Daniel Larusso
Member: Rank 3
Completely disagree. This was the best movie of 2017 for me.
The hologram romance is part of the overall theme of love that the movie portrays.
Recently Seen, Part 14 (March 2018)
- Thread starter divemaster13
- Start date
The hologram romance is part of the overall theme of love that the movie portrays.
plsletitrain
Member: Rank 5
I'm planning to start a thread on Dragon Ball Super, making a brief summary of every episode but my laziness kicked in.
I'm still on episode 2, I'll probably finish it next year.
divemaster13
Member: Rank 4
I also loved Blade Runner 2049. I mean, really loved it.
divemaster13
Member: Rank 4
Although I don't particularly like commenting on non-Asian films in this forum, I do want to follow up on
I really liked this. It got better as it went along. I had no problem with the ending. The first 20 minutes or so, I though perhaps this was going to be sortof a gender-reversed Funny Games, with the guy trapping himself in an apartment with two BSC and sadistic women. I thought Funny Games was just ok, and was not terribly excited about the prospects for Next Door. Or that it might be some sort of cruel frame-up ("see officer, he barred the door and wouldn't let me out, and attacked me--see the bruises? boo-hooo hooo). That might have made an okay movie, but I'm glad we got something much more clever and interesting. Also, in the beginning, my thoughts were "where in the world would you have an city apartment with that sort of interior layout?" and was about to chalk it up to a pretentious set designer run amok. So, I was very very glad when the movie went in a different direction and started to reveal its secrets and make you think.
I ended up loving that aspect of the movie. I like the fact that the movie coaxed you along with the realizations, requiring understanding to dawn somewhat slowly, not hitting you in the face with it. Even when I figured out "aha, so that's what's going on," yes, I was pretty much right for the overall picture being painted plotwise, but many of the details were (pleasantly) surprising.
I do wish we got a little more up front to get to know the protagonist; perhaps feel a little more inclined toward him as a person, rather than just "the ex boyfriend." Plus, he's got that Euro-wimp look about him that made ME to want to punch him in the face, just because. But after that first 20 minutes, I really fell into the movie and forgot these minor reservations.
My initial rating was going to be 4 stars, but I know me, and when I look at the bonus features and likely re-watch the movie tonight, I'll be even that much more impressed. So, 4.5 stars.
@sitenoise reviewed and rated this film above (which I had never heard of), but it seemed intriguing enough for a Netflix rental.
I really liked this. It got better as it went along. I had no problem with the ending. The first 20 minutes or so, I though perhaps this was going to be sortof a gender-reversed Funny Games, with the guy trapping himself in an apartment with two BSC and sadistic women. I thought Funny Games was just ok, and was not terribly excited about the prospects for Next Door. Or that it might be some sort of cruel frame-up ("see officer, he barred the door and wouldn't let me out, and attacked me--see the bruises? boo-hooo hooo). That might have made an okay movie, but I'm glad we got something much more clever and interesting. Also, in the beginning, my thoughts were "where in the world would you have an city apartment with that sort of interior layout?" and was about to chalk it up to a pretentious set designer run amok. So, I was very very glad when the movie went in a different direction and started to reveal its secrets and make you think.
+100
I ended up loving that aspect of the movie. I like the fact that the movie coaxed you along with the realizations, requiring understanding to dawn somewhat slowly, not hitting you in the face with it. Even when I figured out "aha, so that's what's going on," yes, I was pretty much right for the overall picture being painted plotwise, but many of the details were (pleasantly) surprising.
I do wish we got a little more up front to get to know the protagonist; perhaps feel a little more inclined toward him as a person, rather than just "the ex boyfriend." Plus, he's got that Euro-wimp look about him that made ME to want to punch him in the face, just because. But after that first 20 minutes, I really fell into the movie and forgot these minor reservations.
My initial rating was going to be 4 stars, but I know me, and when I look at the bonus features and likely re-watch the movie tonight, I'll be even that much more impressed. So, 4.5 stars.
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sitenoise
Member: Rank 5
I think the 75 minute run time made the movie work. No filler, no detours. I think a lot of directors might have branched out at the 60 minute mark and tortured the guy for 30 minutes, just because.
