Reviews

Other reviews have already covered how great the cinematography is in All about Lily Chou Chou and how the music ties the story together so I won't go into depth about that. I just thought the movie was a masterpiece. I had never seen a film like this that had flawlessly interwoven all the things that makes life so beautiful and yet ugly. And the timeline wasn't confusing at all like I've seen people say. The years were told on screen and I knew the story went into the past around the middle of the movie because Hoshino had changed so much. Also, there were hints early on that Hasumi (philia) was talking to Hoshino (bluecat) online. We the audience knew that Hoshino was a Lily Chou-chou fan first and was the one that introduced Hasumi to the artist. Hoshino in the flashback scene had a Lily Chou-chou poster in his room and Hasumi asked who it was when he stayed over. It was interesting that in the present day timeline the person that caused Hasumi the most pain and was destroying his life in the real world was also the one that was giving him comfort online. It really goes to show that you don't know who you're speaking to in this internet universe. And the scene towards the end of the movie where the two worlds (cyber and real) collide at the Lily Chou-chou concert left a deep impression on me.

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I have to keep reminding myself that this newest ×××holic adaptation was a movie rather than a whole series, because I really wished that it was the latter... as it had been for the 2013's adaptation. And as with the 2013 version, I wished that there were plans to make a live-action adaptation of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles since it does feel out out place to think of Watanuki's existence without having any mention of Shaoran.

That said, having Shibasaki Kou as Yuko was really perfect! I have nothing against Watanabe Anne tbh but I have to say that Kou really do carry the mysterious aura that Yuko had. And that was also partially the reasoning as to why I wished that this current adaptation was also made as a series. Because one can't really get enough of it, seeing Shibasaki Kou's Yuko and Kamiki's Watanuki as well as the rest of the casts.

I love Himawari's actress and she really carried the characters well. But I have to admit that due to the movie's length a lot of her story was revised to fit the time constraints. It made it hard to really relate to her character since the plot was moving too fast. Same can be said about Doumeki tbh. Like I prefer his drama version more, which was understandable since drama Doumeki had time to develop his relationship with Watanuki (and Himawari) compared to the movie version. And movie Doumeki feel a bit too stiff than how I remembered him.

Like the drama, this movie also covered the arc regarding the Spider Lady. But unlike drama, movie place more emphasis on the incident between the Spider Lady and Watanuki... aside from extending further to cover the end plot of ×××holic where Yuko passed the shop to Watanuki. Not that I blame the movie for that (since without the TRC connection it's hard to justify the reasoning for the latter plot to happen) but I kinda wished that movie didn't just speedrun the plot about Yuko's shop being a shop that grants wishes as well as Watanuki's interaction with the customers just to reach the end plot. I mean at most, I wished that the movie plot could be split up into several movie length production rather than just one. I mean, man.... how could movie tease us with a few seconds of Zashiki Warashi×Watanuki yet later forget about it? Like I know people used to complain about the 2013 drama, but I wished that the adaptation this time could be a bit longer.

Anyhow, this was still a great movie. While the lack of TRC mention made the adaptation feel incomplete (since it basically can explain everything about Watanuki's existence and why he needed to be at the shop) it was still nice to revisit the world of ×××holic after so long. Not to mention how perfect the costume department had been for this movie.

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[Need to rewatch] TLDR; Recommendation score: 8/10, Personal score: 10/10

The low ratings are because I NEED to rewatch it. the ratings are tentative.

It has been years since I watched it, but it inspired me to read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. One of my favorite movies in general. Yes, I am biased because I knew a little about the Three Kingdoms before going in.

I knew about the Romance of the Three kIngdoms in passing and because of the video game Smite having Guan Yu in it. I knew I wanted to know a lot more about the classic novel, and while looking for ways to experience it, I found this movie back in 2018. This movie altered the way I consider the novel. Highly recc.

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Kaiju sushi anyone?

Gamera vs Guiron was my first Gamera movie. I watched it several years ago before knowing anything about this franchise. Two boys accidentally go into space in a strange ship and a giant turtle with flames coming out his backend comes to their rescue on the 10th planet hiding behind the sun? Yeah, I'm the person who will sit down and watch that.

