"It's ok if you don't remember me; I'll remember you."
"Oh! My Gran" is a classic heart-wrenching movie with a twist of justice.Nowadays, almost every movie with the synopsis of dementia on elders, it'd almost a guaranteed hit on the tear-jerking genre. Well, it's not wrong. But add the plot with a time constraint, say there's a criminal on loose who's getting away as day passes. Then, stack it up with comedic moments of misery that elder with dementia could cause, and serve it up with those bubbly backstories that add to sentiments.
At the end of it, you've got a korean movie that dances around your smiles and tears, tugging your heart along for the ride.
And that's "Oh! My Gran".
Was this review helpful to you?
If you want a good cry, watch this
I don’t even know where to begin… this was one of the most depressing movies I’ve ever seen. The acting and cast were amazing, and so was the story. I wasn’t really paying attention to the music, so I don’t know how good it was. I’ve never rewatched this movie, but I might soon. You should definitely watch this! Especially if you like a movie where the characters suffer, because this movie has a lot of that. It is cathartic in the end, but it takes a while for that to happen. I’m not going to spoil the ending but it was good.Was this review helpful to you?
Not Good Enough
Japanese Movie " Boys! Please Kiss Him, Not Me " is an adaption from the anime under the same name.And it does have that anime-manga feel. However, the story is all over the place. And, it is boring to boot. There is no point in it, no progress and no character develpment. Sure, the relationship betwee the girl and the boys is sweet and their dynamics on point, but their characters were one dimensional and typical soujou manga heroes.
The performances, on the other hand, were all enjoyable and the actors and actresses of the cast did a good job presenting their characters, even though the script didn't aid them.
So, overall, two out of ten.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not Good Enough
Japanese Movie " Blue, Painful, and Brittle " is a melodrama with a dark twist.The movie tends to have a psychological aspect to it, with the two main characters acting out and colliding. And true, the way the movie handled the back and forth at the begining, making things intriguing and thrilling with the mystery behind what happened in the past.
However, things got out of hand. Things were rushed in the end and the characters had to have a character development in just a few scenes. The pace was, in addition, all over the place.
Finally, the performances were great by all the actors and actresses of the cast, and, especially, the leads.
So, overall, four out of ten.
Was this review helpful to you?
Good Enough
Japanese Movie " Awake " is a drama about the riverly in sports-games.The movie starts out pretty intriguing, hooking the viewer and making them wonder what will happen. The amtosphere is also spot on, dakr and mysterious, giving the feeling that this is going to be an interesting psychological thriller.
However, the ending is A) rushed B) lukewarm, and C) a letdown. The movie was building up to the final showdown and that was it? It could certainly have been better handled.
The performances, on the other hand, were all great by everyone in the cast, especially the two main leads.
So, overall, six out of ten.
Was this review helpful to you?
Good Enough
Korean movie " 20th Century Girl " is a romantic comedy with a bittersweet feeling.The story is masterfully presented, by utilizing the misunderstanding twist and making it work. It is youthful, nostalgic, and presents a sweet love story.
The performances, in addition, were all great by all the actors and actresses in the cast. But the leading lady stole the show admittedly.
However, the ending could have been handled better, as it left a lot of plot holes and it wasn't as good as the rest of the movie. Not that the conclusion wasn't interesting, but it wasn't explained. Rather, it was rushed.
So, overall, eight out of ten.
Was this review helpful to you?
Comforting but a little disjointed
This was pretty cliche but that didn't prevent it from being a really fun and comforting watch; this was one of those school-setting films that I absolutely love for its nostalgic factor. The romance was very innocent and heart-warming, combined with the coming-of-age element it was just a really feel-good watch.I do think there are some cuts that are confusing — it's as if important scenes where characters communicated were cut out and I had to fill in the blanks on my own (which is surprising considering that this movie has quite a hefty runtime for its genre).
The acting is a little stiff sometimes and in those moments this really feels like an idol movie (a movie where it feels like the primary reason for its making is to show off a singer's vocals instead of telling an actual story), but with that being said, the OST 100% holds up and the songs and vocals are impeccable.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
"We live in a fishbowl, and people love to talk."
