"Suffering is the human condition" in art form.
"Moneyboys" is a raw, visually stunning drama that exhibits the gritty and provocative lifestyle of young, gay escorts. While there are some steamy moments, the story focuses less on the "customer service" aspect and more on what motivates these characters despite the risks involved. With an impoverished upbringing and the weight of his family on his shoulders, prostitution is a means of survival for protagonist, Fei.What we get as viewers is a study on this character. We're taken through a series of experiences and events that make up Fei's life. We witness how the stigma of both his sexuality and profession effects his family life and the mental toll it takes on him. Through Fei's various interactions with other characters, a clear theme rings throughout the film: the sacrifice of one's happiness for the sake of others. Lovers sacrifice themselves for the ones they love, young adults sacrifice themselves to meet family expectations, LGBTQ+ sacrifice themselves to fit the molds of society. When does the cycle of suffering end?
The story finds its anomaly in Fei's childhood friend, Long. Unlike the often numb and apathetic Fei, Long is brimming with life. He sees the perks of being a money boy as a way to live happily for himself and not for the sake of others.
Before I had a grasp on the film's narrative, I was already in awe of its cinematography and editing. The moment I clicked play, I got the feeling I was in for an artistic experience. Atmospheric lighting and color grading sets the dark and solemn tone for the film. Neon colors pop through the screen. There are some close-ups and shaky camera shots that make for intense moments, but you'll mostly see the use of still-camera wide shots. Frame by frame, it appears as though characters are moving through a sequence of modern life art pieces. It doesn't linger on one shot for too long though, especially in the beginning. Scenes are often fleeting, dialogues seem to end just shy of a complete conversation. A stylistic choice that gives the film obscurity and keeps it from dragging, but disappoints story-wise. At times, I was left wishing I knew more about what these characters were thinking and experiencing.
Aside from maybe one actress with a bit part role, all actors were convincing. Lead actor, Kai Ko, did well portraying the emotionally detached Fei. He surfaces the character's vulnerable side in ways that feel both realistic and relatable. The charm and charisma of Bai Yu Fan's Long is definitely one of the film's highlights. There aren't many dramatic acting moments so if you're worried about it being a tearjerker, you're in luck. "Moneyboys" is pulsing with emotion but it isn't necessarily a sad movie, just realistic. It's a bit longer than the average 90 minutes, but very much worth the watch.
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AI Hate You
As a Thai film student studying abroad, all I can say is that this film just perfectly encapsulates everything that I have once said about what Thai Cinema needs to improve on. The story is interesting I'm not gonna lie, but the attention to detail, the build-up to every scene are just so bad. Like seriously, why do most Thai films these days just bunch so many things into a 1 hour and 30-minute film? Every film teacher I've been with always told me to just focus on that one specific idea and make the story revolve around it. I just feel like this film doesn't even have an identity. I know the main message of it is how robots and Ai's can have a heart, but they didn't really emphasize it to the point where I felt like yeah this AI actually liked, Lana. There were so many other sub-plots that distracted the connection that is building between the AI and Lana that just I didn't feel any emotion at the end. Not just that but the dialogue is just sub-par. I'm so sick and tired of me being able to guess every single line the character is going to spit out and that just showcases the laziness in the scriptwriting of this film and the attention to detail. And yes I'm taking a dig. And I want to because I want to see great Thai films, but if we keep doing this all the time then Thai films will never reach the place it needs to be. There is no need for over-the-top CGI or film equipment in general. All Thai cinema needs to focus on is the story and how you can keep the message and the narrative consistent throughout the whole film. The detail you need to focus on in every single scene in the film is lacking in 99% of Thai films.Was this review helpful to you?
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Love yourself
Been waiting to watch this full movie after watching the trailer.The story starts from the present time, with a few flashbacks to help the storyline. Xiao xi is the one who helps Han Bing when Han Bing is bullied because he is fat, but at the present time all of that reverse. Because Xiao xi want to pursue her dream, she drink the magic potion but it risk her friendship with Han Bing. It's a good thing that at the end she choose her friendship after all that up and down.
Lesson learned to love yourself first before you expect others to do that, because sometime all good thing might be happened after you accept yourself. Which sometime hard to do even though you know it. Great romance comedy movie to spend and watch before you sleep.
