Reviews

Epic Chinese mythology movie not to be missed

[PARDON ME, THIS IS LONG]

I'm giving this 10 stars, not because I'm Chinese (and naturally biased as many would probably think). I have never read the Investiture of the Gods (the novel on which the Trilogy is largely based), nor properly watched any relevant TV/movie production. (To those who are familiar with the original story, the Trilogy focuses on Jifa rather than Jiang Ziya who is traditionally depicted as the protagonist.)

I am giving this 10 stars, because I am truly in awe of the high quality of the movie consistently demonstrated in all aspects, a master-piece conjured with the blood, sweat and tears of a team of 8000+ crew: the mind blowing cinematographic effects, the exceptionally amazing actors (whether it be men or women, new or seasoned), the extremely elaborate costumes, the lavish grand palace and buildings crafted by 2000+ carpenters, the beautiful original scores and songs, the simply superb and talented Director Wuershan who has dedicated whole heartedly more than 9 years to the Trilogy while constantly striking nothing but perfection throughout... The list goes on.

I am very impressed by the new actors and actresses who survived 6-8 months in a very intensive training camp. Their daily routine usually ran from 5am to 9pm, 6 days a week, where they were required to undergo various types of training including riding, archery, combat, music, history, physical training, swimming and performing, all of which helped transform them into what warriors should look like 3000 years ago - not just the muscles, but also the SPIRIT! And yes, their acting skills may be debatable, but they are by no means awkward. They are meant to play roles that are in the teens/early twenties, which are exactly where they were when the movie started shooting more than 5 years ago. Practically all of them were new to equestrian, one of the many subjects they had to master in the training camp. By the time they graduated, they all became excellent riders that were able to perform amazing acts in concert. That's why the horseback riding shots are so breathtaking - no stunts at all. About this, I would in particular raise my glasses to Yu Shi (Yosh), the actor that plays Jifa. He has a reputation for constantly pushing himself to the limit, back then and throughout those years while waiting for the movie to be released (which was overdue for 3 years). There is a jaw-dropping scene where he turned around and shot arrows from the horseback without reins, something apparently so dangerous that no one else (the equestrian director included) in the set was able to complete. He insisted on performing the whole series of actions himself and after endless practice, day and night, he pulled it off with flying colors. I am sure this is only one of the many spectacular moments that he will be remembered for, down the line.

As for the King, I personally adore Kris Phillips' (AKA Fei Xiang) portrayal and I beg to differ from those who took the view that his acting was terrible. Anyone who goes to the movie with a peaceful heart cannot possibly have come up with that blatant conclusion. His dramatic expressions and awesome physique imparted life to the King who is known in history and novels as someone smart, strong, tall but most of the time, brutal... Many Chinese are of the view that no one else in modern days is better fitted to play the King.

Jichang, played by Li Xuejian, is another role that truly touches my heart. He is a veteran Chinese actor who has won probably all the awards in China that can be garnered. Some may laugh at the way he speaks in the movie, but please try to understand that he has been fighting nasopharyngeal cancer for more than 2 decades, which has seriously affected how he articulates and his hearing too. Why did they insist on using his own voice? It is because only that way, an actor could fully unleash to the audience what the role should really be like. Mr. Li's performance is powerful and flawless in every scene.

Surely, there are areas that require improvements. The special effects - yes, they could have been better but considering the lack of funding and the fact that the Director had to pay out of his pocket to keep it going, I am only hoping the first Installment of the Trilogy could score better in worldwide box office so that more funds can be injected to improve that area which is very important to the 2nd and the 3rd installments. The plot - yes, some wonderfully shot scenes did not appear in the movie, which arguably could help audience understand better, but the Director had to make a judgement call in order not to compromise the integrity of the story line, and having a movie longer than 2.5 hours means more difficulty in getting it released in Chinese theatres, apparently...

Truth be told. I've seen the Creation of the Gods 4 times, all in iMax theatres. Each time, I was able to find details that I previously missed. Each time, I was able to feel more. Last time that I did such a thing was for Titanic, and I only watched it 3 times...

So if you have a big heart and are happy to embrace all cultures, may I urge you to give this movie a chance, and please do so in an iMax theatre if you can!

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A good story with realistic depiction of being gay in Japan

My favorite thing about this movie is the fact that it's got barely any censorship. I have seen many works trying to imply different gay relationships in the plot without actually showing it even once, but this one's different. Everything, from illegal physical relationship to stupid homophobic comments, is depicted as it is.
Moreover, the characters' stories (and I want to specifically emphasize the MC's lover) are extremely accurate and sound like something totally happening somewhere in Japan (I live here so I know what I'm talking about). I actually find the movie a good piece of educational material on Japanese society and how LGBTQ+ fit in it.
The story is also very touching, you feel genuine satisfaction and peace after watching. The visuals are also quite above average. Not a masterpiece, but extremely enjoyable.

