Completed
The Night Owl
3 people found this review helpful
Jan 24, 2023
Completed 4
Overall 1.0
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 1.5
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

TERRIBLE

Not worth of it. Totally historical inaccurate and inappropriate representation of the events. Not worth to waste time. There is no historical explanation, not a real historical setting. Only a blatant fiction who is not even scaring. The historical confict never shown. Impossible ever to describe a proper plot, it lacks it. Why involving others in something so blatant without any depth? Totally wasting time, watching it. Details are inaccurate and lacks proper definition.
How is it the rating so high?
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Completed
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion
2 people found this review helpful
by alexia
Jan 24, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

plot twist

I loved it !!! They act so well togheter ,I,m really sad that he died in the end , a total plot twist , they are a work of art ,I can't imagine how they worked togheter in a romance k-drama too!!!πŸ’•
If you are scared easily ,I think you shouldn't watch this,maybe with a friend ?
It has a lot of blood ,but It's a masterpiece,really!!!
I watched season 2 also, we want the next part !!! As soon as possible ,and Lee Jong Suk should play also ,again!!! I'm very sad that he doesn't have long hair anymore ,but it's not really a problem ,he plays his role very well and he also looks like a psycho ,really!!

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Completed
So Long, My Son
1 people found this review helpful
Jan 24, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Wang Xiao Shuai had everything but didn't do enough with it

For a three hour film you really REALLY need a GREAT story. I know there are exceptions to this rule but all great stories are told chronologically, from A to Z.

SO LONG, MY SON has an okay story. To artificially make it seem better, the writer/director Wang Xiao Shuai decided to tell it out of sequence. What this does is turn many simple events in this story into fake 'reveals', creating an artificial tension.

An analogy. Everyone knows the alphabet, right? A, B, C, D, E, F... and so forth. Great writer/directors take the very familiar alphabet and make it compelling. Just the way any Christmas tree starts plain and dull but can be decorated into something lovely.

Writer/Director Wang Xiao Shuai decided that simply moving the letters around -- A, E, B, D, C, F is far more interesting.

But not really. All it does is make the story a little difficult to follow. This trick also hides the fact that the sequential story turns are tepid instead of clever. I believe someone should edit this story back into chronology so that you'd see it isn't really a masterpiece but just a long okay story shot beautifully.

You'd also see that despite 3 hours they did very little with the actors. I had just finished LUOYANG and was desperate to see more of Yong Mei. Here she was the female lead and I was waited and waited to see her skills in action. But because the film lacked compelling dialog exchanges Yong Mei was wasted as basically a 'prop' sitting in rooms or disappearing into walls.

The direction, the photography, lighting, OST -- were all the stuff of a possible masterpiece. But the story wasn't as emotional and dynamic and COHERENT enough to justify its length. Wang Xiao Shuai had everything but didn't do enough with it.

I will say this: the 2nd viewing will be less confusing and therefore I may be able to enjoy the story instead of wonder where the hell I am and which boy is which.

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Completed
My Pistachio
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 24, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

i will definitely recommend you guys to give your 19 minutes to this movie

I just love it so much the acting was so good the story line was also good i really his dedication the way he confessed his love to him was just so cute and adorable πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•
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Overall it was short but worth watching it i can watch it again if I'm feeling down😊
πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘WORTH WATCHING πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘
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Completed
The Tower
2 people found this review helpful
by Mickey
Jan 24, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

When there is something wrong, there really is something bound to happen

You know when there is something wrong, something is really bound to happen. That is basically what the movie is trying to convey, as with all disaster films.

What I liked the most here was that it developed the characters quite well. The first part which introduces the characters is a must and is the most common choice to start with disaster movies. In a sense, it might be a cliche, but for this case, it was not. As a result, it was not boring since their own stories were introduced one by one, and the overlapping of said people made sense in determining their respective connections with each other. I also liked that there were several perspectives shown here: the hotel workers/management, the guests, and their eventual life saviors/rescuers. At this point, the mood was still happy as it was Christmas Eve.

