Reviews

Billkin & PP Deliver Again ❣️

This movie is absolutely hilarious and surprisingly beautiful too. I was laughing from start to finish! Even though it’s a comedy, it has emotional depth and doesn’t feel shallow at all. I didn’t watch the original version since I usually stick with Thai shows, so I can’t really compare the two.

Let’s talk about the characters:

Billkin as Menn – He plays a straight guy who works as an undercover cop, but he’s terrible at it. Every mission turns into a disaster, and his boss is constantly yelling at him. Basically, he’s a walking bad-luck magnet. One day, while walking in the park, he sees a red envelope and thinks it’s an angpao (a money envelope), so he picks it up. That moment completely changes his life.

PP as Titi – His character is clearly a hopeless romantic. He is an openly gay and used to have a boyfriend, but sadly, the guy was just using him—for a condo, gifts, and who knows what else. Titi dreamed of getting married one day, but that all ended after his accident. To make it worse, his ex was basically scamming him the whole time.

I won’t go into too much detail about their story to avoid spoilers. Some people say it’s a BL, but honestly, I didn’t really feel any romantic connection between Menn and Titi. It felt more like a deep friendship or even a family-like bond. We never really find out if Menn still has any family, since he’s shown living alone. But what I really love is how he finds comfort and a sense of belonging with Titi’s family. His dad and grandma treat Menn like he’s one of their own, and that warmth really stood out to me. Although, I don't feel any romantic connection between Menn and Titi, the movie kept me entertained the whole time, and I liked how it ended—it felt realistic. No reincarnation or magical twist.

Acting-wise, everyone delivered their roles well especially Billkin who can't just play a serious role but he's definitely a versatile actor. The production value is also solid, you can tell they really put effort into it. The color grading was great, as well as the OST.

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White Snake and Green Snake: Retelling of a classic by a Master Fimmaker of Hong Kong cinema

If you grew up with the classic legend of Madame White Snake, Tsui Hark’s vision here is a refreshing arresting remake of that story involving the same characters. Based on the post-modern take of author Lilian Lee with the same name for her novel, the movie explores contentious themes and makes one consider humanity more deeply.

Two snake spirits in the Southern Song Dynasty finally leave the purple bamboo forest to live as humans. When seen through the eyes of Green Snake in this movie, certain deviations from the classic legend become understandably natural. Fat-hoi is not an old monk but a young handsome man who has become one with Buddha. Scholar Hsui Xien of the West Lake has two flaws which become impossible to ignore by the end of this tale. Green Snake and White Snake as individuals and as sisters are the pivotal relationship affecting their choices, once a certain conflict becomes unavoidable. Changes in the two main male characters contribute significantly to improving the plot and lessons of this retelling.

Tsui Hark also brings to life important elements and dimensions to the supernatural spirits (妖) and humans (人) in this movie, whereby knowing the differences and fundamentals for the four classes of 神人鬼妖 is necessary to understanding Fat-hoi's perspective in what he chooses to do within the first 7 minutes of this movie. Being human does not equate to being more morally righteous. An animal spirit cultivating and learning to be a human is about accepting what to do with limbs you are not used to, understanding emotions, seeing different perspectives from a very different world, and trying to decide how to act like a human. Humans do not necessarily understand emotions better than animals or supernatural spirits, especially love pertaining to different types of relationships.

In this wonderful retelling to transform what I grew up with, the relationship of White Snake and Hsui Xien finds a natural outcome. The relationship of changes between White Snake and Green Snake also intersects with that outcome, understandably through Green Snake making certain choices due to circumstances beyond her control but she must face. Who is the wiser sister? Were Hsui Xien’s choices correct? Is fate fair to all of them?

Karma and debt reach an understanding in poignant consequences and self-realisation. With limited screentime, Tsui Hark remarkably weaves and demonstrates the flaws and perspectives of relationships between Green Snake and White Snake, White Snake and Hsui Xien, Hsui Xien and Green Snake, plus Fat-hoi and Green Snake. Each character manages to grasp epiphanies, but at what cost?

Tsui Hark is a very talented storyteller and does not shy away from demonstrating certain elements and rawness, be it ugly or flawed or pitiful or enchanting. His grasp of the classic legend plus Lilian Lee's version, while deftly incorporating various topics such as Taoism, Buddhism and Chinese mythology is what enables this masterpiece. The end result is a touching unforgettable story of what could have been and how to look back at what has gone before. You, the viewer, are there in the moments with the characters and yet, you are not visible to them. There is no over-acting. The main cast and secondary characters have brought to life a story that would be portrayed exactly in this manner, if it were true in those times.

