Award-winning performances all around....

This was excellently written and directed, superb cast performed by the main and support characters.

A lone female and her wolf clan run free in the Gobi Desert...earlier the female has been captured by a human and exposed to human ways and lived briefly with the Tartars, until her "Papa" is killed by a greedy warrior who wants to become king of the desert Tartars, and she returns to her wolf pack.

A chance meeting with Ninth Lord and his caravan while stealing from them, our lone beautiful lady, Jin Yu, and the wolf that follows her, are let go. The Lord gives her a dress and salt, and bids Jin Yu goodbye. The lady changes into the dress and the next day she runs into a group of men, whom she later observes as being trained in martial arts, being attacked by desert pirates...after calling on her wolf pack, the pirates decide to abandon their attack on the foreigners.

The foreigners thank Jin Yu for her help and ask her for guidance through the desert; since her dead "Papa" has planned on taking her back to his home, the city of Jain-an, before being killed she guides them safely through the desert and remains in the city. Amongst the foreigners is the dashing General Wei Wu Ji.

What follows is a rapid advancement, after being drugged at first, of Jin Yu into being the House Manager at a dance theater/house; her wit, intelligence and {sometimes} unseen support from Ninth Lord's Shi Shipping business, lands her into profit and some prestige, yet also unneeded attention from the Palace hierarchy.

The second male lead, General Wei Wu Ji of the Nan Dynasty, saved by the wolf pack and our heroine, tries to find the wolf lady; however, while Wei Wu Ji is looking through the city for Yin Ju, , Ninth Lord has already found the wolf girl and is supporting her as much as possible (even staying with him part-time). Still Wei Wu Ji attempts to woo her, only to find her already in love with Ninth Lord.

A one-sided romance develops between our heroine Jin Yu and Ninth Lord, but as Ninth Lord continues to ignore her advances, Jin Yu is heartbroken, trying to be a 'tree' as Ninth Lord is, and also support him instead.

Jin Yu finally works up the nerve to directly tell Ninth Lord her feelings, but Ninth Lord still rebukes her and her love advances...this causes Jin Yu to abruptly leave Jain-an, leaving letters for her able house assistant, Ms. Hong, and Wei Wu Ji.

General Wei Wu Ji finds Jin Yu at a travel station along her route back to the desert, and abducts her to his military camp. After returning home with Wei Wu Ji, Jin Yu moves back to the dancing house, but later goes to live with Wei Wu Ji...Her emotions are set on a roller-coaster ride as she finds out the trouble that Ninth Lord went to trying to find her but he still rejects her Significant Other advances...and also troubling is the fact that Wei Wu Ji lied to Ninth Lord about knowing her whereabouts earlier...

Political intrigue enters the scene upon the two returning as 1) Wei Wu Ji becomes a pawn in the Court power struggles, especially with his adopted family, the Wan faction, and 2) the concubine, Qin Xiang, that Jin Yu trained so that she would be accepted into the Palace harem, rapidly gains power in the harem but turns on Jin Yu, causing her misadventure in the later episodes.

Although Jin Yu promised not to reveal the real reason for Madame Xiang's presence in the harem (vengeance, although others figured it out by themselves), she becomes the target of the Madame, partly for her being free and able to travel outside the palace and live her own life, a life that Madame Xiang begins to covet!

What started out as to men fighting over Jin Yu becomes a loose partnership between Ninth Lord and
General Wei Wu Ji , both supporting Jin Yu as she is attacked and placed into captivity by forces of the Wan faction, and both Yin Ju and Wei Wu Ji being poisoned. Both Yin Ju and Wei Wu Ji feel trapped by the political warfare in Jain-an City, and seek to stay apart from political intrigue; however, the Wang faction first tricks Wei Wu Ji in killing the head of the Li power faction, General Li ji, who happens to be the only supporter of Madame Xiang in the palace (besides the Emporer) while the Wan family plans a more morbid future for the General.

Thus, a plan is hatched to free them from Jain-an and service to the powerful Emporer; unfortunately, one of them does not know about it.

Al the actors and actresses, both main and support, performed their roles brilliantly...

Main Roles:

Shi Shi Lui, as Ying Ju, portrayed a cornucopia of emotions as she portrayed the female lead...going from chlld-like innocence in one scene to intelligently fending off attackers in the next. Especially dramatic was the two episodes of her childbirth and the following one: even though I know these are scripted series, I momentarily forgot this during the birthing scene and the two episodes after that....fantastic acting from a great actress!
I also especially loved Jin Yu's dance in the palace as the Tartar girls are performing and one is about to steal her man!

Hugh Hu, as Ninth Lord, portrayed a Stoic benefactor to the female lead, time and time sacrificing his money, and later his health, in supporting both Yin Ju and General Li Ji; many comments on the CN Drama (YouTube) site wish that a spinoff movie would be made in the future to have Ninth Lord finally find his love!

Eddie Peng, as General Wei Wu Ji, perfectly portrayed a platonic supporter of Yin Ju until he saw her response after Ninth Lord's last rejection of Yin Ju's love, then he easily portrayed Yin Ju's lover and supporter as well afterward.

Supporting Roles:

Han Dong, as General Li JI, was superb as a cohort of General Wei Wu Ji, and also as someone who tried to talk sense into Madame Xiang and save her from herself and the Palace harem she foolishly sought entry into...performing as well as he did in his roies in 'Love Lost In Time' and 'Scarlet Hearts'.

Fala Chen, as Madame Xiang, went from a level-headed sister to her episode brothers Qin Yong (Qin Yuan Chao) and
Zhang Xiang (Qin Yuan Qi) to a vindicitve but suffering madame in the harem of the Emperor...I personally saw her ending way before the final episode.
I think that she would be more than able to play a lead villianess in a major movie or series if given a chance!

