Reviews

perfect as it is

I don't write reviews, but I have to here. I don't really understand the bad reviews, the film is dark, serious, but absolutely fabulous. It held me the whole time and didn't let go... I sat glued to my seat and didn't move until the credits rolled and I think if it wasn't already halfway through the night I would have kept sitting and enjoying the emotion the film left in me.
I put the movie on expecting my partner to get up and go to sleep like he always does, but the movie had him as attached as it did me.
Absolutely perfect visually, slow paced and yet there is always something happening that moves the plot towards the inevitable. The cast is magnificent both Hong Xa Bin who totally got me and BIBI both unknown to me but their acting was awesome and finally the darling Song Joong Ki who I hope can't play anything wrong, the desperation in his eyes was so real....
I was completely absorbed by this movie...

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"Devotion to art is like a religious belief"

Hu Mei’s passion project about the nascent Beijing Opera took six years to come to fruition. Not even the studio burning down could thwart her. Enter the Forbidden City was a beautifully shot film that took time to find its footing but once the two singers began to share the spotlight, the “fascination” began.

Singer Yue Jiu is betrayed by jealous rivals and banned from the capital for life. In the same city where he is in exile, Run Sheng is facing discrimination because he is an entertainer. Back in the capital, the emperor wants to invite 100 theatrical troupes to The Forbidden City for his 80th birthday but the cost is too prohibitive (17,800 taels of silver per troupe!). If they can pay their own way, the entertainers are welcome to come. Princess Feng attends Run Sheng’s shows and has taken an interest in him as a patron and as a woman. The troupe’s travel plans run into a financial snag until they are offered what they need to appear before the emperor, but for a dangerous tradeoff.

Hu Mei’s movie was lush and color saturated. The costumes were elegant and she often filmed on location which added a realism to the setting. Emotional music swelled in the background, a nice break from the actors’ singing performances. All of these things contributed to a well-made film which was pleasing to soak in. Where the film lapsed for me was the first third of the film. Jiu was the initial character shown so he imprinted on me. After he was quickly kicked out of the capital, the film focused on Run Sheng and the abuse the troupe members took from the locals. This left me wondering what happened to Jiu and where the film was going. Run Sheng’s elopement gobbled up much of the running time and had very little to do with the overall story development except to give him more depth and appear unstable. I also have a complaint that was completely out of Hu Mei’s hands---the official subtitles were white and miniscule. They were difficult, sometimes impossible, to read and a real eyestrain.

The strength of this film lay in showing how the actors worked and practiced. Ma Yi Li as Princess Feng added a feminine element even when she was dressed as a man. She wasn’t strictly fangirling, she had precious tips for the overconfident Run Sheng. Jiu’s complete commitment to his craft bordered on obsession and inspired Run Sheng. Fu Da Long was exceptional as Yue Jiu, whose every movement was graceful and specifically designed. Ma Yi Li is fast becoming a favorite with her striking screen presence, she balanced the princess’ strength and vulnerability with ease.

Enter the Forbidden City was inspired by real stories and events and a treat for the eyes. Though not my culture or history, I enjoyed learning about some of the history of early Beijing Opera. It was also one of the rare times an emperor wasn’t portrayed as a monster or a complete idiot which was refreshing. Please don’t tell me if he was a monster and/or idiot in real life. ^^

27 August 2024
7.25

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you will need many tissues

I just finished watching it, and it was really a cruel movie, haha. First of all, the FL was very beautiful, and her acting was more realistic compared to the usual girls in Japanese films. The ML was also very sweet, but the reason I gave a lower score for the acting was because of the ML's poor performance in the crying scenes. I really liked that they included small details in the film without skipping over them, like the sea scene, the number and meanings of the flowers, the final state of Akito's drawing, and its display in the exhibition. I loved the colors and aesthetics of the film; despite being a very sad movie, it was always colorful and lively, which I really enjoyed. The music was also nice. But I don't think it's a movie to watch over and over again; it's one to watch once and stay affected by for a long time. Overall, I really liked it.

