Reviews

To a point my son asked me....

Did the dad found Xianglun dead body in the demolished building? I told him, his dad probably just found one drop of blood on piano key.
My son was confused as he is now just 10 yrs old, he thought that in the story the main actor and actress can travel anytime and anywhere with any piano.
Anyway it's quite a genius time travelling story using the the speed of playing on one music piece to determine the voyage year where he/she traveled.
And it make sense on how first person can only sees her on each several times travelling.
How the sweat and blood made them permanently stays at one time space.
I have to watched it back again because I saw the news of Korea going to remake this and also I was screen viewing on the whole movie to find the older version of Xiaoyu at the back scene, she was alive until the younger ver. past away and both ver. diminished forever.
In other words the Xiaoyu version that Xianglun in luv with was already dead.
And I also think that Xiaoyu was always in a loop of travelling in timeline hystory. Can't explain why I think that way.

But I would like to add my own story version which are
The tear- erases memory
The blood - will make the piano player visible to everyone when they reached their destination.
Next i want to add is the music. Ahh the theme song was so catchy aswell as the rearrange final scene version piano cover (Super Secret by someone i didnt know his name)

The Korean movie version has yet to come out but I know its going to be decent at some point. Most of the time the original piece will engrave deeply in viewers heart.
Just like how Korean Queen Inhyun's Man, I preferred the Korean version if compare to the China remake version.

This movie deserved all the awards they won. And Jay Chou involvement in directing of this movie, he casted on it, the music he created in this gave more sentimental view on it. He is really a remarkable musician.

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Louis Koo understood the assignment

This is a video game movie. Not in the sense that it's based on a video game (it is) but that the game FEELS like several game actions strung along with the barest, flimsiest plot. Perhaps the plot would be more familiar with it if I was more familiar with Three Dynasties stories, but I'm not.

Of the performances, I feel like Louis Koo was one of the only cast members who seemed to like "get" what kind of movie he was in. There's a level of like, sincere and stoic that he hit that is perfect for Lu Bu and a film this ludicrous.

I love the absurd butt rock while men run around and fight each other in wire work. Like ok, give me more of that nonsense than like, posh orchestral scores. This feels oddly visceral but then, that's Dynasty Warriors.

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Cinema at its best!

One of the best movies I've ever watched, period.
Okay, further elaborating on that...what should I name first?
Perhaps the absolutely perfect script, portraying a beautiful, delicate, poetic story of friendship?
Or maybe the fabulous cinematography, which makes it feel almost as if an endless collection of wonderful paintings were seamlessly flowing one after the other in front of the viewers' delighted eyes?
Or maybe again, the superb performance delivered by the whole cast, with a virtual standing ovation for Matsumoto Honoka?
And why not the lovely music, or the marvelous dishes, or any other element of this magnificent production?
Seriously, cinema at its best. Wow, just wow!

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Epic adventure

Never thought to see a pirates movie from Korea and it somehow worked. I think it took a lot of inspiration from Pirates of the Caribbean but still distinctively Korean. However, with the ridiculous premise of the royal seal getting swallowed by a whale, I was expecting more comedy action than serious action. With Kim Nam Gil, Yu Hae Jin, Kim Won Hae in the cast, they could have used their comedic skills to put some fun in this drama. Like Robin Williams’ Hook.

Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this immensely, even with the silly plot. I have watched more Son Ye Jin dramas and movies where she is crying or getting romantic so it’s a nice change for me to see her to action (I know she can do action, just haven’t watched them). This movie is made up of a stellar cast, I didn’t name them all in the main cast section, just the main leads and the baddies.

The movie is quite long, the first part gave a background to set the expectations and motives of the story, the second part is how the two separate lives of Sa Jung and Yeo Wol get entangled together, and the third act is where everyone comes together to have an epic battle on the high seas. There was also a mini romance between Sa Jung and Yeo Wol which was inserted in and which I loved.

Overall, fun adventure movie good for a rainy Friday night!

Rating: 8/10

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Love heals all wounds

So Ji Sub really makes sad tortured souls with a heart of gold look so dreamy. or maybe I am just a big fan of him. I couldn't stop staring at his eyes, brushing his messy hair and hug him and say "It's alright". Jung Hwa is lucky she meet a decent guy who didn't care if she was blind, and didn't take advantage of her. It was just a bonus that Cheol Min was handsome and sexy.

