Reviews

Low Budget, Big Impact!

I’ve seen a lot of monster movies over the years—including several versions of Godzilla—but this one really stood out to me. What amazes me the most is how Japan keeps making powerful and memorable Godzilla films, even with smaller budgets compared to Hollywood. And yet, they always manage to deliver more heart, better storytelling, and real creativity.

The visual effects were honestly so good—especially for a movie that didn’t have a huge budget. Right from the start, the tone was intense and gripping. Usually, in monster movies, the creature shows up halfway through, but here, Godzilla appears early on, which kept me excited and locked in the whole time.

What made this even more interesting was the setting. Instead of the usual modern-day timeline, they chose to set it in post-war Japan. That choice added something special to the film—it made it feel fresh and gave it a deeper emotional layer. You really feel the pain, loss, and trauma the characters are carrying, and it turned the movie into something more than just a typical monster story. It became a story about survival, healing, and facing your past.

I think one of the best parts of the film was the character development. Shikishima, a former kamikaze pilot, was such a strong character. Watching him go from dealing with guilt and fear to stepping up and doing the right thing was really moving. His connection with Noriko and Akiko—who basically became like his family—was so heartwarming. I loved seeing how they supported each other. It gave the movie a softer, more human side that really balanced the darker moments.

The acting was great, too. The leads especially did such a good job—you could really feel the emotions in their performances. Now I totally get why the movie got such good reviews. It deserves it.

And that ending? Total surprise. I didn’t expect Noriko to survive Godzilla’s atomic breath, but she did—and now I can’t stop thinking about that weird mark on her neck. It definitely feels like there’s more to her story, maybe even something supernatural. I really hope they explore that in a sequel. It’s a small detail, but it adds so much mystery and potential.

Overall, this movie was such an amazing experience for me. It had everything—action, emotion, great characters, and a story that stays with you. Whether you’re a longtime Godzilla fan or just getting into it, I totally recommend watching this one.

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You are not my type

10-12 minutes of this short movie passed in a blink of an eye. We have a guy and a girl on a Sogeting - arranged date. They are nothing like each other, but somehow, something happens between them. Me too, if I was a guy I wouldn't stay with this girl and if I was a girl I wouldn't choose this guy. Yet, the movie shows how we can all bring blessings to each others and how first impression is not a real representation of a person.

At the end, this is not a love story, just a glimpse into all of us humans, of where we are, in grey, hoping for a little bit of blue.

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Dark and well acted, but storytelling did not manage to keep my interest

I think I was expecting too much from this movie...The cast and the poster with its dark vibe picked my interest: on those aspects I was not disappointed. The whole misfits family aspect is my fave part of the film but the storytelling felt flatter than I would have expected given the context in which the characters are evolving. The beginning was ultra gripping but then strangely enough as the action was ramping up, the pacing felt more and more sluggish to me.

The whole cast does a very good job. Especially the two main actresses with Kim Hye Soo and Kim Go Eun nailing the dark and twisted dynamic between them. The production value was good, the atmosphere is really gritty and dirty. The viewer can truly feel how rough it is for the characters.

I would recommend this movie for people that like dark and twisted movie. If you enjoy story like "Hwayi: A Monster Boy", I think you could enjoy it. I personnaly liked "Hwayi: A Monster Boy" much much more but I can definitely see some interesting parallel between those two movies with the common thematic of found family evolving in the darkness (with dire consequences as they are part of criminal activities). It is definitely the most gripping aspect of the "Coin Locker Girl" with also the great cast. Too bad the pace and the storytelling did not hold up to its dark premise.

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A heartbreaking and inspiring movie

I was not expecting this movie to be such a punch in the gut. The writing was tight, the pacing was excellent and if I would have liked a longer epilogue and to spend a bit more time outside of the plane, I must say that I was properly captivated (and in distraught) for the full duration of the film. It managed to say so much in a relative short amount of time. It featured an heroic character as well as a pitiful and hateful villain. And the fact that it was inspired by real events is giving it a bitter note with a long lasting impact.

The acting was excellent. I love Yeo Jin Goo and here again, he is brilliant, portraying a role that could have really been just one note and instead giving it nuance and perspective. Ha Jung Woo is definitely up to par and does not disappoint as well. Both brought me to tears, when I was just expecting thrills and action, I got very emotional. The production was really solid : all the historical aspects of air flight from that era in time was really interesting and well made. Action sequences were intense and very believable. The soundtrack was not overly present but very fitting for the epicness and dramatic of the plot.

I would strongly recommend this movie if you are looking for very well acted and emotional action story. It has a lot of nuances in addition to a lot of intense moments, and it will definitely keep you on your toes.

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No justice for weak people

Just watched Silenced (2011), and now I believe even more that there's no justice in this world for the weak. This movie hit me hard—it's heartbreaking to see how people in power can abuse, silence, and destroy lives, while the victims are left with nothing but pain and fear. It hurts even more knowing this isn’t just fiction—this really happened. And in the end, none of the victims got the justice they deserved. No happy ending. Just quiet suffering.

I also read from some news that after the film was released, it caused public outrage and led to the case being reopened. But still, it doesn’t erase the fact that the victims have to live with that trauma for the rest of their lives. Some of them never even made it through. It’s painful, it’s unfair, and it leaves you questioning the kind of world we live in.

