Heavy on the CGI but light on the story

Watched this last week after I caught a trailer on YouTube. I love Mark Chao and I appreciate his talents, but the material he chooses to participate in is hit or miss. This latest project is no different. The trailer was very heavy on the CGI and that gave me some trepidation, as I had caught him in a Detective Dee movie and was underwhelmed by the lack of story. This one has some great martial arts scenes but, again, the plot is light but the special effects are dazzling.

The non-existent plot is the classic good vs. evil one with a little bromance thrown in. The artistic visuals were really something you would find in a high graphic video game. Cool visuals, gorgeous costumes but light in the story. Heck, it was a video game on screen.

Mark himself proved once again the strongest character in terms of performance. I just wish I could see him in more noteworthy projects. I enjoyed his work in Love and I am hoping to find more films of that caliber to watch. This one puts food on the table, nothing more. I sense this was an expensive film to make and, for the price tag, they could have afforded better writers.

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Prepare for roller coaster ride through Korean life of the privileged.

Here is a drama that completely captures you and will not give you up until the very last episode. The creators of this drama take a very delicate subject matter and tell a painful story of what it's like to grow up Korean with parents whose only design is to make their offspring into masters of the universe.

For the families who inhabit the SKY Castle, a posh living community of the ultra wealthy, the greatest achievement is to churn out children who are doubly successful, as well as provide a source of pride and bragging rights for their over-achiever parents. The journey to this success, however, is filled with sleepless nights, sweat, blood, tears, over paid cutthroat tutors, and lots of parental abuse. The consequences are equally tragic and sets the tone for the ensuing 20 episodes as mothers scheme to get their children into the most exclusive schools while backstabbing and gossiping behind each others' backs, rejoicing in their competitors' misfortunes while compassionately commiserating in the open.

When a new family moves into the community who are less sophisticated and not as driven to achieve the level of success the other parents desire due to natural talent, they unwittingly set of a chain of events that threaten to destroy the SKY Castle as they know it. The story revolves around four families who reside at the Sky Castle, their lives entertaining at home and work, and how they push their children into greatness despite tears and gnashing of teeth.

The creators of Sky Castle bring together an ensemble of extraordinary talent, young and old, to tell this masterfully written story about families who suffer all kinds of tragedies in the quest for greatness. The music is key and woven into the most heart-wrenching scenes. It expresses the dark, twisted personalities within the composed exterior the characters. There are twists you never see coming that utterly devastate you.

Now for the the things I found dissatisfying:

Some of these moms were downright evil. Their lack of compassion and scheming was so over the top, that I really wanted to see them come to a bad end. Instead, they are given an arc of redemption which is a bitter pill to swallow taking into account some actions were illegal as well as malevolent. I am all for people seeing the error of their ways, but there has to be consequences. Some of the characters in this drama show us some filthy sides of their personalities which can be astounding. Yet, they seem to come to their senses almost miraculously and turn into normal people. I don't buy it. There were some plot holes in the minor storylines but, in general, the writing was above average. This one is definitely one of the better k-dramas out there. I recommend this one.

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Needed Better Writing

I think, for the most part, this show was entertaining with a strong cast of capable performers. Unfortunately the writing could have used a more capable storyteller. It was often sloppy with too many loose ends and implausibilities present. I like fantasy romance dramas, but they have to make sense to me---and this one contradicts itself time and again. I dislike stories that tell you one thing and then do the opposite. Without spoiling, if you can get rid of something by killing it, then you would think it would be gone. But things manage to survive without explanation for the sake of conflict and, in order to be somewhat entertained, you have to suspend your common sense. A more talented writer can convince me to do that if they have something worthwhile. If they can't, then it's just sloppy writing. Here, the writer makes up whatever they want without thinking much whether the audience will buy it. This drama was part, ghost, part horror, part fantasy, with some fairy tales thrown in. It was a strange piece of fiction which I couldn't, as much as wanted to, enjoy it.

I loved the performances. Our main leads are both very talented and have an equally talented supporting cast. The romance was on point and there were some very sweet moments between our leads, but, oh, the poor writing is what sinks this drama.

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I just finished the last episode. This series is aesthetically pleasing to the eye in terms of good looking actors, scenery and costume, but the acting was so-so and the script silly and unoriginal. Our ML just really needs more acting classes. I had seen him in Meteor Garden, another stinker, and didn't think much of his work as his part was so small. Here he is given the entire drama to carry, but it just wasn't as good as it could have been due to the sloppy writing, and depthless characters. The FL was much more fun to watch. She was very cute and playful, and seemed more at ease in her part. Whereas our ML takes himself much too seriously, our FL is his perfect foil. She makes utter fun of him.

It started well enough. I was invested and my heart truly ached for them when their foolishness caused each other pain. But as the story went along, it seemed to lose its direction and trotted to a quickly wrapped up ending. I got the feeling the script writers had no idea how to finish this story so it meandered to a less than stellar end. The last scene set in the present made no sense whatsoever. It should have been cut.

This is one I would not watch again. If I had to choose between this and Maiden Holmes, MH would win out. I found the actors more talented and the story better written.

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Meh!

