Reviews

'You only live once, so don't leave any regrets'

This movie took me a while to watch as this movie is a sentimental movie that needs a certain mood.
All I can say to this movie is to enjoy life... live to the fullest and just go for it.
As a traveler myself, this truly hit me on the spot as I am someone who is struggling with whether to enjoy my 20s by traveling as much as possible or to go to back to school and get a career job.
In this world, most people want to earn as much money as possible and to travel the world.
That is still what I want but it's just so difficult as responsibilities build up as we get older.

I know that everyone has their clock... but were just overwhelmed and pressured within the society and by our family.
This drama made me cry and inspired me in a certain way... to follow your dreams...

Life is hard. But we should be grateful for what we have and what God has offered us...
I'm truly grateful for what I have as there are others out there who do not...

This drama truly inspired and motivated me yet made me think about life in a certain way.

Why does it have to end that way tho...😭😭😭😭

I feel numb.
Now I'm rewatching Twilight..
124am
92824

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Taboo or To be

Gay teen goes to a bar, mutual attraction occurs, later it turns out to be his homeroom teacher. No hook-up was implied, just eye contact. In the light of day, teacher Hoon sets boundaries but over a year, teen Woo sees every act of sparce kindness as Hoon's continued attraction for him. Woo stalks him. Hoon's job is to interview the parents at home of all the students. Finally, Woo forces the situation to come to a head by physically inserting himself in Hoon's care and doesn't leave. Woo wants an admission from Hoon. Does he remember their previous encounter? Will he admit that he is attracted to him? Will he give in and let Woo into his life? I should mention here, Hoon is 35 and his pursuer Woo is 18.

Before 2020, the legal age of consent in South Korea was 13. The film was made in 2012.

Hmmm, gray area or no?

Woo doesn't take no for an answer. He relentlessly pursues Hoon, blackmailing him into spending time with him with pictures he took of Hoon in the gay bar. Hoon is searching for another teaching position to escape as he recognizes that Woo will not give up. He knows that Woo is forbidden fruit. Woo knows himself. He is gay and he wants him. He understands the position well as his mother knows his orientation. Hoon viciously rebuffs him, and Woo hurt by his words, leaves the car in anger and cries. Finally, Hoon is free. He looks down, finds Woo's forgotten headset and carries it home. He sees Woo enter before him and on his steps he waits.

Gray area:
Though legal, what can an 18 year old teen bring to the table?
Should Hoon resist further as Woo is still in school?
Can 18 form a stable relationship?
2012 gay relationships were still no fully accepted, what would they endure as a couple, being gay, age difference and social status?
If Hoon gives in, how will his job be affected?

The film brings these thoughts to mind and only answers one. You will have to watch the entire film to get it. The actors did a commendable job with their roles. Hoon's frustration with himself and Woo is believable. Woo's dogmatic focused attitude towards the situation is dealt with an 18 year old fervor. I will recommend this film for the questions posed and the actors themselves. Though I liked it, more could have been done. Rewatch - maybe not. In 2024, this comes across more like a period piece from 2012.

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it wasn’t for me

Despite the promising plot this drama just didn’t do it for me, maybe I grew out of the aggressive and borderline possessive male lead trope. I feel like the relationship between the main leads had no development and was more of a sexual attachment than love, I will give it to the main actors who did have the chemistry but chemistry can only get you so far when the storyline is lacking. This may be other people’s cup of tea but it wasn’t mine, it’s like they were trying to do a high school version of 50 shades of grey but make it a bit more PG and failed miserably.

