A Sad Melancholic but Ultimately Uplifting Tale
I happened to come across this film on an airplane halfway across the world from Japan and gave it a try.It's a slow melancholic but ultimately somewhat uplifting tale centered on how parents mourning for their daughter and a woman mourning for her best friend are eventually able to find comfort as they uncover a series of (mostly very positive) surprises about the life of the dead girl, whose example eventually helps encourage them move on with their own lives.
The acting was good, but they could have done more with this plot to make a bit more lively.
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It speaks to us about all the closets we create throughout our lives
A film transcends its entertainment dimension to become true art when, beyond its narrative anecdote, it reaches a universal magnitude, beyond the particular story it tells.In 'At First Glance To See It With,' Chinese writer and director Wong Chun Wai embraces the essential through the intimate, which is why hi film connect with audiences so profoundly. This 2017 short film is much more than just another queer coming-of-age story.
The protagonist of this film is Gu Jinxuan, an athlete and instrumentalist who lives a stereotypical life denying his sexuality.
One day, Gu meets Huang Lin, a music lover and fellow university student, and they establish a connection. This moment ignites a spark within him that grows, and which has the power to open a door to achieving the emotional and physical satisfaction he longed for. However, Gu is unwilling to leave the closet and admit that he is actually gay.
In this short film, also known as "As Cheerful as Ever", from the first moment we see Yang Qinkai in this repressed, sad, and painful role, it's unimaginable that another actor could have done a better job.
Despite being a low-budget student production, Wong Chun Wai, in addition to writing the script and making a valid personal statement, is a master at directing actors. Equally exceptional are Luo Panpan as Huang Lin and Hao Ningbo as Ye Yuhan, a girl unfortunate enough to fall in love with a gay man who refuses to acknowledge his sexual orientation or gender identity.
The ending is very sad: three years after breaking up, Gu Jinxuan and Huang Lin reunite on the streets of the city. And even though it is perceived that love still floats in the air between the two, the first one goes hand in hand with Ye Yuan, with whom he lives a lie, and the second one, despite having a boyfriend, he eyes and gestures denote the desire to hug and kiss he first love, the boy he has not yet forgotten.
Woody Allen said that his most faithful companion had been his fear, because she had never cheated on him and left him with another man. 'At First Glance To See It With' speaks to us of all those closets we create throughout our lives, of the impossibility of opening the closet doors and embracing our gender identity in the face of the fear or risk of being discriminated against, harassed, even of losing our lives, by dint of not living it, if we continue to think that the worst is on the other side. Without realizing that the enemy is very comfortably installed within us, which is ourselves.
The signs are there from the beginning, the clearest of them being Gu's need to pretend to his heteronormative and conservative sister that he has a girlfriend, and to deny being gay.
Ultimately, the film is not exactly original, but it is interesting as a critique of those who put fear and silence before their own happiness. The execution is quite good: the camerawork, all the technical parameters, the acting...
Also starring Huang Zhenwei, Guo Xubo, Wang Qi, and Ding Junyan.
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This review may contain spoilers
all my criticisms of the first movie PAID OFF!
much, much better than the first movie! 💯in terms of story and execution, it is very different, although its characteristics are still there. more technical, more competitive, more watch value. and what I criticized from the first movie, here it all paid off
if the first movie focused on Zhang Chi returning after a 5-year hiatus, then in Pegasus 2 it focuses more on Zhang Chi creating his own racing team, preparing himself and young drivers to compete, and proving that he did not make a mistake during the previous incident
Each character is also more solid, Zhang Chi's confusion about whether he can return to racing is also highlighted well. New characters like Li Xiaohai and Xiande get a good spotlight, then Manager Ye who was previously mediocre here gets an "upgrade" to being annoying 🤣
absolutely the main reason I like this movie is because it focuses more on the race than the comedy. the duration is longer, the build up to the climax is also very fitting 💯 the comedy is still there but it is placed at the right time, the humor is also more in line with me
more serious? yup, it also shows a lot that internal and external factors in racing are not only looking for sponsors but also skills, weather, rivalry, the gap between rich and poor teams, the unfair committee, etc.
