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Completed
Butterflied Lover
10 people found this review helpful
Aug 6, 2023
22 of 22 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 6.0

Surprisingly good

Good series. I’m not a big fan of mini series (I.e, less than 30 minutes) but this was actually really good. The acting, the scenery, cinematography and wardrobe were all excellent for such a short series.

Series definitely has some twist and turns which were executed well within the time. It revolves around a mystery affliction that affects people in a way that causes them to become violent. Before you run, it’s not to over the top. Most of the story revolves around relationships and finding the cure. Their action, some humor and swoon worthy moments. There was character growth that was portrayed so well in this series that I must commend the writer/directors. In series much longer, you may not see growth until the last episode but this didn’t drag.

It was short, sweet and worth the watch.

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Completed
Good Old Days
10 people found this review helpful
by Xika93
Sep 16, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

A show that really makes you think

Good Old Days has a unique concept and pretty different from GMMTV's usual fare. I started late on this show, but, once I got going, it didn't take me long to get caught up. Certainly, some stories are stronger than others, but all of them captivated me in their own turn. While the show ties up loose ends by the end of the series, at the time, none of the stories really had a happy ending and that's alright. It makes the show more real and the characters more human.

First of all, I appreciate shows with an anthology narrative. Each of the 6 stories exist on their own and yet are tied back to the running narrative of Hey's life as the shopkeeper. It's something GMMTV doesn't tackle very often, but they did an amazing job with this one. If I had to rank them I would put them in this order: 1)Bond and Relationships, 2) Road to Regret, 3) Memory of Happiness, 4) Love Wins, 5) Somewhere Only We Belong, 6) Our Soundtrack
However, the stories at the bottom aren't bad, just not as good the ones above them. This show tackles a lot of difficult (and dark) issues but in a very real way. The characters are forced to face these issues one way or another and they all have to sacrifice or lose something before they come out on the other side. None of these stories have a true happy ending, but rather a satisfactory ending. The objects in this show are also "stars" in their own way. It would be very easy for the object to just exist in the background of the story, following the characters, but all of the objects carry so much meaning and you feel that. In some stories, the object is the focus of the story and in others it fades into the background but in an ever present way. I never felt like I lost sight of the objects' importance and the weight they were carrying for both the characters and the story. It really captures the idea of that "every object has a soul."

With such a large cast, it's hard to address all the actors and actresses, but I think they all did an amazing job and gave great performances. I especially liked Krist and his role as the shopkeeper. His character development is very different because we don't see his story until the end, but up until that point he plays the role of omnipotent shopkeeper very well. In these types of shows, usually the shopkeeper is some old, worldly person, but the irony of Hey is he experiences the world through other people and yet that's how he able to understand people. I thought Krist did an excellent job capturing this essence of the character.

The only real disappointment I have with this show is they wrapped everything up so nicely. I don't know how extensive the source material for this show is, but I would watch a sequel series with new stories. Good Old Days is definitely worth a watch and is definitely a higher show than most. It's really a show that will make you think and reflect on life and how people face their problems.

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Completed
Yumi's Cells
10 people found this review helpful
Jul 17, 2024
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

Engrossing series of a personal life and its trials. Kim Go Eun is gold.

Yumi's Cells series was definitely different, in a great way. I had to adjust to what they were doing with the animation. After episode one, it clicked. duh!  lol.  It made a lot of sense. Personally, I give the actress Kim Go-Eun a ton of credit for selling the emotions empathized by the cells. And I just finished seeing her "Little Women" about 17 days before. She's been good in most of the dramas I've watched with her. But in "Cells," her acting performance was stellar.

Overall, I enjoyed the series. So many scenarios and scenes reminded me of my times when I was in my 20s. Good and not so good decisions, learning my way through life itself. Especially when it came to personal relationships. 

Yumi's character's issues appeared self-produced at times. It all falls back to your inner core beliefs, your mental state, your self-esteem, and the core friendships and loves in your life. I'm trying not to reveal spoilers in this take, but there was one character that got on my nerves. That character's overly convenient appearances soon began to feel wedged. While I understand (a little) what they were trying to accomplish, I just feel that it began to dilute the great writing and story a little. I look forward to watching season 2.

