VioletSakura
Hope World's Spring Day Sea
I actually can't believe I am now writing a review for the whole drama, this whole time this drama has seemed so real and so close to me, that 'closing the book' is like saying goodbye to a whole world full of very close friends.
The plot of this drama has so many dimensions, which are continuous and meaningful, that I can write separate reviews for every one of them: JaeHa and HangAh's romance, North and South, JaeShin and ShiKyung, BongGu and the power, JaeHa becoming the King, the theory of ShiKyung (the research question being, whether such a person can exist in the world, maybe I should write a thesis on this)...^^
While I definitely view this drama as a romance, I think the main scene here is grabbed by JaeHa's becoming the King we see him in the last episode, from his very first steps as a worthless player (whoever thought of him that way...tsk-tsk-tsk) to a magnificently shining, war stopping King of South and North Koreas.
The drama provides such a rich character development plot it kept me breathless most of the time... The changes through which JaeHa went through with the help of JaeKang, then HangAh, then ShiKyung... aren't they brilliantly thought of?
In my opinion the love story described in this drama is the most beautiful and breath-taking love story...ever, even being not the center story of the drama, the love line didn't fail in JaeHa's every next step, in every HangAh's heroic act... being together or separated, they were perfect and strong...they both took my breath away, and I am hopelessly in love with this couple!
I don't think I possess the right words to describe the acting in this drama, now typing... it seems shallow.
Every character in the drama became a part of me during this weeks, every one of them (except for the foreign 'actors' who just...whatever) made my heart skip a beat, hit the air with fists, jump up and down.
Ha JiWon is one of my favourite actresses, and I was sure in her when I started watching this, she did not disappoint me for a second! Her HangAh had so many layers, so deep, so lovable, so heroic, so strong, she is definitely one of my favourite female characters.
Lee SeungGi... brilliant as a brat, brilliant as a King, brilliant as a lover who want to protect his loved one (suddenly I am seeing the part when he was holding HangAh in China, like she was the last piece of air in his lungs...). I think he has improved very much in his acting, and JaeHa was perfect, he become the King people will believe in, he brought the drama to the(almost) perfect ending...
Jo JungSuk... I think ShiKyung was the most difficult character to portray in the drama. As he was always being called 'boring and not having sense of humor', depending on the actor I think, ShiKyung could definitely be a boring one, maybe an honest and loyal, yes, but not the ShiKyung everybody fell in love with. Jo JungSuk made him perfect. This character will remain in my heart forever, he is one of the main reasons JaeHa made it to the end and the way he made it to the end!
I can't help but mention Yoon JeMoon as Kim BongGu, as he never failed to freak and creep me out with his character. BRAVO!
The cinematography and the music of the drama deserve the BEST award of all awards.
The symbolic value of the scenes played out by the light and shadows and the gorgeous music pieces never failed to put me deep into the world of the drama, I never doubted the reality of the event, I think I never will...
Long live the King and the Queen!
Was this review helpful to you?
This is a love story that conquers the time and space, and yes, it's sometimes silly and making little sense, sometimes funny and smart, sometimes sad and teary, sometimes cute and romantic... I found all these features in this drama, and as you can see from my rating I liked it, as it made me smile, laugh, be sad and cry... just what I need from a drama like this.
If you're looking for a serious crime-detective drama, this is not for you, though the plot is consistent in the sense that, yes, you get to discover the truth gradually, but it plays out many more mini plots, that may not interest a person who is looking for a serious drama.
The theories of reincarnation are much touched in the drama, which were actually making me thing about it hard enough I had developed my own theories about the plot not knowing the outcome, fortunately I wasn't that far off of what the writers had been thinking.
Though the ending is kind of bitter-sweet, I let go of my sadness, and chose to be happy with it, not going too deep, as the show was just whispering into my ear... 'I didn't want that serious of an attitude, just let it go, it's alright'... I'm happy!
I am very content with all the actors and characters. I loved and cared much for the goodies, and hated (most of you have noticed my antiSeNa syndrome in its most cruel incarnations, lol) the baddies.
YooChun was sweet and clever (not always). I liked his character a lot, being a Joseon King and at the same time portraying childishness and wittiness...
Han JiMin's ParkHa is not my ideal female character, but I liked her tomboyish attitude in the beginning and her standing up to SeNa very much, and her BooYong, though seen very shortly mirrored her ParkHa very much, I liked the parallels!
I would like to mention SeNa's actress very much. She played her role brilliantly, I will hate SeNa for as long as I live... brilliant performance!
The 3 Joseon man made the show more yummy and funny, clever and cute!
Music is also very good, and my opinions portrays the drama very well, especially the piece 'Empty'... it just pierces my heart every time I listen to it. ALi's 'Jurt' and Baek Ji-Yong's 'After a Long Time' will be in my iPod for a long time...
