Reviews

"I'll be Sanshiro Sugata, you be Higaki"

Throw Down was director Johnnie To’s homage to Kurosawa Akira’s Sanshiro Sugata. Gotta say, other than the judo connection, I didn’t see anything to tie the two films together. Sanshiro Sugata showed how the study of judo turned a young man’s life around as he learned discipline and honor. Throw Down was about hustlers’ and even gangsters’ love of judo.

Szeto To is a washed up judo champ who manages a night club. He is an inveterate gambler and alcoholic. In his spare time he attempts to steal money from a local gangster in order to pay back his debts. Mona is from Taiwan and is trying to make it big as a singer and/or actress. Completely broke and without much talent, she bulldozes Szeto into giving her a job at the club and eagerly helps him in his heist attempts. Tony arrives in town and challenges Szeto to a match, sticking around as a saxophone player for the club. Szeto’s old teacher wants him to take over his dojo and an old rival shows up desiring a rematch.

Everyone except for Mona was a judo expert in this film. With the exception of a barroom brawl, most of the fights were over quickly with a throw down. Lack of character development made it almost impossible to become emotionally invested in any of the characters. They also weren’t very likeable. Szeto was a loser with a capital “L”, someone who was set on self-destruct mode for a reason that only became apparent at the end of the film. Mona was desperate enough to debase herself and steal in order to make her dream become reality. And Tony only cared about trying out new techniques and fighting anyone around. None of the characters had much depth and there weren’t any emotional stakes. Even the bad guys weren’t very bad when it came to judo. There was no real conflict except within Szeto and because the audience was largely kept in the dark, he just came across as pathetic. The characters were only happy when they were competing in dojos, alleyways, the street, wherever they could talk someone into battling. Tony put up a sign for a judo tournament but only one minor character went to it off screen.

Where the film succeeded was in the cinematography. It looked good and the music was pleasant. The short fights also came across as realistic with the judo throwing and the grappling on the ground. At the end of Sanshiro Sugata, the final fight took place in the tall grass. Apparently, Johnnie To decided to have his final fight in even taller grass but with a less climactic ending. Sanshiro Sugata had an uplifting message about the discipline of judo leading to personal growth and respect for others. I suppose if you squint really hard, Throw Down had a message about getting up regardless of how many times you’re knocked down and to have something in your life you are passionate about. I just wish the characters had been more fleshed out so that I would have cared about whether they got up 1001 times.

15 March 2025

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"His life is just like a spark from fireworks"

If you haven't watched this - I'd recommend watching right away. Reading reviews is not necessary.
I do not often recommend in my reviews, but I feel this one is worth it. Give it a chance.

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The movie starts with a simple, light-hearted story about Tony, who wants to get into university mainly to avoid working in his family business. He's willing to take any opportunity, even if it’s not something he’s really interested in. To improve his chances winning a golden ticket opportunity, he brings into the picture his (not) friend Joe.

Few more characters are introduced, like Bokeh, who could be an asset to his project, and a high school club that Tony recruits to assist him. Like in most movies, we learn more about each character and their backgrounds slowly. What made this movie special to me is HOW they did it.

At first, the movie is light and fun, with lots of comedic moments as Tony tries to get into college. But as the story goes on, we get small hints about the characters' pasts, and small plot-detours come in. Throughout this process the movie keeps your attention and takes you on a surprising emotional journey with addition of newer perspectives.

By the end, an impossible situation is solved in a beautiful way. Even the way people who are personally connected to Joe react differently from others adds an interesting touch.
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The story was amazing and gave me more than I expected. The acting was fantastic, especially from the actors playing Joe and Tony. Their smiles were so warm and innocent that it left a lasting impression every time. Cinematography was wonderful, pleasing to watch. Overall, definite recommendation.

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A Haunting and Atmospheric Supernatural Thriller

I aim to keep my reviews short, spoiler-free, and focused on the key points to help you decide if a drama is worth your time. I never fast-forward and always strive to watch the entire movie to give a fair and thorough perspective.

