This is the older version of Flowers for Algernon. Yusuke got rave reviews for his acting in this one and you will understand why. The drama is a serious one and has many stories within stories including a bittersweet love story, child abandonment, and living with a mental disability. This was not something I wished to watch, however, after one episode I was hooked. The characters are so lovable, well, some of them. You are instantly drawn into the story when you see there is a reversal of fortune: mentally disabled Haru is getting an operation to make him intelligent. The consequences lead to many new circumstances and insights for Haru. While life is full of pathos for those touched by Haru, it makes for a unique and uplifting story.

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While Winter Sonata was one of my favorites and the reason I fell in love with Asian drama, I found no similarities with this one. The story revolves around a psychotic husband, an overly understanding suitor, and a terminally ill mother. The connection between these three people was not believable and did not feel romantic in the least. Why would a cheating husband suddenly become obsessed with keeping his wife? Why would an eligible, handsome man become so attached to a dying married woman? And why would a dying, supposedly attentive mother, not wish to spend her last days with her daughter and leave her with that insane husband? The story was too contrived and irrational to be enjoyable. Of course, this is not a rewatch. The only thing which gets a reasonable score is the music!

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Researching Sorimachi's films, I found Fulltime Killer and started watching it. Immediately I realized it was the fantastic movie I had watched years ago. At the time I was not familiar with Andy Lau and Sorimachi Takeski, but I was glued to my seat. This is one of the best action films out there. And it's not just the action that is riveting: the suspense builds to a big, hot boil! You will not be able to guess how this one will all turn out. It was a surprise to me and I'm so glad I found this one again. It's one of those movies that you can rewatch and it will be just as enjoyable the second time around.

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Often the screenwriter leaves the actors to carry the show and this is the case here. Kim Rae Won and Kim Tae Hee light up the screen with their sizzling romance. There are genuine emotions and feelings, hot, sexy kisses, and lovemaking from the onset. This is why I love some of these older dramas. You don't have to sit through 16 hours for a mere henpeck of a kiss.

If you've seen Sunflower, you already know the talent Kim Rae Won exhibits. And Kim Tae Hee is the wicked stepsister you love to hate in Stairway to Heaven. Then in Iris, she is the cool agent the others all vie to win over. Yes, these two are electric together.

Unfortunately, the storyline is full of holes. Kim Tae Hee as a Harvard medical student with time for 2 jobs, volunteer work, and dating is ludicrous! And poor Lee Jung Jin is reduced to a groveling, rejected, lovelorn suitor the entire drama. No normal person would hang on that long!

If you are not a romance fanatic, skip this one. If you are, you will be rewarded. This is, after all, dramaland where the story does not always have to be realistic to work.

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Don't rule out watching this drama because it's older. Some of the best romance genre are the oldies. This has the feel of the classic, Winter Sonata, with similar music and tantalizing longings. The cast carries the show with exceptional chemistry between the main leads. Really, it's difficult not to immediately be drawn to Han Ji Hye. She has no guile nor pretentiousness here.
There are the inevitable love triangles. And the story line is not exactly realistic. But the real draw of the show is the continual warm moments between the lead couple, not just an occasional glance or hug, as in so many dramas. You so want them to be together, that you keep watching on into the night. If you enjoy the romance drama, this is a good choice.

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Ruri no Shima can best be described as a slow, family oriented drama. There is not enough excitement here to stimulate the average drama fan, especially those who are interested in romance, suspense, or action. The main theme revolves around an isolated island community where members develop close relationships with one another. The main thing they miss are children and Ruri, a foster child, captures their hearts.
This drama should feel more heartwarming, but it feels more like a serial with a resolution to each episode. Even the mystery of why handsome Takenouchi suddenly appears on the island does not stimulate enough suspense to warrant watching this one.

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Friendship, rather than romance, would best describe the main theme. The drama centers around 3 friends who live together and share their lives, loves, and misfortunes. Enter the handsome brother who adds to the close camaraderie.
While this scenario is a perfect set up for romance, the writer makes too many blunders. For one, the writer never develops the characters outside the 4 roommates, so the audience feels emotionless towards them. Several romantic relationships take place, but their termination often has unsatisfactory reasons. The climax, the two you are waiting forever to get together, may or may not happen, and ultimately the audience is let down with quite unnatural results. Why couples stay together or fail makes no logical sense. You will be held in suspense until the end as to who ends up with whom.
The main reason to watch this is the beautiful Esumi and Japan's hot GTO star, Sorimachi. Even with the poor writing, they sizzle on screen.

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Frustrated Love would be the best title for this drama. It features 2 young men who are obsessed with 2 women, a stepsister and a teacher. The main character plays a forlorn, aimless student who spends his day moping over his beloved stepsister. She seems to be oblivious of his unexpressed affection as she is obsessed with another.

What makes this plot unbelievable are the two women who assist their love interests to win over women of their choice who would better suit them. This does not happen in the real world! This goes against human nature!

Equally ridiculous is the hospital drama of love wasting as a form of manipulation. It is more of a psychiatric condition! And then the final blow, who ends up with whom? You will never be able to figure it out because it makes no sense. You don't suddenly switch your love interests. I did not feel any romance at all here at all. Instead, it seems the real schizophrenic was the writer. It's too bad because the characters, acting, and music were all noteworthy.

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The main reason for watching this is Sorimachi (GTO, Good Life Thank You Papa Goodbye). Although his acting skills are rather rudimentary here, he continues to develop into one of Japan's premier actors. If you watch the others I've listed above, you will come to appreciate his abilities and handsome appeal.
Apart from that, there aren't a lot of redeeming qualities about the drama. It is too outdated to appeal to the modern audience. Although the story is somewhat unique, it is too unrealistic to believe 3 men would be simultaneously in love with a pregnant woman. In addition, he music is annoyingly repetitive.
I love old romance dramas, but not this one.

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An oldie, but goodie, this is a serious drama about college friendship, love, and rejection. It was so realistically portrayed, it could have been based on a true story. However, at times, it felt too overly melodramatic. It was a bit too unbelievable that so many different characters could all be so obsessively in love with Tamotsu. Really? Was he that good looking?
I actually watched this because of Kimura, my favorite actor. And here he was in a beta male role.
I won't spoil anything, but I really don't buy into someone giving up their love so that person can be with someone else. Are people really that altruistic when it comes to love?
It's worth your time if you enjoy romance, but don't be stymied if you get to the end and it gets cut off. Most places Episode 11 stops before the conclusion. After much searching, I found one place on You Tube that had the full conclusion. Enjoy.

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The drama had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the story became quite repetitive. This was a comical look at what it might be like living with a mettlesome mother-in-law. Miyako, the daughter-in-law, is just too tolerant of the constant criticims, in my opinion. There is one episode that is worth watching: The Funeral (Episode 3, I believe(. It is hilarious, almost a Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation level of comedy. Just picture a new daughter-in-law assisting with the new grandmom's funeral when she knows no one, but has to make all the funeral arrangements. That episode is a 10.

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