Heartbreaking and morally grey
This is a movie that started out kind of slow; I was a little bored at the start and didn't really like any of the characters.But this movie has a cast and a vibe that just grows on you over time. Around the 80% mark, it just got so good and I love the morally grey questions that it was asking, very subtly. I cried so hard at this and at the ending — It was sort of bittersweet but I think it's amazing when a movie makes you question what you think is right and Shoplifters definitely did that for me.
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Heart warming, sweet & beautiful story
The only regret that I had was I didn't see this movie when it was showed in Singapore back in 2013. It had awesome review and I thought I didn't want to watch and cry because going to cinema is meant for fun. I was putting off to watch for long and today I watched it finally. It didn't fail me. This became one of my all time favorite movies.The storyline is very different from any other movies as wrongly accused father and his daughter tried to meet each other again with the help of his cellmates and friends. You will just flow with this movie and forget about your surrounding. The acting is spot on and the tempo is perfect.
Highly recommend everyone to watch this and you won't regret spending 2hr of your life.
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This review may contain spoilers
devastating
this movie was not easy to watch , i had to pause in between scenes to stop myself from going manic. what makes me sick is that this movie is based off true events and right now i am still trying to process everything from finishing the movie less than 5 minutes ago. it was heartwrenching throughout the whole movie. it is definitely not for just anyone to watch as you need to be mentally prepared as the events are triggering.im still super pissed at the verdict given to the culprit because what the fuck ?? only 12 years after damaging a kid physically AND mentally that is costing her her whole life yet he only gets... 12 years... of prison.. because he was intoxicated with alcohol... when he did it.. hearing the words he said during the trial made me sick to my stomach, knowing he did what he did but still claiming to be innocent MY GOD ! headache just thinking about it..
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Tissues for the Issues
Well if you're in the mood to cry and suffer emotional distress for 2 hours, LOOK NO FURTHER! I did well; I must say, I didn't cry as bad as I thought I would lmaoFor starters I gotta warn that this movie is not for the faint heart. From personal experience as someone who got taken away from my family (even for just a short time) I'm fully aware of the trauma it causes at such a young age. You don't know who to trust, you begin to question why you trusted at all and everyone around you is using you as a pawn. As a child it's not so easy to comprehend. This movie is beautifully done and has all the emotions. Rage, Happiness, Fear etc. If you ever feel like you have bad luck, think again!
The ending had me feeling some type of way. It wasn't a bad ending... but wasn't a good ending either. Kind of an open ending but I'm personally dissatisfied. I'm NEVER in the mood to cry but something told me to watch this and I'm glad I did.
Enjoy...
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They Didn't Come Home for Dinner!
Bruce Lee made a big splash in Hong Kong with The Big Boss. Set in the contemporary time, bloody, more realistic, and of course centered around Bruce Lee, it was something bold and new.The story had plot holes and was weak despite a good idea. Ice dealers were also drug dealers which put the honorable men working at the ice house and unknowingly for the syndicate in danger. They found out soon enough, as one or two at a time were called into the boss' office and disappeared. These guys were not the sharpest knives in the drawer when it came to figuring out the danger lurking behind the big boss' gated mansion complete with guard dogs and endless armed minions. The only clue friends and family had that something untoward might have happened was that they didn't come home for dinner.
Most of the fights were brawls rather than martial arts conflicts. Cheng Chiu On (Bruce Lee) had taken a vow to not fight, why we don't know, and watched most of the action until the halfway mark in the movie. When the bodies started stacking up he finally decided to enter the fray, though for many it was too little too late. Most of the extras were slow and lumbering compared to Bruce when he took center stage and showed everyone how it was done. There is no overestimating the skill, quickness, and precision he displayed. Han Ying Chieh, the Big Bad, who also choreographed the fights was at least an able opponent in the final conflict.
The fights were brutal and bloody. It was one of the few times I've seen Bruce fight with weapons, aside from nunchaku, as he did in this one. Oddly, director and writer Lo Wei, inserted weirdly comedic moments in scenes at least somewhat grounded in realism. Wuxia flying guard dogs are not to be missed! There was also more wire work than I would have expected, completely unnecessary when dealing with a fighter the caliber of Bruce Lee.
James Tien also gave a notable performance early on as Cheng's friend, Hsu Chien, who tried to stand up for the workers. He had a light and spark that was entertaining to watch. For the most part, the rest of the acting was typical of old kung fu movies, stilted and weak.
Like many kung fu movies, the story was imperfect. The early fight scenes were also flawed. Once the real Big Boss stepped up, the movie became worthwhile for me. Bruce Lee had a grace, magnetism, beauty, and fluidity that I've never seen matched. It was worth sitting through the more stagnant parts of the movie to be able to watch him work.
