On paper lovely and lighthearded, but what a dissapointment.
On paper this looks like a lovely, light hearted movie, but the acting... no thank you. Every single emotion was an act. Nothing felt real. Only watchable because of Kim Gun Woo. The only actor in this movie where you could feel some emotion and it didnt feel dull.Jasper cho couldve been replaced by any other goodlooking actor, you probably wouldnt see the difference. His character... like missed everything. No depth, no real emotion an overall boring character and not very pleasent to watch.
Bela Padilla in this movie. She wasnt horrible, not unpleasent. She just ... wasnt memorable. I'd love to see her potential, to see was she can actually do.
The script itself didnt help the actors. The intro/synopsis was fine, so was the end. My problem with this movie is the entirely middle part of it. Instead of building momentum, it was just a flatline for me.
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Limitations Can Be Overcome!
14/01/2023This is a story about a 30 something year old male with heavy debts that unexpectedly and quite unintentionally takes on the responsibility of a blind and deaf 7 yr old girl when her mother, an employee of his, dies suddenly in a freak accident.
He is only there really to get back the money that the deceased owes him through her apartment deposit so has to pose as the child's father temporarily.
However, what starts as an inconvenience eventually leads to a deeper relationship between the two when he actually starts to pay attention to her with patience, time and effort that leads her to thrive under his care, experience new things and quickly become emotionally attached to him. Her mother only took care of her basic needs really, but left her mostly alone in the apartment like a neglected little animal.
In part, this story addresses the lack of care and facilities in place for those born like this child because when he went to check out this institute for the deaf and blind she could only be placed under one category which I think was for those that are deaf. So, sign language was the only option opened to her, but when he challenged the educator on it it made no difference.
He more or less asked: " How can she learn sign language if she can't see?'.
Quite quickly he works out a way to teach her how to communicate with him so for the first time in her life she is able to learn what objects are by spelling letters out on her or his hand and she is no longer limited by her impairments.
As viewers we see her transform from a neglected unkempt child to one that is happy, taken care of and carefree.
It does get a bit messy because of him having debts and having to face the reality of taking care of her at the same time as being chased by his creditors no end - so it isn't a completely happy story.
What I will say is that it is a brilliant heartfelt story and one that will likely make you shed a tear or two.
The child actor in this is believable and acted her part to a tee. Faultless really. I have actually gone back to watch it again and replay certain memorable parts because it is that good.
If you are in the mood for a good crying session then don't hesitate to watch this one!
Ps Don't forget to have a box of tissues handy.
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Emotional Depth Elevates an Otherwise Lackluster Story
I won't go into too much detail, but overall, it was a solid movie. While the production itself wasn't groundbreaking, I found myself following the action and intense moments with a sense of detachment.What truly made this film stand out for me was the performances of Lee Jong Suk and Cha Eun Woo, who play brothers. Without their relationship at the core of the story—the tragic choices and the consequences tied to their bond—I don’t think I would have been as engaged. Their dynamic really elevated the plot, and what started as a rather dull experience quickly turned emotional, leaving me in tears.
In the end, the movie is fairly straightforward, not offering much that we haven’t seen before. However, it’s the emotional depth and the performances of certain characters that truly make it worthwhile.
I would recommend it, especially for Cha Eun Woo fans, as this role allows him to showcase his potential for more complex and tragic roles in the future. Of course, Lee Jong Suk delivers another top-notch performance, as always.
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Heartless Monsters Do Exist!
14/01/2023
I saw this years ago and although it is disturbing, upsetting, distressful and truly heart breaking to watch there is also a side to it that shows undeniable courage, inner strength and hope.
This is definitely not a movie for everyone - not at all!
Who hasn't heard of a child or children being abducted on their way to school only to be savagely assaulted physically then left to perish or to never be seen again.
This movie is actually based on a true story from Korea regarding a little 8 year old girl that met such a fate in the hands of a sadistic male perpetrator who left her to die without a care in the world whatsoever.
