Reviews

Poor Agatha Christie Imitation

If you have read Agatha Christie's famous work, Murder on the Orient Express, then you may have an idea what this movie is about. If you haven't, then I suggest you read it anyway before watching this disappointing imitation of one of the most well-known murder mysteries in fiction.

The main complaint I have with this movie is the lack of actual investigation involved in solving the crime. We were shown that the detective in charge, Choi examining all the possible suspects by using questionable old-school interrogation like accuse he person of committing the crime straight up and then watch their reaction. This technique was repeated for all the suspects involved. Choi also solicited the help from unconventional sources in order to progress his investigation, which earned the ire of his direct superior. His subordinate was not pleased with him either. The entire film was dictated through a meeting room where Choi was questioned for his behavioural conduct during his handling of the case.

We were shown what really happened in the suspects' lives, some suspects have more screen time than others, and again, no actual investigation was actually made. There was no detailed forensic analysis, even though for a murder case that is at least 8 years old, it would require some form of advanced technology to solve. There was no verification of the testimonies provided by witnesses or suspects. Choi dismissed most of them as "straight-up liars" without providing a deeper rationale to his assumption.

This could have been a good movie, but it took a famous work and made a clown out of it. I have no other analogy for this otherwise.

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Gentle reminder to cherish your love

"Yesterday, Once More" is a film that treads familiar ground, exploring a story that has been done many times before. However, the outstanding performances and storytelling of the leads make it a movie that leaves a lasting impact.

Chen Fei Yu and Zhou Ye shine in their roles, delivering amazing acting that brings their characters to life. Their ability to convey emotions is exceptional, and throughout the film, they take the audience on an emotional journey. Their performances will move you, immersing you in the story and making you truly care about their characters' experiences.

One of the highlights of "Yesterday, Once More" is the depiction of the protagonists' evolving relationship. Chen Fei Yu and Zhou Ye excel at showcasing the cute and heartwarming moments of their characters' romance. Their chemistry is palpable, and their on-screen connection feels genuine. As the story progresses, you can't help but be invested in the growth and development of their relationship.

While the storyline may not break new ground, the strength of "Yesterday, Once More" lies in the exceptional performances and the skillful storytelling. Chen Fei Yu and Zhou Ye's talent and commitment to their characters make the film stand out, despite its familiar premise. Their performances demonstrate that even in a well-worn narrative, the right combination of acting and storytelling can have a significant impact on the audience.

In conclusion, "Yesterday, Once More" may not offer a groundbreaking story, but the exceptional acting and heartfelt storytelling of the leads make it a movie worth watching. Chen Fei Yu and Zhou Ye's performances bring depth and emotion to the characters, and their portrayal of the evolving relationship is both endearing and captivating. If you're a fan of touching romantic films, this one will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart.

Note: This review is written by me, edited by ChatGPT for readability.

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I’m not sure how I feel about this movie. First half could be easily taken as an audiobook - you don’t have to watch the movie, just listen. Even if you decide to actually commit to the viewing experience, you will not see much - small, dark, close space and constant close ups to characters faces hidden in the shadows. It was still fairly interesting, but just listening to it might actually give you a better experience, as you will have to imagine the place yourself, and it would make it easier to immerse yourself into the situation.

It’s a rather slow take on how regret and guilt can really mess you up and lead to unfortunate decisions… you will end up regretting yet again. The ending ties it all up quite well, explaining many details presented along the way.

The performances were great in terms of line delivery, but because of the set up, it was not always as easy to judge anything beyond that - I just simply could not see much.

And that’s the flaw of the production. I understand that the set up was intentional and the dark claustrophobic small space was part of the storytelling, yet I cannot stop myself from being disappointed with the result.

Overall, a decent watch. I feel like the ending might seem a bit confusing at first, but by the time credits roll in, it’s not hard to put the puzzles together.

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While the first and second half of the movie did not exactly fit in themes, both had quite good ways to create suspense and scare the audience - be it with visuals or the story itself.

Personally I enjoyed the first half far more - the mystery of all the supernatural events, the small details in the background that you need to pay attention to. The directing truly made me focus on what was happening on screen, since I did not want to miss any one of the bizarre moments - all thanks to some small detailed images.

And then the story started to get explained and for me it lost a bit of its charm. The scares shifted from unexplained supernatural to human’s evil deeds - it made me more uncomfortable than scared. There is value in exploring such themes, but it was not something I was looking for in this specific title.

The acting was decent. Nothing too outstanding, but good enough not to get distracting. Koki did a good job with the duality of her performance.

Overall, kept my interest till the end, even if the second half was slightly disappointing.