Deng Li Min (Uncle Shi) and Han Zhen Hua (Uncle Chen), among the many other support actors/actresses that I do not have the time to mention here, put on superb roles as supporters of their respective houses in the series.

Superb writing, superb directing, superb acting....the ingredients to a great series!

Leia Mais

Only A Psychopath Would Watch This Movie!

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND DEPICTIONS OF HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION! ^B


I had to force myself to finish this movie; I do not understand why 'anyone' would even want to watch this crap!

Movies like this do nothing but keep teh hate that has smoldered ince WW II going.

If you really know me, I just love an 'oddball' movie once in a while...or more often...

This does not count as an oddball movie; the only person who should watch this movie is a person who denies the atrocities of WW II!

I wouldn't even consider it an "exploiation" movie since the leadership not only kills those who were prisoners, but also their own (Japanese) men!

I remember seeubg the original film under a different name, and it actually, in my opinion, somewhat worse than this one.

I like macabre and psychedelic movies, but frankly I wou;d not include this film in either category.

The only good genre listing is "HORROR": that it is, from start to finish!

MORE LATER!

As he is forced to kill the Chinese, his mental state begins to deteriorate.

Leia Mais

"The Power Of Love Seems Limitless" - Guanyin Bodhisattva, in Madam White Snake (1960)

This is the best version of Lady White Snake I have seen yet!

Also, I have already read about the 1978 abduction of a South Korean actress and her husband director (screenwriter for this movie) Shin Sang-ok, by Kim Jong-il of North Korea but i didn't realize she was the main female lead in this movie until I did a search for her and her other movies!

The main and suport cast were great together; their timing was really good and the entire film flowed easily. Of the support cast, Guanyin Bodhisattva (Han Eun Jin) reminded me of some of my old Buddhist classes in college!

I learned that this character, although starting out male, is usually portrayed as female in China. However, this version portrays the deity as truly caring for others.

Korean horror has a long history; there is always an audience for it. many would consider this a horror film, but this isn't a horror film. It is a classical story about a demi-god and her mortal love.

You can actually see the flying wire for madam Whie Snake if you are very observant, but that is a minor detail for this time period of moviemaking; otherwise the cinematography is great! The music is also fitting for this movie.

I especially liked the portrayal of Madam White Snake in what most would call "Heaven" where Master Beop Hae (Ji Bang Yeol) and Guanyin Bodhisattva reside.

While searching for the female lead in other movies here, I realized that many of the support cast also appear in the same movies as her during her career.

I am looking forward to seeing the casts' other movies as well!

My only complaintabout this movie is the "self-righteous attitude of Madam White Snake's detractors. I know they had to take this stance in order to be the 'villians' but this is not something that should be tolerated in any religion in real life.

Surprisingly, I have already read the book on the kidnapping and enslavement of Choi Eun Hee (Madam White Snake) and her husband, Screenwriter Choi Kyung Ok before seeing this movie.

The movie about their abduction and forced servitude in North Korea is available online for anyone interested.

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/kim-jong-il-kidnapping-south-korean-film-star-lovers-article-1.2099084

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lovers_and_the_Despot


RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely!

Leia Mais

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!

Leia Mais

"They're Happy. We Were Right. They're Not Angry Anymore." NOT DONE PEOPLE!

This was such a cute little movie!

Kids should love this is Mommy or Daddy explain to them that the Gappa's family is just as important as the kid's family. It portrayed a strong 'family values' message during the entire movie.

Contary to popular belief, most kids and many adults enjoyed being entertained in the past, and even today, by movies like this, which didn't/don't cost an arm and a leg to get into at a movie theater.

I was 10 or 11 years old when this movie came out, and I would have probably pooped my pants had I seen this movie then...
however, I didn't watch it until yesterday.

Its plot virtually duplicates that of the 1961 British film 'Gorgo'.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgo_(film)

This is a great film for pre-teens, plus it had a love story, and a lesson about the importance of 'family' as well.

...A time when model buidlings, toy tanks and the likes were used by the studios, and were destroyed without a major outlay of finances; but kids really didn't care, as long as the little girls screamed loudly at every sight of the 'monster'!

It also had a historical significance as well; I used to have models of the type aircraft used in this movie hanging from my bedroom ceiling during the time period covered here. The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was a single-engine, supersonic interceptor aircraft which was extensively deployed in the late 50s and early 60s as a fighter-bomber during the Cold War with Russia. The models used look exactly like that fighter that I had hanging from my bedroom ceiling!

The main cast Hiroshi Kurosaki (Tamio Kawachi ) and expedition photographer Itoko Koyanagi (lovely Yoko Yamamoto) act as if they were really a couple and both played the melodrama excellently, adding humor to the story line as they went.

The support cast also fulfill their roles very well, and assist the main ccast in the primary story as well.

Magazine owner Mr. Funazu provided a great villian, refusing to lete teh babby Gappa go even when he knew that the baby's parents were indestructable and unstoppable by the Japanese and American military.

Mashida (Kōji Wada) provides much comic relief throughout the movie, and wins my vote for best support cast member!

Special kudos to Hiroshita Atami and Takashi Konagaias as Gappa (male and bigger) gappa parent, and Ken Misugi and Shiro Tonami as Gappa (female) gappa parent.

ThIs movie, especially sent me into the past memories of my mind, when directors and actors could tell a story witout it costing an arm and a leg. That alone was worth watching this movie!

However, I stil canot find the name of the youg actress who played Mr.Funazu's daughter; after th eGappas her and the young native boy stole the movie!

More about the Gappa!
The Gappas (ガッパ Gappa) are a species of ancient monsters. Two adult Gappas, male (雄ガッパ Osu Gappa) and female (雌ガッパ Mesu Gappa), and their baby son first appear in the 1967 Nikkatsu kaiju film, Gappa.


