addicted2dramas
India
The strength of the film lies in its story. They have tried to tell a tale which can be viewed as both funny and sad. I was thinking it would be funny throughout and was surprised to see they made it a subtle and quiet film. It is a really slow paced movie. But with each different face came a new actor which I thought was the best part!
The cast of the film is diverse (obviously) and after a while the concept really seemed scary to me. What the movie managed was to get the point across to me about how difficult and impossible it would be for such a person to survive in today's world. Plus, true to its title it does show that it doesn't matter what you look like and what is inside that truly does.
I loved Han Hyo Joo's acting in the film. Her reactions to the main character felt very real and relatable. My favorite cameos were from Seo Kang Joon, Park Seo Jun, Lee Hyun Woo and Lee Dong Wook. There were a couple more handsome actors too but I don't know their names. :P
Why this movie won't get a 10/10 was because it was way too slow, seemed like a part-melodrama and the ending was unsatisfactory. I mean I was hoping for a fairytale-like ending which didn't happen. The ending wasn't bad per se but it's alright to not like it as well, right?
Watch the movie if you're in for a slow movie with a meaningful message.
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In the beginning I was like, "Hey, this movie's just like Memoirs of a Geisha" (which I immensely love). I was pretty sure the movie would have a cliche plot and ending. However, sometimes it is INCREDIBLE when the story manages to prove every guess of yours wrong. Although the plot seems somewhat heavy, it manages to stay light because of the memorable, foul-mouthed anti-heroine. Another nice thing about the movie is how it incorporates dark humor and art together. The title 'Sakuran' also has a lot of meaning to it.
Everything about this movie is wonderful- its costumes, sets, cast, story and soundtrack. I honestly couldn't think of anything major to criticize about in this film. The movie is serious combined with funny and yet giving off an artsy vibe. The writing, the performance of the cast and the direction were all pretty solid. The camerawork was quite good too. In spite of an unrealistic-looking surroundings at a couple of places, the movie is great to look at overall.
If you love the culture of Japan, you will love this movie. However, this movie is for mature audiences and so it includes a lot of sexual content. The movie was very, very colorful and pleasing to look at from the first scene to the end.
I actually didn't know anyone in the cast so I had no expectations from them. However, I have to say all of them delivered well. The parts that were played by the leading characters were great. Another awesome thing about the movie is its soundtrack. There was both traditional and modern music used in this film and it suited the mood well.
Lastly, I HAVE to talk about the ending. I just didn't think it would turn out to be the exact opposite of what I guessed. The ending makes the movie very different and not cliche at all. I am not going to spoil the ending for any one so just watch the whole thing for its ending. It will totally be worth the time!!! :D
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This movie has no romance and happy moments in it. It is tense when it begins and remains that way till the end. The direction of this movie is absolutely brilliant and the writing is top notch. The supporting cast was probably not as good as the main leads but both Jang Geun Suk and Jeong Jin Yeong were terrific in their performances. Jang Geun Suk was creepy and hot at the same time in this movie. This has to be his best performance till date.
Overall, it delivered excellently. In spite of being tragic and having a dark theme, it made me smile several times. There were great arguments and defenses put forth while the oppositions accused each other. It was IMPOSSIBLE to figure out the answer. I admire the prosecutors and defendants. I think we almost always forget how difficult their profession is and this movie reminds you just that.
I googled and was surprised to find out that after this came out, the victim's families actually appealed for a re-trial of the case. I can see why. It does provoke that thought in you. Kudos to the director!
I will most definitely watch this movie again because it was so enjoyable. It also has great score in the background. It has never a dull moment and remains consistent. Give this a try if it sounds like it's the genre for you. I totally one hundred percent recommend it.
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The characters are really deep and well-developed in spite of the entire theme being them Karuta players. I love the main girl and her passion and determination for the game was really inspiring. I also loved the dynamics between her and her friends and watching them practice and bicker was very nice. The way these characters come together and decide to go the Nationals was amazing.
