Reviews

Not my Cup of Tea - Real Life is harsh enough

This film starts as a beautiful but awkward love story between Jimmy, an 18-year-old Taiwanese teen working at a karaoke bar, and Ami, a Japanese backpacker who briefly works alongside him.

Spoilers

The chemistry never truly sparks, which I later realized was intentional—Ami keeps her distance due to her hidden struggle with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a serious heart condition where the heart muscle thickens abnormally, making it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively and potentially leading to life-threatening complications).I never rooted for Jimmy and Ami as a couple, and I couldn't understand why Jimmy became so obsessively devoted to her from the outset. The story leans heavily on the frustrating trope of one person (Ami) unilaterally withholding life-altering information—her terminal illness—under the guise of nobility.
Eighteen years later, Jimmy (now in his 30s) remains so fixated on the "what if" of Ami that he's avoided other relationships entirely. This obsession stalls his personal growth and professional success, trapping his entire young adult life around what he perceived as rejection. It's profoundly sad, but in a preventable, self-inflicted way.

There are almost no genuinely uplifting moments to lighten the gloom—at most, their single date provides a brief flicker. They share a movie-watching scene that clearly devastates them both, but the film never explains the movie's content or why it affects them so deeply. It also glosses over Ami's hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, leaving key emotional context underdeveloped.

Ironically, the fleeting relationships Jimmy forms during his present-day journey through Japan are far more heartwarming and authentic than his central romance with Ami. The young boy he befriends on the train is adorable and genuinely kind, creating a sweet, fleeting connection that brought a real smile to my face. Even more charming is the young woman working at the internet cafe who kindly takes him to a lantern festival—their easy rapport felt refreshing, and I found myself hoping Jimmy would track her down again and maybe spark a new, healthier relationship.

While some viewers who love melancholic films might call this "realistic," and others may view Ami's secrecy as selfless (she truly believed she was protecting Jimmy, and it pained her deeply), I strongly disagree. True love means facing difficult truths together and making decisions as partners, not alone.

The frequent switching between Japanese and Mandarin also confused me; without clearer cues, it was hard to follow the languages and made scenes feel disjointed.

I would not recommend this film. I would not watch it again. And I avoid content like this. i do not need sad, or terminal illnesses or anything like that - enough going on like that in real life.

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THE CUTEST MOVIE EVER

why was this the cutest movie ever 😭 it felt like such a warm hug. and honestly I was kind of skeptical after hearing about the plot because it's been done bajillion of times and like even in 2025 curly hair is a problem to be solved?? but I'm so happy I was wrong because the movie was so amazing. it's one of those movies you'd rewatch to feel something, the ROM coms you just put on yk. I don't know I just love it. the female lead was so cute and the male lead was also so adorable. I also loved the second lead I don't think he was a lead but whtv because of the actor. it's just an amazing movie.

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Not enough talk about it

Beautifully written ! Very empowering movie about psychological effect of postpartum depression (It's much more than postpartum depression) and gender discrimination of today society on young women.
Bit slow paced but worth watching if you are up for some real life topics. Might not be popular among the male gender cuz of the main topic but worth watching to educate yourself about a serious issues in our scociety who sees woman as naturally designed to be mothers/ wives/ daughters.
Definitely a must for those who plan to have kids! Bring awareness and educate your partner.

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I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.

I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.
I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.
I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.
I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.
I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.
I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.
I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.
I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.
I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.
I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.
I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.
I watched this drama because I like Kim Hye Yoon.

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Surrender.

First of all, we know Billkinpp is both such a good actor like ever since Itsay they're both talented, And this movie is adapted from "Marry my dead body" It's a Taiwan bl movie (that's what I can recall)

-The story started off Funny LIKE EXTREMELY FUNNY, The way Billkin can do scenes like that and ATE.

-Maybe don't watch it with your family, There's some scenes that might be approved by your parents (FIRST OF ALL, WHO WOULD DO THAT)

-The ending:
It's kinda a reasonable ending but the Ambulance scene really did the tears for me
CAUSE WHAT DO YOU MEAN
"I'm talking to my wife" WHEN YOU HATED *HIM* ON THE FIRST PLACE AND DIDNT EVEN WANT TO GET MARRIED TO HIM

-Ost:
I really don't mind Ost's especially if the series is good, But if the series isn't good, Man I would hope the ost will save it and for this Movie I could tell you, I easily get bored on bl's especially when I already watched like 150+ bl's and rn I give bl's only one second to impress me.

-I personally like Angst so if you like Angst, Action and like the secret caring idk man, I'm bad at words but yeah RECOMMENDED

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waste of time.