Contents
Design
Origins
History
Showa era
Gappa
Abilities
Flight
Amphibiousness
Physical abilities
Radiant Heat Beam
Bioluminescence
Pearl-like substance
Electricity
Filmography
Gallery
Trivia
References
Comments

Design
All three of the Gappas share the same characteristics, as they are based on various reptiles and birds, such as eagles and hawks. Overall, they resemble enormous bipedal griffins. As exhibited in the two adults seen in the film, the species is sexually dimorphic. The female has a smaller head crest and has a flatter face compared to her mate. Their scales are triangle-shaped, and their eyelids are the reverse to that of humans. The Gappas' wings are unlike those of birds; they are actually evolved ribs.[1]

Origins
In ancient times, the Gappas would fight other monsters for survival. They were already present when Earth was still an interstellar cloud, suggesting that the Gappas originated in outer space.[1]

History
Showa era
Gappa
An expedition to Obelisk Island by Mr. Funazu uncovers a baby monster, who hatches from an egg near a sacred temple. The natives plead with the skeptical scientists not to take the baby away, lest it anger the baby's parents. Sure enough, they take the baby away, and soon, inside the caverns, its two parents rise from the underground waters beneath the volcano, destroying everything in their path. Saki, the only survivor, is rescued by an American navy fleet and brought back to Japan.

The parents storm across Japan, destroying all in their wake, but their assault ceases once they recover their baby. Mercifully, they relent and depart to return to Obelisk Island.

Abilities
Flight
The Gappas can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 6.[2]

Amphibiousness
The Gappas have a maximum underwater speed of 150 knots.[2]

Physical abilities
The Gappas have a destructive force of 2 million horsepower. The Gappas' wings can emit hurricane-force winds; they can also cause tsunamis or storm surges using this ability.[1][2]

Radiant Heat Beam
The adult Gappas can fire a 4,000-degree Celsius Radiant Heat Beam (放射熱光線 Hōshanetsu Kōsen)[2] from their mouths. This is described as being "comparable to a death ray" in the film, it can also burn or melt anything it makes contact with. This ability is also speculated in the film to make the Gappas immune to poisons.

Bioluminescence
The Gappas emit bioluminescence from their eyes, which appears blue-white underwater and yellow on land.

Pearl-like substance
The female Gappa possesses a pearl-like substance within her body, likely stored in her legs. This substance can cause humans to go blind.[1]

Electricity
The baby Gappa's body is electrified and causes electric arcs/sparks whenever metals are attached to its body. This may suggest that adult Gappas are also able to emit electricity.

Filmography
Gappa (1967)
Yuzo the Biggest Battle in Tokyo (2022) [toys]


Trivia
Stock footage of the adult Gappas appears in an episode of the British sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf, "Meltdown", where they are enormous wax-droids roaming the Prehistoric World section of an abandoned theme park. Though intimidated, the mechanoid Kryten quips "I can't believe how feeble and improbable those creatures were, sir. I've seen more convincing dinosaurs given away free with a packet of Wheaty-Flakes."

An anatomical illustration noted that Gappa could emit "heat wave beams" from their eyes.[3

Spookykiryu Gigan before he was gigan

Shadowthewolf432 When Rodan Finds the weed

Shadow gojira fan Godzilla + Kappa + Griffin + Rodan = Gappa

Just A GoJi FaN Why didn't they get a sequel :( they're really underrated.

Godzilla .Junior1000 This is my little brother's favourite kaiju

Shin evangelion When Gamera and other kaiju mated and then boom , Gappa was born

SKuLL cRaWLer The Gappas look like if iguanadons had wings

SkullIslandExplorer Are they inspired by the Kappa? They look pretty similar. (FYI: Kappa are water monsters of Japanese
folklore

Godzilla .Junior1000 they are

KING GHIDORAH 19 their heads look like turtles

MosuFan2005 They are very cool, but they are really really really underrated. :(

Leia Mais

Better movie than I anticipated!

"In Japan, during the reign of Shogun Yoshimune, it is the era of the samurai and the ninja. Many villages are outwardly peaceful, but a twisted sexual underbelly exists that affects more than just the criminals. Kaede and her sister are unfortunately victims of this when the elder is raped and commits suicide shortly thereafter. Kaede seeks vengeance, and a lady ninja nun who hears of the events aids her in the search. There is more to the story behind the rape, however, and the lies and secrets are slowly revealed behind a trail of clothing, sweat, and blood"

I don't know who wrote this main detaisl, but they never watched the movie!

This is the true outline for the movie:

"In Japan, during the reign of Shogun Yoshimune, it is the era of the samurai and the ninja.

Many villages are outwardly peaceful, but a twisted sexual underbelly exists that affects more than just the criminals. Kaede and her sister are unfortunately victims of this when the eldest sister is raped and commits suicide shortly thereafter.

Kaede seeks vengeance, and a lady ninja nun who hears of the events aids her in the search. There is more to the story behind the rape, however, and the lies and secrets are slowly revealed behind a trail of clothing, sweat, and blood"

This was a neat little movie, with just enough swordplay, suspence and action for the person who wants this out of a movie, while it also has some titillating parts for those who crave more!

There are also several twists in the movie as it progresses, with the actual rapost being taken out in a most 'unique' way!

There is comedy, satire, action, drama and plot twists here!

Luna Akatsuki aka Runa Akatsuki
as Lady Kaede

Kôji Fujiyoshi

Kazu Itsuki

Hideo Kato

Mankichi Maeda

Yuka Sakagami

Masato Takaoka

Shin Takayuki

Kagawa Tateo

Hideki Yokohori

Wakabayashi Yoshio

Director
Takayuki Kagawa

No one besides Runa appears in the MDL list of cast; and I don't have the time to try and find each and every other cast members as well.

There is a second movie, which I will add and rate as I have the time.

There was little music, but the cinematography was great, and main and support cast were well-matched and kept the story going well.

