Reviews

The most basic aspects of disabled people you should know already

This film shows you how a young man with cerebral palsy faces difficulty and discrimination, how he can be in despair because of it, and yet how he can have hope and dignity. That's like the most basic story you can write about disabled people. There aren't enough representations of people with cerebral palsy on media so this could still be meaningful to some people, but I didn't expect a film like this in the competition category at an international film festival. If they cast Jackson Yee because they prioritized getting more recognition for the cause I get it, and he seemed to have put in a lot of work for this role. But you must know it's not a competition material when a film like 37 seconds already exists. Watching an able-bodied actor play a person with cerebral palsy for two hours, including a dream sequence where he acts "normal" with a pretty girl he met earlier so conveniently, was not a pleasant experience for me.

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Cure on Crack

Cure if Kurosawa was on crack, as the same hypnosis aspect and a very similar feeling throughout especially in the direction and cinematography. The last 20 minutes is pretty ridiculous but in an endearingly overly dramatic way so you can't get mad at it kinda ruining the rest of the movie. All of the suicides manage to be very effective and memorable scenes though, I was pretty surprised how much they stuck with me, particularly the scene with Dvorak's 'From the New World'. I really liked Masayuki Ochiai's directing here, I'm keen to watch more from him.

The first stage of the credits with the names of the stars is so overly dramatic it's awesome. Also, it's probably just a coincidence, but it was interesting seeing someone with exactly the same design as Lilico in the 2012 Helter Skelter movie.

If you want an interesting but a bit campy horror movie or something to scratch the Cure itch, I recommend.

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Are choices really choices.

This movie deserves a 10 because it is not only beautifully executed, but the story is complex enough to warrant way more than a single viewer perspective. Most reviews touch upon the juxtaposition of the FL’s non-conformism with the compromises of her peers and former friends. And that is striking, especially on the backdrop of such a conservative society. Her condition causes her only to “go gray prematurely” but that is unlikely. Premature graying is usually associated with stress. Either psychological or physiological, and stress wreaks havoc on the body. It might not be her choice, she might need to take things slow and tread lightly not to pay the ultimate price. Through that lens, her non-confrontational nature might not exactly be her second nature. And the drama raises the question of whether she can prosteticize with her friends who go to extraordinary lengths to provide for themselves and their families, can she be a benefactor of that while she doesn't participate in the grueling routines and personality-undermining decisions? All the while we are shown her friends are exhausted and don't have space to accommodate a freeloader. The movie is about how little space for individual compassion, cooperation, and compromise such a society leaves.

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really good, easy to watch thriller!

I just came around to watch it, I wasn't sure if I should watch it at first.
If it will be good, but I'm sooo freaking glad I did watch this movie.
the story was really well written imo, the cast was perfectly chosen.
from the beginning until the end it had me hanging in there to see more. I wish I could have seen more at the end of Na-Mi after everything. but maybe if that would have happend it would make the movie less good, sometimes it's better to end like this.
all 117 mins were packed with important story und visuals, I didn't feel like any minute had any kind of filler reason.
idk why I was sometimes rooting for the villan to not get caught, tbh only until the end in the end I was totally rooting for the victim!
the actor playing the "villan" was a good choice, he made the charakter really believable! Great work.
I highly recommend to watch this movie, even if just once it's really well made.
thanks to the Filmmakers behind it for the work they put in and also to all the main and supporting actors who put there work into it.

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Watch it for the insights into South Korean society.

This film, from 2001, is in my eyes more interesting for its historical value and the insights it gives into South Korean society then -- and now -- than for its own merit.

The story itself is okay-ish, I did not laugh that much even if it was supposed to be a comedy (there was too much violence against innocents for that). In the storytelling, the directing and the camera work we can see the roots of today's masterpieces, it's still uneven but there are also brilliant scenes.

For that, and the insights into society, I'll give eight stars.

