1
Juniko
In My Mind Palace
I didn't want to watch this drama because I didn't want of another 1 Litre of Tears.(I loved that drama when I first watched it, but it really serves the purpose of making you cry and I'm kinda sick of the genre right now) But it's alright because this one is completely different.
The story is very realistic and not filled with self-pity. In fact, it's a good thing you see Takuto cry in the opening because he hardly does in the drama ( and the few time he does cry he makes sure you cry with him). I won't say much about the story because I don't want to spoil, but all I can say is : this is not a 1 Litre of Tears copy/paste, so don't worry.
Also, I really like how the characters were written. They all have their importance. Even the school girl, who seems pointless at first, actually have a very important part to play in this story. I even got some good surprises : the little brother, for example. I hated him first, but in the end of the drama he was one of my favorite characters of the show.
Acting : Splendid. Realistic. Impressing. Award worthy. That kind of awesome. And no I don't say that just because Haruma Miura knows how to cry. He knows how to make a character who wants to cry smile and make the audience burst into tears. He knows how to show us that he's scared just by drinking from a bottle. He knows how to forget the camera and his everlasting handsomeness to show us how ugly his face can be when panic burst out. He knows how to control - and loose control- of his voice. Most of all : he can really express lots of emotions just using his eyes, which in this particuar case is a priceless asset.
The supporting actors also did a very good job ( I'm already a fan of Tabe Mikako for Kimi Ni Todoke and Ooku and of Kazama Shunsuke for Soredemo Ikite Yuku - from a psychopath to a cutie pie, is there anything he CAN'T do ?). They all really did a great job.
Music : Not a music to make you cry, more a stressful one. That's what I like. Not self pity, but fear of the life that's coming ahead, that's the point of the drama. But there are also sweet musics for the more positive moments. Anyway the main thing is : the music stayed at its rightful place. Helping the show, not trying to make up for an actor's lack of acting skills. There was no need for that kind of music since all the actors did so well. So as a result, there were lots of silent moments, which made the show even more realistic.
There is only one thing I'd like the point out, about this drama. It's too easy.
After seing the drama, a viewer could feel safe again, knowing that no matter what, there is always a way to cope with the disease. But what you could forget is that Takuto comes from a wealthy family, his father even runs an entire hospital. So all this pieces of equipment - none of them are free, and insurance only covers so much - are there because his family has the money. But surely not all the ALS patients have those kind of means. I'm sure they don't all live in Takuto's luxury. Also, not all the companies would accept to cope with an employee's sickness like that. They don't do a pre-hiring health check-up just for the fun of it. So, sure he has a terrible disease, but in his misery he's terribly lucky. I'm sure a drama about a poor, unemployed man living alone facing the same disease would have been unbearable to watch.
But doesn't keep this drama from being really moving and well done, with outstanding acting. Do watch it ! ^^
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Don’t expect a fairy tale. Don’t expect a boring sad story full of fake tears and violins. Don’t expect any average acting. This drama is telling us the story of people you can identify with. This is a story that could easily be true. There isn’t one character that doesn’t fit, not one "black sheep" actor. The dialogues are written as if in a theater play, and each line is perfectly mastered (Sakamoto Yui got the Best Screenwriter Award for this drama). The palpable tension captivate us and makes you hold your breath and wait for the next move, the next line.
(The three directors also got the Best Director Award.)
Eita (who got the Best Actor Award in the Television Drama Academy) and Hikari Mitsushima are simply incredible. Both seems at the end of their tether starting from the very first episode, and this is one more reason why their dialogues are so enjoyable and captivating. But, as I said, even the supporting actors are are talented (especially Otake Shinobu, whose performance got her the Best Supporting Actress Award, and Kazama Shunsuke, who also got an Award)
As for the music, there isn’t much to say aside from it being beautiful and well-balanced. Very different from some sad dramas that need sad music to make the audience cry because the actor aren’t good enough.
6 Television Drama Academy Award are 6 reasons why I gave this drama a Overall 10 and a 9 in Rewatch Value.
In short, it's a must-watch..
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STOP !!!!!
Don't say it's unhelpful just because I gave 9 and 10 to pretty much everything. I can explain, I swear !
I gave an Overall 10 because in my heart it deserves it.
I gave a 10 to Rewatch Value because it's really not the kind of movie you need to not know the ending to enjoy. The story is moving whether or not you know who end up with who in the end. Proof of that : I've seen it 4 times and I'm not regretting it. AT ALL !
I gave a 9 to music because it holds its place in the movie and because the two songs are stuck in my head forever. And I'm enjoying it.
