Reviews

Another Live Action Iteration I Shouldn't Have Watched

I finally managed to finish Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar after trying several times. Unfortunately, my initial assumptions were right, this is a dumpster fire of a movie that should never have been created. It is an insult to Arakawa Hiromu's manga and a slap in the face to FMA fans everywhere. The first one was already a tragic anomaly much like the disturbing chimera that was Nina Tucker and her dog, but this is not even a successfully created homunculus, it's nothing more than a distorted version of the author's original version.

Most of the cast members are capable actors in their own right, but they do not fit their respective roles, not even in the slightest. Yamada Ryosuke is so ill-fitting for the role of Edward Elric that I rolled my eyes every time he tried to do Ed's “angry chibi” mode. Just because he's short like Ed doesn't make him suitable for the part. Mackenyu as Scar is tolerable but still ridiculous. Mackenyu sporting a “brown” face was too much for me to bear. He just did what he could with what he was given, though. Fujioka Dean may be handsome but he is NOT Roy Mustang, faaaaaaaarrr from it! He practically does nothing except look cool and that is not the character I know from the manga and anime. Honda Tsubasa is painful to watch as Winry Rockbell. Whoever thought this girl can act must be high on drugs. I've seen her in quite a few projects already and she has the acting skills of a potato. Watanabe Keisuke as Ling was alright, probably the best casting decision they made for this movie because Ling is supposed to have Asian features and one of the few characters in the story who should be played by an Asian. The rest of the cast are even more 2D than their 2D counterparts, the anime characters have more depth imho.

The action scenes are laughable, so many cuts in the scenes that you hardly see the movements at all. Don't even get me started on the special effects. *groan* I promised myself to try and enjoy these live action movies but I simply can't. The plot is all over the place. Characters appear out of nowhere and they have their own agenda but their subplots don't add up and come together at the end. I'm convinced the writers smoked weed when they wrote this shit and it was the bad kind of weed, too.

Sorry, but this is a prime example of what NOT to do when making a live action version of a popular anime. I'm not one of those people who thinks anime should never be made into live action as I've enjoyed some live action iterations in the past. But this is not it. It's not because of the goofiness of the anime, it's the horrible writing, execution, casting, and acting. And most of all, it should remain largely faithful to the source material despite some of the changes that need to be made for this medium. However, most of these live actions are just money grabs and are done by people who have no love for the original material. These movies should be burned and forgotten, or better yet, exiled beyond the Gate to be tormented for eternity.

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If 'ijbol' is a movie.

Secrets in the Hot Spring is a medium-paced comedy horror with a happy, well-thought-out ending. The movie is filled with hilarious, laugh-worthy scenes to accompany you to solve the mystery behind the ghost sightings at the hotel. It's fun, rewatchable, and lighthearted.

I love the colour-grading that helps the hotel look mystical. The cast knows how to act, the characters aren't one-dimensional, and the chemistry between the trio is perfect. The soundtrack is nice, and the post-credit song is delightful. The sound effects are equally good, and they help emphasise comedic timing and build up tension.

The comedy overpowers the horror element, making this a perfect choice for people who aren't into suspenseful horror. At the same time, the movie isn't the best horror movie out there.

It's a silly movie with lots of bromance that will make you miss the trio as soon as it ends. You don't have to think twice about watching this movie. I recommend this and consider this as a must-watch.

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Exceptional queer movie with realistic approach

Hi, I am late to the party, but I should write a review, because this is one of the exceptionell queer movies of 2024.
If you do expect a BL you will be disappointed, it's a queer movie and the romance of a BL is not the focus of this movie.

It's a story of gay man who struggles with the society he lives in and a girl who also had go through some hardships. They both meet at university and the grow closer together, overcome hardships together and accept each other for what they are. Both discover who they are and what they want.

Cinematography, direction, acting are also exceptionell.

This is one of the best queer movies ever made which does not focus on the gay aspect per se. It's part of the story but the main part is the development of a deep friendship between a gay man and a straight woman. Regardless if you are straight, bi, gay or inbetween or nothing of that, regardless which gender identity you have, it's a powerful story and a wonderful movie and you should watch it!

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Horrific to watch and tragic that it happened

Well, where to start really?
This movie was harrowing, following the journey of a newly appointed teacher who discovers child sexual and physical abuse occurring at his new post.l and the subsequent fight for justice.
The acting was excellent, but some of the scenes felt far too much to be occurring between an actor and a child… unless there was some nifty editing, some of those scenes shouldn’t have been played by child actors.
Realistically, given the true story, the depth, and all the twists and turns it took, it should have been a series. However the subject matter is so dark and disturbing, with no let up, and not even a glimmer of a happy ending, as such series may have been too much to bear watching. So I can see why a film was probably better, but so much was missed or shown slivers of the battle that it took to even get the crimes to trial.
Overall, I would never even consider watching this again, but the story needed to be told.

