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addicted2dramas

India

addicted2dramas

India
Completed
L♥DK
44 people found this review helpful
Oct 27, 2014
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 4.0
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 2.0
Here is my review for my most anticipated Japanese movie for 2014. Whether you watch this movie or not- just don't watch the trailer. The reason for all the hype and expectations I had regarding this movie was purely the FANTASTIC and very cute trailer. Oh boy! Look where it landed me.

For starters, I am a very big lover of this manga. It isn't exactly a very smart story but what drove the entire plot of the manga had been random cuteness and a swooning chemistry between the leads. While the lead actors here are cute they fail to make me love them and rather came off as annoying. I don't know how old both actors are but I'm gonna be harsh and say they did a terrible job of their characters.

Shuusei and Aoi were unrecognizable to me as characters by the end of the film. With a story that originally hardly had any depth, the script of the film makes it shallower (as if that's even possible). Yes, the sudden romantic moments are cute but before you reach half of the film- you feel like you're watching a couple of teenagers' random romantic moments put together. The characters don't make sense and the flow of the story is practically non-existent.

I understand that not all movies have the same budget but for this the acting really ruined everything and not the lack of glamour. The humour, romance and story- everything failed me. Yet for some very odd reason I didn't hate the movie. There was something addictive about it that made me kept going. I couldn't wait to get to know what happened next nor could I wait for it to end. It was like a tug-of-war happening within me as a viewer.

One of the bright sides of the movie was the presence of Kiriyama Renn. Even his barely-there presence left more of an impact on me than the other actors could do. It was rather a waste of this otherwise talented man.

This is a harsh review and my ratings are all low and yet the overall score is fine. That's because I couldn't hate it being a fan of the manga nor could I hate the cliches in the film. As a one-time watch it hurts nobody but does stand as very forgettable in the long run.

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Completed
Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge
4 people found this review helpful
Oct 26, 2014
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 2.0
I dropped this drama around two years ago but after reading the manga and anime, I got around to finishing it. From what my memory served, I thought this drama was much better than I remembered. It has a funny storyline and a few good laughs each episode too- until midway. As soon as you reach the 6th or 7th episode you will feel tired. The storyline from then on gets repetitive and dragged.

What saves this drama from being unwatchable is its lovely cast. Oh my Kamenashi Kazuya! He is handsome, charming and has the power to suck you in. The bad boy image suits him really well and you can't help but fall for him. I loved this on-screen version of Kyohei than in anime. Sunako however falls short. Although initially funny there hardly seems to be much redeemable in her. However I like the rest of its cast- Takeru, the aunt and everyone else.

The drama isn't completely good or bad. It has its moments. While I find parts of it to my liking a few of them gave me a headache. The unnecessary melodrama in the later half and the ending were what ruined the drama. The ending was so corny that it was more LOL than anything. I find this a fizzle because Kazuya-kun and Aya-chan had such good chemistry. Plus Aya is such a beautiful actress.

In the end the drama is forgettable to me. I am struggling to remember the parts I enjoyed in it because while I might have enjoyed, it didn't leave a mark on me. I wish the nosebleeds had been included in the drama since they included so many things anyway (I am a fan of nosebleeds).

Recommended to fans of the cast, the anime or manga. The rest can skip out on it.

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Completed
You're All Surrounded
15 people found this review helpful
Jul 18, 2014
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
You're Surrounded is definitely the best drama of 2014 so far. It might not have been a gigantic ratings hit but there is a reason why it consistently stayed at #1 almost every week while it aired. I am going to miss tuning in to watch it every week. It is one of the most appealing fresh dramas in quite a while. It is filled with mystery, romance, comedy, melodrama and friendship all rolled into one. I usually do not give out 10s easily but I think this drama deserves one.

I hope my review can convince you to watch this because trust me- you won't know what you are missing out on unless you do. Although it is a standard kdrama with it has multiple genres all in one. It will give you a bit of everything and yet leave you wanting more. I have to commend its excellent and versatile cast for bringing life into the drama and playing it so well until the end. They make you forget that these are the actors we've seen before. Even the child actors are lovable and play emotional parts with ease.

