The hanging by curtain of black hair; the dressing room which Kayako appeared slowly from the floor; the highschool girl that keeps phasing in and out of the house at different times; and the gives birth scene, I won't be able to forget those anytime soon.
Actually I was still confused by the timeline of a car accident at the beginning and when Chiharu became extra in the Kyoko's film. I'm sure it's been explained in the film but my brain is slow to process it.
Oh yes, I almost forget about Kayako and Toshio, I love them here, Kayako with thick make up is super scary imo; then Toshio, I don't think he's got some changes on his make up, but he's keep making me startled. They just simply in their best form in here.
I enjoyed it so much.
A sequel that is worthy to be called great.
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I really like how the story continues and how to clearly show that it's not only the person who entered the house that is cursed but also the people involved with the house, both vengeful spirits and Saeki will get cursed in the end, it's scary but a curse that has the potential to spread arbitrarily like this actually makes me think this curse is ridiculous.
The execution of the horror is unevenly good, more imaginative and absurd but it's just too much and I feel like everything's here is not cannon. The horror sequence in apartment 205 and when Kayako slips into Kamio's room in sneaky way was great, the others made me frowned.
Sigh.
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The atmosphere is very suffocating and uncomfortable in the positive way for horror films. The build up is very brilliant, from every segment that is not arranged sequentially but all of them are interconnected and I never imagine that I will be able to witness such very interesting story development here, plus the execution of the jumpscare is very good.
Kayako and Toshio are not too scary but how they arrange every scene with both vengeful spirit and combined with the scary atmosphere that already can not be detained, the end result is very crazy. The "Kayako" segment, when both of them launched a frontal attack on Kobayashi was very epic, outstanding and haunting.
In the last segment, Kayako only appeared briefly in front of Kyoko but was able to make me shudder, then it was end with that gaze.
Satisfying.
Perfection.
This film absolute up there but below Hideo Nakata's "Dark Water" as my favorite J-Horror.
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So it's a rewatch, surprisingly it's pretty good, has many characters & riders with various personalities, either it's kamen rider or just normal people, they're really make this series entertaining, there are few episodes that makes me laugh a lot. The story was good imo, with the battle royale concept, it's really afford it's way to be so intense till the last eps; at some point I realize that the riders probably could all die because they're must fight each other until only one rider left to live, it feels so suffocating. The world building is also pretty good, especially with the Mirror World which has its own rules.
That's all I want to say, it was fun.
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Accompanying each other in difficult times, being happy with each other when they have nothing, makes so many beautiful memories but at some point this relationship cannot be saved, and is presented here with bitterness.
I love the the two MC, Mugi (Masaki Suda) and Kinu (Kasumi Arimura), their chemistry is so good, in every phase of the relationship shown in this film, the chemistry feels quite real. Unfortunately, it feels weird with Kinu whose hair doesn't change much from year to year, unlike Mugi, who was different when he was unemployed and already working, I don't know if there might be a meaning to that.
I sensed an great aura from Masaki Suda, I felt Nana Komatsu found a perfect man for her. I hope they last long.
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If we become family now, we can make it work.
We'll have kids, call each other "Honey" and "Dear".
Can't you just imagine it?
The three or four of us will hold hands, walk along Tama River, go to department store.
Buy a minivan, go camping, visit Disney Land.
We'll take our time, live out our lives.
And despite our history, we'll have become that happy couple.
It'll be as easy as breathing.
Let's become those two.
Let's get married.
Let's be happy.
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A heartwarming family drama between 4 sisters who live under the same roof, where the youngest is a half sibling due to different mothers. The situation is quite relatable for me because I also have a half sibling too, and this step family situation is very complicated, there are many boundaries that cannot be crossed, sometimes it feels awkward, and maybe sometime in the future when my parents are no longer around, I will did the same as Sachi did, as an oldest child from both family.
The conflicts that are presented also seem to be commonplace in families, such as children and mothers who don't get along but still love each other, and some minor conflicts that make the story of these 4 sisters colorful.
This film is full of positive vibes, the chemistry between the main cast is very convincing that they are sisters who love each other, they will be there for each other and show that the house where they live is not worth selling.
Hirokazu Kore-eda, I like his direction, probably gonna check his other works.
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It's actually quite relatable because I've been there too but not so far as to confess my feelings to the teacher I liked. While Shimada confessed her feelings and insisted on continuing to love Mr. Ito, from here I also realized that this girl's character was still innocent.
I think this film is quite good at handling the topic of relationships with a big age gap, especially the character Shimada is still in high school and Mr. Ito is 35 years old. The story seems to provide a solution to the problems above, just wait till Shimada become an adult, that's it.
This film doesn't make me doki-doki, it's just visually pleasing to look at, from the beautiful actress and cool actors to the setting which it's not as flat as another Japanese film with a similar genre.
I think that's all, the film isn't special, it's just that it seems to me it could be a comfort movie because the vibe is somehow relaxing, and that makes me enjoyed it.
So thanks.
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From there I bonded with the characters, especially Suzuki, Takuo, Saito, Sekiguchi and Tanaka; because they can be called the founding members of Swing Girls who try to live their dreams and passions that grew unintentionally.
In the rest of the film, i just enjoying the jazz performance which is very cool while watching the characters of the young people do it with passion, burning enthusiasm and sacrificed a lot of valuable things in their lives to do jazz.
I've read other user review, and must agree that this film better than Whiplash, despite has the same great jazz performance but this film has kawaii girls who sheds blood, sweat & tears.