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Merecia um roteiro melhor

Nossa protagonista acabou de terminar com o namorado atual quando uma amiga liga pra que não esqueça do casamento e que seu amor da juventude vai estar lá. É dessa forma que voltamos no tempo aos dias de ensino médio em que Xiaoxia se apaixona por Chen Yih, o garoto novo transferido.

Mas todos na escola acham que Xiaoxi e Yuzi são um casal perfeitos; até a chamam de Sra Yuzi - o que é hilário e também muito surpreendente porque a química deles explode na tela com as implicâncias e a forma como Yuzi a trata com bastante carinho, sabendo exatamente quando ela está triste ou feliz. A amizade deles é linda.

Então, foi muito difícil para mim comprar um instalove que não tinha base em nada. É claro que a história de vida do Cheng Yih nos faz entender porque o interesse da mocinha nele o cativou, visto ser filho único que não tem a atenção da mãe controladora que mesmo na mesma morando na mesma cidade não se viam tanto. Então, ele decide ir pra Taiwan viver com is avós carinhosos.

Creio que a atenção que recebe da Xiaoxi é o que o encanta, visto que isso não fica bem claro no roteiro. No entanto, o sentimento é recíproco, porém não dura muito; o que nos leva para esse possível encontro no futuro.

Apesar de ter um final feliz, eu queria ter gostado mais dessw final, mas infelizmente não conseguir shippar o casal. Meu desejo era que Xiaoxi e Yuzi ficassem juntos, ele era apaixonante e a família dela fazia gosto de tê-lo na família. Sabe quando tudo combina?

Taiwan faz filmes e dramas muito bem roteirizados, mas infelizmente não sei o que aconteceu aqui. Adoro o tema juventude e quando vem acoplado com a ambientação escolar fica melhor ainda, mas aqui foi um verdadeiro desperdício.

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It was alright.

The Djinn's Curse is a fast-paced supernatural horror movie with mild gore and good demon design. The jumpscare and spooky scenes are generous, but the lack of suspense made the build-up to the climax less gripping and engaging. Similarly, the exorcism scenes aren't tense enough to incite fear.

The premise is nothing new in Southeast Asian horror movies, so the plot progression is easy to follow. The acting is passable, and there's nothing much to be said about the soundtrack. It has a happy ending, but the plot twist falls flat for two reasons. First, the twist happens before the post-credit scene, and second, the real preparator doesn't get what they deserve. It makes the reveal a tad bit underwhelming and the ending less satisfying.

The biggest problem with this movie is the transition between scenes. They aren't seamless, and the screen turns black to mark the ending of a scene. The constant back and forth between scenes from the present and the past disturbs the flow of the story as well.

It's interesting how no character in the movie is a doubter or a non-believer. I think this is my first time watching a horror movie where everyone believes in supernatural existence.

I suggest watching this movie for fun only. This movie is for people who want to watch a straightforward horror movie in their spare time.

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A melancholic goodbye to the dreams of youth

A melancholic goodbye to the dreams of youth, Kids Return is easily one of Takeshi Kitano's most personal films, one with a strong empathy for disenfranchised youth while also looking forward to what the future holds. At the story's core, we have the theme of friendship and life choice, represented by the path and decisions of the main characters but still retrains of all Kitano's trademarks and stylings from the affectionately stupid pranks of the leads to the recurring appearance of a twin comedy group, who banter in the style Kitano's own "Two Beats" double act, but it's organized, more confident. He knows what he wants to say, and how he wants to say it. Having grown up in poverty, Kitano likely felt some kinship with his prankster punk anti-heroes but refreshingly refuses to sugar-coat their more disreputable behaviour. They are surly and disrespectful with bad attitudes and a streak of believable, if unfortunate, cruelty. Yet Shinji and Masaru suffer their share of beatings and misfortune as boxing proves no more salvation for the former than the yakuza life suits the latter. The dual messages that there are no shortcuts to success and a lack of diligence can undo the most promising young dreams might seem conservative but the film is more complex than that. Takeshi places his protagonists in a world manipulated by embittered old men whose mixed messages and bad advice leave them uncertain about what is right and wrong. These are not triumphant stories but the film still ends on a frail yet persuasively hopeful note. After his near-fatal motorcycle accident, there was supposedly doubt as to whether Takeshi Kitano would ever work again, with his usual outstanding direction, sumptuous photography and yet another incredible score by Joe Hisaishi, Kids Return crushes pretty much crushes all doubts in one fell swoop.

