Reviews

I wanted to hop away from this one

Aside from also starring Lam Ching Ying and featuring hopping vampires, Mr. Vampire 2 had little to do with the original Mr. Vampire. Mr. Vampire 2 seemed to think if 2 Idiot assistants were good in the first film, 3 or more would be even better. The relentless slapstick comedy dragged this movie down for me.

Grave robbers come across 3 Jiangshi in a cave and take them back to their lab. They believe the hopping vampires will fetch a good price. In the process of transporting the little boy vampire, his talisman comes loose and he escapes. A little girl finds him and makes friends with him. The mother and father vampires are set loose first by Idiot #1 and then again with Idiot #3. “Hilarity” ensues.

The humor in this film didn’t work for me. Wanting to molest a frozen female vampire wasn’t humorous to me. A snake going up Idiot #1’s pants or Idiot #2 keeping a frog in his mouth didn’t tickle my funny bone. And once again a snake was killed, this time its heart was eaten by Idiot #2 as a tonic. Idiot #3 tried to convince Lam Ching Ying to let him marry his daughter by telling him he was already banging her. Who does that? How many times could people stupidly free the vampires while hamming it up for the camera? Each “hilarious” fight took around 10 minutes. Another thing that took away from my enjoyment was the terrible dubbing for the children. The little boy vampire was cute and because he couldn’t talk, didn’t have the bad dubbing by an adult. Despite the cute little vampire and the children taking him with them on outings, this shouldn’t be mistaken for a children’s show though it felt like they were trying to lean in that direction.

The best part of this film was Lam Ching Ying and his unibrow who appeared to be the only adult in the room. Moon Lee who was featured in the first film had a couple of small scenes in this sequel. Wu Ma made a brief appearance as a neighbor. James Tien who played in many kung fu movies showed up as an inept police captain. The three trouble-makers had me rooting for the hoppers who were far less annoying. The only other bright spot was when Lam Ching Ying’s character rattled off his credentials, such as---his master Sammo had Spooky Encounters and Lam had caught a Mr. Vampire last year. Speaking of Sammo, I missed the kung fu that took place in Mr. Vampire (1985).

Mr. Vampire 2 had possibilities by being set in the then present 1986. If you enjoy Hong Kong slapstick comedy you will likely enjoy this film far more than I did. I won’t be crypt-ic, there was nothing I could sink my teeth into and enjoy.

6 October 2024

Lees verder

A good one-time watch

The plot is innovative, the characters not that much.
What was that ending ??? How can a film end on such a cliffhanger ?? It’s not an open ending at this top !

The plot twist of Jun-yeong not being actually who we thought he was was such a good idea and made me increase the rate by a little a though it was dropping since the moment the cops started to plan something to catch the culprit.

Then talking about the cops, I can’t explain how much I HATE and DESPISE jun yeon’s father ! His character is so useless, dull, dumb and does nothing but cry.

Lees verder

Watch Blue Period for Inspiration, but Don’t Expect Perfection

Blue Period tells the story of Yatora, a high school student excelling academically but feeling unfulfilled in life. When he unexpectedly discovers a passion for painting, he embarks on a journey to pursue art despite the challenges ahead.

First off: as someone unfamiliar with the original Blue Period manga or anime, the story was entirely new to me, so I may view it differently than fans of the source material.

The Good: The soundtrack is fantastic and fits perfectly with the film's emotional tone. There were some creative choices I found intriguing, especially the use of CGI to visualize the main character's imagination—it added an extra layer of immersion. The storyline includes some inspiring, motivational moments that stick with you and the artwork featured throughout the film is absolutely beautiful.

The Not So Good: At times, the story felt a bit predictable, following a familiar path. It’s also clear that this is an adaptation, and unfortunately, some characters don’t get enough screentime for their motivations to come through clearly. As a result, their actions can feel underdeveloped, which makes it harder for the audience to connect with them. In my opinion, the directing and editing were occasionally uneven, leading to some awkward transitions. Lastly, while some actors stood out with strong performances, others didn’t quite hit the mark.

