This review may contain spoilers
This is not light-hearted, has some comedy but not central, and is not a romance per se
ReviewI consider this an 8/10 despite what I consider to be some significant issues with certain aspects and particularly the ending. But the "meat" of the story is very good. Castaway on the Moon* is a poignant and introspective South Korean film that dives deeply into complex themes of mental health, isolation, and human connection. Despite its seemingly quirky premise—a man stranded on an island in the middle of Seoul’s Han River—it’s far from a lighthearted comedy or romance. The story follows two individuals at their lowest points, finding an unexpected bond through their shared struggles. While there are hints of mild romantic feelings, the film avoids explicit romance, focusing instead on mutual understanding and empathy between two people who feel alienated from society.
The film’s strength lies in its unflinching exploration of mental health and social issues, making it a compelling watch for those who appreciate thought-provoking narratives. It’s not a movie for everyone, though. If you’re looking for a funny, uplifting, or romantic story, this isn’t it. The tone is heavy, and the pacing is deliberate, which may not suit viewers seeking lighter fare. Personally, I wouldn’t rewatch it, but I wouldn’t leave the room if someone else put it on—it’s engaging enough to hold your attention, even if it’s not a film you’d revisit.
**Recommendation**: Watch this if you enjoy deep, character-driven stories that tackle mental health and societal pressures. Skip it if you prefer rom-coms or lighthearted entertainment.
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Spoilers
Some viewers have questioned the plausibility of the protagonist, Kim Seong-geun, being unable to escape the island, given its proximity to Seoul. However, real-life cases show that isolation can happen even in populated areas. For example, there have been instances of people trapped in overlooked spaces—like a patient left on an outdoor hospital landing who died because no one heard their calls. This supports the film’s premise that Seong-geun could be stranded so close to civilization. That said, the film suggests he might not have *wanted* to be rescued. At a certain point, his focus shifts from escape to survival, and he finds purpose in sustaining himself on the island. This is evident in his determination to make black bean noodles, a task that symbolizes his need to reclaim agency after feeling like a failure in his job and finances.
The connection between Seong-geun and the female protagonist, Kim Jung-yeon, who observes him from her apartment, is another point of contention. Their bond, built on minimal communication through messages, feels intense but underdeveloped. I find it hard to believe that their brief exchanges could foster such a strong connection. As a psychologist I found the characters to be deeply troubled—Seong-geun with severe depression after attempting suicide, and Jung-yeon with what appears to be agoraphobia, social anxiety, possible hoarding tendencies, and trauma hinted at by facial scarring and her avoidance of her parents. Without significant therapy, it’s likely both would revert to their previous states after the film’s events. Seong-geun’s forced removal from the island leaves little indication he’s equipped to handle his old life, and while Jung-yeon makes progress by venturing outside, her underlying issues remain unaddressed.
The film’s ending is deliberately ambiguous, offering a soft resolution that leaves their futures uncertain. There’s a suggestion of a potential friendship, or perhaps a faint romantic spark, but I don’t buy the latter—they’re too damaged to be in a state receptive to romance nor would they be very good for each other romantically. His "FU" response to her not messaging him back is an example of how volatile both of their emotional states are. As friends, they might support each other’s healing, but both need serious professional help. Seong-geun’s struggles seem rooted in depression, while Jung-yeon’s complex issues, including possible trauma, make her a more intricate case. The film frustratingly never reveals the cause of her condition, which feels like a missed opportunity to flesh out her character.
On a side note, some of Seong-geun’s survival tactics were off-putting. His casual handling of bird droppings and using his own waste as fertilizer—without apparent concern for hygiene—felt gross and unrealistic, as he’d likely contract parasites. Eating unwashed items also triggered my germaphobic side. But, on a practical note, you have to be even more careful in a survival situation with stuff like wound care and sanitation. Granted you can't be perfect but being oblivious and careless could lead to fatal results. These moments detracted from the film’s otherwise grounded portrayal of survival.
Overall, *Castaway on the Moon* raises compelling questions about resilience and connection but leaves you uncertain about the characters’ futures. It’s a thought-provoking film, but its ambiguity and lack of resolution may leave some viewers wanting more closure.
