Wow.. finally a proper movie from China. The overall exceeds my expectation.
1. Acting [+]My gosh... all the actors/actresses are so good here. High praise for ML & FL. Their acting are so authentic. It's so hard to find good acting from Chinese actors/actresses, but there's a bunch here. I truly dislike the mother and look down on that kind of teacher. It's ridiculous to have this kind of adults to be responsible for children. I don't know if this is a compliment, but the image they draw for adults in this movie makes me look down on the way Chinese society treats their young people and its educational attitude as a whole. They can really make me disgust how egoistic and problematic the adults are to the younger generation. The adults act like what they do are rightful in spite of the opposite. For the leads' part, they both are so young but can handle their roles real well. Wu Lei really nails it. His acting is detailed, which I think is also the result of having competent director that can guide the acting direction for his actors. The FL's role seems to be more level through the story, but her acting is much believable. Nothing looks awkward at all. I feel along with her all the way through, esp. in that scene on her birthday night - it was so embarrassing and I totally feel her. I'm 100% embarrassed together with her.
2. Story [+]
First, they have messages they want to communicate, which are strong and substantial. Second, the subplots are very well weaved into one story. They did so well with the peak, turns and twists, which means there're so many points in the story that provoke my perception no matter it's thoughts, surprise or new happening, and all of them are harmonious in the whole picture. Lastly, the script that is made up to be this film can really make me laugh out loud and scream (due to embarrassment, lol) - the emotions they want to convey have successfully conveyed in each scene.
Note:
I still deduct some points on the score as I think the extreme characters like the mother and teacher are designed to be surreal. I consider it as cheating for an easier way out by distorting the rule to their own benefit.
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P.S. While watching, I was thinking until the end that if the ML's ex-crush was a guy, his subplot would be perfect. Anyway, considering this film is from China where being gay is a taboo, I could foresee my wish/speculation wouldn't be portrayed :P
P.S.2 I just realized one day after watching that the FL here is the same one in Love Story In London. Wha... I gave 1 score for Love Story In London, so I'm glad to see she can actually make it far beyond that. It's great to see her true potential with a proper project that can let her properly challenge herself and shine. Her role in Love Story In London was uninteresting and had nothing to deliver at all.
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sliver linings of youth
good slice of life of 2 teenagers go through “stuff” and tough emotions.I think it ended abruptly but it didn’t take away from the body of the work
don’t watch on netflix dubbed- just read the subtitles.
acting was great from both leads. also- just a cultural note- I didn’t know involved parents could be in China! that was wild to me
good slice of life of 2 teenagers go through “stuff” and tough emotions.
I think it ended abruptly but it didn’t take away from the body of the work
don’t watch on netflix dubbed- just read the subtitles.
acting was great from both leads. also- just a cultural note- I didn’t know involved parents could be in China! that was wild to me
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A Brilliant Movie With A Surprising Ending
For new fans of Leo Wu, this is one of the movies you can watch with ease and enjoy a really good performance by him in his teens. As Leo started young as a child actor, I enjoyed watching his natural talent of every decade and in Upcoming Summer, Leo's portrayal of teenager 'Zheng Yu Xing' with Zhang Zi Feng's 'Chen Chen' was endearing. Both had to stay back in High School when they failed their college entrance exam because of personal issues. Through this journey studying for their entrance exam again, they were somewhat bound together, found friendship through a kindred spirit. The two main leads made the roles their own and their emotions were well shared when it comes to first loves, un-requited love, secret admiration and the lessons experienced by teenagers. However, what truly hits you is the truth at the end of the movie. The director did such a brilliant job, I almost missed the truth until I watched the ending again. I kept wondering why he could not love her back.I enjoyed this movie very much and is highly recommended.
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This review may contain spoilers
Face the reality bravely
First of all, this movie isn't just a light-hearted youth film but also a well-thought-out story about how to embrace life. I had no preconceived ideas of what this movie was about as I didn't watch any trailers but just jumped into it because of the cast and director. Man... It hit me with waves of emotions and made me thoughtful for days.I must say the storytelling is very well-executed. It's no wonder coming from that Director Leste Chen. The main theme of this movie is about embracing the reality with courage whether it is bitter or sweet and growing up along all the experiences you have while chasing your dream. Every character in the movie has difficulty accepting their realities or their real selves in the beginning but in the end, they finally learnt to find courage to reconcile with reality.
The cinematography of some scenes are so mesmerizing and hypnotizing that they gave me out-of-this-world feelings.
About acting and cast, Zhang Zi Feng and Wu Lei are 2 of the most promising actors/actresses in China. They bring depth to the characters that even surpassed the script (according to the director's words) and since they're still very young and very close to the ages of the characters, they look really cute together in school uniforms as well.
Electronic music is a big part of the male lead character's story and there are lots of scenes of electronic music festivals, so if you are a fan of electronic music, you are in for a treat!
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The best Chinese movie I have ever seen and I'm not kidding.
