Reviews

Unlikable characters and unsatisfying ending

I hated a lot of things about this.

Carrie? Awful. She didn't care about anyone but herself and she was a truly terrible friend to Jonathan.

Shane? Awful, but he was just doing his best. At least I thought so until the weird sex scene that came out of nowhere. Why did he do that? Did he have feelings for Jonathan or was he doing that to keep him from leaving?

Jonathan? He deserved better than what both the other characters put him through emotionally.

The ending? Awful. Where is the closure? It ended without actually knowing where Shane stands or knowing his motives for certain things he did. Is he picking Carrie? Is he picking Jonathan? Does he get to keep them both? Does he lose one? We just don't know and that made the entire experience of the movie a waste of time because nothing actually mattered and nothing is resolved.

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Saucy love

I've read that Korean dramas can be clean cut and conservative, while the movies can be a bit edgier. This was definitely edgy!

It was also so refreshing to watch as it dealt with BDSM in a very adult way. I didn't feel like it was approached in a sniggering or childish way. People like different things and the movie explored that.

It explored the consequences of someone trying to be authentic with others. Until we share ourselves with others, we will never know how accepting the other person will be or how supportive. There were some sad moments and some funny moments. There were also some interesting moments - going to the shop and looking at what's offered was eye opening as was what the FL did for the ML. Who knew that the quality of the rope matters?

What I liked: the personality of the ML was so well acted. He was vulnerable but determined in what he wanted.
What I didn't like: the ending was a bit abrupt and a little silly, but also predictable.

It's made me look at all my co-workers in a new way....

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Seeking true connection is what we all want to be able to do...

The film, although filmed almost 30 years ago, remains completely relevant.

The two characters form a sincere online friendship without ever having met. They get to know each other through the emails they send each other. Despite the lies, the sometimes long-awaited answers, they manage to prolong their friendship because of the unconditional acceptance of the other.
Perhaps this acceptance was facilitated by the fact that they never met, the lies are forgiven more quickly because they do not have to confront their feelings of shame or guilt face to face.
The film could have been better made, however I always loved how most Japanese films and dramas of the 90s face the daily life. I really admire the fact that often the ordinariness is made less unbearable than in reality. There is a lot of comfort in what the film gives us but also a sadness that is ... accepted.
We can still lead our life in a courageous way, it can still harbor a form of beauty that belongs to us, even if our life is not full of exceptional events, of constant adventures...
Continuing to live is already an exceptional act, we carry within us magic much more than life carries, and we don't always see it.

We all have responsabilities and boreness in our life, and that's okay, we all go through this sentiment of feeling stuck in the same daily routine of our lives. But yet, there is still a space where you can find beauty in it.
It is increasingly difficult to form real relationships in our daily lives in our increasingly individual societies, and having to communicate via email or social networks now is both sad, perhaps even tragic, but also allows us to find a certain sense of hope.

The real beauty of this film is in the characters' innocent and powerful will to see the best in each other, and to maintain a constant connection between them despite obstacles. Their willingness to connect is very pure.
I also really like how the movie normalizes the feeling of loneliness. At no point is there any motivation of sensationalizing the fact of choosing to be alone or to isolate oneself. The film doesn't try to make the spectators sad or to feel sorry for the characters, but to understand them and accept their choice of life. Sometimes choosing to isolate oneself is not a dramatic thing, but simply a choice of living to gain some respite, to not have to suffer so intensely in front of the world which continues to move forward, that same world who prentend to not see you or how you feel.

Seeking a true connexion, feeling seen and heard, accepted and cherished is what we all want to be able to do. Don't we ?

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Trapped by Desire

The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese has easily secured its place as one of my all-time favorite Asian dramas and BL films. This adaptation brings to life Setona Mizushiro's manga with depth, portraying the complexities of love, vulnerability, and identity in a way that is raw and intensely intimate. The film dives into the relationship between two deeply flawed men, Kyoichi and Imagase, revealing how love can emerge from even the most unexpected places.

-Story

The story centers on Kyoichi, and Imagase, his old friend who has secretly longed for Kyoichi for years. When Imagase enters Kyoichi’s life as a private investigator, Kyoichi is forced to confront aspects of himself he's long ignored. What unfolds is a story of self-discovery and acceptance. The story's pacing is reallythoughtful showcasing the emotional conflict between the characters. Their interactions are painful, but through the film's raw approach it feels genuine and intense. Watching Kyoichi exploring and discovering himself through Imagase’s nonstopping pursuit of love is both heartbreaking and fulfilling.

