Reviews

Such a beautiful Fantasy Rom movie

Hey reader! I just [22-Jan-2025 | 23:40 PM ] completed watching this movie and honestly it's already in my top rewatch list. This movie is based on the concept of Fantasy, time travel, Romance, etc.
We are well aware that a lot of movies have been made on the same concept but believe me that this movie was such a good one.

The story revolves around a young couple, who were childhood sweethearts but got seperated later on they met again in future at their friends wedding. And the plot was fast paced, they recognised eachother and started dating, happy with each other but due to some reasons Gu Yuxuan couldn't give time to Han Shuyan and after that many events occurred. (I don't wanna spoil it).

"Gu Yuxuan" the Male lead played by "Arthur Chen" works as a toy designer, when his girlfriend died he was heartbroken, on his birthday coming to an empty house, he somehow found a way to change "ShuYan" 's fate.

"Han Shuyan" the Female lead played by "Zhou Ye", a baker, her dream is to open a bakery. She was living happily until the day on which her boyfriend proposed to her, they got into an accident and he died while protecting her. She just wants to find a way to bring her love back.

LIKED ABOUT THE MOVIE :
1. The ACTING of both leads, Arthur Chen and Zhou Ye, I love them alot and to see them together in a movie, I'm really happy. When both leads cried in their respective scenes I cried more than they cried because it felt so real.

2. Their love, relationship and CHEMISTRY everything, it was all so perfect, They played their characters so well, that while watching the whole movie I was forced to think that, they look like they are in love for real.

3. Love how she understood her MISSION, to not chase him just to end up like his previous attempts; distanced herself after everything was gone, fate played it's role and they met again, even if late.

I couldn't see any fault in it, for me it was a really good movie, and it's one of the very few movies where I didn't skip even for 10 seconds. The plot was already fast paced.

Well anyways in the end it's the viewer's choice whether to watch it or not. From me it's a green light.

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Same-sex love from a heterosexual perspective

Emotional repression has been addressed previously in homosexual gangster films, through films such as 'Friends & Family' (2001), directed by Kristen Coury; 'The Boondock Saints' (1999), by Troy Duffy, 'Cruising' (1980), directed by William Friedkin and starring Al Pacino, Paul Sorvino and Karen Allen, 'Performance' (1970), by Nicolas Roeg and Donald Cammell, among others.
Before the legalization of same-sex marriage, Taiwanese cinema explored friendship and bromance between men to analyze the emotional relationships between gangsters. In 'Báng-kak' (Monga, 2010), directed by Doze Niu and script by Tseng Li-ting, we can have a representative cinema, by showing Ethan Ruan's crazy love for Feng Xiaoyue. With changing times, Taiwanese cinema may not show all the expected courage to directly address homosexuality among gangsters.
'Silent Sparks' is a gay film with a Taiwanese flavor that, through the aesthetics of the lens, a change in the body language and the gaze of the characters, leaves us a lot of room for imagination.
Directed by Zhu Ping, the film tells the story of Pua (Huang Guanzhi), a young man who after being released from prison begins to work in a warehouse.
Orphaned by his father, he tries to take the right path, but gets into a fight and is reported to the police. He lives with his single mother, who worries about his activities and nightly escapades. The young man has debts and still must pay compensation to people who suffered in the past because of him. This justifies the link with the criminal gang.
Only some glimpses of happiness in Pua can be seen in his lively talks with his friend and co-worker Zhi Hao (Wei Jie Hu) and in the escapades on the back of the cart to transport vegetables that travels through the market where he works, with unforgettable moments subjective shots of the market roof.
Upon learning that Mi Ji (Shi Mingshuai), his former cellmate, is released, Pua is eager to meet him to rekindle the secret relationship they had in prison, but the man, about ten years older, shows no interest in reestablish the sexual-emotional bond.
When drowned in his debts and worries faced with the dilemma of returning to prison or paying a high fine, Mi Ji decides to step forward to help him, which again leads Pua to commit a crime, now by intervening in a blood crime.
Huang Guanzhi and Shi Mingshuai previously played LGBQ+ characters. The first as one of the members of a gay couple in the short film 'Sunlight Tree Shadow', while Shi Mingshuai gave life to a drag queen in the short film 'Blooming Flowers'.
They are two actors who have very well-achieved performances, in which rage, erotic and sexual tensions, and the hunger to achieve what they desire exude naturally, almost organically, from their bodies, no matter how physically distanced they are. They have a real connection and they both do a great job portraying two small-time criminals with some unexpressed feelings for each other, but with a hopeless future?

