Inspiring yet comically sad
Well, I didn't expect the story would be really great. It's inspiring yet comically sad. The lead transformation was really motivating. Yang Zi's role is really something I didn't expect. All casts portrayed their roles really well. Bravo!!!Why do we need to write long review btw?
Great story
Great movie
Great casts
Great ost.
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Loved it!
I just loved this movie. As a fan of High School tropes this had it all, and not a in a cliché way. The actors were perfect, the big reveal delivered, and I liked seeing the development of the FL.Only thing missing was an earlier reveal with a big "ehhhhh?" from their classmates, but it wasn't that kind of movie.
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Unus Prevalet
Simply put, a country is a territory exclusively claimed by a given people. There are lands belonging to the people of the American states; those of the folks by the Niger, and the lands of the Koreans and so forth.Modern societies can only function if the people within countries believe themselves in concert. A vast propaganda apparatus and coercive institutions exist precisely to sustain that delusion. The best modern societies are the most cohesive, and thus those most firmly enthralled.
Yet, how many people can anybody know intimately in their country? How many are they entirely certain they could trust with their lives? Some are more fortunate in that regard than others. But not even with the most charismatic people can such amici number in the thousands. Even Jesus Christ only had eleven! Thus, for all that we would have it otherwise, the fact remains that all major human activities revolve around groups of intimates. A small cohesive group remains the most powerful human collective. They push the wheel.
For most of human history, something so obvious won’t have needed detailing. Our ancestors foraged in small bands of relatives. Those who settled as farmers or roamed as nomads were all related. Whether they were lords, peasants, slaves or raiders, strangers were rare! But mankind encountered the divine and birthed religion. Bureaucrats came into being to administer sacrifices to deities. Next came standing armies to defend them. It took some time, but then we invented corporations and endowed them with certain human rights. Then instant communication linked those above and those below by bypassing the middle.
The aggregate effect of all those eldritch creatures we term institutions is that modern man has to function in a world surrounded by strangers. And that works fine. Modernity has many fine substitutes for tangible reality. I’m not whispering in your ear right now. And yet, modernity cannot save us from the threat of an organised cabal. Its illusions crumble if they mount a concerted assault on our institutions. All that’s left are individuals who get swept aside and other groups who must decide whether to submit or fight. In the scrum where band meets band, only the most trusting and the best organised — the one that doesn’t wilt underneath the harsh rays of a zero-sum contest ( to the death!) will prevail. Those who seize the day become rulers.
12.12: The Day is a Korean masterpiece that more eloquently grapples with the above sentiments. It explores the events of the coup d’etat mounted by General Chun Doo-Hwan and his Hanahoe clique against their military colleagues and the Korean State within the medium of a thrilling two-hour drama. Spoilers — Chun Imperator, Ave!
It is obvious that the drama’s creators do not support the actions of the Hanahoe. I admire their creation because they avoided the temptations of lesser artists. There was no revisionism here. At least, so far as I can tell. They trusted in an intelligent audience to make their decisions about what was right or wrong. The viewer can see why those who followed Generals Chun or Lee would have made their choices and lived with the consequences. Although the creators place their thumb on the scales at certain moments in General Lee’s favour, it isn’t so blatant as to be preachy. This tale aims for mastery and artistic integrity over cheap partisan fervour.
It was also great watching a story that was 99% blokes where their motivations were straightforward. Most were following orders, and some just went with the flow. A minority knew the stakes all along, and the rest chose to stick with their guys because the alternative was either getting beat up by your boys for being a wet cat or getting trussed up as a scapegoat. Well, I suppose there was always snitching or cowardice — but, heaven forfend, right?! Every boarder who ever snuck out past lights out or who had to stash contraband during inspections knows the drill. I bet we’ll find this refreshing without the sugar and spice some lesser creators sneak in to titillate the screamy, fainty set.
All in all, this is a cinematic and literary masterpiece!
I bet Prez Yoon is watching this on repeat o:
Like the Josh Groban song . . . Don't Give Up!
