Bangoro saves a country couple from being killed by drunk samurai. Later, he fights a wrestler who cheated in a sumo match and uses his father’s Yawara Jutsu which gets him disinherited when the dastardly Tenzen tattles on him. Later he travels to the mountains to fight the Spider Demon not knowing that Tenzen and another cruel samurai have attacked his family.
This film was composed of several chapters which thankfully come full circle by the ending. Onoe Matsunosuke played the “young master” at the age of 47. He would die three years later after having played in 1000 films! Sadly, just six remnants of his films have survived. I have only seen him in Jiraiya the Hero (1921) which was a lot of fun to watch despite the film being badly damaged. The intro to SB was a reminder that only a tiny percentage of early films are with us today. It’s estimated that over 90% are lost worldwide, mainly due to the nitrate film that was used which was highly flammable and if not stored properly crumbled into dust. Couple that with WWII and a terrible 1923 earthquake in Japan and even fewer of their films have made it to the present so each one we can still watch is a treat.
SB was much like a Kabuki play only on studio sets and in natural settings as much of the action took place in the mountains and next to a river. The Benshi narration wasn’t original to the film as there would have been someone in the theater narrating the film during its run. Men played the women’s roles and everyone was in heavy theatrical makeup and wigs. There were numerous fights involving swords, the aforementioned martial arts, sumo wrestling, and brawling with fists and poles. As with the makeup the fights were more theatrical and dance style moves than actual fighting. The best fight, of course, was with the long-haired Spider Demon as she transformed back and forth from two-legged to eight, and spewed white webbing everywhere long before Silly String was invented.
Shibukawa Bangoro may have been heavily dated, but that was part of its charm. Bangoro was a virtuous hero, the villains were a real threat, and despite the ravages of time, the film had a proper ending. It might have been a Shaw Brothers abrupt ending, but still brought the story to a close. And did I mention there was a giant muppet spider?
12 November 2025
I gave it a small ratings bump due to its age
Trigger: Attempted sexual assault
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Takumi-kun Series 1: And the Spring Breeze Whispers
0 people found this review helpful
Curious after watching Takumi-kun 2025
I came to see this movie because i watched the Takumi-kun series 2025 and read in the revieuws that you should watch the previous movies to understand the storyline better, so here i am.Visuals were a bit blurry, maybe because it is a copy of an old film? It was the best quality i could find.
Without the slightly blurr the visuals would be beautiful. The music was good.
The acting was ok as far i could judge, because of the slight blurr some facial expressions weren't noticable.
Some parts were a bit messy like the fact that Takabayashi was at one moment in love with Gii next moment totaly in love with Yoshizawa. Maybe those back stories will become more clear in the other movies? I'll just go and watch them the next days to see if they add something to the stories.
It wasn't a bad watch, but i think they didn't use all the potential it had.
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This review may contain spoilers
Great idea, meh execution
I had high hopes for this movie in the first half because the plot is very intruiging. The build-up of tension as Yoshie asks for more and more surgeries and begins to snoop around in the doctor's life is quite suspensful and I enjoyed it.However, aside from the graphic gore, I found the acting underwhelming, especially towards the last act. It feels like they used the excessive gore and sex scenes as a way to make it horror, but fail to give the story a satisfying conclusion. Additionally, not getting ANY information on Yoshie seems like a lazy route in my opinion.
So in conclusion, this movie was a good idea on paper but badly executed, and the characters were so shallow I didn't remember any of their names except Yoshie. Lastly, as someone who speaks german I was greatly offended by the lover using the german word for female genitalia and other random words during sex, that is such a turnoff lmao
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When you fight for love...
A beautiful romance that honestly portrays the challenges couples face, even when love is strong. I had no idea the leads were a real-life couple before watching, which makes their chemistry even more captivating (though they’ve since broken up). Their performances are phenomenal and hit me right in the feels, especially in the most emotional moments. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a heartfelt, realistic love story.Was this review helpful to you?
A sharp, grounded action film about justice, growth, and responsibility
𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘁 is one of those action films that catch you off guard — not just with its fights, but with how much it evolves emotionally. What begins as a slick and fast-paced story about martial arts and justice quickly develops into something deeper, exploring 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘀, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵, and 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.The 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁 starts off casual and overconfident, but as the story unfolds, you can feel him maturing — his tone shifts, his choices weigh heavier, and his understanding of justice becomes more complex. This gradual evolution makes his journey believable and compelling. It’s rare to see such natural 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 in a genre that often prioritizes action over introspection.