THE FILMMAKER AND HIS WORK

Zhi Ping's career has been different from that of other filmmakers. After graduating from Shixin Radio and Television, Zhu Ping left the film and television industry to work at a hydropower company.
Knowing the workers directly, living with them, being part of the Taiwanese working masses, has been a powerful factor in the filmmaker's life, to the point of leaving these experiences reflected in one way or another in his works, giving them realistic vitality, a strong "Taiwanese flavor", a "very popular flavor".
The work of the emerging filmmaker is focused on local Taiwanese themes such as work, migration to the river, tasks related to the art of fishing, small family businesses, and characters at the base of society, as we can see in 'A Quan, a Rough Worker', 'Migration Down the River' and 'Friends Are Here', all of which illustrate the helplessness and current situation of the Taiwanese working class, with strong emotions mixed with realism.
With a precise selection of scenes close to reality, the characters in his films usually speak Taiwanese and behave naturally in the workplace.

WHY HAS ZHU PÌNG FILMED A GAY FILM WITH A SPECIAL STYLE?

Upon learning that 'Silent Sparks' was in production, doubts about gay films written and directed by heterosexual filmmakers, such as Zhu Ping, came to mind. However, once seen I have to confess that it exceeded all my expectations, achieving a film with a different "flavor" than most queer and BL Danmei films.
In my opinion, the fact that Zhi Ping does not belong to the LGBT+ community allows him to have filmed a masterpiece, with a gay romance that takes too long to develop (if that phrase can be used).
In the film, which at times reminds me of 'O Beijo da Mulher Aranha' ('Kiss of the Spider Woman', 1985), by Héctor Babenco, Great Freedom (Große Freiheitaka, 2021), by Sebastian Meise, or The Prince (2019), Sebastián Muñoz's debut feature, but Zhu Ping successfully finds another narrative path from the script to film a very direct but convincing film, in which Mi Ji will avoid Pua in almost the entire film.
And it could not be any other way, if we take into account the social environment and the underworld in which they live, and the heterosexual hegemony that defends masculinity, which together hinders a homosexual relationship. In other words, the taboo surrounding a gay relationship between two gangsters.
It is undeniable that Pua has an unrequited love for his new boss in the gangster office. The emotions and motivations of the characters are "internalized" through the use of looks. This is related to the setting of the film, because the two protagonists are not from the community, so they do not identify as homosexual.
In fact, we cannot achieve an effective psychological characterization of either man; only through a few stray words do we learn that they had a homosexual relationship in prison.
Prior to his imprisonment we do not know if Pua had girlfriends, wives, or children. Love only happens for him behind prison bars, another world of life.
Is it just a physiological need that brought you together initially, or is it emotional to physiological at first?
Back in society, Pua does not look for love in other men... or in any other person. He only has his interest in Mi Ji, an interest that is reinforced once he also goes out on the street.
Very wisely, the director chooses as protagonist’s two men without community and recognition, two people who, growing up in a heterosexual hegemony, are not able to understand the various aspects of love between people of the same sex in a short period of time.
The filmmaker intentionally prevents the protagonists from being able to face romance openly and frankly, creating a film full of stares and repression.
Everything is very convincing, even Mi Ji's deliberate evasion, which was a bit exaggerated at the beginning, was fully integrated into the later development.
Except for the phrase in which Pua, shocked by Mi Ji's rejection, referring to prison, expresses to her: "My mother asked you to support me in there, not to fuck me in there" and the deep kiss, there is no obvious reference to homosexuality in the work.

MOTHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIP

The film dedicates a large part of its footage to describing the relationship between Aru and Pua, mother of a son, respectively.
Aru is dedicated to divination. In one of the scenes, he expresses that the bad boy has been calculated since childhood as "brother's destiny." This can be interpreted as your child's love (sexual orientation) towards an older brother, which comes from nature and destiny.
They never discuss the issue of Pua's sexual orientation, but near the end of the film, when the mother hopes that the son will escape his fate and asks him where he plans to go to escape prison, Pua responds: "I will join him, Mom, I'm sorry." These words could mean that Pua made the decision to join her loved one again in prison, but if this phrase is interpreted as Pua's decision to say goodbye to her mother, the mother's departure brings another perspective.
The director allows the audience to interpret the scene with multiple meanings.
A round of applause for Fan Ruijin, the actress who plays Aru, for her final scene. She shows restraint and vulnerability when portraying the complex emotions after learning of her son's tragic decision.

BY WAY OF CONCLUSION

There are those who talk about a sad ending. Others claim that this interlude in the lives of the main protagonists ends up leaving the viewer feeling helpless and frustrated, because the characters are trapped in an endless cycle with no real opportunities to move away.
The truth is that the only place where Pua felt free, protected, and loved in his life was in prison. In the end... in a strange and twisted way, maybe there is hope for them after all?
In summary: The use of a heterosexual perspective on same-sex love is related to Zhu Ping's ignorance of the culture of the gay community, but this "deliberate choice" is very suitable for 'Silent Sparks', which makes the story unique.

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The Paradise of Thorns: A Poignant Thai Drama That Cuts Deep

Released in 2024, The Paradise of Thorns marks Naruebet Kuno’s impressive directorial debut. Starring Jeff Satur and Engfa Waraha, this Thai romantic drama premiered theatrically in Thailand before making its international debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. Now available for streaming in select regions on Netflix, the film delivers a stirring narrative of love, loss, and resilience.

The story revolves around Thongkam (Jeff Satur) and Sek (Pongsakorn Mettarikanon), a same-sex couple who pour their hearts into building a durian orchard together in rural Thailand. Their idyllic life is shattered when Sek tragically passes away, leaving Thongkam to face the harsh reality of Thai laws that fail to recognize same-sex unions. Stripped of his rights, Thongkam must fight to reclaim the home and orchard he helped create, which are legally handed over to Sek's mother, Saeng (Seeda Puapimon).

Jeff Satur delivers a deeply moving performance as Thongkam, embodying a man grappling with grief while navigating an unjust system. Engfa Waraha shines as Mo, Saeng's adopted daughter, adding layers of complexity to the family dynamics. The supporting cast, including Seeda Puapimon and Harit Buayoi, further enrich the narrative with nuanced portrayals.

Set against the lush backdrop of Mae Hong Son, the cinematography is breathtaking, juxtaposing the beauty of the durian farm with the emotional struggles of the characters. The film’s pacing is deliberate, allowing the weight of each scene to linger, while its poignant soundtrack amplifies the emotional depth of the story.

What sets The Paradise of Thorns apart is its fearless exploration of LGBTQ+ rights, marriage inequality, and societal discrimination. It sheds light on the vulnerabilities faced by same-sex couples, making a powerful statement about the need for legal recognition and social acceptance.

The film’s bittersweet ending is both haunting and necessary, reflecting the harsh realities many in the LGBTQ+ community face today. While the story is heartbreaking, it carries a message of hope and defiance, urging audiences to reflect on the importance of equality and inclusion.

Now, with same-sex marriage finally legalized in Thailand as of January 2025, this film feels even more poignant. It serves as a timely reminder of the struggles endured by many and the progress that still needs to be made.

The Paradise of Thorns is not just a love story—it’s a call to action and a mirror to society’s flaws. With its outstanding performances, compelling narrative, and stunning visuals, it’s a must-watch that will linger in your thoughts long after the credits roll.

