Reviews

Got away with the crime and, begins again with his career like nothing ever happen.

I can't with this movie here is a quick summary Nero Park stole her family's art, got rich, then rumors started that he plagiarized the art. He buys all the art burns it and, then tries to cut his timeline short by walking into the ocean. The main characters starts to look for him. He chickens out and, does not do it. The main female character forgives him and, he gives back the main painting that was seen in the beginning of the movie when she starts to work at her family's inn. He gets a second chance at his career and, starts all over again with his life like nothing happen. I said to myself Wow he got away with that.

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the viewpoint movie

The short film is a representation of all of us who are attempting to initiate a conversation with someone we have seen repeatedly but never spoken to. We tried to start a conversation with the hope that the other person would want to talk to us as well, but in the end we hated the idea of being polite and began to be friends.

On the other hand, the guy should not pass judgment on everyone's intentions, especially the girl's; she's just being nice but is being accused of being the type of person with whom he doesn't want to be friends.

Quiet people may not really want to engage to any one don't feel bad about trying to be friend and being rejected.

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WAAAAAAA

So basicaly i don't know how and why but i loved this movie. I got into it faster than i though and i was excited whule watching this movie. The romance here was amazing, when it comes to the comedy it was awesome. I loved how it ended and how they explained everything in the end (all those mysteries). And since i like hot or spicy scenes it made me even happier. But why i gave the rewatch value only 9.5, that is because i don't think that it had to be 2 hours long to feel completed. But aside from that i watched this movie because of the gender and synopsis and like days after deciting what to watch i found out about the ML actor who i knew from Class of Lies. If you read this have a good day :)

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This movie is made for people who are already familiar with the life of Dogen Zenji - it skips from event to event throughout his life with little exposition. As someone who watched this because I am interested in learning more about Buddhism and who had not heard of Dogen Zenji before, I was left disconnected from the story and did not take much away from it. I wasn't sure WHY anything was happening; it just did, and then we skipped ahead a few more years.

The positives were that the acting was solid, the music was nice, and the production had a pleasant slice-of-life approach (except for a few CGI missteps, as The Butterfly mentions in their review). The film covered some Buddhist teachings, but it didn't go as deep into them as I expected from a biopic about someone who introduced a new form of Buddhism to Japan.

Where this movie most offends me, however, and the reason that I rated it so low, is that the writer looked at the real life story of Dogen Zenji and thought, "You know what this story about a Buddhist master needs? Sex appeal!" And then they introduced one (1) female character, with no basis in history (I checked), only to show her having dubiously consensual sex and then later getting actually sexually assaulted. Obviously these scenes do not include or involve Dogen Zenji, so they're just there because the writer thought they spiced up the story. Thankfully, this female character does get her own arc and character development, but there was absolutely no reason to show those particular scenes, neither of which is addressed with the seriousness that breaches of sexual consent deserve. I'd rather have no added fictional female characters than have this kind of crass and traumatic representation. I came to this movie expecting to learn more about enlightenment and left with a sour taste in my mouth.

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I want to shake some sense in all of them!!!

Completed: 10/16/2022

This is not how I typically write a review but I find it quite difficult to put a rating and write about my likes and dislikes. Instead, I am just going to put down my rants and feelings.

This drama depicts the very complicated and unhealthy relationship between two VERY flawed characters. They are pretty unlikeable and don't have too many redeeming values. I fail to see why everyone is so in love with Otomo Kyoichi. He's selfish and self-centered, and plays with others emotions. I really don't know why Imagase Wataru is so obsessively in love with him for 8 years, when Otomo has never done anything nice to him. I want to stick my arms into the screen and shake some sense into Imagase. I also want to bitch slap Otomo so bad.

Throughout the movie, I keep on saying to myself, "Imagase, get the F out of there! He doesn't deserve you! Why do you keep doing this to yourself? Why do you want to be in this toxic relationship? He doesn't give a damn about you!! GET OUT!!" Unfortunately, the leads are in this never-ending cycle of a torturous relationship. I am so angry!!

In the end, there's growth in the characters but it's a long roller coaster ride before we get there.

Is this a good movie? I don't know and it really depends if you like this type of movie. But if this movie can evoke such emotions out of me, it deserves at least an 8.0.

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A very inspiring movie!