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The enduring love
If you're looking for steamy action, better watch porn. If you're looking for a movie that'll well up buckets of tears, better watch some overrated melodrama. If you're looking for a movie that supports LGBTQ+ relationship, find something else because this isn't it.The take of this movie lies more about waiting, thus, the title which entails the passing of time. Most parts of the movie will also involve elements of waiting and anticipation, and will only result in more questions than answers. Oftentimes responses to questions are delivered subtly and most of the time not directly at the main characters but with what's happening with the people around them.
The main theme of this movie is more on love that perseveres and endures over time. It might be cliché to quote a passage saying that love is patience and does not keep records of wrongs, but this movie provides a preview of those who exactly love this way; they're always at a dead end which was strongly framed in a scene at the care facility, and their lines go something like this:
YJ: "I have nowhere to go home to"
Mom: "I have nowhere to run, he (referring to SY) has nowhere to go"
It could have gone tragically for YJ. The mom could have hated everyone. SY could have died. Yet we're treated to an ending of the three being reunited, sharing drinks and a toast, but everything was still stalemate. Mom being ok with things back the way they were, fully knows well everything, didn't choose to hate the two boys. SY oblivious to the love that the other two characters had for him (he may have suffered a bit of amnesia). YJ who still patiently waits but explicitly expresses he is tired and lamenting that only SY seems normal among the three of them.
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Thrilling take on an teenage cheating syndicate!
This was such a refreshing movie to watch. I really liked the dramatisation of the clever escapades of a bunch of teenage students. School stories are a thing of past for me and it's really difficult to connect to them now but this movie made answering multi-choice questions as thrilling and exciting as robbing a bank in 'Money Heist'!Summary in one sentence - A smart high-school girl takes advantage of her brain to make money by selling answers.
Lynn was brilliant as the high-school genius-turned-hustler and her accomplices or enablers Grace & Pat were equally good. I felt for Bank's loss of naivety/innocence as he realises intelligence can get you only so far. It sucks how close to home this story hits. Even though being smart in Asia is not equivalent to being a nerd in the western world, money & connections unfortunately, speak everywhere in the world!
Overall:
Bad Genius is a great pun and a totally apt title for this excellent and entertaining film. I highly recommend this for all who are fans of the school/teen and coming-of-age genre. An 8.5/10 for me!
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I liked how they dealt with the theme, explaining the terms used and making us participate in the research of the protagonist.
Absolutely recommended.
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Great concept but…
I love Mario Maurer & Bai Fern’s chemistry but… their comeback here is such a great disappointment.Tbh, human possessed by an Ai is a new concept and has alot of potential. But, myghad, the script was terrible! It was so confusing, or let me say the script, the plot makes no sense at all.
I just can’t. I cannot dare to waste my hour & 30 mins when I can just skip everything and just watch it for 10 mins.
I rooted for their comeback, but this movie, is just so disappointing. I hope next time they choose a well written script and better movie for their comeback.
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This review may contain spoilers
Time manages to weave together the disparate stories of a retired assassin team, the problems of the elderly, assisted suicide and team pregnancy. It brings together a cast of well-known older Hong Kong actors---PatrickTse, Bobo Fung, and Lam Suet and gives them a chance to shine. They did not fail to take advantage of the opportunity to show that they've still got it.Patrick Tse at 85 showed he could still be a menacing threat as the flying blade assassin who had been relegated to cutting noodles in his golden years. Bobo went from terrorizing her victims with her throwing weapons to singing in a small-time cabaret. Lam Suet, the getaway driver, now suffering from various illnesses and struggling to pay for and receive proper medical care spends his free time with a prostitute he's fallen in love with.
Without being morbid, Time shines a light on the plight of the elderly---illness, loneliness, ungrateful children, poverty, and the knowledge that more sand has run out of the hourglass than remains. The old team gets back together when they find the older population requesting their services and they earn extra spending money respectfully doling out assisted suicide. This works out fine until the blade man discovers his intended victim/client is a teenage girl.
Bobo did an amazing job as the mother with a child who believed because she gave birth to him, she was eternally responsible for him. The fact that he was a grown man who was married and a father and responsible for his own child escaped him. Lam Suet gave a heartwarming performance as the team member who kept them all together, finally getting his chance at a quality main role. The actress who plays the teenage girl was the weakest link in this movie. She was unable to keep up with the rest of the experienced cast. The youth story threatened to take over the narrative, but stopped just short, or maybe went slightly over the line. It did give Patrick's loner character a chance to connect with someone and discover a part of himself he didn't know existed.
