Reviews

Cute family movie. Simple. Predictable. But not in a bad way.

8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2008 Soith Korean comedy drama movie with a run time of 108 minutes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then review

Synopsis

Nam Hyeon-soo (Cha Tae-hyun) is enjoying his 30 something life with some remaining fame from being a teen idol turned radio show host. He revels in his single bachelorhood. His talk show is enhanced by the story of a young woman named Hwang Jeong-nam (Park Bo-young) shares stories of her life as a young single mother who hopes to meet her biological father. Little does Hyeon-soo know that when he is encouraging the young mother to bravely meet her father that he’s encouraging her to meet him himself. It is all rebuild when Jeon-nam shows up at Hyeon-soo’s place with her young son, Ki-dong (Wang Seok-hyeon) in tow. Hyeon-soo at first vehemently denies she could be his daughter until Jeon-nam/Jae-in tells him her mother’s name and it turns out it was his first love and a woman he had intimate relationships with (Jae-in was originally using her deceased mother’s name but starts going by her own name). Despite her father at first discouraging her lest the scandal around her birth be revealed, Jae-in realizes her dream of becoming a singer. With public exposure, Ki-dong's father Park Sang-yoon (Im Ji-kyu) finds Jae-in. Hyeon-soo slowly realizes that he actually enjoys being a father and grandfather. Despite his early worries, when it is discovered he has a child and grandchild it does not have the career ending consequences he feared.

Review

If you’re looking for a quick watch, mostly feel good family drama, then this fits the bill. One of my favorite aspects of this is the relationship between the grandson and grandfather. There is no strong, romantic component to it. It’s good particularly if you take it within the context of the time frame it was produced. I would not seek it out to rewatch it, but I would watch it if somebody else had it on again. I recommend it for those that like any of the actors as it is enjoyable to see them acting at younger ages. It ends happy and is happy through most of the show..

Spoilers

I am such a fan of series. I am often to say with movies. It would’ve been better if it had been done in a series format there was so much that could’ve been into deeper. I would’ve liked to have seen more on the relationship that developed between the daughter and father, never portrayed them having a super relationship. He seem to grow to really like her, but they were never those warm fuzzy moments where they talked about how they felt about each other.

Spent a lot of the movie being frustrated with the mail lead because he was so concerned about optics. I know that’s the reality a lot of times when someone finds out they have a child they didn’t know about particularly after was verified. I was like dude you have an actual daughter and a grandson, it would’ve been best if he had found a way to bring it out to people and let them know a positive way

I also really wanted to see the daughters career takeoff even more than it did. It was like OK. You got to sing a little, but it didn’t really show her game thing or anything like that that would’ve made it even more enjoyable.

I love that there was some focus on the grandson and the grandfather‘s relationship because that was super cute. What was he probably my grandson to accept it it came out, but he never really touted it himself. That would’ve made it a level better.

#ScandalMakers. #ChaeTaeHyun #ParkBoYoung #WangSeokHyeon. #ImJiKyu

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There were no Dinos or Monster Birds here

Taking the formula established by the success of Jaws and combining it with the domestic kaiju film, Legend of Dinosaurs and Monster Birds had a decent amount of potential but ultimately shot itself right in the explosive tank before it could fully realise that. The DNA of the film feels ripped right from Nessie, the tragically cancelled collaboration between Toho and Hammer, with climate anomalies and seismic activity reviving prehistoric reptiles to terrorise the residents around a legendarily monster-haunted lake. One of those creatures is a Plesiosaurus with the film even referring to poor Nessie at a few points during its runtime, Toei was evidently listening at the walls of Toho studios one summer day. Director Junji Kurata seems to have failed to fundamentally grasp the premise of a huge monster operating by stealth and picking off its victims individually in secret, regardless, his direction is nonetheless passable. The film doesn't allow you to bond with the characters, there's little reason to care for them beyond their base archetypes, however, the actors all turn in decent performances at least. The ill-fitting and often hilariously juxtaposed music by Masao Yagi is usually the film's talking point, combining a catchy mixture of disco, funk, and jazz. Despite a healthy dosing of gory violence and some great effects work, Legend of Dinosaurs and Monster Birds is a really outlandish film, odd and sometimes surreal, it's at least capable of keeping your interest from beginning to end.