I have been thinking for a while now that violence seems to pervade South Korean's society (which is not that surprising, considering people lived under a military regime until 1987, and also the strictly hierarchical structure that's still there). In this movie, this idea was confirmed.

Yes, it's a film about gangsters, and a comedy, so a certain amount of violence is to be expected. But let's have a look at the different situations where people use force:

1. The violence amongst the gangsters is, as I said, expected. But I want to point out one aspect -- the boss casually slaps around his subordinate. If you've seen other K-Dramas, you've probably seen this kind of violence a lot. It's only interesting in the light of ...

... 2. the bullying of the newbie by the class bully and his cronies, which is probably intended as funny. The roles are inverted, the boss is now the victim and can't fight back (because he, in turn, is pressured by HIS boss to get an education). The bully, in turn is ...

... 3. bullied by another gangs of students. Violence begets violence -- but this circle of violence is not even worth mentioning for the protagonists. Instead the main character "defeats" the bullies by beating them up.

4. Teachers slap their students around habitually. This was, until a few years ago, a practice condoned by society in South Korea. I don't know if it still is. Slapping, beating students when they are already on the ground, beating them with sticks -- all of it is obvously "okay".

4. The violence against teachers (by students, by parents) is, in contrast, very much condemned.

So, violence against subordinates, against those lower in seniority, against those lower in status -- this is absolutely all right in this movie. As media are just a mirror of society, this is what people who are now adults, have learned. You can see this in the interaction between fathers and sons, between bosses and subordinates. It becomes clear when an older man in a drama has difficulties to understand that young people (especially women, but that's a whole other kettle of fish) are allowed to speak their minds.

If you, dear reader of this review, watch your next K-Drama, maybe keep this in mind while interpreting the drama, you might see certain scenes in a new light.

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Watch it as a Prequel to 2025 Drama & for Ji Chang Wook ❤️

Saw this movie & writing this review in 2024: This film is a pure blockbuster action-thriller, with focus on car chases, fight scenes, slow-motions, explosions etc. There is not much on the mystery (of the real killer - it revealed very early on), logic/reason behind their action is not impactful/suspensefully revealed, or any time given on any characters' development.
I assumed it to be a psychological mystery/thriller given the synopsis of the drama but was disappointed on that front.

JCW is a treat to watch as always with his looks and acting as a game addict turned action hero. But my expectation were otherwise set - so this was an okay movie for me. I'm expecting things to be better now that the reboot will be out in 2025, played again by JCW. It will also have EXO's DO & other famous cast members, so hoping for the scale to be larger, more detailed and antagonist to be revealed with a twist (psycho character played by DO would be great too!)

VERDICT - Can Pass, unless one wants to know the original story like me, before watching the Fabricated City drama in 2025.

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1 hour 30 minutes of awful CGI and sweaty ass leng feng

Okay so I wrote the original review for this and that's in quotes and the rest is an analysis of what I am saying and wolf warrior diplomacy. If you are not my IR teacher, the movie sucked, and don't waste your time, if you are, keep reading. 6/10.

Through its chaotic narrative and heavy-handed portrayal of nationalism, Wolf Warrior serves as a cinematic reflection of "Wolf Warrior Diplomacy," China’s assertive and often combative approach to international relations. YAY IR!

I think that Wolf Warrior Diplomacy reflects China's increasingly aggressive stance in international relations, like said previously, shifting from a hide your strength, bide your time shit to one that unapologetically asserts China's interests. This combative diplomatic style became very prominent after this shity-ass movie., hence the name Wolf Warrior Diplomacy. This is seen through Leng Feng’s character and the film’s portrayal of Western antagonists and Chinese drug dealers.

"The Westerners just dropped like 6 bodies, holy fuck," really just goes to show how the film portrays Westerners as lawless aggressors who really just fight to fight, positioning them as stark antagonists to Chinese protagonists (even though Leng was also dropping bodies). The choice aligns perfectly with Wolf Warrior Diplomacy’s strategy, portraying China as a moral or better authority protecting its people from foreign threats while challenging Western dominance (which they didn't really do in the movie, but this is what they were trying to get at).

