Necrotongue

My recent dive into Asian cinema has been quite the journey, prompting me to wonder, "Where will it end?" It's hard to say, especially when gems like Kim's film catch my eye and keep me thoroughly entertained. Why rush back to the familiar territory of European or American cinema filled with political correctness? The Koreans here played with my expectations, and I fell for their tricks hook, line, and sinker. Initially, I was grumbling about the apparent lameness of a Korean take on Face/Off after twenty-six years, but the creators swiftly proved me wrong, humbling my overconfidence and leaving me pondering the value of humility. However, let's not overlook the fact that the script stumbled over its own rules at times. Despite this flaw, it was an entertaining (albeit far-fetched) piece that kept me engaged throughout. None of the Korean actors overacted wildly, making for a comfortably enjoyable experience. / Lesson learned: Where physical force fails, chemistry takes over. 4*-

Netflix's latest surprise left me with mixed feelings. It's evident now that fairy tales can't be approached the same way as in the old days when the world was binary and only men toted swords and wore armor. Nope, in today's progressive era, every princess is expected to save herself, even if the way she holds an axe makes it obvious that she wouldn't survive the winter. I kinda hoped our main heroine would develop a thing for the muscular blacksmith's daughter, but no such luck. The CGI was hit or miss, the psychopathic mother felt more like a manticore, and the plot didn't keep me hooked. It was just another tale of Girl Power, with occasional moments of interest but mostly a bit dull, sometimes unintentionally funny (that burnt dragon!), and not as fun as I'd hoped. The logic holes were monstrous at times; I couldn't wrap my head around how the abyss didn't spell doom for anyone. Plus, the lead actress didn't exactly light up the screen, so the slow striptease didn't do much for me. But hey, it could've been worse, like in The Princess. / Lesson learned: If you're stuck in a dark cave, keep an eye out for multipurpose worms.

I approached this movie with a hint of skepticism but those worries quickly dissipated. The storyline didn't exactly break new ground, but it wasn't half bad. If you're familiar with your fair share of mafia movies, whether they're from the West or the East, you pretty much know what to expect here. I braced myself for potential over-the-top performances and exaggerated emotions, but thankfully, that wasn't the case. Instead, I found myself diving into the gritty world of Japanese organized crime, where the police pretended not to be in the yakuza's grip, and the yakuza pretended not to be secret agents. Trust me, it all came together on the screen. What really impressed me, though, were the performances. Most of the cast delivered solid portrayals, with the dynamic duo stealing the show. While the film wasn't exactly fast-paced, it still managed to maintain a steady momentum, keeping me engaged with well-executed action sequences and just the right amount of tension. The atmosphere was on point too, adding an extra layer of immersion to the experience. / Lesson learned: A Japanese party with people singing The Internationale was a first for me.