This review may contain spoilers
The Red Thread of Fate
This was kind of an interesting approach to two people destined to be together. In the beginning, both Si On & Hong Seok really didn't deem like the likely pair to become a couple. Totally didn't worlds for each of them, but as Si On states at the end, "People who are really meant to be together are connected by a red thread between their little fingers"The story itself seemed original, one character trying to live a very innocent life and establish a career, one living a bit of a darker side of life. Yet, both people holding pain inside from their youth.
The story seemed to work, although it seemed a bit rushed to get to the finish line. Normally these kind of stories take too long, but I think this could have been extended a bit to make a longer journey to get to the end.
Both Young Woo & Tae Min definitely matched up well together, making for a realistic relationship.
Overall, very enjoyable.
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Hilarious movie with YinWar; its not supposed to be serious
Okay, lets get a lot of peoples question out of the way first. Is this a BL considering it has Yin and War in it?? The answer is no, its not a BL at all. It does star both actors together but there is no romance between them.Now that that's out of the way we can talk about this underrated comedy. This movie is one of the funniest I have seen in a while, especially when you go into it knowing what type of comedy it is. Everyones comedic timing was on point, and to be honest I think some of the scenes were adlibbed because if you look closely at some of the actors in the background of some scenes, you can catch them holding back a laugh. Honestly I love that!
This movie was not supposed to be taken seriously! Its a slapstick comedy and if you like movies like the comedy "Scary Movie" then this is along that line. The CGI isn't great in some places but I personally was able to overlook that because the storyline felt pretty unique.
The story follows a group of boys (led by War) who are looking to catch a ghost on camera to skyrocket their youtube careers. however, while looking for their big money making shot, Achi (War) accidently brings forth a spirit that needs to find her murderer 1000 years ago. Forcing the boys to help by putting a 3 day curse on Achi life, they traveling around Thailand to find the answers and save his life.
I personally thought everyone's acting was great considering what they were supposed to be acting like and we do get some emotional moments from War, which he always does so well.
***TRIGGER WARNING: for my fellow emetophobes out there!!! There is a scene where Yin will vomit and it is visible clearly!! Its coming when Yin is talking to his mom after he starts to loose his mind (you'll know what that means). They will also show it again around the 1 hour 7 minute mark.***
Overall, I think this movie was exactly what it was supposed to be. A ridiculous comedy. If you love Yin and War for their funny personalities then you will love this too.
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Simple is sometimes best
People say you need complex stories to get a decent show and this movie clearly shows you, you don't.I like how it showed the reality of being poor and how far you would go for what you want.
The nobleman was my favourite character with his witty remarks and his obsession with his hair and how much he loves his car.
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The clichéd art of subtlety
I want to say something about how they subverted the clichés of the romance genre by creating clever twists or by doing the unexpected, but let's get honest, this was as clichéd as clichés can get and I enjoyed every bit of it.Let's clear one thing up, the lead is not an actor in the lakorn, he's actually the director who inadvertently has to direct something in the format he most detests after what happens at the beginning of the movie. And while having someone do something they both love and hate is not quite the revelation, the execution was actually genius. The leads usually try to fight it and do things their own way, but here, he has no choice but to do it like someone else wants.
Whether it's by force, or because the another lead, his girlfriend, absolutely loves lakorns or even because he's actually starting to fall in love with the job, the neverending clichés start presenting with some sort of charm, while usually this kind of barrage would feel outright like the writer hated writing the script. I know the last sentence is quite confusing but I'm not going to clarify anything on purpose because that aspect I'm keeping secretive was one of the best of the movie.
As you keep watching, you fall in love with the clichés, all of them, and whether you saw the twists coming or not, you've just thoroughly enjoyed an entire movie about something you usually scoff at after seeing too much on the screen.
It just works. You can tell everyone who worked on this had fun with it and to that effect, so did I. I was looking up movies on Netflix and randomly came across this one and just reading the synopsis, got myself prepared for either a lot of scoffing or a pleasant surprise. I'm glad it was the latter.
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I was hooked!
Drowning Love hit different IMO. At first, I was loving the vibe with the soft, detached mood, but then things went bad fast — and I wasn’t ready for that.The return of the attemped rapist character? Mate, I had to pause the movie. It made me SO mad. But honestly, that anger just added to how intense the movie is. It drags you through everything, even making you feel all the rage and heartbreak. Also the casting was really good! The characters are both fine and I love how they made the attempted rapist character more ugly than them 2 😋
The whole time, you’re drawn to Kou — he’s this intense, almost like yk mysterious presence that you can’t stop watching. The fire dancing scene, where it’s unclear if he’s even really there. It’s like you’re feeling the emotional chaos more than actually seeing what’s happening.
and the thing with Kou, man… by the end of it, you’re left wondering if he actually died. The movie doesn’t outright say it, but the way everything shifts after that makes it feel like he’s gone. Natsume’s whole tone in the end, how she’s reflecting, almost like she’s mourning someone who isn’t coming back — it hits hard.
