Reviews

Before they were famous....

I would not call it a knee slapping comedy but it is a nice simple movie to watch especially if you want to see the huge stars of today in one of their first roles, when they were young and innocent! LOL

The story follows three high school best friends as they navigate the sensitive time between adolescence and adulthood doing every silly thing boys that age do as they mature. Talking about girls, trying to get laid, choosing a profession, gaining independence from family...

The actors are all exceptional, the banter and their chemistry is worth the watch. The girl gravitating around them is a welcome addition with her deadpan expression and no nonsense attitude.

And of course, the cherry on the cake is the slow motion fistfight with the loan sharks. That was really funny! The film is worth the watch for this scene! But not only, rest assured!

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Stunningly Acted and Shot Film

Egoist is in one word, heart-wrenching. It will pull at your heart strings and really reminds you how harsh reality can be but at the same time, it shows us how beautiful love can pull us from the depths of darkness. The acting from both Hio Miyazawa and Ryohei Suzuki is truly commendable. They gave their heart and soul into portraying these characters. Hio especially shone in this role, he was radiant, charming and beautifully vulnerable (definitely deserved those awards). The subtle gestures, tone of voice and the eyes really make their relationship believable and so poignant. Everything is said through action, not just words. The chemistry is also very palpable and incredibly shown on screen, especially in those love making scenes. But in the end, does Ryohei’s character stop being an egoist, is he purely motivated by self interest or something else? (That’s the real underlying question) Even after the man he loved passed. It’s showcasing the need to be needed, to push your ideals onto an individual to perhaps make yourself feel wanted or to feel better. So are his actions truly altruistic? Overall, a thoughtfully melancholic and moving film about loss, acceptance and the human condition.

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The movie subverts your expectations

This movie masterfully transcends multiple genres, offering a fresh and unique take on horror, gore, and mystery. What begins as a chilling tale evolves into a compelling exploration of friendship and camaraderie, subverting expectations along the way.

The story revolves around six high school students from diverse backgrounds, unwittingly thrust into a sinister game. Their macabre objective? To reassemble the dismembered body of an 8-year-old girl, all while relentlessly pursued by a malevolent entity cloaked in red. Each time the day ends with the demise of the six students, they find themselves trapped in an eerie time loop, compelled to relive the nightmarish game until all the body parts are discovered.

What sets this apart is its remarkable transformation from a supernatural horror survival into a thrilling treasure hunt infused with moments of camaraderie and levity. As the morning dawns, the students unite, planning their next moves and offering mutual aid in their quest for survival. Amidst the fear and pain, the power of friendship shines through, making the mid-point of the film a heartwarming testament to the human spirit. However, the movie intelligently raises the stakes, shifting gears as the game intensifies, demanding a more serious approach from its characters.

The majority of the movie unfolds within the school setting, skillfully utilizing its surroundings to enhance the suspense and atmosphere. Creative death sequences provide both shock and awe, only to be met with renewed determination and cheer-worthy resilience as the characters face the game's challenges head-on.

In conclusion, this movie is a must-watch for its daring departure from traditional horror tropes and its exceptional ensemble cast. The film leaves a lasting impression, leaving viewers intrigued by the thoughtfully crafted end-credit scene and the hints artfully scattered throughout the story. Prepare to be enthralled as you embark on this gripping journey that defies genre boundaries and reveals the true power of human connection.

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Wow just wow!

I watched the film as I was a little hesitant to watch the 30-episode series and it was just fantastic! This is the first review of mine and I just had to share how much fun I had watching this! It was fluffy, fun, hilarious and gooey and I loved it! NGL the kiss scene was a bit disappointing but you know I guess there had to be an issue somewhere! Side characters were fun too and there were some real points in the story where I was so invested I cringed and felt some serious second-hand embarrassment lol Love the game and the plot was so interesting and fun. Let's be honest though IRL people who play games like that do not look as good lol.

All in all a fun watch will defo watch it again and I am going to watch the series next now

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Great but not as good as the drama

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Some spoilers ahead:
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I loved the drama so much, so I was so excited for the movie and re watched the whole drama to watch the movie, but I wasn''t as satisfied as I thought I'd be :(
I guess I was hoping for an evident continuation, and this wasn't that.
Loved that they ended up together (even if I didn't really understand if that has a meaning or it was just another time line) but I would've loved to see them remembering their past story line at least, Felt the movie was literally the same storyline that was shown in the drama just in another setting.
I was still impressed by the actor's portrayal in the different characters and ages. And the chemistry between the leads is always on point.