The two mischievous boys witness a spaceship landing and board it without any forethought. It closes up and heads for home via an asteroid belt. Fortunately, Gamera hears the boys and protects them. The spaceship flies faster than he does so the boys end up on a strange planet where the water runs backwards and giant kaiju inhabit the place before Gamera can get there. They are greeted by two space women who look a lot like an early Frieza from Dragon Balls. If you are not a 10-year-old boy, the middle of this movie can get tedious, even with silver clad cannibal space babes.

Fifty minutes into the story, Gamera finally shows up and duels with a giant land shark with a huge blade coming out of his head. Guiron also has some nifty throwing stars that shoot from his body. The first fight doesn't go well for the big turtle but the first one never does. When Gamera collects himself and starts the fight over we are witness to him doing a gymnastic bar routine with a perfect 10 dismount. In only his 6th outing, it felt like Gamera had jumped the blade faced shark.

Gamera was fully a friend to children by this time. The boys weren't too annoying but I could have used less time on them and the space women overall. The mothers were belligerently obstinate in disbelieving the little sister who had witnessed the boys getting on the spaceship. One mother was wanting to give her son 30 lashes for running away. Eventually, some grown-ups appeared to let them know the child wasn't lying. These two women were the most exasperating part of the whole movie.

By the time Gamera was shooting across space, heading home with the boys in tow, his theme song blaring you know everyone has learned their lesson. The mothers understood they should trust their children. The boys decided it was better to make Earth a safer place to live than looking to somewhere in space. And Gamera, well, Gamera was probably looking for a place to refuel after traveling across the Solar System and back. Let's go Gamera!

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a relic best left in the past (major trigger/content warning below)

Overall: I want the time that I spent watching this back. If you want m/m romance, please go and watch, literally... anything else. This is adapted from a manga/anime which I haven't seen and I'm reviewing it on its own merits/flaws. Watched on GagaOOLala.

Content Warnings: rape (graphic and a long scene), ptsd, manipulation, victim blaming, manhandling, physical violence, second attempted sexual assault

What I Liked
- it looked like they had some actual musicians for some scenes/shots
- some acting was okay
- the conductor did apologize so he wasn't a 100% sociopath, but still a really awful human

Room For Improvement
- most live action dub/non con in BL/Yaoi has some element of the FICTIONAL mouth says no but body says yes, it turns consensual at some point. But nope, this was full on non con from the beginning to the end and it was awful to watch.
- that pos (piece of sh*t) "friend" told him it wasn't that bad, he was only raped once in a crowded restaurant and her drinking doesn't make her any less of a pos
- her indirect kiss was awful
- that conductor said he was sorry and wouldn't do it again and then basically almost rapes him a second time!!!
- how on earth did he all of a sudden think "my beloved"???
- character repeatedly says that he can't love men and he's not gay- that conductor's flashback at the end was terrible, so he had a love a first sight and that gives him the right to rape another person, WTH?!?!
- open/confusing ending, so they don't end up in a romantic relationship? I want them to never see each other again. Actually I want the conductor to spend some time in jail, therapy and have to give financial restitution.

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Worth Every Minute

I have finally decided to write a review on this. I've lost track now if how many times I've watched this. If they take it off of Gagaoolala I'll be lost.

If you are on the fence about watching this just do it. It is only 45 min so not a huge time investment. I think you will be glad you did.

This is definately my go to when I'm feeling lost or let down by other "BL's". I just keep coming back to this one.

I am not the best with putting my thoughts into actual words so please go read reviews from others who gave this a 10. They say what I want say so much better!

It is only 45 min long so not a big time investment but there is so much to it. Others have noted it was too short and was a good start for something longer. I disagree. I think making this longer would just be filler. There is exactly enough information. I have not once watched this and thought there needs to be more information or it felt rushed.

TRIGGER WARNING: There is abuse, rape and incest in this so please be aware of this when watching. These incidents are handled well and not overly used or detailed but are necessary to fully understand Light's issues with how he views love and himself.

I can't rave about this one enough. Of course this is all just my opinion as I most definately am not a true reviewer. I listen more to my heart than my head! This show makes my heart full!

It also looks like an 8 episode series is coming out. Don't know if it is a continuation or if it will fullfill the wishes of those wanting the movie to be longer. I'm torn at this time whether or nit to watch it. I will have to wait and see which direction they are taking it.

