It reminds me of someone I met in the past
I found it a little bit rushed at second half of the movie and towards the end, but overall, I loved this movie. It’s a beautiful story. I cried a little at the end, when Kawana read Itsuki’s letter at the hospital.Maybe I relate to the story a little bit because of some personal reasons. I did meet a guy who used to be so talented and confident until he had an accident. Before he used to be the big man in his family, then had to totally depend on his family to take care of him. His situation was worse than the female lead. He used to travel the world and did many great things and others relied on him a lot. Just like the male lead, he couldn’t accept the fact and he was very miserable. His ex-girlfriend left him to marry someone else right after that, and he held a grudge against her. I met him through my close friend and three of us hung out for a short while. I didn’t have any romantic relationship or feeling for him though, but I think he had a crush on my friend. My friend was the one who stayed in touch with him and suddenly one day they stopped contacting and we stopped visiting him. Watching this movie makes me wonder how he is doing now. I hope he’s happy, wherever he is.
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"Fish get depressed if you put them in square tanks"
Miao Miao is a 2008 Taiwanese coming of age film about two school girls who experienced both the rush of joy and the pain of first love. Not nearly as deep or devastating as it could have been Miao Miao splashed along the surface of life and relationships.Ai ignores her father and the breakfast he cooked for her like she does every morning. Once again late for school, she brings a cake she made to share with her friends. Her love for baking hasn’t transformed her very limited skills and her friends don’t exactly dig into her creation. A new foreign exchange student catches Ai’s eye. Miao Miao is studying in Taiwan for the year before returning to Japan. The two hit it off, their bond deepened by Miao Miao’s advanced baking techniques. The two girls visit the site of the bakery where Miao Miao’s grandmother met her first love, only now it’s a used CD store owned by a moody musician. Chen Fei religiously wears headphones and ignores people as much as he can. Miao Miao falls head over heels for the reclusive musician who scarcely acknowledges her existence. He is nursing his grief and broken heart over the loss of his love. Ai is discovering her own burgeoning feelings for Miao Miao. The three young people attempt to navigate the precarious path to and from love.
This film had potential as the girls’ friendship developed and then had the obstacle of Miao Miao’s crush. Not all people know how to maintain and nurture a friendship when one person’s attention becomes focused on a love interest. The stress on the friendship was increased as Ai wasn’t just jealous of the time Miao Miao spent attempting to catch Chen Fei’s attention but jealous that her friend was romantically interested in the brooding store owner. Sandrine Penna and Ko Chia Yen gave their best given the limitations of the script. The source of Chen Fei’s angst was shown in flashback with a strong performance by Chris Wu Kang Ren as the lover. Fan Chih Wei’s performance was not nearly as inspired.
The course of first love is rarely smooth or a straight line. Sometimes even admitting to feelings that might be rejected not only by another but also society can make the journey downright rocky. Though dealing with heartache and unrequited love, Miao Miao didn’t stumble by becoming melodramatic. It would have been nice if it had taken a more scenic route off of the well-trod path it insisted on keeping to. Neither groundbreaking nor overly deep, Miao Miao showed that the best remedy for a broken heart was friendship, even when that relationship caused the pain in the first place.
24 May 2025
Trigger warning: If real life scumbags are a deterrent for you, I discovered after watching this film that Fan Chih Wei has not been good to women, including assault.
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The action choreography is phenomenal—fast, clean, and brutal in the best way. But what makes this film resonate is its emotional core. Set during the Japanese occupation of China, the film uses its historical backdrop to explore themes of national pride, dignity, and survival without feeling preachy. Ip Man’s calm, unwavering presence contrasts beautifully with the chaos around him.
While some of the historical elements are simplified and the nationalistic tone may feel heavy at times, the film earns its emotional moments with sincerity and skill. It moves quickly, never drags, and balances action with character in a way that many martial arts films don’t even attempt.
Pros:
✔ Donnie Yen’s defining role—quiet but magnetic
✔ Clean, powerful fight choreography
✔ Strong emotional tone without melodrama
✔ Excellent pacing and direction
Cons:
✘ Some historical liberties taken for dramatic effect
✘ A few characters are underdeveloped
Would I rewatch?
Yes—especially for the iconic fight sequences and the grounded emotional impact that lingers afterward.
