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Nope (2022)
Clever twist but hard to wrap up..
It was a great entertaining film. Loved the pace of it and the story telling was fantastic.
The concept is a new one. A fresh one. There is no more little green men driving the saucer to beam people up with laser so as to poke their holes. NOPE dipicts a living mechanism that needs to consume when hungry. It sits in the cloud and hovers around like a predator. It has emotions and then it sucks it's food up in the sky like a hoover..
But Nature is a trade-off. If it is not a machine.. then well, you need a lot of food. Horses and human flesh won't cut it. It's sheer size and the ability to fly would demand even more energy. The amount of food it consumes would make it impossible to not make any international attention. I'm sorry but it's just impossible.
The intensity of this concept was at its peak at about 40%-50% of the film. I have to mention the rainy scene here - where it literally become a house umbrella, that, ladies and gentlemen, was class right there. I wish the whole film was omnimous like that.
It started to lose its touch for me slowly after that. Maybe because of the scenes started to get filmed in bright daylight which took away a certain mystery. Or somehow the film started to add in hilarious elements to it. I started to feel like I wanted more..The degree of horror felt just a bit short in my opinion. It is almost there. Almost!
Yeah.. I just didn't 100% appredicate the ending. Like I said in the title, it is a really difficult concept to wrap up.
I understand that.
But I feel like a tragedy where everyone dies would deserve a higher score than a happy ending like that. At least the audience would fear the presence with risks in mind. Blowing it up felt too fragile..
I just don't believe a powerful living organism that could hoover so many hard objects in the sky would eventually got destroyed by a balloon, regardless how big the balloon is or what gas is inside. Think about it .. what a shame it would be?
For people who are interested in the topic. Here is a book for y'all - "The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy" by Arik Kershenbaum. Have fun reading and digging :)
Stowaway (2021)
It was decent
I don't know why the rating of this film is so low. The movie was actually quite decent. It gave off a very intimate vibe from the start. The shaking of the ship, the noise, and the intensity. The plot wasn't the best I have to admit. There is no way Michael would be up there in real life. But this also complete a "will you kill the fat man" type of philosophical dilemma. I love the twists though. The risks are high so it dragged me along. 7/10 :)
I Origins (2014)
Great concept
Just finished the movie. Loved the concept!
It would be fantastic to see It if science is able to prove this one day. It's a cliche to say this but science and religion are trying to understand the same thing. And the easter egg at the end gave me goosebumps.
Have to say though the test wasn't perfectly designed as the test result could potentially be tainted by cash incentives.
He shouldn't say "right"/"wrong" for the girl's answers as we can see she got a bit worried getting the wrong answers half way through the test (or it could be the camera work, what am I talking about .. this is not a documentary, but still).
He shouldn't have taken the girl to an expensive hotel room and fed the girl her favorite food before the test because if the girl has been living in a poor condition she would probably do anything to please just so she could get this luxury treatment again.
Same thing could be said for the defining moment - the elevator and crying scene, which could be still understood as the fact that she doesn't want to go back to that poor life again.
But anyways, as a movie it is powerful enough to spark the curiosity, drag me along and Make me write this review after watching. Loved it!
Kiseijû: Sei no kakuritsu (2014)
Humanity is not dead afterall
Some parasyte just appeared out of nowhere and started to take up people's brain. Some succeeded and some failed. And here we have a failed version where the parasyte took up a right hand, which was not ideal.. but turned out to be so.
I loved the concept of this anime. It gave me a lot of thoughts. The plot and style 100% got me hooked since first episode. At one point it almost hinted that the earth itself or some higher overlord created this type of existence just so that humanity could be cleansed.
On the hindsight, funny how all the other parasyte would want to occupy the brain to gain full control of the body; none of them want parts. But the ones that took up parts have advantages over the rest.
The philosophy behind this anime is all fine and dandy: we humans are parasites ourselves in this planet, but we can coexist with other beings.
If anything, a hint of humanity gave these parasytes a positive addition for survival. Humanity is not dead after all.
But alienness is unknown so far. Individualism is still within parasyte in this anime which made them fight against each other. But real telepathic creatures seldom do that.
When we know nothing about other alien species, intelligence, a pair of eyes, the ability to talk and communicate, telepathy, the ability of merge with each other and transfiguration are possibly the best we can come up with.
But this story is Undoubtedly great And will definitely recommend!
A Star Is Born (2018)
8/10 story, 10/10 song, 5/10 editing
There you have it.
Great movie, great song, but not so good editing.