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Only 6 out of 10 short films are there
I have watched this group of short films on Amazon Prime Video.1.Ding Dong Challenge: It was a bit confusing to me. I feel like there was some content missing to it. It was predictable what would happen in my opinion. 6/10
2.The Prey (Four-Legged Beast): The student did go insane quick which was something. It was interesting to see this one. 8/10
3.Jackpot: It did have an interesting way of blending horror with the thrill genre. I did like how there was a bit foreshadowing with this one. 8/10
4.Resident Only Fitness Service: To me it was predictable on what would happen. 5/10
5.Rehabilitation: I believe this one did seem more interesting to me. 9/10
6.Gluttony: This one was actually depressing. Sad to see what happened to both of them. 7/10
Gold Teeth,Tick Tock Tick Tock, Delivery Complete, and Hey Marmons are not in the group for these films. I only rated the ones that have been shown.
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WHAT DID THEY DO TO YUKI???
So you are telling me, a random man comes to become your teacher, calls you over to his house, confesses his love to you and when you try to get away he holds you against your will and assaults you in every way he can??? And the fact the girl Yuki likes tells him to confess his feelings already and that she knows what Tonoin did???? I feel so bad for Yuki and wanted to give him the biggest hug. Yuki was in pain for days, physically, mentally, and emotionally. It doesn't help that the girl he really liked just threw him to the wolves and didn't care about his well being. I'm happy about the ending because Tonoin doesn't get what he wants.Was this review helpful to you?
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Uninvited: A Vengeful Party You Won’t RSVP to Twice
Uninvited (2024) is a Philippine mystery crime thriller directed by Dan Villegas, co-produced with a story and screenplay by Dodo Dayao. Starring Vilma Santos, Aga Muhlach, and Nadine Lustre, the film entered the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival with a tale of vengeance set against a backdrop of crime and corruption.The story revolves around Lilia Capistrano (Vilma Santos), a grieving mother who infiltrates the lavish birthday party of wealthy criminal Guilly Vega (Aga Muhlach) to avenge her daughter's brutal murder. With layers of deceit, violence, and a cathartic showdown, the film explores the dark underbelly of power and privilege.
1. A Familiar Tale with a Few Twists
At its heart, Uninvited follows a well-trodden revenge plot: a mother seeking justice for her child. While the narrative isn't groundbreaking, the execution keeps you hooked. Villegas's direction ensures a polished visual style, and Dodo Dayao’s screenplay peppers the predictable storyline with sharp dialogue and moments of campy indulgence.
2. Star Power and Standout Performances
Vilma Santos as Eva/Lilia delivers a solid performance, though her attempts at subtle, eye-driven acting occasionally fall flat. Conversely, Aga Muhlach steals the show as the flamboyantly sinister Guilly. His portrayal brims with devilish charisma, echoing Al Pacino’s theatrical villainy in The Devil’s Advocate.
Nadine Lustre shines as Nicole, Guilly’s tormented daughter, bringing depth and vulnerability to a challenging role. Her scenes with Santos, while powerful, would’ve benefited from tighter editing to heighten their emotional impact.
The ensemble cast, including Nonie Buencamino, Lotlot de Leon, Elijah Canlas, and Mylene Dizon, each leave an impression, but it’s Muhlach’s menacing presence that truly elevates the film.
3. Flashes of Brilliance Amid Predictability
The film’s pacing is uneven, with a drawn-out buildup that dulls the climactic party confrontation. The revenge-fueled action sequences lack the tension and urgency needed for a truly gripping payoff. However, the musical score deserves applause, amplifying the film's intensity and creating moments of genuine suspense.
The film embraces its campiness, which, while entertaining, occasionally undermines its dramatic stakes. The predictable plot twists—though expected in a revenge story—diminish the emotional weight of the climax.
4. Final Thoughts
Uninvited isn’t without its flaws, but it still delivers enough intrigue and star power to warrant a watch. With Santos and Muhlach anchoring the narrative, it’s an enjoyable revenge flick, even if it doesn’t reinvent the wheel. For all its predictability, the film offers just enough drama, camp, and thrills to keep audiences entertained.
Catch it in theatres if you’re in the mood for some indulgent vengeance, but it might be better suited for a streaming night at home.
