Reviews

The story is dragging

The story is boring and dragging please and please if you see this review don't waste your time and watch this movie. I don't know who wrote this what lead Him to write this story or what he was thinking when writing it , what does the director feel like directing them,when the actors where given the scri p did they read it or even voice out that the story didn't make any little or bit sense like how the hell did they even shoot it will straight fave...didn't they edit the movie how comes they didn't felt like let's delete this human eyes are not supposed to see something not well planned like this

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Blackpink: Light up the sky

6/10 is not a bad rating, I just usually rate this type of production this way. I have watched when I could still call myself a blink, now I am more a Jisoo's fan than a group, but I still follow they new releases and wish them less hate and sad to say but better fandom ( but I do think that it is something to wish to every group, so blinks do not get offended). It was nice to watch them and see them more as normal people, they also have a lot of struggles and being in music industry is for sure one of them, eventhougth they are doing what they love.
If you are fan of the group or any of the members it is something for you.

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Didn't make me wax poetically about it

Princess from the Moon told an updated version of the thousand-year-old story, “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.” A supernatural “princess”, a sea monster, and UFO should have made for an exciting tale, but connecting to the characters was more difficult than I thought it would be.

A mother and father are grieving the loss of their five-year-old daughter when a bright light and explosion near their daughter’s grave draws their attention. The husband runs into the forest, not only concerned about Kaya’s grave but also to put out any fires in the bamboo forest, the source of his income. He finds a small pod that breaks open and reveals a baby, a baby that ages into a five-year-old in seconds. His wife immediately accepts the blue-eyed version of Kaya as a gift from heaven. When Kaya rapidly turns into a young woman, they decide to move away. Their traveling money is aided by the pod which turned out to be pure gold. Soon Kaya’s beauty is the talk of the town and suitors are knocking at the door. What will happen when her people decide it’s time for her to return home?

This story is right up my alley. I love fairytales, fantasy, and kaiju. Not even a guest appearance by Manda could pull me into this one. It didn’t help that the movie was either badly degraded or shot in a gauzy style which distanced me from the story. Instead of giving it an ethereal appearance it was like struggling to see through fog. Kaya came across as detached which didn’t endear me to her. Her love interest was lumped in with two other suitors and an interested emperor. The impossible tasks Kaya assigned them to test their sincerity revealed a lack of integrity in most of the noblemen. “Men trade honesty for an easy life.”

One of my favorite actors, Mifune Toshiro, played the reluctant and then committed father. “Her joy and sorrow are mine now.” Wakao Ayako made the mother’s grief at the loss of a child palpable as well as her joy at heaven providing her another daughter to love. Though beautiful, Sawaguchi Yasuko’s portrayal of Kaya/Princess Kaguya came across as stiff. Despite so much of the story revolving around her, I never emotionally connected with her character. The blind Akeno played by Odaka Megumi gave a more nuanced performance.

Even through the fogged-up lens, the scenery was striking, especially the bamboo forest. The special effects, however, were rudimentary for the most part. The sea dragon did remind me of Manda and with the movie coming from Toho it could have been. The final scenes looked straight out of 1977’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind though I give them props for doing a satisfying job on the space craft. They got their money’s worth as the ship was shown from nearly every angle quite lovingly. Throughout the film the soundtrack was delicate and unobtrusive. Then inexplicably Peter Cetera sang the closing song over the credits. He was everywhere in 1987, also singing the theme song for Karate Kid 2 (1986). Maybe he was in the neighborhood.

Princess from the Moon was a delightful fairytale that missed opportunities to engage this viewer on a deeper level. The second half was stronger than the tepid first half. I did enjoy the concept of a moon maiden growing up with Earthling parents and falling in love with an Earthman. I wouldn’t want to dissuade anyone from watching Princess from the Moon, it’s worth giving a try. For me it faltered on the emotional front for instead of being moved by the tidal tug between celestial homes for Kaya, I found myself reminiscing about Sokka and Zuko’s conversation from The Last Airbender, “My girlfriend turned into the moon.” “That’s rough, buddy.”

