Reviews

I started watching it sometime in November last year, so I thought it was time to finally finish it. I honestly don't know how I could stand it, because this is a masterpiece! I grew up watching movies starring Jackie Chan, so seeing him act with Jun this time is absolutely crazy for me xd. The movie is amazing, like really. The idea seems crazy to me and the ending is ridiculous, like what was it please? When is the sequel? That's insane... Every second I was tense as a brace, I was so excited and even had my mouth open, I was so done with it, for me this movie belongs to those top action movies that deserve more recognition. I love it. It's really well made and has a great cast, I have nothing to criticize. It has action, a proper plot with twists and an even more insane ending, I recommend it.

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Beautiful and Sad

I was expecting this to have a similar atmosphere to something like Dream Songs but it wasn't as hazy or dreamlike and I think it would've done this some good to borrow those aspects from Dream Songs. Ah, that's a bad note to start this on. Anyways, this is the story of a girl searching through another world for her best friend. It was a lot more sad and heart wrenching than I expected. The way it depicts depression reminded me really of something like Love for Love's Sake or Love in the Big City. Absolutely not a happy ending so if you're strict about only watching things that end happily, this is a skip.

However, if you're ok with sad endings and heavy topics, I would say it's worth a watch.

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Good but not amazing

It's an okey movie, the main character has some good developments in the movie. and it has a satisfying ending. Some of the fight scenes are long/unrealistic, but overall it was a fun watch. I really like the main character and his attitude to certain things. Like the not giving up during a fight, but still not really wanting to fight as he would rather just live a peaceful life. I really like the second lead (the mentor guy), I felt like he was kinda in the jail just doing his own thing and then he was like you know what I like this kid and then he is like jupp no one touch him he is mine. Which was cute. Also with the little info we had of him I felt like he was in the jail unjustly but maybe that is just my interpretation of the small info we got.

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My Feb Recommendation Challenge

Watched this for my Recommendation Challenge from 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒆. Let’s talk movie…

The story follows Jang Pan-su, a ruthless elite gangster who has clawed his way to the top of a powerful corporate criminal syndicate. His life revolves around expensive suits, sharp authority, and intimidation—until one accident literally throws him into a completely different existence.

One day while walking down the street, a high school student named Kim Dong-hyun falls from a building and lands directly on Pan-su. When Pan-su wakes up in the hospital, he realizes something impossible—he is now in Dong-hyun’s body.

Pan-su tries to explain—but no one believes him.

When he tries to tell anyone the truth, no one believes him. Meanwhile, his real body lies unconscious in intensive care—with no sign of waking. He attempts everything to wake Dong-hyun up—or to return his own consciousness to his body—but nothing works. With no other choice, he reluctantly returns to Dong-hyun’s home and begins living with his father.

Soon, Dong-hyun must go back to school. Unlike Pan-su, Dong-hyun is an overweight, timid teenager who is constantly bullied. But Pan-su refuses to tolerate such treatment. Using his gangster instincts and street smarts, he starts investigating the real reason behind Dong-hyun’s fall from the rooftop.

Later, he uses his fighting skills and confidence to completely transform Dong-hyun’s reputation—turning the school’s so-called “loser” into someone no one dares to mess with.

While living as Dong-hyun, Pan-su discovers that one of his subordinates remains fiercely loyal to him. He also encounters his ex-girlfriend—now the mother of one of Dong-hyun’s classmates. Seeing her again stirs old feelings, and a question arises: could her daughter actually be his?

Meanwhile, back in the criminal world, Pan-su’s wife is making moves of her own. Pan-su’s wife is secretly plotting something dangerous—something that could destroy not only his career, but possibly his life.

So, now the question:
> How will everything turn out in the end?
> Is the girl truly his daughter?
> Will he rekindle his relationship with his ex?
> And what about his wife’s plan? Will it destroy his career—or take his life? Or will her plan fail and Pan-su win...?

And most importantly,
> Will Dong-hyun ever wake up?
> Is Dong-hyun’s consciousness really inside Pan-su’s comatose body?
> If so, will they manage to switch back?

That's pretty much the story without giving any more spoilers.

Even though Pan-su is a gangster, it doesn't mean he’s just cruel without heart. Through Dong-hyun’s eye, he finally can see something he can’t see before as Pan-su.

