Anti-Suicide Messaging overboard but Still Amazing!!

Do not get me wrong I really loved this show, but I was really put off by how much the show reiterated that Yi Jae needed to be punished for his decision. I think that it has to do with the fact that this show was sponsored by the Korean government like the sports and culture I think. Korea is known to have high rates of suicide due to work culture (not only Korea). I understand the messaging of finding purpose and wanting to show there is good in life, but actively punishing someone after they have made a decision to literally die and feel guilty is not really beneficial. As a person who heavily identifies with Yi Jae it made me really uncomfortable.
Despite this I found the acting in this drama to be absolutely amazing and it really evoked strong emotions in me. The last body he takes made me BAWLL!! I totally forgot that it was not Seo In Guk playing all the different characters, it really felt like he was just wearing their faces.
The story line was also really interesting, I personally have always wanted to be able to live in another person's body so it was really fun and interesting to see how the director worked with the plot. Also the fact that there is another plot that Yi Jae is solving aside from his death was also really cool.

Overall, it was a great show and I recommend it but if you are struggling mentally some of the messages are a bit tough to swallow.

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Beautiful, Sweet School Drama

This drama blew me away. The plot, the cast, the acting, and the music were absolutely amazing!
The director showed us multiple angles to character's and their thoughts which I always love. Its like being a detective while enjoying a romcom.
I think that it was really great to see the experiences of people living with hearing disabilities as it is not often portrayed in media.
Twinkling Watermelon explores high school romance, music, friendship, and family across time and space.
Shin Eun Soo and Choi Hyun Wook were in my opinion the best actors in this drama. Shin Eun Soo did such an amazing job not only learning sign language but being able to portray her emotions without even speaking.
I think the best part of this drama was how the director put the story together. As the watcher you are only given bits and pieces and they slowly begin to come together as the story unravels. I will not lie and say that I was a bit confused in the beginning of the story but it all makes sense in the end.
I also really liked how we sit along side Ha Eun Gyeol as we together as he realizes that he is not the only one that has hardships and wishes in his life. He begins to see his parents as individuals, ones that have much deeper stories that don't all revolve around being "Mom" and "Dad".

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Fun watch with depth of character

This is an amazing adaptation to the Japanese version. It follows a really similar story line for those who has read or seen the Parasyte Movies. It gives Sweet Home vibes as well.
Besides the action of this show the creators have been able to create a suspenseful plot and an incredible layer of depth and insight to the human condition. Using these beings as a way to unravel how human's think from an external perspective. Sooin's parasyte is also able to use her external insight in order to show Soo-in the things that she herself was unwilling or unable to see and it helped to develop more layers to her character without boring the audience.
I really enjoyed the ending of the show, it is leading me to hope that there are more seasons to come.

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Social Class Struggle but cool

Snowpiercer is dystopian, futuristic, sci-fi film. Directed by Bong Joon-Ho who explores the social class structure of a society now bound to living on a train around the world that never stops. We enter the train at the very back where life resembles living in the slums. Curtis Everett and some others are tired of living in such terrible conditions and proceeds to set out to reach the front of the line.
This movie is so creative in terms of discussing issues of social class. The way the society has developed is quite realistic in my opinion and I think the idea of such a futuristic world is not entirely implausible. There is definitely elements of brainwashing used by those in charge for the purpose of maintaining complete control over the people on the train and avoid resistance.

The ending of the movie is really unique there are some startling aspects about the train that we learn about through the course of the movie. We also learn more about the outside world and its condition.
Overall a great movie I have re-watched several times and highly recommend!

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Deeper Societal Messaging

I think this season was even better than season 1 simply due to the plot development. The first season I was initially really disappointed in the unrealistic nature of the monsters. However, as you keep watching through season 1 and to season 2 the justifications behind the monsters are really quite deep. There is a video on YouTube explaining all the monsters we have seen so far that I think really helps to give context. The different classification of monsters is a really interesting addition to the understanding of what the monsters really are and how Hyun Soo is so different.

This season also really delved into the broader societal impact that crisis can have. We see in just the first few episodes the chaos that fear and power have influenced the army resulting in many unnecessary deaths. I was so angry when the army was shooting at the hide and seek monster when she was not showing any signs of aggression, resulting in not only the death of 100+ civilians but also her death and the unnecessary torturing of her baby. It really shows how fear of the unknown and being in a position of power can really twist people's minds.