The story is complex and there are bits of it which seem random at times but tie up really well as the plot progresses. The emotional parts of it are very touching and might bring you to tears. Apart from that the comedy is really the laugh-out-loud type. Plus the friendship between the four young detectives is absolutely delightful to watch. The at times dysfunctional relationship with their Team Leader and others at their workplace is another fun aspect with an equal amount of emotional depth.

The other great part (and very memorable) is the romance. It's not the in-your-face kind of romance that Kdramas usually have but it has the right amount of scenes and a good build-up till the end. Lee Seung Gi and Go Ara are both talented actors and they'll make you fall in love with them as their characters fall for each other. Their pair was believable and cute at the same time.

While most dramas that start off well get lost midway or towards the end- this drama is pretty consistent in story telling as far as kdramas go. Every episode is good and I never felt like skipping much. The main reason I am giving this drama 10 isn't what I mentioned above but because of its ending. It is hands down THE BEST ending I have yet seen in a kdrama. It is fulfilling, sweet and leaves you wanting more.

As for the OST I loved most of the songs and my favourite ballad is sung by Taeyeon (one of my favourite singers).

I usually never give high ratings to dramas for rewatch values because I hardly ever do but this one has a decent value. I am not going to rewatch the entire drama but I surely can relive the scenes of one of my favourite pairs of all-time again. If you're done reading this- go and watch NOW. You won't regret it. :D

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Completed
What Happened in Bali
8 people found this review helpful
Jun 20, 2014
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 6.0
Once I hear that a particular melodrama is worth-watching, I believe in saving it up for later. This is one of those dramas that I had been saving up for a long time to watch it at the right time. I had actually forgotten about it until I sat down to watch it on a whim yesterday. Since then, I marathoned it for two complete days and finished it just minutes ago and I am still reeling.

This drama is no masterpiece. Some might even call it bad. However it's one of those crazy dramas which are so bad that they are good. LOL. Does that make sense? Okay, let me sum it up for you shortly: it is basically a story about unlikable people- the kinds we avoid at all costs in real life but prove to be fun to watch in a drama. I can never imagine myself falling for a guy like the main lead or befriending a girl like the main heroine. Actually, that's what makes this drama such a compelling watch. It's fictitious and realistic at the same time which I thought was an applause-worthy aspect of it. Just a word of caution though- it can prove depressing to some.

The writer actually created a very clever story using the standard K-drama recipe but managed to inject doses of reality in it. It's a story about greed, desire, love, betrayal, obsession and more at its core. It constantly plays with these realistic aspects of day-to-day life in a very entertaining way. The drama is highly addictive, such that once you find yourself even a bit invested in it- it becomes difficult to let go.

While I enjoyed the drama as a whole, I also hated parts of it. Its characters were frustrating and made me want to throw things at them. I wanted to shake them out of their stupidity or shake them into being smart. The characters were unlikable at best- especially Soo Jung, Jae Min and Young Joo. In Wook was the only "normal" character in this crazy drama.

Apart from that the casting choice was excellent. Jo In Sung (*drool*), Ha Ji Won and So Ji Sub (*drool*) all together in a single drama was like a dream cast come true. They did fantastic jobs of their characters and really made them believable. The cast was what held the drama in place and they never let go even till the very last scene.

That brings me to the best aspect of the drama- the ending. SERIOUSLY. Just watch the whole drama for its ending if you're into something dark and melodramatic. If you think you like out of the box or 'different' endings- this one's for you. I appreciate creativity any given day and I am glad the writer took a chance to deliver just that. I can think of so many ways this drama could have ended but this one fits well. It really left me clapping out loud. I could see why the finale reached almost up to 40% ratings in those days. Obviously the whole country would want to turn on their tv to catch the finale if it were drama like this.

The music in the drama was fine. It wasn't anything memorable but I liked it fine. However, the one thing this drama lacks in is the rewatch value. As much as I enjoyed it the first time, I refuse to watch it for a second time because it wouldn't be that much fun nor would I have the patience. Anyway, go watch this drama NOW if you're looking for something good. It was definitely worth it. :)

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Completed
Empress Ki
22 people found this review helpful
May 3, 2014
51 of 51 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0
I've been meaning to review this drama for a while but kept putting it off. It took time for me to gather my thoughts on it and write it all down properly. If someone asked me what kind of a drama Empress Ki is I'd just say one thing- crazy. That one word fits the description perfectly. I truly believe I've never seen a crazier drama before. It was crazy in both great ways and terrible ways.

