Reviews

"You look familiar"

White Butterfly Killer falls deeply into the woman wronged revenge kung fu flick genre. Hsu Feng played the woman who had survived the death of her grandfather and sexual assault by a gang of bandits. After six long years she finally comes face to face with them and prepares to take them out one by one.

The White Butterfly owns an inn on the Leopard Mountain where all sorts of ruffians hang out. She and her girls who are trained in kung fu serve the customers and take down any men who cause trouble in her place. One evening a familiar face walks in. She recognizes him as one of the gang members who assaulted her and killed her grandfather. The White Butterfly enlists her trusted sidekicks to help her destroy the gang that set her life on a new course. In that gang, is one man who had helped her escape. Would he help her again or bring about her death?

White Butterfly Killer was a low budget Taiwanese movie. Much of the filming took place on a rundown location and a dusty road which lent an old west feel to it. The setting would alternate between day and night depending on who was on screen. The film opened with a fight between two factions that ended up at her inn as she took in a wounded inspector. This was never really brought up again. An inspector might have been pertinent with a band of vile outlaws staying under the same roof, but there you go. Somewhere through the years the sides have been cropped off the film which always makes the action concentrated in the center.

Hsu Feng may not have been a martial artist but kept up with the men she fought quite well. Her fighting was no worse than many of the extras with the choreography provided and her acting was stronger than some of the women in kung fu movies at the time. The “good” guy in the gang played by Kou Feng was a strange character. He hated some of the things the gang did but owed his life to the leader, his adoptive father. He encouraged Hsu’s character to just leave everything in the past. “Those who kill, will be killed.” Somehow that line is almost never used on men seeking justice/revenge for wrongs. And the ending drove that point home in case women didn’t catch it. Had it not been for the downer of an ending I might have rated this slightly higher.

The White Butterfly’s philosophy reminded me of the lyrics to The (Dixie) Chick’s song---
“I’m not ready to make nice. I’m not ready to back down.
I'm still mad as hell, and I don't have time to go 'round and 'round and 'round
It's too late to make it right, I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I'm mad as hell, can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should”

24 April 2024

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I'm not sure why it made into a movie, not sure what the director's vision of it. So boring.

Ten Years of Loving You is a Romantic comedy starring Ren Mi and Ding Yu Xi. I wonder why it was made and released.

Nothing original or exceptional about the plot, and the acting could be better, especially Ren Mi.

Synopsis: At 17, Wen Heng, an adopted child, was finally found by her biological parents and brought back to the family home in Beijing. This heartwarming story explores the challenges of adjusting to a new family dynamic, a situation many of us can relate to. However, tensions arise when her adopted sister feels threatened by her presence and starts throwing tantrums. To maintain family harmony, Wen Heng is asked to move into a family friend's house next door.

There, Wen Heng meets Yan Xi, and the two embark on a journey of self-discovery and friendship as they live together and go to school together. But this idyllic life is soon disrupted, as Yan Xi has to return to America to be with his sick mother, leaving Wen Heng to face new challenges and grow as a person.

My Reviews:
- The story is dull and has little excitement.
- The acting could be better, especially in the case of Ren Mi.
- I watched it on YouTube, where the audio was silent for almost 1/2 of the movie; it was so bad that I didn't bother to finish it.

I gave it a 4.0 rating for the bad story and the acting ability of the entire cast.

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I literally cried my eyes out on this movie!

Honestly this movie was on my watchlist for alot of time and I finally decided to watch it. And I again of course cried. Haeun and miso's friendship was really good. Honestly, I tried to understand both of their point of views. Haeun was a calm minded person who keeps things to herself and bottle up her emotions. Where as miso was the hasty one who says things on face. I cried alot at the ending. Haeun deserved so much better. So did miso, she wasn't wrong but she wasn't right either. When she was wearing jinwoo's necklace the whole time it didn't made sense to me but when in the ending they showed that haeun saw them kissing - and when miso asked to borrow the necklace I understood miso's point of view. Jinwoo said that necklace saved him from dying when he was a child, and miso wanted to be saved from the world, i may be wrong but that's what my mind goes like. It wasn't wrong in miso's pov. But someone who can understand haeun better, I understand haeun's dejection and disappointment. I liked it that miso completed the drawing of herself x that haeun couldn't. I liked it that she wants others to think haeun is still alive though she is not. Their bond wasn't fragile. I cried after the movie got completed for 2 hours straight. So just go for it.

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It felt like : Parallel reality of Cutie Pie the series

I haven’t see the trailer beforehand, I jumped directly to the movie.

And for what I got to see, it gave me IFYLITA vibes watered with softer horror tones.

P’Zee and NuNew’s performance didn’t surprise me, because they delivered as usual (I’m referring to CP the series).
The plot was good,sweet and simple and somehow directive but it wasn’t made for them, I think that they need more challenging characters and roles, taking into account what they have already done and in their potential.
This plot was more oriented for newcomers actors.
Watchable but not rewatchable.. it’s the kind of movies you’ll forget once you finished it.
At the end I had the sensation that I watched Cutie Pie the series( because of the elements portrayed in both characters), but in parallel reality. Spoke out my thoughts….