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"A Cheng's Heartbreak: A Soul-Shattering Tale of Love, Sacrifice, and Redemption"

This film is an emotionally devastating yet deeply moving experience, one that leaves your heart shattered but your soul profoundly touched. A Cheng’s journey—from a misunderstood enforcer to a man haunted by the shadows of his past—is portrayed with such intensity that it leaves an indelible mark. His dynamic with Hao Ting is an electrifying mix of passion, quirks, and raw vulnerability, immersing you so completely that every emotion they share—love, despair, and sacrifice—feels achingly personal.

This story transcends the boundaries of romance. It’s not just about love but also delves into family bonds, the grip of past mistakes, and the overwhelming challenge of transforming yourself in a world that refuses to forget who you once were. A Cheng’s battle to outrun his history while facing judgment resonates with the quiet struggles many of us endure but rarely voice.

What makes this film truly exceptional is the depth the actors bring to their roles. You don’t just witness their lives unfold—you feel every moment with them. Their fleeting joys feel like treasures you want to hold on to forever, while their heartbreaks hit like a blow to the chest, leaving you breathless. The exploration of sacrifice, loss, and resilience is so honest and unflinching that it strikes a chord few films manage to reach.

This is the kind of story that lingers in your thoughts, haunting you long after the screen goes dark. It’s not an easy film to watch—it’s too emotionally intense to revisit frequently—but it serves as a poignant reminder of life’s fragile beauty and the importance of treasuring our connections before they slip away.

Despite its heartbreaking nature, the craftsmanship of this film is so remarkable that I know I’ll revisit it someday, if only to relive the profound emotions it evokes.

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A realistic depiction of gay life end of the 1980ies...

While nowadays so much BL crap is produced, this is a very serious story about how life was for teens at the end of the 80ies. It's especially important because this movie begins when the martial law ended in Taiwan. They discover themselves, they discover how cruel the world is, discover that the end of martial law does not change people over night and also what role the church played against homosexuals.

It's one of the masterpieces Taiwan always produced in the BL-World where the story matters, where the characters matter, where the acting matters and where the production quality, direction and execution matters. All is done so well and all makes sense.

This movie does not have a happy end, so I advise caution before you watch it because it could make you feel terrible, sad or even depressed. Still, it's a masterpiece and leaves a strong impression.

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Good for what it is., intense but ends happy.

7.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2011 South Korean action, sports, romance drama with a run time of 106 minutes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then review.

Synopsis

Jang Cheol-min/Jang Marcelino (So Ji-sub) was an ex boxer who had given up on happiness in life. He was working multiple low level jobs and just getting by in life. Everything changes for him when Ha Jung-hwa (Han Hyo-joo), who is a tenant in the building where he is working as a security guard, comes to the security booth to find a friend who used to work there. Jung-hwa was going to watch a movie with her friend so she starts spending time and watching shows with Jang in the security booth. A tragic accident blinded Jung-hwa so she enjoys Jang’s patience and willingness to describe what they are watching. Feelings bloom between the two and Jang now has a reason to improve his life. There is someone he wants to protect. So, he goes back to the fighting world but this time he takes on the more dangerous and intense sport of mixed martial arts. There is more money to be made in that sport and he wants to make enough money to support them both. A condition that Jung-hwa has requires expensive surgery and Jang elects to do something really dangerous to earn the money for Jung-hwa’s surgery. Will he succeed? Can the young couple have a promising future?

Review

Other reviewers indicated this was a heartwarming story with some violent and bloody parts. It has strong “Rocky” vibes with a little bit of “Fight My Way” mixed in. It is easy to understand how two people who have faced so many challenges in life would be drawn to each other.

For what it was, it was good.  I don’t often watch movies just because I feel movies are too short to really develop the story.  It was still true to some extent that there would have been a lot more depth to the story if it had ran over episodes rather than in movie format.  Based on other reviews, I was super concerned it would be a blood fest and was not sure if it would end happy.  There is blood, but it is about what you would expect from a boxing or mixed martial arts show.  Nothing too excessive.  Another thing I could not tell from other synopsis and reviews was whether she was actually blind. She is blind.  It seemed like she had an ability to see light and shadows but it was so limited she was fully blind. They meet and fall in love when she is blind.  The content would make you worry about the ending but it does end very happy.  I might watch it again and would recommend to others.  Just have to be aware that it is a movie that is very representative of the period in which it was produced.

