P Non Portraitist
In This Corner of the World
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Great visuals but unsure of it self
In the early episodes, the series seems to be unsure of what it wants to tell, so it compensated with visuals. However, visuals can only go so far and it will not make up for compelling story.The cast have acting skills, not on par with the mainstream BL, but skills were there. And there are moments that it really shine. BUT as I've said, no compelling story to tell can pull hinder characterization and the entire series it self. Take for example CHEAT, there are cringe worthy scenes and acting there, but the series is sure in what it wants to tell and it did not veer off from it, resulting in one good series.
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A celebration of teen gay love! <3
That ticket was soo worth it! I love the representation here. There were little hiccups (just teeeny) in acting and transitions but the story and the viewing experience made up for all of it. Hope it will be curated in Netflix for wider audiences and/or be streamed legally for free the soonest.I am glad the writers did not go the religion vs gender theme and had limited the homophobic scenes. The story really focuses on the two mains and their love story. I don't know if there will be a sequel for this or a serialized version if this will be successful, but if there will be, I think they will focus on the consequence of Luke's choice. But for now, this one is a celebration of gay love.
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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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If you have a fluffy heart... read at your own risk.
What I like:
Great OST
Very artsy opening and ending credits.
Gorgeous, handsome, fresh (too fresh?) main leads.
Side couple that kept the series sane.
What I had found out:
1. A series with a lot of hype and great promised but was not able to deliver within 3 episodes.
2. A script that was lazily lifted from the book without considering the impact when translating it into a series/cinema thereby impacting greatly into a negative viewing experience.
3. Leads with mediocre acting prowess that could have been saved by a great script (but none is found) and great directing, but that too seems lacking. I mean, didn't they get to have acting workshop before shooting this one?
4. BL side couple with acting prowess which kept the series sane. Long live PhuXKhao!
5. An arc was added to try to include 'something new' into the story, but was not handled well and turned out into ridiculous characters and character development.
6. A well-budgeted production with history of racism towards people with color and gender preferences which clearly translates into its series, again impacting negatively to the viewing experience.
ALSO, if you say that this series is so great, I believe you need to expose your self to much wider media, not just in BL, with deep storyline, actors with acting prowess and great directing so you will know why this one failed. AND if you declare and say that as a "student of film" and praise this one, I will smack you with my thick "Cinematography: Theory and Practice" book.
Again, this is just purely the viewing experience that I had felt watching it up to the 4th episode. After that, I lost interest with the flat, robotic-like acting. AND I did try, thrice I think, to re-watch because there is a great visuals, but no, it really is flat. Even PhuXkhao can't make me stay for a minute more.
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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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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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