L'air du temps - The Flow of Time
The movie is Japan-Taiwan co-production that takes us on a journey of Jimmy who after experiencing failures in his adult life embarks on a soul-searching quest to rediscover and meet the love of his youth.While the story itself may not be groundbreaking and unique, the narration is compelling and engaging. From the afterglow of that first love to the monotony of being a 36 year old guy, the movie effectively captures it all.
The movie explores the theme of self discovery and the importance of taking a break. Sometimes taking a break can provide clarity and a fresh perspective on life. Also sometimes detours can lead us to where we need to be!
The color contrast made it easier to differentiate between present and past scenes. The flashback scenes color tones have certain warmth to it reflecting happy memories while the present scenes were more sombre and grey to fit the melancholy vibe.
The cast delivers believable performances. Greg Hsu as Jimmy, a lost soul who evokes sympathy at times and then his energy in the flashbacks to his youth is convincing. Kiyohara Kaya as Ami does a decent job, though she could have been a bit more expressive. Michieda Shunsuke, as Koji, captures the chaotic spirit of an 18-year-old that is both charming and inspiring in his own way!
The cinematography is stunning. Some locations are so beautifully shot that they make me want to take a trip to Japan soon.
While the ending is somewhat predictable, it still has enough engaging elements to keep you sailing through.
Overall, this was a visual treat with few valuable life lessons on the way along .
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A sensitive and emotional journey.
Yes, my rating may be high, but I don’t think undeservedly so.It’s hard to know where to start for this review, the film’s cinematography is stunning, attention to detail is just-so, while the characters are realistic and truly embodied by their actors. The soundtrack matched perfectly the events onscreen. When I left the cinema, walking home quietly at night, life felt beautiful. That is the feeling this film left me with.
I also loved the creative decisions made in storytelling, which added major depth and impact to scenes that may have stood out less otherwise. I love the film in a quiet and reflective sense; it doesn’t rush to throw so many things at the viewer at once (with the possible exception of subtitles, being a bilingual film). In that sense the film is much like a journey you go on together with the leads.
The attention to detail with language was not lost on me, as the characters knew each other longer, their language abilities noticeably grew and improved, which may seem small but is of major importance.
I have, at most, one critique for the film; which would relate to it being a bit cliché with one element, but this didn’t take away from my viewing experience, nor that of the friend next to me who didn’t notice it.
If you can watch this in cinemas I absolutely recommend doing so; albeit if you aren’t relatively fluent and literate in Mandarin or Japanese, it may be linguistically tricky. If you’re looking at this sometime in the future and debating if it’s worth your time, please give it a go!
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Dreams Rekindled: A Story of Loss and New Beginnings
I watched a beautiful movie on Netflix, a co-production between Taiwan and Japan, starring Greg Hsu and Kaya Kiyohara. I would give the movie a solid 9/10.Let's start with the cinematography and camerawork. The film features stunning shots of Taiwan and Japan's scenery, with elegant camera angles that provide a breathtaking experience. It takes you through the bustling streets of Tainan and the snowy mountains of Japan. One of the most unforgettable scenes is when Jimmy meets a kindred spirit on a subway. They exit a long tunnel and find themselves in a snow-filled wonderland, leaving Jimmy in awe and imprinting the moment deeply in his mind. It’s the kind of experience that transcends simply taking a photo with a camera.
The characters are exceptional as well. We see Jimmy’s growth from a tardy but energetic youth with a bright future to a jaded game developer at a crossroads. Kiyohara's enigmatic charm shines as she dances around a karaoke bar, injecting life into the people around her.
The story is exceptionally well-paced and told, juxtaposing a vibrant and cute slice-of-life adventure in Taiwan with the tragic, melodramatic ending typical of J-dramas. When the reveal happens, you can’t help but feel a strong sense of loss and contemplation about what could have been. As the memories start unraveling from Kiyohara's perspective, I personally couldn’t help but bawl my eyes out.
In conclusion, I feel this movie is a masterpiece—a truly excellent love story that marries the best of both Taiwanese and Japanese cinema.
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'You only live once, so don't leave any regrets'
This movie took me a while to watch as this movie is a sentimental movie that needs a certain mood.All I can say to this movie is to enjoy life... live to the fullest and just go for it.
As a traveler myself, this truly hit me on the spot as I am someone who is struggling with whether to enjoy my 20s by traveling as much as possible or to go to back to school and get a career job.
In this world, most people want to earn as much money as possible and to travel the world.
That is still what I want but it's just so difficult as responsibilities build up as we get older.
I know that everyone has their clock... but were just overwhelmed and pressured within the society and by our family.
This drama made me cry and inspired me in a certain way... to follow your dreams...
Life is hard. But we should be grateful for what we have and what God has offered us...
I'm truly grateful for what I have as there are others out there who do not...
This drama truly inspired and motivated me yet made me think about life in a certain way.
Why does it have to end that way tho...😭😭😭😭
I feel numb.
Now I'm rewatching Twilight..
124am
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A nostalgic story about youth and rememberance.