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Worth watching if you like conspiracy,well built characters…

I was so anxious to see the film and when it was finally available for my country I didn’t hesitate one second when I got the time.
Mile, Apo and Tong never disappoints when it comes to perform and deliver .
Even though it was a film it was really intense and I confess that I was a bit lost and confused but I paused sometimes to get my ideas on place and understand the story. For me it’s a good ‘cause it made it interesting.
We can’t deduce the end without watching it entirely and even at the end I was surprised.
I loved how they build intelligent and complex characters my only regret was that it was sooooooooo short.
When you’re in you forget time notions and just dive in the story.

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Thrilling and suspenseful enough!

The movie starts with Zheng wei,played by Greg Hsu,meeting Joanna,played by Janine Chang on the charges of investigating a murder case involving her and her ex lover.
Though it is shot in a locked room with serious discussions between Greg Hsu and Janine Chang,the twists are mind blowing.
The plot is very intriguing and the screenplay also makes us stick to our seats till the end.
The ost was perfect for each and every scene.
The finale revelation of the villain really leaves us astonished.The pace is also good.
Greg Hsu is one amazing actor I found through this movie.
Janine Chang is one actress with both beauty and talent.Both of them were perfect in their roles.
Everything else was also equally good.
Watch this movie if you want to watch a perfect crime thriller.Highly recommended.?

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High School Romance (reminder there is an extra scene of them after so don't end the movie)

Our Secret Diary was probably one of the best Japanese romance movies I've ever watched before, the story was so good on how he thought it was Matsumoto when it was Kuroda, it was so cute when Setoyama realized it was Kuroda after the karaoke bar while they were walking she said something to motivate him which was what he saw in the desk but he didn't want to end it because he loved talking to her though a notebook he gave to he and it absolutely so cute when they were studying in the classroom and Kuroda said she wished the best for him and Matsumoto and he kissed which was SUPER DUPER CUTE!!!!!!!!!! and when she confessed that she wasn't Matsumoto he ran to her and confessed he liked her. But then he realized he was on air and everyone could hear him and they ended up being together and DON'T FORGET TO WATCH ALL THE WAY TO THE END BECAUSE THERE'S A SCENE WITH BOTH OF THEM WHEN THEY'RE OLDER. I super duper recommend this movie for you people to watch.

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One sided love

Honestly this movie was one of the best japanese movies I've ever watched and the way he wanted do the one sided love game with her was so cute. It was so cute how he was her stalker and he played the game to get closer with her,I honestly believe this is such an amazing movie because both actors really fit into the charaters personality and how they both experienced one sided love. I was honestly so cute how he cofessed how he was her stalker at the end and a few scenes showed up with him admiring her. I honestly believe this is an amazing hogh school romance movie.

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A well-structured, controversial dark romance.

This is one of the dark-concept GL movies I found interesting. It reminds me of Black Swan and Thelma. The epilogue is rather bizarre, but it managed to pull the audience's attention right away. The moment it started, you knew that it was going to be full of angst, so brace yourself.

The main characters, Phoenix and Jade, are two women from different backgrounds. Phoenix is an openly gay artist who lives a free-spirited life, while Jade is a prosecutor and a Catholic fundamentalist. While Phoenix is keen to pursue a relationship with Jade, it’s not exactly possible. Then there’s Meng Ye, an androgynous man. Though this movie centers on the love triangle between them, there is no romance whatsoever in this movie. Only desire and pain.

This movie has an extensive theme that ranges from jealousy, possessiveness, sexual acceptance, one’s insecurity, and unhealthy conceptions of power and sex. It also explores the analogy between sex and gender. While the theme and the storylines are quite controversial and provocative, the director handles them brilliantly and conveys them through skillful cinematography.

In my opinion, ‘Wrath of Desire’ is not a perfect movie, and it may not be everyone’s cup of tea due to the taboo and dark elements it touches on, like BDSM, self-harm, cheating, grooming, and sex abuse, but it's a well-structured movie. It's a nice blending of reality, fantasy, emotions, and desire into a tragedy-packed story. If you like dark romance or something melodramatic, and if you can handle the triggers mentioned, it’s something to watch.

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i tried so hard to not be biased but

Having delved into both the manga and anime, I feel justified in expressing my viewpoints. Despite my earnest efforts to appreciate this drama, regrettably, my hopes were dashed due to excessively lofty expectations. Primarily, the substandard quality of production came as a surprising letdown. It's truly baffling that the anime/manga production entity would endorse such a meagerly funded project. Whether this stems from financial limitations or sheer negligence on the part of the scriptwriters and producers remains uncertain. Given the existing manga and anime as a blueprint, the alterations in the narrative and the evident lack of meticulousness seem outright disrespectful to the original creations.