I watched this movie a few months ago and I what sticks out, to this day, is how strange that Daniel Henney stars in a Korean film without speaking a word of Korean? He speaks to the FL in English and she answers in Korean. WTH??? The film has some funny moments, but there was nothing memorable about it except the unconventional way the producers tried to work around the fact that our ML is a Korean American actor who can't speak a word of Korean. He certainly provides the eye candy, but darned if anyone can believe they can bring this guy home to meet the parents and communicate!

The cliched plot of rich, handsome CEO starting an office romance with an underling is tiresome. Nothing noteworthy or memorable that makes it stick out.

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I haven't been very impressed with the Taiwanese dramas I have seen lately, but this title turned it all around. I don't mind cheesy, cliched dramas as long as they don't take themselves seriously, and this one fit the bill. It was just so funny that you were able to forgive imperfections in the writing.

I will start with the relationship between the MLs which is the best part of the entire show. Two people come together during unconventional circumstances and manage to make their relationship work. The beauty in this is watching our hero accept his love for the object of his affection without reservation. He doesn't dwell on whether others will accept it, he doesn't shy away from it, just accepts it and follows his heart. He is mature about it. This earns the highest marks from me. It shows and usual amount of respect and integrity in the writing not often found in these types of comedies. The show was heartwarming and hilarious, there are plot holes but the airtight writing around the main characters allows you to overlook that.

The show is full of cliches and ridiculous behavior. It can be over the top and cheesy in a very funny way, supporting characters disappear for large lengths of time without explanation and some story lines did not have adequate wrap ups. I think the sub story lines were just not as important to the writers as the MLs were, so they didn't spend a lot of time on fleshing them out. In my opinion, they had some really good characters which I would have liked to have seen more of but, perhaps the focus remains where it should. Just watching the MLs flirt shamelessly with each other is a treat given their excellent chemistry, I wouldn't be surprised if these two wound up falling in love in real life because that's how good they were. (I was able to catch some of their behind-the-scenes banter and the chemistry and fun they had was present there as well. You could tell they were 150% comfortable with each other.) Our MLs are beautiful and I just want to run my fingers through Baron Chen's hair just once! His hair is amazing! Kudos to the costumers and makeup team who made them look cool and stylish.

I recommend this show for anyone who is tired of watching shows with immature, dysfunctional couples who behave like idiots. This show makes you breathe a sigh of relief that there are artists out there interested in actually writing something more realistic. It's funny, romantic, and rewatchable. The music is one of the best parts of this show. Bii's "Back In Time" is played often throughout the series. He has a nice singing voice and has a part as the secondary romantic couple opposite Katie Chen.

I will be adding this series to my rewatch list.

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This was terrible. I was hoping for a real mystery show involving Detective Dee but this film was light on the story and heavy on the CGI. An action/adventure is mostly what you get. There is a lot of fancy swordsmanship and martial arts, and many Chinese films tend to take place in fantasy realms, giving the producers freedom to create all the crazy, unrealistic things they can think of. Because it was so heavy on the visuals, Mark Chao doesn’t have much opportunity to do what he does best: act. After seeing him in the Chinese drama “Eternal Love”, I have been trying to see his other films. Unfortunately, this one is too mired in the adventure to give way to a storyline in which he can flex is acting chops. This may be great for younger audiences. It just isn’t my cup of tea.

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The problem with having so many big names in one film is that you have to give everyone an equal amount of time onscreen and that just makes for a storyline that scratches the surface rather than something you can sink your teeth into.

Love is just that: A celebration of love among a group of people loosely connected with each other. We don’t know how things are going to work out among our main leads, but we try our best to keep up with the numerous situations within the movie. It seems however that the plot involving the college student who finds herself in trouble to be the most engaging of all.

I found the music forgetful but that might not be a bad thing. I was too busy focusing on the story. It is the Asian version of Love Actually. It’s cute but not memorable.

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I just finished the last episode of Strong Girl Bong Soon and was entertained all the way through. Kudos to the screenwriter for making this zany comedy funny, without being corny, romantic without being syrupy sweet, and scary enough without being overtly horrifying. On top of it all, it doesn't take itself too seriously with several laugh-out-loud moments to to reflect that.

What I love about Bong Soon is that she is a down to earth super hero who, rather than flaunt her strength, tries her very best to hide it, preferring to be more of a guardian angel than donning a ridiculously tight spandex suit with the letter "B" affixed to her chest. She cares deeply for her friends and family and isn't afraid to take risks to save them. She is cute with a quirky sense of style, and can easily pass for the girl next door. No drop dead, gorgeous vixen here. Even so, she manages to catch the eye of two very handsome young men, who try their best to be her number one.

The supporting cast was equally strong, making her look even better. All cast members felt fleshed out and human, and you cared about them all. It was a well put together cast of very talented people. I was very pleased with this production. I like a comedy that can be funny without being ridiculous.

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Just watched the last episode, and, goodness!!...I feel as if I have been put through the wringer! This gorgeous 24 episode series is full of wonderful acting, beautiful cinematography and heartfelt music. It is a historical fiction of a young man who is forced to flee Korea because his life is in danger. He comes back years later as an American soldier and ready to take revenge on those who hurt his family. The drama that surrounds him sets the course in the path he takes, whether it ends in happiness or tragedy.