As for the Euro-wimp, I feel like I really know Kristoffer Joner, think of him as the best Norwegian actor of his generation. I don't know why I think that--I've only seen maybe a couple other of his movies. I thought he was perfect. It's totally subjective, I know, but I couldn't imagine how anyone--myself included--would have responded/reacted to the things those girls were throwing at him. At some point you'd think he would shift to saying what they want to hear, but that wasn't an option because they were three steps ahead of him all the time. I dunno, he nailed it for me ... except maybe his duckwalk. That was wimpy.
As for the Euro-wimp, I feel like I really know Kristoffer Joner, think of him as the best Norwegian actor of his generation. I don't know why I think that--I've only seen maybe a couple other of his movies. I thought he was perfect. It's totally subjective, I know, but I couldn't imagine how anyone--myself included--would have responded/reacted to the things those girls were throwing at him. At some point you'd think he would shift to saying what they want to hear, but that wasn't an option because they were three steps ahead of him all the time. I dunno, he nailed it for me ... except maybe his duckwalk. That was wimpy.
divemaster13
Member: Rank 4
I agree. I almost commented on the run time in my post. I think the movie is better for it. You are kept on your toes--no time to mull things over and start playing hypothetical "what about...?" games with the plot. Like, you might start to think "wait a minute, how did he get back to his apartment...?" but then the next scene has him in another confounding scenario and you just get swept up in the mystery and his predicament. Keeps you facing forward.
The film is actually very close to being a stage play. 99% of the happening is contained in two sets (the adjoining apartments), with minimal characters. No need for spectacle or GCI or whatever. No need for Tarantino-like conversations (I mean, I do love me some 15 minute discussions on foot massages and how good a burger tastes, but that would be quite misplaced in this film). The short run time, coupled with the intriguing set design of the girls' apartment, adds to the ever-increasing claustrophobia enclosing on the protagonist, and us as viewers. Very well done.
ebossert
Member: Rank 3
Highly Recommended
Funuke Show Me Some Love, You Losers! (2007) (Japanese Drama) (repeat viewing) – An aspiring actress returns to her rural home after her parents are killed in an automobile accident. The friction between the family members is very well developed and interesting to watch. Eriko Sato was arguably the most beautiful woman in the world, and one might expect a bimbo-esque role akin to her previous fun-fest “Cutie Honey” – such is not the case here, as she contributes a surprisingly great performance that’s the best of her career. Just as impressive are the performances of both supporting actresses – Aimi Satsukawa and the always excellent Hiromi Nagasaku. There is some quirkiness sprinkled throughout, which gives some uniqueness to the proceedings. This is not your typical dysfunctional family. A very good film with some beautiful natural environments. Daihachi Yoshida is a very solid director with an impressive filmography to date.
Jane (2016) (Korean Drama) – A young girl is abandoned by her boyfriend and attempts suicide, but is taken in by a transgender woman who is looking after a group of runaway youths. The protagonist, however, gets involved with degenerates and has difficulty finding her place in the world. This is very nicely shot with colorful lighting (prominent use of yellow). It also has a great electronic score. Narrative structure is fluid and natural. The tone gets a bit dark at times, but is presented in a classy, non-gratuitous way. Quietly intense stuff that will keep the viewer on the edge of their seat for much of the second half. This is a hidden gem.
Cook Up A Storm (2017) (Chinese Drama) – A Cantonese street cook (Nicholas Tse) faces off against his new rival, a French-trained Michelin-starred chef (Yong-hwa Jung) who recently opened a restaurant across the street. This film is right up my alley, and it delivers as a glorious exhibition of food preparation and fun interaction. Some really fancy and unorthodox cooking techniques are showcased in colorful, delicious ways. Pacing is perfect, with engaging characters and conflicts (the ending is a nice touch). This is a crowd-pleaser.
Recommended
A Beautiful Star (2017) (Japanese Drama) – This film portrays a family on Earth who come to believe that they are actually from other planets. The opening half hour introduces our main characters, one at at time, in a slow-but-sure fashion. Things get more interesting as the movie progresses, with some creative and dramatically interesting scenes. Performances and direction are solid, which gives the premise a certain legitimacy and seriousness that I was not expecting. This is very psychological, and there are some intriguing discussions involving environmentalism and global warming. Music is intense and odd, which works. An unconventional film from Daihachi Yoshida that is certainly worth watching.
