Reviews

A quite beautiful film

The initial attraction must be the cast. Both the leads are superb and i heard this movie won the best screenplay award in Baeksang Arts awards so that also made me curious to look forward. In a one word it's quite decent feel good film to watch.

The plot is not a usual sterio type, it more modern a realistic kind of approach. Dealing a quite common story in modern world and for your awareness it's an adult film and not by too much nudity but it has something and that's not so vulgar they filmed it in a very decent way. Am not entering in to the story part, because u can read that from Google if you want. But better watch without knowing anything.

Because of the duration, you can feel free to enjoy, no unwanted complications or dragging.. the plot is also looks refreshing. Also the chemistry of the leads are quite adorable.

Not a must watch one, but definitely a worth watch one.. try it...

#N45Views

Read More

Korean adaptation of 2009 American film Nine Dead

(Puts on reviewer glasses)

So, there's 6 people who wake up in the dark, chained to pipes. Scared. It's gross and creepy, everyone's freaked out. They turn on the lights, find out it's actually a morgue, and there appears to be a 7th person. Well, now they all feel worse. Why are they all there, what is the point of all this? What do these people have in common? Why is there a massive red LED timer that keeps resetting every 15 minutes?

Anyone who's seen Nine Dead can fast forward through this to look for changes, but overall, the idea remains the same. Anyone who hasn't seen the American film should appreciate the acting and plot, at least.

Read More

A quick feel good fluff

This movie is really sweet. It's a quick watch that will leave you feel really fuzzy and warm inside. Not a lot of people seem to know this show/movie, so production wise I was rather impressed as it is shot really well. Also, the acting was really good. I read some reviews on the drama entry here, and people were pointing out awkwardness. I personally didn't feel this at all in the movie version. Though it is Cha Woo Min's first acting role, his character seemed natural. As well as Kim Yoo Wan.

With these short productions I find that the romance usually gets rushed and we don't really get to root for them. But the relationship and feelings between the two seem to develop at a rather normal pace. Also, for a Korean BL, the amount of kissing scenes we get really surprised me. Their chemistry wasn't off the charts, but I felt a few butterflies here and there.

If I had to critique something about the movie, its that the conflict fell a little flat for me. We didn't get to learn ENOUGH about the relationship with Eun Kyu's and his father as well as with Ji Soo to really understand the conflict that happened. They scratch the surface, but we have no emotional scene between these characters - except the conflict - to make us understand what they are feeling.

Overall, the movie had a standard storyline, but I enjoyed it. There were no surprises, no unexpected plot. It simply portrayed a sweet romance. Sometimes, you really need that.

Read More

So proud of BLACKPINK

This review may be bias since i’m a blink. But i had friends who weren’t kpop fans (at that time) watched this and they loved it. After watching this, they became a fan of BLACKPINK. As a blink, i’m so proud of them and their journey to get where they are now was touching. I liked how each member got to explain their journey and friendship. In my opinion, they have the best & strongest friendship in a kpop. Also, i loved each member was able to talk in the language they feel most comfortable in. I’m so glad lisa got to explain her story in thai. I loved this documentary so so much. I rewatched this so many times lol. I think this is a great way to start if you want to know about them or their story. I would recommend to anyone who is interested in kpop or BLACKPINK.

Read More

Action Movies are TEDIOUS but this one isn't bad at all

MILD SPOILERS, nothing terrible

I see a lot of people harshing on this film. I don't know why. I find this genre tedious and so I expected to abandon the film before the first hour. Turns out I made it all the way thru and was happy for the two hour diversion.

This movie isn't entirely cohesive and so I'll just drop you some notes and hope it gels into something useful.

1. Eddie Peng stars? I'm in.
2. Xin Zhi Lei as the female lead? I'm not only in but watching this mostly because of her. (If you have no idea why someone would flip their shinola for her -- you haven't seen RUYI'S ROYAL LOVE IN THE PALACE, have you?)
3. I'm not sure rescue forces exist to this degree. If they do, wow. If they don't -- I love Gerry Anderson's THUNDERBIRDS.
4. The visuals/FX are rather stunning. However, I'm not used to Chinese films spending THIS much $$$ on them, and so -- sure enough -- the film can get talky sometimes to save money. Mainly revolving around --
5. -- a cute young kid. I've watched enough C-Drama media to know cute kids are a thing to kinda force 'endearing' onto the movie. In America we don't stick cute kids into all sorts of movies for fear of damaging the premise. What was wrong here is that --
6. -- with him came scenes with dopey cartoon music. With little bells ringing 'comically' in a movie they don't belong in. Are we in an action drama or not? Later on that kid was used for another classic trope --
7. -- which I can't spoil but is the stuff of soap operas. Not action movies. However, the way they ultimately resolved this trope (inside the closing credits) made it almost worth it and definitely tolerable.
8. Xin Zhi Lei was great when she was given something to do. Unfortunately the story didn't give her enough to do. There was a natural coupling she needed to be a part of but the story got either scared or distracted.
9. The original 'Stand By Me' song appears in this film and, sorry, the film by the same name owns the song and no one else should be using it. Like I don't want to hear Garland singing 'Rainbow' in this film anywhere for the same reason.
10. If a sequel is being planned -- I'd see it. Because it might give Xin Zhi Lei more time.