My only complaint was the death of the elder sister's boyfriend, who was assisting his beau's sister until his demise.

RE-WATCH VALUE: Yes!

Leia Mais

Wasted Superb Cast On A Movie That Could have Been Better!

I have to admit my first viewing of this movie was not good; it had English subtitles superimposed over three or four Asian translations as well...not good!

I finally found a clean copy which led to a better experience.

Our story starts out with Woo Ju Ho (Park Gun Hyung) living it up around the night circuit of his city; later we find out that it is his grandfather's wealth that he is blowing!

His grandfather, played by Jung Wook, has a serious medical problem (I will let you find out what it is when you watch the movie), and he is adamant to give his wealth to charity; unless or course, Ju Jo reluctantly mends his ways and teaches school for two years to earn his inheritance!

Being a former top administration, (I guess) grandfather pulls a few strings and gets Ju Ho into a high school teaching sophomore math. I wondered if you need a special "teacher's certification" or not in South Korea, or did "grandpa" pull some strings and get this waived somehow; it never tells you what degree if any Woo Ju Ho possessed.

Anyway, without even registering with the school, Woo Ju Ho shows up for the first day of class as any other playboy would: arrogant, self-assured, and completely without a clue about the educational system.

Even though he is 'teaching' he is still playing the night life; he gets into trouble several times; due to his 'social ineptness' Teacher Yun So Joo (Kim Hyo Jin) decides to teach him the social skills necessary to navigate the social climate of a high school...little did she know what she was getting into!

The first half of this movie basically follows the above outline; however, even though this is not a 'bad' movie, it is not a great movie!

I saw Park Gun Hyung in the movie Innocent Steps (2005) with the great Korean actress Moon Geun Young (I haven't had time to review it yet!). Park Gun Hyung seemed like he was not really interested in acting in this movie, or the director isn't
giving him what he needs.

He was so much better in Innocent Steps!

It is as if someone is telling him to "suppose" something is supposed to happen without a script, then after filming that scene, him being told to "suppose" something else, but different, is going to take place.

The scenes don't seem to have go together; there is comedy and some innuendo, but it doesn't seem to all work together like a movie should.

If you want some laughs go ahead and watch this movie, but it doesn't seem to "fit together" well.

The second half is better, with Woo Ju Ho actually beginning to 'act' like a teacher and gives some good advice to the students coming to him for help.

In this segment, student Choi Jin Ju (the lovely Song Eun Chae) who plays a young girl who experiences an 'incident' which causes her to want to drop out of school, or at least 'that' school, and Woo Ju Ho attempts to help her with this problem: he also chooses (again kind of "out of the blue" to attempt to woo teacher Yun So Joo after she has been helping him: there was really little inference as her being interested in him, but again, the story seems to change all the way through with little hints or setup for changes.

I liked the scene where Yun So Joo sings for her ex-boyfriend and best girlfriend: one of the best scenes!

The music wasn't bad and the cinematography also is really good. The main cast keep the story going, except for the fact that the connections aren't there always; and the support cast is also good at aiding the two main stars in the movie.

Two kudos for support staff: 'Grandpa' (Jung Wook) and the side story with Ju Ho; and Song Eun Chae, whose side story basically saves the second half!

The other problem with my enjoying this movie is the fighting between the male students; I guess if I understood Korean culture better I would understand why the last fight occurred.

It ended different that I expected, but it still was good: not great, but good!

One final note: the support cast actor Moon Ji-yoon passed away from blood poisoning on the 18th of March 2022, about the time I watched this last.

Condolences to his family, friends, acting connections and others.

RE-WATCH VALUE: Only occasionally.

Leia Mais

"I've Been Working All My Life...Now I Have Forgotten How To Do That"

First of all, my apology to Ang Lee...more later.

I put off watching this movie due to the fact that I figured it was a "copy" of Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) with a few changes, the same way Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016) was basically a carbon copy of Scarlet Heart (2011) with a few plot changes...

Boy, was I wrong!

First the similarities between the two Eat Drink Man Woman movies:

Both deal with a father of 2 or more female kids, who are at ages where their lives are becoming less dependent on their fathers...

Both deal with a "getting old" father who has came to a turning point in his life, the first no longer to 'taste' the food he is preparing properly and the second forgetting the "small" details in his cooking, and his life!

In both movies, the single father has a problem with talking about important "issues" affecting him and his daughters (I said in the review of Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) that I felt the father's inability to 'talk' to his female daughters probably led to his pouring his love into cooking for them instead); in both movies their daughters are also better educated that their father's generation and also have a different outlook on life in general.

In the 2nd version, the father would not tell his daughters about his medial diagnosis, until it started making them worry about him.

There is no returning cast members or director between the two movies but they both leave you with a sense of tranquility and that "everything is gonna be alright" for the households of both movies.

Both movies had actors/actresses who made you feel they were part of a established family the way they responded to each other, in the range of the director's wishes.

Supporting cast in both movies were excellent in their individual side stories and their support of the main story being told by the main actors/actresses...

Let me get back to Ang Lee: I want to apologize to him since i am giving EDMW-2 a higher rating that his original movie, but only by 0.5 of a point!

Ang Lee is known for his 'twists' he throws in his movies just after you think you have figured out everything about his movie and you have already told your friends how the movie is going to end: EDMW is a typical example of this.

However, the 2nd version has a more melodramatic 'twist' one that is sure to send some women into their tissue supply!

Tang Shi Zhe [Wa Er's father/restaurant owner] (Kenneth Tsang) did an excellent job of playing the head of the Tang family; and an even better job of "remembering' something from the past that he thought would never need to remember again, and Gui Ya Lei (Bai Ping) played a magnificent job being a pain to Tang Wa'er (Huo Si Yan) the manager of an exclusive spa and the girlfriend of Gui Ya Lei's "son" Zhang Quan (Blue Lan), who gave Shi Zje the 'reason' for remembering his past at the most opportune time!

