Reviews

good but nothing new

so so so it finally released today and i went to watch it. being a wang yibo fan i never miss anything he is in !! but well well well…
the story: it is just another repetitive typical musical and dancing story. plots like this have been used previously innumerable times. i watched it because i like yibo, but just watched him. also, somehow it felt, he, too, could work a bit on his expressions (especially emotional scenes like the ones where he cries). some times he looked ‘try-hard’ kinda in his attempt to hit the emotional, but that didn’t quite come off as well. however, i don’t mind as long as i get to see him. overall, the story was basic, mostly with the intent of marketing it by making the audience feel bad about the ml, and that is all– could have been better on that aspect.

best thing abt it ? yibo’s dance and him. it’s a know fact what an exceptional dancer he is, and it yet again shows in the movie.

overall, it was good (and great if you wanna watch yibo) and other than that the plot isn’t anything out of the box, but could def give it a try !

ps: also, huang bo did a great job ! and yunpeng omg loved him (he was adorable)

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My heart can't take it again.

I am not a fan of watching movies since almost most of the time it just makes me feel unsatisfied. But this one one I am glad is just around more than 2hours, I don't think my heart can take anymore of it. Not because it is bad, but because it is beautiful and perfect.

I've known people that has experienced bullying so watching this makes it more real and painful for me.

Although the bullying scenes here is not as violent or gruesome compared to some scenes is kdramas/kmovies, it doesn't make it less realistic for me, I heard this kind of bullying is what's more common in our society.

This is the first time I have encountered both the ML and FL and what can I say, their acting is on point, the most realistic acting and scenes I've seen so far. Everytime I see their tears falling, it makes me wanna go there and comfort them. Again, it's painful to watch.

This is also the first time I saw a glimpse of the less privilege life of the majority of people living in China, it is something not shown in dramas, I don't know why. This is the reality for most of us, and I'm just glad the FL has the ML to give her silent support and love. No fluff in this movie but you can definitely feel the love shared between the main leads, I am just so glad the ending scenes indirectly tells us they do have their not perfect, but happy ending.

Although, I have given a 10 for the rewatch value, it will take me years before my heart can take it again. I don't even know if I will ever rewatch this since the scenes are so painfully etched in my memory.

This is all heartache, pure, and raw.

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Inspiring & Tingle-inducing

It was definitely worth the 3 and a half year wait for this movie. I promise you that if you decide to watch this movie, you will be able to feel the emotions and desperation of the characters.
I don't think I've ever been affected this much by a movie before, there were many times where my entire body had the chills, tingles and goosebumps.
This movie is too good to only have an 8.1 rating, please give it a watch and you will surely like it. Honestly, I didn't expect it to be this good, it was simply a movie I wanted to watch as I'd waited so long for it but it blew me away, it was such an amazing movie, I was truly inspired and it had me rooting for the characters the entire movie.
It doesn't even matter if you aren't a fan of football, there's so much more to this movie, the feelings behind it and the dedication and teamwork and the will to never give up is out of this world. The character development is also really nice to see, I hope the world comes to be more understanding and compassionate to homeless people.
I can say with confidence that this has become my favourite Asian movie!

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Lots of noise, little substance

Hidden Strike starring Jackie Chan and John Cena finished filming in 2018 and finally made it to Netflix five years later. The film felt like it could have been on-hold since 2000 with its over-reliance on CGI, gravity defying stunts, and sexist humor.

Dragon Luo and his security team are called to Iraq to help evacuate Chinese workers from their refinery who have been attacked by mercenaries. They load up special buses to transport the workers and their families to the Green Zone. On one of the buses is Luo's estranged daughter Mei. Chris Van Horne who used to work in private security, now resides in a village in Iraq and helps out with the local orphans. His brother Henry talks him into attacking the convoy with the story that it contains the rebel criminals responsible for their father's death. It doesn't take long for Luo and Chris to meet up, compare notes, and join forces to stop the bad guys and save the hostages.

I watch a lot of martial arts and action movies, and can appreciate a check your brain at the door movie, but was disappointed in the fight choreography for this film. Jackie's character relied on kung fu as was to be expected for many of his fights while Cena appeared super human with his strength. At the age of 69 Chan still moved pretty well. Many of the fights, especially with Cena, came across as completely unbelievable due to wire work and CGI. Jackie had one silly fight in fire suppressant that was entertaining but went on for too long. Several of the fights using both weapons and fists and kicks seemed uninspired. If you approach it as a comedy or even a cartoon with a high body count, there were humorous moments. A couple of scenes with a jet engine and one involving a cliff almost strayed into Wiley Coyote territory.