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With the knife wiped clean of blood

I'm fully here for anti-colonial struggle. And Harbin certainly provides that, depicting a fictionalised story of the events leading up to the assassination of Itō Hirobumi at the hands of Korean independence activist An Jung-geun.

But this is a war film. Its purpose seems more to heroise rather than provide any real analysis or insight. I agree with Misunderst0_od's assessment of the first half of Harbin with its "boring scenes of men discussing, planning, and excessively smoking in a dark room". In the first half – and maybe the second too – the film seems more concerned with the aesthetics of anti-colonial struggle and less so its substance.

This is fine, I guess. The approach lends itself well to the strong thriller that the second half successfully delivers. Personally, I'm more interested in the tricky dilemmas along the way. I wouldn't go so far as to say that Itō Hirobumi is portrayed as a complex character, as Misunderst0_od sees it. I think he's certainly shown to be clever and self-aware, but he's very much still a straight-up Bad Guy and he is not afforded any emotional complexity. But that's ok - he's not the tricky dilemma I was interested in.

What I was far more interested in was the character with the "inner conflict" (borrowing from Misunderst0_od here again). First, what intrigued me was the inner conflict itself. How do you come to terms with betraying what you hold dear? And second, seeing how the other characters judged the actions of this conflicted character. I thought this would've been an excellent opportunity to study how people factor coercion into their judgement of others. How much can you blame a person for their actions when they've clearly been coerced into them?

Yet Harbin does not answer these questions. At least, not to my satisfaction. It instead presents what is, in my opinion, far too clean an ending. Without giving anything away, the ending seems just a bit to good to be true – and in a way that avoids a difficult moral grappling.

I will say, the cinematography did boost my star rating for Harbin. The film opens with an impressive landscape shot and then feeds you a few more epic ones along the way. You can definitely see where the budget was spent.

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THIS DRAMA IS SO GODAMN FUNNY!!! AND RANDOM... AND CHAOTIC!!!

This is the most random show I was clickbaited into watching... but in a good turn of events. Cause like??? HUH!!! Like I thought I was heading into a wholesome type Gokusen show from one Yoututbe short about a teacher beating up her delinquent students... but oh no I was so wrong. But I do love getting into things blindly... from the description... I read "explosive" yeah your gonna indead explosives... full on attacks, me and my sisters decided to watch it and the amount of jumpscares, funny moments, random fighting, random serious moments, the music and the random "Aura" moments were so ridiculous. AND I LOVED IT! The dramatics, the random ass teacher student romance, the how I met your mother moments, the lover boy who cant get it up... this drama had everyone and yet it was so innocent, bro couldn't even hold hands with her and in a way wholesome? LIKE? HUHH!!!??? I love this drama so much, 100% recommend it if you want something crazy and out there exactly as dramatic as me and my sisters, so worth the watch and not to mention in the middle of all the chaos they threw in some BL too, like what does this drama not have? Also love and live for my teacher and will 100% add her to my homescreen she instructed, because she is gorgeous. Bestie was right... so many things I want to say it was just beautiful.

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"Aren't we pretty?"

The first impression after watching the short film is that I was facing another story about bullying, gender discrimination, bullying, the lack of social acceptance... I needed to watch it one more time to understand it.
In my opinion, 'Lipstick' ('Libseutig' in Korean) is not about any of this, much less about imaginary friends.
This raw and emotional Korean film explores the pain of acceptance in a very hostile environment.
The person who asks the question that gives the review its title is not a mysterious girl or an imaginary friend named Chan Mi with whom the male protagonist meets in a laundromat while drying his clothes. NO.
The story revolves around a young transgender woman named Chan Mi (played by debut actress Cho Ha Eun), who comes to accept herself while waging an internal struggle about transitioning. Finally, the girl comes to feel comfortable with herself and learns that her own perception of herself is okay after the gender change, also known as gender change, through a vision in which she discusses her present and future with her alter ego under the name of Jin Joon Won, while dreaming after a suicide attempt.
In other words, the female and male characters are the same person before and after the transition.
The main male character is played by an actor known in the BL world for being the protagonist of the two seasons of 'Color Rush' (2021) and in the two films derived from them, as well as in South Korean queer cinema for participating in the drama, action and crime genre film 'High Heel' ('Haiheel, 2014).
The girl is no stranger to Joon Won. "I was always here, you fool," she tells him.
For the audience to take into account the lipstick that falls from the male protagonist's hand on two occasions and rolls on the floor, the female clothing that both the boy and the girl (that is, the same person) fight over shouting "this is mine"; the mirror in which both look at each other to recognize that they feel good and better about themselves just as they want to be in body, mind and relationships.
The light at the end of the tunnel, the sea, the horizon, infinity, doubt, decision...