Do it for your country (patriotism and the sacrifice trope): The film’s constant reinforcement of patriotism, I fight for China" stickers, heavy use of "traitors will damn their ancestors," and Leng Feng’s courage, really align with the ideology that Wolf Warrior Diplomacy promotes: unwavering loyalty to China. Despite there the fact there is "no plot, just bad CGI and Leng Feng fucking sweating" and I think this constant "sweating" because that's all he even does, emphasizes the physical and emotional sacrifice tied to Chinese patriotism in Wolf Warrior. Leng Feng’s heroic willingness to endure any hardship for his country mirrors the message that Wolf Warrior Diplomacy wants to send, China will go to great lengths to protect its interests and citizens, regardless of the cost.

Power: I think the film highlights advanced technology and exaggerated battle scenes, "Very aggressive, shooting up the drug place," with Leng Feng and others using a "sniper," and "some of the worst battle scenes," and "a rocket launcher on the boat," intending to highlight China’s military might but in the end just showing how bad their CGI is. Through this portrayal, Wolf Warrior aims to solidify China’s image as a formidable power, just as Wolf Warrior Diplomacy seeks to assert China's technological and military advancements on the global stage.

Gender and heroism: "The women are in charge and not on the battlefield," suggesting that the film might be attempting to subtly support China’s traditional gender roles, positioning men like Leng Feng as rugged protectors and women as reserved, contributing in supportive roles and shitty ass love interests that only love leng when he steps on a landmine. Although this choice is more subtle, it feeds into the film’s underlying theme of loyalty and sacrifice, with men like Leng Feng enduring personal trauma, as seen when he “carries his fallen comrade in the rain like a badass.”

Western villains and Chinese virtue: The movie’s cartoonish portrayal of Westerners as unscrupulous drug dealers and antagonists serves to further enforce the Wolf Warrior Diplomacy narrative, painting China as a victim of Western interference and aggression. The demonization of the West and the glorification of Chinese courage serve to rally patriotic sentiment, both within China and among its global allies.

In conclusion, Wolf Warrior is a cinematic extension of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy, playing out China's diplomatic assertiveness through Leng Feng’s unwavering loyalty, the starkly portrayed Western villains, and the message that China will always defend its own. For viewers, this blend of nationalism, anti-Western sentiment, and gritty action encapsulates the ideological shift that Wolf Warrior Diplomacy represents, even if the film itself is lowkey bogged down by the "no plot, just bad CGI." This style aims not only to entertain but also to inspire a sense of national pride, through a sweat-soaked, action-heavy spectacle that was so terrible that I will never get that 1 hour and 30 minutes back. Do not watch this shit. Okay bye!

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Action adventure.

Other people are correct in saying that this is similar to John Wick.

I loved this movie!! It was so cool how she had no mercy; she was just so cool. A really good movie, with a good plot and nice cinematography. The bloody fight and chase scenes were so cool! All the flashback scenes of Ok Ju and Min Hee were so sweet and cute to watch, furthermore rooting for the main character to get revenge. I do wish we saw more of their lives (Ok Ju and the high school student) after everything happened. Other than that, I really enjoyed this movie and definitely recommend!

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Guardians, Old Souls, & Outlaw Gods °6.7° °good f/u to AwtG2W°

Rated 85 on AWiki, AwtG49 is a 2018, 141-minute continuation of Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds. It picks up right where the first left off.

As the flick starts out, we learn that one of the Guardians has to go on trial for crimes that he committed while protecting our protagonist in the first film. (Who knew the Afterlife was so litigious? It's Hell, indeed). The other reapers are tasked with collecting a soul that's been protected well past his death date by an outlaw god, Sung Joo Shin (played by the adorable Ma Dong-Seok). God-Sung won't let the old man die before his orphan grandson graduates from school. Speaking of orphans, Korean features aren't kind to them and this trend continues here, sadly.

