Reviews

Nostalgic Re-watch

I re-watched this recently and I have to say it was nostalgic to watch it again. I watched this for the first time in 2010 and it was my first time watching a Thai movie. My first impression was that it is a good movie.,

After re-watching it I have to say it is a very cute and funny movie, but there are somethings that did bother me now, that I did not notice in 2010 because I was 13 years old then. I think one of my issues with not giving the movie a higher rating is because of their view on beauty.

Nam is such a beautiful girl already, but people disliked because she was to "dark." In Asian culture, girls generally are viewed to be more beautiful if they have "whiter skin." Girls who are tanner, are seen as less beautiful. I do not know why her friend had to bath her in Tumeric? She was already beautiful as is, she just needed braces to keep her teeth straight and glasses to see. She eventually got her braces and contacts, probably. Her tan skin made her different, but beautiful. Some people are born with darker skin colors. There is nothing wrong with that. The perception of having "whiter skin" is what makes you more beautiful in Asian culture make me sick. All people are beautiful no matter the tone of the skin.

With that being said I enjoyed how Shone loved Nam through everything. He liked her since the beginning and always was there for her when needed. He was there from day 1 and admired her since day 1, even before her "self-transformation" to impress him. I liked that he looked beyond looks and liked her for her personality. Personally, I think the cast did amazing job playing their roles.

The only other think I would pick at is the ending. I think that having them meet again on a TV Show with the host having the notebook he made about her was too cheesy. Don't get me wrong, I loved that, and it is assumed, they probably ended up together because he has been waiting for her. In general, the ending felt rushed and cliche, like that would not happen in real life.

I think a better ending would have been, both of them developing successful careers and bumping into each other again randomly when she came back from the US. He is a photographer and she is a fashion designer. He could have met her while he was taking pictures at a fashion show? (This is just an example) To me felt like that would have been a better ending. Is it cliche? Yes, but I feel like it would have been a more natural way for them to be able to see each other again and discuss what happened and how they were feeling after the events by the pool that day.

Outside of those 2 critiques I had about the movie, I have to say I would not sleep on watching this again. I thoroughly enjoyed it then and thoroughly enjoy it now. Again I like how Nam and Shone's love for each other is very pure, innocent and sweet. They always want what is best for each other and the people they care about.

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I loved the 2021 drama of the same name that this is the sequel to, and am so glad to see more of Liu Jing, Fang Xin and Xia Meng. Thankfully, this movie does not waste time with flashbacks and just moves full steam ahead, and you could probably enjoy it even if you haven't watched the drama. The trio continues to navigate their careers and love lives, but above all else this movie is an ode to their friendship. I did feel like Xia Meng has a more substantial storyline than Liu Jing and Fang Xin, and there were some things left resolved at the end, but overall it was a delight to see the cast together again. There were a couple of new characters I really liked as well. If they made another movie, I'd absolutely watch it.

By the way, don't miss the three scenes within the credits.

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"You are responsible for what you do"

The Last Emperor was epic in scope with filming for the first time in the Forbidden City, stunning costumes, and an enormous cast. It covered sixty years of Chinese history largely through the eyes of one man…the last emperor of China.

The film bounced back and forth in Emperor Pu Yi’s life in chronological order from his coronation at the age of 3 with his future life as a prisoner of the PRC. From the time he ascended the throne he was told he could do anything, anything that was except leave the Forbidden City. All of his needs were taken care of with the exception of having no friends, his company primarily old eunuchs. As he aged, he was given a Scottish tutor named Reginald Johnston with whom he became close. While safely ensconced behind the city’s walls, different factions gained and lost power outside. Instead of escaping those walls, he escaped into marriage with his Empress and concubine.

After the Beijing Coup in 1924 he bid a final farewell to The Forbidden City and was sent to Tientsin where he lived a hedonistic lifestyle. The Japanese army convinced him and/or coerced him into becoming the emperor of Manchukuo, previously Manchuria and Pu Yi’s ancestral home. Instead of finally becoming the ruler he had dreamed of being, he found himself a puppet of the Japanese. Things went from bad to worse there when the Japanese lost WWII and were looking for the exit door. Pu Yi was captured by the Russians and later turned over to the PRC where he was imprisoned for ten years in order to be “re-educated”.

