1
KimWanHee
Europe
Does personal happiness always mean making others unhappy?
I wanted to watch Happiness originally when it came out but it took some time before I actually got to it. And to be honest I don't regret it. This is a drama for binge-watching for sure. And before I go more into why, let me tell you, this review says 8.5 but my personal rating is 10. This drama is definitely not for everyone, a lot of people might even drop it. But let me tell you more...What is old/what is new: The story sounds like your typical zombie post-virus infection story with people turning out to be the real monsters and turning against each other. There are a lot of those dramas and movies going around, in that regard the drama is very cliche. What makes the drama stand out is mainly the characters, relationships and the disease itself.
Unusual relationships: The main leads are in quite the unusual relationship and I do have to say I absolutely loved that they weren't your usual lovey-dovey couple who have to face crisis or bickering strangers who become each other's savior. First and foremost they are friends, they trust each other and they even trust in each other's abilities. And at the same time they care for each other in a loving and pure way. It's just such a fresh breeze compared to all the overly dramatic love story lines.
There are many other interesting relationships and characters in the drama, some expected, some unexpected and despite the obvious "villains" you will end up liking some of the characters you might have disliked in the beginning. There is just no chance to hate them and their character development is astonishing.
Character consistency: One thing I absolutely hate in dramas is if characters aren't consistent. If it's part of their character development and their change makes sense, then fine, but if it's just a 180º from their usual actions, it's just unnatural. Happiness does a good job at this. There is character development but at the same time all characters are consistent in what they want and what is most important to them. You get to understand their motivations and how they think and you understand how they arrive where they are at the end of the journey.
The disease: One of the most interesting aspects of this is the disease itself. Not like other zombie dramas, the focus of the story is not just on surviving but also healing. The characters never really forget that there might be a cure out there. And if there is a cure, is it really reasonable to kill a person who is infected? The cure is definitely a key focus and plays a big role.
The moral dilemma: For me there are two big questions in this drama, one being the typical "What actions are reasonable when someone is trying to survive in an apocalypse?" and the other unusual one is "Does my happiness always mean making someone else miserable?" Everyone in the drama tries to achieve their own happiness, in whichever way possible, but at the same time some find it in themselves to overcome their own selfishness. I love how the leads never really make it a "will we act in everyone's best interest" or "will we act in our best interest" but they clearly thought their and the other people's happiness didn't have to exclude one another. An interesting take on humanity and happiness...
Watch if...
you like romantic (as in it touches your heart) but not too lovey-dovey couples, zombie shows, mystery solving shows, fast-paced shows.
Do not watch if...
you love romantic dramas (or rom-coms), are easily scared of zombies and blood or if you expect this to be an absolutely mind-blowing drama. If you don't like it after 2 episodes, don't continue watching.
Is it a must-watch? No. Is it worth the time watching? Yes.
This drama is definitely a nice break from all the usual dramas, shining with their character design and acting (which honestly is top-notch on all sides) and gives you quality drama time. I hope you enjoy!
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What you expect, might be exactly what you get...or not
Story: The special episode does not give you much of a new story. It is mainly there to show you how life continues for our dear characters and how their feelings fit into the life around them and their future. That said, the special did show some new aspects of everyone's lives: We get some quality Fiat-Nam-Tho friendship time, funny but touching in-laws scenes between Fiat and Leon, some insight into how their friends see Leo and Fiat, and how the DNS series ending really affected Leon. We also find out what the characters have planned for their future.Characters: As it is only one episode and a special, there is not much character development BUT the last 20 minutes of the episode do give us some insight into how Fiat has changed over time from the impulsive childish behavior to someone more responsible about his future.
Music, quality and setting: Don't much to say there. The acting was great with a few minor quirks here and there but barely noticeable. The music was the same we already know. Overall the quality was amazing, the settings quite stunning at times and you really cannot complain about anything regarding the quality. This is the quality we want to achieve for all dramas out there.
Overall: I have been waiting for this special since it was announced and have been overly happy when it was finally released today. So there was a lot of excitement when I finally got to watch it. At the same time, there is also something to be desired (which I won't go into as it is a major spoiler). As this is content you have to pay for, I do recommend watching it if you liked DNS the series and if you are really into fluffy and lovey-dovey. If you weren't a fan of the series, don't bother. Otherwise, the special is nicely set up and provides a great outlook into the characters' future. I recommend a watch of the original series and then decide whether to watch this or not. I definitely enjoyed it (but I also adore the series way more than I should so...)