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Underdeveloped and unmemorable as a watch in 2025

I mean, for the time in which it came out (2014) it probably has its place, but I cannot see that it had a point except a show of a relationship. It was too short to give characters any substance, so they have none. Shima's concerns seem underdeveloped. Togawa's intentions abandoned. Way too short for a viewer to make any sense of anything.

I liked Togawa, he was so himself..a bit quirky and kind of no nonsense type of a guy.

Overall, it did not give much, if anything to me. But it is not offensive or annoying in any way.

Therefore, I do not think it warrants a recommend from me.

Thank you for reading.

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For my Ding Yuxi's fans.

Yes, theres no eng sub. I know a tiny bit of mandarin so i watched it. If i felt that some lines might be crucial, i translated them.
The plot isnt that original but I enjoyed it- dangerous games, greed and true love are cool motives to put in a movie.
I really liked the little details that were carefully put into certain moments. The plot twists weren't that predictible.
The acting was okay- not bad but sometimes it reminded me that they are just acting (i mean sometimes their acting was a bit fakish and bad). Ding Yuxi's portrayal of a mad person was very good- he really made sure to make the movie an actual thriller.
I like how the movie was gradually becoming less and less silly. The game's master acting felt a bit too theatreish (yes, the character was a bit eccentric but i think he still overdid some moments).
At the bottom I did a vast analysis of some events. A movie that is said to be very low quality wouldnt be worth it.
Although the camera work and overall quality isnt the best, the plot and psychology behind each characters's actions is is good!!
So yes, i reccomend seeing this movie.
(posted the exact same review on letterbox)

THE REST OF THE REVIEW CONTAINS SERIOUS SPOILERS!!!




(i know me mentioning being a mandarin learner all the time is annoying, but i just want to highlight i definitly DIDNT fully grasp the movie, i mightve got some aspects wrong and i want you to remember that so yall wont fully rely on my review)













when it comes tu yuxi's acting i really liked the scene when he took a bit of shit- his acting made characters's disgust even more real for the watcher, it looked really natural. As i mentioned before the psychology was great. On the short videos they filmed as a second task it feels like the girl's love is deeper. Im willing to deny that. Cha Jian loved her more- he just couldnt word it that well and was an impulsive person (we see that very vividly at the end of the movie.) She didnt want to TALK to him after realizing the bag was fake (thats what i understood as a beginnner mandarin learner). It still was a gift that was supposed to make her happy. Her sulkyness made us realize she never cherished the bag because it was a gift from her boyfriend but because it seemed to be luxurious stuff. Rember that moment when she slept with a celebrity only after money was offered to her? If Cha Jian didnt care about her at all (only cared about money as it seems to be) he wouldn't care about the fact that she cheated because they gained money after all. Zhou YiYi was also very eager to kill him- she didnt even hesitate. The boyfriend hestitated a lot- he didnt want to take the "poison" at first.
Watch it and try making an analysis for yourself. Im not a psychology major after all, just using some clues, common sense and broken mandarin so i might be wrong!

