Reviews

it tackles the story of a divorced man with a kid returning to his ex-boyfriend who isolates himself in a small village. The divorced man will come to this village with his daughter, and this will be the start of their story where they will be living on the same roof. where they will be facing real-life problems about two guys or a gay couple having a child.
What I like about this movie is that it shows the real situations of gay couples in a community. This movie was worth it to watch because the chemistry between the couple is strong and their actings are outstanding.

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Amazing action scenes and touching fatherly love

The storyline of this movie is something simple and very predictable however I do acknowledge the intricate action scenes on the movie and the expression of fatherly love from the lead to his daughter.

JangHyuk was definitely a great actor and I've watched him from his other dramas and movies. His acting skills is really great but I didn't like this piece as much as his other shows. I fell asleep halfway the movie because there are really lots of boring parts or maybe I'm just really not in the mood for historical setting drama.

Overall, I still appreciate most parts of the movies and I think it's still a great watch considering the acting and the action scenes.

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This just might be my single favorite Shaw Brothers film.

This just might be my single favorite Shaw Brothers film. There is more going on here than in most of the Shaw Brothers films I've seen. No, I don't mean it's more complex or complicated I simply mean that was more character depth here than in most I've seen. The fighting was decent and quite brutal for the time, the acting was actually more restrained which was a nice touch. But it was the direction, cinematography, and score that lifted the film. Chang Cheh's use of slow motion, close-ups, score, and framing really gave the film a mythic feel. The main lead Lo Yi seems compelled against his will to get involved even though he knows how things will turn out. This was grand stuff, there was so much back story missing and so much left unsaid but instead of lessening the film, this plays as a strength as it makes this feel like this was just a single chapter in a much larger story.

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Should be called Umbrella!

This movie starts off with a beautiful fight scene followed by the female lead covering the male lead with a red umbrella and giving him a honey drink. This, was a pretty great umbrella scene and I dare say that the umbrella made way more impact than that honey drink therefore I declare this should be called Umbrella and not Honey!

Other than that is pretty cliche but they are sweet lovable cliches and you know what even though the Male lead is not always true to his understanding of consent he is actually not the least bit in need of a lesson about consent because this guy actually gets this more than any guy I remember seeing on screen to this day! So kudos!

There are some parts in this movie that do feel a bit different and they do touch on men's violence against women with some not greatly done scenes but one heck of a dialog:

Girl: Am I the only girl you hit?
Guy: Of Course you are my number one gal, and the only one I hit !
(maybe not those exact words but... )

Can you just feel the romance! I definitely can...

Jokes aside, that is actually reality for many women and it is NOT their fault and it is complicated, however I did like that the writers included this in the movie.


The male lead and the friendships hera are really good, the female lead has her good parts and bad parts but I am not really convinced by her acting skills at time (sometimes they are good so it could be the directing.

There is also one part that just seems odd and unnecessary, about an uncle.

Definitely fun to watch and entertaining but maybe not a masterpiece...

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A Sleeper That Should Become A 'Masterpiece'!

First of all, one reviewer said that there was nudity; the worst thing shown in this movie was the back of a female's body and her side in bed view; definitely not enough to complain about nudity as a reason for not watching this masterpiece!

Actually, in my opinion, the first two times they make love are two of the most erotic moments in Korean cinema!

And, as another reviewer stated it, "The mild sexual content was tasteful and beautifully filmed, as well as was there for a purpose not just for thirsty eyes." I agree completely!

The two act as if they are scared of each other and are still cheating on their hospitalized spouses; they seem to be in high school and afraid to get caught 'doing it' for the first time, but their "need" for sex forces them to continue the taboo act...sex, and psychological release, from their forced-upon-them ordeal.

Each of them would have never thought of cheating on their spouse had they met in the same situation and their spouses' actions had not been discovered.

Also, the version most people had access to cut out important pieces of the rest of the story; what happened to In Soo (Bae Yong Joon) was cut from the readily-available version on YouTube. I was told that in the director's cut In Soo did divorce his wife, Su Jin (Lim Sang-Hyo, the female who survived the crash) and marry Seo Young (Son Ye Jin).

Since I only had the edited version to watch I thought the two were just cheating on their spouses again - the director's version makes the two going out on a road trip during a snow in spring (April) more acceptable.

