A Convoluted Mess!

Hometown starts fantastically and jumps the rails around episodes 5 and 6. The crew from writing to directing did not have the skills to pull off the myriad of genres they tried to push into the story. After episode 4 it becomes plodding and slow. Had they stuck with the psycho-thriller/serial killer aspect and dismissed all things paranormal, it would have been better. I'm not saying this because I couldn't figure things out. I'm saying it because I lost complete interest in doing so.

Have you ever watched or read something that annoyed you because you could see the lost potential to the point where it bored you? Or you started re-writing it in your head to make it better? If so, then you'll understand my feelings about Hometown. It's boring. Straight up. No chaser. Boring. The crew couldn't bring it home. The lacked the ability to weave a cohesive story and make it entertaining. Instead they went for the WTF. They probably wanted the "mind blown" WTF but what they got was the "WTF happened" WTF.

The cast pulls this story along with sheer will and determination. It's not like they're phenomenal, but they deserve something better than what they received, especially Yoo Jae Myung who played Detective Choi. He was wasting his talent. Three of the 5 stars I'm giving this title are his alone.

The music was ok. I guess. I don't remember it. There's a negative chance that I'd rewatch any parts of Hometown without a paycheck and liquor.

Overall, it's a waste of time. The writing and directing are poor. Don't watch it.

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Boku dake ga Inai Machi aka Erased is a fantastic story.  I adored the anime (not a manga reader) and this live action adaptation is equally as entertaining.  Satoru Fujinuma is your basic loner.  He pretty much disconnects from everyone around him and yet he wants to be a manga author. He has a secret power he calls Revival that allows him to relive a life threatening moment and stop it.  During a visit from his mother he is reminded of incidents that happened in his hometown. Incidents that come to the present and cause the death of his mother. Satoru's Revival sends him back, but instead of it being a moment in time, it sends him back to 1988 when he was in 5th grade.  It's up to young Satoru and his trusted friends to stop a serial killer.

This adaptation is well done.  The 30 minute episodes are intriguing and lend to the urgency Satoru feels as he attempts to save his friends.  The production value for this drama was set high.  Perhaps it was because of the popularity of the manga, anime, and full length movie.  This leads me to the wonderful cast.  The adult leads and supports were very good, and the child actors equally so (perhaps better), especially Reo Uchikaawa (young Satoru).  They also did a great job matching the actors.  It wasn't a stretch to believe that kid grew to look like that adult.  Side note: How good looking is Jin Shirasu?  The photo on here does him 0 justice.  

The music was good. It wasn't overpowering nor was it annoying.  Music placement or lack thereof is something the Japanese  excel at.  I can't stand music videos in the middle of show. If you love them, then you will be disappointed.   My rewatch disclaimer: I don't re-watch drama.  It's rare.  I would easily say yesto re-watching Boku Inai, which is why my rewatch value is high.  

Fantastic drama. Period.  Great writing.  Great cast.  High production value. Never boring.  WATCH THE ANIME! ;)

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Truly, I loved 11 3/4 of this 12 episode series. I was angry at the end because I'm a person that desires closure and it was leaving me hanging. However, at the very end it tells you that season 2 is next year. I may change my review title after the anger subsides. :) I finished episode 12 a few minutes ago so it's still raw. Would I recommend you watch it? YES, and here's why.

In case you don't know Hospital Playlist is about a 5, 30-something doctors who have been close friends since college. The 5 of them let off steam by forming a garage (well basement) band. Hence the playlist part of the title. There are several stories woven into the fabric of HP. There are the patients, the hospital staff and their interactions with the core 5, and the core 5 themselves. The 5 have separate side stories that cris cross nicely. The same way all of our stories intersect with friends and family I would assume. Screenwriter Lee Woo Jung did a very good job juggling the stories, the sweet and bittersweet. The director, Shin Won Ho, did an excellent job as did his editors.

The cast is what truly made the drama special. Each lead actor brought something unique and different to the screen. The character's personalities were unfolded wonderfully. They were fantastic. Not just the lead and supporting actors, but the guest stars were wonderful. The guests I'm referring to mostly played the patients. From the children to the elderly, they were brillant. I caught myself wanting to console so many patients. It was ridiculous how many times I wanted to cry; how many times I was happy; how many times I wanted to kick them and yell snap out of it. OK I did the yelling part. My family just looked at with raised eyebrows. There really was no stand out acting among the 5. They were a true ensemble amongst themselves. I will admit Jo Jung Suk's Dr. Lee Ik Jun was my favorite from his first to last scene. If I had to pick one thing I didn't like, it was seeing the band in almost every episode. Thankfully, their stories moved along during the singing, but oft times I could have done without. But, honestly, it wasn't that bad.

