penel

Though it had some nice and sweet moments, warm cinematography with cosy vibes and beautiful scenery, overall it felt bland and unbalanced and wasn't as good as I expected, given the cast and the pairing. Not bad, but not memorable either.

I know, right?!

With an intriguing and thought-provoking premise, compelling storytelling and exceptional production, as well as exceptionally written characters and acting - and a sizzling chemistry with subtle but strong romance vibes, this drama was a pleasant surprise and a great addition to the thriller/sci-fi genre.

Being poor and homeless is a harsh reality no one wants to experience and, if there's an sick infant in the equation, this can be a real nightmare.
"Homeless" is a social drama with an intriguing premise and two leads that manage to embody the struggles and desperation of their characters remarkably well. Though the ending could have been more impactful, this is an interesting watch.

I thought this was a gangster story with some comic elements, but instead I found out that this is a gangster story with some philosophical elements and, of course, lots of action, violence and an unexpected twist.
Ethan Juan did a great job portraying a dying violent and arrogant gangster who could also show despair, remorse, compassion and make you sympathize with him and (some of) his actions.
With some beautifully choreographed and filmed fighting scenes and a fast paced editing, this is an intense action story, as well as a very interesting character study of a tough criminal and his frantic journey of posthumous fame and redemption.

The story isn't something new: a middle-level gangster in a midlife crisis decides to run his own business venture and discovers who are his friends and foes on the way.
More character-driven than action-packed, it's a decent watch for gangster genre lovers.

A wholesome women-centered story with a raw, painfully realistic depiction of their relationships, love and work life, growing and aging, inner thoughts and demons.
A beautifully crafted study on choices and decisions, lingering feelings and regrets, as well as an honest take on women's insecurities, anxiety, rivalry and competitiveness - and the 'ugly' side of their marriage, family and work environment.
Ariel Lin and Tiffany Hsu were fantastic in their demanding and very complicated roles, while their chemistry and bonding was more impressive than any romance.
A perfect drama about imperfect people.

A heartwarming and inspiring story showing the unbreakable bond between a mother and her mentally challenged child.
Go Doo Shim and Kim Sung Kyun were excellent in their demanding roles, giving justice to their characters without being overly dramatic or exaggerated.
And even if the ending is predictable, I couldn't help but get teary eyes more than once during some heartbreaking and powerful moments.

In spite of the weak writing, using every japanese and korean trope available, and the annoyingly childish and poorly acted FL character, this was an easy cute and fluffy watch, mainly due to the scene-stealing MVP Chae Jong Hyeop and his charming character.

I hope it will be to your liking. Enjoy!

An enigmatic and complex story which is stylistically beautiful -with idyllic landscapes and forestry around an 'untouched' isolated village- dressed with impressively well-fitted music, but with an incoherent and confusing storytelling, and a very cryptic ending.
A demanding but rewarding watch.

A decent but very predictable crime/action story that follows every classic film noir trope found in korean cinema during the last decades.
Park Sung Woong was convincing in his role and, even if the plot wasn't tightly woven and some arcs felt forced (especially the romance), it may be an entertaining watch for gangster genre lovers.

With a piercing, absolute scene-stelling performance from child actress Osawa Kana, this is a sad, difficult to watch slice-of-life story about a ‘rebellious’, lonely, neglected preteen girl in a dysfunctional family, and her unsuccessful attempts to get noticed, understood and loved.

A biographical story about one of the most beloved Japanese authors, Kenji Miyazawa, presented mostly from his father's perspective.
Beautifully directed and shot, though with more melodrama than necessary, it was an interesting and very touching watch, mainly due to its protagonist, Koji Yakusho and Suda Masaki, their exemplary versatility, chemistry and bonding.

A peculiar film, with a controversial story about Buddhism, monks, sins, merits, moral conscience, ghosts and horror elements.
Though it was initially banned, it was released in theaters, after several scenes were edited out, but was still prohibited for those under 18.

An emotional and healing journey of two wounded, mourning people to find truth and justice, through revenge, anger, repentance, forgiveness, and many obstacles on their way.
Kim Nam Joo gave a splendid performance as a mother who tragically lost her precious child, while Cha Eun Woo showed a real effort to improve his acting skills - and that he is maturing to a very handsome and attractive man.

A bittersweet story with melancholic vibes about a sad adult love through which two lonely, burdened people find comfort and fleeting moments of happiness.

With a wonderful cinematography and a mellow music score, this slow-paced story with minimal dialogues and a subtle, melancholic tone, is about two lonely grieving people that find solace and a lending ear in each other's company.

Even though the blend of comedy with extreme school bullying didn't sit well with me, and most of the story was exaggerated, I really enjoyed Shin Hye Sun's kickass character and performance in this.

One of the few cases when a remake is on par with the original.
An emotional, affectionate story presented in a (not always successful) comedic way, with an unexpected plot-twist and an extremely moving and heartbreaking ending.