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To find beauty in horror

When you watch this movie, the first thing that you will realise is that it has a completely different feel to it as compared to many other recent horror movies. Although most of the movie is shot in a single building, there isn’t a dearth of creative ways to use that to their advantage. Right from the get-go you feel a sense of foreboding and that continues till the end.

The movie is about four students in an isolated school that are part of a study group of Grand Guignol. This school of troubled youths get two new entries. Homura Itsuki a new student and a mysterious new teacher. As soon as Homura joins the school it starts a series of deaths by a strange figure that is targeting the school students and faculty. With no way out of the island and the only escape is via a boat the next day, the residents of the school are forced into a desperate struggle to survive the horrific night and capture the killer.

Considering it’s a slasher movie, the horror should stem from creative death scenes. However, the movie keeps you entertained with gallons of blood spraying out of victims during every kill and the final rolling of heads post decapitation. There is a lot of shaky cam to create an atmosphere of dread but in some scenes it feels overdone. There is a hint of mystery to find the real killer but it fails to capitalize on that story instead investing in making the audiences wonder whether all the kills are staged or is it real and the movie ends beautifully leaving you with your own interpretation and theories.

The movie has a line-up of some great actors and they do not disappoint. There are times when they ham it up and you cheer their performance. Although the movie is tagged as a BL, it certainly isn’t the main plot. It’s a mystery wherein the audiences get to decide what is true.

In conclusion, give this one a watch with an open mind. As its name suggests, the movie pays homage to the style of horror plays made popular in the Grand Guignol Theater which typically depicted gore and explored the human psyche when faced with insanity, panic or hypnosis.

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first half is so much better, u should close b4 the end. (Bad Grammar)

This movie could have been one of my favoritos, but i just think the end breaks it. She just HAD tô end up w the guy she just couldnt get over bc she is uncapable of forgeting him. Ik real life dont work life, "oh this one is better, so im gonna fala in love with him instead of that shtty one", trust me, i really do; but its also not just one love for her whole life fr. It really seems like she liked the other guy and it would be a really good ending, with the consequences of not giving vale to the person who is with you now, and just caring for them when you lose then. And real life aspects, like losing people bc of lies and etc, getting over someone, shopping that it IS possible (as someone who like a person for year i would really like this ending, but all personal opiniões here)
+, if the ML wasnt kento i would despise him lol.

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I quite enjoy it.

Probably, this film could be something like eat the rich but it ends up flimsy.
As a revenge film, it feels weird. I feel like the antagonist is anxious throughout the film about Amelie's best friend died while doing anal with him, but it seems forgotten by Amelie but still affects her in a way, with all the things going on in her life that she sees a guy as her oasis, then the guy become the reason she need to get revenge while the antagonist still thinking about what he did, that's what's in my thoughts tho.

There's bunch of flashback between Amelie and her father, quite touching but it seems like it just for setting up the ending, which is quite good.

That's all I think. Thanks.

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Great cinematography and acting, storyline confusing and unsatisfying

This BL, much like its main characters, is very soft and quiet in its expressions of gay love. The movie is 2 hours long, and it could have made much better use of the time. A lot, and I mean a lot of scenes are way longer than they need to be, probably to give the sense of how slow time flows in the small town where the movie takes place. Even still, there is little happing during these prolonged scenes. In other BLs, the main characters would glance at each other and the time the scene takes makes you feel like something is happening. In this movie, it feels more like the movie is paused and you are waiting for the next scene to take place. Another gripe I have with the movie is that the scenes shown and the story told are confusing. What I mean is that I don't feel the depth that the director wanted the viewer to feel. The feelings of the main character and what goes on inside his head remain a mystery, and the ending is open and feels very incomplete, like there is no ending.

The acting overall is good and the characters are recognizable and deep. The lighting and the camera angles are satisfying as well. I wish that the movie was stronger. So either, have a stronger emphasis on love or a stronger emphasis on dealing with homophobia and feeling rejection from society. The general sense I got was: main character has daughter and moved to small town because he is gay and rejected by his surroundings, he has a lover and wants to be together with him but feels uncomfortable that he will be seen as gay and rejected again. I don't understand what the main character wants other than being accepted (not expressed directly) and living with his daughter. Interesting watch I suppose but not as deep and meaningful for what it's worth. Still, nice to see a more manly Korean man in a gay role like this in a Korean BL, most are or look like idols so this is nice for the larger gay population in Korea.

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I am crying and I know you are as well...