I personally would have also divorced Su Jin after her action following her realization about her lover, Kwang-il {Kim Kwang-Il).

For this movie, you have to think like the wronged spouses here:

Both surviving spouses found out about their partner's being in a hospital through someone else calling them; they had no idea that his/her spouse was cheating on them!

Can you imagine the thoughts, doubts, and questions that were going through each other's minds
as they read the text messages of their partner's cell phones (as the hospital turned the cell phones
over to each of them?

Can you imagine the self-doubts of each of the leading cast members as they probably questioned
their self-worth as a partner, knowing that they (both) were being cheated on, and then to have to
meet the spouse of that person who was doing the cheating with their partner as well?

Can you imagine both partners wanting to (as I would have been prone to do) take a pillow and simply
smothering their spouse, solving a cornucopia of future problems that would have come about with
the cheating spouse recovering? In Soo even suggested this to his wife that she just die!

Can you imagine living in a guest house or nearby hotel/motel to a hospital as your spouse is (hopefully)
recovering, with nothing to do except ask yourself questions over and over again; and the only other
person who understands what you are going through is the spouse of the person your loved one was
cheating with in the first place?

These type questions are being asked by the two main leads minute by minute, and the answers to these questions form the basis of this wonderful movie!

As this movie slowly develops, we are shown that these very, and other, questions are plaguing both main leads, and ultimately, they only have each other to turn to in trying to find and maintain some form of sanity while waiting for their individual spouses to survive...or die!

Both leads are not sleeping; and both leads need someone desperately to talk to about their situation, someone who understands what they themselves are going through.

Both leads want to understand what was going on in the minds of their spouse, and how long it had been going on; this 'need' to find out more drives them to overcome their initial wariness of talking to each other and asking each other to see whatever records they may have to help them understand what their cheating spouse was thinking.

I saw much respect in the approach of the two toward each other as they knew the other may have information about the affair which the other didn't: In Soo was very polite and courteous to Seo Young as he initiated the request to share the cell phone text of her injured husband; Seo Young was equally respectful of In Soo in sharing this info...and her giving him property which she knew didn't belong to her husband.

This is not a movie that kills a person every 5 minutes, but it is about the psychological process of each of the wronged spouses is what makes this movie special!

Woven intricately by the director is a metamorphosis of the main characters' understanding of the situation they are dealt and how that affects them, the cheated-on spouse: you can see their bodies and actions "change" and become more stressed as these revelations take their toll on them, they become more pessimistic, cannot sleep and desperately need someone else to share their feelings; in In Soo's case one of the support cast sees these changes and how it affects him early on.

You also are dealing with two spouses who are in the prime of their life, especially Seo Young; had their spouses not wrecked a vehicle on their cheating vacation, the cheating spouses probably would have gone home and had sex with their waiting spouses, leaving the at-home spouse ignorant of their activities on their 'business trip.'

Sex is also a great way to relieve stress as you watch these individuals become more disillusioned, they NEED to relieve that built-up stress somehow; you can almost see it in their eyes as they find out that their partners' affair may have been since their college years.

Seo Young holds off her tears until after the funeral of the young man whose death was caused by the vehicle used by her husband and In Soo's cheating wife...you can almost feel the tension being released as she gets the build-up stress out of her system finally. Her exceptional ability to show emotion also came out in her portrayal of both the mother and her daughter in The Classic (2003)

It is shown over a time-lapse shot of the interval needed of her tension being released.

Each time I watch this, I see more of the carefully-placed emotional gestures of the two grieving, and wronged, spouses.

Only after Seo Young finally starts to accept what had happened, can she start being human again; her character is very quiet until this moment!

What follows is the remainder of the movie as these two draws closer to each other, out of necessity and desperation!

This is a movie that needs to be watched several times to pick up the nuances embedded by the director/screenwriter Hur Jin Ho, and I recommend the long list of several other hits he has been a part of in the past...and hopefully in the future!

The main cast makes their characters come alive and makes you forget that you are watching a movie; the sign that every great movie has in common with each other.

The support cast act professionally and in the background as they should, giving the two main leads the limelight and thus doing their part in supporting the movie's story.

The music, cinematography and props all make you feel you are in the presence of everyday people living their lives as tragedy strikes!

