Reviews

What did I just watch

Huh? I like a light and fluffy romance but this was missing the glue that held it all together and made it make sense. The best thing about it was it wasn't too long. It had little bits and bobs of potential which makes it frustrating as the viewer. Why would she like someone who yelled at her all the time. Why would she let him leave for 6 months only to quit when he got back? Forget about the mystery woman with the book, I can take some fantasy and I don't care that it didn't get properly explained but the lead couple never really clicked. Like at all. That is the big let down. I feel like it could have been super cute but the wrong choices were made and it came out half baked.

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All I really want is to be like the rest of them, to be who I really am

I found myself intrigued by this little piece. Though they may have been some things that didn't sit right with me I will only talk about the good stuff. Pretty sure this is my first time watching a Hong Kong piece and they did not dissapoint. This was perfect after a night out walking through the city. I want to give all my love to the cinematography and visuals because they were beautiful and 100% my style. For a 35min movie, which tried to capture a tiny part of someone's life, this was really engaging. The movie takes on topics that happen all of the time around us and although it's from 2015, 10 years from then things like this still happen. Left me bitter but somehow fullfilled. Would totally recommend and maybe someday I will find it in more quality.

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Some ideas and creations should remain in one's mind

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS HEAVY SPOILERS.

Just NO. I've watched quite a few bad dramas and movies, regardless of the reviews, and wish I hadn't wasted my time. HOWEVER, with And Then There Was Light/Hikari (2017), not only did I waste my time but I had a huge icky-low-self-esteem feeling during the entire 2:17:58 movie.

Why did I finish it? So I could write this review and WARN others this movie is among a couple of others that left me wondering how such an amateurish film would be made in the first place. I say "would be made" because it clearly represents what should've been left in the heart of the original creator or scriptwriter, never to see the light of day.

The bgm (background music) was horror movie level and came at intervals and was loud & jarring (also forced to even give a rating so the review would submit). There was no story and no plots. The extremely long looks/gazes were frustrating, so much so I had to check to see if my wi-fi had dropped, numerous times. The screenwriter/director's (one in the same) or the original creator's fetishes - no words. There was no moral to this non existent story, which MDL forces to have at least a 1 rating to submit one's review. There was no value from the dialogues, no inclusion of life altering profound wisdom, just mundane, very mundane. What little there was of cinematography, was on par with taking the oldest cellphone from the 1970/80s out in the backyard to capture a tree, oh, and the moon which alludes to the 'light' from the Japanese word hikari. Absolutely nothing was of worth to sit in front of a 2:17:58 hours long piece of what the other reviewer said was a textbook example of everything not to do in making a movie.

TRIGGERS:
It contains child molestation, infidelity, child abuse, murder, blackmail, sexual content, weird sucking fetishes, and corspe abuse if one were to add a character's rummaging around in his dead father's underwear for a possibly-hidden picture. It was SO slow one would wonder how all that would fit into the length of the movie. It just went from one bad scene to another while including all those elements. I checked at least 3 times to see if it was anywhere near finished, starting at the 1 hour mark.

Rewatch value is zilch, yet MDL requires a rating in all catagories to be able to submit a review.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND the movie to anyone. I'm surprised Viki hasn't dropped this so it's absence can be filled with something much more worthy of being included ON Viki.

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This isn't about zombies

Okay i lied its about zombies but the zombies are in the background. As a zombie fanatic, this is not a good zombie film and i would not recommend this movie to anybody who has a pass trauma of an abusive family. To not have any spoilers I would say, this could've been better and more marketed towards psychological thriller, and have zombie as a sub genre. If you took zombie out of the genre, it would just be a psychological thriller, and you would see how the family dynamics work. If you're looking for a zombie adventure film this is not it. I don't recommend this movie. I actually hated it and it scared me not because of the zombies, but because of the father. The ending was not even sad but more terrifying. 5/10

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A delightful and moving film that combines humor, heart, and a powerful message

It is a heartwarming and inspirational film that serves as a reminder of the value of perseverance, personal growth, and the true meaning of family. This movie has something for everyone with its mix of comedy, drama, and touching moments.