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prolonged vapid mess with an explosive finale
At this point, I've seen a couple of Takashi Miike's films, so I wouldn't class this at his Gorleston or most messed up, but I understand if teenagers dying isn't your thing, then don't bother watching (although it should be fairly obvious that this is what is going to happen, plus it's no more 'out there' than your standard slasher).The runtime is atrociously long, so much of this film feels like filler that is a painful slog just to get to the last explosive 40 minutes. Sadly, it's hard to enjoy even the 3rd act, as all the side characters that have been shown thus far have already been removed from the story, thus there is no real tension or investment for us as a viewer. the plot is all over the place for seemingly no reason, and is interspersed with random flashbacks that are jarring, to say the least.
In terms of acting, the character Hasumi has to carry this one on his back, and while I think he does a good job, it doesn't save the film. Hideaki Ito is able to the toe line between crazy and overly comedic fairly well, despite the random English he has to work with. Sadly, no one else really makes any kind of impression on the viewer, and generally aren't around for long anyways, so it doesn't really matter.
My favourites? Honestly the soundtrack isn't too bad, and the few standout songs our characters listen to are pretty fun and catchy. There are some great shots throughout, and the 3rd act is bursting with colour, which leads it to being a great visual treat. Maybe if I'd consumed the media this film is based off of, I would've enjoyed it more, but as a standalone? I wouldn't say it's worth your patience.
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A must-watch
"Egoist" is a deeply moving and visually stunning exploration of love, identity, and vulnerability. The film masterfully portrays the complexities of human connection, anchored by heartfelt performances that exude authenticity. Its nuanced storytelling and delicate cinematography draw viewers into a world where emotions feel raw yet universally relatable. This is Not a BL - but a real deep movie.The film's portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes is sensitive and poignant, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of living one's truth. "Egoist" doesn't shy away from emotional depth, offering moments of profound introspection alongside bursts of genuine joy.
Story and acting are very good. The movie didn't really have much music. But it suited the movie well - And I like that there is not to much music.
A must-watch for anyone seeking a film that challenges the heart and lingers in the soul long after the credits roll.
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Boring
What a waste of time. After Svaha, which was great, I had great expectations of the author, but this was almost as bad as The Priests. I guess Svaha was good by accident.Once again we have some weird syncretism of christian, buddhist and shamanist elements here, except there is no moral.
The camerawork and acting were both good, but what can be done if the story sucks?
The only thing I learned from this movie is that for koreans japanese are the scariest thing ever. For all the haughty nationalist yapping korean cinema has been releasing recently, they really do have inferiority complex, don't they? Here they blame japan for splitting korea into north and south, which was accomplished just by burying one samurai dude near the border. Who knows what would happen if japanese buried two dudes, or three, or three hundred?
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Watch it, if you prefer Villain's ass getting kicked.
Good Day readers, I don't know what makes a good movie but I do know that this one was such a good movie. Two main characters. "So Si Min" played by "Shin Hye Sun" the hero who does justice. And "Han Su Gang" played by "Lee Jun Young" the Berserk guy bullying others for fun.Si Min a contract teacher, a former athelete, the hindrance between her and her full time teacher job is being unable to ignore injustice, she tries her best to be Blind and Deaf to the injustice, but can't. Therefore, she conceals her real identity and wears on a cat mask to fight injustice.
Han Su, a guy who's gone berserk. A highschool student although he's not a minor. Gets thrill from Bullying others, keeps harassing others for his satisfaction. Totally out of mind. Suddenly a guy with a Cat mask came in his life out of nowhere and kicked his ass, he took on the challenge to take his revenge. And have a fight with Cat Mask.
The Story's about a former athelete who quit her sports career to protect her family, and is trying to become a full time teacher, but observing the Bullies she can't turn a blind eye to it. So her journey to fight the Bully commenced.
Now the main points that I absolutely loved about the movie :
• The MUSIC is top notch, you'll feel like you're right there in the crowd with them, the background music is fire, and I totally loved the sync.
• ACTIONS scenes, is there any need to say or praise just how good they were, all three fights were fantastic, Shin Hye Sun nailed it, and Jun Young did the same, I'm a big fan of Action Genre. And this movie nailed the action part.
• ACTING, I was impressed by the absolute Pure Villain vibes from Jun Young in that moment, and a user's comment said "the more evil and charming a Villain is, more the Hero shines.
• The STORY was such a simple one, without any complications just a simple story with a good execution. The movie turned out to be good.
• The DUO, Cop and the Boxer, bestfriends. I hope to see them in any other work. Cause they look good together.