As glorious as the sets, scenery, and costumes were, Pu Yi wasn’t always the most fascinating character. He went from being a figurehead to a puppet to a prisoner. He had no say in the government and often led an insular life. Dramatic events in China and globally impacted him on the periphery but politically speaking he was as impotent as his eunuchs had been. Prison gave him new insights into himself, others, and the war. A person who had his share of damaging tantrums, he had to learn to grow up. He’d never put toothpaste on his toothbrush or learned how to tie his shoes, soon he had to also learn to pee correctly and to garden. While imprisoned Pu Yi was shown a WWII film demonstrating how the people had suffered and the terrible atrocities committed. After the reality check his reformation and realization began to take hold.

I wish Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci had briefly explained some of the political upheavals better instead of just showing another set of beige uniforms in charge. The cinematography was good and maybe it was because they were trying to show a more realistic view of the places Pu Yi lived in or perhaps it was mood lighting, but many scenes seemed abysmally dark. The version I watched had most of the dialogue in English with some Japanese in a few scenes which was disappointing. I would have much preferred for the dialogue that was supposed to be Chinese dubbed in Mandarin. The Last Emperor’s greatest achievement was not the long glossed over historical events covering six decades, for many in 1987 it was the first look into the magnificent 9,999 room palace and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Joan Chen’s performance as Wan Rong plumbed emotional depths as the Empress became more isolated and dependent on opium. John Lone did his best with Pu Yi, but the character was one I felt little sympathy toward. The wars and tragedies never really touched him except for preventing him from being sole ruler over China. The late Peter O’Toole showed up in the role of Pu Yi’s tutor adding some gravitas to the cast.

The film didn’t touch on the cost to Pu Yi’s people during all of the political upheavals. Even during the various battles and revolutions he ate and dressed well, always had whatever he wanted while many of his people struggled for safety and daily needs. The film ended with Mao’s rule and cult of personality. Despite eliminating the imperial court, they traded one Emperor for another of sorts.

13 February 2024

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Lee Long is perfect, thank you for listening

30 minutes of pure bliss > We are going to ignore the ending because if I think about it, it will send me into a spiral

Lee Long can do no wrong

I love mini-movies that take place in one setting where 2 people are talking to each other, I don't know what it is, I think its because it's just raw and intimate. That's one of my favorite things to do is just sit down with someone and just have a conversation so I think that's why I like these kinds of short films.

August's confession was one of my favorite confessions ever, the emotion on both boy's faces when they were confessing to each other was unmatched.

I don't know if Sobita is still acting but he needs to do more series with Lee because they had more chemistry sitting there than I've seen in a whole 12-ep series.

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Not for me...I found it boring and difficult to connect with the story

Unfortunately, I was disappointed by this movie. It is for sure pretty slow and does not commit to one obvious genre. It is not really a BL, not really a queer coming of age story, neither a thrilling horror film...It is not really a default to be ambivalent in terms of genre but here really it is super strange and I'm still not sure what I have seen or if I really understood the intentions of the screenwriter.

It does not help also that the film has a really contemplative feel with the camera really taking its time...It feel super slow and I think it takes 40 minutes for something midly interesting to happen. It has a strong indie feel but not necessarily in a good way: the characters are litteraly living through miserable sets: the decors for sure have a purpose in the context of the story but their poverty really does not entice more the viewer...

The casting was okay overall. I watched this movie for Gun and he is good in it. Not as great as in some of the later series I saw him in but it is already very clear how skilled he is. His presence elevates for sure the movie. I would have loved to see even more from him (especially in the more frightening scenes) but he does a good job. I was not particularly impressed nor dissatisfied by the acting of his counterpart.

I would not recommend this to people. Maybe if you are in the right mood or if you are a fan of Gun, it can be interesting to watch it...I also think that a second watch might really help to understand some of the layers of the scenario and better grasp the intentions of the screenwriter. However, even if that is the case, I will likely never watch it a second time because clearly the entertaining factor was totally missing for me...

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Worth the watch

Firstly, I watched this after a few fluff bl so was pleasantly surprised.

The spark that Youchi feels stems from Sakurai on meeting him immediately understood his art. Those around him took care to keep him safe but did not understand his expression on canvas. Youchi feels drawn to him. Sakurai, himself, burnt out by his uneventful life, welcomes the attention though struggles to understand why he is attracted to Youchi as this is his first male awakening.

Their conversations are always introspective. At times the age gap is glaring and sometimes not. Yoichi, blunt and direct, forces Sakurai to acknowledge who is creating the distance between them. I should mention that Youchi's immediate family and cohabitants all welcomed and encouraged the relationship as this was the first person that he had opened himself up to.

