Reviews

A classic!

A story of loss, confidence, and fate.

As heartwarming and heart breaking as "200 Pound beauty," which is a very sentimental Korean movie from the 2000s that I'd reccomend to any who likes this.

this story is well written and delivered by two actors who perform well in their roles. Story is tightly written not giving any hints until the very end while the first & second half display an girl in pain resulting in her over use of control and physical abuse to others & self. The boy is just another lost young man who gets ignited into life by this explosive girl who he grows to love. The final half is really the beginning for both characters, allowing fate to work its magic. Would I watch again? too many to see!

Ps. Cha taehyun looks a lot like actor Ko Jun and Kang Daesung combined, the lips.

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Love Reset Review - ZyKuu

"Amnesia can hurt the brain, but not the heart" - The story is very playful and comedic. A car accident resets the memories of both our main leads Hong Na-ra and Noh Jung-yeol whom were planning on divorcing each other. This leads to them spending time together from a different perspective compared to what they were used to prior. Na-ra and Jung-yeol are opposites that attracted. Hong Na-ra is a movie producer who lives dirty and wants to stay indoors, meanwhile Noh Jung-yeol is a lawyer who wants lives clean and wants to be outdoors. Their dynamic is very funny and they have good chemistry. Jung-yeol's acting was the highlight of the film for me. His facial expressions and goofy nature was a spectacle to watch. The OST from what I recall was just background music used to to enhance specific moments, there wasn't really any songs that I remember hearing apart from what Na-ra's sister was singing. Overall this movie is entertaining, and I would recommend it to anybody who's interested in watching a laid back romantic comedy.

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"We're all waiting for that someone to forgive us"

Heiward Mak directed Fagara, a story about three half-sisters who meet at their father’s funeral. The three women have different mothers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. Having dealt with a largely absentee father, the three have wounds to heal as they get to know each other.

In Hong Kong, Acacia receives a call saying that her estranged father is in the hospital. He dies before she arrives. When she charges his phone, she discovers a secret, actually two, she has a sister in Taiwan and one in China. She invites both of them to the funeral where they awkwardly meet. Branch is a professional pool player while Cherry is a wannabe influencer in China. Acacia has to decide what to do with her father’s hot pot restaurant as there is another year on the lease. She discovers that her father did most of the work and is exhausted attempting to keep it open. The staff call in her sisters to help. The three grow closer as they search for the hot pot broth’s secret recipe, which might turn out to be a bit of a family scrapbook.

I enjoyed the sisters learning about each other and supporting each other. They all shared unfulfilling relationships with their parents, especially their dad. Through taking over the hot pot restaurant they worked through their feelings about him and others in their lives. I liked that none of the three relied on men to tell them what to do or to support them. They were independent, making choices that best served them in their lives. And they made a loving sisterly family where none had existed before. All three actresses created three very different characters that felt real---Sammi Cheng as the sullen, hurt Hong Kong daughter, Megan Lai as the pool player with a secret love life, and Li Xiao Feng as the effervescent influencer who adored her grandmother. It was fun to see Wu Yan Shu (Meet Yourself) play Cherry’s feisty grandmother. Liu Shui Chi looked like she could have been Branch’s mother in real life. The women's stories and relationships were heartfelt without plunging headfirst into melodrama.

What didn’t work for me---The dad was portrayed as a great guy, misunderstood, but always willing to give people a chance and helpful advice. He was still a man who created three children with three different women and wasn’t a real father to any of them. He withheld the words and time his daughters needed. Acacia and Branch felt rejected and tended to emotionally isolate themselves. Cherry quipped she had never been anyone’s choice. Her mother had moved with her to Canada, calling her a niece and not a daughter. Eventually, she ended up with her grandmother in China. All three dealt with resentments and feelings of rejection that were too often smoothed over or seen as overreaction. The film kept circling around trying to make the dad out to not have been a deadbeat and worthy of great respect, but I never made it to that point. That all three needed to come to terms with him and make peace with a flawed parent was understandable. Painting him to be better than he was caused me to drop my score. While I’m ranting, Andy Lau’s character mansplaining men to Acacia was grating. No Andy, “want to be with you” and “can be with you” don’t mean the same thing. Get a dictionary and a clue.

