I often think that, whilst most people sympathise with the amnesiacs, those who are with them and have their memories intact, are the ones we should be sympathising with the most. It's harder for them as they remember it all and yet have little they can do - yet they have to live with being treated like a stranger by someone they deeply love.

 That said, I struggled to sympathise with the wife - sometimes loving someone so much is destructive. I can't say too much because...spoilers.  But every time I watch it I come away with the same feeling that she made everything about her;  which is, of course, not helpful to him.. Time is *not* a great healer (if it was it would've cured cancer) but it does pass and yet she doesn't get that going back over and over never works......

I'd like to think the lives of the main couple improve and they're eventually happy again, though I'm not actually that hopeful because the wife refuses to let this depressing cycle end. This is one open-ended movie where I appreciated why they left it that way........

Story - 9.5/10 (I think there were chances missed to explain more of their backstory since the accident as you're lead to believe this cycle has happened before, more than once)
Acting - 10/10 (main couple deserve that alone).
Music - 7.5/10 (very m'eh)
Rewatch Value - 10/10 (I've already watched it 3 times recently; it's the sort of film you keep coming back to to see if things can be done differently for a different outcome.)
Overall - 9.5/10 (again because of the missed opportunity to show the viewer all those other hinted at attempts she's made).

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"A mystery unfolds with a woman named Madoka, who is a killer, and Ataru. The woman possesses the same extraordinary memory and deductive reasoning abilities as Ataru." -- That's the blurb on the movie but, sadly, it really doesn't convey the sheer wonder that this movie holds.

Ataru is an autistic savant with the deduction and reasoning skills even Sherlock Holmes would envy. His fate is tied to Madoka's in a fundamental way. Autistic people have feelings even if they can't always relate to them properly, and Ataru certainly has his AND his own unique way of expressing them (which does have some comical moments as well as sad ones).

Nakai Masahiro truly NAILED the autistic characterisations, he also made Ataru such a complicated character but so lovable at the same time. He's a truly gifted actor to play an austic savant so FLAWLESSLY and it's why I gave this film a 10 on the acting scale.

I would love to see a series with Nakai Masahiro reprising his role as Ataru, and witness how he deals with everything from the this point onwards - his life was never easy; trying to live in a world he didn't understand, populated by people he couldn't really comprehend. But now it's even more complicated and lonely - so I'd like to see not only how his friendship with Maiko and Shunichi progresses, but also how he now relates to Larry....the latter would be the MOST interesting one to witness.

The movie has it's funny moments, it's sad moments and some pretty weird ones. But it's a truly wonderful movie and one I KNOW I will definitely watch over and over again. It has a twist at the end that is one of those 'NONONO!!' moments and if you don't shed a single tear then you have no soul. Me? I cried a veritable river of them..... T-T

Trust me, not only will I be watching this one again; if KissAsian get the others I will DEFINITELY be signing up to those too. I found this movie by accident - so, SO glad I did. Watch it - you won't regret it. I'll definitely give it 9.5/10.

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Kang Dong Won's character in Haunter's is just so incredibly sad - as the other main lead character said "if we'd met under different circumstances perhaps we could've been friends" - Kang Dong Won's character Cho inwas betrayed, abused and brutalised all his life - so it was hard NOT to at least sympathise with his plight. Perhaps if those around him had taught him to control his power then things would've been better; or at least if they hadn't abused him when he was a child hen perhaps he may not have been as angry, filled with hate and a need for revenge when he grew into a man.

The other main lead Im Gyoo Nam (played by Go Soo) had a loving sister and a much happier life - so, even though he was also 'gifted', his attitude was far warmer and more positive than Cho in's. I know many abuse victims grow into wonderful adults and manage to come to terms with their past; but not everyone is able to do that and it seems that this movie showed both sides of the coin - those who do grow into good adults because, even though poor, they have love and support around them and those who grow up with abuse and brutality as their daily companion which feeds their need for revenge.....

For me, as usual, Kang Dong Won completely stole the movie; his bad guys roles always have layers - they're never JUST thugs, murderers, assassins, etc and so you tend to find yourself crying for them, sympathising with them or even begging them not to do what they're about to - that they CAN change. THAT is a sign of a good actor, when he can even get the viewer to care about someone who is basically the 'bad guy' and we should be utterly against....

The movie itself was good overall; the acting and the casting was excellent. The music wasn't great, but as I've watched this twice now I would say it has pretty good re-watch value.

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I think Kang Dong Won's character Jo Yoon - although truly the worst of the worst even amongst the bad guys in this movie - still managed to make you feel some sympathy for him. It transpires that, as a child, Jo Yoon was treated terribly and was also abused by his family (I WON'T say more because I won't spill spoilers) and because of this it went on to twist him into a really terrible person.