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Completed
The Theatre Stories
10 people found this review helpful
Mar 5, 2022
35 of 35 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Slapstick Humor, Great Story, Great Acting, Abrupt Ending

This drama is a satire that pokes fun at what seemingly the most powerful figure of the land. In the story, the emperor feels that he is almost similar to a slave as all the decisions are made by others and his desires ignored; he has no freedom in doing anything he enjoys, going anywhere he wants, eating any food he loves. He has to obey everything his mother, the Empress Dowager, says and agree to his uncle who untiredly criticizes him and tries to claim the throne. Life is miserable in the palace, until one fateful day.

The 17-year-old young emperor (Victor Qin) loves opera but his mother bans opera in the palace because she wants him to focus in his studies. One day, he accidentally finds a secret underground passage that leads to a theater house. He disguises himself as a kid looking for a job. The owner of the theater house, Bai Xiaoqing (Zhao Xiaotang), a fierce and mean lady who dresses in man’s clothing, takes him in. There, he meets his idol, the once famous opera singer Lan Ling (Meng Hetang) and becomes his assistant. There is also a cook who was once an assassin, a mediocre script composer who cannot even write a proper story and a fortune teller girl who uses talismans that always work the wrong way. Together they form the six idiots of the theater house and claim not to separate but always search own way out in times of trouble.

In the theater house, the emperor is being ordered to do all kinds of menial chores that he has never done before in his life. He is even ordered to taste suspicious food for poisons. To hide his real identity, he endures all abuses and happily complies to all demands, and quickly he learns to serve others. Victor Qin’s acting is fantastic – he can be as sorry looking as a nobody, and at the flip of a coin, turns into an esteemed emperor. Of course, he’s the smartest of the six but to stay low profile, he acts as silly as the others. Each character has a story and a "counting-the-eggs" dream with wild imaginations. Each episode tells a different story with a lesson to learn. Any trouble always resolves by itself through blind luck. And yet, lurking under, unseen dangers developed for the young emperor.

My Verdict

I have really enjoyed the story, the acting of all the characters, the jokes, the humor. It makes me laugh so hard in every episode. This feels like a live stage comedy, with dialogues that sound impromptu, yet every sentence rhymes. There are modern vibes inserted here and there with modern terms used in the dialogues. I love the play of homophones in the jokes. This is some really great script writing here. Each episode is preceded by a summary of the previous episode through a storyteller in the form of a narrative poetry. The recount poems are precise and funny. The camera work is good in capturing every expression and every emotion. My only disappointment is the abrupt ending of the story. There would be a season 2 that no one knows if it would ever be released.

Don’t be deceived by the few viewers on MDL. This is due to no proper English subs available at the time of the airing. This series is interesting and hilarious though it has no prominent actors. This is a great series to release stress as laughter is the best medicine. Don’t miss it.

Strongly recommended!

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Completed
From Me to You
10 people found this review helpful
May 1, 2013
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
To be honest, I did not watch the anime version of Kimi ni Todoke. And haven't watched it yet as well. I'm writing this review after watching the movie for a second time.
Story : CUTE&SWEET;. These two words describe it the best. Its heart-warming and relates very well to people who hold little similarity with Sawako's character. Also it shows the bond of friendship that involves sacrifice, strength, togetherness, trust, love, belief against all odds.
It shows how a quiet person can be misunderstood because of their no efforts on socializing. And also cherry blossom trees play a very wonderful part in the movie.
Acting : I love Miura's character. He proves that he is best suited for the role of Kazehaya. So, if you're a BIG fan of Hamura Miura, he's all the reason why you should watch this. I really liked Yano-san and Yoshida-san as well and Sawako's sincerity towards them. Also a special mention on Sawako's parents who love her unconditionally because no matter how she was to the world, she was their precious jewel. :)
Music : I didn't really hear much of the soundtrack as the acting by everyone kept me happy at bay. But I'm sure, it'd be nice.

