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seonpremacy · 11 months

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The Childe (Movie Review)

hi omg. so i just recently watched the latest korean film from dir. park hoon jung, the creator of the witch film series, which is called "the childe". i am not a movie expert or anything so take my advice with a grain of salt. let's talk about the cons first. the pacing of the first 30 minutes of the movie, wherein the characters are slowly being introduced. it was a bit slow and unorganized. there were some scenes in the beginning that can be considered as filler scenes, which adds to the slowness of the pacing of the film, and the character of go ara was not really fleshed out well, which is a missed opportunity. now the pros. okay, the plot is simple with a few plot twists and there, pretty much john wick vibes except it's asian LMAO because of the main conflict of the show. i was a bit confused in one of the revelations of the show but caught up quickly anyway. next is the comedy. actually, this was one of my fears to this film. comedy being used in action films are usually forced, and a bit cringeworthy, but SURPRISINGLY, seonho did it naturally. the comedic timing was so smooth and i genuinely laughed. it's like the icebreaker for the seriousness of the film. no forced jokes. there could be some lines that are cheesy for other people, but it's still tolerable. and i think the what excelled the most in the film is the line delivery of each character, and how they contributed to the overall ambiance of the film. Each of the major characters had contributed enough in their delivery of their dialogues. However, i would like to emphasize two actors: kang tae ju and kim seonho.

kang tae-ju really did an amazing job for his character. the desperation and the fear of the character were obviously portrayed accurately by him, and he had such a good chemistry with seonho. his english accent is topnotch ofc. he has the potential to become the next thing. and now of course, kim seonho. the kim seonho. oh my god. never have i ever thought, that he would also be fitting in the action genre. throughout the film, i tried to observe if there are resemblance of any past characters that he did e.g. han ji pyeong from start-up and hong du sik from hometown cha-cha-cha, and guess what? there was no resemblance AT ALL. i mean why am i surprised he studied theater acting for 10 fucking years before debuting in a small screen. of course, micro-expressions were obviously visible throughout the film i mean come on IT'S GIVEN already. next is his American English accent. oh. my. god. i truly lost it when he delivered his english lines in the movie. he literally has the potential to become really proficient in english. god he was so hot. the thought that he probably only took english classes for a short period of time... oh my god. again, the way he delivered his comedic lines throughout the film was just *chef's kiss, no more further explanation on that. of course, that popular filipino line that he said on the film, i mean, as a filo, it wasn't that bad actually, particularly the first filipino line, the filipino accent was present. and lastly, the fact that he filmed this, only weeks or months after that unfortunate controversy, blows my mind. dealing with that kind of stuff is so mentally draining and could obviously affect one's mental health but no, he insisted. he needed to continue what he's good at, which is acting. his passion to his craft is honestly one of the reasons why i just fall in love with this korean actor everyday. he had to act like the RENT WAS DUE.

now, is the childe a MINDBLOWING korean film? obviously not. but this just paved the way for seonho's comeback, and the exposure for his versatile acting. he should, at least be nominated honestly. the childe rating: 8.0 of 10.

#the childe #kim seonho #kim seon ho #go ara #kim kang woo #kang tae joo #oh he is fucking back yall #this man's dedication... oh my god #highly recommend #movie review #korean film #he's so versatile i'm gonna cry

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lesbianwithchainsaws · 6 months

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I've somewhat made a horror movie blog (not on tumblr) so now I need to figure out what to post there. There's several topics I'd be interested in exploring, but idk how to make them sound interesting or good

#also need to find the time and motivation to edit what ive written and write new things #one topic I've researched before and wpuld be cool to talk about is the horror space sequel thing #since like several franchises just randomly have space sequels and i've spent hours reading about it bc i thought it was really interesting #and also really strange how its kind of a thing #id also be interested in talking about obscure movies #I've been watching some more obscure japanese and korean horror films lately and maybe i could talk about that #bc the more obscure movies are very rarely talked about #like everyone talks about the grudge and ringu and train to busan and audition #but i really like the more obscure moviee too. not just from those countries but others too #and it'd be cool to maybe explore them more?#idk #i dont want to do like reviews bc im terrible at reviewing movies (i guess maybe mini-reviews would be doable but not long ones)#I'll have to figure it out more but i do want to make a horror blog #I'd try my hand at a yourube channel but i hate video editing ngl so blog (for now) it is #oh also i wanna talk about lesbian/sapphic rep in horror!!! lesbians in horror are always my favorite thing ever so i love watching them #I've seen quite a few and i could maybe try talking about that too?