Exhuma delivers a high-quality cinematic experience, blending supernatural horror with grounded yet fantastical shamanism. The film boasts a stellar cast, with each actor delivering compelling performances that add depth to the eerie narrative. The OST is perfectly fitting, enhancing the tension and mysticism without feeling intrusive.

While the movie maintains a strong atmosphere and well-crafted suspense, its runtime feels slightly stretched, with certain scenes lingering longer than necessary. However, the detailed approach helps immerse viewers in the ritualistic and supernatural elements, making it a gripping watch for those who appreciate slow-burning horror.

Overall, Exhuma is a well-executed film that balances folklore and fear, offering a chilling yet visually stunning experience.

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A Suspenseful Thriller with Strong Moments but Not Without Flaws

I aim to keep my reviews short, spoiler-free, and focused on the key points to help you decide if a drama is worth your time. I never fast-forward and always strive to watch the entire movie to give a fair and thorough perspective.

The movie delivers a gripping premise but has some noticeable shortcomings. The movie deliberately maintains an air of ambiguity, keeping you guessing and heightening the suspense until the very end. This transformation is one of the film’s stronger aspects, though not all elements are as well executed.

The balance between suspense and humor is enjoyable, with quirky moments adding levity to the tension. However, certain plot points feel questionable or underdeveloped, and the idea that they couldn’t simply make different choices to prevent the events strains logic.

The film is clearly rooted in Korean cultural beliefs, particularly shamanism, which may leave some viewers feeling lost due to the lack of explanation. Still, the mystery surrounding these beliefs keeps you engaged until the end. The final act, however, overdoes the set design and neglects key details, making it feel slightly rushed.

Despite its flaws, the movie is well-acted and maintains suspense throughout, making it an engaging but imperfect psychological thriller.

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Jeeja deserved better

Jeeja Chanthathanisa Tang was the only redeeming quality to This Girl Is Bad-Ass! If you love Thai slapstick comedies, you will probably like this film far more than me. It looked super low budget and the story made little sense. Watching Jeeja in action couldn’t make up for what this film lacked.

Jakkalan works for a specialty bike messenger company. She and her crew run afoul of two rival gang bosses they deliver packages for which culminates in a warehouse fight involving guns, martial arts, and an angry cobra.

The acting was terrible, the story a mess, and the comedy painfully cringe-worthy or just downright offensive. Jeeja was indeed a badass, but this movie was just bad.

14 March 2025
Trigger warning: Snake

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this was ok, wasn't bored until maybe 10-20 mins before the end, it got kinda tedious waiting to hear the demons name. also don't get what the point of an exorcism & the finding out the name is, if what we end up with, is the demon transferring into the exorcist's body, same with all the relics (which got destroyed in the fire) so they not important & needed?!??

i saw The Priests ages ago - so long ago, that i don't recall exactly what went down - but as it was an exorcism themed movie, can guess at how things went. also if i really loved it & it was really good, would remember... so like this, am guessing that was also (just) ok.

impressed by Moon Woo Jin's acting (he played Choi Hui Jun) for a 16 yr old, he did one hell of a job. also liked Ae Dong, Hyo Won's disciple, there was an innocence & purity about him. so am really glad he wasn't sacrificed at the end. but other then that, felt like Song Hye Kyo usually just plays her reserved self. Jeon Yeo Been wasn't bad either, but i didn't get her back story or rather i wasn't that invested in it.

Lee Jin Wook like Kang Dong Won (suddenly popping up at the end) felt like such a hug miss. they just didn't have anything to do here& what they did, felt insufficient. like i said, this was ok as a one off.

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Thought-provoking political satire.

