Reviews

A sweet high school romance

This was such a fun watch!

The portrayal of the central romance was really sweet.

All the characters are really endearing with realistic flaws and actions that keep you rooting for everyone and their relationships whether romance or friendship. The main character is so adorable and sweet while having flaws and issues that she is working though that makes her character development really satisfying. The main love interest is pretty much a dreamboat who helps the main character come out of her shell and challenges her without shaming or judging her. He also takes accountability for his mistakes, apologises and corrects his behaviour. A really healthy relationship that you root for and want to watch.

The friendships were really nice and well done. Whether it was the female friendships or the male friendships, they were all depicted as super supportive and understanding. Thankfully, there was no fighting or friendships ending over boys and any fights that did occur were resolved very quickly and seemed to strengthen the bond between friends and make them more honest and vulnerable.

The visual's and filmmaking were also well done. Though admittedly, I don't know much about filmmaking, the shots in the film were all visually stunning.

Overall, a sweet and entertaining high school romance with great characters that you root for.

Read More

Mediocre movie with beautiful visuals.

If you have ever watched a Hallmark romance movie in your life, this movie follows the same template: a rural location, a farm, a deteriorating family business, a lovely and kind FL with a big dream, and a city-guy ML with an attitude. And this one is not far from predictable plots and conflicts as well.

This movie centers around a coffee farm; a remote and beautiful place that becomes the background of a bland love story. It’s basically romanticizing coffee by explaining the plots by the acidity, sweetness, saltiness, bitterness, and sourness of coffee and relating them to life situations. However, while the plots progress nicely, they lack anything outstanding or compelling. ML and FL do have their own backstories, but they aren’t strong enough, making their characters lack depth. Their romance felt rushed and dull as well. Although JC Santos and Barbie Imperial both performed well, their chemistry is just okay.

I felt like I’d been dragged till the end of the movie without any memorable plots other than the breathtaking backdrop of the mountains throughout the movie. Apparently, the beautiful visuals couldn’t save this movie. As a whole, this movie is not bad, but it’s not good either.

Read More

Has you on the edge of your seat.

Its places you into the action right from the beginning and takes you on a journey that is full tilt from start to finish. I was lucky to see this in a cinema in New Zealand so if you can see it on the big screen I recommend you do so, its certainly just that much more immersive and impressive surrounded by a sea of strangers. There's some powerhouse performances from all the leads, I love Lee Do Hyun, so him and the subject matter was what drew me to the film. I think for me the only downside was this story seems like it could have been fleshed out more in a series rather then a movie, it felt like it was wrapped up too quickly for me at least. They hinted at the background of the main characters but you never felt completely invested in the horror they were facing because you weren't given enough information about them. The soundtrack is masterful and the cinematography sublime. I still very much recommend this film.

Read More

GDH ALWAYS ON THE TOP!!!

I've been waiting for this movie from several months since it released. And finally it's here online on an official platform.

I thought the trailer already spoiled everything and I was a little suspecting if the movie will success to catch my attention. Whatever, it turned to be so good and more than what I expected. The plot seems too simple, but the emotions are too real to handle especially at the last part. Everyone's need to be remembered at his most beautiful picture! Maybe we just passed in each other life but still this slight passing could affect you somehow. It brings you a lot of childhood memories and makes you longing those old days.

I can say the acting of all the cast were a superb, especially Anthony as Pae. He was so good at You & Me & Me, but here he shows such a good acting skills full of emotions and energy. He's a real deal with a bright future and happy to discover about him from GDH movies.

Give it a chance! you will never be regret.

Read More

Target" Review: A Thrilling One-Time Watch

"Target" delivers a gripping plot that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. With an unexpected twist revealing the identity of the stalker/killer, the movie prompts genuine shock and disbelief.

The storyline follows a suspenseful trajectory, leaving audiences questioning the safety of buying used items online. Despite its flaws, "Target" succeeds in delivering a chilling experience that leaves a lasting impression.

While not a cinematic masterpiece, "Target" is certainly worth a watch for fans of the thriller genre. Its straightforward narrative and unexpected plot twist make it an engaging choice for a one-time movie night.

Read More

Frothy buddy assassin movie

Hitman was a light-hearted assassin movie with a high body count. A strange combination, but it worked for the most part. Jet Li was in his prime and though there was wire-work, there was also plenty of fast kung fu action.

Fu is working for a low rent gangster and applying for hitman work. The only problem? He has too kind a heart. But he’s also desperate for money. When he hears about a job that will pay handsomely for hunting down a wealthy man’s assassin, he attends the funeral of the shady Japanese businessman hoping to get hired. Petty conman Nor Lo sees Fu in action when he disables security at the funeral and takes him on as a client. Also at the funeral is Eiji, the dead man’s grandson. We know Eiji is dangerous because he usurps control of the company when he eats grandpa’s ashes in front of his father. He wants revenge and the reward. A who’s who of scuzzbag assassins are all on the hunt for the King of Killers and willing to eliminate anyone who might beat them to the prize.

