This time, I got to see a fly swatter used as a weapon!

PROS
+ The awesome, buddy-cop duo returns with and even adds a third to their epic team dynamic
+ The refreshing globe-trotting plot sets the action in several cool locations
+ Well-executed and expertly choreographed fight scenes that are reminiscent of the practical effect showdowns present in Jackie Chan films

CONS
- Admittedly, the pacing isn't as kinetic as the first movie
- There is a noticeable dip in quality from some minor role portrayals (The American cast)
- As entertaining as it was, there are a good amount of re-treaded scenes mimicking ones from the original
- A few plot elements are unnecessarily convoluted by the background conflicts of each of the main cast (America, North and South Korea)
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We've got another winner in the action/espionage subgenre! My favorite aspect of these two films is the exciting and engaging the pacing. Thankfully, none of the common espionage banter is present here.

Basically, if you liked what made the first movie special, then you need to see this one!

8/10

Leggi di Più

This movie is like a fun-sized bag of trail mix; it's great and has a variety of ingredients, but it is just too small and leaves you wanting more

PROS:
+ Well written plot that has both complexity as well as sound resolution
+ Great acting performances that add to the experience, especially during tense scenes
+ Powerful and moving score accompanies that action very well

CONS:
- Some aspects of the investigation are unnecessarily complicated
- It has a shorter run time, which makes certain details feel rushed over due to the fast pacing
- The conclusion (after past events that alter the future) is done in a soft and sappy way, rather than a more believably realistic way, which feels a little silly and loses some emotional impact

Yes! This one is great. It is a high recommendation, especially if you like time travel and non-linear plot progression.

Leggi di Più

Lights, camera, __________

(Uhh. Where is the action?)

PROS:
+ The overall look of the movie is eye-catching and stylish
+ Fight scenes and weapons are fun, kinetic, and unique
+ The story is mostly interesting and full of intriguing lore in the world in which it's set

CONS:
- Some aspects of the plot are over-used and become predictable
- The action is cool, but not very abundant for an action film

This movie has a lot going well for it, especially the world setting and the character's abilities and weapons. I REALLY wanted to see more of that. This could have been the coolest action movie, but it seemed a bit held back.

Still, check this out. It's cool! I'm looking forward to seeing the sequels.

Leggi di Più

PROS:
+ The story is a roller coaster of different emotions and is also a mixed bag of cinematic elements that make it unpredictable, complex, and mysterious
+ The interest in the mystery builds throughout the duration of the film and is revealed in an indirect manner, which requires some thinking to piece together
+ Some of the moments were emotionally heavy to ponder and become increasingly upsetting the more you think about them
+ There are some impressive camera shots that layer backgrounds and pan to create a nightmare feel, that appears unnatural and creepy

CONS:
- The music was almost non existent, which worked well for some scenes (making them feel empty and lonely), but some others felt a little dry and boring
- Scenes that were shown to establish the plot weren't explained well at first, leading to some confusion until later revelations in the mystery
- Some symbolic elements of the plot don't really make much sense

This movie surprised me even as I was viewing it, but even more so after it ended. I kept thinking about the meaning behind the ending and decided it is truly great!

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Wow. Did I just see the perfect action movie??

PROS:
+ The film is amazing at showing the relationship between the main characters and their performances are perfect together
+ The central theme of unfading justice resounds in the plot and makes the lead characters' convictions wonderfully admirable
+ Incredible "big budget" cinema feel with exciting action sequences that are well choreographed and authentic-feeling
+ The lighthearted buddy cop tone escalates into a mature and heavy plot that is written incredibly well

CONS:
- Honestly, the poster made me think the movie would be a dumb, but fun buddy cop action movie; it ended up being SO much more
- One of the most beautiful scenes takes place as a post-credit scene; it was so good that it should have been in the conclusion

This is easily one of the best action movies that I've seen come out in the past few years! It goes so far beyond expectation.

Watch this!!

(P.s. Park Seo-joon is the coolest)

Leggi di Più

Not every movie has to be revolutionary. What really matters is how well it's done!

PROS:
+ Outstanding use of lights/shadows and darkness in the cinematography - Impressive camera shots, paired with a good, ambient score give the film a mature and classy feel
+ Interesting story with a protagonist that conveys empathy for the involved situations
+ The setting for most of the film is very well done, giving it a haunted and desolate feeling of helplessness

CONS:
- A couple of cliché character archetypes are present, but they work fine nonetheless
- At one point, the plot beings to add layers, but it felt as if it were missing some details

This movie reminded me a lot of another called Blind. There weren't as many surprises, but the movie was well done and is a strong thriller that succeeds in being unsettling. I definitely would recommend it!

