Reviews

"Fine dust is hard to see, we forget about it, though it's everywhere"

Fair warning, Dust-Man is the type of film I enjoy--independent, centered around art, and involved redemption. The filming, music, and acting were not polished, but somewhere it just hit that sweet spot of theatrical enjoyment for me.

Tae San is homeless and looks out for Mr. Kim, an older man, and Do Joon who is in his 30s like Tae San. One night Tae San observes a young woman painting a mural in a small tunnel. When he returns the next night, the city has painted the walls white. Mo Ah passes by and tells him it’s okay, she does these murals to force the city to clean up these spaces. Tae San shows her how to create art on the fine dust collected on cars and other surfaces. The two develop a friendship over art that is only held back by the darkness of Tae San’s past.

I enjoyed the impermanent art created by the two, art that would eventually be blown, wiped, or washed away. The two understood that art didn’t have to be permanent to be meaningful. Their images showed what was, what is, and what could be, hampered only by their imagination. Though Tae San’s art was unbounded, his life was a cage created by his memory. Until he found the key to unlock the door he was stuck on an “endless journey.”

Homelessness was portrayed as a life choice with the three men shown which was not very accurate. Most homelessness is caused by unaffordable housing, unsustainable wages and poverty, substance abuse, health issues, and mental illness. For women, abusive relationships can drive them out to the streets with children. Despite the white washed version, the director did try to show that homelessness, like fine dust, was everywhere, but often invisible. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. And like personal problems and pain, it needed to be faced. Tae San’s art and friendship with Mo Ah revealed the key he had hidden under mounds of dust and ash. Dust-Man was gritty and unpolished but showed that dreams could be carried by the dust in the wind*.

28 August 2025
*Apologies to Kansas/Dust in the Wind for applying the same term

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Concert for Dogs and Cats

Let me say, the cat on the poster for this movie is a perfect representation of the documentary, which shows the care for stray cats and dogs in Baeksa, a mountain village. Both humans and their pets struggle to survive in this place, but the animals suffer even more when their owners abandon them. So, one guy came up with the idea of making a concert for the animals?!

In my opinion, it is silly to prepare a concert for dogs and cats—the concert is for people. But if the concert raises awareness about treating animals better, then you could say it is also for them. The movie did that for me: it made me reflect on stray cats and dogs—or rather, wandering cats and dogs. It teaches us not to be afraid of them and to help them, which gives the movie a noble purpose. Still, I struggle to accept the idea that animals are equal to humans, as the film seems to suggest. They are, after all, still pets. If they ever made a concert for us, then I might reconsider.

As for the concert itself—it was nice, and the documentary allowed us as viewers to enjoy it. The film also includes some cute short animations and beautiful live video portraits of animals. This is where the movie works best: portraits of cats and dogs accompanied by beautiful music in the background.

Still, I can’t understand why people put clothes on animals. My dogs would never accept wearing anything, since they always look for a way to cool down.

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A Nightmare

Whatever the worst thing you can imagine, this movie adaptation manages to sink even lower, it's a catastrophe beyond your darkest nightmares.

1/10 Stars - A Complete Betrayal of the Source Material

"Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy" - How to Butcher a Masterpiece in 120 Minutes

As someone who devoured all 551 chapters of the original web novel, I walked into this adaptation with cautious optimism. I walked out feeling personally insulted by what the filmmakers did to sing shong's brilliant work.

Where do I even begin with this disaster?

First, they completely gutted Kim Dokja's character. In the novel, Dokja is a complex, morally gray protagonist whose obsession with "Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse" stems from genuine loneliness and escapism. The movie turns him into a generic "chosen one" hero who's inexplicably confident from scene one. Gone is his self-deprecating humor, his strategic mind, and most importantly, his role as a "reader" who understands the story's mechanics. Instead, we get Hollywood Hero #47 who just happens to know things.

The worldbuilding? What worldbuilding?