AwtG2W follows Kim Ja-Hong, a fireman who dies in the line of duty. When he reaches the Gate of the Afterlife, where he can be reincarnated after completing seven trials: betrayal, violence, filial piety, murder, indolence, deceit, and injustice.

Much of the cast here is the same as AwtG2W. Why mess with excellence? Cha Tae-Hyun (Narco-Saints, Assassination,1987: When the Day Comes) is the lead, Kim Ja-Hong. Cha Tae Hyun (Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation, Moving) portrays Kim Ja Hong. The dolorous Ju Ji Hoon (Kingdom-8.3, Blood Free-8.5, Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation) is Hae Won Maek. Kim Hyang Gi (Innocent Witness, Salon De Nabi) plays Duk Choon, and the wonderful Ma Dong Seok (The Bros-7.4, Train to Busan-7.8, The Roundup, Bad Guys) plays outlaw deity Sung Joo Shin. Lee Jung Jae, the lead of Squid Game, portrays King Yum Ra God of Death. The screenwriter/director is Kim Yong Hwa (200 Pounds Beauty-6.5, The Moon).

AwtG49 is, all-around, more of the same. Same strengths, same weaknesses. Its biggest deductions come from a failure to fully explore its potential emotional range. The fighting is excellent with a particularly grand battle scene. The cinematography is beautiful. It's a great movie-night-movie.

If you enjoy fantasy, even though China is often guilty of sub-standard special effects, they still put out the best stuff in the world. Anyone who enjoys the AwtG films should like Douluo Continent-9.4 and Handsome Siblings-8.7 even more.


QUOTE〰

Those who meet must part at some point.


Re-watch? It's not unlikely

Age 14+ Language: PG-13 language, probably less than 5 occurrences.


In order of ~lite&trite~ to ~heavy&serious~ you may also like:

Crash Landing On You 9.1;
Oh My Ghost 10;
It's Okay Not To Be Okay 9;
My Mister 9.5;

Period -
C: Overlord 8.4,
Under the Power 8.6,
The Rebel Princess 9.1,
The Sword and the Brocade 8.6 (in ancient Chinese opera style),
The Rise of Phoenixes 9
K:
My Only Love Song 8.7 excellent comedy;
Mr. Queen 8.5;
My Sassy Girl 8.5; Saimdang-8.5,
The King's Affection 8.3;
Mr. Sunshine 9

Fantasy
K: Alchemy of Souls-8.3,

C: Love Between Fairy & Devil 8.9;
Ancient Love Poetry 8.6;
Love and Redemption 10

Thrills -
C: Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Saber 9-Kung-fu!;
K:
Mystic Pop-up Bar-8.2, K2 8; Uncanny counter season-1 only °S1-8.4 S2-4,
Private Lives 8.1;
Sisyphus 8;
Tunnel 8.1; Train to Busan-7.8,
Signal 8.6;
The Man From Nowhere 8.9,
Black 9;
Squid Game 8.4;
Kingdom 8.3;
Sweet Home 8.4

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Unique & Emotional Tale of Life, Death and Light Bulbs!

Stories that tip-toe around life and death always draw my attention. I often wonder what will happen to us after death or what if our loved ones who have passed away see us/be proud of what we are doing with life now. Which is why the upcoming Korean drama based on the same webtoon as this Chinese film has been on high priority for me since long. But I was really curious on the plot and therefore gave in to my urges - as I thought I'll get to know the story in a shorter time since it is a movie.
And while I was prepared for an emotional ride and life lessons - the movie still captivated me with its unique narration, analogy, acting and hauntingly beautiful music score.