The ensemble cast could have been more judiciously selected. I don't intend to be overly critical, but although the cast's performances are passable, not all of them seem apt for their respective roles. The character of Izumi, meant to embody a blend of beauty, clumsiness, innocence, and grace, falls short in the portrayal by the actor. His demeanor leans too heavily towards masculinity, with lackluster facial expressions that occasionally veer into inappropriateness. And the depiction of Ryoma is a whole other debacle. The actor's appearance is less than appealing, and his interpretation is cringeworthy, completely distorting Ryoma's essence. There's much more I could articulate, but the frustration almost renders it inexpressible. The sole character that evoked reminiscences of the anime/manga was Shogo, solely due to the actor's adept capture of his speech patterns and demeanor. I relinquished viewing midway through, compelled to persevere till the end. Such is the profound disappointment this production embodies.

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Ninguna adaptación me recuerda al anime

Vi el anime hace mucho tiempo y, cuando salió la adaptación tailandesa decidí verla, porque guardaba buenos recuerdos. Ese drama se convirtió directamente en el BL peor valorado de mi lista hasta el día de hoy, con esta película. No sé quién tuvo la idea de convertir una obra larga en una película de 80 minutos, pero sus esfuerzos de resumen no dieron con la tecla adecuada. Todo se siente apresurado y falto de verdaderos sentimientos. Otra oportunidad perdida de ofrecer un producto mínimamente aceptable. Y con ello no quiero decir que el material original fuese sublime… pero había más donde rascar.

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Indeed, it's a miracle store!

It is a little slow and can be quite heavy to watch at some part, but because of its storyline, it makes me want to watch it and i'm glad i finish it. It's worth it.

It's surprisingly easy to follow. Sometimes, fantasy show, especially one that involves "time slip" tends to get confusing, but not this one. It really is well executed and I really love each letter and its reply.

My favorite scene is when Namiya get to receive the letter from future. That's really touching that he gets to know he has lived a full, rich and meaningful life.

It's amazing how everything is inter-connected and how it ends in full circle. That last letter really wraps it up! Gist, it's SO good!!!

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Weird & funny!

The synopsis says it all. I just wondered about the LGBT tag: apparently the two women living together are a couple? I think?

The story is told from the point of view of the fan: immobile(just swivelling its fan regularly from let to right and back again) and silent witness to the goings-on in the flat.

An original idea of putting a camera on the fan combines with the actors' perfect timing makes for a funny and a smart watch. The characters are all coolly (blasé) reacting to surprising presences: nobody shouts or jumps. It is more of a vaudeville show with people hiding in closets and behind coat-hangers!

It is a comedy, there is really no deeper meaning or message. A child's voice recites lines from Veda which is supposed to be about the fan, who, Godlike, bestows its silent presence onto the inhabitants of that flat.

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Excellent family psychological drama

Twenty-one minutes are enough for South Korean screenwriter and film director Jang Young Seon to present and develop the conflicts of this family psychological drama that revolves around a dysfunctional family that has been trying for more than a decade to compensate for the loss of a child by adopting young people to replace it.
With an intriguing plot, well-developed characters, music consistent with the conflicts raised, and a dark color palette, the short film 'My Eleventh Brother' (형이 돌아왔다), from 2016, begins when the family of high school student An Sung Woo (Kim Myung Kyu) arrives with the newly adopted An Sung Kyu (Lim Ji Hoon), a young man who also comes from a broken world, having spent his life in foster homes.
While Sung Kyu, who recognizes himself as a "nobody", searches for the family he longs for, Sung Woo searches for his place in the world. Both young people have a secret that they have preferred to hide from others: they are homosexuals.
The first thing that catches my attention is that the title of the short film refers not to the eleventh child of the family, but to the eleventh brother of the main protagonist. This tells us that what is intended to be highlighted is more than the relationship of the adopted young person with the family, it is the relationship of the newcomer with the son of the family, that is, with his brother.
The film tells how Sung Woo rejects Sung Kyu, as he surely could have despised others before him, until he discovers, in the midst of a premature antagonism, that between the two there are more reasons that unite them than those that can separate them.
This is how they eventually end up finding refuge in each other. But not only that, Sung Kyu will also manage to bring peace to the family, especially to the mother (Jung Soo Young). The scene of the mother and adopted son sharing games and laughter, which shows a change in the woman's depressive and sad personality, also demonstrates that Sung Kuy is the ideal missing member of the home.
Premiered at the Seoul Pride Film Festival 2016, 'My Eleventh Brother' is a short film with moving scenes, clear development and growth of the characters, which addresses themes such as coming of age, the search for love and happiness, psychological traumas and family relationships.
Despite its disturbing, at times suffocating atmosphere, 'My Eleventh Brother' leaves me with that momentum that makes you want more and more of the show. It's not boring at all, and every scene is suspenseful and will keep you on edge worrying about what will happen next to keep you completely pleased.

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