I gave a 8 to acting because let's be honest here, it was awesome. But it's not a movie that magnifies actors, it's more about the story, so not 10. And not 9 either because the main actress could have done a better job, to my point of view. She did great, but I'm a picky watcher, if I may say...
Finally, I gave 9 to the story. Let's talk about this for ma moment.
For those, like me, who hesitate before watching adult movies like this one, let's be clear : THIS IS NOT PORN.
Really, you need to get past the first few minutes and see that this is really an incredibly realistic and thus touching, heart-warming, beautiful love story that will certainly make you laugh and maybe - if you're like me - maybe even make you cry. You will love it, you will love the characters, you will want this story to be yours and you will watch this movie over and over again, with ice cream on your laps, or with your boyfriend in your arms, or even with a bunch of girlfriends you want to get infected with K-drama addiction.
(after this movie, you make them watch Protect the Boss, or Secret Love, and you got yourself a K-drama Gang ! )
I just loved this movie, to have fun watching it !
^^
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The story is actually very original, there is place for cuteness, drama, comedy, a great second female lead, and beautiful couple scenes. What's not to love ?
I gave a 9 in acting because I beleive the second male lead lacked nuance on his part, but the two leads are doing an amazing job.
Anyway it's a good drama, so go watch it ^^ lol !
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You've been warned.
Such a movie is impossible to rate. It's really hard to make the difference between the true story that captivates and shocks us, and the form, the way it is told, the movie. Personnally, on my MDL list, it is still rated N/A.
Story...well there is no story, those are facts. Those facts are, of course, adapted and the way this movie deliver that adaptation to us is outstanding. The dark atmosphere, the suspens that keeps us on edge, and the flashbacks system that makes things so vivid, everything is done to captivate the audience.
Thanks to all the members of the cast (who did an amazing job portraying their characters, especially the children and Gong Yoo...well Gong Yoo was simply exceptional) you will be trapped into this movie from its very first minute to the last. You will feel horror and despair as well little pieces of moved joy as you see the events happening as if you were there.
The music isn't a beautiful melody designed to make you cry every times you hear it, but it will make you feel calm, tense, or angry. It's really a part of the movie.
Rewatch value...honestly, it would be torture to me to rewatch this, but I'll still do it, because this movie is amazing and the acting astonishing. But I won't say it was beautiful. Although this movie is a piece of art, I'd feel sick to call it beautiful.
Since he got the main part, let's talk about Gong Yoo in this movie. His Kang In Ho is true, sincere, so kind and pure in front of all the horror happening before his eyes that it is impossible not to be moved by him. Gong Woo is definitly a top actor and I can't wait to see what he will do next.
But there is something bothering me about this movie, like all movies involving young actors.Even though this is all acting, I wonder how those children felt, when they were shooting some scenes...sometimes, I felt this movie was going too far...but this is only my point of view...
I know that my review is a little dark, but I just saw Crucible, and this movie is dark.
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When I heard about this movie, I thought "Tssss, another movie with a poor plot standing as an excuse to say it's not porn". Then I red international critics praising it, so it got me curious. I saw the trailer, and I knew I had to watch it.
There is a plot. It's the tense fight between a rich that seems to have everything since his birth, and a poor that desperatly want to survive without anyone's help. One who fall in love at first sight, and the other who wants to avoid feelings. Who will give up first?
This movie uses silences as a real way of speaking. Since you won't have one useless line, each one is used wisely. Same thing goes for the shots. I really, really liked the way this movie was directed.
I can understand though that this movie isn't for everyone. Personnally, I'm not fond of Yaoi, so I even skipped some scenes
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This review may contain spoilers
The first good point about the story, it's the fact that it really start at the first minute of the first episode. Don't say : "I'll watch the first 10 minutes now and then I'll watch the rest after work if I find it interesting", because you'll end up skipping work...Then, you get to know the characters, and each and every one of them have a real personality, so you can be sure you will be moved by at least one of them. All the characters are slowly evolving during the drama, in a quite subtle way. I gave the story a 9 because I felt it was sometimes a little too slow.
Personally, I was really impressed by the two lead's acting performance, as well as the second male lead (while the second female lead's acting was so average it made me drop a point in my review). Thanks to their acting, you really beleive in the story, and in the characters.
Finally, I'll talk about the music : I just love it. My special award is for the song "Gu Rae Do"(Nevertheless) by Soo Ji, and its instrumental version which were so beautiful and unique they became a real plus to the drama.
Oh and, no spoiler, but I love the ending. I won't say if it's a bad or good one, but I just think this story deserved that kind of ending.