Try as I might, I usually find that, while Chinese movies may look nice, they usually have terrible plotting, writing, and acting. This little movie NAILS IT. It's a simple story about a 17-year old girl and boy trying to graduate from high school and becoming buddies in the process. It's slice of life. It doesn't try to be anything else, but it does what it does PERFECTLY. The acting of the female and male leads and the supporting cast is natural and nuanced. The plot subverts its own predictability to keep itself fresh the whole way through. There is beautiful camera work and a touching soundtrack (a little sweet perhaps but that's true to Chinese style I think). An excellent movie.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
My heart ached a beautiful ache.
It’s raw, it’s real and it’s beautiful. I am so in love with this film and it’s portrayal of teenage angst and growing up. It brought me back when I was 17.It started with a lie that almost felt too real. The story is layered with family drama, first love, unrequited love, first heartbreak, first kiss, actions and consequences. I personally love how electronic music is instrumental in this film.
Wu Lei’s acting is “chef’s kiss”. He is so beautiful to watch. He truly brought XYZ to life. I felt all his emotions. The lead actress isn’t bad either, but Wu Lei is just brought it.
I have to admit, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a full movie. This had my interest from start to finish. And while my heart ached a little bit with what happened in the film, I personally liked how it ended. It is realistic yet wonderful.
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My heart hurts
Ahh, I must say the movie is very well made, the actors are v good I usually don’t really watch movies/series without skipping at least one scene but I didn’t skip any scenes sooo must be a good movie!!This movie felt so raw and real. The acting was so wonderful I genuinely believed that these were real people and not just characters in a movie. The conversations they shared will definitely resonate with a lot of the audience. The cinematography was also breathtaking; almost every scene felt like art and I just loved how the music complemented every scene. It’s everything a coming-of-age movie should be.
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I highly recommend it!
Upcoming Summer is not love story but a story about love. The film touches on themes like learning to be brave by accepting life’s difficult realities. Through their friendship Chen Chen and Zheng mature and are left to explore the people they want to be as they grow into adults.I really like this film and I recommend it. It’s fun, endearing and touching. Wu Lei and Zhang Zifeng deliver really good performances and have great chemistry with each other, and the rest of the cast. The story has a few twists that I know have caused some buzz in China but I personally found it to be beautiful.
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Simple story but effective and great cinematography
I love me a chinese historical drama but I could never get into.many modern dramas. But the cinematography of this film is different to the usual dramas, just so well done (also good that theres no dubbing)The story starts off as a simple, coming of age story but the unexpected twist makes it more watchable and engaging. I loved both actors and the characters they played. I thought characters like the fl can get irritating like lot of chinese school dramas but she really comes into her own, a little awkward because of the stir in the situation she caused but is still really likeable.
Wu lei is a fave, not much more to.say other than he plays a charismatic and general mice guys character which of course i loved
Lastly, the ost and the electronic tracks they used is just great
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Great acting, heavy message
This film is a testament to the incredible talents of both actors, though I admit, Leo Wu drew me in initially, only to be pleasantly surprised by Zhang Zi Feng's remarkable acting prowess. Their on-screen chemistry was great, enhancing the already amazing performances. The movie boasted not only superb casting but also stunning cinematography, complementing its fresh and innovative storyline.As an avid fan of Leo, I can see his exploration of an unorthodox character, showcasing his versatility and dedication to his acting career. It's clear he's a professional pushing the boundaries of his acting range.
Initially I’m seeking a light-hearted comedy, but stumbled upon a seemingly simple movie that carried a profound message, catching me off guard. Although it wasn't precisely what I anticipated, I highly recommended it to movie critics and enthusiasts who value depth and craftsmanship.
This film is precisely the type I envision producing if I were to step into the role of a producer. While it might not be my cup of tea at this moment, its quality performances, innovative concept, and thought-provoking themes make it a noteworthy addition to the cinema landscape, sure to be appreciated by those seeking substance in their movies.
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This review may contain spoilers
For Leo Wu.
I watched this movie after watching Leo Wu in his (latest) magnificent drama - Love like Galaxy. I wanted just a bit more of this excellent actor.No regrets watching this movie but this movie isn’t a big deal. It isn’t very exciting or very engaging or very suspenseful. I watched it because of the male lead. That’s it.
The female lead looked very much like Huang Jing Lun and I didn’t take much to her.
This movie isn’t a must watch but if you just want a little bit more of Leo Wu… then I suppose it’s okay.
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Wished it was braver
As a youth movie it's nice but underwhelming. There's the very typical family issues, and I'm actually just glad there's not a huge focus on studies or school life. This movie felt very freeing, in a way.As LGBT commentary, however, it's so coded (censored?) that it can't make much of an impact. But it really is an interesting take on the fake dating trope, and I love how friendship-focused it was.
The ending is a little abrupt — I wish we had seen more of the two families — but I think it wraps things up decently.
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