v612 Reviews

He's Expecting (2022– )

I really enjoyed the show and binged it in one night.

[9/10 · 26 June 2022]

I love how the series was able to keep its quirkiness while dealing with such heavy topics.

No matter when talking about abortion, miscarriage, gender roles, work-life balance or media and public perceptions, this series was able to deal with such issues with a sensitivity and care. It is heartwarming to watch and I really enjoyed how it provided a different perspective while not trying to lecture the audience.

I felt sad seeing it got hate-bombed, but just think this as a thought experiment, what if m-preg is real? How will that change our society? How will that affect gender relations?

People who hate this and decide not to give it a try simply because they label this as "woke garbage" is too pathetic. Unable to try to keep an open mind and look at issues from another perspective, and unable to try to relate to these very real struggles is such a shame.

Dragonfly Eyes (2017)

Inspiring and horrifying

[9/10 · 24 April 2022]

23.03.18 Dragonfly Eyes So inspiring and pointing out some horrifying facts that we tend to choose to neglect. Lucky to be able to have a Q&A session with the director, which he pointed out some major concepts on making this film.

• The film was made entirely with FOUND footages, including dash cams, surveillance cams, and live broadcast platforms. None is directed or choreographed, which raises questions in feature film-making, which certain formulas or principles in making feature films are clearly violated in this film - there are no actors.

• Actors do not exist in this film, several people with different corporeal bodies came to be presented as the one character: which the story of the character have nothing to do with their respective lives. (They are her, yet they are not her)
• The director asked different filmmakers about opinions regarding the idea of making this film, which was regarded as 'impossible', as there are no actors, making the building up of a storyline difficult. So instead, the director decided to tell a story about plastic surgery, so that footage with different people can be used (lol

• Raises questions in regarding the relationship between surveillance, body features, what's inside the body and truth. What is the truth? - an interesting point about surveillance and truth is that how truth is perceived: if we preserve all surveillance footage for people 100 years later from now to watch, is that the 'truth'?

• The use of the media (livestreaming room) is different from other types of medias in a way that there is interaction between the host and the viewers. The act of the live broadcast is also part of the lives of the hosts, different from surveillance
• Even during the making of the film, the concept of "surveillance" is constantly challenged by the technological advancement- new ways of surveillance (car cams, cams police wear on their bodies...)

• Different ideas are constantly being challenged in this changing world, like concepts of humans, humanity......
• A film like this can only be made in this particular time: 'it's like how uber doesn't own a car, yet millions of cars work for uber' (surveillance cameras)
• The story is created and then footage is found, and while finding the footage the story is altered, so it's two way in the creation of the film
• The earliest footage dates back to 1999, so the footage exists before the idea of making this film appears

• Kefan's love for Qingting is abnormal and extreme so that he transforms into her, he is trying to use the perspective of the person he loves most to view the world.

Attack on Titan: Small Blade: The Struggle for Trost, Part 3 (2013) Season 1, Episode 7

Really resonated with me

[10/10 · 25 March 2022]

I never particularly liked Mikasa when I first watched Attack on Titan back in 2014.

Now that I rewatched this scene, of how Mikasa lost all hope and went on leading a suicide mission to get to the supply tower, went out of gas and procede to wait for her death. But after her survival instincts kicked in and she recalled the preciousness of life (to remember Eren through her memories), she decided that she needs to continue fighting, no matter what.

This sequence is so beautifully done and showcases the strength and meaning of human beings. Mikasa surely embodies the theme "a beautiful and cruel world". While the world is extremely cruel in the sense that it is filled with violence and death throughout its nature. But at the same time, it is that very death that produces the vibrant life on earth. Thus a cruel yet beautiful world.

It really resonated with me, especially after experiencing trauma and self-sacrificial battles, it really enables you to look at the world through different lens.

In Time (2011)

A very nice concept that could make a wonderful movie gone to waste

[4/10 · 1 March 2022]

A wonderful concept executed horribly.

With the premise of this film being 'time is the new currency', you expect a lot. Humans will live normally till 25, and then their clock starts ticking. Their remaining lifetime is shown on their forearms, and time is used for buying necessities for staying alive. The poor lives day to day, while the rich can live forever, with centuries and eons to spare. Everything seemed like a promising introduction to a gripping movie.

From the start, it is clear what the director wants to talk about, and the message came across very explicitly, the in-your-face kind of explicit. The mc Will Salas lives in a ghetto, where even by working hard he can't get enough time to pay for his (and his mother's) expenses. One day, Will saw a wealthy man who has centuries of time, and warns the man to leave so as not to be robbed and killed. However, the Minuteman, a gang that robs people of their time came. Will escorts the man to a hiding place, where the man reveals to him that the rich live hundreds of years by sacrificing the poor.

