Reviews

Hilarious movie

Did you like Sean at the Dead or Hot Fuzz? This is their Chinese cousin. And he’s just as good.

But the water pipes is a really fun, enjoyable comedy that starts with a simple premise and a few characters, as the story progresses the story becomes more ridiculous and absurd us, and they add more characters. Each character add more to the story and the absurdity is hilarious while not breaking the reality of the world. The actors all do an incredible job the story sticks together and you’re so focused on what the characters are doing you don’t spend time pointing out how this is absurd or ridiculous. Meaning it’s in grossing story. My spouse and I spent most of the movie, laughing out loud.

See this movie.

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Interesting...

Under normal circumstances, I would never have given this movie a chance based on the description alone. However, I randomly saw a short TikTok edit about the film and wanted to see the ending. This movie is… interesting, to say the least. A young girl is “kidnapped” and lives with a pedophile for two months. Eventually, she is found, and he is arrested. Cue start of movie when she’s a young adult.

To think that her time as a young girl with this man for two months is the LEAST of her problems is actually insane and just goes to show that the movie had quite a bit going for it in terms of story. I think that’s why I enjoyed it. It subverted expectations. I went into it not liking the topic but was pleased with the story it was telling.

The acting was good, it’s shot well, and the original soundtrack is nice. It never crosses the line in terms of visuals if you know what I mean. The other stuff she goes through is far worse if you can believe that.

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A fun watch with a traditional Chinese ending

Go see this movie!

This movie was in enjoyable to watch. The story starts very creatively and it’s really nice to see how creative they were with the different dreamworld. Lots of computer generated action and events, but to a high-quality the actors all do a great job the characters have realistic, chemistry, and good character development. It is a gripping story that starts out fun and it becomes very serious. The traditional Chinese ending is not bad, but I felt undercuts the creativity of the earlier part of the story. The end is very good, very well acted and emotional. As a long time movie watcher though. I give more points for not falling into tropes.

Go see this morning and enjoy the Chinese industry. I keep making creative movies like this.

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The Heart remembers

The title of the movie (Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight) was intriguing enough for me to pick it randomly without knowing anything about the plot. The story has an unusual premise, but the execution is somewhat clumsy and the progression very simple. The pacing felt a bit off; the big moments didn’t happen naturally but were either forced or occurred off-screen. I also didn’t like the childish acting, which might be funny to a younger audience, but to me it felt unrealistic.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the movie for its main story, its message, and the emotions it evokes. As stated in the synopsis, this is truly a pure and touching love story that seems impossible yet still becomes real. I really appreciate Korean cinema for giving us clean and simple romances that inspire rather than provoke.

The movie teaches us that memories might fade, but they are not lost. Everything we experience stays somewhere deep inside the heart. It may appear hidden, but it is still there. That is a theological truth: even the things we have forgotten or lost remain for all eternity. Nothing good disappears in vain.

My compliments also go to the production team, who made an effort to ensure every scene looks beautiful. So despite having some issues with the story’s progression, I am thankful to have been blessed with this warm and noble love story.

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So Frustrating I Wanted to Fast-Forward

I found this film to be very poorly written and directed. The pacing was so frustrating that I genuinely felt tempted to fast-forward just to get through it. The story lacked cohesion and emotional depth, and many scenes felt dragged out rather than meaningful.

The acting didn’t help either. Performances were largely flat, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The protagonist, in particular, was especially frustrating. His overly martyr-like nature felt exaggerated and illogical, and many of his decisions didn’t make sense. Instead of coming across as heroic or complex, he often felt inconsistent and emotionally unconvincing, which made it hard to stay invested in his journey.

On top of that, the production quality and special effects were surprisingly lacking. For a film released in 2025, the visuals felt outdated and cheap, almost like something from the early 2000s. The CGI lacked polish, the action sequences felt underwhelming, and the overall production design failed to deliver the scale and immersion that a story like this demands. It’s disappointing to see such a high-concept fantasy treated with what feels like old-fashioned, low-budget execution.

Watching this adaptation honestly made me question whether I should even explore the original source material. However, I’ve heard that the movie significantly altered key plot points and character development from the novel and webtoon, and that it doesn’t accurately represent the depth of the original story. Because of that, I’m still open to giving the webtoon, novel, or anime adaptation a chance.

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"Sell your body, not your heart"

An Innocent Witch highlighted a problem that can arise when a prostitute works in a somewhat small city, especially when people are superstitious. In a place where everyone knows each other, townsfolk love to gossip and tear others down. Having lived in a small town during my childhood I can say it is the number one pastime. You don’t need social media or technology to destroy a person’s life.

Due to a bad back, Ayako’s dad is unable to work as a fisherman. Not to worry, her mom has found Ayako employment in town…in a brothel. Ayako starts out as a maid and is later promoted when Kama-san, an older man who owns the lumberyard finds her and her virginity enticing. After a rough first sexual encounter, Ayako throws herself into her work and becomes the top girl. One night she pays it forward and helps a young man lose his virginity. Despite being warned to not lose her heart to a customer, Ayako and Kanjiro fall in love. Her life appears to be improving until fate jolts her like a cartoon anvil to the head. Ka-thwang!

Ayako was a fun and generous young woman who took pride in her work. She knew what people thought of her but keeping her parents fed overrode her embarrassment. Ayako fell in love not once, but twice. Every time hope was dangled in front of her, destiny cruelly yanked it from her hands.

