Good FX, Lame Plot

LIKES:
Location settings, lighting, colour palate were decent.
FX: the blood, vomit, fight wounds, etc.
Music was fitting, but notting stood out.
CAST: well selected for their roles (and Miyavi was great)
Choreography of the fight scenes was good.
As an action movie it was okay.

DISLIKES:
WRITING: the plot was the usual trope, with the usual stereotypes. But they wrecked what little story there was with too many “reveals”, so the final one lost it’s impact. Also the reason as to “why” was lame too, the main character needed a deeper connection. Also not too much “crime” other than the killing.
PRODUCTION: shaky camera moments, (use a FILM STABILIZER like WTF that’s filming 101). Strange editing, so that some parts felt disjointed. Also sometimes the music was too loud and you couldn't hear what the actor/actress was saying. It was very distracting, even if you read subtitles.
DIRECTING: there were moments where the camera lingered too long and was unnecessary as the scene had finished. [That could also be due to bad editing.]


OVERALL:
It was a decent watch, but didn’t need to be so long if editing had been done right. If you like little plot and just action with blood and fighting, this is a good choice. For a film made in 2022 it’s a bit disappointing. I won’t watch it again.

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Vigilantism with a big dose of cheesy comedy

LIKES:
Cinematography (scene locations), colour pallet and fighting choreography was all very well done. Production was good (they thankfully knew how to use a film stabilizer.
Editing and directing for the most part was good too.
Most of the special effects (gore) was pretty good.
The violence and gore, with some creative moments, were good.
Casting was excellent as all the actors & actresses were well selected for their roles.
Just enough romance to satisfy any viewer.
Enjoyed Vincenzo being both the “good gangster” and the cold blooded mafioso.
I did like the creativity in the deaths of certain characters.
Ending was concluded well enough for all the main and supporting characters.
Decent OST, but sometimes the music was too loud and it made it hard to hear the actors/actresses speaking.

DISLIKES:
Too much comedy and some of it was just plain stupid.
The main evil boss was more sociopath, than psychopath, writers didn’t do enough research. The bad/evil characters were so predictable and typical.
Not really a crime drama or law drama, strange kind of mash up with heavy cheesy comedy.
The characters trying to pronounce Vincenzo’s name, wasn’t funny and got annoying fast.
Too many supporting characters or side characters, which made the plot get bogged down.
A lot of filler scenes that were pushed on us as being law, court and crime related, to show how bad or good the characters could be. It just made the show a little too long.
It’s more about being a vigilante than a mafia gangster and it constantly flip flops on who’s the lesser evil.

OVERALL:
Birds of a feather flock together was a strong theme throughout, both literally and figuratively. Better than some of the kdramas of 2021, but still lacking and a bit over hyped. I would recommend it and I have watched it again (but did fast forward over a many parts). Not what I expected, but didn’t disappoint me like it did for others.

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Easy Watch, Lame Ending

DISLIKES:
Shaky camera syndrome very bad in Ep. 10
Everyone except Yuki was well casted for their characters. Furukawa Yuki didn’t have chemistry with Kyoto nor with Akane. His kissing scenes with Shuhei did not make you think he was gay or even undecided. He mostly kissed with his mouth closed, even during his “hungry for you and can’t control myself” moments. So it all fell very flat.
Writer tried to tackle some hard subjects, but didn’t provide enough back story for Misaki and Yuki’s relationship, prior to Shuhei entering it. For example, why does she love Yuki so much, when he practically ignores her? Why did Yuki decide to marry her and live a lie about who he wanted?
Also they needed Misaki to define what she meant by liking/loving someone, as her definition was too ambiguous, compared to Shuhei.
They had Misaki repeating she wanted to be liked as a woman, yet when Shuhei and Daichi did exactly that, she turned them down.
Also the ending was too open ended, it needed a few more episodes to really have impact and a sound conclusion, while showing us character growth.
Wardrobe was too obvious in regards to making Misaki demure and Shuhei artsy.

LIKES:
Sets and scenery, cinematography and colour palette.
Music was okay, but nothing memorable.
Writer tackled depression and suicide, on top of the other concepts which the story revolved around. I liked how Shuhei showed them how to let go of all the negativity and move on.
I liked that the anime artists were shown actually drawing and creating.
I loved the gift Shuhei gave the couple at Christmas, it was beautiful.
The ending was okay, but was still lacking.