The pacing was rather expected but still entertaining. It was Christmas Eve, the busiest night at the Sky Tower. Of course, the priority was to serve the guests the best way possible, which lead to the negligence of the structural flaws that was fueled by an accident. The mood shift towards thrill and suspense was naturally executed. They were now facing a pandemonium with several dilemmas thrown here and there, again which is common in this type of movie.

My criticism here would be the overtly focus on the emotional aspect and its drama, which is already a norm in Korean disaster films. On most cases, the drama part would be good in tugging my heartstrings, but in here, I just found it to be too much and overshadows the story itself. The addition of what was an attempt to black comedy in the middle of a serious scene was just not properly timed. It rather made me confused as to what direction this movie wanted to go at that point. Furthermore, the ending was just adequate in terms of closing the story of the characters here, but it would have made more sense had it shown if were there any consequences on this disaster by the government to the hotel's owners since they were basically shrugged off (or maybe the film just wanted to show the loose punishment for the rich in Korean society, in this case, it was poorly done.)

On the other hand, the cinematography here was actually great for 2012. As I have already watched some of the newer Korean disaster movies with more sophisticated CGI, I had to adjust my lens to a 2012 perspective. The scenery and setting (the hotel itself), as much as it was fake, was still believable and was integrated with the plot quite successfully. You won't be able to easily spot the CGI at first glance, and the cinematic effects/music timing were also well done.

In the end, it was a decent movie with complete check points on what a disaster movie should be. It didn't show a new perspective in terms of the disaster aside from it happening on a Christmas Eve. But as most movies in this genre, when there is something wrong, there really is something bound to happen.

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Completed
The Fish with One Sleeve
1 people found this review helpful
Jan 24, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers
I really loved this short movie ... it is a wonderful heart warming and life affirming story of Kagayaki / Hikari, that is skillfully and artfully told. It is a hard gig trying to find your place in what is often a very opinionated, cut throat world of conformity ... not everyone has the courage to embrace who they are and live their life with courage ... so applaud and support those who do, be kind to those who are not able to yet.

I loved that Ishizuka Yu played the lead for this movie. She is a transgender model and this was her movie debut. Very well done indeed.

I also loved the use of imagery and sound to convey the complexity of Kagayaki / Hikari's journey ... it was really artfully done and loaded with unspoken intensity and meaning:

- the incessant noisy and nasty world of social 'compliance' and how you just want to stop having to listen to the same shit over and over, like diving beneath the water where all those sounds become muted and all you can hear are the real sounds of real life ... your heart beating and your lungs breathing out the bubbles of your breath that float up to the surface.

- that dark silent alone place in your heart and mind where there is nothing but you, you facing who you are, you making a decision ... to be ... or not to be.

- that moment of acceptance ... to be ... where from that place of stillness you say FU and throw that soccer ball back at the naysayers.

- then moving from the dark into the light ... walking forward and shining from within ... you look back on your past and smile and then move forward radiant and confident.

The names of the main character are meaningful to the story. I am not sure what the kanji are that make up these particular names but, just based on the hiragana, Kagayaki (male name) generally means to shine, glow, sparkle, brilliance, glitter, radiance. Hirkari (female name) generally means to shine or to gleam. Male or female ... this person had their own kind of brilliance, own kind of radiance that was meant to shine and gleam out to the rest of the world, not to be hidden in a dark silent world overlayed by the incessant noise of bigoted social judgement.

A truly beautiful and profound little movie, beautifully brought to screen and well worth the watch and rewatch as we all have to face the truth of ourselves as some point ... with grace and dignity is my hope.

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Completed
Zinnia Flower
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 24, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 3.0
This movie is about how, even after the death of a loved one, people are expected to do certain things. Some people try to force others to grieve their way, without considering that everyone needs something different.

We have two main characters who are trying to live after losing their partners in a car accident. The first part of the film focuses more on realizing that the people they loved will never stand in front of them again. The second part focuses on honoring the dead heroes in a way that is related to them. We see that this situation is really difficult and painful. Both characters try to cope, each in their own way.

I think the actors did a good job of portraying the characters' feelings. This movie is somehow calm. It was boring at times, but the atmosphere fit the story.