 Spoilers

Because it was movie length there were so many things I wanted to know that were not covered.  What happened after he was stabbed in Thailand? After he was stabbed, next we see him he is back in a hospital in South Korea a couple of years later.  Without knowing those details, the viewer must just assume someone found him and rescued him and he spent a long time recovering before returning.  But I was curious what happened and I think it would have explained more why he was away so long and then showed up a couple of years later still recovering. 

#Always #SoJiSub #HanHyoJoo

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Somehow predictable, but still fun

To be honest, I didn't have any expectations before watching this. As a Kamen Rider fan, I just saw Watanabe Shu as part of the main cast and said "well, let's go" without thinking too much. Now that i've finished the movie, I can say It was a fun ride.

The pace can be a little bit slow/boring at the beginning, while our three Queens are trying to figure out what to do after Nacchan dies. They give us just vague information of who they are, focusing on their relationship and how much importance had Nacchan in their lives. It has sense, given the main plot of the whole thing, but what i'm trying to say, is that they could've sorted out that stuff better, to engage the viewers in a more personal way, to make you fall for the friendship they had with the late Nacchan. That ends up happening (at least) with Virgin towards the end, but, personally, I would've liked to know more of that bond with the other two too.

Story: Isn't too deep, just three drag queens trying to keep their deceased friend's secret. It's the way they introduce you the characters and their dynamics what makes this movie a good watch.

Acting: I have to congratule whoever was in charge of the casting, since these three men were absolutely perfect portraying the specific traits and quirky personalities of each one of their characters. As I said before, I just came for Shu, but I ended up enjoying/relating with the acting of Takito Kenichi so much. To be able to portray Virgin with such grace and kindness is something that I feel no one could've done if it wasn't him. Same thing with Maeno Tomoya and Zubuko (even though I wanted to strangle him a couple of times).

Music: The music is fine, existing and vibing at the precise moment without being too much. Nothing extravagant or memorable with it, but it gives that magic touch to the story that only a good song can give.

Rewatch value: I'm not one to rewatch things, so, there you go with my 5/10. However, if you like fun and easygoing movies, this one's for you.

Ps: As a Kamen Rider OOO fan, I had so much fun with the unexpected guy appearing here. It made me laugh a lot. Hope more people can watch this movie in the future.

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Silly DTV toku gem

A clear passion project by guitarist turned actor Masaki Kyomoto, The Skull Soldier is a relatively cheap but hugely stylised little DTV tokusatsu gem from Tsuburaya. Gritty and exploitive, the film's tone can vary wildly mixing elements of horror, comedy and rockabilly funk with graphic violence, sex & nudity. The whole thing is pretty much an unofficial live-action adaptation of Shotaro Ishinomori's The Skull Man, Kyomoto's direction is pretty great given his budgetary limitations and lack of experience. Still, I feel the film runs a bit too long for the material he's got. The comedic moments don't really endear the movie to me as they often come at the expense of an otherwise tightly plotted and well-realised story. However, the action, as brief as it is is brilliantly envisioned, the design of the titular anti-hero is exceptional, big ups Keita Amemiya, the performances are engrossing all around and the soundtrack is a superb selection of rocking synth tunes. The Skull Soldier isn't perfect by any means, but it's a special little film in its own right. Seek it out if you have the time.

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sometimes one needs a total easygoing brainless watch

the “gender role switch” was really funny, he was a househusband, she was a total kickass cop boss
Then it got funny with the misunderstanding , and the jokes were cheesy but fun

It could’ve been better, like the fighting and choreography were too good it felt obv staged
The bad guy stuff, I mean yeah sure no one really pays attention to what the big bad is doing, lol it’s either always weapons or money laundering
it's also nice to see a normally happily married couple, she wasn't hurt and wanted revenge, she was jealous and wanted to make sure it's not true cuz she genuinely loved him and he loved her


It lacked in the overall scheme, the characters were just the needed ones, and two against a hundred is a bit overboard , but as a fast easy watch, it was refreshing to atleast have cool characters

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