First things first- don't be fooled by the opening sequence of this drama. I do believe it mislead me completely and I didn't get what I thought I would. It was rather a waste to have filmed that scene since it is one of the most attention-grabbing scenes in a drama EVER according to me.

While I appreciate the writer for taking chances to create a bold storyline, I would say it both did and didn't create the effect it intended to have. What started off as a brilliant narrative, got lost midway but picked up in the second half- only to lead to one of the most disappointing closing arcs ever. Till episode 41-42 I thought this drama was the best thing I have ever watched. I had never been this entertained by a drama before- the romance, humour, politics, scheming, tragedy was all a wonderful combination for enjoyment. Too bad it was a steep downward trend from then on and it couldn't just keep up with the quality of its previous episodes. The last 10 episodes totally distracted me from what the drama was before and that's just saddening.

Since no drama can be perfect, I tried my best to overlook its flaws. Although I was much too frustrated with the drama towards the end, I still give it a lot of credit for making me love its characters so much before its degradation began. Seung Nyang is one of the strongest characters in dramaland and the guys who vie for her affection were both likable in their own ways. I thought this drama has one of the most drawn-out and tiring love triangles ever. Not that I'm complaining since that was what drew me to it in the first place. The romance was quite fulfilling and I was satisfied with the moments we got although I didn't like what the writers did to my favourite couple towards the end.

While there are what I call as WTF moments in the drama, they are also the most exciting ones thanks to its awesome antagonists. Tanasiri was the woman I loved to hate! I in fact loved the actress a lot too. She was absolutely terrific. Her whole family was a family of psychos which was just funny. Then we also have good guys turning into bad and vice versa which is another interesting aspect of this drama. We constantly see the characters battling not just others but also themselves.

The cast did a great job of their characters and oh boy!- it introduced me to hotties like Ji Chang Wook and Jin Yi Yan. Ji Chang Wook is not only handsome but really gets under the skin of his character. His performance just blew me away. Ha Ji Won was good too but I always have trouble connecting with her acting in a lot of places- both in this and her previous dramas. The rest of the cast was fine too.

One reason to remember this drama fondly is the music. It's an absolute outstanding soundtrack and they always played the music at the right times. If I could, I would like to get my hands on the physical copy of the OST. I have listened to pretty much every song innumerable times and it never bores me. It's deep, emotional and powerful. Maybe it depends on one's taste too but I would recommend the OST to everyone.

So all in all, this drama is highly flawed. It's got a lot many flaws but the good parts are just as good. I think this drama is better seen at once since skipping the last arc and just getting to the end would be the best thing to do. Don't let the last few episodes keep you from watching this. It's worth a try at least. :)

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Completed
Beyond the Clouds
13 people found this review helpful
Apr 9, 2014
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 7.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 5.0
'Beyond the Clouds' is definitely one of the smartest melodramas ever made. It's a shame that it is so underrated and went unnoticed by so many. I really think it is really worth a watch. My weekly dose of watching this drama shall definitely be missed.

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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Completed
Reply 1994
61 people found this review helpful
Apr 5, 2014
21 of 21 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
I am glad that I watched this drama but more glad that I was able to finish it (phew!). I think Reply 1994 is a good drama on its own, whether or not I compare it to its mega popular and one of my all-time favourites predecessor. Being the second season, not comparing the two was impossible for me no matter how much I tried.

There are both pros and cons in this drama. I prefer the love triangle in 94 much, much more than the one in 97. Overall, the characters in this drama were almost equally as good as in 97 (or in some cases- even better).

For starters, Na Jeong was quite funny and likable. According to me, it's hard to beat Sung Shi Won played by Eun Ji in 97 but nonetheless, Go Ah Ra did a great job of playing the main character. The rest of them were great in their roles too but the character of Chilbong stands out a bit more for me. I didn't feel like the writer fully utilized his character. Yoo Yeon Seok however did a splendid job with the way he played Chilbong. Applause to him for making me love him so much and making his character feel so real! Then there's Jung Woo who played Trash oppa. I failed to fully connect to his character, maybe due to the way it was written or due to the lack of acting skills of the actor. I don't know who to blame here. I honestly felt like Trash's character had more depth to him than was delivered- which is just sad.

