19 years - 110 Countries - 25,000 miles!
The cinematography and music was excellent in this movie!The support cast worked great to support the main cast's performance.
I liked especially the majority movie showing the hazards, hardships and trials that befell Xuan Zang in his 25,000 mile-110 countries-19 year journey...
Instead of giving you my own opinion of this movie, I am letting others tell you 'their' opinion of this movie:
Smith Watson
2 months ago
As an Indian we are only taught about Hiuen Tsang as a Chinese traveler who visited India but we never knew how much sacrifices he made to reach India and that he was a Buddhist monk who spread Buddhism in China via the texts. Great man, Salute to him. He has written 'Si-Yu-Ki' i.e Buddhist records of the western world.
I love the scenery!
I love the attempt at making this seem to have been filmed in the time period in which the character lived.
I love the interaction on a respectful, human level which seems to be so lacking in society today.
I love the historical accuracy since I reported on this person as part of a Religious Studies class in college.
And I love being able to escape into a time where things were simpler...
Bill Amos
1 year ago
I came upon this movie totally by accident, and I'm so glad I did! It has spurred me to read more about Buddhism, the Silk Road, and Tang-era China.
Jaydeep Ghosh
8 months ago
Beautiful , love from India. Yes, Hiuen Tsang is part of Indian school syllabus in 7-8th grade history. Great to get some glimpses of ancient India and China. Love and respect!
FT- Anjana PV
5 months ago
Omg... Such a beautiful movie.. kudos to actor portrayed Xuan.. i m so glad hearing a Chinese speaking hindi and Indian actors to be a part of Chinese movie.. i really hope India and China to be friends forever. No war no hatred. Peace only. I hope people will understand this
anandita adhikary
7 months ago (edited)
Thank you China for such a beautiful film. I absolutely loved it. Have read about Xuansang as a part of history syllabus in school but to see a movie depicting his eventful and inspirational life was an experience in itself. The present relationship between the two countries is far from what it happened to be or what it should have been. The two great civilizations would have benefitted a lot from one another ;had the evil forces of destiny didn't intervene !
I have visited ruins of Nalanda University, Mahabodhi temple and the banyan tree where Lord Buddha got enlightenment personally and have great reverence for Him šš¹ā¤ļø
Rose Lover
1 year ago
I am a Christian and I found this movie inspiring and moving. If a horse can have a kind and compassionate heart what excuses do we as humans have? We ought to love and treat each other better.
Ruchi in China
11 months ago
Love from India! A subscriber referred to this movie and I canāt believe I havenāt watched it. Every Indian should watch this beautiful movie to learn the historical significance of these events.
Zel L B.
9 months ago
Such a film! The sceneries and phases in this film translated so well. These magnificent landscapes surely lead us to our own inner journey. Kudos to Chinese and India filmmakers, happy to have stumbled upon this.
teve a
11 months ago
I was a tourist at the Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India, on the day they were filming this movie and got to watch them for a bit. This main Actor who played Xuanzang is very famous and well known in India and people were lined up to say hello to him after the filming. It was all surreal to see this ....Just like stepping back in time
Jason Watkin
11 months ago
What a devotional masterpiece. I would have watched it just to hear the monks chanting Om Mani Padme Hum, or the Mandarin version of the Heart Sutra. Even the precision of the difference between HÄ«nayÄna and MahÄyÄna - HÄ«nayÄna seeing the universe as material and perception as illusory and mutable, while MahÄyÄna seeing ābothā as illusory and mutable is very succinct and skillful. The cinematography and content are awe-inspiring!
triple terrific
5 months ago
As an Indian, I have great admiration for Hieuntsang about whom I learnt while at school. Thank you for writing about our history. At least through your books I learn about the golden times of my Bharatha
Any questions? A whole page full of like comments are at the English Subtitled version of this movie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulDzLjz0wdw
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A little endearing but mostly cringy and over-the-top
This is pretty much what I expected from a 2011 Taiwanese rom-com; it's a lot of ridiculousness and slapstick humor, and a lot of the main female lead just bumbling around, being clumsy, overreacting, and making questionable decisions.Something about this is a little endearing ā I appreciate the absolute mundaneness of the male lead, and of the entire situation, despite many of the plot points being common tropes.
