1004_blue
The Story:
There are several drama tropes in here: The Bearded Baddies necessary in historical dramas, the return of the first love, small love triangle, plot to overthrow the king, etc. But I was willing to overlook the tropes because it was such an intense drama for only 12 episodes, intense but also keeping very lighthearted moments to ease the tension, mostly thanks to Han Seung Po, or even Dal Hyang's servant Pan Se, but that's for the character section of this review. All in all, i'm on the edge of my seat the entire time, whether we're fighting cheating dumbnuts or solving murders, it's all in a days work for the Three Musketeers.
The Characters:
First, Dal Hyang. A (very handsome) boy with a dream: to join the royal guard and marry his first love. Unfortunately, things don't go completely as planned. But it's such a great growth for Dal Hyang as a character over the course of the show, because he goes from getting petty revenge to actually manning up and maturing to the point where he accepts what happens and moves on, however wistfully. I love his character, and Yonghwa has improved since You're Beautiful. I love seeing him in period outfits, they really suit him. The Three Musketeers were a great group of guys, the friendship between them pure and unquestionable. They each had stories of their own, and their own struggles, strengths, and weaknesses. They were skilled, serious, laugh-out-loud hilarious, and it's all thanks to the actors. There are points here and there I could nitpick, but I don't feel like going down too hard there. Even the side characters had lives of their own, namely Pan Se the servant. He had a great cheerful personality and was loyal to a T.
The music set just the right tone for the scene. Granted I don't remember much since I was so absorbed in the story, but listening back through it again really hits home.
Overall, I loved watching this. Is it in my top 5? No, but it's certainly worth a rewatch when I'm feeling the Yonghwa withdrawal symptoms.
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Story:
Rough. The first of three sections this drama was split into was good; It really showcased the discrimination present in almost any society where someone is outcasted for something the majority population is uncomfortable or unfamiliar with. The love story was very rushed, and I understand that they had to fit it all into four episodes in order to transition into the Joseon era. Said transition was so confusing and ill-directed that I just stopped for a minute and thought.... "HUH?" When I finally watched it, the Joseon storyline made pieces fall into place for the first section, and although it was a bit harder to follow (mostly knowing who was in what clan), it allowed puzzle pieces to fall into place. As for the third section... I felt it was very cliched. We got the discrimination still, we have the amnesia, the Romeo/Juliet love story, the shunned second lead (who managed to get himself a good loving girlfriend for once), the "power of music changing people's hearts..." Cliched, yes, but also very sweet. Like marmalade.
Characters/Cast:
I am a fan of Yeo Jin Goo, when I saw him play young-Kim Soo Hyun in TMTETS (and young-Yoochun in I Miss You, what little I saw of it). Here, he played his part well, but i think the way he delivered his lines was very flat and his expressions neutral. He has a few good scenes, but I enjoyed watching him. Jonghyun is precious, and really did Shi Hoo well. He really gave off that depressed vibe, and I really loved watching his Instagram updates of behind the scenes. Shi Hoo is a broken and tortured soul (in both lives) and really deserves the true friendship he received from the members of Orange Marmalade.
Seolhyun is new to acting and she knows it, but she's very pretty and works hard. She has a long way to go in her acting skills, but she has a wonderful voice and made the music enjoyable. The supporting characters as well were very enjoyable.
The music:
Well... it's a drama not only about vampires and humans, but also about music. The songs are catchy and beautiful, but not something I'd listen to on a daily basis.
Overall:
If you've read the original webtoon, you might be disappointed. I haven't read it, but from what I've heard the drama deviates from the original story so don't be too angry when you see where the director takes it. It's really a meh drama to me, but if you enjoy non-suicidal Romeo and Juliet, a beautiful cast, and interesting story-telling, then I think you would enjoy this. ;D
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The acting was fine, I didn't see much of that to worry about. The characters were a little underdeveloped in my opinion... Hyun Jun didn't get much of a back story at all, and the only thing I gathered from his story is that he works for an agency, while his mother thinks he works for the government. I wanted to know how he got into the assassination business, but unfortunately this was left out.
Jin Young gave us a little more, and I see the message the movie is trying to send; some people's reasons to commit suicide seem petty to others, but is so important to the suicidal person that it seems worth taking his or her own life for. I see the message, and it's a good one, but I still think more could have been done.