Just by looking at the first 15 minutes, it is easy to see how this film will end up: amazing ideas with bland characters and a mediocre plot. The pacing was off, the acting was wooden... the list of faults goes on and on. So why does it deserve 4 stars?

The potential.

There is so much potential in this story that could be expanded and dealt with more delicately. For example, the arc about Will's father was not explained very clearly. How did the timekeeper know Will's father? How were Will and his father's relationship? The backstory of the timekeeper can also be expanded. How did he get to this position? Why, if he was born in the ghetto, will he choose to uphold such a system? How does the economics and politics work and how is life like in other time zones?

There is so much left unexplained, while the plot moves on to Bonnie-and-Clyde-esque action scenes in the latter half, that is when the movie really falls apart. Having met Sylvia Weis, daughter of a billionaire and a bank owner, Will taught Sylvia how it is like to live day to day, treasuring every moment and "living life" to the fullest. (Basically meaning dragging Sylvia into dangerous situations and having sex on the run living in run-down places, not very original) And when the pair robs Sylvia's father, released one million years into the ghetto and "broke the system". The film ends with people marching to other time zones (previously inaccessible because of the unaffordable living cost and taxes). Everything seemed so happy and bright, but there is so much left unexplained and everything seemed too easy which makes the whole premise stupid. If all you need to do to "break the system" is to have two people taking guns and slamming vehicles into banks, why wasn't this goal achieved much earlier?

The storytelling and design could be done much cleverer, in a more heart-gripping way that the message would stay, yet it didn't. For every little tiny bits that could have been made into a wonderful film, I give this film a 4/10.

Strip Down, Rise Up (2021)

A mix of everything, which allows viewers to think and reflect

[8/10 · 4 January 2022]

I think that this is a very interesting documentary, about how women used pole-dancing as a way to reclaim their lives and their bodies.

It was not to deal with the pole community as a whole, and neither was it about strippers and sex workers. It was about women who had went through traumatic experiences and find release in pole dance.

Many viewers think Shiela was not qualified as a therapist and overly stresses feminity. This may seem awkward and wrong to some people, but watching this film and knowing that this approach brings a huge difference to many women's lives, it makes me feel glad and hopeful for them. Whatever works for them are good methods, and I don't see it as a preach to have women join pole dancing for therapy, it's just a message for women to find ways to love themselves, and reclaim their lives, by whatever means they would like to.

The scene where a few men are invited to the class was also quite weird at first, but ultimately I understand the need, cause not only women exist on this planet, and the class was all female. Ultimately, they will need to confront the male gaze and the male presence, which is prevalent in the real world. This is their approach in teaching the women to deal with this, and I think it worked for them.

As for confining to heteronormative standards? True, but once again, that is what these women need. Even if myself do not adhere to the masculinity/femininity binary, some people do and I do not think I should criticize them for that, as they should not criticize me for embracing non-binary views.

This is a very empowering documentary, for those who can empathize with the interviewees and walk through their journeys with them.

The Menu (2016)

I watched this in 2021, and it still resonates deeply

[7/10 · 5 December 2021]

As mentioned in many other reviews, there are many flaws in this movie. Yet, it was still very popular among Hongkongers at the time it was released.

To understand this, one cannot only look at the movie (and the previous TV series), but need to look at Hong Kong's society. There was not much TV series or movies that could reflect what Hongkongers faced. People found elements in their lives incorporated into this movie, social activism (ironically due to click-bait news and lazy-bags), online forums, KOLs, social injustices... These are not often visible in movies and TV series.

People felt like past injustices have been represented and recognized on screen, and that sense of being acknowledged is very rare nowadays. Watching this movie in 2021, I can still identify many elements, many lines that resonates with me, and that itself is very valuable.

Of course, there are many places that can be done better, for example the actor acting the father of the dead girl felt a bit weird, the shot keep circling the actor in the final scene, several plot holes... But to audience, these are not the most important aspect of shows and movies. The most important thing is what they can get from watching this, and Hongkongers certainly got what they needed from this movie, hope and recognition.

Reversing Roe (2018)

A documentary of how the abortion issue has been politicized

[8/10 · 4 December 2021]

I sit through this documentary with a heavy heart, because it really makes me wanna scream while watching this.

