Reviews

It's a pretty confusing movie that could've delivered a more engaging story. At first glance, it seems like there are three separate storylines, but a twist at the end ties almost everything together and explains the movie's title. I enjoyed the first and third stories the most. The second one is just way too bizarre. The acting is a bit inconsistent, but considering the material they had, the cast did a decent job, and you can see the performances improve as the film progresses. Keep in mind, this is an older movie (12 years old) and was likely made on a tight budget. Still, it was interesting to observe the evolution of the Thai BL production timeline. Intentional pun!

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Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this film to be so intense in just 30-something minutes. This is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking movie that touches on heavy themes and reflects a harsh truth about human behavior. It's shocking how cruel people can be, simply for the sake of being cruel. Seeing such cruelty on screen is jarring, but sadly, it reflects the reality faced by so many people around the world who are bullied for being poor, black, overweight, gay, or even just for their nationality. I broke down during the scene where Li Yang is on the bleachers. The mother was absolutely incredible. It’s not a perfect film, but it resonated deeply with me. The ending really got to me. And that post-credit scene was truly heartbreaking, serving as a powerful reminder of how much we still need to grow as human beings.

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Gripping and Quietly Intense

I think my most favourite of this is the technicality because it showed how high the stakes are. I mean it was already like that but that aspect of the film made me feel invested and thinking how they will pull this off.

It was two hours long which I thought was too long but it as actually a good length. I really like how they just got into it. My favourite character, alongside the main, has got to be the General Commander - I think he pulled off being calm, focused and highly principled so well. I'm quite surprised he's listed as a supporting role. I think his role made such a big impact on how invested I got. His character was so impressive.

I think the only thing that I didn't feel convinced about was regarding the suspect. I don't know, just the way it was revealed and the motivations I guess made it feel far fetched? Plus the enormity of how it was done and who's done it just didn't feel believable.

Overall, I'm really glad I watched it. I think the main role, Takaichi, really rounded off the feel of the film with his good natured character. He was dependable and in charge which made you trust him and felt like everything's going to be okay even with the seemingly impossible situation.

Plus the scale of the production was amazing. The director/writer/team behind this are so so impressive. I also really liked Chika, the train driver. I think she was quietly holding everything together and wasn't thanked properly by the passengers when she was introduced 🙈

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Silly and lacking process

This movie could have been good but there is no process, every single scene is under developed and I am not really sure what they are trying to say here, unless it is don't get caught up in what people say and an eye for en eye makes you the eye.

There could of course be more to it, something about society being quick to judge and that nothing really changes, or maybe some type of you we are all the villains in a world where people suck. Careful what you wish for, careful what you say someone may take it seriously... But it was all cluttered by the loudness, the mobs an the flickering camera.

Making my wish for depth... or my wishful interperted depth and the presence of some good actors up the score but my honest opinion would probably be meeh...

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I have watched it already 4 times now...

What would I do to watch it for the first time. The best film if you want to watch something on a rainy day... The warm hug you need of encouragement... The feeling of being alive and the feeling of HOPE... I just love it sooooooooooooo much ... Worth every second! If you like the plot of someone blind but not everyone pitying them, this one is for you ! The main leads did an amazing job in portraying the characters. The chemistry was there and
Spoiler:







it has a happy ending, despite how it looks in the last 15 minutes. Everything was sorted out, I at least didn't have any more questions.
I loved it....

If anyone has movie recommendations like this movie please PLEASE write it down below.

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Watercolor inclusion in life

The gentle, rhythmic pace of the plot accompanies the understanding of life without the sounds. The initial delicacy recalls silent cinema in which “the person” was central and not “the sound construct.”
The direction and screenplay pointed to the pragmatism of real life, in which ignoble “grievances” exist but from which no wars but acts of social resilience are born. Changing the pool because deafness is seen as an outrageous disease reflects mentally and culturally undeveloped and conservative societies. This key reading is ascribed to all social communities in which the different is not welcomed not accepted but discriminated against from birth.
The challenges inherent in disability are unexpected for the able-bodied; we do not realize how society in its customs is geared toward non-inclusion. Fire or other alarm systems rely on sounds to spread the alert--what about the deaf? Do all condominiums have inclusion in building construction? Routine inspections by the principals why don't they consider these “rules” from the perspective of inclusion?
Immersing oneself is one of the small steps one could take as Yong Jun ... and it is enlightening to realize how for the able-bodied the “usual” is profoundly distant from the surroundings experienced by the differently abled.
Thus, inclusion is the film's silent protagonist, hidden until Yeo Reum's confession of “existence.” She who was born hearing in a deaf family forces herself to live as a deaf-mute in order to bridge the inclusion that the rest of the world does not contemplate for her family by nullifying her life.
"Hear me" is a film as delicate as a snowflake, the centrality of the plot is critical of the presence of inclusiveness in our societies but also emphasizes the risk of “taking on everything.”