The intricate constellation system that makes ORV so unique? Reduced to glowing tattoos that appear when convenient. The complex sponsor relationships? Streamlined into a basic "gods give power" system you'd find in any generic fantasy film. The scenarios that were carefully crafted psychological and physical challenges? Turned into mindless action sequences with terrible CGI.

Don't get me started on Yoo Joonghyuk.

They cast him as a brooding pretty boy and stripped away everything that made him compelling. His 1863 regressions, his trauma, his complicated relationship with Dokja - all gone. He's now just the "rival who becomes ally" with zero depth. The movie completely misses that Joonghyuk isn't just strong; he's broken, desperate, and clinging to hope through repetition.

The supporting cast might as well not exist.

Han Sooyoung gets maybe 10 minutes of screen time and is reduced to "sassy female character." Lee Hyunsung, Jung Heewon, Lee Gilyoung - all the bonds Dokja forms that make his journey meaningful are rushed through montages. The found family aspect that's central to the novel's heart? Completely absent.

But the worst sin? They fundamentally misunderstood the story's themes.

ORV isn't about being special or chosen. It's about finding meaning through stories, about how fiction can save us, about the relationship between reader and protagonist. The movie turns it into a standard "save the world" plot where Dokja is special because... he just is. The meta-narrative elements that make the novel brilliant? Completely ignored.

The ending is particularly insulting - they clearly set up for sequels while completely missing the point of the novel's conclusion about stories, sacrifice, and what it means to be remembered.

Technical aspects? Also terrible.

The pacing is breakneck, cramming multiple scenarios into poorly edited action scenes. The dialogue is exposition-heavy because they have to explain a complex world they didn't properly establish. The special effects look like a mid-budget video game from 2015.

This movie exists solely to capitalize on ORV's popularity without understanding what made it special. It's the cinematic equivalent of someone reading a plot summary and thinking they understood the story.

Do yourself a favor: skip this cash grab and read the novel instead. Or better yet, read it again to cleanse your palate if you've already seen this abomination.

Bottom line: This isn't an adaptation; it's fan fiction written by someone who skimmed the wiki page.

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A FLAWED BUT ENTERTAINING RIDE

This movie begins a strong exposition that immediately hooks the audience. Gil Bok Soon embodies a fierce, badass character, while her mentor Min Gyu projects an intimidating aura that makes the opening act interesting.

The pacing however kind of fell of in the middle. Some of the energy and tension established early doesn’t fully carry through, which weakens the momentum of the story. That said, the action more than makes up for it. The fight sequence are top notch, and the dynamic score elevates them into highly entertaining, rewatchable moments.

The story shows plenty of potential but falls short in places, with plot holes and a lack of emotional depth particuarly in the relationship between Bok Soon and her daughter, which feels underexplored.

Fortunately, the third act brings the movie back on track. Its payoff ensures the film remains worth watching, offering an ending that leaves a solid impression despite its shortcomings.

Plot 8/10
Acting and Characters 7/10
Cinematography 8/10
Writing 7/10
Pacing 7/10
OST/Score 9/10

Overall 7.5/10

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"When you're stuck, try another thing"

Everyday Hero was based on the efforts of Guo Jian Nan aka Brother Nan, an engineer who worked for the Poverty Alleviation committee. All but deified in the film, Brother Nan travels to the village of Li Tan that has been damaged by a typhoon. He dedicates his life to lifting the villagers out of poverty.

When Guo Jian Nan is called into his boss’ office and offered the job of surveying Li Tan for a factory, he jumps at the chance. A factory would offer 500 jobs to the local villages and help raise the people out of poverty. He and his sidekick Da Zhi discover there is no place for the factory but instead of giving up they remain and work to find other projects that will benefit the people.