What sets 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘁 apart is its willingness to slow down when it needs to. The film treats its serious subject matter with respect — addressing 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, and the 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. There’s a moral gravity beneath the physical combat, and as the tone darkens, the main character’s seriousness becomes the emotional center of the film.
The choreography is tight and stylish without being excessive, and the balance between intensity and reflection is handled with care. What starts as a straightforward action premise grows into a thoughtful story about learning from 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀, taking 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, and redefining what justice means.
By the end, you see a character who has not only mastered his craft but also his conscience — a man who understands that true strength comes from 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, and 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲. That emotional payoff is what lifts 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘁 from good to genuinely memorable.
Pros:
✔ Excellent 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 and evolving tone
✔ Tackles 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘀 with maturity
✔ Sharp choreography and focused direction
✔ Emotional depth beneath the action
✔ A serious and surprisingly reflective message
Cons:
✘ Some scenes could’ve expanded more on the supporting cast
✘ Slight pacing dips in the middle
Would I rewatch?
Yes — it’s a rare action film that balances heart, maturity, and message as well as it balances punches.
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A Surprisingly Good and Passionate Film
Going into this movie, I truly thought it wouldn’t be good. I was in for a surprise. The OST is incredible, the animation is smooth, and the story is interesting. The only major flaws are how rushed the ending felt and how Mira and Zoey weren’t given that much screentime although they were part of the group. I also wasn’t that hyped over the Saja Boys or Jinu, but they were alright. Overall, it’s a nice and engaging film that keeps you interested throughout. (and a plus for having really good songs that you can sing)Was this review helpful to you?
Confusing But Thrilling
This movie honestly really confused me and I’m not sure why. I found it compelling and I liked the story and acting, but it didn’t manage to stick with me. The acting is good and I think the first half is pretty solid, but way too much happens in the second half for it to be cohesive. I like the message though.Was this review helpful to you?
This film truly inspires hope and appreciation for life.
It’s an artistic, beautiful, and deeply emotional movie.Some people fight just to live one more minute, while we let our days pass by without truly living them.
I loved it so much.
I’d seen the lead actress before in a drama, and I’ve admired her acting — she truly shined in this role.
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the highest form of Khon
Note: Ratings for this were difficult. I considered trying to rate it as a documentary, perhaps with an eye to MDL users who might watch a Thai PBS documentary on classical Thai dance. But respect for the tradition and practitioners is so strong a theme throughout, it feels most appropriate to give 10 for 'Cast' in acknowledgement of their proficiency and expertise, which then means 10s for Story and Music in respect for the tradition. Rewatch value? I’m sure I’ll get more from a second viewing.Thai PBS calls this documentary a ‘deep dive’. I’m not sure about that, perhaps ‘esoteric’ would be a better term (even, if I understand it accurately, within Thailand). There is a lot of information to take in - the beginning is especially dense with names and references to classical Hindu texts and beliefs and their Thai counterparts. Fortunately it slows down as it progresses and the names of Thai dance masters become familiar. Text accompanying the dance performance at the end helpfully summarise key points.
The English title is also somewhat misleading. I knew about Khon dance from Thai PBS’s one hour mini drama, "Dream a Little Dream", where a very determined young boy begins learning Khon dance, so I was hoping for more insight into that. "Dream" is an excellent and gentle introduction, by the way, with a sweet family story. Well worth an hour.
The Thai title of this documentary translates as “Documentary of the Pirap” - a very rare and specialised part of the dance tradition, considered to be the superlative form. Requirements for being allowed to inherit and perform the tradition are strict and complicated, only for those already ordained as monks and skilled in the arts - those with the knowledge are in their 70s and 80s and it’s in danger of being lost. So now my information is Beginners, Supreme Grand Master, and only a smattering in between. The quest continues to fill that in =D
The importance of religious beliefs in arts was what I found the most interesting here. “Arts in the world exist to praise or worship gods.” “Phra Pirap Nah Paht Dance is to invite the highest deity to help eliminate evil.” Phra Pirap is a fierce aspect of Shiva, capable of great protection.
Along the way, they also touch on the music, women dancers, and the making of masks. The masks are also religiously significant.
The last 13 minutes are a performance of the dance.
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young dreams in crowded Klong Toey
Local, personal and real. Well-crafted documentary about life, school and young dreams in Klong Toey, where life is crowded by densely packed neighbours and the very narrow priorities of the education system the young rappers collide against, especially 18 year old Book.The film-making is simple in style but clear and focused, making space for them and giving us time to understand them, or what they understand of themselves.
Very much worth seeking out.