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For any remake, they would either do it exactly the same and not have leeway to have their own creative ideas
Or change it and lose the original essence

Here, eventho I haven’t seen the og, many say it stayed the same, beside them being in uni and not highschoolers, tbh I feel like 20s is better for groundbreaking star crossed lovers


They also missed out big time on showing both of them playing at the same time to add more urgency
And he could’ve “reached her first” cuz he plays faster and both would be on the piano stool


I kinda interpret it as both dying with the piano cuz she died already in the past and he wanted to go back as the rocks fell on him

So I was waiting for blood to trickle down after he saw her, he gets to confirm the truth and cuz like, he can’t really “live” there if no one sees him besides her

So the ending was abrupt tho I liked their “rule” that the first person she sees is the only person that could see her for the future but they never explained the past


I thought there were things that stopped her from going or appearing, not that she was there but he couldn’t see her

So in the og ppl say he graduated with her so could ppl see him?
Were ppl not seeing her in the future cuz supposedly she already tried to go when the building was demolished and she died, so she didn’t “exist” in the world
Meanwhile him going back to a time he was alive in, so ppl could see him?


and tbh the dads stories were always hilarious xD
It was sad, but he’s in the present so technically he’ll turn around and see his son as a 40ish year old🤣
It’s him that loses his life but he also wanted to run away


Demolishing the old grand piano was ridiculous, like if the present could change, they can just buy the piano before the building is destroyed, so many what ifs…

In a book with time traveling, they’d say you can’t change the past, so if someone survives, they’d hide until the present, and they’ll reappear cuz the future is “unwritten”


But it’s a loop, if she doesn’t die, her mom wouldn’t tell him, so he won’t try to go back, so she’ll die..
Unless the “she disappeared” is about them both running away together, always in hiding cuz no one sees him and they’ll think she’s crazy xD


Also speaking of unseen, I hate when movies do a slowmo and zoom ins when something is mentioned that hints to the truth
Like the balloon pupping, she was hit by the powder, but no one sees her, so moving things, opening doors, nothing was seen besides by 1 so did it really happen?

Also the curtain scene was done so over vaguely I didn’t even see her hand so I was like “ah she’s not really there” xD

And when someone mentions a twist, either she’s a ghost, he is, or time traveling and such

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An Eye-opening thriller about fame and deception!!!

I recently finished watching Streaming and honestly, it was a really great thriller movie. It felt very different from the usual thrillers and I really liked it.
What stood out the most for me was Kang Ha-neul’s acting. He was absolutely amazing. The way he portrayed nervousness and anxiety was so real, especially how he would shiver and stutter when something intense or dangerous happened. His mannerisms were so natural that it didn’t feel like acting at all. It made me connect even more with his character. His performance was truly on point and I really, really enjoyed watching him.The story was also very interesting. It gave a different perspective on the world of online streaming and influencers. It showed how far people are willing to go for money and fame, even if it means putting themselves in real danger or faking entire situations just for views.
One supporting character, Mathilda, stages fake scenarios to make people believe they are real. It really makes you think about how scripted and fake some parts of online content can be, and how little some people care about the viewers all they care about is the attention and money.
Without giving away spoilers, I’ll just say that the villain’s obsession adds another layer to the story, making it even more intense.
Overall, Streaming was quite a different experience for me, in a good way. I absolutely loved the acting and the story was strong too.
It’s definitely a movie I would recommend if you want a thriller that is unique and leaves you thinking even after it ends.

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Oh those evil secret agents!

My first impression when I started watching this movie is a quality of production. And really, the people who worked on the visual aspects of the movie did a great job. The scenes were often dark but still very clear and impressive. Also I was surprised to see quite a few veteran actors who bring their charisma into the movie. Sul Kyung-gu and Yang Dong-geun are my guys and Koran Cinema action heroes.