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The beauty of the male body

I have to say that this short erotic film had only an average effect on me. It's not so much about the erotic scenes (or soft) as it is about the beauty of the male body and its partly artistic rendering of its presentation - in this case in the East Asian type of physique and processing. There isn't much dialogue, which is good for this type of film…
I have to say that this short erotic film had only an average effect on me. It's not so much about the erotic scenes (or soft) as it is about the beauty of the male body and its partly artistic rendering of its presentation - in this case in the East Asian type of physique and processing. There isn't much dialogue, which is good for this type of film…

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Beautiful actor Metha Chularp – KAENG

The story of the movie is strong, it stars the beautiful actor Metha Chularp – Kaeng. But everything else falters behind the story.

The film begins rather superficially, without much depth. I didn't like the division into chapters, because it was more like crushing it into dozens of different pictures and images.

And the music, at the beginning it was so-so, but when the motif was repeated for about the thirtieth time, it started to bother me, especially in the last third of the film, when the carousel carousel did not fit the plot at all (the dying Kaeng), the horror, and after quite a long time I give the music a low rating and it didn't affect me either that I quite like Asian movies...

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BWH&H 1: The Beginning

I can't believe there are no review of this here yet.

I'm a huge Yakuza/Like A Dragon video game fan, and have been for many, many years. That's essentially how I stumbled across this series of movies, as many consider it to be a sort of blueprint for those stories. I wasn't disappointed.

I'm not going to run through all of my loves and gripes from this entry. Instead, I'm going to give tips on how to watch these. The first thing you need to know is that these are best viewed back to back, at least within a short period of time. If you don't, you'll lose track of who is who, who is sworn to who and which gang, what their backstories and relationships are, etc. This is how I watched these five films the first time around, and I did the exact same thing recently for my second viewing of them. If you like this film, the others are pretty similar, and flow really well together.

As for this particular first film, it's an amazing start. It only scratches the surface of the yakuza world the series builds, but it's a serviceable starting point with a lot going on, and possesses a great cast of characters to follow. It moves a t a really fast pace and utilizes shaky cam, complete with all the poor choreographing you'd expect from a Japanese film from this period. If you can get by all that, you'll love it. If you can't, you're gonna hate it. It's broken up with historical narrative bits too, so you have to pay careful attention all throughout. It's a very involving plot, but ultimately it proves very rewarding in the end.

I'm giving it a 9 because it was just as entertaining on my re-watch as it was the first time around. If you like mafia-esque stories then you owe it to yourself to at least give this one a try.

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very disappointing

This movie is the most fucked up movie I have probably ever seen. I'm never gonna recommend this to anyone unless they want to see a shit ton of blood and gross things. It felt like all they wanted to show us is how they kill people without any mercy. This story had quite a bit of potential but they decided to just fuck everything up by introducing a monster with super strength and killing the main characters??? at least they were the main characters for 3/4th of the movie but at the end, it turned out that they weren't actually that important.. definitely not my cup of tea. it also kind of ended with a cliffhanger that made us question what actually happened.

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Feel good, heartwarmingly good

Is this a sports movie? Kind of. But honestly, this is more of a heartwarmingly beautiful story. I would have watched this even if it was a 16 episode show- and it honestly could have been.

Park Seo Joonhas to be my favourite part of this movie. He does amazingly well in such roles, I think this is one of my favourite performances in a kdrama. The vibe reminds me much of fight for my way, which also was amazing.

Indeed IU is wonderfully good in this too, and I loved her banter with Park seo joon.

I honestly was left wanting for more and will probably watch more sports dramas.

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Very nice ...

I'm not surprised that this Hong Kong film has been awarded so many times at many festivals including Sundance and Cannes.
I still think about the story, how it was tastefully set since it was filmed more than a decade back in Beijing, with how sensitive the story was to the development of Chinese society at the time, but at the same time so intimate and without pomp, with very good processing and acting, when the older man from the central pair, the bigger symposus slowly became a phenomenon for me (Chen Handong), as the main character (Lan Yu) ...

I think that the Chinese themselves would not have been able to film such a point of view of their society at that time, but they were lucky in that in the year the film was made, the "returned" capitalist Hong Kong contributed to it with its freer perspective. Very nice.

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Typical movie, but I enjoyed the concept

I was initially drawn to the phones and social media concept. Putting yourself out there too much leaves you prone danger.

But, the plot started as stupid as the main girl giving her PASSWORD for someone to repair her phone screen. That is not something that would be asked, and she never even questioned it. She was your typical dense girl for the sake of creating the plot. She would blame her friend she's known for years than the random stranger she met for a couple days.