There are many touching scenes in this movie and Time deals with its gray-haired characters and their problems with sensitivity and gentle humor. It shows that people of a certain age need love, time, attention, and care. And in the case of Time, it showed that actors who are no longer young still have stories left to tell.
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Mr. Jung and his Jiwoo...
The cutest, informative, intriguing and sexiest K-Movie I've ever seen. I loved it. The male lead as Jihoo was adorable and very hot especially when he would handle the misogynistic boss of theirs and coworkers. Reading his bio, I came to realize that he was in a group I used to listen to, it's no wonder since he's so handsome, I spent a lot of the movie going "Gah he's so cute". Since I enjoyed his acting, i'm definitely checking out his other stuff. Gorgeous female lead; The way she portrayed Jiwoo was how I imagine a inexperience person would be like in that lifestyle. Seeing Jiwoo gain confidence in her role as his master had me excited for her haha. Though, I admit I found some things odd but it was just a personal preference thing, I spent 99% of the movie intriguied and giggling. The ex annoyed me though; She dumps him for who he is instead of trying to understand him then tries coming around to make sure his life is in ruins just cause she is miserable? Hated her. Han was a surprise and that's all I'll say about him. Wish we had more on Hye Mi and Woo Hyuk but I get with movies things have to develop quickly. Anyways, I loved it and would rewatch it again when I don't know what to watch.Was this review helpful to you?
The perfect combination of sexy and cute
This was a sexy and cute love story between two office co-workers who start a BDSM relationship. I don't really know much about this subject but one of the key things that made me like this film, it's the equality between them despite being in a dom-sub relationship. Everything is a mutual agreement based on preferences and needs from both sides.The film never centers around sex itself, but mostly on the mutual agreement based on preferences and needs of both sides. This allows for the story to explore on other aspects of the relationship through contrasting colors indicating the character's emotional state.
Leading man Jung Ji-hoon presents himself as a clean-cute, friendly and career oriented. The story goes deep into why he has a need for BDSM and particularly being a submissive person in the relationship. It has to do with unfair expectations society has on man, but I won't say much because I feel like he explains it perfectly. Lee Jun-young plays the character really well and doesn't shy away from the physical acting, which is hilarious and smut.
Jung Ji-woo is the perfect counterpart for Ji-hoo. It's clear she has been raised in an open minded household and as a result she is an independent and outspoken young woman, who is not afraid to call out her boss's sexism and misogyny. It brings her most headaches than she deserves, to be honest. This character trait is what allows her to go into a BDSM relationship filled with curiosity and excitement, as she finds the physiological release she needs. So-hyun's performance is excellent. Quiet yet strong.
The production is solid and very entertaining. And I think they did a good job presenting what is BDSM and all its nuances.
A very entertaining watch and I highly recommend it.
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I hope this opens a new world for korean dramas.
The end is kinda... disappointing. Korea don't know how to approach tabus without being extra cliche, basic and cringey. But this is normal from korea, its not a surprise. I wish they give depth to the characters so it makes sense how they created the desire, the fetish...I liked the scenes a lot, specially the bdsm ones. Its kinda sexy for me, I like how they put effort in those scenes. We can agree that photography and colorgrading is something that they know how to do and i love it.
Its light, it made me laugh a lot of times and bark at my boyfriend.
I also kissed his foot just for the giggles (or not...)
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It shouldn’t be acceptable to be abusive to someone just because they’re different
I loved what this movie addressed, how it addressed, and why it addressed. It was bold, without being vulgar in the sense that would offend anyone. More importantly, it cleverly manages the stigma and shame associated with non-traditional practices, and the risk it poses to practitioners who wish to disclose their interest in a closed and judgmental society. Desipte it only scratching the surface, I appreciated that it made the attempt. It emotionally drew me in how the two leads interpreted and approached the complexity of the practice in the non-dating situation, where they both try to balance their desire for appropriateness with the desire for connection and honesty. I liked the writer's approach of humor in handling such a serious and complicated issue. It especially worked well in some of the more sensitive moments of the movie. Great writing, directing, editing and storytelling.As for the actors, I have to say this movie would not be the same without Seo Hyun and Lee Jun Young, and particularly Lee Jun Young a thousand and one kudos for his brilliant, brilliant acting — everything from his facial and bodily expressions and how he uses his eyes, and practically all his senses. I was totally and completely drawn to him from the minute he gets on screen. I was reminded why I fell for him in the drama Avengers Social Club. I commend them both for taking on such bold roles and giving it their all. They were both fantastic in how they interpreted their individual characters and in their chemistry together on screen. They made a life-long fan out of me. As much as the drama was centered on our leads, I have to give kudos to Baek Hyun Joo as Ji Woo's very progressive mother. I loved her character and mother, and Lee El as a friend and kindred spirit. A job well done on both fronts.