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Completed
Space Sweepers
4 people found this review helpful
Jan 24, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.5
This review may contain spoilers

I was not let down.

I was expecting the best for this movie and ended up getting the best, I am so proud of the actors and how much they ate this movie up. I absolutely love it and will rewatch it again soon, before my space drama era ends. One thing I will never stop talking about from this movie was Jang Hyun Sook (Kim Tae Ri), she is so badass and I just couldn't stop going crazy over her the entire time, Kim Tae Ri is by far one of my favourite actors and should be yours too. I think my favourite part of this movie was when Kim Tae ho (Song Joong Ki) was able to meet Suni (Oh Ji Yul), I cried buckets at that part. Suni deserved better, I really wished she wasn't outside at that time. However, I feel like it was understandable and it really helped Kim Taeho develop his character. Space Sweepers will always have a place in my heart from now on, I'm so happy with the ending and don't even get me started with Bubs, she is SO beautiful. That's all for my review, please watch Space Sweepers, ASAP.

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Completed
Look Up and See Joy
1 people found this review helpful
Jan 24, 2023
Completed 4
Overall 5.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

This is tough

I am a big Wang Hedi fan so ok, if you are watching this just for him just go in with expectation will only have about 20 minutes screentime and bit of a cheesy storyline with no romance angle.

This does not change my opinion of Wang Hedi? No

Look these short films obviously small project that might just take 1/2 days of filming, bit of a smaller project during downtime whilst waiting for bigger project/drama to commence.

I fast forwarded the rest of the film after the panda bear got caught in the rails. Story kinda got flat. If you are a Wang Hedi fan just watch his story, that's it. His story is about him designing a platform for his grandfather to reminisce about his grandmother when they first met. That's it really!

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Completed
Semantic Error: The Movie
6 people found this review helpful
Jan 23, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Nice but boring if you just watched the drama.

Once I watched the drama, this was kinda boring. I think it would be fine if it's been a while since you watched the movie. I was just finished with the drama and wanted more from the couple, and someone mentioned there were extra scenes in the movie. So I watched it within mins of ending the drama.

If I had not seen the drama or if I had watched the drama a month or so ago, I think it would have been fine. The movie is said to be a condensed version. But it didn't feel like there was anything cut off except maybe the sound effects before the drama episode ends that sounded like electricity. I really like that part because it was almost always on a scene where there are looking at each out and sparks are flying, so it felt perfect. The movie did not have that. Also, people online had mentioned that there would be extra scenes in the movie, but from what I found there was only 1 extra scene. So for someone who has watched the drama, it would be repetitive, but it won't be bad as a movie for someone who has not seen the drama.

It is pretty much the drama condensed into an over 2 hr movie. But I think it may be too long. As a movie in today's world people may find it long. But as someone who has grown up with Indian movies, it is just the right length.

So far mostly this review was about how it compares to the drama, But as a movie itself, it is a simple story with great chemistry from the leads. Park Seo Ham was great in this drama. He was oozing charisma and charm. They may have overdone his entry scenes (yes there was more than 1 and it was definitely fan-service) but it was drool-worthy. I can't wait for more of his stuff when he is done with military service. Park Jae chan was cute in his role as Sungwoo. I loved the push-and-pull relationship. I wish someone makes a sequel for this couple. I want more of them, while still maintaining their core personalities.

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Completed
Antique Bakery
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 23, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

Healing story with a stunning cast and dark undertone in cake world

This movie showcases an incredible 5 stars cast in a story with an unexpected dark undertone while around the baking art. However, given its age, the film can also feel a bit outdated in the way it approaches some themes. The mix of genre is well-done and pervade little by little into the script.

The pace is fast and can at time seem a bit too quick with the dialog being delivered really rapidly. This gives an energetic vibe to the picture but can also feel a bit choppy overall. Regarding the directing, there are some really good and original transitions between the scenes, which make the movie dynamic and relatively captivating to follow.

The ensemble cast is clearly the strong point here: all the main 4 actors plays very well with each other and help building a believable family atmosphere in the bakery. For once, the foreign guy (here French) is interpreted by a real native speaker who do a correct job, which therefore helps the viewer in the immersion of the world of bakery. Narratively speaking, I would have loved to see some of the plotlines a bit more developed, to detail further the characters and more particularly their future. Despite this, I'm quite satisfied with the ending.