This drama is really worth watching, and I hope you'll enjoy it too!
That's the end of my review, hope it's been helpful.^^
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Don't expect this movie to be a shorter version of the drama. This movie is a completetly different version of Hwang Jin Yi story. In this movie, Hwang Jin Yi was raised as a noble during all her childhood, and this is only when she turn fifteen that her life change all of the sudden.
Unlike the drama this movie focus on Jin Yi's personality, rather than her art, so those who expect a lot of music and dance will be disapointed. But the OST of the drama is really beautiful.
One thing I absolutely loved in this movie, was the settings and the costumes. The landscapes are beautiful, the architecture and costume are really subtle and delicate. Everything isn't flashy with bright color, you have deep blue, black lace, green and black dresses, black hair ornements, all those dark color contrasting with the ivory skin of Hwang Jin Yi and make her gaze mesmerinzing : all her expessions are magnified.
This is a captivating and moving piece of art that I recommend.
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Story : Are you fed up of desperate causes ? Of Love-me-I'm-Dying kind of Drama ? I understand you. I was like that too. After 1Litre of Tears, Koizora and so on I just couldn't do it anymore. No more suffering, goodbye hospitals : I just gave it all up.
But this short drama let me see that there is still hope for the genre. And anyway it's not like it's a 120 episodes melodrama, there are only 4 episodes and they are all aptivating, really well directed, and full of surprises. In fact, it's so well done that I consider it a 4hours long movie rather than a drama.
And you'd be surprised how much you'll laugh in that drama. Indeed Perhaps Love was done by smart people, who are very much aware of how hard it can be to watch a melodrama, so they gave us 3 incredibly funny characters who lighten the atmosphere.
Plus, they managed to rid this drama of many of all the Dramalandian clichés we would expect to see in this kind of story, which helps a lot !
Acting : I rate it 10 because it really is outstanding. You believe in the characters, you are in this story with them, and it works. Don't expect the fake and classic End-Of-Episode-Kiss-Scene because the only kiss you'll get is those these characters can give each other in their situation. Their anger is real, their saddnest is real and their love is real.
Music : It's not all OST, you also have real-life songs if I may say, like CCR "Have You Ever Seen the Rain", a song that is doomed to make me cry from now on. Very well chosen and balanced.
Rewatch Value : You'll see in the end of the drama. If you're like me, you'll want to rewatch it right away. And then in a few weeks. And then in a few months.
Overall : Underrated. Incredible. Melodramatic without needing any string quarted. It's short. It's great. Just watch it.
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This review may contain spoilers
OVERALL : Nice summer drama, fresh and entertaining with very little thinking involved. PART ONE Positive points(Spoiler Free):
1- The Plot was enjoyable with an original start that makes me curious.
2- The comedy worked, it made the drama entertaining.
3- The romance was light and fresh, and made me want to keep watching even though I knew this was not going to be a serious drama.
4- The last episode even made me cry, mostly because I grew attached to the characters and didn't want to leave them.
PART TWO : Negative points (Minor Spoilers to explain my points)
1 - They chose to play the good twin/evil twin card to avoid really going into the subject of :
a- Robot /human romance (like: is sex even happening? Do we just assume she's asexual? Does she really want to be with someone that will never physically desire her?)
b- the change society would undergo if an AI truly tried to obtain human rights or manage a human workteam (let alone a company).
2 - They Resolved every possible crisis by way of Deus Ex Machina (solutions that come from nowhere and seem a little bit like cheating), but it's a sci-fi Kdrama so that's a given.
3- The robotics genius was reduced to simply being a sad and controlling mother after 2 episodes. Her brilland brain left the boat once the plot was introduced. Then she became unsufferable (to me at least)
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This if a drama you should watch if :
*You're an aspiring actor, or you just like stage plays and dramas^^
*You like success stories and initiatory journeys.
3 Things I loved about this drama :
- They kept Maya's character close to the manga. Her temper, her naive side, her passion, the way she manage to get a hold of her roles are all faithfully portrayed.
- They gave the plays and the acting lessons all the credit the manga gave them.
- The relationship between Maya and Masumi is stressed as an important part of the story.
3 Things I really didn't like in this drama :
- They added a lot of unecessary drama in a melodramatic enough story.
- They made fake links between the characters so they won't have to cast more actors.
- The bad acting from the male lead .
In short, I really love glass mask, but I'm only half convinced by the drama adaptation. It was better than the 1989 anime, but really didn't match the 2005 one, sponsored by Square Enix^^.
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During the first 5 episodes, I really thought this drama was going to be great. The story was interesting, and the cast seemed fitting. It was funny, and sweet with some suspens...until the whole thing drowned into melotramatic clichés.
