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Brave: Gunjou Senki
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 16, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

I love this movie so much!!

Honestly,I have no idea why would people even dislike this incredible movie! This is one of the best Japanese live action movie I have ever seen! Besides the fact that it is highly unlikely that the high school students is able to defeat those enemies,the warring states period part is quite confusing as the story did not explained anything about it and the fact that one of the scenes there wasn't any blood on the sword after one of the high school student killed one of the enemies.The rest of the scenes was okay.Overall,it is such a great movie with an interesting plot and excellent actors such as Arata mackenyu,Nobuyuki Suzuki and Haruma Miura.I was literally crying whenever there is a scene of Haruma Miura in the movie.

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Completed
Sunset in My Hometown
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 16, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 5.5
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 2.0

too long and boring

What does one think while going to a movie, that they might connect to the character for its pain and enjoy its happiest moments. And more of all to watch the favorite actor for 2hour is actually a joy. But this movie had me like when is it going to finish.. It was plainly BORING for me.

Actually, it took the whole hometown and all the characters his father, teacher, friends, enemies, the girl he liked, and the girl that liked him, and hence it got all tangled up.
The movie is too long and the character is just fighting in the present. Half of the character's past is not shown so it's difficult to connect to them. The fights are not comical, but frustrating. It should have rather concentrated on a few characters than mess up with all.
The romance seemed a bit imposed. It was OK when it was one-sided showing the first crush feels but in the latter part it just came out of nowhere without any connection happening. The father-son story was also not developed well.
since I didn't enjoy the story I didn't like the acting as well, nobody moved me.
The only good thing I liked about the movie was the rapping of Hak Su

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Completed
The Fable
4 people found this review helpful
by Eric
Mar 16, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

High Stakes, Personal Action, the Epitome of its Genre

Tough hero in casual setting has always been a favorite premise of mine, and this is a near perfect execution of that concept. A mostly solemn, sometimes goofy, but undeniably awesome protagonists propels this show through past-paced action, charming slice of life scenes, and tense yakuza politics. All of it's wrapped up into a neat and satisfying plot which is simple but never boring. And, while acting occasionally suffers due to classic Japanese exaggeration, it isn't enough to subtract from tight, sometimes even beautiful dialogue. The screenplay manages to deepen the background of the characters without becoming too preachy or exposition heavy. The production, sound design, OST, cinematography, and special effects are at a level where they fade into the background, elevating immersion and suspension of disbelief. The action is honestly quite incredible, and supports the premise of the movie very well. They also managed to strike the perfect balance between characters of varying personalities, and between moods of solemnity and levity. I strongly recommend this movie.

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Completed
My Ex and Whys
4 people found this review helpful
Mar 16, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 5.5
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

An apologetic for cheaters

To me, this film spent too much time justifying the cheater (Gio) and making Cali (FL) out to be the bad guy (girl) because she didn't want to trust him again and take him back. Sure, go ahead and forgive him but don't give him a second chance to hurt you all over again, girl. Just say, 'I forgive you, but I don't want to see your face again.' No, not all men are cheaters, but this guy really did cheat, and I don't care if he was drunk or not. He was just downright stupid to begin with because 1) he hired this shank of a manager and 2) he got so drunk he slept with her. He KNEW Cali had a cheating dad yet he was stupid enough to place himself in a situation that's ripe for betrayal. What a dumbass. Yeah, when they meet again, he appears to have cleaned up his act (although he still has the bad influence of his cheating father and brothers, and uh, does he have a job?), but trust has already taken an fatal blow, in my opinion. Then early on, she's being pressured by all these fans of her blog to forgive him and take him back like she's the bad guy. I just don't like the message given out by this film or the way that FL's made out to be the villain. Why does this film remind me of that song by Gareth Gates 'Anyone One of Us', which is basically an apologetic for cheating? It's a great song in terms of sound, but it gives out a terrible message just like this film. And to make things worse, she's running after him at the end of the film as though, once again, he's the victim and she's the perpetrator. Don't waste your time on this one, especially if you're a person who, like me, draws the line at cheating. Yeah, people can change (which seems to be the theme of this drama), but why waste your time with a guy who has cheated when there's other men out there who won't?

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Completed
Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum
4 people found this review helpful
Mar 16, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

An exceptional example of found footage horror done right!

An interesting found footage horror that was peppered with scares. The story behind the asylum was intriguing but took a while to pick up. Great acting by Ji-Hun and Charlotte, who were two of my favourite characters in this movie. So let me share with you why you may or may not wish to watch this film.