However, the weakness of this movie is really with its characters; the male lead is mundane but uninspiring, the female lead is dramatic to the point of being cookie-cutter. It's pretty unclear why they fell for each other, and the addition of a mean female second lead felt pretty unnecessary. The positives were the aunties, who were pretty much there for comedic relief and succeeded at doing exactly that.
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Good story
Good story. I bet the manga was better because they could fit more in. This understandably seemed squished given the short time frame it has to be portrayed in. Though the kissing and sometimes the acting was really awkward. Especially on the part of Yagii-san. I don't think the actors kissed at all. That's ok with me. I can understand how that must be uncomfortable, and we aren't progressive enough to be at a point where people of the same gender kissing is as normal and comfortable as people of different genders kissing. It just felt... homophobic. Not that the actors or the show itself was homophobic. Ok, since the literal meaning of Homophobic is scared of homosexual people, then yes, both are homophobic. But it feels invalidating to queer people. If you can't fully betray it, then get different actors? Do I feel that this representation is better than nothing? Yes, but does that have to be my standard in 2021? I don't think so.Was this review helpful to you?
Hidden gem with a very heartwarming story
I accidentally found this hidden gem while I'm browsing through Netflix. I saw the reviews and it was mostly good so I decided, 'why not give it a try?' So far, it's one of the great decisions that I didn'tĀ regret.The storyline is definitely interesting specially when the story about the father has been revealed however I do believe that it was the wonderful acting that made this whole movie a success. The father and daughter'sĀ chemistry is so amazing that it's already touching just seeing them together. They really made the character alive which is the reason why the audience will definitely be smitten by this movie.
I really recommend this movie because it's heartwarming and it's really worth the watch. I really love how they portayed good deeds as something that comes around one way or another. Also, prepare to wipe your tears as it will surely make you feel vulnerableĀ and just want to cry everythingĀ out.
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This review may contain spoilers
Nice addition to The Untamed but doesn't work as a standalone
This is for fans of The Untamed--not in the sense that it is so bad that only die-hard fans will like it, but in the sense that those who have not watched The Untamed or know the story in some other way will not be able to appreciate it. It will seem like a random story with a perplexing ending to those who have no idea what The Untamed is about, so it's not a good standalone movie, At 80+ minutes, the movie isn't exactly long, and there is room for more scenes, especially at the end.I suppose one difficulty of having more scenes if that it will inevitably involve more actors from The Untamed who may not be able or willing to commit to filming the movie, (Or maybe there simply isn't enough budget.) Also, even if there are more scenes added, there may be overlaps with the series (so is the solution then to re-film some scenes?).
The focus on Nie Huaisang and Nie Mingjue in this movie offers an interesting addendum of sorts to The Untamed. It gives insight into the character of Nie Huaisang and why he may be motivated to orchestrate the downfall of the villain in The Untamed. The ending of The Untamed does give the sense that it is to take revenge, but it remains ambivalent as to whether Nie Huaisang is another ambitious person trying to gain power or he simply wants to see the villain's downfall.
Some questions that one has after watching The Untamed remain though. For instance, how does Nie Huaisang know about the range of the villain's misdeeds? In this movie, he discovers that his brother's death is caused by the villain, buthow about all the other evil deeds? Of course, to reveal more will require the inclusion of characters like Wei Wuxian (is there enough budget to get Xiao Zhan into the movie for a role that isn't the focus?).
One may be happy enough with The Untamed's fifty episodes. We do have a strong hint that Nie Huaisang isn't really an evil person even though he has enough intelligence to be a frightening villain if he wants. (Contrast it with the anime version of the story in which Nie Huaisang may be the next villain rising to a position of power.)