At some point, the actors stopped talking to each other, and instead began to just speak their lines with an affected manner, giving the audience the impression that they are philosophizing all episodes long, talking about "where they are in their relationship", and trying to convince us that they are about to kill each other, when actually there is not enought tension between them to generate so much as a slap.
I think the story also needed a strong opponent. Instead we got the evilness "because we are so evil and beautiful and cool and with a dark past it makes us even more evil".
It wasn't so bad that I would go as far as saying it would be a waste of time to watch it (come on, there IS Joo Won), but to me this really wasn't a good spy drama.
No, to all those who like spy dramas, I'd recommend the awesome Time Between Dog and Wolf, but not 7th Grade Civil Servant.
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This review may contain spoilers
WARNING : SPOILER ALERT (I'm trying not to, but I kinda have to give out some elements to explain myself. So read this after completing/dropping the drama please) Story : 6/10
Honestly I think the story started out GREAT. The first half of the drama was really interesting. But then I have the impression that the writer lost track of her own story.
1 - Some elements were forsaken, like the "long lost love reincarnation possibility". When he saved her from that truck, she said the exact same thing the girl said 400 years ago, and she felt sad and weird after seeing the old hairpin. So there was something planned, it wasn't just random. And then, after a few episodes, it was like none of this ever happened.
2 - I feel the "alien" thing wasn't used to its full extend. I mean in the end, we hardly know anything about his world and his family, if he has one!
3 - The last 5 episodes reminded me a bit too much of My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, so the ending wasn't any surprising at all. You just had the same story: He wants to save her; he loves her, if he stays with her he dies, so he disappear, she tries to get over him but she can’t, then when all seems lost, he comes back and they get their happy ending.
Acting : 7/10
The leads were good together, but the evil characters were not charismatic enough. The bromance was great, sure, but not enough to have me give a high rating. Still, my award goes to Jun Ji Hyun, who gave a really good performance. It’s refreshing to see such strong and nicely flawed female lead. She’s not the perfect hard-working Mary Sue you see in most kdramas.
Music : 5/10
“You AAAARE My Destiny!” No comment.
But still, the OST wasn’t completely annoying, so 5.
Rewatch Value : 6/10
Honestly I won’t rewatch it (and yet I’m a rewatcher) but this isn’t the kind of drama you can only watch once because the pleasure is all about the mystery and suspense, so I guess it’s rewatchable. And some scenes were really funny, so you could actually enjoy it. But personally I don’t think I’ll miss the characters enough to even want to rewatch that drama.
Overall: 6/10
It was a good drama, but sadly I think the writer took a lot of shortcuts and added clichés because she was obviously not prepared enough (that or she was forced to change the story after a few weeks). It was entertaining but not addictive. I enjoyed it, and sure it’s not often you see aliens in a kdrama (most of the time it’s more like ghost or gumihos), but it wasn’t really that original. So I can’t help but being a bit disappointed. Still, you can watch it and enjoy it.
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- They probably didn't want to add supporting role, so they reduced the cast. For exemple, Ayumi got a part for a play she wasn't supposed to act in, which makes the drama look unrealistic because it gives the fake impression that the whole acting world revolves around Maya and Ayumi.
- They added a sub-story and made it the center of the second season, although it didn't even existed in the manga. Maybe it's because they needed a strong second male lead, I don't know, but to me it made this second season look more like a fanfiction then a real adaptation.
- The male lead still had serious acting issues from my point of view...
I also didn't like the fact that they made up an ending rather than keeping an open one.
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I know that those many cuts and this style of directing is typical for most T-drama, but to me cutting the drama this often mean cutting the rythm, and in such a crazy comedy that needs slower moments for sweet or sad scenes, rythm is a priority. So cutting the scene in half and repeating them, and stopping a scene to let us hear what everyone is thinking (in an anime kind of way...but even slower), definitely killed the rythm of some very important scenes, and kept me from being captivated by the story and moved by the characters.
Another thing that kept me from being moved : the poor dubbing. Honestly, how on earth am I supposed to judge the acting if the two male leads are dubbed! Be it an extra or a guest star, ok, but the TWO male leads ! But still, Ivy Chen was a convincing Kyoko, so I gave her 5 points.
The music now. At first I liked it, it was fun, but as the drama went on, I realized how unbalanced it was. They really didn't choose well which music suited which scene, and that's too bad, because it sometimes ruined the mood.
Nevertheless, I gave a 7 in rewatch value because some scenes were really funny (no, REALLY! ) and because...well...I love Skip Beat !
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