I saw Hyun Jun falling for Jin Young, but not quite Jin Young falling for Hyun Jun. That just seemed to come out of nowhere, like the director suddenly yelled "Wait, I focused so much on the action scenes that we forgot the romance! Quick, throw it in at the end and maybe the audience won't notice!"
Speaking of action scenes: not very action-y. You got guns, poison, anything you want... and the action scenes fall flat.
The story was good, not great; the characters underdeveloped but funny; and some things seemed thrown in for laughs that didn't really make me laugh. I wouldn't recommend this movie, but I seem to be a minority in these reviews so you do what you want. ;)
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It follows four main couples, whose relationships are considered... "questionable..." I suppose by Korean standards: Living together without being married, a huge age difference, homosexuality, and (?) deciding to be married after only dating a few months.
The amount of screen time goes mainly to the first couple, who live together and yet aren't married. The conversations between this couple is realistic and relatable, with laugh-out-loud scenarios or serious and loving relationships that the actors have no trouble in showing the viewer. It was real, it was lovable, it was raw, it was sexual... it was beautiful.
The second couple I found the most entertaining; a thirty-three year old woman is dating a twenty-one year old starving artist who lounges around all day eating ramen obnoxiously. Of course, there's going to be some crazy moments with pillow fights and petty jealousy, but it also showcased some amazing character growth, especially in Young Joon. The couple works together in a sort of symbiotic way, and you can see how much they care for each other. Plus is just hilarious watching Young Joon. That guy's a riot. I image the actors are thinking: "Sigh, the things I do for my career." Because they nailed it.
Dear authors: do you want to get your reader shipping like crazy? Follow this screenwriter's lead when it comes to Takuya, the Japanese traveller, and Joon Jae, the hermit. These two had the sexual tension from the moment Takuya put a single foot in the threshold of Joon Jae's home. Hilarious angles lead to misunderstandings I didn't mind all that much, feeling that second hand embarrassment. This couple probably had it the worst in this series, with only two minutes or so per episode of screen time, but the relationship is developed, and by far my favorite couple. These boys... watching Takuya made me listen to some of Cross Gene's music, and it's really very good. Both of the guys playing these roommates may not be gay themselves, but they made me believe it, with a full course of Awwws and sexual tension.
The fourth couple had next to no screen time through the entire series, and are easily the most underdeveloped couple living in this apartment. I will admit, the competitions between the girl and Man Goo over who was more feminine (who had bigger boobs, longer legs, more successful boyfriend...) were absolutely hilarious, but the relationship between the engaged couple themselves was a rare thing. Which I didn't really mind... I wasn't paying much attention to them, anyway. What little time these actors had to develop their characters, I'll give them some credit there.
The music was very beautiful, and connected in lyrics or tune to the mood of the drama. And luckily, the name and artists of the songs are put on screen for you, so you don't have to look it up!
Overall, this is a wonderful, hilarious, real, and emotional drama that tackles almost any kind of relationship hurdle it comes across, from jobs and careers to confused sexuality and identity. Its a real, relatable drama with relatable characters, and the moments that each of the couples spent interacting with the other couples... (I love Joon Jae and Takuya being so much taller than Oh Do... HEHE) It's a must-watch.
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It's adorable, Lee Seok and Min Soo are the sweetest thing on this planet since chocolate, and even though Hyo-jin and her partner didn't get the same amount of screen time, they were still a joy to see.
Some people have said it, but there was some overacting especially with G-Voice (because I doubt that some, if any, of those actors are actually gay...), but somehow I didn't seem to mind. They were a bunch of friends who felt comfortable with each other, not just because of their shared sexuality, and the bond between them is strong. I really envied their friendship, which made the climax that much harder to watch.
"Two Weddings and a Funeral." You know going in that someone is going to die, and I won't say who, but I did not expect to cry that hard. The character's loss is astounding, and the events leading up to it really hit home; the struggles Min Soo faces as a closet homosexual in a homophobic environment are mind-opening, and the struggles he faces are true, in Korea and in many parts of America as well. The film carries a powerful message, and manages to balance the scale with a healthy dose of fun, fluff, and hot kisses. <3
I definitely recommend this movie to a viewer who enjoys LGBT-themed movies, and to someone who... screw it, everyone should watch this movie!