Glass (2019)
Heroes, villains and superpowers
This superhero movie is a bit different. No flashy skills. No laser light beams. No heroic philosophies/lifestyle. It cuts from the psycho-physical angle and discusses the existence of superpower in a scientific way.
James McAvoy is simply amazing. I got goosebumps seeing when he changes his face, accent and posture when he's playing different personalities, not as much as in Split though. Split still tops this one.
I am really curious how many people would think it is better-off to kill off all the abnormalities, to keep the balance? And how many the otherwise, to let the truth be out there, release the unlimited potential everyone has?
Base on the music choice, I believe this movie is standing side with the superpowers. Who are these secret society / people anyways to decide whether or not people are allowed to know the secret?
It is true though that in this movie we have a balance of Mr. Glass (as an exposure mastermind), Overseer (the good guy), and the Horde (the villain). What if the world has 10000 villain guys? How would that sustain this planet and everyone else?
But it is also true that people should be allowed to develop to their highest potentials. We are not animals in a cage, allowed only to enjoy the mundane of everyday life.
It is a very interesting movie with a powerful background meaning. I hope there is more of this to come.
Yip Man 4 (2019)
Sadly it is the last Ip Man movie
Don't know if people noticed but this is the first time in all four movies Ip Man didn't hold back and used his fingers on the throat to end the fight, and that damn throat was well deserved. Freedom of speech is not freedom to unload venom or to insult.
Horse Girl (2020)
What the hell did I just watch..?
I have to admit Alison Brie made it really awkward and weird to watch. Don't get me wrong it showed how good she is as an actress. But this movie is really really weird. There are just too many things happening and I don't know what to trust anymore.
The Wife (2017)
Sacrifice?
They tried so hard to make it a film about a sacrificing wife. But the story was just not powerful enough for me to buy it. I'm sorry but it's relatively weak. Glenn Close was amazing in it though. Joan's every emotion was crafted really well. It's just the story itself didn't cut it.
Joan has a passion for writing. She was desperate to show her talents, to get the recognitions she deserved, especially when she realized she could do it better than her teacher, her beloved spouse, and she didn't even mind destroying a family for that. That wasn't sacrificing; that was fierce ambition.
I understand that there was this stereotype about female writers at that time which might be difficult for her to start writing, but the whole class at the university was women I would assume it is still allowed for her to give it a try?
"Don't thank me" she said before the rewarding ceremony. But why not though? I mean in all seriousness she is the one who used Joe's name for that goal. She picked that life herself. She's the one who believed she could fix his stories in the first place, willingly spent 8 hours a day writing the story for him, and stay with him affair after affair. Nobody forced her to make that choice. He was with his wife when you fell in love with him for Christ's sake what did you actually expect? If you really believed in your talent at least try to break the barrier yourself.
Whereas Joe, the useless prick, an arrogant womanizer who used the charm and status built by his wife, got no choice but took up the chore duties in the relationship. I never heard him complain about his pathetic little life? Meanwhile when he received the award he took every possible chance to show serious gratitude for his wife, and to include her in all important interactions. In a marriage you bring your what you do best though,I thought that's the pact?
At moments like this it reminds me of those great female writers, their names shrined with their timeless masterpieces. No one can take them away from them.
Respect is earned. I'm saying this as a man. Don't give me that "sacrificing" nonsense in this one as it's fairly insulting to all the fighting women out there. Four stars.
Uncut Gems (2019)
Surprisingly good!
Didn't expect a Adam Sandler movie could be that exciting. It was a bit awkward at first. The lines were unnecessarily long and boring. And the music was weird as well. Everyone tries to be all hood and tough in a funny way. Thought this one would be a five or six in the end. But then when the story started to click it got really really good!
I guess when all the bet is on the table and you know what is at stake you'll feel connected to Howie and his troubles bit by bit. You'll feel for the guy.
But the ending was a bit unexpected. One minute you're all giddy and hyper and then BOOM you're back to reality. It's very clever in a way. Good stories bring you along.
Big fan for KG as well! Loved his performance! It's sad that he didn't win that year. But at least he got his own already! Guy is a legend! Hopefully he gets more movie gigs in the future. Would love to see him again on the screen!
The Lighthouse (2019)
Curious about what is at the top?
Everyone wants a taste of being at the top, whatever you call it. The curiosity drives them mad. In this movie it is the top of the lighthouse. A symbol. At first people are happy they got a chance to work for that special symbol. Then they would want more, until they eventually want to own it, exclusively.
