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Riveting thriller movie, quite disturbing: a "must-see" but an unlikely "rewatch"
I enjoyed the film, it was a riveting thriller to follow and I was surprised by some of its twists. The movie is set up in Japanese-occupied Korea, which provides an interesting background to the story but is unfortunately not that exploited. I must say that I preferred the first part of the movie to the rest which required quite a bit of suspension of disbelief given the overall context of the plot.The cast did a good job playing multiple-layered roles from various perspectives. Some of the characters were truly repulsive and I felt physically ill watching some of the scenes featuring the craziest sides of the antagonists. I would have appreciated a bit more nuances from some of the characters, but I'm convinced that the actors did exactly what was expected from them (especially in some of the over-the-top, oversexualized and violent scenes).
The soundtrack was enjoyable but it is foremost the overall production value which is praise-worthy. The majority of the story is set in an enclosed space: a very remote manor mixing strangely UK and Japanese building styles. The decors, costumes, accessories and directing choices worked great all-together in conferring to the movie an oppressing, dark and creepy atmosphere.
I would recommend this to people that love movies directed by acclaimed director Park Chan Wook or even enjoy thrillers in Victorian-era Britain (as the film is an adaptation of a novel set up in that time). If you have watch any works from Park Chan Wook, you know that there might be some triggering aspects...It is for sure the case here, so be mindful of that if you have any trigger.
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Could have been deeper and more thrilling, still entertaining with interesting concepts showcased
I am generally a sucker for that kind of sci-fi movie set (more or less) in our contemporary world but with futuristic elements making it quite different from our real life. The first part of the picture was quite a wild ride with some interesting conflict: it was a bit too melodramatic but worked quite well overall to set the stakes. In its second part, the story lost a bit its potential as it became too easy for the main lead. Due to the concept itself, there was a lack of suspense and thrills. The ending was good but would have benefited of more fleshed out relationship between some of the characters to be properly rewarding.The acting was ok overall. I quite enjoyed the performance of Yamazaki Kento who was the central figure and his interactions with the cat were super cute. I also liked Fujiki Naohito: his character was pretty interesting to follow. Unfortunately I found that the rest of the casting was a bit bland for some of the roles and a bit over-the-top for some others. I would have loved to be more transported by the main relationship and would have appreciated more nuances regarding the antagonists.
I found the filmmaking quite good, with a certain poetry for some of the scenes. The various inventions with their related sketches were nicely made and were a crucial addition to the fulfillment of the plot. The OST (with more specifically one key song for the characters) provided a lovely nostalgic vibe to the story.
I would recommend this to people looking for a sci-fi movie. I do not want to give too much away but if you like series like "Fringe" or books like "The Ice People" from Barjavel, you might give it a go (as it plays roughly with some of the same topics but in a more superficial way I would say). I wish it would have been deeper and more angsty but I still had a great time watching this film.
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BL office romance: platonic and cute, with a cohabitation trope and some amusing bickering
The story is quite simple but effective: the two main male leads find themselves forced to cohabitate and work together. Despite the short length of the drama, the script manage to make the viewer care about the characters and be invested in their relationship and professional successes. The plot is not really original but it is a compelling watch with some very cute moments.The main actors were pretty good. I found their acting totally believable and they had a good chemistry together. Maybe some of the more comedic scenes or dramatic ones were a bit overacted, but overall they did a good job conveying the feelings of their characters. The performance of the supporting cast was also quite solid even if the side characters were a bit caricatural and not super developed given the shortness of the series.
The soundtrack was really pleasant with some catchy songs even though quite forgettable. In terms of directing, I was happy that the director did not shy away from the couple of kisses, it remains rather chaste but it has the merit to exist and to be visibly showcased.
I would recommend this to people looking for a cute BL office romance. If you like cohabitation trope, bickering and secret relationship in an office setting, this one is for you!
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Such a fun and thrilling ride with an amazing cast!
