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  • Last Online: Aug 13, 2023
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: City of Dis
  • Contribution Points: 27 LV1
  • Birthday: June 19
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  • Join Date: May 17, 2011
  • Awards Received: Finger Heart Award1 Flower Award1

vaberella

City of Dis

vaberella

City of Dis
Completed
DTC: Yukemuri Junjo Hen from High&Low
0 people found this review helpful
Dec 14, 2020
Completed 0
Overall 3.0
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Can you have a mid-life crisis in your 20s?

There are very TINY spoilers. Some that will make you laugh.
I couldn't believe what I was watching. There are expectations when watching a High & Low film.
1. Fighting.
2. A lot of detail to the inner friendships inside the gangs.
3. The relationships and friendships between the gangs.
4. They affect and are affected by society.
5. The extreme distinctive detail to what makes them different.
***
What was the ONLY thing they SORT of kept in the film? No. 5. What was the rest of it?
Mid to Late 20-year-old men going through a mid-life crisis is what I saw in the movie. Yeah, it was boring. It felt pretty forced and it had nothing to do w/ anything that could be called High & Low. I could barely recognize the guys based on their "original" character that's how OTT they were. You didn't hear them when they came on screen for the literally 5 sec screen time they had. When they brought in the other "gangs" [in quotes] b/c they were walk-on lackeys -they were just fodder. They didn't even show up w/ their respective soundtracks like they usually do.

This segues into another problem w/ the soundtrack. The new gang that arose from the defunct Cobra - created this sort of cabaret band that makes the most awful cheesy music. UGH. Horrible soundtrack music. Just shoot me now.

As I said when I came to watch the movie I came to watch 1-5, I won't deny 1 was on my list (w/ everyone on board). However, 2-5 dominating. However, what I watched was a cross-country bromance of boys figuring the meaning of life & themselves. Then they were on their way back home rejuvenated w/ a To Be Continued.

If it continues like this they can keep it.

**As a note I normally high grade the acting b/c it's supposed to be slightly OTT. However, due to the poor storyline, the actors just couldn't manage what was on screen. It was just all over the place & a mess.

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Completed
BLEACH
1 people found this review helpful
Apr 20, 2019
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 2.0
This review may contain spoilers
I am a massive anime freak. I have been since I was a kid. I was truly looking forward to this film & I'm still waiting for the 2nd edition to rectify this atrocity. I had to watch this twice to find out why there was a problem for me and this film. As you can see from the title it just left a horrible aftertaste for me. It's the same feeling I had when I saw Infinity Wars. There's disliked them both but I had to watch them several times to figure out what it was that irked me.

Storyline wise I felt they kept that intact. I had no problem w/ that; b/c it was live action you want to make the story tie directly w/ your lead vs. introducing the characters through the Hollows and Orihime. However, this is where it suffered the fate of the Inifity Wars (and I'm jumping ahead a bit; then jump back) - We didn't need to see the introduction of anyone but Byakuya & Renji as mentioned. I have no damn idea why they introduced the Quincy - Ishida, okay. Quincy, not necessary. Uruhara not needed just yet. There was an overwhelming number of characters that filled the screen.

It was fandom porn - FOR fandom. If you're not a fan, it's overwhelming and a damn mess. I'm a fan and I found it way too messy. I felt they dropped the ball on Renji (my favorite character) - he didn't get the valuable air time and quality lines he could have - the actor hurt my soul. They completely destroyed Byakuya (IDK where they found him). They wasted energy on the unecessary to fill fandom hype rather than give real depth.
------
Things that surprised me...
1. They hinted at the Ichigo/Orihime relationship a bit more overtly - which surprised me.
2. Chado character was perfectly picked - Wow to that one.
3. I was impressed by the CGI Hollows (I might be in the minority)

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Completed
Fujimi Orchestra
25 people found this review helpful
Aug 21, 2018
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 3.0
A great drama, film, anime, manga, or any form of media has many elements to be considered to determine whether it's worthwhile or not. Therefore, I need to preface this that I didn't come here to see check this site before I saw this film. If I did I wouldn't haven't take note of the tag anyway. I sooner would have read the review & the comments - maybe.