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Large scale cinematic event
Korean filmmakers are really brave and fearless when it comes to making this type of huge blockbusters, the technological prowess and grueling effort required to produce such a large scale cinematic event is way beyond imagination, but it's safe to say that the outcome of this movie is satisfying enough with storytelling vision that is quite groundbreaking. The world building is extensive and very well crafted with stakes design that are significant right from the start to finish, that adrenaline pumped visuals and high octane fighting sequences really is something else to appreciate on the big screen, Korean cinema is just going to get more astonishing than ever.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
past and present love
Overall: I was a bit confused how two actors played different characters in the past and present, but it was fine for what I think was a Japanese pink movie (i.e. several erotic scenes, those these were less explicit than some other pink films I've seen). Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5537/let-me-hear-your-voice-2024Content Warning: death
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Nothingness
When the movie ended in nothingness just like the rest of the movie dabbled in nothingness, I asked, “it ended?”. Throughout the movie, I was fighting for my life trying to stay awake through each painfully slow scene. The plot? I understand what they were trying to do, maybe? Showing how two people bond and support each other through their mental health issues and how this has an effect on their daily lives and relationships. This is a great theme for a movie, but the plot was barely there. It was a whole lot of nothing stretched across almost two hours, with no climax, characters that had zero emotional depth, and a dialogue that felt more like background noise than anything. I didn’t rate it lower because they tried. I guess…Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The pacing was too plot driven + The difference from source is badly written.
"Every adaption has had a dilemma of 'okay, we only have a certain amount of run-time. So do we focus on those big climatic moments or quiet scenes with the characters?' Screw it let's throw away all those quiet parts. Not realizing it's those character scenes that make the climatic moments hit harder."- Gigguk
Review
Spoiler warning again before this. I don't want people to be spoiled somehow after the review warning. (And some novel/manga spoilers).
1st of all. The change in how Yoo Joonghyuk's regression ability (yes I know they used another name for him. But let's be real here. Who prefers the newer name?). Instead of how the novel does it. Ths movie makes it seem like so the world goes back and everyone cease to exist.
This hugely changes the core of what made Yoo Joonghyuk, Yoo Joonghyuk. In the novel, if I recall correctly. He gains regression depression from his failures and doesn't care about the world anymore. Tending to think about regressing if anything doesn't go his way.
This is impactful as we learn that each time he regress. He doesn't. He goes to a parallel universe/timeline of sort. So once he gives up and regress, that world still exist but without him. This "minor" change actually impacts a lot. Especially spoiler for manga, how he wanted to sacrifice himself to become the Demon King so Kim Dokja can advance the scenarios.
Secondly, the illusion prison. What the hell was it about? In the novel/manga. Eating it cause Kim Dokja to experience mental damages, but gave him immunity to the night monsters. But in this movie, he got the "best" of the both worlds, he got both the need to be protected by the teammates and mental damage. Great!
Thirdly, the plot. WHY. More obviously on the first half, there was like no character development. It's just him rushing quests, and brief explaination of what's happening to connect the dots. He basically, goes from Point A to Point B. Then someone explains something. Like how Yoo Sangah got the bridge.
Fourth, where is the skills of the Kim Dokja? A part of what made Kim Dokja Kim Dokja, was his Fourth Wall. It is a really interesting concept when you see it at play. And everytime it goes down in the novel, you feel for him. Like pieces of him is revealed where you understand and sympatize with him.
Tldr
Yoo Joonghyuk's Regression and trauma was out of the movie.
Plot Rushing for the sake of time.
Kim Dokja's ability being changed.
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1The most preventable outbreak of zombies ever.
The fact it all started because rich folks found a suspiciously looking fish and decided to eat it anyway. What could possibly go wrong? Apparently many things.Was it anything more than a fun zombie movie? No. Was it a fun zombie movie? Yes. And that’s completely fine. The action scenes were actually good. The fighting seemed realistic at least in terms of choreography - punches, kicks, using whatever you have around you to defend yourself. We did not see people flying and doing 4 pirouettes before kicks for aesthetic reasons.
The make up and special effects used for zombies were also fun. Especially the final stage of mutation, which I wished happened earlier. Blood and gore was mostly realistic except a few extremely obvious cgi splashes here and there. The move was dark enough though to ignore them.
The plot was nothing more and nothing less than “trying to survive”. What stood out for me is the fact we from the beginning start with the post-apocalyptic set up caused by climate change. There is no unnecessary time wasted on setting up the world, explaining the changes that happened because of the zombie outbreak - the world looks like it survived 3 zombie wars before we even see the first zombie anyway.
What’s most important - the characters are good. Yes, Sing was a bit too indestructible, still interesting to follow. The fact Mark is good looking does help too. That said, the best character was for sure Buddy. It’s a child so of course he makes a few extremely dumb choices, but they are in the realm of my understanding based on the shock this tiny human must have survived.
On the not so great side - what was that right before the credits roll scene? That makes no sense. It’s a clear way to set up the second movie (which I would not mind watching), but it could have been done in a better way. Based on the fact our lovely ML left the mutated fish at his house, and it seems like theft is common, we can assume the fish was in fact eaten, and now people eat each other even outside of the hospital - aka perfect setup for the bigger, more epic zombie sequel.