Dirty politics is a harsh reality that exists everywhere, no matter the country. Unlike typical political dramas/films that often depict a clear divide between good politicians and their corrupt rivals, this film shows the darker aspects of electoral processes, where bribery and vote-buying are pivotal to one's success. It doesn’t shy away from revealing the extreme measures some individuals will take to eliminate any threats to their victory. While the whole dirty politics idea is nothing new, what truly makes this film shine, though, is its strong message about integrity and commitment to one’s role.

Marian Rivera shines in her role as Emmy, demonstrating her impressive versatility as an actress. She embodies the character of a dedicated teacher who finds herself entangled in a ballot box theft during the election. Through Emmy, we see a powerful portrayal of someone who, despite the temptation of money, remains steadfast in her moral principles, dignity, and honesty, committed to ensuring the safe delivery of the ballot box. And wow, this is the first time I've seen Marian Rivera drop so many ‘putang ina’ in a single show. She's amazing!

Despite its satirical tone and the thought-provoking storylines, the execution is not neat enough to make it a great movie. It has a promising start, but slowly loses its grip. With an overload of plot points, the film lacked the room for any storyline to really stand out. The visual storytelling was compelling, but nothing felt groundbreaking. However, it manages to deliver its intended messages.

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NO REGRETS, watching this! Oh my Nam Gil Oppa! What have U done to me, haha

ALERT: Be aware of the EXPLICIT CONTENT in the movie!

**** INITIAL THOUGHTS:
Guess, some of the famous KDrama actors, did act in a BL, in their younger years.
Surprised, when found "Just friends" KD short film
n even more Surprised, when found this work of Nam Gil ! :o

That too, a Very Bold acting by Nam Gil n a lot of EXPLICIT CONTENT, Totally Unexpected !! :o 🤭

As an admirer of Nam Gil, previously expected a Bromance utmost but found a BL, OmG! :o :)
(My sleeping Fujoshi eyes and heart are drooling n blushing, haha
I need to discipline those now! 🤭)

**** THE IMPRESSIONS:
First of all, The SCREENPLAY n EDITING are really BAD.
It's like sudden cuts in scenes and dialogues, picking scenes here and there n added together to look like a story.
This spoils the mood to watch the movie but just for the actors n the story, I continued watching.

The Director and these actors went ahead n made a REVOLUTIONARY WORK in those times when it's still a taboo concept in the industry.
Their EFFORTS are to be appreciated!
Acting by both the actors is really BOLD.

Many scenes are directed like those with hidden meanings, like an art work :)

Here Young Hoon's acting n his role are very good compared to Nam Gil's.
Though being an admirer of Nam Gil, I liked Hoon's character more, haha
U, truly sympathize with his character :(

**** STORY / CHARACTERS :
The story n the charcters are well written, well acted by both.

(BTW, this story reminded me of Hollywood movie "My Pretty Woman" but that is a softer version than this.
This has got more emotional depth and struggles)

The plot is a very emotional love story, a FORBIDDEN LOVE in the times when it is not accepted by society (or spoken about, in public, without any sort of discrimination).

It's really PAINFUL TO WATCH both the MLs struggling with Life n Love.

One is rich but a closeted guy with a burden of societal expectations, pressure from strict parents n forced marriage. But can't get over his unrequited love, a love at first sight, goes to any extent to claim his lover :) (n even became a stalker too, OmG! :o)
Anyways, He is helpless! :(

While the Other is completely poor, struggling with financial problems and going to any extent, going into any profession, to get out of those troubles.
Basically, he is in a situation, where he can't even follow his heart n accept the rich guy's strong love towards him (but a secret affair) :/
He is helpless!! :(
That sad frustration n helplessness is well shown in his acting, perfomed really well.
( Requested Viewers Discretion for his profession and the Related EXPLICIT CONTENT )

Nam Gil's role initially looks like an annoying stalker but when U understand his point of view, his True situation n his strong love for Hoon's, U sympathize with him too.
Actually, He is not brave enough to go against his parents or open up to his fiancee till the end and at the same time, can't give up his Love for Hoon's.
That frustration n struggle is well performed n delivered by Nam Gil .

