My So Called Love: REVIEW. With LOTS of caps. Seriously. Lots.
Okay, so the My So Called Love post...
Like I said before, this was an enjoyable movie, if only for the pretty. The plot confused me. If I haven't read plot synopsis' prior to watching I would have been totally lost. But Da S was beautiful, Joseph and Eddie were REALLY hot, and the shots were well executed.
As we all know, I have mixed feelings about Da S (I like her, but I don't love her). That being said, I was transfixed by her in this movie. Most of my caps are of her, because she was just so gorgeous in this. I also capped Joseph a lot, because he's REALLY hot.
The opening scene is something that actually occurs later in the story. Xiao Mao (Barbie) has just encountered Xiao Gu, and is running away from him. As she is running, she encounters the past, a women running with a baby, who she lays down on the forest floor. Xiao Mao then encounters a young schoolgirl, and follows her. (For future reference, the woman leaving the baby was Xiao Mao's mother, and the schoolgirl is young Xiao Mao). This shot is where Xiao Mao is chasing herself as a young girl. I just really liked the shot..
The scene changes, and we see a younger Xiao Mao trying to find a place to stay the night. She gets a call from her mother, and is all excited about meeting her. (Wtf english graffiti? I don't UNDERSTAND!)
While walking out from school, Xiao Mao and her mother get whistled at by a group of schoolboys. (It must be nice to be 32, and still be able to play a high school student, huh Barbie?)
The guys who whistled at her blame it on Ah Liang (EDDIE PENG!)
Xiao Mao goes home with her mother, where we meet her sister, and stepfather who gives a bad impression.
I'm not exactly sure HOW we got here, but Xiao Mao meets Ah Liang again, while in the music room at school. See that fan? It's important. As Xiao Mao says in her voiceover, her love began with a fan.
Xiao Mao's stepfather is a perv, who watched her while she takes a shower. She tries to tell her mother, but he mother doesn't believe her at first.
Xiao Mao visits the windmill place, and Ah Liang follows her, professing his love for her. (Okay, two things; fucking beautiful shot. That shot kills me. Also, the windmill places shows up a lot in this movie. It's Xiao Mao's ideal place, or something).
But apparently going to the windmill place is not allowed, and the police bring Xiao Mao back to her family. Her stepfather gets angry at her for going out with a boy, and she fights with him (she bites him!!), and eventually tries to leave her house. She doesn't succeed (yet).
Eddie Peng eating a popsicle! He confesses to her that he loves her.
She tells him she wants an apartment, a place to be happy.
In one of the sweetest scenes in the movie, Xiao Mao offers herself to Ah Liang, but he buttons her shirt back up, telling her that although he wants her, he's not going to sleep with her because he loves her. *sigh*
Xiao Mao and Ah Liang elope, and rent an apartment together.
And everything is good for a time. Xiao Mao even gets into Taida.
However, she notices Ah Liang isn't going to college. He is going to do his military service. This is his date of being discharged.
Their goodbye is heart wrenching.
During military service, Ah Liang meets this guy (either they never said his name, or I don't remember it). From the MOMENT this dude appeared on screen, I smelled upcoming gayness.
This is one of the things that I don't know how they got there, but whatever. Xiao Mao is REALLY hurting for money, and missing Ah Liang. So, naturally, she turns to prostitution (or something VERY akin to it). She uses her computer to find guys. She finds one guy (Sad Boy... yes, sad boy), but when she goes to meet him, she is disgusted, and leaves. All this time she has been talking to another guy, Van (for Van Gogh). She decides to meet him.
As it turns out, Van is Xiao Gu (JOSEPH CHANG!! Can I just say that I am soo in love with him ever since Eternal Summer. He's another one of my birthday mates; Joseph Chang, Mike He, and I were all born on the same day in the same year. Pretty cool, huh?)
Gratuitous Joseph Chang! He turns up, looks Xiao Ma up and down, and leaves. It's pretty damn hot.
Xiao Mao follows him to his car, where they talk for awhile. Then she takes him to her apartment.
After some hesitation on Xiao Mao's part, she ends up sleeping with Xiao Gu. Later we find out it was her first time.
Afterwards, Xiao Gu gives her money. At first she tires to refuse, but eventually takes it.