I think they spent the most details on the beginning shot sequence, which was really well done.

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A Truly Masterpiece

Okay, here’s my review for MMDB —

1. The Plot :

The movie isn’t without its faults, though. There’s an undeniable excess in its runtime, making it feel a tad bit overstretched. And yeah, some of the CGI action sequences had me wishing they’d spent a little more on the tech. Still, it’s the sheer audacity of the plot and its refreshing take on acceptance that makes it a must-watch.
Let’s not forget the supporting characters that add layers to the story. Gingle Wang as Tzu-ching gives us an insight into the gender disparity in the workplace, making us applaud and also roll our eyes at how criminally underused she is.

2. Why It’s Important :

At a time when movies often play it safe, “Marry My Dead Body” pushes boundaries and embraces storytelling that’s more than just entertainment — it’s a statement. The movie portrays the power of change, the ability to confront one’s own prejudices, and the transformative nature of love, even in its non-traditional forms. As societal views progress, films like this act as markers, reminding us how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.

3. Why It’s Different:

Most romantic comedies follow a well-trodden path: boy meets girl, they face challenges, they overcome them, end of story. But here, the narrative isn’t just about romance; it’s a dynamic journey that delves deep into acceptance, cultural shifts, and challenging deeply ingrained prejudices.

4. The Humorous Complexities:

Underneath its comedic layer, “Marry My Dead Body” hides a web of intricacies. From navigating the moral maze of acceptance to dealing with a mischievous ghost, the movie beautifully blends humor with complex issues. It tickles the funny bone while making the brain gears turn, a combination that’s as rare as it’s delightful.

5. Lessons Learn:

“Marry My Dead Body” isn’t just a quirky rom-com; it’s an ode to acceptance, understanding, and growth, beautifully disguised in a storyline filled with giggles, gasps, and a few heartfelt tears. It invites viewers to laugh, reflect, and most importantly, to grow. It is a testament to the evolving cultural landscape of Taiwan and a message to the world about the universal language of love and acceptance.

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A Fast-Paced Survival Story with One Unnecessary Twist

The movie begins with the male lead waking up to complete chaos. News reports reveal a mysterious outbreak that turns people into zombies, and suddenly his ordinary life becomes a fight for survival. As I watched, I kept thinking that all he had to do was stay alive long enough for the government to regain control of the situation—easier said than done, of course.

There is nothing particularly new about the zombies themselves. They're essentially the fast-moving type commonly seen in modern zombie films: highly aggressive, quick on their feet, and capable of tracking people through sound. They're not the slow, shambling zombies that some audiences might expect.

At first, the male lead is completely unprepared for the crisis. His food supplies are limited, and he has little sense of survival. However, as the days pass and one problem after another emerges, he begins to understand the harsh reality of his situation. Watching him adapt and mature was one of the more interesting aspects of the film.

The second half marks a turning point when he discovers that he isn't the only survivor in the apartment complex. From that moment on, his survival instincts finally begin to kick in, although he remains somewhat clumsy in his approach.

With food running low, utilities failing, and all communication with the outside world cut off, both the male and female leads decide to relocate to the eighth floor of the apartment complex. I found myself rooting for them. The location seemed almost ideal—clean, secure, and seemingly untouched by the zombie outbreak.

Of course, things don't stay that simple. Another obstacle soon appears, and honestly, the movie could have done without that particular subplot. It felt unnecessary and had me rolling my eyes more than once. Thankfully, the female lead wasn't written as a helpless damsel in distress. She proved herself capable and resourceful, making her a much more enjoyable character to watch.

Overall, *#Alive* doesn't reinvent the zombie genre, but it remains an entertaining survival thriller. Its greatest strength lies in watching ordinary people adapt to extraordinary circumstances while trying to hold on to hope in complete isolation.

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well-produced movie about an underdeveloped story

if there's anything to love about the movie, it will be these: the depiction of siblinghood and the clever cinematography.
- as the synopsis indicates, the children who grew up together and bonded over their shared abuse eventually grew apart, yuji more than the other two. we don't spend a lot of time with them when they're young, but it's not hard to see how that kind of dynamic may mature into the one they share in the movie: familiar and predisposed to trust despite their different outlooks on The Event That Changed Their Life Trajectories. the disagreeing teamwork between the three of them once they reunite brings an understated humour and lightness to the thematically heavy film, an atmosphere entirely helmed by the youngest daughter. both sato takeru and suzuki ryohei acknowledge matsuoka mayu's standout performance in grounding the otherwise melodramatic story, and i cannot overstate how her personality / their siblinghood is what carries the audience through to the end of the two hours.
- one night is set in the portside city of oarai in ibaraki, two prefectures away from central tokyo. it's not backwaters, but it's not bustling either. the movie generates the small-town feel that's necessary for the kinds of trauma that the siblings experience by focusing the setting on two main locations: the taxi company that the family owns/operates and their house, which is behind the business and connected by a little alley. the hub where the drivers wait for calls and the taxicabs themselves are important settings that evoke centrality vs reach, idleness vs transition, and intimacy vs detachment--all of which are compounded and contrasted by the fact that their /home/ is right next door. there are so many layers here i could write a disseration lol BUT i say all of that because the audience wouldn't be able to even begin to infer the emotional complexity of this setting without the camerawork and editing. the sequence where yuji comes back home is imo the most succinct example of what i'm talking about, but there were several shots in the film where the camera angles and focus and lighting just had so, so much impact on me.

