Kleenex in hand, take the dive.
What a love, what a friendship, what a story. 🥹🥹Aptly titled, Taste and Tears will burrow into your heart and wound your soul, just to mend it stronger than it was before you began. This story is beautifully wound, the acting is great, and the overall ending is very satisfying. I am very glad I experienced this story, I found it so poetic.
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A Powerful, Emotion‑Packed Film That Never Lets Go
Seeing Park Ji Hoon in the cast, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed by this film, and indeed I wasn't. It's a film full of emotions that doesn't let you catch your breath for a moment, but still keeps you watching without looking away. Please give Park Ji Hoon a happy role! (I know he's great at playing characters with sad stories, but he deserves a bit of happiness in the series too, hahaha.)Was this review helpful to you?
Jeon Do-yeon’s Power, Precision, and Presence
Kill Bok-soon completely blew me away. Stylish, brutal, emotional, and unapologetically sharp, this film delivers on every level — action, character, and atmosphere. It’s intense without being mindless, violent without being empty, and surprisingly emotional beneath all the bloodshed. I was hooked from start to finish.Jeon Do-yeon is the heart and soul of this film. After loving her so much in Crash Course in Romance, seeing her transform so effortlessly into this role was incredible. The contrast alone is stunning — from warmth and everyday vulnerability to icy control and lethal precision. She doesn’t just play an assassin; she becomes her. Every movement, every look, every moment feels deliberate and commanding.
What makes her performance so special is the emotional depth she brings beneath the action. There’s restraint, conflict, and quiet humanity layered into her character, making her feel real rather than exaggerated. She dominates the screen without ever needing to overact, proving once again why she’s one of the finest actresses in Korean cinema.
The supporting cast is excellent as well, adding tension, complexity, and weight to the story. The film’s world feels polished and intentional, and the action choreography is clean, stylish, and impactful rather than chaotic. Every fight feels purposeful, every confrontation charged.
Kill Bok-soon is a thrilling, unforgettable experience, but above all, it’s a showcase of Jeon Do-yeon’s brilliance. Loving her in CCIR and then witnessing this performance only deepened my admiration. She’s phenomenal — and this film is proof of her incredible range.
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Flawed but emotionally powerful
This movie is a very emotional and over the top . The story is simple and full of familiar tropes, especially if you have seen many Bollywood social dramas. The first half feels exaggerated and unrealistic and the system looks cartoonishly cruel.But the ending is where the film truly hits hard. The execution of an innocent man and his name being cleared only after death is heartbreaking. That bitter unfair ending is a bold and effective move.
Flawed but emotionally powerful in the end.
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Paved the way…
I watched this very much knowing I was entering the “kill your gays” era of cinema, it’s been 20 years, so expecting the worst is just something you have to gird your loins against when it comes to watching gay cinema of this time. But what I got instead is a story that LITERALLY tried to bury its gays, only to give them a second chance, and then another fatal blow, but yet another redemption beyond expectation. Why aren’t more people talking about this?! I will admittedly agree that I wish there was just a bit more at the end there that really brought home a happy ending. But I’ve got an imagination and can plot out the rest on my own. I have to give it to movies like this that brought about the realistic expectation that BLs can have a happy ending. Although this may not be noticed by the masses. This is definitely worth the roller coaster ride of a watch and worth your time. Give it a go for sure.Was this review helpful to you?
"I hate telling lies"
Kinoshita Keisuke’s Phoenix showed how a young war widow rose from the ashes of her life much as the country she lived in was attempting to do. Tanaka Kinuyo gave a touching performance of a woman reflecting back on the love of her life as her son reaches his fourth birthday.Aihara Sayoko busies herself as the Yasaka household joyfully prepares for her son’s birthday. Her brother-in-law takes her aside to see if she will be comfortable when he marries soon. He fears seeing a blissful newlywed couple might cause her pain. She assures him that she is happy and his happiness will only bring her more. Sayoko then reflects on her relationship with his brother and the trials they met in order to get married.
Honestly, not much happened in this film of lost love. But what did happen was expertly done. The film revealed how Sayoko and Shinichi’s relationship developed in flashback. Kinoshita brought the lovers to life with a deft hand. There was some melodrama but it was not overwrought. Though she was 38 at the time Tanaka played a young woman maturing even as her love did for Yasaka Shinichi. This film hinged on her delicate performance as Sayoko filled most frames. Sada Keiji, as the handsome Shinichi, was ever loyal to her and his country. Shinichi bucked the family tradition of the parents picking his bride, angering his father, all for love of Sayoko.
Shinichi’s enlistment and deployment loomed like a deadly shadow over the couple. The very real concern that Sayoko could become a young widow and “ruin” her life was palpable. For Sayoko, Shinichi’s love and adoration was her past, her present, and her uncertain future, worth any risk and capable of sustaining her for a lifetime. This brief love story was a breath of fresh air among many maudlin films from this time period. Well-acted, engaging, and beautifully shot, worth a try if you enjoy old films.
2 February 2026
Note: There were places with damaged audio and the film had some streaking to it.