It showcases how abortion becomes a political issue to mobilize voters' support to win an election, and how pressure groups and lobbyists utilize their influence to sway politicians to pass laws in their favor regardless of scientific facts and medical evidence. It showcases how the democratic system in the US is broken in a way, that it no longer upholds its most fundamental values of passing laws that protects individual liberties (when they pose no harm to other individuals), based on scientific research, facts and statistical evidence.

It shows how people are being emotionally mobilised by packaged ideologies and propaganda, to uphold a view that may not be entirely factually correct. To split people into a bipolar view of one-side vs the other, when there can be compromises and more detailed arguments to reach consensus. It promotes a culture that it's either us or them.

One critic for this documentary, is that it could have provided more scientific evidence and medical research regarding abortion and reproductive rights. Delve more into the social and philosophical aspects of the abortion issue.

For example, how does the right to abortion interact with the family structure, economic discrepancies, educational and job opportunities? More discussion can be made on why people want abortions, or what makes abortion an important right.

Also, there can be more discussion for what does it mean for a foetus to have a "life"? What does the three trimesters of pregnancy signifies? These questions are essential to understanding more about the debate on abortion rights.

Instead, this documentary focuses entirely on the politics of the abortion issue. Which I feel like is not enough information on the issue.

Youth (2017)

Looks nice on the surface, but actually not really that nice

[6/10 · 24 November 2021]

My first thought after viewing this film, is that is is quite nicely made. That's all, not much emotion felt, though it kept me thinking.

After browsing internet reviews, I realized I watched the censored version, cutting away key moments such as how Xiao Ping went mad, or a fuller picture of Liu Feng's arc. That's probably why when I was watching the film, it felt somewhat incompete, somewhat incoherent between sections.

Too bad that censorship exists. But that is not the only problem in this film.

As other reviews might have mentioned, the director seems to simply portray how nice the old days are, to present a fabricated nostalgia. That's why he hesitated in his portrayal of the nuances of the several characters. Bad things happen, but it's no one's fault. They can do no wrong, and there is no judgement.

There is bullying, but no consequences. Even when talking about how Liu Feng's kindness was exploited and not appreciated, it was deemed "tragic", but no further exploration of why that happened, no judgement on the other troupe members' attitude.

This lack of deeper exploration of each character's complexities and nuances made the characters lack depth. There was no contemplation of why things happened as such in that era. Even when speaking of the troupe's dissolvement, there is only a kind of nostalgia, but not further reflection of the troupe's nature, its purpose, how the decision was made, or so. When the narrator talked about how the era has changed, there was no exploration how that specific era (during cultural revolution) interacts with the opening-up era, which people's way of living faced a drastic change.

The film was made beautifully, but too sad that due to realistic constraints, it cannot be made into a more meaningful and complex film. And so it remains as such, a shallowly beautiful film.

Story of Yanxi Palace (2018)

Tried for around 5 minutes, don't understand the high rating

[4/10 · 24 November 2021]

I really wanted to appreciate this drama, which I really looked forward the stunning visuals, costume and props design, as well as complex storylines.

However, the viewing experience was so bad that I couldn't stand even 5 minutes.

Especially listening experience. It was so obvious that the dialogues were not recorded on set, but instead later recorded and mixed, it sounded really strange, and the background ambience sounded fake. The echo was off, and sometimes between different characters, there was suddenly bigger noise than other tracks.

The way they speak are so pretentious, why couldn't they speak like normal humans do in daily conversations? And the music does little to help audience immerse in the mood and get into the context.

I understand the need for foley, but in some parts the sound and speed differentiates with the scene noticeably, which again contradicts the goal of dramas to create a believable cinematic world.

Basics really do matter.

High Seas (2019–2020)

Nice start, but turns into nonsensical plot turns at the end of S1

[6/10 · 8 November 2021]

To be honest, the set and costumes attracted me to start watching this series, and they are indeed brilliantly made.

The story starts out great, making audience invested in the story. But as the mysteries starts to unravel, especially after finding the microfilm, the story starts to have plot twists for the sake of keeping the story going.

By the end of S1, I am already feeling bored by the cliches and never-ending plot twists.

After reading some of the reviews, I think it is better not to continue watching this series.

Fagara (2019)

A compelling story that this city needs.

[8/10 · 5 September 2021]

This is a story about coping with hurt, of dealing with relationships and about self-healing.