The damage to her body was so extensive that it was a miracle she survived at all!
Mostly what we see is the aftermath following that attack of how she painstakingly rebuilds her life with the support of her parents/hospital/others to go onto confronting that piece of works in court in order to obtain justice and take him off the streets.
That in itself is another ordeal for her to cope with plus it is not easy as it comes down to the testimony of her, a child and victim, versus a seasoned adult criminal that knows the system.
But she does do it.
Not only is she resilient and brave, but she's also determined and strong.
The actors in this film are truly outstanding, but especially the female child actor who played her role so well.
Know that you will experience a roller coaster ride of different emotions watching "Hope", but also that the ending is somewhat satisfactory.
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The acting in this movie was very good but it couldn't have been otherwise. Lee Byung Hun, Gang Dong Woo, Kim Woo Bin, Uhm Ji Won and Kim Jin Kyung are known for their good acting. The first half of the movie was quite engaging, but after that it started to drag on, it got boring and I kept finding myself distracted from watching. The ending was just predictable. The movie definitely could have been shorter to be a little better.
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it was okay…
I felt compelled to write this review since I saw so many good ones, and I kind of want to bring in a different perspective, and also see if anyone thinks the same as me.I’ll start with the good parts:
The cast and the acting were spectacular! Honestly it was amazing… the emotion and everything was *chefs kiss*’
Now for the rest of it:
The story… I honestly didn’t find it that good at all. It got kind of good near the end, but the rest of it was a confusing mess to me.
The whole bomb thing was almost useless in my opinion. I can see where they were going with it, but I feel like they should have gone in a different direction with that. If they had focused more on the crew in the submarine rather than the main character just chasing bombs for half of the movie, then it would have been a 10/10 for me. Since most of the movie was just that, however, I was unable to grow any sort of attachment for the characters. I wish we could have gotten to know the crew a lot better than we did, but we only got glimpses of them throughout the movie and at the end.
To add to this, there was a fine line between the villains and the heroes in this show. This may have been on purpose, but then again, there wouldn’t have to be heroes and villains if the whole bomb thing didn’t happen, which would have been better in my opinion.
Instead of this whole hero/villain thriller stuff that was going on, I wish it could have been a different kind of thriller that focused more on the crew members in the submarine themselves. I don’t want to spoil the movie by giving away what I would have liked the plot to be about, so I’ll leave it here :)
And before all of the people who really liked this movie come after me, I know that the premise of the show was supposed to be about the bombs (hence the name “decibel”), but I do wish that they had done things differently (I am glad you guys were able to enjoy it though :)
So for me, this movie had some insane missed potential, and I just wish I could have loved it more :(
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"People are ghosts, and ghosts are people."
The cold stone complex with glowing red eyes in Zhang Yi Mou’s Raise the Red Lantern bids young women into its luxurious lifestyle. Afterall, it’s just as easy to marry a rich man as it is a poor man. Or is it?Gong Li stars as Songlian the newest concubine of a rich man in this gilded cage of competitive horrors. Educated but with few options after her father dies she marries an older man. She quickly learns that the women and servants are pitted against one another in a popularity game to garner the master’s favor. Red lanterns are lit in the courtyard and living apartment of the woman he chooses for the night. The clickety clack of massage hammers used on the chosen one’s feet turns into a Pavlov’s bell for the women. The master’s idea of foreplay is something akin to “brace yourself darlin’” but the women do what they must to attract his attention and keep it.
Other than the privileges the chosen one temporarily receives, the concubines hold no power. They are largely interchangeable, this is the territory of the powerful master and his game and rules. The women’s fate is tied to pleasing him and gifting him sons. In the ruthless conflict between the concubines, betrayal and tragedy are always near at hand.
Master Chen’s face is never focused on. His is the face of oppression and rigid familial customs, the ringmaster in the tragic circus.