This action movie is set in 1988, a period providing an undoubtedly interesting background story-wise with its dark political situation and at the same time its bright context with the start of the Seoul Olympics. The plot is quite simple and not that original but it is for sure really fun to follow. It starts fairly light with some humour and as the story progress, the tension and the stakes increase, providing a lot of captivating and thrilling moments.The casting is amazing with a lot of known faces. The alchemy between the leads is totally believable: the friendship and family spirit within this group of hot-heads is immediately obvious to the viewer. Despite the film not digging very far in the characters' past and links, the performance of the actors made it very easy for me to grow attached to this band of misfits and to root for them.
The film making and production value are really great. The fashion and style of this era, the details on the sets, everything is superb and totally immersive. The cars are fabulous and the movie has some truly beautifully made car chase sequences. The OST with its hip-pop vibes and old school South Korean songs is absolutely on point and such a nice throwback, completing the immersion.
I would recommend this to people that are looking for a good action movie and/or that are searching for a story set in this crucial period of time for South Korea. If you enjoyed the context of Reply 1988 and if you like car chase scenes, this one is for you!
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Short, addictive and disturbing BL story
This drama showcases a disturbing BL story. It is not that graphic at all but somewhat dark and twisted, as it is centred around the romance between a bully and his "stalker". Their relationship is almost a master-servant one, with one of the guy being apparently ready to do anything for the other. There are also hints of S&M undertones as the most subservient of the character seem to be looking forward some of the abuse as a way to get closer to his classmate who fascinates him.It is a short drama (6 episodes of 20 minutes) but it is addictive: even though the pace can feel a bit languishing at time, it is clearly done with purpose. There are some quite dark intentional directing choices in parallel of some more poetic and quiet instants. However, one of the consequence of the shortness of the show is that it is difficult to have huge characters development as well as complex plotlines.
The cast does an OK job, and Hagiwara Riku (as the disturbed and bullied protagonist) is carrying the show. The alchemy between the main leads is primarily driven by the intensity of the script and the directing decisions taken.
I would recommend this to people looking for an addictive dark short BL story and who do not mind romanticised toxic relationship. Be aware that the show can be triggering and mind the tags.
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Enemies-to-lovers BL story! Very cute despite some nonsensical plotlines
A BL story providing a refreshing take on the well-known enemies-to-lovers trope. The drama manages to stay interesting during its 12 episodes but some storylines are less inspired than others. There are a few plot elements that are quite nonsensical in terms of conflicts making the show feel a bit too soapy for some of its narrative arcs. The show remains however highly entertaining to follow.The pairing of the two leads is super cute with an exciting premise to their romance as both their families and their friends from university are at odds with each other. There are some thrilling moments (especially at the beginning) with some tension build up between the characters as the feelings become more prominent. Their relationship stays mostly platonic and focus more on cuteness than on spiciness but the alchemy is there between the actors for a winning recipe.
Except for the female characters (friend and sister) who are rather likeable, the secondary characters are frustrating (particularly the parents of both leads and some of their male friends) and behave at some points very immaturely. The acting job for those roles is acceptable but could have been better.
The overall directing of the show is quite generic, clearly the budget was not there and production value is rather low. What was overly present though is the product placement: I rarely saw so much of it within one series, it was all over the place and hyper obvious. It was totally "in your face" and I would have appreciated more subtlety.
I would recommend this to people looking for a fun and light BL romantic story with a nicely executed trope of enemies-to-lovers and who do not mind some childish plot elements.
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Intense and well-acted : I would love to follow those characters through a drama !
This thriller and horrific movie really gripped me. It follows a team of shaman and geoman who tackles paranormal issues, some necessiting exhumation of corpses as their customers are haunted by deceased family members. Far from taking an humoristic road, it is a very dark and frightening movie that really spooked me at times.Despite its long length, the film remained captivating all over its various narrative arcs. The build up was good and the conclusion was strong. I would have liked a bit more of background around the goal of the antagonist as well as more flashbacks because the past story was incredibly interesting. So I would have wanted even more of that, as well as regarding the origin story of the main characters who shared a very good chemistry together.
