Compelling romance narrative exploring mental health issues in a unique way.
"Why does this world insist on keeping me alive?"This was such an odd movie, and the best advice I could give to potential viewers is to go into it with an open mind and just roll with it. Not everything is as it seems, it's definitely a movie with a lot of subtexts that may speak even more through its visuals than it's dialogue heavy script. While the approach is rather strange at times, the love story is your typical romance and the characters aren't necessarily fleshed out enough to really connect to them. Personally, I thought the depiction of mental health was done in such a creative way that kept me engaged until the end of the story.
The strongest point of this movie were the visuals. A variety of effects and the atmospheric color-grading really elevated the story for me. With the help of those visuals and the beautiful score, this movie had such a captivating atmosphere that helped communicate the themes of the story. Komatsu Nana and Hayashi Kento are two actors I'm always happy to see and they both did a great job portraying, not only two people with phobias, but also conveying their yearning for some kind of connection to someone who understands them.
Parasite in Love is a melancholic and visually-stunning romance, using an artistic approach to tell the story of two lonely people trying to feel normal in a world that deems them atypical.
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They cannot see, but they can swim.
The daily quest for something greater than yesterday; seeking and creating an inane comedy in order to swim against the drowning tragedy. A hyper-stylized reality and hyper-realistic fiction of dreading the future, vexing nowhere hometowns, run-of-the-mill every day, and imperiled communality.They trust no one but they feel betrayed by those who have left them to be miserable on their own. They hate the doomed feeling and even hate more those who still cling to hope. They cannot see, but they can swim. Will they have to stay here forever and be eternally visionless or will they have the courage to leave this nowhere doom? For one day, putting goldfishes in the pool will not be enough comedy anymore to wash away the tragedy of the ordinary.
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Kind of pure and realistic
Another great Korean short film.Normally I don't like short films, but this is the second Korean one which I can highly recommend.
And what I love the most, it tells a whole story, no cut off or unsolved .
Introduction, climax, conclusion. Simply and completed.
The actors are maybe not recognizable, but they create believable characters. And I could feel the tense between the main characters, their glance at each other, the touch, quite genuine and exciting.
The setting is very realistic and puristic. I also liked the cinematography and the lighting mood. The whole package suits the story.
This isn't a waste of time, it's just 19 minutes long and I was very satisfied with the storytelling and the pace.
available on GagaOOlala
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The movie basically shows how technology runs this society and you have two woman that use an application to essentially find someone to make a connection with to fall in love and it happens but with signing up for the app, it's not a consequence per say but they know that they have a time clock ticking that's going to eventually expire but in order to avoid the conflict of the "what if" they avoid it and in the end, it doesn't matter what they do, the solitude of the application will always be spot on.
Hey, shout out to our actresses though, they actually had a lot of chemistry, I liked their acting for something that was probably their first time and we love representation.
Music was chill, piano sounds are the vibes.
Overall, because it was so short, I probably would watch it again to catch up on any Easter eggs possibly.
Overall, I wouldn't say it's a 10/10 but it was still up there. Not a bad movie, quick watch, good acting, interesting story but maybe a little longer would be cool and if we could for once get a happy ending but the concept was understandable so all is forgiven.
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This review may contain spoilers
Charming and innocent at the same time
"Seven days are enough, to fall in love"Is what this little simple, romantic BL movie is about.
I'm going to talk about both films simultaneously, because the whole story consists of two films that represtened the manga truthfully.
First film: Seven days: Monday to Thursday
Second film: Seven days: Friday to Sunday
If you are looking for a hot and sex filled drama, then these movies are not for you.
The slow, sometimes dull and tedious tempo between scenes can be boring for some people.
This story is strongly character-driven, it rather puts the emotinal side of the character in forefront instead of the physical interactions.
Even tho there werent a lot of speech and physical interactions between the characters, the actors could totally convey the emotions that the characters felt, both with their face and eyes, and their body language.