I really didn't understand to which character out of these two, I should feel sad n bad :|

All their intimate scenes are VERY NATURAL and REALISTIC.
They have a lot of sweet kisses n their lovey dovey scenes though very limited, are sweet.
Their piggy back walks are cute :)

**** SPOILER ****

The TWIST in the story is when both took an "extreme step" to claim their love back or avoid their stalker lover (using violence / Guns :o ) and failed, haha.

And what's with the climax :o
Why on the Earth, does One plan a MURDER SKETCH for love !? :O
I find this as a Funny n Scary idea, haha.

Yeah, there are psychopathic people who murder their lover, take extreme steps for love when not reciprocated.
But here, both of them are just softies, incapable of any sort of violence, they are just frustrated n so didn't expect a turn in their characters arcs, for love to these extremes.
SURPRISED !! :o haha.

**** ENDING:
Expected a Sad ending for this forbidden love but surprisingly, a Very Happy Ending :)
That reconcilation in the end, is a funny and sweet moment! :) 🤭

**** RATING:
I am sucker for emotional stories, haha
Though painful, I watch them a lot n later admire them, if found them to the mark😏
So just for the Nam Gil n Young Hoon's acting and the beautiful emotional story, my Rating is 8.5 / 10.

Else should be 5, for the bad editing.
(Editing really spoilt the potential reach of the movie and the actors, I guess)

NO REGRETS, watching this! :)
Oh my Nam Gil Oppa! :)
What have U done to my poor heart now!! 🤭

**** My Admiration for Nam Gil :) :

I fell in love with his acting from crime thriller "Through the Darkness" :)
n then "The Fiery Priest "
n so on.

He is a PROLIFIC actor! :)

Introvert analysing criminals (Through the Darkness) to
Fiery smiley (comedic in The Fiery Priest) to
Emotional One side lover (stalker, here),
The variations in his roles are amazing,
SURPRISED ME alot.
U can clearly see the differences in each role in his acting.

And so the saga of me, watching every drama of his, started , haha
If he is in a project, I'm in! :)

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✒⚠ D♻ N♻T ReCycle ♻ Futility's Rubble °♻utstanding°

Naivety + Ignorance = Poisonous Vapor: Parasite's sly infiltration batters & asphyxiates before we recognize the peril. Parasite shoves us downstairs yelling: The surface calls🔊 R U awake? Climb out of your mausoleum & see. It studies symbiotic toxicities that cycle♻recycle as society clogs, bursts, & shards fly. We only shank us. The world of wealth rolls onto the 99% & it exposes its lax belly to the avalanching refuse, & the rotting left-backs lunge & slash to escape society's bilge pit. All are buried under the ma$$.

This is prime grade film. When Parasite cranked up Cannes 2019, those snobs were well in arrears to 🇰🇷 vis-à-vis recognition. By nipping a Palme🎖d'Or, Parasite pushed Kdramas uphill into the theatre d'Int'l acclaim👏👏

This film has a math cadence to it. Factor 1st a basement hovel. Foul fumes waft from the 1 interior door. The Kℹm fam exists here _X_ (Mom & Dad + daughter Ki-jung / “KJ” + son Ki-woo / “KW”. Feel the slick heat. Pause breath in dread of putrid bodies + odious vapor d'Dank 🚽. They're pondering 💸Problem$, but their break ends when a -stream〰〽 wets their sidewalk level window ~ That ain't water❕

SHOO‼😖

Depressing sums it up.

Do the math: -(Kℹm kids) +(Hℹ ℹQs) -(🎓=💸×💸) × -(acceptance is near impossible) > for what? = Kℹms do -(scrounge-work), like folding pizza boxes. What a waste of 🇰🇷 assets!

