This is not what you think!
if you’re thinking about watching this drama, I would definitely recommend having a box of tissues with you because it gets a little emotional although it looks like a comedy. I would definitely say that it made me cry at least two or three times. This is a fun show I would definitely recommend to watch with the family. It has a really good storyline to it, personally I loved the storyline! I love how in depth they go to show that this is important to them and that this is what they’re gonna do. This definitely has something to do with post trauma..?, bromance, and sports (specifically boxing). But I would definitely recommend watching this!Was this review helpful to you?
I don't often watch horror
Almost never do I voluntarily watch a movie in this genre, but Train to Busan is such an iconic film and I kept hearing about it so I thought why not. Along with the fact that it was the middle of the day and I watched it with a friend.I was not disappointed. The story telling, the character growth, the kindness of humanity, and the greed of humanity. Even now knowing the story and what happens to who, I don't think I will ever be able to watch this without crying at least once.
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don't trust the low rating
this movie was GREAT. i'm suspect to say because i love park haeil, but i was expecting nothing and ended enjoying so much. a must watch.the character develop in this was interesting. in the beginning you may have a total different idea that you'll have in the middle and in the end. i still don't like the fml so much. i understand she did all she did for her nation, but the ml had nothing to do with this in the first place
and i also think that what happened really changed the ML perspective somehow, in a really good way, because he started to see the system he was into.
i'm not so good writing in english, but, please, give a chance to this amazing film!
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From the gentleman's perspective
The plot on mdl summarizes the movie pretty well because it is that simple, the movie is what the summary says, that being said is it good? Well when it comes to my opinion I have a different review policy, there is media that you thoroughly enjoy and even sometimes rewind while playing that is entertainment at it's peak and there is something that you skip forward just to see where the story goes and sadly this is that. While the acting is pretty good and the main leads are extremely likable especially ML the plot is where the movie lacks, there is no comedy guys and for a good 7 minutes you will feel anger too, but the romance is honestly what made me finish the movie and that is where the movie is at it's best when it's just the main leads alone talking or sharing a moment. All in all an average watch with no rewatch value.Was this review helpful to you?
"An actor's revenge certainly is dramatic"
An Actor’s Revenge was actor Hasegawa’s 300th film and a remake of his 1935 film by the same name. Both life and the play were equally theatrical and equally theatrically shot. The gender bending characters made me wonder if life was just an extension of the kabuki play or if it was a progressive look at gender.Nakamura Yukinojo is a famous onnagata who stays in character on stage and off. At the age of seven, his parents killed themselves when a friend colluded with two powerful men to destroy his father’s company, leaving the family destitute. One of the conspirators, Sansai, the ex-magistrate of Nagasaki and his daughter Namiji attend Yukinojo’s play. Kawaguchiya, the perfidious employee and co-conspirator also is there. Namiji is the shogun’s concubine but falls hopelessly in love with Yukinojo, becoming ill when he refuses to meet with her. Fellow merchant Hiromiya is also revealed to be an accomplice as he takes an interest in Yukinojo. The actor plots to use innocent Namiji to bring the 3 men down. He's aided by a lookalike Robin Hood thief, Yamitaro.
The hardest hurdle to scale was actor Hasegawa Kazuo. He was 55 at the filming of this movie and playing a character in his 20’s. When much younger Namiji fell instantly in love and called him “beguilingly beautiful” did she see beyond his paunchy middle-aged appearance? The female thief Ohatsu who was criticized for being too masculine and had never loved a man also fell in love with Yukinojo. Perhaps because the actor was decidedly feminine? Meanwhile, Yukinojo and his troupe leader Kikunojo seemed to have a deeper than friendship relationship. The thief also played by Hasegawa had sworn off all relationships with women though he was intrigued by Ohatsu. Whether it was the intention or not, love appeared fluid, flowing as it willed irrespective of gender or appearance.
Yukinojo’s revenge was nothing exceptional, but satisfying. What made this film enjoyable for me were the creative filming techniques that made all of life a stage. Trees in the forest were obviously fake as Yukinojo was confronted by an old foe. Director Ichikawa used dramatic filming techniques with inky blackness and strategic spotlights. Though it could make the action difficult to follow, the style was intriguing. Yamitaro’s identical appearance was perplexing. At first, I though perhaps Yukinojo had a split personality, especially when Yamitaro commented personally on the actor’s actions. In the end, I guess he was just one more narrator. Ichikawa made use of the famous benshi, Tokugawa Musei, as the primary narrator for the film.
