Reviews

"It's actually good that you can still feel scared."

Morning’s Tree Lined Street has been called a romantic fantasy. This is Naruse Mikio we’re talking about and when it came to how men treated women he rarely wore rose colored glasses.

At the age of twenty-two, old maid Chiyo travels from her rural home to Tokyo to find employment. She moves in with her friend, Hisako, who works at a low rent bar as a hostess. Jobs are hard to come by, especially for a woman as old as Chiyo. Eventually, she begins work as a hostess. Salaryman Ogawa takes a liking to her and comes in most nights requesting her company. Chiyo begins to have romantic fantasies about the man who spends his time and disposable income at their club.

I won’t spoil the fantasy element of the film which was foreshadowed in a conversation Chiyo had with Hisako earlier in the story. Chiba Sachiko gave a charming performance as the country girl trying to make it in the big city. Chiyo may have been shocked at some of the things she saw happening in Tokyo, but she was also savvy enough to know who she was and where to draw the line. She dallied for a time with a romantic dream, yet in the end she woke up and made the wisest choice for herself. I was concerned with the direction of the film at one point but Naruse didn’t let me down in the end.

30 June 2025
Trigger warning: Suicide. There was the discussion of double suicides on two separate occasions.

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The movie [Oshi No Ko] The Final Act beautifully shows that idols who sing and dance on stage are also human, just like the rest of us. They have the right to live their lives the way they choose, just like every individual on this planet. They work incredibly hard, and I truly appreciate all the idols for their dedication and for managing such busy schedules. Even though they face many personal struggles, they still put on a smile in front of the public, as if nothing is wrong. That takes real strength. If I were in their place, I don’t think I could do the same. I just hope they receive all the love, respect, and happiness they truly deserve. As fans, we should always support, respect, and appreciate their efforts—not just for their performances, but for the strength they show every day.

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I finally decided to watch this movie — let’s dive into the story…

It tells the love story between a man and a woman who are in completely different places but somehow become deeply connected. They begin to perceive each other’s emotions and thoughts, communicating in a way that changes both of their lives forever.

One day, An Yi (AY) accidentally hits her head and falls unconscious. When she wakes up, she suddenly hears someone in her head. It turns out to be Gao Ang (GA), a piano tuner, who has mysteriously become connected with her through brain waves. Not only can they hear each other’s voices, but they can also feel what the other is feeling; for instance, when one is hurt, the other feels it too.

From that moment on, their lives become intertwined. At first, neither of them accepts what’s happening, and they even try to make each other miserable out of frustration. But gradually, they come to terms with the situation and become the ones who understand each other best.

Just when everything seems to be falling into place, a new complication arises—AY’s longtime crush begins to show interest in her and wants to start a relationship. Fueled by jealousy and a gut feeling that something’s off with AY’s new boyfriend, GA tries to stir up trouble for AY.

Is GA just being jealous… or is there really something wrong with AY’s boyfriend?

Either way, tension builds between them, and their peaceful connection breaks down again as they argue and blame each other. AY, overwhelmed by everything, blames GA for the problems with her boyfriend. Unable to bear it anymore, GA makes a painful decision — he cuts off the brainwave connection between them.

And just like that, silence.

Suddenly alone without his presence, AY realizes how much GA truly meant to her — and how much she misses him.

So, what should AY do now?

Will she go to GA’s place and finally meet him face to face?
Or will she let this feeling fade away?

That’s pretty much the story—without giving away any more spoilers.

Overall, this movie delivers a beautiful message about love, connection, and understanding. If you're a romance junkie like me, this can definitely be added to your watch list.

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Watch if you need a meaningless violence "fix"-twisted, dark & a bunch of people die

OK : don't watch it unless you need a meaningless violence "fix". Incoherent "slasher" movie waste has you scratching your head. Really it's just got a alot of people being killed & As for who the monster is ....you decide because there are alot of super evil people stuffed in this plotline and not one of them ends up without blood on their hands by the time it's over! This is an unsatisfying story, with a cast of characters you could care less about, [except, well, there is that grade school girl & she's a kid, so we don't want to see her die, right ?]

