method acting gone awry
This is actually a really intriguing movie about a method actor who doesn't know where to separate himself from the character. If the character he plays is in love, so is he, and that actually makes him a bad method actor. David Suchet (the British actor who played Poirot for 25 years) is also a method actor and a brilliant one. He became Poirot every time he put the mustache on. That was his triggering point to become the character that he played. The voice, the walk, the demeanor, the stature, everything else fell into place for him once that mustache was put on.This guy does not have something that triggers him to become the character once the camera (a.k.a the play) is rolling. He just becomes the character permanently until the play is over and he doesn't have a use for the character anymore. This isn't about a guy suddenly discovering he's gay. It's about a guy who can't rein in his method-acting ability and give it a skeleton, a structure. It's really tragic, actually. I mean, his poor wife, suffering through this every time he's in a play? Yikes. This time seems to be worse though since he never filled out any of his method-acting notebooks for Unchain, which means he was even more unstable than usual with not even notebooks to ground him into Walter's motivations and personality traits.
I get people wanting to label this BL, but it's not. I mean, maybe Young Woo is gay or bi, possibly, but even more than that, he's pretty psychotic. The dude had scary vibes rolling off him in waves at the end. Everything they did was done as the characters of Walter and Singer. It's all fake, people. They're so into their characters of Walter and Singer that they're not themselves anymore. Which really means they shouldn't be actors.
It was good, and a really good look into the idea of method acting gone seriously awry. Maybe the original story was intended as BL (I honestly have no idea), but that is not the message I got.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Was randomly looking up stuff to watch and thought that I might as well watch an old movie when Seungho was much younger. And since it's a murder mystery, that's another plus point. I have to say that it's interesting to see Yoo Seungho, Kang Sora and few other familiar faces looking a lot younger than I usually see them. And it amused me to see Park Chulmin in this movie as well, acting as Junghoon's teacher.
Half of me wished that this movie could've been much longer, like there are some parts that I wished had been elaborated further but it served the purpose. The mystery of the true killer wasn't really too complicated yet still kept me guessing until the end. The movie really provide quite a suspense with the chases by a secondary suspect and later the actual killer as Dajung and Junghoon tried to escape with their lives.
Like I mentioned earlier, there was quite a few loose ends remained unresolved, in which it may feel like watching an incomplete story but overall still an entertaining thriller.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Could Have Been Great, but Instead Annoyed Me
Are You Pregnant with My Child? looks like it tried to tell a thought provoking story, but failed miserably.I don't understand everyone in the Youtube comment sections praising the video. It makes all lesbians look bad.
STORY:
A few months prior, Hyunsoo's ex-girlfriend Yeoni had an odd request for him. She asked for his sperm donation so she could try IVF since he had all of the qualities of a perfect man. He asked her if they could do it the more natural way and get back together and she refused, but was adamant about the IVF.
In the present, Hyunsoo meets up with his crush Mihee at a cafe. She has some special news for him... She is pregnant with his child. Hyunsoo is confused until Mihee tells him to remember what happened with his Yeoni. He gets even more confused until Yeoni arrives at the cafe. Mihee and Yeoni reveal that they are getting married and that through IVF, Mihee is carrying Yeoni's egg and Hyunsoo's sperm. Hyunsoo is now heartbroken, but gives them his blessing.
Honestly, this film is annoying and a waste of time. I'm not even sure what angle the film is going for. At a glance it looks like a pro-Lesbian film, but I feel it does the opposite of that. The entire film is about the lesbian couple having a relationship behind this man's back, then tricking him into giving them his sperm for them to have their happily ever after. How is that acceptable? Even if he was dense and didn't notice that they were in a relationship, they should have told him about who was involved with the IVF and why. They blindsided him with the whole pregnancy and their lesbian relationship. He is their friend for crying out loud! Why didn't they tell him?!
Like I said earlier, I don't understand why people in the youtube comment section are praising this lesbian couple and saying it's cute. It's not. It's toxic. They baby-trapped him with no consideration for his feelings. Even if we ignore the fact that they tricked him with IVF, they really have no consideration for him at all. When he excuses himself to take a break and try to understand the situation, they instantly start a make-out session and don't even stop when he comes back. Rude!
OVERALL;
I feel this film is trying to tackle a hard subject and failed miserably. The way that the lesbian couple went behind Hyunsoo's back the entire film really cemented the fact that the girls are toxic people and they deserve each other. I just feel really bad for Hyunsoo since he was deceived in so many ways. I hope that anyone who watches this doesn't try to copy the girls and trick any unsuspecting man like that. If you want to use IVF then go to an agency, or be honest with the guy you are asking sperm from. Realistically speaking. I think if there isn't paper work for this kind of thing, I think the guy can sue the women for custody if you lie to him.... Anyways, back to the film. Don't bother to watch it unless you are delusional or you hate men.