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Life doesn't always offer closure - and we have to learn to move forward
I found this movie very meaningful - with its beautiful shots and colors and a nice, slow pace. For me, it explores (among other things) the need of humans to understand everything, to have closure, to find meaning - even though real life seldom gives answers. I was reminded that sometimes we are left with a big "why", or with open wounds that we have to somehow move on from.This movie stuck with me after days, and I think I will remember it from time to time, if I ever need it.
It gave a beautiful message of acceptance, and hope.
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"It will always be just the two of us"
Japanese Girls at the Harbor was one of Shimizu Hiroshi’s silent films. Two inseparable school girls find their friendship challenged when they both fall for the older bad boy on a motorcycle. He wasn’t worthy of either of them, but this was a male fantasy, not a female one.Dora and Sunako are two school girls and friends who love viewing the Yokohama harbor. As soon as Dora proclaims, “It will always be just the two of us,” Henry rides in on his motorcycle and off with Sunako. Now Henry and Sunako are inseparable…until Henry ghosts her for Yoko. Oh, poor Henry, never heard the song lyrics, “Don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts.” Sunako makes an impulsive decision that changes everyone’s lives.
This is where I would normally rant about the patriarchy, but today, I’m going to take a different angle on this story of one man being loved by three women, two of which had their lives ruined. Both Sunako and Yoko claimed that God had not forgiven them and they were being punished. Both ended up in unsavory jobs. Now allow me to perform a thought exercise. If women are so emotionally unstable, unable to easily attain forgiveness from God and man, and immediately punished for transgressions, shouldn’t it be on men to be the responsible ones? Henry cheated on not one but three women! He ran around with hoodlums in the first part of the film and yet still found socially acceptable employment. He violated moral and social laws but suffered no punishment and was easily forgiven by God, society, and the women. In fact, despite his moral and social failings, all the women were still madly in love with him. Therefore, being on the untouchable moral high seat, and the one who destroyed two women’s lives and almost a third, he should have been the one to be punished and ostracized instead of rewarded. It was on him to not tamper with blatantly inferior creatures. Creatures who had only two paths in life-housewife or hooker. To shamelessly quote Spiderman’s Uncle Ben, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Therefore, God and society should have taken the superior, and older, Henry to task for playing with the undeveloped feelings and minds of such inferior young girls. Knowing he was the vastly superior creature it was on him to not tempt weak girls with his glorious manhood and unlimited forgiveness and opportunities. Because he handed out and withdrew his vaunted affection and presence, the poor women had no choice in the matter and could not process such extreme magnificence and loss. Such feeble and ignorant creatures should not have been held liable for their innate physical, emotional, and moral frailty, as they were not designed to know any better. He was. I rest my case Mr. Shimizu.
Despite my eye-rolling regarding the fawning over pretty, but lackluster Henry, the film was beautifully shot for the time and wasn’t plagued by the salt and pepper pock marking of so many other silent films. Shimizu used a ball of yarn to denote the relationships’ status throughout the film--marital bliss, marital discord, entanglements, and friendship. Though I’ve banged on about the rigid traditional roles, a male painter entered the picture willing to take on women’s work in a role reversal in order to be closer to Sunako. Whether a more egalitarian take or that’s the best the damaged Sunako could hope for was a man who didn’t have any male dignity, I don’t know. After a long loop, the friends have to decide if there is anything left to salvage, all in the shadow of Henry. Even with my misgivings, for people who enjoy these old films, Japanese Girls at the Harbor is one to check out.
2 February 2026
A piano accompaniment was added that actually fit quite well, matched and enhanced the mood without being distracting. Sometimes music that is added later doesn't always fit the emotion of the scenes and draws attention away from the story.
Housekeeping notes: I was saddened to learn that the actress who played Sunako died a few years later of TB. I have now seen all of Inoue Yukiko's short list of silent films.
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Well-crafted, heavy with emotion and meaning.
First of all, it’s important to understand that abortion is illegal and considered a crime in the Philippines, even if the pregnancy resulted from r*pe. And in many communities, teenage pregnancy is seen as a taboo subject, and young women who find themselves in this situation often face judgment and stigma, which forces many of them to seek out dangerous and unregulated methods to terminate unwanted pregnancies. "Sunshine" does an excellent job of delving into the difficult and emotional topic of teenage pregnancy and abortion, highlighting the risks and consequences faced by those who are forced to resort to such extreme measures and handling those issues with care yet in a powerful way. The film also touches on the financial and healthcare issues of the lower class, pointing out how crucial it is to improve medical services and provide support for those experiencing unplanned pregnancies.Putting 'chasing a dream vs living reality' as a big question, this film is packed with raw emotion and the inner struggle of an aspiring young athlete who found out she was pregnant just months away from a major national level competition. And Maris Racal delivers an outstanding performance, capturing the pain and struggles with genuine authenticity. In my opinion, this is her best performance to date. She even trained gymnastic for a year to prepare for this role. Impressive! 👏
While everything is just so well done—from the script to the production and the performances—this film is not one without a flaw. The only shortcoming is probably that certain characters are not neatly fleshed out, leaving you kind of wondering what their story is. But as the plot unfolds, it starts to come together. Hence, this film is nearly perfect, but not yet. So 9 is the best rate I can give this film.
