#watchlist25

[jdramaflow]

⚲ HOT SPOT ホットスポット 2025, dir. Yamada Nobuyoshi,  Mizuno Kaku, Matsuda Kento.

[jdramaflow]

⚲ SLOW TRAIN スロウトレイン 2025, dir. Doi Nobuhiro.

[meandmyechoes]

I watched k/pop demon hunters last Friday night!

Can't say I like it but I certainly enjoyed it. Korean pop culture is not for me but the movie was a fun time. The budget was well-spent where it should be: the fight scenes, the finale, it's beautiful. The songs are catchy. I laughed a few times. I don't have a big problem with the plot and concluded that it could use or should be a TV show.

The only flaw and a confusing one for me is that when the main character sings, her face don't... move? The facial muscles are stagnant like when there are not enough control points moving in the rig? Girl is supposed to be singing her heart out and is even more wooden than a comedic fight scene. I know the lines and songs are provided by separate VAs but it was a bit hard on my tone deaf ears and the stiff face is not helping with immersion. I wonder if it feels better in korean.

That's what I mean about its budget having gone where it should. There are very creative expressions on the characters of course, like when they see food or drool over abs. But those are done in a way akin to switching a face plate, and not in subtle twitches or widening irises. It is reminiscent of the half FPS technique that Sony's own Spiderverse is known for. I'm not saying it's necessarily cheaper, it's just a little oddity I noticed.

Unfortunately I don't like this movie enough to learn more about it's technical process so I'll never how well the team did. Regardless, it was indeed a breath of fresh air, a very playful and passionate movie. Recommended!