While Seryou (Hirose Tomoki) plays a fragile, moderate, emotional, quiet guy, who does not talk about his emotions, on the other hand Yuzuru (James Takeshi Yamada) portrays a very temperamental, hot-headed, plain-spoken, slow-witted guy. Thats what makes them compatible.
They are both disappointed in love, and they both long for a love they have never had the opportunity to do before.(Unconditional love)
Seryou Touji gives a week to everybody to date with him, but these usually end up the same: not working out due to them not being able to reach his heart in a way he wants them to (in the past he once failed in love, so he has a hard time trusting) Yuzuru is the only one, who didnt let him go after 1 week, but rather felt real emotions towards him, and wanted a serious relationship with him.
Shino Yuzuru's cheeky and hot-headed personality is a let down to all girls, and they usually break up, because nobody has appreciated his inner virtue. (only Seryou who loves his real personality.)
Yuzuru and Seryou relationship is kinda of an accident considering it started out with asking out for a date jokingly, even tho deep down it was love at the first sight, this is that slow process, in which they clarify their misunderstanding and their emotions.
Their lack of communication caused a lot of misunderstanding, this also made me feel uneasy and frustrated sometimes, tho in some ways its understandable why they never talked openly.
They were both fully convinced that their feelings for each other were not reciprocal, and this one-week date would be over in a week.
What they didnt expect is that the ongoing situation will actually reveal their true emotions.
The music fits the slow tempo movies almost too well. It was very reassuring and sensual at the same time. It suited the mood of both films.
I cant really choose a favorite scene because I liked all of them, the way they got closer (the first, second, third kiss, staring at eachother, inner monologues, face touching, smiling at eacother, jealousy). There was everything: desire, fear, anxiety but finding eachother (the long kiss scene radiates that aswell)
All in all - (of course not perfect) but an outstanding piece.
Totally recommend if you want to see a light, romantic BL film without the cheesy overdramatic things.
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Amazing vibes
I can easily see how some people could find this film boring but for me it was just all about the vibes, and the vibes were immaculate.The cinematography was great and I really loved how there was not a lot of dialogue; even when there was, every shot had the right amount of time and emotional weight dedicated to it. It's very nostalgic, very slice-of-life, and watching it felt like I was unplugging myself from the rest of the world.
This is a film about feeling alone in a crowded room, about watching from a distance, about small psychological victories, and I 100% felt all of it.
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Predictable But Alright
This movie relies heavily on the fact that we've all seen this movie before. Tough guy with a dad who abandoned him as a child finds himself in a position to pretend to be a little boy's dad... just to not disappoint the kid. Nothing surprising. It is more realistic than fantasy, which I appreciated.The gangster chase/action scenes weren't very well done. The stunts and whatnot were super fake and awkward. This wasn't helped by the terrible choice of music that played during those scenes. The sound was uneven throughout, and that particular music was louder than everything else in the movie and did not fit the mood at all.
The bonding with the kid was rushed and not particularly organic. There wasn't much of the whole 'wear down the tough guy until he accidentally loves the kid'. Sort of a shame, since that is one of the tropes I like.
Overall, it was an okay watch. Just... average. It didn't live up to its potential. Especially when compared to similar types of movies that are exceptionally well done... like You're So Precious to Me, which was truly outstanding.
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Had higher expectations
I wish I could give this movie a higher rating but for me this story felt flat. Sure, the overall action is thrilling but at the same time so unrealistic for me that I couldn't help but wonder how it would work out in real life. I won't go into detail but some things the protagonists did seemed quite impossible.Also the clichés:
- a powerful speech to let everyone know how grave the situation is, check
- heroic acts, check
- drama with lots of crying, check
I really love Zhu Yi Long's acting and he did well, same for the overall cast. It was the writing that just didn't work for me.
I almost liked the movie for one hour, then they ruined it with a foreseeable event that just left me disappointed.
If you don't care about the story though, go watch it for the landscape shots because those are really breathtakingly beautiful.
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Like a puzzle...
That was my first thought after completing the movie because in the end all three storylines connect to each other and make the movie whole despite an open for interpretation ending which I find quite fitting actually.This is why I think this is a good movie, despite the negative reviews. It's not something you can watch while focusing on other things though. It needs your full attention, otherwise you'll get lost as the movie does not follow a consistent line but jumps between the three different storylines of the three main characters.
