So Frustrating I Wanted to Fast-Forward
I found this film to be very poorly written and directed. The pacing was so frustrating that I genuinely felt tempted to fast-forward just to get through it. The story lacked cohesion and emotional depth, and many scenes felt dragged out rather than meaningful.The acting didn’t help either. Performances were largely flat, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The protagonist, in particular, was especially frustrating. His overly martyr-like nature felt exaggerated and illogical, and many of his decisions didn’t make sense. Instead of coming across as heroic or complex, he often felt inconsistent and emotionally unconvincing, which made it hard to stay invested in his journey.
On top of that, the production quality and special effects were surprisingly lacking. For a film released in 2025, the visuals felt outdated and cheap, almost like something from the early 2000s. The CGI lacked polish, the action sequences felt underwhelming, and the overall production design failed to deliver the scale and immersion that a story like this demands. It’s disappointing to see such a high-concept fantasy treated with what feels like old-fashioned, low-budget execution.
Watching this adaptation honestly made me question whether I should even explore the original source material. However, I’ve heard that the movie significantly altered key plot points and character development from the novel and webtoon, and that it doesn’t accurately represent the depth of the original story. Because of that, I’m still open to giving the webtoon, novel, or anime adaptation a chance.
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Familiar Yet Heartfelt Romance
Feels similar to many other romance films, especially with its memory-loss storyline. While the plot can seem repetitive and follows familiar emotional beats, it still carries a gentle charm. The heartfelt moments and sincere performances make it a touching watch, even if it doesn’t offer anything particularly new.Was this review helpful to you?
"Sell your body, not your heart"
An Innocent Witch highlighted a problem that can arise when a prostitute works in a somewhat small city, especially when people are superstitious. In a place where everyone knows each other, townsfolk love to gossip and tear others down. Having lived in a small town during my childhood I can say it is the number one pastime. You don’t need social media or technology to destroy a person’s life.Due to a bad back, Ayako’s dad is unable to work as a fisherman. Not to worry, her mom has found Ayako employment in town…in a brothel. Ayako starts out as a maid and is later promoted when Kama-san, an older man who owns the lumberyard finds her and her virginity enticing. After a rough first sexual encounter, Ayako throws herself into her work and becomes the top girl. One night she pays it forward and helps a young man lose his virginity. Despite being warned to not lose her heart to a customer, Ayako and Kanjiro fall in love. Her life appears to be improving until fate jolts her like a cartoon anvil to the head. Ka-thwang!
Ayako was a fun and generous young woman who took pride in her work. She knew what people thought of her but keeping her parents fed overrode her embarrassment. Ayako fell in love not once, but twice. Every time hope was dangled in front of her, destiny cruelly yanked it from her hands.
The film didn’t spend a lot of time berating the women for their choices and lifestyles which was refreshing. Yet Ayako suffered from gossip and crushing loss. Shaming women in the sex trade to me is hypocritical. There are men in any economy who will seek out and find a way to pay for sex whether they are married or not. As one sailor told her, “I’d rather drop dead on you than get hit by a torpedo.” Given that women during this time period had few career options and starving to death was a drag, young women such as Ayako sold the only thing they somewhat owned---their bodies. Ayako was sending her money home to her parents who were somehow able to rationalize selling their daughter to a brothel to service men for money.
Yoshimura Jitsuko gave a splendid performance as Ayako. This character provided her with a wide range of emotions to play with as the young woman dealt with despair, passion, fear, and joy. The music was hauntingly beautiful. Director Gosho Heinosuke pulled together a bleak film with stunning shots and got the most out of his actors. Each scene was well framed and composed to elicit peak emotional responses.
I won’t spoil Ayako’s fate at the hands of a man, even though it was heavily foreshadowed in the opening scene. Poor, “cursed” Ayako tried to make the most of her caged life. Each moment of pleasure was harshly penalized when tragedy came knocking. If you needed to blame someone or something, the nearest women was usually the obvious and most pathetic answer.
18 February 2026
Trigger warnings: Implied rape. Suicide off screen. Tame sexual content.
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Really Lovely LGBTQ Movie
I saw this film a few years ago, and loved it. And now GagaOOLala has it, so I’m watching again, and loving it, all over again. It’s a film you can watch with your parents, after all, actress Lee Jung-eun, of Parasite fame (as well as so many great KDramas), lends it some gravitas.The cast is really good, the story is heart-warming, sweet, and hopeful.
Watch it. You’ll be glad you did.
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INCREDIBLE
I just finish to end this movie it's 2 am and I don't have a word to describe this movie. I watch this movie because it's recomendation netflix without read the synonspis or anything else and when I start I knew directly the story and the end but this story like Your lie in april touches me deeply I cried so much amazing love amazing ostWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Wow! I turned it on without any big expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised! Even though the first half felt average and used a lot of clichés, it was still enjoyable. But then the second half came and skyrocketed my interest! The choice felt very unique and I really enjoyed this movie and its mix of genres!I have unfortunately not watched the original Japanese movie but I will definitely check it out now!