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a master stealing home between two out-of-the-park home runs.

What Boiling Point may lack in contemplativeness, playing the material not for action or thrills but with comedy so dark and deadpan that its intent can be easily lost on many. Tranquillity explodes into violence, which recedes to its original serenity. A tale unfolding sedately against a backdrop of calm sunny stillness punctuated by shocking moments of unpalatable violence that points to the behind-the-scenes mundanity of the perceived glamour of organised crime in Japan as presented in yakuza films. As his first scripted effort, that narrative almost dissolves into abstractions and digressions, but Kitano largely stays the course with a compellingly warped look at the uniquely Japanese culture of violence. Kitano himself turns up very late in the film's runtime, his presence as welcomed as ever, leading both protagonists and viewers alike on a guided tour of the bleaker recesses of the human psyche with the lack of a musical score heightening the tone and storytelling power behind his magnificent direction. Boiling Point may not be as refined as Kitano's later works, but it more than establishes Kitano as an artist with a clear vision and distinctive style.

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Sometimes it has to be realistic

I know a few people dont really like when a movie becomes to realistic but me personally im fine with it. The sexual stuffs did made me question this movie but other than that this movie was good. It had a lot of silent moments which i really really like. The acting was nothing phenomenal but it make sense because the characters were meant to be realistic. Bae Suzy will probably be the only reason if I wanna rewatch this in the future because she was just so charming and beautiful in all of her scenes. The way she looks at his him, the ways she talk is too adorable. I kinda would die for her.....

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Funny and touching

I've finally watched this movie and I really liked it.
It was a really nice movie about the relationship between two siblings, it's ordinary but at the same time it could be so relatable and touching.

Personally, I also have an older brother but I can't really relate as he's not like Chut in this and we're getting along well so yes I'm lucky lol
I can't explain how I felt towards Chut's character, it's a bit complex, he's really funny but at the same time really annoying and I don't quite understand his behavior although I've watched the whole movie lol
Poor Jane but there's one scene I disliked her for something she did because it's like she neglected her brothers's feelings. I know, I understand her, I know how annoying and horrible he might be but Ilked these characters, they are relatable.

But seriously, I felt genuine feelings from both of them and I was kind of moved by their story. I thought it would be too long with 2hours but no, the pacing was right although I do still think some scenes were a bit dragging. At the same time, I feel it was a bit rushed, maybe it's the choice of the editing or the transition of some scenes. I was sometimes taken aback from it.

One of my few complains is that I was not fully invested in the romance between Jane and Mochi. I don't mind that it's not the focus on their relationship because it's mainly about the sibilings however it lacks some scenes or some sparks?? Because I'm sure, it could have been better if there was something more believable? I'm not quite sure how to explain this. But it's later on that I've found them cute and that I had believed they are really together lol

So I think I would rewatch this movie but not entirely, just a few funny scenes and some that are heartwarming.

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Uma critica que nao salva e nem condena

Uma critica que nao salva e nem condena, porém não deixe de assistir.

O filme sul-coreano *Project Silence*, dirigido por Kim Tae-gon em colaboração com Kim Yong-hwa e Park Joo-Suk, inicia com um cenário tenso: o secretário do governo Cha Jung-won (Lee Sun-kyun) enfrenta uma decisão crítica durante uma mesa de negociação sobre a não negociação com terroristas que têm reféns. Em meio a esse caos, o enredo se desvia para um engavetamento massivo, provocado pela combinação de neblina e imprudência, resultando em uma via totalmente bloqueada.

Coincidentemente, um acidente também envolve um veículo do governo carregado com “Echoes” – cachorros soldados altamente treinados. Quando um dos Echoes, o Echo-9, consegue escapar com um chip importante, 116 pessoas ficam encurraladas em uma ponte estaiada com a ameaça iminente desses animais letais.

