The performances are outstanding, especially those of the two leads, who manage to convey a deep emotional charge and vulnerability. The cinematography also deserves a special mention; each shot is carefully composed to heighten the sense of unease and beauty at the same time.
However, while the story is captivating, it can be somewhat confusing at times, which may leave some viewers a little lost. Still, the film manages to be a memorable experience that stays with you long after the end credits roll.
Overall, it's a standout work in the psychological horror genre, with an execution that almost borders on perfection. A film that undoubtedly deserves its place among the greats of Asian horror cinema.
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It Just Feels Edgy
I'd heard some vague things about this one before watching and assumed it'd be similar to Dangerous Drugs of Sex (DDoS) in quality. I was incorrect..Copius amounts of sex, but thats to be expected considering the setting. One thing I did like was that the sex scenes, literally every one of them, were not particularly sexy. Explicit, but they all maintained a relatively high level of discomfort and....anxiety, almost? The explicit scenes do feel a bit like they exist primarily for shock value because the story kinda fizzles out and loses itself. There's one implied gore scene that could have been interesting, but it's potential was castrated, making it also feel like a shock value prop.
Really good use of silence to build discomfort. Awful use of tongue, I've never seen a better campaign against french kissing. Good storytelling/editing for the first lart at least. Awful use of a goat, sir please.
Aizen type ending. This is what really ruined it for me. Its like the screenwriter just said, "fuck it whatever" at the end and used the laziest, most tired bs plot point. And the main character is just like "omg no youre so crazy anyway heres some money. okay lets fuck." Like Im sorry, what?????? The story was mildly interesting but they spent so much time adding sex scenes every other minute that they just nuked the ending.
A really disappointing watch. I enjoy watching dark content, but this was just....bad? Its not really dark, just edgy. I imagine one might rewatch this if offered a large sum of money to do so and literally no other reason.
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A good movie to pass the time
It's a good movie to pass the time. Cliché, but still good! However, I would have liked to see a few passages from Gib's life at university and the difficulties she encountered. What she liked and didn't like about her classes, whether she had any friends, etc. I'd also have liked to see a few more romantic passages between Gib and Tor, to see their relationship develop over time. In addition, a little time lapse at the end of the film, about the couple and Gib's new studies, would also have been a good addition to the movie to end it all on a high note.Otherwise, the side story with the youngsters was also good and a good touch to the film.
Overall : 7/10
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"Everyone has their limitations"
Director Marilu Diaz Abaya crafted a daring film about four female friends in 1982. Moral talked about martial law under Ferdinand Marcos while he still held power. There were frank discussions about premarital sex, married sex, sex between men and women, men and men, and women and women. One character spent as much money on weed as she did on cigarettes. Marital rape was brought up as was abortion. No subject seemed to be taboo in Ricky Lee’s script.Pregnant Maritess and Dodo tie the knot in the opening scene with guys taking bets on how long the marriage will last. Present at the wedding are Maritess’ best girls-Kathy, Sylvia, and Joey. Maritess moves into a large house with Dodo’s even larger extended family. Kathy is determined to become a famous singer and isn’t afraid to use any of her wiles to make it happen. Sylvia is a divorced mother with a child around 5 years old. She still loves her ex, Roberto, but Roberto loves Celso, a dancer at a gay bar. Finally, Joey is adrift with no place to call home spending the night with whoever will take her in. She dulls her emotional aches with marijuana and sex with strangers. Her heart belongs to Jerry, who is heavily involved with the fight against the government and is in love with Nita. The women are about to graduate from university with many decisions personally, professionally, and socially to come to terms with.
There were less love triangles and more love conga lines. At one point, teacher Ernie loved Sylvia, who loved Roberto, who loved Celso, who loved sleeping with other men. Sylvia’s relationship with Roberto and Celso was the most endearing. The three became emotionally involved if not sexually. Maritess found herself repeatedly pregnant and caged in a house with 20 children with little say in her life. Like a trapped raccoon she was ready to chew her arm off to escape. The price for fame began to take its toll on Kathy as it became more apparent she wasn’t a very good singer. Joey lagged behind the others in growing up until she hit bottom and had to make some hard choices.
Moral showed the moral choices the women had to make that were breaking new ground in a conservative society. Sylvia was deemed immoral for not wearing a bra to work, imagine the horror if someone found out she shared a bed with two men. Joey was talked about for being promiscuous, something that was a right of passage for male students. Kathy slept with a woman in order to further her career. Maritess had to decide whether to be a voiceless babymaker or stand up to have a life of her own. All four women were three dimensional characters who had their own growth arcs. The men were not vilified though some of them behaved in the entitled way they were accustomed to in 1982.