Life Risking Romance (2016) (Korean Romantic Comedy/Thriller) – An author (Ji-won Ha) with writer’s block decides to track down a serial killer, but will romance get in the way? This is presented in a very engaging, visually appealing way (e.g., camerawork, editing, etc.) with an extremely brisk pace. Ji-won Ha is so damn charming, she carries the film effortlessly. This does get a bit silly at times (e.g., fart jokes), but I thought it was very funny and entertaining. The script also works as a murder mystery. English is spoken between the protagonist and the foreigner suspect, but their English is surprisingly good and non-distracting. Wilson Chen plays the most purely fun character of his entire career.
Steel Rain (2017) (Korean Action/Thriller) – After surviving a major coup, a former top agent of North Korea (Woo-sung Jung) risks his life to take the wounded Jong-un Kim to safety in the South. He teams up with the chief of foreign security affairs (Do-won Kwak) in an attempt to prevent an all out war. This film is very topical regarding current geo-political events, which include unintended consequences of the international sanctions against the North, as well as China’s relation to everything. Action is intense and gritty, with a high octane feel. But it also has weight to it and does not feel cartoonish.
Misbehavior (2016) (Korean Drama) – After a teacher (Ha-neul Kim) breaks up with her loser boyfriend and gets unjustifiably passed up for tenure, she seeks companionship in the arms of one of her students. This does a good job of showing our protagonist’s stale existence and frustrations in life. One can understand her actions in the film. Ha-neul Kim is solid in the lead role.
On the Job (2013) (Filipino Crime Drama/Action) – This crime thriller is inspired by a real-life scandal in which prison inmates were temporarily released from prison to work as contract killers on behalf of politicians and high ranking military officials. A cop tries to take these guys down. This is nicely gritty in its urban environments, and realistic in its action design, with a few good chases/shootouts. Overall good quality. It humanizes the hitmen and shows their family/personal relationships/situations too.
The Chase (2017) (Korean Thriller) – A series of serial murders take place in the same neighborhood as a prior murder spree that occurred 30 years ago. The detective who failed to find the murderer teams up with a landlord to solve the case and catch the bad guy. It’s interesting to see a serial killer film with two old-timers as the protagonists. There’s good progression to the story and mystery, and it’s entertaining stuff overall.
Not Recommended
The King’s Case Note (2017) (Korean Drama) – A clever king and his brilliant chronicle keeper hunt for the truth behind a crime that threatens the throne and the stability of the country. This has good performances and production values, but the conflicts are run-of-the-mill. The multiple assassination attempts on the King are avoided in contrived, unsatisfying ways. And the sword fights are decent at best.
Ghost Rider (2007) (American Action/Drama/Horror) – Stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze gives up his soul to become a hellblazing vigilante, to fight against power hungry Blackheart, the son of the devil. The villains are so lame, they look like something out of a Twilight Movie. Action is generally unimpressive. Eva Mendez gives an awful performance and it seems like she was cast for the sole purpose of showing off her tits. Most of the CGI effects do not hold up nowadays. Ghost Rider skull effects are decent, but I disliked the voice-acting when he’s in his firey form. The runtime is too long at 123 minutes. They spend time in an attempt to develop characters, but it’s rather bland. This is cheesy and lame.
Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) (Korean Fantasy Drama/Action) – After a heroic death, a firefighter navigates the afterlife with the help of three guides. This is basically a flimsy melodrama within each stage of the afterlife, with some fights and chases thrown in. Stuff seems to happen (and come from out of nowhere) for the sole purpose of creating a cartoonish CGI orgy of not-so-great effects. At 140 minutes, this becomes very monotonous stuff, with no tension earned at any point. None of the melodrama is earned. It’s very difficult to stay interested in what’s happening. I’d rather watch “Re-Cycle” again.
Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance (2011) (American Action) – As Johnny Blaze hides out in Eastern Europe, he is called upon to stop the devil, who is trying to take human form. This movie is so bad, it makes its underwhelming predecessor look like a masterpiece. It’s obnoxious from start to finish, as well as tedious. The constant shaky cam is headache-inducing, the script is total garbage, and the direction is painfully incompetent.