28 October 2024

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Tragic Story With Amazing Acting

Kim Hye Yoon absolutely brings it in this movie. I'm used too seeing her in lighter roles, so it was really cool to see her take on a role so opposite to her type cast. She nails it, taking the role and playing it perfectly.
The story is just so tragic and you really and truly feel for these characters. Watching the film play out, you feel Hye Young's rage and are able to understand her actions.
It's not a perfect film. There are a few plot points that are forgotten about and then come back at the end without reason. It's like the writers forgot that those characters were out there and felt the need to resolve that even though it wasn't really required. The rewatch value is low, mostly because it is so a tragic and depressing movie. It is meant to be, but I don't want to watch it again soon.
But make no mistake, this is a great movie and absolutely worth the watch.

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A movie where nothing happens

I want to start off by saying I watched this some years ago and I remember it vividly. I was up at 2 am having searched for an hour trying to find a way to watch it, and I found a way. Ever since then, I think about this movie often.
I'm not really sure what the plot was and I don't think there was much character development — but nevertheless I still deeply enjoyed it and woukd rate it 8 stars. This movie also sparked a new love for niche indie films where nothing truly happens.
For whoever is reading this, I would recommend you watch it. Just don't expect anything in particular. It's a good movie to take a break to. I'm not a thought out movie critic so I can't give a well written thorough review on what's good and bad about this movie, but I genuinely liked it for some reason.

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Ruined by the ending of the movie

I was looking for a sad movie but not one who made me depressed..
In the beginning of the movie everything was toooooo slowly at point to get bored..some scene when there is silent wtf
I really felt in love with this couple they were born to be a couple ultra mega chemistry...even im sure she is older than him xD
I have felt so impressed by the plot twist but the final minute made me furious why ending like that I wanted an happy ending I wanted her and him to back to be a couple..escaping was such a coward decision..im sure together they can overcome it..if she really wants she can never give up..and why nothing was explained about the causes of this issue whyyyyyy.
I really fely joy while watching it maybe being in love with someone is not that bad buttt they still deserve a happy ending.The room scene was just wow he really did his best for her to not forget her..she just wanted him to be happy..not not suffer anymore..but i firmly believe that without her..he will suffer more.
I hope they will produce more movie like this one but with ending on point.

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Everyone Praising This (except me)

I was really looking forward to this movie after all the hype my group mates made about it.
I really wanted to like this movie.
I really wanted to have hope it would get better as a watched.
I really could not believe I sat through it all.

Some people like shows/films because of who the actors are. That’s all I can figure. Win’s fan base is massive. He seems like a great guy and a good actor. If you exclude high-five bro that is. But F4 Thailand I thought he recovered and went up from there. But I digress.

The plot was predictable, the acting was mostly average with a few better scenes and a few not so good ones (Win was very good), the characters were frustrating at some of their choices and actions, the ending was just sad.

There is a trope has developed lately of sad endings, killing off a main character and showing the remaining one trying to reconcile and heal. And if you are a glutton for heartache, a masochist, someone who just enjoys a good devastating cry, this is absolutely it for you. It just isn’t for me. Before you come at me for the whole “healing is part of life and this is a happy outcome overall” I just can’t see it that way. No convincing will work.

I will keep watching Win’s works as I come across them (hopefully with happier endings). But I will avoid this one much like I avoid 2gether.

You don’t need trauma to have a good show.

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I CAN'T SEE BUT I SEE EVERYTHING..I CAN'T HEAR BUT I HEAR EVERYTHING...

Am not a Manga reader so whenever I give any manga insprired drama,I have no expections to meet.
And when it comes to japanese melodrama I go in looking for winter on a summer day,life lessons
or tears.Either way I always get what am looking for..mostly tears,for Japanese writers are gifted at that.

I read reviews and many were positive with a "But" neverthless I saved this for my PWL and I did like it,
somehow it kept me on edge because i had a weird feeling that something bad was going to happen,
even though many had spoiled the end but who can trust Japanese writers?

Tomohisa Yamashita is a veteran actor and he never does wrong in my eyes and I was thinking he could
play Steve Wonder so easly.Its the first time watching any Yuko Araki work but I think she did a stellar job.

