The Half Of It - Let Me Explain
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ค. 2020
- Let Me Explain - one of the cutest movies on Netflix
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The Other Half:
• why The Half Of It is ...
• Netflix Film "The Half...
apnews.com/210e57e820b1e1242c...
THE HALF OF IT (2020):
When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she doesn't expect to become his friend - or fall for his crush.
Director: Alice Wu
Writer: Alice Wu
Stars: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire
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Sierra Burgess faceplanted so Half of It could run
Despite the name of Sierra Burgess is a Loser, i didn't noticed it was a Cyrano remake until your comment
Literally
Faceplanted lmfao
asian girl writes letters in my fav genre now
Something I didn't think I would ever hear but hey it's a changing world, you do you and they do them. Also genuinely made me chuckle so thanks😂
What about ‘to all the boys I loved before?’
@@maya5199 I think that is what they meant as well, to my knowledge that's the only other film that's about 'asian girl writes letters'.
HAHAHAHHA this genuinely made me laugh
My dumbass doesn’t know how to write letters.
This movie is what Sierra Burgess really wanted to be.
bRO 🤭😂
oop- 😳😳
Where's the lie
i think you're giving too much credit to sierra burgess lol
zynbw tbh Sierra was more entertaining
All quirky relatable jokes aside, I’m Chinese and I really never understood how people could just hug and say I love you to their parents. We really do just sit there and eat or do something for each other secretly
yeah it's kinda the same in an indian household, idk if my parents have actually said they've loved me or hugged me intentionally, i guess the bonds already there
Same in my black household. I want it to be different.b
I'm Nigerian and same tbh. My mother and I never hugged until I left home for school
My family says it because it's what's expected. We don't have to mean it, just say it out loud. We barely hug though.
SAME!
What makes this movie better is that Ellie fell for Aster’s personality rather than her looks!
Aster barely had any personality tbh
@@dreamsandmemories4807 i've seen lots of people say this but i honestly think she's a great character that we just, unfortunately, didn't spend a lot of time with-- which is understandable because this movie is ultimately about ellie and her friendship with paul.
in a lot of ways, personality-wise, aster is similar to ellie (which is why they connect so instantly and deeply). both are well-read, artistic, and feel trapped by this conservative small town. but aster felt the need to conform and ellie didn't, even from the get-go. after the events that took place in the movie, we see her starting to break out of her shell even though it will not be quick and easy ("you watch, in a couple of years, i am gonna be so sure!"). for the "object of desire" in a teen movie, she has a full character arc that was written and acted with subtlety. i don't see that a lot in teen movies and i appreciate that so much.
^
@@hasna7542 youre so corrrect! Idk why people say she has no character when the entire time, the subtlety in her struggles and self confliction is there smh.
Ahaha that’s how real ppl like eachother lmao
When he said “that being said, it is called “The Half of It.” So give the people what they want.” I verbally responded with “The rest of it.” 🗿
THE OTHER HALF
We need MOar 💸
The Full of it
The entirety of it
as an asian american, i appreciated the nuances of the parent child relationship portrayed in this movie. some parts almost made me cry haha
SAME HNNNNG
Agree but she wears shoes indoor though....
Louis Lopez I actually didn’t notice that! I thought that removing shoes would be a no brained haha
I did cry from some of those moments 😭
"HIS FAMILY IS KIND OF HOMOPHOBIC EVEN THOUGH THEY DEAL WITH SAUSAGES ALL DAY"
My weave cannot lmfaoooo😂😂😂
thank you for highlighting *gestures to EVERYTHING this movie did right*. i feel like so many people dismissed it for not being YA enough, or not being indie enough, but that makes this movie so special and one of my favorites this year. there's something so special about a teen movie that treats its targeted audience with respect and care.
Definitely. It’s a festival film that knew how to market itself to a wider audience
So true
This movie was so good I practically cried
That sounds wierd but me to
same.
I did. When Paul said "you're going to hell" i BAWLED
Last running behind the train makes me cry
Same
I absolutely loved that the story didn't just focus on Aster and Ellie, they focused on love. Love between two friends, love between a parent and a child and ofc love between two people.
well said
The saddest part of the movie was when Ellie dropped yakult on the vending machine scene lmao
the yakult,,,, waaah
that hurt me too :
Y E S
Same ;(
I’m so happy they showed yakult
The Portrait Of A Lady On Fire reference!! Ahhhh!!! “I didn’t know you were an art critic.” “I didn’t know you were a painter.” AHHHHH! 😍
IKR???