I actually didn't expect a happy ending since Korean movies tend to go darker than Kdramas. I really thought Cheol Min will sacrifice himself by donating his own eyes to Jung Hwa because he felt guilty that he indirectly caused the accident that made her blind. Maybe because I just recently re-watched this super classic music video of Kiss - Because I'm a Woman. LOL.

I can't say I agree with Cheol Min's idea to pay for Jung Hwa's surgery but I guess that's the best that he could do given the situation. And him not contacting Jung Hwa after was understandable since he was also in pain and needed to recover.

That scene when Jung Hwa finally recognized Cheol Min made me also cry and I'm so happy when they met again!! Cheol Min accepted Jung Hwa as she were, and likewise, Jung Hwa is there to support Cheol Min too. I believe they are still together now, and still very happy!

Rating: 8.5/10

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my byun yo han did such a great job though I couldn't help but wish for more ;(

this was a nice full story, the plot moved in several years smoothly and gradually that it all felt harmonious

tbh I wasn't a fan of the black and white, there were 3 scenes with brief colors and I think it ruined the mood, the story wasn't about paleness of life, making it b&w felt too forced, they severely missed on the playment of the beautiful blue ocean and better the actual washed out colors of "poverty", I felt like most of them wore browns or beige surrounded by sand and that would've gave them the dry vibes more
the subtle human interactions and friendships were really sweet though it feels bitter sweet with no real conclusion unless they wanted to convey "home" is the best place

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A hidden gem

The movie is not without problems (as I will elaborate bellow), but it has many qualities which make it superior to other 2000's lgbt-themed Japanese movies, and even some of the more recent ones.

Story - the films deals with several issues within both the queer and heteronormative communities in modern Japanese society, such as parenthood, familial relations in general, balancing one's personal life & career, coming out and more. However, I think some of the subplots should have been cut, as the final result is both long (more than 2 hours) and somewhat incoherent at times. The roles of certain side characters (such as Naoya's mother) could have been easily transferred to other characters, too.

Acting - Nothing bad to say here. Katsuhiro and Naoya were much more believable as a couple than most of the Japanese BL couples we have seen recently. The actress who played Asako did a wonderful job too.

Would probably watch it again, even just in order to try and spot details I missed at first.

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Chaotic mess.

Honest to gosh, I had no idea what was going on in this movie. Characters were unbelievable, and did unbelievable things for unbelievable reasons. Pacing was like the director was on crack. Plot holes were enormous. I'm halfway through, and I'm wondering if I will be able to finish what appears to be a major train wreck

Okay, a couple of cute guys, and the pastries looked great, but that's not really enough to counter the rest of this disaster.

If I do finish it, I'll revisit this review. I can't imagine what will salvage it at this point, though.

UPDATE: I finished it. It became slightly more comprehensible, which only meant that I downgrade it on the believable part to ludicrous. A hot mess pretty much from start to finish.

I'm sorry I wasted my time on it. I'd downgrade the ratings ever further, but I don't care enough to bother.

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Missing this movie will be a Hard Hit xD

There is no lie, that we all have been anticipating this movie ever since the news came out. I have not seen the original movie which this one is based of, entitled "EL DESCONOCIDO" (2015) screenplay by Alberto Marini, directed by Dani de la Torre and produce by Vaca Films and Atresmedia Cine as it's mentioned at the ending credits, but I consider this to be perhaps closer to the original, given that most Asian remakes are done like so. It got me curious to see the original and do a comparison though.

It's a good thriller, it gets you hooked into the action scenes and it also leaves you quite frustrated by the characters, mainly when they do not cooperate well or are so idiotic and oblivious there *cof cof policemen for the most part* that you want to shout at the screen by their lack of thought. The only one in there that seems to be the most intelligent and a quick thinker is Ban, police woman and bomb expert team leader and like always is not taken serious by her peers...

I guess it's part of our very own society and well human nature to defy the odds, this plot comproves it by the actions people do and the consequences of their own reckless decisions.

The main lead learns that in a Hard Hit here, as he finally realizes his wrong doings and what matters in the end, by learning what might happen when all the odds are against you and the karma of your past actions is there to plot your own demise.

