Loved the casting!! Most of the cast are actual teenagers, making the story more believable, and they all brought their own little charm to the screen. Our two main leads did a phenomenal job with making their characters three dimensional, and I felt very connected to both of them, though did feel they lacked a bit of chemistry. The two main leads spent half a year training before filming to look more professional with the instruments, so I really appreciate their dedication!
Ahhh the music was great. The instrumental pieces were perfect (as usual for j-movies), and the songs really set the vibe for the film. The soundtrack wasn't a huge piece for the movie, though did add nice accompaniment at times.
Overall, a great way to spend an afternoon, but not something that absolutely blew my mind.
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I will admit that sometimes it felt like it took way to long for the plot to get somewhere, but I didn't mind to be honest. Unless you're really picky, I don't think you would notice this flaw.
The acting was top-notch and spot on. I don't think Park Bo Young could've done a better job as the protagonist than she already did. I was so satisfied with everyone's performance and their acting capabilities. Sometimes it went so bizarre and crazy but they played it off with their characters really well. I do wish, however, that certain characters would have more development or back story to them, particularly the brother and Gook Du's girlfriend.
The music I CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW CATCHY ALL THE SONGS ARE and the enhanced the scenes so well. I've been listening to the OST on repeat for days and haven't gotten sick of the songs yet, surprisingly.
I'm not one for rematching dramas, but I'll definitely be binge-watching FMVs on YouTube for the next few months or until my withdrawal goes away!
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Orange... is not what I expected it to be. Instead of the typical romantic comedy, it was much more heartfelt and more friendship orientated. It hooks you automatically, and keeps you hooked until the end. It gives off a very homey feel, and while there are many Japanese live action cliches, it was extremely refreshing, specifically our main male lead (ahh Kentoooooo). The concept revolving time travel is only touched on slightly, leaving a more open-ended ending, but I think it works in this case. The filmography was well done and the slightest camera angles made a huge difference in certain scenes.
For the most part, asides from our main male lead, the other characters were alright. They didn't really go into their story in depth (not even the female lead), but they were given enough character to not be bland. The dynamic between the group of friends was great and believable enough, but there were times (and I see this was a concern for a few other people as well) when I thought the main female lead just didn't fit in with the group. She felt more of an individual hanging around the group instead of someone who's part of the group. Her voice was quite timid and she frustrated me at times (what female leads don't though?).
I'm going to admit: I didn't cry, not even close, while watching Orange. Sure, I had a few goosebumps here and there, but it wasn't enough to make me cry. It was definitely touching, but I saw the ending coming ten minutes before it actually happened so it didn't hit me in the heart as hard as it should've. Despite that, Orange was a great watch that's got me excited to try more live action adaptations!
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While only 2 rounds were played throughout this drama, they were both extremely riveting and interesting. I'm not sure if they themselves were intriguing or perhaps it was how it was played out by the characters.
I love seeing Nao, Akiyama and Fukunagi return, stronger than ever. While the stay true to their character, you can really see how much they've grown within the 2 year gap period. Not only was the character development great, but their relationship as the three musketeers (or you can say the amazing duo and the funny sidekick). Their bond was unbreakable despite all the risk. They brought such amazing qualities to the plate that made the drama felt complete. Gold tooth guy and mysterious worker girl were mysterious and creepy as ever, but they added the tension to the story that kept me intrigued. We're also introduced to new characters that don't seem to make an appearance in the Final Stage, but I loved their stories equally as much.
I read a review previously about how much they loved the music so I started paying more attention to it this time around. I can honestly say that the OST is the most unique but underrated thing you can find. it's thrilling, sort of like video game music. It makes the game more lively and spontaneities and adds a sense of "what the heck?" to the drama, which is what you're supposed to feel when watching.
All in all, LIAR GAME 2 was hella epic and one of my new favourites. I cannot wait to see how The Final Stage ties it all together.
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Yes, I know, not the greatest review, but I'm still so upset at how downhill it went to continue this review. In a few days, maybe, I might come back and reflect more on it.