The film was an idealized vision of people and offered little conflict. The villagers largely accepted Guo with open arms and were willing to do whatever he asked of them. Liu Bao, the local who benefited from the Pioneer of Prosperity hadn’t shared his wealth from oyster farming. Yet with the arrival of Guo his behavior became overtly generous. The primary beneficiary of Guo’s plans was Aunt Ya/Aunt Mute and her geese. There were few obstacles that Guo could not find a solution for. Though the heartbreaking dilemma of parents having to leave children behind so that they could work in the city was highlighted through the child Papaya and students at the small school. At one point Guo was reprimanded for telling the truth regarding the issues of building a factory to his bosses but that seemed ludicrous. One way or another they would discover why it would be impossible. Another criticism from on high blew over quickly as well. Family troubles were forgiven and support was shored up for him. Everyone understood he had a higher calling of establishing new sources of income for the village and eliminating privation.

The editing could be choppy and situations weren’t always explained well. Maybe they were but were lost in translation. While the characters and events could have been developed better, overall, I enjoyed this film. Watching people work together harmoniously for the most part is a nice break from the real world. The PRC has dedicated significant resources to reducing poverty with Brother Nan and Li Tan being one of the success stories. Everyday Hero (Everybody’s Dream) was an homage to Guo Jian Nan who gave everything he had to improve the lives of one village. The film stated that poverty is a worldwide problem, which is absolutely correct, a problem that would benefit from more enlightened solutions, cooperation, and resolve from the global village.

27 August 2025

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am conflicted as the plot was kinda shallow & it could've been more = written better - relying less of the simulated sex scenes that were the entirety of this movie & it's a pity, cause i think it could've been better.
if u want to make an erotica or light porno this is the way to go, but then i hope the people performing knew what they were getting into, as i doubt the mainstream entertainment industry will give them an opportunity & for people that r desperate to become famous actors, that r recognized as such - it feels exploitative. so i hope i am wrong. (even though in the comment section i read that one of the actors is an AV actor so maybe they knew idk...).

i started off by saying that i feel conflicted & that's cause Masashi's attraction can be directly connected to his being groomed by his ex-boss. who knows when it started. he mentioned a couple of times that he lost his father at a very young age & from then on his mother turned to the guy that became his "boss" & he gave them money to cover debts & to further Masashi education, even supporting their household - making sure that Masashi's mother would allow such a kind, generous man that was her & her sons savior, access to her son. in her eyes am sure he was now a father figure that could guide her son in his dead father's stead. this is what pedo's do & Masashi feeling obligated, suffered in silence. so even though he hated how he was being used & abused, there was a part of him that started getting twisted & that explains his attraction to older men. which is sad when u think about it - but that could've been explored more.... it wasn't -

Toshio & Kaito romance was the usual drama - if the aspect of the fear of coming out was dealt with in a different way. even plot with the chick that was attracted to Toshio was spiced up, something but the rushing over important plot points to just get to the none stop sex scenes - that made me uncomfortable cause i didn't know uf th guys were enjoying themselves or just sufferings through it... maybe this could've been better - as is this a one off & a never again.

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beautiful yet heartbreaking

⭐ Overall: (8/10)
a film wrapped in friendship, youth, love, and an impactful ending.

💭 Thoughts:
this movie was very well done! personally i loved it.
it was not hard to finish, and it was not boring and slow, i was hooked 😽. i think ending really stood out to me, like the entire vibe was just so in the moment.

✨ Highlights:
- i really enjoyed all the times Na Bo-Ra (FL) and Poong Woon-Ho (ML) spent together before any of the romance and miscommunication 🥰! their acting was so natural as well as their chemistry, even though they were friends, you could really see the tension between them. and lets take a moment for their visuals? BREATHTAKING 🛐.
- i think the director really did well with the movie, and the production was cooking throughout the movie! i loved the vibe.

⚠️ Lowlights:
- Kim Yeon-Du was a bit annoying, but of course she had her reasons for it. 😅

🎶 OST: (6/10)
the music REALLY gets you into the moment, the cute moments are to die for. (i want more of poong woon-ho and na bo-ra, thank yew)

📌 Recommendation:
these are for the people who like sad endings (i know people like this ☺️), slice of life, and youth.

