Final problem that rather unnecessary
Its funny that what makes me wanna watch this movie because one comment in Youtube that says this movie would be pg13. With such a controversial topic like bdsm, how can they make it pg13? So i intrigued to watch it since last month. So here’s my thoughts (I will try to avoid spoilers, but LOL)Story : like i said, this is controversial topic about sexual preference, so (understandably) people would expect sensual and explicit scenes. This movie can maintain the sensual tension without giving sex scene at all, while there are people who dissapointed by it, it is huge plus for me since i don’t really mind if there is sex scene or not. My favorite scene is their “final play”, for me that scene really give many emotions. Had it been inconsistent with their sensual theme, that particular scene would be fell flat for me. Their story about culture in workplace also done well without screaming too much feminism
Acting : this is my first time watching seohyun and jun young act, and they really deliver. Seohyun as a straightforward, no-nonsense character is really endearing and jun young can pull off being good like puppy boy without being pushover. The side character is quite OK, i like Le El character here.
Music : nothing memorable but i think it suits the movie
Rewatch value : highly rewatchable, i think i would rewatch it after this
One thing i complained about is their problem in the end, i know it will happen as i watch the movie (they are quite reckless in first half), but the problem feels so abrupt and the conclusion is kinda rushed. If they just focused on their relationship after the contract ends, maybe i will give it 8.5. But for me, the ending makes me give it 8
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The most subtle BDSM movie ever....
Forget fifty shades of grey, this movie shows you how BDSM actually works. Love and Leashes proved that a 'sex' movie doesn't always have to be vulgar and explicit. The movie covers introductory to BDSM very well, I don't want to spoil much but trust me, you'll learn a lot from this movie. This movie is also debunking current issues such as sexual harassment, degrading women in work place, and many more. A little bit of everything, right? I like it because it's like a breath of fresh air, I really love the light atmosphere, relationship between the two main characters aren't too frustating, and the pace between them is nice to follow. The acting was good, but not that great. There is one scene that got me "kyaaah-" like way too excited for my own good, lol. The ending is pretty much rushed, I don't quite like it but it doesn't make the movie bad. Overall, I would love to recommend this movie if you need cute, yet spicy office romance!Was this review helpful to you?
A Sweet Movie About Self-Exploration
It's a really fun movie discussing about the "taboo" topic of S&M and its effect on relationships. I liked how the ML changed from " Mr. Perfect" to a cutiepie asking for love and how the FL put effort into learning about this type of relationship, not just straight up turning to violence and insults, providing a safe space for both of them. This seemed to be a more realistic and loving relationship than the S&M portrayed in other movies. If you are put off by the 18+ rating, do not worry most of the movie is innocuous and there is no nudity( except maybe the upper body of the ML and pajama wear if you count them as such).Overall, sweet couple, nice OST and an excellent ending.
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THE RIGHT WAY TO WATCH BDSM AND FALL IN LOVE WITH IT
This was an INCREDIBLE watch! Sweet, and it depicted a WELL RESEARCHED intro into BDSM.The 'Sub' acted so damn well, never strayed into exaggeration, never felt like it was forced or insincere at any single point, and the 'Dom' was an absolute delight to watch as well. The story was sweet, simple, yet engaging, the kinks were displayed in an extremely erotic yet tasteful manner, and I just thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.
LOVED IT.
Also, 50 shades who? THIS is what people should see to get a better understanding of BDSM.
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Not Even Close to 50 Shades
Almost everyone is saying this is an intro to 50 shades. I beg to differ. 50 Shades is cringed and trying hard to be sexy, Love and Leashes have more of the story and more of just vanilla. The storyline is not unique, but the romance of the two leads was pretty good. At first, I don't see their chemistry but as the story progress, it starts to click.Other's say it's crazy how Korea is making this kind of movie now. It's laughable cause if others do their research, Korea has produced crazier sexy movies than this.