They can't stop thinking about it until they go insane and desperate. Every little detail feels like part of something bigger conspiracy. They would even kill for it. This desire is like a disease, devouring, rotting the soul at its root. And then after all the time and efforts spared, the sacrifices and struggles, they manage to climb to the top. But just like any other lighthouse, with merely a bit of extra brightness within the structure, the paradise is never to be found there. It essentially is simply another place to be, of which the meaning was given by other people, who you don't even like in the first place.
Gisaengchung (2019)
Poverty
I guess people can never fully understand poverty and what it can do to people. This is a very very powerful film. Very clever. But even this film can't depict the real poverty. If you've watched it and are reading this very review, you ain't poor. The real poor don't watch this film. This film might have depicted struggles. But real life is on another level.
And no I don't know what it's like either. But I can get a good taste of that idea when seeing the predators in the wild showing that numb gaze when they bites the neck of their prey. On their fierce face I don't see any extra thoughts. No concerns about ethnicity, pain or morality. But the absolute focus to end this hunt as quick as possible so that it could become dinner.
There isn't any flamboyance in that. There is only straight up desire. And the feed for that desire.
Si shi qing chun (2018)
Three cute stories
As a chinese myself, it is actually quiet surprising when I saw the cities named in the anime are Chinese cities and protagonists are all Chinese (maybe I haven't watched enough anime lol). Even the names of the food and street gave me so much memories.
I'm glad to see such collaboration between the Japanese and Chinese artists, given all the histories between the two and numerous political conflicts. It's simply beautiful to witness such mixture between cultures and I look forward to seeing something similar in the future!
It is also surprising to see how the rating here on IMDB is only 6.6. And I feel this one at least deserves a seven. The stories are a bit cheesy to be quite frank but it's very authentic and realistic to see. And the stories are heartfelt.
So this film is about three short stories. I guess every now and then we forget how life is about the littlest things we do for each other, about the meaning we grew up with (no matter how small they are), and about the love we share with one another.
They are the meanings. The important flavor we grew up with, the love from family and friends, as well as the powerful heart beat we felt being with our loved ones. Youth is everything about that.
A lot of delicate feelings were depicted in this film. You might not feel anything when the restaurant down the street shuts down, but to some people the flavor is the memory of their grandma. Working is rewarding but competitive and being on the top could easily cloud your from seeing how your family and friends are supporting you, guiding you through this muddle. And you would possibly never know what sacrifices your loved ones make for you, even though you're essentially doing the same thing.
I enjoyed all three stories but if I have to pick a favorite I'll say the last one as it was really well developed. It was heart-breaking when Xiao Ming was fast forwarding the tape searching for more messages from Xiao Yu, after she said she will not go for the elite school because of him and he was the one who was too stubborn to listen to the tape she sent her. Part of me feels if the story ends there it would be very VERY sad but at the same time very VERY powerful. But oh well at least they're together now.
But that's just love isn't it. Such passion so strong that you'll do anything for each other, to a degree it becomes too much and it hurts.
Our youth. Just like our memories, it is something we had and it won't come back ever again. It made us who we are but it is also in the past. I guess all we can do is cherish our time here, and be very mindful about the unseen beauty around us.
Ad Astra (2019)
Bit disappointed but still a good movie
Am I the only one that hopes they've found something up there at Neptune and that this film ends with a different message?
I really thought the bright blue light Roy saw at the end was something else.. turns out it was just the Lima Project satellite, which means while Roy witnessing his fathering drifting away to die and wondering what all these efforts are for, returning satellite would be the best possible outcome for him and the world, even after he killed people for his selfish purposes seeking a closure with his dad.
And this ending, in a way, conveys the message where no matter how far we search for meanings, at the end of this long tunnel it would be our own problems (or our ancestors') that we need to wipe clean.. in this film is the Lima Project.
When Roy's dad tried to break away from him, this "father" and "son" combo uncannily symbolizes the old religious thoughts that our "creating father" who created us doesn't have any feeling towards his creation, leaving us alone in this infinity. With Clifford dead, "God" is dead.
Religion doesn't allow the existence of extraterrestrial brings, because fundamentally it stands with dualism, which means there is another world, and there is truth out there with transcendence.
Science denies aliens as well, because science can't prove their existence, no matter how accurate Fermi paradox is. Intelligence is a creation of humanity. Humans are here on Earth. Human won't be found somewhere else. Even if we found something out there. It would be completely, categorically different. It wouldn't be intelligence, but it might be evolvement, even uniformity, even discipline, even evolution, or even technology, but never intelligence. I think we are defining the wrong thing.
Intelligence is about right and wrong. Morality. But the universe doesn't have that. There is no right rock or right water. The universe doesn't give a rat's ass about that. No feelings involved. We will probably never find something else out there except different rocks.