Less comedy makes this movie more exciting
the chemistry of this team is also more fitting because from the beginning it was shown that they have the same dream. their dumb & dumber personality also the same so when it reaches the climax, our feel also increases
in my opinion this movie is also more realistic, the scene when the Lightime racer having an accident made me a little amazed because Pegasus 2 didn't choose to be dramatic movie, they do what every race people do :
"worried the drivers everytime accident happens"
another realistic character is Li Xiaohai. there are so many potential drivers like LXH who have trouble getting a seat, for years only being a test driver. we all know being a racer is expensive. if not rich, most likely will be struggling to join the race and get a proper team
finally I can see Yuqiang as Zhang Chi's navigator after not being shown in the first movie 🥹 and since this is released in 2024 so the shot quality is also better. very pleasing to the eye
finally, I am very satisfied watching Pegasus 2. previously I was skeptical if there would be a 3rd movie because based on the first movie I was not satisfied
but if it is still consistent like the second movie, then I also want to watch Zhang Chi again.
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From Anime to Reality: My Happy Marriage Live-Action
I'm a big fan of this anime and have read the manga, so I was really looking forward to seeing this movie.My Happy Marriage is a delicate and heartfelt love story set in an alternate Japan, where magic and supernatural abilities determine a person's worth. Miyo Saimori, a young woman mistreated by her family for lacking powers, is sent to marry Kiyoka Kudo, a feared military commander known for his cold demeanor.
What begins as a meeting between two people shaped by rejection and loneliness evolves into a deeply human story of healing, trust, and the quiet power of true love. The film blends romance, drama, and fantasy with elegant cinematography and moving performances.
Mio Imada delivers a tender, nuanced portrayal of Miyo, while Ren Meguro adds a new emotional layer to Kiyoka's character. Though some details from the manga/anime are omitted, the story’s core remains intact.
A touching film that lingers in the heart—and leaves you wanting more.
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What happens when you wake up back to reality!?
Overall 6.5/10🌟🌟🌟
A time-loop and an immature protagonist, what could possibly go wrong!?
Earth, the protagonist, is stuck in a time loop and continues making selfish choices during that cycle. Once the cycle is broken, he is stuck with the consequences of his decisions and has to deal with the mess he created.
Overall, the movie is alright—a good time killer—but I wouldn't recommend it as a first choice. The vibes are fun and silly in the movie's first half, and then more serious as the cleanup of Earth's actions is played out.
Rak is an enduring character, and I loved seeing him on screen. (To have a friend like Rak is such a blessing tbh)
That's it from me,
ENJOY!
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Casanova Wong returns!
Tiger’s Trigger was a low budget, no actually low budget would be too high budget for this flick, spare change in the couch film. I knew within 30 seconds it was not going to be a great movie, but it starred Casanova Wong aka Wang Ho and that was enough for me to watch.A nameless teenage girl takes care of her dying mother in the hospital. Her phone’s alarm is set to go off when she needs to roll her mother over. Sharing the same room is an older man taking care of his wife suffering from dementia. The two rarely interact and the older man rarely speaks, that is until fate brings a gun into the girl’s hands. The Korean mafia is on the hunt for the gun and the diamonds hidden in it. As fate would have it, Viper, the one-eyed villain, turns out to be the nemesis of the elderly man nicknamed Sabretooth. And Sabretooth has no intention of letting the dirty cops and gangsters harm his underaged roommate.
Casanova Wong aka The Human Tornado worked in many old Hong Kong kung fu flicks. With his long gray ponytail he looked like he stepped out of one of those 1970s movies. He left acting in the 1990s with this film marking his first return in front of the camera. He acquitted himself well, especially with his fight against old kung fu film actor Won Jin. Wong was nearly 70 at the time of this film and Won around 60. The two old dudes showed they still had something left in the tank.
While I may have been cheerleading for the aged kung fu fighters, the story was a let down as well as the direction. This looked like a high school student might have filmed it on his cell phone. The hospital was completely empty except for the main characters. Though Casanova still had a nice screen presence, the bad guys overacted and the teenager wasn’t one of the stronger young Korean actors around.