Aside from the writers trying to make the father out to be better than he was and expecting the women to accept the crumbs he gave them as better than they were, I really enjoyed this film about sisters coming together and healing through love and food. And I loved that Acacia not only learned how to drive, but learned when to drive away and when to drive toward something she wanted.

9 September 2025

I used the names given in the movie version I watched: Acacia Ha=Hsia Ru Shu; Branch/Blanche Ha=Hsia Ru Zhi; Cherry Ha=Hsia Ru Guo

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Explosive but Repetitive

Decibel starts off with an intriguing plot, but the bombing scenarios quickly become repetitive and a little too chaotic at times. What really stands out is the star-studded cast — it’s surprising (and exciting) to see such big names together, including some faces we rarely get to see on the small screen. Their strong, realistic performances help ground the tension and make the story feel more believable. The ending, while not mind-blowing, felt reasonable and fitting for the journey the film set up. Overall, it’s a decent watch if you’re into action-thrillers, but don’t expect too many surprises along the way.

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Underrated

I trusted those that said this movie is not scary but a scaredy-cat like me got scared numerous times and I had to pause it. The movie doesn't have many jump scares. The slow build-up of horror is what got to me each time. It was quite fun though. I loved the comedy especially. It made me laugh numerous times and that is why I enjoyed it this much.

The story isn't exceptional. It is quite a situational horror comedy and the straight faced comedy is truly my style. I genuinely loved the characters, especially the 3 students. The movie also makes you burst out laughing at awkward moments. Again, totally my type of movie.

At the end of the day (I literally watched this in the wee hours of the night), if a horror comedy delivers, it doesn't have to be perfect. And I was thoroughly entertainment and will be recommeding it to others.

For true horror lovers, this movie might feel very mild though and may not impress you.

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Hollywood-esque fun

You know what? I didn't dislike this at all.

Maybe it was because I was expecting an horrible movie. Or maybe it was because I found the first novel confusing and not particularly well written (not sure if it gets better, I stopped at volume 1 and decided to read the mawnha adaptation instead. I had actually read a series with a similar premise earlier - looking at you, Dungeon Crawler Carl - in the year and maybe that is why I wasn't impressed with Reader's Viewpoint). It occurred to me, while I was listening to the novel, that while I found the worldbuilding capacities of the author abysmal, the idea was good and it would do good in a different medium (aforementioned manhwa and/or anime and/or drama) where exposition wasn't a requirement. And I was right. I'm not sure how much it was changed from volume 2 on, but the movie seems to start pretty much like the novel.

If you want some hollywood-esque action with cool graphics (these are not hollywood level but still pretty good) it is a good movie. Most of the negative reviews are from people who like the novels and aren't pleased with the adaptation. Which is valid; I am team Solo Leveling (the other isekai-ish hit korean series besides ORV) and I'm dreading the drama adaptation. However, if none of this matters and you just want to see an action/fantasy movie, with cool graphics and a character leveling from a normal guy into a beast, I'd say this is a pretty good way to spend 2 hours.

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I keep rewatching it, it's just too perfect

10s across the board. This is such a perfect gem, way more complex and meaningful than the parent series (Unintentional Love Story, sorryyy) and the rewatch value is so high that I've done it 5 times atp. The chemistry between the two MLs is unbelievable: the tension, the burning desire, the inability to fully understand or interpret one another and the delicate examples of genuine mutual care they're showing all through the series/movie are just too beautiful. And the words I'm using are not representative of anything but my poor vocabulary, cause these episodes are definitely more than just beautiful. It's my go to series when I feel like feeling wholesome and sad at the same time. Happy with just 6 episodes, but I saw an interview where the director said they wanted to work with this pair again and I'm honestly crossing my fingers.

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No Horror No Comedy

The movie is completely overrated. I do dislike zombie genre but I enjoyed Train To Busan, #Alive, All Of Us Are Dead and few others in this genre. I also scare easily so this movie completely fails as a zombie horror flick. It relies completely on it being a comedy and it was terrible at that as well. It feels childish and silly and even dumb.

The plot was unique so I will give them points for that and that only. The acting was so-so. To be honest, I disliked the family from the start since they were scammers risking the lives of others for their business.

