“Prison is the only place that won’t kick you out no matter how badly you behave.”
“Society today is extremely cruel to people who step off the path. But even those of us who stay on the path aren’t happy. So we’re unforgiving.”How does one find their way back into society when society is doing everything to keep you out of it? What I loved about this movie is the fact that it doesn't just focus on one side. It depicts social issues, such as inequalities, prejudice and how unforgiving society can be. But it also deals with how our protagonist became the person he is now and how your life choices can define who you are.
Mikami is impulsive, easily angered and impatient. He wears his heart on his sleeve, longs to find a place in life and just wants to feel appreciated. I loved him the moment I saw the sadness in his eyes. Mikami might not be in prison anymore, but it would be foolish to call him free.
Directed with emotional depth and empathy, well-acted by the whole cast and refined with a beautiful soundtrack. For some people it might feel slow or even incoherent at times. But for me it was all about those little moments and Yakusho Koji giving the performance of his life.
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● Bullying is a sensitive issue but this movie was more like a revenge plot by a victimized student while serving NO pity for the main characters. the film even opens up with this bangin' disco number cut with slow-mo's of Shino getting bullied while schoolgirls are dancing in the hallway & kicking shoes around. The movie plays out more like a horror thriller than a high school drama as the bullying intensifies.
● The movie is based on manga, the storyline seemed straightforward, but then in another aspect, it didn’t make sense, which felt like a cluttered and semi-confusing plot with many weird dialogues, maybe the subs didn’t work out for me. And then it was bad at a point that showed PTSD in an eerie way as if it was the whole cause of bullying. Everyone seemed heartless, so am in no mood for pity.
● A killer execution by the leads, the performance is marvelous, showing their cruel and gruesome side. Music is not wow but it is fine. Rewatch is no for me as I can't really really handle this movie as the bullying seems endless.
● If you want to watch a bullying movie, it is a good movie, but the ending is not worthwhile for the record. It is like do you now feel when you walked into my shoes.
●LESSON
bullying invents broken people, the victims become the victimizers, those who stand by and do nothing are as bad as the bullies themselves. In this movie whole school is a jerk even though they didn’t participate they are not spared.
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This review may contain spoilers
Straight to the point
The story is so well defined. It has no awkward moments. It shows no friends or family. because that's unnecessary to the storyline. Both of them look very promising. Kong knows what he wants. Without having second thoughts he goes after it. Kong is a go-getter type. He quickly learns many things about Film. I cant say that Film is taking him seriously. But Its obvious that he likes him. otherwise he wont play along.Their silent gazes are more than enough to tell the viewers what's going to happen next. "Love at first sight" concept definitely needs an attractive face. No other explanation needed. Its as simple as that. It looked like they fell in love with each other without much difficulty. and Its also easy for us to accept it. If they're not good looking, It takes time to build up intimacy. They don't have to force themselves to like the same gender. They don't have to think about how people gonna react. It has a simple story. The actors nailed it. They delivered everything perfectly.
Its highly recommended. In my opinion if you're a BL fan, you should give it a try.
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A passable Zombie movie that you can watch if you hate scary movies
As far as Zombie movies go - this is a good one .As far as movies go - this is an okay movie.
#Alive has a great introduction and really compelling acting from Yoo Ah In , His acting chops really made the movie feel full and really well lived in even though he was the only human for the duration of the movie.
What brings this movie down is its failed logic and lousy set pieces. Theres not much to get or learn from this at all. Its barely emotional and does little to move the viewer. Not to mention that it is not scary.
However, it is passable and I was able to finish it , albeit in two sittings. Ha!
I wouldn't jump to recommend this movie . Its not special enough but if you are someone who wants to dip their toes into the genre then this is the safest option OR if you are an avid fan of the zombie genre - then go for it ! Though I must warn it is no Train to Busan .
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There is also nothing to actually review... but I *do* want to fight this girl. Lol STOP LYING TO HIM!
Just saying, -_-
Not even going to lie though, I watched it for Dori. I would watch a toilet paper commercial if he was in it. LOL don't @ me! We all have at least one person who we would watch in nearly anything.
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Not enough
The first part was so simple. They didn't add boring side stories. It has no weird elements. Their acting looked pretty natural and believable.The second part was so funny. They didn't include scenes like, having conversation with friends or parents for hours to get an idea about love just to fill in the minutes. That's an unusual thing in a BL story. The first part was so romantic compared to this one. Film was trying to play "hard to get" the whole time. But eventually they try to talk it out themselves. When they know what their hearts really want, They don't need anyone to share their thoughts. They feel comfortable around each other. That's why this movie is so simple.
The ending is predictable. but still its very entertaining. The music is so good. It goes well with the scenes. It's a short movie that's the only thing I didn't like. This is better than many full fledged BL series.