The romantic aspect of the film wasn't much but I enjoyed whatever they showed. When the movie gets intense, they also throw in some anime humour which saves it from being too much to handle. I think this film can serve as an inspiration for anyone regardless of what goal you are aiming for. It also shows how not just talent, but perseverance and taking care of your health while working toward your goal is equally important.
The main actress is really pretty and the main actor was also cute. I don't know any of the other side actors but they also did good jobs of their characters. Like I said, a big traditional side to the film exists and that makes it way more intriguing to watch. Like in the poster, the costume of the main girl was very beautiful to look at. So there's an aesthetic value attached to the film.
I think(?) there's a sequel to this film which is MUCH NEEDED because the ending left scope for a lot to happen. I think this has convinced me to read the manga and watch the anime because I've clearly not got enough of these characters. There's also a lot more story that can be told and I want more- so yeah.
I am super glad I didn't pass it up because that would've been such a waste. Hopefully by the time the subs come out for part 2, I'll have read the manga and I hope there will be more romance. The leads are so cute that I-can't-even...... Go watch it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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The romance may have been the main part in the previous two installments but this drama overall outdoes everything on every level for me(opinions may differ for all). I can only call this drama a masterpiece because NEVER have I ever seen or read or heard of such a story in my life before. This drama made me think about the beauty of relations and what kind of love is love. It is a story about remembering the past and being grateful for what you possess.
The OST happens to consist of old songs remade and it is another beauty that only enhances the drama. Every single song is jjang and goes with the mood of the drama perfectly.
When it comes to the cast, the casting was perfect. Hyeri was given such hatred in the beginning but I knew she'd be good. But she really exceeded my expectations too. All other cast members were also cute and Jin Joo will always be my favorite kid. <3
The story in spite of being so beautiful, was flawed. Towards the last quarter of the drama the characterizations went bad and some plots drug out too much. Trying not to focus on the romance at all in the drama kind of ruined it in some ways. The romance was cute but the love triangle wasn't executed properly. I think it's okay because whatever the writer wanted was accomplished. I found myself changing ships midway and Deok Sun indeed ended up with the one I wanted her to be.
This drama was a real charm and gave me 10 memorable weeks which I shall never forget. I'll always rewatch this drama and watching it in one go would be a treat, because it was a torture waiting for every week for the subs to come out.
You may or may not like this better than the "best" Reply 1997 but it's surely an improvement over 1994 and leagues apart from the other two combined for me. But- PLEASE do WATCH it.
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I think this story was simply genius. It was flawed but the way it was executed and the way they tied up everything made perfect sense. This is why the story gets a full 10. I love the broken and complex characters and the leads really put the screen on fire while playing their roles. I think Ji Sung especially outdid himself and now I'm really hoping he does similar projects in the future as well. Hwang Jung Eum is a good actress but for me she was kind of annoying in the beginning. Both her character and acting didn't really kick in till the very end.
I was surprised by how the story managed to get me hooked after its initial episodes. The story seemed to go nowhere for a while and I had my doubts but the writer- wow. Slowly everything was thrown in the basement! Like, literally lol. I liked the thrill of watching this drama the first time. It's like your very first Kdrama- the thrill to know what happens next is omnipresent.
The music of the drama wasn't my most favourite. I liked only one song and the rest were meh to me.
What sets this drama apart is its continuous twists and turns. Something happens in every episode. Usually dramas run out by the end but even the last episode was as important and eventful as the rest. The ending and the premise was all tied up together really well.
Watch this drama if you're in for something different and if you are bored of the usual cliched dramas. I think one should not pass this up.
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FYI it is based on the real life of the last princess of Joseon Dynasty of Korea and her life's events are more or less depicted accurately. Some parts have been dramatized for entertainment but I liked that the major events shown were how they went down in history. It's quite emotional and I think irrespective of the country you are from, you will be able to relate with the pain Korean people went through under Japan's rule.