The movie really has no redeeming qualities from start to finish. A waste of time in my opinion.

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Lucky seat

Every student knows how stressful it is to prepare for a difficult exam. I used prayer a lot :) In this movie, we have two grown-ups who need to pass the civil service exam because so much in their lives depends on it. But instead of just focusing on studying hard, they discover a “lucky seat” and waste their precious energy trying to steal it from each other.

I was quite disappointed in this movie, especially since the legendary Kim In-kwon is in it. As a comedy, the film didn’t make me laugh at all, and there weren’t many original ideas with the lucky seat or the overall plot. This is just a generic B-movie that is only barely watchable thanks to its short runtime. But hey, I added another Korean movie to my “watched” list.

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Become like God

Surprisingly fun superhero movie with a strong focus on action, comedy, and some science fiction. The science fiction part is the one I probably liked the most, although it wasn’t developed as much as I would have wanted. The main story follows a group of people who suddenly receive different superpowers and become superheroes. The powers are reminiscent of earthly elements like wind, water, and fire, but here they are connected to human organs. I wish that had been explained a little better.

This is the first real superhero movie in Korean cinema, and I appreciate that. I mean, we’ve had movies where people have superpowers, like Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard (2009), Haunters (2010), Psychokinesis (2018), The Witch: Part 1 and 2 (2018, 2022), and oh, there’s also Lightning Man (2016). But this is the first time I felt a true superhero vibe, similar to Marvel or DC, in a Korean movie.

The name of the movie and the superhero group is Hi-Five. The name sounds catchy, but the way it was introduced in the movie felt a bit cringy, I must say. Picking the superhero names for each character, though, was done comically well. One scene in particular showed how superheroes might appear to other people as gods. So imagine becoming a god that others look up to—how would you use your godly status and treat other people?

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Starts Simple, Ends Bigger Than You Expect

I had a good time with this one. It kicks off feeling like a pretty straightforward heist movie, but as it goes on the story widens and by the end it feels like a completely different game. That switch in direction made it more fun than I expected.

The pacing is quick. Sometimes almost too quick, but I never felt bored or like it dragged. Even when I could guess where parts of the plot were going, I still wanted to see how it played out. The setups and payoffs kept me interested all the way through.

The cast is easy to enjoy. Kim Woo Bin fits this role perfectly and brings a lot of presence to the screen. Lee Hyun Woo, Go Chang Seok, and the rest of the crew each add something different, and together they make the team dynamic work. The action looks clean, the movie has a polished style, and the music keeps the energy up even if it’s not the kind of soundtrack that sticks in your head.

It’s not trying to be a deep or groundbreaking film, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s entertaining, fast moving, and just fun to sit through. I’d watch it again just for the ride.

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Visually brilliant superhero tale that carries just enough emotional weight

I’m not familiar with the source material, but I still felt the worldbuilding lacked depth and intricacy. It didn’t quite meet the expectations set by its visual scale.

I also didn’t know any of the cast beforehand, and it was only after watching that I learned Mark Chao and Deng Lun are top-tier actors. I can see why. Their performances weren’t over the top, but they delivered just the right amount of emotion to match their characters and the demands of each scene.

The rest of the cast didn’t fall short either. I think everyone gave solid performances.

The strongest aspect of the film is definitely its visuals. The CGI and cinematography are impressive, and the color grading is beautiful.

I especially appreciated how background elements were used to enhance lighting—lamps casting warm orange glows, the moon shifting the palette to cool blues on dark nights. It’s visually stunning.

The music scoring was excellent, too. There was a seamless blend of traditional and contemporary styles, and the music entered scenes with perfect timing that were always elevating and never intrusive.

Technically, the film is impressive. Groundbreaking, even. I wasn’t surprised to learn it was directed by Guo Jing Ming. I’ve seen My Journey to You and Fangs of Fortune, and his signature style definitely spilled into this film.

Based on those two works, I’ve noticed a recurring imbalance between technical brilliance and storytelling.

While the production is consistently impressive, the narrative often suffers, leaving a visually rich but emotionally hollow experience.

Fortunately, in this case, the storytelling—while not groundbreaking—is fairly decent.

Still, it feels like a missed opportunity not to have explored the characters more deeply. A bit more buildup and backstory would’ve helped, as I often felt left to piece things together on my own.