The problem with some of the comedy was that it relied heavily on hand signal jokes and flat tire jokes. Oh, and women don't know how to drive humor. The hand signal schtick was confusing because Chris' dad died due to a miscommunication, which was supposed to be the source of his man pain. The producers must have felt an action and comedy movie wasn't enough, because they threw in an ill-conceived romance. They didn't have time to effectively build the buddy/bromance aspect of the film, but still tried to wedge a possible "romance" which fell flat largely due to crude comments by Chris. Even the relationship between the two brothers was insufficiently developed, which lowered the emotional stakes when tragedy hit. It might have been a mindless action film, but buddy and romance chemistry is even more important in such cases. And while Chris' love for the villagers was supposed to show what a great guy he was, it felt a little condescending. Somehow the Iraqis were only colorful extras in the background instead of having any involvement in the goings on in their own country.

If you are a Jackie Chan and/or John Cena fan, need a movie with lots of explosions, gun fire, quippy comments, CGI, and wire-work, this may be one you need to check out. If you're hoping for something more than a few entertaining moments, best to lower your expectations or see what else is on Netflix. This was a strike out for me.

7/28/23

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To understand the Korean movie Dream, you have to understand Dark Humor.

The movie ‘Dream’ is a comedy that uses Dark Humor for laughs. Your brain has to have a reset for this movie, adjusted to humor that pokes fun at subjects normally excluded from comedy, because the subject is considered sacrosanct. The subject matter for laughter is serious, but the Comedy pokes fun at the nature of things. Dark Comedies may not do well with some audiences, because some may not get the jokes or some may not see these serious matters as something which should be used for humor. I hope most get the Dark Humor jokes and accept it’s intended hilarity in the movie Dream, because Dream is an upbuilding and motivating film which will have you cheering.

The movie Dream stars IU (Hotel Del Luna) who plays Lee So-min and Park Seo Joon (The new Captain Marvel movie) who plays Yoon Hong-dae. The cast entourage is great.

This movie ‘Dream’ is based on a true event of the “Homeless World Football (Soccer) Cup” held in 2010, and covers a documentary being made for it. The documentary has the main purpose of bolstering up the flailing careers of Soccer Player Yoon Hong-dae (Park Seo Joon) and Videographer Lee So-min (IU). The intentions are to make a tearjerker documentary, which will garner viewership and public attention to themselves. Along the way, their selfish quests becomes a quest to help the homeless achieve something important.

To be successful with Dark Humor, you have to deadpan (be deliberately impassive or expressionless) Dark Humor. You play it like it is not funny, but totally serious. Park Seo Joon deadpans his character so well. Who knew he could play Dark Comedy? The movie Dream left me belly-aching with laughter. It is certainly a movie to add to your Korean Drama list. The more you watch Dark Comedies the better you get at watching Dark Comedies. I was crying ‘Mr Queen’ tears of laughter. The movie ‘Dream’ eventually becomes a serious commentary on life as we know it. The homeless are real people too.

For me, and I know this will set off people questioning my abilities to judge, but this movie is a 10/10, and that is my final answer.


Note: Korea is becoming the nation putting out great Dark Comedies in film and drama. Here are other Dark Comedy films and dramas from Korea.

Korean Movies

Oscar Award Winning ‘Parasite’

International Award Winning ‘Decision To Leave’

Baeksang Arts Award winner for Best Actor ‘Sound of Silence’


Korean Dramas

Oasis
Snowdrop
Vincenzo
Prison Playbook
It’s Okay Not To Be Okay
Bad and Crazy
Gaus Electronics

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Once Upon A Time in the Life of a Teenager

I would rate ‘20th Century Girl’ an 11/ 10, but I guess that is cheating. Nonetheless, that is my sentiment.

20th Century Girl is a School Life Romance Korean movie.


For youths (and the young at heart) who have been waiting for the most realistic High School Korean drama or movie, with a very realistic storyline, that movie is here. It only takes 2 hours of your time to watch. My only regret is that this movie was not made into a longer Korean drama instead of a movie so that I could have experienced this special gem for a longer period of time. In this movie, you get . . .