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The Lost Tomb 2: Explore With the Note
13 people found this review helpful
Don't fret over the beginning
Before even starting this review, let me tell you: Do not judge this series by its beginning. The start of it is pretty horrific and I admit it does not get better until like episode 8 or 9. Also, this review is especially for people who watched other adaptations of the Daomubiji series of dramas.Story:
+ the story works well in itself and there are almost no plot-holes
- the story does not work well regarding its continuity to its prequel and sequel
Overall I have to say, I enjoyed the story, especially the later half of the drama. The story pace is quite steady, fast enough to not get bored, slow enough to enjoy scenes. There were some story parts (side story mainly) which I just could not enjoy though.
Some characters were re-casted, while others weren't and it is noticeable. The chemistry in the beginning is way off and you will feel like some of the actors first have to grow into their roles. Will they be your favorite casting of all the adaptations? Probably not. Are they doing a good job? Yes.
This drama also makes it one of its main missions to show you new perspectives to characters you might already know. If you expect your usual main protagonists, forget it. It is interesting though how some relationships are displayed in the drama, some totally new from what we have seen before, some just a new perspective. This goes from Wu Xie and his uncle to how Wu Xie deals with betrayals from his closest friends.
The music is actually really really good and I caught myself enjoying the intro and outro a lot. Regarding the special effects and CGI, I am quite sure all the money went into the last two episodes. You will notice green screen but if you blink your eyes a few times, it is not that bad.
Overall: I will probably end up re-watching some of it over time, as I did really enjoy the new character relationships and some of the scenes are really a small treasure. I will probably avoid re-watching all of it though. I totally recommend watching the show after some time has passed since watching the other adaptations, as what makes this series so hard to watch is mainly the comparison, and less the series itself.
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Exactly what it promises
The Pirates appeared on my Amazon recommendations a long time ago, but I never really started watching always thinking it might not be as enjoyable as Pirates of the Caribbean or such. And to be honest, if you are expecting a movie like that you are totally in the wrong.The Pirates is exactly what it promises: a Korean pirates and bandits movie with action, ships and greed. And the execution is really a delight to watch :)
The Story: The story is not too complicated and they do not really delve much into the backgrounds of everyone, staying pretty superficial with just some back story of our main characters. Some people may not enjoy this but since I just wanted to watch a light and fast movie, this seemed perfect for me.
The cast/characters: In the beginning I thought I would find some of the characters annoying but as it turns out all of them have good and bad sides and enchant you in their own way. Everyone fits together well and I really enjoyed the acting. Although some relationship developments came out of the blue, the characters behavior seemed very natural. Also compliments to the fighting, it seems very cool while also not being too over the top and not being too fast, so you can keep track of what is actually happening.
The music/production: The production of the movie is really nice and high quality. Even the special effects are made in a quality it does not distract from the story line. The costumes, the camera angles, if I could give more than ten points for this, I would.
Rewatch: Definitely.
Overall, The Pirates is a fast humorous action pirates movie with some hints of revenge and romance and high quality production, and you will warm up to the characters pretty fast and support them in reaching their goal. The only thing I have to say...those poor whales, let them live in peace!
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It has amazing production quality and some of the camera shots are Hollywood worthy. The main intro song fits the intro video really well (although I hated when they changed it later on because it didn't fit at all with any other song). And the premise of the story is interesting and fun too.
Now, why is it still so badly rated? Mainly because while the story started off well, it never closed. Over the duration of the series, probably around half point, the story got lost and while we do get a lot of fan service, we don't get much story development or even character development. The production was influenced by the worldwide crisis going on but the story had been lost even before that, so you can only fault the slightly rushed ending to the crisis.
As for the acting, it was okay. Some did better than others and overall there are some really amazing scenes and some awkwardness included.
Overall, WHY R U is a nice series to watch inbetween but you should not expect a fully fledged out story or Hollywood acting from it. The production gets the highest compliments though, the quality of the pictures and everything is just breathtaking.