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Weirdly fascinated by testicles
Unusual to the point of being downright eccentric, Executioners from Shaolin carries a significant amount of generational weight while also serving as an incredible showcase for Lau Kar-Leung as an action filmmaker. From its blistering opening credits, a surreal, red-tinted deathmatch to its ferocious, bloody freeze-frame climax, the film is littered with fabulous choreography and wonderfully realised action. Unfortunately, it is bitterly unfocused as to what it wants to be, not lingering long enough on one thing to truly grab me, trying to balance a marital drama and the typical Shaw Brothers revenge yarn to less than stellar results, thanks to a brutally uneven pace and a weird fascination with testicles. There are some decent comedic beats here and there, but the film doesn't make the best of its lighter moments, often taking away from the revenge hook that supposedly drives the narrative, with the shift in focus from father to son robbing us of a fulfilling conclusion to this tale of vengeance. Performance-wise, there's an exceptionally brief but memorable role from Gordon Liu, Lily Li is wonderful, especially alongside Chen Kuan-Tai as the sympathetic and obsessive father figure, but it's Lo Lieh's turn as the villainous and nefarious Pai Mei who is the real highlight and has gone on to be the stuff of legend. The only real sore spot is Wong Yu, who doesn't really leave much of an impression beyond what might be one of the worst haircuts and wardrobes I've ever seen in a Shaw Brothers film. Although epic in scope, Executioners from Shaolin ultimately feels as if it's been cut down to the bone, not emphasising any of its narrative threads to truly tie us down. It's an odd film in that its flaws are more about what is not seen than what is seen, while it may not be the slickest or fastest film in Shaw Brothers' output, its heart and ambition still shine through.Was this review helpful to you?
Leveled up Panor, but with loose plots. Still a good watch regardless.
In this sequel, viewers are introduced to an older and fierce Panor. This time, Panor is set to start a new journey as a college student, with big dreams of becoming a teacher. However, fate has other plans, and she must deal with threats coming from all directions.“Let’s see whose black magic is stronger, yours or mine?” This line basically sums up the core conflict of this film. While the idea is strong enough to drive the story, the story structure is somewhat loose and uneven, making it difficult to fully immerse oneself in the narrative. The battle of black magic somehow lacks intensity. Plus, certain characters are not fully fleshed out either, leaving gaps in their development. And while the plot twist is good, it doesn't quite pack the punch needed for a standout climax. Despite this, the film manages to maintain a sense of intrigue and suspense all the way through.
As this film shows a more mature and ruthless version of Panor, Cherprang's portrayal of Panor has also leveled up, showcasing more polished acting that adds depth and complexity to the role. It's amazing to witness how well she has embodied this infamous role, solidifying her place in the horror genre. Alongside her, Pimma delivers a commendable performance, despite being a relatively newcomer to the scene.
The trademark of the "Art of the Devil" films is of course its gruesome and brutal gore scenes. While this sequel certainly delivers on that front with some stomach-churning graphic scenes, I found some of gore to be predictable compared to its predecessors. Fans who are expecting the new level of shock value might find this sequel a bit disappointing. Still, the film is well-made with great direction, improved CGI, and fantastic makeup FX that really bring the world of black magic to life on the screen. Plus, it's simply satisfying to see how the bullies got bullied back.
In conclusion, "Panor 2" is a good sequel that continues to explore the dark and twisted world of its titular character. The upgraded version of Panor, combined with strong performances from the cast, elevates the film. While the loose storyline and toned-down gore may leave some viewers wanting more, the overall execution is still praiseworthy. Despite its flaws, this sequel is still good watch regardless. With a more focused narrative and deeper character development, the future installments could be even more captivating.
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Best Wuxia movie I've watched this year!
Idk what the reviewers are talking about. I got hooked by this movie because of trailers. Hollywood made a ton of shitty trailers, DONT FOLLOW THEM! Anyhoo, I admit the martial arts in this movie were a bit flashy, ppl flying off a horse, lots of jumping and flying kick...... BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO GOOD. The cinematic fight scenes did help to make you glued to the screen. While they make the plot so simple : guarding an important figure to chang'an but giving the backstory of the MC and his enemies. Also HOW IS NIC TSE STILL LOOK THE SAME LIKE 20 YEARS AGO? HE'S 52! costume wise, it's in a desert, so the tone is earthy colour. There's one scene remind me of Mad Max lol. Overall if you're looking for a wuxia movie, you can try this one.Was this review helpful to you?
No brain needed, watch for the cast and you'll enjoy!
