This review may contain spoilers
The plot is like an Ementali cheese - it is full of holes...
This movie (and it's previous part) has a strong cuteness factor, since the leading actors did a good job with what they'd got and they are both sweet, but the story is just a mess. Obviously, when it comes to TV shows, they don't have to be 100% realistic, but they still have to be believable and logical in their own frame - this movie didn't manage to do it.We have Golf, who faked his death - why? What was the purpose of it? And how come all the friends at school knew it's fake death, but neither them nor Bank's mom had the decency to tell Bank the truth? Where did the baby from the end of the first movie disappear? If Golf was in contact with at least some people from home during the 5 years, how did he not know that Bank entered a relationship? Etc... - I have the impression that when they made the 1st movie, they didn't know they'd have a 2nd, so when they eventually decided to make one, they were struggling with finding out how to "resurrect" Golf for a happy end, and how to get there. The movie didn't really have a story, just a bunch of people with ununderstandable motivations for there unlikely behaviour, and this way even the happy end didn't bring much catharsis.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
ESQUISITO E INCOMPLETO...
Ontem à noite decidi assistir a esse filme e o começo parece bem promissor, as bases iniciais do filme são bem apresentadas e o enredo se mostra bem interessante e inovador. Afinal, a Coreia do Sul é um dos países que mais se preocupa com a opinião pública e muitas vezes as grandes corporações e pessoas com poder decidem manipular as redes sociais e a mídia para controlar a dita opinião pública.Entretanto, a reta final do filme nitidamente estava desconexa e confusa, além de que os cortes de edição foram mal feitos e horríveis. Quando finalmente há algum esclarecimento inteligível, nos é apresentado que o garoto era um mitomaníaco narcisista que manipulou um jornalista que já estava em desgraça com o público e a imprensa, motivo? Sei lá, para os roteiristas pouco importava na verdade. Uma pena porque o elenco era muito bom.
Was this review helpful to you?
idk how to feel
what…Don’t get me wrong I love BL & I love horror. Cool & weird supernatural BL / Yaoi have always peaked my interest, including this one, but what… I don’t know how to feel about it but I definitely laughed a lot. It felt more like a comedy than horror, which I didn’t mind at all. It’s a fun watch & an experience to say the least.
I honestly I didn’t get affected by the jump scares or the special effects makeup.
I know it’s a short film but it felt a little too rushed. If only it had been just a little bit longer.
Was this review helpful to you?
Classic style action-comedy done right.
Before I launch into any kind review, you do not need any context to enjoy this film. It can be enjoyed both in isolation and in context of previous works.A very enjoyable action comedy that you could bring the whole family along to watch. Imagine a James Bond style film, but instead, place a pair of retired Japanese cops with a solid sense of humour and style in the spotlight.
The soundtrack was PERFECTION and I don’t have much else to say about that. The veteran actors still got it, a still stylish and legendary duo. The story was fun, and that’s the easiest way I can describe it.
The film didn’t let itself get bogged down in politics or agendas, it wasn’t trying to appease anyone or anything, it aimed for fun and hit the bullseye.
This made me want to watch the previous instalments of the series. I cannot recommend it enough. It’s the kind of fun that makes people feel nostalgic to about the fun going to the movies years ago.
Was this review helpful to you?
"Try what you can, then you'll find what you like"
The Moon Has Risen was a charming, sweetly funny film written by Ozu Yasujiro and directed by prolific actress Tanaka Kinuyo. A father living with his three daughters, all of marriage age, would have to brace himself as the matchmaking and romancing were about to escalate with the full moons.Asai Mokichi lives in Nara with his three daughters. He has a hands-off approach with their love lives, letting his daughters do as they will. Chizu is the eldest daughter and a widow. She is traditional and loves caring for the family and her father. Ayako, the second daughter, is quietly shy, and falls somewhere between modern and traditional. Much to her consternation, her aunt is always trying to set her up with marriages she has no interest in. Setsuko, the youngest at 21, is effusive and effervescent. She is close friends with Shoji, a man who is currently living on the premises and unemployed. Shoji’s friend, Amamiya, visits for a while during a business trip. Setsuko and Shoji join forces to matchmake for Ayako and Amamiya when they see how much the two care for each other. The course of true love never runs smoothly, and that goes for Setsuko and Shoji as well!