Overall, Blue Period delivers an inspiring coming-of-age story with stunning visuals and a solid message, though some narrative and pacing issues hold it back from fully reaching its potential.

Lees verder

Everything is possible

The synopsis says that this is an Omnibus movie with 5 short stories, but there is also a sixth one (Pieces – 토막) that is not mentioned, which connects all the other stories.

Each story has a different sub-theme of the supernatural, terrifying, and disgusting. The best element of the movie is the individual scenes where the viewer has to close their eyes because they are too repulsive/disgusting and hard to watch. There aren’t many of them, but each short story has at least one such shocking scene. The horror elements aren’t executed very well because they appear superficial. They try to scare the viewers with various clichés but lack clarity and authenticity. I found it interesting to watch the different themes that make each short segment and each story unique, and everything is quite well connected into one unity. This movie truly breaks the boundaries of what’s possible and just does whatever it wishes. The acting at times seems unconvincing, and as is the case with other horror movies, the characters' actions are often illogical. When I think about it, maybe the directors do this intentionally so that we, the viewers, get more involved in the movie, even if it’s by complaining about why the characters weren’t smarter or more cautious. Horror fans will probably appreciate this movie, despite its flaws, but I wouldn’t recommend it to the general public.

Lees verder

Time Still Turns the Pages...

This was a very heavy movie, but soo worth watching!

As it unfolded I felt inability to breathe, longing for some sort of relief, an end to all of the pressure going on. It was truly suffocating.

It pained me what that kid had to go through and I could really relate. No kid should feel this way ever. It just made me emotional and I wanted to protect him and take him away. It showed the brutality, the wounds and him still holding on to the promise "You'll grow up one day and become the person you want/need..."

And then the breath of fresh air came through.... There were so many heartfelt moments, broken people willing to open up to each other and offer their understanding and consolation. I cried and then cried some more.

I wouldn't recommend unless you can handle sensitive topics well ( suicide, abuse ) because this movie spirrals deep into desperation, hopelessness and void before offering a human touch and tiny light, a hope. I felt my heart being cleansed by it and broken at the same time.

Often the way scenes were put together felt too disjointed or incomplete, therefore this rating. But it's perfect and I'd wish everyone could receive the message before it's too late. This movie said a lot of things loud and clear and I just appreciate it for it. It was a great watch!

Lees verder

A heartwarming (and breaking) drama about healing from abuse and trauma

Trigger warning for abuse scenes!

This movie broke my heart (and kind of bandaged it towards the end)! It tells the healing journey of a girl from years of psychological and physical abuse. Of course, the path isn't smooth, and ghosts of past experiences continued to haunt Kiko when she thought her life was going well. The story isn't told in a linear manner and keeps flitting between Kiko's past and present, but that didn't bother me as much. It actually kept me curious.

Sugisaki Hana and Shison Jun portrayed the main roles well, and I cried buckets with what happened to Anko. He deserved so much better! I thought Anko's mother's reaction to his secret was realistic enough, and the events afterward were preventable. But who knows how long Anko has been burdened by his problems? Kiko and Ai's mothers were unbelievable. I wish I could give every character a hug - specifically those who listened to the whale cries.

Lees verder

Brief and intense, sadly poetic and in memory of Yook Woo Dang

This short film (only 12 minutes !) manages to do so much in so little time. The cinematography was on point with many metaphors and vivid pictures. The way the water and the lipstick are central to the storytelling, as well as the sad tale of the turtle... I find it quite beautiful and poetic.

I did not know who was Yook Woo Dang (Yun Hyon-seok :1984-2003) (to which this movie is dedicated) and I did some research afterwards to understand who he was. That brought an additional layer to my understanding of the movie, and that's definitely a plus as a viewer.