The storyline's not bad. It actually tackles how society ostracized people whose fondness is BDSM. If you think about it deeply, they criticize them, shunned them and the topic itself is taboo. At some point, the major takeaway here is love is love, and it doesn't matter how you express your love as long as you don't harm people.
This is also Seo Hyun's first sexy movie, I think it made a major discussion in the kpop world. She did great though. She's a good actor and gave justice to her character. Same with Jun, I haven't seen him act before, but judging from this, he is a very effective actor.
It's not a must-watch, but it's a good light-hearted movie and great for "literal" Netflix and chill.
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A Quentin Tarantino worthy amount of Feet but not much else
This movie sadly turned out to be what I feared: A lame excuse to show some vaguely kinky scenes without truly showing the audience why the kinky stuff is even necessary for the story.BDSM in "mainstream" media is often a thorny issue, movies like 50 shades of grey poisoning the well so thoroughly that every new attempt gets looked at with apprehension. Although Love and Leashes is not as terrible as 50SOG it is also not remarkably better or more tolerable as a movie which includes BDSM in a post 50SOG world has to be.
Our main characters start in very different positions with regards to BDSM, but due to a mishap (who the hell orders their sex toys TO THEIR WORK OFFICE anyway) their worlds collide and Jihoo and Jiwoo start a D/s relationship very quickly. Considering the fact that Jiwoo had pretty much *no* idea what BDSM even really was or entailed and Jihoo at least seems somewhat experienced, I thought this was very stupid, since Jiwoo didn't even seem all too into being a Dom, but whatever the plot has to happen.
The problem is with BDSM stories though, most people are not kinksters and so some care needs to be taken to show why the characters want to be in this situation for the audience to empathise and follow along with the story. I have to say the acting sadly let the movie down in this regard, although I don't think the writing helped, but pretty much all I felt through most of the BDSM scenes was second-hand embarassment and varying amounts of cringe. All of the scenes involving Jiwoo's feet or the puppy play made me recoil and as an audience I was never sure what the intended effect was supposed to be. Most often this was because I never felt any connection to the character of Jihoo, who I just found incredibly off-putting in his disregard for social cues or even social norms (mostly regarding the workplace), granted Jiwoo was only marginally better in that regard - please don't do kinky stuff at your workplace people, i mean what the hell.
After around the halfway mark I found myself disengaging from the story entirely because I was beginning to feel bored and just finishing it out of a sense of "well I'm almost done". The ending was ok if bland, but of course we couldn't even escape the usual narrative tropes in a 2 hr movie so the conflict and resolution also had a been there done that feeling.
I watched this on Saturday and I've already forgotten most of it, which should honestly tell you everything.
If you want to include BDSM into a movie, show me why it's necessary for the characters. BDSM doesn't necessarily have to be hyper sexual, but people don't usually do it without getting something out of it. This is a very *internal* process, so a movie has to be very attentive to giving the viewer insight into this otherwise it just devolves into awkward "shock value" material to gawk at.
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This review may contain spoilers
If 50 shades of gray was good it would be like this
I read the webtoon and I was a little worried because I knew it would be hard to do a movie based on a webtoon but I got to say, I liked what I saw. It’s not perfect of course, the movie do feel a little rushed and the characters could’ve been more developed but I think it was a fine adaptation.First, the story is a good introduction to the BDSM and the roles/rules about it. They talk about consent and it’s really refreshing that they are showing a female dominant and not a male one. It’s also good that they showed how women are seen in the society like how society want us to act in a certain way and all the sexism at work. It was also good to see how people can be hypocrite and have their own little “secrets”.
I LOVED the main leads! Both characters are charismatic in their own ways and the actors did an amazing job especially Jun omg HE’S SO UNDERRATED THAT HURTS but he was PERFECT on this role. He was really similar to the webtoon as well. He’s so cute, and sexy at the same time lol Seohyun for the other side, as a character, she was a little different, but I preferred her more here. She is SO BEAUTIFUL seriously. Overall I am really satisfied with both leads and Jun and Seohyun had an awesome chemistry together. I DIED in all their scenes, they were a perfect match.