RE-WATCH VALUE: Don't get me wrong, you can watch this once only if you desire, but I believe that it would be a mistake only to watch it once! It definitely gets my vote for a re-watch!

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Fun, fluffy, film...

This movie is a pretty ok, nothing special really, but it has some pretty good stories, that I wish would have gotten a movie each instead of had to share it...

The different couples in this movie show different sides of life and have almost nothing in common, yet do share several connections (other than geography).

Most of the characters in this movie are relatable, sweet, fun and lovable... Some slightly annoying and we there are some pretty evil ones too... but they are just a small part of the whole.

We have one couple that shows us both the less beutiful and more beautiful side of divorce and domestic abuse.

Another one who teach us the value of communication and sharing ones troubles with ones spouse

A third Showing the pain of burn out and trying to find ones way back...

But my favorite couple was the one with the paralympics athlete who is treated as a disability there to inspire and sell emotional porn that focuses more on the girlfriend than his achievements...

Making this a pretty fluffy dare I say healing movie (even though I hate that word) worth a watch

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"Those are shoes. And that, That's Called A Fool" An Overlooked Masterpiece, by Anyone's Standards

An Overlooked Masterpiece, by Anyone's Standards

Even though it is one of the saddest movies I have ever watched, I originally watched, it is so hard not to watch again and again and again...

You are rooting so hard for this couple to get together that you forget it is just a film!

And after the dicscovery is made, you feel so sad for the young beautiful librarian and all the pain and sadness she went through for nothing...

All the cast, makin and support, made this short movie very real and you forget time for awhile!

The music is almost perfect, the cinematography is great and the library helper is so funny and supportive of the main plot!

NOTE: while her support librarian Niti Chaichitathorn, (Pompam) has gone on to star on multiple movies our lovely anti-heroine has only starred in a handful of movies since this one (the list for her is incomplete here, by the way!)

RE-WATCH: Definitely!

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Very genuine, heartwarming story that will leave a lasting impression in your mind.

Very simple story with simple characters and simple dynamics but holds so much weight. Sometimes, it's when things aren't overly complex do the rawest, most honest emotions come out.
This movie is like an ode to film screening. It showcased how important was getting to watch a movie for people back then, a simple activity we take for granted today. All the characters had different reasons and different ways how movies impacted their lives, and their dynamics are told in a very natural (and sometimes even funny in its irony) way.
It speaks right to your heart.
I would've personally liked if the pacing was bit faster, other than that no complaints. Amazing acting. I hot to learn about how old film reels work too. 100% recommend.

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Solid acting, too many plot lines

Positives:
Solid acting across the entire cast. I admit I only watched this movie because of Perth, but I'm pleasantly surprised by the cast too. Bas was really emotive in this movie (which shocked me cos I didnt enjoy his performance in 2moons and Gen Y. The supporting actors were great as well, especially the actor who plays Tai. My heart broke for him.

Despite the title, I don't think it's a BL movie. However, you can sort of feel there's something between Kheng (Bad) and Boang (Perth) that's not explicitly shown. I like their onscreen chemistry.

Con:
There are too many things happening in this movie to the point that it got pretty absurd. If they only focused on the main issue, I'd enjoy it more.

A lot of the issues were also conveniently resolved, which makes it quite unrealistic.

Trigger warnings: lots of assaults, drug dealings and school bullying.

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Accidentally watched this movie twice.

Watched the movie twice. I didn't realized that I've already watched it. So, I guess the downside is that it's a bit forgettable.

While watching, I can say that with all it's faults, that it's still really entertaining. The casts did a good job. Movies like this one, is really a gamble. The need for a perfect blend of the past and present should be done well or everything will fall apart.

With this one, the biggest question remains, were they cursed? Is that why they were able to connect through phone calls? Oh well, I guess it's stupid to look for reasons in paranormal psychological thriller.

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Had the potential to be an interesting story with a unique approach, but failed.

The movie follows 3 couples in 3 consecutive eras, and the "premarital examination" that was apparently a thing back then to check physical compatibility. But the thing is, except the last arc, the previous two had largely half-baked, one dimensional plotlines. And the premarital examination itself didn't really play a huge role in any of them nor the arcs were really woven around it and the people's thoughts about it(despite it being the title of the movie), more like it was added in last moment for each arc for some additional drama and to remind the viewer this is (supposedly) what the story is about. It was quite unsatisfying to watch. Therefore I don't necessarily rec this movie.

