It's been a long time that I was impressed with a movie. But this movie definitely tops my list for the year 2011. I know the title leaves little to be desired. "You are the apple of my eye" is hardly unique, too cliche actually. But let's be a bit forgiving for this Taiwanese film, whose title probably got lost in translation.
The film is set in a typical Taiwanese high school in year 1994. The story opens with the mischievous but kind-hearted student, Ko Ching-teng forming an unlikely friendship with the pretty hardworking student, Shen Chia-yi when he lends his English book so the girl can escape punishment from the teacher. Since then, Chia-yi tries her best to help Ching-teng with his school work to improve his grades. Although Ching-teng grudgingly accepts the help, he found himself following the demands of Chia-yi to study hard by staying after school. Soon, they find themselves consoling each other in times of trouble and celebrating their joys together. After graduating from high school, the two attended different universities in different cities, but Ching-teng continues to call Chia-yi every night in college. Unable to express his growing love for Chia-yi, Ching-teng organized a wrestling match to show Chia-yi how strong he is so she can love him in return. But this plan backfired when Chia-yi got upset leading to their break-up. They didn't have contact for two years, until the 921 earthquake, Ching-teng called up Chia-yi to make sure she was alright. In year 2004, Ching-teng received a call from Chia-yi informing him that she will get married. Ching-teng, along with all their high school friends, attended the wedding. He expected to feel pain seeing the love of his life getting married to someone else, but he soon found out that immense love can transcend pain and lead to a more meaningful friendship and acceptance.
This movie is a semi-auto biography of the director and writer, Giddens Ko and this movie marks as his directorial debut. The beautiful lyrics of the movie's song, 那些年 "Those Years" , is also written by Giddens Ko and was nominated as the Best Original Film Song of the year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWzlwGVQ6_Q
So if there are days that you want to take another trip down the road of our adolescent years, watch this movie, I assure you it won't be a complete waste of your time.
The film is set in a typical Taiwanese high school in year 1994. The story opens with the mischievous but kind-hearted student, Ko Ching-teng forming an unlikely friendship with the pretty hardworking student, Shen Chia-yi when he lends his English book so the girl can escape punishment from the teacher. Since then, Chia-yi tries her best to help Ching-teng with his school work to improve his grades. Although Ching-teng grudgingly accepts the help, he found himself following the demands of Chia-yi to study hard by staying after school. Soon, they find themselves consoling each other in times of trouble and celebrating their joys together. After graduating from high school, the two attended different universities in different cities, but Ching-teng continues to call Chia-yi every night in college. Unable to express his growing love for Chia-yi, Ching-teng organized a wrestling match to show Chia-yi how strong he is so she can love him in return. But this plan backfired when Chia-yi got upset leading to their break-up. They didn't have contact for two years, until the 921 earthquake, Ching-teng called up Chia-yi to make sure she was alright. In year 2004, Ching-teng received a call from Chia-yi informing him that she will get married. Ching-teng, along with all their high school friends, attended the wedding. He expected to feel pain seeing the love of his life getting married to someone else, but he soon found out that immense love can transcend pain and lead to a more meaningful friendship and acceptance.
This movie is a semi-auto biography of the director and writer, Giddens Ko and this movie marks as his directorial debut. The beautiful lyrics of the movie's song, 那些年 "Those Years" , is also written by Giddens Ko and was nominated as the Best Original Film Song of the year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWzlwGVQ6_Q
So if there are days that you want to take another trip down the road of our adolescent years, watch this movie, I assure you it won't be a complete waste of your time.
downloading it now, hope its as good as the glowing review you've written for it.. thanks anyway =)
ReplyDeleteI hope it's worth your time, Droidz.
ReplyDeleteThe first one that i downloaded didn't have a subtitles so i had to redo the whole thing all over again and thankfully got it right the second time.
ReplyDeleteAs for the movie itself, indeed its a good movie as it takes you back to your care-free and fun-filled high school life where you don't have to take all things too seriously. Am in-love with Shen Chia-yi also **grins** great story and the movie in itself kinda had a my sassy girl feel to it. Kinda hate the ending though, guess am too used to having a happy ending for a romance movie =) glad i stumbled upon your blog and read your review about it.
Glad you liked it Droidz! I honestly did not expect you to like it. It can be such a girly movie kasi. It is so simple noh, and yet the way it was done is really good. One said that if I say the movie is good, he does not want to watch it because he does not like to watch movies with themes that are quite deep. I said a good movie does not necessarily mean it would touch on political or socio-cultural environment. It may just mean that the writer is telling a good story and the director executed the story well. IN this case, the writer and the director are one and the same.
ReplyDeleteThe movie wasn't over the top, it has that vibrant and authentic feel of youth, it was well acted and the background scenery blended well with the story.. I may be a bit discriminating especially with the local movies but I like those where I have least expectation yet would blow me away after watching it. Somehow this movie is among them which is almost the same as when I first watched the Korean version of My Sassy Girl. Besides, I have a diverse taste when it comes to movies depending on the mood basta wag lang sobrang generic yong story-line.
ReplyDelete