Just finished watching this movie, and It was a really good story about finding ones balance and place in life. It is also a story of helping others find a small slice of peace in their life. The main lead by helping others finds his center and resolves issues in his past and then finds his peace.

Please read Johanna Linnea Karlsson's review as it is really good to an echos my thoughts as well.

I will add that at first i thought if some people were really adverse to watching the sex scenes they could just FF and still get the story, but some of the stories are told in the sex.

i recommend this and I hope it gets awards because the truth in this story echoes in my heart.

Leia Mais

I am writing this from the view of a long time MMORPGer and as a parent.  This is cute little story that almost made me want to resubscribe to WOW...then I remember my 8 characters pain and decided to let them be. 100 Levels and 400 pets later it is time to let them rest.  Oh right back to the review.  

It is cute, only 8 episodes so a tight story line.  It is a slice of life drama based on a true life story.  You believe this household exists and the bonds that are there even if only loosely.  

And yes Mom loves Kdrama, Alot.

Episode 8 though totally not needed for story progression, be warned.

I enjoyed this, I hope you do too

Leia Mais

Just finished watching this and was extremely happy I chose to watch this movie tonight.   Kimura was amazing. Erika Toda does excellent with her part.  If you like samurai movies AT ALL you must watch this movie.  I am a huge Kurosawa fan and this movie gives you the same feel.  More like Hidden Fortress than any of his other stuff.  Yes there is blood and gore but not too over the top.  The girl needing protection isn't too whiny or too stony she comes off as a real person.

I recommend this is you like action samurai movies.

Oh and the sound track at least the closing song I must find it!

Leia Mais

Sono Sion delivers once again with beautiful cinematography and incredibly unique storytelling. He keeps you guessing throughout this two hours the entire time who the real killer is even if you know the real case it is based on. Some details lined up but the story is told in such a way that even if you are familar with all the details of the real life incident, you do not know the outcome of the movie. While officially it is labelled as Crime, Drama and Psychological it definitly touches the horror line.
The actors brought this story to life in a truly amazing way. The actors all played their roles so convincingly; they didn't let a single clue loose until the reveals of all the twists. It's easy to fall for some characters whilst not caring for others due to their characters' personalities.
Although the music probably did influence feeling during the film, no sound or track in particular was fully present until the ending credits
For rewatch value, although the film is good and would be fun to watch again when looking for a guilty pleasure to binge, a lot of the shock factor and twists are known after one watch, so the shock value and enjoyment value does go down slightly when thinking about a rewatch

Watched and wrote this review with etherealtaekibum

Leia Mais

Alice in Borderland: A Netflix Gem

As a watcher of many movies and Dramas in this genre, story is usually secondary to the unwritten social contract break down. Usually we play nice with each other as humans but when we add death as a consequence, things we would never have done suddenly become acceptable. Survival is so hardwired into us.
The Story is actually the star of this drama, the mains not instant badasses, flawed and yet over come the flaws through the course of the episodes, Or not and accepts them.
No one is overly naive to propel the story, just everyone has their own back story and reason for who they are (kinda like real people).
The transgender plot line was done extremely well and it wasn't thrown in your face, it was folded into the story like just one more ingredient AND I LOVED IT.
Acting totally on point by this star filled cast.

It gets a 9.5 because...because I cant bring myself to give this genre a 10.

Leia Mais

Standard Format, New visuals.

So as far as originality this doesn't stray too far from the path that had been laid out by countless movies and Drama Specials before it. Survivors guilt and the Soldier that can't deal with being home. What it does change is the Soldier is not the focus, but more of a side character. The focus is the science race for the atom bomb.

What does stand out is the visuals at the end, it has less sanitized scenes of after the bomb fell. You can almost smell the air and feel the despair, but also humans just moving on, dealing with things no matter how horrific.

Leia Mais

You must understand I have been watching horror movies for 30 plus years so nothing is new, no jump scare is going to get me, and honestly most "horror" movies involve stupid people doing stupid things. If something says "keep out" it doesn't mean "go in", if you think you have the cursed video...don't watch it.

The beginning was typical horror movie set up, but there is logic to bring one of the curses to the modern age bringing dvds and the internet into the urban legend. The middle you add some "experts" that try their best. The end gives you the best stuff horror movies can gives you. Make sure to watch the after the credits. The end song is pretty kick a$$ too.

If you are familiar with the 2 franchises and like horror this is pretty cool

Leia Mais

I watched this movie because for the next month I will be focusing on historical dramas and movies. What drew me to this was possible romance without much politics. What made me nervous..The comparison to Romeo and Juliet(we all know how that turned out).

This is the second Aoi Yu work I have seen(the other being Osen) and she can really sell a strong woman who does not lose her femininity in the process. Okada Masaki whom I have seen in several things before this(Mirai Niki, Taira no Kiyomori, Ito-kun A-E) did excellent with his part. While a lot of the parts are predictable, the ride was still enjoyable. I will be adding this to my recommends lists.

