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Reviews
All the Light We Cannot See (2023)
"The most important light is the light you cannot see"
Watched this in one sitting with my family and we all loved it. Told in a nonlinear narrative, All The Light We Cannot See is a poignant story following Marie-Laure, a blind French resistance fighter, and Werner, a German radio genius, both connected by hope in a war-tainted world.
The score, title sequence, and cinematography were subtle. The cast gave nothing but stellar performances especially the lead stars Aria Mia Loberti and Louis Hoffman. They barely shared scenes together but their chemistry was intense and natural. I'd like to stress the fact that Aria did so well despite being a newcomer actress. She was so beautiful and so gracious in this and her being an actual blind young woman brought authenticity and nuance to Marie-Laure Leblanc's character.
Overall, All The Light We Cannot See is a captivating four-part miniseries. My only complaint is that this could've been more compelling if they spoke French and German. Patriotism was amongst the pivotal themes in the series so it felt weird hearing them speak anything but their respective languages. Also, the VFX still looked very Netflix/Disney-styled. Makes one wonder how cinematic this would've been if this was an Apple or HBO original instead. Still, Shawn Levy and co. Did a good job on producing a quality and worthy series.
Doona! (2023)
Somber. Mature. Realistic.
"Be careful when you're alone in a crowd. It's obvious."
"What do you mean? What's obvious?"
"Your loneliness."
Doona! Wasn't what I expected it to be, instead, it was much better. It was somber, mature, and it featured realistic dialogues.
"Your desperation to be loved, to try to compensate for never having it. You're afraid of losing people's interest."
I think Suzy did a good job portraying a female character as complex as Doona; a compulsive, miserable, and highly irresistible washed-up popstar desperate for love and attention driven by her abandonment issues.
"I wanna know what goes on in that mind of yours."
If you're looking for the usual fluffy Korean drama with feel good romance, skip this one. But if you want a more subtle and slow burn story with heartfelt confrontation scenes, go watch Doona.
Mubing (2023)
"You're not weird at all, just a bit special."
Moving is a big-budget Disney+ original series surrounding three high school students with genetic superhuman abilities living quietly with their retired parents. But their lives turn upside down when powerful organizations start to hunt them down one by one.
Moving is reportedly the most expensive Korean TV series to date and it really shows in the production. It has massive action sequences, and extensive fight scenes that get so graphic you'd think you're watching The Raid movies. The visual effects look fantastic and there's this stunning flying scene at the end of episode 7 that looks straight out of a hollywood superhero picture.
But the best thing about this series and why it works so much is because of the sublime casting. From the top acclaimed cast to the young leads, there's no weak link as everyone clearly delivers and it's satisfying to see the young actors keeping up and not being outshined by their seniors.
Another thing, despite the packed main characters with respective back stories, Moving's seamless shifts between the past events and present timeline keeps the mystery and anticipation active. It also truly helps that the protagonists who are taking us through the story are endearing and charismatic. And although this centers around people with super powers, it still feels very much grounded and the in-depth relationship between the characters is still the main aspect of the story.
Moving brilliantly blends action, drama, romance, humor, and creates this high-class and exhilarating superhero drama full of heart that we rarely see in Asian TV. Let's support quality content and stream Moving available worldwide on Hulu and Disney+.
Akgwi (2023)
Watched for the mystery, stayed for the acting
Before I go on about how Kim Tae-Ri deserves every Best Actress award that there is right now in South Korea for her brilliant dual role performance, Revenant is a 12-episode horror thriller that follows Gu San-Yeong (Tae-Ri) as she - with the help of a folklore professor - tries to banish the evil spirit that's latched onto her before it completely takes over her life.
Unlike The Guest that features graphic gore and horror, Revenant has the right amount of violence and spook, but it'll definitely give you door knocks paranoia for the next couple of days lol.
The series has a solid slow burn storyline with plot twists that will keep you guessing until the finale. Also, no filler episodes! Every episode is crucial to the story and even the throwbacks are done so well.