Desde o início, o filme tenta estabelecer uma conexão emocional com seus personagens através de um elenco de figuras arquetípicas, como o frentista enrolador e a cadete ambiciosa. No entanto, o roteiro acaba seguindo uma fórmula previsível, revelando quem provavelmente sobreviverá. *Project Silence* parece lutar contra sua identidade como um filme B, tentando incorporar traumas e metáforas profundas que não se encaixam bem com a premissa central de cachorros soldados atacando pessoas.

O filme mostra certa vergonha em abraçar seu caráter de filme B, e isso resulta em uma narrativa que não consegue equilibrar o terror direto com um desenvolvimento mais introspectivo. A tentativa de criar um impacto emocional com a relação entre pai e filha é ofuscada pela falta de gore e terror visceral que poderia ter sido mais eficaz. O alívio cômico, representado pelo frentista que usa uma técnica de "sopro de fogo" à la Charmander, só adiciona uma camada de estranheza à trama já instável.

A fotografia noturna de Hong Kyung-pyo também não ajuda, escondendo o potencial terrorífico dos cachorros atrás de neblina e escombros. A direção falha em criar um ambiente de suspense palpável, e a ausência de um impacto visual eficaz limita o potencial aterrorizante dos ataques dos animais. A trilha sonora de John Williams, por exemplo, que contribuiu significativamente para o clima de tensão em *Tubarão*, poderia ter sido uma adição bem-vinda aqui.

Além disso, o roteiro apresenta várias inconsistências, como o uso de um carro que deveria estar inutilizado para uma fuga e a falta de atenção ao cientista que criou os cachorros. Esses elementos, apesar de frustrantes, poderiam ser perdoados se o filme aceitasse plenamente sua natureza como uma produção divertida e descompromissada.

Em resumo, *Project Silence* tenta ser mais do que um simples filme B, mas acaba não conseguindo se destacar em nenhum dos dois mundos. A tentativa de adicionar profundidade e relevância ao enredo de cachorros soldados falha em proporcionar um terror verdadeiro, tornando o filme uma experiência que, apesar de ambiciosa, acaba sendo uma mistura desajeitada de intenções sérias e elementos de entretenimento descartáveis.

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...
Pour mon avis du film, «Wonderland» est intéressant et unique. On se retrouve dans les ‘mondes’ artificiels des personnages, à essayer de deviner exactement ce qui se passe. Explorant des thèmes comme la mort et le deuil, et tout ce qui s’y rapporte, cette histoire est triste et touchante. Malgré tout, j’ai l’impression que le scénario est un peu décousu, et on s’y perd un peu, ce qui est dommage. Cependant, les acteurs et les actrices ont tous été excellents, ce qui me fait remonter ma note !

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Avis Complet sur mon Blog :
https://lamagiedeshistoires.wordpress.com/2024/08/27/aout-2024-en-rafale-dramas-films/

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...
«Fabricated City» est un mélange d’action/thriller, plein de suspense, l’histoire tient en haleine tout au long, entre autres, grâce à son mystère. « Qui est derrière l’accusation de Kwon Yoo ? Pourquoi a-t-il été accusé ? » Oui, certaines choses se passant dans ce film sont irréalistes, mais j’ai passé par-dessus parce que l’histoire est tellement prenante, et les acteurs tous parfaits dans leurs rôles ! Ce que j’ai préféré dans ce film, niveau histoire ? Comment la team qui ne se connaissait que par les jeux en lignes, se réunissent pour sauver l’un des leurs ! Malgré tout, je dois avertir que certaines scènes ne sont pas pour les âmes sensibles…

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Avis Complet sur mon Blog :
https://lamagiedeshistoires.wordpress.com/2024/08/27/aout-2024-en-rafale-dramas-films/

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A good watch

The ratings being low makes sense because the beginning wasn't too good tbh. Thanks to a comment below, I watched the whole thing and I like the stories and how they string few together or makes sense of almost everything by the end. The synopsis is all you need but the story is much more than what you'd typically expect from it.

