Heracin

Sweaty hands that wrecked my heart...A brutal and nuanced story

This short movie managed to convey a fully fleshed story featuring two characters that clearly love each other in different way. Love can be hurtful when not reciprocated at the same level but different kind of love can coexist without one being necessarily more powerful than another. I think there was some room to do much more with the script but given the duration of the movie, they effectively convey the point of the story.

Honestly, the scenario got me teary-eyed a couple of times which is quite an impressive achievement for a movie of only 19 minutes. The acting was pretty good: I totally believed in the feelings portrayed on screen by Bible and Jes. Maybe for some scenes, it could have been even more raw but they found a right balance to have the characters act naturally in some heart-wrenching situation.

The production value was quite good with a soundtrack fitting the melodramatic arc of the story. It was maybe a bit overpowering and could had been toned down, but nothing really deterrent to the story depicted.

I would recommend this movie to people that are looking for a short emotional story that will leave you with a strong lasting impression. It might wreck you heart but it is worth a shot for the simplicity in which it portrays two characters loving each other albeit somewhat differently.

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Solid live action adaptation of the introduction arc of a legendary manga

Disclaimer : I have not read the entirety of One Piece (-yet) but I have loved what I have read so far and I have even dabbled into watching some of the anime. I have most certainly read much more of the story than what the series is covering and therefore it is very difficult for me to review it without comparing it with the original material.

I think this first season did a great job at building a story made both for people having no knowledge at all on the manga as well as for the ones that are fans of it. The drama manages to introduce all the characters with their various personalities and backgrounds, dreams and aspirations as well as showcasing the budding teamwork as the ship crew forms itself around its captain. The series definitely took some shortcuts with the source material (regarding some of the fights as well as some characters missing) but still respecting the spirit of the introduction arc of this legendary manga.

In terms of cast, I found it quite good overall in making the characters take life on screen. Regarding acting, overall it was suitable and believable, without being too caricatural despite some characters being over-the-top by essence. I particularly enjoyed the acting of Mackenyu playing Zoro as well as Jeff Ward playing Buggy the Clown. I was less convinced by the acting of the kids playing the characters in the flashbacks as well as the actors playing the fishmen.

The production value was excellent. I felt they really managed to bring life to the various places visited by the characters in the manga. The ships were particularly well conceived as well as the costumes, weapons, flags. The specific characteristics and design of the various protagonists are really well done with maybe some minor things that feel a bit too plastic/stiff for the fishmen and that could have been improved in order for their emotions to be better be portrayed. One of the best thing of the series was its soundtrack. A lot of epic music perfectly fitting pirates adventures with even some reference to the anime OST.

I would recommend this to people looking for a series that will take you on the start of an epic journey. It is a this stage more an introduction of an incredible gallery of characters in an exciting universe. Still, it provides a complete narrative arc satisfactory enough for both the manga readers and total newbies. The series took some shortcuts but respected in overall the source material and even if I would have liked some additional scenes to have been shown, I'm still pretty satisfied of the outcome of this adaptation.

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Entertaining gangster movie in the context of nightlife / clubbing, featuring numerous twists

I quite enjoyed this movie. There were some interesting twists and a good pace to the story that I found quite exciting to follow. The set up of the characters and their motivation was very quickly established in an efficient way. I don't think the story aims to be taken very seriously despite all the politics hijinks and usual corruption trope.

I liked the energy of the main character as well as how developed the relationship around him. I found the romantic aspect the writer tried to insert there useless. It did not work for me because of the lack of development.

I would recommend this to people looking for a gangster action movie. It is not that memorable and quite standard for the genre in terms of storylines. But it is an energizing watch thanks to the main character drive and the context of the nightlife and clubbing is always an interesting setting for that kind of story.

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Lee Joon Gi in this era of his career will always make my heart flutters ~~~~

A nice romantic movie, mixing both Korean and Japanese language as the main lead is a South Korean student moving in Kyoto with his father and the female lead is a Japanese student. I really liked the way the movie makes the two culture meet, the way the two characters are reaching to each other despite not speaking the same language.