Much of the acting was average. The story had some holes to the murder mystery and identity of the King of Killers. The momentum would occasionally fizzle out. The writers ham fistedly threw in an adult daughter, played by Gigi Leung, to humanize the selfish Nor Lo and maybe for a hint of romance for Fu. Even with the limitations, Jet Li and Eric Tsang had a nice buddy hitman vibe. Sato Keiji as Eiji provided the ruthless opposition for the duo despite his motivations being nebulous. Simon Yam as Officer Chan played the mysterious officer with a twinkle in his eye. Kim Yip had the pivotal role as the greedy but somewhat even-handed revenge fund officer.

With well-choreographed action and Jet Li in his prime, the fights were quite entertaining. Fu had a fight with a grenade carrying priest and a giant with disorienting laser rings all while trying to safely wheel an old man out of an apartment complex (if only we had a wheelbarrow!). An elevator fight was also exciting as well as the finale when a surprise guest showed up.

Hitman showcased a hitman that would rather be playing with children, had light comedy that didn’t veer into slapstick, heartwarming moments, and a few exhilarating fights. Nothing too memorable but not a bad way to spend 90 minutes if you are a Jet Li fan or need a break from darker martial arts flicks.

16 March 2024

Read More

A movie that feels like a third season

This movie really fell into place with the rest of the series and I loved it!

It had multiple storylines and there was not a moment for the viewer to be bored or think "they've put this in to buy time". Everything felt like it was there for a reason.

There's development between various characters and hard-hitting stories to follow.
The camera work was great and transitions between storylines natural so it didn't feel as if it was "action-packed", but rather gave perfect amount of time for each to develop in its own right.

I truly recommend this if you've watched the previous two season; I was certainly not disappointed.

Read More

Fast and furious kung fu action!

I watched Kung Fu Jungle aka Kung Fu Killer years ago and quite enjoyed it. Upon rewatch I enjoyed the fight scenes again, and that the film had its own version of Yes Madam with a strong female officer in control of the investigation. Not that Donnie’s character listened to her much but her subordinates did and she got her chance to shine. The fight choreography was off the charts displaying a variety of styles. One of my favorite parts of the film were the homages to actors and stuntmen from the Golden Era of kung fu movies.

Mo Hahou is serving time for accidentally killing a man in a fight when other martial arts fighters begin being murdered. He convinces Inspector Luk Yuen Sum to let him out to work on the investigation. Hahou escapes to convince his lover to go into hiding, but when Luk catches up with him agrees to let her stay with him so that he can help without being distracted. There’s no question where the story is heading, toward an epic fight between Hahou and the villain Fung Yu Sau and the movie delivers on its implied promise.

The story was thin but still managed to convey the ticking clock on men’s lives as the police and Hahou frantically tried to track Fung down and corner him. This was the perfect role for Donnie’s abilities, stern and determined. Charlie Yeung and Michelle Bai were thankfully not portrayed or written as inept (mostly) and helpless. Wang Bao Qiang brought a maniacal energy to the man obsessed with being the best and for whom kung fu meant death.

Donnie Yen choreographed fast, complex fights starting with fists and moving through kicks, grappling, and weapons. The final fight using CGI trucks was thrilling. Numerous older kung fu actors made cameos---Yuen Cheung Yan, David Chiang, Yuen Bun, Tsui Siu Ming, action choreographer Tony Leung Siu Hung, car stunt driver and choreographer Bruce Law, Tony Tam, Mang Hoi and Billy Chan to name but a few. Even Raymond Chow, the famous producer for and founder of Golden Harvest made a cameo.

Kung Fu Jungle was hard for me to rate. I’m not comparing it to Kurosawa Akira or Zhang Yi Mou films, but against other comparable films from the time. I recently watched Kill Zone and found this one to be far more entertaining. This was a bone crushing, fast moving, truck dragging bolt of energy that was fun to watch.

16 March 2024

Read More

An appetizer, not a meal

With Ma Dong Seok as the main lead, not gonna lie, my expectations soared. And while I wasn't let down, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was so much more story to tell. A movie just didn't seem like enough; this tale deserved for a longer format, perhaps a 6 to 8 episode series, to truly dive into its depths.

I personally felt that the movie missed an opportunity to delve deeper into the aftermath of the earthquake, exploring the lives of the people affected and shedding more light on why the doctor descended into madness. The three-year time jump after the earthquake left me wanting more— craving a more thorough exploration of the characters' journeys.

Additionally, the movie could also have expanded on the mad doctor's research, providing a more detailed and scientifically grounded explanation for his actions. Perhaps I also missed a crucial detail, but I found myself confused about the significance of the laceration or whatever it was on the back of their ears. I think more explanation or context around this detail would have been helpful in understanding its importance to the story.

The part when they discussed the mission to rescue the girl, I couldn't help but anticipate one epic journey ahead. Yet, it felt a tad too short-lived. The irony wasn't lost on me when the military woman emphasized the tight security at the apartment, only for the team to effortlessly breach the building, adding a humorous twist to the situation.