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Must Watch Jose Rizal Movie

Even though I already have a copy of the movie, I still decided to watch this on the cinema, taking advantage of MMFF50. The experience watching this on the cinema was well worth it.
While I don't think this movie is as creative as Bayaning Third World in demonstrating the life and legacy of Rizal, I still think it's creative in its own way. I love how the movie inserts Rizal's works Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo (especially their main character Crisostomo Ibarra/Simoun) to compare what's happening in those books to what's happening to Rizal and society. In it's own way, it also portrayed Rizal as someone who was daring two write two novels that portrays the ill of Filipino society at the time of the Spaniards but also as someone still resistant of a grand revolution rather than just reform.
I also appreciated how they portrayed Rizal as a normal kid, having his own struggles as a child before he was able to excel as a young student (I'm not about the complete truth, but my impression of Rizal based on most things I read about him was that he seems like someone who is brilliant at all things even as a kid). Plus I like the fact that not all Spaniards are portrayed as pure evil in this movie. I like Luis Taviel de Andrade, even as a Spaniard he has compassion towards Rizal and only wished him to be judged only via his actions (it's refreshing to see Jaime Fabregas in this role, I'm so used to seeing him as either evil Spanish priests or officers who only want harm to Filipinos).
The shots in the movie are made with effort, the sets and the costumes are beautiful. The acting is also magnificent. I really wish I could praise Cesar Montano (he's good here but him starring as a lead in a Marcos Apologist movie kind of taints his reputation for me). Joel Torre, having played Ibarra in a Noli Me Tangere series a few years prior to this one. is also really excellent. I love that they got some of the actors from the aforementioned TV series to be in this movie again (though some not playing the same characters they did in the TV series). I also enjoyed Gloria Diaz as Rizal's mother as well as Micky Ferriols, Chin Chin Gutierrez, and Monique Wilson (what a beautiful singing voice as Maria Clara) too. All of these elements (acting, shots, sets, costumes) really did help enhance the movie.
I only wish Philippines can make more historical dramas/movies in the future. And I'm praying Filipinos will pay attention to these more than Star Cinema movies, which are mostly made with little effort and are very low quality movies except for a very few (I watched a few of their romcoms only because I like the actors in them) in my opinion. I hope GMA's success with Maria Clara at Ibarra and Pulang Araw will translate to film.

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Truth exists,only lies are invented!

He Fei and his wife are on a trip celebrating their wedding anniversary,and mysteriously hid wife goes missing.But then,a woman claiming to be his wife shows up,but he does not accept and insists that she is not his wife.
Then he meets Cheng Mai,the lawyer who takes up his case and the rest of the story deals with the dark secrets that unfolds before you in a most bizarre way.
Well,the investigation process was good but a bit confusing.It could have been much better for the intense and suspenseful plot that it has.
The twists and turns were good,though the final one is not expected.
Zhu Yilong,Ni Ni and the rest actors were good in their roles.
Well,the movie once again brings to light the concept that,a truth can never be hidden and lies need to be remembered as one just makes them up.
A truth is always a truth.
A good one time watch.
You will not be disappointed for sure.
I suggest to watch it.

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greatest masterpiece I ever watched

If I call this masterpiece other things I called as masterpiece are just below average. I never felt that empty after I finish watching drama or a movie. Seeing all that naked man was frustrating. If i had a chance i would forget this movie over and over again to watch it over and over again. They vay japanese writers want to show even the greatest love can fail if you play your cards wrong is heartbreaking but real. I cried I swear I was happy I was sad and it remind me of my broken heart but there is one thing i believe i need to say if you love go say it if you love be more understanding if you love make sure you do everything to achieve it.

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Messed up... but too safe!

I had no expectations whatsoever about the movies, didn't even read the synopsis very well when I started watching but it caught my attention from the get go. Kitagawa looked so good in that bob she was glowing. But... that's not the point here!

The story starts so well, the progress is compelling and the backstory of Kanna makes you feel all kinds of sick and nauseated but what I am disappointed with the most is the backstory of Yuki (Kitagawa Keiko). The movie makes a big deal about her trauma and what not, plus Kitagawa acting the PTSD scenes was so heartbreaking and sad that when they reveal the backstory it just falls apart, and feels pretty flat. Maybe I am too used to messed up things but the whole shebang was played too safe.

One thing that was great about this movies is the atmosphere, although it's sick and twisted there's some nostalgic undertone to it, the flashbacks to the Yuki and Kasho's life along with the backtrack music was the highlight for me.