The OST was another highlight. The music fits perfectly with the vibes — it really complements the emotional intensity of the film. It adds to the dream-like atmosphere while also pulling you back into the harshness of reality when it needs to. I even downloaded Chasing Kou!!!
I’m not someone who usually sits through an entire movie without getting distracted, but this one? It had me hooked the whole time. The story is really clear and easy to follow, even with all the emotional stuff. And even though I was angry, confused, and sad, it still gets 10 stars. That’s how you know it’s a good film...when it makes you feel everything, good and bad.
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Spoiler ahead!!
This movie is too good, ive rewatched it two times thats how good it is. Its a mix of genre's despite that its still good, ive never seen this kind of plot before. The acting is so good actor Austin Lin portrayed it so well and also Greg Hsu. The ending is too bad though i wish we couldve gotten a reincarnation as the characters said throughout the movie about getting a reincarnation. They should create a second movie about maomao reincarnating and the officer finding him. The ending is what dissapoints me 😔. This movie is good and a must watch if you like a mix of genre.Was this review helpful to you?
Taiwanese BLs are a rare sight
Beautifully crafted film, from its breathtaking cinematography to its emotionally rich plot and powerful performances. Every element was done with care, and I was deeply moved throughout. It captures the struggles of queer youth during a time when acceptance wasn’t common, making the story even more poignant and heartbreaking. What makes it even more special is how rare Taiwanese BL films are these days. It’s raw, real, and deeply emotional. Many have praised it for its authenticity and the chemistry between the leads, and I wholeheartedly agree. It quickly became one of my all-time favorites. I’d watch it again in a heartbeat and recommend it to anyone looking for a queer film that’s both beautiful and meaningful. 🫂🫂Was this review helpful to you?
"Don't come home"
Farewell China was a 1990 film directed by Clara Law and filmed primarily in New York. The film showed the difficulty many illegal immigrants without a safety net of family or community suffer, especially when emigrating to one of the most expensive cities in the world.After years of trying, Li Hong receives her visa and travels to New York City ostensibly in order to study. Her husband, Nan Sheng stays in China with their baby son, Sansan. At first, Nan Sheng receives seven letters from Hong a month. The letters stop coming after she begs him to come home and he tells her tough it out and stay. Eventually Nan Sheng takes the dangerous illegal route to the states to find Hong. It doesn’t take long for him to discover the squalor and danger she lived in and the despair that riddled her life. With the help of Jane, a teenage Chinese American prostitute, Hong begins the arduous search for his wife.
The story of cultural identity and the dangers illegal immigrants faced, especially in 1990s New York City and the boroughs, was compelling. Arriving in a foreign land, with limited English skills, no money, and no connections was a recipe for disaster. However, Law lost me in the implementation of the elements. The over-the-top 15-year-old prostitute with a heart of gold who helped Nan Sheng did not hit as authentic. It was also disturbing when he worked as her pimp, “Chinese little girl. 15-years-old. Beautiful, clean, and sexy.” Nan Sheng stumbling across live sex shows and utter filth and overwhelming crime felt like a bad stereotype of the city. Although admittedly, 1990 was a peak year for crime. And people illegally in the country don’t go to the police for fear of deportation. The ending also let me down as it felt contrived and out of left field.
Aside from reservations I had about the storytelling, the acting was quite good. Tony Leung Ka Fai conveyed Nan Sheng’s longing, perseverance, and breaking points. The story of Maggie Cheung’s Li Hong was told primarily through flashbacks. Her character went from hopeful for a better life to the threshold of utter despair taking its toll on her sanity. Nan Sheng would come to understand how traumatic the words, “Don’t come home,” could be.
As much as I enjoyed Autumn Moon by Clara Law, I was unable to connect to Farewell China the same way. The very real horrors and sense of isolation and loss immigrants can feel was diminished by the melodramatic approach.
9 May 2025
Trigger warnings: Insects. Sexual content and full nudity, especially at a live sex show. Sex with an underage girl.
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what the..
felt like the writers poorly disguised gore/torture fetish. the sexualisation of all the young boys was so bizarre, and like why were half of them kissing when they’d barely just met or were trying to kill each other??? genuinely felt like watching a soft dark web p*rno or something.the only saving grace of the whole mess was the cinematography as some of the shots were really beautiful and aesthetic, it’s just a shame it was wasted on well whatever the hell that was
( 10/10 the random penis chopping scene was funny tho like it was so goofy and unserious )
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the dynamics between teacher and student
I have to admit I didn’t know what the theme was about🤦🏽♀️. My reason for watching was Lee Byung Hun. I’m not even sure what I thought The Match was about . I know surely I didn’t think of the game Go. Eventually I realized where the movie was going and had to see how the King would handle the situation with his student. The dynamics between Lee Byung Hun and Yoo Ah In was so good that they had me crying in some scenes. I wanted the student to win but didn’t want the teacher to lose. I felt so bad for the student when he won and couldn’t celebrate. Once I got into it I couldn’t turn away. I love movies like that with such a great cast.Was this review helpful to you?