Then enters Fujimoto. School mate and age appropriate sees Sakurai as a threat. He doesn't waste any moment to remind Sakurai how obscene a man of his age looks when pursuing a boy half his age. His sole purpose to win Youchi fails as he cannot compare to the clarity and bond they share. He cannot see the unfinished painting as flowers which Sakurai readily saw on their first meeting.

Youchi, after a break period between them, understands that Sakurai was waiting for him to come out of his cocoon, come to terms with his past and truly form a stronger bond if they are to be together. Sakurai realised that conforming to other perceptions of their relationship (gay, older man, lover) would not bring the happiness he craved.

Pros:
Pacing was slow which allowed the story to evolve.
The family members, rather than having unnecessary interactions, was used as a vehicle for clarity as Youchi barely spoke.
Main actors embodied their roles.
Scenery suited the mood.
Non visual sex scene was alluded to by the lowering of Sakurai's hand. Perfect for this movie.

Cons:
Fujimoto rushed brashness felt out of place. Probably used to make the viewer like Sakurai more.
Sakurai appeared older than 37 in body movements. Who would get angry at 37 with being caught in a water fight?
At no time was it shown that his family had a chat with Youchi about his living outside of the bubble and the expectations that may be imposed by the public upon viewing their relationship. Their stance was Youchi seems to want this, let's make sure it happens. Except, for Takeo who questioned Sakurai's motives but still pushed for it to happen by supplying Youchi's number.
The subdued mood of Youchi throughtout did nothing to help the lack of chemistry between them. Not even with Fujimoto.

Beautiful moment:
Y: Flowers must be watered everyday
S: I'll call you everyday

Y: This flower will bloom right?
S: Yeah, this time it will bloom. It will definitely bloom.

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Think John Wick or Taken, but revenge against men who kidnap young girls to use as sex slaves.

I genuinely loved it. It was the usual clichéd revenge story with a badass female lead, lots of violence etc. Nevertheless, the realisation (the movie really has an artsy feel, so it's either a love it or hate it), the acting, the fight scenes, were all top notch. The movie only has a duration of 1h30 and the story had the minimal depth needed. There wasn't much ballet scenes but I'm a lover of ballet since Angel's Last Mission and I absolutely loved this scene at the beginning. Just the fact that the story revolved around a ballerina, too. I loved the flashbacks between Ok Ju and Min Hee. Now, what made it all greater for me was, obviously, the satisfying conclusion to their revenge journey, but more than that, the final scene. I loved how witty it was. This simple detail added something for me. It had this bittersweet feeling. It was really beautiful after having seen the flashback of Ok Ju and Min Hee at the beach, in much happier times... Also, I was getting bored by my current drama so such a great action movie was a blast.

"Lee Chung-hyun's latest film "Ballerina" on Netflix explores dark societal themes, centering around a female protagonist seeking revenge on a sex offender. The director aims to shed light on sexual exploitation against women."

Even though it wasn't "original" and the story was simple, I wonder how people missed that.

For what it is, it's a 10/10.

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Revenge vs Protection

Across the Furious Sea is a cinematic ride for those who like their drama grim, gritty and in constant unpredictable movement. A cat and mouse game of revenge versus protection that conveys in subtext the disparity of parenthood between the classes.
Ultimately this is a story about facing the truth , whether about oneself, or those we love and accepting responsibility for our actions & treatment of others.
It has violence both bloody and sexual but the real darkness is in the characters.
While it was messed up, sad, tragic , thrilling and so well done at same time ,the end message of the movie comes across the sea loud and clear.

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Is 365 days enough for someone to move on?

First of all, I give this movie a clap for Bela Padilla for being the woman on screen and behind the camera. It’s worth noting that she is a triple-threat actress. This movie shows how she brilliantly conveys all emotions with her acting and visual direction.

The premise is not something that we haven’t seen in a romance genre movie before, but it's still something you can enjoy despite its clichés. The movie moves at a nice pace with two different tones. The first half is filled with the weightiness of grief and pain, letting the melancholy mood sink in immediately as the movie opens, which, in my opinion, managed to draw the audience in and invite them to stay in the emotional depths of the movie. The second half has a lighter mood and slowly turns into corny romantic plots, but the transition seems abrupt, and it alters the seriousness of the movie. The back-and-forth change in tonality slowly affected the story flow and the emotional rollercoaster this movie intended to give. It’s kind of a bummer to me. There are also some loose ends that detract from the overall quality of this movie.