So many unintentional parallel's between these films, lmao. And they came to streaming around the same time too.
hey my mom really wants you to do a breakdown of the servant on apple tv. i tried to explain to her that i dont have a personal connection to you but i thought id try and ask anyway
awww bump
I second this suggestion!
Awww he liked it, he noticed you girl :)
Indigo Detry I guess it worked
🥺
They must make the “Other Half Of It” with it being the same story from Asters POV. Since we barely know how she felt about what was happening
I think the whole point is that she is not nessecarily Ellie's other half
@@emmakappeyne1659 I really like both ideas, but this one makes more sense since at the beginning of the movie Ellie says that this isn't a story about love. Maybe we could get a mix of Aster's pov and Ellie still trying to find the right partner?
They should do it when they see eachother “in a couple years”
I feel like paul was her other half, not like a romance but a friendship
I dunno, I felt like she was clearly into the messages, since it was an escape from the fascade she was just going through the motions with.
And honestly I feel like she KINDA did know that it was Ellie, otherwise why spend the whole day with her and take her to the "secret spot"; I'm sure she noticed Ellie blushing as she disrobed, so I get the feeling that Aster knew what she was doing 🧐
My favorite part of the movie is the friendship between Paul and ellie
He was kinda a jock,but he was kind, he protected her and took care of her.
They both teached and learned from each other. It was so sweet.
Sierra Burgess was a dumb movie. But The Half of It was good. Also as an Asian girl I also can relate with those things with parents and other stuffs. I liked it . It was simple and cute.
Why is everything brining sierra burgess into this they aren’t even related
@@fatoumatacisse3796 its because they both have the whole ghost writing conversations with the love interest thing. sierra burgess catfishes as a cheerleader and ellie chu texts and helps write the love letters to aster as paul
@@happydaysforkait9775 yeah, that's what I was angry at the movie. That catfishing thing is shit!! And the funny thing is the 2 girls become friends by literally playing with that boy's emotion. And the end of the movie the boy actually comes to accept Sierra?? Like boy!! Are you dumb?? The 2 girls played with your emotion for the whole time!!
For me for a long time i had not seen a movie that made feel all sort of things and that represented teens in just a normal and relatable way, it's just an amazing film and hopefully it'll become a classic
Can you explain me what does 🍍🦉🐛 means
I love how there's finally a movie where a male and female can be friends and not start dating
I want them to get married an have kids
this is a movie that is finally relatable without trying hard to be so. the relationships are so similar to the ones i have with my friends, the movie isn't extremely happy and in your face like other movies, it's a good reflection of real life. it was so refreshing to watch.
I’m so glad I wasn’t the only person who absolutely loved this movie. I saw it the day it went on Netflix and I fell in love with the main characters instantly
Same
This movie is sneaky good in its intelligent character building, subversion of expectations and unique way it deals with what could be a very cliche story. It's on my list for best of the year.
THIS MOVIE WAS SO FREAKING GOOD I literally cried like four different times (and that was before the end scene)
Same
@@scross84 for a sec I thought I replied to myself
I had mixed feelings about the movie. I loved the friendship between Ellie and paul, the asian american experience, and the aesthetic shots but I couldn't feel Aster as a character and Trig + the blondes were such a throw away characters to me. too cliche there. Also they never addressed Aster cheating. I feel like they needed less of a stalking montage + quotes and just a little more relationship between the characters. However I loved the ending, it made me smile.
Completely agree!!
I think the blondes were supposed to show how people will follow a stereotype if people like it/agree with it! They weren’t supposed to be a big part of the story, but hints at how their society would rather stay the same than focus on change.
i feel like ellie kind of broadly addresses aster’s cheating by “love is messy”.
The scene where Aster confessing to the priest was deleted, I really dont why but it wouldve been great if they included it.
yes!! thank you for touching on the intimacy of friendships and family. it's so refreshing to see that ellie and paul's friendship had some sort of "conclusion" in the end. it's so rare to see films like this even touch on the friendship over the course of the movie, to show that even friendships have their own ebbs and flows. sometimes they just cast it aside to give focus to the romantic relationship. the whole movie is just gorgeous!!!
I’d love if they call the sequel “The Other Half of It” 😂😂😂
Maybe just “the rest of it” or “the other half”
Everyone in my family loved this movie, it’s such a change from all those “romantic”’teen movies.
