Movies I watched in 2022
So I never watch movies but this year I said why not? They usually have higher budget and everything is concluded in 1-2 hours so I can watch them when I'm busy but still craving something to end the night with. No particular priorities, but I do wanna go through some more recent ones and maybe a few modern classics
To fill out by the end of 2022:
Top movies this year:
Best 2022 released films:
Fav Japanese movies watched:
Fav Korean movies watched
Fav Chinese movies watched:
Fav taiwanese movies watched:
Best BL films:
Hidden gems:
A movie that surprised me in a good way:
Most memorable characters:
Most disappointing:
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1. Moonlight Shadow
Japanese Movie - 2021
Super sad and beautifully filmed film, gave me indie film vibes, super cozy, simple and heartbreaking this is not a love story its about how one deals with grief by chasing a mysterious legend Nana's eyes are expressive as ever thought its not her best work it has her signature all over it, the type of story that might feel abrupt or strange to some but there's layers of meaning and symbolism if you think about it deeply
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2. Love and Leashes
Korean Movie - 2022
First time watching anything like this but WOW so refreshing and hilarious I love that it's reasonable and quite natural response to someone interested in their co-worker and googling their hobbies aka private interests it makes sense to me if I found a cute co-worker or colleague's embarrassing secret one day I think we will all google what it's about and her initial reaction was tryna be nice to not embarrass him but his enthusiastic response to wanting to be her sub caught her by surprise so she cleared up the misunderstanding Props to the actors for taking a risky role since we all know that asian communities in particular are extra sensitive and this may be a taboo topic.
I had to skim the candle wax scene it made me uncomfy but still laughed a lot lol
I thought it was a smart way to have the fl outright reject the male lead when he asked her to be his master after she didn't judge him therefore you see her from an ordinary person slowly get persuaded and its actually so damn interestiny
The chemistry and acting was good. They share a genuine connection just through conversations wanting to be there for another he likes to feel validated and it's definitely a vulnerability to open up to anyone about his interest, it's actually beautiful in some ways
a pretty fun watch I laughed so hard in some scenes. Something a bit out of my comfort zone but we love keeping an open mind and appreciating the cast, writers and producers for making this
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3. Novoland: The Castle in the Sky - Time Reversal
Chinese Movie - 2020
was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, maybe more than most of the drama adaptations aside from the original. I miss the winged tribe storyline full or magic and romance and this brought back the feels for sure. Both FL did a good job though I wish Wang Yuwen had more scenes she's a better actress in my opinion but overall cinematography was beautiful I loved all the nature music scenes.
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4. The Cinderella Addiction
Japanese Movie - 2021
THAT ENDING! Tao is such a versatile actress wth this is a slow burn creepy and twisted tale the more you look at the clues, the portraits, bodies sexualization you will imagine what happened to the ML making him a derranged psycho, kids in general scare me but this girl's on another level, pathological liar and all, the ending will haunt you. Even more messed up they do this to kids. Japan always never shy away from the grim stuff so not surprised, I had a feeling but seeing the normal girl turn crazy was scary af. Very well done with the creepy eyes portrait painting and the ringing in the ears
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5. The 8-Year Engagement
Japanese Movie - 2017
Better than more than blue since I watched them back to back, I loved that it was based on a true story, satoh takeru is my fav J-actor, and wow he delivered as a loyal boyfie/husband it made me tear up and thankfully they had a happy ending <3
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6. Enormous Legendary Fish
Chinese Movie - 2020
this is your classic beauty and the beast tale with a twist and Chinese mythology, overall I tried not being too nitpicky going in cause I knew webseries or webmovies in general doesn't have a big budget for CGI etc. But the romance and chemistry was good here though it does feel a bit rushed especially when I feel like the last act was crammed with action and resolved too quickly, I needed another 10 mins or so and an epilogue would have been nice but wouldn't complain too much, It was a good time either way perfect to fill my xianxia romance craving with familiar actors Han DOng and Zhang Yu Xi as leads
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7. Tokyo Revengers
Japanese Movie - 2021
pretty great adaptation, a bit rushed deserves part 2,3 etc. The hair somehow works and it's so accurate especially Draken. It was enjoyable
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8. AI Love You
Thai Movie - 2022
Terrible, this movie is a joke such a shame bc look at that cast, Mario and Baifern? It's a reuion we wanted but the poor script was so ridiculous to watch it was all over the place and totally pointless, I saw bad reviews but wanted to try it out myself after all sometimes with films, there might be a deeper message to decipher among the chaos but nope not this. Beautiful cast amazing concept too anything with robots, a world filled with advanced tech should be cool but this wasn't it. On the surface a robot who is the FL's companion possessing a guy and trying to find out love sounds cool but it was so poorly executed I would say skip it, also the relationship was not developed at all too rushed, this could have been saved in a drama format but with a 1 hr 30 min movie? what a waste of time and talent!