I watched it because Peng Yu Chang starred in this drama, and he never failed to deliver a stellar performance, transitioning from a self-centered, bossy young man to a genuine and humble "buddy" who learns to appreciate the simple joys of life.

The journey of the "Bath Buddy" is deeply relatable and inspiring for viewers, especially those who are coping life's unexpected lessons, and seeking a path to personal growth. It’s a movie that resonates with anyone striving to overcome obstacles and rediscover their purpose.

The film also beautifully redefines the concept of family. This message is conveyed with warmth and sincerity, leaving a lasting impact on the audience. The film will leave you with a smile, and a renewed sense of hope.

Should I rewatch it? Definitely.

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SHOCKED

I have been eagerly anticipating the release of this movie ever since it was first announced, primarily because I am a huge fan of Jeff. What I didn't expect, however, was just how exceptional the film would turn out to be. The performances from the entire cast were outstanding, but Engfa’s portrayal truly stood out. She delivered a remarkable performance that brought her complex character to life with absolute finesse, showcasing her impressive range as an actress.

Beyond the brilliant acting, the film delves into profound and serious topics, particularly focusing on issues surrounding marriage inequality. I found myself completely engrossed, with my jaw dropping at several moments throughout the viewing. The film’s exploration of these themes added layers of depth that elevated the overall experience.

From the production team to the writers and all the talented actors involved, everyone played a crucial role in the creation of this masterpiece. Their collective efforts resulted in a truly captivating cinematic experience that I won't soon forget.

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Effective Korean action thriller.

There have been many, mainly American films about the Vietnam War. Since the mid-70s after the end of the war until today, a number of films have been made with Vietnam as a theme: Apocalypse Now, Pluto, Good Morning Vietnam, Born on the Fourth of July: The list could be made long. It is perhaps a way for Hollywood to pay tribute to its soldiers. Although the war ended 50 years ago, Vietnam is its own chapter in American history. The war and its horrors are still remembered in various ways. More than 2´000 American soldiers are still missing. Many of those who came home had experienced terrible experiences and were never the same again.

The Korean action horror film R-Point takes place in 1972. A group of 9 soldiers are sent out to an area called R-Point to search for soldiers who had previously been there and had not returned. They have 5 days to find their missing comrades. There shouldn't be any problems. They are all young, strong and brave. What few of them know or care about is that a temple in the area is built on a cemetery where Chinese soldiers who killed a lot of Vietnamese buried them. It was many years ago, but it's probably just as well to respect the final resting place of the dead.

The young soldiers also like to have a little fun and joke with each other, like hiding from their comrades and not answering the calls of the others. It's fun when it's temporary, but it can sometimes be a little creepy if everyone suddenly just disappears as if they've been swallowed by the earth. It's a feeling that you sometimes get to experience: Everyone seems to be suddenly gone, without any explanation. Now you might think that they can't find each other because of the many weeds and trees out in the field, but that's not all. Inside the old temple that serves as a temporary camp, strange things also happen. Things seem to be replaced, things seem to have moved without anyone touching them and unexplainable things start to happen. The soldiers start to get irritated, even tired and angry at each other. No one wants to pretend to be a pussy because those who seem weak are easily teased by others. You feel a little paranoid: What is happening? It's eerie. You almost feel that something unpleasant is going to happen.

R-Point is, in my opinion, like a mix of Blair Witch Project where a group of happy young people go out into the woods and the interesting horror My Little Eye where 5 young people find themselves in a guarded house. In this case, you are not locked in a house and can move around outside too, but what good is that when you still seem to be guarded? The confusion increases. No one and nothing seems to be what you think. You can't even trust your own comrades.