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Gamera-The Friend of All Children

In Gamera's final film, he returns in a new form. Much like Mothra's job of protecting the environment was handed down to her children when she passed on, Gamera's progeny had to take on the mantel of protector in this film. As were the Showa era films, Gamera the Brave was aimed at children with a solid dose of green and purple blood for slightly older children.

After sacrificing himself in 1973 to rid the world of the Gyaos the big turtle leaves a Kaiju hole in the world, with no one to look out for Japan. That is, until a young boy, Koru, finds a turtle egg and a red glowing turtle shell. There are lots of cute scenes with the boy and his friends getting to know the flying baby turtle. His mother had died recently and the little turtle begins to open his heart. He names the turtle Toto after the nickname his mother had given him. Nothing stays quiet for long and soon Zedus a man-eating Kaiju with Dilophosaurus like frill comes stomping into town eating people and tearing up the property. Baby Gamera aka Toto instantly grows much larger but well below his fighting weight. He does manage to drive the troublemaker out of town but not before he's badly wounded. The government takes him to a secure location hoping they can make him grow larger to be able to combat the new threat.

As the boys search for Toto, their friend Mai, who had surgery and was given Toto's glowing shell for luck tells the boys that Toto needs the red glowing good luck charm. He needs that luck all too soon as Zedus shows up again looking for Baby Gamera. This scenario starts out tortoise slow, but eventually gains momentum and ends with a relay of small children running the glowing object against the escaping crowd toward the danger in order to try and save their turtle hero.

Gamera the Brave combined guys in rubber suits with competent special effects. The monsters fighting amongst the buildings and perspective were quite good. The fights were done well as each opponent revealed new abilities and upped the ante. Toto's face was cute and expressive which people either seem to love or hate. I thought for a reboot it made sense because he was being portrayed as a juvenile. By the end he was growing into the Gamera he was intended to become.

Though aimed at children, Zedus' bloody teeth and chomping let you know he'd eaten people for lunch. Gamera was also impaled by Zedus' purple tongue at one point. Other than the Kaiju blood spurting, the rest was kiddie friendly. For those who are sensitive to it, there was alcohol served in his dad's café.

The children were all likeable though Tora pushed the envelope of annoying near the end. The children's relay to help Baby Gamera was sweet and surprisingly heartwarming.

This is clearly a movie for children and one for Gamera fans. Unless you fall into either category you may find it difficult to sit through. For Gamera fans it's a bittersweet farewell to the giant turtle. It's also my last Gamera film to watch having saved his swan song for the final one. This would have made a nice reboot for the gentle giant who loves children, but thus far it has not been meant to be. For now it's goodbye Gamera, The Friend of All Children.


10/28/22

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I honestly hope they make a longer version of this movie bec the leads need more time together!!!!!

I have a soft spot for plots like this where it involves nostalgic moments about your first love, friends, family, youth. I'm not sure why but maybe because my first love was a really big factor of how I became the person I am today.

Overall I really loved it, I enjoyed the storyline. It was really cute. Casting was on point. Honestly, I loved the chemistry between the FL and the ML. The only thing that bothered me throughout the movie was the pacing. It was really too fast. I think it would've helped if the movie was 40-60 min longer (I mean come on a 3 hour duration is not something new for a korean movie). Imagine with that amount of time you can build up your characters better. Thus, making the foundations of the relationship of the characters better, more relatable, and their actions more justifiable.

Frankly speaking because of the pacing, there is a part of me that can't help but think that it was just a high school fling that was left open ended for a quite some time. I know there are some movies that when you make it longer it ruins the show but I believe this is not one of it. I really do wish that they make a longer version of this one. Maybe an 8 or 12 episode drama? I don't know. I just know that if they do I will definitely watch it and I know for sure that adding more screen time to this will definitely help enhance the story line.

There were also some questions that were left unanswered like :
what happened to Bada why did he got into an accident?
-Was that scene really significant? I honestly think no because even if they met that night, and they had an additional few hours -together, I think their last moment together would've still made the hearts of the audience break
- What happened to Baek Hyun Jin? I find it really impossible that he did not know woonho passed away
-how the heck did woonho die all of a sudden?