There is RAPE – very GRAPHIC. This is not a spoiler, this is a warning. If you cannot stomach that, then don't watch it. I found it as unexpected as I did in A Round Trip to Love – very GRAPHIC and Together With Me.

This is an manga based movie. Of all the mangas, yaoi mangas, they could have picked from to turn into a film they chose this one boggles the mind. I went to read the manga* after this travesty to see if I could rationalize this travesty, however two things seemed to happen:
Questions:
1) did the scriptwriters feel they had to remain faithful to the manga?! 2Moons scriptwriters felt the same to their doom.
2) why choose such a poorly conceptualized story? - was it b/c of the popularity of Nodame Cantabile?

I didn’t have a clue for no.1 b/c really that leaves the characters utterly one dimensional and useless. As for no.2, It covers 2 points. The massive craze over BL that has taken over East Asian girls and international girls and men across the board. fujoshi fandom love. In addition, you get to tap into the Nodame Cantabile craze. Mentally it's a win-win. Problem is everything else.

This is a horribly conceptualized story about obsessive love, control, rape, cognitive dissonance, and abuse. We have an individual who will leave everything in his world behind, everything he has owned and search to the ends of the Earth to find this fig mental "thing" he has deemed his love. Then he will take what he "loves" and FORCE it to "love" him back. DEMAND it. The absurdity of it all is that everyone around the victim seems to believe the victim was blessed to be loved in such a way. The victim sees the absurdity of the situation but then falls prey to this thinking and believes the lie of those around him.

** You don't need to read the manga to understand film. I never read before the film. I just read it to see if I could rationalize something. However, it was a direct copy. It did help me in thinking through some of the ideas a bit. Not much.

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Completed
Falling in Love with a Rival Special
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 3, 2018
1 of 1 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 3.0
Story 2.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 2.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This was an 11 minute long product placement commercial for a MEITU phone (now if only I was into selfies like that). Bloody hell---I have to say they were successful in making me want to get one--problem is, if the writers wanted me to appreciate the story and I think that's actually what the writers wanted me to do---they failed epically and hence the reason they scored the above.

If you saw my review for the drama itself---you would know it's not my cup of tea...this was just as bad. I would consider it higher on my list. However, more and more and more I think about it; I get more annoyed.

The two leads have now become a pair considering their living together. I never understood the whole snake storyline thing so whatever to that nonsense---however, I note that the snake is the first thing we see in front of their lovey-dovey picture. I feel that's symbolism for something---maybe leading into a S2. Yet, we'd never know, since that might not happen.

The childish behaviour apparently is considered cute and some people find it funny. I don't. I hate seeing growing men act like 5 year olds on screen. This is made worse when it's related to sex acts. Ahh, I finally hear the connotation of "semes" vs. "ukes". The only thing was the double entendre I liked from the "semes" when he said you were on TOP---and took out a phone---but he just implied "you were riding me" as his on "TOP" claim. That was the only time I had a smirk and it went up 1 point.

Other than that...Ugh...annoyed. Nothing else in the short made sense.

Don't waste your time. Please. TOO HYPED!

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Completed
Falling in Love with a Rival
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 3, 2018
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 2.0
This just wasn't my type of BL. What kind of BL is it? Adult, rom-com, with a touch of revenge, and a guy who just fell in love not with with a title but with a person who was just a man. It has slapstick situations and a doctor with a cowlick <-- only saving grace. Oh and this glass of water with a lemon in it. <--- don't ask but I really liked that glass of water and it made me thirsty.

Was it that it was an adult BL? I have been on this kick of teen BL admittedly. It all started with Love Sick. Not just teen to be honest, but also college (Sotus, comes to mind). After seeing Love Sick I think I keep looking for that sort of depth in a story line. The first story I ever had before Love Sick and I took a long hiatus since then was Addicted---I saw Addicted when it first came out (RAW).

I can watch adult dramas, it's clear the adult ones aren't a problem since I have watch HIStory ones that I will be reviewing that I love. I saw Advance Bravely and loved that one. I think the guys here are great. I think the men were stunning. I think the story was horribly written. I just think it was a really bad story and it made no sense.

