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Reviews
XO, Kitty (2023)
XO, Kitty: A Cute But Clichéd Spin-Off
XO, Kitty is a spin-off of the To All the Boys I've Loved Before movies, starring Anna Cathcart as the spunky and lovable Kitty Song Covey. The series follows Kitty as she moves to Seoul, South Korea, to attend the same school as her long-distance boyfriend, Dae, and to learn more about her late mother's culture. Along the way, she makes new friends, faces new challenges, and discovers new aspects of herself and her love.
The series is a cute and fun watch with colorful visuals, catchy music, and diverse characters. Anna Cathcart does an excellent job as Kitty, bringing her humor, charisma, and heart to the role. She has good chemistry with Minyeong Choi, who plays Dae, her sweet and supportive boyfriend. The other supporting actors do a decent job, especially Gia Kim as Yuri, Kitty's sassy and loyal best friend, and Sang Heon Lee as Min Ho, Kitty's handsome and mysterious classmate.
However, the series also has flaws that prevent it from being great. The plot is predictable and clichéd, with many tropes and twists that have been done before. The series also tries to juggle too many themes and subplots, such as cultural identity, family bonds, friendship dynamics, and personal growth, but none are explored deeply or satisfactorily. The series also lacks the charm and depth of the To All the Boys movies and feels more like a generic teen rom-com.
XO, Kitty is a decent binge-watch for rom-coms, teen dramas, and cute stories fans. It is a light-hearted and enjoyable addition to the To All the Boys universe, but it could have been better.
6.5/10 stars.
A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)
Beautiful scenery but the plot is boring
I watched this movie on Netflix with high expectations since I like Rachael Leigh Cook and am interested in Vietnam. However, I was disappointed by the clichéd and predictable story, the lack of chemistry between the leads, and the superficial portrayal of the culture and people of Vietnam.
The movie follows Amanda Riley (Cook), an executive who goes through an unexpected breakup and then accepts an assignment to go undercover and learn about the tourist industry in Vietnam. There, she meets Sinh (Scott Ly), a charming and handsome tour guide who shows her around the country and helps her rediscover herself and love.
The premise sounds promising, but the execution could be more exciting and formulaic. The movie relies on stereotypes and tropes, such as the uptight workaholic who needs to loosen up, the exotic and mysterious foreigner who teaches her how to live, the quirky and supportive best friend, the evil and greedy boss, etc. The plot is full of coincidences and contrivances, such as Amanda conveniently running into Sinh everywhere she goes or Sinh conveniently having a connection to her boss. The dialogue is cheesy and unrealistic, especially the romantic lines that Sinh delivers with a heavy accent.
The movie also needs to capture the beauty and diversity of Vietnam. The scenery is stunning, but it feels like a backdrop for Amanda's personal journey rather than a living and breathing place. The movie only shows a few tourist attractions, such as Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, or Ho Chi Minh City, but does not explore the country's history, culture, or politics. The Vietnamese characters are either stereotypes, such as the wise and friendly auntie or uncle, or plot devices, such as the durian vendor or the shop owner. The movie does not address any social or environmental issues affecting Vietnam, such as poverty, pollution, or human trafficking.
Overall, I was bored and frustrated by this movie. It had the potential to be a fun and enlightening romantic comedy, but it could have done better with a more varied story. I give it 6/10 for the scenery and Rachael Leigh Cook's performance. However, I do not recommend it to anyone who wants to see a realistic and respectful depiction of Vietnam or a genuine and engaging romance.
Nhà bà Nu (2023)
suck movie
This movie is terrible. It follow the motif of same type genres of tran thanh' movies. To be honest, this movie shouldn't to be shown on the cinema. It should be on Youtube at all. Waste of time and money.
A plus point for the crew when actively exploring strange shots, actively changing the angle of rotation. The color of the film is also bright, bringing the warm atmosphere of Tet.
But the dramatization factor again caused the film to lose points in the third act. As a habit, Tran Thanh is "passionate" in pushing his emotions to the extreme, "taking tears for sympathy from the audience". Not to mention, the point of removing the button in the second act was not "done", leading to the climax of the third act a bit rushed.
Orphan: First Kill (2022)
Ridiculous story
Messy and unbelievable plot. I think its a comedy film, not a horror film. Too bad it compare with part 1. And I think the actress is too old if compare to the previous version so maybe it don't make me feel excited and a little bit scary.