Overall, this drama is worth a watch I think, it gave me the answers to the questions I had, I had a lot of laugh, I cried... all I needed from this drama...
I'm happy ^^ I'll miss it!
Was this review helpful to you?
You know, I watched this movie first time a year ago, and rated it 7, and when I rewatched it yesterday, I was socked how I could have 'insulted' this movie that much, maybe I can say I was not attentive enough during my first watch (though that's a lame excuse, as yesterday my eyes were glued to the screen)... Let's say I wasn't in the right state of mind for this movie at that time... I am glad I suddenly decided to rewatch it yesterday.
The cinematography is so perfect, there were scenes my breath was caught somewhere in my throat... The colors (if you decide to watch it just download it, and preferably HD, the bigger the file, the better, trust me) were driving me crazy! The hill on which they placed the mailbox became one of the places I want to visit before I die, it's the most beautiful, peaceful place! The way they shot it at least made me want to go there,sometimes it seemed I could even see the wind blowing the grass and the hair of two lonely characters standing there...
The plot is simple, and honestly I didn't need more complicated, as the scenes were so rich visually, other complications were unnecessary...
Acting is wonderful! As a big fan of Han Hyo-Joo, one more time came to adore her character.
First thing about JaeJoong I noticed was his husky voice, which drove me crazy, I was WAITING for him to talk... I think he was a perfect person to portray JaeJoon...
The music is very complimentary to the movie, perfect match... calm, relaxing and light...
Also the symbolic meaning of the movie adds to it value so much more... White lies to help people, is it right or wrong? Teaching a lesson by making the person to look at life from a whole another angle of life... Learning how to withstand the difficulties of life from zero... falling in love after being hurt...falling in love...^^
Was this review helpful to you?
A fantastic story and cinematography! I enjoyed every second of this strange and calm movie. The main point of the movie is even if the person happens to know his/her future, he'she is not going to give up the any second of happiness to avoid the consequences... Really touching and intriguing little story...
In the middle there was a point I stopped the movie, and started thinking for myself 'hmm... what's going on, now he knows her, she doesn't know him, and it began like she knew him and he didn't know her, which is the dream? which is the reality? what time is it now?' As I analyzed and collected in my mind all the details I knew for the moment, I just pushed play, as all I came up with were the collection of facts I had seen until the moment was stopped. And then the answers just flowed into my head with the beautiful scenes and dialogues (which by the way are rare in this movie)... Also the best characteristic of this movie is that the events are in wrong and chaotic chronological order... which makes you think and think and give freedom to your imagination... Which part is the dream? When is the past, the future, the present? Who's going to disappear in thin air? Is going to make the decision? Is anything going to change? So many questions...
Fantastic movie, really... I hope I'd do the same as the main female lead...
Was this review helpful to you?
I love movies with symbolism, and this movie fed my hunger for it wholly and the most satisfying way...
It's been 20 minutes I have finished watching it, and my eyes still see and my ears still hear the main character playing the piano, be it during the duel, or with one hand, or two pianos at the same time...
There are scenes in the movie that just refuse to leave my head... The bicycle turning back after being asked to ride slower, childish games between the two leads, their piano duet, the apples, the nature... and music, music, music...
Half of the movie was a love triangle, and I was loving it, then BOOM! it turns out a whole another story...and I'm still marveling it.
I was praying during the last moments of the movie, I was honestly praying...
The effects of the movie and the sudden changes in music left me breathless, absolutely beautiful movie...
Was this review helpful to you?
It can seem the most ordinary 'follow your dream' plot, but it's not, it somehow made me wonder 'Hey, these 4 guys are grown up people and more or less are on their own feet in this world (not in music industry), how come they still want to dance, jump on the stage and compete with youngsters?' And then, while watching the parts when they were visiting hospitals and schools... it hit me... why not? Is there a childish dream in the world? (look who's talking...haha~) Seeing their passion and strive for their dream, made my eyes tear...
Music is very sweet and heartwarming, very fitting to the mood of the movie, both songs "Summer Dream" and "Unfinished Song" (especially the latter) are brilliant songs.
All through the movie, I was thinking: "I like this, though it's a little simple, maybe 7... yes, 7"... then the last scene bought me wholly... The sweetest scene EVER! You should watch to be able to understand my unstopping tears at that moment...
Was this review helpful to you?
This drama is absolutely brilliant! From the first seconds to the last ones. If you try to decide to watch or not to watch this drama after reading the plot you'll be mistaken, as even the best written plot will never prepare you to what you're going to experience during this drama.. it didn't prepare me...