The interaction of the characters made no sense. The Co-Pilot (doctor BF) role made no sense and his relationship with the other rich made no sense and I wasn't sure if maybe that was to wait for a second season. But I felt to always cover your base to have it in S1. I mean it was just sloppy writing and sloppy editing. Oy...mental reasoning to steal the guy made no sense and the Co-Pilot's advice made no sense. Lord have mercy.

The acting was on point for the trash they were given though. I have no idea how they managed that.

Was it Rom-Com that bothered me? <-- This might be the closest issue. I feel so far that I'm not so keen on Rom-Com BL's. Love Sick is not a Rom-Com BL. I know I dislike Make It Right <---Because it is definitely a Rom-Com and I can't stand it. I think I like it when boys seriously questioning their sexuality as something serious and not as a joke or the scenario as a joke. Don't get me wrong MIR does have it's moments of seriousness---but they do make light of it more than take it seriously. While Love Sick had it as serious, the issues of love man woman, man to man, and how that affects your relationship with other people. It's the same thing with Addicted, ditto with HIStory: Obsessed, A Round Trip to Love...and on and on and on and on...

Was it the revenge? <--- Yeah this too....stupid and pathetic. Let me get the boyfriend of my ex to fall in love with me even though I'm not gay but he might be. What?! Does that make sense? I'm poor and he's rich, but I'll work it out...WTF?! Yeah, when I say stupid. Just stupid. I mean I guess that means something.

I went to watch this by all the acclamaitions everyone put out there for this drama. I regret doing this to myself. Just horrible decision. The story didn't even have anything hot. Even the uncut scenes were lackluster. HIStory Season 1: Obsessed was hot; even Love Sick was hotter than this; definitely Together With Me was crazy hotter than this.

Was it the adult make questioning his sexuality? <--- Nada. I don't care if you're adult or youth. Questioning the title of straight or gay is always a plus in my book since I don't subscribe that one can be born gay, or straight for that matter. Nor do I believe that someone is gay, nor that someone is straight for that matter. You think you're one thing for a long time and then bam..you see this one person and you're like crap...I'm not. That happened to my Mayor's wife in NYC. She is an African American. During the 70s she wrote about being a proud African American LESBIAN feminist. She was an advocate for Lesbian rights and wrote several articles and on and on. Then she met our Mayor, DiBlasio (a man of course). Married him and gave him two kids <--- never looked back. She went from thinking she was born being a lesbian to being a person.

I would have liked this aspect of the storyline explored more...maybe an S2 might have given us that. However, that wasn't the premise of the story---so it was white noise and would never have been a focus. This was one of the kickers of disinterest and lowering the quality of the story for me.

I won't be rewatching this drama. The only sexual scenes are on the uncut scenes and to be honest I didn't care for them. There was nothing hot there. It again, wasn't like I was watching Addicted or Obsessed or A Round Trip to Love (they didn't show me anything the noise and shadow was enough). All I did was roll my eyes. This was utter crap.

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Completed
HIStory: Obsessed
1 people found this review helpful
Mar 26, 2018
4 of 4 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
Seriously, this is the first HIStory I would give a perfect score. I won't give anything away and I can't speak much about it. This is a story I was angry it was only 17 minutes per episode and there was only 4 episodes; but if it was longer it would taint and drag the story into a direction it didn't have to go.

There were other characters---and we didn't need their backstories. There is a time travel/time skip/waking dream sort of feel to the drama that could turn this into a Korean hot mess. <---I've had enough of those to last me a life time.

Much in the Chinese style [this is Taiwanese] they kept dry, like fine whiskey. This was simply focusing on the lead characters and that was all. No variables, none of the other mix-ups. We will bring up a few shifts just to make you think---but the focus is on the leads...and how.

Jesus...the leads.

Ren Teddy as [Shao Yi Chen] is new to the scene but damn can he hold a scene. That man can deliver. Deliver a scene like no other. I wonder if he's gay in real life. I only ask because I want to marry him. Those lips...the way he kisses...wow. Just wow. Shao Yi Chen is in love with He Bernard [Jiang Jin Teng]. It is apparent from the get go. It is that weird unhealthy love.