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Living Deep in the Closet
As its name suggests, 'Depth' (its pinyin is shēn chù) is a Chinese film that addresses the complexity of being gay and living deep in the closet.The 2022 short film portrays the story of Yi Ran, a gay boy played by Zeng Huaiyi. Through this character, Chinese screenwriter and director Ding Yuhan explores internalized homophobia. Yi Ran lives out his sexual identity by working in a bar and pretending to be happy with a girlfriend, played by actress Lu Meishan.
But the sudden visit of Zhou Mu (played by Shang Guolong) disrupts Yi Ran's life, and when feelings explode and he can no longer control his desire, his closely guarded secret may be exposed.
'Depth' problematizes the issue of sexual diversity and the lack of acceptance of one's own sexual orientation. Its 10-minute runtime is sufficient to expose the typical behaviors and negative emotions of closeted gay people, such as fear, shame, disgust, anxiety, low self-esteem, and avoidance or denial of everything related to their homosexual orientation due to the fear of being rejected.
Yue Zongao's beautiful cinematography and Xu Qiang's photography contribute to reflecting internalized homophobia, which is nothing more than the rejection or non-acceptance of one's own homosexuality.
The final images serve as a metaphor for the fear many homosexuals suffer from recognizing their sexual identity.
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This review may contain spoilers
not that as good as it could've been...
After seeing the rave reviews, i've decided to finally give this movie a go- but i can't help but think i've wasted my time...The premise seemed promising, but the camera work and overall editing style seemed messy and ended up throwing me off. It feels as though the director was trying too hard to make the movie seem aesthetic that the story became almost chaotic. Scenes were either abruptly cut or drawn out for far too long, making the story stagnant and disrupting the leads relationship. If the flow and pacing of the movie was much smoother, i think i wouldn't have questioned the character's relationship- and over all chemistry as much as i did.
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This review may contain spoilers
Meaningless Groundhog Day
What was that?After all that, we got that ending?
Admittedly, a two hour long film isn't enough of a runtime to actually fix all the messes the lead inevitably creates in each time loop, while also fixing the lead, who is a mess themself. Because that's the basic requirement of this genre, for the lead to either be a mess or someone who constantly creates messes even if they don't mean to. And our lead Earth? Well he is a whiny, bratty mess. His antics are funny sure, but make no mistake, he is a mess.
And because he's stuck in a loop, he obviously does what he wants to get what he wants because, no repercussions right? Because that's what usually happens, they're stuck in the day until it somehow resets to the perfect scenario. WRONG.
Earth here, gets out of the loop, and that's when all his antics come back to bite him in the behind. He's gotten every single person in his life in some sort of mess during the Groundhog Day and now it's up to him to reverse it all, or at least set everything right.
Now watch out here because I'm probably going to give away the entire plot.
He's messed up so bad that some things are just beyond repair!
That was the plot.
Earth is selfish. Earth reaps the consequences of being selfish. That was it.
I watched two hours to get this kind of plot-
Going the realistic way? Of course you can do that.
But going the realistic way in a movie about time loops? Noooooo
As much as I enjoyed the first half (great comedy and acting), the minute the loop ended, so did my enjoyment. The second half was also good objectively (great storyline and acting), but where was my feel good factor?! All that Earth did and all that he went through later, what was it for? What was that ending??
I'm torn. On one hand, it was a different take on time loop stories that I haven't seen before but on the other hand, I would've accepted the basic plot that's been done over and over, and I would've watched it happily.
Give it a try, if you're bored and would like some comedy and then maybe some hard hitting stuff about being a selfish jerk, this is the perfect movie to watch then.
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"Why is being you your weakness?"
~~Crazy bitch meets gay."REALISM AT ITS FINEST" ~as some1 here said. YES! TRULY!!! A MASTERPIECE WITHOUT A DOUBT!!!!!!
A breakdown to put SIMPLY why it's a 💎 ;
~ A FRIENDSHIP I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD NEED AND WOULD PUT ME INTO SO MUCH WITH DEEP ADMIRATION. *spoiler ahead* the scene where they were running (JaHeui to the police station, and Heung running amidst the traffic going to JaeHui captured with such an amazing scenery is both heartwarming and breathtaking) is one thing that really sticks to my mind and is only one among my favourite scenes.
