This review may contain spoilers
A Different Type of BL
Disclaimer: This is a resubmission of my original review to match my current writing style for BL series that were edited into a movie version.I placed spoilers at the end of this review.
The series/movie: This had a unique and beautiful storyline for a BL. However, you will need to toss all the vampire lore you know out the window and accept this script’s version. For me, this was not a problem and I liked that they didn’t play safe with the usual clichés. The script had some weak elements, but it did not stop me from enjoying it. Without giving to much away, this does not have a happy ending. The CGI, special effects, and cinematography were very good.
The movie: They did a great job editing the episodes into one cohesive movie. The main difference is there were quite a few scene placements rearranged throughout the movie. There were no scenes that were deleted, but had one random scene added towards the end of the movie. This was probably done to add more time because it didn’t enhance the storyline in anyway.
Random Note:
You would be fine watching either version, but I recommend watching the movie version. The editing of the rearranged scenes really helped with the flow of the story.
There is a slight hint of a second season that is most likely never going to happen. I know there is a page for one, but the chances are slim to none.
The description on Viki does not match the actual content of the series/move. However, this is an ongoing problem on Viki.
******Potential Spoiler Alert******
Although this had a sad ending, it made sense to me. Jun Ho loved Min Hyun so much that he didn’t want to risk the possibility of killing Min Hyun.
I admit that it didn’t make sense how Jun Ho was able to kill Min Woo. If Jun Ho was weak and about to dissipate, how did you have the strength to strangle him?
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Did I Watch for the Plot or Ju Jihoon’s Face? Honestly IDK
DUDE THIS MOVIE IS SO DAMN GOOD 😭🔥This ain’t your usual spy flick with fancy gadgets and boom-boom every 5 minutes. The Spy Gone North is built different — it’s all about strategy, mind games, and how you talk your way into trust. Like, real spy business.
It’s super dialogue-heavy, so yeah, might feel slow for some. But if you're an IR student or into politics (esp Korean politics), this is a MUST-WATCH.
AND JU JIHOON??? HELLOOO?? EVEN LOOKIN STRESSED IN A SUIT HE STILL FINE ASF 😭🔥 I was literally pausing just to scream every time he popped up. Like bro, why you so attractive??
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This review may contain spoilers
A Riotous, Campy Ride with a Whole Lotta Heart
🌺 Directed by Fatrick Tabada. Starring Sue Ramirez, Jameson Blake, Martin del Rosario, KaladKaren, and Maxie Andreison.Let’s get this out the way: Flower Girl is wild. Funny. And actually, kinda profound.
This ain’t your average rom-com. It’s a Filipino fantasy-comedy about a modern woman who loses her vagina—yes, you read that right—after offending a trans babaylan-fairy in a restroom. What follows is a quest for soulmate-level love before a magical flower drops its final petal. Sounds ridiculous? It is. But somehow, it works. And not just for laughs.
Sue Ramirez plays Ena, a confident sanitary pad endorser who suddenly finds herself cursed. Her journey, hilarious and unhinged as it is, forces her to confront what womanhood actually means when it’s no longer tied to biology. That’s where the film shines: it uses absurdity to unpack deep truths about gender, identity, and self-worth.
Ramirez is so in her element. She balances slapstick with sincerity like a pro. She's unfiltered, fearless, and genuinely funny—making Ena both chaotic and relatable. KaladKaren and Drag Race PH Season 3 winner Maxie Andreison absolutely light up the screen, while Martin del Rosario and Jameson Blake bring charm, spice, and surprising heart to their roles.
But beneath all the camp and glitter, there's substance. The script doesn’t preach, but it definitely talks. It takes on casual transphobia, body policing, and the toxic ways we measure womanhood—and it does it with comedy as its tool, not its excuse.
Now, not everything lands. Some jokes go a bit too lowbrow, the pacing dips in the middle, and while the trans themes are strong, they still revolve around Ena’s POV. But the intent is clear: to open conversations, to unlearn harmful ideas, and to give space to the messy, magical, often misunderstood experience of defining oneself on your own terms.
