Reviews

Wow…

Man these Kishibe Rohan movies are really something else… who comes up with this stuff? It is utterly BIZARRE and I’m here for it. So this Japanese guy comes to Italy as a laborer and meets this other poor tortured Japanese laborer (how many Japanese are there in Italy? Probably not a lot, what’s the likelihood? Oh well..) who hasn’t eaten for 5 days. Well instead of offering him a sandwich when he asked for food, the mean laborer pretends to give him a sandwich and then takes it away and forces him to do his share with the promise of earning that sandwich. He is so cruel to his fellow Japanese man, and the poor tortured laborer basically fall down the stairs from extreme weakness and dies. Then as the mean Japanese laborer watches, the dead laborer’s spirit comes and curses the mean guy, saying at the height of his happiness he will meet his worst downfall. But did this incident change the mean guy into a good person with humility? No way. He is just as mean as he always was. And he is hit with one stroke of luck after another- the happiness curse, which is an ominous sign that something terrible is about to happen. So the mean guy tries to subdue and suppress his happiness by always tying himself with omens of bad luck like black cats and broken mirrors, but they don’t exactly work which just shows that those bad omens are also a lie.

Kishibe Rohan happens to hear this mean guy’s confession in a booth at a church in Venice. I thought it was kind of funny because it’s possible that neither of them were Catholic as far as the viewer knows, and if it was a real priest, he would have started with the invocation of the Christian trinity and ending the confession with an absolution of sins, but he just remained silent. And the mean guy was just like “Can I be saved?” lol… that should have been a clue that whoever was listening was not a priest. And Rohan also happened to be Japanese hah what are the chances? The mean guy wears a mask during his confession and I thought that was interesting- the symbolism of masks throughout the movie and the setting of Venice complements that.

Well there is this grotesque scene with the spirit of the tortured dead Japanese man coming back in the form of his daughter’s tongue which is so weird and off putting that I had to remove a star just for that scene- it was so unnecessary in my opinion- they could have done that same concept but with some other visuals, because this was just gross. But anyways, Rohan was awesome as always, and I feel like he was just caught in this weird situation and dragged into it, along with the mean guy’s daughter who is also bound by the same curse. Then for some reason Rohan seems to be hit with the same happiness curse as well. But Rohan is a rather comforting reassuring presence in a. Weird chaotic world, and that’s why his character is just so awesome. Takahashi gives life to that character in a way no one else could. And I love how he comes to Italy and starts speaking in Italian like his software just updated, and the same thing with French in the last movie. And he reads people like books because well.. everywhere you go, people are the same. So he is confident in himself no matter where he goes. H elbows who he is and is not swayed by the culture or its people. I like that.

As for the mean Japanese guy, his confession was essentially useless not just because he wasn’t talking to a priest nor received absolution, but rather because he had no remorse for what he had done, and had not changed himself at all. He was still the same terrible person, just trying not to die from the curse, and he was ready to ruin a anyone’s life including his own daughter’s in order to not die from the curse.

What was the moral of the story? I suppose none, except for seeing how Rohan stayed in his worn center the whole time, even though he helped people, he didn’t lose who he was to the curse, Italy, or any person.

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A zombie movie that will make you reflect.

A great watch inside of the cinema!

The creator/s packed this film with all the ingredients a movie needs to succeed. A death of a good character for someone not worthy, a smart lead, a strong lead, characters you would root for to survive, characters you would root for to trip and die, circumstances that made you clutch your friend beside you... Colony's formula might not be unique but the execution, for me, was one slap away from being fantastic (if you watched it, I think you know whose bully's ass' deserved to be b*tched slapped, I know everyone I watched it with was hoping for it to happen). They stuck to their plan and it landed well.

Most importantly, Colony isn't just a zombie movie that is all thrill and jump scare, at the core of it, the movie conveys multiple messages and truths to its audience. Humans, like any animals are just animals: it's one for all, until self preservation says it's all for one. There are many, but what struck me the most, based on my own interpretation of what was shown on screen, was something that reflects where I currently am. People, especially, when it comes to politics have this hive mind. They would defer to their number 1 like brain dead zombies, until they end up spinning round and round until all that's left are shells. It's really important to think on your own, humans, have their own brain, they should use their own brains and form their own thoughts end decide what they, as an individual should do.