Why you should watch Gonjiam?
1. Great set design
2. Creepy effects and audio to support the thrills
3. Wonderful acting of some of the cast
4. Background story of characters with the scripted scares and later the real scares were innovative
5. Fitting ending that leaves us with more questions than answers

Why you shouldn't watch Gojiam?
1. Difficult to comprehend if you cannot understand Korean as I couldn’t figure out where to focus between audio, subtitles, cast & surroundings.
2. Slow first half
3. Mediocre subtitles
4. Not much differentiation between the scripted scares and real scares

Overall:
I found it hard to understand what was happening because there was too much diverting my attention between the subtitles, the cast reactions/gestures and looking for ghosts/background curiosities, and the constant camera switches didn’t help. Not being a fan of found footage I might be overly critical of the movie though as parts of it; mainly second half where the story picks up, were interesting.

So would I recommend this movie for anyone to watch? Only if you understand Korean or are a fan of found footage horror.
A 7.5/10 for me.

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Completed
Hot Gimmick
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 16, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 4.0
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

What is this?

I read the manga when I was in high school and looking back, there were many problematic elements with everyone's relationship with Hatsumi. ** Spoilers Ahead **

Watching the live action I am baffled --
It's beautiful, artistic and several elements of filming created/heightened the mood.

That said, the storyline felt forced and the characters weren't developed enough for me to believe them. It is a movie so of course they had to condense the storyline and edit out a lot of scenes from the manga, but I was sad to see so much left out.

Ryoki's portrayal/complete 180° character change also threw me. Like who is this person?!?! We didn't meet any of his family or get a sense of who he was/the pressure that shaped him into a warped teen at all.

The major elements of the manga - the betrayal by Azuza, the brother who is not blood-related, Ryoki's father's fuckery didn't really land anywhere. It felt shallow and it was hard to feel any emotion for the situations or characters in the situation.

Outside of the above, the grandstanding big picture monologues about childhood and sexuality by Hatsumi and Ryoki were just...so forced and weird. It just felt like at a certain point they rewrote the entire story or tried to wrap it up in some way and to me it fell flat.

Overall I'm glad this was made, but I am left feeling disappointed.

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Completed
Secret
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 16, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
This movie was created by a famous Taiwanese pianist (who also stars as the main lead), and it quickly became one of my favorite films. It features a clever use of time-travel (of a type I hadn't seen before-- and that's really saying something, because I've seen/read a lot of time- travel stories), excellent music (as you'd expect from the aforementioned pianist), romance, subtle danger, and a final sequence that legitimately gave me goosebumps... how could I not fall in love with this? <3 Definitely recommended!
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Completed
V.I.P.
2 people found this review helpful
Mar 16, 2022
Completed 1
Overall 4.5
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Enjoy reading down....

I literally felt no emotions while watching this. There is no thrill and mystery in this mystery-thriller movie.
Kim Myung Min (Chae Yi Do ) : Nice person. Viewers at least would have been sad if he died, but he didn't. Regretful murder fail.
Jang Dong Gun( Park Jae Hyuk ) : Born to get humiliated by seniors. Never acts up, thus survived till the end.
Park Hee Soon ( Ri Dae Bum ) : Born to get beaten and killed by Lee Jong Suk. (watch "My Name"...he's ur new crush)
Lee Jong Suk ( Kim Gwang Il ) : Cute little flowery seial killer and keeps smiling uselessly. "I killed someone...UwU" kindda vibe.
Peter Stormare ( Paul Gray ) : Least scary and least seriously taken agent ever.
Choi Jung Woo ( Police Executive ) : Just another annoying senior.
Oh Dae Hwan ( Detective Kim ) : Just another annoying junior.
Jo Woo Jin ( Prosecutor ) : Top 10 anime betrayals. (watch "Happiness" to see him in full shape)

Things I liked :
1. makeup, cinematography and acting of the girl in the first murder scene.
2. Erectile dysfunction scene. That was a bit funny.
3. When Chae Yi Do was shot. I became sad but I wasn't anymore when I found out that he survived the gunshots.

Things I freakingg hatedd :
1. murder of Ri Dae Bum (I'm absolutely a fan of Park Hee Soon....the movie didnt do justice to this actor)

Movie fails :
1. Let alone serial killer, Lee Jong Suk was so cute throughout the whole movie, it took the movie downhill.
2. Acting was pretty good by all the actors, but not worth the story and script provided.
3. Murders were supposed to look sad and gory but it didn't not because the initial pity for the victims was never built by the movie....You know its not sad to lose a diamond ring you never had in the first place.
4. Everyone in the movie is like...."yea, Mr. Serial Killer, Kill me please".....I felt no pressure on the shoulders of the people from their superiors who were saving Lee Jong Suk(not potrayed properly).....He killed dozens of girls and got saved because of his dad's bank account, and at last after all this drama the movie ends with the fact that thers no money in that account and the guy saving lee jung suk all this time for the money didnt seem to be sad, angry or regret it much.

