Unbelievably amazing! As the first movie of Jay, it's much beyond my expectation. I should say I contempt the action that once a music star gains his fame,he quickly transits to be an actor or even editor. But to Jay ,I have to admitted he won my respect. I am really longing for his next work.The story is begined with a romantic affection between two students in high school.The girl has a secret that is shown at the end of the story.The color of the movie is so good that I am sanked in it.I watched this film twice,and I completely understood the whole plot during the second time.The structure of the film is contrived carefully.The truth is so moving with the thrilling rhythm of the secret music.
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geneysailing24 October 2007
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Lufian16 September 20071. familiar plot but with some refreshing elements.
2. beautiful piece of film score which are composed by Jay Chou and Terdsak Janpan .
3. surprisingly good acting by Guey Lun-mei (an adorable and charming girl with potential), great acting by Anthony Wong (such a versatile actor, no doubt), refreshing acting by Alice Tseng Kai-xuan (a girl who possesses sublime beauty and angelic smile) and fairly improved acting by Jay Chou (just being himself by acting cool as usual, i guess?)
4. fancy cinematography with good editing and compositing.
5. intermediate visual effects.
6. cool executed scenes to show off music talent.
7. a combination of sci-fi, comedy, mystery, youthful romance (although Jay looks a bit "mature") and probably horror? (the flashback and liquid paper parts really give me the creeps!)
8. some logical flaws. (eg. the desk in the classroom, get what i mean?)
9. flowing storyline with great atmosphere formed by the cool color theme used.
10. and of course, the director himself-Jay Chou, the Chinese pop icon and idol for many teenagers and young adults.
All of the main ingredients above could be found in "Secret". It's definitely worth your time to explore and reveal the secret by yourself or together with your beloved one. It's quite a touching tear jerker (but not as touching as Be With You, personal opinion...) Well, it might not be the cup of tea for everyone, but it is the bowl of soup for me!
Overall, 8 out of 10 for a freshman film director.
Recommend to all of those who believe in fate and love. -
Onderhond19 October 2008I never heard of Jay Chou before, but simply based on this film alone he seems to be quite a talent. Secret is really his film, as he acts, directs, plays the piano and serves as singer/songwriter. That's a lot for a guy not even in his 30s. It's even more impressive how he manages to weave all his talents into a solid whole, easily defining a style of his own.
The core of Secret sounds pretty cliché, with Chou playing a pretty boy starting school and falling in love with the school's outcast. The first part of the film really doesn't go much behind its premise and doesn't intend to be anything more than a simple romantic drama. Luckily Chou is helped by good performances of the entire cast and some solid cinematography, which makes it all very easy to bear.
Apart from the love story there is a big musical angle too, resulting in a few nice scenes on the piano, the most interesting one being the piano battle between Chou and the school's biggest piano talent. It brings some fresh ideas to the film which at that time is really nothing more than a solid genre piece. It's of course also a good way for Chou to demonstrate his talents on the piano. And impressive it is.
The path for the film seems fixed after the first part, but Chou knows how to surprise. Halfway through he adds a magical twists to the story elevating the film above many of its peers. While at the same time it adds to the drama and sentiment, it never crosses the border of becoming a true melodrama as the fantastic elements keep the film from turning into a simple tearjerker.
This magical twists also allows Chou to play with the visuals some more, resulting in several beautifully shot and constructed scenes. In places, the CGi is a tad too intrusive but that is easily forgotten as it is never there just for visual kicks alone. The soundtrack remains pretty active and is not what you'd call subtle, but since it is integrated so well into the whole story it never becomes bothersome and Chou hits the rights notes time after time again.
It's nice to see so many things go right in a film like this. Visually Secret is solid and often stunning, the acting is equally solid and with Anthony Wong completing the cast you really can't go wrong. While the film starts of in pretty classical manner, halfway through it really blooms and turns into a very quirky and lovable genre film creating an impressive universe of its own. Chou really shines as a director in the second part of Secret, making me curious to any new output will see of him.
It's nice to see young talent like this thriving. As a whole, the films feels a tad poppy and maybe a bit too flimsy, apart from that it's one big solid romance with a pretty cool twist and a magnificent ending leaving you pretty fulfilled after the film has finished. 4.0*/5.0* -
hjs9092 July 2010When this romantic movie was released for the first time in Korea, there wasn't big media hype. However, it became famous gradually through word-of-mouth so that it was shown again a few months after it went off the air. Also it pulled down big amount of money. Many reviewers said, 'If you miss this movie, it would be one of the goofiest things you've done throughout your life as a movie-goer.' I found it true for myself after watching it.