All in all, it's a good movie, although there were let downs it wasn't a totally bad.

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Save yourself from the closet

I don't usually write reviews, but this movie is so bad it deserves a warning. Its earned the extra .5 star from the 1 it deserves only because it left a lasting impression-- months later I'm still wondering how it could be so bad.
The description is more of a backstory that was barely shown. His time as a "magician" (actually escape artist) is over within the first 4 minutes, and his haunting past is reduced to one recurring memory of a closet in the middle of nowhere in a courtyard.
The "retreat" takes them to an eccentric mansion where they proceed to spend half of the rest of the movie in the cheapest set ever - a room filled with tarps. Tarps tied in weird shapes, but tarps none the less. They say it's creepy, but continue to hang out in this weird, uncomfortable room for no reason even though there are definitely other rooms in the house. Maybe they can't redecorate because they're renting the house, but after the FL throws away the yard ornaments it's clear that they're stuck in the tarp room because they're hoping it will make the movie creepy when it really isn't. It's a weird situation with the usual stupid misunderstandings from lack of communication, but it's not creepy. If anything, it's confusing. The reactions, the neighbors, the "ghost", the house's layout, the clueless FL... It's full of plot holes and every part that's supposed to be scary is dulled by the horrible acting, although even with the best acting the plot still would have been awful. They should've stuck to the plot about the ML being haunted by his past rather than involving weirdo neighbors and a "ghost" but instead both plots end up meaningless with a lame ending. It leaves you wondering why you wasted the time to watch it, if not for a test of endurance. (And I love lame horror movies!)
The movie was horrible, yes... But even worse, why did the subs call the ML Fred?! Everyone had a horrible English name, and it really took this movie from 90 to 100 on the awfulness scale.

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Painfully boring

Watching any form of modern Jackie Chan film comes with its fair share of challenges but A Legend hits a new low for the ageing martial arts star, in this so-called legacy sequel to The Myth. Sure, the film is lavishly produced, with plenty of sweeping landscapes, and suitably epic set pieces, however, it commits the cardinal sin of being unmistakenly boring and a slog to sit through thanks to some abysmally erratic pacing. The film tries to cram in way too much for its runtime and feels like two distinctly different movies crowbarred together, it's rather sad since I know Stanley Tong has been capable of so much better. The elephant in the room is of course the horrific de-ageing job done to Jackie Chan during the scenes set during the Han Dynasty, it looks like someone just got a picture of his face and slapped it on the body of a younger actor, it can be genuinely disturbing at times. If you're expecting Jackie to throw a few moves, then you'll have to wait till the last act before he finally gets down to business. Although it sadly stands as a consolation prize and comes too little too late. I will say however, I did like Nathan Wang's musical score despite the very cheesy and stereotypical soundscape. There’s a noticeable lack of adventure in A Legend, it falters with a largely self-serious tale of action fantasy and a central romance that feels more cringey than it does profound. I highly doubt Panda Plan is gonna be much better.

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Table for Two

Before Harry Met Sally, Figgy and Jenny met in An Autumn’s Tale. Mabel Cheung directed this romcom from a script by Alex Law. Set in New York City, it showed some of the obstacles Figgy and Jenny had to overcome on the way to love and the American Dream.

Jennifer Lee flies from Hong Kong to NYC in order to go to acting school and be with her boyfriend, Vincent. Her cousin Samuel Pang aka Figurehead aka Figgy greets her at the airport and gives her a ride in his deathmobile to her new apartment. Jenny’s mom had been informed that Figgy was a very successful businessman with his own apartment and car. Technically, all those things were true, if exaggerated. Vincent gave her a worse surprise than riding in Figgy’s junker. Unmoored and not sure what to do, Jenny went to school and picked up two part-time jobs to make ends meet. When Figgy wasn’t working or gambling he spent time with her, helping her overcome a broken heart and also had to make a better bowl of fish soup.