Songlian discovers that the people in the huge complex are largely ghosts living in the house abiding by the rules of ancestors long gone. She tries to rebel, game the system, and in the end becomes ostracized and alone. When she witnesses an unspeakable act she realizes that she is trapped with only two ways out-death or madness.
Raise the Red Lantern criticizes a number of social structures as well as the plight of women during this time. Outdated cruel traditions that guide their everyday life are firmly in the director’s bullseye. It is gripping and difficult to watch at times.
Songlian is not an easy character to like as she can be very abrasive and snobbish. Her youth and independent nature cause her to chafe under the ridiculous rules and volatile hierarchy. She learns the hard way the price for disobedience. Gong Li’s expressive face helps us to understand how we should feel as well. Rebellious. Trapped. Isolated. Horrified. She gives a gloriously understated performance as a young woman caught in the chains of family customs; the players involved more like ghosts ensnaring fresh faces to drag into their macabre story.
Zhang Yi Mou saturates some scenes in a rich red light, the color of birth, life, and death. At other times an icy blue hue overtakes the scene driving home the solitariness of the one not chosen. The large complex could almost be given a credit as well the way Zhang lovingly uses the stunning architecture to showcase the concubines’ limited stone world. There was no soft place to land amongst the hard edges. The lush colors of their costumes played in stark contrast to the institutional banality. It was a remote facility both physically and emotionally.
The sets, concubines, and costumes are intoxicatingly beautiful but lying beneath them is a grotesque cruelty. Raise the Red Lantern is a treat for the eyes as most of Zhang Yi Mou’s films are. Though difficult to watch this story of the powerful’s abuse of women and tradition is one worth trying.
“What do people amount to in this house? They’re like dogs, cats, or rats, but certainly not people.”
1/12/23
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Perfect movie best actrees
Very impressive movie i have ever seen.lee chae dam very beatiful. love from uzbekistan.you look like kim tae hee5i1eywkydnrhf
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You Have Been Weighed, You Have Been Measured, and You Have Been Found Wanting
This movie is a direct sequel to the 2019 TV series. However, by attempting to design a plot that does not require the audience to have watched the series first, it leaves the movie feeling a little flat. Ultimately, reducing the movie to a greatest hits version of the TV series. You got the longing for Li Zi Wei in Act 1, the mysterious package with the Wu Bai cassette tape and blue Sony Walkman II that sets up Act II, Huang Yu Xuan’s spirit possessing Chen Yun Ru’s body, etc. There’s even the same soundtrack cue’s from the series.Following on the heels of a massively successful series is no easy feat, and I commend the production cast and crew for taking on the challenge. Screenwriter Hermes Lu, makes a valiant effort in attempting to recapture the mind-bending twists and turns of the series as well as tug on our heart strings as we eagerly await Li Zi Wei and Huang Yu Xuan’s happy ending. However, with a runtime of only 1hr 47min, it’s a lot of story to cram into a very short amount of time. Which results in a hasty resolution to the mobius loop paradox in Act III. With the original cut of the film being over 3 hours long, you have wonder what was left on the cutting room floor.
With that being said; if the film is available in your area, seeing this film in a movie theater is a must! Award winning sound designer, Kuo Li-Chi, weaves an audio masterpiece in simulating the sensation of traveling back in time. He interlaces the sounds of a clock ticking backwards with Wu Bai’s “Last Dance.” But not the original version of “Last Dance.” He manipulates the song by slowing down the tempo, and isolates the left and right channels to be out of sync. Giving the audience a sense of spacial dissonance. It’s an experience that can only truly be enjoyed in surround sound. Additionally, Kuo Li-Chi shared that the number of ticks of the second hand that the audience hears was carefully selected. Can you decipher its meaning?
Fans of the show who have eagerly been awaiting these long two years need no convincing to watch and root for their favorite couple. But for everyone else, I recommend you start with the series. If you are satisfied with that ending, you can stop there. If you need more, the movie will always be waiting here for you. Just as Li Zi Wei will always be waiting for his Huang Yu Xuan.