But it an all honesty, what made my heart break was the last part when Joseph and the FL were talking. It made me think of my late boyfriend, my first love, who passed away when he was 17. At some point, it felt like Joseph was talking to me and honestly I would've said the something "how can I forget *****?". Just thinking about those lines, really brings tears in my eyes which is why this movie will always have a special place in my heart.

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I don't care about other opinions

I came into this movie with the feeling that the rating gave me that it was going to be like a 7-star watch but that didn't happen. What I must say 1. I had to watch it in 3 blocks for personal reasons (we were going with my family to a briefing),2. The screen time of Woo Do Hwan was way too short for the main character. He was an important character in the story but they didn't show him that much. These two things are in my mind when criticizing this movie. But when it comes to the positive side it has an exciting plot (Christian boy who blames God for his father's death and who became an amateur exorcist), I liked the cast a lot, the acting was done perfectly, maybe it could have been a bit shorter but I am ok with 2 hours and some minutes.

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I rarely watch war films, but I've been wanting to watch this one for a while. This one has a very good cast and the acting was terrific. Especially Kim Soo Ah who was around 11 years old at the time. She did a great job in this film despite being so young.

The cinematography gave me chills and it was obviously a very emotional film.

The scenes depicted were cruel and difficult to watch knowing that the people who had been taken to the island thought they were going to work to earn money.

It breaks my heart to know that such things were happening and in some places they are still happening.

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Outdated yet bittersweet

Romantic comedies have been both a topic of interest and ridicule over the years. It is ridiculed by those who find it to be a candy-glossed version of reality. It is praised for its heartwarming rendition of romantic fantasies that feel wonderful to witness on a silver screen. Bang Woo-ri’s ‘20th Century Girl’ is a bit of both. The movie seemed to be alternate of Twenty Five Twenty One, with a small change in the end.

The eye to detailing in the film is well done. We are in fact taken on a ride down the memory lane. As heart-warming as the 20th century romances looked like, relationships were also marred down due to lack of cell phones. Relationships were forgotten, first love rarely became last love, friends lost touch and the yearning.. never ending. The climax of the film is a painful example of how things were different back then.However, the film quite stretches itself way more than it should. Quite unlikely for a repetitive culmination of that kind, it’s indeed the climax that works in favour of the film. Although the whole movie felt cliched, it does have some old school vibes and the feeling of first love being a teen.

In short, 20th Century Girl is a one time watch. If you’re a nostalgia merchant and if you dig yearning and doomed romances, the film would work for you. The biggest quip of 20th Century Girl is that its just another forgettable love-story that banks way too much on yesteryear love, since we have seen a few of this kind in dramas over the years, with more effectiveness in the story.

My Rating : 6.5/10

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The happy ending we wanted!

First, I saw this is Japan when it first came out and Japanese is not my native language, so there was some dialogue I didn’t understand. However, using context clues it was easy to infer what was being said based on the scene. The biggest things for me was that it was still a love story between Kurosawa and Adachi. Kurosawa was still just as in love with Adachi as he was in the series, however you got to see Adachi demonstrating his love for Kurosawa more confidently and openly.

If you were looking for a BL filled with nonstop cutesy moments, over the top romantic expressions, or mature content scenes, then you will not like the movie. However, if you’re looking for a movie that focuses more on how Adachi and Kurosawa navigate issues that many long-term, open, same sex couples face, you will like it. Personally, I especially like that it addressed the families, instead of just glossing over the fact that many Asian families have very strong feelings against having openly gay children, especially sons. SPOILER: I especially loved that just as marriage is the end result of many long-term heterosexual relationships, Kurosawa and Adachi’s marriage was the ultimate end result of their relationship as well.

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"The world is dark. Life is just a dream."

Director Kurosawa once again asks what does it take to be happy in a violent and unpredictable world? This time he frames that theme in a 16th century escape picture with a spunky princess, a stalwart General, and two greedy idiots.

Two peasants who have escaped from capture and grave digging are the eyes into this story. Much like C3PO and R2D2, they are the lowest ranking people in the movie and it starts and ends with them. Always on the hunt for gold, their greed defines their relationship which is filled with endless squabbling and fighting. Once they find two hidden pieces of gold, whetting their insatiable appetites, Mifune appears as General Rokurota Makabe. Little do the two vagabonds know that their simple escape plan from the occupied country saves their lives. Rokurota enlists their help in transporting gold and a young woman to safety. Of course, Yuki is no mere scantily clad youth, she is a princess, the last remaining hope of her clan Akizuki (Alderaan anyone?). The princess was raised as a boy and is headstrong and courageous.