Quite funny but still heartfelt. We can see how Pan-su became a better man in the end…

Overall I really happy to watch this movie…

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nostalgic and realistic film !!

The movie is scattered with scenes depicting lowerclass taiwanese lifestyle, featuring sounds like the rubbish truck collection sounds that are very nostalgic and remind me of my childhood. I think it portrays long-standing traditions and superstitions of taiwan fairly well, although some elements are a little old (betel nutstand).
In some parts, the arguing between characters was so realistic it made me as if I was in the scene and witnessing family drama on the spot. The backgrounds and accent was so familiar to me that it really hit home.
what i liked most is the vulnerability of characters and the realness of their situations, no sugarcoating what is the reality for so many people in taiwan. i-anns troubles and her decisions are are so valid. her decision to go to the reunion party just showed her vulnerability, the different sides to her personality, where all she wanted was to go to university (based on how she had such good grades). i think she wanted to see where she could've been, and her unfufilled dreams just shapes the way she acts today as well.
I was really invested in the story of SHufen's husband and really curious to know what he did that was so bad for htem to hate on him so much. But it wasnt really explained in the movie so i guess its up to imagination? The plot twist at the party was very interesting but i felt the ending was a little rushed. They couldve added a bit a few more scenes to make a slower transition to where the whole family becomes happy and united again.
The music was not noticeable, except at the start and end( kaleidscope)
this movie particularly made me feel a lot of pity for struggling families in taiwan that have to make a living on food stalls.

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A Film That Changes Its Thesis in the Final Act

The first two acts of this film establish a clear and compelling thematic direction, only for the final act to quietly replace it.

The opening is exceptional. It builds two ordinary people connecting without status hierarchy, romantic pedestal, or aspirational fantasy. Their relationship feels grounded, emotionally honest, and free from exaggerated melodrama. The thesis appears simple yet rare: that two common individuals can connect purely because they do.

The pacing is not slow—it is restrained. Each scene advances the psychological conflict with intention. The emotional progression leads naturally to the public confession, which functions as the true climax of the story. By that point, the arc feels complete. The transformation is earned through vulnerability, not spectacle.

The issue arises in the third act.

The sudden death of the male lead does not emerge from prior conflict, thematic groundwork, or character decisions. It functions primarily as an external shock. More significantly, the narrative reframes this tragedy as the catalyst for her empowerment.

From a structural and psychological standpoint, this shift feels unearned. A character defined by insecurity, avoidance, and a retreat into emotional darkness would not realistically find immediate strength in the loss of her only source of validation. The film replaces process with symbolism.

The original thesis suggested that connection itself was enough. The final act implies that loss is what grants that connection transcendence.

That shift alters the film’s identity.

Tragedy does not automatically deepen a story. Structural coherence does. And here, the coherence established so carefully in the first two acts gives way to impact-driven symbolism.

The foundation was strong. The final turn changes what the film ultimately stands for.

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8.2~⭐⭐⭐⭐

Secret: Untold Melody is a quiet, emotional mystery that slowly unfolds like a song you don’t fully understand at first but feel anyway.

D.O. once again proves he’s a strong emotional lead. His performance is restrained and subtle, never overdramatic, yet deeply convincing. He carries the film with silence, with eyes that speak more than dialogue ever could.

The structure can feel slightly confusing in the beginning. The mystery builds in fragments, and at times it feels predictable. But just when you think you have it figured out, the story gently twists. It doesn’t shock loudly it clicks into place. Slowly. Carefully.

There’s a familiar emotional echo here, reminiscent of Ditto: that same nostalgic longing, that sense of love crossing something intangible. But this film plays its own melody. Softer. More restrained.

It’s not perfect, but it lingers. And sometimes, that’s enough.

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I can't get it out of my head.

Although I really enjoyed this movie, I wasn't going to write about it, because I thought I didn't have anything interesting to say, but almost a full 24 hours after watching it, I keep replaying it in my head, the more I think about it, the more I like it, the more the pain lingers so I have to put my thoughts about it in writing whether they're interesting or not.

To My Beloved Thief changed my mind about Moon Sangmin, to me he was Just tall handsome guy who just stood there with the same confused expression no matter the situation his carachter is put in, the swimmer in Mermaid prince,the prince in under the Queen's Umbrella, younger guy dating older lady in Cinderella at 2 AM, all the same boring handsome dude ( he was good in Duty after school though, just as or maybe more disgusting than Taeman was in he webtoon). All that to say that I was looking foward to what he would do in Pavane and although he does have that confused handsome guy face in this one, it works so perfectly, Gyeongrok is a sad kid who has had a really tough life, the unflattering way dresses and that gloomy air around him, Moon Sangmin made me care for this guy so badly.