To help that, Director Wattanapume Laisuwanchai has made a public appeal to get School Town King added to Netflix. More information and a link to request the film are in this article.
www.bkmagazine.com/entertainment/director-klong-toey-rap-documentary-wants-your-help-to-get-it-netflix/
If anyone knows how Book and Non are faring now, would you kindly let me know. Thanks. Wishing them well.
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Never read webtoon, so I'm objective
I enjoyed it and I'm glad I read the reviews after watching because I might not have watched. Its a decent movie with good acting and as someone who has never read the webtoon I now want to read.It's a good story and because it was a movie they had a limited amount of time to tell as much of the story as they could, I would have loved an 8 or 6 episode drama, it would have given the maker more room to tell the story.
With all that said I'd recommend this movie, its an easy watch, easy to follow the story even the gore was done very well you can watch with the kids. I'd love a part 2 or even a series.
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1The Beauty Saves the Hero 美女救英雄
Demon Force is the long-awaited second chapter in the Creation of the Gods trilogy. Compared to the first film, it’s a massive letdown. The heart of the disappointment? It strays wildly from the classic novel. The whole “Demon Force” (魔道争锋) arc is a made-up conflict that stuffs the screen with Hollywood-style cosmic battles at the expense of the original’s political scheming and philosophical depth.The story resumes with Ji Fa defending Xiqi against the Shang king’s demonic hordes. He’s thrown head-to-head against Deng Chanyu, a rising Shang general leading the siege. Mongolian actress Nashi brings her to life with exotic, whip-thin athleticism—she owns every frame, radiating lethal power and feminine fragility in the same breath. I actually cheered this update to the old tale: slipping a fierce, layered woman into the mix. No question, she’s the beauty who saves the hero 美女救英雄 and runs away with the movie.
Too bad director Wuershan seems so smitten with Deng Chanyu that everyone else—from Jiang Ziya to Yang Jian—gets shoved to the margins and practically forgotten. The real crime, though, is what they do to Ji Fa: dumbed down into a lovesick, reluctant hero drowning in self-doubt just to prop her up. Then, to rub salt in the wound, Yin Jiao gets turned into the genie from Aladdin. I swung between fury and helpless laughter at the sheer ridiculousness—and at the total waste of Chen Hailiang’s stunning good looks.
There are enough jaw-dropping (if slightly overcooked) battle set-pieces to keep it from being the worst fantasy flick out there. But it never touches Kingdom of Storms in storytelling. I did love Deng Chanyu’s arc—even if it has no business in the Fengshen trilogy. For me, that lands it at 7.5/10.
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The last aspect is something the film doesn't do very elegantly, obviously to the confusion and disappointment of other viewers -- they feel that it's almost two different films, one a silly comedy, the other a serious crime thriller. I think it's certainly no "Le Salaire de la Peur" or even a "High Noon", but it does have its own charm and rhythm, if you're comfortable with the Thai way of switching moods within a story. Also, I felt that the comedy was still there, mainly carried by Noi, but also in some of the interactions between the bandits.
There is some romance, which I (and Noi!) felt came out of nowhere, but it seems that a romance is part and parcel if you have two main characters in the appropriate age range. (Also, it was kind of a long-term-setup for another joke at the end, so I don't mind too much.)
I grew to like the characters -- Noi, of course, who charmed me instantly, but also the prickly Chana and the wilful Riam. Even some of the villains were kind of sympathetic, although I agreed with Noi that "they [should] just kill each other".
When I looked up more information about the film, I learned that it's one of the first Thai films which were filmed on 35mmfilm, which means it has synchronized sound, i.e. that the actors' voices were recorded along with the image. Usually, Thai film makers usually used a cheaper sort of film, and the voices were either dubbed later or sometimes even dubbed by live voice actors in front of the audience. What a wild concept! I never knew that this was a thing.
I suspect that this was one of the reasons why there's so much singing and music in the first half -- Rattana Pestonji, who wrote, directed and produced this film, seems to have used the possibilities of the more expensive film stock to the fullest.
Rattana Pestonji is, according to Wikipedia, "the father of modern Thai film" -- which could explain why some aspects of "Country Hotel" feel very familiar. I will definitely check out his other works if I can find them, it should be worth it to understand where modern Thai films come from.
The copy that is available via the Film Archive Thailand on YouTube seems to not have been digitally restored, there are quite a few artefacts from degradation of the original film material. At times, the background score overwhelms the actors' voices, and there are strange cuts here and there. But to expect modern standards would only be an exercise in frustration.
Was it good?
It's not global top-tier in comparison to high-budget films from the same time. But I do think that it was made with love, and with all the expertise and abilities the crew and the actors had. The script and how the story is developed is very Thai, and that might not be to everybody's taste or feel unusual or surprising to Western viewers.