I watch it when I stumble upon it. Its a very light story and will make you smile. A very simple story, yet hooking. If my will could be forced on everyone who like Miura and this kind of genre, I'd make you watch it :P
Happy Watching :)

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Completed
Love Designer
10 people found this review helpful
May 25, 2022
45 of 45 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 2.0
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 2.0
This review may contain spoilers

Maybe watch only 1st and last episode?

It started out amusing and interesting. Unfortunately, after a few episodes came the pain. Pain of disappointment and frustration. To go into details would be too much trouble. Only this much: The pithy entrepreneur lets himself be beaten down. He responds to attacks from business rivals with love, even though he is almost ruined.

For long stretches, the romance was gone and we found ourselves in a chick flick. Women's problems and women's problems. And women's problems. Then parental problems, marginal problems, a tiring merry-go-round also with plenty of marginal characters, while the FL and ML often make themselves invisible.

Johnny Huang and Dilraba, whom I saw for the first time in a drama, were good and a small salvation of this waste of lifetime. Whereas unfortunately the wonderful Dilraba had to play a dubious unsolidary character. But that is probably seen differently by the author, but how? Johnny was just great!

The author has probably also processed plenty of their own generational conflicts, it is really torture to have to watch this crap.

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Completed
Summer Again
10 people found this review helpful
Jul 30, 2021
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10

My new blueprint for the childhood friends to lovers trope.

I… don't ever watch high school dramas. I find it hard to find the appeal in a time that's been so long ago for me now & triggers some unpleasant memories. So it's a wonder to me too that I watched this drama – and stuck with it til the end, completely engrossed and invested. Why?

First off, I have to thank the cinematography and editing department for that. Summer Again is shot and coloured in such a way that elicits very specific sensual responses of well, summer: the fresh sea breeze playing with your hair, the lush greens and the smell of fresh flowers in the park next to your house, the way you have to squint your eyes right after waking up because the summer sun is so bright in the early mornings, the magic sensation of staying up late on mild summer nights, and the constant buzz of life compared to dreary winters or rainy autumns. Summer Again, short, is a visual feast that transports you right to life in a small, seaside holiday town.

In this setting we meet our heroes Tong Xi, a ballerina from the big city, and Lin Nan Yi, her childhood sweetheart & secret manga artist. Surround the two leads with two faithful and cute friends (a pair of childhood friends as well), a rivalling girl & some seniors to look up to and you have the story. Sounds clichéd? Yeah. But sometimes all I want for a drama is to execute the tropes and clichés it commits to well. And unexpectedly, Summer Again excels in that. If I had to describe the way the story was told, I would describe it as "fresh", "unpretentious" and most of all, "sincere".

There is a beautiful sincerity in the way this drama captures the peak of high school life, our sweet 17s, its ups and downs and that pure & innocent heart most of us were carrying then: from the drama that the characters defined as problems to the way they tried to solve them and gave each other advice, it's all really realistically told from the (limited) worldview of teenagers. It's this realism that balanced the drama throughout. There was drama, but there was never hysteria as dramaland is wont to do. Watching Summer Again is an easy-breezy feat that sends you right back down memory lane to simpler days.

Doesn't mean that the drama is not meaningful: our characters are confronted throughout with navigating that period of life when we first started to think about who we are, what we want, what we expect from ourselves and what others expect from us & how we can be our most authentic self. The conflict between "just wanting to be a simple teenager" and all the pressure that our circumstances put on ourself is maybe best shown in Ni Xiao Wan, the "antagonist". I can't even dislike her; the show gives us too good of an explanation of why she behaves the way she does. It doesn't excuse her mistakes but it humanises her.

Our leads on the other hand, are my new blueprint for a childhood friends to lover story. While Tong Xi's growth can be observed like a beautiful arc spanning the show (look out for how she solves problems), Lin Nan Yi is maybe an almost too perfect classic male lead; I guess his only weakness is that he doesn't like to rely on others for help much and can be too secretive. But the way he handles issues is so relatable and impressive that I forget how little flaws they gave him to begin with. Though they are teenagers, Tong Xi & Lin Nan Yi resolve issues better than most adult drama pairings I've seen.