To be honest, I am not sure that I would have enjoyed as much the movie if Lee Joon Gi was not playing the main protagonist. His looks in his era brought so much sweet nostalgia to me that I could not help to be totally swooning at every romantic gesture he made. That man can emote for sure !!!! Miyazaki Aoi was a good counterpart to him, maybe not on the same level in terms of emoting but at the same time she was playing a rather quiet and shy character.

The production was really lovely as the movie takes you on a journey of discovering Tokyo. The viewer see the city through the main lead's eyes and it is really good.

I would recommend this movie to people that are looking for a romance mixing culture and that will take you into a discovery of Tokyo. If you are a fan of Lee Joon Gi, I think it is a must watch for sure. I feel that the overall arc of the romance could have been better but it was still satisfying.

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Took a bit too long to get to the heart of the story, once there, very interesting

I truly liked the idea behind this movie. The fantasy twist was very interesting however, it took way too long to get up to it. I totally understand why it had to be done this way but half of the movie felt relatively sluggish to me. Past the 45 minutes mark, I was invested in the storytelling and deep into the sorrowfulness of the romance. I really liked the bittersweetness of the plot but I would have liked to see an epilogue of what the characters become and the impact their relationship had on their life.

Regarding the acting, it was satisfying but given the scenario, I was expecting to be more gut-wrenched by the performances of the main cast. I think they played it relatively safe and pretty but it could have been better. I'm curious to see both main actor and actress in something else to see what they else they can do.

The filmmaking was good at explaining the tricky concept and providing enough explanation to the viewer to immediately grasp the stakes of the relationship and the consequences for the characters. The music was fitting but not something I will likely remember.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a romance with an interesting twist. Pacing is probably my biggest issue with the film as well as wanting a bit more of the acting as well as for the script that could have dived deeper into the impact of the fantastical element on the characters.

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Despite obvious budget and format constraints, enjoyed it quite a bit !

A very short 1 hour movie (or 2 episodes drama) about the relationship of two highschoolers : bully Ko Tae Seop and newcomer Park Jin Woo. More than really about romance, the story is focus on showcasing the discrimination faced in an all boys school by students suspected of being gays and the bullying inflicted by their peers on them.

Despite the lack of time to get very deep into it, I appreciate this attempt at societal criticism on this important topic of discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community. However, it is a bit of a shame that this is also done to the detriment of the romance. There are some interesting master-servant elements that are approached in the relationship but there as well, it remained at surface level of what it could have been. I still enjoyed truly the story overall as it was quite gripping.

Regarding the acting, it was a bit green for some parts, and a bit unbalanced in terms of acting level for the various roles. I particularly enjoyed the cameo of Hong Seok Cheon. I found Lee Ui Seop to be very good for a rookie but I was less convinced by Holland for some aspects of his role. He did not feel menacing enough as a bully and the transition to a more subservient part did not totally work as well. There were obvious budget limitation here. Limited decors with just a couple of sets to film in, minimalism was clearly the key word of the production. The soundtrack was also not bad but not memorable at all.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a short BL with an indie feel and some elements of master-servant relationship. It approaches heavy topics such as bullying and discrimination which I found interesting but lacked a lot of time and budget to make it really good. It remained as well quite surface level on the societal criticism it was attempting to propose. Still, given the after-credit scene, I'm wondering if a sequel is planned. If that is the case, I will watch it for sure because it was quite entertaining and I see room for further development.

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A staple in terms of idol shows : give it a go if you know the artists, otherwise less interesting

The Idol Star Athletics Championships (often shortened as ISAC) is a sport competition between idols divided in teams. The teams can be done based solely on members of the same group, but sometimes teams are mixed across groups and even across genders. The program is a regular staple of idol show entertainment, which occurs usually once a year since 2010 (except in 2021 and 2023). In 2024, it was back and broadcasted as part as a special tv show of 3 episodes during Chuseok.