Was this review helpful to you?
A light & entertaining short film that is a visual feast
Interspersed with traditional Korean theatrics (Madanggeuk) and a musical narrative (Pansori) this 20 minute vibrant visual buffet is an entertaining short watch. It's also an advertisement for Apple's I-phone 13 Pro.I remember American director Steven Soderbergh making 'Unsane' using I-phone in 2017 and was applauded for breaking down the perceived costs associated with producing a feature film so I am not really going to cry about Apple's marketing here. I think this is a great initiative which allows for some innovative plots and experimentation that traditional cinema might not provide to individuals just starting out in the entertainment industry due to the costs and other issues that come hand in hand with experimental cinema.
The movie is enjoyable to watch with great visuals, colourful costumes, harmless comedy and some martial arts moves thrown in. The supernatural element was just right and the amazing music took this to a whole another level.
I don't know whether life is but a dream but this short would definitely have us believe that life is one big party.
What's not to like?
Was this review helpful to you?
You can give this one a miss if you've seen the series
Hey, I love Sarawat and Tine. But the fact is that there’s really not much new or groundbreaking material in the movie edition.Much of the “movie” footage is a recap of what happened in 2gether and Still 2gether, coupled with narration. This is supposed to give the viewer a glimpse into Tine and Sarawat’s mind and what they were thinking at certain junctures. While it’s nice in theory, it falls flat in practice because there was nothing new or surprising that was revealed. Perhaps there simply isn’t very much left to expand on given the 2nd series.
While it promises a “complete edition” with extra scenes, these don’t really amount to much – maybe 20 minutes of new footage out of a 110 minute movie. This means that the extra scenes could really be a special episode at best, but frankly it could also have been a music video.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/02/23/review-2gether-the-movie-2021-is-better-off-as-a-special-episode/
Was this review helpful to you?
- Action scenes, as also the cinematographic are so good. Perhaps certain fights, as well effects are forgettable, but I think they fit very well for the atmosphere of the movie.
- Despiting the cold and quiet assassin archetype Fable representsand, I think he is a very interesting character, and his relationship with Misaki, besides to being cute, gives a good contribution in knowing that human side he has, and more with the memories of all the things he experienced since he was a kid. But outside of that, I don't have much to say about the rest of the characters, especially the antagonist, who is a one-dimensional psychopath, and with a disappointing death.
- Casting is decent, im not so convinced with the actor for Fable, but his performances are not bad. Other actors did a good job, for example Kimura Fumino as Yoko, but as I see, many of they are so secondary, that with the limited time they appear in the movie, i can't say much for it either.
- Some of the most notorious jokes seemed cleverly good to me, taking into account that good part movie is based on parodying the archetype of assassin that represents Fable, while other jokes are so out of place that i think these should have stayed only in the manga, but I think its ok for a film adaptation.
Overall: For me, I would tell you that the 1st you most should give a chance to is the manga, in case it catches your attention. However, its a good movie, with interesting things within the plot and the characters that could be polished better, and with a humor which will not be for everyone, but that gives a good result in what it promises.
Was this review helpful to you?
Their mouths were filled with words, but their souls were clothed with the unsaid.
The very first week of February, I have realized that I have always desired to live between the borders of the city and the countryside. I both want the busyness of the city and the passive greenery of the countryside; just like how I always found Iceland fascinating with its crisp weather spring and cold, wrathful volcanoes and glaciers.As I watched Drive My Car, it seemed like I was able to dwell between such paradoxical parallels. I, myself, was in that red Saab 900 having a trip around all my own melancholia, detachment, joy, death, transformation, grace, and, perhaps, hoping that my final destination would be life, itself.
We, the audience, are actually the red Saab 900. As the car took its ride everywhere, it saw the sunny cities only to be blocked by hard, metal and concrete buildings. It hears of the city's sweet promises of opportunities, only to be disturbed by the rushing expressways. Then, it goes a little further from the city only to witness that the natured trees and floras were cold with thick snows. This was also how we perceive the characters in the film: there was beauty and brokenness within them.
Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya was featured in the film in which the main protagonist was working to direct an adaptation of the play using multiple languages: Filipino, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Malay, and even sign language. In spite of its multilingual feature, there is a certain silence or repression imprisoning the film. Their mouths were filled with words, but their souls are clothed with the unsaid.