This film may have smacked of a tried-and-true romcom formula, but it was a newer trope nearly 40 years ago when this film came out. Even at that I found it entertaining and well done. The film eschewed secondary characters for the most part and focused on Jenny and Figgy which helped deepen my bond with them. Both were flawed, likeable characters trying to find their place in the world. Chow Yun Fat gave a delightful performance as the good-hearted Figgy who always helped a friend in need. This was the most vulnerable I’ve seen him. From joyous to down crested, he made Figgy believable and sympathetic. The younger Cherie Chung held her own with him as Jennifer. The two had nice chemistry going from strangers to something more even when Jenny and Figgy weren’t sure exactly what that something more was.

NYC was shown from its dirtiest closet to its shiniest showroom. Jenny went from being unsure of how to navigate the city to gaining her confidence with each passing day. Unlike Figgy, Jenny not only hung out with Cantonese speaking people, she also made friends at her school. Though ten years older than her, it was Figgy who needed to gain the confidence required to meet his goals. The two characters helped each other to grow and figure out what they wanted in their lives and each other.

An Autumn’s Tale was a subtle and slow burn romance without any annoying melodrama or slapstick comedy. Even the misunderstandings were overcome quickly. What it did have was character growth and personal discovery for both Jenny and Figgy. Their endearing relationship and adventures made the trip to NYC worthwhile.

25 September 2024

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YiBo Is The Highlight Of That Movie, What More Can I Say? This Film Couldn't Have Been Easy For Him!

I Can't Stress Enough, How After Watching No Name/Hidden Blade I Was Pretty Terrified Of Watching This Movie Born To Fly, Because Of All The Dangers, And Stunts YiBo Did... Then I Come To Find Out YiBo Crashed A Truck While Practicing A Scene, And Flipped The Truck Like 4-5 Times, AND IT WAS NOT PLANNED!!! Watching That Video Scared Me Half To Death. YiBo Is WAY TO DAMN YOUNG TO BE PUTTING HIMSELF IN SO MANY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS!!! (I Love, And Adore YiBo So Very Much, I Just Wish He Would Love HIMSELF More, And Know That There Are People Like Me, And My Husband That Love Him Dearly. He Just Puts Himself Into To Much Danger, And WAY TO MUCH STUFF THAT CAN, AND WILL HURT HIM... NOW IF NOT IN THE FUTURE!!! 😭😭😭) Anyways Since That Test Run Was So Accurate, And Apparently Perfect, And So Real, They Ended Up Using It In The Movie, And Didn't Have To Do It Retry It Again!!!
After Watching That Video I Was 1st Very Upset, And Angry, That The Producer's, And Production Team Of Born To Fly Could, And Would Allow So A Dangerous Stunt To Be Done By Such A Young YiBo. He Just Turned 27 On August 5th, 2024... I'm Going To Say While Filming Born To Fly, He Was 24-25. WAY TO FREAKIN YOUNG TO BE PUTTING HIMSELF THOUGH ALL THAT. Anyways I Was So Damn Angry, I Thought To Myself, And Told Myself I Would Not, And Will Not Watch This Movie Period!!!

I Will Say This, I Did Go Watch It, Because I Wanted To Support YiBo... I Ended Up Watching It 3 Times With My Husband...
So Yes, It Was A Really Good, And Really Awesome Movie. All The Actors, And Actresses Did A Great, And Wonderful Job... From Being Silly, To Being Serious, And To Getting The Job Done, The Actors Profesionalisum Was Very Good... ESPECIALLY WHEN HAVING LITTLE PIG TAIL IN THE MEN ACTORS HAIRS!!! 😂🤣😂 They All Were Such Good Sports About It, But There Is A Reason To It, And That Was In Honor One Of There Fallen Hero's, And Someone Else That Is Even More Special, And More Important To Them, Because They Knew Him, And Most Importantly, And Above, He Was There Superior, There Captain, Leader, Mentor, Etc.

