P Non Portraitist
In This Corner of the World
Fleshed out characters and powerful storyline in just short film
I started the film with just the sketchy synopsis, but was immediately reeled in with the storyline.I like how the conflict was immediately shown when the two main characters were introduced. The writer and director did not waste precious minutes in fleshing out the characters and showing their motivations in the film. On first watch, it is seemingly a slice of life film and has a happy ending, but on the second watch, I grasped the feelings interspersed with the somber music (or lack of it) in the last few minutes of the end. The adopted son labeled himself a "nobody," and was desperately longing to have a family or at least a place to call home (as presented by him saying he will not leave), and with those things as his goal, he became the glue to the family. He became the son that was lost, the protector and the lover.
I think he don't love the older brother, but instead offered himself to fill what the older brother need.
oops! I rambled again.
Ultimately, I love this short film and wish to someday see this one be made into a longer film or a series.
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This review may contain spoilers
Not too scary, political, but more than that, a love story.
Let's start with answering the question, "Can I watch these without watching the movie and playing the game?" - Definitely yes! It can stand on its own because the series had interspersed it with flashbacks (flashbacks that are part of the narrative which for me will not bore you to death).What I don't like:
1. I started watching this one with the idea that I will be scared... I came out unscathed. But scary-ness is definitely based on individual's scaredy-cat (lol) level. So it might be different from your viewing experience.
2. Supporting characters acting is sometimes off.
3. The political theme made me read on Taiwan's White Terror. I did feel the need to know why they (the characters, specially the villains) acts that way.
What I like:
1. The series did not only focuses on the horror and political theme they touched on. It explored the main characters' struggle and showed how they triumph (and their reward/punishment) for the choices they had made. It is not often to see in horror series those elements.
2. I like the very intelligent use of flashback in this one.
3. This series made me buy and play (in chapter 2 right now) the game.
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Short... but so sweet!
Story: Back story and world building was mostly through narration, but for a period drama and with such short time frame, it was good enough. And the back story was interspersed with scenes that made the plot move.Acting/Cast: The two mains were really good. I don't know if they are veteran actors, but the way their eyes and voice projects their character's emotions and inner struggle. They are really good, even on par to those Cdrama actors in a Cdrama with a lot of funding.
Music: The ending ost is ok. Maybe because the film is short that is why there is no time for the OST to hit on me like other c-period drama had done.
Rewatch Value: Because it is short and has complete story, I will surely re-watch this in the future.
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Very good short series... just don't let the car scenes irk you.
A great season one. My only gripe with this series are the car scenes. Everything else was better.The storyline is consistent, albeit sometimes a bit rushed due to episode constraint, the character's stories are realistically portrayed. I love that the series not only focuses on the love story of James and Ait but also took time to explore Bas's. His story has so many layers of conflicts that season 1 was not able to completely unwrap and his story line is the one I'll be looking forward to see in season 2.
The actors acting are also great. I don't know if they are newbies in the industry, but the way they showed their characters is gripping and captivating. I think the director also has a hand on it.
As for the ending, yes it is a bit anti-climactic, which is expected as this one is marketed as adapted from real life experience.
Will write an in-dept review after re-watching it from the beginning.
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The Thai Standard of BL Series
Story: Definitely the best. I had fears that it might fail because it was based and adapted from a novel, however, the serious undertones and unique setting had made this one the standard of TH BL. It surpassed even that of Lovely Writer.Acting: Superb acting. Add to that the chemistry between the two couples was palpable. It truly seems that Earth had met his soulmate. I wish to see them again in another series.
Music: I love how the OSTs were placed in each scene properly. And the song choices were heaven!
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A fan service series AND we are not complaining!
What I like:The OST, it is upbeat and I could listen into it almost everyday.
Visuals are very polished, too polished.
Slice of life take on each episode.
What I dislike:
It is a mediocre slice of life story. There was a weakness in its story telling.
And with that mediocrity, the series suffered from the theme it ought to deliver and just became a fan service. Character development felt rushed making it feel inorganic.
Also, the ending felt rushed too.
But overall, this is a watchable series where you can gush on the 'trinity' and just don't care about the plot and what will happen. You can even watched an episode as a stand alone and you will not be lost.
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Underrated, Un-explored, Power Bromance... without annoying female lead.