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A story about the transience of love

The lack of family support, the consequences of discrimination in conservative, heteronormative and patriarchal societies, the lack of friends, the nonexistence of a romantic partner, etc., can influence reinforcing a certain feeling of emptiness or loneliness that is often attempted wrongly satisfy with the fleeting and sporadic physical contact of casual sex, which sometimes has a price tag.
The LGBT+ themed short film reminds us that sex is not the solution to fill that void or that feeling of loneliness.
Distributed by Matchbox, the South Korean film released in 2021 explores the complexities of love, the human need to be free and human relationships, through an intimate approach and a visually poetic narrative.
Through the story of Soo Hyuk, a young man who silently cries out for help and works for a dating service run by a manager whose only interest is money, we will experience how the protagonist will experience the emotional ups and downs of an ephemeral love, when a The client hires him to spend the afternoon with him, but it may not end as they both expect, because while one hopes to find the dreaded violent sex, the other is looking for something more than a simple carnal relationship.
The meeting between prostitute and client, two heartbroken men seeking human warmth, will become a turning point in the lives of both young people, probably generating a radical change in their lives.
The director of the film (I would like to have references from the cast and crew) portrays two disturbed characters in an alienating environment, who will begin a brief emotional relationship, sharing their feelings and emotions, seeking the warmth of human company.
The story can convey a great feeling of melancholy. It may be the successful musicalization, or it may even be the story, with which it is difficult not to feel identified in a certain way:
- How not to feel identified with the client, a writer who needs much more than sex, and is looking for company to eat and talk while writing a novel... an anonymous client who uses the gay dating service for the first time and from the first moment feels worried seeing the newcomer sad, hurt, bewildered, stressed?
- How not to feel identified with a prostitute with a heart of gold who perceives himself as a sexual object for those who call the gay dating service looking for casual sex to hide the loneliness and pain in their lives. What does the cover photo want to tell us, if not the image of two men not behind a large window from where you can see the outside, but rather the bars of a prison from outside where you can see the sadness, the melancholy of their lives?
• How not to feel identified with the story of these two young people, which reminds us that there are people who are not here to stay with us, but who have a purpose in our lives. How can you not feel identified with the story of these two young people who forged a brief connection that helped them get to know themselves?
• How can you not feel identified with the end of the short, which sends us a message of hope, that everything will be fine if we take a sudden turn in our lives when they lead us to a dark and sad dead end?
In short, a tender erotic short film about the most prolific topic in gay cinema. What is old is new again. Transactional sex pales in comparison to a meaningful kiss.

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UNDERRATED

I don't understand why the rating is bad, while the movie is sick a masterpiece for me! Especially the plot was so twisted that I always love every second of it, how it's always changing the MC character to woman, then man, woman and man again in different people of MC with different plot of horror.

Many of the plot actually helping me with a story that I always ty to find for my OC game character, and this plot horror is so fresh and creative with the design and story.

If you're lazy to watch this, then you will never ever feel the thrilled that I've feel when watching this movie! How horror it is and how creative this one, wish I can marry to this movie tbh.

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Just enough laughs to keep you watching

Too Cool To Kill was a pleasant surprise. I'm not normally a comedy watcher but I was just flicking through SBS for something easy to watch to wind down after work and decided to put this on. The set up in the beginning is a little slow and it takes a while for things to warm up. However, after almost giving up in the first 30mins, I'm glad I stuck around.

It's all hats off to Wei Xiang. He's certainly the star of this show and plays a character who's an amateur actor, fooled by a director and his actor sister to pretend to be a hitman. One layer of the comedy is that he, unwittingly, is in life and death situations with gang members. And giving his all to the bit. (Or, at least, as best he can with his rather absurd acting abilities).

The movie has just enough slightly unexpected punchlines to keep you watching. I think the story overall could've done with some serious tightening to make it more snappy. But I respect that, even for a comedy, Too Cool To Kill is deeply unserious.

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Predictable...

Overall 7/10
🌟🌟🌟⭐

It's a sad movie as one would expect. However, it just didn't really get to me as much as I was hoping it would. I watched Drawing Closer hoping it would make me cry a lot but it was not as sad as I had hoped. Everything that happened was expected and I didn't like the trope they added at the very end with the friend. I would have enjoyed the movie a bit more without it. I'd recommend watching the movie without any expectations in order to enjoy it more. Overall it was really good, it just didn't live up to the expectations I had in mind hence the lower rating.

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