Was this review helpful to you?
Thanks to that one insta reel that made me watch this
What a movie! I was captivated by the aura of it by watching some clips and I'm glad I gave it a try. The story portrayed in this two hour fifteen minutes movie left me with so much emotions and thoughts. One thing I'd admit, the acting of both the leads was splendid. You could see the eyes talk, you could feel the sadness right through the screen. I was spoiled somewhere that ot didn't have a happy ending but I'm glad it wasn't the case. I'd not have the courage to move on otherwise. (I had to live through the college entrance trauma once again though.) Anyways, don't let anything or anyone stop you from watching this masterpiece. I know I'd rewatch it again and again.Was this review helpful to you?
He is completely different than most.
It is Thai, where the Thai branch of Buddhism predominates.
It is necessary to look at him from this point of view and not to evaluate only through the eyes of a Central European viewer. Why is the scene like that, why are the actors playing it like that, why is the film pensive, poignant almost from the beginning.
The content of the film is very well described on ČSFD, be sure to read it before watching the film.
When the viewer is able to put all this together, he cannot make a bad assessment. It is a film about images, about feelings, about LIFE. It is a film whose message will remain forever in my soul...
Was this review helpful to you?
A completely unique subject, script, dramaturgy and what can be seen and felt most about this film is that it is significantly different from the cinematography of the yellow race and turns towards the perception of the viewer of the white race (style, plot, processing) and I cannot even evaluate more critically what remained Asian, Korean in the film, on the contrary, I honor it with all respect and humility.
A brilliant idea and perfectly executed by all means of film, the fact that the viewer actually feels a little bit during the process, what is reality and what is just a "role". And even though the film has a high rating on IMDb and ČSFD, I take it as the overall "artistic impression" comprehensively and exceptionally, and I don't look at the individual evaluation criteria.
I recommend it to all sensitive souls...
Was this review helpful to you?
Let yourself be surprised how it all turns out, but don't expect any romance. On the contrary. Violence, blood (the father of the last victim, a schoolgirl, enters the game), conflicts, destruction, depression, humiliation.
I was a bit more bothered by the stilted and affected theater acting this time, which is why a point down in the acting section. The processing was less believable, because where the situation absolutely required it, after "pulling down his pants" a miniature cricket appeared in a thicket of hair, while in two seconds he was already "loading" a drunk woman somewhere in the canal ...
Was this review helpful to you?
very tight, very well done
The whole story happens inside a fortress. The characters can only rely on their wits, their strength, their training and their sense of psychology. The psychological manipulating is well done and expresses the stressful situation and the dangers. every minute counts and every person must be carefuly handled. The plot is written as a comedy but it is not really. Many decisions are hard.The acting is solid. The idea that we watch the story unfold in, more or less, real time, makes us feel the suspense and the risks.
The filming is quite theatrical and it is sucessful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Simple but Fun and Engaging Rivals/Friends to Lovers Tale
Look, I'm not going to lie. It's a simple plot. Boy meets girl. They instantly hit it off. Girl has boyfriend and they don't talk. They meet up again later down the line and it's like nothing happened. Except now theyre rivals pining for funding for their competing app start-ups. Add in some espionage hijinks and friendship messages, and you get a movie that's not entirely unlike what you may have watched when younger.However, it was *very* engaging. How far would the espionage go? When would the gig get called off? Will they ever decide to just work together and create one app with both of their strengths combined? And somehow, every time I though we would hit such plot points, we didn't. I also loved how even some of the small things came full-circle by the end of the movie.
And then there were the budding romance scenes. Their balance of being rivals and being friends/mutual crushes was just excellently done. They really did forget they were rivals for a period there. They were just two people working towards their ideas and cheering each other on quietly. And the laser tag get-togethers? They had me grinning so much, lol.
Was this review helpful to you?
I can't believe it's the end
For this one I base this as my overall rating for the whole thing.It's really a rollercoaster of emotions going through this franchise, I was scared cause I didn't wanna dedicate a lot of time to something I might regret or not like but I did not regret going at this one bit!
It's pretty obvious the intention of the director alongside with the cast is to bring out the best for the manga adaptation and for the viewers as well, they handled it with care and passion which I'm very thankful for that they didn't go the usual BL route that only focuses on making rushed and unexplained stories. Many of the things get explained as you went on and that's such a wonderful thing for viewers to experience, it's realistic cause you don't get to know things that fast which made me attached to the show. I love it so much, all of the characters were likeable, the story makes sense and the explicit scenes doesnt look like it's forced to be there or just to show but it's there to create more connections with the story and characters.
Thank you for this, I'm happy with this ending and now I can rest in peace with my Kijima and Kuzumi being together.
Was this review helpful to you?