I really cried for him when he was talking to his father because you could see, in that moment, how different he could've been; and even he acknowledges that he was this way because of what he suffered. Jo Yoon also did still have moments of humanity when some compassion showed through (however briefly and rare they were).

Kang Dong Won really knocked this role out of the park; for me he was the one to watch and completely stole every scene he was in. You were obviously rooting for the Robin Hoodesque heroes, but you still felt sorry for him. I really felt that he would've been as good as he was bad if his childhood had just been different.

Kang Dong Won really is one of my favourite actors because even his 'bad guy' roles are never played as two dimensional villains; he always adds a depth to them that makes you think and you never just see them as 'bad' - there's always more to their backstory.....if he's in a production these days I ALWAYS set out to watch it, he's so good.

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This was a truly horrible series - but I loved it. I think because I went through a period of time myself where I hit the rockiest of bottoms before gaining a better understanding of myself and my family; there were moments in the last episode I could relate to. This drama shows that sometimes we have to take things apart - even ourselves and our families ties - to come back together as someone, or something, better. Sometimes self awareness is gained at a high price and we don't always like what we learn. It's how we use that new information that is key. This drama was thought provoking and shocking - but kept you glued to the screen. Even at times when I was thinking of stopping, I'd find myself almost unconsciously clicking the next episode. The ending was satisfying but, thankfully, not in the sugary sweetness of other dark dramas that bottle it at the end, this ended in the same dark way as it had progressed. There is hope, but also some trepidation. This show is a must watch for all genuine dark drama/'screwed up family' fans (and no, NOT 'dysfunctional' - this drama is so far beyond ordinary 'dysfunctional' families it's not even in the same postcode). Oh and to anyone saying 'this is rubbish because they would've ALL been arrested at various points - not least the 'tutor' ' - yes, you are right; BUT this is DARK DramaLand - even usual DramaLand rules do not apply here, let alone the real world ones. Watch this at your peril - you'll be addicted and have to watch; even when you REALLY want to press the stop button....... and you'll also scared of home tutors for life! :D I will add though that the music was jarring in places - I know that was because of the way the story was going and it was to add to the darkness and dysfunction of the family; but it got really annoying in the end. For me it was the only bad part of the drama. Also, it's a hard show to watch and to do it more than once is for stronger souls than mine.

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High School King of Savvy is just brilliant. The lead female character, Jung Soo Young, is not your typical 'strong noona' and the lead male character (and dongsaeng) Lee Min Suk, isn't your typical 'puppy love' type; but it just really works. They are shown as being flawed but also that their flaws each completes the other.

Not to mention that it has a second lead male, Yoo Jin Woo (son to the Ceo), who is a real arse rather than the usual dreamy sweet cutie, and who has, apparently, no soul.....certainly the blindingly beautiful Lee Soo Hyuk looks like THE most beautiful vampire throughout most of the drama (even down to appearing to have snow white skin in a few scenes) ;)

I have to say the moment Yoo Jin Woo realises the colossal and monumental mistake he's made and what he's lost by it ...it just breaks your heart (you know his back story by then); especially when Lee Min Suk confronts him. You loathe Jin Woo but can't help but feel sorry for him too. There were times when I cried for him, but also times when I hurled foul-mouthed abuse at him (always a sign of an excellent actor and good drama; neither Lee Soo Hyuk nor HSKoS disappoint here).

It's just another twist in a story that has been done so many times, yet this puts a few curves in that make you like it and make it a little different. The 'noona' in this, Jung Soo Young (or Popcorn Sister as Min Suk has her labelled on his phone, which is a sweet touch) is very strong in her own way, just not the usual 'noona' way; she fights for those she loves and those she feels are bullied.

Likewise, so the younger' dongsaeng, Min Suk, is not your typical 'puppy' in his own way - there's not all the usual dog-like devotion and puppy eyes; he's tough and gets frustrated and annoyed with her too. None of the relationships are easy - every one gets tested. This all makes a pleasant change and a very entertaining watch.....so much so I bought the dvd.

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This was brilliant - I loved every minute and there wasn't really a slow moment; to me it wasn't really a comedy, that lessens the story to say it was. There were comedic moments, but there was so, SO much more to it than that. This is a movie I KNOW I will watch over and over and still enjoy as much as the first time. I honestly can't praise this enough.

As a bit of a history buff I've spent the last hour looking up the history behind this wonderful film and the names I could find in history from it. It's been an education on so many levels and because of that alone, let alone all the other good points in it, I would give it 10/10.

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I completely understand why so many think it's too sad - it is. But this movie is very good and I found by watching about 30 minutes and then going away for a while and then watching a bit more I got through it without too much of an emotional breakdown and sitting bawling like the world had ended (as I usually do with these types of movies).