I have nothing against cliche drama unless they are made poorly.

these stories are not groundbreaking but the audience still enjoy them because of their cuteness, romance and good feelings. this drama is void of everything.

the plot line is about a" Cinderella" taking part in a tv show in order to win a date with their favourite drama actor.

that's fine.. but there is nothing here to enjoy.
the script is ridiculous, the characters are so flat, it feels like a very uninspired movie.

there isn't really much to say.. it is a typical Cyrano the Bergerac story without much depth.

the only aspect I liked is the multicultural aspect. you hear Tagalog, English and Korean and as a language lover that's the only thing I really enjoyed.

if you are over 12 skip it

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the first half is good then its not anymore

the first half (about 30 mins-35 mins) was okay, this movie is so explicit i was surprised but i find it hot, there was an interesting story at first, the acting is alright too.. id say its better to stop when the fl's father decide to visit them because later on it went downhill.
as the synposis is , the ml is gay and he only married the fl for mutual interest, he has a lover and she knows, which he later told him to live with them.

*why i didnt like the last part and how it ruined it for me: *spoilers*
-Otoya trusted his lover and thats why he asked him to move in with them then Junpei betrayed that trust by cheating on him with the wife
-he said its not the first time he cheated and he or Otoya punched the girl then? => violence agaisnt woman, put your frustration on your partner instead as he is the one who is supposed to be faithful to you
-after cheating she ended up pregnant, and surprisingly its good for them as both his and her family want to see granddaughter/son, he got mad a bit ,went to sleep with another guy then forgave him

* what i wanted to happen:
-divorce her as she didnt commit to the terms that they talked about , break up with his bf and be with someone loyal (how many times he cheated on as he claims its not the first time, why keep staying with someone who is unfailthful to you)
- or even better, for this bs to not even happen, the couple could have talked about it then he get his consent to sleep around and have a baby

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I'm probably the least qualified person to discuss how Fatal Frame fails as an adaptation of its source material, given my exposure to this franchise is limited to Maiden of Black Water, and even then, that's because it features my girl Ayane, from Dead or Alive. But as its own entity, the film is a wonderfully moody and atmospheric production that at least understands the horror of the games, less so its spirit or mechanics. The visuals are definitely the film's strongest element. Director Mari Asato leans heavily on long, lingering silences with plenty of dim lighting, spooky buildings and soft, ghostly imagery, which attempts to echo the unsettling aesthetic of the games. It's undoubtedly creepy, but scary is up for debate. The narrative takes a more psychological and emotionally horror-tinged angle rather than relying on unnerving dread and tension, with the Camera Obscura conspicuously absent from the proceedings. Annoyingly, there are some compelling ideas about memory, loss and the lingering presence of the dead here, but the story is fragmented and underdeveloped that it all feels like a waste as characters drift in and out without any depth. The performances of the cast are fine, but the material afforded to them doesn't do them justice. Restrained and melancholic but lacking any form of strong emotional hook, anyone looking for an actual adaptation of Fatal Frame is going to be sorely disappointed here, relying more on its namesake than telling a compelling ghost story.

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Type of romance I don't understand

I'm not a big fan of teacher-student relationship movies; they are wrong. However, in this one, I appreciated that the teacher managed to keep his distance, even though it was still disturbing that he pursued the student. It’s a type of romance I don’t understand. I could accept it if the characters were university students, but in a high school context, it feels really strange.

Additionally, the way the story unfolded felt childish. If I were 14 or 15 years old, I might have understood it better, but watching it as an adult made it seem quite irrational. Overall, I'd rate it no higher than 6/10. Some of the cinematography was really nice, but the story itself was lacking. That said, I have seen worse stories featuring similar relationships, so I would say this one is somewhat decent.

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FORBIDDEN UNREQUITED LOVE SAGA of Jin Han! :(

Not the usual BL movie where u can feel "movie" vibes, this is like watching a fragment of reality, a slice of life onscreen. So it looks all realistic & natural like art.

***
Story, Direction, Cinematography and Story Narration are GOOD.
The locations are beautiful.

The story depicts the lives of Main Leads (Jin Han n Birdy) starting from their rebellious phase of 18 yrs age, their chaotic college life, their fun times together as besties, how they turned "more than besties", their unrequited love, acceptance, rejections, separations and finally their adult life.

It's mostly said from the POV of Jin Han.
We get to see very little of Birdy's POV.

Acting by the main leads is VERY GOOD.
They conveyed every emotion very well -- confusion, fear, pain etc.
They have good chemistry.

***
Initially, watching the scenes of their 18 yr old selves' mindless chaos, I have no emotional connection with the characters and the story as well.
(TBH, I'm lil bored since I'm not a fan of teen stories.
I watched this bcz many suggested me n bcz of the Hype, this movie has got).