Overall a really strong season in my opinion, I am looking forward to season 3!

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Statement on social class divides

Parasite is one of deepest films I have ever seen and of course it was written and directed by Bong Joon-Ho. There is a reason why it was nominated and won so many awards.
At first glance Parasite is just a typical good movie exploring the difference in dynamics between a rich family and a poor one and the clashing that occurs between them. However, if you really delve into the details and symbolisms that Bong Joon-Ho carefully curated in this film there is so much more to be uncovered namely the pointing out the broken system which perpetuates the divide between the upper social class from the lower one. I think that in order to grasp all the details rewatching the movie is a necessity and even one re-watch might not be enough.
A detail that I just learned is that Bong Joon-Ho actually wrote this film based on his own experience tutoring an upper class family, obviously not the entire plot.



**************************Spoilers and analysis from here******************************
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As I said before Parasite is a reflection of the struggles and clashes between rich and poor and the end of the film shows the harsh reality that poor families are not able to rise from their low status no matter how hard they try because of the broken social system.
Here are some symbols and key themes that Bong Joon-Ho uses throughout the film to express these ideas. (Also comment more themes/ analysis you saw in the film. I'm curious to hear other thoughts!)

The most famous being Ram-Don/Chapaguri:
It's a combo of Neoguri and Chappagetti korean instant ramen noodles (very inexpensive). But the Park family adds steak, this shows the drastic difference in social status between the poor Kim family who probably would rarely be able to afford expensive quality meats to add to their instant noodles as a snack.

High/Low Ground and Water to signify rich vs. poor:
Water runs downwards from low to high. The poor people live in semi-basement apartments, they are drowning in society and this physically happens in the film. Ki-Jung says in the film that there is no way to escape the basement smell (poverty) unless they leave the basement (get rich). However, the semi-basement apartments still has partial sunlight (they have hope). The rich house is on high ground, there are stairs leading up to the house and in the movie we see a scene where Kiwoo is reading on the lawn in the full sunlight.
When we are introduced to the true basement we see the stark contrast to the other two houses. This place has no natural light (no hope) the house keeper family acknowledges that they are poor. This is contrasted with the Kim family who attempts to act sophisticated, Kiwoo's mom denies being anything like the house keeper when she tries to suggest that the two of them are the same.
And then at the end of the movie we see Kiwoo's father is forced to retreat to the basement.

Scholars Stone:
It is mostly a collectors item, given to the Kim family from Kiwoo’s rich friend
symbolic of Kiwoo’s innermost desires to become rich like his friend (Min) and join the world in the sunlight (rich), it rises in the water when their house floods unnaturally as rocks are heavier than water (eggs on their desires). The rock is also very ironic and symbolic as it is a blow to the head from this rock that knocks out Kiwoo. In the ending scenes in Kiwoo’s dream to become rich he is shown placing the rock in a river bed with many other rocks seemingly indistinguishable symbolizing that he has reached his goals and no longer sees the rock as meaningful he has reached his goal of joining the upper class. This can be compared to the scene following the flooding of their home in the emergency shelter where he is desperately holding the stone and the beginning where he and his whole family are fawning over the gift.

The Knife at the Birthday Party:
This is probably the most simple theme but the idea that Death doesn't discriminate between rich an poor. The Knife ends up killing both Kiyung and Mr. Park.

Soju:
Kiwoo and Min, his friend who gave him the job, share soju which is a type of Korean alcohol as I'm sure many of you know. Soju is cheap therefore it is accessible to even poor families like the Kims. It shows Min’s humility compared to the Park family. He is rich as well but sees Kiwoo as more equal.

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Super Pig? More like Super Movie!

Okja is, and forever will be, in my top 5 movies of all time!
Bong Joon-Ho is a movie master and Okja is no exception to his brilliance. He uses the power of familial love to strike home his messages about the corporate meat industries. As the audience we can't help but root for Mija to overcome the evil Mirando Corporation and be reunited with Okja, her family.
The casting of this movie was so perfect, everyone played their roles without flaw. The pace of the movie is great I was kept at the edge of my seat for the entire duration of the film. Despite the calm beginning we quickly enter into an action packed movie.
A fore warning, this movie has made me cry on every single watch. And there are some really hard scenes to watch towards the end, they are horrific and gruesome.