To cut to the chase, it's a romantic movie. However if you expect just a bog standard chick flick, it would be pretty different from what you've expected because it doesn't have only sweet love story and humor, but also the touching plot, unpredictable fantasy, and even a twist. Also when it comes to its music, couldn't be better! It's been considered as one of the movies which have the best music with 'August Rush' and 'The Pianist'. Some commercials were takeoffs on its stunning piano performance scenes.
Thus it would make people who like romantic stories and sweet music be glued in front of the screen, but I'm not sure in the case of people who anticipate cutting edge special effects, spectacle and action scenes. The story goes pretty slow in the first-half part and some graphic effects at the last part is sort of cheesy (It was awarded the prize for visual effects, though). Nevertheless, I still want to recommend it strongly to even these people. At least, I'm not afraid it'll let them down. I can rattle on for hours about the reasons followed by.
First, let's get down to characters. Main characters are Jay (Jay Chou) and Rain (Kwai Lunmei). The two players seemed to have chemistry. Jay Chou is already famous as a good singer and an actor in East Asia. He played lots of roles in this movie. He starred in it as a main character who had a talent for piano. Also the story was based on his first love. Moreover it was his debut movie as a director. He was a composer of this O.S.T as well. He'd studied piano until high school, so he could make amazing scenes in which he played the piano by himself. His calm and gentle appearance went well with the sweet dialog.
Rain is a mysterious girl in the same piano department with Jay. She has innocent looks that could make many guys remind of their first love. Kwai Lunmei played the role of the girl, which I think is the most difficult role to express the character's complicated emotion without a flaw. Plus, the quite cheerful supporting actors add zest to the movie.
The story takes place at one arts high school in Taiwan. It seems to be the late 20th century or the early 21th century. One day, Jay(Jay Chou), who has just transferred this school, follows the unknown tune from the old piano practice room. He tracks down one lovely girl who is playing the piano there. They have good feelings toward each other right from the word 'go', and they fall in love with each other gradually. However, she sometimes disappears, saying 'It's a secret.' Next? I don't want to spoil your pleasure. All that I can say is that the director hid some special factors, such as fantasy and dramatic reversals in the last part and locked down the cover good and tight until the climax. Actually, the first part seems to have something in common with other romantic movies. However, the ending part will lead you to the unknown world.
It's no exaggeration to say that its background music is another main character. Even if you hate soft music, once you try to listen to its music, it would begin to wear down your defenses. It won't let your ears close even for a minute. Especially, the scene, called 'Piano Battle' between Jay and the talented student at the school, is considered to be the killer part of the movie. Jay copied it correctly by ear right after the talented boy played one piece. This was how the battle went. They played three pieces each, and two of them were arranged Chopin's works. I bet over ninety percent of people, who watch it, would find themselves searching for the video clip of this scene on the Internet afterward. I even signed up for the piano institute right after watching it, and mastered Chopin's Impromptu.
The cinematography also pulled its weight. It tried to play down its involvement in the story. I thought first it was nothing to write home about, but I realized it helped me to concentrate on the story, not on less important things. I don't mean it was lousy. The subdued lighting matched perfectly with the atmosphere. Also, certain scenes were shot dynamically. While two boys were having the piano battle in particular, the camera chased their alive and dynamic performances very effectively.
Are you still hesitating to watch it? Well, I'm a girl in twenties who loves romantic comedy and classical music. This movie which has all these things was beyond amazing to me. I know arts can't be judged if one is better or worse than another. However, a lot of film festivals acknowledged 'Secret' through giving it many awards. It means that many people thought it was very worth watching.
Also one experience sometimes changes people's tastes by accident. There might be a chance 'Secret' could be this experience to somebody. Shake off your prejudice and just expose yourself to the variety of arts. I hope my review change your mind. Lovely music, striking scenery, interesting stories...'Secret', which was made out of this, will stimulate your sensibility. It's time to hunker down and dive into the romantic world! -
DICK STEEL3 August 2007While Jay Chou no doubt holds court in today's Mando-pop scene, he gets no love from the movie-goers who snigger at his expressionless performance in Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower. It indeed is quite brave of him (though it's arguable to strike while the iron is hot) to diversify and have a hand in directing so early in his cinematic career, and coming up with quite an interesting, engaging story, though like any creative work, his story did make him seem quite intelligent, in spite of his usual laid-back demeanour.