They are open, honest & forthright with each other. Encourage and support each other. They communicate, a lot. They are not afraid of countering the other, but always give them enough room to come to their own conclusions. Ni Kexin & Chen Heyi are rookie actors but absolutely sell their roles to me. It's to this drama's benefit that they are rather unknown; they play their roles so relaxedly that I have a hard time differentiating between what's acted & what's their real persona. And OMG Chen Heyi's eyes: any ice block would melt at how his Lin Nan Yi looks at Tong Xi. Their story never felt forced and was beautifully and organically told from their rekindling, their clashing and their getting closer. It makes absolute sense for them to be attracted to each other.

I'm starting to ramble and I didn't even get into the second leads yet. But to cut it short: their group of friends is adorable, the actors have great rapport together & I just want all four cast in another project again. Last up, OST-wise this drama is a gem. So yes, please do check it out. Let me tell you, by the end of it, just like downing a glass of fresh, cold (mint) water in a hot summer, you'll want to rewatch it again!

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Completed
SHINee's Back
10 people found this review helpful
Feb 4, 2019
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
I really loved watching this during the comeback promotions and I really enjoyed their conversation and Key making a meal and Taemin showing off his non existent driving skill lmao ???? seriously and it was touching watching their days pass during live stages. But the best thing about the whole show was getting to see the members Minho, Onew, Taemin, and Key really enjoying their time together. Shinee has always worked hard, no matter what, they've been through so much and still stand tall. Nothing makes me happier to see them shine.
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Completed
My Pistachio
10 people found this review helpful
by inac
Apr 29, 2019
Completed 1
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10
20 minutes has never gone by faster. Even I, a boy, nearly squealed because of how cute it was.
The story was very light hearted and so adorable?? I only wish it was longer :(
For sure watch it, I can't recommend it enough.

The acting was really good, the story was immersive, the music fit nicely and it had a bit of comedy that wasn't overdone. I found myself laughing and smiling a lot throughout the 20 minutes, I'll most likely be watching it again in the future.
Overall I rated it a 9/10. If it was longer, it would most definitely be the first thing I've ever rated 10/10.

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Completed
Glass Slippers
10 people found this review helpful
Jun 22, 2012
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
This is such a good drama! It has elements of tragedy, love, revenge, fighting, villains, con artists, and everyday life that make it such a well blended drama. There were some episodes towards the middle that could have been revised and I thought they could have ended the series a bit differently (The last ep is somewhat bittersweet), but overall the plot of this drama was really good. Just a forewarning -this drama does have flashbacks occasionally from something that happened 20 minutes ago in the drama, while annoying this did not really detract from the drama itself overall.
Acting was great by all the actors -the children in the beginning did well too, but overacted at times.
The music did get a little repetetive at times, but there were no songs I absolutely couldn't stand so it was ok.
Rewatch value is lower just due to the fact that the drama will be less interesting the second time around, since you know where all the twists and turns in the plot will go.

I would recommend this drama if you enjoyed Shining Inheritance due to a somewhat similar plotline and premise of the drama.

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Love Can't Be Said
10 people found this review helpful
Feb 23, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

This one got to me!

This is a slow (in a good way), simple and beautiful story. I'll start with the bottom line - it's been quite a while since I've cried watching something, and I cried a couple of times during this movie. I was swept into the story and could feel the nervousness of the female lead, but she wasn't portrayed as a loser at all. The meeting of the leads was shown in a good way, and I was rooting for them from the start. Wu Nien Hsuan as Yi Bin and Zhou Yi Ram as Tong Zhi Liao were perfectly cast. I could feel sparks between the two from the beginning. I was torn, I wanted to find out what happened, but I also wanted it to go on and on. It was a lovely journey of discovery and spoke to lost chances and regrets. The story line of the old lady and her regrets mirrored the lead couple perfectly.

Normally, I struggle with Chinese dramas, the episodic ones are normally too drawn out for me, and the movies often don't give me enough time to invest in the characters. add to that my problems with dubbing and overacting, you'll see my dilemma. This movie was, quite simply, a hidden gem. I happened upon it quite by accident. The script is good, and the acting is understated. There are no over-the-top characters, and they are all likeable in their own way. No love triangles, and there wasn't much time spent on any of the secondary characters, other than the old lady, so we really got to know the main couple.

