Reviews

It's okay

I never expected a movie to be made about this incident, but I was so happy to find this.
That doesn't mean this is a great movie, though. Rather than a polish, in my opinion, it needs a whole structural change from the start. The story is told as if you're reading a passage from a history book, especially in the first act. Which sucks, because this would have worked really well had it been written more character-driven with such a tragic event.

The reincarnation trope was unnecessary though. Also lighting in the dark scenes were atrocious, I could barely see anything even when I turned on the brightness. Please stop, y'all.

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An Intense, Heartfelt Remake: A Cinematic Journey of Secret: Untold Melody

The Korean remake of Secret: Untold Melody offers a refreshing take on the original version, with a more detailed & emotionally layered ending. The remake strikes a perfect balance between humor & poignant moments, making it both heartwarming & engaging. Kyungsoo's ability to convey deep emotion through subtle eye expressions & his body language while playing the piano is nothing short of mesmerizing. The chemistry between the leass is undeniable. It's a beautiful tribute to the original, while also giving the remake its own unique visual identity that compliments the heartfelt & intense performance. I would give this film a repeat!

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"People can't be worse than wolves"

A World Without Thieves starring Andy Lau, Rene Liu, and Ge You had packs of thieves on a train all stalking a naïve young temple carpenter unwisely carrying his life savings. The cast alone made this film worth watching for me.

Wang Bo and Wang Li are thieves looking to fence a BMW in the Gansu province. Li is ready to retire and live a normal life, something Bo has no interest in. When they stop at a temple for Li to pray, Bo makes use of the time pickpocketing the other worshippers. The two agree to part ways when Li insists she’s turning over a new leaf. At the train station, Li befriends a young man who doesn’t believe there are any thieves and announces to the crowd that he is carrying 60,000 yuan ($8000 USD). Li is determined to protect him and his funds while Bo strategizes how to steal them, all while fending off the other thieves he has identified. Before long, it appears that there are more wolves than people on the train all seeking to fleece the innocent lamb.

Lau and Liu had great chemistry as the bickering couple. Lau’s job of being taken seriously was undermined by one of filmdom’s worst wigs ever. Spoiler alert, the wig was murdered later in the movie which all but made me stand up and cheer! Ge You wasn’t outshone as the leader of a gang of thieves. A master of disguise that didn’t fool many people he was the perfect foil for the lovers. An egg peeling duel between Bo and Uncle Li was fascinating. Li Bing Bing played Uncle Li’s very limber #1.

The cinematography, especially in the first part of the movie was stunning. The open vistas and mountains tried to steal focus from the photogenic actors. Once on the train, the feeling became more claustrophobic with thieves circling each other and the hapless and clueless carpenter. There were several fights in tight spaces that were shot super close and more balletic than realistic. And apparently, several of the characters had ride on top of a train in their bucket list.

A World Without Thieves was a comedic thriller for much of the running time. This being a Chinese film, don’t put too much trust in the almost campy thief competitions of one-upmanship. It’s all fun and games until the blood starts flowing. The story of redemption and just deserts was wobbly in places, but like gifted pickpockets, the strong cast were successful in drawing attention away from the film’s weaknesses…most of the time.

“Even ghosts will work for money.”

19 February 2025

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Missing the ...Happy

I loved it until the end -- I'm not sure how he could have moved on so quickly .... at the expense of his own happiness once again perhaps? Their connection and love was too strong -- he chose her before and then at the end he marries someone so quickly? Nah.
I loved watching them be happy together and so all the fun things and the support they gave each other -- that's what love is about. Why do the Mothers have to be against anything that makes their child happy??? I just don't get that. Even if I didn't agree with my children's life mate choices (except for something BAD) I only want to see them happy and would support them because their happiness is what's important. Would not rewatch because of the sad ending .. and all of us Korean and Chinese drama fans know how heart breaking these are to us. I'll save that for real life ... and choose not to watch the sad ones. IMHO!

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Not that good as it seems

I had too many high expectations for this, I guess. I generally enjoy Yakuza settings when it's challenged with comedy, and while this storyline isn't something unordinary, it still checked the boxes I usually look for, so I gave it a chance.
Unfortunately, my expectations were met with disappointment. I dropped this one because the comedy just didn't hit me right. It felt too try hardy with many of the "humor" stemming from shock imagery or just mundane absurdity. The actors do well with what they're given though, Ikuta Toma was nice to see after many years (for me).