Only in the end will you see how these puzzle pieces connect. To some it will feel chopped, I find this sort of storytelling interesting. I also loved the color design of the movie with lots of warm colors in contrast with grey or black just like in the cover.
The acting was great. I watched it for Ma Si Chun, Vivienne Tien and Xin Peng which I've seen before in other dramas but Elaine Zhong and Johnny Huang also caught my eyes.
Plus, the OST was totally my cup of tea. Not sure if it's because I'm a 90's child or it just happened to get straight into my ear but I immediately went on a search for it.
I'm not sure if I'll rewatch it someday but I definitely recommend it for a one-time watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
Incest-y vibes
There are other western movies that have a similar plot to this one, but what sets this apart from their western counterparts is the plot twist. This plot twist involves revealing that the the FL's adopted brother is actually masquerading as her husband to "save" her. Which gives off major incest vibes because surely there is a better solution than having to act as your amensiac sister's (adopted but still?!) husband. Yikes. Acting wise it is decent but I felt like it was a tad too fake. Like I could tell that Seo Ye-Ji is acting instead of embodying the character. Probably because she doesn't fit that "damsel in distress" image AT ALL. This movie felt really off to me in words that I can't describe and I honestly would not recommend this. Objectively, it is fairly decent as a psychological thriller if you are able to look past the psuedo incest. Thankfully I watched this on a plane so it wasn't a waste of my time but I would not recommend watching this on your own time.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Chasing the Dragon depended on the star power of Andy Lau and Donnie Yen as the demonic duo of corrupt cop Lee Rock and triad leader Crippled Ho to carry it. While following the lives of the real-life criminal partners this film faltered by trying to portray them in a more noble light.The two characters meet when Ng Sik Ho and his crew are busted, and Lee Rock sees a use for them. During a particularly brutal gang fight filmed from above and on the ground, Ng is crippled saving Lee Rock's life, thus the nickname. The film shows the rise of the two in their fields and the deep comradery they developed. Eventually, suspicions and differing goals begin to chip away at their trust and friendship.
Ho and Rock are shown almost heroically at times. They are family men with deep loyalties to their people. Rock's system for organizing the gangs and doling out the money is praised for reducing gang wars. Crippled Ho shines with his loyalty to family and friends. The British were portrayed as OTP evil, with no redeeming qualities and the only reason corrupt cops and drug dealing triads existed. If there were no British there would be no need for corruption, triads, drugs and prostitution. What? Yes, the British rule was highly problematic, and I have no argument with them underlining those issues, but these two men were feeding on their own people dealing in heroin for Pete's sake. Ho and Rock were bad guys, not heroes. Lee Rock was known as the 500-million-dollar man for what he made off of the crime trade. Show their hatred for the British but also show the toll of their actions on their own people. Instead, director Wong Jing seemed to want us to empathize for them which I found incredulous.
Aside from portraying the leads as honorable without acknowledging their dark sides, the film lacked in character development for the side characters. When crew members are killed off, the camera lingers, the music swells, yet without a proper bonding with the characters those scenes left me unaffected. There are numerous deaths. While the movie isn't gory, the body count is high. Again, these are murderous drug dealers and very corrupt cops. Not going to feel sorry for any consequences they encounter.
Andy Lau plays the role he has done before, this time smooth and suave. Donnie Yen in a host of really bad wigs struggles more with a performance that should have been menacing yet didn't always come across that way. It didn't help for the first part of the movie he was playing a character much younger than himself. Kent Cheng showed up as Lau's sidekick without much to do. The women were briefly shown for window dressing.
The fights were well choreographed by Yuen Bun, Yan Hua, and Yu Kang. Though Yen is getting older he showed how to fend off several baddies with a coat! Many of the fights were gang against gang with constant action. The brawls tended to be more entertaining than the movie around them.