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nix-whythisfilm · 1 year

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Mini Series that can be watched over a long weekend

Fame Game (2022)

A thriller starring Madhuri Dixit as Anamika, this mini-series was dark and eye-opening from so many perspectives. The show is available on Netflix with just 8 episodes and can be called her significant break on the OTT Platform after her films Kalank and Maja Maa. The series has an air of mystery and an eerie aura throughout. While each secret unravels in every episode, the morose story behind the lives of celebrities is apparent. It is obvious how they have tried to highlight the truth behind the facade they have to carry as a celebrity, along with appearing as a picture-perfect family.

Though I was excited by the prospect of watching Madhuri Dixit on the small screen along with numerous talented actors, I was taken aback by the somberness of the show and how clearly the difference in their lives is showcased. Even the trailer tries to set the reality and the onscreen life of the actress in the show, but it was so much more intricate than one can imagine. While the show is colourful and engages the audience throughout, the end is a little unceremonious. And yet, it makes sense considering the points they established throughout the show.

A Suitable Boy (2020)

The show features the life of a literature student post-independence and the various challenges she faced while forced to make tough decisions for her life. The storyline is based on Vikram Seth's book of the same name and is available on Netflix with just 7 episodes. While the show revolves around Lata, it also pivots into the lives of various youngsters around her, who are her cousins and family friends. In a country that has just recovered from a massive change in government and is on the precipice of significant changes for the future, this show allows us into the minds of individuals in that area wrestling with their own mindsets and expectations.

Having started the show with no expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by the little details that were ingrained into the aesthetics and their lives which makes it so much more insightful into the lives of individuals nearly 8 decades ago. With numerous shows today segregating individuals as either modern or traditional, Lata was a surprising blend of both. Her mind was progressive with expectations above and beyond for her life, while she also stayed constant in her culture and values that would impact her personally. Though her choice of the groom at the end of the show surprised me, it also made sense for the woman she was and the position she was in. Though she had numerous instigators in her life trying to push her into making decisions that they would like, Lata braved the world and made a choice that was her own which struck a chord in me.

The End of the F…ing World (2017)

Seeing the alarming title of the show, I had steered clear of it to avoid answering my parents if discovered watching it by chance for a very long time. This miniseries based on a novel of the same name is available on Netflix and comprises 16 short episodes. While the show starts off on a peachy note, it takes us on a journey with the teenager, James, who firmly believes he is a psychopath. Having conducted his own experiments on himself to confirm his suspicions, his perspective and direction change when he meets Alyssa. While quirky and impulsive on her own, Alyssa convinces James to take a journey to find her estranged father which entails a series of trials.

Funny in its own way and challenging to our monotonous perspective, this show gets to us all. After finally watching it at the beginning of the pandemic, this show stole my heart and made me wish I had a companion as they both had each other in their bizarre situations. While the beginning is as alarming as its title, the show progresses into their minds episode by episode and giving us an insight into how people make their decisions and how life changes so unsuspectingly. With short episodes that barely tire us, it is an amusing watch, all things considered.

Unorthodox (2020)

With no idea what the show was like or what it was about, this miniseries was a shocking revelation into a world existing in a famed city that we all know of. Prominently set in New York and Germany, this show features the story of a Hasidic Jewish girl who flees her community to start a new life. Being introduced to it through a random Netflix suggestion, this show changed my mind in a matter of 4 episodes. A tale that is daunting to those of us living in a comfortable community, this show is a wake-up call on how we choose to educate ourselves and be a part of global platforms.