I saw a lot of legendary clips on YouTube of the best moments of the previous ISAC and even watched part of episodes featuring the groups that I love. This year, I wanted to watch the full program which featured quite a bit of the most recent groups that I follow : BOYNEXTDOOR, &TEAM, TWS and ZEROBASEONE. There were many more groups of course but those are the ones I was the most excited to watch. In terms of casting, there was a good mix I feel of groups, a lot of popular rookies but not the most established and famous idols groups (which participated to previous years when they were themselves more rookies).

In terms of sports, there are various events. The 2024 edition features 60 m, 400 m relay, archery, futsal, dancesport and breakdancing. It is definitely the archery and relay events that I found the most interesting, probably also because a lot of the members of groups I follow participated in those. Some of the breakdancing performance were very exciting as well to follow. I must admit though that some events were a bit boring for me, especially when I did not know the participants. It is much more easy to be energized when you are watching idols you support. Some performed better than others, but it was all done in good spirit and overall very fun to follow. I loved to see the groups I follow interacting with each other and encouraging each other as well.

I would recommend this to people that are fan from groups participating to the event. I think if you don't know anybody, it might not be very interesting. Actually, I think I might even rewatch some of the events in which artists I like participated, but other than that I don't think I will ever rewatch the full broadcast again. There are indeed some parts that are less interesting, and the commentators discussion are quite boring overall. Fancams done by the fans might even be better at providing a view on the various interactions and what happened on the day.

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Not better than the original but swoony, fluffy and charming in its own way. Worth a watch.

Full disclosure, I have seen and loved the original Chinese series "Go Ahead" from which Family By Choice is an adaptation. Therefore my review and appreciation of this version of the story, is bound to be influenced by my feelings on the original drama. Overall, even if I prefer the original series, I truly enjoy this version of this found family tale. There are even things I think the South Korean version accomplished in a neater way. Not better, but like if you would put a pretty bow on things while the Chinese drama had a less fluffy vibe, much grittier, less rom-com, more slice-of-life. I appreciate they took another approach but I cannot say that I found it better. Just different.

The South Korean series hits properly most of the beats of the original story, with some changes on storylines as well as quicker pace (which is unavoidable given that the South Korean version is made of 16 episodes of 1 hour while the Chinese version is made of 40 episodes of 45 minutes). There are some iconic elements of the original story that are missing which I found a bit of a shame but I appreciated some of the cuts they took on some of the side stories / characters. The main flaw of the story resides in its pacing : some traumatic events lived through by the characters felt too quick with the story moving on expeditiously and handling a bit too easily redemptions...Despite those flaws (which I must admit are linked to me comparing both occurrences of the story), the overall plot is still very good and I truly enjoyed the romance as well as the family arc. The trio of main characters are really likeable and form a trio that I loved throughout the full show. I will miss them for sure.

The casting was very good. I adore Hwang In Youp and I found him excellent here. He gave me butterflies in my stomach. His character felt to me like the heart of the story, even more than the heroine. She is of course key to the story and Jung Chae Yeon is super luminous in portraying her. It was my first time seeing her in a series and I will need to see her in a different role to which I'm less attached to form a clearer opinion on her acting. I was also happy to (re-)discovered Bae Hyeon Seong thanks to this drama. He did not leave me with a lasting memory from his support role in Hospital Playlist but here, he made a strong impression on me. The filial bond between him and his adoptive father is one of the best part of the series. Both actors playing fathers (Choi Won Young and Choi Moo Sung), as well as the child actress Oh Eun Seo are worth a shout out as they were amazing in those support roles.

The production value is really good. There are so many scenes that are mesmerizing, decors with flowers, pastel and bright colors participating in creating dreamy and romantic pictures. The soundtrack is really beautiful as well. There are a couple of songs that I will for sure keep listening to.