There's no way to explain further with without spoilers


**************Heavy-Explanation/Spoilers**********

The female lead is mentally challenged & feels wronged by alot of stuff because she doesn't have the capability to actually understand (Autistic maybe ?) So she's like a 4 year old. But the overarching storyline pretty much revolves around a younger & an older brother. Apparently the younger brother has no qualms about killing, which he demonstrates as a 5(?) year old by "offing" his abusive "monster" of a father (relationship accuracy unclear) This younger brother will grow up to live reclusively in the woods, killing people (for hire?) then burning them & using the ashes to make urns (that he sells?) His estranged older brother contacts him & asks him to retrieve a cell phone from a young woman who is blackmailing his & her boss (boss hit her & she recorded it). Younger brother confronts woman & uses too much force & oops, she's dead. while pillaging the house, he runs into & kidnaps woman's elementary age sister (it is unclear if she knows where cell phone is). Back at the pottery barn, younger brother tells girl :runaway, I'll start chasing you when I finish this wine bottle & BTW-if you tell anyone about this, I will kill them too. Little girl runs into 2 orphan sisters & does NOT tell them anything-they take her home. next day all 3 are walking in the fog & are attacked by Younger brother (but, like hey??!! she told them nothing) he kills oldest (normal) sister but younger mentally challenged sister hits him over the head with a rock. She runs to get help but.....
OK, now the plot runs into problems because people are able to get places, locate others & survive things that is just inexplicable , impossible & unacceptably dumb [in the context of the real life setting that has no new (special) cell tech.]
Monster? they are ALL monsters

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A Beloved Classic, Butchered by Bad CGI and Atrocious Script

Quite possibly the worst adaptations of a beloved series I’ve ever seen. The movie felt like a disjointed string of scenes barely held together by a flimsy plot. I showed up for Xiao Zhan, but not even his presence could save this mess.

The CGI was completely overdone—to the point where everything looked fake and took me right out of the story. The wuxia scenes, which should’ve been a highlight, were horribly choreographed and lacked any sense of realism or impact.

And don’t even get me started on Huang Rong. Her character was reduced to being utterly useless, and the styling choices for her were just… bad.

If there was one saving grace, it was the actress who played Hua Jing. She brought some much-needed depth and presence to an otherwise forgettable film.

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A nice feel good escapism movie that's at the top of my re watch list

Since it's a movie, it's hard to say much about it without giving anything important away. I've re watched this a few times already & will probably re watch it every 2 years or so. I gave it a 10, which is very rare for me. [I think I've only given that score out 3 or 4 times!]
I like the setting. The sunny beach vibe sets the tone. The story is not complicated or melodramtic. The leads are good. The ending is good. I'm sorry for the generic comments, but I really liked it & more information would just spoil it for you. Normally I love to give out spoilers, but this is a breezy light feel good movie that deals wit a difficult issue, but doesn't deep dive.

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A rather "miracle" idealistic, rather than realistic story of restoration to public opinion

The main character is bossy & rude.As you learn more about her you see her good qualities, but it's no excuse for her overbearing attitude. She & lead guy are equally arrogant but when tested their good qualities shine through. The lesser character's stories create a sober atmosphere . In the end, motives are revealed & status is restored. So this is a rather "miracle" idealistic, rather than realistic story. non Asians ; need to be familiar with just how powerful public opinion & sentiment is to understand & appreciate just how miraculous it is for a k-pop idol ,or famous person in S.Korea, to be restored to good public opinion & career once they have been tarnished by scandal , ostracized & shunned .

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Fast pased, gripping story with A-Ha moments and surprising twists.

