Reviews

The Paradise of Thorns weaves such a powerful and unforgettable tapestry, blending elements that deeply resonate and stir emotions. I’ve never felt so many emotions during a movie, and I’ve certainly never cried so much while understanding each character’s pain.

The brilliance of this film lies in how its characters lead us to reflect on different facets of love and loss. It transcends its initial premise around LGBTQ rights, pushing us to think about what truly matters in life. It’s intense, with a heavy storyline, yet at the same time, it’s captivating and moving, leaving you with a persistent feeling of unease.

The performances are nothing short of incredible. The actors embodied their characters with such precision that I genuinely felt their emotions as my own. I have to say I consider Jeff Satur the most complete artist of today. He sings, he dances and he acts. And does it all with remarkable perfection. His portrayal of Thongkam was outstanding, perfectly capturing the vulnerability of his character.

Engfa delivered an acting masterclass, and I honestly can’t imagine anyone else playing Mo as brilliantly as she did.

The final scene was executed with such skill that I needed a moment to compose myself afterward. The cinematography is stunning, and the soundtrack is absolutely beautiful. After watching the movie, Jeff Satur’s song “Rain Wedding” took on an entirely new meaning for me.

This is undoubtedly one of the best films I’ve seen in years. Thai cinema continues to win me over with its masterful storytelling.

The Paradise of Thorns is a film that will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it!

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vanishing whales will reach the bay

this move is more than reality it's beyond the universe at first I was wondering why the name is not vanishing whales bay but after that I found that a balloon's landing says more about the story development and where the story reaches ; in order to reach the heaven along the whales they finally found the peace they needed through their tangled up story, for me that has a lot of things to say and meaning over words . it was definitely a complete journey followed by different shades of emotions , at first it was a simple story but the more it goes, the more things you feel like you wanted to cry but you don't know why till you get the hole thing and after it tears you up you see why somehow the euphoria therns to sorrow but the characters keep going and the hope goes to peace at the end which felt like more than just the ending.
there are a lot of things to add specially about concept of love it carries well people should think twice about their values. nevertheless I just finish my words by saying I just sow on this move true happiness of life.

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......it is a good watch

I will say this ....if you like serial unaliver plots that are semi complex due to emotion and dark family secrets, this is a good watch.
It was a creative spin. Solid, attractive cast.
The sibling hidden stalker love could have been done better or not at all.
With all things said, I do think it's a good drama to watch on a late Saturday night or Friday night. It's not really spooky. There aren't any real jump scares. There is gore with regards to the staging of the dead bodies, but I think that's all a good added effect that lets the story tell. I enjoyed the female lead, the male lead as well, and all the sub characters. The plot makes sense, I just feel like it could have been executed better considering the timelines they had in the movie. I love the theory that comes to light towards the end. It makes a lot of sense. There aren't any loose ends, they kind of leave, an open ending. I'm not a fan of how he looks at the camera at the end, but I'm guessing that has to do with some westernized themes of eeriness that the director is in love with. I would rate it an 8.5 out of 10

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decent

i dont like it as much as most people do and just see it as a mediocre basic movie..
i dont know if i didnt get the full message of the movie but i actually cant recall any significant scene from that movie as i just felt bored through out it all.. i know most people dont agree with me but thats just how i saw the movie and it was just a basic romance with a sad and depressing ending.. maybe if they made the ending differently it would’ve made a difference but really nothing about this was special. im not saying its not good but because so many people put so many high expectations on this movie i thought it was going to give more than what it gave so it disappointed me!

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Living with Two Words - Simple (yet) Profound

The moment I read the plot I knew I would need to brace myself and have a box of tissues handy.

We grow up with Dai and see the different seasons in his life. I love that we also get a glimpse in how Japan develops. From Dai's mother not getting a proper early education "because we thought she'd grow out of it and learn to hear", to Dai joining a community circle where he gets to develop his own identity through sign language. In some ways a simple slice of life film, but being based on a true story makes the film feel profound.

I really love these kinds of Japanese films because they are able to convey such strong and powerful emotions. Dai's realisation (and even guilt) balanced with his mother's unwavering love and his parent's wholehearted support. This is something we can all empathise with.

I think the casting was excellent- particularly Oshidari Akiko and the child actors. I'm curious to know Yoshizawa Ryo's process in learning Japanese sign language. I read that the deaf community commended him on his skills.

There seems to be more and more content in Japan about hearing and non-hearing inter relationships. It's great to see broader representation in mainstream media!

The rewatch value is low because I'm not sure I'm wanting to weep again ahaha

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Light, pacing & space set in the perfect ratio, honoring not only 1 but all K independence activists

PROLOGUE:
One might criticize that historical facts about the historical figure Ahn and his person are too brief. That too much poetic license was taken with regard to the fictional comrades and opponents in this case. Even, that these guys also remain too pale as individual characters. That too little pace and tension are built up, and that there is overall too much debate in the dark.
But then, it would have been a completely different film. With a different message.