Ultimately, perhaps a better story can be told about the Nie brothers. As it is, we have flashbacks to the past with the brothers as kids, showing how close they are. We also have Nie Huaisang being shown to be clearly uninterested in power--he is rather cowardly but he also has a strong sense of righteousness, so much so that he would admonish his brother for doing questionable things. Why not include how he discovers the way to bring Wei Wuxian back to life and why. Why not show whether he has ruthlessly made use of Mo Xuanyu (who sacrifices his life to resurrect Wei Wuxian) or whether Mo Xuanyu is a willing party? (He starts off being a really good person, but does the quest for vengeance change him?) Instead of protracted fight sequences that don't do that much for me, I wish there had been effort to make the story a good standalone movie that can even serve as a good introduction to The Untamed for those who still have not watched the series.
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This movie is a must watch
So I just ended up watching it because of my classmate, and I must say I feel sad that I watched it just this morning. This movie has a very good plot twist, unexpected ending and the actors are chosen just right. There aren't any scenes I will add or skip, the filmmakers did a great job.The more I watched, the more I got excited about it. Also, it isn't that big comedy type, but I smiled a lot and was laughing as never at the videos during ending subtitles.
I recommend it to everyone who likes thrilling action movies with bad (and handsome) guys and doesn't mind a bit of blood or fights.
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A comedic heart-warmer
So "comedic heart-warmer/tearjerker" might sound like an oxymoron but that's exactly what this was ā there were really funny and silly moments, but they were followed by just heart-warming and adorable scenes between the father and daughter. Those were undoubtedly the best out of the entire movie, and I also loved how the side characters were also given personality. They all felt like one big happy family.This drama reminded me a lot of Prison Playbook (not the parent dynamic but the cellmates dynamic) and it just made me feel really cozy and at home.
The only thing that I didn't love was the "future" scenes ā it was a little predictable and though I've got nothing against Park Shin Hye, I felt like she just didn't feel right; I didn't buy into her character.
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Another girl ready to worship a guy and forget that she exists because he acted like a decent human
I feel like i saw this movie a 1000000 times over the years (some better than others) and as time goes by it gets harder to get it pass down my troath. I get so frustrated with the brainless nonsense passivity and stupid acting (or lack of it for that matter) and decision making...And it's specially problematic when they write girl characters, it gets to my last nerve. It's not being shy or afraid of being bullied, it's just acting like they are 5 (i kinda know that some japanese guys like that girls act that way, stupid and immature so they fill their ego so i know why they write them that way, very problematic) a passivity to a level of being a blank paper that you can do anything with and leaving their entire selves to hopefully being ``savedĀ“Ā“ by a guy that will become their god just because they acted like any basic decent human would do.
I know shit about her but she had a freaking notebook asking every little thing about him or even his taste in hairstyles. He was the one that matter, she doesn't. She is almost empty to us.
And they act inconsistent and change their minds on and off without propper sense!! I cannot haha so frustrating.
I enjoy certain aspects of the tenderness of japanese romance, that's why i still come to watch time to time hopping for better, but please, get it together and stop with this characters that are brainless and have 0 personality other than following their love interest and throwing absurd pitty parties for themselves because is way too much to handle.
And lord, if you hear me, teach 99% of japanese live actions how to kiss, because the stamp is for the papers not the lips. Quite sure that the steamy kiss tag was a joke from someone, i refuse to believe otherwise.
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Cringe and cliche
There were some parts that were actually laugh out loud funny, and that was pleasantly surprising. Overall, however, this went exactly how I expected a 2004 movie to go ā chock full of the worst cliches, cringy, and a lot of creepy and problematic scenes turned into humor. A lot of this just didn't sit right with me, including a lot of decisions made by the characters that just did not make much sense to me and felt very cookie-cutter and taken from common movie and tv show tropes. I didn't feel much chemistry between the main characters, partly because of that.Was this review helpful to you?
Fun and endearing
This was a really nice no-brain watch; there were moments that were quite endearing and yet had harsh and realistic implications for the larger policing system. At the same time, because of the humor, I found it hard to feel invested because there never felt like there were high stakes. You always knew things would work out in the end, and even at the most harrowing parts the movie never felt serious.Even so, this movie worked well as a comedy ā KHN and PSJ have really great chemistry together and the bromance scenes in this have become so iconic it was fun to see.
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SURPRISED AT HOW GOOD IT IS!