So, yes, this is an action movie but the action was mostly just shooting without much sense and realism. The good guys can shoot everyone they want but the bad guys can never shoot the target. But mostly i was confused by the amount of killing, and have in mind that here we don't have assassins like in "John Wick" but government officers working as secret agents. The interest of the movie is in finding out who among the agents is a double spy (a rat). So I had a good time watching the movie, and i will remember the visuals, but the story and the action was somewhat forgettable.

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"Hate only brings people pain and disaster"

A Warrior’s Tragedy aka The Invincible Power of Kindness starring Ti Lung and Frankie Chan was a remake of Shaw Brothers’ Pursuit of Vengeance (also starring Ti) and was based on a novel by Gu Long. Frankie wrote, directed, produced and starred in this film. Originally, it was supposed to be two films at a total of 170ish minutes and then was edited into one. There are a variety of lengths out there. This review is based on the 110 minutes format.

Several swordsmen are invited to Ma Hung Kwan’s Pegasus fortress. Among those invited are Fa Hung Suet and Yip Hoi. Fa walks with a pronounced limp and is a revenge fueled swordsman, trained by his mother to take down the people who killed their family. Yip is happy go lucky, more of a kung fu artist than swordsman. The glass half empty and glass half full men will find themselves in a “where the heck did the glass go?” confrontation.

This film had numerous characters with some popping up out of nowhere and others who disappeared without a simple good-bye. A few of the character connections were never explained. Editing two films down into one played havoc with the narrative. I have no idea why certain characters did what they did. Everyone seemed to have it in for either Ma or Fu. Or were hiring Hoi to kill either Ma or Fu. Ti and Frankie's characters were supposed to be the same age, but Ti was nearly 10 years Frankie’s senior. The two characters were also supposed to be in their mid to late 20’s. Ti was pushing 50 when this film was made! Frankie seemed to be having a good time playing the frisky and positive Hoi. Ti honestly looked tired or maybe he was just confused by the convoluted story.

Fung Hak On was the martial arts director and also played the legless character armed with a deadly whip. The wire work and synchronized moves he designed were wild. There was no shortage of wacky kung fu weapons---expanding and exploding dresses, golden hands, an invisibility cloak, hand held explosive launchers, and pink chariots! The movie was filmed somewhere in northern China which meant new scenery for the fights to take place in instead of the old reliable Hong Kong and Taiwanese sites.

For the main part, Fu and Hoi’s stories were simple, the extraneous characters who sliced their way in and then tumbled silently down story holes made the film confusing. The emphasis on letting go of vengeance because it begets another cycle vengeance was a pleasant surprise. Only for fans of the genre and probably more specifically fans of the actors involved with it. Rated on a curve as always for old kung fu flicks.

“Hate only brings people pain and disaster. Only love is everlasting…Learning to love is more important than learning how to kill.” Well said Hoi, well said.


25 April 2025
Trigger warnings: Multiple dismemberments

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The movie is mainly a social commentary what I would call instantaneous consumerism. To which degree we expect to get things and get them quickly, because it’s what corporations promised, without thinking of a healthy way to make it happen. The revenge story drags a bit, doesn’t add a lot to the story.

The main attraction of the movie are the leads Mitsushima Hikari and Okada Masaki. I found Mitsushima to be terrific in that role, sometimes frightening as you can tell from the way Okada look at her that he agrees. Abe Sawado was great as always and his interactions with Mitsushima was my favourite in the movie. I’m not a bug fan of Dean Fujioka but he filled the role here pretty well. The guests from the actors from previous drama fit exactly where we left them off but the aura from their scenes felt out of place.

Directing wise, it would’ve benefited from a tighter focus on the theme. The involvement from the cast from “related” dramas turned it into an investigation, and less about the theme of the movie. The whole mood of the movie was different and I find it didn’t need that connection. If the nod to the dramas was a must, a quick guest appearances would have been enough.

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A fun balance between thriller and comedy

Ballot had me hooked in the first minute for being wayyyy too real. The film begins with a strong comedic lens to a village preparing for an upcoming political election. But it doesn’t take long for the story to switch gears and you quickly find yourself in a semi-well-paced thriller.

I was a little worried for a moment there that Ballot would be *only* a thriller, with the political narrative merely serving as a barebones pretext. However, the storyline swings back around to the more serious political messaging along with its wry humour. As someone who normally doesn’t like thrillers because the genre tends to take itself too seriously - I loved the incorporation of the political satire and would’ve loved more of it.