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I owe my mother another movie

I told my mother at the weekend, “Ma! Netflix released a new Filipino movie and it’s a romantic comedy”. We settled into our favourite couches and was ready for some mother-daughter time. The movie started, and we laughed. We bonded, we laughed again, and then we did not.

Why? The ending.

This story started well with Dee going back to her hometown for her grandmother’s birthday. The FL is beautiful, loves her lola (grandmother), and has a kind personality that draws people into her sphere. She rediscovered the village lifestyle and its many characters who eat at her lola’s eatery. Along the way, she reconnected with the ML, Edong, whom she knew through secondary school. They hang out, drink his coconut moonshine, smile a lot at each other and fall in love along the way.

Simple and sweet. Perfect for a relaxing weekend viewing. My mother and I laughed at certain parts, dismissed at some questionable pacing and storytelling, and gushed at the sweetness of the ML’s traditional way of courting the FL (he asked her lola’s permission to court her). It is, after all, a romantic comedy where it promises us a warm and fuzzy happy ending.

Then, the story changed its genre to a tragic romance at the final 10% of the movie. Once the movie ends, my mother and I just stared at the screen and said to each other “well, that was not happy at all”. We got up from our respective couches, turned off the tv and ate something sweet. The sweet food managed to get rid of the sour taste from the movie.

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Disappointing and senseless

This movie wasn't worth watching. I don't understand all the good reviews, I don't get what people say that I didn't

I'm not putting a synopsis because I watched it and it should be known, instead I decided to write a review to hopefully erase this movie as a whole from my mind.

What makes this so bad?

Well, none of the relationships between the characters are healthy at all, and the only character just a bit redeemable is the king. The king is heartbroken and it makes sense, he has a motive to do what he does because he feels betrayed and invested a lot into the chief. The chief is an idiot, he is given chances and continues to deceive the king so in the end, I was ok with him dying. Honestly, I was ok with any of the characters dying, I didn't feel any attachments.

I thought to myself that maybe the chief was only lusting over the queen because he never had that experience. Instead, the movie decided that he LOVED her? I don't care if it was him only saying that, I don't want to use my brain to read into this movie more than I should. The queen and the chief didn't love each other, as much as the movie wants to convince us that they do. And how do they convince us? The queen and chief just have s*x about 1/3 of the movie, honestly, it might be more. I thought this was going to be more epic, that the budget would be utilized for stunts and action and anything worth watching. Instead, it was just about the closest thing to being p*rn as it could. It was explicit, it was beyond explicit, they made love more than they needed to and the only argument for them doing so is that it was to show how their loved progressed.

This movie.. I would say it's ok, but I can't find anything to like except the king's acting, he did a really good job. On the other hand, the characters were.. they weren't characters. It was blank and lacking and none of them had a backstory. Especially the queen, it was infuriating to see her seduce the chief knowing what could happen, and eventually when the king found out they still decided to do the deed? Why? Did they love each other? How was I supposed to know they love each other if they didn't even talk about ANYTHING? What did they want to do if they fled? It seemed the only reason they wanted to leave was to have s*x in peace. The acting for the queen was stale, her whole character wasn't a character, she was just the queen that didn't get laid only until the chief did and then she liked it so they did it as many times as they could. The chief and queen were both selfish and not worth me rooting for so I didn't.

I don't understand. It was wasted potential, but then again I don't even know what the goal of the movie was here. What was the purpose of this? The chief in the end didn't love the king and I can't say that he loved the queen because that wasn't deserved either. It left with the chief and king dying as if I was supposed to not expect that or feel bad.. it had so much love making scenes that didn't need to be there. There was NO reason that the queen and chief loved each other, they didn't talk to each other or bond over anything except making love. That's all this was, it was frustrating and felt dirty to watch undeserved love making scenes. It wasn't fun at all, it was something I wish I could erase from my mind. That's the end of my rant, I warned anyone coming into this thinking it's some sort of epic movie that's exciting and heartbreaking. This movie isn't, this movie is a waste.

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