Sisters of the Gion tackled a familiar subject for this particular era among directors who were critical of the class structure and state of women. Omocho and her older sister Umekichi were geishas who had different approaches to their work. Both thought they knew the best way to navigate their difficult existence. Only time would tell who was right.Umekichi's patron, Furusawa had recently gone bankrupt and left his wife and children. He moved in with the sisters much to the younger sister, Omocho's, chagrin. The more traditional Umekichi felt an obligation to Furusawa. Omocho was the exact opposite. Men used them for what they could get out of them, she felt they should do the same to men. She hated men's predatory behavior and was willing to do whatever was necessary to gain a patron and stable lifestyle. Behind in their rent and unable to buy one good kimono between the two of the them, their new houseguest was a luxury they could not afford. Omocho worked to find both of them patrons and enough money for Furusawa to take the train back to his wife.
In the process of procuring a silk kimono and gaining a patron, Omocho made a dangerous enemy. Umekichi also found out how important she was to Furusawa when his fortunes changed.
Sisters of the Gion was an interesting look at the life of rank and file geishas in a time when their popularity was waning. The sisters were on the bottom rung of society and struggling to make ends meet, depending on men's needs and money to provide for them. Though one sister played by the rules and the other tried to be more independent, both were stuck in a world neither wanted to be in but with very few options for a way out. Director Mizoguchi never candy coated their miserable existence nor did he make Omocho vicious in her intentions. The women were dependent on whatever they could gain from their male clientele, men who could use them or forget them on a whim. It was no wonder Omocho despised the men she had to enthrall in order to eke out an existence. Like everyone she wanted to feel safe, but with her low status that entailed a great deal of risk.
Some of the director's choices could make it hard to connect with the characters. The camera was often set up high and at a distance which made it difficult to see facial expressions. This was complicated even more when a character had their back to the camera. It's not easy to feel empathetic when you can't see how characters are feeling. Fortunately, Yamada made good use of her voice to reel this viewer in. There were only a couple of scenes with a close-up, one put to good use in the final scene when Omocho let loose a tirade of despair and agony too long held back.
Yamada Isuzu had the strongest performance as the modern, more feminist sister bent on securing them a better life. The story gave her plenty to work with. Umemura Yoko was saddled with playing the demure, compliant sister willing to do whatever her former patron needed, making sure he was happy and comfortable even at the loss of her own happiness and comfort. The men came across as largely interchangeable. Given the theme, that may have been by design.
At times cynical, at other times humorous, SotG refused to serve the viewer up a happy or hopeful ending. Despite the sisters' opposing philosophies, both failed. Both suffered. In the end, neither gained anything for their troubles except more trouble. The final scene while cathartic, also came across heavy-handed as the director spelled out his opinion of the sisters' status. Despite the difficult topic, Sisters of the Gion is a film worth seeking out if you like older films and especially this gifted director's works. Sisters of the Gion won the Kinema Junpo Award for Best Film in 1937.
11/10/22
Was this review helpful to you?
it was amazing
omg i cried so muchit was amazing, the story, production, acting
i love all of that
this movie touched upon the topic of bullying, so if you're sensitive on this topic, i dont recommend you watching
"better days" is really brilliant, i hope that lots of people will watch it, because it can open people's eyes for the problem of bullying in the school, like its all among us, its not fictional problem
lets go back to the acting now: Zhou Dong Yu and Jackson Yee are amazing - as i said before
when one of them was crying i was crying too lmao
their facial expressions seemed so realistic, their acting skills are on high level‼️
about the story: the idea of this plot is really good like, all details are very polished and overall is pleasant to watch
I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND ‼️
Was this review helpful to you?
Always Remember Who you want to be
Stumble upon this base on real person true story movie. Really good and enjoyable movie. It is 2004 movie, image not very clear, but the message was clearly delivered. One can learn life lesson and reminder from watching this movie. I have learn Thai Kickboxing and had been to Thailand many times. Knowing that kickboxing is huge in Thailand. You can watch kickboxing ring on the street. Children learned kickboxing at young age. The male lead did a really good job portrait his role. If you are not aware, many family sent their boys to the monastery at the age of 5 to learn Buddhism, I believe for 2 years they stay in the monastery. To me, Thailand has been one step ahead of many modern countries in term of accepting transgender and transvestite person.I thought this is a very heartwarming movie. The fight was pretty real, good technique etc. People should try to understand how much struggle the transgender /transvestite person is. Lots of internal struggle, society pressure, prejudice, etc.
This movie remind us of many life development, such as at the end she told the young fighter yo fight with his heart. Also, when you are lost, or puzzling, “Always remember who you want to be”. Don’t forget your family. Ask for their blessing.
Was this review helpful to you?
Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!: The Movie
9 people found this review helpful
Love Conquers All!