Tiger’s Trigger was far from a great movie but it was great to see an old kung fu artist have the chance to grace the screen again and show he still had a few high flying kicks left. And he was totally rocking that silver ponytail.
21 May 2025
Trigger warning: CGI spewing blood, dismemberment, and close range gun shots
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"Salvation is never painless"
I had great hopes for Confession as it starred So Ji Sub and Kim Yoon Jin (Lost’s Sun!). Instead of a sexy or cerebral thriller, I was treated to one of villainy’s lower wattage killers. While it had a nice little twist, it came so late in the film that I’d already emotionally checked out.Yoo Min Ho is under investigation for the murder of his mistress, Kim Se Hui. It was a locked room killing, with only Yoo and the deceased Kim in the room. When Yoo meets with his new lawyer, Yang Sin Ae, at his remote cabin near a lake in the snowy woods, the stories of what really happened are slowly revealed.
Very slowly revealed. The story had potential, but the unraveling of the lies and the truth came across too clinically and illogically. By the time the denouement arrived, it was too little too late for me. I don’t want to spoil anything for potential viewers who have never watched a suspense drama like this and will quite probably have a better experience. In the end, for me, Confession ticked off all the requisite suspense boxes while stretching logic and police procedures to the breaking point.
21 May 2025
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So so
This was very so-so. I watched it a few months back and then forgot to add it here. I watched it with family and it was alright but it wasn't life-changing. It's a nice enough watch, the acting is alright and it has emotional beats.This is a sort of parallel story situation. Multiple plots are going on at once and they're all connected to this technology which...is a spoiler so I can't tell you about it! lol
The one thing this film had going for it is that it made me feel sorry for Park Bo Gum! That's a first!
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SHORT BUT INTENSE
Found out about this movie after seeing that the drama sequel will be released in May 2025!
The movie is short but intense and I loved it!! The zeal and emotion of the boy was amazing! No one should stay bullied for that long too!!
Because it’s a movie the full story wasn’t told and I’m happy we’re getting a drama version which will have more plot and storyline!!
Hopefully, all cast members will still be there, cause they all did amazingly well!!
I can’t also wait to watch Do-Hyun’s get his own revenge and more of WooLsun fight!!
It was a good drama 🎭
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ONE TRACK NARRATIVE
This drama just proves that no matter how skilled and professional a woman is, an amateur man can still somehow be positioned as a worthy opponent.
A teacher clashing with a student? Sure, he’s a bad guy, but that kind of dynamic feels forced especially when the teacher in question is a professor *and* a boxer??
The story itself lacks any real depth, just a predictable, one-track narrative. Good actors, but nothing particularly memorable!
She should have beaten his side guys too or maybe someone else!! Don’t know why kdrama are fond of wasting good casts!
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NEVER KNEW DISABILITY CAME WITH DUMBNESS
My blood pressure skyrocketed watching this drama! I get that they wanted to stretch the story, but the plot was ridiculously unrealistic!
Who goes home knowing a serial killer has their address AND was just set free?! No way a group of trained soldiers would hand over a panicked woman back to a guy like that! And the crowd? Not one person thought to call the police? Be serious. No police force would let a key witness walk away without questioning them in a murder case!
Such a waste of phenomenal actors on a frustratingly absurd storyline. And don't get me started on the second lead his slowness drained my patience!
Cooling off with a solid drama now before my blood pressure hits new heights! 😤🔥
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Cringe acting, bland delivery of lines, etc
I've been waiting for this for so long because this was one of my fav horror games before. now that i finally watched this my expectation went down the drain, my fault for having expectations just because Yaya is in this movie.Story - it's actually okay for me, i like that they put the box girl here and they showed the one for the next chapter. Still cringy story but tolerable
Acting - I'm no expert but what I can say is the acting is throwing me off, voice acting is so bland like they're just monologuing, I think the only one acting tf out of this is Yaya and the rest are just.. there. Also there's something off with their lines that I can't tell what's the problem.