Indeed, acting was great : Choi Min Shik, Kim Go Eun, Yoo Hae Jin and Lee Do Hyun did an incredible job. I totally believe their characters were skilled in handling and facing obscure forces. The rituals scenes, the encounter with the paranormal phenomenons, the way the characters behaved in dire situation...It was skillfully acted !
Production value was very high as well : the visual effect really worked on me. There were not really any scare jump but the tension steadily climbed over the course of the story, as the horror gets more and more proeminent. The soundtrack was good overall, fitting for the dire atmosphere.
I would recommend this to people looking for a thrilling horrific movie featuring shaman, corpse and exhumation. The gore level is rather low but the angst is pretty high. There are a lot of talk around death and people do get hurt and dies. So be mindful of the trigger if you have any. It is a quite long and intense movie, that might necessitate some breather to get through it in one go.
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Loved the main relationship, not so much the over-the-top dramatic storylines & antagonists arc
Don't get me wrong, I quite enjoyed this BL thanks to the lovely main couple relationship. I loved their growth as individuals as well as the evolution of their bonds. That was definitely the most interesting and touching part of the series: they learnt from each other, one becoming less childish and supportive, the other one learning to open and accept help.Next to it, there were the secondary couple relationship (which I did find less believable and compelling) and foremost also over-dramatic company storylines involving even gangsters. All those over-the-top plot points were addressed quite clumsily in the script, especially towards the end where the antagonists storylines felt brushed off without very convincing closure.
Having said that, there are a lot of very charming scenes between the leads in the drama. The two main actors have a very good chemistry and were convincing in the more intimates moments.
Production was not extraordinary and felt a bit "soap"-like with some overbearing music that overlayed a bit too thick on the romantic scenes making them slightly cheesy. At the same time, it is what made the series pretty entertaining.
I would recommend this to people looking for a BL with interesting characters growth and great chemistry. It is a bit thin in terms of scenario but at the heart of it there is a romance that I found quite lovely.
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A good conclusion to the story with some predictability but impactful with its great cast
This is the second part (and conclusion) to the drama Death's Game in 4 episodes. I quite enjoyed the story, it took some very interesting turns with once again the incarnations being the main stars of the series. There was some predictability with the ending and I wish as a viewer to have been treated to a longer epilogue but there is a certain beauty in ending the series like that.The cast remains fabulous with some of the new incarnations shining through in various ways depending on their backstories. I particularly enjoyed the 8th and 9th reincarnations which were the most developed with the expected 12th reincarnation as well. Kim Ji Hoon really once again impressed me, so far I have seen him playing extreme characters and I'm curious to see him in other type of roles because he was crazily impactful here.
The production value is as stated in my review of Part 1 quite outstanding and I still enjoyed a lot the ending song for each episode (which was kinda the unique music of the series). I loved the titles of each episodes, super insightful and I found the gore and violence really well done with some truly horrific and frightening sequences.
I would recommend this to people that have seen Part 1 of course. It is a proper conclusion to the story, it does not aim for subtlety but is impactful. The performance of the cast (from both Part 1 and Part 2) makes it a very good watch even if there are some little things I wish would have been a bit more developed regarding the lore itself. As Part 1, be aware that this series is super violent and graphic, so you might want to check the tags if you have any trigger.
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Solid 2nd season of a series that wrecked me with its gut-wrenching youth drama in season 1 !
Even if the series does not reach the same level of incredible turmoil of emotions that "Weak Hero Class 1" made me live end of 2022, it is a relief to be able to say that "Weak Hero Class 2" is worth the hype (and the long wait) !Once again, the story is portraying strong friendships amidst school bullying and violence. Despite some overlapping thematic, the series is quite different from its first season. Indeed, the main character must handle traumatic event from its past, leading him to almost take a backseat in some situations letting the light shine much strongly on his entourage. It is not necessarily a default, but the "weak hero" trope is less exploited here than previously, as the hero is not as much an underdog as before.
In addition to the very different narrative arcs, this season feel also less indie: clearly Netflix budget is now there and very noticeable. There are some really beautiful and striking images, some impressive fighting sequences, very brutal. The reverse of the medal is that there is also less contemplative moments and that the production while feeling more refined, lost part of its gritty charm. The soundtrack remains one of the strongest point : the opening song but also and foremost every songs ending the episodes, with some impressive raps is worth a listen while the generic are going by.