Blue Lan did an excellent job portraying the computer-nerd boyfriend of Tang Wa'er, to the point I was yelling at Tang Wa'er to dump the jerk! However, he did redeem himself in the end and saved his relationship.

The 'twist' that director Tsao Jui-Yuan placed his 'twist' just at the right location and I experienced a great emotional catharsis for the couple reuniting after many, many decades!

It left me with such a sense of emotional euphoria and well-being that i wanted the movie to go on and show more of the three couples as they grew together in their personal lives!

I recommend a full box of Kleenex, especially for the last half of the movie.

I am going to look for more Tsao Jui-Yuan movies online as well.

RE-WATCH VALUE: Yes, especially with a good female friend

Leia Mais

"You Have The Right To Remain Silent...But If You Do, You're A Dead Man."

Part of the "My Sassy Girl Trilogy" by Kwak Jae Yong

This is the second movie of the "My Sassy Girl Trilogy" by director/screenwriter Kwak Jae Young.

The first movie is My Sassy Girl (2001).

The second movie is the film Windstruck (2004).

The third movie is Cyborg She (2008), a Japanese movie.

They are unrelated except for having a 'sassy girl' theme

Kwak Jae Yong served as screenwriter & director for all three above films.

The main male lead for My Sassy Girl, Cha Tae Hyun, appears in a bit part in this movie.

"Windstruck is a comedy/romance/drama/fairy tale/

I had White Valentine (1999) recommended to me: my late fiance was into Asian movies and knew that White Valentine was available online with English subtitles (She introduced me to My Little Bride (Moon Geun Young) and saw all the movies she had with English subtitles. After that list dried up, my fiance started me on White Valentine, with Jun Ji Hyun, a great little sleeper so I started on her list of movies then.


Movies do not have to be "real", as in everything in a scene being scientifically possible or probable! They are made, and should be viewed, with your imagination and mind being allowed to wander. That is why this review is longer than my normal movie review.

There has been so much written about how you cannot ride a large balloon through the sky without being killed; this is a 'fairy tale' about the love of two people: a 'sassy' girl and a physics teacher. It is not supposed to be 'real' in its being told! No police officer in real life would do, or even TRY TO DO what Officer Yeo Kyung Jin did in this movie: they would be kicked off the police force if they did survive the gun battles portrayed in this movie!

When "My Sassy Girl" came out, every high school and college girl "wanted" to be "The Girl"; but being "The Girl' would turn many guys off, especially wearing a female's high heels shoes! Like "Windstruck" it made females believe in themselves and it drew woman back, year after year, watching a 'sassy' girl in control of her life!

It is a feel-good movie which people watch over, and over, and over and ....well, you get the picture!Women, and even men, go from laughing until they cry, then crying in the next part and wanting to enter the movie and change the story!

This is one of the cutest movies from Korea! I saw it about ten years ago for the first time, as I was going up the movies list of Jun Ji Hyun, starting with a chance reference to her "White Valentine."

The first part is very comical and you will be sh*tting in your pants and rolling on the floor from the hijinx of Police Officer Yeo Kyung Jin (Jun Ji Hyun) who accidentally "bumps" into all-girl school physics teacher Myung Woo (Jang Hyuk), who is doing his 'Boy Scout' duty by trying to catch a purse thief (Kim Young Joo) running ahead of him.

Yeo Kyung Jin, as it turns out later, bumbles this case as she does most other cases she is involved in during the first half of this romantic-comedy movie; but she finds a 'boyfriend' this time out of her 'bumbling'!

That is in line with the "sassy girl' motif that My Sassy Girl, Windstruck and Cyborg She have in common! This is a movie, not a documentary of hos police are 'supposed' to run things when they are on the beat... it is 'make-believe" so quit comparing "Officer" Yeo Kyung Jin with a REAL police officer! It is a comedy like the Mr Bean character from England.

The second half leads into a more drama-comedy, as a major mishap ends her romantic relationship she just found; she spends months in grief and second-guessing herself, until a miracle happens to reconnect her with her Significant Other.

Coming from a Religious Studies and former EMT (ambulance) background, many have said that Yeo Kyung Jin "cried too much" when Myung Woo dies: Russell Friedman and John W. James of The Grief Recovery Institute will tell you that whether you’ve known your partner a few months or been married for 50 years, when your significant other dies, it may feel like part of you is gone too. It can have severe psychological and/or physical attributes on a person.

The death of a loved one can lead to a stroke, heart attack or even death (without using a weapon!).

The director does not say how long that the new couple were together before Myung Woo died; In the first of the trilogy (MSG), it was at least 4-5 years between the time the two main cast members did not see each other after planting the letters under the tree.

"Death" affects each person in different ways, so I personally saw no problem with Yeo Kyung Jin's crying as much as she did!

Also, too many people keep talking about this movie being a 'prequel' to MSG: it is not! Quit thinking that way.

Kwak Jae Yong in this movie used flashbacks, story and scene repetitions from MSG to elicit an emotional response to the movie; he also used scene repetitions (first and last commentary) to link the beginning and the end of the movie together, and he did it brilliantly! I loved it so much..a stroke of genius on his part!

If you have never seen MSG, you can enjoy this movie and all of its ups and downs and its emotional roller-coaster ride without ever have seen MSG before.

There is talk online about 'Windstruck' being 'two different movies edited together': that also is false!

The first part is about the meeting and pairing of the two love birds; the second is the death of one and the recovery of the other; EVERYONE has lost a significant other and gone through the agony of recovery, one way or the other. If and when one of your loved ones die, you too can have your world tuned upside down in an instant!

Plot Twists...You will enjoy the movie more if you pay attention to:

Officer Yeo Kyung Jin as she is waking up and stretching the morning after (still) being handcuffed to Myung Woo...

Officer Yeo Kyung Jin having a man "get down" and squat so she can go over the wall in one of the chases...