I could NEVER watch it in one go though - FAR too sad. But the bit whilst the end credits are running actually makes it not so sad and the twist is really beautiful. I had decided not to watch it at all to start with; but friends who had kept nagging me and so I did, the way I explained, and I'm glad I listened to them......just, you know, DON'T watch it in one hit if you think you might cry - with this movies tears are GUARANTEED....

However, it's good - REALLY good and so, for such a beautiful tearjerker of this magnitude, I'd give it a complete 10/10.

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I could NOT stand the grandmother - seriously, death was too good for the old shrew; mind you she was so much like mother-in-law that could've made me loathe her more. :D The main couple were who you were rooting for from the get-go; as much to spite her as for any OTP hopes. As usual Yamashita Tomohisa is excellent - and even when you're angry at his character, you still really like him because you know he's doing things for HE feels are the right reasons (even if you don't agree with him - which you won't).

The other couples in the drama - of which there were many - were adorable too and the ending wrapped things up nicely; just not in the way you'd necessarily expect for everyone. Of course there will be many who will suffer 'Second Lead Syndrome' - but with this drama there may even be a few suffering a new disease called 'THIRD Lead Syndrome' as the main female character has THREE men in love with her.

I really have to recommend this drama though - it is funny in places as you have a man and his grandparents living in a mindset better suited to the TWELFTH century and a possible bride living in the REAL twenty-first century. Of course the fact that the main character has a younger brother also quite happy to reside in the real world mindset whilst living amongst family doggedly determined to remain at least EIGHT HUNDRED years BEHIND everyone else in the world also adds to the story (and let's remember, not even the Amish live in a mindset THAT far back).

The difference in cultural attitudes causes many lighter moments; but it's also responsible for darker ones towards the end - not least from the evil grandmother, and occasionally from the 'bad boy' younger brother. You will find yourself crying, laughing and repeatedly face palming at regular intervals. I was even reduced to table and wall palming - which only really happens when face palming just isn't enough any more.

BE WARNED - you WILL find yourself INVENTING swear words for the grandmother by the end of the last episode.

SIDE NOTE - for those who remember Furukawa Yuki most for his role as 'Irie-kun' in 'Love in Tokyo 1 and 2' it's likely to be as strange for them as it was for me to see him not only actually speaking in a human way, but is also animated and emotional in his role here as Mishima Satoshi. He even SMILES - like properly SMILES. He's clearly a good actor; because as Irie-kun he was almost a cyborg compared to his 'normal' character here. Please give 'From 5 to 9' a watch - you honestly won't regret it.

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Yamashita Tomohisa is THE best part of this drama. He had me sobbing at intervals and all out bawling at the end. This is a MUST SEE; I cannot stress this enough. The story is really interesting and the characters who are friends to 'Algernon' are wonderful to him. The acting is wonderful and the actors all make their characters so believable you become very invested - especially in Algernon; you root for him so much. The cast really give their roles their all; especially the always great Tomohisa and Masataka. All in all this is a really good drama; I didn't really expect much - but my stars, was I so VERY wrong. WATCH THIS, seriously, you won't regret it.

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Acting was a bit OTT in places, but it really had the spirit of the 30s era movies as well as being set in that era. I thought the 'antiheroes' were exceptionally well done and you were really rooting for them - along with the (very) bad guys who you were desperate to see die; preferably with great pain and suffering.

Huang Xiao Ming was absolutely brilliant as Zou Zhen; his utterly focused and unwavering love for Rong Jin Xiu was breathtaking ------* SEE NOTE BELOW ---- It had a few slow moments, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be watching it more than once I can guarantee - in fact if I can find a region free, English subbed DVD I will also be buying it! I'd give a 9.5/10.

* READ THIS LINE *AFTER* WATCHING IN CASE IT'S A SPOILER - (especially as she as an utter moron when it came to her own safety and not trusting those who meant her harm).

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To anyone asking why I and others cried - this is all I can say: No, it didn't have a sad ending it had a happy one - we're not used to it; plus it was happy happy. :) I think some of us cried out of shock that no one died and the world didn't end.....

There were moments the more emotional of us might shed a tear, but certainly not the kind that would leave you a tearstained snotty mess, surrounded with a truckload of used tissues and wishing you had shares in Kleenex.

The acting was really good - perhaps not to A-list standard but, for me at least, it made the story more believable. I really liked it and would certainly rewatch it. I'd give it a solid 3 bars of chocolate out of 5 for the fact that it's a good story and no sad ending - those of a emotional nature that do not like tearjerkers can watch this in safety....unless you're liable to cry out of shock that no one dies from a random act of violence, disease or even a paper cut at the end......

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