Yeah, I admit my shallow, reason. Only watched this because I went through Hou MingHao's movie list.And yes, the only reason for many others as well is probably purely the cast and maybe getting some action. Jackie Chan, John Cena, GoT's 2nd Greyjoy bad boy. And Hou MingHao. Even though he's got a really small supporting role with only 2 sentences and a nice close-up.
The film is a pretty simple mainstream action movie, no brain needed, fighting scenes ala Jackie Chan and some comediac inserts that are usually part of your action movies these days. The story is so simple, that I actually forgot to listen to the dialogues some times.
What I have to compliment though is the cinematography. Really beautiful desert and explosion shots.
The end was quite sudden and I didn't get how they actually stopped the evil master plan...
Conclusion: If you know what you signed up for, you can't get disappointed and might actually enjoy the movie. I somewhat did, lol.
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Contender for the worst Chinese film ever made.
There are vanity projects that are hilariously awful but still entertaining to behold. Then there's Pure Hearts: Into Chinese Showbiz. Absolute word vomit of a title aside, I don't think I've ever seen something as hollow and empty as this in my entire life. A glossy, tone-deaf abomination of filmmaking that mistakes clichés and tropes for a narrative. It borders on the dangerously incompetent at times, putting the cast in situations they should never have been placed in, where the Director should have been told no, but given the fact that this film was crowd and government funded, speaks volumes about where his priorities lie. He just wanted to live an extravagant lifestyle and used this film to fund and live it, no matter who he steamrolled over.Was this review helpful to you?
A better successor to the original than the actual sequels!
Arriving as a knowingly skewed echo of the heroic bloodshed era, Return to a Better Tomorrow has all the right ingredients of a slick and snazzy slice of action brilliance, playing on all the familiar themes and tropes that come with the territory. As much as the A Better Tomorrow namesake was undoubtedly slapped onto this to sell tickets, it didn't stop Wong Jing from going all out on the production, even with the notable absence of both John Woo and Chow Yun-fat. It's great to see Wong Jing taking himself seriously for once, as this is extremely atypical of his usual bouts of tonal insanity. The film still contains a few jokes here and there, plus a healthy dose of self-awareness, but these don't outright break the film's relentless pacing or its serious tone. There's a clear attempt at emulating the look and feel of the original, even if it's less interested in operatic tragedy and more so in remixing familiar iconography, although that oddly works in the film's favour, delivering plenty of punchy gunfights, splattery violence, dapper trench coats, dual-wielding shotguns and, of course, lots of cool posing! Jing's direction is great, filled with energy and a heavy amount of stylistic flourishes; the photography is extremely colourful, the musical score goes hard, and the performances all around are great, even if characterisation is sketched in bold strokes rather than fine lines. In a period where Hong Kong cinema was already looking back on its own myths, Return to a Better Tomorrow is a highly underrated little gem that has seemingly been lost amongst Wong Jing's blitzkrieg on the industry. It certainly isn't a replacement for the classic it riffs on, nor does it aim to be, although I'm probably committing absolute sacrilege when I say this is a better successor to the original than both II and III.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
How social pressure makes you do the wrong things in life...
Wow, this short does not have a review... I reluctantly write reviews for "old" series/movies but in this case I have to.This short is an excellent example how social pressure leads to an unhappy life in Japan where it is expected to follow social conformity. And with this is brings a lot of pain and heartbreak and it's depicted in detail and nuances in everyones face.
"please be happy" and "love someone but me" are the central points in this short. Azusa (speak Az'sa) is selfish, he broke up because he wanted to show his children to his grandma. But even when his Grandma dies and he can*t fullfill her wish he is confined in his personal construct to conform. Yusuke (speak: Yus'ke) is still in love and can't move on. It culmulates when Azusa selfishly asks Yusuke to make wedding photos. And that's where we see that both are not happy.
This short is really depressing but it's also important to show it, especially considering the comments where you read that it is a thing that some people can't escape the social pressure. And it shows, that a lot of people surpress their real selves, which is really really sad. So for me, this is a recommandation. You can watch it on youtube: https://youtu.be/md47vntaqwU
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A beautiful unique relationsip
This movie was the best finale of great series. A series that is not all fluff, but a realistic vieuw on a relationship between two complete opposites who found each other and love each other deeply.I enjoyed this movie as much as i did the whole series.
The visuals were beautiful and it had good music.
And the chemistry betweem them is soo great! And for all of us who like a good kiss, they ended it with a great and romantic one.
So sad we won't see more of them...
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Give it a chance!
This is essentially a music video, however it's a well done music video. And Laoji and Jingjian are a classic c-gl pair who do incredibly good work here for it being all of two minutes long. If you miss seeing them together, I would give this a chance because again, there is like some resemblance of a storyline considering it's two minutes long and I liked the way they pieced it together.On a slightly less relevant note, it's always a bit strange seeing Laojj in modern clothes since I'm so used to seeing her in wuxia/xianxia esque settings in these but she's so hot and I wish she did more 'modern' c-gls every now and then
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