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Love, wedding, tragedy and curse

At just 8 minutes, 'From Now On To The Past' constitutes one of the great milestones in audience and critical reception on the screen of the People's Republic of China in the last decade.
In this exponent of cinema that shows pure love with a gay theme, a magician predicts that there will be blood at the wedding. But it will still be celebrated, because fear and imprecation will not prevent Sang (Hu Ling Meng) from speeding up the marriage plans with Tian (Pei Zi Tian), although carrying out the betrothal is something that should not have even been thought of. Apparently, a kind of ancestral curse haunts true lovers.
In addition to the young couple, Da (Wang Keda), their good mutual friend who will serve as best man, will join the terrifying wedding. Full of complex and real emotional entanglements, which eventually lead to tragedy, the three prepare to wait for the dark day. Everything ready now for the unimaginable…
Directed by Chinese filmmaker Yang Yongchun, and released on November 11, 2015, the film shows an impressive and deep scene of intimacy between two men. Filmed in Thailand, 'From Now On To The Past' explores that love means giving unconditionally for the person you love, even the most precious thing one can have: one's own life.
Produced by Beijing Pansy Pictures Co., Ltd., the viewer can see how the relationship between Tian and Da has undergone subtle changes over time. Da suffers in silence, as his feelings for Tian have turned into same-sex love, and the two can only hide this love in silence. They both break the friendship of the brothers who grew up together, and even break the shackles of love on the rainy night before the wedding.
The film works, mostly, by appreciating the way in which the technical resources contribute to the scenario of growing sexual tension between the two men, the restlessness and fear generated by the curse; as well as the articulation of climates that range from celebration to the dark, very well conceived and managed.
With natural and attractive performances, the audience comes to understand that the three characters are full of entanglement and pain.
Note that while the magician's prophecy was coming true, Sang comes to remember the second half of the prediction, hidden from the public until that moment: "the person he loves the most will die".
The craft of the Chinese school is manifested here, in this sense, through photography and the work of the team of artistic directors. The music also contributes to the above, and in this section the weight falls on the interpretation of the actress and singer Hu Ling Meng to the closing song, which is titled "From Now On To The Past." The conjunction of the three fronts determines the impressive visual and sound display of the film.
Two other indicators of value of 'From Now On To The Past' are linked to the management of its cast, populated by famous local figures from cinema and series, and to the way of interweaving the story – wrapped in the cloaks of drama, fantasy, romance and melodrama – with the indigenous weight of superstitions and wedding celebrations.
As the film confirms, such procedures are still decisive in the culture of a country whose technological, scientific and industrial rise does not prevent the permanence of atavistic practices based on the convergence of beliefs from diverse origins.
If you ask me why this film has such a tragic ending, I would answer that the writer and director want to tell us that homosexual relationships can end in tragedy; that is to say, it is easy to get together and break up, without the support of family, friends...
The sad ending also better sublimates the theme of the entire film, such as telling people that members of the LGBT+ community should receive more support in our societies.

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Goodbye, Love Please...

This was cringe, story felt off and with a lot of over the top stuff. miles, miles away from the fist seasons charm this seemed to try to tell a similar story about the hardships of starting over in a new country but without the charm of the first season. Kathryn Bernardos acting and presance is the only reason I made it til the end of this but by the end of the show I purely could not have cared less about the rest of the cast besides maybe the hot americano...

P.s. while the prequel has lots of good lines this one repeated some of the old and added one good line about an americano... thats it.

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This movie is not for everyone!! (Explicit content n psychologically twisted story)

ALERT:
DON'T WATCH THIS, WHEN U R ALREADY DISTURBED OR AGITATED EMOTIONALLY ! 😆

Very Disturbing, Dark, Crippled, Weird n "Strictly A NO" way of saving someone by someone who is equally tormented n lost everything in life! :o :( 😂

In the first watch, U'll be shocked or disgusted with all the torture n sxl content.
But in the second watch (towards the end of the movie), U find a beautiful emotional Love story of two people, unfolding, who reached rock bottom in life, n mentally exhausted, healing together with each other's company, care n warmth.

LOVE AND LIFE DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE ALWAYS!! :(

PS: How on Earth did this Manga Author get "that idea " of saving someone!? (For the first half of the movie) ,
OmG!! Haha

**** About TITLE:
I always wondered why this is named so.

Haha, that title is very apt to the acts in the first half of the movie:

Usually, Saving someone from Trauma or depression is done by using medication/ physical n psychological treatments.