R-Point is a surprisingly good action horror film. It is effective, the atmosphere is intense and the pulse is constantly rising. There are virtually no special effects. Yet it manages to scare the viewer to death. Clearly worth seeing and interesting. In both its home country of Korea and the rest of Asia, this film has been well received by audiences, topping the charts and breaking box office records. It is a nail-biter that keeps the viewer in its grip until the end. An action horror that is perfect for the quiet summer. It is possible that you will want to see it more than once!

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Fukuda does Fukasaku

Cut from the same cloth as the likes of Spielberg's Duel, 3,000 Kilometer Trap / Shadows of the Highway sprang from the golden age of Japanese automotive films, one that offers up a surprisingly sombre and low-key chase thriller across the Japanese landscape. It's directed exceptionally well by the usually ridiculous Jun Fukuda. There are few images quite as breathtaking as the black-striped, bright orange GTO floating over blankets of white. However, it does feel like Toho desired him to capture the same aesthetics and style you'd see in a Kinji Fukasaku thriller rather than his usual madcap direction. The acting all around is solid and the pacing is exceptionally nippy, breezing with the roar of an engine accompanied by a brilliant cheesy cool jazz score by Norio Maeda serving as the perfect companion for an epic cross-Japan road trip. Despite a couple of questionable sex scenes and having next to no internet presence, it is very worthwhile to seek out Shadows of the Highway, it's tense, moody and exhilarating in the way only the best car chases can be.

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I Didn't Expect a Filipino Film to be this Good

1. The movie was well-written, all elements on the film have their own part that contribute to the main story, no elements were used as fillers. At the start, you will have some questions like "who is the person who sent that thing?" and others. It will not feel at first that it will be answered later at the story. However, trust me. All your questions will be answered.
2. I like how the film progresses, from time to time you will feel that the film is nearing its end because there are many scenes that are worthy to be the ending. However, you will find out that the movie still continues.
3. It was filled with unexpected surprises and twists that will shock viewers. Take note that the revelations were scattered at the different parts of the movie. That's why every time you will feel that the movie is nearing its end, but before you know it, there will be another unexpected surprise.

Overall, I like this movie on how well-written this is. I like also the foreshadowing of the writer. You will be shocked at the story, but I advise that you pay attention to all of the elements displayed because those are the clues of what might happen. I will support the writer of this film; I hope that they will write for a short TV series with the same formula as this movie.

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it hurts

my first thought while watching the movie was that it was some kind of lesbian romance, what i didn’t expect was that their friendship and how they complemented each other would be deeper than romance itself, i feel that jinwoo could have contributed more; i find his character tasteless. however, haeun and miso did their job so well that i have nothing to complain about. in my mind, they are happy raising their daughter, although i think that if haeun had lived, she wouldn’t have given her the same name. i like to think the baby’s name would have been some kind of combination between miso and haeun

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Sampler bites of zombie survival personalities

The film certainly does feature action, but most of it are snapshots of how regular people would fare or do when suddenly trapped in a building during a zombie epidemic and a straightforward tale of survival. The pov character is a random guy Joon Woo who very unfortunately slacked off on getting the groceries at the worst time. No particular special skills, but very online. The one time where the penchant to post personal information online works out as it turns out to be extremely important to the outcome of his survival. Also helping is that he's very lucky to happen to be living across from an outdoorsy woman Yoo Bin who still has all her gear despite the trauma she suffered from a fall three years ago. That's pretty much all we get to know about her aside from seeing her cleverly save Joon Woo from suicide with a laser pointer and tenaciously barreling through the zombies to get to him. The third and final resident survivor is a desperate husband in denial stage Bae Soo who drugs and tries to feed Yoo Bin to his zombie wife. That's a huge blow to the two of them who consider euthanasia and suicide by gun before the helicopters really show up despite them thinking Bae Soo was just lying to them. The government broadcast implies that Joon Woo's social media posts was what saved them as it was how the rescue copters knew which roof tops to look for them. It's unwittingly about a balance of hobbies, the gamer guy and the hiker girl, working together to get to safety.

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