Watching this movie, was one of the best things I've done in my life. At first I was like, "what could possibly happen and ruin this relationship?", then her friend told her that the one she actually liked was him, Woon-Ho, out of all people. I was shocked.. I didn't think things would turn out like this. I still had hope tho, that Bo-Ra and Woon-Ho will be together in the end and after half an hour in the movie, he's 'gone' (meaning he weant to New Zealand) I was glad they didn't lose contact... for awhile at least.. who would've thought that she won't be hearing, seeing, talking to him, ever again.. who would've thought that meeting at the train stasion, would be the last time they see each other.. After his brother said he was gone, actually GONE this time, I couldn't help but tear up. Why? Why didn't fate want them to be together? Why break my heart and not let them have their 'happily ever after'? (sure it's a movie, but still..) I knew, ofc I knew that things won't go as I wanted them to, I knew that the movie was gonna be sad and that's why I watched it in the first place. But as I did, I totally forgot all about it, about that the movie was a Drama and that it wouldn't have a happy ending. I even thought that people were exaggerating about it being sad (until the last 25 minutes at least). And here I am, writing this review while trying not to cry once again. I won't say that I regreat watching this movie, bc I DEFINETLY don't, even if it'll leave me depressed for the rest of my life, I'll be rewatching it, when I have the need to feel happy, I'll be choosing this movie, over and over again. Well, at least until the last 20 minutes. I loved Woon-Ho's character so freaking much, he was THE STANDARD. And ofc we cannot forget about Bo-Ra, I don't know why, but for some reason she inspires me. She makes me want to become a better version of myself. I loved this movie and I'll always will.

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Confusing what it was actually trying to say

I'm still a bit confused what the main theme of the movie was supposed to be. We have a sapphic relationship here, along with disapproving mother, infidelity, dubious consent (not between the main couple), and a very questionable decision at the end.

Of course, it's mostly about the relationship between Por and Jane, who want to tell Por's mother about their relationship, but she isn't happy that her daughter is with another woman. The reason why isn't explained much, whether it's because she is afraid of what the world will think of them or whether she wants grandchildren, which is hinted towards the end of the movie, when she tells Jane (who got pregnant after having a drunken one-night stand with a guy) to not get an abortion. The mother compares Jane's situation to her own when she was pregnant with Por, but I feel like that was an entirely different thing because she was dating Por's father at that time and it was her own decision to keep and raise the baby on her own, while Jane had a drunken one-night stand and even offered Por that she would get the abortion only if they got together again. I feel like the mother had the most say in what happens when it obviously should have been Jane's decision and she should have discussed it more with Por but at the end Jane should be the one to have the most say in this.

I would appreciate more sweet moments between Por and Jane before everything went downhill and also if the story focused more on their relationship rather than the abortion part.

The fact that this was a student film and also based on a true story is what made me give this movie a higher rating than I initially wanted which is 7/10 stars.

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Romantic movie when you need one

There is nothing new here- the storyline has been done before many times. But what makes it really work is the actors’ sweet, intensely romantic performances. The two leads have excellent chemistry. The music suits the movie, the sets work well, the supporting actors have little screen time but handle what time they have with ease. If you need something to remind you about the importance of treating our lovers with great care and romance here it is. Highly recommended for those snowy or rainy days to lose yourself in the feeling of being swept away watching a depth of love we all want to find and keep.

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Antis are jealous fr..

I was literallty waiting for this movie to air, after watching bit of its scenes from its trailor .. also recently i fell in love with Chen feiyu and his acting in Lighter and princess which is definitely a must watch and can be the best drama of the year, not only because of its story but its acting too was a chef's kiss. When this movie aired, i decided to watch it but got disappointed after seeing this much low rating here * is 6.9 when i am writing the review * and I usually skips those dramas and movies that have rating less than an 8 even if it got the amazing cast. but then i read some comments that this rating is fake and antis have done it , then thought to try a shot and watched the movie and was quite surprised that story was quite interesting and acting was amazing too as both the leads are amazing actors .. so all the watchers who are planning to watch it but got scammed with the rating here should definitely watch it because its worth it.

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Side eye...

So the only real issue I have with this movie really is the implications of it. The older I get, the more irritated I become with media having irresponsible messaging and this could totally be me having missed something or not understanding.

There is NO consequence for Yoda's actions. None. He kidnapped, tortured, violated and repeatedly raped katsuguri and NOTHING happened to him. In fact, the story is told in such a way that you're supposed to PITY him and feel bad!!

Let's be clear, there is NO excuse for what Yoda did and I don't care what state katsuguri was in. My problem is that the story implies that this behavior is fine if you have enough trauma and you choose "the right" target which is insane.

Overall the movie itself was fine but the undertone is absolutely terrible.

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