I would recommend this to people that love romantic story and found-family trope. If you enjoy protective, caring and ambiguous "big brother" character, you are in for a treat. The story is not without flaws and it pales a bit the comparison to the original drama...Still, it is worth watching if you enjoy rom-com with swoony moments, supported by a charming cast and solid production value.

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I wanted to like it but unfortunately, it is a miss for me...

I like the premise of the series: a revenge storyline with a travel back to time to make things better is a set up I find particularly enjoyable. Overall, it is the revenge part of the drama that I liked the most, with all the manipulation of the villains. However, the romance could have been better.

I also feel that the pace was not good. There were too much storylines that I did not care at all about. It could have been much tighter with less episodes. I would have liked less office-heavy storylines. The ending felt dragging with a lot of repetition. I know that the script is doing a mirror between some situations and put in parallel past events, but I would have preferred the story to really be more tight. There were some entertaining moments when the heroine is super badass but it is in between a lot of filler, even more so towards the end.

I have mixed feelings regarding the cast performance. I think Lee Yi Kyung and Song Ha Yoon had the best performances in the drama but their characters were also the most interesting (and with potentially as much screen time than the main leads). Sadly, I never got onboard on the main romance. I found Nam In Woo a bit too stern and bland in the role, lacking emotions...He has some swoony lines but I did not feel it. Not sure if it is the script, a directing choice, or simply the acting. I usually like Park Min Young and here she had some badass and emotional moments, but on the chemistry side for the romance, it also felt lacking. Other than them, the support cast did an okay job but no side characters felt really interesting to me.

Regarding production, I did find it pretty standard for nowadays South Korean dramas. I did not find any scenes particularly striking and the OST is for me forgettable as well. I also must acknowledge an obvious challenge in the directing / filming of the interactions between the leads. Na In Woo and Park Min Young huge height difference, which I found cute, did prevent sometimes camera work to film them on the same frame (and when it was the case, I felt it was a bit strange at point).

I would not recommend this to people as at the end it took me so much time to complete it because of the draggy pacing. There are for sure some elements of the story I found exciting regarding the overall revenge plot but the romance did not really work for me unfortunately. I'm left to ponder if I would have enjoyed more the series if it had been shorter (and therefore with less repetition on the storylines and the office/corporation hijinks).

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A new form of delightful torture when you are watching it hungry

I'm in overall very satisfied by this new competition cooking show launched by Netflix. It is a bit reminiscent as some of their other survival shows (such as Physical 100 with one hundred contestants competing). Here, it is similar principle: 100 individuals (mostly all skilled-professionals active in restauration field / highly respected chefs and so on..) are competing with each other through various cooking challenges.

The food is really appetizing, the candidates have pretty varied skills and cooking styles and there are enough variety in the challenges they do to not bore the viewers. In addition to having a good cast, the editing style of Netflix as well as the way they often finish their episodes on a cliffhanger make it an highly bingeable TV show. The pacing of the competition is really nice and tight with the format being a breath of fresh air from the usual cooking shows.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a refreshing take on competition / survival cooking show. The food is simply mouthwatering so be careful to have some food at home when you watch it (or be prepared to be delightfully tortured). I hope they make a season 2 with hopefully some new ideas to keep the concept interesting without repetition.

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Brief and intense, sadly poetic and in memory of Yook Woo Dang

This short film (only 12 minutes !) manages to do so much in so little time. The cinematography was on point with many metaphors and vivid pictures. The way the water and the lipstick are central to the storytelling, as well as the sad tale of the turtle... I find it quite beautiful and poetic.

I did not know who was Yook Woo Dang (Yun Hyon-seok :1984-2003) (to which this movie is dedicated) and I did some research afterwards to understand who he was. That brought an additional layer to my understanding of the movie, and that's definitely a plus as a viewer.

I would recommend this to people looking for an impactful and beautifully gut-wrenching short film. It is very worth 12 minutes of your time. If you have any trigger, be mindful of the tags as it is a pretty sad and brutal story approaching very sensible topics in a mindful and purposeful way.