The silence embracing the film, though, was greatly rich. There were some parts that I was close to shedding a tear even though there were no exaggeratedly loud neither emotively suggestive background music and acting performances. It was not emotionally manipulative and it truly was its genuine intentions and authenticity that moved me.
Drive My Car truly moved me that I didn't even realize that it could be slow. That slowness, though, was very purposive. For that's how it is to go through grief and to wait for life. It can be slow, as if you are being sucked out of life and light. How could you expect a film about grief and healing to move so fast and quick?
Towards the epilogue, Misaki was seen buying her groceries and driving the red Saab 900 with her new friend, a dog (which made me squirm a little for how adorable it was). At that moment, I understood that life is not the final destination. Life, itself, is the journey. For life does not stop, but it keeps going on. The dead has reached their destination already, but, we, the living, must keep going on with the journey. Keep driving your car, humans.
†† † † † ‡
"What can we do? We must live our lives. Yes, we shall live, Uncle Vanya.
We shall live through the long procession of days before us, and through the long evenings; we shall patiently bear the trials that fate imposes on us; we shall work for others without rest, both now and when we are old;
and when our last hour comes we shall meet it humbly, and there, beyond the grave, we shall say that we have suffered and wept, that our life was bitter, and God will have pity on us.
Ah, then dear, dear Uncle, you and I shall see that bright and beautiful life; we shall rejoice and look back upon our sorrow here; a tender smile -- and -- we shall rest.
I have faith, Uncle, fervent, passionate faith."
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Due to humans tearing down a forest and digging too deep, inadvertently unleashing a three-headed fire breathing monster, our heroine Mothra must come out of retirement to protect the Earth. The Rebirth of Mothra gave the beautiful Kaiju a makeover and a trilogy aimed at kids. With the focus on a young brother and sister there's no doubt who the target audience is. The twin priestesses are no longer called the Cosmos and are no longer twins. Their costumes are brightly colored, and they ride a miniature Mothra-like fairy just to up the cute quotient. We are still gifted with the Mosura song, which they would have been remiss to leave out. Their comically evil sister stirs up trouble as she rides what amounts to a miniature dragon. To make sure you know this movie is aimed at a young audience there is also a lot of glitter and rainbow butterflies galore.
The movie really began for me when they got to the heart of the issue. Because of man's greed and short-sightedness, the Desghidorah is released. This monster sucks up the energy from the earth and forests. Where he goes, a shortage of oxygen also follows causing problems for the local humans. Desghidorah looks like a close cousin of King Ghidorah. Mothra at the end of her life is unable to defeat him and her caterpillar son swims to the rescue. I have to say, this was the most beautiful Mothra metamorphosis out of all of the movies. Her son is given extraordinary powers after cocooning on an ancient, mystical tree.
Because the movie is aimed at children, the action begins early with the fairies fighting and never lets up. The best of the action is when Mothra and Desghidorah are fighting. The fairy sisters battling each other wasn't as entertaining for me. In fact, on a second viewing I skimmed much of the initial action until Mothra and Desghidorah showed up. The children are actively involved in helping the fairies and Mothra. For the most part, the kids did a good job and their dominance on the screen didn't prove too annoying for me.
I was disappointed Mothra's child was a male. Mothra being the only female Kaiju, not counting Bolliante, set her apart. If they wanted to make a more powerful Mothra, why not let a female have some new kickass powers?
I don't usually grade niche movies on a curve after the 1980's but this is a children's monster movie, so I did give it a small rating bump. Don't expect too much from the special effects. Honestly, it looked like it could have been made in the late 1970's or early 80's from all the psychedelic colors. And of course, we're treated to a guy in a rubber suit and miniatures. It is Toho after all. This movie is definitely not a movie for everyone. You have to love Mothra, and if you happen to be over the age of 10, it helps if you are still a child at heart and easily entertained.
Mothra reminds us that she isn't just a pretty monster face. She cements herself as a protector and as a defender of the environment. In The Rebirth of Mothra, humans and Desghidorah were reminded why Godzilla gives her a wide berth. She might look like a butterfly, but she stings like a bee (to paraphrase the late great boxer, Mohammed Ali).
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Friendship matters and there’s beautiful pain
I really enjoyed this movie. Both of the actors are handsome, and the lead girl was a great add in. I think what I enjoyed most about the movie is that in the end it taught me that no matter how hopeless things seem, you can find beauty in anything, especially friendship.But I do wonder, did the girl get her scar back in the end? Did she decide to keep it? I’m just curious, because the video wasn’t of the best quality. So, I couldn’t tell.
