Reviews

This is a film that can take you back to Taiwan in 1977

A film of great depth, depicting the heartfelt bonds of love and friendship between two men and a woman against the backdrop of Taiwan’s political unrest in 1977.
The film begins with a breezy romance, but its second half brought me to tears.
Visually, the film is exquisitely composed, capturing the spirit of its time with precision. The cast delivers performances across four languages—Mandarin, Hakka, English, and Korean—a feat of great difficulty. Its soundtrack is equally impressive, harmonizing flawlessly with the unfolding narrative.
Through exquisite cinematography, perfectly chosen music, and superb acting, this film carries viewers back in time to 1977.

Read More

A suspenseful thriller that starts strong but loses steam in an endless cycle of chase and escape.

Midnight is proof that sometimes, survival isn’t just about skill—it’s about sheer, unexplainable luck.

Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕

The Good

Perfect Casting Across the Board
The casting for this film was spot-on. Everyone played their role so convincingly that it elevated the entire experience. You don’t realize how much great casting impacts a movie until you find yourself bumping the rating up just because the actors got it.

Kept You on Edge… At Least at the Start
The beginning really knew how to keep you anxious. That entire first chase sequence had me gripping my seat. Every time he nearly caught her, I found myself holding my breath. It felt chaotic in the best way, like anything could happen next.

Her Deafness Was a Game-Changer
Kyung Mi’s deafness made the entire experience ten times more nerve-wracking. The way the film muted the audio at times, letting us feel her disorientation, was so well done.


The Bad
The Cat and Mouse Game That Never Ended
At first, the chase between Kyung Mi and Do Shik was gripping, keeping the tension high and the stakes intense. But as the movie went on, it became painfully repetitive. The cycle of her running, him catching her, hesitating for no clear reason, and her narrowly escaping played out over and over again. How is he always just a second too late? Is it sheer luck? The suspense turned into frustration, and by the end, I was more over-it than anxious.

Frustrating Moments of Plot Convenience
This ties directly into the endless chase loops, but the level of plot convenience in this film was wild. Jong Tak, for example, felt like one of the most useless characters second only to the police. He spent most of his screen time either running in the wrong direction or getting beat up. And don’t even get me started on the scene where Do Shik traps Kyung Mi under a chair only for her to throw sand in his face, which sends him flailing on the ground long enough for her to break free. I ask this again: how is it that he had already killed multiple people, yet Kyung Mi, who couldn’t speak or hear, managed to outsmart and evade him time and time again? It was hard to take him seriously when he kept fumbling like this.


