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super cute! but not a great adaptation. [very long]
i'm currently re-reading the manga for the first time in about 10 years. i was thinking "the only thing missing about this is a 2000s jdrama adaptation that takes itself way too seriously" and i stumbled upon this. so allow me to make a couple comments:1. as a lolita myself, the amount of btssb all over this movie had me close to fainting. i saw a girl holding an usakumya plush and then i look up at her face and see that it's MISAKO MF AOKI HERSELF. i couldn't find the name of the dress akira wears to sneak into the girls' school (i'm not as familiar with btssb/aatp catalog as i am with angelic pretty) but i DID see that baby collabed with pullip to produce a doll of him??? insane collector's piece i fear it's on my lolita grail list right next to milky-chan the fawn jsk. i adored seeing so much of this fashion that's so near and dear to my heart. however, i do still kind of wish that more masculine looking women had been cast to play blaue rosen.........the manga makes quite a point that mizuki is often mistaken for and treated as if she's a man, and while the actress cast to play her was very cute and expressive, i really don't find that she fit the bill appearance wise. however, i do find that akira's actor was quite well cast, he's decently androgynous-looking for the role and i think he pulled it off well. he also looks great in a jsk and otk socks lmao.
2. if you're looking for a faithful adaptation to the manga, this is not it. i kept waiting and waiting on the topic of kaoru moving overseas and the band breaking up to become a topic, since this is quite literally what propels the plot in the manga. kaoru moving away is the driving force that brings akira to mizuki in the first place, which then leads to the plot of him joining the band as their new vocalist. like i'm actually shocked that out of all the parts of this movie that were faithful to the manga, the primary plot of the entire story was completely omitted. i'd understand taking out some parts for time constraints, but i feel like SO much of the story was changed that it doesn't exactly feel recognizable. if you're okay with viewing it as it's own separate media independent of the manga, then go ahead. but if you want a good adaptation, maybe skip it.
3. i find that compared to the manga, many parts of the story were quite sanitized for a lower age rating. for example, in the scene where ran discovers mizuki is a girl, the manga has him jumping on her and tearing her clothes open quite violently. whereas in the film, i believe it's a bit of an ouran situation of him accidentally feeling her chest. seeing as the film is much more comedic in tone than the manga which takes itself quite seriously, i can see why this was done, and i do appreciate it a bit for being more tasteful than the manga. there's actually quite a bit of sexual theming and serious topics such as assault/harassment in the manga (seeing as the target demographic is adult women rather than teens or young girls), so the choice to omit these for a light-hearted romcom feels more appropriate and respectful than if it hadn't been.
in conclusion, i really did love this movie, it was really cute and fun and sweet and the music blaue rosen played in universe is exactly what i pictured while reading the manga! that being said, the manga is MUCH different in tone, and while i'd advise to use discretion regarding the topics of sexual harassment and such, it really is a great read. i'd strongly recommend it to anyone who's a fan of josei romance like nana or paradise kiss. i feel like it's one from its era that tends to get overlooked quite a bit.
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how can a short show be this meaningful
I start this show because I love my journey to you so I started to watch other this director work and honestly this doesn’t disappoint me . It’s short but there is a whole story in it . I love this director work . He always add some amazing phrase in it here ^ no one is innocent in this world ^ . I can’t wait to watch his other work. This Wuxia show is well written for it 37 minutes long . it’s hard for me to explain it as my understanding because of my poor English. This show is mainly about the person who was treated as tool forever finally feel important and get treated as a person for the first time in so long .Was this review helpful to you?
My May Recommendation movie
Watched this because the recommendation challenge by 𝑫𝒂 𝑩𝒂𝒐…For once the synopsis from MDL is true to its point. So I'm not gonna write another one....
What I like / appreciate:
+ The beautiful & very aesthetics and cinematography. For you who love this kind of cinematography will gonna love this.
+ The character is really interesting. Despite their spouse infidelity, they still find the strength to avoid the same mistake nor they seek revenge.
What I don't like:
- I found this quite boring & very uninterested
- kinda wait for a little confrontation between chou & su & their couple... But it's not happening, for me making it more boring ..
Overall this a good movie for those who fond with this kind of story telling or cinematography. But once more this is not for me...
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I NEED MORE PARK JINYOUNG IN ACTION MOVIE
Park Jinyoung stands out with his natural presence in an action-heavy narrative. He doesn't try to overpower the scenes, but instead fits seamlessly into the fast-paced spy world. His subtle reactions and controlled expressions make the character feel realistic. It’s a quietly effective performance.Was this review helpful to you?