What stays the same is that the acting is top-notch ! The ensemble cast does an excellent job : among them, Park Ji Hoon and Ryeo Un are outstanding. The first one has eyes that tell deep and sorrowful tales without saying a word ! The latter, who definitely bulked up for the part, delivers a really solid performance as well. He clearly took some inspiration from a character played by Choi Hyun Wook and it is an excellent choice given his role in the scenario.
I would recommend this to people that have seen the season one. It really provide a true closure with the hero undergoing an emotional inner journey. It is a story about growth in the middle of traumatic events. If you like baston manga, this is clearly a series for you !
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A revenge drama that took way too long to have thrilling stakes: finished it thanks to hot main lead
Let's be real : without Park Hyung Sik in the main role, I'm not sure I would have completed this revenge drama. Indeed, the story progressed in a sluggish way, after a (long) but somewhat gripping introduction, it took almost up to last quarter of the drama for the stakes to get really thrilling. The choices made by characters are often dumb and feel contrived by the pacing of the series : often there to add artificial drama rather than making real sense. The hero could have had his revenge multiple ways but writing purposely seemed to slow down his progress. Then when the story really picked up in its last arc, it seemed a bit too quick on the conclusion and handling of its aftermath.The romance was not good : at no point of the story did I manage to care for the heroine : not sure what's the most at fault here : the scenario offering almost nothing to do to the character or the very bland way the actress Hong Hwa Yeon portrayed the role. Park Hyung Sik is the highlight of the series : he reaches here an upper level of hotness and charisma, each of his slow motion arrival feel like an angsty runaway. Among the remainder of the cast, I was particularly impressed by Lee Hae Young who played the most interesting antagonist among the foes that want to harm the main lead. Their interactions were the best part of the series.
One of the undeniable strong point of the series resides in its high production value. The sets and decors in which the characters evolve are quite magnificent. The hanok house of one of the villain, the company office...there are a lot of picturesque sets highlighted by a good directing and amazing job of the lighting department. The way that light frammed the characters was really striking over the course of the series.
I would not necessarily recommend this drama unless you are a fan of Park Hyung Sik or are truly an aficionado of revenge drama. The romance felt too bland to me and other than the hero, almost no secondary characters on "the good side" is interesting because of lack of solid background. The real stakes and angst come a bit too late and feel to short-lived with what felt like a rushed conclusion after a sluggish set up.
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When you get engrossed in a story...
This drama is centred around the very particular relationship between Heo Mun O, literature university professor, and his student Kang Lee. The first one is acknowledging the writing talent of the second one, and decides to take him under his wing because of how captivated he is by his paperworks...From this premise, the drama unfold in a very gripping way, with a strong point of view, showcasing how reality and fiction can merge, and how engrossed one can be by the storytelling power of someone else. The thriller aspects of the story are quite intense, but it is the relationships dynamics and the psychological elements that are the most interesting to observe.
Acting was great, maybe the best part of the series. It was layered enough to sell the lies but also the truth, quite a feast for the viewer. A lot of the characters don't feel likeable at all, some are pitiful, some hateful: it is though to be rooting for them. However, the cast performance keeps the viewer glued to the screen, to see more of them.
I would recommend this to people that are looking for a psychological thriller. My recommendation would be to go blind and to be very mindful of spoilers because this series is full of reveals and will keep you on your toes. Part of what made it so interesting was to guess what was going to happen and I am quite happy with the outcome. It was what I expected and made a lot of sense.
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Past the very entertaining honeygate, my interest drastically slowed down...
This BL features the evolution of the relationship between Jin, a rookie actor, and Akin, a very experienced popular one. I truly enjoyed the beginning, however, midway through I got more and more frustrated at the traumatic events being dumped on one of the character and the too easy handling of the many aftermaths. It felt very much "1 episode = 1 trauma = 1 resolution (often within the same episode, consequences be damned !). The quickness with which issue are resolved and their huge number totally prevented me to feel any angst for the characters. Some of the antagonists also had some easy way- out that I found absolutely undeserved and underwritten.Production had some clear high and low. Some scenes were memorable (even if kinda gross and logistically impossible, aka the honey scene). However, the camera work was very clunky and awkward at times. It might be because of the huge height difference between the two male leads...But there were obvious issues framing properly their faces when interacting with each other, especially at the beginning in some critical scenes. It got better overtime though.