I might watch it again, if only to get lost in the story once again. The ending is ambiguous, and I think that's for the viewer to decide what they want to happen. I choose to go the happily-ever-after route.

I can happily and unapologetically recommend this movie!

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Pluto
10 people found this review helpful
Jan 13, 2025
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Messy but worth the watch

Pluto was a fun series to follow week by week, not just for the plot twists, but for the excitement of watching a creative team walk a dizzying tightrope. I haven’t read the novel by Chao Planoy, but her work tends to be controversial to say the least, and Pluto seems like an especially tricky work to adapt. It’s a more complex story than your average GL, too, mixing romance, mystery, and social commentary. And with two popular actors in the lead roles, Pluto promised to be one of the most ambitious Thai GL productions yet. Every week I found myself asking: Can they pull it off? Can Snap25 make this adaptation work?

And hey, in the end, they almost did it! I don’t want to be too hard on them—by all accounts, they managed to improve on the novel quite a bit, and many of the flaws in the series are only glaring in hindsight. This is also probably the best-looking Thai GL; the cinematography and set design have an artsy flair that is often striking. The performances are excellent, not just from Namtan and Film but from the whole ensemble. Pluto can be a bumpy ride, but it’s always an entertaining and sometimes a beautiful one.

About those bumps, though. It’s tempting to blame any issues on the source material, but considering the liberties that were taken in adapting the book, I don’t think all of Pluto’s faults can be laid at the feet of Ms. Planoy. What I think Pluto might be lacking, more than anything, is a director. Technically the “Snap25 Team” is credited as director of the series, and they seem to have a very collaborative style, working closely with the actors to develop the story. That’s super cool, on one hand, and I like the egalitarian approach of crediting the whole crew. On the other hand, Pluto is a series that could really have benefited from a stronger unifying vision. Because baby the tone of this series is all OVER the place. Sometimes the drama is naturalistic and down-to-earth, and sometimes the soap opera dial is cranked up to 11. (Like in Episode 11, during the miscalculated sobfest, when May should react to being abandoned with cold fury, but instead acts like her only child was just brutally murdered in front of her eyes.) Sometimes the writing is subtle, and sometimes a character will turn to the camera and say, “That’s emotional abuse!” in a scene about emotional abuse. Sometimes there will be a musical number/dream sequence with like seven costume changes in the middle of an otherwise realistic episode. The whiplash is intense.

That lack of focus extends to the story, too. Pluto tries to be about a lot of things—disability, childhood trauma, forgiveness, atonement, justice, why you should never date a cop no matter how good she looks in that uniform—but can never really decide what matters most. As a result the themes and subplots all feel underdeveloped. Why is the Pang/Jan/Phim love triangle part of the story? Don’t get me wrong, I adore Kapook, Ciize, and Earn (especially Earn!), and honestly “lesbian polycule revolving around potted plants” sounds right up my alley, but the whole thing feels weightless. May’s lectures on disability rights and universal design are well-intentioned, but sound like the screenwriter is quoting from something they read on wikipedia, rather than like the genuine sentiments of a blind person. The script insists that blindness is not a limitation, but then awkwardly wants viewers to rejoice at the restoration of May’s sight, and even implies that her blindness was a punishment she had to endure. So many interesting contrasts and parallels between how May and Ai-oon were raised are ignored by the story, and of course the class difference between them is completely glossed over. And the Pluto metaphor!! Whatever Pluto was meant to represent in this series is beyond me.

I’m really just scratching the surface in terms of weird narrative choices: There’s the hilarious “May helps edit Ai-oon’s bad erotica” subplot which sadly gets dropped right away. There’s the dreaded redemption for May’s evil dad which comes out of nowhere. There are some confusing lines toward the end that suggest Phim may have originally had a larger role that got whittled down. And, off topic, but while I’m listing random complaints, why are all the visual effects so godawful? The opening credits are an actual travesty—whoever is responsible should never be allowed near Adobe Protools again—and the car crash scene looks like it was done by an unpaid intern.