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Completed
Dawn Will Come
0 people found this review helpful
by UBETA
Mar 15, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 5.5

Evil is rewarded with punishment

This film told a wicked man (Gai Liangcai) that rapped a woman (Qiaoer) until she became pregnant. He later married another girl(Wen Shuzhen). Gai Liangcai ordered his servant (Gai Bao) to burn Qiaoer and Qiaoer's servant (Ruo yun). Fortunately his wife (Wen Shuzhen) knew his wicked plan and released them. Gai Liangcai was angry with Wen Shuzhen and pushed her to the river. Gai Liangcai finally found Qiaoer and kill her. Wen Shuzhen was help by an old man. Wen Shuzhen sued her husband in court. The judge turned out to be Lei Ming's father. Finally Lei Ming was found guilty by the Judge (his own father)

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Completed
Lock-On Love
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 15, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Quick, easy watch

This movie wasn't bad, but something felt off about it to me. Was there something missing? Was it too rushed? It was probably a combination of the two. The characters didn't feel fleshed out to me. The ML was apparently idolized by all the girls, yet he was pretty much an idiot when around the FL. His behaviors/movements always seemed over-the-top and kind of frenetic. The FL was very pretty, but she only had one expression throughout the movie.

I enjoyed the bad guys that weren't actually bad guys, as well as the friendships. It's an okay movie to watch for mindless entertainment. There's nothing in it to irritate you, but there also isn't much in it to get excited about.

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Completed
Behind Cut (Movie)
4 people found this review helpful
Mar 15, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 6.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 3.0

mediocre but a decent watch

im not sure why people are claiming there are no new scenes in the movie when in especially the second half there are loads. it focuses a lot more on their emotions and psychological state thanks to the added scenes. we also get to see more of them being sweet together. whilst the film is smoother and more explanatory i will still call it mediocre for south korea's bl productions so far. it's a decent watch with some good dialogue, especially between youngwoo and his father. speaking of, for me, youngwoo carries this film. the actor is great and his character is definitely the best out of the cast imo. i also don't really find it confusing like others say but maybe that's just me. overall give it a shot if you have time to spare. it's not great but there's some good in it.

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Completed
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion
2 people found this review helpful
by no go
Mar 15, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10

Simply thrilling

I can't believe I haven't heard of this movie earlier. This movie should have more fame than it has now. As the name suggests this movie is just first part of a bigger story with a second part on the way this year. But the story, production quality, acting and the action scenes this movie offers is simply mind blowing.
The movie starts out slow but it ends with a bang. I haven't seen such good quality actions sequences in many Korean dramas or movies. It even beats majority of Hollywood action movies in regards of action sequence. I rewatched the second half of the movie just for the action.
The story delves into dark corners of scientific research and the movie has supernatural elements to it and contrary to my expectations it didn't actually ruin the movie but actually enhanced certain parts of the delivery of the movie. It has some gore to it but it's not too much.
The cast and acting was also very very well done with Choi Woo Shik being placed in a character that's very unusual for him at first glance but the result being a pure success. Kim Da Mi's acting in the 2nd half was also very impressive and helped build the overall atmosphere of the movie.
They used some old school korean music in this movie which I really liked as you don't really hear them in the average movies and dramas these days and it was quite nice.
If you are into action thriller movies then I would definitely recommend it.

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Completed
Just the Way You Are
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 14, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 2.0

Cheesy but cute

I happened upon this movie accidentally. The ML's hair was ridiculous through half of the movie and was very distracting, but I liked the development of their relationship. She was supposed to be "plain." but I found her very cute, and she was hard-working and didn't take anything from anyone. I loved the ML's progression and his very surprised discovery that he had fallen in love with her. Some of it was overacted, but I must admit that I actually shed a few tears. They had both been through quite a bit in their young lives, and once they opened up to one another, the healing could begin.

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Mar 14, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 6.5
This review may contain spoilers
This was a good one! I loved that it introduced someone important from Marvelous' past - and that it once again showcased the bond between Marvelous & Joe.

Because Joe was the first one to notice that something was wrong when Marvelous turned all broody. I loved this scene because the other four were bickering in the background while Marvelous & Joe actually had a serious conversation. And then at the end, when everyone rushed to the space sheriff and Joe headed directly to Marvelous to grip his shoulder again the way Gavan did it before...