I love films that make me care for the characters, even the not-so-good ones because the writers have taken the time to flesh them out and not make them one dimensional villains. The female characters are very strong. No Mary Janes here. The acting is out of this world, pleased that they were able to cast a very talented ensemble. This is a show that doesn't not leave you. The historical situations were fascinating. It has been a real pleasure waiting for new episodes to come out weekly. Watch this. You will not be disappointed

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Just finished watching this and I have to say that it could have been way better. Our main characters first meet when he accidentally douses her with water and she is wary of him because he is rich. Long story short, they wind up having the type of high school romance anyone would consider forgettable in real life.

This film tries to make us believe that theirs is a great love story worth fighting for, but it's not. Our hero is cold and looks stiff during those kissing scenes and our heroine really doesn't like him at all. He just doesn't get it. There was very little buildup to the romance. The added side plots don't really help the story. Both of them behave immaturely and the ambiguous ending was frustrating. I had to search for deleted scenes on YouTube that should have wrapped up the ending.

Disappointing.

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Repetitive Boring Plot

I am really getting tired of romantic fluff and this one is no exception. I really wanted to like this show and it started out very cute and light hearted, but the writing and the acting is so poor that I can't give it a pass. It is full of cliche plots that have been done elsewhere, and rife with brand pushing. How many times can the actors drink Rio without puking out their insides? Their refrigerators are completely stocked with Rio beverages, and NOTHING else. Is it any wonder they have to eat out?

There doesn't seem to be any normal women in this show and, I am sad to say, they aren't depicted in a favorable light here. The women are either gullible, starry eyed, Mary-Sue types who are constantly being told they need to be protected, or are crazy, lunatics. When the guys aren't telling them what to do, the ladies are chasing down men or beating them up. If a woman is actually tough, she is depicted as having no feelings. Of course, the men don't fare any better. They are either plotting behind each others' backs, or throwing around their toxic masculinity. I just wanted for our FL to have at least one person who wanted what was best for her with no ulterior motive. Sadly, everyone wanted to run her life for her. It's disheartening.

I only watched this because I was fresh off The Long Ballad and was delighted there was another show with Lusi Zhao. She is a fine actress and so adorable. Unfortunately, this romance is so poorly written that I felt her talent was wasted. In fact, the plot is so sloppy that actors disappear, make choices that don't really fit their personality, and loose ends are not tied up. There is no wrap up of important plot details and, once again, the villains are given an arc of redemption instead of the well-deserved punishment for their depraved behavior. Plot is implausible, as is the norm in these types of fluffy romances and the acting is cringeworthy. I would rate this better than Meteor Garden but not by much.

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I have already seen 24 episodes of this show and I am disappointed. Its a romantic comedy which is a genre I love, but this one is silly because the ML is immature and makes you feel as if the drama cannot decide if it appeals to teenagers or to an older audience.

The show reminds me of Meteor Garden but with better acting. Cliches, shallow parents, bullying coworkers, stupid choices. It's all here. Because the first 20 episodes consisted of the ML treating our ingenue in such mean ways, I couldn't like him and didn't care if he met a horrible end. Though, I couldn't muster much sympathy for the girl either. She seems to make several idiotic choices, whines, acts like she is fifteen years old, has the IQ of a beetle, and eats like a pig. The music is horrific, repetitive bubble gum stuff that belongs in a preteen Disney show. Just what am I watching here?

The supporting characters are much more interesting and, because of that, I am wondering if that alone outweighs dropping the series all together? When I read that the end is hastily wrapped up and some characters do not get closure , I feel frustrated with the sloppiness of the writing. The viewers deserve better. This is what I get for watching a modern day C-drama. I guess I have to keep looking for something else or stick to the historical dramas.

Can someone take pity on me and just tell me what happens to Mo Nan?

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One of the better Rom-Coms

I was fresh from watching The Red Sleeve and needed something funny after that and My Dearest. I was also so impressed by Lee Jun Ho and needed to see him in something else, so I picked up King the Land. This rom-com was light-hearted and funny and I liked Jun Ho's performance as, Gu Won, the debonair chaebol with the heart of gold. When he meets a lovely staff member taking care of business in his hotel room, sparks fly even though they claim to dislike each other.

The show is rife with silly moments, sound bites for gulping and eye batting, and over-the-top performances by Ahn Se Ha, Gu Won's trusty sidekick. While this can get old real quick, it manages to stay fun. The secondary main leads don't overtake the main leads and still manage to pull off an interesting to watch love story. I even like that there is a big age difference between one of the couples, which is never an issue between the two. I found myself rooting for them.

There were some cliches that would have been better left out, but the bigger disappointment was the rushed wrap up of the drama and the use of the redemption arc for the villains. Personally, I like to see villains get their just desserts, so the writing choices left me feeling a bit cheated there. Definitely, the best part was the romance between our main leads. The kisses were smoking hot! Lee Jun Ho is incredibly attractive and talented. I am looking forward to seeing him in more dramas.

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