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9. More Than Blue
Korean Movie - 2009
a rare night I never watch movies, but binged them w/ chris, this was meh, the acting was so good but aside from the plot twist at the end I was just frustrated the whole time. It was kinda dumb with all the sacrifice stuff even tho ML will die, he pushes her to find a rich man to marry. I get it, but also NO. The leads were so natural together wish they confessed to each other or something
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10. Homestay
Thai Movie - 2018
So damn beautifully shot, picked it up randomly, yes it deserves the praises. Felt a bit rushed wish it was a series instead of a movie but nevertheless, enjoyed it and the performances, suicide/depression and forgiveness all themes well done here. Seeing the characters go through hell and down on their luck but it's all a part of life and why it's precious
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11. Hitsuji to Okami no Koi to Satsujin
Japanese Movie - 2019
LOL I procrastinated the whole day instead of writing an essay I fell for this strange movie and it was so addictive I don't even know what to say, might be one of the weirdest romances I've ever watched, I mean a homebody suicidal dude falls in love with the next door neighbour and tracks her movement through a peephole and finds out she's a serial killer, and she even encourages him to continue lol. I like the FL from Good Morning Call, she's so cute, the blood splatter effect and fast motion fighting effects are SO BAD but that aside it's addictice and entertaining
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12. Liar x Liar
Japanese Movie - 2021
I've become a Jmovie addict, been craving a cute but not cringe story, this had me screaming CREEPY MUCH at the start with him willing to date a minor even tho consent is like age 14 in Japan it's still messed up but that detail aside it's quite cute, predictable and all but enjoyable
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13. Double Mints
Japanese Movie - 2017
this is so messed up and dark but the acting was so good, the intense emotions acting out the trauma the love/hate relationship, totally out of my comfort zone, loads of controversial scenes and hard to watch moments, but the dynamic is so interesting, how they can't live without each other they hate themselves, sometimes each others which is why the s &m part became part of their relationship, it's so wild, crazy and complicated. Violence, bullying, r*pe all the damn trigger warnings on this one though
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14. Our 30 Minute Sessions
Japanese Movie - 2020
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15. One Week Friends
Japanese Movie - 2017
This was capital D for DUMB and too rushed, lol. Basically the FL has amnesia every week she forgets everything, but the male lead keeps trying to be her friend. And it was meh, unsatisfying ending, I forgot about it after only and hr of watching, but hey at least Kento is cute eyecandy
But am I gonna watch the Chinese remake for Shen Yue and Lin Yi? YUH
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16. Classic Again
Thai Movie - 2020
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17. The Master Plan
Japanese Movie - 2021
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18. Theatre: A Love Story
Japanese Movie - 2020
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19. The Murder of Snow White
Japanese Movie - 2014
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20. Bad Genius
Thai Movie - 2017
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21. Little Forest
Korean Movie - 2018
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22. I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
Japanese Movie - 2017
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23. The Divine Fury
Korean Movie - 2019
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24. Hi, Mom
Chinese Movie - 2021
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25. A Little Red Flower
Chinese Movie - 2020
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26. Under the Hawthorn Tree
Chinese Movie - 2010
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27. Character
Japanese Movie - 2021
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28. Ip Man
Hong Kong Movie - 2008
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29. Old Boy
Korean Movie - 2003
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30. Windstruck
Korean Movie - 2004
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31. Daisy
Korean Movie - 2006
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32. Heavenly Forest
Japanese Movie - 2006
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33. Special Delivery
Korean Movie - 2022
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34. Demon Subduing Division 4
Chinese Movie - 2022
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35. The Pirates 2: The Last Royal Treasure
Korean Movie - 2022
a bit of a wacky over-the top chaotic mess but I loved the adventure and crew's dynamic, it kinda works just a bit bummed out some actors didn't get the screen time they deserve like Sung Il Dong, Se Hun and Chae Soo Bin it makes sense I guess cause it's like a 2 hr movie but they could have made it a bit more even out in my opinion
Would prefer to see the romance more fleshed out too
This for some reason has me questioning if One Piece's live action will be like this wacky kinda fun but a bit rushed? -
36. The Witness
Chinese Movie - 2015
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37. Fall in Love Like a Star
Chinese Movie - 2015
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38. Love Like the Falling Petals
Japanese Movie - 2022