2
PickyMcpickleton
Slight Edit to accommodate an actual review:
As per the summary, this tells the story of an undercover cop infiltrating a gang. He spends years in the gang and rises up the ranks but he wants out. Unfortunately, as a valuable tool in the police force they won't liberate him not only due to the hard work and commitment it takes to be an undercover cop but they believe they can take down the gang.
Unfortunately, I did not find this movie as compelling as it could have been. What was supposed to be a plot twist was predictable and actually made me dock marks because it made the plot a little iffy.It now propels you to point out a lot of things that don't make sense anymore due to the plot twist. In fact, prior to it happening, I sincerely hoped they would not make it that way because it now opens up a can off questions that make the premise not make sense. Plus, I'm not sure if I could call it a plot twist because it didn't really surprise me but others have called it so, so I'm doing so too.
The story is very solid and has a film noir, toned down aspect about it that will either bore or thrill some of you. This tone is rarely seen these days due to the schizophrenic and fast paced world we live in. It has a very Mario Puzo aspect about it and that is a plus for anyone who's a fan. As in, you will see quite some Godfather channeling here almost as much as the blackberry product placement. I happened to be a fan so I appreciated this film to a certain extent sans the mediocre plot twist. The cast is stellar and they are all well known for their acting but overall I docked marks for the terrible ending.
I'd also like to point out the not so subtle product placement. Blackberry anyone? Okay, it didn't bother me much but made me want to play the drinking game for every time I saw it. There's a liver damaging suggestion to those of you who haven't watched it.
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My lovely Sam Soon has stood the test of time. It is over the top, at times ridiculous but still a funny, raw and engaging story with some of the most refreshing characters that would still shine even today.
Sam Soon is the center of the story, a not attractive, frizzy haired, slightly chubby girl with some horrendous table manners. She yells, she burps, she does it all and stands the test of time as the most realest female lead you will get.
What makes Sam Soon an engaging character is the little details that fully realize her character. She often imagines herself in scenarios far braver than she is and it's a quality that rings true in all of us. She's bold yet also insecure, she is so perfectly imperfect and little details like her constantly frizzy hair and awkward habits make her very relatable.
The other characters are definitely just as well done. We have a second female lead who seems so stereotypical at first, but as her side of the story is revealed she evokes sympathy and understanding. It's a drama that truly makes you torn as you start to understand all the parties involved.
The writers did a great job blending humorous and serious topics without changing the characters. I for one am very glad, there was no makeover involved in Sam Soon's character. Sam Soon definitely sells this plot though as a loud, at times awkward yet not clumsy female lead. She breaks all the stereotypes that we've grown accustomed to, so much so that surprisingly, when I was watching this, there were numerous comments about her unsightly appearance and habits. It made me realize we've been beaten into accepting beautiful, female leads that wake up perfectly with not a hair out of place. Funny thing is we all realize we're not like this.
An 8.5 this gets for me for just being a refreshing rom com that I would recommend to anyone.
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This movie doesn't take itself seriously and neither should you. It is packaged silliness that is entertaining. However, it is merely that. The movie is a sequences of shoot outs and explosions in different settings, nothing more. The plot is a warped mess that merely serves to package these repetitive shoot outs. While it doesn't take itself seriously, it would still be a far better film if they packaged it better. Heck, the directing cannot keep up with these shoot outs. Also, bullets are solely reserved for everyone else that is not the lead and that's to be expected but sometimes, the leads just shoot in a general direction and the bullets magically fly to a destination and hit somebody.
Nonetheless, this is still entertaining with hints of cheesiness that pay homage to classic westerns. The characters really carry this and despite some repetitiveness, it's still fun to watch. Song Kang Ho for me is the stand out of this as his character helps shape this movie. There are some decent action sequences and despite the muddled plot, it's fun to watch the interactions the main characters have with each other.
Overall, hugely entertaining, a messy plot beyond the satirical nature of this but one to watch.