Story: The story is the first thing that had hooked me in this drama. As I watch the first episode, I can't helped to compare it with the Tientsin Mystic, but after few more episodes, I noticed that it has its own rooted story. Aside from that, the chemistry with the two leads were phenomenal! It is palpable with the way their eyes meet and when they are having conversation with each other. Add to that the frequent hand-to-hand contact and your fujoshi mind will probably convince you that this drama you are watching is BL rather than bromance.However, although the story is good and the bromance is phenomenal, the drama suffered from the rigorous censorship and had resulted into hacked-and-slash scenes. Its a good thing that Mango TV still post those snippets, albeit, without subs. And I just hope they will push to advertised this drama because it is sooo goood.
Acting: As I have said, the actors were great. The two leads were very good and stayed in character all throughout the series. Even the second lead and supporting characters really played their part and resulted into memorable characters. And thank god, there is no annoying, dumb female lead in this series.
The female supporting actor's character is the most progressive one in this drama in all the plethora of CDrama that I had watched.
Music: The scoring and OST matched the story and genre of this drama. It was the first time that I had to pause and rewind a scene just to re-hear the song play in the background and match the mood of the scene being played out.
Rewatch Value: I might watch again some time in the future. However, given the number of episodes it has, it might take a while. And since the story and cast are memorable, add to that the censorship circus this series had undergone, I feel that it will be a while for me to come back and watch it as a whole. For now, snippets and subbed cuts will do.
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Low budget, short film.
Clicked on this one in YT without expecting something. It scream low-budget film and the cinematography is not great. However, I was hooked with its story telling with deaf character. I was honestly wondering why the main is not communicating properly, only to find out that he is deaf which added to the short films drama. I think if the production has enough budget, they can make this more interesting.Also, I love, love, love the OST. I am not sure if I heard the song used in other Tawian BL (HIStory 1 or 2). It was the thing that actually hooked me to continue watching after the glaring DIY-like cinematography.
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Could have been great...
The positives for me:Great OSTs.
The cinematography, except the last EP, was also good. Although some transitions from the island and the city settings are sometime abrupt and are jarring to the viewers, the used of flashbacks in the last episode left a bitter aftertaste for my viewing experience.
The acting was meh for me. It was there but sometimes it borders into silliness, especially the comedic ones, that causes me to skip some scenes.
Storyline: this series had the potential to be a good one but sadly it did not deliver. I enjoy slow burn storylines like of this one, but too few episodes of this series did not flesh-out the characters for me. Maybe too many pairings and arche of the minor characters killed the development of the mains. This was obvious by the last episode. the writer/director tried to tie up all premise they had presented from episodes 1-5 within a short period of viewing time leading to a confusing, lack-luster ending.
I wish they could have made it longer with few side stories and with focus to the main characters. I mean ep1-5 didn’t even explore how Sun and Arthit develop feelings for each other.
Rewatch Value: I can watch Boun x Prem storyline in repeat but will probably skip many scenes.
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Slow, sweet, slice of life and a love story
Few film makes me watch all the way through when its story is presented in slow, unhurried, slow burn way. Fewer, too, when it made me re-watch it 3 times in 3 different days just to justify that the film had occupied a place in my heart. This is what Restart After Come Back Home (RACBH) had done to me.At the start of the film, my thoughts were contemplating if I will be burning my seat with great visuals but shallow story, or great story but crappy acting, but all of those were blown away 15 minutes into the film. The start of the film was a reminiscent of 'To His Each Own' for me because of the way the scene were shot. Then the frequent shots of the country side were a breather and further adding to the atmosphere of how slow the story unfolds.
Story: 9/10 - I like how the love story of the two mains is not the central plot of the film. At its core, the story is a slice of life, with an open-ended ending which leaves room for future continuation or at least to the audience's mind.
Acting/Cast: 9.5/10 - On my second watch of the film, I did not focused on the subtitle, but instead watched how the characters interact in the film. No overly dramatic crying which tends to kill a film for me. The actors were great in portraying inner conflicts/turmoil of the characters they were playing.
Music: 8.5/10 I don't know how to put it but the background songs kind of reminded me of a childhood PS1/PS2 Game (Suikoden Series) that it kind of distracted me from watching it the first time.
Rewatch Value: 10/10 As I've said, I had watch this film 3 times already and I can see my self re-watching it in the foreseeable future.
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The One That Must Be Named!
This is a very short review because nothing can be ever added to what other reviewers had said (youtube and here in mdl) about the remarkable journey this series had.WHY I LIKED IT? 1) Tight, almost seamless, story. 2) Great characterization and versatile actors (antagonist have real motives to create problems and not just placeholder characters) 3) Gender representation is grounded in near reality 4) Timely and timeless issues were tackled but it never superseded the love story of the main characters. 5) It is full of positivity.
WHAT I DISLIKE ABOUT IT? The frequent change in its time slot. Aside from that, nada!
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A chance to make things make things great... but ended ???