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Sometimes, a simple revenge thriller is real treat.

PROS:
+ The main character is painfully dumb and is totally unequipped to face a serial killer; this makes her incredibly charming and likeable
+ While the plot is pretty simple, there are some heavy elements that still pack a good emotional punch
+ The violence is brutal and messy, which removes the feeling of safety and shows the antagonist has no bounds to his methods
+ Good relationship between the main character and the little girl [supporting character] that creates a good balance of light-heartedness in this dark film

CONS:
- Some of the plot unfolds in a very unconvincing and "lucky" way that seems far-fetched from reality
- There is a poorly-constructed side plot that initiates the action, but has no other purpose (or resolution)

Yeah, I've seen a few of these serial killer revenge thrillers. I still love them though!

Trust me, Monster is less generic than the poster, tagline, and title would lead you to believe. This is a super entertaining film that I'm glad I watched. However, I doubt I'll ever want to see it again.

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It's like Tom & Jerry, if they were a serial killer and a hitman... and if it made you cry (Okay, it's not THAT much like Tom & Jerry)

PROS
- The casting is superb! Lee Jung-Jae is a genuinely terrifying villain and portrays the character perfectly
- Even though the movie has slow pacing in the first half, it delivers loads of atmosphere and audio/visual story telling
- Some of the score sounds more fitting to a horror movie, but it works so well in creating an unsettling tone
- The action scenes are expertly choreographed and are overflowing with realistic-looking violence and seat-gripping excitement
- Somehow there are even some beautiful moments that are touching and give a necessary balance to the rest of the film's overall "heaviness"

CONS
- There is an indirect story telling method that provides depth to the protagonist and it is easy to miss details
- The main character is not properly introduced for awhile, which was a bit unusual
- Some of the environments look very mid 00s with its oversaturated yellow tint aesthetics
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I can't think of a better movie to showcase the amazing talents of Hwang Jung-Min and Lee Jung-Jae. If you're familiar with Korean films (or have seen Squid Game), you'll definitely recognize these icons.

This is a heavy watch with a lot of violence, so beware if you're sensitive to those things. Other than that, it is pretty easy to recommend. This film has a similar feel to another great crime action/thriller called Night in Paradise; however, this one is less of a downer.

I can actually see myself wanting to re-watch this in the future.

8/10

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Wow... This is one of the strongest revenge plots I've ever experienced; it's certainly the most beautiful one.

PROS:
+ Powerful story, told in a beautiful way with the perspective shifting the focus among the different characters
+ Strong themes that are potent enough to learn from in real life
+ Wonderful balance of elements of beauty and terror in the cinematography that reflect the themes

CONS:
- Some of the soundtrack choices seem poor and become irritating; however, this may have been an intentional stylistic choice
- With the indirect method of plot progression, the first 2/3rds of the film is difficult to conceptualize themes and purpose for actions (this is all resolved nicely by the conclusion though)

I had no idea this movie would be so impacting. I hope you watch this right now!

Leggi di Più

A tense and wonderfully interesting fantasy thriller that sounds as good as it looks

PROS:
+ Netflix must have a ton of money, because the effects [both visual and audio] are outstanding
+ Well-constructed story that manages to keep the viewer engaged and thinking until AFTER the end
+ Wonderful performances from the cast [I could read the lead actress' emotions and actually FEEL the weight of more impactful scenes and I could even sense the evil from Young-sook]
+ The time manipulation plot device is executed in a brilliant way that also increases panic

CONS:
- There is a quick shot during the credits that is bothersome and requires some analysis to understand the intention

It is rare to find a movie that is of this high-caliber in the fantasy thriller subgenre! I loved how there is so much detail poured into the story and characters. I felt a wide variety of emotions during this film.

If you like serial killer or time travel movies, than you NEED to watch this.