The casting of the film was on-point. Right from the child actress to Kim So Hyun to Son Ye Jin, everyone portrayed the princess excellently. I felt her pain and sympathized with what might have happened to her. Not only her but so many people in her life were affected because of the Japanese rule and if you look up her life on Wikipedia, it's becomes even more sad.
I love that this movie has an undertone of patriotism throughout and everyone can relate to that. The romance and rebellion is also there but it doesn't ruin or make the movie any heavier than it could have been. It's rather lighter than how I expected it to be. While this princess had a hard life I equally felt for her servants who waited for her for some 40-odd years.
The best part about the movie was the ending. Not only was it inspirational that life can go on in spite of hardships, it shows that this person who went through so much in her life got what she wanted at the end.
Hope everyone watches this film because it will make you respect the princess. The only flaw was the 'villain' because he was a little difficult to be taken seriously. At times it seemed too fictional and that's where the movie got lost a bit.
I commend the nice direction, great costumes, sets and the cast for their acting. Do watch this for a memorable experience.
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An underrated gem - you're missing out if you aren't watching this
Upon a friend's recommendation I decided to pick up this drama called "Kotaru Lives Alone" just because I was bored of most dramas lately. The synopsis seemed nice but I started watching it without much expectation. But I was blown away with how good this drama was! It made me reminisce about my early drama watching days when I watched only Jdramas and nothing else. This drama seems fit for a late 2000s or early 2010s Jdrama quality.PLOT + CHARACTERS:
Honestly, it is ridiculous. It would never be legal, much less- posssible for a 5 year old to live alone and much less having a law firm or random people looking for a random kid. Were it a real scenario, they boy would be taken away by social services and they would have done as deemed fit by them. This drama reaffirms every episodes that it is a fictional set up which was sort of funny.
It's about a 5 year old who rents an apartment and how he navigates his life all alone. Of course, the neighbour steps in and from there on they go on from barely tolerating each other to forming a deep parent-child relationship. Also we have some lovely side characters thrown in and what I loved about this drama was how it was about kindness and helping others in need. The main adult character is a tsundere but his growth was pretty believable. I love how he never condescends the child and instead tells him how even an adult can learn lessons from a child. Honestly- their relationship had me very emotionally invested. We also meet a female hostess who is being abused by her boyfriend. I loved the fact that for the first time in a Jdrama, they called the police rather than trying to solve the problem on their own.
ACTING:
The main child star steals the show. His dialogue delivery was on point and he must be a smart kid because it was no easy feat! I also loved all the side actors and their interactions with each other were very natural. By the end they did seem more like a family than random people who came together. Kudos to the cast and the director who made sure that the viewer is able to feel this side of the story rather than us brushing it off as some comedy.
OVERALL:
I can understand that this drama isn't a conventional genre and Jdramas are even less mainstream among international viewers. However, it is a drama not to be missed out on as it has a fresh plot, comedy and some great characters. Like all Jdramas, it also teaches us the importance of kindness and giving others new chances. I honestly wouldn't mind a Season 2 because there is still a lot of story left to be told. Kotaru-chan's innocence lives on and I truly want him to get his real happy ending.
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Since I am also an Asian, I could relate a lot to it. I read some opinions about people online who said that such problems regarding cultural things don't exist anymore. But I disagree. In fact, in a lot of Asian countries families don't exactly get thrilled if someone plans to marry a person from the West or any other country. This is exactly what is portrayed in this movie. The thoughts and reactions were absolutely perfect.
Both Saori and Tony have an excellent relationship in this film. The way they manage to work it out in spite of being different was amazing. Plus, their struggle to seek approval of their families and peer was also depicted nicely. When they had problems and insecurities, even that was very understandable. Although most of the movie revolves around these two people, it gives you a good feeling. There was hardly anything dramatic or tragic in this film. It manages to maintain its mood and pace until the end. There are a lot of cute and heartwarming moments throughout the entire film.
The events of the entire film are simple. I would say they did drag it out more than necessary (but that happens with most films). Since it was a semi-autobiographical manga originally, this movie also ended up feeling like a documentary. But I do not regret watching it. Plus, this is one of those movies to enjoy while relaxing and not thinking much. I loved the simplicity of the whole film. It is a must-watch!