Anywho, give this movie a watch. For nostalgia sake. And because it has a good message. Very wholesome.
Was this review helpful to you?
heartfelt but not enough?
After watching the movie and reading reviews I've come to agree with a few negative ones. The overall storyline was verybeautiful and heartfelt, it teaches a lesson everyone should know, for example, beauty is not everything, it's about what's inside that matters, be careful what you wish for, etc. Although I almost shed a tear it never fell from my eyes, it hit the heart but not hard enough.
The movie lacks much emotional build-up with the main characters, the idea of this film would have been better as a drama to create more suspense and connection. Many periods of time were short (few minute) flashes. The storyline would have been more appreciated if there were more history.
Overall I enjoyed this movie, I do think there could be changes made. The story, acting/cast, and music were all pretty good, like saying moderately strong to the line of best fit in math LOL. I would not rewatch this movie even with all the good qualities. The main plot is too memorable and not in the good way to watch this movie multiple times.
Was this review helpful to you?
Short and sweet; 10 out of 10 recommend
I really enjoyed this short film. I thought the acting was great, the story was cute and I liked seeing the family dynamic. If I find no fault in something, i enjoyed it and would watch it over again I give it a 10/10. And this ticked every box for me. I would love it if this was made into a series. cute 30 min episodes that are a mix of humor and real challenges of life and family. Highly recommend.Was this review helpful to you?
Light romantic comedy with a pinch of BDSM101
The curiosity led me to watch this movie and SeoHyun is here too sooooo I was excited. It's kind of a unique genre from what I usually watch so the story is kind of so-so for me. Here are the main things that you can expect in this movie (without spoiler)- SeoHyun's sexy side ♥
- Light comedy romance that's kind of predictable if you've watched a lot of romantic comedy before
- Mostly portrayal of BDSM on a simple and lighter way.
- No too much provocative scenes. It remained on the decent side (very unlike from 50 Shades trilogy movie)
If there's something that really stood out for me about this movie, it's the fact that it changed my ignorance about BDSM. I have always thought negatively about BDSM because I cannot understand why some people are into that however this movie made me realize that BDSM are merely self preference. It is not disgusting or strange. It's just that some people are really into that and we should respect that.
If you're a fan of SeoHyun, definitely watch it. If you're curious about BDSM, it's a beginner version with no too much skinship involved. If you're sensitive about seeing physical torture (mild) like being tied, slapped, stepped on, etc., you can skip this one. If you decided to watch it, I hope you liked it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Flight 1980 to Honolulu
Everything that you’ve ever wanted to know about the technical and operational aspects of the aviation industry can be found in this movie. But don’t worry about getting confused or overwhelmed because the whole concept is conveyed in layman terms and in a very entertaining manner. The running time of about 100 minutes will quickly fly by without you noticing it.Based on the original screenplay by Yaguchi Shinobu, who also directed the film. Tokusho Kikumura (Ju-on film series) serves as cinematographer while Japanese musician Mickie Yoshino composed and arranged the music, which features Frank Sinatra’s Come Fly With Me as the theme song. Tokusatsu productions’ special effects director Hiroshi Butsuda and VFX specialist Koichi Noguchi (Tokusatsu Research Institute) are involved in the production.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) collaborated substantially on the project through the use of their commercial airliner (Boeing 747-400), equipment, personnel uniforms and hangar at Haneda airport (aka Tokyo International Airport). ANA even contributed their technical expertise to the screenplay and assembled a team to oversee the filming. The director himself researched extensively by travelling to the home of Boeing in Seattle in a bid to ensure the key elements of the story stay true to factual accuracy as much as possible.
This film was heavily promoted where 25 cities and airports all over Japan hosted the marketing campaign in 2008. Additionally the US premiere screening was held at Boeing headquarters in Seattle, Washington and attended by Joseph F. Sutter, the developer of the Boeing 747. The success of this film helped spawn 5 side stories as well as a number of TV programs and books.
What I Loved
I absolutely adore the story and the storytelling approach. I would consider this production as semi-comedic, cheerful with lighthearted undertones, highly educational and definitely moving with a lot of heart and soul. Initially coming across somewhat as a parody of aviation-themed shows, the film gradually settles into a fast-paced and action packed docudrama that consistently holds my attention. I find myself quickly immersed into the multiple perspectives of the myriad colourful characters throughout what has been a truly riveting rollercoaster ride indeed.