Did I like it?
Yes! I loved the comedy, I grew to like the characters, and I wanted to know how it would end. Afterwards, I felt fullfilled, and just wanted to sit a few minutes, not doing anything.
It was definitely entertaining and educational, and well worth my time.
Who would I recommend it to?
To anyone who is interested in Thai / SE Asian film history, or in Thai films in general.
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1
1"Let love be your guide!"
I was in the mood for a heartwarming story and the synopsis for Little Q drew me in. That and a beautiful Labrador retriever on the poster was all I needed to watch this film. While it portrayed the value of the guide dog program, it also failed rather spectacularly as well.Temperamental pastry chef and general all around jerk, Li Bao Ting, is losing his sight which makes him even crankier with everyone around him. At the same time, a family agrees to foster a lab puppy, Little Q, for a or the Hong Kong Seeing Eye Dog Organization. Despite the rules, the little girl largely attempts to undo Little Q’s training so that she will fail the stringent training and Chan Tsz Kiu/Chan Yu Qiao will be allowed to keep her. Q prevails and is paired with Li who wants nothing to do with the dog. When not sitting at home drinking he’s berating his apprentices at his pastry shop. He repeatedly tries to rid himself of the dog until he realizes Q’s value and attempts to get his life back on track.
So far, this general synopsis of the first part of the film plays out like many other redemption stories. The only problem is, Q would never have been given to Li in real life. There are far more people in need of guide dogs than there are guide dogs. Even if he had received one due to his family connections, the minute they discovered his mistreatment of the loyal pup, Q would have gone to a deserving person. For the first 49 minutes of this film, I have never hated a movie character more. Li’s 180 in outlook was enough to give him and me whiplash. There was no gradual buildup, just an unearned personality change. And in the final quarter another action happened that had me spitting nails I was so angry**.
I had a friend in college with a guide dog. Dennis was a beautiful black lab that was all business when my friend and I walked about campus as we shared several classes. But when he was off duty, I was able to pet him and give him treats and play with him. In the film there seemed to be a real concern that guide dogs lead a too serious life. When Dennis wasn’t working, he played with his golden retriever sibling and his human parents just like any other dog. The thought of someone treating one of these highly trained dogs so cavalierly was infuriating, even if it was just a film. Especially with a need greater than a supply of these loyal friends.
Yes, there was a nice little middle with happy, bonding moments with Q, but they were bookended by actions that were reprehensible. I appreciated that the film gave a shout out to the importance of guide dogs as it appeared to be a fairly recent program. Yet I was also appalled that Q was left with someone completely unqualified for receiving such a gift despite movie magic turning him into a loving caring person in a matter of minutes.
As a work of art, the writers worked hard to manipulate the viewer into feeling sorry for the little girl and eventually the owner. Due to the callousness and utter stupidity of the humans, my only concern was for the ever faithful yellow lab. If ever there was a film that showed we don’t deserve dogs, Little Q was it.
10 November 2025
**Spoiler comments below! **
When Li prepares to go to the US, he takes Q off the leash and throws the ball down a city sidewalk for Q to chase to distract her. What? He can’t see where he’s throwing putting Q at risk in an urban environment. Then Q chases his van down the road. The driver and Li’s sister see Q but do NOT stop the car and get Q out of harms way. Only when Q was physically blocked from following did she finally give up. Who would let a dog run down the middle of the street in a city?
Another problem was when Li decided to walk into traffic to commit suicide. He caused a multi-car accident which might have injured drivers and passengers as well as the financial cost. If he had succeeded, a driver would have been traumatized for causing a pedestrian’s death. Somehow, right afterwards he was able to smile-about everything. I’m guessing all those people in the cars weren’t smiling much.
I'm not sure what else they could do to try and gain sympathy for Q as they put her through numerous physical ailments. I love organic moments that create sympathy and even sorrow for characters both two-legged and four-legged alike, but the writers used a sledge hammer with little nuance to try and create emotions.
And the less said about the Dog Meat Festival the better.
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it's getting more crazy
I went in not knowing a thing about this so it was a steady stream of surprises and quite engaging. Some good use of music and shadows in the cinematography as well.Only my second 1950s Thai film so it was also interesting to learn a bit more about the history of Thai movie-making, like how many elements I'm familiar with from the last 25 years of Thai films were already there in 1957 and that an exaggerated kRap isn't a modern affectation from cheeky young men.
It's fun, it moves, there's a sense of freedom to it despite the single set, and in the end, the story it eventually finds its way into was good too.
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