But yeah I wish this movie told a different story other than that old "oh this is what we got so far, there is nothing out there, we are what we have" dialogue.. just bring something new for Christ sake, like come on movies are for boredom after all. But then with a single hint of aliens, the story is difficult to wrap.
Anyways it deserves a seven I think. The pictures are beautiful in this movie, high quality production, and the story line has a lot of suspense to it and I quite enjoyed it!
J'ai perdu mon corps (2019)
A great sad open-ended story
A very sad story..
The world is not very kind to this young man. Parents died in a car crash. Adopted by a horrible family. Worked in a pizza restaurant and literally failing as a delivery guy.. Those childhood dreams are dreams after all. He didn't turn out to be an astronaut or musician, much less both.
And all of a sudden this cold world gave him a bit of warmth, a girl waiting for his delivery was concerned (for the first time) about whether he was okay after a minor car crash which caused the delay. A special moment.
It felt like a new meaning to his life. He started to follow this girl who works at the library and then became an apprentice for her uncle. He was finally able to get himself a place he can call home. And he even used the knowledge he learned from apprenticeship to please his girl. But when he open his heart to her she panicked and left. And he cut his hand off.
So this is where the animation begins with this side storyline where the loose hand tries to find his owner. Like his owner, the hand suffered from the rejections of this cold world as well. Took it great effort to finally got back to him.. but the owner, sadly, didn't want the reunion.
It had no choice but to see what happens to its owner as an independent object. It saw him listening the past memories over and over. And of course the moment when the car crash happened hurt him the most.. and he decided to replace it with something else.. a moment where he challenged himself and succeeded by taking a leap of faith! And when he did that, he left the recording machine behind, together with all his memories.
This story doesn't really have an ending. Did the boy and girl got back together? What happens to his loose hand? What happens to him after? There is really no answers given. I guess no matter what happens, it doesn't really matter.
This world is damn cold and unfair with prevalent rejections. I can really do nothing but hope that the boy finds his new (or old) meaning in his new life. I wish him well. If this world is cruel enough to kill him off with more hardships, I guess it doesn't deserve him in the first place, so be it, even I am tired of its sick jokes. If he's a happy chap now, perfection it is. Time to laugh it off, choking "life" by its neck and say "that all you can do?"
Now that I'm thinking about it. The beautiful sunset with which this animation ended with, probably is the reason why existing here, at this very moment, is such a beautiful thing. We get to experience all this fine views presented so delicately in front of our eyes, and all the other wonders stimulating our five senses every delightful moment. We can just take it. This nature that breeds all things, is so free of costs, arrangements, and efforts, and so regular, present, and stunning.
Perhaps it's not an open ending, perhaps we are supposed to realize we all are living the moment. The ending of it is just the start of something else.. It is an ongoing, nonstop process. This, is life.
You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Power theme but very weak film
It wasn't as good as I thought it would be. Reasonably weak in terms of the feelings it gave me. I didn't hate the villain. I didn't feel sorry for the little girl (she didn't seem unhappy at all, just numb). And I didn't feel justice when Joe killed all those people. It's a five stars only from me because it does have deep emotions and delicate contemplation into suicidal act/mentality from Joe. But that's about it.
It's supposed to be a film where the villain pulls hatred from the audience (which it didn't do very well), which made it fairly weak when Joe punish them back with brute force (which was not much either). The camera seemed to be dodging all the necessary contact and it was really weird to watch (like if you don't want to show violence or sex you should probably avoid this topic). Joe's childhood was like a glimpse as well, not much detail was given (broken pieces here and there).
The only memorable and powerful scene was the part where Joe's mum was choke and shot in the eye which was really infuriating and sad to watch because she didn't even take her glasses off and Joe had to remove them for her when (which brought back the good memory where she tricked him).. But even at that very moment Joe just simply shot the killers and then started talking to one of them before he died and they even sang together .. if this is not weak I don't know what is.
Very disappointing.
Prisoners (2013)
Suffocatingly good
This movie has a very dark atmosphere to it from the get go. The miserable weather set an early tone. When the two girls went missing you can just tell things are going to get very serious and suffocating. And yes the suspense was absolutely amazing in this film. You will feel for the characters.
You can understand Keller. He has the wild and natural side of human beings. He want it to be fists and blood. Combat and contact. How he kidnapped Alex because the police couldn't do anything with him. I mean if you have a daughter you'll know how it feels I guess. You'll actually want that hammer to go through Alex's hand instead of that stupid basin.