Read More

This film is dark, in parts.

Not only the theme is dark at times, but the actual cinematography is often done with the lighting behind, so you can't see much definition in the characters' faces. Especially night scenes and indoor scenes were very poorly lit.

I did feel like there wasn't enough interaction, after the two main characters' first meeting, to justify the rich guy's level of obsession, and also that the poor guy's reaction to being sought after was inexplicably aggressive, and rude - for no reason I could fathom. That's down to the script, though.

Otherwise the film was very good. The acting excellent as expected; Kim Nam Gil never fails to deliver. Generally, the plot was interesting, and held my attention.
Overall, I enjoyed the film and, literally, wish I could have seen more of it.

Read More

First half good. Second half meh.

For me this was a tale of two parts. First half of the movie I was genuinely amused. I was giggling really often mostly because I was constantly like omg these boys are being so stupid that it's frickin' hilarious like the whole thing with the bathroom, or the dramatics of just handing over a roll of tape. (I wouldn't count these as spoilers). But then I hit the 2nd half of the movie and it started to drag. I noticed myself getting fidgety, going on my phone. I guess the school festival parts were too long and tempted me to do some skipping. As for the cast, although nobody really stood out, they were all reasonably believable to me as a bunch of high school boys and girls. The only memorable one for me was Yoshitake, but that's because he's the only actor I recognized from elsewhere. At some point during the movie I realized he played Taichi in Chihayafuru live action except with very different hair. Didn't take note of any music so I guess it must've been either sufficient without standing out or it was a movie without much music. I would not rewatch the movie again, but wouldn't mind rewatching clips of some scenes.

Read More

WTF Did I just watch?!

From the poster, I expected some "forbidden love" kind of scenes between Hyoju and Hyeyong but instead what we get is a cold Hyoju and a strangely one sided obsessiveness from Hyeyong that doesn't end up anywhere. I really could not stand Hyeyong as a character - the way she behaved was so STRANGE and awkward and I hated her hairstyle. Her lines were strange, her reaction to basically being sexually assaulted (had upskirt pics taken of her and circulated) was strange and her clinginess towards Hyoju was never properly addressed and made her come across like an idiot instead. The plot creaked by at an excruciatingly slow pace and it was unbearable despite being only 1.5 hr long. I also could not wrap my head around how 2 teachers could be so attracted to a student that does not even ooze an ounce of charisma. Are Korean teachers so sexually pent up they literally cave in at the mere flirtation of a young(er) male? Because this show does nothing to show how Jae Ha even manages to win over both these 2 women's hearts.

Honestly, I dont even know what to say about this movie. It was trying to come across as provocative in the most conservative way possible (not a scene of nudity despite 3 sex scenes) so it was like watching a kid friendly porno. Oh and that "murder" scene was possibly the most PG scene of someone getting seriously burned ever. Plot doesn't make much sense and is too goddamn slow, Hyeyong is so fking annoying, acting is alright but nothing to write home about. Is this worth a watch? Maybe, if you've exhausted all other means of entertainment. Would I recommend this? Absolutely not, and if you're in the "mood" for more "scandalous" type of shows I would suggest watching a western show instead because Korean movies are really too sanitized.

Read More

Don't fall for star studded cast

It is a huge let down with amazing actors like Ji Chang wook, Kim Sang ho, Lee Hani and Oh Jung se. The makers didn't use them efficiently, especially Lee Hani's character. They gave space for 2nd part with escape of Lee Hani, if they ever make it, better come up with convincing story.
Story: it has one of the best opening scenes. Start is great with mother bonding, injustice and prison scenes make viewer's blood boil. So naturally expectations keep growing. Then you find problem in everything that happens because story went bleak and too convenient for protagonist. Then comes not so surprising reveal of mastermind who is wise but don't stand a chance against our team. My major complain is the very team, no one is memorable, didn't develop bond with team members or audience, who are they, what do they do, how do they live, why are they helping at the risk of their lives... can't convince myself that 2 hr long movie isn't enough to explain everything.
Oh Jung se's role could have been best in his career if they didn't make a joke out of it. That ending is plain dumb. Action sequences and car chases are well shot, cinematography is also good.