Omg I am IN THE MIDDLE OF WATCHING THIS MOVIE RIGHT NOW. Will have to watch the video after, but so far it's a beautiful movie for young adults. Much better than To All the Boys I Loved Before
Idk how many schools have students read/watch it but this movies has heavy inspiration from the play Cyrano de Bergerac. I hated all the shakespeare plays and other plays we had to read but this one was so funny and sad. If you can go watch the play online
those two movies don't even compare ???
@@anniecouey4608 I am actually a pre-service highschool teacher, so I will look into that play to teach to my students
@@redroses3893 I think they do, in the sense of Asian American representation and then the sophistication of the storyline. I think this movie subverted some of the tropes in that movie. For example: Paul is sort of like Peter. You expect him to be that jock guy who is a stud and silly and whatnot. But he is so much more in depth than that YA trope. I think this movie tackles subjects way better than TATBILB
ikr. this movie had so much more substance and meaning to it and was altogether just more enjoyable. to all the boys is good for when you’re looking for a lighthearted romcom for a slumber party, but The Half Of It is the superior movie.
this was a masterpiece! I loved that the main character talked like a real teenager, and that she wasn't pretentious about how different she was and how she doesn't fit in but she's making her own path. Also I was cheering when they finally kissed
Damn you punched my heart with the Portrait of a Lady on Fire reference
I didn’t think I was going to like this movie. And I ended up loving it. I related to it being an Asian American. I wish there were more movies like this
Sierra Burgess could never!
I thought the movie was dope and loved how it closed out.
I also laughed at the ‘sausage tacos’ because I wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be a joke
They showed them eating a sausage taco. So funny
I absolutely loved this movie. As a daughter of an immigrant I felt empathy for ellie's dad because he had a phd and came over to the states for a better life but only because he doesn't speak English well he didn't get his dream job. I cried, laughed and got chills during this movie. I absolutely love it and think it's been one of the best teen films and movies overall. It has some beautiful shots and the editing is amazing. I just loved it.
"Girl really said 1 Corinthians" I'm deeeead.
Alice Wu knows how to create and write. Saving Face made me cry as a young woman in denial of her sexuality and then to watch the half of it and just the representation and story telling. I love that it doesn't force our representation into the stereotypical boxes.
I watched it the other day and I didn’t think much of it. I didn’t think it was great nor bad, I felt meh about it. But now I might just re-watch it because this for sure opened my eyes on bigger things
ngl the scene where Ellie sings and everyone standing and clapping is just unrealistic and cringey.
I love the movie, but GOD that was so unrealistic
i think that's the only part of the movie that felt a tad bit off.
Was it tho? They didn’t explode in cheers or anything. Students r obligated to clap for anyone who performs on a stage in school, no matter how good their performance was. That scene def felt like they were forced to do it lol. Very realistic imo
Yup the most uncomfortable part in the movie
idk about you but i've had my fair share of these school "talent shows" and it actually seems pretty realistic to me, yeah it took a great deal of courage to grab the guitar and start singing but the applause seems like something that would happen after such a performance, also ellie wasn't a nobody people knew her from her essays and probably respected her for it
When Paul kisses her it was so awkward 😖
The impossible kiss
The half of it is a heartwarming tragedy. Ellie has the traits of a tragic hero. She is unapologetic of actions, she has goals based on set beliefs, purging of emotions, and is "isolated" at the end even though we know where she is going.
This movie is what’s seirra burgess wishes it could be 😂
Edit: no one like this comment I made it to 420 ☺️
the guy who plays paul munsky sounds like young evan peters or is that just me?
Man I love it when I'm able to catch a movie before you talk about it cuz it makes me feel legit idk that I have good taste or something and don't need a recommendation
OK the movie is really great and the best part is when Paul says that he wants to change grandma's recipe 🤣
Idk if anyone else can relate but as an Asian American, I LOVED that I saw myself in Ellie chu (the glasses, the low ponytail, wearing the same jacket, not dressed all “girly”) bc I find that many other shows/movies with Asians tend to glamorize them
I’m so happy you covered this movie 🥺 I loved it, bless Alice Wu.
I was really excited for this movie, but I really thought it fell a bit short.
As far as representation goes, I was %100 impressed. To have a non-white lesbian was honestly amazing, and the fact that she wasn't a caricature of a lesbian meant so much to me, as part of the LGBT+ community.
But I honestly felt like there wasn't enough about the relationships between characters. The scene with her and her dad in the kitchen honestly felt... lacking. There's no other word for it. It wasn't a bad scene, but it also didn't feel like a good scene to me. I didn't feel like there was enough Paul and Ellie, like, true *bonding* moments or enough visible development in their relationship for me to feel like it was as important as it should have been.