As I wrote in one of my episode reviews, the plot changed with such speed... the characters were full of hope for surviving one moment, and the next they were thrown into the hole of absolute hopelessness... that was making me constantly very worried about the safety of the characters, and I came to fell their pain, loneliness, hopelessness... so naturally... when they were jumping over the canyon I wasn't even breathing... not to miss any rock falling from under their feet, any sigh or deep breath they breathed while jumping... my heart was bout to burst.
This drama had the most unexpected events happen, so I could NEVER ever guess what to expect further... This is the first time I was watching a drama and not expecting the ending even slightly...
The movie has almost no cinematographic value, so if you're looking for beautifully shot drama, this one's not for you.
This drama's highest value bear the dialogues, you should hear the words being said, or being kept silent but at the same time reaching you so clearly...
Definitely one of my favourite dramas from now on...
'Ima wo ikiro!'
Was this review helpful to you?
A man who doesn't feel anything and is not afraid of anything falls in love with a girl who feels everything too strongly and is afraid of everything... Both have a trauma, but the trauma is not that simple as it may seem when you read the plot.
First of all Nam-Soon (by the way, this is a girl's name and it's the name of the male lead in the movie, I'll explain why), a man who lost his family in an accident and blames himself for spilling the cola in the car and causing his parents and noona to die, after the accident he hasn't felt anything physically: no pain, no taste, no touch... empty being... but from the fist minutes I could see, that this man was not only frozen physically, but also emotionally. I sometimes thought he had been brought up by wolves, as he had no idea how to feel grateful, love, think about something else besides his empty everyday routine (which was not the most beautiful scene to watch, by the way...) but this is until he meets HER...She is his reflection, his perfect reflection, actually I think she's all the things he would like to be, but has never been able to... She's hemophiliac, so every little cut can be her last one... And suddenly he wants to feel, to taste, to touch... his opening up to her was so beautiful, I couldn't look away from the screen.
There lines at the end of the movie and you hear Nam-Soon praying to the God 'Dear God, I've never wanted to cry as I don't feel pain, but you know, when I see her crying my heart feels like bursting into thousands of pieces, please, make her not cry, even if I have to give my life for that'... These lines reflect her lines in the middle of the movie, when they lie near and she tells him 'When you want to cry next time, tell me, I'll cry for you'... Isn't this genius? They make each other complete and perfect... two broken souls come together as one...
Was this review helpful to you?
Now a question that has been bugging me since the beginning... why not make a normal movie out of this and drag it as a drama?
About the story... Roman Holidays + Hana Yori Dango. These 4 words explain everything about the story... And it contains neither Audrey Hepburn, to be as funny and catching as the Roman Holidays, so even when you watch it without the colors you actually see all the colors, not the cute and original plot and story line of Hana Yori Dango.
And in spite of the fact that this drama is one of the most unoriginal ones I've ever seen, after watching it I started respecting Yoochun more. If you hear his Japanese in this drama, you won't be able to tell he's a Korean, even his seldom Korean phrases here sound Japanese, honestly, he amazed me throughout all the drama! This guy is making his path to my heart with the biggest steps...
Can't say anything valuable about the music, there's only one song at the end of the episodes by JunSu... nice song with his powerful vocals and again with perfect Japanese...
And however biased I am, it does not affect the rating... it's 6!
Was this review helpful to you?
To talk about acting... to say anything... really won't mean anything... as everything was just perfect, perfect, perfect!
And the music... sometimes it made me dizzy, if I wasn't sitting while watching, I'd fall down for sure...
This movie really made my day!
Totally recommended!!!
Was this review helpful to you?
This is one of those movies, that you think while watching the 10th minute, oh, hell, why didn't I watch this earlier???
This is such a heartwarming and brilliant story, it made me cry, just because it was so good! After the movie was over, I wanted to hug my besties SO much, it's a pity it was 3 in the morning and it was not possible...
I was so sad because of the unfortunate reason they were reconnected after so many years, and kind of confused why they had to separated in the first place.
The dialogue of the main leads, just broke my heart, it's so important to understand, that YOU are the protagonist of you life, and having your friends with you makes it a lot easier.
I hope my friends always remain by my side.
Thank you SUNNY!!!
Was this review helpful to you?
I was watching this parallel to Dream High 2, and the difference in the standards caught my eye more...
First of all, about the story. The bromance, love, friendship, family, these themes are very central in the drama, and are done perfectly. The characters are so perfectly constructed, that you'll start feeling for them after the 1st episode you watch.
The thing that amazes me in dramas like this, is that the characters are like brought to life, they became real for me, as they were not trying to be perfect, they were not perfect, and while absolutely loving every character of this drama, I could get angry with them, shout at my screen, and the next moment swoon because of cuteness, their friendship, romance...
Every episode has a story to tell, not like in some dramas, that just drag on, to get to the 16th episode... I have yet to find a scene I'd like to skip here (don't look for it :P).