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A Masterpiece of Chaos, Longing, and Emotional Depth

The Paradise of Thorns is an intense emotional journey that explores themes of love, loss, and revenge. Thongkham, played by Jeff, is a chaotic and despairing character who loses his love for Sek and must care for the orchard, his mother, and his non-blood sibling Mo. Mo, played by Engfa, is a tragic villain with a tragic plot and self-pity. Both characters are obstinate and egotistical, but they both have a goal of revenge. The film is stunning, covering family issues, LGBT+ community representation, emotions, and traditional ceremony depiction. The atmosphere of the film is superb, making it a must-watch for those seeking emotional and heart-wrenching experiences.

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"One can't hide his true self even after his role has changed"

Time can’t erase some memories, memories seared deep into a person’s psyche. The kind of trauma that refuses to be healed. For Han Pil Ju who lost his family and more during the Japanese occupation, time could not take away his need for vengeance against the collaborators who prospered and were hailed as heroes in the years that followed.

Han Pil Ju is working his last day at TGIF Fridays and it’s the last day he will be known as “Freddie” at the restaurant. He’s made a friend of In Gyu aka “Jason.” Freddie hires Jason to drive him around in an unregistered red Porsche sports car for important errands. It turns out that his errands involve killing the men who were responsible for the deaths of his family members. All of the men have prospered and hidden their traitorous pasts during the Japanese occupation. Jason gets pulled into Freddie’s revenge scheme as much as he would like to be free from it.

Fifty-three-year-old Lee Sung Min was extraordinary as the eighty-year-old with Alzheimer’s determined to clean the slate in his remaining days. How deep does a wound have to be for a man to hold on to vengeance for over 50 years? Pil Ju’s memory ebbed and flowed, yet he was still coherent enough to remember intricate details of his schemes. He avoided the Inigo Montoya trope, “You killed my father, prepare to die,” though at times was close to it. Nam Joo Hyuk gave In Gyu a naivete and ultimately solidarity with the old man. The two built a nice rapport with each other, something the success of the film hinged on.

Most of the targets were successful and wealthy enough that they couldn’t understand anyone not being able to let go of the past. “It’s illogical to talk about justice when one can’t protect his own family.” Blaming the victims for being beaten to death, dying from forced labor, or the consequences of being forced to be one of the comfort women was probably not the wisest course of action. They couldn’t see or didn’t care that their wealth and power were built on the blood of their own people they caused to be spilled.

Remember didn’t excuse Pil Ju’s actions any more than he did himself. What it did show was that there was still a national trauma that had not yet fully healed. As generations pass on, the memory may fade. “There is no future for people stuck in the past.” It was hard for Pil Ju to move on when justice had yet to be served and the individual tragedies had been dismissed. Remember kept the action moving, and at 2 hours felt tightly directed and well-acted. There were plot holes and using a bright red Porsche wasn’t the best getaway car, but it was an emotionally gripping film from start to finish.

9 January 2025

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What did I just watch

Huh? I like a light and fluffy romance but this was missing the glue that held it all together and made it make sense. The best thing about it was it wasn't too long. It had little bits and bobs of potential which makes it frustrating as the viewer. Why would she like someone who yelled at her all the time. Why would she let him leave for 6 months only to quit when he got back? Forget about the mystery woman with the book, I can take some fantasy and I don't care that it didn't get properly explained but the lead couple never really clicked. Like at all. That is the big let down. I feel like it could have been super cute but the wrong choices were made and it came out half baked.

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All I really is to be like the rest of them, to be who I really am

I found myself intrigued by this little piece. Though they may have been some things that didn't sit right with me I will only talk about the good stuff. Pretty sure this is my first time watching a Hong Kong piece and they did not dissapoint. This was perfect after a night out walking through the city. I want to give all my love to the cinematography and visuals because they were beautiful and 100% my style. For a 35min movie, which tried to capture a tiny part of someone's life, this was really engaging. The movie takes on topics that happen all of the time around us and although it's from 2015, 10 years from then things like this still happen. Left me bitter but somehow fullfilled. Would totally recommend and maybe someday I will find it in more quality.

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Early teenage me would've loved this movie.