Final Thoughts

On first watch, this movie was solid. I even gave it an 8 out of 10. Once I rewatched it, the flaws became glaringly obvious. Things that had slipped past me the first time now stood out like neon signs. There were way too many moments when she escaped when she absolutely shouldn’t have, and a whole lot of scenes that felt like filler. While I still appreciated the tension and the strong acting, the endless chase sequences felt way more repetitive the second time around.
Basically, enjoy the suspense while it lasts, because once you notice the plot holes, police incompetence, and absurd chase sequences, there’s no going back.

~~~
This one got mixed reviews from a lot of people, what did you think when you first watched? Was it as interesting as I first thought it was?

Read More

Not as straightforward as it seems

Don’t let the poster fool you - this isn’t a straightforward horror flick at all. What you actually get is a strange, melancholy, and surprisingly romantic story about cross-species love, fate, and isolation, wrapped in a layer of folk horror and pseudo-science. It’s eerie, tragic, and oddly tender at the same time.

At its core, the film tells a story that could have been cliché - forced marriage, lovers torn apart, corrupt authority - but reframes it through storytelling and dual narratives. One version feels like folklore: mountain gods, tree spirits, and cursed weddings. The other peels back the myth to reveal something darker and more grounded - abuse of power, human trafficking disguised as ritual, and “science” gone grotesquely wrong. The constant switching between these versions keeps you hooked and slowly reshapes how you understand what really happened.

What really works is how unpredictable it is. The twists come quietly but land hard, and the all-BE ending feels brutal yet fitting. There’s no cheap catharsis here - just the lingering sense that this is how things often end in a world ruled by power and silence. The final act, in particular, turns what could’ve been a sensational reveal into something haunting and restrained, leaving you with that uncomfortable, “that’s it?” feeling that sticks long after the credits roll.

It’s also surprisingly ambitious for what looks like a low-budget web film. The director juggles sci-fi concepts, social commentary, and public-science messaging in tight spaces, almost like dancing in a phone booth - and somehow pulls it off. There’s a clear nod to early modern ideals of science and enlightenment clashing with superstition, even as the film questions whether progress truly saves anyone.

Is it polished? Not entirely. Is it weird, over-the-top, and occasionally unhinged? Absolutely. But that’s part of the appeal. In an industry that’s growing more risk-averse by the year, it’s refreshing to see something this bold even attempt to exist. Web films may be one of the last spaces left for this kind of experimentation, and judging this one too harshly feels unfair.

By the end, what stays with you isn’t the shock value, but the mood: romantic, unsettling, tragic, and quietly defiant. A familiar story told sideways - with just enough mystery to make you want to replay it in your head once it’s over.

Read More

Light and wholesome GL that shows us the awkwardness of young love.

This movie does an excellent job of portraying the awkwardness that comes with wanting to show vulnerability and openness in your first romance, or any romance for that matter, but being dreadfully fearful of exposing yourself to others. Emotionally and physically.

The four actresses do a terrific job of portraying the effect that a friend getting a girlfriend/boyfriend can have on the dynamics of a group of friends, and the jealousy that can manifest over somebody else taking time away from your friendship with a person. I especially enjoyed Arakaki Yume's role as the '4th friend' who wasn't really involved with the main storyline but was funny and charming in a way that felt natural within the story.

Read More

This is what happens when parents leave their children unattended

I was enjoying the movie because of how wholesome it was. Every one of the siblings had their individual charms, including the sister. Loved how they resolved Ito's conflict of having to push herself so she could be liked by her new younger step brothers. My favorite was how they helped Shu overcome his social anxiety. All was pure familial love.

That was until midway through the movie when they hit us with the step-sibling incest arc, which became the only thing that the rest of the movie was about.

Like seriously, I thought Japan was done with this type of creepy fictional work? It would've been cool if they introduced the viewers to a new character (like a classmate or a neighbor) who would eventually become Ito's romantic interest, and we get to see how each brother reacts during the entirety of their sister's love story and know more about each of their personalities (just like in the JDrama "Neechan no Koibito"). Or maybe they could've gone through the slice-of-life route and gave us more wholesome & minor everyday conflicts while also parodying cliche moments from past "step-sibling romance" media, wherein those moments never really lead to anything but only to tease the viewers (the same thing the CDrama "Take My Brother Away" did).

I loved all the characters. But the plot man..... Disappointed.

Anyway, I would only recommend watching until the part where Ito and 3/4 of the brothers go camping in her hometown. From there, it only goes downhill to the depths of hell.

Read More

Got lost along the way…

So, as much as I do not wish to use comparison in my reviews, the short way of summing this film up is be saying Wind Breaker fell into the traps that Tokyo Revengers did not, as both are works in the same genre (and style). Having watched both films without the context of their anime or manga, Tokyo Revengers drew me into the world and characters with a sense of purpose, while Wind Breaker left me wondering what crucial information was missing from the film that lead to me never really investing in the characters or events of the film.

The characters were lacklustre and not given sufficient depth or drive, with only two exceptions (neither of whom are the protagonist). While the film attempted to give characters enough background and depth with small snippets of the past, only one of these flashbacks truly felt meaningful. The end result was a film that felt somewhat meandering and slow, in spite of a strong enough start and being in the action genre.

There was also a major failing in the special fx area with one character’s feet not looking like feet (likely due to a combination of safety issues and lack of vfx budget) which was a distraction in one of the major fights.

Soundtrack was generally decent although unfortunately I’m pretty sure I heard a slur in one of the songs used early in the film which is also not great.

If you are a fan of the cast, then watch it. If you are a fan of the manga or anime, perhaps watch it. If you are neither of those, give it a miss or go watch Tokyo Revengers instead.

Read More

Losing a job has never felt this dangerous