But once the "feelings" are involved, boom, the acting and the emotions captivated me. It is very interesting.
(Aigoo Me, this is very sad to watch :(
Unrequited or Forbidden loves are always painful to watch!
Taiwanese BLs hit different when they have to show sad loves -- very realistic n painful.
And Yes, The Hype for this movie is Real! :) )

***
My Rating is 9/10.
Don't miss this movie!
BL lovers will definitely like this.

Good to know that the Title is from the lyrics of a Taiwanese song.

***** Just a Fun thought about the actors:
While watching the movie, my funny thoughts:

Halfway through the movie n still I couldn't differentiate the main leads' handsome faces though they are known actors, haha.
Maybe the Teenage Chaos, their silly mindless running n so no clear view of their faces properly, created this confusion to my eyes, hehe.
Their physiques n hair styles -- They looked so similar at one point, Aigoo my eyes! :/

And my mind found a funny way to recognise them -- Once the "feelings", pains n cryings started, they calmed down without silly jumping n so the camera(hehe) n I can tell who is who, very clearly :)


***** SPOILERS -- SKIP this part if you are going to watch the movie ******

My thoughts on the ENDING:

1)
Meeting after 30 years n after saying past confessions aloud, atleast then, they could have given an Exclusive Ending like whether they parted ways forever again or going to be in touch as friends / couple.

To me, It looked like an Open Ending as though they are going to be in touch (maybe as friends n not as lovers though they exclusively love each other only) n So I'm lil less sad, haha.
(I'm super sad when Birdy avoided Jin Han n got married, whereas 30 years of Jia's life is lost in pain).

Birdy's POV is not shown here. This movie is exclusively Jia's POV n still I can say Jia's pain is more than that of Birdy (bcz Birdy chose rejection, he didn't dare like Jia to express his love bcz of his fear or societal restrictions).


2)
(My source might be wrong ):
When reading the comments n director's MDL page, I came to know that character Jia is based on his own life n his failed first love! :O

And so it means that Open Ending is just his imagination ?! -- So, They never met in life again ?! :O -- Now, I'm sad!!

So for a Fictional story, Open Ending is Good.
Usually, I don't like Sad or Open Ending dramas but since it's a personal story of the director, Sad Ending is inevitable n though I'm sad for him, I have to accept what it is :(

***

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I had to drop it

If you’ve moved on with your life and found someone else, it’s important not to leave another person hanging. That’s what I would call cheating, when you don’t break things off but you are dating someone else.
One person keeps waiting for you while you’re already with someone new. The truth might hurt, but it’s still much better than cheating and hiding it, which only makes things worse.
I also want to mention that this has nothing to do with sexualities. Cheating is about a person’s choices, not their sexuality.
Then it gets even worse, she starts to threaten him then slept with his lover... This show is pissing me off, so I’m dropping it.

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Watch until the very end

"Go Away Ultramarine" is one of those movies that you must watch until the very end. It begins with a big mystery, and initially, nothing really makes sense. The characters seem uninterested in exploring the stranger events around them, which makes the viewer wonder about what's really happening. However, in the last 30 minutes of the movie, everything clicks into place. You finally understand why things occurred as they did and why the film was filled with question marks.

**Possible Spoilers.**

The entire movie is about a mysterious island where 2,000 people live, and not a single one knows how or when they ended up there. They just found themselves on this island, which is overseen by a witch. According to the lore, the only way to leave safely is to find what you have lost. Although the island appears to be shrouded in mystery, its residents have accepted their fate and show little interest in discovering how they arrived there—until a new girl named Manabe joins the island. Manabe is determined to uncover why she’s there and encourages those around her to ask the same questions, but no one seems truly interested.

As Manabe embarks on her journey to find these answers, we gradually learn what this island really is.

**Spoiler!!**

It's an island created from discarded personalities—parts of ourselves that we let go of when we feel they no longer serve us. One character, Nanakusa, who was plagued by pessimism, decided to leave that side of himself behind, leading to that pessimistic trait becoming embodied in the island. When he meets Manabe, he realizes that in the real world, she's let go of her idealistic, carefree personality. This revelation drives Nanakusa to try to save Manabe. While Manabe believes that side of her personality has no value, it’s that very trait that made Nanakusa love her in the real world. As he encounters her on the island, he sees that she has abandoned what made her beautiful, so he seeks to help her return to the real world, ultimately trying to show her that she should not discard that part of her.

I think the movie does a wonderful job of illustrating how, in the process of growing up, we often let go of parts of ourselves that no longer serve us or even hinder us. Instead of focusing on how letting go changes a person, the film highlights those discarded personalities, showing why they were cast aside and how sometimes what we perceive as useless or negative traits can actually be the most beautiful. It’s definitely a movie worth watching, and you absolutely need to stick it out until the very end to fully grasp the story.

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