Funuke Show Me Some Love, You Losers! (2007) (Japanese Drama) (repeat viewing) – An aspiring actress returns to her rural home after her parents are killed in an automobile accident. The friction between the family members is very well developed and interesting to watch. Eriko Sato was arguably the most beautiful woman in the world, and one might expect a bimbo-esque role akin to her previous fun-fest “Cutie Honey” – such is not the case here, as she contributes a surprisingly great performance that’s the best of her career. Just as impressive are the performances of both supporting actresses – Aimi Satsukawa and the always excellent Hiromi Nagasaku. There is some quirkiness sprinkled throughout, which gives some uniqueness to the proceedings. This is not your typical dysfunctional family. A very good film with some beautiful natural environments. Daihachi Yoshida is a very solid director with an impressive filmography to date.
Jane (2016) (Korean Drama) – A young girl is abandoned by her boyfriend and attempts suicide, but is taken in by a transgender woman who is looking after a group of runaway youths. The protagonist, however, gets involved with degenerates and has difficulty finding her place in the world. This is very nicely shot with colorful lighting (prominent use of yellow). It also has a great electronic score. Narrative structure is fluid and natural. The tone gets a bit dark at times, but is presented in a classy, non-gratuitous way. Quietly intense stuff that will keep the viewer on the edge of their seat for much of the second half. This is a hidden gem.
Cook Up A Storm (2017) (Chinese Drama) – A Cantonese street cook (Nicholas Tse) faces off against his new rival, a French-trained Michelin-starred chef (Yong-hwa Jung) who recently opened a restaurant across the street. This film is right up my alley, and it delivers as a glorious exhibition of food preparation and fun interaction. Some really fancy and unorthodox cooking techniques are showcased in colorful, delicious ways. Pacing is perfect, with engaging characters and conflicts (the ending is a nice touch). This is a crowd-pleaser.
Recommended
A Beautiful Star (2017) (Japanese Drama) – This film portrays a family on Earth who come to believe that they are actually from other planets. The opening half hour introduces our main characters, one at at time, in a slow-but-sure fashion. Things get more interesting as the movie progresses, with some creative and dramatically interesting scenes. Performances and direction are solid, which gives the premise a certain legitimacy and seriousness that I was not expecting. This is very psychological, and there are some intriguing discussions involving environmentalism and global warming. Music is intense and odd, which works. An unconventional film from Daihachi Yoshida that is certainly worth watching.
Life Risking Romance (2016) (Korean Romantic Comedy/Thriller) – An author (Ji-won Ha) with writer’s block decides to track down a serial killer, but will romance get in the way? This is presented in a very engaging, visually appealing way (e.g., camerawork, editing, etc.) with an extremely brisk pace. Ji-won Ha is so damn charming, she carries the film effortlessly. This does get a bit silly at times (e.g., fart jokes), but I thought it was very funny and entertaining. The script also works as a murder mystery. English is spoken between the protagonist and the foreigner suspect, but their English is surprisingly good and non-distracting. Wilson Chen plays the most purely fun character of his entire career.
Steel Rain (2017) (Korean Action/Thriller) – After surviving a major coup, a former top agent of North Korea (Woo-sung Jung) risks his life to take the wounded Jong-un Kim to safety in the South. He teams up with the chief of foreign security affairs (Do-won Kwak) in an attempt to prevent an all out war. This film is very topical regarding current geo-political events, which include unintended consequences of the international sanctions against the North, as well as China’s relation to everything. Action is intense and gritty, with a high octane feel. But it also has weight to it and does not feel cartoonish.
Misbehavior (2016) (Korean Drama) – After a teacher (Ha-neul Kim) breaks up with her loser boyfriend and gets unjustifiably passed up for tenure, she seeks companionship in the arms of one of her students. This does a good job of showing our protagonist’s stale existence and frustrations in life. One can understand her actions in the film. Ha-neul Kim is solid in the lead role.
On the Job (2013) (Filipino Crime Drama/Action) – This crime thriller is inspired by a real-life scandal in which prison inmates were temporarily released from prison to work as contract killers on behalf of politicians and high ranking military officials. A cop tries to take these guys down. This is nicely gritty in its urban environments, and realistic in its action design, with a few good chases/shootouts. Overall good quality. It humanizes the hitmen and shows their family/personal relationships/situations too.