This way one of the most amazing movies I've seen. The casting was amazing and overall the story itself was unique. As someone who has also been suffering from glossophobia (stage fright) this movie really helped me try my best to give my everything to cure it. Glossophobia is a phobia that many don't take seriously but this movie really shows us the real struggle of the ones suffering from it. The movie inspired me and probably others to try and get over the fear that is stopping is from shining with our brightest talents. Thank you to everyone for realising this movie. And most of all thank you Park Chan-Yeol for, yet again, giving me strength to defeat my fear!

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Just me being out of my comfort zone

This movie felt short but like in not a bad way ofc. I gave this review headline like this because it's true. When i look at my watchlist i can find there different genders but my least watched is "time traveling"(in this movie it was the connection between the present and past). The reason for it is that i will most likely get bored what didn't happened that much while watching this movie. I started watching this movie without knowing who will act in it and then i found out that i know at least one actor. The reason why i gave it 9.5 star rating and not 10 is because of the ending. I felt like that was something i did not expected to happen but it did. And right now i am going to sleep :)

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A mixture that resulted in a masterpiece

was another Korean movie to release this summer that I was highly, highly looking forward to. One of the biggest reasons why I was so hyped for this film was because it was directed by the legendary Korean director, Park Chan Wook. Director Park is one of the most well-renowned directors of Korean cinema; up there alongside Bong Joon Ho. Some of his other masterpieces include , , and of course, , all of which are MUST watches. Also, a film with a mixed genre of thriller and romance? Sign me up! Had me intrigued from just the genre.
Moreover, it’s been over 6 years since Director Park’s last work, and with the mind-blowingly good film that Director Bong put out a few years back, it’d be an understatement for me to say I was excited to see what Park Chan Wook had under his sleeve.

The film starred the duo of Park Hae Il and Tang Wei, and these two were absolutely amazing. I’ll get more into this later on in the review.

>The Good<
The movie definitely had a uniqueness that only Park Chan Wook can deliver. Amazing cinematography with incredible camerawork and angles had me mesmerizing each scene. You can tell that each shot, each angle was thought out, and shows how much of a detailed person Director Park is.

Moreover, there were symbolisms and metaphors throughout the film, one of which we can find across Park Chan Wook’s movies: ants. And like many of Director Park’s other works, the film had strange vibes to it that gave it its own, unique mysterious elements. Mystery, thriller, romance; an odd blend, but it works, and it’s because of Park Chan Wook that this is possible.
Furthermore, the film had great musical score that really enhanced the tone and the mood. It’s with its auditory elements that the film was able to be elevated on another level.

I also loved how keeps you guessing. It keeps you wondering what’s going on, and as it starts revealing, it gets a little confusing, but in a good way. You keep trying to fit the pieces of the Park Chan Wook puzzle together, and I absolutely love it when films are able to accomplish this successful. The movie then takes a turn and gets you even more invested; love it.

Another great part about was the acting. Tang Wei’s acting was amazing; her expressions, like when she slightly smiles, was subtle but gave off an impression that can’t be put into words. All I can say is that it was “Scary good.” And Park Hae Il also showed his best in this. His and Tang Wei’s chemistry was out of this world, and definitely one of the biggest reasons why the movie was so good.
And it wasn’t only with the two main leads, but it was fun seeing all the cameo appearances as well. Park Jung Min made a special appearance and had a pretty impactful role, but the one that really stood out to me was Kim Shin Young. I was really caught off guard when she came on screen. Kim Shin Young is a famous comedian in Korea, and she was the last person I was expecting to see, especially in a Park Chan Wook film in this type of genre. But man was she good! She pulled off the role VERY well, and you would think she’s a seasoned actress.

>The Bad<
I’ll be honest, the movie is on the longer side. There were parts with pretty slow progression, and you’re gonna need some patience. As I said before, the movie takes a turn, and it’s going to take a while for that to come. And even after, there still is a lot left in the film. Not saying the movie was bad because it was slow; not at all. But am saying that it’s definitely gonna be a little too slow for some people. For me, I’m gonna have to watch it again to fully understand and grasp the full picture.

>>Verdict<<

was definitely different, in a good way. It had that unique characteristic that comes with Park Chan Wook films, and I found it to be closer to and than . The film was beautifully shot, and had perfect casting and chemistry with Park Hae Il and Tang Wei. Absolute incredible performances by both actors. The movie did feel pretty long, but it wasn’t so dragged that you don’t want to watch. In fact, I actually want to watch again.