An Actor’s Revenge was an entertaining kabuki experience on the stage and off. Hasegawa’s age could be difficult to overcome, but I suppose age wasn’t important on the stage so it wasn’t important off the stage in this film either. More style than substance and your enjoyment will be whether that off-beat, at times humorous style appeals to you. The suspension of reality and theater acting could be hit and miss with me, in the end it was worth the ride.
4 January 2025
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Short and sweet movie
This is what I was looking for, the movie had everything in it . The screen time between the ML and FL was bit less and they could have shown bit of their development but its fine, the movie was short and sweet. I was really really impressed with Minju's acting. I hope she gets some good drama in future.Was this review helpful to you?
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Not a review but my thoughts
The movie is about how concept love, sex and marriage is different for different individuals. I have lot of qualms about the narrative decided, but need to praise lot of choices made as well. I am curious about how these characters will live, in future. Music, acting, direction and cinematography are all top notch. The abundance of sex scene somehow felt very organic and necessary.I am not sure what Ikka sees in Ryosuke and what's her future plan. I am not sure what's Ryosuke's plan either. All he does is cheat and lie, sometimes does some introspection on his behaviour and that's about it. Ikka is clearly ruining herself and him just like stated since she thinks sex was the problem and not the lies which he is feeding her. And she wants to keep doing this forever, like that will never explode on her face.
Other than the age gap (somewhat necessary for this story), the storyline in the bookstore felt very heartwarming. You can understand him to larger extent with their interaction, and I wish the ending was slightly better, because she is still 16 /17 and he is 30 in the end. She will 💯 leave him later when she matures and he will get hurt.
But the treatment of this frail story made the watch much enjoyable.
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A feel good, comfort movie
If you're looking for a movie that feels like a comforting hug, Hear Me: Our Summer is the perfect pick. Directed by Cho Sun-ho, this 2024 South Korean romantic drama gently pulls you into its world with a quiet, heartfelt story and characters who’ll stay with you long after the credits roll. It’s a remake of the Taiwanese classic Hear Me, but it’s got a charm that’s all its own.
The story revolves around Lee Yong-jun (played by Hong Kyung), a 26-year-old delivery guy working for his parents’ snack shop. Yong-jun doesn’t exactly have his life figured out yet—he’s drifting, not sure what his next step should be. But everything changes when he crosses paths with Seo Yeo-reum (played by Roh Yoon-seo) during a delivery to a group of deaf swimmers.
Yeo-reum is a fiercely supportive sister to Ga-eul, an aspiring Olympic swimmer who is hearing-impaired. From the moment Yong-jun meets Yeo-reum, he’s captivated—not just by her beauty but by her warmth and resilience. And here's where the film deviates from the usual tropes: Yong-jun already knows sign language. There’s no dramatic “learning to communicate for love” arc because he’s been using sign language in his everyday life, and this feels refreshingly natural. It allows their connection to develop organically, without any heavy-handed gestures or over-the-top romantic clichés.
What makes Hear Me: Our Summer truly special is its atmosphere. It’s a warm, feel-good movie that doesn’t rush or try too hard to tug at your heartstrings. Instead, it lets the small, quiet moments do the work. A lingering glance, a shared laugh, or a simple gesture speaks volumes. The chemistry between Hong Kyung and Roh Yoon-seo is understated yet electric—they don’t need dramatic proclamations or grand gestures to make you believe in their story.
Roh Yoon-seo is especially captivating as Yeo-reum. She has this effortless way of pulling you into her world, making you feel her joys, struggles, and quiet determination. Hong Kyung, as Yong-jun, is equally endearing. He perfectly captures that aimless, slightly lost feeling so many people in their twenties can relate to, and his journey toward finding purpose through love and connection is deeply satisfying to watch.
The film also deserves credit for its respectful portrayal of the deaf community. It’s clear that a lot of thought went into ensuring the representation feels authentic and meaningful. The use of sign language isn’t treated as a novelty or a gimmick—it’s just a natural part of the characters’ lives, seamlessly integrated into the story. This authenticity adds a layer of depth and sincerity that sets the movie apart.
Of course, no film is perfect, and Hear Me: Our Summer has its flaws. The pacing in the second half slows down a bit, and some viewers might find themselves wishing for a little more drama or tension. But for others, that’s precisely the point. This isn’t a movie about big, sweeping moments; it’s about finding beauty in the everyday, in the little things that make life—and love—worthwhile.
Visually, the film is stunning. The cinematography leans into soft, natural tones that perfectly complement the story’s gentle, comforting vibe. Scenes of summer days by the pool, quiet evenings lit by golden-hour sunlight, and simple yet meaningful settings like Yong-jun’s family shop add to the film’s intimate charm.
If you’re in the mood for a heartwarming, feel-good movie that doesn’t demand too much of you but still leaves you with a full heart, Hear Me: Our Summer is a lovely choice. It’s the kind of film that reminds you of the simple joys of human connection and the power of just being present with someone.