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Ha Ji Won in the beginning is a very endearing and strong character but in typical Ha Ji Won fashion, she is soon reduced to giving you doe eyed looks and being saved by Hyun Bin from the evil mother. She also gets dragged around by Hyun Bin a lot if the formula tells you anything. She has absolutely no reason to be charmed by him but really she does get charmed by him.
I did not focus on the body swap because other than to add some comedic effect, it didn't do much for the drama. Anyway, I've bashed a bit so let's focus on the positives. The supporting characters are great in carrying this drama. They add humor where needed and make this quite the enjoyable experience. Oska despite being loud mouthed is actually quite charming and overall, the supporting cast make this formulaic drama quite enjoyable. The drama drags a little in some areas but not enough for me to lose interest and while the end for me was a little tedious, I still think this is a decent romance recommendation for anyone who is partial to the genre.
PS. The OST is a plus in my book and one of the best OSTs in my opinion.
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This review may contain spoilers
I am reviewing this drama after eight episodes and a lot of people will find that ridiculous. How can you review a drama without finishing it? Well, I justify that simply. If a drama fails to somewhat cement itself in the first few episodes, there's a chance it will not get better. If you watch and hate eight episodes of a drama, the likelihood that what you hate will get better is very slim. Furthermore, it's not like I started hating it at the eighth episodes. It's more I persevered until the eighth episode until it was unbearable.Another thing: I liked absolutely almost nothing in this drama. However, the biggest con in this drama is the script and characters. The script affects the characters.
Characters: Dumb. I just have not in a long time clicked on a drama with such stupid characters who are so devoid of logic and planning, I actually said out loud "you can't be serious." These characters literally dive into situations with absolutely no planning whatsoever. They neither think about the consequences or even have a plan B for things, they just ran into things and hope for the best. They absolutely do not even bother thinking things through and trying to calculate the alternative. Most of the tragic situations are so easily preventable, I started gnawing my teeth at how dumb things were, but it's important to note that this is not because of the cast. It's because of the script. I absolutely could not stand Suzi's character, I started hoping for her death because she spends way too much time needing rescue. As in with most female leads but it was unbearable because she's supposed to be a strong character who is a tomboy but so help me lord, she causes more trouble than help.
The villain is your typical evil villain with no backstory. I've reviewed a lot of dramas where I point this out. Where, the villain is the most interesting character because without him the plot is absolutely worthless. However, because he has no back story and no true understandable motive, it makes you care less and less other than finding him despicable. This villain happens to be a despicable pedophile who just likes to torture this bunch for no actual legit reason. He can easily find a young pretty girl anywhere in Joseon but he's obsessed with a particular one for no reason other than creepily staring at her.
Plot: The plot actually became comical and affected how I felt about the characters. Often, if you have dumb characters, you will probably have a dumb plot. It seems the characters have GPS's on them because you can easily run around and find the character you're looking for. Or it's a "if you can't find Kang Chil look in the forest."
Furthermore, the male and female lead end up together just because. Mind you, I didn't even get a spoiler, it becomes blatantly obvious around the fourth episode. It's your k-drama cliche where even if you like the second lead better, it is never going to happen.
I've just remembered what I liked Choi Jin Hyuk's character made this amazing but he interestingly lasts like three or was it two episodes and I'm left with the rest. Nonetheless, he was also subject to dumb character syndrome who could have easily prevented a lot of tragic stuff.
There are also very mild plot holes here and there that aren't unbearable but noticeable.
Furthermore: A TON OF CONVENIENT SITUATIONS TO SUIT THE CHARACTERS. Oh boy, were there a lot of those. The type of tripping on a brunch when running situations.
PS. This has nothing to do with the story necessarily but something that has always bothered me. Why do the female leads run in their Han Boks? I'm just saying, if I was running for my life wearing an uncomfortable dress, I would rip it up and run like the wind. I mean who runs for their life prettily trying to hold up their freaking dress. Ain't nobody got time for that?