Despite those flaws, it is not all negatives. The chemistry between the actors was very good. They seem very at ease with each others and they share some very believable sizzling moments. The first part of the series with its solid introduction and the way the relationship get concrete was very entertaining. I also enjoyed the ending soundtrack, even if the remainder of the OST did not leave a lasting impression on me.
I would not recommend this to people because of my issues with the writing. The good chemistry between the actors could save it for you, so if you enjoy crazy BLs show set up in entertainment industry with an heavy part of dramatic events, this might totally be up your alley. Unfortunately for me, I got too annoyed with the traumas dumping on one of the main characters and the easiness with which everything was resolved each time, preventing me to care about what was happening on screen.
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Very disappointed by the writing and pacing, too many secondary couples without substance
This BL is about the encounter of dentist Jin Xun An and restaurant-bar owner Bai Lang who suffer from a serious tooth ache and is terrified by having to go to the dentist. I found the story interesting at first in a slice-of-life way...Unfortunately, it felt apart very quickly because of big issues in terms of pacing as well as in the writing itself. At the end of each episode, I realised how slow the development of characters went, and how little happened in each episode.In addition to the main couple, there were also 3 storylines around 3 secondary couples which were unispired and not really developped in any purposeful or meaningful way. It felt like random fluff but without any substance or care and details for the characters. I really think the series overall would have benefited for the script to focus solely on the main couple and only one additional couple. Preferably on the bartender and apprentice one. That's the one that was the most exciting and cute....and sadly enough there was almost no screen time for them.
The acting was quite average. The main actors had some cute moments but nothing really exciting. The chemistry was cute but not flaming hot. I think I wanted more from it but the script was not helping at all.
The production was standard with nothing really noticeable here, except for the various meals which looked very good (lunchboxes and cocktail from the resto-bar that looked really appetizing, characters cooking tantalizing dishes...). The OST was relatively ordinary and left no memories at all on me. The ending sequence with the cute dance was fun but I did not like the main song.
I would not recommend this BL as I felt there was pacing issues and the writing was really not strong enough to have interesting elements during the full duration of the drama. There are not enough good ideas and plot points for the length of the series, the screenwriter could have taken some shortcuts on some repetitive developments and focus a bit more of her energy in building one secondary couple (-just one of them) to improve pacing. I enjoyed much more comparatively the two other BLs that I have seen from the same screenwriter Lin Pei Yu (namely "We Best Love" and "Kiseki Dear to Me"): those two were not without flaws in the writing but were really nice to watch despite of it. In the case of "My Tooth Your Love", the acting and the production are not strong enough to compensate the issues in the storylines itself and make it exciting enough.
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A really nice and heartwarming youth romance - a stand-out in this genre <3
This movie is about the development of the relationship between two highschool students, through an exchange of a diary. The premise of the story is super simple and worked very well. It was just a super cute and heartwarming youth romance featuring some lovely friendship as well. The pacing of the plot was good and the evolution of the relationships between the protaganists felt very natural.The acting was very good: the female lead was a really sweet chipmunk and the male lead was handsome with a lively personnality. Both worked very well together as well as with the secondary cast acting as their friends. I will for sure be looking for more dramas / movies with Takahashi Fumiya because he was really charming and gave a lot of charisma to a role that could otherwise have felt very flat.
The production value was pretty great: the decors are colorful and warm with a lot of details. The soundtrack is really diverse and in line with the story and the love of music of the main characters.
I would recommend this to people looking for a sweet highschool romance. It is pretty classic for the genre but it is really well done and was able to brought me a lot of feelings when I watch it. The filmmaking, the directing and the acting combined to a well-conceived scenario will provide you all the feels.
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