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Reviews
7-beon-bang-ui seon-mul (2013)
Miracle in Cell No.7
The film Miracle in Cell No. 7 directed by Lee Hwan-kyung is a comedy. However, I think it is much more than only than a simple comedy. The film is about Lee Yong-gu's unjust imprisonment. The prisoners in Cell No. 7 are all touched by Yong-gu and his daughter, so they helped Young-gu to meet his daughter in the prison. Due to Yong-gu's mental illness and the threats coming for his daughter, Yong-gu was executed to death wrongly. Ten years after, Young-gu's daughther, Ye-sung grows up and becomes a lawyer. She finally redress his father's case and proofs Young-gu is innocent successfully. However, Young-gu can never become alive again. I was very touched by this movie, because it show both heartwarming scenes and cruel scenes. This movie makes me to realize that the police can sometimes be wrong and they can also be selfish. I think Young-gu is afraid that his daughter is going to get hurt so he tells the secretary that he actually raped the girl. I see the kind side of human heart in this film as well: although the prisoners used to be evil, but they are still kind to the child and a mental disable man. I would absolutely recommend this film to anyone, because it is a such heartwarming, impressive, and inspiring story. I want to research about death penalty because I think it is unreasonable. Especially like someone is executed wrongly like Young-gu, they will never come back alive again.
Wadjda (2012)
Wadjda
The movie Wadjda is about an Arabic girl, Wadjda is born in a family that is not really wealthy. She really wants to ride a bike like her friend, but her mother denies to buy her one because this disobeys the social norms in their Arabic society. Wadjda tries to collect money from her friends, and even wins a competition(But she does not actually get the award at the end). Eventually, her hard work impresses her mother to allow her to ride a bike. The last couple scenes in the movie was very touching to me. Wadjda's mother divorces with her father, and uses all the money she has for the red dress to buy Wadjda a bike. When I see Wadjda is finally riding the bike, I am so happy for her, but also sad for her mother. I would give this film an 8, because I really like the story line and how religion and social norms are playing such an important role in this film. I would definitely recommend this film, because it shows so many culture elements that we can never see in our life.
Sufat Chol (2016)
Sand Storm
The film Sand Storm directed by Elite Zexer is a drama different than other drama films I have seen. Since the setting of this film is in Bedouin Village in Israel, their living environment and customs are absolutely different apart from my life. While Jaila is preparing wedding for her husband and his second wife, Jaila's daughter, Layla fells in love. However, when Jaila finds out, she does not want Layla to see her boyfriend again. Layla has ran away, but she stops and still comes back for the arranged marriage her family made for her. I was very touched when I saw the scene of Jaila actually allows Layla to run away. Although Layla's escape is going to damage her family relationships, she still respects her daughter's decision. I think the reason she allows Layla to run away is because Jaila does not like her marriage, and she does not want to put her daughter in the same situation as herself. However, this film as a whole has a very sad atmosphere. I would rate this film a 7 out of 10 because I am not used to the pace of this movie.
Xi you: Xiang mo pian (2013)
Journey to the West
The movie Journey to the West by Stephen Chow is an adaption of classic Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en. It is an adapted pre-story of the actual book. I read the actual classic before and watched the famous series of Journey to the West. I will give this film a 8 out of 10 because I like most of the plots in this movie. Stephen Chow's movies always have his style of humor, and I really enjoy watching his movies. However, what makes me really confused is how he narrate the main characters as demons. In my opinion, the story in this movie has barely connection with Journey to the West and the idea is different from the book. For example, the main female character, Miss Duan has never been mentioned in the book. Her love story with Tang Sanzang does not make any sense because the figure of Tang Sanzang should be extremely devout. If I look at this film separately from Journey to the West, I will like it better than now.
Chennai Express (2013)
Chennai Express
Chennai Express by Rohit Shetty is a very typical Bollywood film. The main character Rahul meets Meenama on Chennai Express on his way to bury his grandfather. Meenama is escaping from her marriage assigned by her father, because her father, the king wants her to marry a man that will bring privilege to his kingdom. Meenama and Rahul fall in love and experienced difficulties, finally, Rahul wins the fight and the king agrees them to get marry. I will rate this film a 8 out of 10. As usual, Bollywood film has very impressive music can traditional dances connecting with the plot. We can easily tell that this is not a American film through the character's clothing and custom. It is interesting to see how the different languages in India is helping Rahul and Meenama to communicate without letting others know. What I do not feel really good about this film is some plots are way too exaggerate, making the audience can not get the point of funny.
Okuribito (2008)
Departures film review
The film Departures by Yojiro Takita introduced me a job I have never noticed: mortuary. As the characters in the film mentioned, having a work to do with dead people's body is a shame. However, I would think this kind of job is unusual, but not a shame, because every job should be respected. The main character, Daigo was first working in a band to play cello. When the band was dismissed, Daigo and his wife Mika moved back to his mother's old house, because it is too hard for them to afford the living expense in Tokyo. In the old town, Daigo found this job, and starting to work as a mortuary. All of his neighbors and Mika did not agree with him doing the job, but after seeing him doing the job, they realized this job should also be respected. I really enjoyed watching this movie because this is not just showing a plain story, but having many social and family issues like transgender and no parenting children. The burial custom in Japan shows that it is not an American film because there is no such custom that cleaning the body in front of its' family and friend.
Whale Rider (2002)
Whale Rider: Gender Role in Minority Group
Whale Rider is a really good film, to rate this film, I will give it an eight out of ten. It is very impressive that how Paikea has the courage to conquer the ill whales. Although it is dangerous, Paikea still chooses to save the whales and impress his grandfather. This minority style of life is very unique, it's culture can not be find in any other place in the world. How the chief of the tribe is inheriting is also interesting. From this film, the audience can get the global perspective of how a minority group live in New Zealand. However, the reason why I am giving this movie an eight out of ten is that I feel there is way too much descriptions about how Paikea's grandfather does not like to give the role to her, but too less about how Paikea is solving the problem with those stranding Whales. I feel the director should add more descriptions about how Paikea get the trust from his grandfather and how she becomes the inheritor of the minority group. Anyway, these are all my personal ideas. One of the main themes in this film is gender. This was also a major theme in the United States in the past --- men are more superior than women. This is relevant to this society's culture in the film because the chief of the tribe is usually inherited to male, but the main character Paikea is a female, causes a lot of issues. Paikea is a good evidence to support gender equality.
Metro Manila (2013)
Seeing Philippine through Metro Manila
I would say Metro Manila absolutely deserves the many rewards it got. From this film, I had a different perspective on life in Philippine. I like this movie because it is really close to real life and the real world. Family, money, and crime are the main themes in this film, and I can easily find them in the United States also. However, I do not know much about slums in any country; therefore, this film introduced the life of people living in slums for me. In addition, the role of laws and police in Metro Manila seems to be different than what I have learned in my life. I though the police and laws can regulate people well in everywhere, but it seems to be different in Philippine. If I was in this situation, standing in the main characters' shoes, I believe I would not be as brave as them.