The soundtrack is a wonderful accompaniment to the scenery and story, lyrics rich in meaning. The art director, martial arts directors, and production sound mixers have helped to breathe life into a tale that I did not know I wanted for Madam White Snake (but I had always wanted a different version more encompassing and different for characters such as Green Snake), until I saw this in the late 90s..Tsui Hark allowed the main set to be wall-less. Gauzy fabrics were utilised. The art director and costume designer understood what he was going for. To portray the flowing changes of mood and atmosphere within the abode where the two snake sisters live including sensuality, the residence was based on Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty paintings, corridors and columns and gauzy fabrics able to create the necessary changes as per the story.

Peking Opera’s lead female role Qingyi was central to the clothing and costume designs for the two sisters. The actor for Hu Hsien was also trained in classical Peking Opera.

The English subtitles are very decent.

That said, the sets may have aged poorly if you expect the standards of modern special effects and technology. These sets capture a specific timeframe of nostalgia and beauty for me, and can be revisited in 4K restored version of the movie. Joey Wong embodies Bai Suzhen for Lilian Lee's novel brought to life, by turns innocent and wise and seductive. Maggie Cheung as the younger snake sister is transformational, aptly portraying Green Snake's learning, temper, bluntness, and attempts at being a proper human.

The impact of this iconic movie by Tsui Hark can be seen in the dramas of certain producers such as Guo Jing Ming, whereby a certain scene in episode 30 of the 2024 drama Fangs of Fortune is literally inspired by the final scene of this movie. There are other elements of this movie also inspirational and seen in that drama series, but that is not the point of this review.

Tsui Hark’s works such as the 1983 Zu Warriors From The Magic Mountain and the 1992 New Dragon Gate Inn always contain vital lessons and elements guaranteed to make you think, haunting you long after the credits have rolled. This love of labour is no different, as seen in the final twenty seconds of the movie.

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Awareness of a very real issue

I liked this movie quite a lot because it highlights a real and gruesome problem that affects people in certain countries more than anyone knows and raises awareness. Although some parts of the story don't really make sense to me, it was overall an okay horror movie.
Illegal abortions is something that I haven't seen in other horror movies besides Three Extremes, and it's quite a real horror for some people. The execution of it was truly grisly and gory, definitely something I wouldn't wish on anybody.
I didn't like the "haunting" of Yaimai because it seemed quite random and the end didn't really give a satisfying explanation as to why it happened.
In conclusion, I think the movie explained the problem of teen illegal abortions in Thailand very well and highlighted its problems, but the storyline of Yaimai, Pri and Por was lacking in my opinion.

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A lighthearted approach to a sport flick.

Unlike other sports films that lean heavily into dramatic, tear-jerking moments, this film takes a more fun and humorous approach as it follows Kim Woo Jin, a volleyball coach who has never won a single match in his career, guiding a team of underdog and substitute players who are dealing with their own struggles both on and off the court in pursuit of that one victory.

While the film may not offer groundbreaking storytelling, and the overall plot pretty much follows a predictable sports movie formula, it still manages to entertain with solid acting from Song Kang-ho and Park Jeong-min, plus its great camerawork, and high production values.

As the first Korean film that centers on women’s volleyball, this film, like many Korean sports flick, is visually impressive, particularly during the game scenes. The fast-paced action and athleticism of the players are captured in stunning detail, making the volleyball matches exciting to watch. Featuring Korea’s volleyball stars, the matches in the film bring an extra layer of realism. Although the title itself gives away the ending, the tension and emotional highs of the sports scenes manage to keep audiences on edge until the end.

One main issue of this film is its weak character development. And while the film does a decent job of setting up the motivations of the characters, the supporting cast is not given much backstory and conflict punch, resulting in less emotional depth. If they had explored the theme of teamwork a bit more, it could've turned this film into a great one.

In conclusion, "One Win" may not win any awards for originality, but it's a fun story with great production values that make it a worthwhile addition to the sports drama genre. While it may not leave a lasting impact, this film still manages to deliver a satisfying conclusion that will leave audiences feeling uplifted.

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“Thank you for everything.”

what starts as an action-fueled zombie flick quickly turns into one of the most tearjerking and depressing movies i’ve seen as we enter the second half and characters begin to drop like flies. this movie decides to focus on the preexisting stories of the living rather than the origins of the dead and by introducing these characters to us at the end of their lives we can somehow understand them as if we’ve known them for the years leading up to this train ride. the tense scenes are top-notch and every single death made me bawl my eyes out. i cry for a solid five minutes after the final death scene every time i watch this.

