Reviews

You are my home, but what if that home is full of regrets?

As the movie title suggests, it is a simple second chance romance storyline with full of crying, shouting and regrets.

I loved LOVED the prequel movie "Hello Love, Goodbye!" and been eagerly waiting for this to release. But after watching it, the excitement, it's gone. Completely gone. It's not like I didn't know what will happen but there are certain things that were overlooked for the sake of "love" even if that love questions you "will it last this time?"

One thing that I'm not quite happy with is Ethan cheating on Joy. I know he was not sober, not in his right mind, completely lost, mourning but still, still I can not help but wonder, can you rebuilt trust once it's broken? It takes time. I was totally happy with the previous ending, I was ready to accept sad ending but this happy ending disappointed me.

All above thess, my love for Kathryn Bernardo is infinite and irreplaceable. She singlehandedly carried the whole movie. Her expressions, crying, antics are to die for! God, what an amazing actress she is ><

Overall, whoever watches the first part and dying to know what will happen and sucker for happy endings, then please go ahead and watch it. It's still a pretty movie with foreign setting and beautiful scenery.

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If you gotta do both, watch movie before drama version of this series

Fresh off my Love O2O high I of course had to check out the movie adaptation and was kinda disappointed. Not only did they have to compress the story, they ended up compressing some of the special effects as well, or at least that was how it felt like. Those fight scenes were super lame and staged, man.

Now while Weiwei in the novel visually looks closer to Angelababy than Zheng Shuang, AB's acting is just scraping the surface of stuff. Jing Boran does not look too great in his game character get up (that silver wig is atrocious) after the memory of Yang Yang in the same role so I had trouble believing he was this amazing charming dude that everyone admired.

It's good for eye candy and I guess MV material if you take some clips, but this is like the low carb low sugar version of Love O2O.

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A Heartfelt Summer Tale with a Deeper Message

Hear Me: Our Summer is a beautifully crafted romance drama that effortlessly captures the essence of a sweet, breezy, and soothing summer love story. With its warm, atmospheric storytelling, the film feels like a gentle glide through the golden hues of summer, making it an easy and enjoyable watch.

The two lead actors deliver outstanding performances, bringing depth and authenticity to their characters. Their chemistry is both heartwarming and genuine, making their romance feel natural and deeply engaging. The film does not rely on grand gestures or dramatic twists but instead focuses on the quiet, tender moments that make love stories truly memorable.

Beyond its romantic elements, Hear Me: Our Summer subtly raises awareness about the lives of the hearing-impaired community, shedding light on the discrimination they often face from so-called "able" individuals. The film thoughtfully portrays how they are just as capable as anyone else, proving that they can contribute to society in meaningful ways rather than being seen as burdens. This underlying theme adds a layer of depth to the narrative, making it more than just a love story—it becomes a powerful statement on inclusivity and acceptance.

The cinematography beautifully complements the storytelling, with warm, sunlit visuals that enhance the film’s emotional appeal. The supporting cast also does a commendable job in bringing the world of the film to life, adding richness and authenticity to the narrative.

Overall, Hear Me: Our Summer is a heartwarming and thought-provoking watch. It seamlessly blends romance with social awareness, making it both touching and enlightening. With its charming leads, meaningful message, and soothing summer ambiance, this film is a must-watch for those who enjoy heartfelt dramas with a purpose.

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Pretty packaging but plot misses the point

Technically, this movie visually was a feast—all pretty, bright colors and CGI throughout. Chen Kun as Qing Ming was also very pretty and of course Wang Likun as the Peach Blossom Fairy was absolutely gorgeous. But honestly while I was really looking forward to seeing it when it released, having just come off the high of Mark Chao/Deng Lun's Yin Yang Master, I just couldn't "get" the film once I started watching.

The two characters that were supposed to be relatable to the audience, Shen Le (Shen Yue) and Yuan Boya (Qu Chuxiao) ended up feeling irrelevant and annoying; it felt like they were just there to conveniently push the plot along at certain moments and be clueless/weak/helpless the rest so Qing Ming and co. could save them and be cool. I had trouble connecting emotionally with the cast—that is, I couldn't buy their sudden camaraderie. One minute they didn't get along and the next there's an impromptu drinking session where everyone gets drunk around a table and smiles and are friends? So when the "final battle" happens over that bridge above a cliff, they can all rally together and be angsty at the male lead (Qing Ming) as he angsts about his past? And then the whole thing just ends on a cliffhanger with a blatant open ending that leaves me unsatisfied and plot elements unresolved? Look, the other yin yang master movie did this too but they at least wrapped up the main story in the first movie first! It can stand alone just fine! This one makes me think of a movie missing a limb or something—or maybe a heart, because I couldn't get the emotional cues (and I cry really easy at stuff!) and no matter how sad or awful some characters' past were I just felt bored seeing it and wish they'd move on to clarify what was going on with the main storyline first!

