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Suspenseful
I watched this movie today on YouTube. I knew nothing about it going in, and when I was reading the credits and seeing the cast of actors, wow! It was very fast paced and frenetic. Some of the scenes are filmed very dark, you need to be in a dark room to see what's going on.The cast, as I mentioned, was outstanding.
The only reason I didn't rate it higher, was because it was all action, I didn't really feel an emotional connection with any of the characters. Everything felt somewhat disjointed.
SPOILERS BELOW!
The ending was touching with the survivors coming to the graves of those that didn't. But I felt it would have been more powerful if those that died showed up in their uniforms to salute the ML that was there, because I think he's going to be haunted by the incident for the rest of his life.
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I watched it on YouTube
Four episodes was what I needed after the pain of the last show I watched. It's an easy watch - cute, frothy, no angst, no SLS, etc. However, there were some places where the movement and acting were bad, and I'm not sure if it was the actor, the writing, or the way they blocked the scenes, but there were places I felt like I could almost hear the actors' internal dialog. "I walk from here to over there, say my line, and then move someplace else." It just didn't flow well.It was still an okay watch, and the FL was just a perky and cute as can be!
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I didn't "enjoy" this movie
You know how there are things in our life that we don't necessarily want to do, but you do because they are important? Watching this movie was like that for me. I didn't enjoy it per se, but I was totally able to see the importance of watching it. It was very difficult to watch, seeing corruption and the toll it took on the students, demonstrators, and the townspeople of Gwangju.I was especially impressed by the transition of the taxi driver from the beginning to the end of the movie. At the beginning he's just pitiful and can't catch a break. He then goes through a cowardice phase (but I couldn't fault him, with a young daughter at home), then ultimately by seeing this tragedy with his own eyes, decides to do the right things. Song Kang Ho was wonderful.
I was concerned about the part of the German reporter in this movie. Of the K-dramas that I've seen, whenever they have non-Koreans, the acting is really bad. The actor was great.
Was there music? I have no idea. As far as re-watch value, it was hard enough the first time! Would I recommend it? Absolutely, with the caveat that it isn't an easy watch.
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Thank goodness it was short
It was goofy, and not in a good way. While I was watching it, it felt like it was written by two different writers that never talked to one another. One was writing a quirky comedy, the other was writing something serious, hoping we would care about the characters. Any attempts at seriousness were ruined by the over-the-top silly music.The tarot card reading really didn't make sense to me. It felt like an addition to try to further the storyline. The FL wasn't likeable. The ML - no one looks good in a track suit, and he spent a lot of time in one. He's the CEO of a company yet lives in a small, rundown apartment?
The ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend had entirely too much screen time, and the forgiveness at the end was just irritating.
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Not for me...
Yes, I'm in the minority. I'm not here to change anyone's mind, so take my review with a grain of salt.Personally, I felt that this drama was overly complicated with an overabundance of names to keep track of. It also felt that some of the issues were never resolved, and we never got the complete back story on some things.
It was good from the standpoint of shifting alliances, and it keeps you guessing as to who the culprit is. It was intricately woven with a lot going on.
Strangely, I was bothered by the many times that Kim Bum smiled at inappropriate times. I don't know what was going on with that. I also felt that the very end was flat, and a bid for a second season, which is not needed.
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Our Beautiful Summer - a beautiful show
I watched this free on HiTV. It's only two episodes, but it made me get all the feels.It's the story of the intense grief of loss, how everyone copes (or doesn't cope) with it differently. It's about a young lady that has built a protective wall around herself. She's suffered a lot in her 19 years, and you feel that she doesn't open up because she doesn't want to get hurt again. The neighborhood boys, each in their own way, try to scale that wall and get her to open up.
The boys' grief also involves the sense of guilt they each feel. Through the friendship of these four people, healing is able to take place.
It was told in such a way that it kind of felt like I was spying on their lives. I highly, HIGHLY, recommend this show.
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Superficial
Great cast, terrific CGI, beautifully filmed...that was it.For me, there wasn't enough information for me to care what was going on. What's the backstory on Wonderland? How do people find out about it? However, I was glad this wasn't a series, because I was just ready for it to be over.
The only thing I kept focusing on was the fact that Woo Shik and Yu Mi had been in Jinny's Kitchen together!
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A true comedy
So many movies are rated as a comedy even if only one funny thing happens in the whole thing. This movie was a true comedy. It reminded me somewhat of the American movie - True Lies. What happens when your spouse isn't what you thought he/she was?I appreciate that the comedy wasn't over the top. The action sequences were good and the relationship between the husband and wife was something I think anyone that has ever been married can relate to. Who hasn't thought of their spouse at one time or another, "What an idiot."?
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what a mess!
Granted, I didn't love NGNL, except for the second couple. I was kind of excited for this, but it felt to me like they just threw a bunch of ideas together. It was too fast and chaotic for me. Fantasy, reality, back to fantasy, or was it reality?The ending though - he has an absolutely wonderful voice!
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Short and cute
Liked:1) Interesting premise for a storyline, not something we've seen, with fantasy elements.
2) FL was just terrific. I loved all of her different personas.
3) It had a good message. Can someone love the real me?
4) Amusing.
5) The couple was cute together.
6) It's a short time commitment.
Not so much:
1) ML's acting left a lot to be desired.
2) Strange editing. A lot was left out that could have made the story more cohesive. The main couple has had a few conversations and all of a sudden, he's calling her his girlfriend. Wait, when did that happen!?