I wasnt expecting that much for the debut film of DonBelle as lead stars. But maaaan, I was not prepared for a heart tugging plot, crying fest and the visceral offering of the movie, yup want to highlight how easy in the eyes the main leads are plus the cinematography of the movie deserves a recognition. I love love how they put a fresh twist in an otherwise cliche plot of bestfriends turned into lovers. Just love how they made it relatable as well as it teaches you a lesson about self love and healing. And of course, how commendable the acting of the cast is! Belle, you're getting better and better in acting. Can't wait to see you handle more complex piece. Donny, what a show of improvement in your acting. You've def shown your detractors that you're not just another overhype star. Keep improving your craft, and for sure you and Belle are gonna bag acting awards everywhere.Kudos to the prod and the entire team behind this movie. Such an underrated film which deserves more hype and exposure as it is truly a well done movie especially for a fresh cast. In fact, this movie has easily stolen a spot on my top favorites!
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Anyways their individual life arc was kinda boring, but I think its important to be added to build up their character. Originally wanted to give this movie 6/10, but that last sequence when they were in the restaurantā¦.. itās cinema. Plus the acting wonāt disappoint you, the acting carried this whole movie.
Last thing: everyone in this movie needs a freaking therapy, jeez.
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I originally watch this because of Lee Jehoon but I was simply amazed at how great this movie is. As a person who isnāt really a fan of war movies, itās surprising to found myself liking this one. Truly one hell of an emotional war movie.
I really love the message that they showed in the movie. It really does slap you right in the face with powerful anti-war messages since the first minute. Weāll see how little the individual soldiers matter in the eyes of politicians and high-ranking officers. Weāll see how those soldiers are tired to make pointless war anymore. Weāll see how they are slowly losing their idealistic self. Weāll see how they are tired of deaths and killings. Weāll see how they donāt even know what is the purpose for the war anymore.
āOur enemy wasnāt the commies, but the war itself.ā
The Front Line goes for a melodramatic tone more than I expected, but neither the score nor the acting goes over the top, yet it still left a deep emotional impact on its audience. Kudos to Shin Ha Kyun, Go soo, Lee Jehoon for their top notch acting.
I donāt have any comment on the cinematography, its already perfect on its own. That slow motion side scrolling shot of the battlefield is really bone-chilling.
I really held back my tears yet when the North Korean and South Korean soldiers were singing together, I just lost it. Itās really heartbreaking.
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This review may contain spoilers
Less romance, more harassment
This isn't a romance story. It's harassment and bullying wrapped that is pretending to be 'flirting'. The story is terrible, rushed, and makes no actual sense. The characters are two-dimensional, with no actual motives for anything they do. There is a sub-plot around a kidnapping that is seemingly ignored by the main lead so he can flirt/insult the female lead a little more, and romances seem to happen out of nowhere.I watched this purely for Xie Binbin, who does very well with what he's given, but even he can't save this film.
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Ahjussi(ģģ ģØ) is a good person.
Before the review, I just want to say that this fim has a special place in my heart. Having a little brother simikar to our main character, the sadness and tears from this film naturally came.Story: the story was nothing mindblowing but was a good way to deliver the social messages, emotions, and experiences against people with disabilities.
Acting/Cast: let me start off with Kim Hyang Gi. Iam a bigggg fan of her therfire this might bias but she delivered her performance so well it was mindblowing. The acting as a person with disabilities was not over the top and was pleasent to watch while still delivered the overall theme. Jeong Woo Seong was as always a great veteran actor and a perfect fit. He delivered the complexety of the cruel and practical Lawyer to someone empathetic and sentimental. Our main antagonist also delivers a good performance, she wasn't entirely an pure evil one but my hatred for her was off the roof.
Music: I was either not paying attention or the music is forgettable. The soundtrack did not come at right times and was saved by the actor's performances
Rewatch Value: I will rewatch this because of a few reasons:
1. SOLID CAST AND ACTING PERFORMANCE
2. As said at the start, it has a special place in my heart
3. It was a wonderful conclusion
Overall: it's a light watch, where you don't need to focus too much on details but will still get the grasp of the film. It has humor, family love, and mystery throughout but gets emotional as it progress. My verdict is its a fun watch and something anyone can watch and enjoy, highly recommended!
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