Granted, my memory of this film is a bit fuzzy now but my impression of it remains (I even watched it twice when it first came out to make sure I didn't miss anything, the plot was just so fast and zippy). It just gives an impression of "let's bring all the cast together to highlight how cool and tragic Chen Kun's Qing Ming is and set it up for a sequel later." The overall impression of the movie is a lot of style (like the other Yin Yang Master) but not so much substance, and if you dig too deep into the plot you find that it is generally kinda empty. You can't just look hot and broody and expect the audience to sympathize with you based on your looks! That's just superficial stuff, it won't resonate!

Also, I can't remember a single song or track from this movie while I still remember the main insert song + leitmotifs from the other one. Nothing resonated enough with me to stick! All I remember is that one colorful fight scene with all the sliding doors...but you can't use a fight scene to prop up an entire story, you know.

Don't take my word for it though—watch it yourself. I can't help but think that others feel the same way, since YYM:DOE (Dream of Eternity) inspired so much from it and this one...just doesn't. Look, you can always check fanworks to gauge audience reaction to a work. Both yin yang master movie fandoms are tiny overseas, but there are currently 17 fanfics for this movie on AO3 (https://archiveofourown.org/tags/%E4%BE%8D%E7%A5%9E%E4%BB%A4%20%7C%20Sh%C3%AC%20Sh%C3%A9n%20L%C3%ACng%20%7C%20The%20Yin-yang%20Master%20(2021)/works) compared to the 748 for the other one (https://archiveofourown.org/tags/%E9%98%B4%E9%98%B3%E5%B8%88%20%7C%20Y%C4%ABn%20Y%C3%A1ng%20Sh%C4%AB%20%7C%20The%20Yin-yang%20Master%20(Movies%20-%20Guo%20Jingming)/works).

I think the numbers speak for themselves.

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Dark action fantasy, has depth the more you watch

Wang Xiwen's acting is so good in here okay her crying scenes broke my heart.

That aside this movie was something when it came out, I think it was the only one I've watched more than 5x in a row. I loved the mythology, the cinematography, and I'm frankly surprised it came from Edward Guo's hands since he's know for convoluted storylines but this one was clear and poignant throughout. I even joined a Discord server for the series and wrote stories for it after a while, it was just that addictive.

It has high rewatch value to me cause I picked up on details every time I went back and I'd recommend it to anyone, especially those who are a fan of bromance. Also Wang Duo is in it as a morally-gray villain again and he is sooooo good at those roles, you can watch just for him alone!

You can always trust Guo for his visuals so the overall style was dark, broody, and super stylistic + symbolic, he loves his blatant symbolism as well as his subtle hints so it's fun to catch details he slipped in on a rewatch. Music is dark and melancholy to match. I feel like a lot of his works have a subtle Japanese tinge to them so he really was the perfect director for this story based on Japanese onmyoji xD

The story was simple and straightforward but I liked the twist with the princess being the villain in the end and all the mini story arcs that wrapped up for each of the characters as they progressed. I also love the parallelism that Guo favors so much, fir st with Qing Ming listening to his master's farewells in the beginning of the movie and THEN how that elegantly segueways into his master bidding farewell to the princess that part was sooooo good it gave me sadness goosebumps.

Really sad Deng Lun got canceled in c-ent because I WANNA WATCH THE SEQUEL SO BAD DANGIT AND NOW IT'LL NEVER COME OUT...sobs have some leaked clips here I guess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEVaOqoE40M

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As a fan of the Blue Period anime I think the movie took unnecessary liberties with some of the characters like Ryuji and Yatori's 3 best friends. That being said the movie still overall follows the themes of the anime. I haven't read the manga so I am not sure how different the movie is from that.

Maeda Gordon is actually perfectly cast as Yatori. I really liked his performance. The scene with Yatori and Shin at the pastry shop and the scenes with Yatori and Ryuji were very well done and we see the growth of those characters in those moments. Takahashi Fumiya played Ryuji and he was absolutely stunning. Another great performance by him as well. However, I feel like his character's arc was rushed.

It's a better movie in my opinion if you haven't watched the anime. If you have seen the anime you can't help but compare and find the inconsistencies and flaws. It's worth a watch, all the same though.

2/25/25

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"You can't get hung up on morals, you'll just feel remorse"

Corporate espionage handled with all the finesse of the yakuza took place in The Black Test Car. Not lovers, families, or morals were more important than the mission to bring the Pioneer sports car into production and beat the competition. “It’s all about winning.”