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This review may contain spoilers
Recently I got into watching Korean disaster movies, so of course I went ahead and watched Pandora. Pandora has great acting, a nice story, some like-able, some non like-able characters (thankfully more like-able ones) and all the questionable human choices you could wish for. It started out like any other disaster movie but by the end you are totally into the movie and the characters, rooting for them and hoping everyone makes the right choice and everyone survives. One thing I appreciated in the movie and why I give it a 10, because there was actual character development. While in the beginning so many seemed to be only interested in their own opinion, by the end everyone of them saw that they did something wrong or should have done better. This is definitely a tear-jerker but it is a good one.
Why is the Re-Watch value so low? Because my heart won't make it if I ever watch it again.
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This review may contain spoilers
Normally you watch a disaster movie to see the rescue work, people saving others even though it may endanger themselves and for the feeling of hope you get. Haeundae is not really like that. Most of the movie is pre-story and the story where people are trying to survive is like 10 minutes of the movie, so not really much. The pre-story holds a lot of "trying to be funny" humor that in my opinion is just too much for a natural disaster movie and a lot of the characters are just not like-able in any way and, I have to admit, I did not see myself rooting for most of these characters during the disaster.
It does have some people finding the strength to care for others and some people taking a sacrifice for others, like you would expect and hope for but it's mostly unlikeable characters having the best ending and almost no character development after.
The cast itself is pretty great and did good with their acting and I did enjoy our two main characters a lot. So compliments for that.
Overall, Haeundae is a good movie for when you have nothing else to do and want some good old Korean comedy mixed with a natural disaster. But as for a natural disaster movie, it is kinda disastrous.
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Story: Love O2O is not a melodrama and also does not feature a lot of dramatic scenes. It is a fluffy romance with some funny scenes inbetween. So if you expect drama or tragedy, you're at the wrong place. If you want to watch a light drama with a sweet couple and some nice side characters, go ahead, this is perfect.
Cast/Characters: The problem with the cast/characters is mostly that the characters are pretty flat. They don't have many quirks and seem mostly like normal people - albeit handsome and beautiful (something that is highlighted too often for my taste). But at the same time they are very likeable. Even those you don't like in the beginning will grow on you until the end. I did wish they developed some of the side stories more.
The music was nice, The gaming scenes were repeated but okay.
Why is it so hard to review? Because for me it would have been nice to summarize the first 10 episodes into like 2 or 3 and then show the rest. The problem with this drama is, it gets interesting at about half-point and everything before is kinda boring and hard-to-watch. But if you make it past that, you get a really nice story and even though the drama is not perfect, it has so many good qualities and is just a nice watch inbetween if you had enough of all the tragedies and drama.
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This is what I call a perfect ending...
You might think I'm overrating this because I'm still in the TharnType fever but tbh that's not the reason it gets such a high rating. I thought about it and decided it did deserve the 10 points. Let me tell you why though...Story: The story of this "special episode" keeps true to the original series, recaps some of our favorites from before and gives us new stuff to fawn over. They managed to include the perfect amount of humor and cheesiness, mixed with emotional turmoil and so much romance, you will have hearts in your eyes. The comedy scenes are full of humor and clearly separated from the serious stuff and the serious and heavy scenes are made even more exciting through high production. The story in itself gives us a new chapter of Tharn and Type we didn't really explore in the series: Type's family. And it is definitely worth delving into.
Acting: The acting, with around 2% of exceptions, is great and the characters did not lose any of their charm from the series. The chemistry is still going strong, maybe even stronger since this one is not so much about Tharn and Type learning to care for each other but learning how there love fits in with the world around them.
Production/Music: Every show out there, that messed this up, please go watch this. It is perfect. Perfect volume, perfect timing. There were two scenes that were done so powerfully, I won't forget them anytime soon, I swear.
Overall: A definite re-watch and a great milestone in BL production. It was done amazingly and fits together perfectly, that's why this deserves such a high praise. Beware though, as it will give you serious wishes for a second season and hopefully we will get it!
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Hwayi tells the story of a boy who stands between his past and his present and finds himself struggling to find who he can trust.