Absolutely one of the best film I've ever watch and rank up high there.
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Meomchuji mothae more more more and more~
Geureoni han beon deo~
I wanna have more more more more more and more~
Meomchugi shireo more more more and more~
Geureoni han beon deo~
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I was expecting to watch a pink film with silly story but this is actually darker, so artistic.
Twice song's "More & More" somehow pop up in my head after i finished this film, and kinda fit I think with the relationship between Michio and Aki that as the time goes by they're together, what they did also getting more & more weird, crazy and beyond reasonable.
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Unfortunately in terms of the story, it feels less evocative, Boom' motivation to send witchcraft to Pratan's ex-wife's family feels to weak, just to get Pratan's inheritance doesn't really make sense to me.
The atmosphere is also not tense, the same as what I felt when I watched another Tanit Jitnukul film entitled "Hell" which had an interesting idea but the story and execution were not optimal. A film like this is very suitable to be made as crazy and bloody as possible, especially using witchcraft, the death of the character can be made as creative as possible.
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Lolico get a lot of fans and job offer, then from what I see in the film, she seems to be working non-stop, there is even a scene where she says "I'm tired" that makes me touched. Eventually she's just a human, plus the wheel rotates when someone takes the spotlight from her, consequently her mind is also became disturbed, she's so messed up. But kinda heartwarming when Lolico's sister visit her in shooting set, suddenly changes the depressing vibe into calm.
I've come across to think that those idols who are required to appear perfect and good, experiencing the same depression as Lolicon. Aftet all that's life, it's not easy.
I want to give thumbs up for the really good production designs, the settings, the lighting, the colors, etc. looks magnificent.
The best Japanese film visually imo, and it looks like it's all from the taste of its director, Mika Ninagawa. I've look up her filmography, it seems they all have the same vibe as this film, depressing but the visuals are pleasing to the eye.
That's all I can type, it's always a little long and disordered when I do this right after finish the film, I just put out what I think without being compiled.
Thank you.
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Broadly, this film tells the story of Momo Adachi's love story which is full of conflict, pain and betrayal. That's what I want it to focus in, I don't know if this film is a manga adaptation or not, if so, it is too much, because it seems that there are actually a lot of conflicts but trying to be included in a film whose duration is not much. Sacrificing the development of the story & character here that looks not optimal, tends to be superficial, so it can't produce any attachment and emotion to me.
It should be make into series with improvements in some parts of the story.
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Do you want to see what death is like? - Ai Enma
It reminds me a little of Hellraiser, if the Cenobites are summoned if someone manages to solve the puzzle, then the Cenobites will appear, granting sadomasochistic pleasures, shows a great practical effect and take the ones who summoned them to hell.In this film, there's Ai Enma, the Hell Girl, a mysterious woman who can send someone who you have a grudge against to Hell in exchange for forfeiting your own soul to Hell once you die. But unfortunately the way she taking people to hell is not very satisfying, makes me say "Just like that?".
The other things in this film not making me interested, it's just a procession bringing people to hell that I can say just "okay".
I love you Koji Shiraishi-san, but I'm really not satisfied with your work on this one.
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You could say the film shows the daily life of office employees, from their difficulties, joy and fatigue at work; but what I like is when the characters are gossiping about other people or just discussing something, which the characters bring naturally and make it feel funny, I feel like I am part of their conversation.
This film is only about conversations between characters but it's not boring in my opinion and that's good.
There's a weird twist in the end but somehow explain why the main character is a woman but has a man body,
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A happy Sawada's family consisting of father, mother and 3 daughters; the first daughter, Sachiko, who's about to married; the second, Yukie is trying to live independently and the youngest, Mayumi is enjoying her high school life, and they are as a family look so normal and happy.
Until one night when Sachiko and Yuki went to Tokyo and by chance Mayumi decided to sleep in Sachiko's room, Sachiko's ex-boyfriend breaks into the house, enters Sachiko's room, and pours sulfuric acid on Mayumi's face, thinking it was Sachiko lying in the bed. He then kills Mayumi's mother before being shot dead by her father. Mayumi survives the ordeal, but is left severely disfigured due to the sulfuric acid. This is where life of Sawada's family starting to ruin.
A cruel social life, enough to destroy someone, it can be seen here how rumors and gossip destroyed Mayumi even her friends were reluctant to befriend her because her face became ugly and her slit-mouthed. Actually the remaining members of family embraces her but yeah eventually they're holding psychological burden, especially the father. He lose her wife, killed a man, and he actually heard the rumors for sure, his life completely destroyed and can't hold it all.
You could say the ghost in the red dress that was seen by Mayumi appeared because his father died, not directly related but psychologically Mayumi is getting more down and bring up sort of mental illness which later will get worse and the ghost or demon takes full control of her.
It's definitely different with the first film, even though this film seems like a prequel but it doesn't have anything to do with the first film, different characters, different approaches, different focus. I'll say this is better than the first, this is more well-crafted even as a drama or horror. Not like the first that I think pushing too much to horror slasher and has cliche horror script.
This film is drama horror and use Mayumi's story to scare and spread horror, if you follow the story carefully it will make you feel horrified and there's a jumpscare but it doesn't seem like it's meant to be the main weapon. Fortunately, Kotaro Terauchi execute the film very well so the drama and horror can blend well together.
Lastly, you know Kuchisake Onna famous line? the "Am I pretty?" even though Mayumi appearance not that creepy but for me when she asked it to Sachiko in the end was more impactful and horrifying than in the first film that kinda make the words sounds annoying and no more sacred.
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