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This is one of the movies that made me feel that Korean cinema struggles to get an identity. It was historical yet felt very hollywood like. This is the type of movie I'd expect from hollywood. Plot was sacrificed very much for action and flashy sword play. It would be great if more time was spent engaging us with the plot versus giving us a flashy display.
One of the pros though is the acting as the cast is magnificent however, that also makes you a little annoyed because the script writer and director could have done so much with the compelling cast they had gathered.
Cha Seung Won's character plays a rebel who tries to overthrow the current Korean King amidst the invading Japanese army. You can see why evidently there's no plot because why anyone would throw a coup amidst an invading enemy is beyond me. Hence proceeds his quest to now overthrow the king and also battle a freaking invading army.
Amidst all this, they actually managed to squeeze some ill-placed romance. Seriously, it has no place whatsoever being in this movie.
Then the ending came with an "what exactly was that movie about?"
It's aptly named though. It really is about Blades of Blood. After all, lot's of blood but no plot was found in this movie.
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I want to get the unfortunates out of the way. As I pointed out with Hanzawa Naoki, theatrics are to be expected. Lofty declarations of friendship with some tear shedding moments and ferocious 1970s villain like roaring at the hero is to be expected 'I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!' *ROAR* . Does it make me cringe? Yes. Does it take away from the plot, not really... Can I do without it? Unfortunately, yes. I just can't get used to the whole eyeballs in your head roaring in an almost strange homoerotic fashion. A large portion of this is in the baseball story line so if manly tears and feel-good speeches aren’t your thing, this portion of the story may detract from the overall experience. It shouldn’t though as the baseball club provides some very heart palpitating and heart warming moments.
The story mainly follows Hosokawa, the not quite a hero in this story. He's the president of the Aoshima company who I must yet again steal the survivor logo, must outsmart, outplay and outlast. However, the baseball portion follows Okihara, a hard working pitcher with a killer arm. Unfortunately, I was more keen on the company storyline.
Ultimately, the script is freaking stellar and characters meld into their roles very well. You'll see a few familiar faces from Hanzawa Naoki, a big one being the son of a b**ch that is Kagawa Teruyuki. I say that affectionately as I really do like the guy and he really melds well into his villainous character well, eliciting plenty of curses from me. I can't help but despise yet be charmed by his character. However, he’s not the main antagonist in this bit. The antagonist in this case is the Utuwi company with their figurehead, Bando. He lusts after the highly skilled technology that Aoshima produces and will do anything in his power to ensure the Aoshima company is destroyed. Whether he succeeds or not is your key to embarking on this journey.
I proclaim that my review isn’t very strict because I had fun watching this drama. Often, well done dramas just let me relax and enjoy without strict criticism. I especially enjoyed the odd yet unnecessary little details like the president’s sweet tooth, the hardcore baseball fan who attends every game yet sits there jeering and the chairman’s relaxed attitude in all of this. I also constantly marveled at how the president doesn’t have ulcers from constantly being in a rock and a hard place. These little wonders brought me great joy as I good naturally cursed the characters “don’t trust that Son of a b**ch” “You brilliant son of a b**ch being a particular favorite.
The drama gets a favorable review for me for actually making me enjoy it.
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Another movie I went in for the stellar cast (Hwan Jung Min to be particular). However, in the end, the movie wasn't as engaging as I thought it would be. Too many moments could have been further developed and showcased but because they weren't, it left the script just full of gaps.
For instance, more back story on their history and younger selves. They just befriended each other, stuff randomly happened and bam, all grown up. It was rushed and a little unbelievable. Furthermore, the defining moment in their younger years was just terribly written and terribly done. It should have been a far more emotional, psychological and dramatic scene. Instead it ended faster than their lunch scene.
They are all also severely in shape and skilled for people who haven't fought in 25 years. Further more, they fight like professionals and even better with minimal training...
There's also very little back story on his life after high school. There were just too many gaps to find this engaging. A lot wasn't developed making me not root for the characters that much. The climax of the movie was his last fight but I didn't find myself on my tippy toes severely rooting for his character. Normally, when I root for a character, I get tense and vocal but I realised, I neither cared if he won or not.