The cinematography? Slick. The energy? Electric. The vibe? Unapologetically queer, Pinoy, and powerful.
What makes Flower Girl special isn’t just its boldness—it’s the way it makes you laugh and think. It asks: "What makes a woman a woman?" But it doesn’t force an answer. It just wants you to ask better questions.
This is not your Tito’s slapstick. It’s fresh. It’s gutsy. It’s a whole damn vibe. And it might just be the most important Filipino rom-com of the year.
Rated R-16. Now showing in cinemas nationwide.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 – but 10/10 for being a brilliant, campy, heartfelt mess. Go see it. Then take your friends. Then see it again.
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Your Name Engraved Herein” – A Poignant Love Letter to the Past
This film hits deep. Your Name Engraved Herein is not just a love story—it’s a haunting reflection of what it meant to be gay in 1980s Taiwan, a time of social repression, religious guilt, and cultural change. The attention to historical detail is immaculate: from the costumes to the school setting, and even the subtle atmosphere of post-martial law Taiwan—it’s all spot-on and immersive. 🎞️📻🇹🇼This is my third time watching Edward Chen, and once again, he delivers a stunning, emotional performance. 🥺 His portrayal of Jia Han is raw, vulnerable, and full of inner conflict. The chemistry with Tseng Jing-hua (Birdy) is layered and complex—it’s not just about romantic tension, but also about identity, repression, and loss. 💔
One scene that I wish had been left out is when A-han is comforted by an older man, which suddenly turns into an unwanted sexual advance. That moment felt unnecessary and honestly quite uncomfortable. It pulled me out of the emotional rhythm of the story. 🚫
Still, the film’s strength lies in its bittersweet tone and realism. The final act and the ending really stayed with me—both beautiful and heartbreaking. It doesn’t tie things up in a neat bow, but instead lingers, just like unspoken love often does. 🕊️
If you’re in the mood for something tender, melancholic, and quietly powerful, this is definitely worth watching.
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1My JUNE 2025 recommendations challenge
Watch this for my June 2025 recommendations challenge by 𝑵𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆.This is a story about two friends who fall in love with the same person. Why not women or men? Because this story happens across 2 generations, mother and daughter. In the mother’s story, it’s two men who fall in love with her. In the daughter’s story, she and her best friend fall in love with the same man .
So, let’s dive into the story…
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬
Dalah meets Kajorn during a vacation at her grandfather’s house. They spend time together, go on adventures and form a friendship. Kajorn falls for Dalah the moment they meet. However, because of their different social statuses, he can’t continue corresponding with her.
Back at school, Kajorn’s friend, Tanil, tells him about a girl his father has set him up withTanil asks Kajorn to help write love letters to this girl. To Kajorn’s surprise, the girl turns out to be Dalah. Recognizing her, Kajorn agrees to help by writing letters to Dalah under Tanil’s name. And so begins the correspondence between Tanil and Dalah.
Later, Tanil invites Kajorn to attend Dalah’s solo concert. Dalah is surprised to see Kajorn in town, and shortly after, Tanil introduces them formally. Kajorn then confesses his true feelings to Dalah, and she admits she feels the same.
Thus begins their secret relationship, hidden from everyone—including Tanil. But things get even more complicated when Tanil, who initially only followed his parents’ wishes, starts developing real feelings for Dalah after getting to know her better.
So now the question is:
> What will happen if Tanil finds out about Kajorn and Dalah’s secret romance? Will he be angry —or will he accept it?
> Will Dalah’s parents accept Kajorn, or will they reject him due to social status?
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡
Fast forward to the next generation.
Bota and her best friend Poppy both secretly admire the same man—Non—from afar. Neither of them has the courage to confess their feelings.
One day, Bota stumbles upon her mother’s, Dalah, old love letters and learns about her mother’s past romance. She shares the story with Poppy, who later tells her theater director. Intrigued, the director wants to turn the story into a play—and asks Poppy to help bring it to life. Poppy encourages Bota to write the script based on her mother’s love story. Reluctant at first, because it's her mother's love story but eventually, Bota agrees to write the script. Bota also ends up helping with the theater production as well.
