This drama was really soothing and comforting... especially for people who may have a hard time dealing with deaths of people dear to them and how it affected everyone around them. And I like how the drama had been written and how layered the stories were. Like on one hand we get to see how and what was involved in the trauma cleaning work as well as the untold stories of people who may have died alone with no one to take care of the things they left behind. On the other hand, we're also seeing how through the trauma cleaning work, Geurum and Sanggu were also indirectly attempting to accept the death of their loved ones.
I especially love the focus on Sanggu's character. Like at the beginning he wasn't too keen on becoming a guardian to his nephew and helping out with the trauma cleaning job. Yet as time went on we get to see him getting used to the job and clear his misunderstanding against his deceased older brother.
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But the movie turned out to be fine, not really what I'd expected it to be concluded but it was fine enough to be a standalone movie adaptation. Love the CGI effects and the cinematic setting. It would've been nice if there were actually plans to adapt the Soul Society Arc as well, but at least there's the old Rock Musical Bleach to fill that hole.
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This movie was listed as an Action/Comedy genre but really the comedic parts were barely noticeable and were more cute than comical. That's fine to be honest as it added some charm points to the characters and made them lovable.Jo Jungsuk as Yongnam was very adorable as a character. It's very cute to see him very passionate about his hobby to keep practicing his skills and maintaining his fitness. In which it ended up being quite useful during his attempt to save his family and himself from the dangerous toxic gas.
Yoona as Yongnam's ex who also used to take part in the rock-climbing/mountaineering hobby makes a great counterpart to Jungsuk's character. It was so cool to see them climbing walls and jumping from building to building in order to reach safety, using the skills that they know. It was a terrifying experience to go through but they still braved it out and still managed to selfless whenever they found other people more in need of saving than themselves. It made their characters so endearing and makes you wanna cheer for them to success in saving themselves. It was really heartwarming especially when you see so many people trying to help them by sending out their own drones to find them.
This movie was really fun and keeps you on your toes to see how the fate of the characters will turn out in the end. It's a really good disaster movie with great action that'll keep you rooted on the spot. And the Superhero song at the end really wrap the whole package and provide a satisfying ending to the movie.
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This review may contain spoilers
Finally managed to finish watching this drama at last. Took me like a while to watch the first half of the series when it was released and then I ended up putting the series on hold for almost two years before picking up this series back.For someone who truly got into the first season for the unique crime-solving cases and the relationship between Kang Gwonjoo and Moo Jinhyuk as they hunt for the true killer of their loved ones, it certainly get a bit hard to pick up the new season when half of the team members were different. This time, Jinhyuk left the team for his son's treatment and his former team leader takes the mantle to lead the Golden Time Team. Yet before they could even start anything Team Leader Jang was murdered and they ended up transferring to Pungsan to investigate the case.
Well, to be fair... we did still mostly retain the core team from the original Golden Time Team save for Jinhyuk, Daeshik and Officer Oh. And after the events on first season, the remaining members of the GT dispatch teams were in good terms with Gwonjoo. Which is good. Since with a new workplace and work environment, the team will once again face similar issues as they did prior when Gwonjoo first started the special team.
And for this new season, we also get a new Team Leader to lead Golden Time... in the form of Detective Do Kangwoo. At first, I have to say that Kangwoo had a slight different presence compared to Jinhyuk. While Detective Do did appear to be as crazy as Jinhyuk used to be after the death of his wife, Kangwoo was a bit more wild and aggressive compared to the former. And because of that, for people who were used to seeing Moo Jinhyuk leading the team may take a bit of time to get used to Kangwoo.
Unlike the first season, this second season's plot focused more on a group of people seeing revenge towards the police and the Golden Time Team by committing serial crimes that at first appeared to be random. And later on, the plot move towards a targeted attack on Detective Do specifically. In a way, the second series give off a different vibe that you used to get in the first season that may seem off to some. As if the quotes that appear at the beginning of each episode didn't already hint at it.
After a while, you'll start to get used to seeing Detective Do as we start to learn more about him. Even as far as convincing yourself that he might actually be a good addition to the Golden Time Time. And as the series went on, you'll realise that there's more secrets that needed to uncover on the true nature of the people who were targeting the team for revenge. But I guess we'll have to see the third season to see what happens next.
Overall, I have to say that the second season was intriguing. While it wasn’t as tense as the first season or as cathartic in terms of what you ended up feeling after the team successfully save anyone, it certainly served as a good base to introduce the new characters as the plot going full force on the third series. Have to say that it really hits the emotions hard to have a character that you start to get attached to from the first season be killed so brutally so early in the second season but it really felt good to see the Golden Time Team in action again.