Lastly back to Tae-Ri. I believe she just delivered her career-best performance yet as Gu San-Yeong. She's phenomenal in this and watching her switch personas from being terrified, to looking terrifying in a blink of an eye gives me chills every time. She's a versatile actor and I simply cannot wait for her future works.
The Little Mermaid (2023)
Halle Bailey was born to play Ariel
Watched The Little Mermaid with my family and it was truly gratifying to witness Halle Bailey bring this iconic and beloved character to life with so much graciousness and sincerity.
The way she so candidly portrayed Ariel's innocence, compassion, and spirit. How she conveyed Ariel's yearning without uttering a word. Oh and her Part Of Your World rendition? Oh my goodness. The theater was cold but it certainly wasn't the cold that gave me chills.
Alongside Halle, I think one of the strongest features of this film was the humor. Compared to the other Disney Princess adaptations where the jokes and slapsticks were mostly miss than hit, The Little Mermaid was pure entertainment and had lots of hilarious scenes, all thanks to the delightful timing and delivery of Diggs (Sebastian), Awkwafina (Scuttle), and MacCarthy (Ursula).
My only gripe would be the underwater cgi as it looked subpar in some scenes (especially when you remember the whopping budget). Also, Ariel and Eric's island moments felt quite a bit rushed but thankfully, Halle and Jonah's off the charts chemistry made up for it (they really got me giggling and everything).
Above all, Halle Bailey's powerhouse performance as the headstrong Princess Ariel saved The Little Mermaid from going under the sea of tiresome Disney remakes.
8/10 No big deal, I want more.
Suzume no Tojimari (2022)
A coming-of-age fantasy spectacle about love, grief, and finding oneself.
I got to experience Suzume in IMAX and it was a sight to behold. I was immediately captivated by Shinkai's familiar trademarks; stunning streaked skies, atmospheric soundtrack, and hyper-realistic art style.
While it arguably had similarities to Your Name and Weathering With you in terms of identical scenes and parallel side characters, Suzume was able to stand on its own feet - just like Souta's adorable three-legged (and mouthless lol) children's chair variation. If only I hadn't assumed that the storyline would be as nuanced as its 2 predecessors, I believe I would've appreciated Suzume's simplicity more.
Moreover, Suzume is a thrilling, whimsical, and touching coming-of-age fantasy spectacle about love, grief, and finding oneself.
Makoto Shinkai has truly become one of the anime industry's renowned visionaries, and he's once again proven that he's worthy of the title with his latest epic road movie with a heart, Suzume.
Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Chapters: Special 1 (2023)
ONE OF THE GREATEST AND DISTRESSING ANIME EPISODE EVER.
"If you want to stop me, then you need to end me. You're free."
Even though Final Season Part 3 is tagged as a Special episode, this truly didn't feel like a TV anime because no exaggeration, this felt like freaking movie and apparently was supposed to be one.
From the moment it started, it already felt unusually eerie despite the scene looking calm and all with young Eren and Mikasa under the tree (oh how much I miss innocent EreMika). And then when they explicitly showed the nightmarish havoc of the Rumbling - along with a much detailed view of Eren's Final Titan behemoth, it was spine-chilling and just downright harrowing. MAPPA really outdone themselves with making the Rumbling scenes look as apocalyptic and as hellish as possible.
Part 3's animation was undeniably a huge upgrade from Part 1 & 2 since they had a bit more production time. The frames in this one looked cinematic and the transitions between CG and 2D scenes were seamless.
The background scores, as expected from AOT, never fail to elevate the scenes they're placed into - and no we're not going to talk about THAT Hange scene because that one deserves a whole new review.
Lastly, the voice acting. If you've watched the final season event talks, you could tell the voice actors were feeling emotional for part 3. It might just be me being a highly sensitive empath, but after watching the episode last night, the voice acting felt particularly sentimental.
Looking back on the first season, I still find myself dumbfounded on how the story went from reclaiming districts infested with titans, to THIS global madness - and the fact that this was all planned from the start. Hajime Isayama is a true genius but some people are still not ready for that conversation.
Attack on Titan Final Season Part 3 First Half was an easy 10/10.