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Possible spoilers

I ll start off by saying i rarely write reviews so for me to sit here and write about this movie means a lot.

I wont say its bad. What i will say tho its that its one of the most confusing movies i ve ever watched. They changed the scene every 20 mins with barely any backstory. You dont often see a movie with possibly every sensitive topic but this ? They ve put everything in it, from r*pe to attempting su*cide, mostly everything. And then, they tried to incorporate the romantic aspect. After everything i saw in this movie, i was supposed to be all "aw how cute, they re hugging" ? I wont lie, i started nervously laughing when i saw they were trying to show an actual love relationship. I dont judge or discriminate peoples kinks, everyone is entitled to like what they want, but if you re not into sado-maso stuff, i suggest you dont watch it because you wont really understand it since you cant relate to them.

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One of my favourite movies of 2023!

I usually don't write reviews, but for this one, I couldn't resist!

I went to watch this at the Japanese film festival in Toronto a couple of weeks ago, and I was very pleasantly surprised! As a fan of Snow Man and Meguro Ren, my expectations were honestly pretty high. Because of this, I was preparing myself to be a bit let down, but somehow, he's done it again!

STORY:

As soon as the movie was announced, I immediately went to read the manga. Seeing as the manga isn't completed yet, the movie did a great job with pacing and making sure the ending was both satisfying, yet ambiguous. They had to cut out a couple of details, such as Kaya's husband having feelings for Miyo and vice versa, but it didn't really hinder the story much, so I don't really mind it.

Throughout the movie, Kiyoka and Miyo have some really cute moments with each other, with patient Kiyoka slowly encouraging Miyo to come out of her shell, and Miyo learning to express herself. One of the best scenes in the movie is when Miyo was kidnapped and being tortured to give up Kiyoka; refusing to do so, and Kiyoka literally BURNING DOWN THE ENTIRE ESTATE TO FIND HER. It really shows how much their relationship developed. And although there wasn't a dramatic "I love you" confession scene, or a kiss, this is one of the rare times that I thought it wasn't necessary. While you could tell that the main genre wasn't romance, the movie did a good job balancing it with the action and historical elements.

If I had to have one "complaint", I would have enjoyed this as a drama! There is so much lore and questions left unanswered that a 12-16 episode drama would definitely have me hooked.

ACTING/CAST:

Since fantasy was a first for Meme, I was curious as to how he'd do. The result? Honestly, pretty good! He seemed to have completely immersed himself in the role, and he managed to play the cold but secretly warm-hearted Kiyoka pretty well! Seeing that the manga version of Kiyoka had more delicate and soft features, I was worried that the movie version would not provide that big of a "gap moe". Again, I was thankfully proven very wrong.

I was familiar with Imada Mio from Hana Nochi Hare, but that's about it. She definitely had a BIG transformation in both character and style from that drama to this, and it definitely shows her range as an actress. She looked really cute in the traditional clothing, and I found myself really believing she was Miyo, rather than an actress playing her.

MUSIC: (may be biased)

Having listened to Tapestry by Snow Man beforehand, I thought it was a great match for the overall "feel" of the movie. Unfortunately, it only played at the very end of the movie, but I was still very excited to hear Snow Man playing at an actual theatre in Canada for the first time. The other soundtracks for the movie were all fine for me; no complaints here.

REWATCH VALUE:

Yes. Just a yes. If a sequel does come out, you'll definitely catch me watching this again in preparation for it. Here's to hoping more Japanese films play internationally!

OVERALL: 9.8/10

TL;DR: Whether you know of Imada Mio and/or Meguro Ren or not, I whole-heartedly recommend you check this out. You won't regret it.