~ REALITY AT ITS FINEST! telling this for the 2nd time. I'll let you discover the reason behind this through watching the movie🤭
~PERFECT CASTING!!! I MUST SAY! 🤘
KimGoEun, as always didn't fail to display a powerful emotions with her acting, proving how promising actress she is and could really be.
SteveNoh, for my very first-time discovery of him through this, also did a really really great great job on this movie that his acting click very well along with Kim Go Eun. He really did a great job for his role with his in-depth portrayal as a gay👏 (further detailed explanation awaits you on movie😉)
& LeeSangYi of course! even given with a short screentime for his role, I knew it! the moment he appeared on my screen. I have this gut feeling that he would able portray and put such enthusiasm on his character. *another spoiler* Those stares that's still clear in my mind, that he put towards Jae-Hui (kim go-eun) in the rooftop gave me assurance that he could gave justice to his role.
~~~to be continued <📽️>
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The Sun family was broken ever since the eldest son disappeared. This short did not go into the details of how, when and why but straight to the effect of the disappearance. The mother suffers from mental health issue, the father left the family but tries to search for an adopted replacement son to fill the void. The younger son is deprived of a complete family and has to deal with 11 adopted brothers.
The adoption of the 11th brother is the center of this story. How does each family member react to him being a part of the family? Will he fit in? What does he really want? Does his action convey his true feelings? In that very last scene, I question his emotion, sincerity and approach to the younger brother. Was he desperate as well and wanted to fill the void of his loneliness? Was he being manipulative to appease the younger brother, so that he could stay longer in the family (as that's what he really wanted)? We would never know.
Rating this an 8.0 seems high but it's a low budget production, so should the rating and expectation should probably be adjusted accordingly. Besides, this short is able to tell a decent story in 21 minutes and make me think a little. I also feel that the male lead/younger brother's acting is pretty good.
Completed: 5/24/2025 - Review #580
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A reminder that communication is deeper than sound
What may first appear to be a simple love story is quickly transcended by the film’s deeper, more powerful theme: the reality of living with a deaf disability.The movie gracefully explores a range of topics, from the everyday challenges of deafness to the subtle and not-so-subtle discrimination faced by those in the deaf community. It gives voice to a group often unheard, and it does so without relying on gimmicks or pity. One line in particular captures the heart of this message: “Being able to hear and speak doesn’t mean they know how to communicate”. That alone is worth reflecting on.
At its core, the film is about empathy and connection. It highlights how difficult it can be to live in a world that lacks understanding and how isolating it is when others assume communication only exists in spoken words. The love story, while slightly rushed, is still charming and sweet, thanks in large part to the natural chemistry between the leads.
There is also a meaningful layer about the struggle to find balance as a person, especially if you’re someone who constantly puts others before yourself. The film is a gentle reminder to those people: your happiness matters too. This theme is beautifully reflected in the dynamic between the two sisters. It draws a parallel between those who are isolated by a disability and those who isolate themselves by sacrificing their own desires.
The performances across the board are excellent. The soundtrack is tender and fitting, with emotional instrumental tracks that enhance every key moment without ever feeling overbearing.
In the end, the film is deeper than it first appears. It is thoughtful, moving, and an important reminder that disability doesn’t mean inferiority. As one character wisely says, “They are different from us, but they are not in a different world”.
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"Socialism is not about you making money while you sleep"
The Hedonists is a short film by Jia Zhang Ke following a group of three miners after their mine is closed. The little guys once again take it on the chin when forces bigger than themselves are at work.San Ming, Liang Zi, and Wen Qian begin their day like any other at the mine. Unfortunately, for them and everyone else at the mine they are told it is their last day. It’s become cheaper to import coal than to produce it at home. Their boss tells them there are lot of opportunities out there, “Go fight for yourself!” Problem is, the same economic forces causing the mine to close are also depressing the job markets elsewhere. The three middle-aged men with limited education and skills begin their job search. No job is off the table for these three, including bodyguard work for a big boss or acting at a new Shangxi Folkland as a royal court.