Japanese cinematography and production are never up for discussion,they know what they are doing.
The story was beautiful,I learnt permenant lifetime lessons on disability,love and the fact that giving up
should never be an option.It makes you appreciate the gift of sight,hearing and ability to speak.
There was some plots holes which I wished were filled butI dont want to mention
them to avoid spoiling it.But In a two hour movie,its not easy to close all the gaps.

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this aint a cliche sickness movie...

Even if This Love Disappears From the World Tonight* hit me right in the heart. Uff, it’s a gorgeously filmed love story that truly dives into what it means to love someone when time and even memory are slipping away. The leads are bound by a promise that’s both heartbreaking and beautiful, and as their bond grows, the story pulls you deeper with it. This isn’t your usual “sickness” trope; it’s about the fleeting magic of love and how memories shape us, even as they fade. If you’re into emotional, thought provoking stories, this one’s an absolute must-watch.

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Cruel and Unusual Punishment

I had no warning. I did not do my usual research before watching this drama, and I paid the price.

The story started out so well and moved along albeit a little slowly for my taste, but I really got invested in this couple. Loved the ML's sincerity and his well-intended if a little misguided actions. The FL did a great job of acting - but I can't say the character written for her endeared me to her. She certainly paid for the decisions she made and the biggest mistake of staying with the SML.

The writers blamed Fate to write the cruel destiny of these two lovers, and I despised them (the writers) for that. The tasteful and beautifully shot intimate scenes, and the unrushed way the couple fell in love was the heart of this piece. The ML was perfect. The FL was initially silly and naïve, but she eventually gave in. I was so invested. I loved them together until she made that stupid choice... and just when I thought it would all come together, the writers threw in that agonizing twist that just about broke my heart and had me screaming at the screen.

I am so sorry I watched this drama. So sorry! I will look for this ML's other works, and I hope there are some. But as for the writers of this, I will never watch anything they produce again. Ever. Lesson learned the hard way, next time I research before I click 'watch'. This was a very painful lesson for me.

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Mediocre Film but a Much Better Adaptation of Uzumaki

Because of how shit the Uzumaki anime has been, I'm curious how the 2000 movie faired.

(See my review of the anime: https://myanimelist.net/reviews.php?id=541621

See my review of the manga: https://myanimelist.net/reviews.php?id=541619 )

Note: Uzumaki means spiral so the name for this movie can either be Uzumaki or The Spiral.


§ Overview

The story starts with Goshima Kirie going on her way until she finds her boyfriend's father observing something. This bloke has been obsessed with spirals. Kirie's boyfriend, Saitou Shuuichi, feels something is amiss in this town, which he calls the curse of the spiral. Eventually, his father dies and a series of horrors plague this town.


§ Remarks

As a horror story, this is so-so. It doesn't appear in the conversation of Japanese horror stories compared to the likes of The Ring with its iconic character of Sadako.

It has an acceptable enough use of cinematography, and the motif of spirals appears frequently as it should.

That said, I find this a better adaptation compared to the anime. One may fault this for having been released prior to the completion of the manga and that it's not a complete adaptation. But what it adapts, it executes too well. It does not suffer from the phrenetic pacing of the anime.

The elements of several chapters appear, but they are modified as needed. This movie does not attempt to make a one-to-one adaptation. The net effect is that a select few horrific events are given the full effect rather than being diluted as in the case in the anime.

Also, since the manga wasn't finished when this was originally shown, it had to make an original ending. It's a so-so ending compared to the full impact of the manga ending, but philosophically speaking, one can make the case that it's better.

Kirie's survival is low, but it leaves that possibility. Also, the movie failed to establish that they are unable to leave town. Hence, by sheering coincidence, we don't know if it follows the malevolent universe premise of the manga. This hole is what makes it ironically better.


§ Conclusion

I'm not sure I would recommend this movie by itself, but for those who are already fans of the Uzumaki manga, I give this a full recommendation.