Many Ozu story elements were to be found. A widowed father, played by Ozu regular Ryu Chishu, had daughters of marriage age. This time though, no one was overly worried about the father being left alone. Chizu enjoyed caring for her father, but even she may have had a love match. No older male friends were called in to help find potential mates, the sisters took care of their own futures. And each other. I loved the sisters’ relationships with each other. I worried that I might find Setsuko annoying as she attempted to bring Ayako and Amamiya together, but after the first few scenes, I found her to be a fun character and appealing. Watching the relationship grow between Setsuko and the aimless Shoji was compelling as well.
This was Tanaka Kinuyo’s second directorial effort and I thoroughly enjoyed how she framed shots. It might have been an Ozu script but she didn’t stay cemented to shooting from the mat as he did. Nor were there the head on conversations directly to the camera and overly controlled acting. Her characters moved fluidly and gracefully. She used beautiful outdoor scenes, tranquil temple locations, and gorgeously composed rooms to great effect. The characters were more tactile and looser than in an Ozu film. The family even had a pet dog! The humor was gentle and felt authentic to the story. I found Tanaka’s style of directing very relaxing.
The Moon Has Risen was an endearing film about three sisters as they carved out futures for themselves and when they faltered there was always a sister around to give destiny a little push in the right direction. Tanaka Kinuyo tied everything together with her own method of directing and extracted excellent performances from the actors. Only the second Japanese woman at the time to direct a feature film, she proved herself well. Oh, and Mizoguchi Kenji, you were wrong, she had plenty of brains to direct.
16 June 2024
*Mizoguchi was against Tanaka directing, stating, she “does not have enough brains to be a film director.”
Was this review helpful to you?
Love and Hate Relationship With the Movie!
One of my very first K-movie, and the first work of Ha Jiwon that I watched.The movie is not boring or slow paced. It have got a good story but not entirely unpredictability. The acting was very convincing.
Only thing I didn't like were some quite unhygienic scenes, they continue to traumatize me till today. That's why, I'd never watch it again.
Overall, it was a good movie.
Was this review helpful to you?
Crying and Sobbing
And Sobbing and Crying! Honestly, I didn't know what to expect going into this movie, but it ended up being really good. This movie made me so freaking emotional, especially when they had to decide. I felt bad for these characters and understood where the main guy and the villain were coming from. If you want a movie that will make your heart hurt, I recommend this one.Was this review helpful to you?
Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!: The Movie
0 people found this review helpful
Watch this one not the remake
This was such an intersting a diffrent plot. You know what they say if something is good people will immitate it. This was such a good series.I am not a fan of making remakes so close to an original release so I might be a teensy bit biased but I think the original is so charming that it cant really be replicated.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Nice POV Horror Movie
Horror movies are definitely my favorite genre. I did appreciate the eerie elements in this with the POV camera. I also enjoyed how they tried to make a convincing story that was intriguing and enough to keep you invested in the story.Found footage, POV cameras, etc are a little dated for horror so I wish they could have shared it from a normal production perspective but seems like many horrors fail to make it scary enough going this route; otherwise, I still enjoyed it
Was this review helpful to you?
Music, Grief, Youth, Redemption
I never watched the anime because I never had the courage to do so.But I had to watch this movie since it's a Kento starrer.
This movie was packed with emotions and it made me cry scene after scene. The actors performed really well and the movie was fast paced. The movie was good enough to make me fall in love with the characters and compelled me to watch the anime.
Was this review helpful to you?
From Page to Screen: Disappointing Live Action
From manga to screen, "Wolf Girl and Black Prince" undergoes a transformation that may leave fans of the original manga with mixed feelings. Kento Yamazaki delivers a compelling portrayal of Kyōya Sata, capturing the enigmatic and sometimes sadistic nature of his character with precision. His performance stands out as one of the film's strengths, showcasing his ability to embody complex manga characters on screen.Opposite Yamazaki, Fumi Nikaidō brings Erika Shinohara to life with charm and authenticity. Their chemistry is perfect, synchronized, and fully replicate the depth seen in the manga's depiction of their relationship. The film's cinematography and direction often fall short, particularly in pivotal emotional scenes where the camera work fails to enhance the narrative's impact.
