Reviews

do NOT watch this while missing your best friend

even as i type this, there’s still tears falling down my cheeks. i don’t know why this has affected me this much…well, nevermind, i do.

i won’t spill my problems in this review but, as someone who’s had a horrible argument and well, i guess a somewhat of a fall out with her best friend of 7 years, this hit me right in the heart. you never get over it. even if you keep saying you’re okay, you still feel it in your heart.

sharing your life with someone where it borders between platonic and romantic love, it’s always special. i originally watched this thinking it would be very sapphic centric and although there’s definitely elements of it, you can tell it’s about two best friends- two soulmates, finding each other, drifting apart till they found each other again.

i can only hope the same happens to us.
beautiful movie.

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A Decent Zombie Movie

I placed a spoiler alert at the end of this review.

Overall, this was pretty good movie. It’s been a very long time I enjoyed watching a zombie movie, but admit the script has some weak sections. On the positive, it did a very good job setting up the world, character introductions, and grabbing the view’s attention in the beginning. The entire cast did an incredible job with their roles. All of the action sequence were great and the fighting looked real. They also did an outstanding job with the cinematography, special effects, and FX make-up. As for the negative, this is one of those movies that starts off strong with a decent middle but then a messy ending. I was fully invested in the script until it started falling apart in the last 30 minutes. The ending was not terrible, but it could have been better. However, I appreciate that they wanted to do something different.

Random Note:

The title: Zombie + Siam = Ziam

Although it is hinted with MDL’s synopsis, the one on Netflix does not mention this takes place in the future. Be prepared to take in a lot of information in the first 5 to 10 minutes of the movie. They did a good job, but it’s still a lot if you are watching it with subtitles.

******Potential Spoiler Alert******

I like they don’t fully explain exactly how the fish caused the outbreak. It’s not about how it happens, but the fact it is happening that makes zombies scary. I just know this is another example why I don’t eat raw fish.

The ending was very ambiguous and hints at a possible sequel which I would actually see.

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ALL CHARACTERS CLEARLY WERE SHARING THE SAME BRAIN CELL!

I had such high hopes for this movie and even watched it with my sister as a movie night movie, but let me be clear, this movie absolutely sucked. The best part of the movie was that the two male leads were good-looking, and the acting was pretty decent. However, those things do not cover the horrific idiocy of all the characters. I mean, I lost count of how many misunderstandings happened in this 2-hour movie, and it wasn't like actual misunderstandings. The misunderstanding was from the characters not using their brains. I got so frustrated at every character because it appeared as if they were trying to help the villain kill them and escape.

They could have stopped the serial killer within the first 30-45 minutes of the movie, but NO. It was frustrating because he did not escape time after time based on his smarts, but rather as a result of the idiocy of the other characters. ALSO, those police officers need to be fired because they have zero awareness of their environment and ability to assess situations properly. Like, what were they even doing the entire movie?

NOW we can discuss the brother because he just made really dumb choices. I mean, I get that he wanted to save his sister and was not in the best state of mind at that moment, but why did he trust the PYSCHOPATHIC SERIAL KILLER WHO IS TRYING TO KILL HIM AND THE OTHER CHARACTERS? He was just like, "Let me abandon the person that probably could lead me straight to my sister to go run around the back alleys." Did honestly believe that the serial killer was going to tell him the truth about the location of his sister when the whole mess started because of her? I mean, seriously!

Anyways, I was very disappointed in this movie!

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A quiet surprise in a loud house

I went in with no expectations, but in the end, I left with a sense of warmth.

When I first clicked on this movie, I thought it wouldn’t be that serious but it was the complete opposite.

The writers really did a great job with the characters. They weren’t perfect, and they had their flaws, but that’s exactly why I loved them. They felt human.

If you want a movie that’s funny but also handles serious topics, I would definitely recommend this. If you like slice-of-life stories with a little mess, a little warmth, and a lot of heart this might surprise you.

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This movie reinforced how tired zombies are

Though zombies had their heyday over a decade ago, entertainment with this theme can still be great if done right. Unfortunately, this movie couldn't rise to the occasion. I didn't care about the leads and their love, and that he was willing to risk life and limb to save her. The situation with the zombies was uninteresting too. Moreover, the fact that ML was mostly taking down zombies with his bare hands was ridiculous. The FL was annoying, but not as annoying as the kid whose only lines were "get away from me. Stop." to the mindless zombies who was determined to kill him. Carl Grimes he was not. Lol. I ended up turning this off about halfway through because it just wasn't good. I didn't care about any of the characters. Or how they'd get out of the mess they were in.

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Great premise, but would've worked better as a drama series

The leads had really nice chemistry and the story had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, being that it was a movie, it missed several beats and thus wasn’t as good as it could’ve been. Also, it was weird how the characters kept switching between speaking Filipino and English. I wish they’d stuck to speaking one or the other. It could get to be a bit too much when several characters would be talking at the same time. This happened frequently throughout, which again, could be annoying. Overall, this was alright. As stated in the review headline, I think this would make for a great drama series if done right.