One thing for sure, this movie does makes me want to travel solo around Japan and Tainan as the music and cinematography are top tier level. But the story is kind of cliche because it's about a ML who lost his purpose in life and he went to a trip to find back that passion while also attempting to rectify a regret, which is to find his romantic love in his youth. The ending is also kind of predictable as I already foresee that the FL has passed on, which is a typical kind of Japanese movie. But the chemistry between ML and FL is really good. I would have love Mr. Children's theme song to be incorporated into the movie especially the part where they listen through the same earpiece together, which gives more vibes to the movie. And also, the movie tend to be on the draggy side which is common in Japanese movie, but its not that draggy that it makes the movie bad. The emotional parts definitely made me cry especially when I am movies that deals with grieve. But all in all, its a good watch.Was this review helpful to you?
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It was very nice and then it gets spoiled by meh
This movie is very beautiful.The scenery and cinematography are great and the type of filter or film they used gives nostalgic vibes.
I think acting is very good, especially by the ML, he was great and I really liked the dynamics between the characters and the banter.
The introspective journey paired with the scenes, the train rides and the beautiful landscapes give you all the feels and I found myself grinning for a big part of the movie because of the little endearing moments here and there like the one with that young traveler in the snow.
Everything was great for me until towards the end when they dropped the EXTREMELY over used troupe that it's also actually very predictable from the start.
That was such a shame and it really spoiled it for me.
There are just so many things that could have been done with the plot, the most plain one being just simply that time passed, that there was a long distance between them. I really wanted a trip for the sake of introspection, self-discovery and peace but we sadly got this once again, and at least I guess he knew and it was not a bomb like they do in other movies/series. I really wish this plot device was left in the 00s where it belongs. I'm so over it at this point.
The plot in general is not new even leaving out that cliché at the end and the execution is not exactly great either. While the flashbacks are carried out in an ok manner the last part showing her side in that way for cliché/shock value was both confusing at times, repetitive and just wallowing in the drama for the sake of it.
Moreover, they knew each other for like a month I think it was, so it's too extreme that he's still hang up on that 18 years later to the level of affecting his career in that way. Also equally unrealistic in my opinion that he only had one 3 months relationship in all that time, what level of workaholic are we talking about?
It's really as described by the tag, bittersweet, although for me because of the lost potential and not what happens in the plot.
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Beautiful and meeh
This is a movie that has beautiful people, beautiful people and a hint of nostalgia but not much more. As the story is a bit slow paced and sweet yet lacks that little extra something (other than the leads) to make it stick out from the many movies and dramas that tell a similar story. While it does have a little something that I personally appreciate seeing mentioned on screen, I find myself conflicted about how that special something is showen or more like ignored and only mentioned very briefly. Is it too briefly or is the little bit it is mentioned just enough to make it part of the plot that does not outshine the human behind it...Sorry for not writing what that something is, but I fear it could be a spoiler for some, if you watch this then keep an eye out for how little screen time a major part of the plot actually gets and everything I just wrote will make sence (if not feel free to ask).
I am not really sure what the message here is, and even if I did I am pretty sure it could be my nemesis healing and stuff... But all in all a beautiful watch worth it if not for anything else than for Greg Hsu and all the beautiful, talented screen time with him this movie offers.
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Good watch
In my opinion, this movie was nothing short of a masterpiece . The cinematography itself was beautiful while the pacing was a little slow at times the amazing cast acting made up for it. The story itself may not be unique but it was a story well told. I for one was so immersed in the movie itself I didn’t even anticipate the ending and when it came I cried. It’s been a long time since I cried too. Probably because I got myself attached to the characters of the movie which made my heartstrings break at the end of the movie but that’s also one of the reasons why I think it’s such a good movie, hence the high rating.Was this review helpful to you?
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Made me feel quite empty after watching this.
The cinematography and the detail was so great. the actors was so good for their every realistic character. relaxing solo travel indeed. the story is warming and quite light but the sadness of loss was so palpable that it made me feel like i was in the story. Ami's happiness and sadness, Jimmy's energy, disappointment and happiness all blend well. maybe i'll never watch it for second time bcs the story is painful for me and i can't....Was this review helpful to you?
