iindu
India
The lead characters come from a place of great trauma and carry dark shadows within them, but the feel of the drama is far from gloomy or sad. It is the beauty of the characters that they find happiness and comforts even with a background of pain.
I really liked the character graphs of Chen Ling and Qi Lou. The actors too were perfect for the roles. Every other character in the drama too is well written and real. There are no fluffy or pointless characters.
The drama handles many serious issues in our society and characters with mental instabilities/psychological problems, and it does so with great sensitivity and care.
I liked the music, because I felt it was used appropriately and enhanced the beauty of the scenes. The happy moments had a track that made you feel the happiness, whereas in the more tense scenes, the background score completely stopped, adding to the intensity.
The first half does remind you of Devil Beside You- probably because of the character of the male lead and having been shot in the same campus, but MARS is definitely more intense and on a broader canvas than DBY.
I can't think of any drama that I've as completely appreciated as MARS. It took me in completely, and I will happily re-watch it any number of times.
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The drama delivers on the story. The characters are interesting and even those we come to dislike are shown to have a different side to them.
Through most of the series, you feel sorry for the male lead, for what he goes through. But, in a gratifying sense, when he figures it all out, his reaction and the questions he asks are the very same ones that's been running in our mind until then.
The kid is very cute and has been used to obvious advantage throughout.
Another character that leaves an impression is that of Guang Xi's mother who is antagonistic from the beginning but gets a 180degree change in character later on.
The one problem I had with this drama is that I didn't like the character of the female lead for almost all of the drama. Most of the time, Mu Cheng acted like a damsel in distress, like she needed saving from someone or something. There was some level of sincerity to the character in the first part of the drama which is lost and I couldn't recover it in the latter half. I think all the lies and denial got to me.
The actors (save for the female lead for lack of expressions) are pretty good. The photogenic moments they show in the OST are beautiful but aren't really very significant moments in the drama itself.
The drama in all is very watchable for the situations and overall feel.
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I don't think I've watched any drama until now that felt so absolutely pointless at the end of it. That doesn't mean that everything was great until the end though.
First of all, it was real slow. Throughout most of the episodes, there isn't anything much happening than characters wallowing in emotions or doing what they do without any background score.
There was no getting used to it, you just had to bear with it. Mostly you bore with it because, while the screenplay inched along and something finally happened, the actors emoted well and those scenes were good.
Also, I can say with certainty, if it were not for my liking both Mike He and Ariel Lin, I wouldn't have made it even halfway through.
And, Then there is the ending..
After you sit through it all, the way they choose to end it is nothing but absurd. I didn't fully watch the last two episodes. There was no point to continuing with the torturous-ly slow process when the only reasons for watching the show took a beating.
That's all I can put into words now. The only reason any one can have of watching this,in my opinion, is if they like the lead actors, because it's a tough ride even then.
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Unlike what the name implies, I didn't find anything that romantic about the story or the princess. The princess was more like a child, even with all the fancy clothes. Maybe it was Angela Zhang's petite frame that made me feel that.
Even so, there were things that I appreciated about this drama:
For one, blessedly, there is no love triangle. Which has to be mentioned because the there are four boys in the place when Xiao Mei comes in.
That's the next thing- The actors are good. Almost all the characters in the drama are very interesting and fun.
The four guys,(besides being eye candy)each have good roles.
The grandfather, butler, Xiao Mei's parents are all great characters that add a lot of fun.
Refreshingly here, the grandfather, even when he is being tyrannical, comes across as adorable and with a sense of humor.
The story, is obviously over the top and has holes in logic, but they do try hard to keep up the logic most of the time.
Overall, I guess if what you need is just time pass with some laughs, Romantic Princess might do it for you.
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And it was pretty good. The plot was interesting. The way the story plays out is good.
The music was super good. And another element that added to the beauty of the drama are the frames of childhood that most of the episodes ended with. It really underscored the importance of the relationship Ha Neul and Seo Gun shared.
The main leads are great. The side characters are sometimes annoying, esp the second female lead who starts off as the typical 'hang on his shirt sleeves and pretend he is in love with you' drama-land girl.
There are probably two things I wish were different:
Gong Yoo's character is of a more serious and burdened frame of mind. So basically, I missed seeing his smile. Having Gong Yoo as your lead and not having him smile? That wasn't cool.