I would recommend this to people looking for an impactful and beautifully gut-wrenching short film. It is very worth 12 minutes of your time. If you have any trigger, be mindful of the tags as it is a pretty sad and brutal story approaching very sensible topics in a mindful and purposeful way.

Lees verder

8 minutes short film to bring awareness on discrimination faced by LGBTQIA+ people

This short movie of 8 minutes packs such a punch. It brought to light many issues still faced today by LGBTQIA+ people, especially here through the angle of trans as well as non-binary people. It is pretty impactful and allows to further the reflection on the topic through the lens of the main character as it showcases vignettes / short stories that happened to them.

It is clearly too short to make a lot of sense in terms of scenario / continuity but it is efficiently showcasing the discrimination faced by the main character as well as the internal turmoil they live through despite their family support. The filmmaking was good with some very symbolic and purposeful images all throughout the short movie. I felt that acting could have been better for some of the scenes but not enough to undermine the story.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a short movie with a point of view. It is a project run by the Thai Transgender Human Rights Foundation aiming to foster awareness on various issues still faced today by people belonging to LGBTQIA+ community. I feel they managed to reach their objective in only 8 minutes which is an achievement in itself.

Lees verder

Bersaglio decisamente mancato

Film molto atteso....e carico di aspettative disattese. Brava la protagonista, ma la storia non ci sta: tutto si basa su lei che esce dal penitenziario e cerca vendetta nei confronti di chi l'ha ingannata. L'idea è chiara, lo sviluppo molto meno. Non c'è azione, non c'è suspence, non ci sono colpi di scena, neppure del finale. Il ritmo non incalza, i personaggi non vengono sfruttati bene... nemmeno il cattivo riesce a risultare un cattivo di rispetto. "Revolver" spara diversi proiettili, ma tutti risultano fiacchi e nessuno va a segno. Attendevo questo film soprattutto per la presenza di Ji Chang Wook, reduce da una serie di drama/film non propriamente riusciti, e spiace dover constatare che "Revolver" si accoda a questo elenco di produzioni insoddisfacenti. Sembra proprio che i tempi di "Healer" e "Suspicious Partner" siano sempre più lontani...

Lees verder

Artsy and sincere story

I enjoyed that short film intertwined with the song RERUN of PP Krit. It is about the evolution of the relationship between two guys Kit (played by PP Krit) and Chou (played by Nine Naphat). It is very sincere and simple but with an artsy touch that I appreciated. The filmmaking does an excellent job in showcasing how they fell in love as well as the set back they may have faced.

The acting is good overall. PP Krit is once again demonstrating how captivating he is when emoting. Nine Naphat does a good job as his counterpart. He is not too bland and unassming at the side of PP Krit, which is already an achievement as he could have been easily eclipsed by the star power of PP Krit.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a short movie with some artsy and indie vibe. If you are a fan of PP Krit, this is a must watch (coupled as well with the MV of the song itself). The scenario is not revolutionnary in itself and I wish they went deeper on some elements but it is enough in conveying emotions.

Lees verder

Dark and murky story, wish it would have been more fleshed out

This very short movie is about the encounter of a vampire and a dead drowned girl as she is brought back at the morgue where he lives. I enjoyed their interactions, the way the scenario interlocks their fates. I wish tough the story would have been a bit more fleshed out as we learn enough to understand the main characters but not enough to really be moved by their horrendous destiny as it goes very quick on it. The side characters seems also to be there just for the sake of explaining things.

The acting was good: Ji Sung and Park So Dam exude together sexy (and morbid) chemistry. They carry very well the movie, making this a tragic and wicked tale rather than what could have been otherwise very campy and comedic if not properly acted. The filmmaking was good: the special effect was well done but could have been a bit uglier and dirtier. It seems a bit too clean but I can understand that esthetic choice.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for an horrific short movie. It is in the realm of horrow but not frightening. It provides an interesting point of view on the vampire myth as well.