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Short and simple
This was a cute watch for me. I liked the fact that it was short, a nice change of pace and not much of an investment. It's not an original story by any means, but it was sweet. Being a short series, it felt rushed, especially since they had two couples to tell us about.What I liked:
Kim So Hyun as Hong Ju. She is such a cutie, and I really enjoy watching her.
Chae Jong Hyeop as Hu Yeong. I've liked him in other works, and for the most part I enjoyed him (see below).
Yun Ji On as Jun Ho. I loved him in Tomorrow, but to me, his storyline seemed very forced.
Hwang Sung Bin as the PE teacher. He was terrific! I loved his straight, military demeanor and how out of his element he was with the 2FL.
I'm a sucker for when the man falls first, and we got it in both couples.
Chemistry, for the most part, was good. I hate to keep using the word "cute", but that's the thought I had as I watched it.
Second couple. I loved the second couple. They were very amusing. However, there was a lot of time spent on them, which took away from the main couple, but maybe that's okay.
I liked the friend with the restaurant and how he was trying to play matchmaker.
What, to me, could have been better:
At times, Chae Jong Hyeop's acting seemed a little forced, especially when he was hugging her and they focused on his face. His expression was totally blank, and his body language was stiff.
So much drinking!!!
Her leg injury - she's limping one minute, the next she's not, then back to limping, then the boot is gone and she's walking like she was never injured!
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It's all about the friendships
This movie was a little rushed at times, and I felt that I was being emotionally manipulated, but it was a good watch. I think how you respond to this movie might have to do with where you are emotionally when you watch it.For me, the friendships were what I was most drawn to. What would you be willing to do for a friend/loved one, even though you didn't agree with their decision? We don't know how much time we have here in our lives, and, as much as possible, we'd like to live without regrets.
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Light, fluffy, no angst
What I liked:1) Fewer episodes.
2) Shorter episodes.
3) ML and FL were beautiful to watch and oh, so cute together.
4) FL wasn't an idiot
5) Okay kisses (see below)
6) I smiled a lot while watching this
7) Flashbacks weren't overdone
8) Second couple wasn't too annoying
9) Potential triangles were resolved quickly
10) Voices were okay
11) I love when the ML falls first, and I'm a sucker for the destiny trope
12) Cute flashback that explained their whole past relationship. However, see #6 below.
Not so much:
1) What was with the editing? There seemed to be a big chunk missing, and suddenly they were married!
2) The potential triangle (both male and female) felt like add-ins and didn't bring anything to the story.
3) More time spent on the 2nd couple than the mains!
4) Some bad attempts at kisses. Their mouths weren't even in the same vicinity.
5) Even with the shorter duration of the show, it felt like there was time wasted. I'm usually disappointed in the editing (or lack thereof) in Chinese shows.
6) Lack of dramatic reveal of feelings. It's like they kept them all bottled up throughout the show and then just had a brief conversation about being in love. Lots of emotion missing from the scene.
7) Wasn't feeling chemistry between the mains.
All in all, it was a cute, easy show to watch.
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My rating was all over the place as I watched
Overall, I really liked this drama, with the assistance of my fast forward button. I had to skip over her terrible brother and his entire family (other than the cousin). They were all simply terrible, and they were jarring compared to the rest of the drama.Yoon Kye Sang was wonderful. I've not seen him in anything else (now I'll be on the lookout!) but I loved his characterization of Lee Kang. The despair, the loneliness, the invisible wall built around himself keeping others at bay. He's got such a great face, his vulnerability shone through. It was a treat to watch him slowly open up and watching him not able to control or figure out what his feelings were, taking advice from a child, acting out of character. My only problem came when he lied to ChaYoung about his mother. I think that was an important part of the healing process for both of them.
Ha Ji Won as Cha Young was good, I just had a problem with her character. She reminded me of Eeyore, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Jang Seung Jo as Lee Joon was terrific as Lee Kang's cousin. I loved watching their relationship progress (If you've not seen them, he was great in The Good Detective 1&2).
The pace throughout was slow and calm. I, personally, liked all of the hospice cases. We got to see our ML and FL be changed by those they encountered. Through sadness, my takeaway was to live fully and completely every day, cherishing the time you have and those that you love.
The OST was wonderful.
All of the cooking/eating scenes were a feast for the senses.
It was beautifully filmed, the locales as well as the lighting, camera angles, etc.
I think I would have given this drama at least an eight, but the time skip and her leaving out of the blue just made no sense. She'd finally gotten closure on things, was with the man she loved and said, "Give me some time, don't wait for me." What the heck!?!?! It was a cop-out to say the least. We could have gotten a lot of lovely scenes with the leads, a happy ending, some closure, but no...she continued to be depressed and morose even toward the end! It was a happy ending, just poorly done.
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Not everyone gets a second chance at life...
I really enjoyed this movie. It has some of my favorite veteran actors in it. I found it heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time. I'm so glad was a movie and not a series, the length was perfect.I know the Granny was not supposed to be likeable, but she annoyed the heck out of me. Once she became her younger self, but still retained the same attitudes, it was really funny to watch. I loved the grandson, he seemed to be the only one that cared for Granny.
I would have loved to have seen the family's reaction when she reverted back to her usual self after the blood transfusion, but, for me, that was the only thing that was missing.
The young version of the Granny had the voice, attitude and mannerisms down perfectly. I loved how they modeled her after Audrey Hepburn, her hairstyles and her fashion. And can we talk about the music? The songs were just beautiful.
And I'm sorry, you simply can't go wrong with a cameo by Kim Soo Hyun!
This was a very fun movie, which made me wonder about what choices I would have made in her situation. I'm so glad I finally watched this.
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