The draw of Yen and Lau is inexorable for their fans, of which I am one. The fights filled in the gaps between scenes, but much was missing from this tale of two charismatic criminals. Despite the fact these guys were corrupt, dealing in death and drugs nothing felt very ominous. Rendering them as almost folk heroes against the Brits felt disingenuous at best. Instead of Chasing the Dragon (looking for a heroine high) it felt more like Look at the Cute Lizards (can someone pass me a Tylenol?).
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def worth a watch but missing a lot of details
First of all, I was SO scared to watch this film as I HATE watching anything that has to do with SA, especially when involving a child and then to know how it's based on a true case made it worse, but I AM happy I watched it now! I am not going to judge the storyline as this is someone's life but knowing details that weren't involved in the film, I am glad about the way they did it in movie, they included enough real-life details to get the point across without including some of the other heartbreaking details of this case. I felt iffy about this honestly as this is a movie about someone else and i thought maybe they were just doing it to do it but either way it gives the case more attention and it def deserves more attention because of now, the monster is now released from prison even after multiple protests and petitions with other 600.000 signatures. The acting was top notch, I feel the actors did an amazing job making me feel the emotions they were supposed to act out. Such a heartbreaking movie and story. you should DEF give it a watchWas this review helpful to you?
Excellent Filmography & Action Sequences
The movie has an interesting premise and I was excited to give it a try. From the beginning, the story was executed very smoothly and with great mirror/reflection sequences to show what the main character currently looked like. It was really cool to see those reflections used so creatively without any problems. As you watch through the movie, you will slowly piece together the entire story at what I thought was a relatively good pace. However, there were some moments where it felt a bit slow and some unclear parts about the plot that were left unanswered. Also, there are many great fight sequences in the movie which were fun to watch. The cast was also amazing, especially Yoon Kyesang, who pulled off the action scenes and body switches really well. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a great action movie.Was this review helpful to you?
Along with the Gods 2: The Last 49 Days
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PROS:
+ There are some great elements to the complex and imaginative story that form a strong connection between the main characters and the viewer
+ A lot of the "afterlife" scenes are beautiful and interesting to look at; at times looking like "frameable" artwork pieces
+ Don Lee is loveable and cool (the Uncle role suits him well)
+ This film has some issues, but boredom isn't one of them
CONS:
- There are too many layers to the story (and far too many characters) to keep track of within the run-time
- This movie is quite lengthy, yet it seems to have missing details which can make it confusing
- The plot relies HEAVILY upon the first movie [you will need to remember everything or you will be even more confused]
This movie is a beautiful mess. Everything about it is awkward and hard to follow, but it looks so cool that you don't want to turn it off.
At times it feels like three different movies [they eventually do connect]. One of these stories is the highlight of the whole franchise!
If you enjoy the fantasy concepts of afterlife and trials to reincarnation, then these are worth watching.
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PROS:
+ The multi-genre presentation is surprisingly well done and diverse, ranging from a war drama to a stylish gun-savvy action flick
+ While the film is long, it never really drags or loses momentum
+ The drama elements are touching and add a delicate, personal touch to the characters and their momentous tale
+ Jacky Cheung is a star and nails his role perfectly [even during the moral lapse moments, you will always cheer him on!]
+ There are actually a few profound life lessons to be learned from the themes of Bullet in the Head [this is the reason it outclasses most action movies]
+ There are PLENTY of explosions, gunfights, and "slow-motion" shots to easily identify John Woo's signature style
CONS:
- The musical score is awful, unfitting, and cheesy; it makes it feel like a low-budget made-for-TV experience at times
- Some of the thematic moments of contrast are not as well executed (example - jarring jumps in tone from hopeful/cheery to drab/doomed)
- There are a few editing transitions that look unprofessional [almost like Power Point fades and sweeps]
Well, this is not an easy film to digest. BUT, it is an easy one to enjoy and appreciate!
The heavy themes, long run-time, and Vietnam war scenes make this a hard watch. I recommend taking a break to process and jumping back in. This movie is great, even with the shortcomings!
Seriously though, I felt a lot while watching this movie. That is a rare statement when talking about action movies.
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