Yuki actually seems to be enjoying their time on the run, reveling in her freedom. Rokurota , ever the traditionalist, struggles to deal with her egalitarian ideas. Kurosawa is once again bucking the old world order and class systems. The two scoundrels have little loyalty and are only in the deceptive march through enemy territory to survive and get their hands on the gold. Because of their greedy actions they endanger the small group on several occasions. Yuki has Rokurota buy the freedom of one of her people who has been sold as a sex slave, against Rokurota's judgement. On the road they are accosted by soldiers and Rokurota has to engage them in battle and chase two of them down on horse. This particular scene was magnificent. No fake horse head bobbing up and down, Mifune with sword extended chases his enemies down. Brilliant. He ends up in the enemy camp where he challenges the leader, General Tadokoro, to a duel which Rokuroto wins and shows mercy to his conquered foe.

The small group ends up at a bonfire where the locals are singing, "The world is dark. Life is but a dream." The princess really listens to the words and smiling joins happily in the dance. Afterwards due once again to the scoundrels greedy actions, the princess, her general, and the maid end up captured. An embittered Tadokoro faces them before their deaths and the princess' dignity and words have an affect on the enemy. Will he choose tradition or make the morally significant choice?

All of the main characters are faced with choices and have to choose whether to remain in a rigid system or to pick a different more merciful way. Sometimes kindness is rewarded, sometimes it is not. As always, even in this comedy, the world is shown as a dangerous place.

I should take a moment to explain my Star Wars comments. It’s common knowledge that George Lucas drew inspiration from this film for the original Star Wars though it looked to me minimally. Kurosawa drew inspiration from the American director Ford, who filmed epic Westerns. For me this film seemed more like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. And of course Leone was inspired my Kurosawa. Art is at its best when people draw ideas from different sources and beyond artificial boundaries and then utilize them in a different manner.
We’re all richer for it.

I didn't care for the two scoundrels whatever they were intended to be, everyman, caricatures, or just a couple of bad guys in need of redemption. Their greed, fighting, betrayals and rapey longings for the princess turned me off. They may have been exhibiting some of man's baser nature but drawing straws to see who would rape the princess turned me off.

Mifune Toshiro was perfect as the General bound to protect the princess at all costs, going so far as to sacrifice his sister. Lithe, athletic, and quick, he showed what he was capable of during the lengthy spear fight with Fujita Susumu's Tadokoro. Fujita as a more moral Darth Vader gave a depth, honor, and humor to the old general. For me, the weaker cast member was Uehara Misa as Princess Yuki. When she played a mute, she did well acting with her eyes and facial movements. Even without speaking she guided the action, always brave and assured. But when she spoke she was usually yelling which was distracting. Goes back to yelling doesn't make a woman strong.

Kurosawa's use of wide screen shooting brought an epic style and feel to the film whether it was the valiant group trekking through the mountains, dark forest, or riding horses over the hills. I love how he was able to show people in the forefront, middle and background in the city scenes giving great visual depth.

One thing that always shocks me when watching these older samurai films is how little clothes some of the men wear. Modern samurai films cover them all up. Even Princess Yuki was in what amounted to shorts. The characters and extras all looked real--dirty, sweaty, and with messed up hair. They showed a variety of war gear and weapons as opposing forces engaged. The first fortress may have been battered by war, but was still impressive and some of the shots, especially during a slave revolt were visually a treat. The world Kurosawa and his team built felt truly inhabited.

Throughout the film, characters were required to choose. Will they continue to live the illusion, a world guided by greed and violence? Or will they let go and live a life where everyone can be happy? Or is it even possible in this dark world? Can people let go of the past's traditional shackles and be treated equally and kindly? Or is it a never ending cycle of pain? The Hidden Fortress may have been a comedy with exciting fights and a thrilling escape, but underneath it wanted to be bigger and seek to escape more than just a mortal enemy but a divisive suffering existence as well.



10/27/22

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