High School crush
BGF intervention
Stalking your love
Hot Guy and his Hot Best Guy Friend
Should you break the ‘girl code’ about dating your BGF’s guy?
Should you break the ‘bro code’ about even considering a girl liked by your bro?
Chasing your imaginary dreams

20th Century Girl takes place in 1999, right before Y2K, and has an intricate love relationship which will catch you off guard. This is a story about first love. It stars Kim Yoo-jung (Lovers of the Red Sky) as Na Bo-ra, Byeon Woo-Seok (Record of Youth) as Poong Woon-Ho, Park Joon-woo (DP) as Baek Hyun-jin and Roh Joon-seo (Debut role in Our Blues) as Kim Yeon-du. The movie is a ‘Must See’.


Quote: “Yeon-doo . . . remember what you said awhile ago? That if you like someone, then you can’t sleep at night. . . This is a secret . . . The food you eat becomes tasteless and listening to music makes you cry? Actually, I sleep fine at night and my food taste better than usual, and I feel like dancing when I hear music. It’s strange, though. When I think of him, my heart hurts a bit. Is this love? Then I think that I’m in love”. Na Bo-ra

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"War is hell"

Children of Hiroshima was made seven years after the bombing of Hiroshima, when the wounds were still fresh and the horror still a recent memory. The film showed a scarred city rebuilding, but rubble, blown-out buildings and stripped trees were a visible reminder of the terror that took place on August 6, 1945 at 8:15 a.m. Into this setting four years after the blast, Takako, a kindergarten teacher, visits her family's grave and seeks out the three surviving students from her old class.

Takako escorts the audience on a tour of Hiroshima and her reunions give us a glimpse into the different ways people suffered after surviving the blast. She looks up the only three children still alive from her class four years ago. One child shines shoes to help his family, his mother works on a building while his father lies dying from radiation poisoning. A little girl saved by a priest during the bombing, lives in the church but has fallen ill with radiation poisoning. The last child is likely the luckiest. His parents were killed but he still has two older brothers and an older sister. After five years of waiting, the sister whose leg was badly damaged when she had been trapped under rubble is about to be married. Takako's teaching friend is sterile, yet opens her heart and helps other women have babies. And an old family friend, blinded and deeply scarred is reduced to begging on the street and resides in a shack outside of town. His grandson lives in an orphanage, one among many such children.

The story could feel manipulative at times, especially when Takako intruded into private family moments as if only through her eyes could the audience witness the other's misery. While I loved Ifukube Akira's Godzilla scores, his music here was heavy handed as if attempting to elicit an emotional response and felt out of place. I recognized his ponderous marches immediately.
The anti-war theme while important and still timely was bluntly reinforced with each succeeding encounter.

Director Shindo judiciously left out the debates over why the war was started, how many innocents suffered under the Japanese war hammer, and whether the bomb(s) should have even been dropped. I will follow his lead in those matters. But undeniably by showing the cost to people's lives, and the long road to healing, he did give ample examples of why "war is hell" and "the greatest evil". Perhaps not for the Japanese, but for people around the world, this film may have been the first time they'd seen the damage done in Hiroshima not only to the city but to the people. Both Shindo and actress Otowa Nobuko were from Hiroshima, making this film more personal for themselves. As he did with some of the people Takako came across, he also revealed hope for the future, a resilient and generous people, and life beginning anew out of the ruins.

In 1952, the occupation of Japan had just ended and the people were still reeling and learning how to cope and heal from a national tragedy along with post-war self-reflections. A variety of emotions played out in Children of Hiroshima-grief, resentment, hope, love, fear, and anger. When Takako heard a single plane flying above, the memory of the fateful day was triggered, a day with all the normal things people do under a clear blue sky, until a new horror was unleashed upon them. War is hell and the greatest cost is always for the innocents who pay the price.

7/27/23

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Heartwarming story about the homeless finding their home of hope

Such a cute and heartwarming movie. It has its flaws and drawbacks but the emotion it wanted to convey touched me. For a sports film, the screenplay was written in a very non-cinematic manner but everything conveyed was very real.