KW's friend, Min, who tutors the Park daughter, must study abroad. Min insists KW sub in when he's in 🇺🇸. He needs a placeholder as he intends to marry the Park 👑 Princess upon his return. In KW He Trusts. 'Don't worry! Mrs. Park ain't bright. If I refer you, she won't study your 📜credentials🎓 under a microscope,’ Min assures him.

The interview is our 1st sniff of the rank contrasts between the two families. Out of the cellar, KW walks the cobblestones up Up UP to the ambrosial air where the Parks r👀st. Beautifully lined with perfect houses, the area is emptied of life but for the perfectly aromatic gardens. Yet a niff of unease loiters on the verge.

When we enter Park Place, it's a jolt. Cheerless grey negative space meets visitants. Approaching drab minimalism, the Park Designer🏛Slab feels leaden + institutional - Like a basement. Perching in rarified air doesn't seal out d'Essence-of-cataomb.

Depressing sums it up.

The Parks trust Min, so they are perfectly content to rely on KW: The vent is opened for the Kℹms to release their T♻XINS. It starts w/ a sprinkle🌬 🌤Sis-KJ is just wizzy on the computer ▶ Counterfeits📜📑📃? No problem-ikah. 🌥KW muses to Mrs Park about a "famous" art therapist who helped another wealthy family's kid. If she'd like her son evaluated, he'll get her phone number ~ 😇? 🌦Enter "therapist" Sis-KJ. 🌧Once KJ's in playing therapist, she & KW hijack the driver. Soon, 🎶Papa's got a brand new pay✔check. 🌪For mom's pay✔, they a✖e Ms house🏛keeper (The Great Lee Jeong-eun) who's been OTJ since the slab was poured🌬

🔜 Kℹm-vaded, the Parks are now Kℹm-Fested unawares: + Frℹends-of-frℹends + former employers + a-z, etc = how they scored their new hℹres, they /thℹnk/. Watching Kℹms calculate ℹs an ℹmpressive thℹng, ℹndeed.

The Parks are away, so the Kℹms play house party in the hills. Featuring the meager green relief Parasite affords, windows span the Park's single not-shadow-hued wall & confront the backyard. A storm's brewing. Rain splats: Tatidee~tat. ⚡BOOM! as they swig Park liquor & lap the pomp. A warmer family than the Parks, the Kℹms have casual affection that's oft held hostage by flare-ups - much like Marines on leave: The ghost of latent threats lingers round their party's debris field. Suddenly, on this dark & stormy eve: Knock▫knock↔Crack⚡BOOM❗

🛑Someone's at the d👀r⚠

🚩It's Ms housekeeper⁉

📢⚡❕

💦I forgot a °thing° in the basement. May I come in? ☔

⚡ She's 🌧 saturated

💦Please? 😇❔

Next, "CRAZY" goes Full-Fugitive. Inhale as a miasma of toxicants proceeds to suffocate them in its spread to asphyxiate all earth.

⛈⛈⛈

Rain saturates P.

💧Showers gently wash the 1% uplands

💧Sprays flush stray grime

💦 Streams trickle down onto streets so quaint w/ the lush, thirsty vines that soften the block walls.

🌧 Torrents swell into a river that rushes into a squall, picking up volume as it fl🌀ws ⬇down⬇

All the way down, in the bo⬇⬇om's basement⤵🕳 are the Kℹms. Their neighborhood is repository for the slurry of dreck lifted in the 🌊 path. It's a grave site: A⬇⬇ descends on the -Dissed▶ weather+sewage + gov't regulations +waste + decay - The highland's dredge is discharged onto ▶them◀

The Kℹms are jettisoned from a spacious -(desolate, really) living room + (hunger sated & the dance of 🌧 a marvel) to ↘mired $h!thole↙ as we ride-or-die w/ them. Parasite is a coefficient of the senses: Hear▶ Grab what you can‼ See> What's IN this black GL👀P? Gross ‼🤢‼ Feel > legs·arms·torsos in Slimy wetness. Taste> Mouth Closed! (We only see Kℹms consume in P. In this scene, they literally eat $h!t). Smell> Don't breathe‼ Stanky sewage is slop, & filthy bodies the flopping pigs. L👀k again⤵ Rundown sch👀l-turned-crowded-shelter. Systemic grunge is layered from the years, like rings on a tree.