And, then the ending- which isn't bad. Just okay. They could have given us some more. (No smile there also)
Besides these, this is a good drama with two strong leads and a beautiful soundtrack.
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Having watched 'Iljimae',I must say, there is very little in common between these two dramas, other than the 'Robin Hood' nature of Iljimae and his rather misfortunate connection to his parents.
The return of Iljimae has a broader framework,is more well written, and explores the identity of Iljimae as a hero of the times, working against injustice than for any personal quest. I felt that the story and the characters were more complete in this.
The action sequences are good. There must have been plenty of rope and pulleys used in the making, as Iljimae and numerous others are always flying and leaping about in these scenes.
The episodes are all interesting, and keep you moving forward without boredom.
Regarding the cast: I had wanted to watch this initially for Jung Il Woo, and he didn't disappoint. He is good as Iljimae, truly the 'pretty girl-like-boy' as often referred to in the drama (I loved his ponytail hair).
The supporting cast is good,with many strong performances except that some secondary characters were made annoying by over-acting.
Despite all this, I didn't feel really satisfied with this drama. There wasn't so much plain fun or happy-energy associated with it.
Iljimae's character is mostly solemn/sad/serious/angry. Very rarely do we get to see his smile, let alone hear a laugh. There are so many things happening, we can near feel him carrying the burden of the world on his shoulders.
The romantic relationship is developed on realistic terms, along the sidelines of the plot.
The ending too, although happy, has a solemn, contemplative feel to it.
To sum up, although lacking in story and character development, character Iljimae in the drama 'Iljimae' evoked more happiness than the one we find in 'The Return of Iljimae'.
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The drama has it's share of absurdities and annoying people. At times during the first half, you have to throw away logic and reason. At other times, you become intensely frustrated with some people. But,none of it is a reason to not like the drama. And those people do redeem themselves in the end.
Gong Yoo and Gong Hyo Jin are reason enough to enjoy this drama. And the ending makes it worth the while.
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This review may contain spoilers
I loved 'Cruel City'- every plot turn, sequence and pace of the story, the characters, the relationships and even the ending, though it could have been different. The story is told brilliantly. Great, beautifully written characters. The casting was perfect. Fresh admiration for Jung Kyung Ho. He hit the ball out of the park as the Doctor's Son. And of course, the drama hugely benefits from the rest of the cast, who were all unique and great.
Loved the OST, especially the one that plays at some defining moments/cliffhangers.
Romance isn't the focus of course, but it carries much charm and impact. There aren't that many scenes between Shi Hyun and Soo Min, but we can feel their connection through most of the drama.
I don't know if the plot is perfect. It probably isn't. There were times in the first half when the actions and reasons of many people seemed silly and um..(can't say more, might be a spoiler). But in the overall plot of things, it's negligible.
About the ending- as I said before, it could have been different but as it is- I could see it happening.
I definitely recommend this drama..to all who won't mind having a little-less-than-perfect ending to a great drama watching experience.
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The story is good, the characters are very well written. This is especially true here, because the characters stay true to their basic nature throughout the drama. There aren't any miraculous changes in nature or transformation from evil to good. It's more like,as the drama progresses, we learn more about who they are,the choices they make and come to accept them for it. I guess what I'm trying to say is, the drama/writers do not make or project any judgements about their characters, but leave them for us to accept,all the good and the not-so-good included.
The cast was equally good. Lee Dong Wook did not disappoint, Kim Hyun Joo was very endearing and every other cast fit in well.
Like I said before, the story moves along at a good pace, sustaining our interest with enough emotion,suspense and court room action.
The only thing I felt lacking in it, was probably the romance angle. Tae Jo and Eun Ho became great partners, but the underlying suggestion of romance which was always hinted at, remained just that- a possibility. Perhaps that's the way the writer/makers wanted it to be, but I was left wishing to see how it would have turned out.
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The story is good, and the way it's told is very interesting. I loved the way they shift plot sequences to keep the element of suspense. It was done very artfully.
The character Jang Tae San is wonderfully written and Lee Jun Ki lives the role. As we follow his struggles and efforts, we also see more of the person inside,who is the hardest on himself.
The most beautiful parts of the drama are the interactions between Tae San and Soo Jin. The drama writers have written in that connection to perfection. You start to look out for the little girl, when the story has been moving elsewhere for a while. And of course, the girl who plays Soo Jin is super cute.
The rest of the cast are great too- including all the baddies.