Overall, the film is truly heartbreaking and eye-opening at the same time. It’s also a testament to the courage and creativity of Filipino filmmakers, who continue to push boundaries and spark important conversations through their work. It’s a must-watch for anyone interested in something thought-provoking.
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Well Made Film But Not For Everyone
Parasite is a well made movie with strong acting smart camera work, and good direction. The story starts slow and feels awkward at times but later becomes chaotic and dark. It shows two families one rich and one poor and how their lives clash in dangerous ways. The movie uses many metaphors about class, money and survival. Some scenes feel uncomfortable or unnecessary but the tension slowly builds. The ending is violent and sad, not exciting. Overall it is not very entertaining but it is technically impressive and thoughtfully made. A solid movie but not for everyone.Was this review helpful to you?
Bizarre fap material w/ 1980s vibe.
75% of the movie's runtime is explicit scenes. Explicit to an extend that I haven't seen in many other gay movies, so I can only conclude this was made to be fap material.The story is very simple and is more of an excuse to piece together a bunch of sex scenes. Still, I somehow managed to finish this movie.
What drew me into watching was that it was available on GagaOOLala & that I wanted to see older queer people be centered in a queer love story.
While an older gay man was at the center of this movie, the sex scenes he was engaging in always had this air of coercion about them & there was no actual engaging with emotions.
In the end, this is just smutty movie that gives 1980s vibes, watch it if you're bored, don't expect anything too deep out of it.
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Everything is perfect.
One of the best Japanese Movies for me. Everything is perfect. Really portrait what is youthful like. The ending scene is perfect. Music is spot on too. All cast are delivered.i don't know what's more to write, since it needs 300 characters to be able to post. i just wanna tell everyone how perfect this movie is.
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Between Forgetting and Holding On: The Emotional Journey of One Week Friends
One Week Friends is a Chinese coming-of-age drama that explores themes of friendship and romance through a quiet, emotional lens. The film presents a compelling premise: a condition where memory resets once a week. Theoretically, this concept holds immense potential for delivering complex psychological conflict and profound emotional depth.On the positive side, the film’s primary strength lies in its unique and meaningful narrative idea. The fragility of memory serves as a symbol for the importance of sincerity and effort in maintaining human relationships. The film successfully conveys the message that friendship and love do not rely solely on past memories, but on present commitment and patience. These values are delivered subtly, remaining relevant to the teenage experience.
The acting is another significant asset. Zhao Jinmai delivers a natural performance as Lin Xiangzhi, portraying a character who is guarded yet internally wounded with nuance. Meanwhile, Lin Yi brings warmth and consistency to the role of Xu Youshu, making their dynamic feel realistic and grounded. Visually, the cinematography is polished, utilizing a soft color palette and school settings that enhance the film’s intimate and sentimental atmosphere.
However, despite these strengths, the film suffers from significant weaknesses. Notably, the storyline tends to be repetitive. The cyclical pattern of building a relationship only to have memories reset makes the conflict predictable, diminishing the dramatic tension. The slow pacing in certain sections also leads to a drop in emotional intensity, particularly during the middle of the film.
Furthermore, the development of supporting characters is lackluster. Characters outside the main duo lack strong background exploration, rendering their roles as mere narrative fillers. Logically, the medical condition causing the memory loss is not explained in depth, making it feel like a convenient plot device rather than a seriously explored psychological conflict.
The romance aspect is also relatively safe and conventional. Several scenes feel cliché, and the chemistry between the leads does not always succeed in building strong emotion, leaving pivotal moments that should be poignant feeling somewhat flat for some viewers.
Overall, One Week Friends is a warm and emotional film, yet it is limited by its execution of conflict and character development. It is well-suited for viewers who enjoy teen dramas with a gentle pace and soft moral messages, but it may be unsatisfying for those expecting sharper conflict and deeper psychological exploration.
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This review may contain spoilers
wait,, cook?
i actually really enjoyed this one. it's twisty, unnerving and at times uncomfortable, but it's been a while since a movie had me genuinely screaming at the tv, trying to converse with the characters. haha :>>jeon jong-seo is a gem of south korean's acting industry. i've seen her around, but this is the first time i've sat done to engage with her work, and i'm impressed and not one bit let down. she actually exceeded my expectations. loooooved what she did with young-sook.
overall, the story could've ended a million different ways, and i'm not particularly mad at how ambiguous the direction they ended up taking turned out to be. it spooked me. it was good!!! bravoooo :3
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LMAO....
i won't fall for birth rate propaganda and neither should you.it's visually great and then it got really messy but the story becomes so boring by that point that you aren't even phased by the poorly done cgi. the main characters of this movie simply do not get any sort of development, which makes a story about the complexities of human emotion impossible to execute and convey. just bland and boring.
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