Jay stars as Jay (yeah, bring back those lazy Hong Kong production days where characters share the actor's first names, because they were working on so many movies simultaneously, it's hard to keep track, so why not name the characters after yourself!), a new student in Tamkang Secondary School. He follows a mysterious piano tune and meets with Rain (Kwai Lun-Mei), a fellow student with whom he starts to spend many lovey-dovey moments with. It's essentially a romance story for dating couples to catch, and it will be a definite test of anyone's cloy-tolerance, given that the lovebirds share so much saccharine sweet dialogue and behaviour, those with lesser tolerance will have goosebumps all the way.
And for the romantic movie fans, it's time to revisit some of the cliché plot elements like the bicycle ride - who can resist a bicycle ride! - lovely scene setting landscape shots, idle banter, close contacts, dance, kisses, the "third party" Sky (whom I think is more attractive than Kwai, thus providing that additional tension), the list just goes on. Jay has mentioned parts of the story was really based on his own experiences, it is indeed interesting to try and find out just which are. Being a piano student, the movie too was a showcase piece for his musical talents and prowess on the piano, coupled with computer generated graphics which enhanced certain scenes for dramatic effect with great aplomb.
Those who think that Jay Chou can't act will want to rethink that again. Given Initial D was pop, and that Curse was action, Secret was a perfect dramatic platform for him to do a little more emoting, even though he can't seem to shake off his signature drawl. And of course some help to make him look good came from thespian Anthony Wong, who had also played his cinematic dad (of similar interest / capability) in Initial D, as he again does in Secret. Here, their father and son characters play off each other a little more in some endearing, comical moments, and naturally, Wong seemed a more believable father figure than Chow Yun-Fat for Jay Chou.
The strength of the movie however laid in its story. I shall keep it a secret just exactly what it was, and all I can say is it is similar in nature to some of my favourite movies in the past, thus I had taken a natural liking for Secret as well. However, while you think you might have it all planned out how the story will unfold, Jay Chou actually had an added punch to keep it a little bit fresh, and in doing so, raises it to a slightly different level as well, with a fairly intense climax that will have you rooting for a desirable outcome, no less. What worked against it though, would be the verbatim nature in which the story was explained, making it a little draggy and at times, repetitive, instead of allowing the audience to put the pieces together.
Jay Chou as story writer (he had someone to script it for him), actor, director and composer, Secret turned out to be a surprisingly commendable, co mmendable effort. If this is any indication of what's to come from this talented dude, then I'll be more than happy to be a fan convert, for his cinematic efforts at least. Recommended date movie of the week, remember to bring out those tissues as well! I won't be surprised if this movie will work its magic into my top ten list for the year. -
The_Good_Man8 October 2007I was pleasantly surprised after watching this film on DVD. While the premise of the story may not be entirely original (there are many who may compare it with Il Mare or its Hollywood remake - The Lake House), frankly speaking, the manner in which the plot unfolds is relatively engaging and has kept me glued to the screen from the opening credits to the closing credits.
The film, Secret, begins with Lun (played by Jay Chou, who also directed the film) being led by a mysterious and alluring piano piece to an old dilapidated room in his new school (Tamkang Secondary School). It was in this room where he meets Rain (played by the infectiously sweet Kwai Lun-Mei), who was responsible for playing the mysterious piano solo. This chance encounter would trigger the start of Lun and Rain's somewhat nebulous relationship, which would be 'put to the test' to an extent by another female student named Sky (which was played to perfection by the delightfully charming Tseng Kai-xuan).
Jay Chou had also taken this opportunity (and a great one as well with music being centerpiece of this story) in his directorial debut to pay a small tribute to one of his favourite composers, Chopin, wherever possible. Apart from being described as a "gifted composer" in the film, Chopin's Waltz was also featured in the beautifully shot sequence of a "piano duel" which was one of the highlights of the film.
Besides the storyline and music, the film's cinematography was decent as well. In short, it's a wonderfully packaged film with a plot formula that works.
(DVD Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars definitely could have been a lot better. The "making of" video was disappointing with no guidance or insight on the making of the film and it was constantly interspersed with periods of continuous silence.) -
Stskyshaker13 August 2007Surprisingly good~ I was just expecting a decent delicate love story, Bu neng shuo de mi mi(Secret) didn't disappoint me on that, but there is much more - a beautiful thrilling fantasy film it is! The first half is full of witty romantic plots, they do occasionally seem a little gratuitous, but very entertaining indeed, more importantly,they have you absorbed into the atmosphere easily. And you would probably say to yourself, yeah it is an ordinary romance film with a delicate but predictable storyline.