It's such tiny details like this that make a consistent characterization and show - instead of telling - the bond between two people. I love it! It's a drama for kids but certain Western shows could honestly take pointers from it!

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Completed
The Bow
1 people found this review helpful
Mar 14, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

"...Beautiful Sound Like In The Tautness Of A Bow. I Want To Live Like This Until The Day I Die"

Any movie which you watch directed by Kim Di Kuk has to understand his (I don't know whether to call it 'idiosyncratic' or 'eccentric') outlook on making movies. You have to use your vision; watching the faces and actions of his characters, and you also have to watch how the character acts, or doesn't act, as a normal person would in the situation in which the director places that character..

Kim Di Kuk uses the full abilities of his actors and actresses when they appear in one of his films. Being a screenwriter for many of his films [or not, he only directed My Mother, (2013)] he gives them very little dialogue to use to portray their characters or their emotions here, or his other films.

It was the third time I watched this movie that I realized that absolutely NO ONE had a name in this movie!

Every time you watch a Kim Di Kuk film, you will notice something 'different' that you missed before!

Also, until you see the film yourself, don't believe what others say about it; one reviewer said that the 'young man' became interested in the young girl first, which is not true. It was the other way around.

An old man, who many called 'Grandfather' (Jeon Sung Hwan) brought a young, 6-year-old girl (played by Han Yeo Reum, 10 years later) to his boat off Korea's coast. 'Grandfather' charges fisherman to come fish off of his sanctuary from society; after a visit or two the fishermen start gossiping about the relationship between 'Grandfather' and his supposedly 'grand-daughter.'

Both the grandfather and young girl have grown fond of each other; this is shown in various scenes in the beginning. The grandfather has told others that they will marry on her 17th birthday, just a few months from when our look at their lives again. The grandfather uses his bow and arrows to protect the young girl from other men trying to take advantage of her, and she herself is capable of using them as well to protect herself.

Grandfather also tells the fishermen their fortunes, in a very eccentric way!

Unfortunately, grandfather brings to his fishing business a father and his young son, a student (Seo Ji Suk); the girl's eyes light up and she takes an immediate liking to him; also his headset which she has never seen before.

The young student also takes interest in the young girl, and senses that she has been isolated for years in her predicament.

"Grandfather' sees this and does not approve, but the two younger people develop a friendship; and things start to unravel between grandfather and the young lady, who no one believes is his grand-daughter. Plot twists from here one lead to an un-imagined ending to the story!

The main cast are great in this movie; the two main characters effectively portray their affection to each other in their somewhat bizarre relationship; and also effectively show the strain on the relationship as the third character is added.

The third main character, Seo Ji Suk, although his role is limited, shows believable concern and passion for the young girl and disdain toward Grandfather.

The support actors play their limited roles convincingly, which allowed the development of the story between the main characters.

Most of the 'story' is nonverbal, in that it is small details of interaction between the main characters, primarily the grandfather and young girl, that have to be watched and interpreted by the viewer; making the emotions of the film come from visual rather than auditory emotions.

The cinematography was excellent, IMO, but the sound from the bow instrument irritated me. Nothing personal, but it made my skin crawl some. I wonder if this was the 'effect' that Kim Di Kuk wanted, or not?

I like how you have to use all of your senses, except olfactory, to watch and understand this film.

I also like the portrayal of a bathroom onboard a small boat; many people do not realize that this is the 'traditional' was of relieving yourself on small craft!

The young girl grew to hate the grandfather after the many truths came out about her life, but she could not abandon him in the end! She found out what she was missing from life with him, but still had the love of his being her one and only mother, father, brother, sister, medic, confidante and 'grandfather' for ten years of her life!

Try abandoning someone who you love for a decade, even if and when you find how much they lied to you.

I also, the first time I was this movie, realized that the grandfather's last 'act' was the only one he could take; he had been found out as being a kidnapper and also marrying a female under the age of 17...and he couldn't get his (main) boat engine started or fixed.

One of the most 'eerie' things about this movie is the boat itself, in the end; although I am not going to tell you what happened!

This film is 'eerie' but 'tantalizing' at the same time! I keep telling myself that I am never going to watch it again; and also tell myself the same thing halfway through the next time I watch it. Oh, well...

If you are smart, don't ever watch ANY film directed by Kim Di Kuk to being with; you won't be hooked then!

No tissue are needed for watching this movie, but clip your fingernails first, so that you won't make fingernail scratches on your chair or couch as you are glued to your seat, as this movie slowly messes with your mind watching it.

RE-WATCH VALUE: no comment!

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