Um, so Pluto is kind of a mess, in other words, but at least it’s a glorious one! Mostly. Everyone involved (except for the aforementioned vfx department) is amazingly talented and frankly deserves a better story, although they do their best with it. I would love to see what this cast and crew could do with a good director to guide them. And maybe with some source material untainted by the pen of Chao Planoy.

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Completed
Khemjira
10 people found this review helpful
by ray
May 23, 2026
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Absolutely great, but couldve been better

Khemjira is seriously one of my favourite thai bls of all time, it will forever hold a special spot in my heart and i will never stop reccomending it. Especially as it introduced my to tlefirstone (and ive been obsessed with them ever since)
HOWEVER, as is the case with every series its not without its faults, ill try my best to keep this brief
1) for a horror, it wasnt scary pretty much at all and i even found the special effects a bit laughable at times
2) there is quite a few plotholes
3) the timeline doesnt really add up
4) rampheung deserved an apology !! Even a small one i felt so bad for her, her backstory is so sad
5) lastly, i saw this in another review and agreed so heavily with it, peem shouldve had a longer chasing arc. More of him proving himself to khem and trying to win his trust wouldve been nice if that makes sense

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Completed
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
10 people found this review helpful
Apr 1, 2023
Completed 6
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 10

"A faithful heart makes wishes come true"

I first watched this film when it was theatrically released in my country years ago. All I had to go on was a friend's recommendation and zero background in the wuxia genre. To say I walked into the nearly empty theater apprehensive would be an understatement. My fears were for naught. In a matter of minutes, I was completely mesmerized by the cinematography, music, and acting. Having watched my share of fantasy and super hero movies, I had no problem with the flying and light body technique as the characters danced across rooftops or fought high in a bamboo forest. The graceful movements and fighting techniques were like nothing I had ever seen. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was the gateway into a new world for me. Little did I know that it would set the bar for all films that followed.

Though this movie was a wuxia, the heart of the film were the two romances. Yu Shu Lien, the owner of a delivery escort service and Li Mu Bai, a warrior trained at Wudan had fought their feelings for years. Their love was unrequited as Lien had been engaged to Li Mu Bai's friend, but he was killed and the two would not act on their feelings. Now they are reunited as Mu Bai brings her his famous sword, The Green Destiny, and asks her to deliver it to their protector. His journey toward self-enlightenment has brought him to her and he wishes to leave the bloodshed behind them. The 400- year-old sword is too much temptation for Jen, a young woman engaged to be married but secretly trained by the devious Jade Fox. The incognito Jade Fox had poisoned Mu Bai's master years before for his refusal to teach her the secrets of Wudan. Lien is aware who stole the sword and works to return it without bringing any dishonor to the families involved. The middle of the film focuses on Jen and her previous love affair with Lo Xiao Hu/Dark Cloud, a charismatic desert bandit, and in the present when she takes the sword a second time to find her way as a wandering warrior. Mu Bai and Lien know she needs someone righteous to train her before she becomes a poisonous dragon. The treacherous Jade Fox has only vengeance on her mind for Jen and Mu Bai. By the end of the film the characters will collide in a deadly conclusion.

On a recent re-watch, I could see all of the classic wuxia elements from the over 200 martial arts movies I have watched since that long ago day in the theater. Ang Lee used those elements but blew them up into a grand epic, showcasing a wide variety of stunning scenery taking the genre where it had not been before. Characters traveled through the mountains, desert, verdant valleys, and lush bamboo forests. The inn and outdoor café sets ubiquitous in so many old kung fu films made their appearance in grand style this time. The busy city streets didn't feel like a small set, but substantial with plenty of extras to add an additional layer of realism. Ang Lee made full use of the sets and scenery to bring about an energetic and beautiful atmosphere for the story to be told in. Unlike so many martial arts movies prior to CTHD the characters in this film were more important than the fighting. He not only succeeded in making a gorgeous framework for the story but also in developing characters we could feel empathy with as they struggled with their deepest feelings. They had depth and emotional weight to them instead of the thinly drawn characters of old. By paying attention to the smallest details and insisting on a quality presentation, Ang Lee set the bar higher for those who would follow him.