Then, it proves you wrong in an amazing way. It keeps on bringing enjoyable surprises, bringing the film onto the next level. The dialog is not pretentious or overused, the story unfolds itself in a natural manner. And then you will realize it's not another ordinary feel-good romance.
Have to mention, the score produced by the Singer/Songwriter/Pianist/Actor director Jay Chou is outstanding and impressive, and really becomes an integral part of the film.
Fantastic. -
ebiros222 February 2013A movie about a girl in 1979 falling in love with a boy in 1999.
Ye Xiang Lun (Jay Chou) is a new comer to a prestigious conservatory high school in Taiwan. His father (Anthony Wong) is a faculty at the school since before he was born. He's greeted by his school mates, and meets a mysterious girl (Gwei Lun-Mei) that plays piano in an old room that's about to be demolished. They find likings with each other, and find romance. Ye is a tour de force when it comes to playing a piano. He promises the girl that he'll play "Swan" at graduation and present it to her. But he also finds that she's nowhere to be seen at the graduation, until she mysteriously appears at the back of the auditorium.
This was a directorial debut for Jay Chou, and he does a credible job of presenting the story. He also wrote the script. Jay is joined by Anthony Wong who plays his father again since the movie "Initial D". His skills as a classically trained pianist is also prominently featured in this movie. The movie is beautifully shot, and the actors were all good. I thought Gwei Lun-Mei had a sexy ankle. The movie captured this quite well.
The romance is little bit reminiscent of "The girl who leaped through time (1983 version)" as well as the tone of the visuals. It's difficult to have romance with someone who's not from your era, and kind of has a bitter sweet taste to it. This is the highlight of this movie, and is conveyed very well.
Some parts of the movie was not likely to happen. The girl, if she's actually leaped into another time, I think she would be freaking out. Not in this movie. She's cool as a cucumber. I also don't understand that part where Jay Chou visits her home, and doesn't find her there. And the ending part where Jay Chou plays the music - where did he go ? And what about the graduation picture of the girl, what was the message in it ? What happened to Jay Chou in the end wasn't clear either.
So the movie isn't exactly tight in many ways, and leaves loose ends. If these parts were better addressed, I think the movie would have been better.
The movie is of good quality, and is recommended for viewing. -
forestnsl9 August 2007After watching the movie, you have to admit that Jay Chou is talented. I was bent on catching the show because one,I saw the movie trailer(when I was watching Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, that I thought was average but that comes under another thread) which really caught my attention,and two, I am a fan of Jay's music. His acting has received much flak, but this time round, one must say that his acting has improved (even though his character in the movie was basically he himself).
So, Jay stars as Ye Xiang Lun (anyone noticed that Jay, known for being very filial to his mum, took his mum's surname? Really sweet of him.)who is a new student at Tamkang High School. He meets Lu Xiao Yu (Guey Lun-mei) on the first day of school and the romance begins. The lengthy sequence of building up the romance was cloyingly sweet. Riding on bicycles, close contacts, apples!, sweet kisses, conversations that were shy and slightly flirtatious - Jay's fans would probably swoon and wish they were Guey Lun-mei, while others would probably feel their goosebumps popping up. Of course, romance always comes with a third party, who in the movie comes in the form of attractive Jing Yi.
Before you switch your minds off thinking this as just a film about high school romance, be assured that it is much more intelligent, the kind which makes you think back, ponder and oh! the puzzle fits together perfectly (think: Deathnote the movie) The twist comes at a very good time (perhaps a little too late for some), at the point when one starts to demand for reasons behind what is happening. The ultimate twist is more than what you can figure out, not a new idea, but one which makes complete sense in the movie and one which Jay worked on and brought to the climax - which would have you hoping for a happy ending.
The magic that Jay laid on the movie is one, the story, two, the piano and three, the characters.
The piano was awesome, brilliant, breathtaking, no doubt to showcase Jay's skills at tickling the ivories (which is mesmerizing!). The piano battle, the sweet practices together, the use of music in the film to convey feelings and vent the characters' built up emotions (think:anthony wong and jay in the movie) - they were really effective in helping one relate to the characters and fall in love with them.
The characters in the movie were well put together - bringing on the endearing moments which have you wishing you had someone like that (thnk: anthony wong as jay's father with those comical humorous moments and the brainless sidekicks (those two from the rugby team)) Guey Lun-mei shows off her acting chops as Xiaoyu, which was really believable and brings the character a lot more depth - the happiness, the confusion and the emotional pain, showing her acting skills to the mainstream audience(since she usually does art-house films) Not to mention Anthony Wong's portrayal as Jay's father which was so believable and so endearing, caring so much for his on-screen son that makes you hope for a happy ending for him as well, when the truth finally dawned upon him.