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There's not really much to say on this film. I get that we are supposed to be watching a depressed male lead realize that he can be loved again - but the delivery just wasn't there. Shima's face didn't really change much throughout the drama nor was there any sort of chemistry between the two leads (and I'm not just saying that because of the fake kisses). Shima stands around like a log, even in the rare occasions where he masters his facial expressions for the scenes. The music was so quiet that I couldn't hear it, even during quiet moments in the film. And the story overall didn't sell me anything memorable.

The only thing that might add rewatch value, if you didn't notice it the first time, is the way they used lights and colors. Shima is consistently in and surrounded by monotonous colors and darkness. Meanwhile, whenever Togawa is in the scene, there's color and light coming through. Sometimes his color/light will affect Shima on the screen. Sometimes they look like theyre almost embodying two different spaces, even while being right beside each other. It's beautiful visual symbolism. And something the film did spectacularly well.

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Touching film

If I'd had to rate this movie halfway through, I would have probably given it a MUCH lower score, purely based on my dissatisfaction with the character of Li Peiru. She was drunk (a lot), selfish, a user, AND she thought she was "all that and a bag of chips". I struggle to watch things when the main characters have no redeeming value.

That said, by the end, my opinion had changed drastically.

ACTING: The acting was top-notch by everyone, especially Liu Ye as Fang Zhengdong. He was such a lovely character - upstanding, caring (for friends, family, co-workers and public that he encountered in his job), yet terribly lonely. His micro-expressions were spot-on. His love for Li Peiru was so strong, so pure, yet you could see that he didn't quite understand it. As his health deteriorated, the way he displayed the anger, the paranoia and the fear really made me cry. Shu Qi as Li Peiru sometimes felt to me that she was overacting, but once her character finally arched to a reasonable human being, watching her awaken to actual caring emotions for others was wonderful to watch.

STORY: This was a story that addressed so many different emotions, most of which we, as the audience, can identify with. I loved watching the inevitable transfer of power, going from someone that takes care of everyone else, to knowing that you will need to be taken care of. It was a romance deeply felt between the main characters and their efforts to determine what was important and what they were willing to do for love.

This movie really got me in the feels.

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Tragic, Heartbreaking, and Raw

I once saw trailer of this movie, and thought I'll watch this when I am in the mood. A year or so passed and I forgot about that. Somedays back I was going through a list and thought I'd watch this, but the IMDB rating was not that great. Since I love tragedies and this one had that vibe, I thought of watching this last night. Why is this so underrated ? This one is a gem of a movie.
Spoilers:
Soyool and Yoonhee are best friends since they were little and they are training to become gisaeng in times of Japanese-Korean war. They both love pop music but are training to sing traditional songs. Soyool has a boyfriend (Yoonwoo) since they were young and they love each other. Yoonwoo is a famous song writer and wants Soyool to sing as a pop singer so that everyone can listen to her voice rather than singing traditional songs only for the high end people of society. Soyool wants to sing for the common people too, but she cannot leave her agency (her mom runs it) but she promises to sing one song for him. Yoonwoo then meets Yoonhee and he loves her singing style, and thinks she is fit to sing for his new album. He convinces Yoonhee to sing for Joseon's common people and be Joseon's Heart (which is what he said to Soyool as well). When Soyool confronts Yoonwoo, he says that he loves Soyool only and will write hundred of songs for her. He assures her of her love for her and tells her that this is only a professional album with Yoonhee. Yoonhee leaves agency and is singing for Yoonwoo and co. when Yoonwoo and Yoonhee fall in love with each other, fully knowing that they are the 2 most important people to Soyool and just how hard it was to just let them be. BUT they don't care, they are in LOVE. lol. What a joke. After all this, they pretend as if they did no wrong and continue dating. When Soyool decides to take revenge (pretty sad affair, you can feel her heartbreak) they don't even bat an eye and tell her the truth. Ugh.
I feel so bad for So Yool, and did not understand why the other main characters thought they were in the right. She was cheated on by the two people she loved and trusted the most. Admittedly she should not have asked the Commissioner to reject Yoonhee's album and should not have sent her to that bar, not saying any of this was right. But people should know that their actions have consequences. If you choose to destroy someone's life, you might be forgiven or you might be punished for it. Humans are not God, they can make your sure you live in hell if you mess them up real bad. Soyool loved them and they cheated on her, stabbed her in the back and even when things went south, they did not tell her the truth. When they get to know that she orchestrated all this, they feel betrayed and sad but they never once feel remorse for their own actions. Their emotions, their lives and their separation matters to them but none of them regrets what they did to her. Poor Soyool. She is the one who suffers till the end of her life because even though what she did was horrible, she knows that, she admits that and also wants to protect those cheaters.
Anyhoo, the movie in itself is amazing. The acting, OST, cast, production, everything is perfect. Beautiful, tragic, heartwrenching and raw. Anyone looking for something to pull on your heartstrings should watch this.