• The CASTING was so good, when I saw the actors I felt like, ooo it's worth watching.
Concluding all the above points,
➤ Music 10/10
➤Acting 10/10
➤Story 9.5/10
➤Casting 10/10
This review ends here, thanks for reading, do share your opinion with me, if you completed reading the whole thing.
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Full rebellion mode
Resident bad boy Seijun Suzuki in full rebellion mode, Branded to Kill refuses all direct relations with geography in depicting a career hitman on the verge of losing control, one that's discordant, broken and thoroughly berserk. The film is infamous for Suzuki's firing by Nikkatsu, with Suzuki doubling down on everything they hated his films for after all the restrictions placed upon him, the result is an arresting cocktail of sex, violence and surrealism, the monochrome hues accentuating the perversity of the entire twisted venture; it thrums along to an irresistible hard-bop beat, with effortlessly stylish black and white cinematography and set-pieces straight from a pulp fiction fever dream. Because it's so free of the conventions of other crime thrillers, ignoring all rules of conventional filmmaking and forgoing a traditional three-act structure, the disorienting camera angles and jumps in time are all part of the atmosphere. Suzuki outdid himself with this astonishing blend of yakuza films, film noir and new wave, yes it makes little sense but the strong performances from its cast, especially that of Jō Shishido uplift Branded to Kill to the stuff of legendary status in all its audacious genre-bending and narrative-busting ways.Was this review helpful to you?
QUESTIONS:
Do I recommend it?
- No, because a lot of drama game are best out there.
Do I re-watch it?
- Absolutely not.
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Watch this for MDL 2024 watch challenge. It’s one touching movie…Weird summary from MDL, let me tell you from a different perspective. Story about Kim Bong Yong (BY), a construction foreman, who did everything he can with his job. Like all other salarymen, he sacrifices everything to please his boss, until he’s a little bit ‘neglectful’ of his family.
This movie starts when BY’s daughter & son are already in their teenage years & start to rebel against their parents. Especially Kim Dal Nim, because she feels unheard in the family. But unfortunately that’s not the focus of our movie…
One day, BY feels sick & checks with a doctor. Unfortunately, he got bad news. BY still tries to hide this fact from his family. But one day, he got fired from his job & everything started crumbling down even more from that… How in the end BY & his family go through this difficult time in their life…?
That's pretty much the story without giving any more spoilers. Overall this one touching movie, with a little defect on the end. Haha…
Below I’ll write what I mean with the little defect. But that also means SPOILER ALERT!!! Read it at ur own risk.
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SPOILER ALERT!!!
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Much like PHope wrote on the review page, the ending is very confusing. They don’t give us a clear statement, whether BY died or not. I feel like he’s dead & the last few min is just his ghost visiting or maybe his wife, Lee Hwa Yun (HY) imagining BY still among them. But once again, they made the scene with the picnic… When did it happen…? It can’t be just HY imagination, cause they take a selfie…. See… So confusing…
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A great Sci-fi Action Movie
First movie of 2025.Overall it’s a great sci-fi action movie. I enjoyed it. I haven’t read the manga or watched the anime, but I heard that it’s quite a solid adaptation as well. The plot was great overall, and the acting was excellent.
There were a very few things I didn’t like about this movie. The first thing is the relationship between our superhero lead with his family. I’m not satisfied with how it progressed throughout the movie and how it ended as well.
The second thing is the relationship between our teenage villain and his loved ones, and the ending of them. Why did they have to kill everyone around him? I really pitied him and I think he didn’t think he had an ending he deserved. Of course what he did is wrong, no one can deny that. However, I think the real villain in this movie isn’t him, but the society. Those people around him, except for his loved ones but they were also too miserable, are the one who turned a kindhearted lost soul into a monster. I think the movie should point out that at least.
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Honest and Authentic
I have yet to see a narrative that so respectfully and lovingly expresses the joys, pain, longing, and frustration of queer and queer questioning youth finding their way in an unforgiving and unknowable world.This narrative serves as a prequel to Unintentional Love Story and frankly, it is the far superior and genuine story. You do not necessarily need to watch the first to appreciate this story, but if you do, you will notice the stark difference in the two tales.
The acting is sublime and each of the leads offers such warmth to their respective roles that you will long to spend more time with them.
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