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Sorry to say, but the pairing is one of the worst I have ever seen. Their chemistry was just lousy and the characters terribly annoying. I stopped caring where the story went after 8th or 9th episode. It got better at this time and suddenly it went downhill again. It seemed more like a sex comedy at times.
Also, this show is poorly written. None of the sub-plots or side characters were interesting. All of them could have been killed in an airplane accident and I wouldn't have cared. I only watched it out of boredom. I absolutely hated the character of Park Gae In. She was clumsy, childish, annoying and dumb. She looked old but acted like a little child. I get that she never had the love of a mother, but that doesn't mean she has to stay crippled like a loveless child for her entire life. The only good quality she had was that she was caring towards the people she loved. Other than that, it was hard to stand her. Jin Ho's character was also boring and lacked depth. He was standoffish throughout the entire show. I really never understood his character. It had a lot of negative traits as well.
The show is not very enjoyable. I would not recommend it to anyone. There are much better shows out there. Go and rewatch your favorite drama than watching this absolute trash.
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PLOT:
Age gap between the leads in dramaland isn't very common. At least not in the way that you'd see the characters ever acknowledging this. I've seen age gaps which were fun or cringe, but this was actually quite nice. The way the drama started off and the interaction between the leads felt like a Western story to me. They form a genuine bond and their love and relationship follows that. I wasn't a fan of the male lead but he was watchable and watching him being in love with the female lead was a lot of fun. The only downsides started after Ep 15 where the good moments were less and secondary melodrama took over. If it weren't for the leads, I wouldn't have watched this nor completed this as none of the secondary characters were interesting. The uncle and the friend were super boring. The drama with the second leads and the mother-in-law didn't go with the plot at all. There were times the drama ignored the cooking aspect and concentrated on some other uninteresting points. I also didn't fully love the food aspect as I am a vegetarian and almost all the dishes had meat in it.
ACTING/CAST:
Zhao Lusi steals the show for me. This role was slightly different from her previous dramas although she always does comedy in all her dramas. She looked fabulous and her playful side always made me smile. I like the fact that she has good chemistry with whoever she acts with. The ML actor was new to me but he did a good job too. He looked older than he was supposed to be, but he never let age get in the way of affecting their chemistry.
OST:
Normally I wouldn't like these kinds of songs, but all of them fit the mood of the drama pretty well.
OVERALL:
If food and romance with a big age gap is your thing, go for it. I would say don't lead the age gap deter you from watching because the leads did a genuinely good job of it. Zhao Lusi is a treat to watch and the food that they show seems delicious. A special mention to the SL because I felt like he matched with the FL better. This drama is a one-time watch and you'll find some delightful moments to watch. If you don't like the leads then don't watch this as the drama doesn't have much else to offer.
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This drama can best be compared to Full House. Their resemblance at times was eery. Both dramas have a bickering couple, cuteness, a killer OST and a lot of repetitiveness. It's basically the whole back and forth of will-they-wont-they. The thing is you already know the answer and if you are not patient or if you don't have a lot of time on your hands you'd just want to give up.
I wish this drama could have remained the way it was introduced. A bit random but fresh with a lot of appeal. I won't say the freshness died or anything because come on, it is set in JEJU frickkin island. The cinematography was killer and the lead pair is endlessly soothing to look at. I really enjoyed the old school Kdrama style it followed at times but during others it made me want to tear my hair out.
I didn't have the will to rate it higher than a 8 nor did I have the heart to rate it lower. The second leads are terrible in the drama. The other couple (hyung and the diver lady) were the funniest till their relationship had nothing left anymore.
I want to mention the little attempt the drama makes at encouraging people to try living in Jeju- including foreigners. I liked how they have little programs for people to adjust to the lifestyle there. Plus they showed a really nice relationship of the people living there. The mayor was shown as a sweetheart to all the people and the way he went around in his bicycle was adorable. <3
Baek Geon Woo was a cutie at times and a jerk at others. I wish Lee Jung Joo could be a bit hard at times but she was too soft-hearted. A classic Kdrama heroine in short. Think of Full House and the characters are almost a replica at times. I dunno if anyone else felt that way or not but I did.
