I literally just finished watching this film and wanted to see what other people thought of it which brought me here to your channel. I agree 100% with everything you said. I watch a lot of movies and rarely do I ever feel like I've wasted my time but sadly, with Bad Education that's exactly how I feel. I say sadly because recently I've been watching a lot of content from Taiwan that I think is really great and impressed me, so naturally I kept seeing this in my Netflix recommendations I thought it would be the same. but oh gosh. as soon as they told those disturbing stories at the start I wanted to switch off but as a viewer I HATE not seeing a film through to the end, I sort of hoped there would be some sort of pay off but clearly not. I felt a bit better when I learned the stories weren't true but even then the way they treated the "spineless" friend made me mad and gave me no reason to support these characters. There was literally no resolution or growth (or at least positive growth) for any of these characters, it left me feeling like "what was the point to any of this?" I actually didn't realise it was directed by Kai Ko until you said it and I really liked him as an actor in Let's Talk About Chu and Moneyboys so I'm super confused/disappointed that this is something he directed. the one good thing I can say about this film is that at least it led me to your channel and I have to say I appreciate how thoughtful you are with your reviews (granted this is the first one I've seen but I like your approach) and I respect how you even looked at cast interviews to inform your opinion of the film further despite hating it. I will be checking out your channel for other reviews!
Just watched the movie because it popped up under critically acclaimed Asian movies on Netflix. I agree that the lighting is atmospheric and cool. I think the acting was melodramatic and inconsistent. I really appreciated your insight about the theme being the importance of cutting ties or parting ways with people who aren’t good for you or just naturally become irrelevant in your life. I’ve only seen two Taiwanese movies that I know of: the Abandoned; Bad Education. Any recommendations for a good one?
For newer films - “Eye of the Storm” was decent. For classic films the list of great films is really long 😃 “Millennium Mambo” or “The Hole” are masterpieces. What types of movies do you typically like?
There is a question of tone in the film, agreed... but this is such a simplistic reading of the movie, Taiwanese humour and the work of Giddens Ko. To write it off as "wouldn't it be crazy if we did this..." shows a fundamental misunderstanding of Giddens' style and well established story structure.
Nah dude your giving him way too much credit. Trust me I don’t “misunderstand” this movie is just offensive. Explain the deep meaning behind using a r*pe victim as comic relief and having her put semen on a kids face as a joke. That’s junior high crap, nothing deep here.
@@MintVolcano yeah, I'm giving one of the most celebrated authors in Taiwan too much credit. I must be biased by the critically acclaimed, biggest selling domestic movie in Taiwan history that was his debut feature. It's typical Taiwanese humour. You either like Giddens or you don't, but this is no different from Mon Mon Mon Monsters of The Tenants Downstairs.
@@maxbuc I mean the author may be celebrated but that doesn't mean he's good. If you like him that's cool but just saying this is good because he made it and other people like him, isn't really a good way to prove to me that this has anything deep going on. And saying that this is "typical Taiwanese humor", is the same type of argument. Kind of an appeal to authority. What exactly is good about any of this? What exactly is this movie trying to say with this juvenile, offensive humor? I get that getting too detailed into the UA-cam comments about specifics is a bit of time suck so we can agree to disagree but I think I was pretty clear about what I find offensive in this and I've yet to hear a good defense of why this movie is actually deep.
@@MintVolcano yeah but I don’t have to prove anything to you. All I need to do is counter your claim that it’s inherently bad filmmaking. I admit there is a question of tone, but also point out that you clearly didn’t know what you were getting into here.
I just watched this film on the plane back from my holiday in Taiwan. Yup I really don't like it but cringed my way through it to the end hoping for a happier ending or positive moral learning. I only saw your video because I wanted to check out the cast and hoped that underaged girl was not underage in real life (but she isn't even in the cast list). I think we can assume anything, that the director didn't give it much thought, they no longer stay friends at the end, they lied about their dark secrets etc But. I think this movie can be interpreted in different ways which probably gives it some brownie points. I actually think their dark secrets were true but they bluffed later on for the sanity of their friendship so that they can continue working together to manage their situation that was spiralling downwards. There were also cultural aspects highlighted in this film about Taiwan, not just the streets and locations, but the yakuza culture there and the significance of cutting off your finger, strict schooling, bubble tea and how much Taiwanese love them (so disturbing to use it that way in this movie), police and how they handle situations involving gangs... And taking into account their culture and relations in Taiwan, maybe they would stay friends, I'm not sure (I'm not Taiwanese) but maybe the main actor thought about it more deeply and subconsciously considered his country and culture when responding. I think the director wanted to portray aspects of Taiwan and the culture there and that some of these events do happen in their society. But maybe he wanted to present it in an extreme way as a lesson that if you muck around too much, how far things could go.
Having seen Life For Sale, another Taiwanese movie from 2022, I can only say that I did not like this movie at all, but I probably graded it on a curve so I gave it more credit for--I'm not sure what, but that movie was worse. I can imagine a cynical point being (poorly) made with this one, even if one that I would find juvenile and edgelordy....I can only say that I saw it as part of the New York Asian Film Festival, which I'm happy to support because it even exists, but there's definitely someone on the selection committee who's tastes are practically opposite mine.
Am I wrong about this film?
I literally just finished watching this film and wanted to see what other people thought of it which brought me here to your channel.
I agree 100% with everything you said.
I watch a lot of movies and rarely do I ever feel like I've wasted my time but sadly, with Bad Education that's exactly how I feel.