Overall: Underdeveloped script and characters make for an unengaging plot.
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This drama was recommended and as I was open to recommendations, I went in with little knowledge of the story other than a brief summary indicating it would revolve around law. After episode six, I desperately appealed to people who have watched this with one simple question "does this ever get good?" I feel people who don't get the rave reviews asked the same question. The whole drama in general has a feel good lackadaisical aspect about it. The law is poorly done, the characters uninteresting and there is little to cling to. I was told the characters are very compelling. Yet, you have a pretty boy highschooler crashing on his "noona" who helped him like 10 years ago, I'm surprised he remembers her. Unsurprisingly, the "noona" happens to be a pretty lawyer who is hired for no reason at all. She is neither qualified nor has taken her job seriously prior to that point. Then is the innocent lawyer Cha who is actually, the only character I felt any affection towards. The acting though is decent, nothing worth raving about. I've seen them all in different dramas before and the feeling is the same.
The selling point could have been the villain, who is the best actor in this alongside the mom. However, he is such a nonsensical villain who up to episode 10 has no backstory hence rendering anyone who can't tolerate this anymore, disinterested. It starts with him committing a murder which is never explained. He then nonsensically wants to kill the girl/later woman who witnessed his murder and testified against him. What makes even less sense is that no preventative measures are taken by this little girl and her family to prevent any future mishaps. I'm just saying if I testified against someone and they yelled they were going to kill me. I would not only expect witness protection but I would appeal to the government and relocate somewhere! Plus, evidently, you can now burst into a courtroom and just testify.
It would have been great if the villain plotted his revenge well, but it's not that any of his actions are done well. It's that the officers and system is so terribly incompetent that I just don't get it. That is unintentionally incompetent. The drama doesn't portray it so but you find yourself wondering why no one is investigating shit or even finding very blatant evidence that I as a viewer could find...
I honestly have so much more I can write about especially in regards to how incompetent they are as lawyers and what a dumb law system that is that seems to pardon people based on reasoning rather than evidence. My 5 is generous.
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama was horribly ruined by the writers. I mean literally it actually stopped making sense. (So many scenes I want to use as an example but spoilers are not allowed) Edit: Cause first review needed an adequate explanation.
This drama tells the tale of Baek Dong Soo. A typical boy who fights adversity to become one of the best fighters with the help of the sword saint. That's the plot amidst the back story of the Sword Saint and Choi Min Soo's character whose name bypasses me now though I only liked these two in the whole drama.
The drama sucked a lot yet I finished it. It began well and with very good acting. It starts of with the child actors who set up the story before the grown up cast takes over. Their acting however paled in comparison to the child actors. I have never in my life ranted about the female love interest like this. She is so absolutely terrible, not one person I know liked her. She was incredibly stiff, that I am amazed, they allowed her to act. The veteran cast was phenomenal but the rest paled in comparison.
In terms of script, the writers just took this terribly downhill, that there were scenes that just didn't make sense. Woon is supposed to be the assassin but he never kills anyone! Yet, he spends most of the drama being Mopey Macmoperson about his evil nature. It's ridiculous. The nature of Jin Joo's birth takes quite a portion of this drama but leads to the most laughable and unbelievable plot twist that triggers the deterioration of this drama.
It did not need the twenty eight episodes. A stupid and ill planned revolution is added. A Japanese rival is included for no reason and the drama ends on a sad note as many fuss about the only engaging (who am I kidding, the kid was cute okay, he was cute, his character wasn't engaging, he was cute).
The drama heavily deteriorates after episode 15. It's like it turned into something completely different. The beginning is engaging, fun and had a lot of us tuning in week after week, but after episode 15, it was rant after rant after rant. I've never seen a drama get so progressively worse that it transcends to just being comedic. It became a perve over Woon, laugh at the lead females atrocious acting and script, then call it a day.
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