To Bota’s surprise, the lead actor chosen to play Kajorn in the play is none other than Non. During rehearsals, Non starts showing interest in Bota—he talks to her often, tries to get closer, and treats her kindly. Naturally, Bota starts falling for him even more.
While Bota is happy about the attention, she’s also worried. She doesn’t want to ruin her friendship with Poppy—who also seems to be falling for Non during rehearsals.
So what happens in the end?
> Will Bota confess her feelings to Non, or will she step back for Poppy’s sake?
> If Bota and Non end up together, what will happen to her friendship with Poppy?
That's pretty much the story without giving the spoiler. Now what I like and don't.
What I like:
+ A timeless love triangle between friends that’s told through two connected generations.
+ The drama doesn’t rely heavily on jealousy or over-the-top conflict to move the plot. It keeps things subtle and emotional.
What I don’t too like:
The movie can feel a bit slow at times. But since it’s a movie and not a long drama, it doesn’t drag on too long.
Overall, it’s quite a good movie. If you're in the mood for a light romance with a classic love triangle—minus the excessive melodrama—this movie might be just what you're looking for. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys gentle romantic conflicts without too much unnecessary drama.
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Quirky action comedy that Doesn't take itself too seriously
Sometimes you just want something that you're sure you won't get invested in and that's the way I went into this movie. The joke was on me as I went from not interested tointrigued to "eh, why not"? It's called serendipity when you find yourself unexpectedly and thoroughly entertained and that's what happened as I found this to be a quirky, fun, well acted action comedy that never takes itself too seriously.
The cast did a very good job
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explains what it means to love someone unconditionally
well, i’m really sad about everthing i saw in this movie.I can only think that, in the end, of all the people Ha Eun loved... the person she loved most deeply was Mi So, this is clear from the size of the painting she decided to draw and that unfortunately she was unable to finish. Ha Eun was deceived, betrayed and hurt by the people she loved most, but not for a second did she stop loving them. And especially with Mi So, she knew from day one about Ji Woo, but didn't say anything, because she just wanted her “soul mate” by her side.
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Bite-sized Mini Drama <3 featuring Wallace pulling up in a yacht!
To preface, I infact have NOT watched ANY source material or otherwise of this story! (I just watched for Wallace Chung so I kind of went in blind lol. Mid-movie, I kept wondering to myself "Man, this would make a good drama!" then I realized I had the OG kdrama covered in cobwebs sitting in my PTW & then everything clicked...) Anyways, yes, this film is basically a super speedy, bite-sized drama lol. The plot is cute/funny and gives off 2000's and "Freaky Friday" vibes. As I watched, I was a little shaken by the pacing and how quickly the two leads fell for each other - it almost feels like you're getting hit with too much at once as the movie races to the ending. If anything, this movie is good precursor to it's drama counterparts; like a little taste or an appetizer to the complete meal. I'd say it did a pretty dang good job at making me want to watch a fuller, more in-depth episodic version of the story (feel like it might even make me cry since this movie almost did!). Overall a solid 7/10 - definitely a one and done but I will forsure be moving the kdrama up and/or trying out the Thai version! xxWas this review helpful to you?
beautiful and touching movie ever seen
it is such a beautiful and touching movie, both the main actresses and the main actorplayed their roles well! i was so immersed in the movie and felt the joy and sorrow together with the characters as the movie proceeded, and i like the interesting and thoughtful dialogue, also i like the background music and photography, worth watching again and again!
(note: i find the ending is ingenious, you can think ann has left the old friend and flat to
freely pursue her life goal or she succumbed to her fate and lost the will to do so, depends on whether you like/tend to think positively or
negatively)
i watched the movie multiple times, and most likely you will agree with me the two pretty young actresses are so lovely and acted so well and natural as if not in a movie
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Waste of time
I liked the concept of the janitor protecting the leader's daughter. However, the plot was weak with little character development. The actual villains were greedy and cruel. This story had more potential, but there was just not enough to make it a good movie. So, why did I watch it? I kept hoping something about it would have real merit. It never came to fruition. Anyone who has a child in the daughter's situation that they don't teach basic self defense and personal safety is stupid! The high school students looked like middle-aged wannabees who acted like morons. This is the first truly contemptuous review I've posted. I really think it did a disservice to the Japanese people.Was this review helpful to you?