I would recommend this to people who love one of the main cast member, and well-thought original story involving some darker themes. My advice is to try it blind, without any expectations (except if you have some triggers: you may want to check the Mydramalist tags for this).

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Completed
Reunion 2: Mystery of the Abyss
9 people found this review helpful
by Kate
Jan 23, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

The Lost Tomb - Bromance edition.

Yeah, I know, the whole Grave Robbers’ Chronicles is one big bromance party, but this one truly relies on the bromance a lot. The bromance is literally the reason the plot exists here.

It’s a simple, fun and well executed short side story. Most of the characters have valid motivations that justify the risks they are taking. The visuals were surprisingly good. After seeing quite a few tomb dramas/movies I am honestly not sure, but I think the wacky fighting scenes are wacky and questionable on purpose - this seems like a stylistic choice and not the lack of effort on the production team side.

I also appreciate all the deaths. The Tomb installments never shied away from killing side and supporting characters, but here I appreciate that they actually showed the kills.

Acting was great, dubbing - not so much. The line delivery was great, it just barely matched the movement of the mouth. At times it became distracting.

Overall, a quick and enjoyable watch. For sure it serves as better entertainment if you know and like the characters.

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Completed
The Great Battle
1 people found this review helpful
by teomin
Jan 23, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
What stood out to me in this movie for me are the amazing cinematography, set production, the visual effects and the action scenes.

For the story, this is me as someone who watches a lot historical dramas (like Jumong that character is mentioned in the movie, worth to watch and understand what's the importance of this actual historical figure) and movies and who is interested in the actual history which the story take place. It is a quite a straight forward story with little twist, me who watch many war dramas I kind of already predicted what is going to happen in the story, at the start of the movie around the first 15 minutes it felt slow to me, it only picks up when the 2 main characters meet. Some of the side characters that were interesting I wished they were given enough time to show their background and backstory as I didn't feel the emotion when something happened to them. So the only interesting characters are your 2 main characters.

The acting were good in the movie, the standouts to me were the 2 main actors. Music was not memorable but good for the scenes. Overall I enjoyed this movie.

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Completed
Fabricated City
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 23, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Graphic Violent and hard to watch.

RANT! Just Skip Fabricated City! Friday night Just me and my Wook. The Good news is that I really love seeing JCW... he can bring the action and the tears and everything in between. The bad news is I forget how "gritty" Movies tend to be. The entire movie was so very grim and hard to watch. The (action) movie progressed so quickly that it left zero time for character development. The tragic events happening to JCW's character was horrific but I felt a sense of disconnect because I knew nothing about the character and was hoping that the movie would slow down on the graphic events to show us the effects on the characters psyche and motivation. Instead it is glossed over with more action and violence. The Bad guy is a predictable and badly written Bond villain (not as bad as the King 2Hearts Villain). My last rant for this movie is that someone in editing decided to speed up all the foot chases and car chase scenes. It makes the movie seem cheap and poorly produced.
Trigger warning this show is very violent and JCW bears the brunt of all this violence.. It also has a very graphic scene in prison which is hard to watch and unnecessary! My final assessment... Skip this movie... especially if you are a JCW fan... You will thank yourself later

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Completed
Mento Mentoree
3 people found this review helpful
by Giuca
Jan 22, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.5
This review may contain spoilers

Love confession

A girl asks her friend to set her up with his tutor. He prefers keeping him to himself!

A cute short movie (4min) telling the story of a developing relationship between a student and his tutor!

The whole movie takes place at a school desk while two boys silently communicate through written messages and smiles. It is cute, simple, straightforward story. The guys have really good chemistry and it would be nice to see a longer version of . this short movie.
It is a single set, interiour, filming being focused of writing messages and though sound editing might be a bit off, it is perfect for what it is and what it tries to convey!

Even as it is, describing a moment ending with a kiss, is spot on expressing tension, apprehension, fear : every emotion a teenage boy might feel as he discovers the rollecoaster ride that is the first love and the confession!

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