Reviews

Not Like Original. Watch It as a Stand Alone.

Unfortunately because this was supposed to be a sequel to the original oscar winning movie it never had a chance to cut thae grade of the first. But if you watch it on its own merits by the dynamic casting of Donnie Yen and Michelle yeoh, both legends in their own right, and look at the rest of the young cast there is good solid acting and great potential for the younger. I loved it because I watched it on its own merits and the combination of Donnie and Michelle and what was once thought to be was not I looked upon this as telling the story behind Michelle's character. How she coped with Chow Yun 's death and finding out a death had come to life. It is still a movie about honour, dignity, duty, piety, the martial world and a love refound and a love started. I do not think they could have made this in any other way because the great figure in the first movie was like no other. In this it shows that they had flaws and made wrong decisions and not everything is as you may think. The sword was supposed to be the centrepiece but truthfully I believe it was Michelle's character and opening her eyes and her heart and still remain true to herself and keep her love locked in a space in heart for another to be able to enter. There is now way you could compare the 2 movies as they were different stories and as I said before, it could not surpass the first. But it was wonderful to see what happened to her afterwards. It gave closure for me. Watch it as a stand alone movie.. You will enjoy it more.

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yeah i agree, it's disappointing and if it weren't for raul, i wouldn't watch this

this is my first time writing a review in mdl so pls bear with me. i really want to write a review about this movie because it's so bad and disappointing, i had to let my frustration out. i'm a new fan of snow man and when i heard that raul has a movie i got excited and watched it only to feel disappointed and bad for him. the storyline sucks and very cliche and when i saw on the synopsis that he has a secret i got intrigued only to get disappointed again. really? that was the secret? i was expecting more. okay, raul has the potential in acting but i guess honey lemon soda isn't for him I MEAN, WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH HIS VOICE? I hope they can give my boy more projects where his character is alike with what he really is like in real life. Anyways the girls in this movie are all so pretty like seriously.

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Watch for the cat and the humanoid

7 Tips to Find that Door into Summer:
1. Pete the cat is adorable. I want that cat. Scratch that. I NEED that cat.
2. Pete the humanoid is equally adorable. He is more human than the human in this movie.
3. Acting kudos goes to Pete the cat AND the customer service humanoid. They are believable in their characters.
4. Expect some mind-blowing sci-fi movie? Lower it down.
5. Pete the cat is adorable. I just need to say it again.
6. Watch if you need a respite in between or after a heavy gut-wrenching drama/movie.
7. Treat this movie as if you're going to watch a super fluffy romcom/comedy.

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ah, we love a good cop movie

Okey dokey so I've been feeling kinda meh and really needed to watch something investing and funny. Oh boy did it deliver, gripping action, genuinely wicked gritty plot and eliteee bromance and witty bants between the leads. It was a great balance between comedy and seriousness, the weight of the situation was handled well and the morals were delivered well too whilst simultaneously making me laugh and wanting to rewatch certain moments. I'm in such a great mood after watching this wowee ahah, ah, looking back I really really enjoyed that, 1hr 50 mins very well spent indeed. As did everyone else who reviewed this movie, I really liked Ki Joon and Hee Yeol's dynamic, effortlessly funny honestly idek how else to describe it. The plot of this movie I just love, I feel like so much happens and all of it actually matters, no wasted time, no faffing with unnecessary side plots, straight to the point action we love to see it. I loved the little references they would make to previous parts of the movie and how cohesive everything was, nothing wildly complicated but still intriguing and intricate I felt.
Overall, thoroughly enjoyed this movie woah I would have no problem watching it again because it was seriously so good and I had a great time watching it. I probably wouldn't jump to watch it ASAP because I don't feel like that would exactly do much for me ygm, but I can 100% see myself roping someone else in to watch it with me in the future. Ah, wonderful, wholly satisfied and feeling much better than before :)))

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I wish I could dissappear, like i never existed