Early on, SYC is clearly the one obsessed to the point he is moving away from it and breaking those bonds that time him to JJT --however he's bound to him and vice versa ---their bound as you would see in an ouroboros.

The love scenes are so intense and powerful...wow. Just wow. Very arousing. It's just a good romantic story; it resonates. It's a great BL story, the make out scenes are wow, it is something to watch.

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Completed
Advance Bravely
99 people found this review helpful
Mar 18, 2018
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 13
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5
I will say this before anything else. Everyone please stop complaining about the Chinese ban. Yes, it's horrible and irritating. But on the flip side, I think TPTB who are doing this work are doing an amazing job and I'm freaking thankful that China is allowing them to do this AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL work. I don't know about you but I have an imagination. The acting and chemistry between the characters with the writing is so well done that I don't need sex to get the idea. I'm currently watching the Japanese drama Todome no Kisu (Kiss That Kills). There is so much kissing--it's unbelievable. The most romantic, where all of who were watching our hearts skipped a beat was when the lead characters hugged each other. The guy grabbed her and she was like...do you want to kiss, are you sure you don't want to, and he's like no...I want to hold you. We just died. It's not about the sexuality people, it's about the emotions and relationship.

China ONLY shut down the sex on the drama and kissing, but they didn't shut down ANYTHING else and that's what we were given by the writers en masse. This drama was brilliant. I truly loved it. All the boys in this drama are extraordinarily gorgeous. I have no clue in what pits of hell they found them, but dear lord all mighty. I have always said...on the level of hotness when it comes to East Asian guys---Koreans are on the bottom. The ranking is Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, and then Korean. The Chinese guys all looked like hot vampires with abs and shit and moved in slow motion.

Anyway, all the pairings made sense. Xia Yao and Yuan Zong came together because YZ's sister, Yuan Ru, has a thing for Xiao Yao. As a note, Xiao Yao, rolls with a bunch of his co-wealthy rich kids Xuan Da Yu and Peng Ze. All three of them are of a long line of royalty. XDY has a thing for XY---of course. PZ has a thing for a girl but rolls with a guy to get a girl---irony. Anyway YR asks YZ to get involve to help her with XY---you usually get your friend not your bro (who then seems to be rather psychotically obsessive over XY)...makes no sense---irony again.

However, the greatest irony of it all is that rather than being irritating, nonsensical in some respects; it's truly romantic and you connect with the romantic end of the story). You then understand the story. You want all of the male characters to advance bravely towards their respective partners in their respective relationships; and you want their respective relationships to advance bravely in society.

The drama's title gives way to the ultimate meaning the character's relationships progress go through in the story. I do feel that Peng Ze's relationship was the one that was forsaken in the story. It could have been because his partner was not only the youngest but also the one that looked the most feminine of the group. That would have been a dangerous one to portray on screen too much. I think TPTB could have sold it...but I can see why they kept it at the minimum, but at least they put it in there. PZ's kid is like 21 to everyone else's 27 or so and YZ is 31.

Of course, I'm going to love the second pairing---just like I did with 2 Moons, Xuan Da Yu and Wang Zhi Shui. Slow build up...not enough air time when they did get together. They fulfilled the need both of them were seeking. I liked that Wang Zhi Shui was the most persistent. I don't know why I see them as such a long term couple that I would watch for eternity. I would love to see them with their own short series. I'd like to see Wang Zhi Shui interact with Xuan Da Yu's family if they do show up---his continuous bouts of fear of rejection. Ditto for Da Yu dealing with Zhi Shui's possible nightmares and fears and his backstory which we REALLY don't know all that much about.

AB is great and I recommend it to all.

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Completed
2 Moons
5 people found this review helpful
Mar 18, 2018
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
Long Live MingKit!!

I'm on a BL kick as of this last week and I am watching as much as I can. I've watched many...or really I'm a yaoi reader. But I decided to move from pen and paper to body and mouth (that sounds a bit salacious). <---There's always something dirty when you start talking about BL.