if there's anything to hate about the movie, it will be these: plot holes, "b plot", and plot resolution.
- there is a glaring lack of explanation as to how/why two of the siblings stayed in contact and in oarai while only one of them is estranged and in tokyo, especially because the last time we see the three of them as youths, they are still together in a significant way. i found it hard to understand the particulars of how the other sibling's lives were affected by The Event as a result, which made their journeys to healing less interesting to me. considering it's a two hour movie, not addressing/explaining this seems like a poor use of time. (there is one specific subplot that i would gladly switch out in exchange.)
- i put "b plot" in quotes because that is probably being too generous, but there /is/ a secondary character whose character (in the personality sense) is speculated about and whose own family dynamics are explored. the film attempts to draw parallels between the character's scenario and the inamuras', but i think the execution is realllllly poor and i would want it removed completely if not for the fact that it actually plays a pivotal role in how the film ends.
- beyond this b plot and how it supports the plot resolution, the ending was weak on its own due to the aforementioned missed opportunities to set up motivations - specifically yuji's since he gets most of the attention, but really all of theirs - throughout the film.

the story is engaging enough that you'd want to finish the movie to see how it ends, but it's also unfortunately the weakest part of the film. if you're the kind of person that needs a solid story to enjoy media, one night may not satisfy you. if you're like me and quality production is enough to enjoy media, definitely give this a watch. i marked rewatch value as relatively high because there were a lot of things in the exposition that i lost/didn't realise would be important until i watched it again.

[also i'm gonna take some time to address the other reviewer's comment about the faulty story premise. police don't always arrest abusers, and they'd only know about the abuse if it were reported anyway. similarly, the hospital could only record the extent of the injuries if the children were hospitalised to begin with. speaking with a USA bias, it is unfortunately a very common circumstance that abuse is unreported and injuries are improperly treated, so i was able to accept the inamuras' circumstances rather easily. as for the mother being arrested for so long - she wasn't. she was released sooner than 15 years, but she just willingly stayed away until the 15 years she promised had passed. she lightly touches upon the various ways she bided her time during the barbecue scene, and the intentionality of the absence fuels much of the siblings' angst.]

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Very strange movie

Even now I can't recover from it ... the film raises so many questions and the viewer has many feelings and thinks about it ... The film is definitely not for everyone (many will definitely condemn it, on the contrary, I appreciate almost every film that touches of our otherness), but even though he is Asian, this time he is neither naive nor affected as an actor... STORY: in the first third of the plight of a boy who escaped from the dictatorial north and a girl originally from China, but of Korean origin, who are afraid return deportations, the second third completely different with no connection to the first - a young boy and a rich businessman and the third third - the fates of both boys intersect and ... ACTING PERFORMANCE: excellent, especially for all three male roles (I evaluate from an Asian point of view) SOUND: average , there is less musical component of undertones, apparently on purpose PROCESSING: refined, irritating, may even annoy many viewers (sometimes lengthy, out of focus, sometimes grainy, hand-held camera) OVERALL IMPRESSION: I am torn (disappointed by the end of the story, moved by the fate of the North Korean - after all, Jun could to defend at the end, but apparently he already gave up, I am surprised by the "beauty" of the rich businessman - in the love scene it is often hard to tell who is "young" and who is "old", he looks physically good), but overall a positive impression prevails, but at the same time and thoughts about the fate of thousands of such people in the south of the Korean peninsula.

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How bittersweet, how beautiful.

How bittersweet, how beautiful. Have you ever thought I feel numb after watching a film? I can resume it as how hard can life be for some people. It gave you what it promises you in the plot summary. You may cry, laugh, and worry in the same film. I will watch this film again.

I recommend this film to those who do not think about the consequences of their actions when they are intimidating another person.

There is something that I would like to address, when you are seeing someone that is being bullied, don't stay quiet, try to look for help, that bully does not have superpowers, they can be defeated. We are all human, you bleed, I bleed, and we all do. Be kind, be brave, and be yourself. Better days will come.

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