One major complaint - there was a moment in the plot when non-infected people started fighting with each other, while they were also fighting against zombies and it made exactly zero sense. Why are you fighting guys? More brains, less muscles please. And these slow motion close up punches? Stop.
Overall, it was fun. Requires zero brain power, keeps the tension high for most part. The characters are well grounded and likeable, you do want to see them survive, which is always a plus for a horror movie.
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The plot, which is quite unusual, follows the long-standing friendship between two women: Eun-hee, the "immature wife," and Geum-sook, the "taekwondo girl." Geum-sook, a former taekwondo champion, has always protected her friend from the trouble she gets into. After Geum-sook is arrested again because of Eun-hee, she discovers that her friend has gotten married. However, Eun-hee's relationship with her husband, Doo-chan, is turbulent.
The twist comes when Eun-hee, seeking revenge on her husband, proposes a bizarre plan: Geum-sook must seduce Doo-chan so that he will cheat on her. What follows is a complex love triangle full of misunderstandings, exploring themes of friendship, love, loyalty, and the search for a happy ending, even if it means redefining what "family" and "relationship" mean.
Strengths:
Clever script: The story is creative and full of twists and turns, with sharp dialogue and hilarious situations. The script stands out for its balanced blend of comedy and drama.
Charismatic performances: The trio of protagonists, played by Gong Hyo-jin (Geum-sook), Jo Eun-ji (Eun-hee), and Choi Kwang-il (Doo-chan), have undeniable chemistry, making the characters captivating.
Quirky humor: The film uses a very peculiar and unexpected humor, which may not be to everyone's taste, but which works well for the film's purpose. The awkward situations and misunderstandings generate moments of genuine laughter.
Conclusion:
"A Bizarre Love Triangle" is a romantic comedy that strays from the cliché. It's a film for those looking for a different story, with eccentric characters and a bold script. It's a work that, despite not having had a great box office success at the time, became a cult favorite among Korean cinema fans and is a great choice for those who want to see a lighter side of the "Oldboy" screenwriter.
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Wall-to-wall delirium
Offering wall-to-wall delirium, The Heroic Trio is certainly bursting with creative energy and pulpy comic book visuals, compensating for a confusing and cloyingly over-sentimental story by serving as an irresistible showcase for three of the coolest women warriors ever to hit the silver screen. Even with all the eye-popping motorcycle stunts, bloodthirsty undead, cannibal infants, and kinetically choreographed wirework, the whole film feels like it's about to come apart at the seams despite hitting the ground running with such a tantalising hook. Style may be more plentiful than substance, but thanks to Johnnie To's consistently stunning visual eye with sweeping camera movements, wind machines, and an abundance dry ice, it matters little—especially when combined with the supernatural fight sequences, choreographed by Ching Siu Tung, that are dark, violent, and bursting with all imaginative dynamism you'd expect from this era of Hong Kong cinema. Although I wish the film had embraced the darker and more disturbing aspects of its tone throughout. It's hard to fault any of the performances from the leads; Maggie Cheung, Michelle Yeoh, and Anita Mui are all fabulous company, even if the latter two have been saddled with straighter roles as everyone else goes off the chain or hams it up, especially the likes of a near-mute Anthony Wong, severing heads with a lip smacking glee. Despite all of The Heroic Trio's inspired lunacy, the artificial trappings tend to make the film feel set-bound and confined, but ultimately, none of that diminishes the overall entertainment value the film possesses in spades.Was this review helpful to you?
Typically lush and compulsively idiosyncratic
A wonderfully warm blend of fantasy, romance, and Looney Tunes-style comedy, don't be fooled by Love in the Time of Twilight's sappy title; it's all a mask for what is ultimately a nifty time travel murder mystery period piece. The setup for this elaborately staged romantic fantasy screams Tsui Hark from minute one. To bring his protagonists together, Tsui uses a series of overdone comedic coincidences which make American slapstick seem like slow-paced melodrama. There's muggy shtick, unfortunate puke gags, horribly dated effects and romantic misdirections aplenty. While it all seems agreeable, the alternate reaction may be one of bemused exhaustion. Sure, everything in this world is cute and silly, but it can also be tiring due to the bizarre leaps of logic which seem to operate as a sort of shorthand. The film is incredibly opaque story-wise, but Hark infuses his pictures with a kaleidoscopic energy and cinematic charm that's infectious and even beguiling, causing you to look past so many of these issues with a smile on your face. Helped wonderfully by the magnetic chemistry between Charlie Yeung and Nicky Wu that shines throughout; even when the duo are bickering nonstop, they make for an incredible onscreen pairing with performances to match. Typically lush, compulsively idiosyncratic and eclectic, but put together with the usual Tsui Hark panache, Love in the Time of Twilight is an entertaining little film that accomplishes more in its 100 minutes than most films can ever aspire to despite a truly bizarre series of plot devices and an occasionally incoherent narrative.Was this review helpful to you?