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“I’m not lonely anymore.”

i loved a lot about this movie, especially the sound design and the coloring in the different shots that overall added to the atmosphere. the cat and mouse between our trio and han was great and the suspense was done perfectly in a way that made you terrified for what would happen next, hoping that the boys manage to get to thailand like they said they would. unfortunately, their dream is ruined by han as he hunts them down relentlessly and even kills jang-ho (and presumably kihoon, although his death is off screen and implied), leaving joon-seok alone and traumatized by the events that happened before he managed to escape. the cliffhanger ending which leaves room for viewer interpretation as to if he gets his revenge or not was nicely done as well. the main thing holding this movie back was the ridiculous runtime, clocking in at over two hours and telling a story that could’ve easily been told in ninety minutes. other than the big of a drag it can be, this was really fun even on a rewatch.

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“This is all just so unfair.”

kang haneul never disappoints as he brings woo-sung, an average salaryman who finds himself down on his luck after buying an expensive apartment in seoul, to life in what is one of the most stressful movies i’ve ever seen. there are dozens of twists and turns that leave you unable to trust anybody we see on screen, even the main character himself, and that make you feel as if you’re losing your mind alongside him. while i did enjoy this i think i would like it more if it were even ten minutes shorter because it started dragging a bit, but it was still a fun watch.

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“Dad, today I made a plan.”

what begins as a dark comedy about a family of con artists infiltrating the home of a family too rich for their own good quickly becomes one of the most engaging and shocking films i’ve ever seen (and even though i haven’t seen many, that still speaks volumes). easily one of the best as well. i’m definitely not smart enough to write hundreds of words like i usually can explaining why exactly this movie works (so if you're looking for a proper review and not just my notes, check out any other one on here), as it’s a feeling far more visceral and personal that i can’t properly put into words, but it’s something i’m sure everyone who’s watched this film can relate to. the feeling of sighing at your computer screen once the film ends, sighing minutes and hours later as you recall what you’ve just watched, knowing that it’s changed you in some form that you can’t exactly give a name. truly just a wonderful film.

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“You have to win at your life.”

a perfect blend of heartwarming and action-packed moments that keeps you at the edge of your seat as jeong-do becomes more familiar with being a marital arts officer and we follow his journey in catching those who refuse to atone. the first half was filled with lots of fun and more lighthearted moments before the turning point in the middle of the film, leading into the tense second half where all the characters we’ve met so far work together to take down the most disgusting character i’ve seen in media in a while. bonus points for the satisfying ending. team chicken dinner on top.

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saw Jisoo on poster

We booked their early screening because we saw Jisoo on the poster. Have no idea it's a game-like story, they get gold coins for survival. I think this will be entertaining for those who like this game-like movie where they have to clear scenarios like some sort of level in game.(?) Though I only get excited with Jisoo's scene which appears almost towards the end, I'd still say the best part of this movie is the cast. (We actually wanted to leave after an hour because Jisoo still hasn't shown up lol)

I don't click with the main storyline that much but my other favorite character is the bad guy with white hair. I kind of want to be on his side.

Monsters cgi looked bad bad like that early 1990s movie. The background on Jisoo scenes look like they sloppily pasted her on that scene with AHS, Nana, Soobin. Idk she could run fast like superman lol. Jisoo character is scary rude and cold when she talks to AHS. Her motto is to survive or die, like I'd cry if if she say that to my face. I was told after that she's rude and bratty also funny in the book. The part where she wipes her tears of guilt while looking away from AHS got me chills.

There's no scene with LMH, but I remember they say they're like a team when I saw the news last year. I want to see Jisoo with Soobin after Soobin admitted that she's scary but there's no more, Jisoo only has 5 scenes and 4 are with AHS. The classroom scene is too short and was also told they cut one scenario that should show Jisoo with her god of sword stuff. So that's too bad they ditched cool stuff. Her last scene looks majestic but the moster has bad cgi too.

AHS and LMH did their part well I guess idk the book. I don't sense anything awkward from the cast acting. Nana character has cool fighting scene but her story per se isn't that interesting on screen or maybe because she doesn't talk much but still another interesting part of the movie. Soobin is too cutesy and kind, the boy is super cute and childish, the military guy was just..there, but good acting.

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