pattyrn4
USA
Choi Ji Woo has been the queen of Korean romance for over a decade. But this is not her best performance. Here she totally lacked emotion and her love did not feel real.
Rondo was billed as a romantic thriller. Two quick pecks do not translate into a "willing to die for you" thriller. The passion was missing and this suspense would have been better without the "romance."
Takenouchi Yataka is definitely a heartthrob and a good actor. The cop part was better than the lover part.
If you like suspense, you may like this. But don't expect a titillating romance. Better yet, watch Takenouchi Yataka in Ice World which is a much better suspense/thriller/romance. And there is more than a few chicken pecks with that drama.
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The romance was just a small part of the story, but it was essential for the storyine. There was one smoking hot scene in the motel between Jan Hyuk and Lee Ming Jung that should not be missed.
The goofy scenes with the father and stepbrother should have been left out entirely. The comedy aspect totally detracted from the serious wheeling and dealing.
This is Jang Hyuk's best acting, in my opinion, and made me really respect him as an actor. Of course he is superb in everything he's been in. There's a little quirky part to his personality that he brings to his characters that is unique.
The acting was fantastic by all the characters, especially No Min Woo and Kim Hee Ae.
My husband hates Kdramas, but he watched this and loved it. A lot of drama viewers, like myself, veer towards the romantic themes and totally miss great serious dramas. This one should not be bypassed. The suspense will keep you in the game.
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This review may contain spoilers
Vic Zhou is a handsome, talented actor, but he could not save this drama. It was utterly boring with the characters frozen as flashbacks played for minutes at a time. The first episode starts with 2 children meeting in a hospital where the girl has been taken after a bus accident. Although no one can figure out why, it left her a mute. She can see and hear, but can't speak. That is the premise for the drama. Let's think about this for a minute. Millions of people are in accidents and are there mutes walking around using sign language?
The children agree to meet 13 years later. During the 13 years of absence they continue to love each other after only meeting for a few days, another absurdity.
The writer then uses continual contrived events to bring the two together 13 years later. For example, Wei Yi's car breaks down and Shem Shem just happens to be driving the same road at the same moment. Or Shem Shem is on a bus and Wei Yi gets on the very same one at the same time.
Around Episode 6 (this is not a spoiler, it is in the summary above) Wei Yi discovers he is dying. For the next 13 episodes the drama is set in mourning. The mood, tempo, and music slow down even more. There are no big surprises, everything is predictable.
I always cry at melodramas, but not this one. It was a relief at the end. If you want more of Vic Zhou, watch Mars or Meteor Garden.
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama is quite different from all other revenge dramas I've seen. It seems to take more the point of view of the initial murderer turned cop. (That's not a spoiler as you quickly learn this in the beginning.) You don't ever get much of a feeling of compassion and sadness for the initial young victim because little time is spent on that storyline. This drama reminds me of a war: there are no winners. Indeed, I never found any of the characters likeable, so I never had strong feelings about the consequences. As in real life, everyone is held accountable for their evil deeds.The beginning seemed long and tedious. Things were revealed as the plot developed, however, I never felt there were any big surprises. Joo Ji Hoon did a great job as a cold loner, but his character was too zombie-like. It would have been better if he found some more awareness like in the revenge drama Sorry I Love You. The best thing was the acting here. The actress Shin Min Ah was in A Love to Kill a revenge drama I liked better.
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Hyun Bin, as usual, did a great job acting given as a confused, younger suitor. But even he got into the swinging matches. What's with all these violent people!
There was rarely a sweet or endearing moment between the pair. Even the ending was "ho hum" uneventful. The only saving grace was the upbeat, romantic music. It started every episode and kept me going.
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If this movie had ended there, it would have been a perfect 10. Unfortunately, the movie took a turn for the worse went it went off in another direction for the last third. I won't reveal any "secret", but the "secret" ended the magic for me.
The credits state that Jay Chou acted, directed, and produced this movie. Is this possible at such a young age? Wow!
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The main problem is the storyline which is ridiculously contrived. The first 12 boring episodes were spent just setting up the main crux of the drama, the love triangle. A lot of these episodes took place in America. What a mistake! The American actors were the worst I've seen! From Willie to the sleezy school girls, the acting was wooden and talentless.
The drama felt outdated in the beginning with the fake looking nightclub screen set. And although, I loved the theme songs, at times it was obvious the songs Hye In was singing were added later as the volume was too low. In one ridiculously impossible scene she was singing outdoors at a ski slope to a huge audience without a microphone! Who could hear?
Yet, I loved the last 8 episodes: two handsome men fighting over a beautiful woman. And Kim Hee Sun sure is gorgeous. The last 8 episodes were the typical: music playing as the heartbroken individual is crying and fantasizing over past experiences, Yes, the acting from these three made the last 8 episodes worth watching. So zoom through to the end of episode 12 and start from there. Or even better, watch Stairway to Heaven.
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My only complaint which kept this from being a perfect 10 was the writing of the last 20 minutes or so. The story diverted from reality into a silly, ridiculous impossible storyline.
I do think the ending was good and fit the theme and storyline.
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Here's how I felt about the Coach who was vying for Riko's love. Did you ever go out with a good looking guy and he turned out to be disappointing, unimaginative, and boring. That's how I felt about Coach. He just didn't draw out sympathy from the viewer with his plight. And not to be too critical, but I just didn't care for Naoki's wild hair. He looks better with dark, straight hair.
The music was so, so. In summary, it wasn't stirring enough to watch or rewatch.
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The intensity of the love, however, is what makes the drama so worth watching. The tree and cross symbols of steadfast love are really beautiful. The snow scenery is reminiscent of scenes in Winter Sonata. (The WS sites became so famous that they erected statues for tourists to visit!)
The acting by the main characters is over the top! You really get drawn into the story and their love for each other. The music is haunting, as well.
My only criticism is with the writing of the ending. I can handle sad, but no stupid. I hate medical impossibilities. There were so many other possible ways to write this. But I'm glad there was a clear ending because in some dramas they keep you hanging with an uncertain ending. Everyone hates those endings.
It's odd how much of ones opinion can be dependent on the ending. I often rewatch a drama that I enjoy before I ever see the ending for that reason. So, this would be a perfect 10 if that medical improbability was not there. I was emotionally drained, but I prefer that over not being attached to the characters and feeling bored nothingness.
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The music was great with different moods and tempos.
My only disappointed was the last scene which I did not think was funny. It should have been sweet and romantic, I think. I didn't want it to end. I wanted more kisses and romance. I'm looking forward to Part II.
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Here are my main criticisms : 1. The main tension or conflicts didn't ramp up until the second half and I was already tired of the slow pace.
2. The main female, Seo Yi Soo, was too immature and childish as a 35 year old woman. It was annoying to watch her stomp her feet and shake her body at constant embarrassment like a 5 year old having a temper tantrum. Her reaction to a handsome admirer giving her a kiss was one of a startled deer wide open eye looks. She's supposed to be a mature teacher of challenging teen males and a baseball umpire. This did not fit at all and I did not see a love connection with depth.
3. There was absolutely no kissing between any of the other romantic couples. COME ON! One couple is married and one is getting married!
4. There was no time spent on the most interesting couple. How did a poor playboy marry a sophisticated wealthy heir? And he's unfaithful at that. Quite improbable, but there was at least potential there.
In summary, this could best be described as cutesie or "men having fun." If you don't like the first few episodes, it doesn't get better. I regret watching 20 episodes when there are a lot better.
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