Music - there are times that the music is ruining the moment that I can't focus on the scene and I only think about how distracting it was
Main take away: please don't hire that guy from 365 Days ever again, he's still bad at acting 😭😭
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Isabel is a bored “tee girl” at a luxury golf club. She finds ways throughout the day to amuse herself and push the envelope regarding the rigid rules set for employees.
Filipiñana showcased the disparity between the haves and have nots. At the practice range, pretty young women set the balls on tees so that golfers did not have to strain themselves bending over. It looked more than a little dangerous as the tee girls were not far from swinging clubs, especially when a child wildly swung his club near Isabel. Women caddied, searched for balls submerged in the water hazards, massaged clients’ feet, and occasionally helped golfers, uh, find their balls in the bushes. Opulence was ever on display but decidedly out of reach for Isabel and her co-workers. That didn’t stop the lowly tee girl from stealing a taste of the other side when no one was looking though.
Well shot and slightly enigmatic, Filipiñana was an entertaining 24 minute glimpse into the gap between the privileged lives and those who serve them in this sharp take on capitalism.
20 May 2025
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A Beautiful Musical Romance Full of Emotion, but Not Without Flaws
watched Secret: Untold Melody without any big expectations, and overall, I really enjoyed it. It’s a visually beautiful film with a soft, bittersweet story and a stunning soundtrack. It didn’t completely move me, but it definitely left a lasting impression.The story follows Yu-jun (Doh Kyung-soo), a quiet and talented pianist who transfers to a new arts school. There, he meets Jung-ah (Won Jin-ah), a mysterious girl playing a beautiful melody in an abandoned music room. Their connection grows through music, and slowly, their bond deepens but it’s clear from the start that Jung-ah is hiding something.
One of the things I loved most about this film is its melancholic atmosphere. The cinematography is calm and gentle, with soft colors and warm lighting that almost make the whole story feel like a dream. Visually, it’s really well done.
The soundtrack is easily the strongest aspect. The piano pieces are emotional and beautifully composed. The music speaks louder than words, often expressing what the characters feel but don’t say. It carries the emotional weight of the film, and there were moments where the music alone moved me.
Doh Kyung-soo impressed me with his performance. His character is very reserved, but he conveys a lot through subtle expressions, especially in the piano scenes. Won Jin-ah is quiet and mysterious, and she fits her role well. Their chemistry is soft and slow-burning—not overly romantic, but heartfelt. The supporting characters, like Yu-jun’s friends and mother, were okay, but could’ve been more developed.
If I had to point out a flaw, it would be the pacing. The film is quite slow at times. It takes a while for the plot to pick up, and some scenes drag on a bit. The mystery behind Jung-ah is interesting, but a little predictable if you're familiar with this type of story. I was hoping for a twist or something more unexpected.
The ending is emotional and sad, and I think it wraps things up nicely, even if it didn’t hit me as hard as I thought it would. It’s a quiet kind of sadness that lingers.
In short, Secret: Untold Melody is a touching film with a dreamy mood and a memorable soundtrack. It’s not a masterpiece, but for fans of emotional, music-centered romance with a bit of mystery, it’s definitely worth watching.
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Don't bother
Wow, this is even worse than the first part... Its a spin-off or something. Or you could say its a sequel but the main character is someone else. Don't know, don't care. I tried watching it sober, I tried while buzzed, nothing worked. Barely 30 minutes in and I felt like hitting people.So: sht script, sht dialogue, no cinematography, bad acting, cringe, plot-driven everything, low production value, cheap vfx, bad fight choreography, sht action taking decisions, sht physics, no soundtrack (i've noticed it for the 1st time 30 min in, it was trying to convey something), one-dimensional characters (and no real development, obviously), the pacing is all over the place. Maybe the only thing ok is the fact that they've used decent cameras and lens, it is filmed at a good quality (weird flex, I know). Oh, and some (very few) good tactical decisions while fighting, from trained special ops kinda guys.
Zero re-watching value. I wouldn't do it even if the chicks were naked. If someone tells you nice things about this one, they are trolling you or they have sht taste in movies. Don't bother. Watch or re-watch something else.
Have a lovely day.
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