I love that Kim Mijeong kept her look throughout the movie, yes she was quirky, mousy and bashful, that eventually did get better, but finically, no makeup, simple clothing and hairstyle it was just her and she didn't need to change that. The way GyeongRok would light up when he saw her was like stepping into a whole new world, these two usually gloomy people would brighten up, smile, sing and dance, and make us root for their love.

Although the movie is a bit slow at times, it makes sense given the personalities of our two main leads, its a slow burn romance with a devastating ending but it is very much worth watching at least once.

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A magnificent movie, beautiful and moving

PLOT: Kosuke, a gay man (ostracized as a child and deeply affected by his mother's death), has built a tough armor in the Tokyo fashion scene. He meets Ryuta, a young man who works as a personal trainer to help him stay in shape. They fall in love. However, he discovers that Ryuta is working multiple jobs to support his mother, even resorting to prostitution. He helps Ryuta leave prostitution, meets Ryuta's mother, but Ryuta is working himself to death [literally]. Kosuke continues to care for Ryuta's mother.

+++ The three actors, Suzuki Ryohei (Kosuke), Miyazawa Hio (Ryuta), and Agawa Sawako (his mother), are fantastic.
+++ The direction is intelligent and very contemporary. The story is realistic (life for gay people in Japan isn't easy; thankfully, there's support from the community).

### I don't particularly like the camerawork; it makes me uncomfortable at times.

I don't know what the film's message is, but it deals with love, family, and grief, and is overflowing with sensitivity and humanity.

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Magnifique film, beau et dur

PLOT: Kosuke, homme gay (ostracisé enfant et ayant bcp souffert de la mort de sa mère) s'est forgé une carapace dans les milieux de la mode à Tokyo. Il rencontre un jeune homme, Ryuta, coach, pr prendre soin de sa forme. Ils tombent amoureux. Cpdt, il découvre que Ryuta fait plein de boulots pr subvenir aux besoins de sa mère, mm se prostitue. Il lui fait quitter la prostitution, rencontre la mère de Ryuta, mais Ryuta se tue à la tâche [littéralement]. Kosuke va continuer à s'occuper de la mère de Ryuta.

+++ Les 3 acteurs, Suzuki Ryohei (Kosuke), Miyazawa Hio (Ryuta) et Agawa Sawako (sa mère) sont fantastiques.
+++ La réalisation est intelligente, très actuelle. La story est réaliste (la vie des gays au Japon n'est pas facile, heureusement qu'il y a le soutien de la communauté).

### Je n'aime pas bcp le travail de la caméra, qui me met mal à l'aise par moments.

=> Je ne sais pas quel est le message de ce film, mais il parle d'amour, de famille, du deuil et déborde de sensibilité et d'humanité.

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More a comedy with some sincere moments than a romance

This quirky rom-com (featuring an aspiring pâtissier possessed by a demon and a jobless guy) is much more focus on the comedy aspect than on the romance which is never very deepened.

However, I did not mind at all that is was not really a romance. On the contrary, I liked that the writing put the focus on the demon / human relationship. The ending opened the doors to more and even if it felt a bit abrupt, overall it was a nice watch.

Yoona really did an excellent job showcasing diametrically different personalities while giving the male lead (played by Ahn Bo Hyun) full whiplash effect.

I would recommend this to people looking for a comedy with some heartfelt moments. The romance is really not the main aspect of the story but I think it is worth a shot as I found the storytelling around the fantasy elements super interesting with some very well made background regarding the curse.

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so insightful.

movies like this make me remember why i cant stomach romance harem dramas like swords and the brocade. This is real and not a game which you can win. but something which always had trapped and imprisoned real women. no women can win this, its so cunning the system it tries to condition you and this movie shows that so well. the little foot massages and even the character progression. chills down my spine. concubine harem dramas should take some inspo and not make it the true evil insesntive all fightimg for one man with no dimmension. just villians but motive and a misundersrood ml. but 35 and 15 is never romance. instead its this a girl who goes mad, not a girll who wins and beats the system.

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