Some plot points also got muddled, and I’m not sure if the missing context is only accessible to those familiar with the source material. That lack of clarity has definitely affected the emotional impact and depth of the film.

But overall… it’s okay. Despite the patchiness, the writer showed control and a clear sense of direction.

My favorite storytelling element was the use of names as a plot device.

The film opens with the quote: “A name is the shortest form of a spell.”

Beyond Qing Ming’s repeated cries of “Boya! Boya!”—each under different stages of their relationship and circumstances—names were used meaningfully to explore other characters, too.

For Killing Stone, his name symbolized acknowledgement and a second chance. For Fangyue, it reflected her longing for commemoration. As for Qing Ming, obtaining the title “The Yin-Yang Master” at the end is a crucial moment, not just for his character arc, but for the film’s overall narrative.

Technically, this film is a masterpiece. The storytelling isn’t flawless, but it’s good enough—action-heavy with just the right emotional pull to keep you hooked.

It reminds me of Marvel or superhero movies—not just because of the visual effects, but because of the feeling it leaves you with: protagonists who are still figuring things out but have saved the world, for now.

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Clearly not for everyone, but this conveyed something I understand and which I need. I watched it first when I was 15 but now I'm 20 and my view of this movie got so much stronger. Anyone who thinks this is just weird and perverted clearly doesn't get how deep this is. From difficult adolescence, to mental issues and subtle critic of the Japanese society. Powerful and raw as hell. The first line of the movie literally says it is for those who suffer. The ending is no Disney movie either, but it stays with you. And the symbolism? 10/10 - I don't know these actors but this is their life work. I guess it's this good because they adapted a huge masterpiece of a manga within a 2hrs movie, so that makes it overwhelming. Honestly this movie found me, I didn't find it. My personal highlight was Takeo's actor, because he reached me like no one else could.

Can be watched on Youtube or AvistaZ

~ FMVs: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVlEiYP-9el67fqgK0z9jHvdN3-WXNU2b

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Kim Bo Ra created the short film The Recorder Exam as a student. It came across as a precursor to her House of Hummingbird (2018). Yet this 28-minute film set in 1988 was beautifully, achingly complete, more so than many films three times the length.

Nine-year-old Eun Hee is preparing for her recorder exam. She’s using her brother’s hand me down recorder and wishes for a new one. More than a new recorder she desperately wishes for affection and attention from her family. Both parents are checked out emotionally. Big sis is seeing a boy behind their backs and staying out late. Her brother is doted on and orders her around, unafraid to hit her. As the youngest and a girl, there’s not much leftover for her from her stressed out mother and a father who is seeing another woman. When Eun Hee hears him whisper “I love you" to the mistress, how she longs to hear those words for herself. Her sister having realized she will never hear those words has sent her searching for acceptance elsewhere.

This film will make you want to give Eun Hee the hug she needs. It will also make you want to shake her disconnected parents. Much like HoH’s Eun Hee, this girl was trying to find a way to feel wanted by her family, loved. The shock she exhibited when a friend’s mom treated her kindly spoke volumes. Eun Hee also had a stubborn, defiant streak that broke through when she was being treated poorly which usually only led to more punishment but must have felt powerful in the moment.

The Recorder Exam focused on Eun Hee as the exam approached, her strained relationship with her family, her friendship with a classmate, and a need to feel like she belonged and was cared about in her own family. Even a few crumbs of kindness could set her free to soar if only for a few moments, if her parents could look outside themselves and see her. This film was well-written, well-directed, and well-acted with young Hwang Jeongone giving a heartbreaking and compelling performance. Definitely worth 28 minutes of your time.

8 September 2025

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i’m OBSESSED

(not good at reviews, i just wanted to share my option)

firstly.. may this type of love find me some day🥹
but seriously, the actors’ dynamic was amazing, the story was perfect, the ending is so sweet..this movie is now definitely one of my all time favourites💜
The only thing I wish they could have focused on is some sort of aftercare for the sub, because even though he’s a man who consented to all of this.. you can tell it still causes some sort of emotional torment every now and then. So an additional part showing the importance of the balance of “play” and tender aftercare (like cuddling, reassuring words) would have also brought this to the next level

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