The story has no linear telling, so there are some twists, because the actual fact get´s only later revealed. That´s common practice in this kind of movies, and nothing new. The movie is also no original story, it´s been done many times. But it´s fast pased, gripping, griddy and bloody. If you´re a fan of cop and gangster stories, you definitly going to enjoy this movie! The action is well executed and not unrealistic at all.
Story: Not original, but there are twists I very liked, the first time I watched it. 8/10
Acting/Cast: Very good actors. I discovered Yim Si Wan through this movie. 10/10
Music: fitting 9/10
Rewatch Value: watched it three times till now 10/10
Overall: 9,5/10

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Constant Dirty language +"frank" discussions .Romance doesn't work.-meh- happy ending

I keep wanting to see Lee Seung Gi in great roles, but so far I have yet to see him in a drama that is better than My girlfriend is a 9 tailed fox .
He plays nice push over who crushes on a harsh overbearing potty mouthed celebrity childhood friend (who has a married boyfriend). You're set up to believe they both fail at love because they are meant to be together. He cooks, cleans, picks her up when she's drunk. It was not great because it really came across that he might like being used/abused . When he puts his feelings forward & she has had her eyes opened to how great a guy he is - her whole personality changes (Wasn't the whole point that nice guy loved her just the way she was ?)
Constant Dirty language & the "frank" discussions make it too uncomfortable to be a romance. Kissless-meh- happy ending

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"Looks like a good time" Looks can be deceiving

Danger Stalks Near was a 1957 comedy featuring Takamine Hideko as a beleaguered wife, daughter-in-law, mother, sister, and target of a robbery. The little village where she lived, and her house in particular, was the epicenter of greed and selfishness.

Yuriko is taking care of her sick child and a stingy, melodramatic mother-in-law. Her day begins with a renter burning a tatami leading her to evict the self-absorbed young woman. The doorbell continues to ring as relatives, friends, and repairmen insisted upon her attention. Most of the seemingly endless line of people turn out to have ulterior motives. The local newspaper had announced her husband as the winner of a prize in a contest leading everyone to want a cut of the booty. Relatives and other interested parties also greatly desire Grandma’s “secret” stash of wealth. Including the three knife-wielding thieves staked out on a hill not so patiently waiting for their chance to rob the family.

This film had the potential to be really funny and probably has been for other viewers. I just found the non-stop entitled behavior stressful and exhausting. Despite Yuriko seeing through the greedy relatives and sundry court of jesters, I felt sorry for the put upon daughter-in-law and sister. I halfway expected her to snap and burn the house to the ground as the grand finale. Her sister Sakura relentlessly badgered her for money. The MIL continually heaped complaints and demands on Yuriko, threatening to sell the house and move into a nursing home as a bludgeoning weapon whenever Yuriko stood up to her. Even the old woman’s son was ready for her to kick the bucket or fall off her shoes and die. There was a subplot involving a standoff between the evicted renter and the new renter which included their significant others. Then, of course, there were the weapon carrying thieves willing to kill anyone in the house for Grandma’s stash. Yuriko was having a challenging day which with this lot was likely an everyday occurrence.

Danger Stalks Near had entertaining moments, especially as the crooks grew more and more impatient with the revolving door of visitors to the small house. “What is this? A holiday or something?” And Takamine Hideko nailed the part of the woman trying to get through the day and fend off selfish guests. At least the robbers were honest from the start, they intended to steal from the family outright instead of swindling or cajoling it as the other guests not so subtly tried.

29 June 2025

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Faithful Adaptation, Acting Could Have Been Better

As a fan of the manga prior to watching this, I appreciate the accuracy and how they covered the entire story. The music was a little bit generic, but nice. The weakest part of the film was Takeo's actor—he was pretty bad... but the strongest part was Sawa's actress, her performance was perfect for the role, it felt like the comic character had come to life. I felt emotional watching this because the manga emotionally resonated with me a lot when I was younger, I just wish Kasuga's actor had been different! Also, I thought that Aya's actor and arc could have been a bit better, too, but all of the scenes with Sawa were golden and her actress carried the film.

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The Ethics of Aesthetics: Misbehavior and the Limits of Subtext

Wow, okay. Well. To start, Misbehavior is not a bad film. But it’s also not particularly good. It falls squarely in that frustrating middle space. A story with potential, a mood with bite, and just enough talent on screen to keep you watching… but not enough follow-through to leave any lasting impression.

The premise alone is already a lot to chew on: two female teachers. A senior contract instructor and a newly hired full-time one become entangled in a tense, jealous rivalry over their male high school student. There’s a sexual component. Possibly romantic, although the emotional dynamics are so shallow and confused that it's hard to tell if the film is aiming for erotic tension, predatory power play, or just general mess. Either way, the setup is deeply ethically questionable. But strangely, that’s not the biggest problem here.

