This review may contain spoilers
Tonight, I watched the manga based Jmovie Kingdom, starring Yamazaki Kento as Shin & Yoshizawa Ryo in the double part of Hyo and King Eisei. And it was so, so good! Especially the bromance and mainly the bromance between Shin & Hyo. And it made me bawl so hard. Like literally, tears streaming down my face, stuffed nose, all the jazz.Because Hyo was amazing. Devoted and loyal and amazing. And his fate was the saddest part of this movie. That he managed to find his way to Shin even mortally wounded because he wanted to see him one last time, that he died in Shin's arms, promising to always be with him, wherever Shin went, that he used his last strength to send Shin - the person he trusted and loved the most - to King Eisei because he knew that Eisei would need someone he could trust and that Shin would be that person... Just thinking about it breaks my heart all anew, honestly!
And the fact that Shin never forgot Hyo? That he always reminded everyone that Hyo died protecting the king, that Hyo was a person whose life also mattered, that Hyo was amazing and kind and loyal... That whenever Shin felt his strength failing, he remembered Hyo. That even at the end, when they won the war, he remembered Hyo. Because not even their victory could bring Hyo back... Gosh!
Theirs was one of the best bromances I've seen. One of those relationships that are so beautiful and so tragic that even just remembering them makes you feel all wobbly.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Good but where's part 2 :(
I gave it a 2 because it was too violent for me. I clicked the +10 seconds button a lot when it got too gory.Also, I was bummed at the unfinished ending and wanted a part 2 immediately.
Sorry, I always make my ratings personal, lol.
Loved:
*loved the cast. the acting was perfection. Kim Da Mi is perfection
*loved the story's pacing; it was slow but never felt slow
*loved the dark filming aesthetic... randomly gave me BTS Mic Drop Aoki remix MV vibes? lol...
*loved her quiet relationship with her adopted parents and with the townspeople
*loved the subtle reveals at the end that actually did surprise me (when you find out what different characters actually knew)
Saddened:
*the story was too sad and violent
*so much blood... like, so so so much blood
*so much violence... cringe amount for me... i know, i know, it has a mature rating, i should have expected it... i only watched this movie because i saw a pretty fan edit on youtube, so it's my bad. but i'm being honest here, movies don't need to be that violent! let's just all chill out. let's stop making them so violent. plez.
*they killed Choi Woo Shik? I don't believe it. Don't kill his curly head. i don't think he's dead. i know he's probably dead, but i'm a sucker for redemptions. let's make him not dead and give all the character redemption arcs.
*the ending was cliffhanger? now i have to live on knowing she's still out there somewhere trying to find her peace? No! give her peace! give me peace! give all of them peace! it can be quiet and broken, but make it peaceful!
*ugh, this is what happens when i stray into the mature side of film making. sure, this was a masterpiece, but now i'm sad, so i gotta scurry back to the safety of my own favorite genres that have less violence and less heartbreak... until the second movie comes out. then i'll probably watch that one too, and skip all the violent scenes of that too, just so i can see if Goo Ja Yun gets a happy ending... what can I say, I just always like Kim Da Mi's characters and wish them well.
Was this review helpful to you?
Touching, complicated and sad
This movie is just so depressing, while being both beautiful and kind of dull made. The entertainment value here is not very high so if you are looking for fluff or entertainment go somewhere else. The story however is one that needs to be told and is very well made.I really appreciated how they showed intimacy and sensual sexual scenes between two elderly men. Scenes I would say where very tastefully done showing how they care and lust for each other as well as the growth within their relationship. While at the same time reminding us that one of them is married with the many close ups to the ring on his finger as well as portrayals of his double life as a very caring husband. they do not let us forget for one second that these two men are having an affair, but they also make sure to show us what put them there.
These two men are portrayed as loving fathers and family men who put their families above themselves while hiding who they are, not only out of fear but also out of care. Something that does sound selfcontradictary but if you see this movie you will understand what I mean by that.
The movie combines all kinds of different interactions, the looks those who are out recieve, and extremely powerful dialog to show the complex reality many elderly gay med (but I would assume all parts of the spectrum) have had to deal with at one point or another... And unlike many other portrayals of LGBTQ+ issues this one leaves very little room for hope and rather leaves us in despair...
So yes this is worth watching, but just be sure you enter it on a day you can handle some pain... Also it does have some dull moments...
Bonus: this may or may not be considered a bit of a spoiler so be where:
I am in no way religious but I am going to state some dialog there that shot me like a an arrow straight in the gut... (this may not be the accurate wording but it went something along the line:
Do you know what my son told me to convert me?