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not groundbreaking, but definitely cute

this was quite a predictable movie, but sometimes you need a feel good romance that doesn’t try too hard to surprise you LOL. the start was a bit iffy because of the shy acting and such but im glad i stuck with it. the characters grew on me, and for a high school romance, it delivered exactly what i expected: lighthearted, sweet, and fun. its not groundbreaking, but it’s the kind of movie you can relax and enjoy without overthinking. perfect for when you’re in the mood for something simple and cute!

pros:
characters are likable
sweet moments
easy to follow
great for fans of high school romance
low stakes
character development
pretty cast

cons:
slow start
lacks originality
predictable
not too much of emotional depth

overall, if your looking for something lighthearted and an easy 1 hr & 50m watch, definitely RUN to this

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I really liked this b/c Jeon Jong Seo as OkJu is absolutely fantastic! I have only seen in her Money Heist: Korea and she was one of the best things about that show.

She carries this film and that opening scene was excellent but then the action was non-existing. It was a bit slow for my liking at the beginning and I get that they were trying to get the audience to understand why Ok Ju would go through those lengths to avenge Min Hee. Some of the flashbacks went on a little too long. Overall, I enjoyed it. I was even taken by surprise when she killed one of the characters. Did not see that coming!

Kim Ji Hoon never disappoints! This man can play the worst villain and then the complete opposite. The scene where he is working out... Oh my goodness!

10/26/24

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Kung Fu Jellyfish!

Jellyfish Eyes is a children’s movie by director Murakami Takashi that showed children, adults, and “scientists” attempting to process the trauma of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Everyone searched for answers on how to be safe in an unsafe and unpredictable world. Or if you just look on the surface it was about children with magical creatures that were often used like Pokémon cockfights.

Masashi lost his dad during the tsunami. He and his mom have finally left the evacuation camp and moved to a new place. Moments after moving in he discovers a creature he calls Kurage-bo (Jellyfish boy) who devours their stock of Chee-kama. His uncle Naoto works at the university’s lab with several creepy scientists wearing black capes. They are seeking a way to collect the life force that creates disasters and the small creatures they call F.R.I.E.N.D.s were a byproduct. Masashi learns at school that everyone has a F.R.I.E.N.D. though the other students have controls they can use to make their creatures invisible. They also have contests where their creatures fight each other. When Tatsuya sics his critter on Masashi, Kurage-bo defeats the chief bully’s frog with martial arts. Go Kung Fu Jellyfish! Masashi makes friends with Saki and her giant dog F.R.I.E.N.D., Luxor. Saki’s mom belongs to a cult that attempts to control the uncontrollable through picketing and prayer. It’s not long before the creepy caped scientists’ goal is revealed to be fiendish in the old school burn things to the ground and start over format.

The movie primarily focused on the children and their relationships with each other and their F.R.I.E.N.D.s. Though the actions of adults and the government were called into question, the children’s violent tendencies showed that cruelty starts young. Masashi and Saki wanted to avoid the Pokémon, I mean F.R.I.E.N.D. fights. Their selfless actions came to change the hearts of the bullies. The two young actors gave good performances as Masashi and Saki. Saitoh Takumi as Uncle Naoto played several handsome versions of himself.

Jellyfish's CGI was adequate, but not stellar. The creatures were all different and creative. Kung Fu Jellyfish made a variety of transformations when needed to help save the world. During many of the fights, I was disturbed at creatures with no agency of their own forced to fight each other. Give the kids brass knuckles and bats and let them duke it out instead of setting basically enslaved creatures against each other. On the positive side, Masashi and Saki were against the fights. The film did offer a little something for my kaiju loving heart which boosted its rating for me.

There were not one, but two delusional cults that wanted to cleanse the land. Adults turned to whoever promised them some sort of control over disasters and evil. Kids today are more science savvy so the convoluted science babble the black cloaked nihilists banged on about might leave them shaking their heads. While the children learned about cooperation and bravery, the adults just wandered around in a fog leaving the world saving to the kids.

Jellyfish Eyes was not a great film and could have cut its run time to eliminate a couple of draggy places. For younger children the film had enough random action and small creatures to possibly keep their attention. I thought the film had several cute moments for children and also tried to address the community trauma parts of Japan suffered in the aftermath of the tsunami and Fukushima disaster. Masashi and Saki had an endearing friendship as they both tried to come to terms with the loss and change they’d experienced all while playing with their not so invisible F.R.I.E.N.D.s. They even found time to save the world.
(Rated as a children's film)

27 October 2024
Trigger warnings: What looked like a suicide. Bullying.

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