Ore no kawaî wa môsugu shouhi-kigen!? (2022)
Don't mind the ridiculous title
After watching the trailer and after seeing the promotional posters, I honestly thought "My cuteness is about to expire" (yeah that's the literal title lol) was going to be one of those overtly cheesy and cringey Japanese romance drama... well, I was wrong.
I really had fun with this one as it had the right amount of comedy and romance, it's also been a while since I've watched an office-setting series. The main leads had butterfly-inducing chemistry and I really liked that it was a sunshine x raincloud pairing... just the romance trope I'll never get tired of.
Glad to have checked this one out on Viki.
Silent (2022)
Emotionally moving and Beautifully written
These past few years I've been immersing myself with a lot of Japanese dramas. Their attention to subtle details is just unrivaled. I love the moody atmosphere, the moments of stillness, the soft background music... they evoke strong feelings that for some reason I could only ever experience in Japanese dramas. I can safely say that "Silent" is one of the best I've seen that showcased all these aesthetics so naturally.
From the sentimental script, sensible characters, to the beautiful photography, Silent had everything I wanted to see in a drama piece.
I also wanted to show appreciation to Haruna Kawaguchi and Ren Meguro who delivered moving performances respectively. Their chemistry was prominent too despite the show being more of a slice of life drama than romance.
Lastly, I realized there's truly a lot of things to reflect on and to be grateful for in life after watching this heartwarming drama. Genuinely glad to have stumbled upon this gem on Viki. 10/10.
Deo killeo: Jugeodo doeneun ai (2022)
The Man from Nowhere meets John Wick
Stoic man with a violent past must get back into his roots in order to save someone? Yawn. We've all seen that before. It's a tired trope really. But the thing is... this movie knows it - mocks it even at some point.
Instead of focusing in the plot and emotional depth like The Man from Nowhere, The Killer pour it all out on straight action. The fight choreography is impressive, and the John Wick vibe is noticeable from the stylish neon-lit hallway brawls, melee combats, to gun fus.
8/10 One of the best korean martial arts action movies.
Rikorisu rikoiru (2022)
Peaceful, safe, and beautiful Tokyo...
All thanks to a covert organization that trains orphan girls to become Lycoris; all-girl assassins dressed in high school uniforms who ensure Tokyo stays crime-free. Stoic Lycoris sharpshooter Takina, meets the cheery Lycoris elite agent Chisato, whose remarkable trajectory insight makes her an impossible target to shoot (Neo who?). Together, their wide-ranging missions begin.
Only 3 episodes in and Lycoris Recoil is already proving itself to be one of summer 22's best original anime series. It succeeds in blending slice-of-life, comedy, and action, and its vibrant animation perfectly contrasts with the story's underlying dark aspects. The best selling point of the show besides the neat action scenes (and the occasional action movie references), is the dynamic between the main characters Chisato and Takina as they're literally each other's opposite.
If you're up for some gun-toting girl spies, foil characters, and Loli hackers, you'll certainly gonna love this one.
Geomeun Taeyang (2021)
SUBLIME ACTION SPY DRAMA
South Korea makes a lot of NIS-themed series and movies, but The Veil is arguably one of the best out there. It's a 12-episode spy drama that's full of plot twists, and is intriguing from the very first episode up to the last.
Note that The Veil is heavy on the narrative so it isn't as action-packed as the trailer suggests BUT when it's time for action, it's crunch time. All fight sequences really deliver - and they get pretty intense with a jacked Namkoong Min at the forefront.
9/10 would recommend to anyone who has a knack for crime thrillers.
Jigeum uri hakgyoneun (2022)
SUSPENSEFUL. ACTION-PACKED. BRUTAL.
All of us are dead is extremely graphic and disturbing than you may expect. Squeamish people... don't even try. People who want an edge-of-the-seat entertainment and can handle lavish gore... you guys are in for a ride.
Each episode delivers and even though they're a bit longer than usual, they don't feel tedious. When there's no mayhem, there are the character conflicts, thus making every episode as gripping as possible.