While the subject matter was dreary, Jia kept the mood light. Unemployment in mid-life is never something to look forward to, especially when the people involved are barely making it as it is. These three were willing to try anything except farming. Wen Qian’s “mental boxing” skills and a wrestling tryout set to the Blue Danube waltz were funny. Liang Zi’s smiling Qing emperor and San Ming’s smoking Ming guard showed the men may not have taken their jobs and lives too seriously.
Jia had been known to run afoul of the censors with his critiques, he even mentioned a historian who’d had his own run ins. This film managed to be critical and hopeful at the same time. The tone of the film suggested that these three lovely losers all stacked on the same motorcycle would find a way to survive and have a good time while they were at it.
23 May 2025
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Love, Virus, and Unexpected Hope
I'm just a simple person—give me the virus if it means curing my depression and finding the love of my life, just like in this filmWhat really stood out to me is how well this movie progressed, especially considering it was filmed in 2019—the same year COVID-19 began. Despite the timing, the story feels surprisingly relevant today. The filmmakers incorporated terms and themes that we now use daily, making the experience feel current and relatable
I also appreciated how the film offered insight into viruses in an educational yet entertaining way. It wasn’t just about drama or romcom—it gave me something to think about. The way it explored scientific ideas without overwhelming the viewer was refreshing
Overall, it's a unique blend of emotion, science, light-laughter in mundane days, and realism. I didn’t expect to connect with it as much as I did, but here we are. Definitely worth a watch
Gemini, play Bloom by Dabin and Dia Frampton for me :")
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National treasure of a tragic love story
The (incomplete) list of related titles will give you an idea of how popular the legend of Mae Nak, which has its roots in the 1800s, is amongst Thais. This version - the 1999 film with Inthira Charoenpura and Winai Kraibutr - has the clearest explanation of the story I've seen. If you're only going to watch one, this is the one to choose. If you're inclined to watch more, it's the best to begin with. Even one which stands alone as well as Pee Mak has additional layers if you know Nang Nak. For other subsequent adaptations, it really does help to have this as reference so you understand how each one finds its own way to move our emotions.And as a film, it's well done. Moody, atmospheric, but also balanced with light and warmth. Some excellent cinematography (like the way the film-maker used light, shadow and Kraibutr's musculature), just enough horror, and of course the love story at its heart. If you don't know the story, just watch it and get caught up in the suspense.
I've seen this four times now. When I began seeking out all the Nang Nak/Mae Naks as I could find, it was out of interest in the different ways film-makers find to tell stories. What I've come away with, six different movies in, is how much love Thais have for the story, and this version in particular. Is it perfect? No. But that's not what matters. It's Nang Nak.
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So happy to see
I think we can be satisfied that we are allowed to see one of the few truly Chinese BL films at all!Excellent that this film has escaped the stupid censorship of the Chinese regime - further proof of the statement: We have always been here and we are everywhere!
The film in and of itself is not very spectacular. However, this negative aspect is enhanced by an excellent acting and the subject matter!
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S tier , greatly recommend
this is basically Ride or Die but with good cinematography and more tragic (which is a lot considering Ride or Die is as tragic as it gets) , it feels like it's been a year since the last time I've watched a decisively S tier movie , but this is it I've finally found it hidden in the back of the shelveWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
an emotional mustwatch
i have never cried more to a film. so beautiful and so raw. the ending hurt so bad that i almost wish i didn't watch it, but at the same time i'm so glad i did. i'm honestly at a loss for words.spoliers:
a lot of these reviews say they don't like the fact they we don't figure out what happens to poong woon-ho, and to that i disagree. i think it was very purposeful. we're almost left with that same empty feeling ba bo-ra likely felt. all these questions left unanswered, all this anxiety wondering why? it's likely exactly how one feels when the person they love over distance suddenly drops off the face of the earth and they have no reason as to why. and this is the reality for a lot of people, living their life with a question never answered. if the story were different and we did figure out why, i think so much wouldve had to be rewritten and changed. it would've removed so much of the emotional turmoil that the power of the unknown left us with. i'm uncomfortable, sad, and somehow warm after finishing this movie. i think that is what good media does to you. overall, i think it was done very well. and when it comes to the plot twist, i also think that was done very well. watching the whole movie i kept thinking kim yeon-du would die, and that would be the (predictable) tragedy. to my suprise it wasn't and that's when i knew i was glad to have not skipped this title.
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