Scenes from the film were censored for being offensive to the army, not surprising with two characters actively involved in the New People’s Army. Moral was not a box office success or one with the critics back in the 80’s. Over time people were able to see its groundbreaking themes and emphasis on women’s challenges and lives in a changing society. The negatives of the film were badly degraded, damaged by time and mold. L’Immagine Ritrovata spent 2600 restoration hours working to salvage it with the restored film being shown in 2017. There were still some issues but nothing distracting.
Even here near the end of 2024, films about women, directed by women are all too rare. In 1982 I cannot imagine what it took to get this film made and distributed. Especially a film where women were the powerful agents of their own lives. No wonder it didn’t get a positive reception, Marilu Diaz Abaya and Ricky Lee were treading on new territory and it would take time for people to catch up with them. The film had its flaws and some performances were stronger than others, but given its age and the courage to make it I was generous with my rating.
Favorite line---“Next time you see Ernie, tell him his mother is a whore.”
29 August 2024
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A man who once owned the world
Just by reading the movie description,if u dont appreciate this genre.. dont watchFor the rest of you who have a mature taste , with a soul made of whiskey mist and leather seats, The type of people who can withstand a heavy cigar smoke , in a black and red room.Then this one is for you.
The music is amazing, it carries an air of sophistication despite the violent and aggressive parameters of the movie.
The love of this gangster man , is unlike what u heard of before.. very innocent and pure... a love that he was never able to express in words, but was translated in his gaze, his walk, his tone and sadly his death.
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experiência SURREAL
uau, apenas uau.esse filme tava na minha lista há anos, e eu continuava adiando, até que finalmente tive a oportunidade de assistir como queria.
acho que descobri a verdadeira definição de "absolute cinema", que experiência incrível.
não sou de ver filmes, é algo raro pra mim, sou mais das séries, mas nesse caso me senti preso do começo ao fim, mal vi o tempo passar por total e completa imersão.
plot atrás de plot, a cada ato eu ficava mais boquiaberto, achando que o vilão era um e no final era uma pessoa que nem tinha notado tanto no começo, e, CARALHO, que vilão, o absoluto DESGOSTO que essa construção de personagem traz, chega a ser até meio incompreensível, precisei de um tempo pra raciocinar depois do lore drop, e na cena da árvore também foi tudo tão chocante, que filme incrível aaaaaaaaaaaa.*
em questão de elenco, não tinha familiaridade com ninguém além da kim taeri, então foi uma surpresa e uma introdução muito agradável a todos esses grandes talentos, principalmente a kim minhee, tô vidrado na atuação e micro expressões dela como hideko, simplesmente sensacional, taeri não fica pra trás, na cena da biblioteca arrepiei todo, o absoluto ódio e rancor que ela sentiu pelo que a hideko teve que passar foi palpável.
menção honrosa também aos roteiristas que proporcionaram esses diálogos absurdos de bons, trouxeram desde risadas até puro nojo.
trilha sonora sútil porém extremamente necessária, complementou divinamente a ambientação, ambientação essa que poderia facilmente me enganar se passando por um filme realmente gravado na década de 30, impecável.
the handmaiden foi, definitivamente, minha melhor watch do ano, além de definitivamente ter entrado pra minha lista pessoal de favoritos atemporais, que experiência incrível.
*edit 1609
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SOO funny!
I laughed within 1st 5 minutes of the show and kept on laughing throughout. It's not a cringe-y kind of comedy but its seriously really funny because of the unexpected plot twists and so on.The storyline is very unique- I've not seen anything like this before. Afterwards, I found out its adapted from Japanese novel- which probably explains the freshness of the plot, comparing to the usual Kmovie we have seen
The action is amazing, plot twists are great and ending are unexpected
Its very entertaining, pace is good, not boring at all. Highly recommend this!
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Life doesn't get easier
The movie begins with an interesting plot of a man who returns to life after death and gets a new chance. That short introduction takes us back more than 20 years, to 1997, where we relive the high school days of the main character. His mission is to relive his youth by making a lot of money, but reality will teach him about his limitations and what is really important in life.The uniqueness that the film brings in the original background of the plot with supernatural, even at times religious elements, is diminished due to the clichéd plot and standard, not to say, predictable, story of the students in high school. For me, the best parts of the movie were the first and last 10 minutes, because they try to connect the idea of the story into one, while the main part of the movie fails to profit from the idea of going back in time, but gives one, though nice, but still only a standard high school story.