It didn't feel like there was enough of Ellie and Aster interacting face to face for me to really understand how Aster felt about her in general.
I really didn't understand the music part, to be honest. I feel like if you took the guitar out, it would've been the same movie. Like, I wanted to *understand* why she loves the guitar and about her mom, but I *didn't*. Once the talent show was over, that was it.
I also wished there was more about Ellie's development as a person, with her writing and her not understanding love. For the latter, it kind of felt abrupt. Like, she suddenly changed and had a speech where she was speaking her own words, and not quoting, but it felt clunky. I don't know how to explain.
I didn't like when Paul tried to kiss Ellie. It felt so sudden, with *no* warning, and it really felt like it was only there to push them away from Aster. It really frustrated me.
I'm not saying I hated the movie, by any means. There was so much I enjoyed about it, and I got emotional during parts, which is not very common, but it truly felt like it was missing something. Maybe that's why it's called The *Half* of It.
Makayla you perfectly summed up how I felt 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
THIS! As an asian queer woman myself, I wanted to love this movie. It was just hugely unsatisfying.
I totally agree with you, Makayla, there are some instances we wished it could take more longer like Aster was second guessing who might be the one writing her or having the thoughts that she's aware of something and the scene where Paul attempted to kiss Ellie is too unexplainable that baffled me somehow. I feel like it's not yet already done. I want to see their own perspective/story in terms of choosing their path. And I think there should be a sequel for this movie. It deserved a second story and series so much... 💯💜
I dont think it was totally out of the blue that Paul tryed to kiss Ellie... He feels like he actually connects with her and they bring out the best in each other on the other hand I do agree with you about Ellie's development in writing, understanding of love and relationship with Aster I think the movie should have shown them hangout alot more and grow even closer over time. In the ending They are acting like they have been friends for so long but really they have only hung out once but that being said I do like this movie. I burst into tears over it.
I get what you mean with everything, but for the scene with Ellie and her dad, it's actually realistic in some households myself included. I love my mom but we aren't like close we just never were so when we're doing things like driving in a car we get close through music. Which is sort of what Ellie and her dad was doing but with food and watching TV. Still, I get what you mean.
I read the screenplay for this a while ago and didn't even realize it had been released. It's such a sweet, meaningful movie--not just for my demographic (young Asian-American girls)--but for anyone who struggles to come to terms with their identity, their family, or their hometown. It has so much more depth than some other unnameable Netflix Originals and I'm so happy!
literally cried the whole time watching it, it's so good
Same
This movie was AMAZING
And I loved the boy actor 😭
me too! 😄
"Now, as a Mexican cartoon, I don't really have too much experience as a young asian-american female but-"
omg i just stumbled upon this video on my recommended and then saw you gave my video essay a shout out in the video ! what the heck thanks so much :’D !!! i also really enjoyed this breakdown !
I liked the implied happily-ever-after in the animation at the beginning. Because it's a fusion of Aster's art with Ellie's thoughts. The Aster Daisy ... the heart from Ellie's guitar case ...
Meanwhile netflix still giving me adds to remind me Riverdale exist
YES thank you for your insight, i didn't pick up on some of the "half/whole" motifs, and the incorporation of texting reminded me of Sherlock. imo, it feels reminiscent of teenage/coming of age movies, but in reality it's just a reflection of how it feels to be a teen, but a little exaggerated. The "act" screen cards and quotes sum up and add such flavor to the incoming act, and the contrasting character plots/personalities bounce off each other so well. I could totally see this movie going under the radar for years because of how indie/artsy it feels, and with a lot of people trying to mimic the style. In all, I thought it was a great 2nd movie for alice wu, and a really great inspiration for me, as an asian myself.
the soundtrack for this movie as well! ugh LOVE
yo I clicked So fast when I saw the movie you were covering. Honestly it didn’t even cross my mind that this movie was on your radar. (I should’ve had more faith in your movie taste, seeing as your channel is how I found out about Parasite and Portrait ahead of the hype) I love all the research you did for this (like that zoom footage)
also that Christina xing video is so good
Hey Let Me Explain! Thank you SO much for giving us a shout out! And great deep dive - The Half Of It is full of nuance and layers thanks to the director's thoughtful filmmaking.
Your interview is incredible! Thank YOU for asking great questions, was a blast to listen to!