This movie doesn’t just tell a story—it opens your eyes, and breaks your heart. 🥺

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Short, Sweet, and Seriously Adorable!

💖 17 Minutes of Pure Cuteness — I Need More!! ⏰💘

I just finished Why Do We Have to Hide It?! and even though it’s only 17 minutes long, I LOVED every second! 🥹✨ Both actors are stunning and had great chemistry — the looks, the little gestures, the tension... all packed perfectly into a short runtime 💞.

The plot is super simple — two boyfriends keeping their love a secret — but it’s told with so much heart. Honestly, this short film gave me more feels than some full 8-episode series I’ve watched 😅.

I really hope this gets expanded into a full series one day — I’d be so ready to invest in it! 💸💖 Until then, this is a sweet, cozy watch that I highly recommend. Just wish it was a bit longer!

⭐️ 8/10
⏳ Short but absolutely worth your time! Don’t miss it!

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Creative Borrowing

Within the story it alludes to some search for immortality by a long dead ruler as an inspiration. However, as the story unfolds a connection to another theme comes through as it becomes clear to us and the characters that there is no safe refuge, no home, and that the mobs will hunt Seobok down to exploit him no matter the cost.

When the mobs close in and then are defeated the realization takes hold that there is nowhere to flee to and we arrive at another inevitable ending. The story and ending strongly evoked the same emotions and tragic ending of the novel "Of Mice and Men". I hope that doesn't give away too much, but it's that tragic collision at the end that makes the ending work so well and for the same reasons.

The same but different, and a well told story deserving in its own right.

Highly recommend.

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A Perfect Movie For Lazy Afternoons!

The title of this movie is aptly named. Aichaku literally means in Japanese ‘attachment’. But an attachment to an object that is more like a feeling of affinity- what the object means. It takes on an emotional attachment. And this movie is certainly that. It is a movie filled with a lot of emotional bonds.

However, it takes a long time for the story to get somewhere though. While the first half was interesting, even informative, it was mundane and uneven. It is a story about a focused American gay man, teaching English in the rural countryside of Chiba, Japan. His name is Lucas (Christipher McCombs) who strains to save all his money for something, to the point of forgoing almost all other pleasures. He bikes past an abandoned restaurant on his way to teaching every day and stares in, and we assume that is what he is saving for.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2025/06/13/aichaku-movie-review/

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The kind of movie I didn't know I needed until I watched it.

It's understandable that it's not everyone's cup of tea, along with everything else, basically. However, to me, I felt like it was well-written. We didn't get to know much about the main character, but we did get to see the burden that Yeo Reum was carrying, having feeling like not belonging in the world.

The acting was on point that emotions can be felt and the body languages, though not exaggerated, were so clear. I especially loved the tiny silent moments in between conversations/sign languages because it fit the vibes of the entire film. In a way, it calmed me down.

The cinematography was my favorite. I love the tones used since it was the kind of movie that not only warmed my heart, but also made my eyes happy with the calm scenery (huhu 미안해 I'm not familiar with movie terms).

A big part of me also find the yearning cute. It was the type of crushing that was not creepy and not overstepping boundaries (except maybe when he made her food because I felt like that's kind of an intimate thing to do).

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"Once you have your hair cut, you'll change your old worldview"

Mother and a Guest showed the cultural crossroads Korean widows faced in 1960. The small town, how people dressed, and the customs were in a state of flux. Much of the film was narrated by the kindergartener and the adults were seen through her eyes. She didn’t understand them and I can’t say that I did either.

Lee Kyung Sook and her six-year-old daughter Ok Hee live with her mother-in-law. Her husband died before Ok Hee was born. Kyung Sook wears her white widow’s weeds and chignon, never looks men in the eye, and is the epitome of demure. She clings to her widow’s integrity by not remarrying. Trouble develops when they take in Han Sun Ho as a boarder. Ok Hee is immediately taken with the soft-spoken artist and follows him around like a puppy. Could a romance develop between the widow and the artist when they are almost never in the same room and almost never speak? Well, that’s the question.

Throughout the film widows and widowers were shown remarrying and living happy lives. The old taboo was no longer enforced. Lee has been a widow since she was twenty-one and seemed relegated to forever being alone except for her daughter. Her wants and desires were irrelevant as well as her daughter’s. There could be no laughter and she’d abandoned her music. This film was supposed to be a melodramatic tearjerker, but the main characters inability to communicate was frustrating and at times infuriating. I was far more invested in the maid’s story or even the hairdresser’s.

Mother and the Guest was a snapshot of changing mores in South Korea after the war. It also showed the stranglehold on women’s virtue and filial obligations that did not loosen easily.

12 June 2025

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Showbiz is not what it is cracked up to be.

I watched this movie with casual interest. I watched it for Andy Lau, who I have loved for twenty years. It is a typical showbiz plot with self-absorbed talent aspiring for greatness, and achieving a deflated ego in the end. The movie received some positive feedback from western media for its satirical look at Showbiz, but it bombed at the box office in China. It was released during 2024 Chinese New year, which was shortsighted by the producers. You don't release a feel bad movie during the highest holiday in China.. The dark side of showbiz is universal and superficial. The movie transcended the barriers of culture, language and casting. Andy Lau took a gamble on the project.

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