Lees verder

Diamonds are a girl's and space kaiju's best friend!

Toho and Honda Ishiro stepped out of their comfort zone with Dogora. This massive tentacled space monster wasn’t a guy in a rubber suit which was a nice change of pace. As with many of these kaiju films from the 1960’s I was left wanting more monster and less people.

An international gang of jewel thieves is blamed for jewel thefts, well, internationally. Trouble is, they only pulled one of the jobs. When they tried stealing diamonds in Tokyo a glowing blob swept them off their feet and melted the vault door. Also involved with diamonds is Dr. Munakata who studies crystalline geometry with the help of his lovely secretary Masayo. On the case of the jewel thefts is Det. Komai. Another player is the shadowy American Mark Jackson who always seems to show up when diamonds or the giant space monster are near. Masayo’s brother is a space scientist who is concerned about satellites that have recently been destroyed. It doesn’t take long, actually it took longer than it should have, for everyone to realize that Dogora was funneling up huge amounts of coal and diamonds from around the world. Dr. Munakata realizes if Dogora is not stopped it will spell Doomsday for the people of Earth when she turns her carbon hunger toward the carbon based people inhabiting the planet.

This film was more cops and robbers than monster flick. While Dogora provided stunning spectacles of destruction, the police and jewel thieves had tunnel vision when it came to the diamonds. Much of Dogora played out like some of the humorous jewel theft movies of the time such as the original Pink Panther and Ocean’s Eleven. Everyone seemed to take another monster in stride. In fact, the police captain told Komai to stop messing around investigating the monster and focus on the human jewel thieves despite the fact that the two were connected.

Special effects director, Tsuburaya Eiji, created something new and beautiful with Dogora. Around the 50-minute mark Dogora showed herself in all her glory, like a glowing jellyfish or cephalopod. She was graceful and ethereal and decidedly deadly as she destroyed Wakato Bridge. Her sparkling amoeba shaped children/minions(?) did her bidding around the world. Reverse tornadoes sent coal, trucks, smokestacks whatever was in the way of her carbon snacks upward. The miniatures were interlaced with real military weapons and people. The ultimate weapon was wackier than in other kaiju films, but at least it wouldn’t destroy the Earth.

All of the performances were good though I was pleased that Robert Dunham was cast as the American as he could speak Japanese fluently instead of being dubbed. He also didn't have to wear the embarrassing costume he had to don for Godzilla vs Megalon. Toho monster regular Koizumi Hiroshi had a small part as a scientist. Bond girl, Wakabayashi Akiko, played a femme fatale in the thieves’ gang who became too greedy for her own good. Handsome Natsuki Yosuke’s Komai made for a great straight man against the quippy Mark Jackson. Yet despite having a strong cast, the heist script was not nearly tight enough and was often repetitive. Despite its faults, the human characters were stronger than in many of these old kaiju films.

I probably rated Dogora too high in comparison to other kaiju flicks from the timeframe. I was just happy to see a more creative monster. The film would have been much better if they’d trusted the balletic decimator to carry the show instead of the bumbling cops and robbers.

5 October 2024

Lees verder

Recommend to those who ships love stories

"And Yet, You Are So Sweet" is a love story centered around unrequited love. The female protagonist has been in love with a schoolmate for many years. One day, she finally gathers the courage to confess her feelings, only to face rejection, which leaves her heartbroken. A boy from her school notices her sadness and suggests they play a game where he will pretend to be her unrequited love. Over time, this game makes her develop real feelings for him, but she tries to distance herself, believing they come from different worlds, especially since he is very popular among the girls in school. However, the game affects him too, and he begins to fall for her charm and smile. Both hide their feelings from each other. To find out what happens next, you'll have to watch the movie.

I enjoy love stories, which is why I liked this one, but if I take that away, there isn't much else to the plot.

Lees verder