It's funny to me how this movie, showed that one character Koo Kyo-Hwan’s character wants to connect all minds for everyone to get the same exact message with all the feels and nuances to avoid miscommunication, because I feel like, social media is just one step away from controlling us this way…

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Original Korean storytelling set in a unique Filipino setting

I've watched both the original and our very own adaptation, and I must (and sorry) say, I liked this version more than the original Korean version.

In this adaptation, the storyline is switched to the rural Philippines during 1976 which falls under the Martial Law Era of the Marcos Regime. Compared to the original Korean version which is more simpler, the Filipino version is much more colorful and lively with scenes filmed in Greece and Batangas, Philippines, particularly the countryside house and the market scene which was filmed in Taal Heritage Town. The barn and other props in which were not originally part of the countryside house were carefully and wisely designed and created by the production team.

The two main leads had great chemistry together. Rabin and Angela perfectly nailed the roles originally played by Song Joong Ki and Park Bo Young. They both gave justice to the original actors and their roles. Candy Pangilinan was a great comic relief, and Albie Casiño played Yoo Yeon Seok's villainous role very well. I also find this adaptation more humane and emotional than the original version. I loved how they portrayed the older Sara (played by veteran actress Lorna Tolentino) in her current self upon reuniting with Boy (played by Rabin Angeles) without switching back to her younger self unlike in the original version. I also loved the Acacia tree scene which wasn't in the original film. The film also has 2 theme songs: the Tagalized version of "My Prince" by Angela Muji and "Mahal Kita, Walang Iba" by RabGel. Love both songs, but loved MKWI the most. The ending scene was also touching and meaningful.

Recommended for fans of both K-Drama and Filipino Drama. The adaptation remained faithful to the original storyline while blending in with unique traditional Filipino cultural elements. Already watched it a few times, and I enjoyed it very well. Hope you enjoy it too, even if you're not Filipino. Kudos to the director and production crew for this wonderful adaptation of a Korean classic hit. More power to RabGel💪❤️

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Cute and Confusing

I didn't watch the series first but there were a LOT of plot holes. I'm usually not a stickler for plot logic but there were several gaping plot holes and it wasn't the English translation like it often is.

This is a story about a boy who was somehow abandoned as a young child, then found and raised -solo- by a middle schooler. He feels overly indebted to his adoptive hyung/parent, and is working several part time jobs to become financially independent. There seems to be some hint that his hyung harbors romantic(?) feelings(?) and maybe that's why he's being so aggressive about wanting to become independent? He becomes a boyfriend for hire and there is like 10% chemistry. But the actors are both cuties and very awkward. Then his boyfriend-employer's boss wants in on the deal and also hires him as a boyfriend to make her actual boyfriend jealous. Actual boyfriend goes off the rails breaks up with boyfriend-employer's boss and starts stalking her. So in response, she goes to the hyung's bar and apparently talks him into disappearing (?) so that boyfriend-for-hire has to run the bar alone (?) and also become dependant on her, as well as break up with the original boyfriend-employer. Time passes and boyfriend-for-hire randomly (?) finds his hyung at a park, and they sort of (?) reconcile (?) and then boyfriend-for-hire and boyfriend-employer randomly (?) meet at a bus stop and reconcile with kisses. Then boyfriend-for-reals-now pitches an app idea to his real boyfriend and his ex-girlfriend-employer/his boyfriend's boss. and she gets really flirty and intense but approves the sales pitch.

This was a meh, the actors were all cuties and there was no overarching negativity. It wasn't particularly funny. Just kinda cute. The story made no sense at the end.

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Even knowing, it still hurts

I watched this mostly because of Cha Hakyeon, and honestly I’m glad I did. Although the movie has some flaws, it’s still such a sweet and simple love story. The chemistry between the characters feels natural and warm, which makes the emotional moments hit even harder. What stayed with me the most is the message underneath everything: even when life is unfair and painful, you still keep loving, dreaming, and moving forward without giving up. The music adds so much emotion to the story, and by the end I was completely destroyed. The ending is incredibly sad and emotional… and even when you know it’s coming, it still hurts.

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Overall, an irreplaceable film. Engaging characters, a compelling plot, writing choices along the way that are not attached to just following established tropes. If you haven't watched it yet, don't read up too much and just watch it. Not actually knowing what kind of story is being told is a big part of the interesting way things play out.