People talk a lot about great aspects of this movie, but Paul as a whole is an underrated charcater imo. He completely misunderstands his emotions, thinking a crush on a girl is him in love with her and confusing the feelings he has for his best friend with romance (because I can't seem to see it as him actually romantically liking her to be honest) but he tries SO HARD TO GET THINGS. Like you said, he means well. He works really hard to figure things out and even when he can't quite grasp it all, you have to respect him. Also him finding comfort in the silence in Ellie's home as opposed to his own family life was so sweet.
This movie was the good, unsexualized gay representation I’ve been waiting for.
The actor that plays the guy seems so adorable in real life. And all his milkshakes 🥺 I really want to see this movie
I need to see this!!! I have super bad anxiety so I tend to avoid watching movies because I hate the anticipation of them and the fact that I can usually figure out the plot and plot twist within the first five minutes of watching! Watching your takes actually makes it easier for me to watch lol
This is why I like LME. This movie probably would've never came under my radar but after watching LME, I'm genuinely interested. Thank you.
YES IVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO MAKE A VIDEO ON THIS MOVIE
I started watching this and knew nothing about the film. Paused this and watched that. Just thank you! Made it to my top 10 Films!
“Well I’m just a Mexican cartoon” that killed me
I have many youtube accounts based off what device I'm using, but I love and watch all your videos! so after watching this video it was stuck in my head for days, just hearing your voice hype up the movie! so I watched it the other day and well I was stoned so I only really remembered half of it but knew enough that I liked it to watch it again the next day. and yeah I loved it and im not saying I havant watched movies you've recommended before but for some reason this video was just so well written to persuade me to watch it and it stuck. great job. :)
I loved this movie so much
Well Explained. Thank you for making this!! This movie is a cliche but really refreshing at the same time, this movie is soo good, hoping Alice Wu makes more movie.
I didnt even finish this video, I emediatley paused it and got on Netflix... just finished watching it and honestly, this is my new favorite movie. I've never really been a fan of coming of age teen movies, cuz they generally suck, but they did a great job with this one. If I could describe it in one word I'd say its "Bittersweet"
There’s something about this movie that’s satisfyingly bittersweet. I’ve already watched it 5 time, and i still want to watch it, especially after having a bad day.
this was so good and i only watched it because i saw you reviewing it, thank you!
This movie is just so real and well done, I don't know, it feels different.
Saving Face is such a beautiful story. I liked this film as well
Alice Wu is a genius writer and director who deserves more love and opportunities to tell her stories.
The sitting next to her dad and just eating.. I related so hard. In my household we rarely express love and this movie captured it so well.
I've literally seen this movie like 14 times in a row and never got bored
was waiting for this omg love ittt love tHisss
I love how Sartre is quoted. It's one of my fav quotes, "L'enfer, c'est les autres."
Totally going to watch this after your guys video! Really appreciate this review!!!!
So glad you did this one cause I wasn’t interested enough to watch it myself and was waiting for you to watch it for me 😌😌
this movie made me so happy
This movie was so self explanatory. That's what made it so damn incredible to me
I really loved this movie omg
Of All of those coming of age Netflix has brought forth. This is the best. Brilliant. Very purposeful.
Hopefully, we don't have to wait another 16 years for Alice Wu to give us another cinematic joy.
loved this film
i freaking loved this movie so much
Just watched the film and it was amazingly good! Just loved the way it looked
Studying Cyrano in school, this was the best interpretation I had ever seen. It honestly was a masterpiece and truly made a bold stroke in the film world.
What I LOVED about it is it completely subverts your expectations. You think you are getting a formulaic teeny rom com, but what you really get is a sorry about friendship (Ellie and Paul, and even Ellie and Aster), and self discovery (all 3 of them understand themselves better by the end). Boy doesn't get girl. Girl doesn't even get girl. But we still got a happy ending. It was so refreshing!
everytime i don't have the strenght emotionary to watch a film like that i come it give sometime that strenght i needed
loved this film.
Everytime ellie said "its lonely" it made me realize I AM alone
Great recap
Really, really, REALLY love dis mv 👍🏼❤️✨
listeeen... first time I'm this early! Great job, I love your videosss!
I come for the “listen”. I stay for the reviews
I love how they set up for the sequel. The little Easter eggs ❤
When it comes to your reviews I don't care about spoilers. I didn't want to watch this movie but now I'm intrigued. Thanks.
I LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS MOVIE SOOOO MUCH, along with All the Bright Places.