Onoda leads the team to get the Pioneer sports car produced and keep its identity a secret. Much time and money has been invested in it, but he discovers that their larger rival, Yamato, may have placed a spy in their midst. His trusty sidekick, Asahina, is equally ambitious and loyal to the company. Their nemesis is Mawatari, an ex-spy who worked for the Imperial Army in Manchuria. Both companies employ dirty methods to steal information-bribery, blackmail, intimidation, prostitution, and outright theft. Nothing seems to be too low or too devious in their efforts to come out on top.

Rank capitalism and devotion to duty brought out the worst in all of the characters. Onoda made it clear from the beginning, that he would sacrifice anything or anyone for the Pioneer. Asahina started out much like his boss, even pressuring his girlfriend to prostitute herself to glean information from the duplicitous Mawatari. Takamatsu Hideo glided Onoda easily between devilishly charming and ruthlessly frightening. Tamiya Jiro’s Asahina walked the fine line between being blindly selfish to conflicted as he realized the harm he’d done to someone he loved. Asahina’s girlfriend, Masako, was poorly written. She was there for Asahina’s character growth and as a sexual object rather than a woman with any consistent actions.

Director Masumura Yasuzo made a stylish film with aggressive music reminiscent of Godzilla’s Ifukube Akira. The acting was stellar. My problem was that I had no one to root for. Both teams were reprehensible in their espionage and sabotage efforts. Asahina took steps to distance himself from the gangster methods that ruined and ended lives, yet I disliked him the most for his efforts to manipulate and pimp out the woman he claimed to love. The competition between the industrial spies may have been all about winning, but in the end, they were all losers to me.

"It's a rock, but it has more warmth than you."

25 February 2025
Trigger warnings: Sexual scenes, though no overt nudity, and one bordering on assault

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Could Have Been Better.

This is probably my least favorite SPEC sequel. The story became confusing with the sudden introduction of prophecies and the unnecessary return of Ninomae, who’s still being used by the villains.

Sebumi frustrated me the most — after all the seasons and sequels, he’s had no real character development. He remains mostly useless, always acting as a shield for Touma. His survival feels like pure plot armor — with injuries like peeled skin, multiple gunshots, and nails all over his body, there’s no way he should still be standing. Despite everything, he never truly contributes to the fight.

The story felt all over the place, and the enemies were weak and unmemorable. Their powers, like the fire-and-ice woman and the guy with octopus-like weapons, were underwhelming.

The only consistently well-written character here is Touma. This was the weakest sequel so far, but I’m still holding out hope that the next one improves the plot and brings some much-needed clarity.

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More people need to watch it!

The Time of Huannan is an emotional rollercoaster that’ll definitely make you cry. The story concept is intresting , it really feels like we’re experiencing everything with the main character as he's discovering his Father's past life and his friends group. The 90s setting adds a cool atmosphere, making it even more immersive. I’m still confused about Liu Yonghui and Chen Baodeng’s past connection, but that mystery adds to the film’s impact. The cast were amazing loved seeing them in this movie, and overall, this is easily one of the best Taiwanese movies I’ve seen. Definitely a must-watch!

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DROOLING OVER KIYOKA!! haha

BEAUTIFUL STORY! ✨
A GOOD Mix of Love, Family Drama and Fantasy.

*** TITLE:
The Title "My Happy Marriage" itself makes u feel Happy and Warm :)
(My cousin sis n I make fun about it, everytime that in real life, marriages are never happy😂
Also, another Title for this movie, "As Long As We Both Shall Live" is just saying "FOREVER", in a lengthy way :) )!

INITIALLY that same title made me SKEPTICAL to watch, thinking it would be some Boring Drama but when I came to know about the FANTASY Element and concept of Supernatural Powers in the story, I Rushed n I'm in! :)
Fantasy n Supernatural genres are always fun to watch.

*** STORY :
The Story of a helpless young lady Miyo (with Supernatural power but dormant here), being treated as a servant maid in her own house by her step mom, tortured by her half sister, being arranged a marriage alliance with a rude Lord Kiyoka Kudo (has special Supernatural powers) by elders and is sent to his house even before the wedding.

The story of how they get along,
How Love develops between them,
How their marriage alliance helped them to grow individually and also together in each other's company and mutual support &
Finally, How they found their happily ever after, together.

*** CHARACTERS & ACTORS:
Kiyoka - Miyo are a Power couple! 💕
They COMPLETE n COMPLEMENT each other 🥰

He became soft n kind bcz of Miyo, while her confidence is boosted up bcz of Kiyoka.

Their Couple proves that even an arranged marriage between two complete strangers, can work out beautifully, though bumpy, initially .