WOW!!! The wait is finally over and we can now watch the film to our hearts content. There was so much anticipation built up over this film being released and a lot of opinions thrown around (mainly surrounding the topic of their kiss scenes). Upon having viewed the filmed a few times now (I am not ashamed to admit it either lmao), I think Cherry Magic: The Movie was truly worth the wait!(Disclaimer: there are spoilers ahead so read at your own discretion)
What stood out to me about the film was the numerous depiction’s of Kurosawa and Adachi’s pure and unwavering true love for one another. When they were together, you could feel the love they had for one another and when they were separated from one another for a period, you could tell it truly killed them to be apart from each other. They have that type of love that I wish everyone to have. A love full of care, companionship, passion, and understanding.
But, what stood out to me even more, was the topics and issues raised as it pertained to being in a gay relationship in Japan. Adachi talked with Kurosawa about wanting to tell those closest and most dear to him about their relationship especially since if anything were to happen to them in the future, they could be notified of it and not get left out of receiving important news. Also, the process of telling your loved ones that you are gay and in a relationship can be a truly nerve wracking experience for those involved. All of these questions come to your mind like Will they accept me or not? How will telling them affect the family or friendship dynamic? Will I be shunned from the family? Will this change how they feel about me? Will they not love me anymore? The worry is truly there— but Kurosawa and Adachi showed great bravery in telling their parents about their relationship. They also showed great bravery when they held hands out in public as well for all to see at the end of the film. They knew that they wanted to spend their lives together with each other. That commitment they had to one another was paramount over everything else around them. They wanted to be honest and make sure that people knew about them despite any consequences that may occur and I truly admire them for that. It’s films like this that really push the needle forward for gay representation, especially in Asian countries.
Don’t even get me started on the proposal and them getting married. The proposal on the beach was such a simple, beautiful, and intimate scene. And my gosh, the wedding scene was filled with happiness and joy!!! Loved seeing the original cast of supporting characters and both of their families there to support them. And might I add, they looked so dapper in their suits as well.
Speaking of the supporting characters, I was honestly fine with them not being included much at all since the stories main focus was on Kurosawa and Adachi. But, it was nice to get some scenes with them and their characters felt true to form which I appreciated.
I loved all of the references to the series that were included as well. The crew that worked on this film made sure to add those important touches that elevated the film’s value and impression.
If you were wondering whether you should watch this film or not, I urge you to go run and watch it now. It’s a wonderful conclusion to their story (unless they want to do another film that depicts them when they are older and looking back on their lives— but that’s just a dream of mine lmao). Definitely highly recommend this!!!
Was this review helpful to you?
Perfect for a light-hearted family movie night. But too predictable for a deeper impact.
It was an adorable family movie where we got a look at the bonds between a grandmother, mother, and daughter as the tension that has been building up for 15 years finally "explodes" (as one of the characters puts it). They were all extremely well acted, and I found myself really wanting to cry right along with Han Chae Young (the mother), and even some scenes with Jin Ji Hee (the daughter).The problem though, is that none of this felt new per se. It was incredibly predictable, and the stage was all set from the very beginning. Nothing really came as a surprise plot-wise. Same with the characters. Even while editing tags, there wasn't really anything that could be considered a spoiler, because we know it all from the beginning. And the ending felt either uninspired or with insufficient lead-up. And this wasn't a "funny, ha ha" type of comedy, but rather comedic attempts that kept the film from feeling too heavy. Or perhaps it's the simple type of comedy that appeals to kids.
That all being said, I greatly enjoyed the transition from a sister-like bickering to "nagging" mom mode that the film goes through. The teenager - moody, annoying, and a bit brainless - was very realistically written (I say coming from someone with a younger sister), while still remaining sympathizable. And the overall message of the film was wholesome and touching. A great film for a light-hearted watch with the family.
Was this review helpful to you?
Love: the core of us
Why do we watch films? What kind of films do we watch? Our rational logical mind can come up with a lot of points/reasons, of that we can be sure, but sometimes, just sometimes we come across a small piece of work that just touches our heart, makes us immobile for maybe about two hours. This film, is all heart.How innocent love can be and the power love has over an individual in the purest sense, is captured languidly in this movie. There is nothing more I can add to it by a review. (but as i have to fit the minimum 500 word count, let me just say that if you're dwindling, worried if this is your cup of tea? the answer is yes. This movie is one of those rare ones which transcends all genres, all chalk-marked boxes and compels you to suspend all your intellectualism and forces you to just 'feel')
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Father + daughter challenged in the face of presenile Alzheimer
Cassiopeia has already won the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards 2022.I would recommend it, too.
