Change Your Image
film_fan1986
Reviews
Cô gái den tu hôm qua (2017)
Nice film
This is a great little film Some really good comedic situations, and some really good serious ones, too...a nice blend. The 2 kids really stood out. I particularly enjoyed the scenery and representation of that class of Vietnam...kind of middle class. It was so interesting to see what their houses and schools looked like, and how their students kind of "behaved" in schools. Sure wish we could do that in so-called "advanced" America. Yes, the story followed plot lines and scenarios that have been done before, but so do 99.99% of all movies. This film did it very well, with some unique takes on things. I tend to be a big fan of Asian cinema, with Vietnam films ranking near the top. Give this a try...it's very enjoyable and and a great 2 hours, in my view.
100 Ngày Bên Em (2018)
Nice Film, Well Worth Watching
I liked this film a lot and thought it was really well done. My understanding is it is a Vietnamese remake of the 2012 Korean film "Never Ending Story." I haven't seen the Korean film yet, so I can't say how this measures up to it, but this film stands alone just fine.
It deals with a common scenario in such movies, and it takes its own direction. The scenario is a sad one, and different films approach it in different ways. This one did not go the route of "so sad, we're going to break you down with it"...but it still got the point across and added real sympathy for the characters and an appreciation of their plight.
Rather, it didn't completely focus on certain painful details and added some comedy in with the drama to give it a satisfactory "balance." I am a fan of the deeply somber approaches of some films of this genre, but if every movie dealt with such a scenario in the same way, we would only need one. So I can appreciate a film like this one right along with those.
The lead actress was stunningly pretty, had good chemistry with the male lead, and the rest of the cast played their roles just right. Vietnam puts out many outstanding films, and I count this as one of them.
Co gai den tu Dak Lak (2022)
A New Addition To My All Time Favorites
I REALLY enjoyed this movie, a wonderful character study. If you want action, or dramatic emotional swings...there are plenty of movies for those. This is different. It portrays a slice of real life, that only those who live it can really understand...but this film brings it close to understanding.
An ordinary, poor girl seeking a slightly better existence for the sole purpose of helping her family. It depicts the norm: nothing extraordinarily bad happens, but neither does anything that could be called good. The girl's misfortunes outweigh the positives though, and she is taken advantage of whenever someone can...which is normal, sad to say.
The lead actress herself is very enjoyable to watch, she is so subtle and calm in her portrayal, and with a very interesting face. Notably, the one time she smiled in the film, she was told to stop. Again, realistic, because her circumstances lend nothing to smile about.
The direction and cameras really captured the sense of both rural and poor urban life in Vietnam, with such detail you can feel that you "get it." Having lived in parts of Asia very similar to this, I can attest to the authenticism.
Having just finished watching this film, it ranks high on my list of favorites. If you're looking for flashiness or an emotional roller-coaster, this isn't it. But if you're wanting to really experience a segment of society that actually exists every day for many, many people...with a great performance by a new actress...then give this one a try.
Lay chong nguoi ta (2012)
A Great Thriller
This is a superb movie. The actor playing the antagonist gives a remarkable portrayal of a man's descent into madness. Not a good man to start with, he shows that it can always get worse. The lead actress is beautiful and displays a great range. The scenery and locale, though, are really what sets this apart. Seeing this floating village and such details of the boathouses, their interiors, how people navigate and live day to day in such an environment...these added such clarity to the lives of the characters and how and why they would respond the way they did. Beautifully filmed, and with just the right balance of slowness and action to fit and enhance the drama. In the version I watched, there was a few minutes in the middle where the subtitles lagged, but they synced back up after a short time. There are a few scenes of adult situations, but they're not explicit or over the top. As a fan of Vietnamese cinema, I highly recommend this gem.
Gaeul donghwa (2000)
Best TV Series I've Seen
This is the best TV series I've ever seen. Nobody does drama and emotion better than the Koreans, so if a series does surpass this one, I expect it too will come from Korea.
What makes this series special? Not just one thing...I think it's the synergy of all the elements. The actors and actresses, the characters they play, the multi-faceted storyline, the interactions of the characters and their turmoils...some self-inflicted, some not. The redemption of some characters, while at times heartening, at other times strike home that one shouldn't wait too long to redeem.
The story itself is heartbreaking, be warned. If such themes bother you, this is one to stay away from. It plays out a certain way...as does life.
When thinking on it, one thing keeps coming back to me...Destiny. Are some things just fated to be? How could the children be so close, despite the age difference? Why did both have the same feelings and emotions during the separation? Why such a complete commonality upon and after the reunion? Just coincidence?
Or was it meant to be from the start? The boy set it all in motion the day the girl was born. A room left empty, a toddler left unattended in a hallway. His unknowing (to himself)...and unknown (to anyone else)...actions in that one minute changed lives forever, and set in motion a bond that could never have developed without all those circumstances coming together exactly then. Destiny?
Regarding the criticisms of some...while I respect all perspectives, I am struck by some of the reasonings.
Some say there's over-acting and too much emotion. I disagree. This series attempts to put about 25 years of life for a lot of people into 16 hours. All while showing how they got to where they did...why they would react the way they reacted...the results and consequences of elaborate circumstances. Can this really be done with subtlety and subdued performances?
Imagine a traveler in the dark approaching the edge of a cliff. One person calmly says "It is of vital importance for you to stop immediately what you are doing, because if you don't there could be serious consequences." Another person loudly yells "STOP RIGHT NOW!!!" Which has the most impact?
A series such as this is meant to evoke certain reactions, very raw and visceral in some cases. People want this...it's why they watch TV shows and movies. If a person wants "real life"...why watch TV at all? Just look around, that's real life. Documentaries show real life. Reality shows are real life, albeit exaggerated. So while I appreciate and respect the perspectives, there's no way this type of series can achieve its intended purpose through understatement.
Finally, for those who have little or no experience with Asian cinema and television...try it. Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Taiwan...they all approach a little differently from each other, and each have their strengths. American filmmakers could learn a WHOLE LOT from them. The US had glory days in cinema...long since gone. But you know what? It's perfectly OK and personally I care not at all, as Asia has picked up the slack.
Autumn in My Heart (2013)
Wonderful movie but the description listed is wrong.
This is a wonderful series from Thailand, and I highly recommend it. But note that the description is not correct (at least as of the date of this review).
This particular series is a Thailand remake of the 2000 series from Korea of the same name, Autumn in My Heart. That original series was superb, and this remake stays true to the story. It tells the same story, just from a bit of a different angle culturally, and with perhaps more or less emphasis placed on certain plot points.
I hoped it would respect the original by not changing composition of the story or characters, and I am pleased to say it stayed true.
I enjoyed it immensely, and the contrasts in scenery of the two countries, as well as the differences in basic society, are well worth seeing. I would say this Thai version is a bit "calmer", but that would be because of the different ways the emotions are expressed...naturally, they would be different, as Korea and Thailand are different. Both series are beautifully filmed.
As for a description of the story itself, it revolves around 2 families, who had daughters accidentally switched at birth. The truth was found out years later, but by then the family dynamics had been set, and while they could be adapted to, they could not be discarded.
Events and tragedies happen, and a lot is learned about love, sadness, redemption, and destiny. 1 great story, 2 great interpretations.