"Burning" has been on my mind ever since I saw it a years ago—and I've been yearning for a film like this ever since, but honestly there's nothing like it. It's smart. It doesn't cry out for you to spot little things and expect praise. It's just so minimal yet liminal. Burning is a mostly slow and subtle film but when it hits it hits hard. It often follows the protagonist in his seemingly mundane daily routine and very little information is revealed about the few characters involved. It's amazing, almost like magic, how this film keeps the mystery of a story so close to us. It's hard to describe the feeling it gives off after i watch it. It's like seeing an optical illusion. The theme of seeing what is not there is what underlies the story of this film. We can get clues about this from the scene where Hae-mi mimes eating oranges in front of Jong-su who gapes at the beginning of the story. It's so realistic, Jong-su can feel the sweetness of the oranges Hae-mi is eating, but there aren't really any oranges there. This film confuses, grips us tightly, makes us miserable by our own bad thoughts, it's so good and entertaining in its own way. The events in this film are intended to be a mystery, open to the interpretation of each viewer, how each of us sees things. The uncertainty of what really happened is the film's main strength.

Burning is not like a traditional (Hollywood) thriller where clue after clue is dropped one after another, nor is it one where you are certain of what the end goal is. The extra-diegetic music is not used as a device to necessarily excite, but more as a way to help build tension and a mild anxiety. It is a quiet film filled with lonely characters. Because of that, I can’t recommend it to people who are looking for the traditional thriller because this film isn’t that – it offers more of a study on the characters, their surroundings

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"Don’t get laughed at. Make them laugh."

Charming and heartwarming movie about the humble beginnings of Takeshi Kitano. While it isn't necessarily a characterization of Takeshi Kitano or his working process, it does show his formative years. At its core, Asakusa Kid is a touching depiction of the relationship between a student and his mentor which makes for an entertaining watch even if you aren't a Takeshi Kitano fan.

What made me thoroughly enjoy this were the wonderful performances by Oizumi Yo, Yagira Yuya and Kadowaki Mugi. Oizumi Yo is convincing as the charismatic mentor, while Yagira Yuya impresses with his nuanced portrayal of Takeshi Kitano's mannerism while giving a heartfelt performance of the artist's early years. On top of that, their chemistry and dialogues are what makes this movie work. Kadowaki Mugi was captivating, and I've yet to see a performance of her that I don't like. She has long become a favorite of mine.

An added bonus were the vibrant sets and lively jazz sounds that made me feel nostalgic for a time I didn't live in. If I had to criticize anything, it would be the fact that it seems a bit rushed. It feels like there was more to explore, and this might have had more impact if we had enough time to get to know the characters better. But it's a movie and not a drama, and I think they did a great job with the time they had. It's a colorful coming-of-age story brought to live by the stellar performances of the cast and the atmospheric set design.

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Made me kind of uncomfortable

The story was pretty good overall in the first movie so I was expecting it to be as good for the second. But due to the abuse in this movie, it made me pretty uncomfortable. I don't see how a man loves someone if he does terrible things to him. The ending was pretty sad. I wish there was another movie for this just so I could see if the man changes, but there isn't. That doesn't matter though. Some clips were good and the beginning started off good. I just don't understand why this movie has to be so different from the first movie. I don't plan on rewatching this anytime soon. But no hate towards the actors/actresses. For people who like this movie, I'm not hating towards you guys either!

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Nothing better than starting a movie with a heavy “newspaper” exposition :sarcasm:.

They honestly could not decide if they wanted to be a low budget silly horror or a deep social commentary about the overworked hospital staff and dealing with grief. At the end, everything was just cheap and meaningless and not one plot line was explored nor explained.

Saying the movie is based on a true story is a stretch of its own. Xinglin Hospital did not close down because of an unexplained surge in suicides and people setting themselves on fire. Fraudulent records, medical malpractice, and allegations of wrongful death - typical case of poorly run hospital with overworked staff. They could not deal with legal issues with fragmented ownership over the place, hence they closed it down. Not as frightening as what we saw in the movie.

