Somewhere Only We Know (2015)

I originally watched because I knew Kris Wu was in the movie, but once I was actually watching, I was really into the story, and I absolutely loved it. It had my attention rather than just watching for an actor, and I will definitely watch it again, many times. Kris' acting was solid, in my opinion, and he was up against a lead that he seemed like he could easily play off of, or at least they made it look good for the cameras or something. It's also a very relate-able movie, in the sense that everyone is really trying to find their true selves, which is what the female lead is struggling with when she meets Kris' character. The struggle of finding out who you are at her age is a very widely felt issue, and it touched my heart because I struggle with it myself. And anyone that tells you that they haven't had to find themselves to know who they truly are, odds are they're lying. I loved "Somewhere Only We Know," and I will absolutely recommend it to fans of the genre, or anyone that just needs to see that they aren't alone in trying to find out who they really are at the end of it all. Tagged spoiler, just in case, for the bit about her struggle with finding her true self.

The movie itself is amazing. I enjoyed watching but some parts of the movie I some what had to force myself to watch it. I did end up watching this movie 3-4 more times and sharing it with friends.I, myself have a love-hate relationship with this movie.During parts where Jian Tian(Wang Likun) would do something on her bucket list I would have to force myself to watch. She would go crazy and realize it to late to even go back. How she met Peng Zeyang(Wu YiFan) was a little cheesy in my option. She ends up drunk and passing out at his house. Her original plan with Peng Zeyang was...a one night stand. Again super cheesy from there I knew they would have a spark between them. I did however like the idea of the bracelet. The man did say when you meet your true love it would break. I like how it didn't break until they both figured out it was meant to be. I wish that bracelet was real it would help out a lot of people.Now, Wu YiFan...I am a huge fan of him and his work. Though I haven't watch his most recent movie I believe called Mr.6. I believe I like Wu YiFan more in romantic or serious films rather than actions. YiFan did a great job in this film for it being his first one.Overall I still have a love-hate relationship with this film but I would recommend to anyone who likes Rom-Coms or Wu YiFan

Falling in love, falling out of love, lost love, letting go and moving on are many of the themes explored in Somewhere Only We Know, a film that wears many hats, a statement that could be equally made about lead male actor Kris Wu, who portrays Peng Zeyang; single father to his daughter, Ni Ni (Sophia Cai Shuya), carer for his bipolar suffering mother (Cong Shan), friend of fellow professional musician Luo (Juck Zhang), and paramour of Jin Tian (Wang Likun).Initially, Jin is not the kind of woman one would imagine having a relationship with Peng. Bereft, from been rejected by her fiancé, she arrives in Prague with the intention of starting over, wanting to dramatically alter her appearance and lifestyle choices in an attempt to forget the past, her unorthodox approaches leading her into the arms of Peng, who, rather than taking advantage of her, becomes a close friend, though neither of them can deny the feelings they begin to mutually exhibit.The feature illustrates the burdening pain Jin experiences in a realistically effective manner, revealing, through several of its characters, the effects that depression and loss can have over a person. While in Prague, Jin receives a letter addressed to her recently deceased grandmother, Lanxin (Xu Jinglei), who was her adult guardian while she was growing up. Wanting to discover the truth behind such a mystery, her grandmother having kept her romantic history close to her chest, Jin gains the assistance of Peng, in trying to find Josef Novak (Gordon Alexander), the man who wrote the deeply heartfelt message, their story, set in the late 1940s, being conveyed in flashbacks over the film's duration.The seamless incorporation of past and present is beautifully articulated, both stories mirroring and scaffolding each other. The talent exhibited by the actors is incredibly immersive, as is their undeniable chemistry, and the well written script makes for enjoyable banter, deeply thought-provoking conversation, and poignant emotion. The deeply romantic philosophies, sentiments and ideas depicted in the film are refreshingly inspirational, sweet and poetic, and have the potential to encourage anyone to renew their faith in romance.Though all of the characters are provided enough screen time for the audience to sympathize with and appreciate them, more screen time could have been given to Peng's mother and daughter, and the same could be said for Jin's friend Shanshan (Re Yizha). The story of Josef and Lanxin is beautifully warm and strikingly emotional, despite their experiences being conveyed in only a few scenes, depicted only in a couple of varying settings. This being said, additional attention could have been applied to their backstory to assist the audience in connecting additionally with the affection they held for each other. Moreover, the same could be said for the references to the second world war, that are only briefly mentioned, though, due to its paramount role in human history, deserved further contextualization, in regards to what it meant to the characters.The settings articulate the beauty of Prague, from its cobbled streets, to its rich architecture and vibrant natural environments, and make for an enjoyable background. In this sense, the film is perhaps, in part, a marketing tool, advertising for Chinese viewers, the beauty and excitement of tourism. The experiences are all relevant and meaningful when in conjunction with the characters, while the film's ending beautifully concludes the feature with much emotional depth, the tenderness and poignancy exhibited throughout necessitating the audience to perhaps come equipped with a tissue, or ten.Though the film is centered around young adults, the story is powerfully mature, and despite the trailer promoting Somewhere Only We Know as more of a comedy, the film is unmistakably a drama, and is one of those rare films, that, upon conclusion, will leave you wanting to see it all over again. Though everyone will leave the film with a different impression, for me, the feature conveys the many qualities that cause me to be so attracted to Chinese culture...and Chinese women.

The main reason I went to see this movie was because I was a fan of Wu Yifan, who was the male main lead in this movie. As he has landed his first acting role in this movie, I did not expect as much when it came to his skills. Yifan's role in this needed more... expression. I hope he can improve his skills as more easily-given opportunities come to him (considering he is a celebrity), and is used well. The chemistry between the main couple was a bit dull. Both actor/actress's role did not give me the strong impression that they were in madly love with each other. The story of the side couple, however, was more interesting. (It actually made me cry)I enjoyed how there were English subtitles, as there were many non- Chinese audience who went to watch. Overall, the movie was...I guess you could say...average, and still had a lot of areas to improve, but was a enjoyment to watch in the end.