Make sure to silence your phone. ;)

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More Than Blue is more than a movie; it's poetic, it's heart-warming, heart-breaking, and it's unforgettable

PROS
+ Unconventional storytelling that avoids being cliché and stale
+ Excellent plot twist that changes everything about the film
+ While it has a emotionally dense tone, it's not a challenging watch
+ The lead character, Cream, is especially charming and is like an intriguing mystery to figure out
+ Surprisingly, there are some cool and abstract shots that are meaningful, metaphorical, and dream-like
+ There is some A+ writing that is outright beautiful with flawless delivery

CONS
- Admittedly, there are some slow moments that require some patience and attention to get the most out of the story
- The opening scene sets a contrasting, light-hearted atmosphere, that wears away so quickly that it's jarring
- The conclusion is one of those indirectly impactful endings that hits you after you've turned off the TV [spoilers for why this is a negative]
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More Than Blue seemed like an interesting movie and it certainly was, but also it was so bitter sweet and meaningful that I think it could actually be life-changing to some viewers.

Just don't expect a nice, romantic drama.

"I want to live a happy life... But, that's just a dream. A sad dream. I'm done with dreaming." [tears begin to fall]

9/10

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Exit is a top-notch disaster survival thriller that'll have you gripping your chair and audibly shouting from the suspense

PROS
+ The outstanding lead cast has delightfully charming chemistry
+ The humor-to-seriousness ratio is incredibly well balanced
+ There are a lot of impressive effects that push the thrilling climbing scenes into a moderately believable realism
+ Even the dramatic elements shine through, without losing the suspenseful tone
+ The interesting, decaying urban environment is a visually captivating setting

CONS
- There was no explanation for the motives of the attack that engaged the plot
- Initially, the film gives little excitement and leaves a goofy first impression
- While the main cast is superb, some of the child actors don't portray their roles as effectively
- One pivotal moment is not shown on-screen and the implication was less clear until a slide during the credits
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Exit was a surprise to me! I would probably rank it the highest of all the K-survival/thrillers I've watched this year (Tunnel is a very close second). It's not hard to imagine myself re-watching this at some point due to the cool action segments and excellent characters.

I can't even think of any other thrillers where climbing exceeds more than one scene.

8.5/10

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Sunny is one of the most touching and meaningful films I've seen. Seriously, this movie could change your life.

PROS
- The themes are so well done and leave a memorable impression due to the significance to actual life
- Wonderfully crafted story that takes place in the present as well as the past
- There's a lot of purpose and care in each of the characters
- For how dense the drama is, there is actually a lot of great comedy to balance the emotional toll

CONS
- Don't read much about the movie's story; it's best to go in without knowing much
- Due to the masterful writing, Sunny isn't an emotional drain, but you WILL likely be moved to tears (so, don't try to act tough)
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Friendships, memories, regrets, and promises are all themes that are so very important. Pondering and reflecting upon them is sometimes a challenging circumstance that we don't see until it's too late.

Sunny not only demonstrates these in a beautiful and entertaining way, but it also paints a visual representation for even more complex emotions (like grief, heartbreak, or even acceptance and closure).

There are very few films that go beyond emotionally moving me. This movie was a healthy event that I didn't know I needed. Now, I feel inspired and eager to ACTUALLY live my best life and carry those dear to me along the way.

9.5/10

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Seoul Vibe is mostly style over substance, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't an entertaining ride

PROS
+ The cars and music have a cool, retro vibe
+ There are some exciting pursuits and extreme stunts that give the film a unique charm
+ It's refreshing to see the team function well together and pull off the complex and far-fetched plans (it's similar to something like the A-TEAM)
+ The sense of danger is conveyed very well once things start going bad

CONS
- The depth on each character is paper-thin and often made me lose interest
- Even some of the story seems lackluster in its writing
- A lot of the racing scenes in the beginning seem to be pretend with a heavy reliance on quick camera work and varied action shot rather than legitimate driving/racing
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I don't think I would re-watch this one, but I'm glad to have seen it once. It's nearly 2.5 hours and some of it just feels like a highlights mashup of a TV drama series.

If you're like me and recently watched Special Delivery, then this might help you come back down to earth.

7.5/10

Leggi di Più

Special Delivery delivers something special... perfection!

PROS
+ Every single car scene is exciting, impressive, and thrilling
+ The main characters are wonderfully likeable and show great chemistry that conveys an emotional response
+ Even the music is fitting and adds a charm to the action (although it's not as memorable as the "playlist" in something like Baby Driver)
+ This is one of those action thrillers with a good amount of substance to digest with some emotion-swaying drama elements

CONS
- Sometimes the plot takes a backseat to the action due to its simplicity
- Eun-ha (main character) is such an interesting character, but there are only a few details about her background
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This is definitely one of the best movies released this year!

I really hope a lot of people see this. It's unusual to find an action movie with this much heart.

9/10

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