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A critical look at "Kpop Demon Hunters"

"Kpop Demon Hunters" leaves much to be desired in terms of its premise and execution

From the onset, the premise of a bunch of demon hunters drooling over the very demons they're tasked with defeating is frustratingly superficial and distasteful. Where they should be fighting the demons, they're busy ogling and pursuing them

The forced non-platonic exchanges between the male and female idols diminished my interest in their character arcs. There’s zero chemistry between the characters. Their "comedic" facial expressions aren't funny or comedic. And their supposed good looks are exaggerated. They do little to offset the monotony of their bland personas

The demons are subjected to the clichéd "romanticized" treatment that presents them as objects of desire rather than malevolent beings deserving of their fate in the underworld. Several of these demons (Jinu included) have earned their place in hell, having displayed a callous disregard for others. They've betrayed their own kin for self-preservation, and manipulated the truth to appeal to others' feelings

Rumi: "I know your story. You were a good person, and you still are"
Jinu: "I lied to you. I made a deal with Gwi-Ma to get myself out of that miserable life. I left my family alone while I slept on silk sheets in the palace with my belly full every night. I left them" (1:9:50)

Jinu abandoned his loved ones to a life of poverty and starvation to secure comfort and survival. And I'm expected to pity him for his time in hell? Regret doesn't erase his actions

The act of forgiveness rests in the hands of his family, the ones bearing the brunt of his actions. No one else has the right to grant him forgiveness. Not me, not the fans, not the demon hunters. Whatever decision the family makes, be it extending mercy or withholding it, should be respected. However, they might've departed to heaven. We're left with no clarity on where they stand in the matter

The story still brushes the problems aside, trivializing the severity of the demons' past misdeeds, robbing them of accountability, and seeking to evoke unwarranted sympathy for them

They were successful in swaying the public perception of the demons. I've seen fans taking their side. "They didn't deserve it," they say. The truth is, the demons in question aren't misunderstood or fallen angels whose small errors brought about their condemnation

Rumi: "if this is the Honmoon I'm supposed to protect, I'm glad to see it destroyed" (1:14:42)

Rumi, who seconds ago endorsed the destruction of Honmoon, appears at the Saja Boys' concert with a newfound determination to protect it. Neither her change of heart nor her actions are explored. Everything falls flat. The character designs, the dialogues, the decisions made, the songs

There's a notable divide in opinion regarding the songs featured in "Kpop Demon Hunters." Fans assert the superiority of the songs over those of established Kpop artists, and I disagree with them. Numerous Kpop groups, BTS, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, MAMAMOO, ITZY, FIFTY FIFTY, etc, released songs that I'm able to enjoy on a regular basis, on repeat, due to their catchy melodies and meaningful lyrics. I find the tracks from "Kpop Demon Hunters" to be unbearable to listen to more than once

Considering the exceptional bar set by certain Kpop groups, I believe the popularity surrounding "Kpop Demon Hunters" is disproportionate to its merits

TL;DR On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd rate the movie a 2

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Best Action Movie for The Past Few Years

People, go to cinema right now and watch this show!

✅ Incredible action scenes, every fighting scenes literally keep me on edges!!! If this wasn't chinese movie, this would hit 9 or more 😔 They deserve more for this aspect alone.
✅ The wolf gang are visual feast lmao. I think the godfather pick them up by visual 😂
✅ Main villain is so charismatic and brutal.
✅ No need to question all acting, Jackie Chan? Tony Leung Ka Fai? They are the top one.