Anyway, I had a lot of issues with the drama but couldn't get to rate it any lower. Like Dramabeans says, how much I enjoyed it v/s how much it deserves- I'd say an 8 v/s 6. That's it. Now decide for yourself whether you wanna watch it or not.
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Let's start off with the story. At first, it seems like another cliched nice girl-bad boy falling for each other story. To say briefly- this is the real story. Yet, so different and likable. This drama dared to used heavy cliches but twisted and turned them in such a way that it was hard to get bored. One aspect I loved was that both leads- Yi Lei and Mei Le were characters with real depth. Generally, the romantic comedies tend to have shallow characters and their behaviour is hard to contemplate. Here, the guy and girl are both damaged in their ways and they always give us the reason for their behaviour. And the excuse doesn't seem silly. It is actually believable.
The main girl seems too perfect and boring at the beginning of the show, but after she meets Yi Lei her flaws start showing. And on the first few encounters Yi Lei seems predictable and the typical bad boy who never changes. But eventually he starts softening up because of Mei Le. I think this is the first time in any drama that I have understood why a super rich, super handsome guy fell for an ordinary girl. Mei Le is really unique and a hard worker. She strives to do her best in every thing and gives it her all. Because of this, she also manages to win over Yi Lei. Both characters manage to break the image that they first created as the story progresses. Also, I love how they both bring out a different side of each other. When they are together I felt like they were an actual couple! The depiction was so realistic.
As for the secondary characters- Yi Feng is, and remains an idiot (till the end) who cheats on Mei Le and goes for an insufferable girl like Xuan Xuan. I actually empathized a bit with Xuan Xuan at the beginning but after that I wanted to yank off her stupid woolen hats. She was very annoying. Then there are the brother and sister of the main couple who very cute together. Again- the first time when the second love story was equally likable. There was also the mother of Yi Lei who was a completely nasty and horrendous. I hated her the most. The actress also overacted and her angry expressions were almost comical.
Now- the relationship between Yi Lei and Mei Le. Where do I start? I love, love, love their relationship together. Here, instead of the girl the guy falls for her first. He managed to completely win me over by the second or third episode. Mike He in the role was an added advantage because of his good looks. I won't say he is the best actor in the world and he definitely overacted at times- but he was so cute! Especially the actions of Yi Lei and what he felt for Mei Le was FANTASTIC. I also love how the story gives them time and the perfect opportunities for them to get to know each other before falling in love. I had some issues with Mei Le denying her feelings, but she confesses the reason for her behaviour too and I felt like it was forgivable. Cyndi Wang is an amazing actress because she managed to make a naive, clueless, pushover sort of a girl into some one who was easy to like. And this is a record where I was hardly annoyed with the main girl.
Plus, the chemistry between Mike He and Cyndi Wang was too good. When they kiss or hug, it ends up giving you a warm feeling. I really loved how they were able to understand each other completely. You can really compare the relationship Mei Le had with Yi Feng and the one she has with Yi Lei. I was almost wishing like I could be in their fairytalesque story too. Both characters have their shortcomings and they way they manage to make it work irrespective of that is amazing. My shipper heart was happy all the way upto episode 10.
Now, the last 4-5 episodes were kind of lacking in romance. I wasn't too thrilled with the reappearances of Xuan Xuan and Yan Shao. The sister-pretension plot was silly, but it managed to be an alright plot device to drive the main couple apart. Plus here there was another more of a sensible situation than a dumb ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend breaking up the couple. I have seen enough rom coms to know that separation is always inevitable. It happens here too. But it is amazing that the story managed to remain interesting enough to watch even after driving them apart. I had a few issues with the last episode because every one was crying so- I suggest you skip the depressing parts.