The pacing of the movie was a little slow and overall the entire screenplay has some issues. It's not as entertaining as the director's last film "Extreme Job" but the reality of homelessness and the backstories of each of the homeless people were decent. I hoped IU got a bigger role as she is such a fine actress but nevertheless, I can never find any flaws in her, just keep doing as many films and dramas as possible for your fans.

PSJ on the other hand displayed good football skills but his acting was a little hammy and lacking. But he is indeed the focal point of the story and did a decent job in some emotional scenes but the film can't redeem itself based on him and IU.

I watched it only for IU, she has some really funny lines between her and PSJ. Overall a good one-time watch but nothing special.

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No dream is too small or big

This review will be my thoughts during the movie in order:

1. PSJ! How long has it been since I saw him! How amazing it feels that he's back!

2. IU! Quirky and no-nonsense. Her role felt smaller but IU gives the character its own life and personality through her incredible acting.

3. The backgrounds of all the characters are duly established without interrupting the flow of the story.

4. There are good laughs as well through the team's bickering. Their bond and brotherhood is well portrayed. When they all come together to help Yoon Hong Dae, it's a laugh riot. "Why are you telling that to my thing?" I had to pause and laugh at that.

5. However, the plot feels quite formulaic, the narration is routine and the characterisation of the two mains lacks more depth.

6. But that's just a little downside. The film achieves all its objectives: 1. It makes a statement about the homeless and addresses the main argument against them- the smell and their untidyness. 2. This is the second PSJ outing to have a queer character (if I'm not wrong). There's not as much focus on him but what's important here is the others' reaction to the character's confession.

7. Thirdly, it defines a dream and justifies the title. The climax is very satisfying. The single most original plot point of the story and it is delivered with a resounding goal.

8. I think if we look closer, it also speaks of how we are all ultimately made and broken by fellow humans.

9. The film can be rewatched, if one can bear with the customary screenplay. The music is good and hummable.

A dream is any hope we foster to go on with our days. It could be of a daughter wanting to spend time with her father, a father repenting his past, an athlete tiding through the tough times of his life, a companionship between an unlikely pair or a young man's desperate search for a friend. No dream is too big or small.

This is not a story of underdogs beating the table-toppers to clinch glory. This is a celebration of normal humans, their ordinary dreams and their extrordinary perseverence. That is its beauty.

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Another one for the “Toshio Masuda is one of Japans most underrated directors” pile.

There's something strangely perfect about Zero being directed by Toshio Masuda, having been kicked out of the kamikaze in 1944 for being excessively liberal and pacifistic. It's a real treat to finally see another one of his war epics after so many years, this time him and him alone in the chair. Based on a serialized story by Kunio Yanagida, this is the story of the Mitsubishi Zero through the eyes of the engineers who designed the plane and the pilots who flew it.

Shoichi Hamada is a pilot flying the Imperial Navy's ace in the hole, the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, during the first years of the war the Zero is seemingly unstoppable, shooting down almost every type of plane the allies send at them. Hamada's best friend is Kunio Mizushima, assigned to the ground crew, they are both in love with one girl… but will the ravages of war tear them apart?

Toshio Masuda's direction is simply sublime, taking what worked on Tora! Tora! Tora! over a decade ago and bringing it back tenfold. It is clear Masuda had no love for war and thus directs the film with a dash of gritty realism, unflinching in its portrayal of death, bad decisions and ultimate endeavour for a lost cause. By stark contrast when the film isn't wowing you with its climatic and brutally intense battle sequences, it shines with a glorious use of colour.

The plotting is well done, keeping the story of the Zero first and foremost while framing the story of the young pilot around it. Masuda seemingly backhands the naval authorities for using the pilots as expendable property. In general, the film has no respect for higher authorities, portraying most of them as simply using their soldiers, and not caring about their lives. The story is told in reverse, starting from 1944 and going in reverse to 1937. The pacing is well done, keeping everything at about the same level.

The acting is great on most parts, and even the expats seem to be doing well, it's often noted how poor a lot of them were in Japanese films of the era but here they do a standup job. As for the main characters, they are directed with enthusiasm that goes with their youthfulness. The love triangle is directed well but in a way, it's almost like a precursor to the later Michael Bay shakey-cam fest, Pearl Harbour, ending on that usual "war romance" subversion.