That said, while I respect the political messaging of the film, I don’t think it was its primary strength. The political commentary is neither new nor radical. But honestly, I think that’s okay. Instead of being thought-provoking, the film is validating. There’s a certain comfort in knowing that you’re not the only one who’s jaded about electoral processes and the seemingly unending churn of self-serving politicians. Having watched this film during election season here in so-called australia, elements of the messaging scratched an itch. What it lacked in political punch, it made up for with the wholesome ending.

I agree with MizMystixism’s point that the production isn’t as clean as it could be. However, for me, this actually contributes to the satirical vibe. This is probably because most of the political satire I’ve watched has been australian productions - most of which are produced on a shoestring budget – so for me, rough edges are part and parcel of the genre. Yes, there are cheesy and on the nose moments – such as with the queens and the use of real politicians' sound grabs – but personally, I revel in this approach to satire. I find that the-on-the-nose-ness adds to the comedy.

A note on the visual production: while I’m not sure I entirely vibed with the yellow-tinted colour grading, there were some beautifully lit shots that carried some scenes. Thumbs up to the crew.

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It had potential to be more, the acting of the 4 mains was great but the writing didn’t reach the depth it should’ve
Especially since only the aunt and niece had enough screen time to be called mains


As a story of multi race baby, a Filipino and Korean baby, her mom did well making sure she knew both cultures
I’ve been seeing TROS sarang in clips on TikTok and she only speaks Japanese, understandably she’s still young eventho she’s tall, just like this baby saying she’s 5 when she looked 7


Anyway, her aunt sucked and the “character growth” was too sudden that her past angst wasn’t necessary


I wish they showed jisoo experiencing his daughter’s second culture
Saying he’ll take her back for better education and life was kinda demeaning, tbh Koreans school life sucks

The aunt staying just for the niece to leave, tbh she should’ve left with them, lol I did weirdly ship them

when he was like I’m strong I can carry my kid, and she goes I’m small but strong, that was cute, I mean this could also be a cultural thing but some ppl marry their dead spouses sibling to keep the kid surrounded by both families




The journey of this 25ish year old sulking over what her sister did 20 years ago by “leaving”, and taking revengeish hating the niece was not needed, I’d understand her “hate/fear” of kids cuz it was a vulnerable time for her and she didn’t want responsibility

But I’d also understand neglect better than hate, the baby’s cries on “why do you hate me” was too sad for everything to be “solved” and the aunt switched just cuz her sis told the kid she’s like her aunt so the older sis never forgot her sis

The dad swooping in to take her away, as if his culture was better than his, when he could’ve even stayed in the Philippine for a year or so for stability, or even if he promised to take her there every summer break
I feel like non of the supposed problems were solved or addressed

The baby lost her dad but her mom’s trust and love kept her stable, she lost her mom, gained a family, her aunt hated her, then everything became stable again just for the dad to come back and take her, we don’t even know how his family life is

Also the whole mystery around the dad was too makjang xD

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coming of age romance

Since GagaOOLala picked up this movie, I decided to write a review. Watched at https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5213/does-the-flower-bloom-2018

Content Warnings: past death, internalized homophobia

What I Liked
- Yoichi's supportive group
- struggling with living up to a parent's fame, trying to find your own path in life
- that Yoichi said he wouldn't follow someone who was indecisive and wanted to stay where he was
- the hugs

Room For Improvement
- the love rival, that time could have been better spent elsewhere
- nonsense that they didn't bring a character to the hospital, he could have had appendicitis which is deadly
- dead fish lip presses, didn't always feel the chemistry

Note: I didn't put a content warning even though there's a 19 year age gap. Yoichi was an adult (19) and there was no manipulation/coercion in their relationship

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Soulmates, But Literally

9.25
(rated in movie standards)

Story:
-simple and straight to the point
-the fantastical elements were explained well
-their relationship development was pretty good
-important themes
-can be incredibly funny at some points, but tragic at others
-some fluff
-bickering couple
-pacing was also good

-there is some pining
-there is some sad parts

Acting/Casting:
-both lead actors did really well
-decent enough chemistry

-I liked the editing between scenes a lot
-as well as the animations

Music:
-decent

Rewatch:
-definitely

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