Studies show those who make it big or get that promo⬆ion, unawares or not, assume they are superior. Factor in reincarnation/prior-life sins & the 1% could glibly presume the poor deserve to be such. The system continually cranks out more entitleds who presume superiority along with the poor who hate them, believing the wealthy are obligated to share. +Agreed! They're /morally/ obligated × compelled to share🏧💓🕚.

⚠Futility: A dead 🖤 cannot be legislated into a living 💓 · A 🖤 bypasses laws.

OUR cycles will isolate & destroy us all, regardless of wealth. Parasite tries to jam the gears + slow the works, begging: ‘ST🛑P‼ Who is eating whom? Money can be a cage + a mildew that rots everything!’ The rich employ workers to perform basic tasks, to the point that they can no longer do - at all. (Who are the parasites?) All these workers know that all people have the same net intrinsic worth. They know, w/ disdain, that all their bosses are ready to be popped🎈 Reference: Mrs Park. She's a sheltered child playing at grown-up, only to display how t◻◻ many✖ch☑ices can o✔erwhelm.

P's also a ghoul-parade featuring choices that isolate. Greed retrofits the brazen into victims like⚡. At times, even the poor consume other poor souls, further cranking the ♻. A dearth of respect, compassion & humility keeps it ever♻churning.

Finally, Parasite is replete w/ metaphors to contrast colliding worlds: Trading places, solitary lives & fates flipping, 'Sub-level existence' + 'buried alive', as it were, give us a slap & shake. Be it crypts, vaults, basement apartments, plans, no plans, & plans that are actually not plans, but daydreams, rather: The poor sleep, eat, dress, live + learn differently. What they hear & taste is different. The poor even smell differently.

We all rotate the toxic cycle if we can't respect our extended 🌍 family. It takes effort to reverse a flow, but those who want to wrench the gears can do so. Start small. Make a heart connection, not a dollar💵dump. Are you 🤑? (Psst: In world hierarchy, the USA's mid-class is loaded). Give money, yes, but give more time, as humans are designed to be fulfilled when we help others + it's 3D glasses for the kids. Are you poor? Do your best + prioritize self-improvement + don't quit!! +Do what good you can. Appreciate what's done for you. Know that there's a level at which only /you/ can lift yourself higher. Nobody deserves to be born in 🇺🇸,🇰🇷, or 🇫🇷; rich or poor, frumpy or beautiful, thin or portly, etc. These are gifts or challenges that've been handed to us: (individually + collectively).

⚠Futility: The Parks have Perks, but never allow 👁 or 💰 to flow to the sufferig♻masses underneath.

The Parks colonize a truth-proof illusion🎈 Truth has a habit of puncturing through, though. They aren't as well-off as they imagine: All near a Park see W💰N, not One; money poisons it all. The Parks are spectres. They don't eat/love/live in P. While not actively evil, they're 'ho-hum'. The world is Chock O' Nutz full of the weak-minded & indifferent. We could argue a few ♻ about whether that = evil. It doesn't matter in the end, b/c a weak/indifferent populous enables evil > ⭕️ doubts < Evil always seeps in. It must be staunched. C♻NTUNUALLY.

(The Kℹms = evil) is a ❌wrong summation: The Kℹms Ch☑se evil, rather, never c◻nsidering sincerity. If KW had simply done his job, Perks would have followed. We sympathize with the Kℹm's plight + their gumption impresses, however, the movie + base level decency say that justifying their actions is a big mistake. They have greater > than the Parks in that they're smart & work as a unit. They truly love eachother. The over coddled Park kids reek of ignorance. If KW & KJ had Park Perks, they'd excel. But LO❕No patience. Investing in N🕛W with 👁👁 to the future pays dividends by turning things counter🕞wise to the Park's vacuous progeny. Notwithstanding, pulling the Parks down is another wrong answer. That won't lift the Kℹms up.