OVERALL:
I was a little disappointed in how this drama was concluded. Thankfully it was only 30 minute episodes and 10 episodes in total, so not a complete waste of time. I liked that it strayed from the usual Boy Love/Affair/Marriage Relationship drama formula. If you are okay with open endings, then I will recommend it. I won’t watch it again.

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Toxic Love

LIKE:
Locations, sets, cinematography, lighting, sound affects, all good.
Music: lyrics of some songs were very appropriate and added to the overall scene in that moment.
Cast were well chosen. Okay chemistry between MLs, but it was Mark (actor War) that kept me watching until the end.
Writing: I liked that they showed how important trust and communication are in a relationship. It was refreshing seeing how supportive the parents of Vee were, same with his brother.

DISLIKE:
Writing:
same old cliches and tropes used. Each step of the “romance” was so predictable. I really hate the word SORRY and so will you by the end of episode 4! Most of the reviews talk about the lack of plot and how toxic the relationships were.
Directing:
Not enough physical chemistry shown between Ploy and Vee, Vee & Mark, as well as the other “couples”. Too much time spent on their drinking scenes.
Music:
Sometimes over powered the actors voices
Production:
Zooming in way too close to the actors faces; I could see clogged pores and zits under their makeup.

OVERALL:
IF you are just starting out in the BL drama genre it is okay. There are better BL dramas out there to watch. Fast forward will be used a lot in this drama. I wont watch this again, but will check out some of the other work by actor War.

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BITTER SWEET

The Sweet (LIKES):
Cinematography, locations, colour pallet, all visually pleasing.
The nostalgia with the VCR tapes, camcorder, etc. was fun.
Well chosen cast. Good chemistry between Kim Too Jung, Byeon Woo Seok and Park Jung Woo, as the three main leads. Acting was okay.
Production: Finally a South Korean movie that uses a film stabilizer for the most part, (still some shaky moments though)!
I liked the ending, but

The Bitter (DISLIKES):
WRITING: Wish this was a series instead of a movie, so that there was more back story for the main characters, more character growth and better impact of certain moments in the story. Too many loopholes in the plot, unexplained/unresolved moments. This was the usual teen drama. Timing of showing the leads as high school, university and adults, was off and very abrupt. Script was lacking too.

OVERALL:
I didn’t mind the ending, but it seemed a cheap way to get a reaction from the viewers, due to the under developed story. It’s an easy watch, with not too much angst. I recommend it for the audience it was made for (teens). And I would watch it again.

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Good Fight Scenes with over the top comedy

LIKES:
Decent story, with an over the top delivery. I liked that there was character growth throughout the show.
Well choreographed fight scenes.
Production was great, no shaking camera moments.
FX for fight wounds looked mostly realistic, including swollen cheek bones and bruising.
Casting was spot on for the characters that the actors and actresses played.
Music was appropriate and never too loud that you couldn’t hear what was being said.
Acting was good for what they were given.
The messages of: never give up on your goals, believe in yourself and some friendships are strong and for life.

DISLIKES:
Over the top comedy, that was just too stupid.
Strong sexism throughout the show and overly exploiting the damsel in distress concept. [the UFC fighting network has show women can fight, sometimes even better then the men.]
The dog was cute, but it’s bark was too high pitched and became annoying. They really didn’t need the commenting voice from the dog’s mind, it could’ve been left out.
Some parts (mostly the Nanba family all together) were so idiotic, especially the brother.
Seems like they ripped off: Tong Memories, Bokutachi ga yarimashita & High & Low The Worst. Like it was a mash up of those three, with over the top comedy, and it’s not just because of the locations used that match (like the high schools for example).
Directing had some bad moments too, like the FL (Nanba’s love interest/crush) reacting way too slow for some situations.
Although I liked Mamiya Shotaro’s acting, it was so obvious that he is way older than a high school student, as he was selected to play.
A little too much repetition and keeping to the formula

OVERALL:
The fight scenes were the highlights for this show and of course the acting of Mamiya Shotaro and Kamio Fuju! I would recommend this show to people who like high school brawls and street fighting, they should watch this first and then the others I mentioned in my Dislikes section. I would rewatch this just for the fights and Kamio Fuju parts.