Story- The story is thrilling and keeps you on your toes the whole movie. Hwayi learns the dark secrets of his childhood and has to find out how to deal with them. His life is full of bad things but hidden inside are also some good memories. In general the story is a lot about people and stories having two sides to them. Some people act rough but still care for the others. Don't kid yourself though, this movie is not about the fight between good and evil or about doing the right thing. This story is about being bad for selfish reasons or because you want to protect something precious to you, but there are no good guys in this story, not really. It tells a story of how far revenge can go and whether a person that did something horrible to you can still be loved and called family.
Acting- The cast was amazing. Every single one of them. All of them delivered their characters perfectly and showed us true feelings and gave life to this story full of despair. Big compliments to Yeo Jin Goo. He did an amazing job!
Music- perfect pace, perfect musical background. Quiet when it was necessary, soundtrack when the scene asked for it.
Rewatch- maybe after some time. This story is amazing but also so full of sadness. I don't think I can stomach it so soon again.
Overall- Hwayi offers you a mesmerizing story about a young boy caught between his family who raised him and the real world, where they are the bad guys. The acting is on point and overall this movie deserves being called a masterpiece. It may be hard to stomach but it is a great movie.
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This review may contain spoilers
Story: The story of TU is enchanting. While you may not know what to expect in the beginning, after some episodes you just won't be able to stop watching because you are gonna want to know how it ends. The characters are well written and the story keeps you on the edge and takes you through comedic events, music-based fighting, sword fighting, teasing between siblings, cute interactions, dramatic show downs, tragic events...you get pretty much everything except for a break (except for the comedy). So do not expect this to be a light watch, it's not, but is it worth it? Definitely. As for the story lines, the only minus point I found was the long flashback as well as some ridiculous revelation scenes during the last third of the series. But in the end you all see it as a whole and just go along with it. Cast/Acting: The cast did an amazing job. That is all I have to say about it. All of them were awesome and totally brought their characters to life. Even the little kid actor was great.
Music: Like I said, a lot of musical fighting. But it's nice music and the scenes are astonishingly well done and visually, they are a sight to be seen. I do admit that some musical pieces could have been used a little less over the course of the series and I would not have been sad.
Rewatch: to be honest, the comedy scenes sure. The drama...probably not.
Overall: The Untamed is a roller coaster trip through so many emotions your heart will have a hard time keeping up. When you watch it you just won't be able to stop since you get so into the characters, you start swearing at the villains and cheering for the heroes. The dramas does have a few rough edges but it fits so well together, the rough sides are not noticeable as much. I definitely recommend watching if you want to watch a fantasy, kinda (fictional) historical series. Also do not be intimidated by the 50 episodes. You will soon forget how many you watched because the story is so addicting.
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Story: The story behind Kill It seems pretty simple in the beginning and turns more complicated later on and I can guarantee you that in the middle you start thinking "how are they gonna end this, there are only like 3 episodes left" or something like that. I thought they would rush the ending but they actually kept their pace steady and neat. The beginning is interesting, the middle part almost too much for my poor nerves and the end is just amazing. If I had to name any drama with the best ending scene - this one does it.
Acting/Cast: I was really surprised by the cast. I did not think they could do it so well, especially because the characters in general had this tendency to be void of emotion but just in the right moments you could see exactly what they were thinking and feeling and like mentioned above, they pulled out everything for episode 12. All actors, whether main actors or supporting, proved to be amazingly talented at their job.
Music: While I did enjoy the soundtrack in specific scenes, I actually did not like the main OST of the show. It does fit the show, but not my tastes, so I won't say more on it.
Rewatch: Sure, just not this year. This is probably one of those dramas I re-(binge) watch every other year. Those are the best.
Overall: Overall the drama fits together just perfectly. One thing that you'll notice: the number of episodes is just right for telling this story. If they had added more or reduced it, they would have had to change so many things...I think the length fits perfectly, also because normally dramas with this kind of story line have like 20 episodes. It was refreshing to see a shorter one.
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This review may contain spoilers
So before you think "OMG she gave this show a 10 even though it's so short" there is a real reason behind it. I promise.The story of ReminderS is nothing overly interesting or dramatic but that was clear from the beginning since it a) only has three episodes, b) is called Reminders c) is mainly to promote the actors and the upcoming third season of Love Sick.