PARK JINYOUNG DUAL-ROLE???
Park Jinyoung truly elevates Christmas Carol with his dual-role performance. He creates a clear emotional separation between the twins while keeping both characters equally compelling. His ability to balance and differentiate them without overacting is very impressive. It’s a performance that feels both controlled and powerful.Was this review helpful to you?
THE VILLAIN IS HOT!!!!
Park Jinyoung absolutely steals attention in Hi-Five with his portrayal of a dangerously charming villain. His presence alone feels powerful, and the way he controls his emotions adds a layer of unpredictability. He makes the character feel both attractive and intimidating at the same time. It’s a performance that keeps you hooked whenever he appears.Was this review helpful to you?
I fell in love with park jinyoung!!
Park Jinyoung delivers a solid performance in an action-spy setting, showing a more intense and focused side of his acting. He balances intelligence and tension well, making his character feel grounded even in high-stakes situations. His controlled expressions and sharp delivery add credibility to the role. It’s a performance that fits perfectly within the fast-paced narrative.Was this review helpful to you?
Actor Park Jinyoung bright future
Watching Christmas Carol, it’s hard not to be impressed by how Park Jinyoung portrays twins with such distinct identities. His control over subtle details—like eye expression and emotional tone—makes each character feel real. The contrast never feels forced, which shows how deeply he understands the roles. It’s a standout performance.Was this review helpful to you?
PARK JINYOUNG ACTED SO WELL
Hi-Five really proves how versatile Park Jinyoung is, especially as a villain. He brings this cool, controlled intensity that makes his character both dangerous and oddly captivating. There’s a sharp charisma in the way he carries himself, making every scene feel more charged. It’s hard not to be drawn to him, even when he’s playing the antagonist.Was this review helpful to you?
Here, it’s mainly told from the point of view of a young man, whose past hold a tragic event, and who finds not only solace in painting but also a new way forward in life.
As such, this film is less straightforward about showing and explaining the art of Sumi-E than “Every Day A Good Day”, which introduced us to the art of tea making,. I still loved the many close-ups of the brushes painting ink on the paper and the insight the film gave us into the art. The connection between human and nature is much more subtle than in “Every Day A Good Day” but it’s still obviously there. The subtlety also makes the film not obnoxious about the message it carries (unlike in “The Zen Diary”).
Another thing that I liked was that there was no romance at all. I feared that there would be when they introduced the young woman, who is only two years younger than Sosuke – but they connect over their art and their struggles, and it all stays very, very platonic. I would have liked it more if the film had placed Sosuke firmly in the “still a beginner” category and have her stay on a much higher lever of expertise in the ending scene (as it is, it feels too much like the tired trope of the man who starts as a beginner and supersedes the female teacher in the end) – I do think the script made it clear that they both have learned that it’s painting their own lines that’s more important than any outside appreciation, but it was nevertheless slightly disappointing for me.
Having Sosuke as the beginner who is still not in the lime light would also have been a better fit for his overall humble personality.
As always, whatever is on JFF Theater, is of high quality regarding filming, editing and acting and with great attention to detail. I admit, I was a bit distracted by Sosuke’s hair – but even here, the way it was styled reflected his state of mind.
Was it good?
It was! It had a good story with a clear emotional arc and still gave insight into the art of Sumi-E.
Did I like it?
Surprisingly, yes. I wasn’t too sure about the subject – painting is really not something I connect to and the “Spirit of Dō” collection and all JFF films that get philosophical can feel too overbearing very quickly for me. I even shed a tear or two.
Who would I recommend it to?
To painters and appreciators of painting. But with the caveat that one should be in the right mood for a slow film.
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This review may contain spoilers
A (mostly) good adaptation
I finally sat down and watched the film adaptation of Paradise Kiss, having read the manga and watched the anime many years ago. For the most part, it stayed true to the source material, which I highly appreciated. The original story is short and sweet just like the film, though it did feel a little rushed at times (in particular Yukari and George's relationship progress). Though I'm not normally a huge fashion person, the fashion aspects of this series were always very cool to me, and the film definitely lived up to it, too.I've never really liked George as a character; he was always too pushy, intense, and arrogant for my taste. So, if anything, I guess Osamu Mukai did a great job, because those feelings I have towards manga and anime George stayed the same while I watched the film. (Didn't like the almost-sexual-assault scene, though. I get what he was going for, but that was still a bit too much just to prove a point.) Still, despite my feelings re: George, his actor did a great job, and so did the others. My favourite portrayal was Keiko Kitagawa's as Yukari. I always watch live action film adaptations of anime and manga with a bit of scepticism, which might sound 'snobbish', but I've seen my fair share of awful ones to warrant keeping the suspicion around. That being said, the acting overall in this film convinced me that some manga-to-film adaptations can be good.
