This drama is basically a fish out of water concept combined with music and humor. Modern Farmer is easily one of the funniest dramas that I have ever watched, I found myself laughing to the point of tears several times. This was due to the massive amount of pop culture references sprinkled throughout as well as the quirky characters. The wide array of fun and interesting people in the village as well as their interactions with each other and the band members were easily the highlight of the series. One of the most glaring flaws of this drama is the central romance, it really did not work. This is not due to the actor's abilities but due to poor casting choices. Lee Hong Ki is supposed to be playing a character older than he actually is but he unfortunately has a baby face and looks younger than his current 24 years. Lee Honey is a beautiful actress but she looks her age and is supposed to be playing a character very close in age to Hong Ki, this doesn't work and the age gap is obviously apparent. Besides that fact which other dramas have dealt with before, is that the two actors don't have a lot of chemistry. The whole romance is put on the back burner for most of the drama and only becomes a central focus during the latter half. Since so little effort is put into developing the romantic aspect of their relationship, it just never feels authentic when it actually happens. Also, the story is pretty lackluster and almost becomes an afterthought, the character interactions and reactions are the main focus of the drama. As such, whatever little plot exists developed at an extremely slow pace. I was hoping that the last 3 minutes of the last episode were a dream because that ending seemed really odd, lazily written, slightly depressing, and surprisingly realistic given that the entire drama never shot for a true to life scenario. This drama is great if you are in the mood for something light and funny, but look elsewhere for a substantial plot and romance.
This drama special was heartbreaking and yet hopeful. I find it beautiful when two very damaged and broken people find each other and slowly help one another heal. This reminded me a bit of the manga Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan in which a woman visits a prison and meets an inmate and they have a long discussion that helps them both confront their emotional scars. The acting from both leads was great and the story was good.
Be Arrogant is a short drama that still manages to deliver interesting characters and a solid story line. The relationship between Do Ra Hee and Hong Ha Ra is the highlight of this drama, the development of it and the impact it has on the characters. Sismances, sisterhood, and strong female friendships are sorely lacking in a lot of dramas. I also appreciated the realistic view of relationships and just how messy they can be. No Cheol is the male lead and he is a huge jerk with very few redeeming qualities, something that Ra Hee and Ha Ra point out many times throughout the story and both women constantly question why they still have feelings for him. I have seen similar scenarios in real life of women staying with a guy that they readily admit isn't good for them because feelings are not something that you can turn on or off, no matter how much you want to or how hard you try. Shin So Yool is the standout here, I had only seen her in supporting roles and I am really impressed by her acting-I hope to see her in more lead roles in the future. Overall, Be Arrogant was a surprisingly complete and satisfying drama despite the short run time.
The films starts off interestingly enough, following a young actress as she works with the police reenacting crime scenes. She gains instant fame but her luck starts to sour after a slain victim begins to haunt her. This plot is great but around the middle of the film the story changes and it feels like a different movie. The Victim had the potential to be another great Thai horror film but a few missteps kept it from fulfilling its potential.
Korean horror films tend to disappoint but The Wig proved to be a surprisingly good watch. The plot is interesting and moves at a brisk pace. Jump scares and creepy imagery abound keeping you invested and slightly on edge throughout the film. A nice twist near the end of the movie further sets this horror entry apart from the pack. Highly recommended for horror fans.
I am always attracted to serial killer plots and this film had an interesting premise. I enjoyed the movie but I felt that the final conclusion was easily discernible early on in the film, thus lessening the impact of the big reveal. Although the acting was generally good, I found the lead actress to be severely lacking. Her stiff portrayal of the character was emotionless and bland. I was pleasantly surprised by the graphic and gory scenes, far different from the usual atmospheric Asian horror/thriller. Overall, 'Tell Me Something' is a unique and slow-paced thriller that fans of the genre will like.
Yet another great Thai horror film from the directing team of Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom. An interesting and nicely paced film that manages to be creepy and suspenseful. It ends with the trademark Thai twist that fit the film nicely.
Body 19 was a messy and convoluted affair. The starting premise is interesting but the plot becomes more and more confusing as the film progresses. The ending was lame and only further added to the uneven story line. The pacing was also an issue, as the story started to really drag around the halfway mark. The use of CGI was also a major detractor, making the creepy imagery appear comical instead of frightening. In most cases, I believe that special effects makeup would have worked better as the CGI looks extremely dated. One of the rare misses in Thai horror.
Phobia 2 is the rare horror sequel that surpasses it's predecessor. Novice is a great story that uses elements that I have rarely seen in other horror films (Gods, Buddhism, etc). Ward and Backpackers are the weakest entries here although both are still pretty decent. Salvage is a nice addition with a good twist ending. In The End is my favorite tale and is another horror/comedy combo that has become a staple of the series. The story was actually really funny and creepy, a feat not achieved by many other films. It would make the movie worthy of a watch even if all the other stories weren't good (but thankfully they are).
This anthology is a pretty good collection of interesting tales. Loneliness is decently creepy albeit the weakest of the bunch. Deadly Charm is my personal favorite segment, very chilling and surreal. Man In The Middle is a fun story combining humor and horror, a nice break from the serious tone. The Last Flight is a solid tale with an unusual but intriguing premise. Overall, an entertaining horror film that was well acted and nicely paced.
We are again treated to a storytelling scenario but the sequel fails to outdo it's predecessor. This time around we get a collection of short stories that have a conclusive ending but that doesn't make up for an incredibly messy narrative. The stories were also a bit less interesting and incredibly predictable. One story in particular tried to take a comedy/horror route which, while somewhat funny, made very little sense. I also found the pacing to be quite slow, adding to an overall mundane effort.
I am a fan of horror anthologies so this movie really appealed to me. I enjoyed the concept of someone telling scary stories in order not to be killed themselves. I liked the stories but none of them had a conclusive ending, they all just stopped at one point. I also found each of the stories a bit confusing and random. I felt like the film tried to create a creepy atmosphere with jump scares and jarring imagery rather than actually tell a developed story.
Taiwan's first slasher movie really packed a punch. You don't see many Asian slasher films, they tend to be more psychological and supernatural. The story isn't especially unique but the plot moves at a brisk pace. The movie is quite suspenseful and keeps you guessing. The budget was low but the gore effects turned out really well. Acting ranged from good to bad but it didn't effect the overall enjoyment of the film. Great Taiwanese horror film that fans of the genre should check out.
I am a huge fan of horror stories, particularly urban legends. Japanese urban legends tend to be especially creepy and enjoyable so I always try to watch anything based on them. Teke Teke is a well known legend but sadly something got lost in the translation to screen. The budget is obviously small with mediocre film quality and acceptable to bad acting. The creature (teke teke) could have been scary but it moves at such a hyper speed that it appears more comical than scary. The story was a bit messy and confusing. Overall, watch this if you are interested in the legend and are a horror fan but everyone else can skip it.
When you first get into Kdramas there are a group of popular dramas that everyone is familiar with and that show up on multiple favorites lists. I have slowly made my way through this list but have always found myself putting off Lie to Me due to the mixed reviews. Lie to Me is a drama that people seem to love or hate and I'm afraid that I fall into the latter category. Lie to Me is a popular drama used in countless Asian drama clip videos on youtube due to the kiss scenes, which I readily admit are pretty great. Unfortunately they turned out to be the only great thing in this drama. I found the lead characters to be uninteresting as well as a bit bipolar and inconsistent. The story also dragged for most of the second half, leading to a boring and messy conclusion.