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A Journey Through Time, Without a Destination, Only a Direction - Towards You
I watched "Our 18x2 Youth: Journey Towards You" during the early afternoon hours of summer, in the sweltering heat, fighting against drowsy sleepiness, but miraculously, the 120-minute film still made me feel warm, right in the middle of a hot summer day. A Taiwanese film in collaboration with Japan, featuring names that guarantee youth cinema, should have set very high expectations for me, but strangely, before and while entering the theater, I still didn't expect too much excitement or surprise from this film. Perhaps thanks to that, I could let myself drift into Jimmy's journey without a destination to Japan, immerse in the love story of two people who loved each other but never expressed it in words, in an atmosphere full of poetry and beautiful, shimmering scenes set in misty Japan and Taiwan lit up with lights."Our 18x2 Youth" first and foremost is still a love story. It's not a different, unique story that has never appeared on screen, because essentially, any love story, whether in films or real life, is similar, all originating from the same wonderful feelings. Jia Ming's first love came unexpectedly amid such heartfelt stirrings; one could say he was struck by love at first sight on a clear day, when a basketball, which was also his childhood dream, slowly rolled to the feet of a Japanese girl. Then, the story is told through Jimmy's dreams, revisiting his memories, continuing like that, with summer seeming to stretch endlessly. Jimmy recalls the story of his first love, remembers Jia Ming, the young man full of passion but easily shy and embarrassed when standing before his first crush, remembers the trips on his motorbike around small Tainan, much smaller compared to places Jimmy visited later, but also more special, much more. At that time, Jia Ming was 18 years old, not knowing what he dreamed of, not knowing what the future would hold, what the destination of his life would be. Now, Jimmy is 36, pausing his career pursuit to embark on a new journey, to find himself, to find the woman he loves. The section with the shifting perspective and narrator, with the separate story from Ami's narrative, wasn't really surprising, but it was like the way something expected finally arrives, filling my soul and longing. It turns out both were oriented towards each other; it turns out there are loves in this world where no one confesses because they both understand, no need for words, no need for kisses, words of love, no need for affirmation or confirmation. They just loved each other, peacefully like that, sadly like that, soaked in tears. That was first love, those were the feelings, also the warmth, the light, the cherry blossom rain falling forever, the snowflakes covering their lives, until much later.
"Our 18x2 Youth" is also a story about trips, about journeys. The truth about itinerary in the film is a very poetic association, but extremely simple. Each trip is actually a stroll in a new land, to interact with new people, new cultures, to fall in love with a strange place, to look back at ourselves, to love ourselves, to love where we were born. Traveling is wandering, steps without a destination, feeling throughout the journey we take, preserving scenes only we can see, moments that exist only for an instant. Both Jimmy and Ami wished their journey would never stop; they wrote their wish on a lantern released into the sky. I believe their dream will come true and has already come true, because each life is a journey, we travel without knowing where we'll go, that journey is also like a visit, an expedition, observing humanity, feeling love, loving lands, people, life. More profound than a trip to Taiwan, Japan, or around the world, the film also conveys the human ideal of living, we keep moving forward, resting is to start a new journey, perhaps that's what the filmmaker wanted to convey?
And, finally, "Our 18x2 Youth" is a collaboration between Taiwan and Japan. Therefore, I could clearly feel the culture of both countries skillfully interwoven throughout the love story, about youth and growth, about messages in journeys. Taiwan, Tainan simple, vibrant, bright with lights from night markets, bearing the features of a rural area; Taipei hurried on electric trains, modern under neon lights, bustling, busy. Japan in a noodle shop at night, hidden in pure white snow, passing on trains crossing rivers, dreamy with cherry blossom rain, sparkling with lanterns released into the high sky. Not just cultural interchange in landmarks, geographical areas, the feeling and atmosphere have very slight changes, but harmonious throughout the film. The art of filming is distinct, soothing and gentle from beginning to end, the flexible tone shifting between cold and warm for scenes alternating between present-past, adulthood-youth, 18-18x2, frames creating a feeling of confinement in a box with settings stretching far away, the subtlety in mixing light, film rhythm fast and slow, colors... All contributed to creating a film as beautiful as a Japanese animation, covered with the nostalgic breath commonly seen in Japanese and Taiwanese films, a unique quality no one can copy.
Final words must praise the actors in the film. All were very natural; Greg Hsu perhaps has received enough praise to build several cities, truly a box office guarantee. I often joke that just having him participate in a role means the filmmaker has already succeeded halfway. The difference between Jimmy and Jia Ming sometimes made me think they were two different people (just exaggerating haha). The actress playing Ami was also very beautiful; she played her role perfectly, cute and full of first love vibes always. In general, the good chemistry comes from the accomplished acting of both actors :D
Despite all this praise, I don't think I really empathized much with the film, so it was hard for me to have as many emotions as I expected. I couldn't feel too much pleasure in traveling, although the film did make me want to travel a bit more, nor could I deeply absorb the profound love between the two (it had only been a month, sigh). I yawned quite a bit during the beginning, the storytelling wasn't very smooth, many shots made me wonder why they transitioned scenes like that, the tears near the end of the film were a bit forced... Anyway, the film deserves its current success, but perhaps it's not underrated at all.
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Cần ngay một anh xe ôm tên Hứa Quang Hán :))))
Điểm cộng:- Cảnh quay đẹp dã man. Nào là cảnh đầy tuyết trắng ở Nhật Bản, cảnh thả đèn trời tại Đài Bắc.
- Một anh Hán hóa thân vào vai Jimmy tuổi 18 tràn đầy nhiệt huyết làm mình vô tình nhớ tới một ánh trăng sáng trong lòng mình là Lý Tử Duy năm ấy.
Điểm trừ:
- Mình coi được 30 phút trong rạp là mí mắt mình sụp xuống và muốn đi về rồi. Cốt truyện không quá đặc sắc mà phải nói là dẫn dắt như hạch ấy :))))) Nếu không vì anh Hán thì mình cũng không bỏ tiền đi xem rồi.
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