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Good Story Messages

The first 3 episodes I had to push myself to keep watching because the FL was irritating. However the rest of the show was good.

Likes: They didn't linger too long during misunderstandings that caused conflicts, but did give it enough time to seize the viewer without creating anxiety. This is something a lot of dramas don't know how to do properly. I liked the friendship aspect of all the relationships. The chemistry was lacking between FL and ML but also FL and 2ML (Orca). I also liked how this show tackled social media and using a cell phone. The way they show us how it can really affect our lives, both publicly and on an individual level. The scenery of where the FL and ML would venture to, was beautiful. The food images made me hungry and wanting to try it all! Production was really good too, no shaky camera moments to give me a headache. I liked the character development of both the FL and ML , and also the painter and the online shrink.

Dislikes: Some of the supporting character romances were unnecessary and didn't add to the story (like FL's co-workers). That film time could've been used for the ending, as it felt rushed. The music was 50/50 because in the beginning I disliked it, but some of the music in the later half of the show was good. I didn't like the directing in that the FL sometimes hesitated too long or the ML should've hugged or held her hand or did something a boyfriend would do to offer support, encouragement and even comfort. Also they could have used the FL online influence to bring more attention/business to the ML's food truck, which would mesh their two world together better.

Overall it was a good watch, I would recommend it as an enjoyable and easy drama. Solid 6/10

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There Better Be A Season 2

I loved the brain games they had to play. I don't mind gore or sex or any of that which they showed in this. It reminded me a little bit of Battle Royal (2000). Good acting, great FX, interesting story, decent music and great production. I liked Murakami Nijiro's character: Chishiya Shuntaro and hope he's got more screen time in Season 2.

The reason I'm not giving it a 10/10 is because there better be a Season 2 or else the ending makes me mad. There were some scenes that were irrelevant or not really needed. IF Arisu and Usagi are to become more than friends or partners of the game, then the writers need to make that clearer in Season 2.

Overall I binge watched this show. I've rewatched it a few times too!

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Mature And Yet Not.

There is a lot of sex scenes, which give it the mature rating. However it seems almost childish how the director and production handled those graphic sex scenes. It was like watching a porno, but even a porn has better filming. The lighting was often terrible and the zooming in was unnecessary. This movie needed less graphic action of the actual intercourse. The kissing was gross; like a fish, eating your face. That's not sexy or seductive. I liked the concept of the story, but it wasn't well written either. For all the main characters, no one had any growth, which was disappointing. I don't really remember the music much, so it had no impact.

I did like how each character's story was revealed. The actors and actresses did the best they could with what they were given and told to do. The ending was okay too. If you're into kinky sex or watching rather than experiencing, this movie could be what you're looking for. I won't rewatch it.

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Really Good Acting by Mackenyu and Kubota

I binge watched this because Mackenyu and Kubota were really good in this; the range of emotion shown was superb. The story touched on a few dark concepts; bullying, attempted rape, suicide, bombing, corruption and betrayal. There were some great songs played in the background of the episodes too. Production was pretty good. Worth a rewatch.

However, the bombing FXs sucked; in terms of the explosion looked so fake. And same with the fight wounds; the ones who did the punching never showed damage to the knuckles and the facial wounds looked like amateur makeup artists did them.

The romance portions lacked impact and the chemistry fell flat. The part about the female teacher's involvement could've been left out. Hence the 7.5/10 rating.

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E-sport Romance

I came to watch this because of Xu Kai. His character was nothing too great and he fell too fast for the FL. As for the FL sometimes she was a little too cute. The underlying message about fandoms and internet toxicity was frequently highlighted, but not seriously addressed enough, thus not as impactful as it should've been. I liked the sections of game play where the characters of the game were 3D animated. Other e-sport dramas emphasized the training and work that goes into everything involved, but that was downplayed in this drama. There was just enough romance story, but I felt it was rushed and too easy for the FL and ML, same with the secondary romance. Not enough attention paid to the supporting characters backstory and there was plenty of time to do that. However it's a good watch and I do hope that there will be a season 2. Overall for me it's a 7.5/10