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Ruins the impact of the actual show

Unfortunately, this movie actually made me angry... I feel like it disregards the impact of Hiiro accepting the loss of his girlfriend in the main show, and how Taiga actually has someone to finally care for (Nico). I get that Nico would have to leave as Taiga's assistant eventually; because she's a fresh high school graduate who needs to go to college to actually pursue her dreams as a doctor... BUT the fact that she goes to America with that weird and creepy gamer dude who she fought in a gaming competition...? like come on... There's got to be better ways to write her off.

And I just could not for the life of me understand why they brought back Saki and Lovelica. Like didn't their data literally get erased in the main show?? AND HOW did Kuroto escape from his little game prison thing?? There's still two more Ex-Aid trilogy movies I need to watch, but this one just left an overall sour taste in my mouth.

I honestly think the only ''good'' thing about this movie is how Hiiro and Saki had a real final conversation, with Hiiro saying he still strives to be the best doctor in the world and whatever. But the thing with Saki saying that Hiiro is her ''white knight'' and whatever was really weird to me. Also Hiiro saying during the fight against Lovelica that he's ''the only man for Saki'' just didn't rub the right way either.

I just really hope the other two trilogy movies are good...

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Gamera’s greatest hits from the 60’s &70’s!

A last ditch cheap effort to keep a studio afloat resulted in Gamera: Super Monster. Spoiler alert! All of Gamera’s finale fights from the previous movies are spliced together in what amounts to a clip show.

Zanon’s pirate ship is orbiting Earth, a ship that looks suspiciously like a Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer. The Big Bad who is never seen sends his female minion to Earth and subsequent monsters to try and conquer the Earthlings. Earth has three space women to help out even though they have no weapons and spend most of their time doing a little dance to change from space women clothes to Earthling clothes. It can’t be a Gamera movie without a little boy who can communicate with him and this one was the least annoying of the Gamera movies I’ve seen.

There’s not a lot going on with the humans and space women except running back and forth between their magic van and their cover jobs including a pet shop. They also watch Gamera fight on what amounts to a big screen tv, even the clip from him fighting on a different planet.

The clips don’t always match up with daytime and nighttime from scene to scene. If you like the Gamera March song in the opening credits you are in for a real treat because the little boys sings it several times during the movie.

It’s a glorified clip show but one with a good heart and likable cast. There’s no doubt this Gamera movie was aimed at children and with that sentiment and it’s age I gently scored it. Only for people who don’t want to sit through the previous 7 movies (and maybe a cartoon as well?) but want to see the final monster fights or you like seeing 3 women dance to change clothes.


10/14/22

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Apparently I'm on an unplanned Jun Ji-hyun watching streak. Gonna retroactively make it a planned one though, expect a few more logs in the coming day!

It's like Ocean's Eleven cranked up to… well, eleven (...I'll see myself out)

The double-crossing in this movie is something. They live and breathe to one-up each other.

Why is it so Kim Soo-hyun is so expressive here? I dare say he steals the show for a while. What went wrong in the year between this and My Love From Another Star? (He was easily the worst part of that). Who told him that playing an expressionless/emotionless lead was the way to go? His agency? The director? Himself? Not sure. I think it was a terrible idea. However, seeing as he is today's best paid actor in Korea I'm probably wrong. Still think it was a terrible idea lmao

I enjoyed the stacked cast and the way they weaved Hong Kong into the storyline, including the addition of the likes of Simon Yam. The action is filmed well (though the bad guys' clips seemingly have hundreds of bullets in them at a bare minimum), the twists and turns keep on coming, the actors are hella charismatic, the thrills are served one after the other… Entertaining for sure.

But it was missing a little something for me. I guess things fell into place a little bit too much? One convenient occurrence too many I'd say.
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Stunts - 84/100 | Some good stunts sprinkled throughout since we're dealing with heist stuff.

Narrative - 68/100 | Many years ago, being a Westerner, I used to not be able to distinguish between asian languages like Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, etc. Not anymore so now it was really fun to see them switching languages between all 4 constantly and being able to follow who could understand who in the story, because that's kind of important in this case.

Fight Choreography | No fights.

Enjoyment - 72/100 | Still fun and exciting. I'd put it about on par with Ocean's Eleven overall, quality-wise. Recommended if you like that kind of movie.

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