Watch for the parts of [Assistant Inspector] Kim Yeong Ho (Kim Jeong Tae) in this movie: he has a major contribution to the story.

The main male/female characters are really great here: they interact like they were a real couple!

The support cast also did an excellent job at making the main and side story believable, supporting the main cast and the story excellently.

This movie, alth9ught many do not see it as that good, does what any GREAT movie does: it makes people laugh, cry, wince, say "WTF" to something that happens out of the ordinary! That why I was so surprised at all the negative reviews on MDL.

There are several copies pf "Windstruck" online, and each one has counted MILIIONS of views: that in itself should tel you what great of a movie this is!

Leia Mais

“No, we are not {human). Even if we look like human, we are not treated as human.”

Ok Nyo: ”I am human..so are you!”

Mother: “No, we are not. Even if we look like human, we are not treated as human.”

Why is the first 55 minutes of this movie on DramaThis, yet the last 38 minutes on MyAsianTV?

A melodramatic movie set during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea showing the inhumane treatment of the young, virgin surrogate mother Ok-nyeo (Kang Soo Yeon) by a system which values male “heirs” over female, and a culture steeped with so much “wives tales, useless pomp and circumstance, and ritual”…most of the which is useless for anything except keeping all, rich and poor, in their proper place in this, and other, society.

Most of the movie was on Ok-nyeo and her being in complete solitude between visits by the young Master, and no Internet in those days to play on while in solitude!

I loved the music, scenery, cinematography, and costumes of the period; I also appreciate the director allowing the young girl the chance to be ‘consoled’ by the young Master more often than the Matriarch and the house staff would allow.

I dislike the lack of emotion and feeling that prevailed in everyone, save for the Master and surrogate woman. It seems that 'emotion' was set aside for women during this time period; however, the young Master also seemed to have no one worrying about his emotions as well! As I have studied religion and myth for years, this is typical not only for Korea but for most cultures before the modern era.

I loved the ceremony just before the birth, where all the poor community were enjoying themselves.

Everyone, except the Master and the young surrogate, treated her surrogacy as nothing more than a business contract, allowing very little ‘humanity’ in this movie.

The director showed the attempt society has always had for emotional contact between humans of different social classes; that is why media (printed, audio and visual arts) is full of successful movies and stories of a man and a woman from different social-economic classes falling in love and successfully ‘beating the system’.

I enjoy being able to see a microcosm of traditional societies in movie form, such as this movie.

This is a service both for those wishing to be entertained and for those who want to see a slice of life in bygone eras, which isn’t that much different than a slice of life if taken from any society today!

The system of separation even extends to the ‘raising’ of of rich people's children: Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was raised by servants but not her parents (as she allowed the same for her children as well); she was cold and removed from her children as Queen Victoria, Elizabeth II and most of the other elite members of out society, those who control the rest of us!

What was revealed later in the movie is that Ok-nyeo's mother was also a surrogate until she, a female, was born accidentally.

What is sad it that much of the poor also believe that tradition and useless ritual is necessary in order for society to continue: it is, is you want to continue the separation of people as this movie shows.

I would recommend this for anyone who wishes to watch a great movie,or anyone interested in the movies of Kang Soo-youn or interested in Korean movies in general.

What is sad is that I watched this great movie on the same day actress Kang Soo-youn died in Korea…she was scheduled to film the movie “Jung_E” during the last part of this year (2022)

My kudos to this great movie and condolences for her, her family and all the friends of Korean films!

https://news.yahoo.com/veteran-actor-kang-soo-youn-175505996.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely!

Leia Mais

"But I Think He Is a Dull-Looking Dork! Can't You Tell The Difference Between 'Dull' and 'Natural?'"

Known locally as South Korea’s first “American Pie”-like comedy, “Wet Dreams” is relatively low on gross-out visuals and rather higher on innocent romance. Produced by “Shiri” helmer Jacky Kang’s KangJeGyu Films and directed by NYU grad Jeong Cho-shin (who made clever crime comedy “Jakarta”), the well-packaged story of a hormonal teen who decides he’ll lose his virginity only to a woman he loves has done robust biz since bowing early November and would make an amusing curio in Asian-themed events.

Inspired by "American Pie" which did not sell well in South Korea, this movie was very successful in Korea which led to its sequel!

This film is available for free on Dailymotion, but is broken into 5 parts for viewing. Its companion sequel Wet Dreams 2 is available for free at Dramacool.

Kim Sun Ah wasn't bad on her comical timing; since I don't remember her in another comedy before, I cannot compare her in
any other comedy movie.

So Jung (Kim Ki Yeon) was also great as far as her comic timing and her supporting the main stories!

This movie is basically two love stories in one, with a bunch of pubescent stunts from the three younger male cast members, Seok Gu, Sang Min and Young Je filling in the scenes between the two love stories.

Dong Hyun (Noh Hyung-wook) is a middle-school student who is beginning his journey as a boy becoming a man; his object of affection is the new student-teacher (trainee student) Yoo Ri (Kim Sun Ah).

I love the way that Yoo Ri 'handles' the boys' pubescent yearnings in a professional yet caring way, the same way that she handles the teachers who also are interested in her.

I also like the sex jokes, as I was that age once and they remind me how "getting laid" and finding out about women pre-occupied most of my free time (which, living on a farm, was very little time at all for me!).

What I loved most, though, was the one scene where Dong Hyun's mother (uncredited and I cannot find the actress's name online) showed Dong Hyun that she was a great mother to him!

Yoo Ri, it turns out, is a former student of Byung Chul under which she is student teaching (Lee Bum Soo), also a bachelor who gave up years ago on women and comes to school looking like a bum instead of a teacher. he rejects Yoo Ri's advances, and still treats her like his former students, making her drink soda pop instead of saki when eating together.