At the same time you'll be desperate trying to get through to Alex's head, that weird shaped container that keeps all the exclusive information. This frustration will slowly creep up on you, the limit of our technology, the complexity of human emotions and ideas, and the idea of self.
And then you got suspect Bob creepily touching the bear doll at the gathering.. and you'll wonder why don't we just shoot all these freaks already instead of let them walk around buying children's clothes and drenching them in pig blood. I mean you can see it right? It's right there. All those people online sharing child abuse photos and videos. You can see them.
It was fairly satisfying watching Loki threw Bob against the wall when he caught him. And that pity feeling and frustration when he got the chance to kill himself quickly, getting away so easily, breaking the lead.
Made my blood boil when the aunt finally reveal herself as well. Cult. Another cult. I mean you can just tell what is weird and evil and what is not in real life. You can feel it. It might take you some time to figure out how to justify yourself to other people but please don't give me that "it's everyone's freedom to believe what you want" BS. You can but you can't. Sometimes you can't even use the word "belief" on this because that's too general. Some beliefs are benign. But this, this is just weird and wrong. It's a cult that make people kidnap and kill innocent kids, to wage war on god. I mean come on. Is it really that NOT obvious??
What can you do when you know something is wrong and those people are crazy? What can democracy, freedom, your law and value do in this specific scenario?
You know what save the effort. In their eyes you are crazy, and you're violating their right to believe. Your judge, your government and law as well as your amendment will tell you to sit down. Your concerns don't mean anything to them.
The root of these religious beliefs is very dull and simple minded. Either with them or not. Right or wrong. Live or die. But you can smell it. Something is just not right. Someone out there wants to build a wall as well. It seems like a lot of people mock that idea but nobody can do anything about it. You see what I mean?
This system won't let you do anything though, until there is bloodshed. And yes that means it's too late.
But then it's a hard nut to crack I know. You can have 24 surveillance for crimes and risks but there are always people who got detested by that idea. Sure. Why not. I'm not advocating full on scrutiny on personal aspects. But something needs to be done.
I'm glad this movie has a good ending. This is a great movie. But a movie is a movie. It makes sense. In real life this simply wouldn't be the same case.
Koe no katachi (2016)
Purity of love
This story can touch the deepest part of your heart, the very soft and warm core that you feel when you cry or when you're deeply moved.
Every film leaves you with a certain feeling lingering, and I can feel the purity of love after seeing this one.
He bullied her, and he felt guilty. She hated herself for being this different and causing trouble for everyone. They were both naive and innocent, and hated who they were or what they did (but who doesn't). It was a barrier ever so great. But they tried. And they needed each other. They loved each other. Their love was at that blooming stage. So powerful and delicate it is almost harmful. Sweet but bitter. A very enjoyable anime film!
Colossal (2016)
Bit random
I don't really want to discuss the plot holes here as there are simply too many.. but what choice do I have it left me with so much confusions.
They haven't really discussed why the dude is so possessive in the first place which is the main motive that is causing all the damage. He wanted to destroy the little city made by the little girl (in front of her face) but why try to find it in the first place .. and how does that turn two people in monsters .. on the other side of the ocean .. simply because there was a little South Korean flag on the city .. and the monsters materialize in their "supposed" form where somehow the robot is made with metal and the monster has dinosaurs skin.. if the fidelity of formation is high they should all be paper.
The fight scenes were bit random .. film tries so hard to be funny but it didn't actually work.
The film didn't explain why the main chick got to become a alcoholic and a mess later in the life as well everything just felt so random.
And why did the girl showed up at South Korea and her monster materialize in the US? HOW DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK???
Brightburn (2019)
For those who say it is only a movie of a kid with superpowers that kills people..
I find this movie very interesting. It put a lot of emphasis on the horror and the "jump scare" side of it though I have to admit which is not deep enough for the topic/discussion but you have to show people the consequences.
There are always people who judge the film by the effect (ooh it is just a stupid horror/it is not even that scary.. blah) and they are unwilling to look at the bigger picture; it is simply trying to tell a different possibility and I'm glad it drew those people's attention.
They should see the fact that this movie uses the character to reflect the defect of the American society. Brandon is a lot of hard work himself with all the aggression (and the calling from the stupid spaceship) but it also tells a story of how the society can't cope with abnormalities like him (smart, different, and insecure). People like him get bullied. They (those stupid mediocre) call him freak, weirdo, and no one will even take any sort of effort to understand the boy. And it is supposed to be okay these day..
There is this possibility, it is right there. And don't expect all superpowers to be benign.