By the time the credits roll, you might not feel like you’ve watched a life-changing masterpiece, but you’ll feel like you’ve spent two hours wrapped in a cozy blanket of warmth and understanding. And really, isn’t that exactly what we need sometimes?
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One nation and two regimes.
One nation and two regimes. In one, one man decides everything and everyone, in the other, he would like to decide (see recent political problems). I was completely shocked by the beginning, where behind the propaganda texts read by crazy North Korean announcers, two North Korean soldiers are greedily kissing and then having sex in an explicit scene. The film probably won't be for everyone, but it appealed to me with its harsh reality to the bone, the ending is different than I expected, but I have to admit that, fitting the story and at the very end, the scene with Jae Sung brought tears to my eyes. An immense symposia by Kim Tae Hoon in the role of Youn Joon, even though with a Thai cap on his head. The acting is superb and all three gentlemen had a great time in those revealing scenes. A deep, sad, misunderstood by many and depressing film with beautiful, subtle background music about relationships between men, hard life and a divided Korea.Was this review helpful to you?
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Spoilers!
"Mission Cross" was such a crazy movie! It had a ton of action, and the fight scenes were super cool. But what really made it fun was how funny it was too. The characters were always throwing out these random jokes, even when things were getting wild, which made it way more entertaining.And the ending? I did not expect Jonathan to show up like that. It totally surprised me and made everything even crazier. The twist at the end had me like, "What just happened?" It was a really fun ride, and I definitely didn’t see that ending coming.
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"Water, water..."
Rhapsody in August was a bittersweet viewing for me. I’ve now watched all of Kurosawa Akira’s films where he was the writer and director. I have immensely enjoyed many of his films, this wasn’t one of them. While it was watchable, it lacked the bite and depth of previous films. Perhaps it was his age, perhaps it was writing without a partner. Whatever the reason, as he worked through the focal traumatic point of his generation, it came across historically evasive and heavy-handed.Kane is the grandmother of four grandchildren. Her son and daughter have traveled to Hawaii to meet with her older brother. The children are staying with her while their parents are away. Kane has no desire to travel to Hawaii as she has no memory of the brother who immigrated in 1920 and made a fortune with pineapples. The grandchildren desperately want to go to Hawaii and are disappointed to be stuck with their grandmother in a house with no television. Kane is always looking backward to the bombing of Nagasaki where she lost her husband. She tells stories to the children who are both intrigued and frightened by them. With her husband’s memorial approaching she has no intention of leaving the country which causes the children to rethink their approach.
Women and children rarely figured prominently in Kurosawa’s films, here they took center stage. Some things never changed, the boys’ names were oft repeated while the girls’ names were scarcely mentioned. Much like the wife in Madadayo who never had a name even though the cat had one. The film fell upon the shoulders of the child actors with limited success. They went from acting like typical children upset to be without television to spouting adult social platitudes. The oldest girl, Tami according to the cast list, read off pages of exposition at the Nagasaki memorials from the Eastern bloc countries and at the school where the grandfather died. She opined how younger people had no memories of the fateful day’s event and no one bothered to learn even as crowds visited the memorials and school. Her opinions and history lessons seemed far beyond her years and felt completely out of place. Thrown into this mix was Richard Gere as the son of the wealthy brother who visited Kane and the children. Sympathetic to their suffering and acknowledging the tragic loss of the grandfather, he came and then left, awkwardly shoehorned in.
The ghost of the bombing was ever present in this film, especially for Kane who envisioned it as a great eye. For her the war never truly ended. The irony of the lost family living in Hawaii was never brought up when Kane blamed “war” for the bombing. In Kurosawa’s older films, the main character had to suffer and deal with painful challenges in order to grow and transform. Here, Kane is old and near the end of her life, ever reminiscing. Each generation had a different response to the bombing. Rather than a source of familial conflict the gap between the generations was easily bridged. The children who were largely unfamiliar with the bombing listened to Kane’s stories and visited the places she mentioned. Their parents who had known poverty as children and lived in the shadow of the bombing, were ever on the hunt to make a buck. All too eager to use the new wealthy relatives to improve their station.
Unlike his earlier films, Kurosawa fell into the tell don’t show trap where much of the action either occurred in the past or off screen such as a death and a family reunion. The bombing in this story happened in a historical vacuum, lacking any context and complexity. Perhaps because Kurosawa was near the end of his life and feeling more contemplative, so were his characters. Kane’s mind started running in reverse, driving her back to the day of the bombing. Steadily determined against the wind and rain to reach her destination and maybe this time change the ending. But only memories can run backward, time moves ever forward, with any luck carrying the lessons hard learned.