My only criticisms are my own personal preferences. It is a bit too horny. And certain characters don't get as satisfying an ending as I would have liked. But this is not a rosy drama so not every plotline will be wrapped up with justice and comfort as the point. The story is more focused on being *raw* and really looking into the complex situations of the characters.

Well actually I do have one other criticism and it might be a big one, depending on how you want to look at it. But this film, at times, seems to be showing a dark side of sexual appetites and voyeurism... but doesn't the film do the exact same thing? Commodifying female sexuality for a horny ass audience... -_-

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What if you changed every day

First of all, if you are familiar with this story from the kdrama -- these are different stories that merely share the underlying premise of what the "magic" is. BOTH ARE WORTH WATCHING!! <3

This one is the movie, and it is very good. I love the underlying premise because it really does ask fundamentally, "Who are you separate from your body?" and "How much of how you are seen, is based on your body?"

These are such important questions, and exploring them in the context of romance is extra interesting.

The vibe of this movie is pretty thoughtful and a bit melancholy; the film style is maybe reminiscent of French film?

One of the only challenges, for me, is that this movie's specific approach to this plot never has the main character have a "baseline" appearance. This makes is a bit harder to invest in the character, but also makes it that much more impressive when the movie *gets you to anyway*

Also the whole furniture maker angle is very cute and charming. Really got me wanting to learn to make furniture!

Which also serves the metaphor very well, as we shape our lives to fit who we are... a person whose identity is less "stable" faces many challenges that a more stable person will not understand. And their loved ones also face their own challenges trying to love someone who is always changing. And this movie takes the time to actually engage these ideas. <3

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An interesting peek into those affected

Interesting peek into a women's prison, and the way lives are affected by it. This is a slightly gritty look at actual lives. Not gritty in the sense that there is anything particularly shocking in the content, but more that it does not add any "kdrama polish" to anything. Just real people, living in the real world, despite often not having many options, still working toward figuring out their place in the world based on the options in front of them.

The writers really put in some extra thought into a few metaphors and symbolism used, which adds a nice touch as the overall story and message settle in.

When you are passing a bus with the same number, give them a wave.

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Let the Children Fight

Physical fighting is common in very young children, but they soon learn how to express their emotions and solve problems with words. It’s usually best to avoid fights, but sometimes fighting it out seems to be the best option, especially for children. In this movie, we follow high schoolers who often use their fists, along with one strange girl who gets involved in the fights and tries to set the record straight. The film contains a bit of drama, comedy and action.

The story wasn’t very convincing. The comedy provided a good refreshment every now and then, but the best part of the movie were the action scenes. Although it wasn’t believable to watch a girl fighting boys — especially since we never see her train — the fight scenes had strong energy and felt satisfying.

I actually don’t know what this movie wanted to achieve. If it was meant to give young actors a chance to act, then I understand. But from a story perspective, I don’t see anything particularly memorable. Or maybe I’m already too old for high school movies.

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Fun, Enjoyable Movie

I recently rewatched this Thai film on aThai Airways flight and it reminded me why it left an impression on me the first time.

One of the highlights for me is the chemistry between Baifern and the male lead. Their interactions feel natural and emotionally convincing. There’s a certain charm in how they play off each other that carries the film through both its lighter and more dramatic moments.

Having watched several other movies starring Baifern, I can confidently say I’ve become a fan. She brings a consistent warmth and hrt looks surely helps and this film is no exception. Her performance here is natural and believable.

Even though this movie was done 5 years ago, it still holds up well today. The themes feel relevant, and the overall execution remains enjoyable.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this movie—especially if you’re a fan of Thai cinema or looking to explore more of Baifern’s work. It’s an easy, satisfying watch.

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Absolute peak Korean action cinema

First screened at Cannes 2026, when none were expecting anything new to come out from zombie franchises anymore, director/writer Yeon Sang Ho is here to prove them wrong, this time around with fresh new implementation and insanely stellar performances, even bested himself after all the monster flicks that he has done in recent years. It has plot development and storytelling that makes actual sense, the heightened suspense is top class from all the settings that they've built, which gave the movie one of the most convincing villains ever in Korean movies. Acting performance is intense and the action sequence is sleek and highly believable, absolutely peak Korean action cinema.

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