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I’ve been conned.
Okay, so I went in assuming that this is going to be a fun light hearted movie with lots of laughs and lighthearted aspects. Couldn’t have been more wrong. The movie does have its fair share of humour and the brothers share a beautiful relationship— one that isn’t perfect but they work on, and I absolutely loved their interactions and how they took care of each other later on— but there’s so much sadness as well. Did I spend the last half hour or so crying? Yes I did. Plot wise the movie is all right, but it’s the acting and the sibling bond they share that makes it unique. Towards the end I kept hoping for a miracle, but that doesn’t happen.Was this review helpful to you?
Very Entertaining
I just saw that this was an anticipated movie way back in 2012 and has received few awards. I'm not really into action films but I'm fine watching them. I just watched this out of boredom and because I kept seeing Jun Ji-Hyun's clip.I had fun watching as it was very chaotic. It was very entertaining as they fool each other. There were happenings between the characters so it wasn't just packed with action.
In conclusion, it was fine to watch for entertainment. However, if you want to watch action then you might be disappointed in this.
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Tried to imitate HUSH and SHINING but totally failed
It was one of the anticipated movie in my watch list but it's just such a mess.It just left me questioning the whole situation.
1. Why are deaf people walking at 10 pm alone in the streets ? Isn't it dangerous?
2. The mother could have just made a noise or hinted out the things in his bag and it would have been done and dusted but no
she cannot even do that in a POLICE STATION.
3. There are literally no police officers in police station so anybody can fight over there. Even when mother and her deaf daughter inform them then they are not even reacting to that?? What king of police officers are they?
4. Do you want to be alone at home when you know that murderer is trying to kill you? She could have gone with her mother.
And the most stupid thing at that dangerous situation is to forget to lock the door. Seriously?
5. She can't really sense a person behind her really, you want us to buy that?
6. The brother character could have easily made a phone call to police while searching for his sister but no just leaves the deaf girl.
7. Most stupid thing is SHE IS SCARED AND BLEEDING. No matter what at least even one person would be suspicious of her condition and try to help her. Though this movie wanted to potray the way we treat handicapped people but this is far too fetched. Even army people just present her to him.
8. Lastly, when deaf girl was saying she wants to live more in sign language. Do you think serial killer will whole heartly understand that? As a viewer if there were not subtitles then couldn't have understood anything so how can he.
One positive I found is Wi Ha-joon's ( serial killer) acting other than nothing is good. Just wasted my time.
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A very action pact movie.
It was a very straight forward movie that contained an issue then a solution compared to what I'm used to. You don't see (or at least I don't have any knowledge) of crisis movies on planes. I have only probably seen 2 movies that involve this type of action in the middle of a fight.The actors all did a very good job! It was very inspiring and a miracle that they all came out alright. For this to have actually happen makes me glad that there are that many procedures and protocols that are done before the flight is even loaded with passengers.
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First we kill them, then we dump them!
If Bolo hadn't been in this movie, I would have seriously considered dumping it.What I liked:
•Refreshingly this movie was set near the ocean where workers loaded and unloaded cargo for boats at the pier.
•Did I mention Bolo was in this movie? He's a favorite of mine and it was fun to watch him fight and snarl at people.
•Fong Yau gave a charismatic performance as a sadistic syndicate man, far out charming any of the good guys.
•Bolo and Huang Chung Hsin, and also Huang Chung Hsin and Leung Tin had brutal fights. Finally fighters went after the parts of the body that will stop a person---the arms and knees.
•I liked that they tried to show the emotional aftermath of a person who thought he had killed someone with his bare hands.
What I didn't care for:
•Michael Chan's performance was weak for me. I thought he came across as whiney instead of conflicted. After thinking he'd killed his girlfriend's brother he ran away and vowed never to fight again. Of course, he ended up in a place where people's lives were in danger because of a tyrannical boss and cowered in the back or was beaten senseless.
•I didn't like Michael Chan's windmill style of fighting very well.
•His girlfriend gave him what had to be the worst pep talk in the entire history of cinema when he was hiding out after some of his buddies and his girl had fought, been wounded, or died in a big battle with Bolo.
• The music was loud and dreadful, as were the fighting sound effects.
• With the exception of the fights involving Huang Chung Hsin I didn't think any of the fights were particularly inspired.
If you are a Bolo fan, it's worth sitting through this movie to watch him, he was in fine form.