Their Beautiful Love Story proves that U can find ur TRUE and STRONG LOVE even when u are in a completely impossible situation :)
And gives a HOPE that sometimes Love will bring Good Changes in Life n not always Bad! :)

Ren Meguro is Cute ;) and the actress named Mio in real life and playing character Miyo, both names being the same is funny sweet.
Both played their roles well.
Their chemistry is Good and their height difference is cute :)

***
Watched the Anime adaptation (S1) from the novel first n LOVED it to the CORE.
It's FLUFFY, WARM n SWEET :) , in terms of Love story,
FUNNY (sarcastic), in terms of Family Drama (remember, Miyo's step mom n half sis' dirty politics at home, God! :/ )
and AWESOME, in terms of Fantasy and Supernatural powers (the lightning and sparks produced by Kiyoka to save Miyo are Fire! 🔥😏)
So Overall, THIS STORY IS JUST WOW !! ✨

And then this Live action MOVIE adaptation, it's VERY GOOD but not the BEST and AWESOME like the Anime.

It's just so bcz story-wise, MANY points are MISSING here.
Felt Rushed, the required SLOW BUILD UP n the CORE VIBE of the story, are MISSING here :(
For eg, the WOW factor that u feel where Kiyoka burns Miyo's house down with his Supernatural power - lightning & saves her etc - is GOOD here
But that is WOW & U get GOOSEBUMPS in Anime.
The slow build up that u need to feel that Miyo has to be saved from that family only by Kiyoka, even if it is by burning or killing and so when he did so, that entire scene, that core vibe is Missing here n is felt in Anime.

(I know that it's Difficult to Adapt Everything into a Movie :/
So Mr.Director, plss, better Adapt this story into a LIVE ACTION DRAMA with the ENTIRE STORY of Kiyoka - Miyo n with the SAME CAST !! 🥰)

Cinematography of the movie is Good.

*** RATING:
9 /10 for the Movie

9.5 /10 for the Anime, just bcz more story from the novel, is being adapted into Anime, since I want more of Kiyoka n Miyo :)

And OVERALL, 10 /10 FOR THE STORY!! :)

DON'T MISS to watch both the Movie n Anime.

*** Some Fangirling Moments, haha:

I WANT MY OWN KIYOKA!! 💕 ;)

Currently watching Anime, S2 (Ongoing)
I made my Mom to watch both the seasons of Anime ;) n now she knew why I chose that display name of mine 😂
UPDATE: This review was written when the Anime, S2 was ongoing and when my MDL display name was "MyKurosawaDarcyKiyokaRui" :)

Still sitting here, DROOLING OVER KIYOKA🤤 and Waiting for a full Live Action Drama adaptation of both seasons of Anime with the same cast Ren & Mio!

P.S. I have similar hair cords (threads) like that of Kiyoka, they are lovely :)

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I'm sure a lot of people will adore this film. It's gentle and soft, and people being kind to each other.

I, however, found it artificial in terms of story and visuals, and too on the nose. The characters sometimes moved through the scenery like puppets placed on a stage. Or like a pop-up picture book, if you will.

The scenes -- following parallels of life stages and seasons -- and the sub-stories felt clichèd and stale, the visuals were Ghibli-like, but without the depth Ghibli brings.
Do not look for any kind of realism here -- I mean, how would a café like this work without going bankrupt within the first year?
Especially the ending was so contrived I thought my eyes would roll out of their sockets.
(I waited for the moment that everything would be revealed as a picture book written by the main character, which would have made sense at least, but no!)

So,
Did I like it? -- No.
Was it good? -- It had high production value, and acting was superb (as expected from these actors). The story was a miss for me, but as I said, it will be loved by others.
Would I recommend it? -- Not really, no. Only if I know that the specific person loves these kinds of gentle and soft stories and is looking for something, what did people call it? "healing and heart-warming".

P.S.
Also, as a German, I have *opinions* about bread. Half of what he baked might have been パン but it was certainly not bread.

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°Avg° TransMOOT⛔Exit@ NEXT Stop~?~FMA Brotherhood 5.5

The only value in watching this movie is for a quick review of the story, only if you've watched Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood already, w/o having read the mangas (Japanese comics and graphic novels). Be warned, it's not worthy enough for even that.

It will not give somebody unfamiliar with the story anything worthwhile in terms of appreciating this intelligent tale, which might be more akin to a complex philosophical metaphor. So don't bother, if that's what you hope to get.

The one element that's worth seeing for its own merit is the army of created humanoids that are powered by souls extracted from real humans. They appear with about 20 minutes to go in the film, give or take, and they're 5 minutes of cool.

FYI, FMA Brotherhood was made after the original source material was released. The original FMA animated series is very popular as well, but it's not currently available via general (non-niche) streaming services, (if at all) so I haven't been able to see it yet. Since it was crafted before the original source material was completed, it takes a fork in the road and ends up at a different destination, per reports.

This story can't be coerced into movie length. A full outline likely couldn't be reviewed in 90 feature length minutes. Skip this, and jump on the train to excellence: FMA Brotherhood is fantastic. That's the one to watch.

Originally 〰️🖊 April 2022

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