The KMovie Cassiopeia tackles an unpleasent subject: presenile Alzheimer's dementia. In an increasingly aging society, dementia will become more and more present and more common within the personal environment of all of us. Most cases occur at ages 65+. However, a small percentage is also affected at a younger age. This can even occur very early due to hereditary factors - as documented sensitively and unforgettable in the KMovie "A Moment to Remember". But this can also have many other causes. Dementia is a shocking diagnosis at any age, because with your eyes wide open, your own life inevitably slips away... faster than you imagine, you will no longer be able to recognize your own children, partners, friends or parents, while also the bodily functions will do their own thing.
"Cassiopeia" is about a woman in her 40s who is overwhelmed by presenile Alzheimer's dementia. However, the narration is slightly different than in "A Moment to Remember". "A Moment to Remember" captures the strong emotionality of the mental degeneration process practically from within - in touching scenes and sensitive relationship dynamics and tells the story of how memories in her head are erased as a painful loss for everyone involved. In "Cassiopeia", on the other hand, the audience follows the accumulating social moments in a comparatively objective manner, in which the exponentially progressing decay of the nerve cells is expressed - simply stating, so to speak. (Just as the protagonist initially presents herself as an objective, sober and rather sever person.) Emotionality is not dramaturgically staged in this KMovie, but results from the sum of soberly observed situations of individual loss of control and Su-jin's familiar world broken in two - one in which clarity still reigns and one in which everyone, even she herself is a stranger. From the emotionality thus involved - fear of failure, helplessness, shame, being at the mercy of others and much more - one cannot withdraw oneself. Rather, this emotionality develops an increasingly peculiar driving force (just as the protagonist's psychological/physical development process picks up speed). Eventually, the KMovie goes straight to the heart and makes people think.
In "A Moment to Remember" the focus was on the relationship dynamics with the beloved husband, here it is the portrait between daughter and father. In this case, the father tries to do better in old age what he could not do when he was younger, as he was not around.
In "A Moment to Remember" the protagonist is still at the very beginning of her young, promising life. In "Cassiopeia" Su-jin has achieved quite a lot: she is a mother, a successful lawyer, and also divorced. The daughter is about to move to her father in the USA. Significantly, the life of the protagonist, as it was up to now, ends in several respects with the departure of her daughter. It becomes difficult even for the star constellation Cassiopeia to give life perspective and orientation...
(By the way: the KMovie builds on a nice analogy between Cassiopeia and family. Both the star constellation pointing to the North Star and one's own family cannot help you, finding your path and your own way with life. Yet, we can rely on them if we got lost along the way: as some place to look out for/reach out for, regarding perspective/support).
Emotive. Especially by those often deliberatly soberly, calmly captured situations in which both the orderly and deformed worlds meet and finally merge. The helplessness and coldness of the social environment enfolds in all its unvarnished harshness - by its objective narrative style and camera perspective it is subtly thrown back at us. We are emotionally drawn into what is happening in two respects: regarding our empathy with Su-jin, which we cannot escape in the progress of the story, as well as regarding our identification with people/strangers Su-jin meets along the way - because that is what we are, too. How do WE actually deal with people who have obviously lost control of their lives or are about to lose it? Can WE stand this? Can WE lend a helping hand with this? Be of support? Even (or especially) if it's just a casual encounter on the street, an acquaintance in the neighborhood, or a colleague at work?
Was this review helpful to you?
Burn the wicked rich with 95% vodka, literally
This film takes we, the audience on a journey to witness something grotesquely beautiful.It goes from one train wreck to another train wreck and a couple more incoming.
This film spares no one, not even the kids.
Kiritani was a man who abided the law and bounded by societal expectations.
A man who had a stable job, a normal marriage, a lost ambition and few other secrets kept from his spouse.
He became a man who was once fear of his vulnerability - then shines the most when he weaponised his fear and vulnerability.
Through the eyes of Kiritani who was a victim, survivor, then offender - was his act of revenge justifiable?
This is up to the audience to think.
A dead man can no longer think; well at least someone had a good time in the woods. Heh.
The story plot, cinematography, actors’ performances made this film feel both disgustingly raw and beautifully organic.
Rap scenes and film soundtracks are mesmerising and worth to rewatch.
As an audience, I felt as involved as a bystander.
A bystander who is waiting for everything to collapse, observing a person self-destruct and a madness ensures.
That is how this psychologically complex film felt.
Was this review helpful to you?