Feeling respected, recognized, and valued
'Open' tells a moment in the life of Kim Hando (played by Youngnam Cha, an actor known for his roles in 'Seoul Mates' (2014) and 'Summer' (2015), a young student who has a big secret that his family, friends, and all his classmates don't know: he's gay.Hiding his identity hasn't been easy for him as he navigates between love, friendship, and authenticity in a heterosexist school environment and society, such as South Korea's.
The story follows his efforts to protect his identity when one night, while studying at home with Junjae (Yoonho Jo, in his acting debut), his friend and classmate, his boyfriend (played by newcomer Seon-Hyuk Kim) arrives. Our protagonist will experience a moment of gay panic, as he externalizes the shame caused by internalized homophobia.
The interesting thing about the short film directed by Jun Beom, a South Korean filmmaker who directed his second film, 'Secret Spectacles', in 2017, is the joy and freedom Kim feels (which he expresses with a smile and small gestures of satisfaction) when he discovers that his friend has accepted his sexuality.
Kim has won a real battle by feeling respected, acknowledged, and valued by his friend and classmate.
I have no doubt that a path now opens up for Kim where he feels he can be himself, without hiding who he loves or how he identifies, and can live his homosexuality completely naturally without perceiving it as inferior to heterosexuality.
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THEIR EYESSSSS
''look into my eyes, welcome home''''im home.''
AHHHH THEY'RE SO CUTEEE, the main actors are AMAZING Y'ALL they talk with their EYES, the eyes hold so much dialogue so much emotions like i cannot atp.
so cute so adorable, did i find the climax slightly underwhelming? yes a little bit
but its a solid movie, amazingly well done melo-movie.
8/10 would recommenddddd
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An overall entertaining drama
This drama begins kind of slow and uneventful, but it doesn't take long to understand what Woo Jae is writing has everything to do with his past relationship with Yeon Woo. It takes awhile for the complete picture of what happened in the past and how it has effected both of them in the present time.I found it kind of interesting how the scenes are playing out between the man & women in the story being written, while you completely understand who each character is representing on screen.
It's definitely an original approach to a BL drama that I have seen. I thought the actors Joon Gyu & Jung Wan definitely clicked on screen together. It was a bit cold in the beginning, but most bl stories begin that way anyway.
Toward the end, they both gave great performances alone & with each other.
If you want a relaxing drama without too much to endure along the way, this one works.
The movie version is a much better way to enjoy it, rather than the short episodes with breaks.
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PN 4, A SERIOUS HORROR & REFRESHING TO WATCH IN THIS FRANCHISE. And Be ready for PN 5 :)
A Good Mix of Horror + Comedy + Serious Emotional Stories + Mystery / Suspense.EVERYTHING IS BALANCED EQUALLY n RIGHT !!
(Nothing More, Nothing Less)
Very Good, Interesting n Funny.
And it would be refreshing to watch this, out of all the movies in this Franchise, if U are looking for a Serious Horror with not much humour.
*** HORROR:
Coming to the Horror part,
This is more like a plot-driven Psychological Horror than a Horror Comedy, while the other three movies in this franchise, are pure Horror Comedies .
There are a lot of Good Jump Scares too, for Horror Lovers! ;)
The Haunting scenes here are Scary n Serious.
While in the previous 3 movies, the haunting scenes are funny n hilarious.
The horror effects, sudden jump scares, the mystery about & the suspense around the ghost, are all Good n depicted in this movie more, than the other 3 movies.
*** COMEDY:
Director Mike never disappoints when it comes to Comedy genre, especially when queer characters are involved!
As said in my previous Pee Nak Reviews:
Thai Comedies (Horror or Rom-Com), as usual, are always CHAOTIC !
(If U are aware of Thai comedies, only then, U can enjoy this.
Bcz Every Country has its OWN TONE OF COMEDY, especially Japan or Thai comedies are not for everyone )
The movie is Funny but mostly, the Comedy here, is subtle / subdued, compared to the other Pee Nak movies.
The humour is balanced, soft toned n under control.
Not an "over the top" comedy at all, though majority of the comedy is by queer characters, who are loud for a hilarious output usually, Oops.
Here, for the major part of the movie, the concentration is more on the development n depiction of the Serious Story n Horror than on Comedy.
Placement of that Insurance advertisement as a part of the story is funny.