The Chase (2017) (Korean Thriller) – A series of serial murders take place in the same neighborhood as a prior murder spree that occurred 30 years ago. The detective who failed to find the murderer teams up with a landlord to solve the case and catch the bad guy. It’s interesting to see a serial killer film with two old-timers as the protagonists. There’s good progression to the story and mystery, and it’s entertaining stuff overall.
Not Recommended
The King’s Case Note (2017) (Korean Drama) – A clever king and his brilliant chronicle keeper hunt for the truth behind a crime that threatens the throne and the stability of the country. This has good performances and production values, but the conflicts are run-of-the-mill. The multiple assassination attempts on the King are avoided in contrived, unsatisfying ways. And the sword fights are decent at best.
Ghost Rider (2007) (American Action/Drama/Horror) – Stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze gives up his soul to become a hellblazing vigilante, to fight against power hungry Blackheart, the son of the devil. The villains are so lame, they look like something out of a Twilight Movie. Action is generally unimpressive. Eva Mendez gives an awful performance and it seems like she was cast for the sole purpose of showing off her tits. Most of the CGI effects do not hold up nowadays. Ghost Rider skull effects are decent, but I disliked the voice-acting when he’s in his firey form. The runtime is too long at 123 minutes. They spend time in an attempt to develop characters, but it’s rather bland. This is cheesy and lame.
Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) (Korean Fantasy Drama/Action) – After a heroic death, a firefighter navigates the afterlife with the help of three guides. This is basically a flimsy melodrama within each stage of the afterlife, with some fights and chases thrown in. Stuff seems to happen (and come from out of nowhere) for the sole purpose of creating a cartoonish CGI orgy of not-so-great effects. At 140 minutes, this becomes very monotonous stuff, with no tension earned at any point. None of the melodrama is earned. It’s very difficult to stay interested in what’s happening. I’d rather watch “Re-Cycle” again.
Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance (2011) (American Action) – As Johnny Blaze hides out in Eastern Europe, he is called upon to stop the devil, who is trying to take human form. This movie is so bad, it makes its underwhelming predecessor look like a masterpiece. It’s obnoxious from start to finish, as well as tedious. The constant shaky cam is headache-inducing, the script is total garbage, and the direction is painfully incompetent.
plsletitrain
Member: Rank 5
Wow some pretty solid stuff there @ebossert. I have a lot to add to my watchlist from your post, although I really don't dig Kim Ha-neul and Ha Ji-won. On the Job has a sequel to come out late this year or next year, it will most probably get a theatrical release because its Erik Matti so I'll be watching out for that.
clayton-12
Member: Rank 4
I realise I'm probably going against the general opinion here, but I couldn't get into this one - personally, I found it an annoying, unpleasant film about annoying, unpleasant people. Hiromi Nagasaku was excellent, though.
plsletitrain
Member: Rank 5
Postcards from the Zoo (Indonesia, 2012)
A film that starts documentary-style turns into a visually engaging film with less talk and more life. The "life" I mean is the animals, because the story revolves on the environment where Lana (an orphan) grew up. She becomes caretaker in a zoo and as an adolescent, she found solace in the place until they received news that non-employees are no longer allowed to live there. She finds work as a masseuse in a for-adults spa.
What I like about the film is its authenticity. I don't even understand why I use the word authentic (I don't know how a film can become authentic), but it just feels so innocent and as real as I can get. The animals aren't CGI'd at all so that's a plus for me. I've always been outspoken as to how short my attention span is, so if there's few dialogue or action, the director should ensure that there's enough visuals to keep my focus. Seeing a tiger bathing, or the elephant flopping its ears is just LOVE. If anything, this movie made me realize how tall giraffes really are.
There's a blossoming romance in here between our Pocahontas and a magician/cowboy that looked like unspoken poetry because they didn't say I love you to each other but it was their body language and the girl's eyes that did the talking.
Half of the reason why I watch foreign films is to listen to other languages. Listening other people talk in a different language is like music to my ears. Even if I don't understand what they're talking. lol. I haven't kept much with Indonesian language, but if my ears weren't messing with me, I think I heard at least three words that are also present in Philippine language: Ako (Me), Ikaw (You), Duha (Two).