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Cute Romance

I have watched Go Go Squid 1 and this season wasn't as good. There were too many flash backs that didn't help the storyline or explain anything. Although there was some robot combat to make it a little more interesting,, the suspense fell flat. The leads did okay with their acting and finally towards the end DT had more lines to say. I didn't feel chemistry between Appledog and DT. There were a lot of cute moments, but eventually that got boring. I skipped a bunch of episodes for this exact reason. They could have cut about 10 episodes out of this, it dragged on that much. I prefer the first one. I did like the Robot house servant , but it seemed to be forgotten half way through and could've been used for more cute/sweet scenes. The father of the two sisters, was annoying. Yes he was there to delay their romances, but his interference so often was laughable and not in a good way. Overall I'd say it gives the viewer too happy of an ending, because it was too easy. I give it a 6.5.

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Total Crap, Don't Waste Your Time

Some Manga should never be made into live action and this is one of those times. Good looking cast and perhaps they can act their characters, but the writing is horrible! The director should be fired; WAY too long pauses before either FL or ML react, that it's ridiculous. Production is bad too, with zoom in being way too close (I don't want to see their nose hair) and their heads are cut off at the top. At least they used a film stabilizer, unlike a lot of K-drama's brought to us by Netflix. Music is too loud, although fitting with the scenes.

I have liked the FL in other shows, but in this one she's too stupid and trying too hard to be cute, perhaps to match the manga character, but she fails.

I just can't watch more than what I already have. I don't recommend this to anyone, not even to teens, because you'll feel your brain cells die.

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ML's character is a super Jerk

I came into this show expecting nothing, but liking the clothing designer concept and the FL. I watched 10 episodes and even skipped to episode 14, but couldn't go further.

LIKES:
The FL's character and how the actress portrayed her.
The 2nd couple [FL's best friend and Glasses Boy (Allergic to cats guy)].
Cinematography was great and production was smooth.
OST was not over powering and I liked even the music used for the ring tones, but nothing stood out.
FX were minimal, but not overdone.

DISLIKES:
Male lead acted his part well, but I don't like how the writers made his character an over-the-top insufferable jerk. There was nothing charming about him. He deserves a woman like Luna to be his wife.
Also didn't like that they had the FL always walking in the middle of the road, like she's suicidal or just plain stupid.
Too many little side stories that weren't well written, which bogged down everything and no wonder it's 45 episodes long.
Too much product placement and some of it not even well done. (However a lot of dramas in China seem to have this issue too.)
The message of the show seemed to be more "don't try anything that you like, because you'll just fail."

OVERALL:
I don't know why everyone rated this so high, the ML's character has so many red flags! I wont watch this again and I don't recommend it at all. It was a waste of time. I kept hoping the ML's character would have some growth and not keep being such an @sshole, but he never changed.

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Typical Crime Kdrama

LIKES: Lee Jong Suk's acting for his character Park Soo Ha. He showed a great range of emotions for his character. Yoon Joo Sang was also great as Judge Shin Sang Duk. The music really tugged on heart strings in the appropriate places and added to the drama of the action sequences. Beautiful location shots; the aquarium and apartment scenes. Production was pretty good too; no shaky camera moments that I noticed and zoom in shots were smooth. The FX for wounds was well done too, looking pretty realistic. I had no problem with the age gap between Soo Ha and Hye Sung, but that's because Lee Bo Young was directed to act like a child with not control over emotions. She was portrayed as being in her early twenties and not older or a calm lawyer like we normally would expect.

DISLIKES: The blood FX on weapons however looked too fresh and should have been darker due to air exposure, etc. Yoon Sang yun often over-acts. I'm not a fan of his acting, but he did satisfactory with his role. The story, although a typical crime kdrama, tried to being in the sci-fi aspect with Soo Ha being able to hear other people's thoughts, but it was never explained why or how he got the ability or why only he had the ability. The romance aspect was used for the connection between Soo Ha and Hye Sung, but they had no chemistry and it was under utilized. In places the story lagged and could've been cut back, so the ending didn't feel so rushed.

Overall I wont rewatch it, but some people might really like it. This drama barely made my rating of 6/10.

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