The plot was sadly not the only weak part of the movie. I always say: if you can’t make good special effects, give up and try to work around it. I’m truly tired of seeing ghost creepy snapchat filters in horror movies.

What’s good? All the scenes that did not have any special effects in them were truly pretty, shot in a nice way, with nicely balanced colors. The acting was also decent. Nothing to be amazed by, but also nothing to complain about.

Overall, it’s just not worth it.

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A slow drive about town.

This film is supposed to be a slow burn; it isn't. It's supposed to have hot sex scenes in it; it doesn't. It's supposed to have a storyline with a twist: It never happened. Instead we are served a chauffeur in a badly tailored jacket, and a supposedly wealthy wife who lacks any poise or class. That such a thin idea should have been funded into a motion picture is depressing because it makes me wonder what even worse script ideas are there out there that are being knocked back to make way for this one. What this film does have is a lot of is some terrific looking expensive and stylish locations. I guess you call call this film "real estate porn"; watch it to see what most of us are missing out on.

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Not any better than the 2008 drama

I watched the 2008 drama first before I watch this movie. Somehow the drama got more popular than the movie. Haven't watch the anime before, so I don't know how close the character is compared to the manga/anime, but I think this story is much more suited to be adapted into a drama, not a movie. The pacing seems too rushed I feel like it failed to convey the story as well as the character's emotions. Moreover, I think the casts are not as great as the drama version..

For Aoi Yuu's or Sakurai Sho's fans, you might want to watch it once, but I think this is not something worth to rewatch. Overall, just like the headline, this is not any better than the 2008 drama..

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The best Anti-Samurai film to be ever made...

Unemployment has always been a tragic consequence of change and modernisation. What if this situation occurred at a time when there was no pension, no unemployment benefits and the moral code was not able to keep up with the times?

To me Harakiri had elements of a job interview gone horribly wrong. Considering the past two pandemic years where a lot of people became jobless, this movie hits close to home and makes me feel really thankful that we live in different times.

Story:
The time is 1630 - Japan. We have a ronin (wandering unemployed samurai) Tsugumo, who goes to a clan house and requests permission to kill himself i.e commit Harakiri. The clan elder Saito tells him a story designed to discourage this but the tables are turned when Tsugumo skilfully humiliates the leader in front of his retainers.

This is an anti-establishment film that portrays the flawed bushido code hiding behind a facade of honour and morality. It depicts the tragic circumstances surrounding ritual suicide and provides a potent message which I think is relevant as long as authoritarian regimes exist in this world. We are all born into a system that influences our thinking and behaviour. Be it cultural or political, the system defines our actions and when we are faced with an ethical dilemma it can challenge what we think to be right or wrong. A similar situation forces Tsugumo to give up his ideals and deal with it in the only way he knows - sepukku/ harakiri.

The story is poignant and the thought evoking screenplay by acclaimed screenwriter Shinobu Hashimoto is brought to life by Kobayashi in an extremely mesmerising narrative structure with some beautiful stills and graceful cinematography by Yoshio Miyajima.

Acting:
Tatsuya Nakadai as Tsugumo delivers a flawless performance. His calm demeanour in the initial sequence really brings in the sombre mood of the film.
Mikuni Rentaro does a splendid job as Saito. The acting in this film overall is superb but the direction by Kobayashi elevates this film to brilliance.

Overall:
There are a lot of symbolic shots during the opening and closing sequences that reflect the tarnished glory of feudal Japan. History is written by the victors and the ending shot of the samurai armour sears it into the minds of us viewers as it brings forth the hypocrisy of feudal Japan.

With a brilliant screenplay, an amazing director and the wonderful acting of every cast member, this is undoubtedly one of the most thought provoking samurai film to be ever made!
A solid 10 from me.

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