There's a very disturbing scene here (I'm not talking about those sexy erotic massage scenes--one funny scene is where the customer asked her to change into a tiger costume in front of him and just how naive can she be....she said Okay, but don't look. She turned her back against the guy and changed.
) I'm talking about how people are so social-media/camera-greedy that they'll take any chance they can get just to take a picture. A month-old baby was placed beside a python just for THAT picture fame. Geez.
Highly recommended.
@sitenoise
I'll watch A Beautiful Star too because it just arrived on my 7-11.
A film that starts documentary-style turns into a visually engaging film with less talk and more life. The "life" I mean is the animals, because the story revolves on the environment where Lana (an orphan) grew up. She becomes caretaker in a zoo and as an adolescent, she found solace in the place until they received news that non-employees are no longer allowed to live there. She finds work as a masseuse in a for-adults spa.
What I like about the film is its authenticity. I don't even understand why I use the word authentic (I don't know how a film can become authentic), but it just feels so innocent and as real as I can get. The animals aren't CGI'd at all so that's a plus for me. I've always been outspoken as to how short my attention span is, so if there's few dialogue or action, the director should ensure that there's enough visuals to keep my focus. Seeing a tiger bathing, or the elephant flopping its ears is just LOVE. If anything, this movie made me realize how tall giraffes really are.
There's a blossoming romance in here between our Pocahontas and a magician/cowboy that looked like unspoken poetry because they didn't say I love you to each other but it was their body language and the girl's eyes that did the talking.
Half of the reason why I watch foreign films is to listen to other languages. Listening other people talk in a different language is like music to my ears. Even if I don't understand what they're talking. lol. I haven't kept much with Indonesian language, but if my ears weren't messing with me, I think I heard at least three words that are also present in Philippine language: Ako (Me), Ikaw (You), Duha (Two).
There's a very disturbing scene here (I'm not talking about those sexy erotic massage scenes--one funny scene is where the customer asked her to change into a tiger costume in front of him and just how naive can she be....she said Okay, but don't look. She turned her back against the guy and changed.
) I'm talking about how people are so social-media/camera-greedy that they'll take any chance they can get just to take a picture. A month-old baby was placed beside a python just for THAT picture fame. Geez.Highly recommended.
@sitenoise
I'll watch A Beautiful Star too because it just arrived on my 7-11.
clayton-12
Member: Rank 4
Ha! @plsletitrain goes arthouse and comes away with a "Highly recommended"! I really liked this, but it's something that I'm a bit nervous recommending.
There's quite a few common words between Bahasa Indonesia and Tagalog, but I don't know that there's really any more commonality than there is between European languages. "Aku" is the formal of I / Ako - some other common words that you'll recognise are sakit, anak, lima and mahal (although in Indonesian, I think that's only ever used in the context of prices). Then there's a bunch of words that are very similar to their Tagalog counterpoints, like minum (drink) and empat (four).
While I don't think the similarities aren't enough to enable people who speak one language to understand the other, they do assist in helping me occasionally make a fool of myself when trying to communicate in either language.
divemaster13
Member: Rank 4
The Man from Nowhere (2010)
Quiet pawnshop manager gets reluctantly caught up in the middle of Korean/Chinese gangster groups who are dealing heroin, exploiting children, and harvesting organs. Good thing he's ex Special Forces.
Pretty good movie. I really liked the protagonist, even though the first half of the film he sports one of those pretty-boy haircuts where the bangs flop down and cover one eye. (I swear I don't understand how Korean guys can stand going around with no depth perception--but I digress). Aside from that, he's a good character and his mission to save a little girl is a noble one. Sortof a combination of John Wick and Taken. The fact that he dispatches bad guys left and right is quite satisfactory from the viewer's standpoint.
Perhaps it was the fact that I watched this film while hopped up on sinus medication, but I had a hard time following the details of the plot, as far as the bad guys were concerned. It seemed there were rival gangs and sometimes they were battling each other as well as the police, who also seemed intent on stopping our hero from finding the little girl for reasons that escaped me. It might have helped if one gang was Korean and one was Chinese and/or Vietnamese, but they were all mixed up together. In any event some VERY BAD people were doing some VERY BAD things to women and children, and our hero was intent on stopping that, which was easy enough to follow.