But here, Ryoji saved Makoto n instilled an idea in him to survive by using DANGEROUS DRUGS called "S*xl Abuse", OmG!! 🤯😂

If he can survive that abuse, he would surely value being alive.. this motto n thinking of Ryoji, No, the thoughts of the Author , OmG, Creepy Philosophy! 😂🤯

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Quiet, adagietto, yet impactful. With plenty of heart hidden behind an apparently repellent shell.

Unsentimentally but lovingly, "Springtime" tells about people at the lower end of the social pyramid. They live a simple life. They also have dreams, but not too much hope. Nevertheless, "Springtime" offers soothing, encouraging positive vibes. Soulfully beautiful.

Slowly and deliberately, we glide into the world of the protagonist. (Don't be put off by the pacing!) Once we arrive, a story full of heart takes its course unobtrusively, true-to-life and down-to-earth. Authentically idiosyncratic: Choi Min-sik, as a passionate musician and anti-hero with principles (as well as a warm heart).

However, these principles make the protagonist's life quite difficult. He feels he cannot afford his girlfriend, which is leading to their separation. His music is sacred to him, and he does not want to prostitute himself with his trumpet in any no-name establishments. But with his stubborn ego he also cannot get into any of the prestigious orchestras in Seoul. He is broke and in debt. Even though it is hard for him, he has to take a job – in this case, as a teacher for the school orchestra of a middle school in a mining town.

The protagonist's life changes when he has no choice but to let go of his concepts. In that mining town, he inevitably engages with what life has to offer: the people there. He steps out of his comfort zone and teaches the mediocre but committed boys. He opens their hearts to music... and in turn, his heart to them and their lives. They become more important to him than his principles and thus for him, ultimately, is opening a healing bridge to freedom.

One of those quiet, adagietto, yet impactful KMovies, with plenty of heart hidden behind an apparently repellent shell.

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Heartwarming yet heartbreaking

The actors did great, they made me hooked to the story pretty much from the start. There was some misunderstandings, but it get cleared soon, and the story progressed in the right way. They delivered what we are yearning for.
When Woon-ho was leaving, I was crying and waiting for a good ending, atleast a meet up.
And I was certainly not ready for a heart breaking death, that too with a beautiful clip in the end.

I watched a film yesterday and it too has a bad ending, but no one died in that, just the ML left for good, and I was tramatized by that ending for whole day.
I want to see some comforting story after that , but it turns out to be more heart wrenching, now I want to cry like shit. I am not watching anything for a while. This is so bad. 😞😞

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Poorly Written & Directed

******SPOILERS ABOUND - DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT $200 IF YOU HATE SPOILERS*****

What should have been an interesting who done it is a poorly written, nonsensical mess. You know almost immediately that Yu Ji Yun, the main suspect is not the killer yet her husband, Seong Ryeol does everything in his power to make her look guilty. The director wanted to make a noir film but just b/c you have a lot of dark scenes doesn't mean you have a crime noir film.

They have Ryu Seung Ryong, one of my favorite actors playing the most cartoonish villain's I have seen in a long while. He doesn't care about his brother's murder and only cares about getting his stolen goods back, specifically these poop coffee beans. This film stars Cha Seong Won, Ryu Seung Ryong, Song Yoon Ah, Oh Jung Se and even this stellar cast can't save this poorly written foolishness.

I loved Lee El in this she was super cute and adorable playing the coroner.

The big reveal was very predictable, as well. I knew from jump who the mastermind was. This part I won't spoil for any one who really wants to watch.

2/18/25

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Short but great :)

Kiba-san works in a welfare-type facility for children with disabilities, where children who cannot live with their parents due to various reasons live together. One day the little boy Ritsu arrived who has been neglected by his parents, who does not speak but is drawn to Kiba. After some weeks of happy living Ritsu has to go back to his mum...

Overall a heartwarming movie, based on a true story, about a social worker who does care about all the children he is responsible for. Jun of course acts believable and he's heartbroken when Ritsu has to leave. I won't spoil the end, but it's not a bad one. So, if you have free 23 minutes, watch this short-movie!

Edit: This silly site has no way to add a youtube link, so if you are looking for this short-film:
https://youtu.be/mII6nUlTNZk

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