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I really fell attached with BT1989 and everything about it. There was a great blend of everything: family, first love, regrets, difficulties.. it was definitely my cup of tea. In my few years of drama watching, I've never heard of a plot like this drama. It's interesting, captivating, though quite confusing the more you think about it. It was so interesting to see how everything played out, and the writers definitely didn't let us down. However, TRIGGER WARNING for anyone uncomfortable with sexual assault. I did feel as though it got draggy near the end with the romance, but it was still an enjoyable watch. Many plot twists occurred that I didn't expect, and it had me on the edge of my seats with the different camera angles and shots. All the characters, as I've mentioned, I've become so attached with. While some were annoying at times, they each bring something important to the story. They made me laugh, cry, and shake my head in disbelief of how insane they were. We got your innocent and clumsy female lead and your smart and cool handsome male lead along with an adorable second couple and the awkward side characters that bring humour to any awkward situation, making it more awkward.
Some people really stood out with their acting, especially our second lead couple, which includes our second female lead Mini Tsai, and our second male lead Yorke Sun, both of whom I now adore their acting. It was nice seeing Ivy Shao play a different character from her cunning one in When I See You Again. However, I had mixed feelings on the main lead, Marcus Chang, though it was his first main role, so I still give him some credit. His crying made me laugh more than feel pity, but i could definitely see his improvement as the episodes progressed. Still not the best crier though, haha.
Besides the main theme song (you'll understand...), i loved the OST! I don't listen to them on a regular basis, but they suited the drama so well. They actually had hit songs from 1989, which was perfect for making it seem more realistic, along with a variety of songs that really scream Back to 1989. Besides Alien Huang, the rest were by more underrated or newer artists, so I was definitely intrigued. Now that I've finished the drama, I suddenly realize how amazing the soundtrack really is.
Overall, it has its flaws; it has a confusing conclusion with many issues still not explained, along with some draggy parts, but i loved this drama. It's what I looked forward to every Friday, and it was well produced, and it brought the feeling back of why i love Asian dramas. I'm so glad I found this, and I hope i persuaded some of you to watch it.
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The story is very simple, yet unique. It holds many typical aspects of a rom-com, like cute romance, a dreadful love triangle, amazing side characters. an adorable main couple, and some great eye-candies. I found that the pacing (up until the last two episodes) were done amazingly. While each episode felt like it took a long time to end, I was never bored or tired of watched. It was fun and made me laugh and fangirl to my heart's delight. The ending was a bit rushed to me, especially since I felt so annoyed with the main characters!!
I loved all the characters and their development! The casting was done fairly well, and though some people didn't like Joo's acting, I thought she did a pretty good job. You could definitely see her improvement throughout the drama, which was a nice touch. All the characters brought some light into the drama and made it even more adducing.
At first, I didn't really care for the music. Nothing stood out and I didn't feel the need to buy them on iTunes or to download them. However, after 2 days of watching, I found myself humming the songs at school and realized how much i loved the soundtrack. The background music was always a nice touch, BUT MAN I LOVE JOO'S AND BEE'S RINGTONE! Excuse me while I go hunt these songs down on YouTube now, haha.
Again, I don't typically rewatch dramas, but i might go back and watch my favourite scenes again.
Yah, I had a fun time watching it, so I would definitely recommend checking it out. :)
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JapaneseDrama (over on Tumblr) was raving about this drama a few months ago so I decided to ditch my piles of homework and check it out. I didn't know too much going into it, but i was pleasantly surprised. Actually, I had pretty high expectations, but it was still a cute drama. The story was very very very typical, yet i still found myself on the edge of my seat, anticipating what's to come. The acting and characters are probably what won me over. Our protagonist was perfect! She's relatable, funny (facial expressions on point!) and all too kawaii. The SLS is very very intense in this one as well, and our second female lead was interesting and different. I COULD NOT STAND OUR MALE LEAD THOUGH. He was bland yet somehow super frustrating and confusing. I could go on and on ranting about him but i don't think he's worth the time. Though props on the cinematography.
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While the storyline was "school" based politics, which I'm not really into, i found myself constantly enjoying it. Of course, there's also the ridiculous yet surprisingly pleasant zhongji humour thrown in there. The addition of wuxia and fighting powers always add a nice touch, and there were so many aspects that kept me on the edge of my seat. While the acting wasn't the best, it's so nice to see such famous stars today collar together for this as this was during the time when most of them just started acting.
THE MUSIC IS INCREDIBLE. I have all the songs downloaded and constantly listen to them. There's such a variety, and it's perfect for every scene. The music is very dear to my heart, and I think this has the best soundtrack among all the zhongji instalments so far.
Like i said, it's 53 episodes, which took me a while to finish, so i be re-watching it, but trust me, i'll be watching and crying over fan mvs on youtube for the next few weeks (months, really).