The message that even with second chance our life is challenging, is actually very noble. I found the movie inconsistent, although it's unique enough that I'm glad I watched it and can recommend it to those who are interested either in the story or the actors.
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"Heaven is nice. I'm really looking forward to it"
meeting under similar circumstances, one was told she had six months left, and the other had a year left. their meeting wasn’t just a coincidence, they both in same situation and same passion; painting. one isn’t afraid anymore, while the other is determined to spend their remaining time with his loved one. tgey build a friendship and romance, eager to face each day together because of their love. eventually, only one of the three is left, placing their heart with Akito too. the Gerbera flower really means a lot. Drawing Closer was full of emotion and sweetness. i love the songs too!Was this review helpful to you?
✮⋆˙ 余命一年の僕が、余命半年の君と出会った話 ✮⋆˙
Drawing closer this movie is about Hasayaka Akito who is a very talented artist, he is working hard to be accepted for the Nika Exhibition, but a tumor is discovered in his heart, and he is told that he has one year left to live. One day he meets a girl at the same hospital he is diagnosed who has the same deseace as him her name is Sakurai Haruna who is also a painter and draws the people she misses the most around her. Everyday Akito visited Haruna with 5-6 Gerberas he gets attached to her everyday more and more and falls in love. 6 Gerberas mean he loves her already.I haven't seen any movie this year but this one brought me to tears, both Haruna and Akito are amazing actors and its so worth watching this movie ♥ ♥ ♥
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1980s action movie cop meets progressive millenial
Mao Bang Yu and Wu Ming Han couldn't be more different -- while the latter is a walking 80s action movie cop cliché, complete with casual sexism, homophobia and fast car chases, the former is an enviromentally aware, gay and family oriented millenial.What could go wrong, when those two are tied in a ghost marriage and Wu Ming Han has to help his "husband" move on to the next life?
Don't let yourself be fooled by the macismo in the beginning, this movie will show its depth later on.
This movie combines the best of old-fashioned action movies with a healthy dose of humour, criticism of sexism and homophobia, and a story about personal growth.
The bickering between the two main characters made me laugh, the grandma and her circle of aunties giggle, and the father's story cry.
Only one aspect is rather unfortunate, that with all the good messages about tolerance and equality, the fat, gay cop remained an object of "comedy", and did not get his own moment to shine.
The acting is great overall, the pacing fast, but lets the quieter moments breathe. I never would have thought that an action film could move me to tears, but this on did.
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Fruits of Sorrow: Love's Tangled Roots in 'Paradise of Thorns
In the lush embrace of a remote durian orchard, "The Paradise of Thorns" unfolds like a bittersweet fruit, its story as complex and layered as the Thai landscape it inhabits. This poignant Thai film weaves a tapestry of love, loss, and legal strife, centering on Thongkam and Sek, a gay couple whose shared life is abruptly severed by tragedy.As the fragrant durian blossoms wither, so too does Thongkam's world when Sek passes away. The orchard, once a sanctuary of their love, becomes a battleground of grief and ownership. Thongkam must navigate the thorny path of reclaiming what he believes is rightfully his, while the absence of legal recognition for their union casts a long shadow over his fight.
The film's brilliance lies in its nuanced portrayal of five key characters, each a prism refracting different hues of love and loss:
Thongkam, portrayed with raw emotion by Jeff Satur, stands as the heart of the story. His endurance in the face of hardship is as steadfast as the durian trees he tends, his love for Sek rooted deeply in the soil of their shared dreams.
Mo, brought to life by Engfa Waraha, initially appears as thorny as the durian's husk. Yet, as the layers peel away, we see a woman equally scarred by love's cruel hand, her devotion to Saeng a testament to love's many forms.
Sek, played with complexity by Toey Pongsakorn Mettarikanon, embodies the conflict between desire and duty. Like a durian split open, his character reveals the sweet and the bitter - a man torn between his true self and societal expectations.
Saeng, masterfully portrayed by Seeda Puapimon, is like the roots of the durian trees - hidden yet vital. Her journey from seeming selfishness to revealed vulnerability mirrors the ripening of the fruit itself, her love emerging too late, but no less potent.
Jingna, brought to life by Keng Harit Buayoi, serves as the film's conscience. Like a bird's-eye view of the orchard, he sees all, his perspective offering a bittersweet wisdom on the cost of blind pursuit.
"Paradise of Thorns" transcends its initial premise of LGBTQ rights, blossoming into a universal meditation on love's many facets. It reminds us that in our struggle to claim what we believe we deserve, we may lose sight of what truly matters.
