Film 2434 - KPop Demon Hunters

Intro: I'm in my movie era once again and lately I've been trying to catch up with all the films that I missed during last year or saved "for later" and never went back to. So here we are, giving this franchise another chance after its disappointing latest entries. But I was looking for somthing fun and easy and I thought this one could be a good candidate.

Film 2434: "KPop Demon Hunters" (2025), Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans
Watched: From my computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I found it really entertaining and well made, although I didn't necessarily fall in love with it. I didn't find it as exceptional as the various media channels portrayed it to be. Again, it's a great movie; it's just that I was expecting something mind-blowing and, as per usual, my expectations were set too high by what I read before watching the movie myself. The music is catchy, with "Golden" and "Soda Pop" being the two standout songs for me.
Overall, "KPop Demon Hunters" is a great watch and a visual spectacle, and I can see why so many people resonated with it. I'd say I'm just not part of the frenzy surrounding this movie (or K-pop music in general). Still, I'd definitely give it another watch.
P.S. Interestingly enough, there was no nomination at this year's BAFTA Awards. I find it interesting that this film isn't nominated in the Animated Movie category. The BAFTAs don't have a song category, so no snub there.
Cast: Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, Lee Byung-hun.
Box Office: $24.7 million
Worth a watch?: It will probably win at the Oscars in both categories where this movie is nominated. I haven't seen many of the animated movies this year—actually, this might be the only one I've watched so far—and I'm happy for it to win, to be honest. It's great fun, the music is good, and it's a visual spectacle. If you're a fan of K-pop music, "Demon Hunters" should be on your to-watch list.
Awards: Nominated for 2 Oscars for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song ("Golden"). Nominated for 3 Golden Globes for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, it won Best Motion Picture – Animated and Best Original Song ("Golden"). 5 Grammy Awards nomination for Song of the Year, Best Song Written for Visual Media, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Remixed Recording (all for "Golden"), and Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
Key word: Golden Honmoon.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2204 - Joy Ride

Intro: Dopo aver letto critiche molto positive sul progetto, ero curioso di recuperare questa commedia. E sera, alla prima occasione, me la sono vista.

Film 2204: "Joy Ride" (2023) di Adele Lim

Visto: dal computer di casa
Lingua: inglese
Compagnia: nessuno

In sintesi: non che questa pellicola non sia divertente, per carità, però come al solito leggere prima le critiche un po' guasta l'effetto sorpresa e, devo ammettere, da "Joy Ride" mi aspettavo qualcosa di più.
Invece, per un motivo o per un altro, il film ne ricorda tanti altri che abbiamo già visto - in particolare "Girls Trip" - e la sensazione è che, a parte per qualche battuta spinta e il contesto culturale differente rispetto ad altri prodotti simili, di fatto questa non sia altro che la stessa storia raccontata in maniera leggermente diversa.
Tutto sommato, comunque, il risultato finale è godibile e anche se i personaggi non sono particolarmente innovativi - la parte di Lolo (Sherry Cola) 5 anni fa sarebbe andata ad Awkwafina - è stato comunque un piacere ritrovare Stephanie Hsuin dopo il gigantesco successo di "Everything Everywhere All at Once" e la nomination all'Oscar (e il ruolo in "American Born Chinese").
Cast: Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, Sabrina Wu, Ronny Chieng, Annie Mumolo, Daniel Dae Kim, Baron Davis.
Box Office: $15.2 milioni
Vale o non vale: Carico e sufficientemente caotico da risultare simpatico. Interessante la cornice asiatica che dà un tocco più personale ad una trama che, altrimenti, avrebbe finito per propinare la stessa solfa per l'ennesima volta (il viaggio alla ricerca di sé e della madre che abbandona lo ha fatto anche Britney Spears in "Crossroads"...). Buono per una serata a cervello spento.
Premi: /
Parola chiave: Madre biologica.
Trailer
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Bengi