When you lose your job to a faceless international acquisition, people tell you to stay calm, update your résumé, and “trust the process.” No Other Choice asks a simpler, more honest question: what if you didn’t?

Park Chan-wook takes the familiar, soul-sucking language of corporate survival and stretches it until it snaps. Lee Byung-hun plays a man who does everything right—polite, qualified, composed—and still gets erased. What follows isn’t a descent into madness so much as a grim recalibration. If the system treats employment like a zero-sum game, why shouldn’t he?

The film’s genius lies in how ordinary everything feels. There’s no operatic villainy here, no grand speeches. Just meetings, interviews, messages left on read. Park shoots phones, screens, and digital interactions with the same tension most directors reserve for knives. A vibration in a pocket feels like a threat. A delayed reply feels like a verdict. It’s quietly terrifying because it’s so familiar.

Lee Byung-hun is devastating in his restraint. You can see the calculation happening behind his eyes, the slow replacement of hope with efficiency. He doesn’t lash out—he optimizes. Violence, when it comes, feels procedural, almost professional, as if it were simply the next logical step in personal branding.

There’s a pitch-black humor running through all of it. The film understands how absurd corporate language becomes when placed next to genuine human desperation. Words like “opportunity,” “fit,” and “growth” start to sound obscene when livelihoods are on the line.

No Other Choice isn’t just a thriller—it’s a workplace horror film for the modern age. It captures the quiet panic of being disposable, the shame of competing with strangers who look exactly like you, and the terrifying thought that maybe the system is working as designed. Park Chan-wook doesn’t exaggerate reality here. He just follows it to its most uncomfortable conclusion.

Read More

My December 2025 recommendation

Watched this for my Recommendation Challenge from 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕0_𝒐𝒅.

One movie that I don't think I'll ever click watch if not for the recommendation challenge & Misunderst0_od. Haha…

Let's begin…

The story takes place in a world quite different from ours—one where humans and monsters once coexisted. But no matter the world, humans remain selfish b*tch and power-hungry. Eventually, they drive the monsters away in their desire to dominate everything.

Now, the story kicks off with a war in the monster realm. One powerful monster wants the throne, so he starts a rebellion against the king, and he wins. Now, he’s hunting down every member of the old king’s family and loyal ministers to eliminate any remaining threats.

This is where the paths of our main leads begin to collide…

The queen, barely escaping with a few loyal guards, encounters Tian Yin (TY). Knowing she doesn’t have much time, she makes a desperate choice—using magic to transfer her unborn child into TY’s body.

So now, TY is pregnant—and inside him grows the baby Monster King—an existence everyone wants to control or exploit.

Enter Huo Xiao Lan (XL), a monster hunter who initially protects TY only because she plans to claim the baby monster for herself and sell it for a high price.

But as they travel together, facing danger after danger, things start to change. XL and TY begin to care—not just for each other, but for baby monster king. They start seeing the baby not as a prize, but as someone worth protecting.

Meanwhile, the queen’s loyal guards are still out there, continuing their search to find and protect their rightful king.

Now the questions remain:
? What will TY and XL do with the baby monster king…
? Will they still sell him like they first planned…
? Will they raise him themselves…
? Or will they finally return him to his rightful guardians….

That's pretty much the story without giving anymore spoilers. Now what I like and don't.

What I like:
+ Funny movie that’s not exaggerating.
+ Good songs
+ Good CGI, cute baby monster
+ Good story about friendship & family

Overall I am quite happy to watch this movie…

Read More

English and Portuguese Review

𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐞…
At first, I thought the film would follow a completely different idea, but I ended up really liking the way the story is told. The plot follows a North Korean soldier who tries to desert the army and cross into South Korea, something that is already extremely risky on its own.

What caught my attention the most was the courage involved in all of this. North Korea is no joke, and the film makes it very clear how any wrong move can come at a high cost. We follow this tense journey, with situations where the protagonist needs to think fast to survive, and he does that very well. He is an intelligent character, and it’s satisfying to watch how he tries to get through the chaos.

The acting is impeccable and really keeps you anxious to know whether he will make it or not. I also found his relationship with officer Ri Hyun Sang very interesting. It’s clear that there is something more going on there. The film confirms that Ri Hyun Sang is homosexual, and there are several tense moments between the two that give the impression that he has feelings for the protagonist. Maybe that’s exactly why he hesitates to kill him when he has the chance.

For me, the film isn’t a 10/10 because in some scenes the protagonist’s plot armor is very noticeable, with things that probably wouldn’t happen that way in real life. Even so, it’s a very gripping film, tense from beginning to end, and definitely worth the experience.

───────────────────────────────────────────────────

𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚-𝐬𝐞, 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚-𝐬𝐞, 𝐧𝐚𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐚...
No começo, eu achei que o filme seguiria uma ideia completamente diferente, mas acabei gostando muito da forma como a história é contada. A trama acompanha um soldado da Coreia do Norte que tenta desertar do exército e cruzar para a Coreia do Sul, algo que, por si só, já é extremamente arriscado.

O que mais me chamou atenção foi a coragem envolvida nisso tudo. A Coreia do Norte não é brincadeira, e o filme deixa bem claro o quanto qualquer passo em falso pode custar caro. A gente acompanha essa jornada cheia de tensão, com situações em que o protagonista precisa pensar rápido para sobreviver, e ele faz isso muito bem. Ele é um personagem inteligente, e dá gosto de ver como ele tenta se virar em meio ao caos.

A atuação é impecável e te deixa realmente ansioso para saber se ele vai conseguir ou não. Também achei muito interessante a relação dele com o oficial Ri Hyun Sang. Fica claro que existe algo a mais ali. O filme confirma que Ri Hyun Sang é homossexual, e há vários momentos de tensão entre os dois que passam a sensação de que ele tem sentimentos pelo protagonista. Talvez seja justamente isso que faça com que ele hesite em acabar com ele quando tem a chance.

Pra mim, o filme não é nota 10 porque em algumas cenas fica claro o peso do protagonismo, coisas que talvez não acontecessem assim na vida real. Mesmo assim, é um filme muito envolvente, tenso do começo ao fim, e que vale muito a experiência de assistir.

Read More