The movie is almost like an anthology - but to be more precise, it's a group of stories all connected by a main theme - the ghost bride. Another review details on each short stories so I'm not getting into it.

Acting - was good and natural. Not much awkwardness.
Story - might not be hold your attention initially, but do watch in order. Once I finished the first 3 stories, especially at the 4th, it got my interest.

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"Once you see hope, embrace it!"

I went into Last Night trepidatiously given the subject matter. Suicide is far too serious and complex a matter to take lightly. This film had mixed results with how it broached the topic. In this particular story, the motivation was sudden catastrophic changes in life and not long-term clinical depression which made the movie’s approach more palatable.

Mark is about to jump off the Jones Bridge when he hears a woman calling for help. Carmina’s sweater is caught on the sign below in a failed suicide attempt. They end up agreeing to die together and begin attempting different ways but are continually foiled.

This was a tale of two movies for me which made it hard to rate and hard to watch at times. As I was slogging through the first half of this film, it was sitting at a 5.0 for me, largely because of the character of Carmina. Everything Toni Gonzaga’s character did was over the top, cringe-worthy, and annoying. Even Mark asked Carmina, “Are you a child? Do you always have to be entertained?” Piolo Pascual’s Mark was more reserved and felt like he was in a completely different movie. The suicide attempts were more farcical than saddening. Long before the half, I’d figured out the upcoming twist and was waiting for it to be revealed. The second half was more engaging and the comic acting was toned down. The cinematography and music were actually quite good and put to much better use as the film went on.

If you enjoy Gonzaga’s comic routines you will likely enjoy this more than I did, I tend to be hypersensitive to overt comic acting, especially with a serious subject matter. Without any spoilers, the ending was satisfying and I did enjoy her acting later in the film. If suicide is a trigger or the Catholic view of it troubles you, best to skip this one.

26 August 2024

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The first real 'ex-couple' on screen -- made all the hype

There's a lot to unpack here so buckle up. Here we go~

This is one of the prime examples of how to get the right cast. More than the movie itself, most of the people including me possibly got intrigued and watched this because of Joshua and Julia.

As a context for non-Filipinos or someone who's not really into showbiz tea, it may be unusual in other countries but in PH, when an artist is labeled with a 'loveteam' they usually have shows back to back to back. Like all you'll see is a bunch of shows and movies with those 2 people partnered up over and over again -- which is probably the reason why most 'loveteams' do end up being romantically involved off-screen which will make the fans go more wild and the more reason for them to lead on more shows or movies. JoshLia is one of the most popular 'loveteams' on and off screen in the Philippine media so it was a shock to everyone when they broke up 5 years ago. The break up was also mixed with other controversies that beg to ask the question if the cause of the relationship's downfall is a third party -- and caused people to pick sides. I won't be able to tell which is the truth but just letting you know it was a thing.

Fast forward to 2024 and JoshLia is back on screen with their role as ex-lovers. I can't speak for everyone but when I saw the trailer, I went nuts. Since they are real-life 'ex-lovers', it kind of blurred the line between reality and fiction. There were scenes that made me think about whether it was still scripted or were the lines just naturally came out from their past breakup and I think that's what really sold the movie to me. Upon watching it though, I'm surprised that it delivered.

There were a few notes though, I personally think that the Filipino movies have already come a long way, but there's still waaaaay more to improve on our overall movie production. The western movies are way way more advanced than what we have. With that being said, I would say that I did enjoy watching it. There were scenes that I didn't like much or character decisions that were a little questionable even in reality but I guess it still delivered some relatable lessons on relationships -- what things to avoid and what things to do more. Oh, and the lines -- fire 🔥🔥🔥. I've been thinking about them until we get back home.

While this might not be for everyone. I think it's a good weekend watch -- alone or with someone or with an ex?

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