Overall, this movie was definitely worth the ticket and I believe more will be made to sit up and take notice of Jay's talents. It is refreshingly good and a movie that will remain on ons'e mind even after the show's ended. Do give the movie a chance and watch it (and bring your tissues! I used up quite a fair bit!) -
The acting of both Jay Chou and Lunmei Kwai were naturally conceived and considering this is the first movie directed by Jay Chou, a talented singer and songwriter, I must say this is not a bad movie.
The angles of shooting were also thoughtful, making it quite a pleasant viewing experience.
But the plot was full of strange twists and the sense of sadness was created too deliberately, somehow not quite seamlessly fitted in the movie.
Call me picky and I'm sure this was not Contact and Jay not Carl Sagan, but I still felt somehow bewildered by the storyline, the time traveling, the prolonged asthma of Hsiao Yu (Rain), the destruction of the school building, the music score of Secret, the magical power of the old piano, even the poem was a pretension to elegance.
I hope I don't offend the fans of this movie, but I think this movie fits perfectly into the mainstream movie by giving you all the elements of sadness, fantasy, beautiful actress, handsome actor, good music and of course, romance. But with its obvious flaws, it is never a classic. -
thatjuvenile-love8 October 2007I personally thought that the plot was rather exciting and intriguing. Jay Chou must definitely have put in much effort into making this movie. His first movie-making attempt is pretty much a success, I must say. He's even got very positive reviews and comments from award-winning directors from Asia.
Although the plot needed some thinking to be able to understand it fully, I thought this show was pretty original- a far cry from many other love stories produced. This love story was genuine and not like many other cliché stories you can find in the movie market. The actors and actresses put up remarkable jobs too. I personally feel that Jay Chou has made a great improvement with regards to his once-stagnant facial expressions. His co-star Guey Lun-mei's acting did not fail to impress too- for a neophyte selected by Jay Chou himself, her acting was breezy and natural.
The whole story is filled with love, passion for music and excellent piano pieces. My favorite parts were the piano battle, as well as the piano duet. I thought that Jay Chou's piano-playing was fabulous. He, indeed, lived up to his label as "musical genius".
Overall the movie was great. I watched it twice, and both times I still cried and laughed the same as before. Although I'm merely fifteen and hence my mentalities may be a cry away from some readers and movie-watchers here, I think that this show is one that you should catch. You will not regret it! :) -
Ivna20 October 2007Time traveling tale always has loopholes. I was aware of a powerful plot twist in this film. After ten minutes of the film, i thought it will be something similar to either sixth sense or fight club in terms of the twist. In the end, it was lake house. The plot was definitely not ground breaking or truly original. It was a good attempt, it kept me watching till the end, hoping to give it ten out of ten.
Despite being a romantic film, this film did not move me a bit. I am not sure should i blame it on the unrealistic puppy love or jay's run-of-the-mill acting. I put the final blame on the character. It was unclear how strong this love was between Lu and Ye. Ye knew Lu was ill and failed to see her for five months. Lu gets jealous too easily. For her to give up the secret score and cry for Ye for five months is just incredible. I did not understand why was it necessary to make both Ye and Lu come from single parent family. Makin Ye a homemaker with a weird father was not much of a character development.
The cinematography was great. i like the "brown" visual presentation of this film. Not forgetting the bicycle rides, the ice cream and the piano. Music is something Jay is strong with. The characters talk about music, fight over score and perform together.
I appreciates Jay's effort to produce something different which is what we need. Work on the emotions, i want to cry in the cinema at the next Jay's film. -
sinniesinsin22 January 2008I was recommended highly of this movie by a friend from Taiwan who is a fan of Jay Chou. It's been a while since I've seen a Chinese flick other than those that made it to Hollywood by big name directors like Ang Lee, so I decided to check out this comparably more local film to see if the quality has improved from what I remember.
My take after watching is that it was overrated by Jay Chou's overly-zealous fans, and skewed by his popularity. He is not a bad actor at all compared to some of the sideline characters (such as the piano battle referee, which I must say is casted poorly and was embarrassingly bad at reciting his lines). The story is cliché and the interaction between the 2 main characters were not developed enough for the audience to feel the bond needed. The dialogue between the 2 main characters were rather cheesy and not heart-felt. There were some decently comedic parts to the movie, I enjoyed the father-son relationship more. The father is one of the better cast in the movie.