➥ POSITIVES | ✦ Unique Narration and Symbolism ✦ Emotional Impact ✦ Acting ✦ Cinematography ✦ Music ✦
The narrative delicately explores life and death, portraying poignant character journeys and deeply capturing human emotions. Innovative storytelling and symbolic light bulbs distinguish the film, initially misleading viewers into thinking it's a horror mystery before revealing deeper layers. Exceptional acting, cinematography, and music harmoniously amplify the emotional impact, connecting the audience to the characters' stories

➥ NEGATIVES | ✦ Predictability ✦ Pacing ✦ Length ✦
Having seen similar stories, I found the plot somewhat predictable, and while well-executed, it didn't deeply impact me. The latter part of the film (main leads' story) dragged slightly, and I ended up skipping forward in some parts, which lessened the overall experience. Additionally, the film felt too short to fully explore its themes, suggesting it might have worked better as a drama series.

➥ VERDICT | Despite some predictability and pacing issues which are more from a personal preference - the movie is a compelling watch that effectively pulls on the heartstrings. I recommend it, but be sure to have tissues handy.

➥ Note: Korean Drama Adaption | Given the movie felt short, I am eagerly awaiting the Korean adaption that will be a drama. Given how good the Chinese movie was and the fact that some of my favorite actors are in the lead role - I already have high expectations from it. I hope it will be more emotional, detailed and end up being a masterpiece of 2024. It would definitely be a good way to end the year, from a drama standpoint.

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Mind Bendingly good ... literally

WOW this was a surprise masterpiece ... a beautiful feast for the eyes and ears and mind ... the script was so psychologically intriguing and fascinating ? I have seen the anime and I really liked it too but I will just write about this movie as if it were a stand alone production.

The effects were brilliant from the galaxy in the sky to the golden dragon to the dream world ... it was beautifully done I thought. I loved the cinematography ... the different angles taken, the contrast between the often muted, blurry and dark gloomy backgrounds, which were 'lit' up by such vibrantly luminous colours in the costumes... the beautiful ultramarine blues, permanent roses and rich cadmium oranges ... as well as the luscious quinacridone gold rays of light that broke through the gloominess. It was so visually delicious. The costumes of the female characters were beautiful and exotic looking and I loved seeing their lovely black hair loose, the length of which nearly fell to the ground ... a beautiful combination that oozed a exotic kind of simplicity.

I loved the theatrical stage feel to many of the scenes ... it worked beautifully with the imagery and various sound effects from the natural surroundings and from the music and also just from the 'silence'. I loved hearing the sounds of bare feet walking and running of the wooden floor boards, the rustle of the long robes, the silence that was broken by the ethereal sounds of the flute ... calming, mysterious and hauntingly beautiful. I loved those kind of kabuki sounds when that 'demon' person was dancing his curse on a stage. It was a wonderful auditory feast.

I loved the 'old' kind of lore presented in this movie ... it was as if it predated the sort of yokai and oni I see in anime and manga. This was so fascinating especially when contrasted against the cool level headed observation and logic of Abe Seimei. The symbolism was profound ... how it linked to the incredible power of the mind and it's 'blind spots'. The way those old masters took advantage of those weak spots to manipulate and perpetuate their power base. It was a covert old school craft of misdirection, manipulation and social engineering ... taking advantage of not only how the mind works but also of people's egoic weakness and desires. This was really brilliant.

I liked Seimei's character and Kento did a good job with it. I liked the kind of cool arrogance he had in contrast to the foolery of all the apprentices and their masters. I liked his value system regarding the trickery and the perpetuation of superstition just to keep their power base and social and political hierarchy.

It was interesting to me that in spite of that he still took the role of Artificer .... in thinking about why he did that, I see method in his choice ... there are many manipulators out there that can, and do, wreak havoc among the populace ... by taking this position and therefore putting himself in line to work with the emperor ... his is like a Yin to their Yang ... a counterweight balance. Nice ◝(ᵔ‿ᵔ)◜

I really liked this little movie ... it was jam packed with all sorts of wonderful things ... and is definitely rewatchable. I really enjoyed it and it was a 10/10 movie experience for me as it kept me engaged mentally, visually and auditorily ﾟ:･*･:(๑ᵔᴗᵔ)･:*:･ﾟ

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