I now understand why this drama had countless shipper wars. My biggest complaint with the love triangle was why drag it out so much when one guy didn't even stand a proper chance from the beginning? Na Jeong clearly loved one and one only from the start. I did like both guys but the outcome was too predictable. Of course, the writer tried to 'confuse' the viewers but I could easily sense the direction it was going in. Better luck next time, writer-nim!

The thing that makes this drama stand out is the band of realistic characters, their unbreakable bonds, unforgettable friendships and love for each other. Mixed in with the nostalgia of the 90's this was surely a recipe for success. I must say it delivered exceedingly well on this front.

Its other great strength lies in its deeply likable cast where there wasn't a single annoying person! Its OST is pretty good too and is sure to keep me listening for days.

Btw I HAVE to mention the cameos of the cast of Reply 97! They were so hilarious that I wanted to kick out the 94 part and let them stay instead. :D This came as a plus to me because they entered the drama right when the plot started becoming stale.

In spite of the many moments that made this drama super likable, there were an equal number of scenes during which I found myself hitting the fast forward button. Why, writer-nim could you not make this drama shorter? What made Reply 1997 work was its shorter length and ability to not drag out as much as regular dramas tend to do. This drama's duration of each of the 21 episodes made watching a tedious task. The downside of having a drama stretch more than it can eventually tires out the viewer thereby decreasing the overall enjoyment.

Had it been shorter and not as repetitive, I would have said that this drama was better than Reply 1997 in a lot of ways. It probably is. Being the same kind of story, by the end it managed to touch me and thus left me with the happy and warm feeling that it sought out to do. :)

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Completed
Prime Minister and I
10 people found this review helpful
Apr 2, 2014
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 3.0
Sometimes the only way to enjoy a drama is to keep your expectations low. That is how I was able to enjoy this drama. In fact, it turned out better than I expected.

While the plot is cliche, it was cute and entertaining. The scenario of contract marriages never fail to amuse me and this was no exception. It also has a 'Sound of Music'-esque vibe to it but not very much. Like I said, it isn't an original story by far. While its sub-plots were boring and flat, the relationship between the Prime Minister, his wife and the children was more than enough to keep me watching.

I am not a big fan of castings when there is a lot of age gap between the lead actors. This time though, I was pleasantly surprised by the natural chemistry between Lee Bum Soo and Yoona. In spite of their difference in ages, they were cute together. I have to give credit to their good acting skills for that. I was happy to see Yoona having improved a lot since Love Rain. I want to see her in more dramas that suit her like this one.

The best parts of the drama were definitely the kids and the romantic moments (never saw so many we-fell-on-each-other scenes before). It's light, fun and amusing till about episode 10 or so. I would suggest skipping some scenes or episodes in between because they don't contribute anything to the plot.

It's OST was rather good and worth listening to till you get bored of it.

Watch this drama when in the mood for some sweet, harmless fun but don't expect a lot from it.

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Completed
Missing You
61 people found this review helpful
Apr 2, 2014
21 of 21 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 6.0
I remember trying to watch this drama back in 2012 when it started airing. Back then, it seemed too depressing for me and I kept it on-hold ever since. Picking up this drama again after such a long time is one of the best decisions I ever made. This drama now goes straight to my favourites list (*the list keeps on getting longer*).

I have noticed how this drama is not received well with a lot of people. I can understand why. It's got to be one of the most depressing dramas ever. 'Missing You' falls in more of a makjang-tastic melodrama genre which could have gone wrong. For me, of course, this drama worked very well. I loved the whole plot and enjoyed every character in it.

I am usually critical of tragedy being used as a cheap means to get the plot moving. Often, including tragedy is seen as convenient for Kdrama writers when they want to create the 'shock effect' in the viewer. What sets this drama apart from so many others is how tragedy is used as a base here instead of some random, bang-up scenario. It makes room for rest of the plot to build up, leaving scope for a lot of plot development and some amazing character development- which is commendable.

The sad parts of the drama are so wonderfully done (especially the childhood parts) that they will remain in my memory for a long time. They are touching and were successful in moving me. Even the sub-plots are very interesting, including the romance.

I loved how even though a lot of bad stuff happened to its characters, they were able to bear with it. That shows us how there's hope even in the darkest of the times. Okay, I know I am making it sound like some sadistic, boring drama but it is not. It is both beautiful and poignant in many ways. It had a nice pacing and many interesting sides to it.

