Land of Broken Hearts (2024)

Off-Beat Quirky Gem of a Movie

Another completely biased review from me to you.
A lot of people have asked me what I base my ratings on since I seem to give really high numbers to most of what I watch. It's simple, if I enjoy watching the show a lot I give it a high score. If I don't enjoy the show I'll stop watching it. Sometimes I'll actually drop if there is something about the series that sorta pisses me off and I want to say something. Mostly I just quietly quit the show, using the 'if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all' rule of thumb.
This movie is an unexpected gem! Bizarre, quirky, weird, however you want to describe it. I loved it!
First, Zhu Yilong is brilliant. I don't think I have ever seen him look more beautiful. That blue hair and those cheekbones to die for? Yes please! 🥰 His character starts off being a normal boring salaryman. With one difference...he sees aliens filming his life story as it unfolds. They are pretty awful looking aliens. Like Buckeroo Banzai bad! As a matter of fact they do sort of look like Lectroids don't they ? 🤣
I'm unfamiliar with the FL Qiu Tian but she just nailed her character. Mysterious, damaged, off kilter. Love her! 😍
I'm not even sure how to categorize this movie. Is it sci-fi, romance, comedy, drama, slice of life? The answer is 'Yes'! And also 'No' 🤣
Anyhow, this has just the right amount of strangeness to it to keep my attention.
And Zhu Yilong sings the OST. What more could you ask for?
And for people interested, yes this does have a happy ending! And please stay for all the credits so you don't miss something....
Anyhow, if you like weird and quirky give this one a try. And if you want to see the amazing Zhu Yilong with the most incredible blue hair and cheekbones...this is the show for you!

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A Raw Exploration of Identity and Connection

I really enjoyed this. It had the same tone as my favorite movie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. While the narrative was different, it carried similar flashback elements and emotional character connections. The male and female leads also shared similar character arcs and growth, and the way they interacted with others echoed that film as well. So, of course, I naturally gravitated toward this feature.

Even with those parallels, it delivered a raw and emotional story in its own unique way. As it explored themes of self-identity and the meaning of life, we watched two vulnerable people find each other — all while battling self-sabotaging behaviors. I really appreciated the philosophical moments and how real and honest they felt. I also loved the characters themselves; they came across as believable, approachable, and sincere. There were parts near the end that didn’t fully fit the tone of the film, but it wasn’t a big issue. I understood the metaphors those scenes were aiming for, and the remainder of the film recaptured the emotional depth I’d felt earlier. That said, I do think the ending could have been more powerful if it had ended a few minutes earlier — leaving things on a note of healing and self-growth. Then again, that kind of ending might have disappointed viewers who prefer resolutions that follow more conventional romantic expectations.

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