While the story was unsettling to watch, it was nearly impossible to imagine the control that a community has over you if not checked often. While communities and religion were formed to help humanity to regulate the chaos that we are in and to tackle the world, this show puts a perspective on the amount of power our faith can give to individuals who wield power in any given community. Blind faith has never been the answer and yet is still the most expected commodity out of any individual in any situation. The show at the end of the day shows us the courage of a girl too young in a world that is too large, trying to sway her in every other direction to control her life.

Bombay Begums (2021)

Narrating a tale of four women and a young girl this mini-series puts a perspective on the working of the world and the challenges that are a part of a woman's life, no matter their age, caste, position or power. It starts with Rani and Shai, who are a part of a prominent family in the banking world. Then moves to Fatima and Ayesha, two of the employees in the same organization, and eventually Lily, who is fighting her own war. All the women live in modern Mumbai and fight against struggles that nearly any woman in India or maybe other places also faces. The dialogues hit home as the story moves in an unpredictable direction leaving us with a sharp sting of reality over 6 episodes.

While expecting a show full of politics and deception, the show actually delivered a narrative that was far too real and outstanding. While the show is strictly feminist by nature, it also does not predispose to a narrative that favours women in any way. Though some may call the show dramatic and over the top with the choices some of them make, I believe we all have the power to make those same choices and find realities that might be far more solemn than what is shown here.

Hymn of Death (2018)

A melancholic drama set in the colonial era in Japan-Korea, this show has a way to find a place in your heart, based on the real story of the dramatist Woojin and the soprano Simdeok who had an ill-fated relationship. Having found each other in Japan during their studies amid the Japanese invasion, the two slowly grow a bond with each other. During the many trials they both face, they seem to have fate on their side as they keep finding each other every time. Being set in an era where life was hard and fighting to hold on to their passions was harder, these two find an end to their troubles in each other's presence.

With no idea what the show was about, this mini-series left my heart broken on how unimaginable the world was over a century ago for people in their youths. While the story is primarily about their relationship and its trajectory afterwards, it also sheds light on the expectations that were laid on the individuals of that time, the expected familial duties concerning their own economic situations, the hidden impacts of the invasion and companionship that has nothing to do with romance. Hymn of death might have a poetic tragic ending, but it is still priceless for the stories illuminated through the tale of these two lovers.

Kingdom (2019)

A dynamic series of 12 episodes set in medieval-era Korea, it is a thriller-horror show ruled by politics. A falling nation with the King in hiding and people starving, the story is led by the prince in search of the truth of what is happening in the palace. But with each layer he strips off and every morsel of truth he discovers, he finds that humanity is scarce when it comes to people saving themselves. Released around the same time as the covid pandemic this show features a pandemic of its own kind and the way the people of a small country deal with a disease that spreads ruthlessly and takes lives like a reaper.

With so many influential opinions on the show from critics and on social media, this show was everything and more. It is brisk and strikes down its story clearly. While there was much left in the dark, the story went from a perspective to focus on the bigger picture with every episode. The strong characters and the realistic circumstances keep us on the edge of our seats. As the story swerved into a whirlwind with so many details and brilliant visual direction, it is absolutely binge-worthy and gripping till the end.

Sweet Home (2020)

Another Korean mini-series focussed on a monster outbreak set in modern Korea, this show is imaginative and dark with plenty of gore. While the show is not for the light-hearted, the characters stand out for their uniqueness and will to fight against everything to hold on to their humanity in dire situations. Based on a webtoon of the same name, the show initially focuses on Hyunsoo, a young adult plagued with dark thoughts who moves into a shady apartment with plans of killing himself. With 10 episodes, all spanning 50 minutes, this show is ingenious and a hidden gem.

Even though I had been hesitating to watch the show after hearing about the gore, the show became a surprising favourite. With characters that seem too real and the concept of evolution thrown at us with this perspective, this show can be easily overlooked due to its disturbing visuals. Like any apocalypse story, this show has characters with some stereotypes, but the way they all are shown in their realities and their hidden vulnerabilities makes us attached to them all one by one.