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Amanda/Fream and TJ/Fuffy are the perfect married couple, just without the sex, living together, and marriage license part. They are tactile and completely supportive of each other. The film follows the romantic rollercoasters in their respective lives, especially Amanda's. At the beginning of the movie TJ says he will write her 1001 letters and his narration of them throughout the movie hint he may have had deeper feelings for her, something that is left up to the audience to decide.
Both Amanda and TJ have ups and down in their romantic relationships but the constant source of love and support is their friendship and almost constant banter. Fuffy was handsome, strong, with an unknown source of income, and always there for Fream, he would have tempted any other female lead into succumbing but time and again they stated there was no physical attraction between them, much to the chagrin of Amanda's grandmother.
Secondary characters were barely more than out of focus movement in the background. Fream and Fuffy were the nucleus, without the actors' powerful performances, this movie would have floundered. De Rossi could be manic and comedic in one moment and tearful and vulnerable the next, her performance was the heart of this movie. If she was the energy, Piolo Pascual was the sturdy foundation, given the more difficult role of appearing to be the 2ML in his own movie.
The Philippines setting felt like a character in and of itself. The film used many lush and beautiful locales for the friends' conversations and interactions.
My Amanda isn't a perfect film, and at times it was hard to be sympathetic with Amanda's poor life decisions. Though the story dragged in places the journey to the end was worthwhile. It's a film which doesn't seem to go anywhere, and maybe that was the goal, to show the anchor of love between two friends when storms and change raged around them and whether the anchor could hold and whether it should hold.
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A simple review
I rate the movie based on how much I am fulfilled.The whole story was something new other the classic cliché reason for separating of ML and FL.
Music was really funny. Yes FUNNY.
Shin So Yool respect for you just increased a lot.
Acting- no comments.
VFX- didn't feel like much VFX was used at all.
Production- Story didn't demand high production value.
Rewatch value - On any given day, happy or sad, this movie will make you satisfied.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is a wonderful film.
I don't feel I can adequately comment on certain points that I enjoy about this film. That's due to both the fact that I'm not a professional reviewer, and that I do not have the full perspective. I'm not a person who is actually deaf, or one that has fallen in love (Aro/Ace). This film however, has made me felt like I now better understand both. (spoilers are marked with **these**)Story: The story, although on an objective level is really simple (it's basically an architect falling for a deaf person) feels really personal. It doesn't really feel like a standard, lazy rom-com, that I'm very much used to in my home-country. The plot addresses the issues that, based off of the many articles, reviews, and personal testaments I've seen, portray the life of deaf people pretty accurately. The writers and directors didn't treat any of the characters like they were a problem, or wrong for being different. This story of love is handled with care, when it could've so easily been pandering or portray those with disabilities as outsiders, exotic, not belonging.
In the plot, when Gali feels he doesn't belong, being left alone at a party, his reaction to this **trying to stop being around Mara** is reasonable, it doesn't feel like drama for the sake of drama. It's drama built from reasonable misunderstandings, a fear of being hurt, an outsider.
Acting: i love how the actors conveyed emotion. Emotion doesn't just come from words, it comes from actions, facial expressions. This was something that Maine Mendoza and Carlo Aquino really knew how to use to their advantage, they really could feel like Mara and Gali. When Mara and Gali are happy, you can really feel it with how their faces light up and the energy they have when they dance. That same force in emotion applies when we see them sad, in remorse, regret, or serious, loving each other.
OST: Buwan (by Juan Karlos) and Sino (by Unique Salonga) after this film are forever connected to the scenes in this film for me. That's a testament to both the songs themselves and the visuals. What they picked really works well with this movie. The OST was really used to the fullest, like when **the audio for the song Mara and Gali are dancing to is cut. And all we here when Gali dances is what he can hear, nothing.**
Rewatch Value: Rewatch value is incredibly subjective, and it's highly dependent on personal preference and mood. Personally, it's really easy to get invested into Mara and Gali's story, and cry to. I can attest to that, this is a film I love to come back to, I've already rewatched it around three times already (I cried on my first two rewatches.) There are also things like the visuals that keep me coming back to this film. **Stuff like Mara and Gali dancing at the end, the vibrant blue of them just diving into a pool together, the times where they're just texting, the Christmas lights in Gali's room.**)
Overall, this film was made with a lot of care. For those worrying that this is going to be bad, that this sees someone who's different only as that, and nothing more, this film is not that at all. It's a story of love between two people, who push past their differences and issues by talking to each other and trying to help each other. One which, if you have the chance, I highly recommend you watch Isa Pa With Feelings.
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Great just as the first one, if not better!