Now, the plot isn't without it's share of holes. But none of that affects the compelling nature of this drama.
The ending is perfect- realistic and at the same time, leaving us on a happy note.
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The characters are great- funny and realistic. The story arc of the main couple is beautiful and shown very realistically.
The two male leads are awesome- good looks, funny and cute. The rest of the cast too are perfect for their roles.
Plenty of food porn. Screen time devoted to eating alone would easily be close to a quarter of each episode. The foods were interesting but, since mostly it wasn't food I'm familiar with, it didn't make me want to eat much. Also, I like the cooking process more than watching people eat, and this drama focuses on the eating part. Which may also be why I wasn't compelled to eat along.
I really liked the feel of the drama. The narration was just at the right pace- not too slow or too fast, with no unnecessary drama.
The songs were awesome too- all of them, esp the intro song.
In short, this is a lovely drama esp. for when you need a pick-me-up..
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Mostly the plot sticks to the theme of the couple learning about love, family and responsibilities that come with it. The development of the lead characters and their relationship to each other is shown well.
The nature of the relationship between the lead couple in this drama reminded me occasionally of the lead couple in 'It Started With A Kiss 2' (Naive girl,mature guy). But the similarity is only at an outer level,as the characters are different in both.
The actors were good- all except for the lead actress. She was attractive and it would have made a big difference if only she had toned down the over acting. She was trying too hard to play up to the role of the naive/innocent teenage girl, and it was unnatural to watch. In contrast, the male lead actor was just right in emoting- that was a relief.
Another relief was that that though the negative characters are there, their 'evil'ness doesn't amount to much and towards the end, even becomes humorous.
I liked how the drama,while it deals with heavy family stuff, tries to set a middle tone about compromise between responsibilities and individual preferences.
The drama ends on a positive note. The message they end the drama with is beautiful.
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It tells the story of a gangster, without any of the usual blood and gore. The fight sequence itself is somehow beautiful to watch.
There are just two episodes, and the story isn't in any hurry. The moods of each scene are captured very well through the visuals as well as the music, and at times even the silences. The best part of the story is in the last 15 minutes probably, which turns the story around so beautifully, without which this would be just another sad love story.
And of course, there is Lee Dong Wook- who we know is good, and yet, he amazes! He takes the gangster role to another level.
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This review may contain spoilers
Enjoyed this drama very much. It tells an amazing story- an arduous but worthwhile journey to realize a larger dream. The characters are great. The cast is brilliant. Each one of them- good or bad,even the irredeemable ones, stand out in our minds.
It's hard to say what I feel about the drama without giving spoilers, because there are so many great moments, conversations and scenes that come back to me now. Suffice to say, there's more than one hero in this drama and many memorable characters.
King Sejong is a great king, more human than any Sageuk king I can remember having watched. Chae Yoon is our hero, and he stays strongly in character until the end.
The most charming part of the drama are the many relationships it shows- between King Sejong and Moo Hyul(great rapport, even cute at times), King and Chae Yoon, King and the girls, Pyung and Jung Gi Joon and so on.
One thing you shouldn't expect going into this drama, though, is romance. There isn't much or any really. A hint of it comes from Chae Yoon, but isn't built up or even entertained beyond that.
Our lady, So Yi is smart, emotionally strong and with a very capable head on her shoulders, but her devotion all falls on her King and her cause. There isn't time or space for anything else.
But it doesn't matter really,as viewers, because.. it's all about great story telling and this is a sageuk everyone can watch without getting bored at any point.
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They've tweaked the story here and there, though of course all the important scenes and sequences are the same. Sometimes the changes are good, at times a little annoying. I didn't much appreciate all the extra scenes that Xin Yu gets here. But, the reporter character was far less annoying than the original.
Jiro Wang is of course very good, though a slightly less irritable Tae Kyung. But he isn't Jang Guen Suk-only because I'm partial to JGS.
Su Li Wen takes the cake as Gao Mei Nan/Mei Nu. She is as good and almost as cute as Park Shin Hye in playing that stupid yet endearing character.
The only character who seemed to try very hard but didn't quite get there was Jeremy.
The music is almost the same, except for two songs I think. It wasn't anything to write about though.
This drama is definitely a worthy remake of You're Beautiful. The Japanese remake was disappointing for me, so was all the more happy to see this.
This is a good watch, whether you're watching as a remake or as a fresh drama.
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