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“It’s a deal. You protect the world. I’ll protect you”

What can I say, except that this movie is a pure masterpiece. I don’t know if I remember seeing a clip of this on Instagram or Tik Tok, but I had put it in my watchlist along with my many other dramas. Lately I’ve been putting shows on hold, or dropping them altogether, or not even have a chance to start it. Seeing as this is a movie, I thought “why not”. At least I’ll know I’ll finish it in one go. And I’m glad I did. The topic of bullying is a touchy subject for some, and although I was teased as a kid by mean classmates, it never got physical. I tried putting myself in the main character’s shoes, and honestly, although it was a movie, things like this happen all the time, but the director and cast did a great job in portraying it. They didn’t gloss over the violence and actually showed the bullies the consequences of their actions. I think although most of us see this in movies and shows, it’s different than what we perceive. The way that even though the main characters got dealt a bad hand, they still found solace and comfort in each other. They wanted to better themselves and I love how they brought it out in each other.

Okay, so the cast is relatively new to me, but can I say how Oscar worthy their performances were? It almost felt real and raw and that they weren’t really acting. Props to Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee for telling this story. I was in shock when I read that Dongyu was almost 30 years old when this came out and Jackson wasn’t even 20. It felt like I was watching real kids in high school and almost forgot that she was almost a decade older than him. They really had my head scratching, because I really thought he was older than her in the movie.

And as for the ending, it leaves it up to the viewers interpretation. Did she know he was out of jail and following her, or was he silently watching over her? I would like to think that she knew he was there and that they built a new life together. By the way, when you start to see the end credits, don’t assume it’s over. There’s dialogue and the actual end where I’m talking about him following her. Although I would like a sequel to show how their life is now as they’re adults, I’m very satisfied with the ending.

I watched this on Amazon Prime as I am a Prime member, but I see that you could watch it on Freevee with ads if you don’t have Prime, Hulu, or AppleTV. I highly recommend this movie. Just have Kleenex on hand as you will get emotional. 10/10 would recommend.

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A Good One time watch for me

Spiritwalker
2020 Action/Mystery Movie
1h 48m

Synopsis:
"Unable to remember anything about his life, a man begins regaining consciousness in a new body every 12 hours. Now, he must piece together his identity, all while evading attacks from pursuing agents and dangerous criminals alike."

PROS:
◇The way it throws you in the middle really liked how we knew what the character knew.
◇The action scenes were really great!
◇Enjoyed the fast pace
◇The leads the couple both actors did AMAZING in this genre. Definitely will check out more projects by them.

CONS:
◇The amount of strong language, not a fan, they over did it in my opinion.
◇That club scene was a little weird could have done without.
◇The twists weren't HUGE if you were familiar with the genre.

Overall, I'm glad I picked it up, and it was a great Friday night movie.

Content /Trigger Warning:
(Minor spoilers)
◇Drug Abuse
◇Murder
◇Violence
◇Strong Language
◇Insinuated Sexual activity (at a club)

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"Let's eat together"

Tiger Love was a strange story amalgam of kung fu, Romeo and Juliet, and weird horror. None of the three actually worked although the horror aspect was memorably bizarre.

Sher Shin Lan (Hug Chin) and Lin Shao Ho (Lo Lieh) are lovers and on the run because they come from warring clans. Sher's dad and his men have the two trapped on the edge of a cliff. When Shin Lan thinks they've kill Shao Ho she leaps from the cliff and is assumed dead. Now is when the story gets weird. She lands in a tree with a tiger attempting to climb up it to eat her. In fear she pees on the tiger and passes out. The tiger takes her to his cave and cares for her. She thinks it's because if a woman kisses a tiger he becomes her slave. Um, pretty sure she didn't kiss him unless that was edited out, but the kiss is alluded to several times. She has Shao Ho's baby and Uncle Tiger helps her raise him. A young Shao Chang whacks the tiger in the nose with a stick and the tiger leaps at the child with a freeze frame on the child's terrified face. Child Services Line 1!!

Shao Ho grows up and meets his father who is actually alive! He goes to live with him and traps a girl from the Sher family during a hunting expedition and the two fall in love. Papa Sher (Wang Hsieh) will not allow it nor will Papa Lin. The Lin patriarch kicks Shao Chang out. After the Sher heir is mysteriously killed (and stays mysterious to the end of the movie), Shao Chang is blamed and the Shers ambush the Lin family and kill nearly everyone. While looking for Shao Chang, his mother is mortally wounded by the Shers. She begs her son to not seek revenge so that she can rest in peace. He agrees. The tiger, however, doesn't. He kills a man and declares that for 20 years out of love for Shin Lan he hasn't killed a human. In the past, he'd eaten 99 humans and with this 100th kill he will now become a tiger demon! During the day he's a tiger but at night he turns into a green glowing fanged witch with tiger paws for the kill. Vowing vengeance on the Sher family he begins to take them out. Some of the attacks looked frighteningly real. This was no CGI tiger, but the real deal! When the tiger demon disguises himself as the Sher grandma and asks to be let into the house by Shao Chang's love, all I could hear was, "my grandma, what big teeth you have!" going through my head. When the tiger demon states, "Let's eat together," it's not what the young women think their "grandma" means.