Yoo Ri is persistent though, and gradually convinces her love interest since high school, Byung Chul, that she is both a good teacher and that she is a woman of legal age who likes him!

Dong Hyun and Byung Chul have a lot in common, besides their love for Yoo-Ri: both men also "grow" through their association with Yoo-Ri.

The teacher Byung Chul finds that he can be loved by a woman, who he finally grows to see Yoo-Ri as, and not just as one of his former high school students. He is given a reason, the love of a woman, to start actually dressing like the good-looking man he is, and he also begins to see a future with someone he finally found to love him!

Dong Hyun actually grows more than his male teacher; first interested in touching and sleeping with his female teacher, he matures rapidly and realizes that Yoo-Ri's wants and needs are more important than just his need of a night in bed with a female.

While he tries unsuccessfully tried to admit his love to Yoo-Ri, he finds that she is actually is in love with his original teacher, Byung Chul.

Knowing the truth about Yoo-Ri's love, Dong Hyan matures quickly into adulthood, rigging the outcome the way Rick [in Casablanca (1942) American romantic drama film] did with Ilsa and Laszlo.

I loved the atmosphere of a high school setting, which made it seem real enough to lose myself for awhile. I felt that I was back in high school; the only difference is that us guys back then made bets about getting to see the high school girls' panties, bras, whatever, but not the teachers!

The music and cinematography was good, but lacking somewhat in editing I thought.


I cut the score for this movie for a couple of main reasons: excessive (probably for some) sexual jokes and the editing lacked that of Seven Samurai (1954) Caijin (2012) or Xuan Zang (2016).


This movie reminded me of Beautiful Teacher in Torture Hell (1985), as far as the classroom scenes; Caijin (2012) as far as the students working together; Crazy Little Thing Called Love (2010) as far as 'first love'; Cry Me A Sad River (2018) as far as the students bullying each other; Ditto (2000) as far as student life; Middle School Student A (2014) as far as students interactions; Sex Is Zero 1 and 2 (2002, 2007) as far as campus hijinx; Su-ki-da (2005) as far as old/young romances; The Classic (2003) as far as high school romance; and Virgin Snow (2007) as far as impossible romances.

It especially reminds me of Middle School Student A (2016) as far as boy/girl relationships; Jenny & Juno (2005) as far as teenage relationships and maturity; Marbling (2014) as far as inexperienced lovers; My Love (2021) as far as adolescent romance; Nisekoi (2018) another high school comedy with loads of inuendo; On Your Wedding Day (2018) as far as adolescent romance; Samaritan Girl (2004) as far as old/young relationships and Who Slept with Her (2006) as far as high school sexual tension.

RE-WATCH VALUE: Yes!

Leia Mais

"I Wish Someone Would Rob The Bank, Preferably Taking Me Hostage...A Tragic Heroine"

There is a drama series, unrelated to this movie, with the same title...hope that it was as HILARIOUS as this movie!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This was HILARIOUS movie! From the beginning I knew that I was going to enjoy it!

Suzuki Sakiko (Nishida Naomi) is the oldest child of a middle-class family whose 'obsession' is M-O-N-E-Y!

Unfortunately, she wins no friends when she shows them her savings booklet (her prize possession!), and she would prefer money from a guy rather than him using the money to buy her snacks or a meal.

Her mother suggests that she become a bank teller since she loves money so much; this is where we find her as a couple of robbers stage a robbery and take her as a hostage!

The rest of the story follows her as she is found, goes back to work and finally starts on her quest to recover the suitcase loaded with money...somewhere in the Aokigahara mountains (near My Fuji). The movie is loaded with

I loved her tenacity in learning the skills necessary to recover the suitcase. She 'acts' as a young female who has a goal in life from recovering from the ordeal and meets every obstacle with determination, motivation and careful planning. Yet at the same time, she seems to really to get into her character, showing an adolescent playfulness that becomes light comic pleasure onscreen.

She 'makes' opportunities by applying herself and being in the right place at the right time!

The support cast, including her family college faculty and staff, add greatly to the story and allow her to reach the goals she needed at the right times. They all become her obstacle at sometime but she is able to navigate their interference.

What happens as she becomes involved with other people and learns new skills, is her moving from loving money to loving adventure for itself! When you watch the movie, you will understand what I am talking about.

The music was placed where it was needed and appropriate and the cinematography was fantastic. The site for her journey down the river was beautiful, with a return to the same lovely scenery when her actual search begins. The landscapes and atmosphere are worth watching the movie in itself!

Although this was a low budget movie and her actions were sometimes foolish (as the director wanted them to be), you cannot help but start but wanting this dreamer and her antics to win the day!

I am going to have to find more films by Nishida Naomi and this movie's director, Yaguchi Shinobu.

By the way, the reason she got into college finally is typical comical gag, but it was done superbly by the bit player that pulled it off!


RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely, especially with friends!

Leia Mais

Hong Kong love triangle with a "Fatal Attraction"-like ending!

First of all, "nudity' is not a big part of this movie: you see the back and butt of Veronica Yip in one scene, the rest is women in (very nice-looking) lingerie, two girls in small bikinis, and a dress or two ripped open but no nipples revealed. There is also 'simulated sex" but no visuals.

This is a hilariously funny but dramatic movie!

An antiques dealer Simon (Simon Yam) plays the boyfriend/lover of a leading Hong Kong lawyer Sandy (Sandra Ng) but gets involved with a married woman Mrs. Lau (Veronica Yip) over an antique watch which he desperately wants to get his hands on!

Simon and Mrs, Lau begin a passionate love affair on land and sea, culminating with Mrs. Lau becoming obsessed with Simon, and the death of her husband. Simon's trial is very dramatic yet ends with a fabulous twist to the ending!

The main three cast put on a very convincing show of being in love or lust with each other, with Simon playing a suave 'lady's man' who makes all the right moves and says all the right things to keep his libido and the two ladies satisfied throughout the movie.