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MY FAVORITE MOVIE

Our Times is one of my favorite movies of all time. I have re-watched it several times, it has become a comfort watch for me.
The main actors Vivan Sung and Darren Wang are so amazing and I love the characters. The clumsy, not so bright girl and the bad boy such a perfect combo for an amazing story beginning!
It is the perfect light hearted romance movie.
I think there are some really great life lessons as well, there is quite a bit of character development especially for Tsu Tai Yu. Although he acts mean on the outside we begin to see there is much more to him.
The ending is also extremely cute and has the perfect details added. On the first watch I had totally forgotten about the beginning scene and so the ending was so unexpected and perfect that I couldn't help but love the movie.
Some people may say that Out Times quite cliche, and to that I say, who cares? haha. It is the perfect cliche romcom that I live for!

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Light Hearted Zombie Movie

This movie is a fun watch not to be taken very seriously. It is a perfect movie for those who do not want to be scared as it is quite comedic.
Some of the story becomes quite absurd at the end. However there are some good life lessons to take away. The main character is really relatable. He hates his job and his boss is awful which I'm sure many people can relate to. The apocalypse helps Tendou to free himself and find what he really enjoys in life.
I really love Akaso Eiji and he did an amazing job in this role portraying a happy go lucky guy that is on his way through self discovery.
I am rating this movie low because the behavior of the zombies were not as good as some other zombie movies I have seen and some plot points in the movie were really ridiculous. But as a comedic movie it was pretty good.
If you want a light hearted zombie movie that's not scary this is the one for you!

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NO PLOT! Just Sex scenes

This show literally has no viable plot. The watcher is bounced around to 6+ 'relationships' in the loosest definition. It's a worse version of Kinnporsche where the director has angled the show around pure shock value rather than any assemblance of reason. I lose braincells watching this show. I literally don't care about the mystery plot, I don't care about the playboy club, I don't care about the masochist couple. The only relationship I care about is Nont and Prom simply because they're the hottest.
This show honestly should be classified as a comedy because the modesty cups and outfits they wear are hilarious, the cups are laughably huge.

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Amazing positive messages about learning to love life and your loved ones

Love for Love's sake is a beautiful story that captures the growth of both MLs in learning to love life in new ways. Finding those who truly care about you whether that is friends, family or romantic partners. I love this drama for the beautiful messages it conveys.
Now into the SPOILERS
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I commend this drama for so so many reasons.
Firstly, obviously its a BL but the way they address homophobia is wonderful. They truly show that love is love, it doesn't matter who is involved.
Secondly, this drama was able to explore the regret behind suicide in a way that doesn't shame the victim. In the recent drama Death's Game the main plot point and message were very similar however, what Death's Game failed to achieve was a true sense of compassion for the victims who felt they had no other option than to turn to suicide. In Love for Love's sake the ML is able to enter into the game and truly learn and grow rather than be punished and repeatedly shamed for his decision. The ML is able to change his mind because he truly feels that his life has worth and meaning, not simply guilt tripped that his death caused pain and inconvenience to others.
Amazing story and acting. There were a few parts where I was slightly confused by the story progression but it is forgivable.

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Favorite Show of ALL TIME!!

Storyline:
Out of all the Tsundere shows out there, and I have watched a lot, this is by far my favorite one and it depicts a much more healthy relationship than most other tsundere shows. It gives the watcher all the of the best parts of cheesy romantic shows!
Especially compared to the Korean and Japanese versions I prefer this show and have watched it multiple times because the plot is so much more fulfilling. Although I am a Tsundere ML lover it always irks me how unrealistic the relationship development is. The FL has literally begins to like the guy after one 'nice' action which imo is dumb. But in Kiss me Thai they develop a friendship first, whilst it is a rocky one they both have each other's best interests at heart which is SO SWEET! I don't want to include spoilers but their relationship really develops and they realize that they have a deep connection far beyond what they could have ever imagined from their first meeting.

Acting:
AOM AND MIKE'S CHEMISTERYYYYY. There is a reason they have been in more than one show together, I'm just saying. Aom is so perfect for the role she plays in this show, she is kind and bubbly, while also being a complete airhead at times. Mike has his cool guy vibe but he also shows a softer side.
ML's mom is also really great I loved her and FL's Dad as well. The parents friendship was so funny and cute. I want to be like them when I am older.

If you watched Mischievous Kiss, Playful Kiss, or even any of the Meteor garden/ F4/Boys over flowers shows you will love this show and I hope you love it more than those other ones. WE STAN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS!!

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