Story concept has some similarity to the Lake House, with a bit of a twist in the end, but can hardly be described as original. Beautiful scenery and backdrop, but the digitally enhanced portion where the building was crumbling down looked cheaply done. -
geraldhans23 August 2007I have watched this movie in Singapore. And telling you the truth It just waste of money. Plot,Music and the Direction are badly done. And I didn't catch up the ending. And what happened to the story line Music are also badly done. It didn't keep the spirit of the movie. To me this the worst Chinese Movie after Curse Of Golden Flower. And from my point of view, Chinese Movie that I know the best is House Of Flying Dagger which is brilliant.
And 1 More I forgot The Emperor... It such as a brilliant movie For those of you who haven't watched I recommended to rent the DVD not to buy as you will fell disappointed. Sorry to said this! Rating: 1/10 -
ericcartman198416 August 2007It has never come to my mind that the R&B/rap singer Jay Chou would make such an extraordinary fantasy/romance movie (and as his debut!), but beyond everyone's expectation he did, showing the world his talent as a fine director.
Definitely not going to compare it to any other campus love story, because this movie is quite different in nature. Still not wanting to give away much about the plot, but the movie got a 360 degree shift half way through when subsequently a whole lot of thrills and twists kept popping out.
Wong Chau-Sang is the most versatile actor in Hong Kong, this time playing Jay Chou's father-on-screen for the 2nd time since Initial D. Lun-mei Guey in the movie was a plain-looking girl who accidentally got hold of some kind of time-traveling ability by playing a mysterious sheet music on a old piano. Both two made irreplacable contribution to the movie's success.
And what also impressed me was the heart-touching soundtrack by Jay and the Thai composer Terdsak Janpan which went perfectly with the plot, especially towards the climax.
For those of you who like My Sassy Girl and Comrades: Almost a Love Story, Bu neng shuo de. mi mi is 100% sure to win your tears once again. Recommend to all Jay/non-Jay fans. -
stutsb5 March 2008Although I only watched it on Youtube...I loved the movie, I don't know why there are those who says Jay can't act, I say he can... I loved this movie. This is the only 2nd movie i have seen of Jay's, and I am a huge fan. I love his music, and his voice is so beautiful. As for his acting, it's rather good... I Love Love stories, and though this is two high school kids, I still love the fact that love has no boundaries, and can travel thru time. There is a similar American movie which starred Christopher Reeves (*aka* superman) and Jane Seymore (*aka* Dr. Quinn, Medicine woman) called somewhere in time, where reeves' character is obsessed with this woman from the past, and goes back to save her...It too is a sad ending, unfortunately, he comes back to the future, cuz he stuck a present day penny in his pocket which forwards him back to the future, and he couldn't' go back to see her...sad cuz he dies only to be reunited with her in death...Glad these two didn't die...Jay is so amazing with the piano. He has so much passion for music, it's a wonder he is so natural for this character that he creates from himself. I say beautifully done, I did have to get a box of tissues...Poor Rain when she thought Sky and Jay were together when she came back... So glad they got together ...They are so good together...I definitely have to add this to my collection now, and now I am a huge Jay Chou fan...and gotta get more of his music and movies!!!
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RosanaBotafogo22 June 2021The first 30 minutes gives the false impression that it will be just another cute romance (although at 10 I suspected that the girl was dead, in the best "Sixth Sense" style), overcoming the melancholy drag of the initial plot, we left for an investigation and outcome plot twits even more cute, musical, slow, sad, cute...
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soeprijo1925 August 2012I've never write a review on IMDb before, although I'm a regular visitor since 2006. But this film "Secret" inspired me a lot that I think I have to share with everyone. I just watched it last week which made me like a time traveler since this movie already in theater 2007. Starring Jay Chou as Jay and Kwai Lun Mei as Rain, this film maybe feel a little bit of ordinary. But believe me it's not. The romance between two lead is just so believable that I began to remember my own high school experience. The innocence of love between Jay and Rain really move me in some way I can't explain, you have to watch it by yourself to know it. Secret 2 is rumored to be releases 2013, but according to some it will be an entirely different story. No Rain, no Sky maybe even no Dad. I hope Secret 2 will be as great as Secret, but I still prefer it as a sequel to Secret. Definitely 9/10
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Bigprisc13 September 2007I am NOT a fan of Jay Chou, in fact, I cannot stand his music. But this movie has gotta be one of the best little ditties I have seen in a long time. Jay does a commendable job as director, writer and actor. I watched this movie without knowing much about it, because anything with Guey Lun Mei (Rain) in it, I am there. But after coming here to the trusty IMDb, I had the shock of my life.