Sandy, played by a known comical actress, keeps her relationship with Simon on edge through the movie, with several funny scenes to keep you awake for more! Mrs. Lau portrays a nymphomaniac when it comes to passion!

The two-support cast also do a great job in their roles and allowing the main cast to complete the story: I would like to mention
Valentino (Michael Chow) in his support role and one off-the-wall scene with two bikini-clad beauties; you will laugh your head off during and after the scene!

The music and cinematography were excellent for this time period, and the locations shows off some of the best scenery of Hong Kong for this time period

I like the way that the movie flowed around the type of dialogue that ordinary people would have in their daily lives.

I like the scenes of the antiques mall and the high-end dresses worn by the bidders and lady friends of the other bidders.

The food presented envisioned high-class society members enjoying the best food as their normal meals; everything reeked of high society Hong Kong in the 1990s.

I did not like the 'rushed' buildup of the plot/story; it could have spent a little more time on this aspect.

The ending was a surprise; I didn't think that it would turn out the way it did, but I was hoping for a happy ending for Simon and Sandy!

It had the right combination of comedy/drama/and a fight scene as well!

RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely!

Leia Mais

"Don't Even Fight With Women Anymore"

First of all, it only shows the back of a woman's body when it comes to nudity, so don't let this keep you from watching this great, spellbinding movie!

I was on the edge of my seat from about 10 minutes into the movie all the way to the end!

The director kept the pace quick with continuous changing twists in the movie, which also involved the couple's dog!

The husband disappears in about 10 or so minutes of the movie and only comes back for even less time, the male villain Sam Chu (Anthony Wong) and the blind wife Mrs. Ng (Veronica Yip) carry the rest of the movie with small appearances by support cast, but HOW they carry it!

Their performances opposite each other couldn't have been better!

Veronica Yip plays a 'kept' wife whose only decisions revolve around which clothes she wears each day; she at the beginning of the movie couldn't fight he way out of a paper bag! But the physical and psychological terror that she endures during the time of her temporary blindness gives her the backbone and tenacity to stand up for herself.

The cast all do a fantastic job in this movie, even if the support cats' scenes were brief! Great actors and actresses all around!

I like the fact that the wife finds the ingenuity to try to get help and also the fact that she developed the ability to defend herself against her intruder: I also love the ways she used what she had in the house to create chaos for the intruder.

The cinematography was great as well as the music!

I don' t know what else to say, except don't watch this unless you have the time to be completely entertained and mesmerized!

One comment about the support cast: The lone Hong Kong cop got what he deserved by not calling for backup.

RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely!

Leia Mais

Name given by adoptive parents: Căijīn 彩金refers to money won in a lottery, lotto or other game

Name given by her adoptive parents: căijīn 彩金refers to money won in a lottery, lotto or other game, hence the title of the film: Xiaonü Caijin (《孝女彩金》), Cai jin, 'model of filial piety.'

Main Cast
Feng Yingying (冯莹莹) as Peng Caijin (彭彩金),

Sun Jifeng (孙继峰) as (adopted) father Peng Xiaocheng (彭孝诚),

Liu Chenxia (刘晨霞) as (adopted) mother Liu Chuntao

Support Cast:
Deng Dingwei (邓丁玮) as Caijin's half-brother

Bai Li Wei as Uncle Wu

Xu Jinger as Yang Yunmie, Peng Caijin's mother who abandoned her

After the village's Lantern Festival and their accompanying wedding, , Peng Xiaocheng (Sun Jifeng) and Liu Chuntao (Liu Chenxia) are awakened by the sound of a baby crying. Not able to have their own children, they pour their heart and soul into raising the young female baby the found , to whom they give the name, Peng Caijin.

I hate to admit this, but I cried through most of this movie.

The young actors did a monumental job on this movie; especially with young actress Feng Yingying, starring as the young girl Peng Caijin, abandoned by her birth mother, who later returned and found her again. I am not going to tell you what happens next, but i think that you will love it!

The scenery, cinematography and music was all great! I personally would love to live in such a village myself.

The support cast, from villagers to fellow students to her teacher all did a great job in their parts, and showed us how a community should come together and support those who have less material goods but a good heart; I especially liked the daydreaming scene, where Cai Jin imagined her two parents healed, and able to give her a normal life.

However, as much as they loved her, unconditionally, they were a burden to her all of her young life.

Even though she dreamt this, I don't hold it against her in the least. Her parents sacrificed all they could give, until their bodies struck down and no longer can give.

Almost every scene in this movie shows love...the kind of love where hate cannot find a place within.

This movie from start to finish, is a perfect example of how a husband and wife should treat each other; how a couple should treat their child, how a community should treat each other and love and stick to each other; and yes, how a child should support and love their parents, even if they cannot give you riches!

Learning character piety and filial, as Peng Caijin graciously learned, is the most important lesson in life!

Peng Caijin did not desert her parents, even though they tried to give her what they couldn't in life...

You can feel the love as the three main cast probably put on the best performance of their lives!


Although not mentioned in the movie, another true story associated with this movie is the appearance of Mr. Xiong Delong, or Ted Sioeng, an Indonesian businessman, who also was adopted as Peng Caijin...in China but was raised in another country
by such parents as loving as the couple portrayed in this movie.

Mr. Delong has given away hundreds of millions of dollars to help others, and upon hearing the story of Peng Caijin, left America and came to the village where the real Peng Caijin and her disabled parents lived...he appears as himself near the end of this movie.

https://inf.news/en/world/29464aab93bdf43b157d66dd70228adb.html

Link to movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l0ofsCRCmM

This is definitely a two to two and a half box of Kleenex movie; if you want to impress a new female friend, watch this movie with her!

My major problem is that is no mention of Feng Yingying as an actress after this movie.

RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely!

Leia Mais