The music was good. I usually don't pay much attention to it, but as I stated the 5 form a band and sing in every episode. All 4 of the men have great voices, especially experienced stage/musical actor, Jo and Yoo Yeon Suk. I don't know if Jeon Mi Do can sing, but her character most definitely can not! I have to say I did like the songs they sang. They seemed to convey the mood of each episode. I just wish it weren't each episode.

I'm not big on rewatching, but I can see Hospital Playlist having a large rewatch value for those that do, especially since season 2 will be out next year. Rewatch or not, it's definitely worth a first watch. It's emotional. It's funny. It's uplifting. It can be sad, but not depressing. It's addictive. Mostly, it's enjoyable.

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Absolutely Loved It!

I haven't liked a female driven (investigative) Korean drama this much since Mrs. Cop. Inspector Koo is an ex-police officer turned insurance investigator that no one really wants to work with. The thing is, she's the best, and if you want results, you need her. She's sees things others don't and can connect the dots like no one else. As a person she's slovenly and plagued by her past, but her mind sharp. Along with 2 insurance investigators and her favorite fellow gamer, she uncovers and solves crimes. At issue isn't the who, it's the why and how.

The story sounds absurd. In fact it is, but it is well crafted and written. The crew including the director were very good. The action and fight sequences have great choreography. Our two female leads, Lee Young Ae (Inspector Koo) and Kim Hye Joon, were excellent. They had great chemistry with each other and the rest of the cast. Actually, the entire cast worked well, which is rare. I think it's probably because there was no forced romance, which I liked. There is a romance between an atypical K-drama couple that was handled very well.

The music was really good. I especially enjoyed the theme along with the animated credits. The re-watch value is high for those that re-watch dramas, I don't, but I can see this one being on one's list. And I can also see me re-watching if there is a season 2 that comes out years later.

Overall, Inspector Koo is fantastic. I wish there had been a little bit more background on our major characters and that certain things (ok 2) were handled differently, but it's one of the best I've seen in a long time.

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Wu Xie Belongs In Slytherin

I loved it. It scratched all my archaeologist Indian Jones wannabe itches. I love adventure, thrills & chills, mixed with a little bit of mystery and murder. Tomb of the Sand Sea has it all. The only reason I'm not giving it a 10 is because the end seemed rushed and there are unanswered plot holes that will probably go unanswered unless I find a translated version of the book series or they make a prequel or a 2nd season of Mystic Nine. Although they have MN listed as a side story, you will probably want to watch it first just to know some of the background of the 9 families.

Let's get the issues out of the way. I thought I was watching the Tomb releases in order, but turns out I watched Tomb 2 too early. That's where part of my personal confusion came in. (1) There is an actor in both series but he's not playing the same character. (2) Wu Xie is much older. He is not the 20 something naive kid from Lost Tomb or Lost Tomb 2. And that's fine. What's a little off is that he's some kind of mystic able to accurately predict people's actions 5 moves ahead in order for his crazy elaborate plan(s) to work. He's a master manipulator, hence the Slytherin reference. (3) Lt. Zhang Ri Shan from MN is also in Sea with no explanation as to how. I thought they were using him to replace Zhang Qi Ling (and in very many aspects they did), but Qi Ling makes appearances, too. (4) The families have apparently intermarried and there are last names that are unfamiliar. They really needed to include a family tree instead of the outtakes. (4a) Where are the Hongs? There are no Hongs in Sand Sea, which leads me to (5) Lay Zhang. Lay plays a main character in MN and a minor supporting one in Sand Sea. The issue I'm having is who was he really. Is he Er Ye from MN, a reincarnation, or just a look alike? I just couldn't figure him out. The issues I've listed may seem like a big deal, but really they're not. They easily become unimportant.

The story is about a kid trying to pass his college entrance exam that is attacked, kidnapped, and forced on a whirlwind adventure. It's kind of a coming of age story with a few masterminds and a lot of guns. The production is fantastic. The stunts and fights are well done. The script and direction were pretty solid. At times I did feel that the editing was a little off.

The cast is great!! I'm not much for romance, but even my heart was fluttering in the last few episodes thanks to Lt. Zhang's actor, Zhang Ming En and his sexy self. woo * clutch the pearls * He's not just a pretty face either. There were tell tale signs of his age in his mannerisms, the way he stood and walked, and sometimes in how he spoke. He had on one outfit that looked like they stole off an old man in the park doing Tai Chi. The entire cast has a lot of chemistry.

The music was good. I don't tend to rewatch things, but I can see myself rewatching this to find clues I may have missed.

Overall, it's a really fun watch. Does it have some problems? Yah, sure you betcha! But they're minor. You just need to tell your left brain to shut up and go for the ride.

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