This has a great plot, it's not something you haven't seen before but the way the story was told was just great. Painfully beautiful. I first used the term with A Beautiful Life (series) and this will just be the second time.
No matter how many times you go back in time to try to change things if it isn't meant to be that it will never be. Seems you really can't change what is bound to happen. You just have to accept the fact that whatever is meant to be will find its way eventually. Enjoy the moment and make the most put of it, keep those memories and make sure you tell those you love how much you love them.
Full review here: elijahmaliksmom.wordpress.com

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If there's a movie that I would recommend to other Nationalities that I would not feel ashamed of, it is this movie.

Alessandra De Rossi and Empoy did a very good job with how they showed the emotions of their characters.

This movie will definitely make you cry, laugh and fall in love.

And Kz's version of Two Less Lonely People In the World was just awesome.

I rarely praise movies or TV series from my country Philippines,  this is definitely an exception.

If you want to watch something worth your time from the Philippines, this is the movie you should be watching.

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All the cast were great but of course (I am a Takuya Kimura fan through and through) Manji was the best. The fight scenes were fluid. It was bloody, very, but it was executed finely, I never had a look-away-it-is-gross moment. Miike did a great job of directing this, everything was just on point. And Takuya's voice was so manly, it was just how I imagine Manji would sound when I read the manga version. Takuya Kimura did an excellent job of portraying Manji, it is like he strips off his persona and wears this new person. You wouldn't even recognize him as his previous characters.

The over-all execution was really awesome, flawless, for me. The flow of the film from the black and white to the colored one was superb. I am not a big fan of bloody movies but I am glad I watched this. I am also very glad that they stuck to the manga as best as they can.
 
If there is one this I feel that is lacking, it is the musical scoring. I don't know if it was as intended but I felt like some scenes would have been more effective with a good background music.

Full review here: https://elijahmaliksmom.wordpress.com/2017/11/14/blade-of-the-immortal/

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First thing to notice is, was, the scenery. The cinematography was just awesome. I love how the colors makes the whole movie so anime-ish.

Second was the CG (computer graphics) used. It gave justice to how I imagined it would be. It may not be the best but it did the job for me. It was not half baked.

For me the characters portrayal was also on point. I was able to watch the anime and I felt that they tried their very best to stick to the soul of the anime. Until now I am astounded how they are able to make Al's character come alive. And the Nina chimera, it was heartbreaking but good. If you weren't touched, I don't know about you. I also liked how the villains are very close to how it was in the anime.

And just to clarify the WIG issue:
The hair is not a wig, it was an unruly hair extension.

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When I decided to watch this I had a very low expectation for it. But man, it was twists and turn until the very end. The plot was very good. Just when I though I figured out how it will end, something will happen that causes me to rethink things.

I liked it. For me, it was not something predictable and it was different.

You definitely should watch it. It may not be for everyone's taste though since the theme was dark.

I liked how the characters were played, very interesting.

I'm happy that I did not waste almost 2 hours of my life by watching this.

^_^

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I wanted to watch something with Erika Toda and this is what I saw.

I thought it’s just something silly, light and I would just laugh through it. Well I did laugh here and there. But, God, I never though I’d be crying for this movie. I though wrong, so wrong.

I liked the part of the stubborn daughter and gangster father, but my favorite was the story of the old couple. Dang, I cannot stop crying when I knew their story. I was so touched!

Longer review with a little spoiler here: https://elijahmaliksmom.wordpress.com/2018/07/08/april-fools-2015/

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Well, for starters I do not get the ending, AT ALL. And then I found out that there is a another version of this, a drama series, and that this is just like a summary of the series. I would PROBABLY watch the series just to see if it will be any different from the movie. Hopefully, it has a better ending.

Also, I felt like the actors are lacking something. A spark perhaps? I don’t feel that they are meant to be paired. It’s like the pairing was forced. No “kilig” factor or romantic excitement coming from them.

So, I’ve been telling you what I don’t like about it but there is actually one thing I like about this. And that is the fact that it is very realistic. The story is good, sad but good, and it’s something that you wouldn’t want to happen to you and your lover. It’s always a ‘so-near-yet-so-far” kind of ordeal. A “we’re-destined-but-we-can-never-be” kind of relationship. It’s very hard.



https://elijahmaliksmom.wordpress.com/2017/11/06/akai-ito/

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How can a series be so Painfully Beautiful? That's how I describe this series.
Takuya Kimura really did a good job in portraying a hairdresser.
(Trivia: He actually studied Hairdressing for this drama and is a licensed hairdresser)

Yes, I have a love-hate relationship with the Female protagonist for the fact that she's so pessimist, it's to a fault. Yes, I understand she's a person with disability, due to her illness, but she seemed to think that everyone is doing something good for her because of that. Isn't that a bit too much? Can't anybody be just nice, sweet or even fall in love with you, because you are you and not because you have a life threatening illness?

Be ready to weep in the last two episodes. I actually did not expect that cause it was feel good the first few episodes. It was really painfully beautiful. It broke my heart, really.

Original review can be found here: https://elijahmaliksmom.wordpress.com/2016/11/30/beautiful-life-jdorama/

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Tori Girl is NOT a love story. If you are looking for one then turn your back towards Tori Girl, you’ll be disappointed if you’re looking for romance.

Tori Girl is a very fun movie to watch.

At first I thought it was a little boring but after the first 15 to 20 minutes, the story starts to build and it gets very funny.

Tao, Shotaro and Mahiro did a very good job with their role. I also am happy to see Elaiza Ikeda in this movie.

The movie is interesting especially the aircraft part of it.



Longer review here: https://elijahmaliksmom.wordpress.com/2018/07/09/tori-girl/

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The story revolves around a couple living in Kamakura. A place where “supernatural” is normal, like dead people walking around, or having kappa’s walk around the area, or even having the God of Misery drop from your ceiling. LOL.

The story is unique itself and that is enough to get you to watch it. The story has a mixture comedy, fantasy, romance and mystery to it. It also talks a little about the concept of "destiny" and “forever” in a very subtle and relate-able manner.

I over all liked it.

8/10

Longer review with a little spoiler here: https://elijahmaliksmom.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/destiny-the-tale-of-kamakura/

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This movie was screened in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival with Mugen no Junin (Out of Competition).

Just like where it was screen in Cannes, I too am a very UNCERTAIN with my feelings toward this movie. (PUN intended. LOL.)I don’t know if I like it, hate it or if it’s just OK.

There are some parts of it that I find amusing and nice, some that I do not like at all. I wonder if it was because of the characters, the plot or how the story unfolded or maybe how it was told?



Longer review with a little spoiler at https://elijahmaliksmom.wordpress.com/2018/07/19/before-we-vanish/

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The story was good at first, very good actually. Then they decided to make it like how a usual Pinoy series would be like. They added a third party which really is not necessary. Actually 2 third parties. Talk about over kill.

I am a fan of the tandem, they're collectively called ALDUB, and they were supposed to be the leads of this series. But when the female third party was added it felt like she was the lead of the series. Imagine an episode where you do not see the leads interacting at all? Yeah, such happened a lot with this series.


So, am I disappointed as to how something really good turned out to be so bad? Hell yeah, super disappointed, hence the rating.

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