Sad But Meaningful Movie
Do you like sad movies, then you need to watch this. It’s as sad as it gets. It has a mixture of everything…crime, sarcasm, love, frustration, resentment, sadness, sadness, sadness, happiness and on and on. Every kind of emotion a human can feel while watching a movie. I haven’t written a review in a long time, but I feel like I have to let people know about this masterpiece. I’ve watched Asian dramas for many years, and I’m finding it hard for anything to keep my interest anymore. I’m sure a lot of you feel like that too. I thought I would give this one a try, and I’m so glad I did. I am in tears right now writing this review. It’s not that I’m suggesting it because I like to feel sad, I’m suggesting this because it’s the best thing I’ve seen in a very long time that moved me like this. Believe me, it’s worth the watch.😢 But, prepare to be sad depressed after you watch it.Was this review helpful to you?
"Prison made me want to draw more!"
Utamaro and His Five Women told a fictionalized account of the famous Japanese painter who was arrested for not following the censorship laws in 1804 and was manacled for 50 days. The title stretches the premise thin as most of the women were far more involved with other men.Koide Seinosuke is furious that Kitagawa Utamaro has disparaged the art haven he works for and challenges Utamaro to a duel. Utamaro instead challenges him to an art duel which Seinosuke loses causing the young man to leave his art school and his fiancé whose father runs the famous school. He begins to follow Utamaro and experiences the floating world from an artistic perspective as well as a carnal one. Utamaro is utterly devoted to his artwork. Unlike others around him he is not consumed with love affairs that drive them to break hearts and even murder.
I’m always keen to learn about historical figures and Utamaro was an artist who works have survived through the centuries. He also heavily influenced the Impressionists in Europe. His incarceration shone a light on the detriments of censorship and artistic restrictions. While the film did focus on his compulsive need to be inspired by beautiful women and to paint, it strayed into obsessive love amongst his circle of friends. Two different love triangles developed which ended in tragedy.
Utamaro and His Five Women was an imaginative glimpse into the master’s work near the end of his career. I wish they would have explained more about his arrest and life which were glossed over. The melodramatic relationships were less enthralling to me as they showed the destructive nature of unrestrained desire. Okita’s desire was to experience love like Utamaro’s obsession with art, passionate to the point of death. Other women in the film thought of her as a role model while I viewed her as a cautionary tale. Seinosuke became a prisoner of his physical desire, something his artistic endeavors failed to live up to. Within this torrent of hormonal cravings or perhaps in spite of them, Utamaro found the inspiration for his paintings.
21 June 2025
Note: I could not find a restored version of this film. It could be quite blurred at times making it difficult to see the action or who was talking.
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This review may contain spoilers
An action comedy movie about five (six) people suddenly get a superpower after getting an organ transplant. One person is trying to acquire all of the superpowers while the others are trying to stop him, seems like a classic superhero storyline. The story is mixed between action and comedy, but somehow this create a confusing situation whether this movie is tend to be realistic or silly-ish. For an almost two hours long movie, the storyline is quite shallow. Some of the decisions made by the characters are bizzare and come out of nowhere. The CGI is so bad, intentional or not. Even if it's intentional, their original intention may not worked. Good thing to take is the main character's performance. They all have done an excellent job, especially Lee Jae In. On the other hand, the villain(s) don't bring enough evil aura though.
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"don't all homosexuals deserve to go to hell"
This movie was really beautiful to watch. It conveyed a very deep message and was a reminder of the pain and struggle homosexuals had to go through before 'being gay' was normalized. The impact was so deep that at a point i LITERALLY started worshipping and FRANTICALLY and HYSTERICALLY started thanking all the people in the past all the ancestors who fought and fought and fought helplessly against homophobia. Due to them we have a world which is at least a bit more accepting.i got into this movie knowing beforehand that it had a sad ending. I did not know how exactly it'd end but all i knew was that it's gonna be sad. The fact that i already knew the ending is sad made me more emotional (than i normally would've been )each time there was a sad scene coz i felt that this sad scene brings me a step closer to the doomed ending and it made me teary.