From my perception, “Harbin” does not want to tell us about historic events as it was, but to stage the dilemma, the hurdles, the challenges, the performance, the passion, the agony of the Korean resistance struggle as an epic monument. We do not get heroes in shining armor, but desperate fighters for a fairer world - for their freedom, for their country, which is their homeland, for their families or the families they cannot have themselves. "Harbin" wants to honor their price, which they paid for all those who now can actually live in freedom and relative independence today. In addition, "Harbin" is choosing a critical approach - with its focus on the struggle for perspective, hope, morality, and justification in regard of the many painful sacrifices.


TERRA NULLIUS BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS, BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG
Anyone who has seen "Harbin" will not forget "Harbin". This is ensured by the haunting staging, with artistic ambition consistently composed in terms of film technology, to set light, pacing, and space in the perfect ratio.
Here, preferably filmic means like camera, light, powerful scenes that burn themselves unforgettable into the memory were used! Whereas dialogues provide less contextual information but convey the personal and collective struggle for the right attitude. It's about morality and the opposite of it.

We do not learn much about the historic independence fighter Ahn, about whom one could have made a completely different film. His personality would certainly have allowed for that. And yet, in drastic scenes and moments, we learn what he deeply stands for: For an upright, just attitude that does not want to repay like with like, but wants to do better. Ahn fails in this, but he does not give up. Until the end, he stands for what he considers right. We do not learn in "Harbin" that he wrote a treatise during his imprisonment - a concept for a better world. But we have come to know him during those 108 minutes as a man to whom we can certainly trust that.

The others who work with him and against him are practically nameless and stand for the many nameless who struggled and suffered in their own way back then - under the cold, the cruelty, the hopelessness of this underground fight in the far north of Mongolia. And yet they made their contribution.


POETIC AESTHETICS OF DARKNESS
For a Western audience, "Harbin" may present a challenge in two respects. The KMovie is (like many other KMovies) not action-heavy but relies on the intensity of slowness. Even in this one, action is used sparingly. The subtle driving force is rather the aesthetic concept: This does not rely on light, but on shadow, on the poetic aesthetics of darkness and its subtle nuances, where diffuse light highlights textures and shapes. Adding sparse, precisely selected color impulses and contrasts, too.
With refined, powerful visual impression the icy bitter cold in the snow-covered forest, on the frozen river, and in the vastness of the desert landscape of Mongolia comes almost tangibly close to the viewers. Nature, in its powerfully aesthetic staging, becomes a symbol for the arduous path to freedom.

At the beginning, we are confronted with the inhospitable nature of underground life, where light is sparse and food consists of cigarettes. The cigarette smoke makes the dim light even more diffuse while the coats make the cold of the barren rooms appear even colder. And then the story catapults us abruptly and mercilessly into the unvarnished repulsive ugliness of this resistance struggle – in the scene in the icy, blood-smeared mud the bestial brutality becomes almost unbearable to watch.
All this represents and reinforces the sheer despair of the brave warriors who want to fight for their freedom from the oppressors despite all odds. Under almost hopeless circumstances. In an almost superhuman struggle with themselves and with what is right...


A TRIBUTE TO THE KOREAN UNDERGROUND STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE
This joint fight for justice, independence, and freedom deeply defines the Korean identity as a nation, just as the suffering that the people share due to injustice, dependence, and oppression - the 'Han' as a collectively shared, yet individually felt pain, mobilizing a sudden strength and unexpected collective resistance (in this case against Japan).

The willingness to make sacrifices as well as the necessity to make sacrifices are deeply rooted in tradition. This may also be deeply problematic in itself, but like everything: it has two sides. Right? Wrong? Everyone has to decide that for themselves.
However, "Harbin" is not about judgement. It is about honoring those people who had actually dedicated themselves to this conjoint resistance struggle: not wanting to be oppressed and treated as subhuman beings (by Japan). "Harbin" represents an aesthetically intensified tribute to those against all odds fearless fighters. Woo Min-ho did not want to create a historical film here. With the context of this legendary assassination the KMovie rather sets a cinematic monument not only to this legendary independence activist, but by doing so, to all of the others, too. Therefore, at the same time, with the example of this legendary assassination in Harbin it sets a monument to the entire Korean resistance struggle, too - then, before, and after.

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SO WHO IS MORE CRAZY, MORE DISTURBED, OUT OF THE THREE? haha

Good Psychological Crime Thriller.
Not bad n yet not so gripping too .
Just mediocre.

When Netflix listed this in "coming soon", I waited to watch this.
Expected a very Gripping Mystery thriller, seeing the MYSTERIOUS VIBE of "COVER PHOTO"
IT DECEIVED ME !! :( 🤭

****
Direction, Pacing n Cinematography are GOOD.

I accept every tradition n can tolerate religious rituals etc, shown in movies, especially in horror thrillers.
But One Minor Complaint here, in direction is, too much of in depth religious prayers are shown.
Maybe those are necessary for the scene or the story demanded but I personally lose interest when rituals or prayers are shown in excess tones.

****
Acting is OK, not so impressive.

In few scenes, Jun Yeol's (pastor Min Chan) expressions are more crazy n scarier than those of the killer 😂
Liked those scenes .