Despite its brevity, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie. And of course, action-wise, Ma Dong Seok always delivers, never failing to captivate the audience with his prowess on screen.

Read More

You should never play with the emotions

I watched this movie with extreme curiosity, almost like entering a sort of tunnel/time machine that takes you to a space-time dimension that is truly touching for how far it is from current cinematic logic; It is undoubtedly a solid melodrama, with all the components of the case (starting with the usual dynamics and problems of social class) that finds, in my opinion, a winning choice in the superb locations of San Francisco
(I had to smile remembering that even alternative musicians such as Makoto Kubota of the psychedelic band
Les Rallizes Denudes lived and played in California in the early 70s, just to say...) and in Obayashi's never banal film direction choices, which finds a capacity for synthesis, as well as some sudden directional changes
(see the 'accident' that is the cause of the meeting between the protagonist and her future husband).
Everything is undoubtedly overloaded and pushed to the extreme, the protagonist couple, extraordinarily famous at the time and also a couple in life, (I later discovered) love each other and break up in a sort of flamboyant amour-fou comings and goings with repeated plane flights ( beautifully synthesised by directorial solutions that are as simple as they are absolutely effective) or by efficient narrative re-propositions (the alternative club, but also the beginning and the end along the Golden Gate) and the story would be all here, undoubtedly not dissimilar from many others but certainly not banal, thanks to an excellent direction by a master who is never ordinary, even on a theme as simple as Take Me Away! The music is also beautiful
7,5/10

Read More

Nothing beats that ending scene

This is a rare 10/10 for me. It may be because Kiyoi and Hira are already in a established relationship that I find myself caring for the two more than I did within the two seasons of the show. But even in just presentation I feel as if the movie outclasses the series exponentially. I like the addition of Kiyoi having a friend besides Hira who he truly cares for, being Anna, and having the movie exclusive villain being her crazed stalker fan. It's a really nice contrast between obsession and love for the characters of Anna's stalker and Hira. I also like how the movie, while still focusing on the relationship between the two male leads, shows that they are indeed separate people, with their own goals and aspirations in life. None of which felt rushed or stumbled to get through, as it was all well-paced and natural. When we were reaching the last thirty minutes of the film and I started to question how Hira would solve his main dilemma of the film of not feeling like taking pictures of anything. But as soon as the idea had popped into my mind the film was able to solve it surprisingly well with less time than it took me to write this review.

The cinematography is also absolutely STUNNING in this film. The last twenty minutes or so will forever be engraved within my mind. As it calls back to their school days within the series while still reminding us about how far they've come within the present. Playfighting with the school water hose and running around classroom desk. And despite the amount of cherry blossom petals being absolute ridiculous, it just made the scene even more incredibly beautiful. The cherry on top being the fantastic music playing throughout. All in all, an exceptional scene that felt fulfilling and in my opinion, perfectly concluded the series. This probably goes without saying but I would suggest watching the first two seasons of the show before watching this film, as I feel like the experience would be a lot more rewarding. Even if you may have dropped the series. Its far beyond worth it.

Read More

A Great Historical Experience, But Could Have Been Better

Indeed, this is a visually stunning movie that is certainly entertaining. With a big bag of popcorn (or snack of your choice) and a relaxing chair, you will thoroughly enjoy this movie. Filled with handsome men, a relatively interesting but a bit slow-plodding plot at times, elegant chorography, breathtaking cinematography, and beautiful costumes, you are in for a treat. Is it memorable? Well, no, not really, but it sure is fun to watch.

It is a story of two dancers. During a performance before officials, one is so impressive, not just for his dancing skills but also for his beauty and is asked to ‘personally perform’ for his uncle who is a high official. Khun (Apo Nattawin) and his companion Wan (Bas Asavapatr) are an interesting pair. Both young and handsome, but with Khun looking after Wan, almost like a brother. Their backstory is somewhat vague. Unfortunately, both are accused of killing the official Khun was asked to entertain even though they had attempted to intervene in the assassination. However, to gain pardons for the crime of murder that they will be charged with since they are phrai, (of the lower class), they agree to go to Siam to conduct a cloak-and-dagger operation and steal documents that are proving that the group of Chinese known as Tua Hia are plotting a rebellion.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/03/16/man-suang-movie-review/

Read More

Very corny Western cast.

Yesterday, while watching this movie, I made an interesting self-discovery. To be blunt: I prefer Song Joong Ki's acting in movies more than in TV dramas. His acting in TV dramas is below average, and his facial expressions are the same for sadness, anger, happiness or emotion. In the movies, I see it differently; it seems that the director extracts all the artistic quality he has, and I consider that commendable. Anyway, now I have discovered what bothered me about his acting: the pasteurization that Korean TV dramas suffer. Korea is always more concerned with what the public thinks or will think than with the art itself of the product it broadcasts.

About the drama, I found the synopsis interesting and the events very well developed and dynamic. However, it is necessary to mention the terrible acting of the Western cast of the film, all acting in a very corny way and causing embarrassment in every speech. I wonder how NETFLIX selected this cast, based on what?

Read More