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I have not read the manga. I have not seen other Miike films. I have a fresh slate going into this movie, with nothing but the summary on this website.
The concept seems simple enough: death games to find the ultimate child of god. Emphasis on "death." This director did not hold back on the death. I got so uncomfortable watching some of those students die, especially the scene in the white cube (after the giant porcelain cat in the gym…). The games are clever, strategy-based games that make you think. You learn how to win the game as the characters (or more like with Takahata Shun as he seems to be the student with the highest IQ in the entirety of Japan's youth…) do, and it's impossible to tell who will survive.
I really enjoyed Fukushi Sota in this role; definitely easy on the eyes. Takahata Shun was intelligent, but also human, and you can see him evolve over the course of these games to be confident and daring enough to do everything it took to make sure as many people as possible survived. But the guy who really hit the nail on the head here was Kamiki Ryonusuke as Amaya Takeru. His character is enigmatic, and Kamiki really gets that… look… in his eyes and that sound in his voice that really sent chills down my spine and I really loved it when he was on screen.
The music is intense, and although I didn't really pay much attention to it, I realize now that I probably felt as nervous as I did because I didn't register the music as music… I'm not explaining myself very well here, but yes, it's very good at heightening emotional and intense scenes.
Overall, an engaging movie that made me want to find and read the manga. Be careful though; blood is not something this director is afraid of. There is gore. There are painful agonizing deaths. But the story is engaging, and not something you want to watch for giggles.
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The story:
Promising. It's a great supernatural plot that I would love to see extended into a good 16 or 20 episode full-length drama. Again, because of the allotted episodes and time limits, the plot is extremely rough and very choppy, to the point where I had no idea who some characters were because I hadn't spent enough time with them to actually fit them into a relationship chart with Dae-young. How does he know this person? Oh, an episode later, turns out she's a classmate of his. Little things like these could have been explained better, but again, cutting some slack.
Characters/Acting:
I haven't seen Kim Dong Jun before, and I admit I don't listen to ZE:A, but I like his style. He actually looks like a high schooler (unlike Lee Min Ho and Kim Woo Bin... casting 101 people), and when he's with In-ho he really acts like one. His facial expressions were amusingly overdone but I feel like I'd probably be making similar faces if people were suddenly very pale with glowing eyes. The antagonist, Kim Jun Ku.... very enigmatic. We don't get much of him at all, and to me it was like a very sudden... HUH? when his true colors were shown. And, again, cutting slack here, but I think that, even in the small amount of time allowed, we could have gotten a little more from him. Hopefully, in Season 2 (I wrote this before watching it to avoid foreknowledge tampering with how I viewed this show as a Season 1) he'll be fleshed out a little; just a bit more, and I'll be happy. The supporting cast is fun, and Hee-kyung looks like a fun girl to hang out with (though not quite if you're hanging out on the roof of a building...)
Music:
I suppose because the episodes are so short the ending song seems overdone, and played even when the cliffhanger isn't really that much of a cliffhanger, but the slower songs behind the romantic scenes was nice and enjoyable.
Rewatch value:
Should a (doubtful) larger drama come of this, I do intend to skim through again. But probably not something to pick up again on a whim. Or maybe it's just me and the fact that I don't really rewatch my not-so-favorite dramas, this being one of them. There are definitely better dramas, but for a quick watch with an entertaining cast and plot, I'd give it a go. :)
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Each episode tells a different story of different people living in Beijing, from romance to horror to supernatural to just getting chills down your spine. It's skin-tingling and you want to look away, but for some reason I kept clicking "next episode" just to see how the writers and directors and wonderful actors would make my skin crawl again.
Each set of actors did extremely well, from musicians to psychopaths to people who have been consumed with greed, fear, or the thirst for knowledge. Since we only spend about 25-30 minutes with each story, it's hard to establish the depth of each character but Mysterious Summer somehow manages to go into what has caused each protagonist to do what they did. The antagonists are left purposefully ambiguous, to increase the mysteriousness and overall creepiness of the more horror/supernatural genres.
Of course, some stories are better than others, but a bad episode or two doesn't detract from the overall quality of the show.
And of course, each episode came with it's own music, which upped the ante or made me peek through my fingers waiting for something to jump out. It was thrilling.
Overall, a good watch if you're looking for a strange mix of psychological, romance, horror, supernatural, and clever acting (Furukawa Yuki is in it... who doesn't love that guy?)