Squid Game (2021)

Well-known for featuring chilling games and the authenticity of people's lives, this show deserved every bit of fame that came in its direction. Known for taking the internet by wildfire, the story features individuals with financial debts being recruited to play children's games, much like gambling, to get rid of their debt if they get to the final game and win it. Sounding simple enough to nearly all the participants, the show starts somberly, initially focussing on the life of Seong Gi-hun. But only once they enter the game do they all realize the reality and risks of the game. With 9 episodes and another upcoming season, this show is bound to keep any audience on the edge of their seat.

Having avoided plenty of shows because it was overrated, this show left me appalled, yet it made sense. While in the end, the character says if he was given the choice again, he would have chosen differently; I believe the realities of their lives often make people make hard choices that they would probably make again despite claiming otherwise. The show exposes capitalism and elite culture around the world from a perspective of a middle-aged man. With unnerving characters, all of whom are fighting for survival, this show is savage and yet enlightening.

My Name (2021)

Featuring the story of a young girl who loses her father to a criminal while being a crime lord himself, it goes on to show the woman she raises herself to bring justice to her father's death. The show is set in urban Korea, where the hidden crime world is exposed and how she has to work through the ranks to get what she wants. While the show has plenty of action and violence, it keeps the core story constant throughout as she makes her way into the world. With numerous characters looking to use her in their own ways and make her a pawn to the existing social structures, Jiwoo finds her own people to help her through her journey.

Unconventional and insightful, this show takes us into the misogynistic world of crime where we quickly find ourselves waiting for Jiwoo to find the truth and her peace. Through the 8 episodes, it is obvious how incredibly hardworking and single-minded she is about her goals. Two things the show evidently focuses on are the way the people around you shape you as the person you are and the comfort necessary for an individual to stay human. Refreshing with a female protagonist who isn't delicate and a complex antagonist, this show is sure to leave an imprint in the mind of any audience.

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its-selfieslove97 · 19 days

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#love #design #fashion #fashion model #beautiful model #books & libraries #h&m fashion #lucifer #music #news #movies #cinema #film review #coco chanel #christian dior #dior #paris fashion week #korean drama

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offbeatcappuccino · 1 month

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nothing is more serious in life than female friendships ~ soulmate movie analysis (not spoiler free)

The first scene of Soulmate opens up with an early thirties something Ahn Mi So (Kim Da Mi) carefully observing a hyperrealistic portrait of her. She is informed by the curator of the art gallery that the piece was submitted by an artist named "Ha-Eun" for a contest but they have been unable to track her. Despite the evidence that is provided to suggest that Mi So and the artist are close friends, she denies this claim and states that she can be of no help.

We are then transported to Mi So's childhood and her first day at an elementary school in Jeju. Mi So has a dysfunctional relationship with her mother and is tired of having to constantly move from one place to another due to her mother's financial woes. It is on this day that the young Mi So meets Ko Ha Eun ( Jeon So-Nee) for the first time. After an eventful day of rescuing a kitten from the pouring rain and having dinner with Ha Eun's family, both girls embark on a lifelong friendship.

The two girls grow up together and bond over their mutual dream of painting and traveling the world. However, Mi So and Ha Eun are poles apart from each other. Ha-Eun is reserved and proper and grows up in a stable loving two parent childhood. She aspires to attend college and her father wishes her to become a painter. On the other hand, Mi So is extroverted and wild. She's a free spirit with an estranged mother. She dislikes school and unlike her peers, she attends a trade school by day and works an assortment of part time jobs to support herself. The idyllic friendship and inseparable bond of both girls is disrupted when Ham Jin Woo (played by the ever so handsome Byeon Woo Soek) enters their lives.

As teenagers, Ha Eun develops romantic feelings for Jin Woo. During a soirée, she and Jin Woo confess their attraction for each other during a game of "Go Stop" and they both end up dating. The dynamics between the three individuals is complex and a significant turning point in their relationship is when the three go on a forest hike to a wishing well. Ha Eun bruises her feet during the hike and stays behind as Jin Woo and Mi So continue their journey. At the well, the two unexpectedly share a brief kiss and Jin Woo ends up giving Mi So the necklace he was wearing, which is really an amulet to protect the wearer against misfortune.

