penel

A thought-provoking urban fantasy set in near future Japan, with an ambitious story and lots of social commentaries, some subtle and some not so much.
The clever use of black and white versus colored filming, the intriguing time-bending storytelling (that may be confusing and not so original in some cases), as well as the brave performance of young and talented Ito Aoi made this unusual film an interesting watching experience.

"May my travels never end".
A bilingual and bicultural journey to self-discovery, through a wonderful story of an adolescent first love.
Elegantly told through flashbacks and precious memories, beautifully filmed and exceptionally acted, this was an emotional, melancholic and full of nostalgia watching experience.

Adapted from a novel with autobiographical elements, this film is a slow-paced, melancholic story of an alcoholic, cheating, suicidal husband, and his devoted, forgiving and resilient wife who loves him unconditionally.
With a beautiful depiction of the post-war Japan and a nuanced, reserved performance from Matsu Takako, this is an interesting study of the peculiar dynamics of a marriage that balances between devotion and self-destruction.

A bingeable, very entertaining medical drama with Ju Ji Hoon in one of his best roles so far, excellent team work and camaraderie among the leads, and an engaging, refreshingly unique plot.
The story balanced beautifully between comedy and drama, medical cases, hospital politics and character growth, while the team's bantering, bickering and support was a pleasure to watch.
Yoon Gyung Ho stole some spotlights with his quirky persona, his comic and dramatic moments, as well as his exemplary character development.
Time well-spent.

A funny, easy watch with Jo Jung Suk being an one-man-show in a cross-dressing comedy.
With some funny moments, a few plot-holes and a couple of social commentaries about gender stereotypes, this is an entertaining movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

"How can being yourself be your weakness?"
A story of two soulmate besties, misunderstood and misfit in society’s expectations and norms, while they explore life, friendship and love in contemporary Seoul.
This wouldn't have been such an endearing movie if not for the vibrant cinematography, the youthful pacing and, most of all, Kim Go Eun and Steve Noh's exceptional performances and impeccable chemistry.

Youthful, optimistic and melodic, this is and interesting coming-of-age story full of music, dreams, friendship, support and aspirations.

Though a revenge noir story, it was boringly slow-paced and underwhelmingly uneventful, with a cast that would have made wonders if not for the weak and bland storytelling.
Better skip it.

For a drama that's already 15 years old, this was a decent, enjoyable watch.
Of course all the usual clichés and repetitiveness were there, but done in an angst-free and cringe-free way.
Jung Gyu Woon and Uhm Tae Woong' characters and performances were definitely the highlight, though I wouldn't say so for both the FLs (who weren't the sharpest knives in the drawer), and seeing the young selves of some familiar faces (especially Kang So Ra and Go Jun) felt so nostalgic.

A peculiar slice-of-life story, with some healing elements, a few social commentaries, some unanswered questions and an unordinary but pure Japanese story-telling and editing style.

Dark, violent and intense, this was an engaging cat and mouse story between a gangster and a lawyer.
With an unusual toxic bromance, some beautifully orchestrated mind-games and superb performances from Shin Ha Kyun and Kim Young Kwang, whose dynamics and interactions were always the spotlight, this drama is an entertaining addition to the noir genre.

Right! My dog used to eat poo when we adopted her, but we soon trained her not to. Should I come over and help you?

And that's perfectly fine!

Glad you enjoyed it more than I did.

Started with a bang, ended with a fizzle... and in between with lots of fireworks from Yoo Yeon Seok🔥

A story about friendship, single-motherhood and coming-of-age told through the life of two best friends and roommates and their relationship's evolution and re-definition.
Visually pleasing, with a contemporary vibe, vivid coloring and a hazy lighting, the depiction of their transition from a breezy adolescent life to an obligatory maturity feels painfully real and introspective.
Miyoshi Ayaka and Abe Junko's performances & their chemistry are stunning, making this a solid watch.

A unique story of an unconventional family with some unusual family dynamics, great bonding, a few subtle social commentaries and heartwarming life lessons.
Eguchi Noriko's eloquent and measured performance and her bickering with Nakajo Ayami were the film's highlights.

Watching a remake of a Japanese story in a French setting was a really surrealistic experience!
Very close to the dark and violent original version, but definitely more polished, it had an interesting role genre switch that added more mystery and a psychological depth.
A story re-told twenty six years later that is still an uncomfortable as well as engaging watch.

Serpent’s Path is the 1st half of a two-part project on revenge that Kurosawa successfully managed to make with a low budget, in only a month's time.
Dark, unsettling, with excessive raw violence -both mental and physical- and full of vengeance, this film is an intense, not fully explained story but nonetheless an engaging watch.

Bleak, mundane and too long for its own good, this is a confusing (and dare say superficial) study on love: 'pure', obsessive, one-sided, toxic, liberating, claustrophobic, compromising love.
Though Hashimoto Ai and Nakano Taiga did their best with what they were given, this was a wearisome, pretentiously artsy, inconsistent and forgettable watch.