The characters are horror flick typical but they're smart and resourceful- okay maybe some foolish decisions here and there but hey they're still high school students! Seeing them come up with clever escape gimmicks is always the most fun part, as well as seeing them build trust between each other.
Cinematography is fine with some striking and ominous frame shots. Sound effects are impressive and detailed (with lots and lots of squelching lol). And the zombie transformation scenes - no matter how repetitive they get - always look pretty insane!
The cast are fantastic and everyone shines. I love that they're actually young actors cast as high schoolers (Hollywood take some notes!).
Overall, All of us are dead succeeds at being grim, comedic, and emotional all at the same time. Definitely a neat addition to the zombie/survival genre. Looks like another Netflix hit from South Korea.
8/10 worth the 12 hours.
TW: Bullying / Sexual harassment / Suicide.
Hiteumaen (2020)
Just hilarious!
Don't you just love it when a movie actually does its purpose and entertains the life out of you? This movies does just that. It has the perfect combination of action, a wee bit of drama, and of course, the freaking comedy... man they're all gold! There are scenes and dialogues that are SO genuinely funny that'll bring you to the floor laughing. If you want to have a good time, watch Hitman Agent Jun.
Mato mo janai no wa kimi mo issho (2021)
Neither of us is normal!
Just finished watching this film and had so much fun! Liked the chemistry between the two main characters so despite the age gap it didn't feel weird. The banters were hilarious but it had some serious moments as well. Like how far we often go to make ourselves be more "acceptable" or "normal". I thought some of us could really relate to this.
Black Cinderella (2021)
Inner beauty always captivates
Black Cinderella is a coming of age drama that follows Kamiya Manaha, a highly pessimistic 17 year-old high school student as she deals with youth, friendship, love, and constant self-doubt.
Kamiya Manaha may seem like the usual awkward heroine at first, but once her ordeal begins, you'll see that she's not a stock character. She's a kindhearted girl who often feels insecure and discouraged but always manages to persevere. Also, her relationship with her family is just so heartwarming to watch and I believe we could use more supportive parents in dramas. Meanwhile the will-they-won't-they romance is actually really cute and refreshing as both love interests are sincere and unselfish. I personally think that whom she chooses is exactly the type of person she needs by her side as she slowly rebuilds her self-confidence.
I honestly, truly, didn't expect the show to be this inspirational and uplifting. Young or adult I thought we could all get a lesson or two from it. Plus it's got a vivid cinematography and beautiful soundtrack, just the stuff I always love to see in films and shows that I watch.
8/10.
One of Us Is Lying (2021)
Gossip Girl meets 13 Reasons Why
What a surprise! Thought it was just gonna be another cliché teen-centric show disguised as a murder mystery drama. Romance was very much on the sideline and the mystery part was actually really done well and intriguing up until the very last scene. What I really liked the most was the character growth of Addy!
I haven't read the book yet and I know that it's pretty popular, but the thing is if it wasn't for IMDB's recommendation, I never would've known this adaptation existed! It's so underrated and I feel like this would've been a total hit if it was on Netflix. Anyhow I really wish they do a season 2 as the ending was a perfect set-up for it.
The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn't Kill (2021)
Action, comedy, and a wee bit of romance!
Like part 1, the build up to the action is notably longer than the action spectacle itself. Though, the comical aspect really make up for it, hence it doesn't feel tedious. Moreover, the action scenes in this one feel more high budget so it's a real treat to watch!
Thanks to Netflix we were able to enjoy both films! I've been meaning to check them out ever since I watched the trailer on youtube but couldn't find a legal way then.
Mai Neim (2021)
CRIME THRILLERS ARE SOUTH KOREA'S FORTE
My Name is yet again another addition to South Korea's top-tier crime thrillers. It's a revenge drama and whilst the plot is very similar to the 2017 South Korean film "The Villainess" (where John Wick Parabellum's iconic motorcycle scene was inspired from, btw), My Name transcends with its stable phasing - no boring parts, just pure elite acting and action scenes throughout, well-choreographed gory combat sequences, impressive camera work, very cool tailor-made soundtrack, and of course the stellar main cast. I simply cannot end this review without complimenting the stunning and badass main star of the series, Han So Hee, who makes 5'5 girl beating up ripped clan members so convincing lol. So Hee's really intense in this one and is proving herself to be one of the most versatile actresses in SK. I hope she does more mature roles like this and hope she gets the recognition she deserves.