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Confused, but has the spirit.

This is one of the few things coming out of Asia that dares look at their fixation on women's bodies, even in the year 2025. For that, it gets some merit. Does it to it particularly well? Ehh.

This is a passionate project that feels very strongly about its issues, but it also fails to commit itself to carrying through, and it flubs the landing.

200 Pounds Beauty raises the question of women's bodily standards, sexism in the entertainment business, systemic shaming, pretty privilege and plastic surgery...while fat shaming and affirming those same things. It makes for a confused viewing experience.

The story line about Kang Ha Na's career resolves itself, the situation with Han Sang Jun does not. The relationship is the more poignant through line of the movie, Ha Na's love for this man who is kind to her face, but sees her as lesser. At no point is Han Sang Jun ever called upon to radically change his thinking, or to accept culpability for his attitudes and actions which have played across this woman's body like a warzone. He is a wholly undeserving partner for Ha Na, and the series shows its age and bias in the notion that she doesn't totally abandon him as a romantic prospect. He voices the same tired opinions as every other man- a woman must be beautiful to date him, but she can't have had plastic surgery to make herself into a beautiful object.

While this is an upbeat and often funny movie to watch, the undercurrent about female exploitation is quite dark, as is the production's inability to fully condemn it. Ha Na is surrounded by beautiful, untalented women; her talent only becomes worthy of attention and respect once she is beautiful; it is then which she is also no longer subject to being exploited by men around her, which is patently untrue. Beautiful women are at risk of more exploitation, beauty does not solve these problems. This lack of a critical eye and heart fundamentally cripple this movie, through it remains an interesting showcase in mid 2000's attitudes. For that reason, it is worth a watch.

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One might think “they should’ve done better”, there was a lot of miscommunication, unironically being deaf and mute isn’t just about the ability to hear and talk

The world is big, and people are privileged in health, education, love and family
But others aren’t, having something that becomes a burden a drawback, people with “disabilities” can lose their footing in life
Xiaoma felt unseen and unheard, so mumu was his everything especially after his wife left them and found another family
He was flawed because he was never given the same benefits as others
Just like how Xiao Jing felt unseen between her husband and daughter
Starting a family is a huge privilege and responsibility
It was like this in twinkling watermelon too, parents relay too much on their kids, they lose sight of their own behavior and it becomes a burden to those around them


This was really sad and heartwarming

I do have a problem with this tho
idk if the insurance scams happen that widely so that part felt a bit underwhelming with some of the conflicts
The bad guys purposely used “disadvantaged” people so I get them lying to him, tho his friend should've warned him
The friend wanted easy money and he had no guilt but xiaoma had too much to lose and no one to guide him, then he got caught up in the thrill of being able to make money for his kid, he lost sight of the most important thing, she was happy with him no matter what


I kinda assumed he was falsely accused for theft or something before starting this

The little girl was too precious ;( I also liked how they used real deaf people it made the movie feel more real and normal

And ofc my zhang yixing did such a great job, he’s neither a dad or deaf, but he learned sign language and used it even after this movie, and he was such a loving protective dad ;) he was so disheveled and raw and so emotionally expressive ;(

I do think most of the conflict would’ve been avoided if his ex talked to him instead of that aunt, She could’ve easily told him she wasn’t gonna take him to court

but it was also important to show how ppl easily take advantage and fool disadvantaged people
And honestly being poor is also a disadvantage in life, he had no connections to help, he got fooled by everyone and dragged in too deep

If amei didn’t talk, he’d have been falsely accused for life, tho I also think again his friend should’ve also backed her up


I also liked the aesthetics, the blue was like sadness and not belonging while they shined yellow to highlight how they were each others happiness
Idk shouldn’t he also get less time for “good behavior”? Honestly I was scared they’d kill him in prison
So I kinda wish they showed him in the future, it’s sad to think his daughter stayed in Netherlands(?) until she graduated college to come back home, so he didn’t see her for 15 years? I’d also assume he’d always be there when she got off work cuz he’d want to be around her all the time
So I felt that was a shame, both the long separation and not showing him in her future
The wife tbh stayed selfish, going to another country was beneficial for mumu but just like how she selfishly took herself out of mumu’s life, she continued to force mumu to be without her dad ;(

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A Fun and Heartfelt Surprise

The movie starts off a bit cheesy, but it quickly proves itself. It’s full of humor, exciting action scenes, charismatic characters, and—above all—a beautiful message about acceptance. A story that will make you laugh, get emotional, and leave you with a warm heart.

It's so refreshing to see a queer supernatural action-comedy film. Here's to more movies like this!

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