The main storyline talks about a father with three daughters, each with different mothers and lives separately in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. The eldest sister, Acacia (played by Sammi Cheng), lives in Hong Kong and is struggling to start her own life after breaking up with her ex-fiance. She found out about the other two sisters after her father's death, and have struggled with running her father's hotpot shop. Her storyline explore how one should deal with hurting moments in the past. Through taking over her father's hotpot shop and building a relationship with her two sisters, she is able to self-recover and reconcile with herself. The last scene where she shouts to her deceased father is especially heartbreaking. Through her journey of exploring the differences between the two generations, as well as to understand her father, she was able to cope with her past hatred of her father, and recover from the sudden loss of her father.

The second eldest sister, Branch (played by Megan Lai), is a professional pool player struggling to make a living, and not knowing how to get along with her mother. She is a determined and freedom-loving individual living in Taiwan, but she always felt her efforts in playing pool is not appreciated by her mother.

The youngest sister, Cherry (played by Li Xiaofeng) is a fashion streamer living in China. Having been abandoned by both her father and mother, she lives with her grandmother who always urge her to get married. Her storyline deals with the perplexion of facing an unknown future.

From the director's sharing, the three sisters each represent facing the past, the present, and the future. They are also born in 70s, 80s and 90s respectively.

The time they spent living together and running the hotpot shop, is a like a shelter where they can pull away from their problems, be a better self and return back to their lives respectively.

Few lines that resonate deeply with Hong Kong viewers, is when Blanche got drunk and says, "If I worked really hard, but I still can't win, what should I do? If we work really hard, but the world still does not get any better, what should we do?" (widespread due to a trailer for Hong Kong Film Awards). Another line is "If you have worked hard before in your life, you will not say it does not matter."

As an individual facing such a cruel and unjust world, perhaps as the director shared, we should our best not to become an evil person. We may need time to heal from the deep trauma and wound in our society, but we will endure this and rise up again stronger than before.

This film was released at the worst of times, but also at the best of times.

Haikyu!!: Challenger (2020) Season 4, Episode 8

Episodes before are all great, but the pace of this episode is so messy

[6/10 · 25 August 2021]

Watching the episodes before, I could feel the rush and excitement of playing volleyball. Even if a match is depicted with more detail than watching usual matches, one seldom feel bored.

But this episode gives a feeling of always having pauses, making watching this episode quite tiring.

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

Chinese dressing up as geishas and cosplaying, while basic facts are wrong.

[4/10 · 27 July 2021]

***For those who are interested in films featuring Japanese courtesans (though of a different kind, not Geishas, but *Oirans*), I would highly recommend Sakuran, made by Japanese and played by Japanese, with stunning visuals and mesmerizing acting.***

Memoirs is a very expensive cosplay set, with lots of money to spend on nice cameras and crew. But that's all it seemed to me, somebody trying to portray an imagined Japan.

What infuriates me, is that they have to find 3 Chinese actresses to play the 3 main female roles, in a film featuring a culture so uniquely Japanese. This film totally disrespects Japanese culture and even get praised for its misrepresentations!

As a person who have much experience with both Chinese and Japanese cultures, it is very clear that Zhang Ziyi is miscast, and while Michelle Yeoh seems to have tried to make an effort to act like a Japanese, her efforts were mostly a faliure. Their Chinese accents are obvious and thus ruined the whole film, as if the film couldn't be more disrespectful.

Little Chiyo, played by Suzuka Ohgo, is spectacular and really brings viewers into the world of Geishas, but she can only do so much, when so much other things are wrong.

Watch Japanese-produced films about historical Japan please, many of them are so underrated.

Seaspiracy (2021)

A really great documentary highlighting problems not much addressed.

[10/10 · 10 June 2021]

When it starts out with whaling and plastics, something which everyone knew was bad but not really delve deep into it, what I didn't expect was that the documentary really was about how unregulated the sea really is, with the injustices and organised crimes related to it.

It provides concise analysis of how the fishing industry is causing huge environmental and ethical problems, during the process exposing hypocrisies of so-called "environmental organisations" that not only did little to help, but have conflict of interests with the fishing industry.

It explains how the fishing industry is related to global injustices, including organized crime, slave labour, human trafficking and global unequal distribution of resources.

Showing how ineffective current measures and policies are, as well as the difficulties of enforcing maritime law and order, it seems that the best thing one ethical individual can do is to stop eating fish.

Great documentary, thank you so much for the crew and all people working to right these wrongs.

The Minimalists: Less Is Now (2021)

Not a documentary, more like an advertisement, which is ironic.

[4/10 · 19 February 2021]

This "documentary" tries to explore the topic of minimalism, giving a brief intro to this philosophy and reasons why people should adopt it, with some supporting statistics discussing the problem of over-consumption in America.