Acting here was very good. I have to give credit to Jo Woo Jin and Lee Jae In for their roles as a helpless father and scared daughter, it showed their bond through the movie. Although Ji Chang Wook is not considered a main role here, given he only enters physically towards the second half of the plot, his voice is very present from the beginning so it works for me too. His voice alone has enough presence and charisma to carry on the show. I have always loved his tone, and usually we are used to him being the good guy and having a certain layer in his characters, in here it shows how he can portrait a "criminal" just fine.

Like always there were things that made no sense, or maybe I am being too logical. Despite the whole time is on the line vibe here, there are certain procedures even the police has to take, and in here they simply skip those. I guess it's quite easy to jump into enemy lines, if the culprit can be right under their noses without being detected. Again the only source of intelligent life form is Ban, the explosive team leader, because the others mainly the police chief are impulsive with their decisions...

Despite all that and the fact that the calls have always a pretty good signal even when there are no doors on the car, and there's not much static interferences along the way (I guess Korea really has good connecting services) it's a good movie to watch. Probably the typical cliché of Hollywood with the whole bomb threat feat a Fast and Furious vibe. I could almost pinpoint and say it kind of reminds me of the movie Speed (1994) with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock (a timeless classic) which involves a bus and it also has a time bomb, and by the whole unknown caller it has its far share of movies similar too.

Still, its always about the productions and actors that truly make a difference in each and every movie. And it shows in here. Not bad in terms of background music on the scenes. In a re-watch value, just like the classics I've mentioned it can work out after a while, although there's nothing like the surprise factor of the first time, hearing Wook's voice is definitely worth it ;)

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my opinion

i think many people know the plot of this movie, so i just want to share my opinion:
this movie really show the reality of couple nowadays especially the young one. because when someone will start have other commitment they can't balance between work and love. it just kinda confusing because both da eun and jang hyuk make mistake.
i think da eun start to cheat on jang hyuk after she abort the baby. i dont know if in korea, aborting is normal or not. i kinda pity at the other jang hyeok because he really love da eun but i dont think da eun really move on on jang hyuk( jang ki yong).

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childhood love

so the story start when young ho start writing letter for his childhood love. but they never met with each other because of the rule set up by the girl until they decide to meet on new year if that day is rain.
it made me wonder because young ho have girl bestfriend that have crush on him but he still wait for the girl even they never meet. it kinda sad for the girl but thats how loyal is young ho because he never met and cannot ask any question about the girl. the way they change the letter is really interesting i love how the girl always put effort in writing the letter and the way she expressed her feeling in letter really interesting. the ending really made me wonder about they relationship until the end and there is some plot twist towards the end that made me happy (i guess HAHAHAH)
but for someone who didnt like slow pace movie, will find this movie really slow

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so fun

its really fun movie to enjoy watching on leisure day or free time.
so basically yoo da hee, agent from china has misunderstood woo soo han for being special agent and woo soo han cannot explain the truth because he need the money from da hee. this make them work together to find who supply the weapons in korea. every single time they want to do their mission there must be funny event. its so funny on how they tried hard to covered themselves from being exposed but the police still can detect it because they so obvious HAHAHAH. there like plot twist until the end of the story and the plot really interesting from start untill beginning. i laugh all the time because of they hilarious action

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WOW

for someone who doesn't like sci fic genre, this movie really a good one. this movie is full of emotion on how world and people in real life were. both park bo gum and gong yoo really good at potraying their character. this movie show how people treat you if you are different with them and how people just use you for their own benefit. very interesting story that will reflect on yourself. this movie will become and eye opener for you because we didnt choose to be born and its not your fault for become different than other people
the cinematography really great.

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HOW NON BLOOD RELATED CAN CARE AND LOVE EACH OTHER AS FAMILY

this movie mostly contain about the flashback on how doo seok take care of seung yi since little because of the debt that seung yi mother has. its very heartwarming story on how seung yi struggle still little and hoe doo seok try to make her happy by putting so much effort. but for me the ending was kinda too simple and easy because it made me wonder like why seungyi spend years for doing something that can be solved easily. but the relationship between them its very beautiful towards the end. all the actor and actress really good but the child actor especially really good in potraying her characters.

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