Very short and leaves you hanging
I think it was on purpose for the next installment. It was short and at the end it makes you think, what does kijima actually feels deep inside? We never got to know but this short movie makes you curious on purpose on what his facial expression meant. Even when they are happy finally being together something is bother Kijima, Is he still yearning for kido while being with kuzumi or was it because he's still hurt with no confidence on taking this happiness he wants that kuzumi puts out for him or he's scared of hurting kuzumi. lots of possibilities only with that one facial expression, damn they are so good.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Like a vinyl on a record player, his life was spinning on and on
SPOILERS, A LOT ACTUALLY SO READ IF U WANT TO.
.
.
.
.
Finally, after all we went through, a happy ending. It was all worth it.
Just like Kijima's first love that betrays him, the whole the pornographer series is his journey on finally healing and moving on it was a long adventure that had a lot of obstacles but even with a clear path, just like when he met Kuzumi accidentally, he wasn't facing forward, made excuses and even re-enacted his moments with other people (maybe cause he deeply missed KZ) but during this movie, is finally the time KZ showed how fed up he was, for once he didn't do things to please KJ, that was so sweet to make him taste his own medice!! Which resulted in KJ finding courage and went on face forward towards KZ and you don't know how even that little action made me so giggly and happy that he finally made a decision for himself and for KZ rather than keep making excuses which the akemi family helped him a lot with.
It made me question if he was still stuck on Kido which is his past. He may never be fully healed as something they experienced was something both cherishes, they filled each other's void during their weakest point and it was passionate which ended with KJ just accepting it and put it on the past and focusing on the future instead. It's quite bittersweet but it's the best, KD made decisions he cannot go back from and he must take responsibility of so I'm happy KJ is the one with the choice of letting go cause he was the one badly hurt and have nothing to lose.
It's quite nice that KZ wasn't so into KJ's past with KD. Although I would've loved it more if he knew about them, I just thought that the story of KJ and KD is only theirs and theirs and so is KZ and KJ's are theirs and theirs only as well.
KZ might've lowkey cheat on KJ by going to a bar but they weren't quite official that time and KZ was indeed young, KJ taught him a lot of erotic things then left him after their first time doing it, I'm not surprised that he wanted more and ended up finding an alternative way to get off just like KJ when he was young, him and KD kept on at it which you can see when KZ went to KJ, they went at it so darn fast lol it was still a mistake though which KZ felt embarrassed for and kept apologizing for and saying he won't do it ever again if KJ dislikes it.
I like the ending, I finally got to see them both smile and that just made me so freaking happy and refreshed! Finally able to rest in peace knowing they are finally together :')
Was this review helpful to you?
idk but enjoy
See this movie because it's just a whim but the story is really exciting, making you feel nervous and panic at the same time for the end of the movie is quite satisfying.I'm quite entertained with the cast hahaha
For the survival genre, it is quite entertaining, tense and frantic but still enjoyable.
Which is not only focused on survival but also interspersed with humor which I find funny
For im yoona I'm very entertained to see you cry hahaha
But know this is the entertaining part
everyone atleast watching this film
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Royal rumble!
Kaiju Mono flipped Kaiju parodies on their head and then slammed them with a DDT. In the opening scenes, reports of violent weather, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions were explained as Mother Nature not taking our BS anymore. Kaiju Mono came as a warning. Filled with sexual innuendo and a monster that hunted virgins of any sex, this film didn’t try to take itself seriously or make sense at any point. Somehow it also managed to be ridiculously funny even when it was completely inappropriate at times.Kaiju Mono was an underground dweller who came to the surface when she needed snacks or to take her anger out on humans. Deep in the woods, two lab assistants came across a strange egg where a bizarre incident connected to Mono had just occurred. When the monster decided to go on a rampage and head toward Tokyo, Dr. Jotoro, a Sailor Moon cosplayer and scientist, developed a serum that would make his skinny lab assistant a giant, muscled Titan. Dr. Jotoro had also developed expandable briefs so that Nita wouldn’t have to wrestle nude, much to the chagrin of the ladies watching the downtown battle. Nita managed to drive Mono away and instantly became a celebrity, especially since his muscles remained after returning to normal size. When Mono once again stomped into town looking for her egg, she thrashed Nita, causing Dr. J to have to work on a new formula for him.
Nita had three different iterations, each bigger and badder and played by three different actors. The wrestling scenes were funny and fairly acrobatic for the limited space they fought in. The movie made fun of the military, protestors, industrial espionage, the fickleness of fame, and the news media. No one was immune to their zingers and Mono’s chomping. The film did show the benefit of older people when another hero emerged. As the movie explained for the non-Japanese audience, the original Ultraman made a guest appearance. The biggest drawback for me, other than some draggy moments in the middle, were a few gay and cross-dressing jokes that have not aged well.