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This movie is so fun AF
Finished yet another of Lee Jehoon movies lol, I'm on a roll! Honestly I have to say that either Jehoon was really blessed to be cast in some really good production or he really had a knack at choosing what kind of production that he was gonna be part it. Because really, a lot of the movies he's in that I've watched so far always turned out surprisingly beyond what could've been expected at first glance. Like you'd think that this movie was just about grave robbers stealing artifacts and national treasures for their own profits... but you probably wouldn't expect that these same grave robbers would end up doing a major heroic deed!Like at first as the movie opened up, we were introduced to the main character, Kang Donggu who may appear to just be a simple grave robber who just want to steal artifacts for his own profits. To which later on he ended up entangled with people who may end up being out of their leagues. At first glance, the whole setting might seem to be uninteresting but you can't be more mistaken about that! The adventure that unfolds afterwards turned out to be as exciting as the original Indiana Jones trilogy!
Lee Jehoon as Kang Donggu was really a good fit for him, like it felt that the character was really written for him and only him. I really couldn't imagine anyone else who could play Donggu better other than Jehoon. Jehoon really made the character to be so charming and quirky yet also have a certain depth as you find out what kind of dark past that Donggu had that made him be so good at being a grave robber. Shin Hyesun as Curator Yoon was really amazing. And seeing how convincing she was while having to speak Chinese and Japanese fluently like a native really shows how good she was as an actress.
Jo Woojin as the Korean Indiana Jones was also so charming. Like I knew him from Goblin, he was so cool as Secretary Kim but he was so charismatic and funny in this movie it was really fun seeing him being paired with Jehoon as the movie's dynamic duo. Im Wonhae was really so funny as the Shoveller, I swear whenever I see him in any show he'll always makes me laugh.
This movie was really funny and exciting and seriously had plenty of colourful characters that you can't help loving. I have to say that this movie immediately become one of my new favourite amongst many other movies that I've watched.
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Making Hong Gildong a detective gave the character a unique kind of appeal compared to how the character was usually written, even more as an eccentric detective that moves like a ghost. Lee Jehoon really brings Hong Gildong's character to life with his portrayal of an eccentric thief-like detective with a mysterious past. Not to mention carrying a painful past.
I love the fact that the movie had Hong Gildong having to go around with two kids on tow in order to locate the person who had ties to his past. Really love the interaction they have between them as Gildong slowly started to open up his heart to the kids despite the kids being the grandchildren of his enemy.
Go Ara was really fit for her role of Chairman Hwang, like she really brings out the classy aura of the person who supported Hong Gildong from the shadows. And I have to say that Kim Sunghyun as the main villain was really cool; like some anime villain archetype, complete with his shiny glasses.
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In that sense, this drama pose an interesting question. Could someone who exhibit traits of a psychopath could be allowed to treat people as a doctor. Could someone like Lee Yeongo learn to emphatize with his patients; despite his conditions, in order to become a good doctor? As the drama unfolds from start to finish, we'll get to see how Jeongo start to learn to sympathize with the help of Gye Jinsung and overcome his disabilities to become a better doctor.
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Wrote this review ages ago so might as well repost here. Well, just half. The rest would be in my blog since it'd be too long to put all here.So the plot was about a deadly new flu virus hitting South Korea and the CDC team having to try racing against time to find a cure/vaccine to prevent more death from occurring to those infected. There are intricate conspiracies involved as later on the team; led by Squad Leader Lee Myeong Hyeon (Uhm Ki Joon), found out that the mutated virus was intentionally used/released in order for certain parties to gain profits from. Profits? Well, from the vaccine needed to counter the pandemic, of course. In a way, the drama shows how some would go too far in order to profit themselves at the expense of innocent lives. It does make one question the moral codes/ethical values involved.
Having said that, it's kinda sad that the series was only 10 episodes long. Because I would have wanted more, even if it's just the lesser scenes of the smaller fishes being punished. Still, the drama wrapped well... and the open ending kinda promised the possibility of a sequel. Hopefully. Because as long as the big boss was free out there... means that there are still more things for our heroes to fight for.
Personally, I find the ending (and overall plot) well written. And that last few scenes kinda give you an impression that it might be possible for the various flu pandemic to be staged intentionally by people who have the ability to create a more dangerous virus. As the times progress, there was that possibility after all. That in order to gain profit in the field of medicine, one creates a situation that may appear dire. After all, what uses a vaccine can be if there wasn't any virus? And considering they were aiming for a super-vaccine... a super virus must exist first before the use of it could be worth. So yea, a good series.
Frankly, it was an interesting thing... to see Uhm Ki Joon play a good guy. And I can see that this role was quite challenging to him as it required a lot of physical work. Very well done indeed~
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I swear the moment I saw that Choi Jinhyuk's the lead I'm anticipating the series airing lol. Even more when the teasers had been amusingly That aside, so far the series starting out really good. Love the SFX, fight choreography and ost.
I'm still in the process of finishing the series so this review may still end up being revised again later on. But suffice to say, that I love what the drama was trying to bring out. I skimmed the remaining few episodes earlier on, and it turned out that the drama did still took on a lot of the main plot from the webtoon. Including the parts that I wished turned out differently compared to in the webtoon because it was very poorly executed and written almost to a point that it seems as if it was there purely for shock value. It was partially the reason I kinda slow down on following the plot as it was released. Because the webtoon frustrates me so much.