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Wow. I love it! It's not a very original story, but the way it was directed and acted gave it a very unique quality, which I find engrossing when it comes to watching a film with similar adaptations (for example, all the South Korean movies about North Korean spies...)
Story: Like I said, it's unique in the way that the story is told, and not quite the actual story itself. Some additions that made it seem more like a drama rather than a movie, a few dropped plot points, a bit of noble idiocy, but the way it was written made it seem natural.
Characters/Acting: Spot on. You understood Aki's anti-social introvertedness, and slowly see him open up after Riko comes into the picture. He needed someone bright and optimistic like Riko to raise him out of his funk, and he quickly fell for her. Age is just a number here, and I really love how the age difference between the main leads wasn't addressed, like at all. The secondary characters, like Crude Play, were relatable. We didn't see much of Kaoru and Teppei, but I enjoyed the little screen time they had. Shun was the best friend Aki could ask for, always being supportive even though Aki's bad moments. Everyone needs a composed friend like Shun. The producer was a money-grubbing plankton and I didn't like him at all, but it made me think about the music I listen to, and consider the possibility that things work like that in the music industry.
Music: Well, it's a movie about music, so the songs have to be good! And they are! Easy listening more like, but it's a nice combination when Riko and Aki played and sang together. The lyrics were really moving as well.
Overall, it's a great love story with a beautiful but open-ended ending that leaves the watcher satisfied but also leaves them to imagine how the relationship proceeds from there. I highly recommend if you're in for an easy watch with precious kiss scenes.
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The story is hard to follow at first; the difference between the gangs, who's in which gang, who's the leader of that gang, and which politician is their sponsor. I watched it twice to make sure (hence the high-ish rewatch value score... it's a long movie!), and soon enough the characters start to stand out more than just your average background supporting cast. I enjoyed it partially because I imagine this is what real life was like. The three (four?) sex scenes, the blood... kind of reminded me of some Tarantino movies.
I haven't seen Kim Rae Won before, but I like how he took his character... a nobody works his way up in the gangster world, forced to make hard decisions that affect his relationship with Jong Dae. Kim Rae Won has this rough guy look about him, which added to his performance. Lee Min Ho seemed like City Hunter's Yoon Sung times 500! Whoa, it's amazing to see him graduate from pretty flower boy roles to this rough and tough gangster. I understand now why in press conferences it was said he aged at least a decade. I think he really managed this transition well, pulling just the right facial expressions to make you feel his pain.
I won't go into too much more, but if you are not comfortable seeing blood, violence, graphic sex, or cursing, this movie is not for you. In my opinion, it didn't quite live up to the hype it got over Dramafever or whatever, but it is a good generic gangster movie.
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Story:
The story seems pretty stock at first: time traveling man from the past falls in love with a woman in modern day Seoul (see Rooftop Prince). But you'll find that Queen In-hyun's Man takes it farther... with frequent jumps back and forth keeping our main couple apart (sometimes for weeks at a time) draws for great conflict, especially considering the method Boong Do needs to get to the future in the first place (watch to find out!). The story is always moving forward, and though it seems slow, those slow moments are filled with sweet fluff for our main duo.
Characters:
I cannot sing Yoo In Na and Ji Hyun Woo's praises enough. Because they had a relationship outside the drama for a long time, the chemistry between them was so electric I could see literal sparks fly between them. Boong Do and Hee Jin are so adorable together, with him being a sarcastic little bugger and she with her extroverted and openminded views. The way she teaches him about the modern day is so precious, and how he can figure that she's just pulling his leg but goes along anyway. You can see them fall for each other, and it makes their reunion in the end that much more meaningful.
Music:
I can have "I'm Coming to See You" stuck in my head for hours at a time, and every time it plays on the drama I have to sing along. In some dramas, the main OST can get so overplayed and it starts to get tiresome, but this one I never get tired of. The "Same Sky, Different Time" song is also heart wrenching.
Overall:
A compelling drama that leaves you satisfied, wanting more, and returning for more. Excuse me while I watch those fabulous kissing scenes a few more times... phew!