Despite its shortcomings, "Wolf Girl and Black Prince" offers moments of genuine emotion, notably when Erika splashes water onto Sata's face—a scene that encapsulates their tumultuous dynamic.
While fans of the manga may appreciate seeing their favorite characters on screen, the adaptation ultimately struggles to capture the depth and nuance of its source material.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not easy being an actor
First, I have to say that I like the actor Yang Dong-geun all the way since „Wild Card (2003)”. Without him this movie would not be worth my time. He brings a little bit of his charisma to guide the young guy who dreams of becoming a movie star but first needs to do the proper lesson. Unfortunately, his acting here also doesn’t appear to be completely sincere so instead of levelling up the acting performance for the rest of the cast they all perform on a mid level.Actually the movie feels like a gag movie. I am not quite sure if the comedy is intentional or the movie makers wanted a drama, but somehow it wasn’t believable in any way. The positive is that the movie is short and an easy watch and it manages to show some difficulties of becoming an actor. I was actually dreaming of appearing in one of Korean movies but I was reminded here that this is not easy or fun work. A person needs to have some deeper motivation and vocation for acting profession. Music selection was good also.
Was this review helpful to you?
A much better series
As one who has read the novel & watched the series Love Syndrome III, this was a much better series than the previous one. The acting, The production, The scenes, the transition from one scene to another & the blocking of the actors. I guess this had more budget than the previous series. I never expected Itt & Day's actor to be good!! Tbh, I have no expectations on this series & just want to watch it, but it was good!I'm really hoping that this has a continuation with the same group of actors. Sad to know that the director on this series has been deceased T__T
looking forward to the next part though~
Was this review helpful to you?
It will remind us that there is always room for love and personal growth
ON May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the list of the International Classification of Diseases. Later, since 2004, it became a date to commemorate the fight of the LGBTIQ+ community for their rights and raise awareness about discrimination.However, LGBTIQ+ people in Japan face certain legal and social challenges not experienced by heterosexual citizens. The current Constitution, written after World War II under the control and supervision of the United States, refers to marriage as an act between a man and a woman and is prohibited for homosexual couples.
Despite the discrimination towards this human group and the fact that the dates mentioned above are not that far away, the issue of homosexuality had already been on the rise in the Japanese film industry long before.
With diverse approaches, mainly from the 80s of the 20th century, we could remember some films such as 'Beautiful Mystery' (Genji Nakamura, 1983), considered a cult film and the first feature film from that country that addressed homosexuality as a central theme; 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence' (1983) and Gohatto (Taboo), from 1999, both by Nagisa Oshima, a director of extraordinary sensitivity and director of some of the most international Japanese films, and the list could be longer, because while The closer we get to modernity, the more prevalent the theme has become.
In this sense, a film that stands out is 'Sono Koi, Jihanki de Kaemasu ka?' (In English 'Can I Buy Your Love from a Vending Machine?', from 2023, a live-action adaptation of the popular manga series of the same name by Yoshii Haruaki.
Thus we find this film that was born from the thoroughness and creativity of an incomparable filmmaker who had already worked on several equally significant works such as 'One Man's Son' and 'Reminiscence Journey'.
This is a film that stands out for its deeply human themes, its formal successes and its delicate exploration of identity and friendship. Additionally, it combines elements of comedy-drama with a sincere look at relationships between men.
Although it covers several contents (the construction of a friendship narrated with unusual delicacy, the support of friends, coming out of the closet, work vertigo in today's world, a journey towards the search for happiness, self-acceptance and self-love) , the film is simply about a love story.
In 'Sono Koi, Jihanki de Kaemasu ka?', everything that can be conceived is reduced to the gaze, which confirms the existence of the other; and from there comes the rapprochement, and then desire and love. Yamashita Ryoma, a strong, tall and muscular 28-year-old man in charge of a juice vending machine in an office in Tokyo, surprises office worker Koiwai Ayumu with a noble gesture in a moment of exhaustion from hard work. From that moment on, Koiwai, 32, cannot take his eyes off Yamashita Ryoma, with whom he has secretly fallen in love. One day, he musters the courage to start a conversation, which sets in motion a closer relationship.
