Fighting Youth (2015)

This movie is like a badly wrapped present: you see the page on MDL and are immediately discouraged, but if only you give it a shot, you will be pleasantly surprised.

The story follows a bunch of young people struggling to get by and live their life fulfilling their dreams in Beijing, starting off with a man who catches his girlfriend cheating on him. From that point forward, events evolve, and the storyline follows a twisted but still linear path. We mostly see that same man and his roommates, and the way their relationships between themselves and the world evolve. I thought that the story was beautiful, in a very simple, not very extraordinary way. Along the way, some things happen that might make you feel like it was unexpected to a fault; but that's how life is, and you never know what might happen next. Of course, everything has its faults, and this story has some inconsistencies too. But the selling point for all of this is the dialogue. The dialogue is packed with personality, and we can see the vast variety of characters shine throughout the movie delivering punchline after punchline. It gives life and zest to the movie, and keeps your eyes glued to the screen. 8/10

I'm a bit conflicted about the acting. In some cases, it was really good - you could see the emotions portrayed in the slightest of movements; in others, it came across as a bit tacky. However, as I said before, it is redeemed by the highly engaging dialogue the characters deliver throughout. The acting is carried by the amazing script, and I think it wouldn't have been nearly as well characterized were it not for that script. 7.5/10

As for the music, I feel like it could have been much better. On their own, the pieces used in this movie are wonderful and I even tried to look them up; however, their incorporation into the movie was lacking. I was oversensitive and constantly aware of the music playing in the background. It was not seamlessly woven and it did not complement the scene; instead, it took away from it. 6.5/10

I typically do not rewatch movies at all, no matter the genre or how good the movie is, except for my absolute favorites. This movie is above average, but not enough to warrant a 10 rewatch value. Some people might like it enough to watch it more than once, but this is just my opinion. 5/10

Overall: Give this movie a shot! You will be very pleasantly surprised as I was. It's a calm, slice-of-life story, and if I could compare it to something I would with a gently flowing stream. It guides you on its own, you just need to sit back and get immersed in the lives of these young people. 8/10

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