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Shirayuki hime satsujin jiken (2014)
Gripping murder mystery/drama with interesting social-media twist
This is what I love about Japanese cinema. It is not all the time that I could catch a story as gripping as this one. I'm a fan of crime mysteries and this one is a treat! I have "Confessions", a Japanese film, in my mind during my first watch of TSWMC. Although it is not as psychological and as dark as the earlier film, there was still the trademark of the wonderful skill of plot construction of its writer. (Both films are based on her novels) I liked this film even more because of the appearances of Mao Inoue and Mitsuki Tanimura, and also because the theme of the use of social network inappropriately at times is timely and significant. Direction was okay, it did not feel forced and I liked it that way. Actors did really well. Not much of violence were shown. You'll like this even more if you're a fan of plot twists in movies. Personally this is the best Japanese film (if not the best film at all) I've seen this year so far.
(Review previously posted on my Letterboxd account.) I recommend this crime mystery/drama.
Myeong-wang-song (2012)
"There are no friends and there will never be."
From an asianwiki description plus its trailer, I was intrigued by this movie. I am a fan of Korean movies, and this for me is one of those that are exceptional. I could compare it to a movie called Bleak Night (2010), All About Lily Chou Chou (2001) and also Confessions (2010). I read from some other reviews out there that, as shown in the movie, "the pressure for entrance exams and the film's opening scenes of people praying and lining the streets to cheer exam takers are real, with Korea having high student suicide rates in reality." The movie ultimately shows how "the stress and expectations of society pushed these students to do horrible things. How bleak their world seemed even though they were only 17 (19 in Korean age); no loyalty, friendship driven by fear." The plot to me means a lot, it's very strong. I needed a second viewing in order to fully get what the movie gives. I agree that this film has more potential than how it's delivered, but a different direction could actually make the movie turn over-dramatic or feel unreal. It had a really nice atmosphere. There is also an added creepy thing, the torture chamber (before) within the school building that actually existed, which was one of the most important setting in Pluto. Plus, pretty Kim Kkot-bi is added as a minor character but stands out as well, like Lee Da-wit and Sung Joon. Yes, acting is really good.
Don't miss this one. I also recommend to re-watch the film as one may not fully understand it. I did not get at first what the metaphors in the movie meant, like the thing about Pluto being demoted, but after a re-watch, it became more clear. If you like the titles mentioned above, give this one a try.
Nô Otoko (2013)
Interesting Japanese mystery/thriller/drama
I'm a fan Asian horror movies and thrillers, I always check out new releases. The Brain Man is one of those movies that are based on novels or manga that is as I noticed the trend now in Japanese flicks. There have been lesser Japanese horror films being released that the country is commonly known for, but instead more thrillers are being made (reminds me of a lot of great South Korean thrillers). That is just my observation, by the way. If they're producing these thrillers, fans would expect Japan to do it better or at least as good as those of South Korea.
The Brain Man is not a disappointment. It's slow-paced but the build-up is great. The story is very intriguing and I liked it a lot. It is more of a mystery indeed, but there are a lot of explosions (literal), murder, and cops here so this would qualify as a thriller. There are also a few count of psychos here to complete the story. The so-called Brain Man's character is incredibly acted by Toma Ikuta. Others are good actors as well. Enough said. I recommend not reading the plot or watching the subtitled trailer beforehand for a pleasant surprise.
The time I watched this, I also watched after a movie called Platinum Data, which is another Japanese thriller. That time I was having a damn good time. Both are great films!
I recommend watching this excellent flick, and Platinum Data too, but not Miike's Shield of Straw. Hoping to see more movies like these from Japan. Plus more horror movies!
Suay Laak Sai (2007)
Very enjoyable and that is what it is
I decided to write this short review for Sick Nurses because of what I have read or scanned from other reviews. I watched it like 2 years ago and this is my opinion.
Okay, first, this is not scary. And it's not supposed to be despite of the gore scenes, at least for me. After the third victim's encounter, you'll already know it won't be able to scare you at all. But instead, it would show you some violent but weird, funny or sick scenes. Even though it's not scary, it managed to be hugely entertaining mainly because of the pretty girls, their respective weird deaths and some twists in the halfway mark of the film. It also showed some really sick (or exaggerated) desires a man or a woman does have.
Overall, it was a fun film, most probably recommended to horror or ghost movie addicts, for a way very different film but still showing the usual ghost-revenge theme. Sure there are lots of flaws but I just loved the way it is being an odd movie that's just enjoyable. Don't listen to haters! But take note in the first place that this horror movie is not scary, but more of shocking.
X gêmu (2010)
It's not Death Tube.
I don't think it's actually the 2010 Japanese movie Death Tube. The title X-Game itself has no any significance to the movie. But I noticed that the release date was September 2010, that is the same as the release of Death Tube 2. But, again, X-Game is inappropriate.I wiki'd it then: "Four young people find themselves in a classroom and forced to participate in the "X Game". Games include "Thumbtack on a chair," "Pencil Guillotine," "Clip," "School Lunch," "Slap," and the "Death Penalty". Who is behind the games? Will these young people make it out alive? ". Don't be confused. The Death Tube movies don't have anything to do with X-Game. They have obvious similarities if you watch these, though.
Zoo (2005)
Not really horror but is worth a watch from horror fans.
Zoo is composed 5 movie segments that focuses not on the "dark side" of death but on its "dramatic" sense. These stories are composed of some elements that makes the film boring but overall it's a unique one and the stories are made to be touching.
"Zoo" segment could have showed more plot because it had the strongest shade of horror but unfortunately it came out boring because of lack of plot. It's just about a man who murdered his lover at a zoo. The other stories are different from this (every story is different from the others, though) because they turn out to have no connection with a zoo park. "Hidamari no shi" is the animated segment of the movie. It doesn't appeal that much to viewers although it's an anime so twenty minutes is a smart length for the segment. "Kazari and Yoko" is the first part of the movie and it's a good start. It's about identical twin sisters Kazari and Yoko who differs almost exactly from one another. One is treated like an animal and the other is loved by their mother. Yoko, the maltreated one, some time had the chance of changing herself and a twist, which I didn't actually understand, changed the way her mother lives with her. "SO-far" is a nice segment and is of a nice twist. A child sees that his mother cannot see his father and his father cannot see or hear her mother, one night when they returned home. Lastly, "Seven Rooms" is the strongest of the five. The seven rooms were filled with one woman each, each day and they're being killed after six days of stay. Satoshi and his sister finds their way out of the room and the reason why they're brought there. This is a simple segment and is kinda incomplete but for me, it's the best.
Overall, it's worth a watch and a review! 7/10