Set against the rustic beauty of Mae Hong Son, the film whispers that these tales of love and loss are as universal as the seasons. From Bangkok's bustling streets to the quiet durian groves of the north, human hearts beat to the same rhythm of joy and sorrow.
In the end, "Paradise of Thorns" leaves us with a profound truth: sometimes, in life's orchard, we open what we believe to be the sweetest fruit, only to find bitterness within. Yet it's in accepting this duality that we truly taste the richness of the human experience.
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Pleasantly surprised. Better than I anticipated.
9/10 is my rating. This is a 2015 South Korean romantic comedy movie with a run time of 107 minutes. Also known as “A Dramatic Night”.First I provide a unique synopsis then review
Synopsis
Jung-hoon (Yoon Kye-sang) and Si-hoo (Han Ye-ri) meet at the wedding of their exes who cheated on them to end their long term relationships. Heart broken they wind up hooking up with each other and having a passionate one night stand. What started as console themselves revenge sex turned into a friends with benefits relationship. Since the idea of having a purely sexual relationship started at the coffee shop, Si-hoo proposes that they meet at the coffee shop for their booty calls and once they fill up the coffee card they end their relationship. But they soom discover they habe more in common than just sexual compatability. Can a relationship built on such shakey ground turn into something more?
Review
This would normally be too risque for me but the intimate scenes were tasteful amd there was a lot of interaction outside of the the hook ups. Both were lokable characters and the relationship that developed made sense. I would watch it again and would recommend it to other fans of the romance genre.
Spoilers
I would have loved this even more as a series. It was great as a movie but I liked the characters enough a series would have been enjoyable.
I liked that it showed they both had their lives on a good track. I just wish they had showed them get engaged or married.
#LoveGuideforDumpees #ADramaticNight. #YoonKyeSang #HanYeRi
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1"If you search, fate grows. If you give up, fate dies"
In 2015 it was estimated 20,000 children in China had been stolen and trafficked just for that year. Some were sold for adoption, others for forced labor or prostitution. Lost and Love told the story based on a real-life father who had spent 15 years chasing down leads and searching for his child all over China. Andy Lau gave one of his best performances as the determined father who would never stop in his quest to be reunited with his son.Lei Ze Kuan rides his motorcycle with flags displaying missing children’s faces as he chases down leads on his missing son. After a road accident he meets Zeng Shuai when the young man fixes his bike. It turns out that Shuai was a kidnapped child and “adopted” by the family he lives with. The family has been good to him, but because of his unknown status he cannot go to university, marry, ride the train, or any other thing which requires an id card. He asks Lei to take a side trip and go with him to check on clues as to where his family might be. The two men bond during their road trip seeking the truth they both desperately want.
I’ve watched many films with Andy Lau, but Lost and Love is the first one where I wasn’t constantly reminded by his acting that he was “Andy Lau.” He gave a vulnerable performance as a father who was ridden with guilt and anguished over his loss. This understated interpretation was quite moving. Jing Bo Ran also gave a realistic performance as a lost son torn between wanting to find his biological parents and not wanting to betray his adoptive parents. The chemistry between the two quickly evolved into a surrogate family as they traversed the country. As they grew closer there were several tender and playful moments between them.
Peng San Yuan based the story on real life father, Guo Gang Tang. She added another missing child whose story with Sandra Ng as a trafficker was woven throughout the film, though it did turn melodramatic. Peng illustrated the complicated feelings and responses parents had who lived through the nightmare of having a child stolen from them. Aside from the guilt and fear, the trauma caused marriages to dissolve, mental health to collapse, and for some parents, the despair drove them to suicide. Peng not only wrote the screenplay but also directed the film. The pacing and transitions kept the film flowing even with three stories being told. The film was visually appealing as Peng highlighted the stunning verdant scenery of the countryside and architectural beauty of old chain bridges.
Lost and Love was heartwarming and heartbreaking and did so without falling into the trap of sentimentality. There were a couple of coincidences that were a bit too on the nose, but I’m a sucker for these stories based on real life events and was able to overlook them. I cannot imagine the terror of not knowing if your child was safe and whether you’d ever see them again. I also cannot imagine having the strength to spend every day for nearly two decades following any hint that might bring me closer to that child and dealing with the soul crushing despair every time a lead did not pan out. Lost and Love brought a horrifically painful subject to light while also showing the supportive networks and people trying to reunite families.
If you’d like to see how the real-life father’s story was resolved, see below.
28 August 2024
*****************************************************************
After TWENTY-FOUR years, Guo was reunited with his son!!!
This link still works as of this writing:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57815491
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