Compared to the webtoon, we had more scenes related to BDSM, which I loved. And the scenes were really well made, the visuals was stunning. Some people may be disappointed if they expected something more spicy but for me it was fine especially because we had a lot of important topics being said.
So yeah for me it was a really enjoyable movie. Could’ve been better if it was a short drama with idk 10 episodes with 10 min each one or 4 episodes with an hour each one because the story and the development of the characters would feel more natural but nevertheless, I really recommend the movie!
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I can’t believe the Webtoon I read during the start of lockdown became a kdrama!
Honestly guys, this would really put 50 shades of Grey in the corner because let’s be real, we all know how crap it was and we need to replace it, this is the better replacement. I really thought the actors were just great, Seo Hyun and Lee Jun Young literally looked like the characters from the Webtoon like their performance were *chef kiss”. I really wanted more of the sexual scenes man but there ya go!Y’all should check out the Webtoon, this kdrama or both, it’s just fabulous ??????????
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A good attempt ... But sadly not executed
Okay so if this was an attempt to try and do a BDSM movie, or recreate 50 Shades then this movie was a complete fail!!The only reason I am giving this 6 star is for the attempt and the funny moments that were in this movie, but either than that it was really very disappointing to out right boring.
Firstly - I think the writers should have done an in-depth search on BDSM.
Secondly - The main leads did not suit each other one bit, they were both so stiff and not even well matched to say the least, the one pro on this, is that at least the female lead was a dominant, but again she did not suit this part and definitely did not come across as a dominant at all.
Thirdly - the whole DS relationship was so off track that you could not feel or even excited trying to watch it, I was really disappointed. They had right the name, for the movie but it just was not executed properly.
Now I am not sure if this taboo in Korea, considering that there are some really good BL coming from, but in all honestly if they are going to do BDSM they need to get the story, as well proper characters, to play these kind of roles (more like the couple from nevertheless)
The only other good thing of this movie, I guess you could say is the introduction to this lifestyle and that is portraying a male submissive as pathetic, but that it was not the case in the slightest. it did show by putting up definitions and explanations of terms on screen to make it easier to understand, but again it was not executed in the right, I think the writers/producers should have used 50 shades as a basis to understanding the lifestyle.
Overall: For me this movie was a bit of disappointed, but it in the same token it was an okay attempt to BDSM lifestyle.
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Happy ending ?
this movie is acting really good but I didn’t expect it to be like this. ??It’s actually very into detail and i actually felt bad for the boy ML cause of his ex dumping him like that ?? wanted to be treated like that is kinda weird but you do you I guess.. it was good but at the same time it was very corny and cringy bru ??. I LOST IT WHEN HE STARTED BARKING. ??I’d still recommend people to watch its tho cause it’s not bad at all?? but the barking REALLY? ? if you want to watch a movie and have different emotions this is the one.. I felt cringed, laugher, sadness, and happiness ?go watch it!!!??Was this review helpful to you?
Did not like the pace and story too shallow
The theme is interesting! I have always liked to learn more about different ways of feeling pleasure. The world is an amazing place with lots of different people! But ..STORY - too simple for me, did not catch me. It could develop better. Side story was almost inexistent and it might be interesting.
CAST - I don't know any of the actors. ML was good. FL was not as good.
MUSIC - do not recall any. A no for me.
REWATCH - will not rewatch because I did not like it very much. There are better movies with this theme.
OVERALL - I was not disappointed to watch this, but just to pass time.
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That fine line between pleasure and pain....
I am very impressed how well the story is taking us, the viewers, into one of hundreds different BDSM's reality..they have portrayed our main characters, 2 adults willing to explore their sensations in whichever way makes them feel happy; their relationship is very healthy and on the "light" side of many different BDSM practices. Seen by ignorant others as "perverts", the movie cleverly shows us who the real "Perverts" are, and in comparison, when looking at the two leads, you are just left smiling at the thought of them playing with a collar...
enjoy the view..
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