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8 minutes short film to bring awareness on discrimination faced by LGBTQIA+ people

This short movie of 8 minutes packs such a punch. It brought to light many issues still faced today by LGBTQIA+ people, especially here through the angle of trans as well as non-binary people. It is pretty impactful and allows to further the reflection on the topic through the lens of the main character as it showcases vignettes / short stories that happened to them.

It is clearly too short to make a lot of sense in terms of scenario / continuity but it is efficiently showcasing the discrimination faced by the main character as well as the internal turmoil they live through despite their family support. The filmmaking was good with some very symbolic and purposeful images all throughout the short movie. I felt that acting could have been better for some of the scenes but not enough to undermine the story.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a short movie with a point of view. It is a project run by the Thai Transgender Human Rights Foundation aiming to foster awareness on various issues still faced today by people belonging to LGBTQIA+ community. I feel they managed to reach their objective in only 8 minutes which is an achievement in itself.

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Artsy and sincere story

I enjoyed that short film intertwined with the song RERUN of PP Krit. It is about the evolution of the relationship between two guys Kit (played by PP Krit) and Chou (played by Nine Naphat). It is very sincere and simple but with an artsy touch that I appreciated. The filmmaking does an excellent job in showcasing how they fell in love as well as the set back they may have faced.

The acting is good overall. PP Krit is once again demonstrating how captivating he is when emoting. Nine Naphat does a good job as his counterpart. He is not too bland and unassuming at the side of PP Krit, which is already an achievement as he could have been easily eclipsed by the star power of PP Krit.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a short movie with some artsy and indie vibe. If you are a fan of PP Krit, this is a must watch (coupled as well with the MV of the song itself). The scenario is not revolutionnary in itself and I wish they went deeper on some elements but it is enough in conveying emotions.

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Dark and murky story, wish it would have been more fleshed out

This very short movie is about the encounter of a vampire and a dead drowned girl as she is brought back at the morgue where he lives. I enjoyed their interactions, the way the scenario interlocks their fates. I wish tough the story would have been a bit more fleshed out as we learn enough to understand the main characters but not enough to really be moved by their horrendous destiny as it goes very quick on it. The side characters seems also to be there just for the sake of explaining things.

The acting was good: Ji Sung and Park So Dam exude together sexy (and morbid) chemistry. They carry very well the movie, making this a tragic and wicked tale rather than what could have been otherwise very campy and comedic if not properly acted. The filmmaking was good: the special effect was well done but could have been a bit uglier and dirtier. It seems a bit too clean but I can understand that esthetic choice.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for an horrific short movie. It is in the realm of horrow but not frightening. It provides an interesting point of view on the vampire myth as well.

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Raw, brutal, horrific and proof that beauty can be found in the darkest place

This drama is far from your regular BL and will take you on a brutal journey as the characters are evolving in the darkest side of the night life of Shinjuku. The story is very heavy and gritty in addition to be totally immersive: once you start, it is both very complicated to continue because of the violence but at the same time as difficult to stop watching. There are a lot of exploration in the psyche of the characters and I was deeply invested in the storytelling. It was in overall well paced, I only wish there had been a bit more time to wrap up the ending.

The acting was overall very good: I found it pretty balanced between the two male leads and there were no obvious weak link among the cast. Maybe the way that some of the heavier material was played could have been improved but I found it was mostly a convincing emotional portraying.

There is an inherent indie feeling to the production that I enjoyed a lot. The various locations were very interesting and well-filmed: wether it is the Shinjuku night life as well as the other places the characters are going to. I enjoyed as well the opening song, very fitting for the series.

I would recommend this drama to people that are looking for a dark story. Be mindful of the triggers, there are a lot of abuse, violence. It is a super impactful story, not necessarily that rewatchable to me because of how gut-wrenching it is. You need to be strong to go through the horror but at the same time the moments of beauty and love that can be found are worth the brutal journey.

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