But turn out, the drama did well to create their own story while staying quite close to the webtoon. In fact, the drama did a lot of things that were much better than the webtoon in terms of pacing, plot development as well as character development. I love the fact that the drama took time in fleshing out the characters' personality aside from Gibeom and how the drama also paid enough care to have the Argos main/side villains have their own distinctive traits as well. It was something that I find lacking in the webtoon, which mostly focuses on action scenes while neglecting to put much depth to the characters besides Kang Gibeom and Hwang Deukgu. Also, I like how the drama gave Mina, Gwangcheol and Taewoong a lot more back story on how they ended up being in Rugal compared to the webtoon, which had a lot more side characters included in the team, resulting on their back story not being developed enough.
Also, one thing I'm grateful for the drama, as much as it did end up following the original webtoon plot regarding the real truth behind the attack on Gibeom's family, the drama didn't pull a cheap trick on how the wife (and daughter, which was non-existent in drama) ended up dying. Because the way the webtoon did it was just plain distasteful. As if the main setting in the webtoon hasn't already enough internal corruption. The drama also did better on the portrayal of Chief Choi, in which I prefer how drama laid his end compared to in webtoon. I much preferred how the plot went on once Gibeom went rogue in the drama compared to in webtoon, which ended up having an even messier plot.
Overall, while the drama itself had its own weaknesses and cliches it is much more enjoyable (to me) compared to the webtoon. With great songs, soundtracks, action sequences and sfx, the series didn't fare too badly in giving an enjoyable experience. Also, the ending was pretty much sweet and satisfying, which is MUCH better than the webtoon plot has been the last time I caught up with it so I have no complaints.
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Having already watched at least two, wait... FOUR of Park Jaebum's earlier works, I have to say that I'm really looking forward to watching this recent project. Not to mention that this drama had Song Joongki and had a hint of a mafia theme, it sounded like the drama would be a lot of fun to watch.While I wouldn't want to criticise other's choice in their preferences in watching the kind of drama that they want to see, I have to say that if there was any opinion to be made about this drama... you might as well need to keep watching till the end before making any strong opinion about it. Having completed Fiery Priest and quite a bit of Chief Kim, I've grown to be fond of Park Jaebum's style of comedy as well as writing.
Since this drama is still ongoing, it'll be pretty rash to make any conclusion on whether it was good or bad just because certain episodes may move a bit too slowly or too boring to some. In fact, personally, I felt that that the current pacing is just fine. A good story plot doesn't have to always have to be bombastic all the time in order to be good. It needs to have its ups and downs and even more important it needs to have a good plot and character development in order to give a good story. Or else, the story wouldn't be very memorable in the long run. And this series is a black comedy, yes but it is not makjang.
That said, I was pretty intrigued to find quite a few interesting similarities and parallels between the two main characters of Vincenzo to the two main characters of Fiery Priest. And I have to say, as long as Park Jaebum keep up the good writing and pace as he did for his earlier works that are of the same genre one can look forward to a great story.
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The dynamics between Gwonjoo and Derek Jo really felt reminiscent of her dynamic with Moo Jinhyuk, and I'm looking to see them working together. Not to mention that I'm looking forward to Daeshik's return to the team as he tried to overcome his trauma from his last encounter with Mo Taegu.
And while it's too soon to assume that the villain this time would also share similarities to Taegu aside from the interest in Gwonjoo's abilities (not to mention that the Circus man also had the same ability), I'm looking forward to to see more of what the series could show in the coming episodes!
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Who was the one behind the murder of Junseo? Who was it that orchestrated in getting Jaegyeong to become addicted to drugs? What kind of conspiracy was afoot that ties all these people who were connected to each other from the time of their youths? Because of these many questions one couldn't help wanting to dive into the mystery while rooting on Jaegyeong and his friends to solve the mystery while also fighting to not let the drugs get the better of them.
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Namgoong Min was really great at portraying the main character Na Ije, and Ilike the fact that there are scenes where he had to use sign language as Na's mother was deaf. And this was a very interesting twist in dramas involving doctors where the doctor was the one taking revenge.
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Being targeted by a serial killer who chooses his victims at random and kill without any reason was a scary scenario normally. Even more when you have a disability that may hinder you to seek help or even to protect yourself. Which is why the situation in the movie was scary.
I have to say that I really applaud Jin Kijoo in acting as a deaf person in this movie. Her acting, as well as the actress who played as her mother were really good at bringing out the tense situation on being targeted by a killer while having a great disadvantage of not being able to hear your suroundings as well as not being able to speak clearly.
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Story-wise, the series was quite decent. While there are parts in the series plot were left hanging/unanswered and never addressed again, there are still some parts that were really written well. That aside, I really love Koh. While he's not like the usual traditional Red leaders where they actively assumed the leadership role, he still shared a lot of the traits most often associated with a lot of Red leaders of the past sentai. And he was really the heart of the team that binds everyone together. It's surely a good change after the last Dino Red leader aka Kiryu Daigo from Kyoryuger, who came off a bit too strong for me with his one-man show most of the time.
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