I don't know why every one complained about the ending. Okay, they didn't show Mike He but I actually liked how they concluded it. Plus, it was a happy one so what's there to complain? Rom coms never have perfect endings either.
So, all in all- it is one of the many romantic comedies, part-melodrama. Yet, I think it was different and definitely more enjoyable than the ones I have been watching till now. It has ended and I feel like I parted with a friend. I am happy giving this drama a try and it definitely goes in my favourites' list. Highly recommended!
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What is great about this drama is how even though it has a lot of cliches in it, it still somehow manages to stand out in the melodrama genre. Surprisingly- this drama has a real plot and as I started watching it, it sucked me in completely. This is one of those dramas that is better enjoyed if marathoned through. Week after week, the curiosity about how things would unfold kind of waned. I am really not good with patience and this drama required too much of it.
Although the plot is slow and not overly dramatic as some other dramas, it has an addictive vibe to it. I think this drama was perfectly paced upto episode 8-9. The middle was kind of boring and dragging for me but the last two episodes were solid. They totally redeemed the drama in my eyes because I had been worried about how things would turn out.
The main characters in this drama seem interesting at first, but ironically the lead pair fades in comparison to the second leads. My favourite character in this drama was Kang Jae. He was a bad guy with a conscience, an anti-hero, a guy in need of love and a great hyung. I loved the complexity of his character and Jo Jin Woong did an excellent job of playing him. As for Yoon Kye Sang even though I liked his acting, it went over the top at times. Han Ji Hye was pretty but had no variation in her expressions- she always had the same, sad, "damsel in distress" face. Her character was written well but too bad she could hardly do justice to her role.
There are a lot of touching moments in this drama. It teaches you a lot about life, love and family. It raises a lot of questions about morals and shows how greed can destroy people's lives. I think that was a pretty interesting take on the whole story. It also makes you think of loyalty and human psychology which was rather cool!
There is murder, romance, deceit, revenge, lies, betrayal and friendship- all in this drama. It has enough of everything to keep one entertained. If you like romance, there is enough of that too. Maybe not as overwhelming as in some other dramas but I was quite satisfied with it. :)
I have to give props to the OST of this drama. It's brilliant and I've been listening to some songs every day now and still don't get bored. Every single song is memorable. I think this drama has one of the best OSTs ever.
I think it's a good drama to watch if you're looking for something different. :)
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The story is absolutely brilliant. The fact that this happened in reality and that there are still thousands of people suffering from this disease is truly saddening and heartbreaking. I can the portrayal of a person's disability in it was 100% accurate. It was so realistic that I felt like it was actually happening in front of me. The main cast gave outstanding performances- especially Sawajiri Erika. She was so convincing that I felt her pain.
Apt to its title, this drama could make you cry a lot- depending on you. I am going to confess that there were a few times I absolutely teared up. In fact, I think not tearing up while watching this would be inhumane. Anybody who is capable of feeling sorry for the physically disabled or people suffering from painful diseases will be able to feel it here too. Aya (both the fictional and real one) is a very inspiring person. The things she recorded in her diary is deep and moving.
The way they showed the transformation of an ordinary girl's life after she encounters Spinocerebellar Atrophy was the main focus of the drama. More than her struggle, it was also focused on how it affects those around her- be it friends, parents, siblings, teachers or regular people you meet on the street. It makes me think of all the physically disabled people I have seen in public. I think I can understand their feelings more clearly now.
This drama is almost like a documentary made on Aya's life. Neither is it happy to begin with nor does it end happily. But the sadness and tears aren't the only things in it. Most of all- it will remind you to treasure life and be thankful for what you have. There's a deeper underlying meaning to it too. It also showcases the kindness and cruelty of humans and their attitude towards such people. In a lot of countries, people are still not aware of hardships such people have to go through and treat them badly. Just like Aya said, "Why did it choose me?" The matter of falling ill was not by choice but only cruel fate.
This drama is one of the rare gems that you should definitely not miss out on. Watching it once was enough for me, so no rewatch value where I am concerned.
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