The scenery was beautiful with only a few locations the world still felt big and wide open. Overall I give this an 8 rating .

Leia Mais

Scooping Shrimps - The Real History or Made up story?

AS A DRAMA This is a very well done historical drama, humanizing a larger than life historical figure. i think the acting and casting was great with tons of familiar faces playing roles that seemed to suit the roles they have either cast as their public person OR a great role they have done in the past. This show cases the hardening of a soul over time and how the "Turbulent Times" wore down the innocence of this man. How the hard decisions effect this man but his public face will never show it. I liken this drama to "Nobunaga Concerto" With Oguri Shun.

AS A TAIGA It is not close to the historical Ieyasu's life. Well Loosely. These events did happen, but his love life was completely different and it hid his ambitions or what seemed to be his ambitions to the history books. My thoughts are that if this work has every just 1 person look at Togugawa's Wiki or God Forbid a book to learn deeper about the trues history of this time period, then it has done it's job.

True History is Dirty and Nasty, Especially when in Times of War. (Yes those capital letters are on purpose), and often times would not make for a good drama or even a movie. The thought behind this Taiga was to bring in new faces and talent in order to raise viewership of the time slot. In that view I believe that the station did a good job.

Leia Mais

Why I watched: I watch as many projects with Oguri Shun as I can, they usually don't disappoint and this was no exception

Story: The story conveyed the conflicts in the individuals as well as families but never told you how to feel. It laid the events as they happened out for you and let you decide. That while the over arcing stress of the war and effects of it was going on, normal stress was still going on as well and the conflict heightened it. While a VERY heavy topic that could have been tipped either way to may a political point, was handled as hands off as it could possibly could.

Acting: EVERYONE. Every single actor in this pulled their weight. There was no wooden or over-acting (Unless the character was dramatic). I felt all of their emotions, even the characters I disliked.

Music: Oddly enough the music came from the 60s anti war sentiment and added so much to the feel of this. A choice I would never have thought of but brilliantly executed.

Rewatch: Because of the topic and heaviness I would not be able to re-watch this unless I was sharing it with someone. My lower re-watch score has nothing to do with quality.

Overall: I would highly recommend this if you can handle the topic..it was so masterfully put together I gave it a 10

Leia Mais

I usually don't go for things that are popular or Trendy and this was one of those that had "too many positive reviews" that made me super nervous to watch this. My score may be lower than what it would have been if I had just watched this when I was ready to rather than rush before voting.

Nit picks: ML did not even once feel like he was 15, Male lead was a stalker. FL unable to be truthful with herself early enough to stop relationship early on. The direction of liking the feeling to object or action around the characters became tedious.

Everyone responsible for the child reaction's were as it should be, and in the end it was for the best for Akira and Hijiri. For me the pacing was slow, maybe because I did not choose to watch this one my own, or I am loosing patience with long drawn out romances.

Overall it was a good story, it just didn't hit my sweet spot.

Leia Mais

Please see the other review as I concur with most of its points.  I have seen Hana Yori Dango/Boys over Flowers/Let's Go Watch a Meteor Shower and now Meteor Garden.  I had to space months between each one to even want to ride the emotional rollercoaster again.  I will state this now HanaDan is still my favorite.  There is a new Chinese version coming out in 2018. It may have potential but somehow replacing MatsuJun/InoueMao chemistry on screen has not been recreated yet.

This has 27 episodes in one season and has more time to tell the story, it feel more natural yet the chemistry is not there.  You know he loves her, she hangs out with like 5 other guys while trying to distance herself from Dao Ming Si I am not sure that was in the manga, it sure wasn't in the other three versions.
This version has no amnesia and no "Lost in Snow" Incident which the other three did.

Lei's character (Rui) is ok TBH the Korean version fleshed him out so much better and while I love Oguri Shun as Rui there just wasn't much meat to his story.

Xi Men -The potters son/Tea maker/ who knows what his fathers job is in this, is an interesting story arc, and better done than Hana Dan this couple was my favorite in both BOF and MG.

So here's my recommendation Watch HanaDan for Domiyogi/Makino, watch BOF and MG for other F4 love stories.

Leia Mais

No monsters here

This movie has a comical beginning with over acting and magical auto machine guns that do not work like their real life counterparts. That's the first 7 minutes.

With use of a few skeletons from the local medical school and camera angles this titles sets a very creepy atmosphere. the bad guys are uncovered layer by layer and the story is told well enough.

There are some unneeded fanservice (barely clothed dancing girls and boobie shots)..but i am convinced if there isnt a boob, its not on the Criterion channel.

Editing wise we get some jump cuts that are disorienting you have to take a minute to figure out what is going on. All in all it gets a 7 for telling a story with spooky elements through amateur actors and getting it across. Suspense not gore.

Leia Mais