The film didn’t spend a lot of time berating the women for their choices and lifestyles which was refreshing. Yet Ayako suffered from gossip and crushing loss. Shaming women in the sex trade to me is hypocritical. There are men in any economy who will seek out and find a way to pay for sex whether they are married or not. As one sailor told her, “I’d rather drop dead on you than get hit by a torpedo.” Given that women during this time period had few career options and starving to death was a drag, young women such as Ayako sold the only thing they somewhat owned---their bodies. Ayako was sending her money home to her parents who were somehow able to rationalize selling their daughter to a brothel to service men for money.

Yoshimura Jitsuko gave a splendid performance as Ayako. This character provided her with a wide range of emotions to play with as the young woman dealt with despair, passion, fear, and joy. The music was hauntingly beautiful. Director Gosho Heinosuke pulled together a bleak film with stunning shots and got the most out of his actors. Each scene was well framed and composed to elicit peak emotional responses.

I won’t spoil Ayako’s fate at the hands of a man, even though it was heavily foreshadowed in the opening scene. Poor, “cursed” Ayako tried to make the most of her caged life. Each moment of pleasure was harshly penalized when tragedy came knocking. If you needed to blame someone or something, the nearest women was usually the obvious and most pathetic answer.

18 February 2026
Trigger warnings: Implied rape. Suicide off screen. Tame sexual content.

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Weirdly fascinated by testicles

Unusual to the point of being downright eccentric, Executioners from Shaolin carries a significant amount of generational weight while also serving as an incredible showcase for Lau Kar-Leung as an action filmmaker. From its blistering opening credits, a surreal, red-tinted deathmatch to its ferocious, bloody freeze-frame climax, the film is littered with fabulous choreography and wonderfully realised action. Unfortunately, it is bitterly unfocused as to what it wants to be, not lingering long enough on one thing to truly grab me, trying to balance a marital drama and the typical Shaw Brothers revenge yarn to less than stellar results, thanks to a brutally uneven pace and a weird fascination with testicles. There are some decent comedic beats here and there, but the film doesn't make the best of its lighter moments, often taking away from the revenge hook that supposedly drives the narrative, with the shift in focus from father to son robbing us of a fulfilling conclusion to this tale of vengeance. Performance-wise, there's an exceptionally brief but memorable role from Gordon Liu, Lily Li is wonderful, especially alongside Chen Kuan-Tai as the sympathetic and obsessive father figure, but it's Lo Lieh's turn as the villainous and nefarious Pai Mei who is the real highlight and has gone on to be the stuff of legend. The only real sore spot is Wong Yu, who doesn't really leave much of an impression beyond what might be one of the worst haircuts and wardrobes I've ever seen in a Shaw Brothers film. Although epic in scope, Executioners from Shaolin ultimately feels as if it's been cut down to the bone, not emphasising any of its narrative threads to truly tie us down. It's an odd film in that its flaws are more about what is not seen than what is seen, while it may not be the slickest or fastest film in Shaw Brothers' output, its heart and ambition still shine through.

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Leveled up Panor, but with loose plots. Still a good watch regardless.

In this sequel, viewers are introduced to an older and fierce Panor. This time, Panor is set to start a new journey as a college student, with big dreams of becoming a teacher. However, fate has other plans, and she must deal with threats coming from all directions.

“Let’s see whose black magic is stronger, yours or mine?” This line basically sums up the core conflict of this film. While the idea is strong enough to drive the story, the story structure is somewhat loose and uneven, making it difficult to fully immerse oneself in the narrative. The battle of black magic somehow lacks intensity. Plus, certain characters are not fully fleshed out either, leaving gaps in their development. And while the plot twist is good, it doesn't quite pack the punch needed for a standout climax. Despite this, the film manages to maintain a sense of intrigue and suspense all the way through.

As this film shows a more mature and ruthless version of Panor, Cherprang's portrayal of Panor has also leveled up, showcasing more polished acting that adds depth and complexity to the role. It's amazing to witness how well she has embodied this infamous role, solidifying her place in the horror genre. Alongside her, Pimma delivers a commendable performance, despite being a relative newcomer to the scene.

The trademark of the "Art of the Devil" films is of course its gruesome and brutal gore scenes. While this sequel certainly delivers on that front with some stomach-churning graphic scenes, I found some of gore to be predictable compared to its predecessors. Fans who are expecting the new level of shock value might find this sequel a bit disappointing. Still, the film is well-made with great direction, improved CGI, and fantastic makeup FX that really bring the world of black magic to life on the screen. Plus, it's simply satisfying to see how the bullies got bullied back.

In conclusion, "Panor 2" is a good sequel that continues to explore the dark and twisted world of its titular character. The upgraded version of Panor, combined with strong performances from the cast, elevates the film. While the loose storyline and toned-down gore may leave some viewers wanting more, the overall execution is still praiseworthy. Despite its flaws, this sequel is still good watch regardless. With a more focused narrative and deeper character development, the future installments could be even more captivating.

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Best Wuxia movie I've watched this year!

Idk what the reviewers are talking about. I got hooked by this movie because of trailers. Hollywood made a ton of shitty trailers, DONT FOLLOW THEM! Anyhoo, I admit the martial arts in this movie were a bit flashy, ppl flying off a horse, lots of jumping and flying kick...... BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO GOOD. The cinematic fight scenes did help to make you glued to the screen. While they make the plot so simple : guarding an important figure to chang'an but giving the backstory of the MC and his enemies. Also HOW IS NIC TSE STILL LOOK THE SAME LIKE 20 YEARS AGO? HE'S 52! costume wise, it's in a desert, so the tone is earthy colour. There's one scene remind me of Mad Max lol. Overall if you're looking for a wuxia movie, you can try this one.

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