Although eye contact, known as shisen or awasu, is not common in Japan, and staring into a person's eyes can be very rude and uncomfortable, at some point, their gazes meet.
Actors Matsuda Ryo and Tazuru Shoho play the lead roles, Koiwai Ayumu and Yamashita Ryoma, respectively. Next to them we see Yanagi Yurina, who plays the character of Ooishi, Koiwai's colleague and friend.
Matsuda Ryo is one of the best-known Japanese actors inside and outside his country, thanks to his role as Jonouchi Hideyasu / Kamen Rider Gridon in several films and series of the Kamen Rider universe, as well as his leading performances in the films 'Bakumatsu Without Honor and Humanity' and 'Messiah: Shikkoku no Shou', among others.
For his part, Tazuru Shoho made his acting debut precisely in 'Sono Koi, Jihanki de Kaemasu ka?'. Through his character's relationship with a man who recognizes his gay status from the first scenes and who has just entered his life, he learns to accept his sexuality and find his own voice. His authentic performance captures the complexity of his character.
Written by Kumi Tawada ('Junihitoe wo Kita Akuma' (2020), 'To Each His Own' | 'Chotto Ima Kara Shigoto Yamete Kuru' (2017) and 'A Chair on the Plains | Sougen no Isu (2013)', the The audience will be able to enjoy in this office romance how each young person becomes the center of the other's attention and they build, step by step, a very strong bond, friendly at first, romantic later, although full of clumsiness and misunderstandings.
The viewer will appreciate how small everyday mistakes, such as being late for an appointment, also contribute to boosting confidence and making the person you want to conquer feel more comfortable.
Koiwai Ayumu and Yamashita Ryoma will confirm to us that Japanese way of being when it comes to seducing: they are not as inventive as Westerners could be, as it is difficult for them to express their feelings or take the initiative. Even the first kiss takes forever to come. And it's not exactly due to lack of interest, shyness or even coldness, as many might think, but it seems that flirting is still a taboo in Japan. Although much of this has changed in the last century, Japanese society still finds it somewhat difficult to express its feelings, due to its culture of extreme respect for others.
But equally, the film transgresses, for the better, some of the peculiarities of Japanese romance. For example: the characters' dates are not with groups of friends, such as work or study colleagues, and when they declare their feelings they can lead to public displays of affection.
It is striking how Yamashita, who is the younger of the two, is the one who not only asks to exchange contact information or proposes the date without spending weeks exchanging messages, as the Japanese usually do, but he will also ask Kiowai to call him. his first name and leave aside the use of honorifics, something strongly rooted in Japanese culture.
The viewer will be able to appreciate that although they are both adults, everything related to the emotions that Yamashita awakens in Ayumu, and vice versa, feels like the first love of a teenager.
I also recommend the film for joining other dramatized films in addressing issues related to sexuality and gender identity in a conservative society with strong patriarchal and heteronormative traditions, such as Japan.
I highly value the fact that 'Sono Koi, Jihanki de Kaemasu ka?' portray the diversity of human relationships with delicacy, and contribute to dismantling the prevailing stereotypes regarding what is "normal", enabling the necessary change in society.
In short, it is a film that not only seeks to entertain us, but also makes us reflect on our own lives and relationships. It is a reminder that no matter what challenges we face, there is always room for love and personal growth.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It hooks you up... somehow. It needed some better writing!
In all honesty, as soon as I pressed "play" to this movie, I was feeling unsure. The first few scenes looked not only low-budget, but also low-camera-quality. Luckily. it gets better... somehow.PLOT (6.5/10):
Nathan is a lifestyle photographer. While in a bar, his attention gets instantly caught by a guy named Emman. They locked eyes and flirted from afar... but nothing happens.
Emman is a student and an activist. He's part of a movement that seems quite organized, but ultimately FAILS in give to the audience plenty enough information about itself. I'm not from Philliphines, so I have no idea if that movement is real or if its goals are clear enough for them which is why they didn't bother to explain better.