Shortly after this trip, Mi So abruptly leaves Jeju for Seoul, leaving Ha Eun heartbroken. As the two girls wave their final farewells, Ha Eun is stunned to find her best friend wearing her boyfriend's necklace. Her grief of Mi So's sudden departure is overcome by a strong sense of betrayal. The rest of the film is a non-linear and sometimes alternate timeline depiction of the two friends as they navigate their relationship with each other and adulthood.

At its core, the relationship between Mi So, Ha Eun, and Jin Woo is essentially a love triangle, but its far more complicated than the two girls both being in love with same guy. I believe that both girls are physically attracted to Jin Woo, but they are actually truly in love with each other. What drives the conflict in their relationship is not only how far they drift from each other when their realities do not align with their ideals, but also the mutual possessiveness for each other. One scene that strongly propels this narrative is when the two reunite in their mid-late twenties. During a coincidental run-in with Jin Woo, Mi So discovers that her boyfriend/boss unalived himself and wasted all of their money before his death. Heartbroken and bankrupt, Mi So ends up living with Jin Woo and the two rekindle their "attraction" for each other. When Ha-Eun catches them living together, she angrily locks Jin Woo out of his apartment and confronts a drunken Mi Soo in the bathroom. Initially, it seems like Ha Eun is upset that her best friend and lover are having an affair. But, we realize that its so much more than that when Ha Eun emotionally confesses that before any men came into their lives, she was the one who loved Ha Eun. Ha Eun loves Mi So so much that it was absolutely devastating for her that she was kept in the dark and replaced by Jin Woo during a critical period of Mi So's life.

Though Soulmate has a fairly simple premise and short runtime , analyzing and discussing the film can be an arduous task because of its unconventional approach to storytelling and the many layers that are interspersed within it. However, if there was something that captivated my attention, it was the role of art in the film and the larger role it plays in shaping the protagonists' behavior. Both women are artists, but their styles are vastly different. Ha Eun relishes in hyperrealism and looks at it as a form of emotional truth seeking. We see this first during her first date with Jin Woo when she tells him that she has to draw him in order to confirm her feelings. Additionally, when she discovers that Jin Woo does not view her artistic passions as more than a hobby, she realizes that marrying him will also result in her being detached from reality, particularly her true identity. It was perhaps the first wake up call of many that ultimately led her to leaving him at the altar later in the movie.

On the other hand, like Mi So, her artistic style is eccentric and fantastical. Her work is more abstract and likened to that of Picasso with her often opting to offer more distorted versions of her subjects instead of making them appear as real as possible. Mi So adopts a similar approach to life as we see her often resorting to fabricating her life rather than telling those around her what her true circumstances her. As a young adult, Mi So sends optimistic and exciting life updates to Ha Eun in the form of letters but fails to include the mundanity and difficulty of her working an assortment of part time jobs or that the boyfriend she left to Seoul with ended up cheating on her. For me, it was even questionable if she truly traveled to Europe and that the gifts she brought were from there ( but I could have truly misunderstood this). Mi So's fabrications take a life of their own after she adopts Ha-Eun and Jin Woo's daughter after Ha-Eun's death from childbirth. This is seen in not only how the screenplay shifts from alternate timelines- one that is fake and one that is real, but also in how Mi Soo hides Ha Eun's death from the rest of the world not only by hiding the fact that she died but also by completing Ha-Eun's half finished portrait and submitting the very work she was questioned about in the first scene under her friend's name.

I don't think its far to brand Mi So as a liar and a con-artist, but I think her actions reflect her desperately clinging to and nurturing the existence of Ha-Eun even if she may no longer be physically present. It made me really think about who a soulmate really is and how the souls are always interconnected even when their bodies may not- much like the reference made in the film to how a shadow is always present when the sun is around.

Soulmate is one of those films that feels like art that needs to be treasured in a museum. It's meant to move its viewers rather than entertain them.