YiBo As Always Managed To Make Me Laugh, Cry, And Be Terrified All In A Matter Of 2 Plus Hours, More Or Less. Oh And As A Added Bonus, He Was Trying To Make Me Throw Up... HaHaHa Seriously When I Say This Young Man Does All His Own Stunts, I Mean He Does His Own Stunts.
The Rigorous, And Strenuous Tests They Have You Do To Become A Fighter Jet Pilot. I Will Say This... I WOULD NEVER WANT TO BE A FIGHTER JET PILOT!!! NO THANK YOU!!! And This Is A Movie O.k. They Cut Stuff, Out Film What They Need, Ect. Watching A 2 Hour Plus Movie All Ready Gives Me A Taste, And The Realization Of How It Is, And Would Be A Fighter Jet Pilot, So Yes This Movie Is Very Accurate, And Very Real In All Aspects Of Becoming A Fight Jet Pilot, SO YES, THIS MOVIE BORN TO FLY IS A GREAT, AND AWESOME MOVIE!!! It Shows You Everything, And Anything You Would Need To Know If And Just Incase You Want To Become A Fighter Jet Pilot.
September 25, 2024 @ 4:25-5:28 P.M.

YiBo Said One Of His Greatest Moments Was Being Able To Sit, And Be In A Real Fighter Jet, He Said That There Was No Feeling Like Being In One, And He Was So Honor That He Was Able To Sit And Be Able To Flim In Them. YiBo Maybe Be A Man Of Little Words Or Expressions, But When It Came To Sitting, And Being Able To Be In A Real Fighter Jet, He Was Like A Happy Gitty Child Fulfilling His Childhood Dream.
YiBo Himself Did A Great, And Very Acceptional Job. As Always He Always Has Professionalism, And He Always Gets The Job Done.
This Young Man From The Beginning, I Have NEVER EVER SEEN YIBO COMPLAINT ABOUT ANYTHING WHILE FILMING. No Matter How Many Times He Has To Do A Stunt, Just To Get It Perfect, He Will Do It Over, And Over, And Over Without Anger Or Complaint. If He Gets Hurt, He's Always Asked Are You O.k.? Are You Hurt? YIBO'S ANSWER IS NOTHING IS WRONG!!! Which Means He Is O.k. He Is Not Hurt. I BELIEVE IF YIBO WAS EVEN HURT, HE WILL NEVER SAY OR EVER ADMIT IT!!! AND THIS IS JUST MY GUESS, BUT... BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE WAY HE IS, HE #1 DOESN'T WANT TO INCONVENIENCE PEOPLE, AND #2 HE DOES NOT, AND WILL NOT BE THE CAUSE TO STOP FILMING OR PRODUCTION OF THE MOVIE... (As A Matter Of Fact After That Truck Accident Scene That Wasn't Planned The Producer Wanted YiBo To Go Get Checked Out By A Doctor... THANK GOODNESS YIBO HAD SOME TYPE OF HELMET ON, COULD HAVE EVEN BEEN A MOTORCYCLE HELMET, HIS??? YiBo Refused To Go, He Didn't Want To Delay The Production Of The Movie... So The Producer Told Him To Rest A Little Bit, But Again YiBo Basically Took A Few Drinks Of Water, And Continued To Work.)
YIBO IS A VERY HARD WORKING YOUNG MAN... HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SINCE THE AGE OF 13 YEARS OLD... SO BRAVE AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE, AND STILL IS TO THIS DAY ONLY BEING THE AGE OF 27 YEARS OLD.
I Am Always So Very Proud Of YiBo, Because This Is His 2nd Movie That Came To The Big Screen That Came Out To The USA... And Even Though I Was So Mad, And Angry At The Producer, And Production Team, I Wasn't To Support YiBo... I Like The Movie So Much I Saw It 3 Times With My Husband. 😂🤣😂 YES, IT WAS THAT GOOD!!! By The 3rd One I Knew When To Look, And Not Look At Parts Not Because I Didn't Like It, But Because I Hated Seeing YiBo Hurt, Even Though It Was Fake, EXCEPT The Car Truck Accident.
I Will Say This If I Didn't Go See It On The Big Screen, I WOULD HAVE REALLY REGRETTED IT IN THE FUTURE, Especially If I Were To Watch It On DVD In The Future, Because It Is Really, And Just That Good!!!