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But this movie succeeded in making me (＾3＾♪ Rollin' Rollin' Rollin' ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ
They're being funny without trying too hard.
When i thought "oh, it's serious now???" the whole thing becomes hilarious again.
All of the actor & actresses nailed their roles. The chemistry between the characters are awesome. And it not only made me laugh, there's some parts that almost made me cry.
It's just a good movie overall.
So i don't have much to say, just watch and see it yourself. (≧▽≦)
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Tune in for love, remember it for something else
A seemingly innocent puppy love combined with strong nostalgic 90's music. After the first day of October, 1994, Mi-soo's (Kim Go-eun) and Hyeon-woo's (Jung Hae-in) lives were never the same again. It was almost certain that they are destined for one another, but timing could have never been more wrong. With that, it was also interesting to see how thestory unfolded throughout different parts of their lives.One thing that stood out here was that I liked about the circumstances that they meet and later reconnected were different, which was realistic and integrated with the technology that was common at that time. First they meet in 1994 while tuning in the radio (basically the meaning of the title), in 1997 with the use of email, and 2000 with the use of mobile phones. But despite the use of technology for their love story to develop, it just wasn't their time yet. Also, them meeting more than once despite now living separately was too coincidental. Yet, what I noticed really well here was their emotions every time they met which helped the atmosphere and story's credibility - it was most often longing with each other, and the ache when they have to separate again. It also emphasized the slowness of this slow-burn romance movie and built this tension as to when and how they would end up together.
It was intriguing while waiting when the right timing is. But when it finally happened, I felt that the thrill disappeared and the pacing became stagnant as they now focused on Hyeon-woo's past, which should've been explained more in detail. I really was curious as to why Hyeon-woo became like that, but there were only tidbits revealed about him and I (the viewer) had to fill in the gaps, which was disappointing. I get that the direction was to be more subtle and nuanced, but it wasn't executed properly well here, since there were still loose ends.
Also, a trope which I did not expect to find here is the martyr complex which often leads to miscommunication. Well, since it was already added to the story, it would've made more sense had it been introduced earlier and not just ramdomly added near the end. Not only that it lost the thrill of the "waiting game" between the two, but it shifted the story angle. Although it was somewhat saved by the cheesy ending, not that I'm complaining since it went back to the roots of their connection. In my prospective thinking, with this type of communication or lack thereof, I doubt that their relationship would succeed in the long run.
I think the highlight for this movie would be the music since it was very fitting with the mood in every scene it was played, and it created more substance to the story. Personally, I felt several emotions every time a song would play. At the start, it was more nostalgic yet sweet and innocent; in the middle it was bittersweet yet still hopeful; and in the end it was romantic and cheesy, just like the story itself.
Overall, a mellow slow-burn romance with great chemistry but the sudden loss of "thrill" on the succeeding parts of their relationship and its almost toxic miscommunication trope (basically the shift of storytelling) diminished the spark that was felt in the beginning. Still, its ending was satisfactorily done so no major complaints aside from the loose ends. Tune in for love, remember it for something else.
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Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough
Director Naruse imbued his female lead with more backbone and rational thinking than all the male leads put together in this his last silent film. Despite being a melodrama, he managed to showcase the clash of societal classes and the detriments of wish fulfillment.Sugiko is a hard-working waitress who works with her friend, Kesako, at what appears to be a House of Pancakes, a tea house that serves American style pancakes. Her boyfriend asks her to marry him even though his parents back home are pressuring him into an arranged marriage. Around the same time, movie scouts want her to be the next big thing actress. Barely tempted with the acting offer, she rushes to meet her boyfriend when melodrama enters the scene and she is struck by a car. The rich owner of the car picks her up, before we knew to not move an unconscious victim, and holding her has them driven to a hospital. Of course, the boyfriend sees them driving by and when she doesn’t show up that night hightails it out of town to mommy and daddy. As she recovers in the hospital, Hiroshi, the rich man, falls in love with her. Before you can say, I’ll take the Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity, the two are married and living with his disapproving mother and sister. Hiroshi doesn’t have the strength to defend himself, much less Sugiko, leaving her to his family’s tender care.