Now that I've watched the second movie of the series as well, I'm going to review it for you. For your information, this movie contains the ending to the original manga, so it is not mandatory to watch past this one. Even though, if you enjoyed this series, I recommend you to watch the other movies or the anime, or read the manga. First of all, I read the original manga, and there were sadly a few differences, notably the fact that an arc of the manga is missing. The story still works and it doesn't completely feel like something is missing, unless of course you've read the manga or watched the anime. Apart from this and the usual cosmetic differences found in the first movie as well, we can say that this movie was exceptionally done. It strangely looks like all the actors improved their acting during this movie, as they all seem more believable. Especially Light/Raito becomes particularly better in this one. Despite the increased length compared to the first movie, it still remains particularly easy to follow the events, and so many things happen that you'll never be bored once. Definitely worth the time! I watched this with my dad, who had never watched or read this, and he enjoyed it as well. Long story short, watch this and you won't regret it.Was this review helpful to you?
A Masterpiece!
This is a gem and a tremendous work of art and a cinematic experience. It is all so breathtakingly beautiful and poignant, loving, and reflective morality. There are some scenes in this movie that ought to be studied by all who are studying to be actors, directors, and film professionals. Sometimes, simplicity is best and a solid story of human understanding. The scene on the swings (for those of you who have seen the movie) is one of the best filmed interactions between two people I have ever seen. Quiet. Reflective. Child-like. And so moving. Sheer brilliance. One of the Best BL Movies I have ever seen!Was this review helpful to you?
Total let down, as far as I'm concerned
I had great expectations for this movie, but alas, it was a real let down, as far as I'm concerned.The only really good part was the subplot involving Haru, the beautifully tragic (or tragically beautiful) character portrayed by Morikawa Aoi. If they had made a short movie using only those scenes, I would've given it a 10!
Unfortunately, everything else was either "meh" or else just plain bad, imho.
For once, instead of my usual "honorable mentions", I'll go for some well-deserved "dishonorable mentions":
1) while Miura Haruma managed to give a decent performance (nothing spectacular imho, sorry...but at least it was okay), the rest of the male cast was - again, imho, take no offence - plainly terrible! O___o
2) the sound guy(s) should be fired: the audio was annoyingly deafening whenever SFX, music or shouts were involved, and then almost totally inaudible whenever the normal dialogues were taking place. And adding insult to injury, the parts "in English" only got Japanese, but not English subs (which of course would not be a problem normally, but here - hence my quotation marks! - the "parts in English" were actually either in "Japanglish" or in a thick Scottish accent - imagine listening to a speech by Sir Alex Ferguson with only Japanese subtitles to help you decipher what the hell he's mumbling! >__<)
3) last but certainly not least (and as I previously mentioned, apart from Haru's subplot), the script was as bland, plain and uninteresting as they come: a bunch of random scenes and sequences thrown together don't make for good storytelling - at least, not in my book.
As I said, a real let down.../.__.\
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What started as a movie that focuses on human’s weaknesses, doubt, overcoming trauma, finished CGI blood and smoke and possessed animals… Why? First and second half of the movie do not exactly match well together.
Each character had an interesting personal story that could have been explored in the context of their faith - fighting against the bureaucracy for the good of others, overcoming your trauma and finding strength within yourself, showing goodness when faced with danger and pain. Sadly, none of these plot lines were explored enough, when the movie focused more on the preparation and the exorcism itself.
Additionally, there were some plots that were introduced but truly led to nowhere (the investigation over a possible indiscretion and immoral acts of Father Kim) and I questioned the point of introducing them in the movie in the first place.
While the cinematography and camera work were truly on point, the CGI and practical effects left a lot to desire. The exorcism scene made me cry from laughing with how over the top and “excessive” it was. When will horror directors figure out that less means more?
Overall: I quite enjoyed it. The last 25 to 30 minutes were the weakest, and served a rather ridiculous conclusion to the story.
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It’s Ok.
So I like horror movies and I like Kim Seo Hyung and at the time of this writing has come out in Mine and Whispering Corridors 6 The Humming. I also like Kim Yoo Jung (Backstreet Rookie) who is adorably just a child here and at that time shows she’s talented even at that age. With that said, this was an OK movie. The story isn’t complicated and if you watch horror movies this one’s pretty cliche and not hard to figure out. For me It was entertaining just watching these two as their younger selves. The story like the other reviewer said isn’t over the top and aside from a few ‘jump’ scares for me this was just alright but not really worth watching again.Was this review helpful to you?
Awesome action sword scenes from a female heroine! No stunt doubles
Jihye Ahn is a gymnast turned action star who kicked butt in this film! She did all her own stunt work and did it so freakin well. You gotta respect that! Unfortunately the story itself was weak, so I can't say it was the greatest movie, but the many awesome sword fighting scenes made it entertaining for me. It seems this is a low budget film, but the entire cast delivered so I didn't really notice.If you're in the mood to watch some cool action scenes, especially from a female heroine, then I'd suggest giving this movie a try. I really hope Hollywood takes notice of Jihye because not only do we need more female action stars, we need more Asian ones and ones that do their own stunts. It makes a difference.
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