However, filled with monologues by two successful minimalist KOLs, it is very pretentious and does not really give much of an insight to this philosophy. The latter half is like preaching, with different people talking about their experiences and how minimalism changed their lives. However, it doesn't give much information, and doesn't "add value" to my life.

The script is also badly written, just how many times do you want to repeat the word "stuff"? For god's sake I am an adult looking for informative content! The lack of variety in language use is simply appalling.

Ironically, while the "docu" condemns advertisements for dominating our views on what leads to a "happy" life, this does exactly the same. I have no problem with the philosophy of minimalism, but this "docu" is somewhat off-putting.

Heaven Official's Blessing (2020– )

I enjoy the story, but the animation is not really that good.

[7/10 · 28 December 2020]

The characters are stiff, and character lines are confusing. There is no clear separation between which character is speaking (especially when the voice actors' voices are similar), and which lines are their thoughts.

The voice actors sound like they are in a haste to end each sentence, though I don't know why I get that feeling, it seems that they are rushing to finish their lines, and there is a little pause between different characters' conversations that makes it sound like the conversation is chopped up.

The characters don't show much emotion in their facial expressions and movements, being a fan of the book, that is a bit disappointing knowing the characters have more than what the animation can show.

Also the opening animation is a bit disappointing, looks a bit like fan-made videos.

The animation also failed to create tension and suspense. While the plot is engaging, at places where the atmosphere is suppose to be scary or anxious, I just feel... meh.

In general, there are lots of details that can be refined, lots of aspects that can be improved. Also, being a book reader and someone who can read Chinese, I understand the concepts and plot. But I think there is lack of explanation about the world setting and cultural concepts. This may be a bit confusing for audience who didn't read the book or don't understand Chinese.

The Queen's Gambit (2020)

It is a masterpiece, until Episode 7.

[9/10 · 2 November 2020]

I loved it, and would have given it a 10 if not for episode 7. Lots of weird moments in the last episode. Anyways, I am glad to have watched this.

D.Gray-man Hallow (2016)

Mediocre, didn't live up to expectations.

[6/10 · 26 August 2020]

This comeback after 8 years was a surprise to D. Gray-Man fans, especially when the anime stopped at where the mysteries start to unravel and the plot becomes much more interesting.

For the previous seasons, although I don't enjoy the modifications and original content, the anime did a great job in creating that atmosphere, and did a great job in conveying characters' emotions.

But this season did a really bad job. The only reason I gave this a six is because I really loved the manga and thus the story, and I am glad to see many scenes in the manga animated.

Start with the voice acting. It is understandable that different voice actors are used, but the new voice actors failed to bring back those characters that we grew to like in the previous seasons. Together with the new art style, it is as if they've become totally different characters, much soulless and boring. (Though the problem of their character building may also have to do with the terrible script). That being said, I love the voice actors of Allen/Nea, Kanda, Cross Marian, Tiki and the new characters.

The pacing of this season is all off. Transitions between serious and funny moments are awkward and forced, the original content are useless and boring. Some scenes are dragged out and therefore lost its tension. Though I enjoyed watching the first few episodes and Alma Karma arc, the rest were executed horribly. And what's with the last two episodes? Poor quality animation, obvious dragging and forced addition of fight scenes, making these episodes unbearable to watch.

This was one of the most anticipated anime series of 2016 summer, with so much potential in the manga material. However, this season failed to live up to fans' expectations.

Burn with Us (2020)

Just showing moments of the movement instead of providing a full picture of why events happened

[7/10 · 26 April 2020]

Well it just showcased clips of Hong Kong's protests without providing much explanation (tried but not enough). Hard to understand if don't have a certain level of understanding about Hong Kong's situation.

Missing important events during the period the "documentary" is trying to talk about, especially missing the attack on Chinese University while discussing the events leading up to the PolyU Siege? Confusing and not quite understand the focus. People who don't have much knowledge about what happened during early November will probably not understand this documentary.

Tokyo Ghoul: re (2018)

Went from quite interesting to an absolute bore

[7/10 · 26 April 2019]

I enjoyed watching the first half, to be honest. It was entertaining and I can feel the tension between Kaneki and Haise. But as it progresses (especially after that sudden change to Romantic genre, yes I still can't accept Kaneki and Touka being together, after Hide suddenly expressed his love for Kaneki), the plot became super boring. I feel like I am watching an entirely different anime. So many plot holes, the characters acted so different from before without any explainations. I was quite confident in the beginning half that it would not end up like the second season. But at the end it failed me completely. Still I have to give 7 stars to the first half. And omggggggg the way Hide say that he did all that just because he loves Kaneki.... my heart aches for him.