The cast gave stellar performances. I believe this was Yoon Eun Hye and Park Youchun's best role till date. Although I am not the biggest fan of Youchun's acting, he impressed me here. His chemistry with Yoon Eun Hye was very good and believable to me. Apart from that the child actors were TERRIFIC- especially Kim So Hyun. When she suffered, I got the goosebumps. It was that great! Kudos to the director for making it seem so real.

The OST of this drama is terrific. I recommend every one to listen to it.

Overall, this drama is a whole package with a memorable cast, a touching story, lots of tears, lots of love and a solid soundtrack. Though it doesn't have a very high rewatch value, I won't mind rewatching my favourite scenes between the main leads.

Recommended to fans of melodramas and sad stories with good endings. :)

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Completed
My Love from the Star
14 people found this review helpful
Mar 7, 2014
21 of 21 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
'You Who Came from the Stars' is a really unique drama. It is not unique story-wise or anything. It just possesses a certain quality which sets it apart from countless other Korean dramas. I can almost say with confidence that any person that watches this drama will either love it or get bored with it. However, you won't find yourself hating it.

This drama is like a candy wrapped in an attractive cover. When you unwrap it and take a bite of it, the degree of sweetness felt by each person may vary but will never seem bitter or sour. It's an absolute HIT or MISS.

I started this drama out of utter boredom and ended up marathoning it within 2 days!! This drama managed to keep my attention in spite of its good and bad parts.

STORY:

To be honest- the story wasn't great. I felt like the sci-fi arc was totally and completely nonsensical. That was the least interesting part of the drama. What makes the drama enjoyabe is the comedy, romance, suspense and melodramatic moments that are more than enough to keep you hooked.

The romance was pretty good. I don't recall watching a romance this satisfying since watching The Master's Sun. The main story (thankfully) is the love story rather than the "sci-fi" part. That's what makes this whole drama work. The leads seemed comfortable enough together for me to be convinced that they were in love. Even the age difference is hardly felt due to the way they acted around each other. They were pretty cute and cheesy at the same time. I like cheesy so I won't complain but sometimes the level of cheese was more than I wanted.

The beginning of the drama was sort of random and rough for me. It took around ep 7-8 for me to fully get the hang of the characters and the plot. Once it picked up, there was no looking back. Like every single drama, it dragged towards the end but it was very much bearable.

I wished they could have done something good with the alien part. It ended up being a cheap plot device without any explanation or logic attached to it. Being a sci-fi fan that was the biggest disappointment to me regarding the drama. It was like, the movie E.T. (with grown ups) rolled in Twilight and Vampire Diaries and came out like a Korean drama plot. LOL. Not saying that it was horrible but it wasn't great either. Don't worry- that didn't keep me from liking the drama. It had a lot of great things in it as well as already pointed out.

ACTING/CAST:

I think the cast was great. The star of the drama is Jun Ji Hyun hands down. She OWNED the entire drama and I have to say- even overshadowed Kim Soo Hyun. It's unbelievable how she managed to make an otherwise annoying character of Cheon Seong Yi into someone totally likable and someone I found myself caring about. I, for some reason couldn't relate to Kim Soo Hyun's acting. He did well in some parts and but after a while it didn't impress me much. I didn't quite feel the transition of the person who was closed up for 400 years to someone who fell in love. I felt like he should have put more effort into seeming cold in the first place. I am not saying that he doesn't show emotions on his face- because he does.

I hated Yoo In Na's character. She transformed into the typical Kdrama second lead too soon for me. She was sweet in the beginning though. I wish she picked better roles because she sure is good. The second male lead was meh for me. He was just wishy washy and I couldn't connect to him at all. I rather liked the brother of Cheon Seong Yi better. He was funnier and way more entertaining.

I disliked the bad guy character in the story. He was just silly, forced and boring. However, I liked the actor and he did a good job of his role.

MUSIC:

I didn't like the soundtrack nor did I hate it. Nothing special.


ENDING:

I hated the ending. It was one of the worst endings of all time. It was obviously done to please the viewers but I couldn't buy it. It made me more angry than happy. I wouldn't have minded an alternate ending which would have made at least made sense. It would have made the drama more epic in my opinion rather than some randomly drawn sloppy conclusion.