Oh, and I really adore the approach to and portrayal of Isabella here. In the anime, she's voiced by a woman, so it's a lot less obvious that she's trans until someone says she is and she then has the conversation towards the end of the series with Yukari. But in this film, they had Shunji Igarashi portray her (brilliantly, by the way) and properly convey the fact that she's trans, not shying away from the subject. I know people always say that only trans actors should play trans characters, and I can agree to *some* degree, but I still think there are ways for cis actors to respectfully portray trans characters. And that's what I saw in Paradise Kiss. The scene with her and Yukari before the fashion show made me cry in the anime and goddamnit, I cried again while watching the film.
It was a great watch, overall. Didn't overstay its welcome, held my attention from start to finish, and left me wiping tears off my face at the end. Will definitely rewatch.
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A young man is asleep at his desk with pieces of an action figure he is working on scattered around him. The film doesn’t say for sure what the young man’s issue is, whether it’s agoraphobia or another anxiety disorder, but it’s clear he’s highly uncomfortable being outside of his cluttered apartment. The only organized space is his bookcase of neatly ordered action figures he has assembled. When a delivery man haphazardly slides a package toward his door but not near it, our introvert is in a conundrum. In his endeavor to stay partially within his safe space and still retrieve his precious box, he accidentally locks himself outside. Thus begins his awkward and strangely pleasurable journey to the locksmith.
I found this short film soothing and refreshing. This young man was thrown into his worst fear and while there were negative experiences he was also shown kindness and had the chance to show kindness to another. Definitely worth ten minutes of your time. I only wish it had been longer, I would like to have seen if his forced adventure had any long-term healing on his life.
5 May 2026
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?nope to pedophile actors
stupid movie to a t, especially the pedophile leading actor. Kim Soo Hyun is not worth watching, his hypocrisy and greed is astounding, he should be shunned. South Koreans should choose their priorities over these kinds of so-called celebrities who are actually wolf in sheep's clothing. This soul less bastard should've gone to hell instead of Kim Sae Ron, who was a great actor at such a young age. The abuse these young female actors take from these male bastards need to stop. stupid movie to a t, especially the pedophile leading actor. Kim Soo Hyun is not worth watching, his hypocrisy and greed is astounding, he should be shunned. South Koreans should choose their priorities over these kinds of so-called celebrities who are actually wolf in sheep's clothing. This soul less bastard should've gone to hell instead of Kim Sae Ron, who was a great actor at such a young age. The abuse these young female actors take from these male bastards need to stop.Was this review helpful to you?
How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies
1 people found this review helpful
i feel most of the youth will relate very closely with M
a lot of people will praise the acting, the production, the story, etc and i praise that too but the thing that really made it so special for me is the simplicity and innocence of a grandson portrayed in the story. the background and setting hit me hard so much even though i'm not thai. my own grandma too lives 10mins away from my house but it's been a year since i visited that house bcuz of my fear of being judged by them for my poor academics. but this movie reminded me of the long summers i spent at her house and how she used to tell me stories while sleeping inside a mosquito net hung from the wooden frames of her bed. so relatable that my grandma too gave up on meat too for prayer.overall this movie is just a reminder that don't overlook your elders cause they will never overlook you.
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Life on the surface may not be all what it appears.
"Sameday with Someone" was a good sleeper find, much like the Hindi movie "Dhoom Dhaam" was . "Sameday" works, mostly due to the performance of Toey Jarinporn Joonkiat. Even though her acting career has spanned over a decade, this was my first look at her work. That's not a knock against her. The majority of my watch listed here has been Korean Based.Getting to the point spoiler free- "Sameday with Someone" was a fun watch. Maybe a litte jagged as to where it was heading at the beggining, but when it became clear, it all made sense. I laughed out loud many times as the main character navigated her way through a time loop. The story wasn't intense but it was enough to entertain for 2 hours. Joonkiat really is the glue that binds it all together.
If your open to a fantasy type element, with 2 hours open for a little comedic change from other genres, I recommend "Sameday with Someone"
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