-Acting/Cast

Okura Tadayoshi’s portrayal of Otomo Kyoichi is perfectly layered, quiet, vulnerable, and inscrutable. He captures the all the rage existent inside Kyoichi’s mind.
Originally in the manga he is kind of spineless, and the one who is seduced easily all the time and cant even resist to anyones charms, but here in the movie he is really reserved and almost unemotional at points. This Otomo keeps his with him and doesnt let them out, making it hard for viewers who are unfamiliar with his background to understand him, making it incerdibly hard to understand whats is going on inside his head, so i personally think that to understand his character in the movie u have to notice the little details, which are his gazes and expressions. Lookin at those aspects his character may not seem as complex as he looks like.

In the manga the character Imagase was a cold and detached that only shined next to Kyoichi, while in the movie he was relaxed, and loosen up. Narita Ryo perfectly conveys the desperation, fear, and hope to capture Imagase's deeply insecure nature. This insecurity comes to show through his actions and choices, revealing the intensity behind Imagase’s carefree exterior, both on the manga and the movie. Together, they create some of the most emotional moments I’ve seen in a BL.
Both characters are extremely hard to portray yet both actors really did their all represent the characters and it resulted in a spectacular depiction of the manga.

-The Music

While the soundtrack is understated and doesn’t stand out as much as other aspects of the film, it actually complements the tone, allowing the story to shine through without distraction. The music quietly supports the ambiance, enhancing the film’s moody feel. While it’s not the most memorable soundtrack, it’s fitting for the story’s contemplative atmosphere.

-Rewatch Value

The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese actually made me look at love in human relationships in a different light. This is what made it standout among BLs and made it on of my personal favorites . Even with differences from the manga, the film’s artistic direction make it a fulfilling watch every time, especially for those who really like towatch messy stories of love who are really character-driven.

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When words are absent or insufficient, the mind finds another way to externalize the suffering.

Undo is a purely artistic film. It is about a visual representation of a psychiatric disorder.
Although as a movie, the narrative structure, the lack of dialogues and relevant scenes to give us more context needed of the story, the film is a unique sensory experience to watch !! The directing is absolutely stunning.
It is pure visual art, more than a film.

Moemi and Yukio are long time lovers, but their relationship is fading away. They love each other but aren't in love anymore.
Moemi is trying to change things to fix their relationship but Yukio is uanble to express what he really feels. She is willing to stop her own evolution just for the sake of Moemi being able to see in Yukio what made him in love ... (her choosing to put back her braces because he was used to them)
"You don't like it?"
Moemi's insanity starts. She has this compulsive need to attach things to her, so that they don't leave her. And in the movie, I feel like it started when Moemi asked Yukio why their kiss didn't feel as good as before (but she felt it too, she knows when she kisses him, the intense feelings aren't there for her too) .
He couldn't really answer, he couldn't give an answer, simply because he really didn't know why his love had changed, she started to brush his hair, her hands yearned for his hair, as if she wanted to hold them, because indeed both were noticing how far they were drifting away.
The braces were just a symbol of it, and now knoting things is the only way she finds to cope with the traumatic revelation that their love is dying by itself, with no actual real reason than the simple exhaustion of romantic feelings.
An ‘Obsessive Knot-Binding Syndrome’.

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Not as engaging as I hoped but worth a look

Uprising is a film that promises much: action, swordsmanship, disaffected friendship and an overview of how persons of the lesser classes were treated. It did not paint King Seonjo in a good light (and rightly so)..

What I found during watching this movie is how little it engaged me. I found myself going through the viewing motions. The story in its telling was nothing new. However, if you look at it from the point of view of a historical action film, it has some merit. For me though, I found I was suffering from action sameness.

Now to who I liked. Kim Shin Rok as Beom Dong was superb. I wish I could have moved with such animation at the same age. Her character was strong, loyal and displayed superb martial arts. The Blue Robed God should have treated her with a touch more respect.

The two friends: one is a noble, the other is a very talented slave but his closest friend. The story of how they started out together was solid. However, what led to their difference of opinion and final reconciliation was underdone. Their relationship was complex, A film sometimes doesn’t have enough time or space to show this as was the case here. The acting by both was solid.

The message of how Seonjo viewed his people and what happens as a result of the Japanese invasion is valid. Unlike other uprisings in other nations where there was chaos and war, the King managed to survive and carry on. Why this happened is something that needs more exploration elsewhere.

Overall, it’s worth a look and better than many other Netflix films.

For such a lavish production, I expected more.

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Its actually quite good!

I thought this would be a basic cringy cheese cliche movie, but although cliche, it had its moments when I watched it. The characters were well-developed, and their actions had meaning and made sense! The feelings didn't feel forced, and they were somewhat realistic. The use of music in the film was also a great choice, metal isn't something you see often in Japanese movies.