Uncomfortable or controversial subject matter can work when it’s handled with nuance and clarity of purpose. Misbehavior doesn’t have that. The film seems more interested in aesthetic discomfort than actual character or thematic development. It wants to be unsettling, but it doesn’t seem to know why. It gestures at taboos, at institutional power imbalances, at buried rage, but only ever in half-measures.

Let’s talk pacing. The first half is slow and vaguely tense. Like the story is winding a spring, waiting to snap. But the second half unravels way too quickly. Critical plot points come in rapid succession without emotional buildup or payoff. It’s jarring, not in an intentional, disorienting way, but more like a writer realizing they’re running out of time and speed-running the climax. By the time the credits roll, you’re still trying to process a shift that didn’t feel earned.

Kim Ha-neul is the saving grace here. Her portrayal of Park Hyo-joo is unnervingly restrained. A woman so tightly wound, so completely at the mercy of her own internalized failure, that even her most violent moments feel like they’re happening from a place of quiet, hollow inevitability. You can see the years of professional frustration, emotional suppression, and self-loathing living just beneath the surface. It’s a nuanced performance trapped in a script that doesn’t give her nearly enough to work with. She deserved a better vehicle.

Lee Won-geun’s character (Shin Jae-ha) is less a person and more a plot device. Painted to be manipulative, but we all know he’s the real victim here. The second teacher, played by Yoo In-young, is equally underwritten, which is a shame because the bones of a compelling rivalry are there. Instead, we get cardboard motivations and stiff confrontations.

One thing I will give the film: it resists the urge to offer a character to "root" for. Everyone here is flawed in different, unappealing ways. It’s the kind of story where you’re not meant to pick sides so much as watch the trainwreck unfold. I usually appreciate that.. narratives where everyone’s just as damaged as the next person, and you’re forced to sit in the discomfort of it all. But even that quality starts to wear thin when the characters are this emotionally undercooked.

The film is painted with a lot of big themes: gendered power dynamics, academic hierarchy, social invisibility, the ways institutions suppress and warp women’s agency. These are all rich, worthy subjects. But Misbehavior handles them like set dressing. You can see the intention in certain scenes. A passing line about job insecurity, a glance during a faculty meeting, the subtle difference in how the school treats the two women… but none of it is interrogated in any meaningful way.

Visually, the film works very well. It’s cold, sparse, and tonally cohesive. The sterile setting of the school complements the emotional emptiness of the characters. There's a kind of quiet, aching bleakness to the whole thing that’s effective in moments. But you can only ride on mood and minimalism for so long before you start to wonder if anything’s actually happening.

Final thoughts? Misbehavior could have been a disturbing, layered portrait of female rage, institutional failure, and manipulative relationships. It had the atmosphere, the actors, and the potential. But it stops just short of doing anything meaningful with them. What’s left is a film that looks serious, acts serious, but never quite earns its seriousness.

Would I recommend it? Only if you're in the mood for a morally ambiguous slow-burn that leaves you mildly frustrated. Otherwise, you’re not missing much.

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Love it

It's late here and I should be in bed but here I am writing this review.

I loved the movie and it's been a while since I've seen my baby Raul on screen so i was I was a bit excited.
But what surprised me the most was Tao and Ano, tbh I didn't check the cast, I just saw Raul and I was instantly on board, but Tao was amazing, her character is my favourite and I wish she had some kind of happy end despite being a side character. As for Ano, just seeing her is enough for me to smile ❣️ she is the cutest ever.

Now the story is based on manga which is why we can't expect anything to make sense, nevertheless I found it interesting, it's always fun to watch Japanese highschool romance every now and then ~

The cast was so good!! A full list of young talents some of them are my favourites it was fun to watch them all together, some characters also were very funny, Raul's reactions and facial expressions were on point and very adorable, my cutie baby Raul is so grown up now still he is as cute and lovely as he ever was.

It's one of those very light, silly and totally crazy type of movies that you can watch after a heavy drama/movie to freshen up.

Just don't expect too much, just sit there and enjoy the ride.

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