Also deduct a half point for the stereotypical bad guy has the hero dead to rights with a gun, all he has to do is shoot him. But no, he puts the gun down to engage in a mano-to-mano knife fight for which he knows (by watching the hero dispatch like 15 guys already), that he (the bad guy) stands no chance. Sure enough, he doesn't last long. Shouldda just shot him when he had the chance. I had a few other quibbles, but minor.
3.5 stars.
Quiet pawnshop manager gets reluctantly caught up in the middle of Korean/Chinese gangster groups who are dealing heroin, exploiting children, and harvesting organs. Good thing he's ex Special Forces.
Pretty good movie. I really liked the protagonist, even though the first half of the film he sports one of those pretty-boy haircuts where the bangs flop down and cover one eye. (I swear I don't understand how Korean guys can stand going around with no depth perception--but I digress). Aside from that, he's a good character and his mission to save a little girl is a noble one. Sortof a combination of John Wick and Taken. The fact that he dispatches bad guys left and right is quite satisfactory from the viewer's standpoint.
Perhaps it was the fact that I watched this film while hopped up on sinus medication, but I had a hard time following the details of the plot, as far as the bad guys were concerned. It seemed there were rival gangs and sometimes they were battling each other as well as the police, who also seemed intent on stopping our hero from finding the little girl for reasons that escaped me. It might have helped if one gang was Korean and one was Chinese and/or Vietnamese, but they were all mixed up together. In any event some VERY BAD people were doing some VERY BAD things to women and children, and our hero was intent on stopping that, which was easy enough to follow.
Also deduct a half point for the stereotypical bad guy has the hero dead to rights with a gun, all he has to do is shoot him. But no, he puts the gun down to engage in a mano-to-mano knife fight for which he knows (by watching the hero dispatch like 15 guys already), that he (the bad guy) stands no chance. Sure enough, he doesn't last long. Shouldda just shot him when he had the chance. I had a few other quibbles, but minor.
3.5 stars.
divemaster13
Member: Rank 4
Office (2015)
Boy howdy did this film piss me off. Seriously, I was angry after having watched it. Not angry in the same sense as after watching say, Audition, or Bad Guy, but just mad at how poorly the story was told, when the initial plot and setting had so much promise. If I invest my time and attention to a movie, I want the filmmaker to at least respect that and give me something that is internally consistent. Suffice it to say, the characters' thoughts, opinions, and actions seemed to change from scene to scene with no reason behind it other than to aim the plot in a different direction. The climax made no sense. The denouement made no sense. Not even in the Spider Forest "let's mull it over and see what we can come up with" sense. I could go on, but I'm starting to get pissed off again just typing this, so I'll stop.
1 star
Boy howdy did this film piss me off. Seriously, I was angry after having watched it. Not angry in the same sense as after watching say, Audition, or Bad Guy, but just mad at how poorly the story was told, when the initial plot and setting had so much promise. If I invest my time and attention to a movie, I want the filmmaker to at least respect that and give me something that is internally consistent. Suffice it to say, the characters' thoughts, opinions, and actions seemed to change from scene to scene with no reason behind it other than to aim the plot in a different direction. The climax made no sense. The denouement made no sense. Not even in the Spider Forest "let's mull it over and see what we can come up with" sense. I could go on, but I'm starting to get pissed off again just typing this, so I'll stop.
1 star
sitenoise
Member: Rank 5
@divemaster13 I think A Man From Nowhere is the only movie I have in my collection I've rated 7/10 or above that has a poster with a stupid tough guy looking man holding a gun looking stupid. I liked the way, for example (if I recall correctly), when the first set of bad guys show up they just cut the film and show them lying there vanquished, don't make us sit through silly fisticuffs or something equally boring.
I was very disappointed in Office. "Most of the scary tension points are the result of a dream or a hallucination. Or worse, something unexplained that's similar. The problem here is that after each one happens, you realize it hasn't developed the narrative and so it feels cheap".