That Kind of Love is a cheesy movie flooded with blandly executed cliches. It’s a lighthearted, medium-paced romcom with corny romantic scenes and little to no comedy. If I take a shot every time I cringe, I will get wasted.

The story is easy to follow and ends nicely. Despite being anti-climatic, it still has a deserved happy ending. The wardrobe choices for the leads are tolerable. Mila's outfits are cute, but her office looks aren't up to professional standards. The soundtrack is good, and the colour-grading is nice for the scenes in South Korea.

Aside from the cliche tropes, the movie's other flaw is the discrepancy in the acting skills. Despite the overuse of eye-rolling to emphasise annoyance, Barbie knows how to make distinguishable expressions. On the other hand, David showed the same expression for different emotions. Adam looks like an emotionless, smug-faced robot at all times. It made the corny scenes less bearable and made interactions look awkward.

I consider this a filler movie and not a must-watch. Watch this if you want something unserious to watch in your spare time. I watched this at different mealtimes, so the movie doesn't feel like a complete waste of time.

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Some ideas and creations should remain in one's mind

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS HEAVY SPOILERS.

Just NO. I've watched quite a few bad dramas and movies, regardless of the reviews, and wish I hadn't wasted my time. HOWEVER, with And Then There Was Light/Hikari (2017), not only did I waste my time but I had a huge icky-low-self-esteem feeling during the entire 2:17:58 movie.

Why did I finish it? So I could write this review and WARN others this movie is among a couple of others that left me wondering how such an amateurish film would be made in the first place. I say "would be made" because it clearly represents what should've been left in the heart of the original creator or scriptwriter, never to see the light of day.

The bgm (background music) was horror movie level and came at intervals and was loud & jarring (also forced to even give a rating so the review would submit). There was no story and no plots. The extremely long looks/gazes were frustrating, so much so I had to check to see if my wi-fi had dropped, numerous times. The screenwriter/director's (one in the same) or the original creator's fetishes - no words. There was no moral to this non existent story, which MDL forces to have at least a 1 rating to submit one's review. There was no value from the dialogues, no inclusion of life altering profound wisdom, just mundane, very mundane. What little there was of cinematography, was on par with taking the oldest cellphone from the 1970/80s out in the backyard to capture a tree, oh, and the moon which alludes to the 'light' from the Japanese word hikari. Absolutely nothing was of worth to sit in front of a 2:17:58 hours long piece of what the other reviewer said was a textbook example of everything not to do in making a movie.

It contains child molestation, infidelity, child abuse, murder, blackmail, sexual content, weird sucking fetishes, and corspe abuse if one were to add a character's rummaging around in his dead father's underwear for a possibly-hidden picture. It was SO slow one would wonder how all that would fit into the length of the movie. It just went from one bad scene to another while including all those elements. I checked at least 3 times to see if it was anywhere near finished, starting at the 1 hour mark.

Rewatch value is zilch, yet MDL requires a rating in all catagories to be able to submit a review.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND the movie to anyone. I'm surprised Viki hasn't dropped this so it's absence can be filled with something much more worthy of being included ON Viki.

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This isn't about zombies

Okay i lied its about zombies but the zombies are in the background. As a zombie fanatic, this is not a good zombie film and i would not recommend this movie to anybody who has a pass trauma of an abusive family. To not have any spoilers I would say, this could've been better and more marketed towards psychological thriller, and have zombie as a sub genre. If you took zombie out of the genre, it would just be a psychological thriller, and you would see how the family dynamics work. If you're looking for a zombie adventure film this is not it. I don't recommend this movie. I actually hated it and it scared me not because of the zombies, but because of the father. The ending was not even sad but more terrifying. 5/10

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A delightful and moving film that combines humor, heart, and a powerful message

It is a heartwarming and inspirational film that serves as a reminder of the value of perseverance, personal growth, and the true meaning of family. This movie has something for everyone with its mix of comedy, drama, and touching moments.

I watched it because Peng Yu Chang starred in this drama, and he never failed to deliver a stellar performance, transitioning from a self-centered, bossy young man to a genuine and humble "buddy" who learns to appreciate the simple joys of life.

The journey of the "Bath Buddy" is deeply relatable and inspiring for viewers, especially those who are coping life's unexpected lessons, and seeking a path to personal growth. It’s a movie that resonates with anyone striving to overcome obstacles and rediscover their purpose.

The film also beautifully redefines the concept of family. This message is conveyed with warmth and sincerity, leaving a lasting impact on the audience. The film will leave you with a smile, and a renewed sense of hope.

Should I rewatch it? Definitely.

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