I don't have a problem with that. Since it was clear from the beginning there were no empty promises but they delivered what they said. So don't expect real big drama or a major storyline going on. There is a direction but that's pretty much it.
The cast and the characters were amazing. The LBC cast played different characters this time but they added character traits that made the roles even better and seemed more natural for the actors, so it seemed more convincing. For the Love Sick cast - we came a long way especially with their acting. It improved a lot and I love that the actors still have the same chemistry as before and it did not suffer over the years. The Love Sick characters also took something like an advisor role in this show. It was nice to see them as a mostly stable couple trying to help others and finally getting a break from all the drama we are used to from the usual shows. They probably kept the drama for the upcoming season.
Also we have a few cameos, some expected from the trailer, some totally unexpected and a wonderful surprise.
The music is pretty much the same over all the three episodes but if you watched Love Sick with all your heart, beware of fainting and grinning like a fool ^.^
Rewatch, depends on when the future shows are coming out.
Overall this show deserves a 7 if you are a LBC fan, 5 if you are a general BL fan and a 10 if you are a Love Sick fan. Not because the story is that good or it is that interesting but because this show stays so true to its name, it's scary. This show is a reminder of LBC and LS and brings back all those memories. I watched LS as long ago as it can be and I really enjoyed seeing the characters I haven't seen so long, also LBC is not getting another season so we don't have many chances to see them together again.
ReminderS is a show to remind us of those great shows, couples, actors and music and to remember watching them and getting into BL and that's what makes it as amazing as it is.
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Story: You think a story about accounting and finance would be boring but it is not, mainly because while they do mention some stuff, they never really get into any equations - so don't worry if you aren't good in math ^.^ Chief Kim has a straight story which means it goes in one direction and one direction only and won't sway from that path. There are comedic scenes - a lot actually - but as for romance or side stories, there are almost none. I liked that about it though because it made it an easy watch and really used its 20 episodes.
Cast/Characters: The cast is perfect and the characters are awesome. They managed to give so many characters and interesting backstory or trait, you just cannot forget about them. From the always nagging office worker to the two-faced and funny side kick. You'll get all sorts of characters in this drama and the chemistry between the male leads was off the charts...yes, you read correctly, the MALE leads. The bromance in this story is awesome and you really start wishing they were brothers. They do bicker and go on each others nerves a lot but you can kind of see the respect they have for each other. I also loved Gwangsook's two faces, but you'll understand after watching. The cast did great work and I think another name for this drama should be "the one with the amazing facial acting"
Music: It was kind of confusing when there was romantic music between some of the leads, since there is never actually something romantic going on but expect for that the music was placed just at the right time. Also the sound effects were awesome and just made the whole drama better.
Rewatch: Some scenes, definitely. The whole drama, probably not.
Overall: Chief Kim offers you a wide range of characters with amazing and believable character development and also shows a lot of "I'm badass and I'm here to own this show" scenes from our heros and villains. Chief Kim is a must watch show if you want an office and company comedy drama without the romance factor, which is a nice change once in a while!
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The story itself sounded interesting in regards to the characters but it did not sound like something new. Well, in general it isn't. But, MM makes this simple story into so much more. The characters get enough back story so you can feel with them or they get enough screen time so you'll warm up to them easily. It starts off simple and gets more complicated later on without making the show too strange. It stays as down to earth as you can get with a merman show. Also note, MM is one of those dramas that have the perfect length. If it had been longer, the story would have been dragged out, if shorter, it would feel rushed. It was just perfect!
The cast was quite good and a little bit of a surprise. Here I have to say, I have never like the female characters in a show so much as in MM. The females aren't just weak or strong but the know what they want while also showing their weaknesses and standing proudly. They don't just fold because someone is pushing them. And they also have a good sense, which means there are almost no "give someone else the fault" misunderstandings between the six leads in the drama. That was refreshing!
The laugh of the doctor was strange though...especially around the later episodes.
About the music - it was too loud. There were almost no no-sound scenes. So put your speakers or headphones on low volume. You'll still hear everything but you won't get a headache from all the music.
I'm also definitely gonna rewatch that one ^.^ I recommend watching this if you are annoyed with the typical female leads, want to have a fresh supernatural drama, wanna see merman in a drama for once or want to try something new.
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