I wouldn't have noticed that it is a first time director (nevermind if he is Jay Chou) on the helms because this definitely looks like a work from a season director. And although I would have guessed that Jay is the Music director, since he is such a 'pop legend', it still impressed me because the entire movie did not have any of his signature fancy-smancy stuff... Indeed, I am pretty in awe, and I think I might just have to view Jay Chou in a different light.
The story, while it is a little slow in the beginning, is fresh and original. In the beginning, Jay (Jay Chou) and Rain's (Guey Lun Mei) interaction had me thinking that I already know the ending, that Rain was a ghost. That completely had me smirking, and I was thinking nothing of it. But when the big reveal was about to happen, I realize that it was too soon in a movie for a simple ghost girl story. And I was indeed much surprised that it wasn't anything about ghost, but more of a suspension of disbelief. It reminded me of 'The Classic' and 'Il Mare' and other Korean greats, except with a very original twist! I spent about 15mins, just staring and wondering how something so simple could be so captivating.
The special effects in the movie, isn't very consistent. There are some parts that are done exceptionally well, and other parts that had me rolling my eyes. But technical faults can be forgiven, as long as the heart and the soul in the story is there. And indeed, it is. Jay wrote the story, and so the connection with music is inevitable. Yet, Jay did not paint himself as a hero, or as a great man, he was just an average Joe who fell in love with an average Jane (but I am bias, Guey is one of the most attractive girls in my book). The development of the love between Jay and Rain has gotta be one of the most believable in recent years. The interaction, the dialog, reminds me of young love. *gush* But for a movie to work, the acting as to work. And boy did the acting work in this one. Jay, (feeling much like a broken record for saying his name so many times), is surprisingly natural. He doesn't have the deliberateness of many 'seasoned' actors, and I liked that. Underacting as opposed to overacting is always good. Anthony Wong (Jay's dad) as always, is one of the best actors of our time, and it shows. Even though he doesn't have much to flex his acting chops, he does so because he doesn't over shadow anyone else. The best actors are the ones who can play at his player's level, and Anthony has shown that he could do that. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that Jay is good or bad as an actor, but Anthony definitely toned down and accommodated the feel of natural acting in this movie, which is completely different from the Hong Kong high energy stuff he is probably used to.
But Most of all I would like to gush (Here it comes!) about Guey Lun Mei. She isn't a very frequent actress, and at last count, i think she had only about 3-4 films. But her acting, oh god her acting, she has gotta be one of the best up and coming actresses ever. I believe her happiness, i believe her sadness, i believe her anger, i believe her desperation. I believe everything she emotes, because she is so good at emoting. She doesn't have a signature laugh, or a signature cry like so many others, but she has a kind of natural talent that draws me closer to her character Rain. I am so glad Jay chose her as the female lead, because I don't think anyone else in Taiwan would be able to pull of her kind of subtle acting.
So in conclusion. Watch this movie. Don't judge Jay Chou for Jay Chou. and start falling in love with Guey like I am. Story's great, cinematography's great, music is fantastic, actors are great, definitely a 10 overall. -
Easily could be mistaken for some typical super Asian idol clique movie. This movie deserves to be up there with the other Hollywood romantic flicks. Interesting plot and idea, it might require some peoples to re-watch it a couple more times to fully grasp the ending. But that is also what makes this movie great. Apart from the acting of the main lead, everything else is impressive, the settings and especially the soundtracks, they are the best. This is neither the typical Chinese romantic movies, nor the typical Hollywood chick flicks.
It is a must watch in my opinion and one of the best movies i have seen. -
ani_mystik27 November 2008Secret starring Jay Chou, Written and Directed by Jay Chou I didn't know what to expect from this movie, haha Jay Chou, the "hearthrob" of many young teenage girls, He did an amazing job in this movie, i was completely appalled, just....WOW, go out and see this movie! Music is the Key to this movie, it is the center, everything in the movie revolves around music if you see this movie at a store, wherever, at a friends house, Watch it! 10/10 stars this movie will keep you entertained for the entire time its got everything you need in a movie surprises, and twists, its just a movie that will keep you from leaving the room in my opinion anyways
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weii062129 January 2011After many year's experiences in directing his own MVs, this movie is Jay Chou's first shot as a real director. Jay Chou is the director, the one with the original idea of the storyline, the leading actor, and the composer of all the songs and music of the film. Thus it is fair to say that, this is basically his thing. Music played a major role in this film, and this is quite a smart thing to do. Because music is what he does best and why he became such a young "billionaire" (yes...he had earned "One Billion US Dollars" by now...) in Asia.