*** PLOT:
The movie depicts religious rituals like "Ordaining to be a monk" n fictitious stories of mythological characters in Buddhism n are interesting to watch.
The Main story starts with Mean's character being haunted by a ghost.
The mystery about who that vengeful spirit is n the suspense of why does it haunt only him, are well maintained, till the ghost's identity is revealed along with its story.
The Ghost's story includes a beautiful emotional story of two childhood friends and a very sad Bullying track.
The Ghost when alive as a human, misunderstands n takes a Promise made by the two friends as broken by the friend. Also the bullying by everyone around adds to the emotional wound, finally making it to become a vengeful spirit n so, keeps haunting for revenge.
The Past story of Mean n Plan shows a fictitious mythological story of two Nagas (Giant snakes) protecting the village with the Precious Stones n both if them, being born together for a total of 5 births.
And the main story continues with the adventures of the team finding a solution to the haunting n warding off the Vengeful Ghost peacefully.
All these stories are interesting to watch and the Intertwining of all these stories into one main plot, is WELL WRITTEN .
***
Cinematography is VERY GOOD.
Production, Direction n Pacing are GOOD.
Filming Locations are BEAUTIFUL.
CGI /Visuals are COOL n CLEAN.
There is an improvement in the Quality of Camera Work n Taking.
And so overall, in terms of direction, cinematography, production n editing, U can see an improvement in this movie, compared to the first 3 movies.
*** ACTORS / CHARACTERS:
The recurring characters n cast Mean, Aim, James and Tar are cool and the new characters introduced here are funny n good.
The Child artists acted very well.
It's different to see Plan in a ghost role :)
(I remember Plan only as a goofy angry bird from one of his previous dramas, haha)
Here he played three roles - The bullied Human, the Vengeful Ghost n the Naga
Tar has grown up alot :)
Mean has become more handsome ;)
Mean - Plan's bromance is Good.
Aim n James are hilarious n chaotic, as usual!
Garto, Intanont n Minton are added to Aim n James' chaotic team😂
*** ENDING:
The climax - the good byes of the two friends, is emotional.
Concludes with how the two Nagas saved Mean from the ghost, making it to realise that the two friends' promise was never broken n thereby, the vengeful spirit is relieved peacefully.
That Ending scene :o - all scared n screaming😂, maybe a new ghost haunting has already begun, giving a hint to the next part /Sequel.
BE Ready for PEE NAK 5! :)
***
My RATING is 8.5 / 10
*** COMPARISON OF THE MOVIES IN THIS FRANCHISE:
Can't really Rank any movie as the most or the least favourite, in this franchise.
My Rating for all 4 is the same n liked all 4 equally bcz one with more comedy, another with subtle comedy but all have serious stories.
And so ALL 4 MOVIES ARE ENTERTAINING n FUN TO WATCH!
In terms of Comedy,
PN 4 < PN 1 < PN 2 < PN 3
In terms of Story,
All have Serious Interesting Stories.
Story of PN 1 is a simple one while the other three have twists n little complicated stories.
Also, Watched this franchise long ago n remembered these as STANDALONE n UNRELATED MOVIES n need to watch all, just to know the background and the relations of the Recurring Characters.
But now when I re-watched all 4, realised that all 4 movies are RELATED, may not be a Proper n Direct SEQUEL to each other.
But One movie's storyline is taken from a scene or concept from the previous movie. That's how they are related.
For eg;
1) PN 2's main storyline "One old Monk n Buddha with Naga hood Amulet" is discussed in 1-2 scenes in PN 1 n are elaborated in PN 2 as the main story.
2) PN 3's "Past lives, stealing Golden Anklets etc" is depicted in PN 2 n are elaborated in PN 3 as the main story.
3) PN 4's Naga n Plan's character is shown in two scenes in PN 3 n are elaborated in PN 4 as the main story.
And so Need to watch all 4 movies in the same order to understand n enjoy the franchise.
Also, it's fun to watch the recurring cast n characters in the franchise :)
Actor Tar, literally grew up along with this franchise, haha 😂
***
Give a try! Especially Horror genre lovers who love to watch every type n a variety of Horror concepts.
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A BL with a dog story
I almost didn't watch this, because when I glanced at the reviews I figured this was a horrible drama. I'm glad I didn't listen to when I was reading.This turned out to be a GREAT story. I thought it was very original and inspiring. It had a blend of not just a BL main story line, but so much more. A combination of animal love & loss, the difficulties of being who you really are in the public eye, and just an old fashion blackmail situation thrown in, too, all while a reality show is being filmed.
I do think the title can throw you off a bit, maybe Love Is Like A Dog would have been better??
I think I think Si Woo & Mew were great together. Instant chemistry!
If you haven't seen this yet, don't go by all the negative reviews, I think it's a winner.
The two hour movie version is a better way to watch it instead of the 12 episode format.
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