September 27, 2024 @ 3:43 A.M.

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Shoko (Yakushimaru Hiroko - 'Miss Cinderella', 1997) is a young and beautiful Italian translator with great emotional instability, who, on the verge of alcoholism, is not in a position to have a romantic relationship.
For his part, Mutsuki Kishida (Toyokawa Etsushi - 'Beautiful Rain', 2012) is a handsome, emphatically homosexual doctor with a boyfriend, the beautiful university student Kon (Tsutsui Michitaka - 'Kimi to Ita Natsu', 1994).
In a heteronormative and patriarchal society where appearances are of great importance, both must satisfy their worried parents, so they enter into a marriage of convenience. Even though she knows about her husband's sexuality, each of them finds in the other the perfect partner for a fake marriage.
On the one hand, the marriage of convenience would be important for Mutsuki for his career as a doctor, while at the same time it could be perfect for him to hide his homosexuality in a society like Japan; However, there is genuine affection between the doctor and his wife, as they find some comfort with each other.
However, external pressures weigh on the newlyweds; for example, parents' questions about when there will be a grandchild. As Shoko says: "My comfortable, carefree marriage was as fun as playing at home, but it came at a price after all."
Of course, the parents of the newlyweds know the nature of their own child, but not that of the spouse, and at first the marriage manages to please them. And while the newlyweds hope, in their own way, to live happily ever after, they inevitably come face to face with the fact that no marriage, real or simulated, is a fairy tale.
Although Shoko accepts Mutsuki's relationship with Kon, the young couple will face tough tests, especially when Shoko's parents discover the falsehood of the marriage.
Neither partner seemed to have high expectations about it, and Shoko said, "It was good to have marriages like ours. You didn't expect much, you didn't want much. You lost nothing, there was nothing to fear.
Written and directed by Matsuoka Joji ('Shinya Shokudo 2', 2011), the psychological and LGBT+-themed drama 'Kira Kira Hikaru' was the winner of the Golden Hugo Award for Best Film at the 29th Chicago International Film Festival 1993, while Etsushi Toyokawa won the New Star of the Year Award at the 16th Japanese Academy Awards (1992 Films).
With a rather slow pace, the script adapts the book of the same name written by Kaori Eguni, known for her novels "Reisei to jônetsu no aida" ("Between Calmness and Passion", "Sweet Little Lies", "The Mamiya Brother" and "Tokyo Tower".
The search for connection, trying to fit into social standards, having to pretend in a society that is intolerant of homosexuals, isolation even when you are surrounded by people who are supposed to know and love you, family relationships, urban alienation, These are some of the themes explored in the feature film.
The performance of Hiroko Yakushimaru stands out, playing a depressed young woman who fights against alcohol problems, loneliness, and against what society expects of a young woman: getting married, having a baby, etc. Even though Shoko knew that Mutsuki could never love her the way she wanted, she really tried to make it work.
Her friend and confidant does not help her, telling her that having a baby will help her "calm down" even though she knows that her husband is gay and living in a fake marriage.
With a somewhat open closure as the director opted for people to create their own ending, the marriage that is already built on a fragile foundation and seems to break under the pressures of parents and society and personal weaknesses, finally the three protagonists find a kind of solution.
Despite the difficulties, they come to see that there is a bond and manage to hold on to it. Amidst the demands of submitting to gender roles and collective duties, the three main characters find happiness in their own oddities.
"I would have liked to have done a lot more to develop the relationship between Mitsuki and Kon, because the few scenes they have together show a lot of potential and chemistry between the two."
In my opinion, the book and the movie complement each other well. The complexity of the characters is a bit lacking in the book, but the characters' flaws are more evident in the film adaptation.
Starting off with a happy vibe, in the second part of the film the plot takes a rather sad and dark turn, but somehow manages to come out on the other side, but not without making the viewer suffer. It is a transition of humor that can entertain and, above all, make viewers reflect.

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