I want to be able to find you when we are dead...
Once combined with some other dialog where the men mention how as young people they faced hate and had to hide by marrying women, later on in life they had to hide while raising a family... once the kids moved out they had to hide for even more reasons... As an elderly man shares how he used to get a long with his neighbors but ever since he was shown at pride they completely changed and he was forced to hide... Was just so well done, and did not feel the least like an educational movie while having a very high educational value.
Was this review helpful to you?
Sweet? No . Beautiful? Yes
This movies is on another level. Love between two students being so beautifully and realistically drawn . It showed the definition of unrequited love and I found myself cry at some point because the struggles and problems, the desperation between the two leads were demonstrated so well.The acting, cinematography, music and edit were all done so well. I like how BL themed movies/series are improving within their overall context and this one here is leading the way.
Taiwan never disappoint
Was this review helpful to you?
COULD'VE BEEN GREAT
I would like to start off by saying I completely enjoyed this. The story is amazing and not once did I take my eyes off the screen. It's intriguing to the point you even forget it's 2hrs long. Like the headline says it could've been great. Before reaching the end I had already awarded this a 10/10 read..but of course, they had to sprinkle a bit of fatphobia that added NOTHING to the original plot. It definitely wasn't needed and it would've been perfect without it. Did I enjoy watching it? Yes. Would I rewatch it? Probably not.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
That one joke that made me laugh for way longer than I should
This is a comedy, not a crime mystery (a little bit of that). It was fun to watch.The jokes in the first half of the movie didn't make me laugh but the second part was so funny. The jokes got better and their execution was done well.
Story
The story is predictable but enjoyable. It's hard to lose weight and that was shown through the characters. They don't need to change if they don't want to.
The important thing is that they are happy, healthy and able to do their job.
Side plot was catching the thieves, nothing was ever serious and even that was done in a comedic way.
But me being me, always looking for a deeper meaning tried to guess who is the villain for half of the movie. I wanted to laugh at myself after he was revealed.
My point is that there is no deeper meaning behind the villain, just enjoy the movie.
Was this review helpful to you?
It was a gripping movie for sure
The movie in the beginning was predictible and seemed like one of those cheap horror movies. However at the second part when i thought everything was dissolved a twist started which made it even more intriguing. I was kinda disappointed at the main character. Now that i think each of the pink dolls members although being too desperate and making too many mistakes, were actually quite pitiful so my hatred faded away.The biggest shock for me was the last scene. I wonder if the producer died too.
Since this movie is about a song, i thought the White song could be catchier. The only thing i could remember is the beginning but it was song i would like to listen afterwards.
Acting was good. Many times you can see in dramas that actors and actresses act really well but extras make it cringey and ruin the mood. Orrr the exact opposite. However everyone in this movie had decent acting skills. It was easy to watch.
Keep in mind that this was released at 2011 and watch it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Lighthearted funny Love o2o movie but bad chemistry and SHORT ML
Life is too short for stressful drama. Why spend all that time watching and be stressed? Don’t our lives already provide enough of that?Summary of the series:
- Light hearted rom/com; movie had great flow (feels a bit rushed), no stress watching it
- cute romance
- simpatico characters
- ML is too SHORT to be believable, at least he was not dunking the basketball; lack of chemistry b/t ML and FL so lowers rating
- no villains really, no long struggles, calamity or miscommunications to cause more drama and stress
- they try to add more drama 2nd to the last episode hence I gave it a lower rating. Should have extending the ending to let the viewers enjoy they happiness more/ more gratifying.
- its a good story but can add 30mins to the film time to go deeper
very fun joyful, stressless series: recommended to watch for sure
If you are looking for gratuitous stress/drama, frequent miscommunications, insipid side stories, then this is not for you.
Was this review helpful to you?
A dramatic story between the past and the present
Three Sisters is a South Korean movie that is a showcase for its three leads. The movie is about a trio of siblings and their differing lives. Hee-sook is the oldest and has a family that does not appreciate her. Middle sister Mi-yeon is married to a university professor and lives a very comfortable life. Youngest sister Mi-ok is a playwright with a gentle husband and son.The early parts of the movie focus on the differences between the three sisters. These early moments also seem to be there to show that the women are more than just caricatures. It is a good idea as Mi-ok in particular seems like she is going to be a little too one dimensional. The film also runs the risk of being melodramatic. Thankfully, Three Sisters is able to avoid this problem.