I discovered several actors here, that I'm going to follow to other dramas, whatever role they take :P
First, Sung Joon, I'd seen him in Lie to Me, and impressing he was in the beginning of the series, but as the romance advanced between the leads, his character faded away, so to say honestly, when I saw him in the first episode here, I didn't know I knew him :P Though his rough voice was reminding me, I didn't catch the signals... Honestly, now I'm very much in love with his down to earth portrayal of Ji-Hyuk, I loved his caring for his friends, his shyness with Su-Ah, his mess ups as a leader, but at the same time honesty and not giving up... (I can't believe he's just 2 months older than me Y_Y)
Jo Bo-Ah, as Soo-Ah! Fantastic girl :) When I saw she's a newcomer, I automatically started searching flaws in her acting... guess what... didn't find... She did better than great, her acting sometimes reminded me of Inoue Mao's portrayal of Makino Tsukushi in Hana Yori Dango, well to think of it, her character really had similarities to Makino. Love her brave and caring character. (THANK YOU FOR NOT LEAVING!!!)
Becuse of MyungSoo (L), now I'm a fan of INFINITE :P Though sometimes he was trying to hard with his icy stare, he's a cute guy and I think he did great, his character was in the end the balance the band needed (speaking about balance...) Do-Il... I can day, this guy... we're seeing him in more dramas from now on, he's gonna become SO popular with his unusual looks (especially eyes..)
Not even going to mention Lee Min-Ki's character, oops, I did... ok... His character just glued me to this drama... an unforgettable character, like a firework, brilliant in the night, and even when it already out, it leaves an unforgettable impression...
If you think this drama is going to blow up your mind by something super new and undiscovered, you're wrong, it's actually a very old story... 'friendship or love'?
Well, guess what, the script writers did great, the main point becoming, it can be both, only you have to be honest with both parties and most importantly with yourself.
I have enjoyed every second of this drama, and can't imagine that I won't be waiting for it next Monday and Tuesday... At least I can keep the songs and rewatch the episodes, by the way, the music is also very-very good, immersing you into the boys world in the moment it starts...
I'm gonna miss Eye Candy! (who;s gonna read a review THIS long?... I had to speak up, haha~)
Was this review helpful to you?
Now when the film is over, I am thinking, so what? What was the meaning of the film? What did the creators want to tell the audience through the movie? (I won't spoil your pleasure by telling the ending). And don't think I am saying this as a negative thing, though I really can't hide the empty feeling in me now... really empty, which, I didn't think I would have after this reach and beautiful movie. But I really do, I think the ending is not worth of the 2:20 minutes of this story that tells about friendship, love, passion, loyalty, pain, respect... and all the beautiful and highest things that should have brought the movie to SOME ending...
The cast is just... PERFECT! Wow, Song Ji-Hyo (a big Running Man fan talking here)... just WOW! So feminine and strong, her queen, GREAT!
Jo In-Sung... his general... when he had tears in his eyes, my heart was breaking with his... and I can't help but mention his face when he was kissing the queen... I was holding my breath to hear his... just... froze me... Saw him first yesterday, while watching The Classic... he is definitely growing on me...
This movie is definitely worth watching, though not everyone will and can watch it. The story is great, though, repeating myself, leaving an empty feeling about its ending... I'm shutting up, just watch it yourself!
Was this review helpful to you?
Just imagining how the most trivial thing - food, can open the most beautiful story of love before the audience's eyes...
Two of my favourite actors made this movie unforgettable for me... The style of romance... the director could be only a woman... such soft and tender scenes made me have butterflies in my stomach...
And, please, could somebody tell me who is the author of the score and where I can get it from, cause the music is heavenly...
And for the last scene... The journalist is telling the audience the ingredients of the doenjang, he lists the food, the flowers... and lastly the tears... The way of making... Waiting and waiting... The last scene... a tear falls and dries... leaving salt... and the music...
Was this review helpful to you?
I love everything in this drama, especially the characters. The leading characters by their acting and their story make the story brilliant.
Go Eun-Song, is my favourite female protagonist of all time... Her strength and way of life makes me want to be like her...
The drama has so much to teach about different values and goals for life.
This drama has a big lesson, that the human life is so empty without a goal... even the worst plan... the meanest plan...the cruelest plan, that had the protagonist's step-mother... well, we all know what happens to bad plans that hurt other people... some time later, you understand that even she hurt all the people during all this time... after all is over, she is the one who is going to hurt the most. There are so many words in this drama, that are so true, they made me cry.
The progress of the characters is one of the strongest points of the drama... you'll have to watch this to understand all the beauty of this aspect.
And the music... Just try not to burst into tears when K.Will's song is playing and the actors are making your heart stop and skip a beat... you'll be my hero :)
Was this review helpful to you?