Hardly 10 minutes in the movie and i could already feel the chemistry between the two characters it was pure love. We could see their love for each other through their actions and their EYES,
The scene between jia chang and the priest screamed HEARTACHE.. The way jia chang was literally begging to be understood and accepted. The way he was LITERALLY suffering because he could not have the one he loved because it was a 'sin' to love a mann ahhhhh , The way he was begging to be sent to hell coz people would understand him there and also coz he would suffer less. As someome said in another review "how heartbroken you have to be to wish hell upon yourself" and that too JC was religious and a religious person longing for hell not heaven? Ah god how he must suffer....
The scene between birdy and jia chang at jia chang's house was my most favorite scene especially these particular dialogues
JC; "so we are only best friends now?"
B: "what do you want then?"
JC: ....
MOM: blah blah
B: " what if he never has a girlfriend?"
JC: "WANG po te..... stop being an asshole. How is it your business if i get a gf or not?"
B: " so who doesn't have the balls now huuh?.............. can you stop bothering me?"
I love this scene the most because it clearly shows where they are standing rn. Birdy is trying to show JC that they cant be together. He challenges JC to reveal that he is gay (twice) before his parents, knowing that JC wont do it thus he will be able to show JC that they should not take it any further coz its 'wrong' and coz they simply CANNOT
I SHATTERED at the scene in their old age when the priest said "you look alike. your smiles and the things you like." ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh shiballlllllllll that really hurttttt
This was the very first movie.. rather first piece of entertainment media (out all manhwa manhua manga anime and other dramas movies ive watched) that i consumed where i literally analyzed every second, every scene of the movie. I literally tried to deconstruct analyze every scene because i knew it'd be heartbreaking and i wanted to make sure that my heart not just breaks but SHATTERS into pieces.
This movie has basically left a deep impact on me and i dont have words to express my feelings (im bad at doin tht anyway)
about the ending, ngl it was a bit meh i like the fact that they reunited after so many years
Also i'd like to mention that the timeline of the story was quite hard to understand i was always confused, wondering wether its the past or present. And there were also manny random cuts between scenes which made it even more difficult.
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Not bad, but also not good enough to validate its existence.
There are two reasons to make a remake - different time period/culture (cultural changes between countries that are vital for the plot, or modernizing older titles), or significant changes to the content that explain the reason for retelling (changing genres, changing the pov of the story etc.). Sadly, Tanin wa Jigokuda is just retelling exactly the same story, without additional nuance, stripping a lot of depth from the characters and their relationship to fit the plot into a movie format. Basically, all the changes made it actually worse.Yes, I do understand it's unfair to judge a movie by comparing it to the original drama, but when the movie is so similar and fails to stand alone, it's hard to ignore existing bias.
One of the things that made me disappointed is how this movie was just a horror, while the original story was clearly a psychological horror. Yu was not this guy who from the start we can see has some issue, and we are just waiting for him to finally snap. Yu was just a normal guy that was driven mad by the environment.
Because there was far less focus on Kirishima compared to his character in the Korean version, he never had this unnerving presence. He did not feel like a psychopathic wolf in sheep clothing, he was just full on psycho. Him and Yu also barely shared the screen, so the movie more or less completely skipped the depth of their relationship, dynamics and how they affected each other.
I also feel like the ending was less vague - here some people might like it, depends on the preference. One plot twist got me giggling though, I did not think it made that much sense.
On the bright side - if someone prefers less of a tension, and more of the actual creeps, the Japanese version for sure presents more of a horror style. Less subtle, more weird. The acting was also solid. Even if I was not completely sold on Kirishima as a character, Yanagi Shuntaro's portrayal was dreadful and dire, which was exactly the point.
Directing wise - they knew how to make you uncomfortable. Close up to chewing, quick cuts between the shots. sometimes showing more than I might have wanted to see.
Overall, it's the type of movie you kind of enjoy, but there is nothing really unique about it so you will forget it in a week.
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