Xiao Gu finds out that Xiao Mao is on the honor role at Taida, which is a HUGE deal.
Ah Liang comes home, and finds out what Xiao Mao's been doing from her computer.
He leaves her, after symbolically knocking down the canopy they hung together.
She tells Xiao Gu about Ah Liang, and he tells her not to blame herself.
Xiao Mao sees Xiao Gu by chance, which leads to him wanting to see her again.
They meet at a restaurant, and rekindle their 'romance' (if you could call it that)
You're welcome.
At this meeting, Xiao Mao and Xiao Gu talk. Xiao Gu asks her if she still loves her boyfriend (Ah Liang), she tells him yes. He says that he loves his wife too. He's married, and, as it turns out, is 34. (Kinda not believable to me. Maybe it's because I know exactly how old he is (he was 24 when this movie was shot), but he doesn't look 34! He's actually the youngest in the cast (well, to be honest, I have no idea how old Easton Dong Ming Hsiang is, because there is NOTHING about him on the interwebs), though admittedly Eddie looks younger).
Anyway, back to the story, Ah Liang is all depressed, after finding out that Xiao Mao is sleeping around.
When his military friend shows up. And kisses him. (I was like "I KNEW IT"...) Ah Liang pushes him away.
But later, in Xiao Mao's apartment, he has sex with the dude. Xiao Mao walks in.
He's obviously doing it for revenge. Xiao Mao said she would dump him if he ever smoked a cigarette.
Gay friend follows her as she runs out. He tells her that Ah Liang still has her first in his heart, but he won't give up, because he loves Ah Liang.
Xiao Gu invites her to dinner. And brings his wife, who then tells Xiao Gu and Xiao Mao that she is pregnant.
Xiao Mao runs out. Xiao Gu follows her. Despite everything, they have fallen in love. Regardless, Xiao Mao wants to break up, as Xiao Gu is going to be a father.
But unable to stop themselves, Xiao Mao and Xiao Gu meet again.
They sleep together, but Xiao Gu won't fall asleep in the same bed. Xiao Mao realizes that Xiao Gu is not going to change, or leave his wife. Depressed, she puts on one of his wife's dresses, and wanders around.
The next morning, she looks at her bank balance. She only had $296NT, which is less than $10USD.
Desperate, she attempts prostitution again, but instead of the guy she was expecting, Xiao Gu shows up. They argue, and Xiao Gu gives her $300,000NT (~$9000USD).
Unable to handle it anymore, Xiao Mao attempts suicide.
While in the hospital, after being saved by her sister and mother, Ah Liang comes to visit her. They realize they need and love each other.
Time jump! 8 years later...
Xiao Mao, Ah Liang, Xiao Mao's sister, and gay military friend are all living together in a weird (but ultimately close and lovely) family. (I'm pretty sure Ah Liang has an open relationship with both gay military friend and Xiao Mao. Xiao Mao's sister remarks to Xiao Mao that she is avoiding the "second wife", meaning gay military friend. Naturally I assume Xiao Mao is the first wife)
Xiao Mao has become successful, and while on a company outing, she meets Sunshine.
Sunshine is sweet, innocent, and in love with Xiao Mao. (I was impressed by Easton, who is deaf. He was really cute as Sunshine)
He tells Xiao Mao to listen closely. As she listens, she imagines the windmill place.
Sunshine is exactly what Xiao Mao needs.
He brings her to the beach, where he asks is he can date her. Xiao Mao is hesistant, asking why he wants her.
As Xiao Mao's voiceover states, just when you are about to reach heaven, the devil appears to try to grab you before you can achieve happiness.
The devil is, as it turns out, Xiao Gu. She meets him (at the windmill beach!), because despite everything, she loves him.
Despite knowing that they have to future, they can't resist each other. (This scenario reminds me a ton of the Juan Antonio/Vicky relationship in Vicky Cristina Barcelona...)
Xiao Mao asked Xiao Gu is he would have a baby with her. Xiao Gu basically answers no (though not directly), and Xiao Mao gets upset (she asked him to have a child with her previously as well).
He hugs her, but upset, she bites him, and runs away (btw, this is where the beginning of the movie came from, her running from Xiao Gu).