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The Story:
Waaaay too long. This could have been shrunk down to a 16-episode show and it would/should have been a better drama. Meaningless plot lines were dragged out, hypnosis was treated like some sort of super power, and I don't know but I'm pretty sure this writer didn't do much research on DID (I'm not saying I know more about DID than she does, but I'm pretty sure DID doesn't work like that). The whole kidnapping plot was something that was supposed to keep watchers on their toes, and although I think Sung Joon is brilliant, more could have been done.
The Cast/Characters:
I cannot even right now. Hyun Bin could have picked a much better drama for his comeback. I need to go rewatch Secret Garden right now. Seo Jin was a much better character than Robin, who seemed over-the-top and fake. I liked him when we first met him, but I began to want Seo-jin more. Hyun Bin can act, I'll give him that, and he may have salvaged the train wreck that was this drama. What even happened to Terry? The third personality barely had half an episode to himself before we never saw him again. I have no idea what Han Ji Min was doing, but Hana is the next Bella Swan. No expression, no personality, selfish in the name of selflessness... and practically no chemistry at all. I was rooting for Eun-chang and Woo-yong more than anybody else in the show. The only delight I got was in Cousin Seung-yeon and his weirdness.
I do not recommend this drama, but if you like this kind of thing, then watch it if you like flat plot lines, poor writing, and Kristen Stewart-characters.
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Everyone's said it, but Ji Sung is a serious pro. He didn't just explore his main character... he got into all seven of them (even the short-lived Mr. X). I bust out into involuntary laughter whenever Yo Na appears, get misty-eyed at Yo Sub, connect with Se Gi, giggle at Perry Park, and it just amazes me that you can SEE the difference in Ji Sung's face and body language with each personality. I'll say it again: PRO.
This is the second time I believe he and Hwang Jang Eum have paired up together. I'll admit I haven't seen their first drama together, but bet your bottom dollar it's next on my To Watch list. Ri Jin was fun, spunky, sassy, dramatic, and serious in just the right amounts that flowed with the story and how she interacted with the personalities. The chemistry between Ri Jin and Do Hyun was on fire, and I totally love that he was the one who fell first.
Although Ki Joon and Chae Yeon's stories were not the main point of the show, I'm kind of glad the first love/competing-for-CEO drama tropes weren't as prevalent over the half-way point. Those stories can drag a drama down.
The story was fun, energetic, dark, romantic, hilarious, and just had an all around engaging plot that left me on the edge of my seat wishing I could time travel to the next week for the following episode. I went back and rewatched those beautiful kiss scenes (though the last one in Episode 20 could have been lit a lot better). I want Behind the Scenes clips ASAP.
I definitely recommend this drama to someone who is ready to face some darker themes, company secrets, doctors for the most part obeying patient confidentiality, and anyone who wants to witness some STELLAR acting.
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There are a few problems I noticed while I rewatched, and a few of them were things I noticed when I watched it the first time.
I hadn't read Hana Kimi before (after I watched the show I went and read the manga... I recommend it), so I can't say that I was biased before hand. But I'll admit, the story was good if a bit slow at first. You can't help but feel bad for our honorary second lead Eun Gyeol, but Lee Hyun Woo managed to pull off that awkward bowl-cut-looking hair.
Speaking of bowl cuts... as beautiful as Sulli is, I didn't understand the casting. I honestly thought Eun Hye made a better boy in Coffee Prince. Sulli can act well, but maybe it was the hair... or the lips... or maybe the poor wardrobe stylist, but I didn't understand how those boys went for as long as they did without figuring out that Jae Hee was a girl. I can't bring myself to critique the god-given glory that is Choi Minho. Jezuz... that smile.
Overall, a light fluffy drama that's good for people just getting into K-dramas. I would also recommend the original manga and Japanese live-action as well.
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I honestly only got to episode six before dropping (so excuse me if I say something that gets resolved later; I know I'm supposed to review after I finish the show, but I don't think I can do it). The cast is good, but not great. This is the first drama I've seen Rain in, and while he's got a pretty face, I'm not seeing it, I hate to say that it's left a negative impression about his skills as an actor. Krystal played a two dimensional character that had so much potential if [Krystal] played her cards right. And she didn't. I wasn't dragged into the story, I didn't understand exactly what was going on, and to me, what's-his-face loved his dog more than her.
I'm giving higher scores in the hope that it improved somewhat after I stopped watching, but I'll leave it up to you. I can see how some people like it, but it isn't my style.
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