This film is quite refreshing in its own way. You might recognize some cliché early in the movie, but there are some surprising plots as the story goes. Please give this movie a chance. Go see it!! -
webmaster-301721 July 2010An emotional fantastical tale Move off Stephen Fung and sit down Daniel Wu, Jay Chou is officially the best of the pack of new generation actors turned director. It's always been a pleasure to sit through an emotional tale and a journey into a world that is worthy of undertaking. Debutant director Jay Chou has created something that he can be proud of and in fact it can easily be qualified as a beautiful and romantic little film. Secret is a film that is beautifully shot, coherently produced and wonderfully paced. Neo is still in somewhat disbelief that Jay Chou can be so capable and with a combination of his musical genius, there is no doubt that Jay has created something special. His ability to turn a theme that is as unrealistic into the minds of the audience as something worth journeying through is just magical. To call Secret a good movie is an understatement as in Neo's honest opinion, it's been a long time since he saw something so magical, emotional and beautiful.
The movie is about a musical genius meeting a mysterious girl in the school's old music room and from there it becomes a romantic spark
Jay Chou performs with distinction as both director and actor and after two big screen disappointments in Initial D and Curse of the Golden Flower; Jay has created a role that fitted his character, his range and his style. Combining his musical talent and his stoic outlook, Jay is easily likable and there are some moments in his interaction with fellow Taiwanese actress (Guey Lun-Mei) is filled with undeniable chemistry. Moving on to his directing, Jay not only excelled in normal sequences, but his constant pursues for artistic camera angles is to be praised as well as applauded. There are some moments within the shots of the beach and the bright blue sky which is both seemingly romantic and beautiful to watch. In fact, in a number of scenes, Neo actually spoke to himself along the lines of: "Geez, what a beautiful shot!" Perhaps, the biggest praise must be given to Jay Chou for not just creating ¾ of a good film like 90% of HK films nowadays, but rather his ability to maintain his form throughout the entire duration.
You can probably tell by now, that I have not disclosed much about what happened in the movie as when you finish watching the film, you will understand the reason behind the decision. The girl (Guey Lun-Mei) who played Jay's romantic interest is not an outright beautiful chick, but yet there are hints of beauty and sense of attractiveness about her that made her such a lively and likable character. Her performance is one of the main reasons why the film worked and her natural and lively display is a direct contrast to Jay's stoic and cool outlook. It is perhaps the "next door neighbour" looks about her that added layers within the film, but nonetheless the fresh chick from Marmalade Boy (Taiwanese TV drama) has translated well on the big screen. Her lively yet mysterious personality and raw outlook is easily someone that Neo can relate to which further add to the realism dimension. Anthony Wong also appears as Jay's father and teacher and he certainly doesn't disappoint.
All in all, Secret isn't just yet another romantic tale, but a film that works in a number of dimension. It is a success, not because of its originality, but rather its director ability to sustain the audience attention till the very end. The film is so well paced, that there is rarely a single moment of boredom as even the slightly of gaps and holes are fulfilled with some beautiful camera shots. At its very heart, Secret is about the magic and mystery behind each note of musical movements and at its core the film is very much about a little romantic story. Secret is really a beautiful little film and while the biggest winner to emerge may well be Jay Chou, but the audience are undoubtedly the winners as well. Then again, it is a rare victory for romantic cinema as well as in the mind of Neo
I rate it 9/10- www.thehkneo.com
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This movie was probably the one and only Chinese movie to touch my heart.(I'm not even the romantic type.) non of the crap about messed up love triangles(there is one, but not as stupidly confusing as many other movies), guy catching the girl when she trips and all. I'm a music lover so amazing soundtrack, those piano pieces like THAT PIANO BATTLE were really cool, a unique movie with a smart plot twist... That Jay Chou is a versatile guy, though his acting is kinda emotionless but is just natural when you think about a high school guy character. on the other hand Kwai Lun Mei starring is totally amazing, she's very cute.. and has a dreamy fantasy personality that attracts people. the third party ching yi is also pretty, but in a common way. The story is really great.. I recommend watching this for anyone.. specially music lovers.
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robbendy20 October 2007At his debut as a movie director ,Jay Chou has showed us what "perfect"is,just like what he's always bringing to us in his extraordinary pop music.
As the hottest pop star in China,all the time Jay Chou is suffering all kinds of criticism,even virulent personal attack. However,he never gives in facing the rumors and never gives up pursuing his dreams ,including creating music and movies of his own,some of which has come true.Jay has a biggest target that he wishes to make Chinese pop music world-famous before he's 30 .No matter whether the target can be reached,he's the best,which is the most important.