**** STORY:
The Story is Good.
A very simple one - a killer, a kidnapped gal, a pastor trying to punish the killer n a police detective trying to save the gal.

Narrated in a very straight forward manner without much suspense .
It is known who the killer is, from the beginning.
So cannot expect any suspense or mystery about the killer's identity, like in usual crime thrillers.
And so, Crime Thriller Lovers might find this as a not so gripping mystery but just a plain n mediocre thriller without much mystery n suspense :/

The only suspense here is, whether the kidnapped girl is alive or no n that is maintained till the end.

This could be made into an even more interesting thriller with more gripping mystery n suspense elements .
(Or maybe, for this plain story, shouldn't we expect much !? :O)

**** CHARACTERS:
SO WHO IS MORE CRAZY, MORE DISTURBED, OUT OF THE THREE? 😂

The Psychopathic Serial Killer with childhood trauma, triggered n created deadly events
or
(Pastor) Religious Faith turned into Obsession that blinded the logics of reality n blurred the truth (he assumed the gal is not alive, without confirming :| )
or
The Person working for law (lady police detective) seeing illusions of dead sister out of guilt, tempted to take the law into her hands, suppressing that urge to avenge her loved one's death n yet struggling to do the right thing!

This mix of three characters each with some psychological issues, the intertwining of their stories, is WELL WRITTEN .

But could be better, if more suspense or mystery elements are added.

****
Overall, GOOD One Time Watch.
My Rating is 8 / 10

**** Fun Fact:
Like Min Chan, I can see a "FACE" in the COVER PHOTO, between the trees ! :O
Optical illusion!?

Before watching the Movie:
I just saw "a way" between the trees.
But after watching the movie:
I see a face! :o
Am I dreaming 🤭

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Intense and well-acted : I would love to follow those characters through a drama !

This thriller and horrific movie really gripped me. It follows a team of shaman and geoman who tackles paranormal issues, some necessiting exhumation of corpses as their customers are haunted by deceased family members. Far from taking an humoristic road, it is a very dark and frightening movie that really spooked me at times.

Despite its long length, the film remained captivating all over its various narrative arcs. The build up was good and the conclusion was strong. I would have liked a bit more of background around the goal of the antagonist as well as more flashbacks because the past story was incredibly interesting. So I would have wanted even more of that, as well as regarding the origin story of the main characters who shared a very good chemistry together.

Indeed, acting was great : Choi Min Shik, Kim Go Eun, Yoo Hae Jin and Lee Do Hyun did an incredible job. I totally believe their characters were skilled in handling and facing obscure forces. The rituals scenes, the encounter with the paranormal phenomenons, the way the characters behaved in dire situation...It was skillfully acted !

Production value was very high as well : the visual effect really worked on me. There were not really any scare jump but the tension steadily climbed over the course of the story, as the horror gets more and more proeminent. The soundtrack was good overall, fitting for the dire atmosphere.

I would recommend this to people looking for a thrilling horrific movie featuring shaman, corpse and exhumation. The gore level is rather low but the angst is pretty high. There are a lot of talk around death and people do get hurt and dies. So be mindful of the trigger if you have any. It is a quite long and intense movie, that might necessitate some breather to get through it in one go.

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Quite predictable locked-room mystery lacking in rythm despite its solid cast & interesting premise

This movie, as its title indicates, is centred around 12 suicidal teens as they are planning to end their life together. They don't know each other, they all have various motivations and they are grouped together to solve a mystery as in the room they met they uncover an already dead boy. I wish the scenario digged even more into the characters personnality as well as the bond they formed together. I think they should have maybe reduced a bit the number of characters to deep dive into their psyche, their motivations as well as their evolution.

There is a quite a few familiar faces for me in the cast : Hagiwara Riku, Mackenyu, Kitamura Takumi and Takasugi Mahiro. I was happy to see them, especially Hagiwara Riku and Mackenyu, that I really love. The ensemble cast did a solid job overall. Not all the roles were as interesting but I liked the variety in characters.

Production was not outstanding but efficient in highlighting the main points of the locked-room mystery. Overall, the editing could have been better to make it more intense. It also lacked in terms of pace as well as thrills factor. The soundtrack was very forgettable and there was a dull aspect to the picture which might be expected given the thematic but did not help in making the story more interesting.

If you are looking for an investigation movie, with some psychological aspects and featuring a locked-room mystery involving 12 suicidal teens, you might want to give it a shot. I honestly found it relatively predictable in its ending, but at least the resolution of the mystery made sense. The morale behind the story felt a bit too light given the heavy topics at stake. I feel that an epilogue, combined with a reduced number of characters might have made the outcome of the story more fullfilling.

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Not 50 shades, but a story about embracing differences in Individuals

Passed over this movie several times, and always thought it's just another 50 shades inspired story.
But it's not !!
Leave it to the Koreans to put meaning and feel good emotion into a story about a guy who is into BDSM. I would say the story does a good job explaining to the uninformed audience about the people who are into this in a good way (This is one of the main reason for giving 8.5 stars to this).
Ofc it does have steamy scenes but they are only a part of the movie. It has much more to do with the shame, insecurity, and the struggles of people who have a different preference than the masses.

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