I say sadly because recently I've been watching a lot of content from Taiwan that I think is really great and impressed me, so naturally I kept seeing this in my Netflix recommendations I thought it would be the same.
but oh gosh. as soon as they told those disturbing stories at the start I wanted to switch off but as a viewer I HATE not seeing a film through to the end, I sort of hoped there would be some sort of pay off but clearly not.
I felt a bit better when I learned the stories weren't true but even then the way they treated the "spineless" friend made me mad and gave me no reason to support these characters.
There was literally no resolution or growth (or at least positive growth) for any of these characters, it left me feeling like "what was the point to any of this?"
I actually didn't realise it was directed by Kai Ko until you said it and I really liked him as an actor in Let's Talk About Chu and Moneyboys so I'm super confused/disappointed that this is something he directed.
the one good thing I can say about this film is that at least it led me to your channel and I have to say I appreciate how thoughtful you are with your reviews (granted this is the first one I've seen but I like your approach) and I respect how you even looked at cast interviews to inform your opinion of the film further despite hating it.
I will be checking out your channel for other reviews!
Thanks so much for the kind words and I’m really happy you found the channel 😊
Just watched the movie because it popped up under critically acclaimed Asian movies on Netflix.
I agree that the lighting is atmospheric and cool.
I think the acting was melodramatic and inconsistent.
I really appreciated your insight about the theme being the importance of cutting ties or parting ways with people who aren’t good for you or just naturally become irrelevant in your life.
I’ve only seen two Taiwanese movies that I know of: the Abandoned; Bad Education. Any recommendations for a good one?
For newer films - “Eye of the Storm” was decent. For classic films the list of great films is really long 😃 “Millennium Mambo” or “The Hole” are masterpieces. What types of movies do you typically like?
There is a question of tone in the film, agreed... but this is such a simplistic reading of the movie, Taiwanese humour and the work of Giddens Ko. To write it off as "wouldn't it be crazy if we did this..." shows a fundamental misunderstanding of Giddens' style and well established story structure.
Nah dude your giving him way too much credit. Trust me I don’t “misunderstand” this movie is just offensive. Explain the deep meaning behind using a r*pe victim as comic relief and having her put semen on a kids face as a joke. That’s junior high crap, nothing deep here.
@@MintVolcano yeah, I'm giving one of the most celebrated authors in Taiwan too much credit. I must be biased by the critically acclaimed, biggest selling domestic movie in Taiwan history that was his debut feature. It's typical Taiwanese humour. You either like Giddens or you don't, but this is no different from Mon Mon Mon Monsters of The Tenants Downstairs.
@@maxbuc I mean the author may be celebrated but that doesn't mean he's good. If you like him that's cool but just saying this is good because he made it and other people like him, isn't really a good way to prove to me that this has anything deep going on. And saying that this is "typical Taiwanese humor", is the same type of argument. Kind of an appeal to authority. What exactly is good about any of this? What exactly is this movie trying to say with this juvenile, offensive humor? I get that getting too detailed into the UA-cam comments about specifics is a bit of time suck so we can agree to disagree but I think I was pretty clear about what I find offensive in this and I've yet to hear a good defense of why this movie is actually deep.
@@MintVolcano yeah but I don’t have to prove anything to you. All I need to do is counter your claim that it’s inherently bad filmmaking. I admit there is a question of tone, but also point out that you clearly didn’t know what you were getting into here.
@maxbuc interesting logic. Ok 👍
I just watched this film on the plane back from my holiday in Taiwan. Yup I really don't like it but cringed my way through it to the end hoping for a happier ending or positive moral learning. I only saw your video because I wanted to check out the cast and hoped that underaged girl was not underage in real life (but she isn't even in the cast list).
I think we can assume anything, that the director didn't give it much thought, they no longer stay friends at the end, they lied about their dark secrets etc
But. I think this movie can be interpreted in different ways which probably gives it some brownie points. I actually think their dark secrets were true but they bluffed later on for the sanity of their friendship so that they can continue working together to manage their situation that was spiralling downwards. There were also cultural aspects highlighted in this film about Taiwan, not just the streets and locations, but the yakuza culture there and the significance of cutting off your finger, strict schooling, bubble tea and how much Taiwanese love them (so disturbing to use it that way in this movie), police and how they handle situations involving gangs... And taking into account their culture and relations in Taiwan, maybe they would stay friends, I'm not sure (I'm not Taiwanese) but maybe the main actor thought about it more deeply and subconsciously considered his country and culture when responding.
I think the director wanted to portray aspects of Taiwan and the culture there and that some of these events do happen in their society. But maybe he wanted to present it in an extreme way as a lesson that if you muck around too much, how far things could go.
Maybe go through the plot line quickly then critique after….
I don’t have the proper context when you’re ripping this film.
Fair point, and good suggestion!
Having seen Life For Sale, another Taiwanese movie from 2022, I can only say that I did not like this movie at all, but I probably graded it on a curve so I gave it more credit for--I'm not sure what, but that movie was worse. I can imagine a cynical point being (poorly) made with this one, even if one that I would find juvenile and edgelordy....I can only say that I saw it as part of the New York Asian Film Festival, which I'm happy to support because it even exists, but there's definitely someone on the selection committee who's tastes are practically opposite mine.
I’ve never heard of Life for Sale if you think it’s worse than this though I might just have to watch it because I can’t believe it 😂
Considered this avoided 🎉 I think I would be hating from beginning to end!! 😡
Yeah it deserves all the hate
I also HATED this movie!!!
The worst