This is possible thanks to some expertly injected moments of comedy. The film deals with a number of serious topics, but it never forgets to find time to laugh. This adds a more human quality to Three Sisters. It is about more than being dealt hardships; it is about dealing with them. The films makes things more relatable and by extension easier to watch.
Three Sisters is a drama, first and foremost. Each woman is dealing with their own problems. Things can get predictable at times – unfaithful husbands and disobedient children are examples – but it always remains interesting. There is also a subplot involving the cycle of abuse which is well done. Again, the film walks to the edge of being derivative before it pulls back and captures the audience.
The camerawork for the movie does some neat things. Though it is subtle, each sister is shot in a slightly different light. This is a nice bit of work as it not only highlights different characters, but it also helps emotions and even settings stand out. A less inspired choice is the use of black and white during flashbacks. This does not look bad (Three Sisters is a consistently attractive film) but it does come off as low rent. This is especially surprising since everything else is done with such care. In general, the flashbacks do not blend well with the rest of the story.
There is nothing revolutionary about Three Sisters. It is a family drama that is focused on a set of siblings and the troubles they are facing. The movie still works due to great performances and some deft direction. It is also proof that some of the best stories being told about everyday lives.
Was this review helpful to you?
The cast selection is pretty good, Mei Nagano as Rinko looks so kawaii, Suzuki Ryohei looks good as Takeo, and the others are acted pretty good too.
Unfortunately this movie can't be as exciting as the anime, it's hard to explain in words what it feels like.
Was this review helpful to you?
It's very obvious that this film is a drama in terms of plot and direction, it's made to be lilting. Even so, the execution of the horror scene is still quite intentional and quite tense.
After I finished watching this film, I feel that if this film were made into a pure drama & romance genre film, it would seem to have more impact on.
Was this review helpful to you?
Panor: Kill you? I want you to feel the pain. Like the pain you gave me. You'll feel it.
Art of the Devil 2 & 3 is truly the perfect form of revenge film, at least as a film that uses witchcraft to be a good spectacle.
Honestly, after watching the prequel to the second film in the Art of the Devil trilogy, I don't want to consider the first ever existed.
Apart in the previous film, Mrs. Panor is described as a bad woman, but here I feel I have no choice but to take her side. No wonder she has a bitter grudge, she was tortured till the child she was carrying was removed from her womb, then her body spirit was exchanged with his mother Tar. It pisses me off to see Ta's family, deserved and must be condemned.
Later it becomes a satisfying witchcraft parade aimed at the right people. Even the grandfather's character is made to feel a slow death through torture.
Remember "The Three Eyed God" at the end of the second film? Here is a sub-plot with Dit, the shaman who helps the spirit exchange ritual to become the person who hunts TEG. I like the character, looks cool even in a negative way, and I still don't understand why TEG prefers Panor over Dit because it says Dit has a dirty soul, even though Panor is no different.
The practical effects are getting better, like the rotting body of Dit which is full of maggots due to too much black magic being displayed quite disgustingly, and other characters also get a pretty good practical effect too.
Overall, it's not as intense as the second one, but it makes my emotions run wild because I feel that Panor's grudge really should & deserve to be paid in full.
Ta's Grandpa: You're evil!
Panor: So what did you to me was not evil?
Was this review helpful to you?
What is certain is that this is much better in all aspects than the first film, from the story, the atmosphere, to the special effects, etc. making this sequel superior to its predecessor.
The story really facilitates so that witchcraft can become the main focus, making the characters have a grudge against each other to the point of using the services of a shaman to do witchcraft, even all the characters in this film are not good people, all evil, make their death feel appropriate as a form of karma as the shaman says.
The practical effects are also very intentional, making this film almost look like body horror. I would like to give applause to this department because their work looks very good, looks real and the way they play with human bodies and skin, made my body ache. There is one of the most epic scenes in this film, showing the enormity of this witchcraft, which is when many geckos come out of the back of one of the characters and of course he immediately dies; as someone who doesn't like reptiles, this scene makes me uncomfortable but at the same time amazed because it's really cool.
The shaman's words are firmly adhered to in this film.
Deserve 5-stars because I satisfied.
Was this review helpful to you?
Unfortunately in terms of the story, it feels less evocative, Boom' motivation to send witchcraft to Pratan's ex-wife's family feels to weak, just to get Pratan's inheritance doesn't really make sense to me.
The atmosphere is also not tense, the same as what I felt when I watched another Tanit Jitnukul film entitled "Hell" which had an interesting idea but the story and execution were not optimal. A film like this is very suitable to be made as crazy and bloody as possible, especially using witchcraft, the death of the character can be made as creative as possible.
Was this review helpful to you?