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the plot wasn't that unique - tried and true rich kid that's got a gf, but in the closet or didn't even know he was gay, until the new kid comes along and entices him out - he ditches the gf for a bf and as the gf can't get over the loss, she starts plotting ways to break the couple apart and get back with the ML. of course need drama and a heartbreaking moment of conflict, so add the sick dying parent whos hell bent on grandkids, even though her kid is still studying ¯\_(ツ)_/¯¯
and it would've been another ok BL-movie if the acting was good - it wasn't(!) You Xi is a condensing ass from start to finish, he got one emotion going - looking down on EVERYONE as if he doing them a favor for gracing them with his presence. that's how he treats everyone, so if there were emotion's of attraction, interest conveyed by him i blinked and missed it - i guess. but all the other actors didn't do a better job either - heck donno who did the casting (guess Andy Wang) cause even the side and back ground character's didn't seem logical - its like there were kids - children and adults not only teens, that were all mixed up and nothing looked or felt logical - so a train wreak it was - the end scene was freakin hilarious and pretty sure it wasn't meant to be - but we had to get out the sprinklers, so all 3 moron's could stand in the "rain" and add to the water-works as they each be posing and crying Aish plz, i couldn't for the life of me take that serious
what's left to say - if ur bored and looking for a laugh - which will admit there aren't many (laughs) cause You Xi narcissistic attitude aint charming or fun to watch - heck the only other hilarious scene was when his ex-gf slapped him. the way he reacted, it felt like in his life he has never gotten slapped and it looked like he was seriously contemplating punching her (how dare a peasant touch him lol) , but remembered the cameras (¬‿¬)(¬_¬ )
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Pleasantly Surprised
I usually don't like older films mostly because I just can't stand the quality and the inferiority of films that are being shown today. However, I will still watch older films/dramas if they are good. Many works would often mention directors, producers, etc. from this film, showing that it is well-known and good. I finally took the jump and decided to watch it.The story was good and kept me in suspense. The fighting scenes and the cinematography was really good and at times beautiful despite being released in 2004. But also remember it was made in 2004. Overall, I wish I watched it when it came out so I would be able to appreciate it more. If it were made now, I can imagine how great it would be.
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So Jin was turned into a minor character, and Jin Hee was the MC here - which is mindboggling as she didn't carry shit in the drama - but that's the problem with viewing the drama - i am among the few that wasn't blown-away by it, it had its good points but Jin Hee was not one of them. so if i had known this whole movie was gonna revolve around Jin Hee - think i might have passed...
the only scene that was freakin cool was the taxi scene in the tunnel - that took me back to Train to Busan, the dead having one objective and that's getting their target - so loved how that whole scene played out, that was cool - but everything else was meeh, load of clichés... sad considering the "evil" shaman was justified in bringing down the wrath of god on the asses of those money hungry pharmaceutical company executives - so So Jin's intervention was unwarranted (IMHO) and yeah i get its so the innocents (cops) that got hurt and were suffering's would recuperate. but it felt counterproductive - idk
again - a fun one off. and got to see So Jin smile at Seong Jun, took her a whole drama and a movie to be able too lol, heck of an achievement considering he a really good person - totally selfless and giving. but So Jin had her own baggage in the drama so it was understandable - but that's another story...
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The story itself wasn't that bad but oh it was a big mess. The movie dumped a bunch of characters on you without any proper introduction and as it progressed it didn't get any better with that.
I can't remember much of the OST but I remember that some of the sound effects that they used for the fighting scenes sounded like the sound of blasters from Star Wars. 😂
I don't want to be negative so I will now tell you the positive things about the movie:
First: Lesbian representation. Nothing too explicit of course but for its age it's there and it's shown there. That was cute. Too bad that it was like 30 and less seconds of screen time.
Second: The comedy. The movie doesn't have a comedy tag in the genres but maybe it should. I wasn't expecting such funny scenes from it but they really made me laugh sometimes.
Third: Fighting scenes. The CGI is bad from a perspective of today but I can imagine that back in 1994 it must have been one of the better ones. And even without CGI, the kung-fu scenes itself are very great.
Overall 6/10. It definitely wasn't the best movie but it was memorable in some aspects.
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sweet and funny movie
A funny and cute movie. The story is sweet and somehow original. A playboy who is a playboy because of some personal problems and not because this is how he wants to be, another young man who seeks for love and not just sex. And both main actors are surrounded by very good friends, each one different and funny in their one way.It is a love story, a story about true friendship presented in a funny and sweet way. I liked it.
The story is a nice one, the main actors did a great job. The chemistry between the leaders is there and it makes them real and beautiful.
The supporting actors were very very funny. There is also another kind of chemistry , the one as it should be between very good friends. I smiled almost the entire movie.
I don'k know why the music was so loud sometimes that I wasn't able to here the actors's voices. But overall it was ok.
I would have liked to see more of the main actors interaction, but it seems that the script is different from what I wanted. Maybe this is just because the writer wanted to present in more detail their lives before they get to know each other and fall in love.
A nice movie worth watching.
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