Michelle Yeoh was a revelation to me, and I will always be thankful for this film introducing me to her. She had been in the business for over 15 years at this point honing her craft and risking life and limb at times to do so. Though her fighting technique was fearless, quick, and agile, it was her expressive face revealing longing, fierceness, and tenderness that quickly drew me in and made me a life-long fan. Her portrayal of the mature and wise Yu Shu Lien was perfect. Chow Yun Fat as the spiritual warrior Li Mu Bai, showed how he was torn between his love for Lien, his desire for enlightenment, and his need to avenge his teacher. His calm demeanor was in stark contrast to Jen's firebrand personality always teetering on being out of control. Zhang Zi Yi in only her second film held her own with the veteran actors. As Jen she conveyed naivete, passion, and anger fluidly. Chang Chen as the ardent Dark Cloud resonated the wildness of the desert and his fervent love for Jen. Again, there was the contrast of Jen and Lo's fiery passion in comparison to Mu Bai and Lien's controlled, repressed love. Rounding out the stellar cast was Cheng Pei Pei as Jade Fox. I have gone on to watch her earlier movies where she had been the young female warrior who faced insurmountable odds, paving the way for other actresses. I'm so pleased they used her in this movie as the vengeful villain and gave the kung fu veteran a chance to shine.

Lien and Jen both sought freedom in their own way and both were bound by duty. Jen loathed being forced to marry wishing only to be free and Lien greatly desired to be with Mu Bai, but was prevented by a rigid sense of honor. The two couples were the inverse of each other emotionally and would gradually become more like the other whether a crouching tiger, biding its time or a hidden dragon of emotions. Lo and Jen, embodied the recklessness of youth with no regard for tomorrow. Lien and Mu Bai sought to guide them to more thoughtful actions. For restrained Lien and Mu Bai, they had reached the point where they were finally able to break through their control to unleash their feelings and unspoken words. True love trumped spiritual enlightenment as what was important became revealed in one last breath.

The only quibble I have with this magnificent film is with the long flashback interlude showing Jen and Lo's love affair. It was similar to The Taming of the Shrew and feels dated in the telling.

Yuen Woo Ping masterfully matched the fight choreography to the mood of the film. The actors did much of the fighting, check out all the face time during the battles. Instead of CGI, the floating and leaping, even in the bamboo forest-truly a thing of beauty, was accomplished by wire work. The fights were more elegant than brutal and more visually captivating than realistic. Aside from the bamboo forest fight, the fight between Lien and Jen was spellbinding. The experienced Lien used a variety of weapons as she sought to subdue the thief of the Green Destiny in a memorable fight choreography.

After my recent re-watch I found that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has stood the test of time. Though I have searched for its equal or better through the years I have yet to find a martial arts film to top this one. Only Hero's stunning aesthetic came close. Compelling characters, wonderfully acted, enchanting cinematography, a haunting score, and balletic fight scenes have made this the measuring stick for all other films. It is rare for a film to touch me deeply emotionally and this one has for over two decades. I need to remember to thank my friend again for encouraging me to visit this world of wonder.

3/31/23

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Completed
Welcome to the Lesbian Bar
10 people found this review helpful
by chiha
Apr 5, 2023
5 of 5 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

sapphic slice of life

I often mourn the fact that lesbian series don't have the financial backing to make longer productions and that feeling just multiplied several folds after watching this drama.

Tucked away in some unknown corner of South Korea is a small bar which openly welcomes lesbians; it's proprietress, a lesbian herself, welcomes all with the iteration “welcome to the lesbian bar.”

In these five short episodes averaging six minutes we get a look into four stories of love stories in different stages. The lives of closeted lesbians intersect in surprising ways.

Apart from this we learn how the conservative society of Seoul has affected these women who are simply searching for a way to protect their love. The lesbian bar becomes a cosy nook for them. And despite everything, these women find happiness.

While these are admittedly not cohesive stories, and they left me wanting for more more m o r e,,, but it's a nice way to spend half an hour, especially if your motto is like mine: seeing happy lesbians makes me happy!

And a plus for the butch representation, like thank you!

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