All in all- a pretty enjoyable watch. It has its ups and downs like all dramas do but does manage to stand apart from the others. I recommend this to everyone. :)

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Completed
I Need Romance Season 3
21 people found this review helpful
Mar 5, 2014
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This installment in the INR series is definitely the best one. I failed to connect to the first two seasons completely. Imagine the surprise when I found myself enjoying this season!

The story seemed fresh in spite of the cliche noona romance plot. Its characters are funny, full of life and likable. The main reason to enjoy this drama is the character of Joo Wan played by Sung Joon. He literally stole the spotlight from every single person in this drama. The cute, adorable love-stricken dongsaeng role suited him well. It came off as a surprise to me because Sung Joon is one of those actors who appear to be 'tough guys' judging by his physique and looks. After watching this drama, I am sure every one would want a Joo Wan in their lives.

Apart from that, I liked the fact that the main female Joo Yeon was an insensitive person instead of the usual weak female. There were times it feel like she was so selfish that it made her seem cruel. Although it became hard and tiring to watch later on due to the character's repetitiveness, she somehow redeemed herself in the end.

The main love story is strong enough to hold you on till the end. Had it been resolved earlier, I would have lost interest. The beginning and the ending episodes were better than the middle. The middle was just a bore and difficult to get through. There were times when I wanted Wan to stop pining after the girl and move on and yet I couldn't help but root for him and Joo Yeon. I almost wanted them to be together as badly as him. :)

The two side stories and also cute and romantic. Lee Min Jung and her neighbour's affair was hilarious. They were a good comic relief when the main story got boring. I liked the role Yoon Seung Ah played in this drama. Her story with the guy (who reminded me of Kdrama second leads) was nice. It had its boring moments too but overall with the other two romances, the whole plot was kept together nicely.

This drama has to be one of the very few among romcoms which has a nice and fulfilling ending. Maybe it could have been better too, but it was pretty much okay for me. It wrapped up everything and there was nothing messy at the end of it all.

I would definitely recommend this drama to those who are looking for something cute and different to watch.

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Completed
Sakuran
12 people found this review helpful
Feb 14, 2014
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0
Sakuran is a movie that is close to perfection and truly deserves a 10.

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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Completed
The Pursuit of Happiness
21 people found this review helpful
Feb 11, 2014
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
I think a lot of times we find ourselves looking for drama that is 'different'. Well, here's one for you. This drama manages to be cute and fresh without any makjang, birth secrets, evil relatives, amnesia, tragedy, abuse, crime or unbearable second leads. It felt like a breath of fresh air.

Not to say that this is a story wholly deprived of cliches. Of course, it does have a love triangle/square and some romantic conflicts between the main leads. Refreshingly, for a change the conflict between the leads comes from within themselves and not any external sources (which I usually hate).

What I liked was that the characters seemed realistic and relatable on a certain level. They are both very, very normal people trying to juggle their love lives and careers- like most of us do. So this drama has its relatable aspects to it like career, life, aging and love. But don't worry. It's not a boring drama and there are enough laughs and light moments to keep one entertained. :D

Anyway, it takes a long time for the characters to fall in love. So if you're like me who prefers a build-up before love, you'll definitely like this drama. It is nice to watch these two people become strangers to friends and then friends to lovers. After all, cohabitation between two people of the opposite gender has to lead somewhere, right? This IS dramaland we are talking about here. :D

The story on the whole seemed to me like a mixture of My Best Friend's Wedding and the Taiwanese drama In Time With You (I read somewhere that both shows have the same producers). At times, this story seemed to me like an alternative universe to In Time With You. There's even a reference to that drama in the first episode!

I have to say that I liked all the subplots in this drama. There are many sub-romances also which were all likable. The friends of Ji An Lei were hilarious (Tiffany!) and supportive. He Wei Ting was also a sweetheart for the majority of the show. I did have problems with the female lead's character at times but she grows later on so she kind of redeems herself. I also had doubts about the main pairing but they managed to have good chemistry throughout the show. Also, there is an age difference between them but it isn't so apparent.

I also liked the ending of the drama. Being a Taiwanese drama, it dragged more than required but it didn't get unbearable. Watch this drama if you're bored with usual cliches and are looking for a good story.