While in rallying against tuition fee increase, Emman and Nathan met, and the "love story" begins. About this scene in particular, I have no idea why Emman ran away with Nathan in his car. There's more people involved struggling against ONE security guard, and no one else ran, just the two of them. We didn't even see the two of them struggling together, or Nathan "rescuing" Emman. So that scene was really badly executed.
PLOT TWISTS [PT] (8.5/10) (Warning: Heavy Spoilers):
The twists and turns were actually the best thing about this film. The movie relies heavily on flashbacks to tell the love story that has already ended, but we don't know that right from the very beggining. You can surely suspect it, but you still don't know why.
PT N°1: The student movement (in which Emman is envolved) wants to take some congressman to justice for some scam (that the movie fails to explain). That congressman turns out to be Nathan's "godfather". In other words, his mother's lover. Later, we learn that the mother is also persecuted by law.
PT N°2: Being in two different stages of life and two opposites sides of a conflict wasn't enough, because, at the end, Nathan seems to be willing to support Emman. They have already professed their love for each other at this point, and those lovey-dovey words: "You are mine!". But, wait... it's time for a new reveal! ... Emman already has a boyfriend. It is implied that he has been in a relationship way before meeting Nathan. This third person (Vince) even gives allowance to Emman and pays his tuition!
PT N°3: As soon as Nathan learns that he has being played by Emman, he dumps him. I was actually impressed by this realistic depiction of a logical-person with a minimun of dignity, who was strong enough to get out of a relationship after being deceived this way. He didn't "fight for his man", which is the usual route in this kind of movies. So I really loved this.
I'm OK with "open relationships" and "Throuples". But those two have something in common: previous agreement of both or three parties. If you learn that your partner had another person all along... there's no way in hell I'm gonna be OK with that. This is why the second half of the movie got way more enternaining for me.
PT N°4: Some people never stay for mid-credit or post-credit scenes. Well, I'm not one of those.
By the last scenes of the movie, Emman keeps asking Nathan for another chance because he loves him very much... however, he also loves Vince and he's not willing to give up on his sugar-daddy. Emman keeps insisting "I'll be back", but after Nathan says something like "Drop Vince, and then come back"... well, Emman just leaves without saying a word and Nathan cries. The End.
.... Then, came the midcredits. Someone knocks on the door. Nathan thinks "oh, Emman came back". But no, as soon as he opens the door a familiar face gets inside the house. The pizza guy (Ivan) from very early in the movie, in the scene when Nathan and Emman met and then went to Nathan's house for netflix and chill. In that particular scene, we see how the pizza delivery guy just enters to the house, giving a sense of familiarity with the place and with Nathan. Now, in the very last scene of the movie, we learn that Nathan and Ivan are in some kind of relationship. They say and do somethings that at the very leadt implies they are "now", but it makes you question if they have been together all along.
WRITING (6/10)
The writing involving the main couple is ok, quite realistic sometimes (specially the whole breakup and after breakup). They hit the clishes and even tried some risky choices.
The writing that involves the student movement and the organization, the politic scam/corruption was bad.
ACTING (7/10)
It's kinda mixed, honestly. Some better than others, There's also the problem of some characters being written better than others. So, overall:
- The actor playing Nathan was, PERFORMANCE-WISE, the best. I'm not saying it was a strong performance, but was more than enough. Maybe his loud crying could improve, but his silent crying was on point! By the end of the movie, I believed his words, and I believed he has dignity, which is way underrated.
- The actor playing Emman was so-so. Sometimes good, sometimes not. I didn't get the level of emotion that he was trying to portray. Still, I'm not saying it was bad, just "not as good".
- The actor playing Raven fine. He's whole objective was to be flirtatious at the beggining (to fuck with Emman, which didn't showed to us, but I believed it happened) and then, flirtatious again with Nathan when he was brokenhearted (and, yeah, also fuck him... which we did get to see). Meaning, he wasn't a major character, but his performance was really convincing. Also, really nice ass.
- The actors playing Nathan's mother and Congressman Ignacio were... meh. Average performances, but the script didn't alow them to shine in any way or form.
- The actors playing Ruel and the Organization Leader were no good. I blame the writing. They didn't speak much, specially Ruel, but they failed to make an impression.
- The actor playing Vince was just OK.
Was this review helpful to you?
