isn't particularly memorable either.
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WE BELIEVE WE ARE CHOSEN
Human beings are selfish. Each & every one of them acts on their instincts. Doesn't matter if someone's life is at stake. The only matters is that if I can live my life. I don't care about someone else or a nobody.Being in a disaster, with no government to control the citizens, food, water, and shelter crisis arises. Some take on the throne to guide people from despair to hope. Some succeed, and some fail.
But nothing is easy. In the end, what eats us are our own minds. We don't know what to do, and for that, we go crazy. But hope still lives somewhere, we just have to find it & live with it.
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Simple story but effective and great cinematography
I love me a chinese historical drama but I could never get into.many modern dramas. But the cinematography of this film is different to the usual dramas, just so well done (also good that theres no dubbing)The story starts off as a simple, coming of age story but the unexpected twist makes it more watchable and engaging. I loved both actors and the characters they played. I thought characters like the fl can get irritating like lot of chinese school dramas but she really comes into her own, a little awkward because of the stir in the situation she caused but is still really likeable.
Wu lei is a fave, not much more to.say other than he plays a charismatic and general mice guys character which of course i loved
Lastly, the ost and the electronic tracks they used is just great
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nice to see continued character/relationship growth
Overall: though it felt more like a season 2 than a movie, it was nice to see more smiles between them. The tone was a bit heavier than the special though. The movie is 2 hours long. GagaOOLala picked this up in September 2023 which is when I watched it (GagaOOLala picked up the whole franchise and the order to watch is: season 1, special, movie, season 2 which is airing October 2023).Content Warnings: homophobia, past death
What I Liked
- comedy moments
- cute moments
- communication/relationship progress
- familiar characters
Room For Improvement
- the trumpet music doesn't fit at times
- they called that hairdresser guy a wisdom machine when he said you have to be honest with your partner (he called her an ugly hag) but maybe they were being sarcastic?
- felt more like skits/episodes put together than a movie with an overarching plot
- unrealistic that the neighbor hadn't met Kenji in over a year but that's also on brand for Shiro
- the blocks at the end
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Everyone needs love…
Experiencing a whirlwind of emotions while watching this unique love story, I delved into the director's perspective through behind-the-scenes YT clips, revealing that the movie centers around an extraordinary love tale involving two individuals with differing abilities-ML being mentally slow, while FL grapples with restricted movements, struggling to express her emotions and thoughts conventionally, making it a challenge for others to comprehend her fully.FL's exceptional performance showcases a level of authenticity that mirrors the experiences of disabled individuals. Drawing from my visits to the orphanage and disabled children homes and noticed how their expression are, hence seeing FL acting it out here was surprised it looks very much similar.
At various points, the movie storyline does evoked a sense of helplessness, offering a glimpse into the immense challenges main leads face in seeking love, whether from family or in finding a life partner. While some might perceive ML as an aggressive person or pervert due to an incident at the beginning, I see him as someone with a slower understanding of social norms, lacking proper guidance from his family. His actions could possibly stem from being disconnected with traditional societal standards. Although FL does seems to be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome as she takes a liking for ML despite he attempted to rape her…But then, it’s difficult to comprehend what’s FL thinking as she isn’t having the privilege to choose the partner of her choice, given the disability she’s having. Hence, the complex dynamics between the characters prompt us to put more thinking beyond the normal society acceptance level for disabled people.
The movie begins with a melancholy tone but in between there’s a message of perseverance of both party…(at least ML & FL didn’t commit suicide or given up living, unlike some movies) to stay alive and keeping their hopes high to meet up again one fine day. Watching this does make general public ponder the meaning of life and to be more appreciative to things and people around us…
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