3 January 2025
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It could be better
Story 1: I found having the power to communicate to the dead cool. The ending did get me for this story. 3.5/10Story 2 Cliff: I thought this was an ad for Snickers when seeing it. They would be weak and tired from no food or water. How would they be able to fight for the Snickers? It doesn’t make sense to me at all. They would be so thirsty after eating that Snickers. 2/10
Story 3 Accident: It was predictable since drinking and driving leads to accidents. I feel like it was a better than the first story. It does have jumps cares and the ending was interesting to me. 6/10
Story 4 Escape: I feel like this one was the best story out of the others. It reminded me of the elevator game he is playing. It’s hilarious how scared the trainee teacher is being in the other world. I felt bad for the trainee teacher for the ending. 8/10
Overall, I enjoyed the fourth story the most for this group of horror stories.
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A Heartfelt Masterpiece
As someone who enjoys stories that blend genuine emotion with cultural depth, this movie hit all the right notes. It’s more than just a film about love—it's a tale of resilience and the quiet battles people face in their pursuit of happiness - even though at the end, the "happiness" is indeed a question.The story is deeply rooted in the cultural backdrop of a durian farm, which adds a unique charm. It’s not just a love story—it’s an exploration of identity, societal expectations, and the courage to live authentically. The visuals are stunning, with lush farm landscapes that contrast beautifully with the characters' tumultuous inner worlds.
Jeff Satur as Thongkham is the soul of this movie. His portrayal felt so real that it was easy to forget I was watching an actor. The way he captured Thongkham's inner struggles—his vulnerability, strength, and determination—was breathtaking. Jeff’s expressions and body language spoke volumes, even in moments of silence. It’s clear that he poured his heart into this role, and the result is nothing short of mesmerizing.
The soundtrack sung by Jeff Satur himself is another star of this movie. It’s beautifully intertwined with the narrative, amplifying the emotions of each scene. Jeff Satur, being a talented musician and songwriter, brings an undeniable magic to the musical elements. The hauntingly beautiful tracks stayed with me long after the credits rolled, becoming a part of the emotional journey the film takes you on.
This movie invites you to reflect on love, acceptance, and the price of staying true to oneself.
This isn’t just a movie—it’s an experience, one that lingers in your heart and mind long after it ends.
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My Jan 2025 Recommendation Challenge
Watch this for Recommendation Challenge by KDramaMama. This one sit quite a while in my PTW, but really reluctant to watch because I'm not too fond of watching remake. But here we are finished watching this one.Story about Hwang Woo Yun (WY) & Hwan Seung Hee (SH). WY & SH met in high school, due to some circumstances SH move away without saying goodbye. WY finally found SH after seeing her in some mags, and WY chase her down & they met again in the university. Unfortunately at that time, SH already got a boyfriend, so they got separated again.
Years later, they met again, but this time is WY that got girlfriend. Although WY got GF, he still can't forget SH, so when there's a chance to went alone with SH, WY took it. And with all the feeling that's linger between them, WY decided to break up with his GF & try his chance with SH.
But the unfortunate thing is irresistible, the day WY tell SH is the day WY got injured because of he tried to save SH. Although WY & SH ended up together after this, but that's incident like the thorn in flesh in their relationship. & once again they separated.
Until one day in the future they met again. It's happen when SH give the news to WY that's she's about to get married. WY have conflicted feeling about the news, one side he still can't forget SH, but one side the thorn still linger in the air between them. So... What's the ending of their relationship...?
That's pretty much the story without giving any more spoilers. Once again, this really remind me to what you consider light word is sometimes cut deeply into someone heart & more hurtful than a mouthful full of sharp words, especially if that said by someone important for us.
Overall this still one real story about the one that got away. Unfortunately for me, this version not leave much impression, it's easy to forget.
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It’s an okay Horror Stories
Story 1 and 2: This one is the best part of the film. They did reply on jump scares a lot on this section of the film. I did like the approach more for this one. This section actually did do well with the silence and slow motion. The second half did show that people can be the most scary than supernatural. 8/10Story 3: I feel like this one was the most boring one. The supernatural wasn’t that scary. The idea is good just to be a thriller. It didn’t work as a horror film. 0/10
Story 4: I felt like there was too much happening for a short film. I believe if this was a longer film. The story could flow better. There was too many themes happening at the same time: the rivalry of sisters, the killer husband, and supernatural. If they stick to one and made it the focus. It would behave been better. I would say overall it was more funny than scary. 5/10
Story 5: For a zombie movie it was mediocre in my opinion. The plot seems the same like any zombie movie. If it took a more unique approach it would have been better. 1/10
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