“Will this lead to a glorious future or man’s extinction?” Kaiju Mono didn’t answer that question or any others, but it didn’t need to. Director Kawasaki playfully poked fun at Godzilla movie tropes and created some solid laughs throughout the film. This film isn’t for everyone, it helps if you enjoy Kaiju films, pro wrestling, and irreverent humor. Silly and never taking itself seriously, Kaiju Mono managed to not lay an egg.
10/24/23
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
"The fear of men makes them the perfect prey of the devil"
Water Monster was a taut 78-minute monster thriller with very little filler. No slapstick comedy, no overwhelming CGI, just a fishing village trying to find a way to survive a lethal water monster attack.Shui Sheng witnessed the Water Monkey killing his father a decade before. Now the creature is back and Uncle San, the village elder, declares they must once again sacrifice a virgin to save the village. After the death of her father and brother, Xiang Lan is willing to die, but her love interest, Shui, is not going to let that happen. He gathers a small force to face the village and the monster which at this time is difficult to differentiate between. Shui saves Xiang Lan. Then the heroes confront the Water Monkey and after a fierce, deadly battle cage it. Uncle San refuses to let them kill it thinking the creature to be a god. With that fateful mistake the village suffers even greater losses and must now confront not only the Water Monkey, but their fears and mistakes of the past.
Water Monster went where few guys in rubber suits movies dare to go. The body count of familiar characters was extremely high. Old beliefs were faced head on. Shui Sheng dared to call the village elder’s self-protective action as murder. Anytime someone in a movie says, “Please don’t blame us,” nothing good or righteous follows. Why is the guy who decrees someone must be sacrificed never volunteers himself? In a world where women are devalued, why not sacrifice a virgin male or the village chief as a more valuable “gift”? Chief Liu’s eyes were finally opened and he realized that “begging, sacrifice, and wishful thinking” only strengthened the monster and weakened them. It was time to unite and face death.
The atmosphere was perfectly dark and foreboding. The music and some of the lighting were reminiscent of Pirates of the Caribbean. Every time the familiar “bong pulse” rang out I wondered who had a piece of the Aztec gold. The monster costume looked like an updated version of the Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), a movie that gave me nightmares when I watched it on the late, late-night show on tv at a childhood slumber party. The Water Monkey really would have given me nightmares as he was fast, extremely flexible and possibly a kung fu master. The fights were fierce, bloody, and deadly. An abundance of inventive weapons were created to stop the seemingly invincible foe.
The Water Monster kept the action coming at a thrilling pace. I was invested in several of the characters despite the limited amount of time devoted to them in this short movie. The village not only had to face the vicious monster, but also their fears and responsibility for their own safety. For what looked like a low budget horror movie, these still waters ran deep.
10/24/23
Was this review helpful to you?
A Wannabe Tarantino Movie That Fails Even as a Copycat
It started off well enough, and since the actors were all such pros I was invested in the characters. Alas, midway it descended into a wannabe Tarantino film replete with an R&B song blasting while two sexy, young hipsters shoot up a room full of dozens of people. But in a Tarantino movie the violence is aesthetically stylish. In this movie it came off as just plain silly.Some of the silliness involved a petite 90 pound girl who was bashed in the head with a hammer 6 times but did not die; and later in the movie was shot in the chest 3 times, but still did not die. I began to think of her as "The Immortal Femme Fatale." And that's just one of the film's sillier elements. Trust me, there are bucket loads more.
But of all the silliness, I'd have to say that worst involved the director's attempt to copy certain plot lines from "Reservoir Dogs" and certain scenes from "Pulp Fiction." The imitation was so lame that I began to feel embarrassed for this director. Really, by the end of this movie I was just plain cringing.
Was this review helpful to you?
A story about people who often go unheard
This movie is a very rare gem indeed. It's not often that you get to see Own-Voices productions of stories about queer people or deaf people and here you get both woven into one, all based on the real life experiences of the director.Because of this, the film feels undeniably real in a way which I really enjoyed.
The actors' performances are fantastic for the most part, and the sound design is phenomenal. It fully immerses the viewer in the world that its deaf characters inhabit while still being entirely accessible for those not hard of hearing, it really is masterfully done.
I also really loved how much the story focused on the importance of community and support, of found family in a way.
Now, will some viewers, such as myself, who enjoy certain privileges in their lives find this movie boring? Unfortunately, yes.
As someone who is lucky enough to be able to live openly and without fear and whose coming out was fully supported by a host of loving family members and friends, I couldn't relate to a lot of the struggles the characters faced.
But that in no way diminishes the film's value or should prevent anyone from watching it.
For anyone struggling with societal pressures due to their identity, for anyone who has to face rejection and recrimination for being who they are, for anyone grieving the "normal" happy life they haven't gotten to live yet, this movie will undoubtedly mean a lot. It's a promise that there is light at the end of the tunnel, the reassurance that, no matter what, you are not alone.
This is an incredibly important and meaningful message and for that alone I consider this movie well worth watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