Read More

Dysfunctional family to touch. True to life. Rough. Surprisingly on a positive note though

"Boomerang Family" refers to the term 'boomerang kids': adults who for pragmatic reasons move back in with their parents - mostly for financial reasons, because of unemployment or because of divorce. The protagonists of this KMovie are the mother, her three adult children and her granddaughter. Together they form the boomerang family.

In South Korea, family is the greatest good. Family is omnipresent and gets involved everywhere. This does not mean, however, that family is therefore only associated with happiness, love and warmth. On the contrary. There's a lot of pain associated with it. Much is and remains unsaid. Punches are often included as well.

That's what "Boomerang Family" is about - the dysfunctional aspects of a simple family. Strife and rivalry and fights. Envy and inferiority. Pride. Yet also moments of happiness. Eventually not being seen. Yet, being seen, too. Unspoken truths that will sooner or later be told anyway. Very private, often rough, unsightly, even downright repulsive manners in everyday interactions in the smallest of spaces, which we actually (if at all) only share in the closest, most intimate circle. E.g. in family, that takes you as you are. (Inevitably.) (Out of habit.) (Because one is just so familiar due to the proximity in time and space that one has shared.) (Out of love?)

The bottom line in "Boomerang Family" is love, which, in its most screwed up way, slumbers and lurks somewhere behind the curtain of mostly ugly, all too familiar patterns of everyday, long-established, well-established manners. Strangely enough, it is simply there.

In the world of the protagonists that curtain is rather shabby. Life is simple. The language rough. Proximity is created through shouting, scrambles and fights. Community can be experienced through shared meals, though. Those meals structure family life and become a connecting, binding medium. The common meal is the place of communication and encounter under largely regulated, peaceful conditions. Everything before and after, however, can quickly (almost certainly) get out of hand.

A special aspect for South Korean conditions, where the direct bloodline is still enormously important: Over time, it becomes clear that the protagonist family is actually a rather progressive variant of a patchwork family. Because of that fact, at first glance all seems to be in question. Nevertheless, this realization cannot erase the lived experience as a "family". The simple, unnamed, tangible, rustic, crude 'love' between siblings that is celebrated with this movie, is not in the genes, but has grown out of shared experiences. In this message lies the magic of this otherwise rather brittle, sometimes dark story. Eventually the heaviness is balanced here and there with a breeze of quite idiosyncratic humor.

Everyone in the family has their own stories and small, medium or big tragedies that bring them back together under one roof. A dysfunctional family to touch, true to life, authentic, in all obscenity. As a spectator, you are brought up close, sometimes closer than you might like. Heaviness and pessimism may want to impose themselves in the course of events, but they ultimately fail to determine the emotional space. You wouldn´t believe it, but the story ends on a consistently positive note.

The KMovie is a film adaptation of a novel. It could also be a theatrical performance. It touches, repels, shamelessly places the ugly next to moments of happiness. Who actually is to judge life? What is good? What is beautiful? What is valuable? What is happiness? Ultimately, all protagonists feel (not only, but ALSO) valuable and happy in their affiliation. So what are the criteria for evaluating the quality of life? "Boomerang Familie" chooses a very idiosyncratic, but ultimately soothing perspective - beyond lifestyle, image, aesthetics or monetary wealth.

Read More

A ROM COM for people who don't like ROM COMS

Hiya,

This page has a description of this film that is appallingly bad. It's actually rather simple and should go something like this --

"Heartbroken Girl enlists her babe friends to convert her to a hottie to win her best male friend's love."

This story has all the ROM COM tropes -- but the magic here is the twist that Zhou Xun adds by simply being... Zhou Xun. I genuinely believe she is the century's answer to Bette Davis. Which is the highest compliment I can pay an actress. It means she is an icon. That can play any role well or better. And anything she touches usually shines.

Feminists may initially resent the tone this film takes with 'being a hottie to land the man'. I get it. The movie appears to suggest that if you're not a whiny little 14 year old slut -- men can't even see you. But don't abandon it. The message evolves.

This will never be thought of as one of Zhou Xun's best films. But it's a really well written, shot, directed acted film -- and therefore should be.

Read More

Iconic monster movie, hijacked by teen horror film.

Gamera vs Teen Mass Murderer. Just like watching angsty high school mean kids bully a giant turtle, because who cares if someone else dies during revenge. And besides, no one died really on the path to stupidity, did they. it was all the monster's fault, my feelings needed those deaths for validation.

That lack of empathy, and humanity in teen horror movies - Is the power that drives the violence in them forward, and so does it here. Whether, you use a monster, or make yourself into one. All those people died horribly, because the world owes a teenager something. But, this wasn't suppose to be a teen slasher film.

I can compare it to watching an arc in an anime, that you know doesn't belong. Then you find out it was written by producers, because the manga is on going, and they've run out of issues. So, they made something up. Gamera is suppose to be fun, and with humanity. This, had neither.

Read More