Later we find out that Xiao Mao is pregnant. She asks Sunshine why he never asked who the father was, and he answered that he hopes he could be the father (GAAAH! Sunshine, sooooo amazing!!). I'm assuming the baby's father is Xiao Gu, but it's possible it's Ah Liang's as well. I'm betting on Xiao Gu though.
Xiao Mao goes to visit Sunshine's parents. During the dinner, his parents are amazing, and great to this women who their son loves, yet is carrying another man's child. The whole thing terrifies Xiao Mao, who thinks she cannot possibly be good enough for Sunshine.
She tells her family that she needs to move. At first they are angry.
After xiao Mao announces she's pregnant, gay military friend finds a note (Xiao Mao and her sister used to write notes to each other), which says "So you want to run away with the fan boy?" (meaning Ah Liang). This note shows that the bond between Xiao Mao and Ah Liang is strong and deep.
Despite having to leave a place they've lived for 10 years, Ah Liang decides to move. They're family, after all.
So they movie. And they bring the fan that started it all.
Meanwhile, at a cafe, Xiao Gu writes a letter to Xiao Mao.
He says that she should have a baby. Because she deserves a family. He is visibly upset, probably because of the loss of Xiao Mao, who he did love, despite everything. (Btw, he's supposed to be 42... doesn't look it huh?)
Xiao Mao's voiceover states how Sunshine sent her a text message 3 months later, telling her that they all loved her.
And wow, that was long. I hope I coded it right...
I liked this movie for one major reason (beside the intense prettiness). That being that love isn't always conventional. Xiao Mao was in love with all three men, they were all different to her. I think the truest love she had was with Ah Liang, who knew her the best. With Xiao Gu is was a passionate physical love, but love nonetheless. With Sunshine it was innocent, and new. In the end, however, she chose the love that had been with her from the beginning.
Anyway, I'd rec this movie, but be aware that it really is quite disjointed. I got confused a lot, and some scenarios seemed REALLY abrupt. But whatever. It was really pretty, and sweet.
Apparently there were some pretty risque sex scenes that were cut (btw, the images in that article, totally NOT in the movie, so don't get your hopes up for a bloody Barbie and Easton in bed). I wonder if they're doing to release a director's cut of this...
Like I said before, this was an enjoyable movie, if only for the pretty. The plot confused me. If I haven't read plot synopsis' prior to watching I would have been totally lost. But Da S was beautiful, Joseph and Eddie were REALLY hot, and the shots were well executed.
As we all know, I have mixed feelings about Da S (I like her, but I don't love her). That being said, I was transfixed by her in this movie. Most of my caps are of her, because she was just so gorgeous in this. I also capped Joseph a lot, because he's REALLY hot.
The opening scene is something that actually occurs later in the story. Xiao Mao (Barbie) has just encountered Xiao Gu, and is running away from him. As she is running, she encounters the past, a women running with a baby, who she lays down on the forest floor. Xiao Mao then encounters a young schoolgirl, and follows her. (For future reference, the woman leaving the baby was Xiao Mao's mother, and the schoolgirl is young Xiao Mao). This shot is where Xiao Mao is chasing herself as a young girl. I just really liked the shot..
The scene changes, and we see a younger Xiao Mao trying to find a place to stay the night. She gets a call from her mother, and is all excited about meeting her. (Wtf english graffiti? I don't UNDERSTAND!)
While walking out from school, Xiao Mao and her mother get whistled at by a group of schoolboys. (It must be nice to be 32, and still be able to play a high school student, huh Barbie?)
The guys who whistled at her blame it on Ah Liang (EDDIE PENG!)
Xiao Mao goes home with her mother, where we meet her sister, and stepfather who gives a bad impression.
I'm not exactly sure HOW we got here, but Xiao Mao meets Ah Liang again, while in the music room at school. See that fan? It's important. As Xiao Mao says in her voiceover, her love began with a fan.
Xiao Mao's stepfather is a perv, who watched her while she takes a shower. She tries to tell her mother, but he mother doesn't believe her at first.
Xiao Mao visits the windmill place, and Ah Liang follows her, professing his love for her. (Okay, two things; fucking beautiful shot. That shot kills me. Also, the windmill places shows up a lot in this movie. It's Xiao Mao's ideal place, or something).