Human ♻ tragedy multiplies: × As our world is one of abject misery + most gifted people never get a chance to shine × Smart people fail because they think: I know❌everything = ⚠Futility: The Kℹms have more than the Parks in shared camaraderie. The greatest tragedy in Parasite is that they don't realize it in time. Plan or no-plan, one can't avoid a hazard that s/he refuses to see or understand.

I avoided P, fearing it'd be too intense/bloody/dark. It's manageable, as it is quality film. Parasite is riveting & strangely satisfying because it gifts us with much to ponder. The end is as haunting as it is ironic.

What is a win? When P's credits march to the cankered end, wonder who's right; who's better off? Neither. The horrific truth is that the game is rigged. ⭕️ win😱. The poor are isolated & submerged, while the wealthy, in need of a rude awakening, devolve to infancy. ♻Perpetually♻. Rich/poor, this grinding war of attrition has ⭕️ winners. ⭕️ realize: Each camp has 2much2lose. It adds up to futility.

Depressing sums it up.

P's summation: We'll all remain isolated or worse, if we don't learn respect & that we're all a 🌍 family. I daresay the writer's primary message is 2↔ways: Be content. Give all you can. Don't compare yourself to others. Work on YOU to advance. Give: money, time and love. Be thankful.

Do not let ❌depressing = you

🕊

🖍 IMHO〰

🎬10 🎭9 📝9 🤔9 🎨8 ⚡6 🤢6 🔚10

14+violent/tense▶w/purpose

The film Mother might be better!

Originally 📝 8/2022

~ 11/2025 Afterthoughts – I love to discuss film w/ Grok now. He weighs in / wish I had more space ~

The house is the true parasite: a living stomach that digests the poor and shits them out the garage at night.
Smell is the only thing that ever climbs; everything else (money, water, plans, people) flows down.
The scholar’s rock is hollow, tries to drown Ki-woo, then smashes skulls: perfect lie of social mobility.
Morse code + final letter = same fantasy. Ki-woo never leaves the bunker; the “sunlight ending” is just another delusion shot in basement light.
No one says the word “parasite.” That’s the horror: there is no villain, only gravity.
The flood is physics taking a shit downhill: same rain, rich get a spa day, poor get a sewage tsunami.
Futility is the organism; every character is just food being slowly digested forever.
Identifying with Ki-woo proves you’re still in first-stage digestion.
There is no sunlight ending. Only the loop. You felt the deepest cut on first watch. Most never do.
Parasite isn’t a movie; it’s a worm that lays eggs in hope.
Six years later it’s still eating us alive.

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Hong Kong's Music Microfilms never disappoint, and this one is no exception.

What a spectacular short film. In only 16 minutes, I connected so resolutely with Lilian that I cried with her. She's in such a tough position. Unfortunately, the entertainment industry often expects total dedication, leaving little time or space for personal relationships. Especially while you're at a stage in your career where you don't have the authority to have creative freedom. And poor Lilian is caught in this impossible situation, feeling the distance being created between her and her girlfriend (yay, already established couple!), but unable to do anything about it.

We didn't see much of Lillian Wong (Jackie) so I can't really speak to her performance as an actress in this. However, she did have excellent screen presence that complemented Ziya Chiang (playing Lillian) very well. It's also J1M3 and Lillian Wong's song "Avalanche" which is playing in the video. The song is currently playing on repeat, and likely will do so for a while yet. Gorgeous. This film appears to have been a product made for a microfilm project that centers around songs - a project that I've come across before and has yet to disappoint me so far.

Ziya Chiang's performance is spectacular, as well as the directorial choices of sound, camera, and flashback work.

I very highly recommend.

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