Here are two aspects of why I think this movie deserve a 7. 1. The cinematography. The indie-like camera work boosted all sorts of emotions this movie has to offer: love, happiness, pain, loneliness, heartbreak, despair, and encouragement. 2. Acting. While the emotional rollercoaster is not crazy enough, the acting is what stood out the most. Bela did an excellent job portraying a bereaved lover, showing the genuine and realistic way that grief is expressed through character and narrative. Even though JC Santos is not the ML and he didn’t have many scenes he shared with Bela, this tandem still managed to show their good chemistry and make you feel the sweetness they were showing from their few scenes together.

The movie subtly makes the point that letting go and moving on are two different things. It also showcased the guilt in moving on. It’s okay to keep old memories without necessarily erasing them, but knowing when to let go is crucial to healing. Time heals everything, as the saying goes. However, a person's willingness to truly let go of the past and go on, no matter how painful it was, is what matters most.

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rom com of the year and it's only feb

Haven't watched a rom-com this good in a long, long time. Every scene felt natural, not a single thing reminded me that this was a script these actors were reading off. Both the leads and the cast looked comfortable around each other. This was a joy to watch. I am a sucker for these kind of plotlines so I ate this story up and thoroughly enjoyed it. Would recommend anyone and everyone to watch it.

acting- goooooooooooood
nsfw - in the kmovie industry its ok, no closeups just feelings which was extremely adorable and personally i loved
heart strings tugged: yes! but could have been a bit more but no reason to pull the rating down i guess because i worked with what i had.

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This drama told story of 2nd change or redemption. Primo and George (Jo) a young couple that separated due to misunderstandings, different focus & also little yet piling others things.

Sometimes the beautiful things about youth is time to dream. Primo dream about to be a singer, but as usual this dream never easy to achieve. He still insisted about his dream even when everyone around him already start moving forward with their life, cause life happen & we can't always stay in the bubble of our dream.

And that's exactly the biggest problem with Primo & Jo relationship. Primo that's stay persistent with his dream, while Jo carried the heavy burden of their life. And one day she can't take it anymore & just explode.

Their story restart again when suddenly, 2 years later, Primo back to Jo's life. Bring all the beautiful yet painful memory for Jo. It's also happen align with the time Jo decide to sell her grandma's house, where they used to lived together. And that's make them lived together again in that house.

Everything happen for a reason. The 2nd change in their relationship open a new sight about their separation years ago & rekindled their old feelings for each other.

Overall this one good movie about 2nd change or redemption.

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Idk

Even though the duration of this movie is only about 100 minutes they tried to cover each and every aspect. If only they could have increased the runtime and showed us some character development, then it would have felt way more content while watching the movie.

Even though the story is something common - Arranged marriage to drive away misfortune, leads already met when they are kids, and the horror part is also something kind of similar plot which we are already familiar with(I don't want to spoil it). Everything was extremely supernatural and way beyond science(Well what else can we expect when the story was set in 1960s hahaha). Like I said they could have made the whole plot in a more detailed manner(Not saying it is not detailed enough LOL).

Acting wise, the actors did a really good job. The music is also pleasing and suited the movie and the situation really well. Like we already know NuNew is a great singer right!! My only complaints are regarding the story elaboration, other than that it's a good movie.

[Ahem...the headline is a hint regarding climax]

P.S. - I have not read the novel. But the movie's a solid one time watch. Go Watch it!!

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O que é?

Fiquei com a impressão de que a história não contada talvez fosse mais interessante.
O quê levou ao reconhecimento da necessidade de uma vida com menos responsabilidade, menos preocupação, com momentos contemplativos que a cada dia menos temos oportunidades de ter?
O final me causou real angústia ao perceber que tudo o que foi apresentado pode não ser.
O que realmente é visível aos olhos, é?
Acredito que eu esteja no ponto de vista da ansiedade, e não do medo, como é discutido no filme.
Não tiro o mérito do enfoque dado pelo filme, mas as entrelinhas me parecem gerar um incômodo muito maior e questionar o porquê de, eu mesma, não escolher o simples, o monótono, o repetitivo, e o contemplativo para minha vida.

Valeu a indicação ao Oscar, mas alguns dos concorrentes estão gerando muito mais incômodo e reflexão do que Perfect Days.

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