The story alone is actually the usual catch the criminal type of movie, what made it more special is the action scenes. I want to rewatch just to appreciate the action choreography alone, parkour, the gunfight, close combat, all type of martial arts, especially the opening, that was magical 😫 China, let's go back to your root and release more action moviess!! I want my childhood memories back, especially kungfu theme 😔

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The Weight of Beauty

It’s not just a Korean rom-com: it’s a cruel fairy tale disguised as a musical. Hanna sings like an angel, but no one really sees her. Her voice fills the stage, the crowd cheers… but the idol in the spotlight isn’t her. It’s someone else lip-syncing, while Hanna stays hidden in the shadows, crushed under the weight of her own body and broken self-esteem.

The scalpel becomes her magic wand. She’s reborn as Jenny: beautiful, thin, flawless. Finally, she has the body for her voice, the face for her talent, the smile that opens doors. But the film never lets you fully enjoy this transformation: behind the glitter, the same sharp question lingers — if they love you now, do they really love you? Or just the mask you wear?

What’s left is not the usual romantic comedy. It’s a light punch to the gut — it makes you laugh, but leaves a bitter aftertaste. It’s the kind of movie that has you singing “Maria” at the top of your lungs, then staring at your reflection wondering how much of you is real and how much was built just to be liked.

It’s not perfect: there are clichés, easy laughs too. But if you let it in, 200 Pounds of Beauty hits deep, especially for anyone who’s ever felt “too much” or “not enough.”

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Utterly wholesome!

How could anyone watch this and not have a good time?

I don’t think I’ve ever watched a sports film before, well... besides ‘Racing Stripes’ (2005) when I was young; I’ve never been into that genre of film, but this was an exception for me. I only watched this for Tamaki Hiroshi – sorry to say this, but I’m glad Sato had to get rid of his big hair – and I ended up enjoying and appreciating the cast!

The journey to the day of the festival was a ride, and I’m glad the boys were all able to do what they considered the impossible… possible. The smile I had on my face when everything came together...

I guess the moral of the story is that you can do it; do not give up. If you want a "feel-good" film, go for this.

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A cultural fenomenon

I didn’t know that kisskh also features animations. In that case, I’d love to post reviews on some Pororo movies as well :)

As for KPop Demon Hunters, it’s a truly great movie, with stylish animation, an emotional story, exciting action sequences, and top-charting songs. And everything fits together perfectly. What more could someone ask for? The team behind this film managed to create a universal story that at the same time pays perfect homage and respect to both K-pop and Korean culture.

Rarely do we get a movie with this much rewatch value—not only for the songs and the animated action but also for the many small details that can be discovered with each repeat viewing. It’s a film that captures both the energy of a concert and the imagination of a fantasy adventure. KPop Demon Hunters is definitely a movie to remember.

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New Demon Hunters

Before the animated film KPop Demon Hunters, there was this live-action movie: Holy Night Demon Hunters. This movie would have worked much better as an animation, because as it is, it doesn’t succeed as an action film, even less as a horror movie, and even less as a fantasy or comedy. They really didn’t need those silly gags. The movie also spent too much time on “found footage,” where we watch events from another camera instead of directly. In my opinion, the biggest flaw of the movie is its misguided production.

I still had some fun watching Ma Dong-seok (I didn’t really catch his character’s name) kicking demons with his destructive fists, and it was interesting to see an exorcism done in a slightly different way. Usually, the Catholic Church is the one expelling demons, but here they turned it into a Korean-style exorcism while still keeping a vague connection with Christianity. So, there is some originality, even though the majority of the movie is just another below-average exorcism film.

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Not horrible

This is gonna be a short review because I watched it last week and my memory isn't good. (It wasn't very memorable)

Story:
-there was this one really important character that simply disappeared for no reason at the end
-I like the fl's personality
-wasn't sure who was the ml for most of the movie
-love triangle
-really funny

Cinematography :
-very interesting
-makes the moments more profound
-may as well watch it for this reason

Acting:
-decent. Nothing bad to say about it


Music:
-I really liked it
-gonna add to my playlist

Rewatch:
-maybe? probs not


Overall:
Not the most memorable but it's nice

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