The kung fu wasn't great and there wasn't much of it. Stephen Tung would choreograph martial arts for more movies than he would act in and going by this film, that was a good thing. The young romance wasn't very believable. Lo Lieh didn't have many scenes but he could act at least by kung fu standards and was entertaining to watch. Wang Hsieh as the bad clan leader could play the role in his sleep and might have. The editing was choppy at best and the story pacing was awful. For a story with a wide variety of conflicts it could be painstakingly slow during the middle segment. The last 20 minutes with the tiger demon was so amazingly crazy that at least it might keep your attention. The most suspenseful part of the movie was wondering if the actors and stuntmen walked away from the mauling scenes in one piece. The two young lovers were also related, was she his aunt? Or was his mom her aunt? They skimmed over the family connections. Bestiality was implied a couple of times between the mom and the tiger, but I just refused to let my mind go there. Like I said, this was one weird movie.

I'm on a quest to watch as many Lo Lieh films as I can which is why I put myself through this mess. Unless you are in the mood for a poorly made and utterly strange kung fu film, or a kung fu filmdom completionist, my advice is to skip this one.

6/23/23

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Avoid if not in the right headspace

Great movie, super interesting topic but don't watch it if you're feeling down or pretty sensitive, I felt like crap afterwards. It's not too explicit but this is a really depressing movie, especially since it's loosely inspired by a true story, and that's def not a wholesome feelgood movie.

The way the movie is written and directed is interesting. We switch perspective halfway through the movie.
It is quite slow paced and you feel like how hard it is for the characters to go through their days.
From what I recall, there's not a lot of background music but the lack of it contribute to make the ambiance heavy.

If you are interested in how hard training program and work culture for young people is in Korea, that's for you but brace yourself, that's a bumpy and painful ride.

PS: Sorry if some sentences sound weird, English is not my first language.

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Interesting sci-fi, BUT.

I'm writing this from the perspective of someone who has never read the manga, watched the animes or played the game. Gantz isn't 'bad' but it's not great. It's pretty unique and well-made, but it doesn't really GO anywhere. IMO, the plot does not advance enough. Without spoilers, the plot is basically: be summoned, battle an enemy, people die, those who survive go back, and then are summoned, battle another enemy, etc (the process repeats 3x). I wouldn't call this a fatal flaw, though, since this might be what some people are looking for, and the sci-fi elements are pretty cool and the aliens are different from what you see in western media. I just feel like it was very repetitive and a lack of deeper character development meant that when characters were killed I wasn't particularly bothered by it. More specifically, I just finished Alice in Borderland, which properly developed characters and therefore deaths were extremely painful and gut-wrenching to watch, so by comparison Gantz fell short here IMO. Still, Gantz isn't 'bad' in this respect.

However, when it comes to the presentation of female characters, Gantz is god-awful.

The focus on the MC's perverted desires at the start & the way he treats women is uncomfortable, but that wasn't the worst part. The presentation of female characters is just the epitome of 'male-gaze'. That is the one thing in this movie that I absolutely hated, and meant it had very little re-watch value to me. Female characters in this movie only existed for the men, only really talked to or about the men, and only existed to further the character development/storylines of the men. Definitely would not pass the Mako-Mori test in any way, shape, or form haha. It's a pity that a promising sci-fi movie (/movie series) couldn't develop the characters properly. If they were going to make the presentation of female characters so offensively bad they might as well have just made it a male-only cast. If you can get over that and are fine with female characters being mostly just delicate and tearful and/or only existing to advance the plotlines of the male main characters (eg. profess their love for them, rely on them, save them, do/say X to improve their self-worth), then I would say give it a go. It's not great but it's interesting sci-fi

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