But apparently going to the windmill place is not allowed, and the police bring Xiao Mao back to her family. Her stepfather gets angry at her for going out with a boy, and she fights with him (she bites him!!), and eventually tries to leave her house. She doesn't succeed (yet).
Eddie Peng eating a popsicle! He confesses to her that he loves her.
She tells him she wants an apartment, a place to be happy.
In one of the sweetest scenes in the movie, Xiao Mao offers herself to Ah Liang, but he buttons her shirt back up, telling her that although he wants her, he's not going to sleep with her because he loves her. *sigh*
Xiao Mao and Ah Liang elope, and rent an apartment together.
And everything is good for a time. Xiao Mao even gets into Taida.
However, she notices Ah Liang isn't going to college. He is going to do his military service. This is his date of being discharged.
Their goodbye is heart wrenching.
During military service, Ah Liang meets this guy (either they never said his name, or I don't remember it). From the MOMENT this dude appeared on screen, I smelled upcoming gayness.
This is one of the things that I don't know how they got there, but whatever. Xiao Mao is REALLY hurting for money, and missing Ah Liang. So, naturally, she turns to prostitution (or something VERY akin to it). She uses her computer to find guys. She finds one guy (Sad Boy... yes, sad boy), but when she goes to meet him, she is disgusted, and leaves. All this time she has been talking to another guy, Van (for Van Gogh). She decides to meet him.
As it turns out, Van is Xiao Gu (JOSEPH CHANG!! Can I just say that I am soo in love with him ever since Eternal Summer. He's another one of my birthday mates; Joseph Chang, Mike He, and I were all born on the same day in the same year. Pretty cool, huh?)
Gratuitous Joseph Chang! He turns up, looks Xiao Ma up and down, and leaves. It's pretty damn hot.
Xiao Mao follows him to his car, where they talk for awhile. Then she takes him to her apartment.
After some hesitation on Xiao Mao's part, she ends up sleeping with Xiao Gu. Later we find out it was her first time.
Afterwards, Xiao Gu gives her money. At first she tires to refuse, but eventually takes it.
Xiao Gu finds out that Xiao Mao is on the honor role at Taida, which is a HUGE deal.
Ah Liang comes home, and finds out what Xiao Mao's been doing from her computer.
He leaves her, after symbolically knocking down the canopy they hung together.
She tells Xiao Gu about Ah Liang, and he tells her not to blame herself.
Xiao Mao sees Xiao Gu by chance, which leads to him wanting to see her again.
They meet at a restaurant, and rekindle their 'romance' (if you could call it that)
You're welcome.
At this meeting, Xiao Mao and Xiao Gu talk. Xiao Gu asks her if she still loves her boyfriend (Ah Liang), she tells him yes. He says that he loves his wife too. He's married, and, as it turns out, is 34. (Kinda not believable to me. Maybe it's because I know exactly how old he is (he was 24 when this movie was shot), but he doesn't look 34! He's actually the youngest in the cast (well, to be honest, I have no idea how old Easton Dong Ming Hsiang is, because there is NOTHING about him on the interwebs), though admittedly Eddie looks younger).
Anyway, back to the story, Ah Liang is all depressed, after finding out that Xiao Mao is sleeping around.
When his military friend shows up. And kisses him. (I was like "I KNEW IT"...) Ah Liang pushes him away.
But later, in Xiao Mao's apartment, he has sex with the dude. Xiao Mao walks in.
He's obviously doing it for revenge. Xiao Mao said she would dump him if he ever smoked a cigarette.
Gay friend follows her as she runs out. He tells her that Ah Liang still has her first in his heart, but he won't give up, because he loves Ah Liang.
Xiao Gu invites her to dinner. And brings his wife, who then tells Xiao Gu and Xiao Mao that she is pregnant.
Xiao Mao runs out. Xiao Gu follows her. Despite everything, they have fallen in love. Regardless, Xiao Mao wants to break up, as Xiao Gu is going to be a father.
But unable to stop themselves, Xiao Mao and Xiao Gu meet again.
They sleep together, but Xiao Gu won't fall asleep in the same bed. Xiao Mao realizes that Xiao Gu is not going to change, or leave his wife. Depressed, she puts on one of his wife's dresses, and wanders around.