What I like:1. Musical scoring is ok.
2. Character development were ok, not the best, but ok.
3. Actors can act.
4. It is not like Oxygen. Thank the gods for not including flatness in this series. Though the main actors here seems to just act without trying their best, it is not flat as the main in O2. Also, the series did not include annoying side characters.
What I don't like:
1. Too many pairs. This series has a lot of couples but screen time for each secondary pairs were minimal.
2. No solid arcs for the secondary pairs. They are an afterthought.
3. The ending is just 'meh' for the main couple (Ending for me is EP 12). As for the other partners, since their story were not developed well, the resolution to their arcs were an after thought. And to think that each episode is 40-45 minutes on average is just sad. TH BLs need to re-school their script writing and story telling prowess to take advantage of their longer screen time.
3. The story really starts midway of this entire series. Might be due to the director's or the writer 's decision to tell this story in an alternate universe. But that cause them precious episodes and left them no room to develop arcs for secondary characters.
4. Too many flashbacks.
Now, these are purely my viewing experience watching this series. It might differ greatly from to yours. :)
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BL moments: 6.50 I was actually dissapointed. This not a hardcore BL. If you are looking for the “sweet, puppy-eyed, super-yummy long stares” between two young men... Nah! You’ll get a not so young gay (A-bu in HuaHua’s body) in a woman’s body selfishly looking for the love of his/her gay life. Though the ending for A-bu was good, it was nit explicitly shown, only hinted.
Xiao Chi into A-bu’s body: And this is where i think a lot my disappointment comes from... Xaio Chi/ChiChi in Abu’s body, the moment their spirit/sould swapped I was like “uh-uh. Young-young BL is dead.” And then I thought “Old-young BL probably.” But geez, the BL moments were more of an after thought of the writers. BUT that kiss when he was drawing the customer tried to make up for this, but still in the end, no BL for Xiao Chi.
HuaHua into Xiao Chi’s body: I got to say this. I watched this series because of Edward. I remember him from the Red Balloon series and saw that this is tagged as another BL. I thought he will be cast as gay here. But yeah... he was not. His character’s soul though is gay (see above) but as HuaHua in Xiao Chi, he is cast as M-F couple.
Acting: 9.00 acting of the main characters were good. Edward Chen (Xiao Chi) definitwly had improved since the Red Balloon seriesz
Cinematography: 8.00 Shots were of the usual tv-like caliber. Some scenes are good but some transitions are too abrupt. Or I just felt that way because each episodes were short.
Setting/locale/interaction with people surrounding them: 5.00 it was only addressed on ChiChi/HuaHua’s situation. And too few scenes were depicted that the characters had swapped bodies/soul. Its as if the people around them knew they had been swapped. No weirdness, no “massive” change in lifestyle, etc. (Except for HuaHua/A-bu’s mentrual period.)
Story/Writing: 6.50 for the underlying FRIENDSHIP theme, 5.00 for the rest. the premise although not unique has promises which the writers did not expounded more. The beginnings (ep 1-4) were good and then they went down into mediocrity. Maybe they had ran out of ideas to support the core story and end up doing pairings until they reach a so-so ending.
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Good Chemistry but the rest are - meh!
Another PH BL ended, one for me that started strong then gone messy.The chemistry of the two mains is so good, but the consistent loose/illogical story/plot brought the show in a lackluster end. In fact, I think the saving grace of this show and the negatives in bay was the chemistry of the two mains.
I don't know if this show has a lot of budget compared to the other PH BL that was airing during its first episode up to the last and if that affected the flow of the show. BUT one is sure, it has good main leads, good visuals, a lot of irritating side characters, a weak script and messy directing. And it has steamy scenes, which to be honest is steamy! The OST too is upbeat but again, not as good as other PH BL's OST.
Again, this is just purely the viewing experience that I had felt the watching it up to the 8th episodes. After that, much like Oxygen, I lost interest. But at least with this show, I was able to enjoy up to ep8.
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Great story, hampered by many side characters with weak plot and mediocre acting skill
Great story, hampered by many side characters with weak plot and mediocre acting skill...Went into watching this one thinking just to past time as at that time, the choices of currently airing Thai BL was very bland ( FUTS and some other shorts), but the storyline of the main leads immediately became a breather from the suffocating comedic satire that was FUTS.
Visually, the cinematography is not that great and too many side characters had made it drag a little but ultimately, the love story of the two character carry the weight until the ending.
The ending, though, will probably annoy other viewers, specially if they are rooting for the storyline of other side characters. This series only gave a proper (black and white) ending to the main leads. The sides were kind of just of an after thought.
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