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The beginning started off really strong, but of course, with 40 episodes, there were some boring parts. I always thought about skipping some episodes but I'm so glad I didn't, because they all add up to the ending. The stories were always ridiculous and weird, but were always fun and had a much deeper meaning than the surface. I laughed my butt off!! It's was so funny and wild, but I LOVE THAT. There were times when I just wanted to smack some of the characters for their actions, but I guess that's what make it so real. There was some amazing characters development as well, and made me feel as though I grew up with these characters. There were some characters that didn't really have a proper closure (cuz this is Zhongji and chances are they're planning a sequel and all) which I would've like to see. Everything about the ending was just unexpected and all over the place, but that's how it messed with my heart the most. The couples that we spent 40 episodes watching didn't really make any progress, which was a shame, honestly.
The music was just.... so amazing. The beginning theme is fun and wild (i love me some SpeXial) and the ending theme is perfect as well (Diana's voice is so precious!). As well, there were more than those two tracks, and I still loved them! Cheers to whoever edited the music, cuz it fit all the story lines and scenes so well. The instrumental tracks added suspense, action, sweetness, and sadness. I wouldn't watch the music any other way.
Again, 40 episodes is a big commitment, so I don't think i would watch the entire drama again, but definitely different parts of it, like all the cute romantic parts, or some episodes that stood out to me. But, I'll definitely be recommending it to my drama friends, especially those that watched X-Family.
And here I am, writing this review, wiping the tears away from my eyes. Of course, this drama isn't perfect, but the ZhongJi series never fails to rip my heart out, and this one did just that.
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The story was spectacular. It's typical and overused, but it was done well! There wasn't one long draggy story, but multiple ones that led to a strong ending. It focused on different aspects from being insecure to being criticized for being in a certain clique, and it was just amazing. I laughed like crazy, almost teared up, and had a fun time! There were some characters i thought that could've had more character development because they stayed the same practically throughout the entire film. As well, they didn't focus too much on the parents or teachers, which I would've like to see more of.
The main theme is beautiful. Not something I would listen to by itself, but suited different scenes perfectly! I didn't pay much attention to the insert songs, though. I thought that it was clever to leave some scenes without music to make it more touching and really emphasize on those parts.
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Minami-kun no Koibito - My Little Lover
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The story... isn't all too realistic, but that's what made it fun. It was really all down to the writers on how to play around with the idea of someone shrinking to 1 inch, and I think they did a great job. Although the cinematography isn't too good, i really liked the idea of wishing to be small again... and literally doing so. Within 10 episodes, different and a variety of events happened that didn't feel rush, nor draggy, which is perfect!
I love love LOVE that the actors are actual their real ages. The two main roles are actually portrayed by high schoolers, which made it all more realistic... no offence kdramas. The supporting roles were all done well and hilarious, and i'm glad they got screen time but not too much since they're all pretty weird. Riku.. well, he was a bit creepy, but his love for Chiyomi was cute. The grandma was just wonderful, as well.
The two main themes were just beautiful and super kawaii, but i didn't care much for the insert songs.
Ahh, that was such an exciting 3 days!! I'll definitely remember this drama for a long time. So long, Minami-kun and Chiyomi-san!
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The Story: It starts off weak. The acting wasn't so good at first, and the storyline was just weird and rushed. The characters were all annoying and weak, and they seem like the typical "teenagers." However, throughout the drama, the storyline improves and becomes more organized and touching. If you look at if from the surface, it may seem really dumb and sappy, but if you really dig into the events, there's so much more to it. It really requires a lot of thinking. There were some things that were touched upon but never mentioned again, which I kind of wanted them to do.
Acting/Cast: Like I mentioned before, the acting starts off weak, but it gradually gets better as the story goes on. I particularly like the character development and growth: the mean ones learn their lessons, the weak protagonist grows to be strong, etc. As well, the characters were actually played by people that are the same age as them, which is something you don't see too often. It gives the school environment a much more realistic feel.
Music: Asides from the main theme, i don't think there were any other songs, though the instrumental tracks played at nice time. I didn't find any of them memorable, but, my goodness, the main theme is heart wrenching, from the lyrics to the melody and aching voice of the singer.
Overall, it was a crazy ride! I had moments where I just wanted to drop this drama, but after digging more deeper, I found that it was pretty well written. I though it would've been nicer if it had been longer, but I'm glad the storyline didn't drag on. I probably wouldn't watch it due to its predictability and how sad it is, but this is one any romance lover should check out!
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