The next morning, she looks at her bank balance. She only had $296NT, which is less than $10USD.
Desperate, she attempts prostitution again, but instead of the guy she was expecting, Xiao Gu shows up. They argue, and Xiao Gu gives her $300,000NT (~$9000USD).
Unable to handle it anymore, Xiao Mao attempts suicide.
While in the hospital, after being saved by her sister and mother, Ah Liang comes to visit her. They realize they need and love each other.
Time jump! 8 years later...
Xiao Mao, Ah Liang, Xiao Mao's sister, and gay military friend are all living together in a weird (but ultimately close and lovely) family. (I'm pretty sure Ah Liang has an open relationship with both gay military friend and Xiao Mao. Xiao Mao's sister remarks to Xiao Mao that she is avoiding the "second wife", meaning gay military friend. Naturally I assume Xiao Mao is the first wife)
Xiao Mao has become successful, and while on a company outing, she meets Sunshine.
Sunshine is sweet, innocent, and in love with Xiao Mao. (I was impressed by Easton, who is deaf. He was really cute as Sunshine)
He tells Xiao Mao to listen closely. As she listens, she imagines the windmill place.
Sunshine is exactly what Xiao Mao needs.
He brings her to the beach, where he asks is he can date her. Xiao Mao is hesistant, asking why he wants her.
As Xiao Mao's voiceover states, just when you are about to reach heaven, the devil appears to try to grab you before you can achieve happiness.
The devil is, as it turns out, Xiao Gu. She meets him (at the windmill beach!), because despite everything, she loves him.
Despite knowing that they have to future, they can't resist each other. (This scenario reminds me a ton of the Juan Antonio/Vicky relationship in Vicky Cristina Barcelona...)
Xiao Mao asked Xiao Gu is he would have a baby with her. Xiao Gu basically answers no (though not directly), and Xiao Mao gets upset (she asked him to have a child with her previously as well).
He hugs her, but upset, she bites him, and runs away (btw, this is where the beginning of the movie came from, her running from Xiao Gu).
Later we find out that Xiao Mao is pregnant. She asks Sunshine why he never asked who the father was, and he answered that he hopes he could be the father (GAAAH! Sunshine, sooooo amazing!!). I'm assuming the baby's father is Xiao Gu, but it's possible it's Ah Liang's as well. I'm betting on Xiao Gu though.
Xiao Mao goes to visit Sunshine's parents. During the dinner, his parents are amazing, and great to this women who their son loves, yet is carrying another man's child. The whole thing terrifies Xiao Mao, who thinks she cannot possibly be good enough for Sunshine.
She tells her family that she needs to move. At first they are angry.
After xiao Mao announces she's pregnant, gay military friend finds a note (Xiao Mao and her sister used to write notes to each other), which says "So you want to run away with the fan boy?" (meaning Ah Liang). This note shows that the bond between Xiao Mao and Ah Liang is strong and deep.
Despite having to leave a place they've lived for 10 years, Ah Liang decides to move. They're family, after all.
So they movie. And they bring the fan that started it all.
Meanwhile, at a cafe, Xiao Gu writes a letter to Xiao Mao.
He says that she should have a baby. Because she deserves a family. He is visibly upset, probably because of the loss of Xiao Mao, who he did love, despite everything. (Btw, he's supposed to be 42... doesn't look it huh?)
Xiao Mao's voiceover states how Sunshine sent her a text message 3 months later, telling her that they all loved her.
And wow, that was long. I hope I coded it right...
I liked this movie for one major reason (beside the intense prettiness). That being that love isn't always conventional. Xiao Mao was in love with all three men, they were all different to her. I think the truest love she had was with Ah Liang, who knew her the best. With Xiao Gu is was a passionate physical love, but love nonetheless. With Sunshine it was innocent, and new. In the end, however, she chose the love that had been with her from the beginning.
Anyway, I'd rec this movie, but be aware that it really is quite disjointed. I got confused a lot, and some scenarios seemed REALLY abrupt. But whatever. It was really pretty, and sweet.
Apparently there were some pretty risque sex scenes that were cut (btw, the images in that article, totally NOT in the movie, so don't get your hopes up for a bloody Barbie and Easton in bed). I wonder if they're doing to release a director's cut of this...