The attention to detail in terms of the authenticity of the technicalities involved is quite astounding. In addition to the numerous events that take place at the airport as well as in the airliner en route to Honolulu from Tokyo, viewers are also taken behind the scenes to witness the frenetic activities that go on at the control tower, radar centre and hangar. Real life people are convincingly depicted through smartly-written characterizations that include the pilots, cabin and ground crews, mechanics, air traffic controllers, radar room controllers, operations personnel and even the variety of passengers themselves. Thanks to this movie, I’ve been exposed to new jargon such as purser, pitot tube, birdstrike, and birdman, among others. I’ve even discovered that crows and pigeons are smarter than seagulls which are more likely to crash onto a plane.
Production-wise, the film has aged very well for one that was made in 2008. Neither the visual quality nor the cinematography technique appear dated. The visual effects are generally well rendered, particularly in scenes of mid-air flight. As far as the set designs are concerned, obviously the principal photography took place in an actual plane and the airport, so I have absolutely no complaints on that front.
The film features a large ensemble cast with many familiar faces and each of the portrayals are afforded almost equal screen time. For the most part, the extended focus is on Ayase Haruka and Tanabe Seiichi, who are credited as the leads in their respective roles of the inexperienced flight attendant Saito Etsuko and the young pilot, Suzuki Kazuhiro. I’m a fan of Ayase Haruko who projects a refreshing take with an upbeat and sunny disposition while Tanabe Seiichi delivers a charming and humorous depiction of the Captain-in-training.
Of the supporting cast that caught my attention, the experienced Terajima Shinobu commands the screen with her portrayal of Chief Purser, Yamazaki Reiko. Tabata Tomoko’s Kimura Natsumi is a blur of motion with her lively enthusiasm, and Eguchi Noriko catches the eye with her intriguing air traffic controller, Mizuno Yuriko, despite her limited appearance. Additionally, Ito Aiko mesmerises as Miyamoto Rie, the radar room controller.
Final Thoughts
Do not be fooled by the “fluffy and romcom-esque” poster. Happy Flight is so much more than meets the eye. I was intrigued from the get-go and enthralled all the way to the rousing conclusion of the story. In my humble opinion, this is one of the best-produced, most expansive and detailed contemporary Japanese films I’ve ever had the opportunity to savour. Kudos to the entire production team for a job well done!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Worth the Tears
This movie is not for the faint of heart, esp if you do not like movies where the dog is put in a dangerous situation over and over again. It is quite anxiety-inducing.Story: it is a straightforward plot with some twists and turns. Not knowing actually how it would end. This was based on a true story, so that makes it even more upsetting to watch knowing that a dog had this tenacity to find its original owner. I will not spoil the end of the movie but just know you will probably be crying. I like how they kind of twisted in morals regarding how we treat dog into the story, while also throwing in the product placements. ABCMaps and Purina dog food.
Acting/Cast: But I watched this movie for Ying Haoming, as an international fan getting to see Chinese movies is so hard but I was thankful to find it on youtube. He is essentially acting with a dog for the majority of his time on screen. And it is gut-wrenching. His crying felt so real, that I was crying I think 10 minutes into the movie and by the end, I was sobbing into my 4ft bear on my bed. The acting of the dog was also great! While I can not comment a lot on a dog's acting, you can tell by his mannerisms and whines the dog's emotions. But I will never shut up Ying Haoming's raw acting in this movie.
Music: the music was essentially a main lead. without the music the dogs scenes would be stagnant. it pushed the feeling fo the scene, and helped guide your emotions. whether it is a chase scene or a sad, depressing scene in the cold. it gave hopeful feelings and left me screaming in other times.
Rewatch: sometimes when a movie has such an overwhelming emotional story, it can be hard to rewatch but those initial feelings have already been used the first time. so you will not get the same reaction the subsequent times. but I would re-watch this. The acting, and warm fuzzy moments showing the bond between human and dogs is such a strong part of its reachability.
Overall: It is a quick movie, and it is a movie that will induce teras. And it is worth it. I am so happy I found the link (with 97) views and watched it. Ying Haoming is one of my favorite actors, and he was amazing in it and so was the dog.
Was this review helpful to you?
How did I find out about this movie? I initially wanted to see this because of Suda Masaki (and just as mentioned in the comments, his appearance was quite short but wonderful, as always.) I was also supposedly going to watch this without subs (raw has been on my files since 2016). But I'm glad I didn't and was patient for the proper subs to come out, or I would've missed so much details about this movie or the whole point of it.
Go watch it if you're in for some philosophical drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