The only cons I would say are that at the start it was almost awkward to get into and the music can throw you off if you thought it was simply a basic rom-com. It isn't exactly a unique film, it used common tropes but it did it very well. I would recommend this to others and rewatch myself!

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"The roar of the dark sea is so far away yet I can still hear it"

Just when I thought I’d already seen Obayashi’s strangest film, he said, “Hold my beer.” I watched the short film, Emotion, twice and am still not sure I understand it. The acting was okay, the story surreal. What was amazing was the maddeningly creative editing Obayashi concocted like a sorcerer who had inhaled too many mushrooms in his dark laboratory.

Emi is a young woman who lives by the sea and yearns to see more of the world. When she moves to the big city she meets mysterious Sari. They become fast friends until the day the man Sari loves falls in love with Emi. Sari gives in to the dark nature of her family…a family descended from vampires. At least I think that’s what happened. Lol

I cannot fathom how many editing cuts and splices were made for this film. Obayashi used every camera angle and trick available at the time. I caught more of the special effects the second time I watched it. Much like a silent film, the characters rarely spoke out loud. A voiceover in English and Japanese narrated the film. Intertitles occasionally appeared with the speed of a subliminal mind-altering torture. Poetry was spouted almost continually which elaborated more on emotions than plot. Different frames were bathed in solitary colors or simply black and white. Swirling, rocking scenes could be nausea inducing. You never knew what might appear next-bubbles, a random dog passing through, a dancing vampire with an umbrella, or a wild west shoot-out. Contemporary 1960’s music alternated with traditional music which added to the fanciful atmosphere.
To top everything off, behind the scenes footage was also used.

Much of the film could have been a dream or a young woman’s descent into madness. Coming of age, sexual awakening, friendship, desire, heartbreak, and jealousy all made an appearance. I’m not sure if incest or passing along the vampiric “gift” was shown. And whether a couple of scenes were about losing one’s innocence or rape.

Emotion was a complete mood film even if I wasn’t always sure what mood was being evoked at breakneck speed. It was an intriguing work of art more than compelling story. The short running time worked to the film’s advantage as it could be dizzyingly exhausting. Obayashi wasn’t afraid to inject humor throughout---never thought I’d see a vampire drink someone’s blood with a straw. If you are looking for something strange and different, Emotion qualifies on both counts.

"Do you like the sound of footsteps on the fallen leaves? Come. Night is falling."

26 October 2024
Trigger warnings: Suicide. Partial nudity.

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Don't expect cliches

I love the script and the simplicity of acting. The focus was not too much on the background stories of the main characters which might put off people who are used to those cliche scripts .. sorry, but this storyline was DEEPLY REFLECTED ON! I commend the choice of Iris at the end, even if it may be unpopular. She has her right to choose her "happy " ending! Quite the opposite since she was crying so much in her last voice message... But I cry sooo much more for Parin!!! It is so painful not to have time for proper goodbyes...How he'll move on after is a GREAT SEQUEL for Metawin.👏👏👏 All in all, I will keep a copy of this movie for days I just want to be melancholic about life, love...

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Love goes beyond materialistic desires and possessions.

'Third World Romance' is not the typical romantic movie we’ve seen before. Everything about it is the complete opposite of the usual romance clichés. Through the lens of a romantic story, this film tackles important social issues that are prevalent in our society today. It doesn't shy away from portraying the harsh realities of poverty and the class gap, shedding light on the struggles faced by many individuals in the lower socio-economic group. By weaving these themes into a love story, focusing on the simplicity of nurturing love through small acts of kindness, understanding, and compassion, it also effectively brings attention to these pressing issues in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

Apart from the love story between Bree and Alvin and the struggles they go through, this film also portrayed a healthy non-conformity to the traditional Filipino family. Alvin lives with his chosen family, consisting of his transwoman father and siblings who have diverse sexual orientation and gender identity. Credit to the director for showcasing queer family representation.

The outstanding portrayals by Charlie Dizon and Carlo Aquino maintain the authenticity of their characters' struggles while also conveying a sense of happiness in their love story. The only flaw about them is that, despite being a real-life couple, their chemistry on screen seems lacking. Their companionship feels more platonic than sweet. But Charlie Dizon did an excellent job here. She's remarkable at giving the character so much depth through her expressions. Her character is relatable and human, making the audience empathize with her journey throughout the film.

Overall, this movie is well-crafted and well-acted. It will make us take a moment to ponder and see beyond the love story and appreciate the deeper messages that it conveys. In a world where materialism reigns supreme, it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that wealth is the key to happiness and fulfillment. But this film simply shows that love goes beyond materialistic desires and possessions.

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