I was very disappointed in Office. "Most of the scary tension points are the result of a dream or a hallucination. Or worse, something unexplained that's similar. The problem here is that after each one happens, you realize it hasn't developed the narrative and so it feels cheap".
divemaster13
Member: Rank 4
Ha, yes. There was also that scene where hero was handcuffed in the police interrogation room, and the next scene he is walking free. Later, we just see a bunch of laid-out cops in the room, in the corridor, in the entrance area... You know your hero is a bad-ass when the audience just accepts "yeah, that happened" rather than demanding to be shown.
You hit it right on the head (and summed up in 2 sentences what I try to get across in 2 paragraphs LOL). The narrative doesn't support the ambiguity. To me, a director has to earn certain indulgences, and this movie did not. In Office, since certain circumstances are shown to be factual (as evidenced by police observation and not that of an unreliable narrator), much of the other activities could not have happened as shown. I don't care how whack a story is, as long as it follows some sort of established internal logic or consistency.
When a character looks in a mirror and sees someone else, that's fine--it shows that the character is confused. When we see a character morph into someone else, that can be fine also, as it illustrates the director's omniscient point of view about how something might be not how it seems. But when another character in the movie sees the same morphing? That makes no fricking sense--unless there is a supernatural element. Was there? Are we supposed to conclude that the mousy intern was possessed by the dead hammer-killer? The movie didn't strike me as a supernatural thriller.
And to make matters worse, I really just don't care. You know a movie missed the mark for me when I have no interest in figuring out confusing elements because I've already concluded it's a bunch of self-indulgent crap.
divemaster13
Member: Rank 4
My Brilliant Life (2014)
Korean drama focused on a young boy with progeria, a very rare aging disease. He's 16, but his body is that of an 80-year-old. His parents had him as an unwed teenage couple, and in many respects the boy is more mature than the parents. I guess you'd have to have a sense of maturity if you look like a grandpa and know you will die within a year or so.
The movie is a pretty good mix of humor (mainly from the back story of the parents as teens, and from the gruff old neighbor with a heart of gold), medical drama, pathos, family bonding--the typical things you would expect from a movie like this. It's actually made very well. The boy, especially, really handles his role. I guess it was a young actor in aging make-up, but he seemed like a little old man to me.
The first two thirds of the movie played out allowing natural emotions to come out in the viewer; however, the last third it seemed the director tried to cram in as many "tear-jerk" moments as he could. Some seemed a bit manufactured. If those last 30 minutes could have wrapped up in maybe 10 minutes (we all know how it's going to end, anyway), I would have rated it a little higher.
For what it's worth I watched it with my wife, and she liked quite a bit.
3 stars
Korean drama focused on a young boy with progeria, a very rare aging disease. He's 16, but his body is that of an 80-year-old. His parents had him as an unwed teenage couple, and in many respects the boy is more mature than the parents. I guess you'd have to have a sense of maturity if you look like a grandpa and know you will die within a year or so.
The movie is a pretty good mix of humor (mainly from the back story of the parents as teens, and from the gruff old neighbor with a heart of gold), medical drama, pathos, family bonding--the typical things you would expect from a movie like this. It's actually made very well. The boy, especially, really handles his role. I guess it was a young actor in aging make-up, but he seemed like a little old man to me.
The first two thirds of the movie played out allowing natural emotions to come out in the viewer; however, the last third it seemed the director tried to cram in as many "tear-jerk" moments as he could. Some seemed a bit manufactured. If those last 30 minutes could have wrapped up in maybe 10 minutes (we all know how it's going to end, anyway), I would have rated it a little higher.
For what it's worth I watched it with my wife, and she liked quite a bit.
3 stars
Daniel Larusso
Member: Rank 3
Best films I've seen lately...
Lady Bird
The Disaster Artist
Annihilation
Tomb Raider
And the worst..
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Mute
Bloody Crayons
Lady Bird
The Disaster Artist
Annihilation
Tomb Raider
And the worst..
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Mute
Bloody Crayons
plsletitrain
Member: Rank 5
I'll add My Brilliant Life to my watchlist.
@Daniel Larusso
Trust me guyz, beware of Filipino films that stars teeny boppers acting their hearts out. 80% of the time, you'll get annoyed.
@Daniel Larusso
Trust me guyz, beware of Filipino films that stars teeny boppers acting their hearts out. 80% of the time, you'll get annoyed.