The mother-in-law scolds Sugiko for being too friendly to the servants. The sister tries to create vile rumors about her and both scowl and skulk every chance they get. Eventually, Hiroshi begins to drink heavily and comes home later and later.
Meanwhile, Sugiko’s friend, Kesako, becomes an actress and has her bumbling artist boyfriend hired on to paint scenery. Ultimately, she finds that acting is not all it’s cracked up to be and begins to regret her decision.
Sugiko finally confronts Hiroshi and tells him she’s leaving so that he can figure out what he wants. Apparently, what he wants is to drive too fast with another woman in his car. A bookended car wreck brings the drama to a close. Sugiko confronts her in-laws and also tells Hiroshi a final good-bye. No histrionics, no forgiveness and romantic ending, just a realistic view of a woman who had been pushed too far. I cheered as she walked away tall.
Both Sugiko and Kesako ended up much where they started but much wiser. They had grown to understand what they did and didn’t want in life and also had greater self-respect and confidence. A final bus scene, seemed enigmatic to me. Was it a glimpse into the future or a farewell to the past?
The movie is badly faded with some skipping issues, combined with Naruse’s rather choppy way of filming with lots of set up shots held for only a few seconds could be distracting. I enjoyed the Debussy music that had been added to the film, its romantic theme fitting in quite well with the drama onscreen. The actors all put their own stamp on their characters, but the best part was Shinobu Setsuko when she set her gaze and showed Sugiko’s inner strength at the end, her freedom hard won.
Street Without an End was a short, entertaining melodrama whose strength lie in showing how love can’t always conquer class struggles and how a woman found her independence and courage to live her life her way.
1/11/23
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Love the chemistry
I like the movie. I just wish there were more romantic scenes between them. Romantic relationship scenes. But omg. The way he ate those treats in her hands while being tied was hot AF! And so on🫶🫶.They're so cute ngl!
This is prob my first time seeing a Korean actor getting tied up. If you have a Korean drama similar to this... Please recommend me some🙏 I love romantic movies and dramas! Especially with comedies and jealous moments hehe.
Totally recommend watching it if you are craving a rom-com that includes consensual play🫶🫶
4:33pm 1/11/23
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The Hound of the Baskervilles: Sherlock the Movie
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I simply write this review
I simply write this review so this excelent movie gets more recognition. This drama is until now not subbed and it´s a shame, because from what i understood it´s a really good movie. I can´t really tell much about the story because i don´t understand japanese and i don´t speak japanese.English is not my first language, so please if there are any grammar mistakes, tell me or ignore it. Thank you :)
From what i can tell about the story is that. Homare Shishio(Sherlock) and Wakamiya Junichi(Watson) go on a small Island to investigate the attempt kidnapping of a young woman. I can´t tell how the Hound of the Baskerville fits into the story and he only appeared for like 10 mins, but i need to say i skipped through much of the movie since i couldn´t understand the dialogs, so maybe the Hound is longer there but i just skipped it. So they investigate sperated again like in the drama itselfe, Shishio in the little Village and Junichi in the villa. I don´t know for sure how it comes to this, but Junichi goes into the mountains, where the Hound was seen, I think Shishio called him there and suddenly Junichi was chased by the "Hound" (it was like in every adaption of Sherlock a simple trick). In an abandon tunnel he then meets Shishio again and they solve the case. Even though I put a few spoiler in this review, i will not tell you the end. That is something you need to see for yourself. :)
For the acting I need to say. It was really good and i just love the little hate-bromance between Shishio and Junichi.
I didn´t pay attention to the music but the ost for the credits was actually really good.
And for the last scentence, I will deffently watch the movie again when he is finally subbed somewhere.
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