Just try the novel or manhwa and you'll get why this movie gets only 1 star
If you haven't read the manhwa/novel maybe you'll think its okay? but honestly at least try out the manhwa on webtoon its free and you'll see all the plot points and character development that they cut out. you might be confused when you first read it because it'll seem like a totally different story. It'll show different abilities and characters you were never able to meet, they'll have different motives and approaches than the movie version, and their backstory's will be different. That's why most of the reviews are this low. This adaptation is like if the original story was flipped upside down and put into a blender full of sht. it is so disappointing and deserves to be rated this low because they genuinely had a masterpiece to work with and instead turned around and said "actually idgaf and we're going to do whatever tf we want to these characters" which is so sad because lwk all the characters are so real n maybe sometimes you'll hate them for a little but they have sm development. Aside from the characters, the actual action is also better in the original and they cut out alotttt of what happens which is also really disappointing. If you truly are a fan of this genre but maybe can't bring yourself to read 551 pages tbh i get it, but try the manhwa and give it a while its so peak i swear 🙏Was this review helpful to you?
Be Careful What You Wished For!
Overall, I'm satisfied with Guan Xiao Tong & Johnny Huang's storyline "Oversize Love" and wanted to share my thoughts on this captivating story. There are a few things that I would've liked to have seen occur in the movie, which were 1. Allow the male and female leads to show more time together as friends. The flashbacks were good. 2. In the end, a bit of romance between the two leads since it was titled "Oversize Love" and 3. When the FL was requesting wishes, she never asked what the consequences were. It rings true to the fact, that many of us do and ask for things without considering the consequences or the results.The film follows Lin Xiao Xi as she transforms her identity to become "Alice" in a bid to impress her idol, Huang Ke. However, her childhood friend, Han Bing, who has secretly loved her for years, feels abandoned by her sudden change. Han Bing’s efforts to undermine her transformation lead to a complex entanglement of emotions, leaving Lin Xiao Xi caught between her longtime crush and the devoted friend who has always been by her side.
This storyline resonates with me deeply, as I’ve witnessed friends change themselves to fit in or seek approval from others, often losing sight of who they truly are in the process. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of staying true to oneself.
I truly enjoyed the movie and found myself wishing it were a series—it would allow for deeper character development and exploration of these themes. As a big fan of Johnny Huang Jingyu, I must say his portrayal was exceptional. He is truly a handsome, kind, and charismatic actor, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
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Ancient story worth to watch
It's strange to see no one reviewed this title.Meanwhile it's interesting historical (maybe near-legend though) drama about the ancient kingdom long before Thailand was born.
That's the archethyp story about two brothers, one - the warrior, second one - wise man, whom his father want to pass the crown.
There are good action scenes, good acting, interesting dialogs and plot.
I think it's really worth watching for all those who likes historical drama.
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labubu live action
this live action is a disgrace to the novel. they didn’t follow the story and improvised way too much. casting actors with massive fanbases just to milk profits, only to end up producing one of the worst live action ever made. don’t waste your time on this trash. read the novel or webtoon instead, that’s where the real story lives.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
'NOT A READER' REVIEW!
Minority viewer here who liked it :DI went in with no knowledge of the webtoon and I actually liked the plot! And the fighting was pretty cool, the cgi was decent enough to me (except the rat monsters lmao they do look like from a game). All of Dokja's companion (yes even the girls!) were usefull as hell.
I can kinda understand why others hate it, which maybe because of them changing the part where Dokja was supposed to get a Fatal Block power in the webtoon but they removed it in the movie, the plot changed at this point (based on my friend's words). Tbh i think they did so as to end the movie in a 'better' way than introducing this Skill of Dokja.
Overall I like it and I might even try to read the webtoon :DD
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Im crashing out
Fuck this shit. Fuck this adaptation. Fuck the director. Fuck those who are saying we are salty when the director didn't even adapt it well. They just pasted the characters name and 1% of the plot. And you actor fans are calling us salty? You who don't even read it has the audacity to call us names?who are you? Are you orv fans? 😂If only you read the novel or manhwa then you would've understood our 1 star rating. Atp just gonna kill myself bcs of this shit of an adaptation. Im so crashing out seeing the actor fans or the non orv fans saying we are salty like bitch go read the damn novel or manhwa and come to argue with us.Was this review helpful to you?