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Completed
A Love to Kill
7 people found this review helpful
Feb 2, 2014
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
I think this drama deserves a 9 and here's why: this is as good a melodrama as one can be. I have seen some of the highest rated and 'best' melodramas but I believe this is one of the best. I'd like to say that I loved how the writer made good use of her creativity and left me with a story to remember for a long time.

This is a heavily character-driven drama rather than one driven by tears, cliches, tragedy and your usual makjang. It isn't one of those dramas that is set out to be depressing just so that it can be depressing. I hate it when horrible things happen to just one character in the whole drama without making sense *cough* SECRET *cough*. This drama is a psychological, dark and tormenting story of revenge with very unusual outcomes. Of course, you do have the common Kdrama cliches but they aren't as overbearing minus the last few episodes.

This drama will drain you but it is hands down the most addictive melodrama I've ever seen. After each episode, it left me wanting to find out what happens next. I finished watching it one single day. Yeah! It was THAT addictive.

I would like to call this as the most underrated melodrama ever. Perhaps because it's an older drama that it doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Anyway, the biggest conflict of the whole story is how can a guy that is out to seek revenge on a girl ever fall in love with her? Their story is quite unusual and you would definitely find yourself rooting for them.

Shin Min Ah and Rain are both wonderful in their roles and had good chemistry with each other. Their characters, interactions, body language- everything just worked naturally, along with their unforgettable romance. I kept jumping up and down with excitement and anticipation every scene they were in together.

I was happy because even though this drama was depressing on one hand, it gave me the right amount of romance to balance out the whole thing. I loved how the mood from the beginning to the end remains the same. Though it did get tiresome and repetitive towards, the last episode was great minus the last 10 minutes or so.

I felt like for the ending the writer tried too hard to make it 'deep' or 'romantic'. It was handled stupidly even though there was plenty of foreshadowing about what was going to happen so it wasn't a surprise for me at all. What happened to them is what I WANTED to happen. This is one of those dramas where you'd wish for a peaceful ending.

The soundtrack of the drama is pretty good too. I got tired of listening to one song in particular which sprouted up rather frequently, but it was okay.

Watch the drama for its acting and romance. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :D

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Completed
Bad Guy
22 people found this review helpful
Feb 1, 2014
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 2.0
This review may contain spoilers
Far from a perfect drama and yet it will pull you in right from the first scene. I usually do not watch melodramas or revenge dramas, but this one seemed interesting enough. This drama's strength lies in its plot, cast, the great camerawork and the TERRIFIC soundtrack!!

I thought the plot of this drama was really creative. A lot of things introduced in the first episode tie up well towards the later half. The revenge part and the parallel investigation by the cop were wonderful. There was no need for romance in the drama according to me. It could have done well on its own. Although it can be a bit slow at times, it won't bore you.

Kim Nam Gil is the star of the whole drama. This is my first time watching him in anything and I must say, I was totally enchanted by him. He has an amazing screen presence and acts with such depth and emotion that its impossible to tear your eyes away from the screen. I will also mention his long hair and moustache- suits him rather well. :D His character was the type you would want to see in a revenge drama. He is willing to go to any length to destroy those who did him wrong. Of course, he is very, very human and you'll see his soft side a lot of times.

Kim Jae Wook was super likable in his role. I would love to see him play a tortured guy again. He was a breath of fresh air, because he wasn't your typical doormat second lead. Although he gets too repetitive after a while, I enjoyed his acting. Plus, he's great to look at! In fact both guys are eye candies.

Han Ga In didn't impress me. She's pretty to look at and wore fabulous clothes but her character was really fickle and annoyed me at times. Her part in the drama made no difference to me. She was interesting in the beginning but went redundant later on. Her sister was a far more interesting person and she was the only HILARIOUS person in this drama.

Although its one of those dramas which screwed its ending, I wouldn't say that it ruins the drama. The drama is worth watching minus the last 3 episodes. From the beginning I was prepared for what was about to come. If I hadn't known the ending, I would have been super mad at it. So I'd recommend to be prepared beforehand by reading the spoilers or skip this drama altogether.

Bad Guy's OST will probably always be in my Top 3 Kdrama soundtracks ever. Every single song is beautiful, melodious and will make you want to listen to it over and over. Even the background scores were amazing.

I liked how this drama was filmed. Its camera work managed to capture the right tone and mood of the story.

Though this drama is not meant for a rewatch, it was entertaining enough the first time around.

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