I commend this movie for the message it sends to the many who feel they don't belong or think they've done something wrong because of their non-traditional practices. It lets them know loud and clear that they are not alone. They didn't do anything wrong, and being different doesn't mean they are bad, so what if people call them perverts. What’s wrong with being a pervert; come to think of it, what is a pervert? A pervert is defined as “a person with unusual or abnormal sexual tastes.” But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve done anything wrong. Someone with a shoe or hand-fetish can be seen as a pervert. It doesn’t make them evil, just different. So in that sense, I like that the movie brings awareness to the deplorable acts of discrimination against those who are different for simply being different, while assuring them they are not alone. We must be the change we want to see.
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Decent sequel to good prequel...
This movie gives curious viewers the long awaited (ok maybe not long, but awaited) answer to what happened when after the boy´s finally got to spend time together outside the screen.It was nice to see that cast again as well as see them interact and face reality as well as a pretty homophobic relative...
Making way for some pretty slightly cliche but good lines. The movie also includes the all important:
" safety first before you thirst"
As well as the all important waiting and feeling in your significant other though it may be hard... (pun intended), but that is part of the safety I guess...
This movie on it´s own is probably worth 7 or 8 stars but if you have a slight crush or soft-spot for the group of friends from the series you are bound to fall in love with them again here.
I also want to give this extra points for something that could be considered a spoiler so I will mention it in the comment section.
In conclusion, if you loved the drama you will probably love this if you thought the drama was mediocre well... just skip it and watch something else. If you have not seen the drama, go watch the drama first!
Oh and the use of face-masks was just perfect, so well done, they deserve a round of applause!
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Refreshing story in today's media
I'm gonna be honest- I had my doubts before walkign into the story. The teasers for the movie were fun, but in a world where "50 shades" and "365 days" exist, you probably can tell why I was worried.So why this movie feels refreshing? The movie manages to pull of a romance between a S and a M in a way that isn't toxic, unbelievanle and it respects BDSM.
The chemistery between the leads is belivable. The master and sub relationship works great and both of them consent. I like that they didn't make one of them super rich and other pathetic shy person. It makes it more belivable that their kinks is something they are into and doesn't come from a power struggle that was there in the first place. You're with them on this journey of discovering their kinks (the FL learns how to dominate. It is awkward for her at first, but then she feels better in this role). It's also a slow burn, so it feels more natural.
Am I a part of the BDSM community? No, I'm super vanilla. But I'm also an adult who is aware that everyone has their own kink and fetishes so we shouldn't be judgemental of what adults do behind closed doors (of course with consent). This movie doesn't shame people who are a part of BDSM. It is explained through out the movie that M and S dont' have to be in a romantic relationship in order to be a master and a sub. It doesn't have to be about sex even. I'm glad they stressed it. The movie helped understand BDSM a bit more. The movie tells you it's okay to want dominating someone. It's okay if you are willing to be a sub. You deserve someone who loves you the way you are and accepts you. Despite your kinks, you deserve to be respected and it's okay to draw boundries.
Overall, I think my problem with it is the pacing, but I wouldn't change it. It works for the plot. I think this movie should be on poeple's minds when thinking about BDSM romance films or maybe for those who are interested in BDSM.
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This review may contain spoilers
Nonsense and Fluffy
Who does not want a CLTCL part 2 with that ending but I settled for this for now. A girl can still dream right, I am still wishing for that part 2?The basic premise of the story is that an AI system has a glitch and falls in love with a real life human girl.
The ML, Bob is the IT guy who gets electrocuted by the AI when he attempts to override the system and erase his affection for Lana the FL. Bob then gets "possessed" by the AI who goes rogue so he could pursue Lana,
The chemistry between these two is still there but the story is just too shallow to ask for a good acting performance. Nothing stands out in this movie.
AI Love You is shallow. This fluffy and a bit funny. Illogical at it's finest but it's an hour and 35 mins only. It's not much of a story if you are looking for a meaningful one this is not for you. But if you just want to watch a nonsense film with some eye candy and some chemistry this is for you .
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