Ojing-eo geim (2021)
SAE BYEOK... I WILL NEVER GET OVER
I literally freaking screamed. Sae Byeok was easily the best character in the show (sorry Ali) and quite obviously, the ultimate plot armor for the final game between the two men to happen.
It was such a shame cause she was the only main character who never played dirty nor tricked anyone in order to win the games (ie In the red light green light game she could've pushed the antagonist who beat her up but didn't. Only used the knife she smuggled when the antagonist tried to kill her. In the marble game scene, aka the most depressing shh ever, she insisted on playing fair). Also, she was actually the only player brave enough to get insights about the facility when she snuck up in the bathroom's vent. Of all the elimination, hers was the most frustrating because she was the most satisfying winner out of the three. She was fair. Couldn't help but compare her to Usagi from Alice in Borderland. Both of them had knocked some senses into the main characters.
Moreover, the actress, Jung Ho Yeon, stole the show for me despite having limited scenes. And now her being an obvious fan favorite (gaining millions and millions of followers on the gram ever since the show debuted on Netlix), I really wish they saved her up for the sequel instead.
Mienai mokugekisha (2019)
underrated japanese crime thriller!
The film started slow but as the story unraveled it got more and more intense and brutal... yes, the japanese-style kind of brutal, and some of the scenes were extremely graphic so beware squeamish peeps! It kept us on the edge of our seats so overall it was an entertaining film.
Kimi no me ga toikaketeiru (2020)
Heartwarming
I've just seen "Your Eyes Tell" and thought it was a beautifully made romance film. Our main leads Yoshitaka Yuriko and Yokohama Ryusei, were particularly charming and their chemistry conveyed naturally on-screen which was very pleasing to watch. Interestingly enough, there were a plethora of scenes in this film where Yoshitaka Yuriko resembled Han Hyo Joo, who of course starred in the original Korean version "Always".
Rurôni Kenshin: Sai shûshô - The Beginning (2021)
THE BEST ACTION FILM SERIES
As expected, "The Beginning" dives more into Tomoe (Kasumi) and Kenshin's (Takeru) tragic love story, hence, it's a bit more poignant, slow-paced, and is significantly less in action compared to its predecessors. However, the series' nature and samurai grandeur trademark that fans relish remain, and you get to see more of Kenshin's ruthless Battosai phase!
10/10 for the 10 years.
Chugakusei Nikki (2018)
ALL THE DAMN FEELS
In my 24 years of existence, I've never experienced romantic love... but somehow I feel like I just did after watching Meet Me After School.
Watching this has been an absolute emotional roller coaster for me. Despite the fact that I have different views regarding the topic that it tackled, the story managed to make me sympathize for Hijiri and Akira. The way the story unfolded was very realistic. The theme wasn't glamorized at all and both of the main characters dealt with the repercussions of being in such predicament, and the supporting characters' reactions were all logical and fairly reasonable.
There were 3 things I truly loved the most about this series. First would be the stellar performances of the cast members (Kasumi I'm a new fan!). They all brought something to the table and I really loved their chemistry with each other, especially Kasamu with Kenshi. There were scenes between their characters that were so arresting (no pun intended lol) and melancholic that I kept replaying. I also loved Haraguchi and her empowering speeches to Hijiri. Second would be the gorgeous cinematography that showcased the picturesqueness of rural Japan that made me wish I resided there. And last but definitely not the least, would be the catchy OST and melodious background scores that captured the scenes- the series overall- perfectly.
10/10 for all the distress and butterflies. Will definitely be rewatching.
Re:Born (2016)
HIDDEN GEM!
Ever since I watched the Rurouni Kenshin films I've been trying scour the internet to find more japanese films- particularly the action ones and I got lucky to have stumbled upon this hidden gem! Action movie fans will surely not be disappointed. My dad freaking loved it.