Daijiro Tsutsumi as Hamada brings all sorts of emotions to the table, and by the end, it is clear the Japanese war machine has become him. Kunio Mizushima, played by Jun Hashizume, shows clear concern for his friend as well as a great love for the female love interest, Shizuko Yoshikawa. Shizuko Yoshikawa, herself is a very well-done love interest. She clearly has a mixed bag of emotions for the two leads and loves them both on different levels. Tetsuro Tamba's brief appearance as Isoroku Yamamoto casts him as a very sympathetic man, clearly concerned for the lives of his young pilots despite only appearing for about 5 minutes. Shin Takuma does well as Teruo Tojo, the Zero's financier and Mitsubishi Motors president, showing quite a youthful energy and enthusiasm for his character.

The special effects by later Biollante to Destoroyah Effects Director Koichi Kawakita are very well done, clearly showing off just as much enthusiasm for pyrotechnic effects as his teacher Teruyoshi Nakano. The miniatures look great, and it’s nice to see a few Zero miniatures portrayed accurately as white in the opening 30 minutes. The camera angles during the air battle scenes are daring, and Kawakita makes use of frenetic camera movements during the battle scenes to enhance the combat. There is quite a bit of stock footage in the film, all the way from Storm of the Pacific to Kawakita's own Zero Pilot and to The Imperial Navy, but the original effects all look fantastic and blend very well with Kawakita's efforts.

The music by Harumi Ibe has a dated late 70s-early 80s quality that actually works for the film, and the score uses a lot of horns as well as 70s-style guitar work that make it clear Ibe was primarily used to the 70s style of composing and hadn't quite made the jump to the 80s sound design yet. Even then it's a great score and the film's theme song, Dawn, is sung beautifully by Yujiro Ishihara. Befitting the film's historic ending scene well.

Overall, I can't recommend Zero enough. It's clear how much Toho bought their A-Game in 1984, between this, The Return of Godzilla and Sayonara Jupiter, their tokusatsu efforts were on top form. If you ever get the chance to see it, do so.

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Interesting Movie

The film is due to its time of creation and especially to the place of its creation. Taking all of this into account, I can't just judge by condemning, say, "terrible" sound just because it's some copy from a videotape. A cruel story of several human beings, Harry, who was abused by his American father as a child, until Harry was whisked away from home to Manila, and later, as an adult, his own Filipino mother did not recognize him and offered him all her available narrow body holes for money. Harry's friend James, with whom he eventually "worked" as a dancer in gay clubs, providing their bodies to both women and men. Both friends were nice actors, you can't escape the typical Pinoy twisting of naked bodies (as I call "twisting earthworms"), but at least the bodies are attractive, I've seen a movie where pigs were twisting. Harsh, for the viewer who understands the Pinoy world of the time, as well as instructive and engaging

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This short film has a lot going for it

This short film has a lot going for it, it features a young man who is gay and can't hear yet, which are two big handicaps against the intolerance of a part of society. Erotic, the absence of hearing, first sex, flare-up, desire, hope, disappointment ... who can do it, who wants the "something" that the creators of this Korean short offer, will take, will take .. simply this short does not play a fairy tale , it is LIFE itself ...
This short film has a lot going for it, it features a young man who is gay and can't hear yet, which are two big handicaps against the intolerance of a part of society. Erotic, the absence of hearing, first sex, flare-up, desire, hope, disappointment ... who can do it, who wants the "something" that the creators of this Korean short offer, will take, will take .. simply this short does not play a fairy tale , it is LIFE itself ...

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feel-good & funny

Story: A soccer player with bad image was invited to be a coach for homeless football team to compete for world cup to represent Korea. A predictable movie with lots of funny moments, some touching scenes and no love story between the two popular idols. If you are okay with that, then you'll enjoy the movie.

Acting: Everyone did great in the movie.

Music: Nothing memorable for me but i guess songs used were appropriate.

Rewatch Value: Not the type of movie i will rewatch but it's definitely recommendable to those who just want to past the time, or feel inspired.

Overall: It was a cute and comical watch, i had a lot of laugh out loud moments so i finished this movie in a good mood. Nothing to deep, just an inspiring movie about those who don't want to give up and that life is full of hope and we will have our own shining moments with our own hard work and faith with those who support and appreciate us. 7 stars. Just don't expect much and you'll have a good time watching the movie.

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