In any event. I really liked this series. It's not one I loved. I just liked it. I have to be honest I found it sloppy. The only couple I loved and I lived for and I'm glad I came when the show had finished airing (or I would be so upset)---so that I could skip over scenes (just for this couple)---was MingKit. OMG. MingKit saved the drama for me. They were the ONLY good actors on the drama. The only two that sold me on their romance. The only two that had any sort of REAL attraction that made sense to me. The ONLY two that had screen time with chemistry that didn't look FORCED or CHEESY!!

Yes, I said it. CHEESY. Most of the drama was reading like a High School teen romance that was utterly pathetic and two leads were killing me. I was watching them be themselves off camera and if TPTB had them come across like that off screen--then the drama would be completely different for me, I think. However, the flower scene (99 bouquet crap---CRAP) . The piano crap---crap. The bed scenes...the slave crap---the phone call while drunk crap---the ugh...it was all crap. I'm sorry it was crap.

The leads---God (Phan <--Character), he can't act. He was very stiff and it was hard for him to deliver his lines with emotion. I was confused by the character all the time because of the actor. No, it's not because the character himself is confused---the actor just can't portray a confused soul. Now Pin (Wayo <--Character) can act...but his sort of, "I have gas" expression was exhausting to me. I preferred when he smiled. I wanted more of that. There were moments where they were trying to have him share moments with Kreep (Forth <---Character). Forth was having moments of development---but then not really. I wasn't sure if he had graduated or if he was still in the school --- I didn't know if he was a Moon because he said he was with Phan last year but then he wasn't with Phan's circle too much. It's bizarre but he has an attraction to Wayo.

Forth is seen time and time again in the advert paired with Jaru (Beam <---Character). Yet, Forth and Beam have little to any conversational screen time. There is no development. They are in no way paired as a couple. I could count how many times they stand next to each other on one hand or in a scene together. Yet, they're paired as a possible pair. What nonsense!!! SLOPPY!!!

Once again, what saved this drama...MingKit. Mingkwan (played by Khem) and Kit (played by Ker) are the best. They are the epitome of my ideal BL couples. I'm a pansexual. For those who don't know---I'm a personal who has no sexual orientation---meaning I'm open to anyone. I believe that love has no gender and I don't believe I was born gay or heterosexual or or bisexual or any of that shit. I believe I could love anyone. My heart and mind can direct anywhere and I have no way of denying it. I think Ming and Kit are perfect example of that. Ming and Kit dated women. Ming was on his path and didn't even think about it---didn't even see the attraction but little by little Kit wormed his way in to his heart and then it went deeper. The same way for Kit. Then sexuality came into it. It was a struggle for them--lucky for them, they do live in a society where it isn't perverse to be gay. Not to mention, they were developed. They are also good actors.

The two of them were entertaining on screen. Ming was fresh, boyish, always in a good mood, charming, sweet, and when he has his mind and heart set on something its set. While Kit is studious and regimented. He's kind, steadfast, grumpy (slight temper), extremely intelligent, attractive (his eyes--dear God, his eyes) and dependable. In the end, both are the best friends you could ever want in the world and the best friends they could ever be for each other and the best lovers they could be for each other. MingKit for life.

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Completed
My Brother Loves Me Too Much
0 people found this review helpful
Feb 25, 2018
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
Not that memorable of a story.  

A story about two kids raised to believe their siblings but fatal attraction ensues in a "hilarious" platform.  <---I don't even know if that should be funny.  However, when it comes to Japanese films, jdoramas, mangas, and animes---you always give them a pass.  I gave them a pass.

There are several variations of stories like this, most of them have ended very, very, very, very bad and I'm sure there are recommendations on them and if they aren't there.  I'll be sure to recommend them.  I guess blood relation would make a big difference though.  

In any event.  It sports hilarity, pretty poor acting (actually---really bad acting in a major motion picture) <---some of the hilarity is from the bad acting.  It's just the guys being so over the top.  I'm like none of you are Yamapi...by the way not to spoil to much but for real---that's actually some of the great scenes.

The movie stole scenes from other famous manga to live action films---look for the Easter Eggs.  I sort of spoiled one---but there are like 4-5 others.  Hence, the other points of hilarity.  I think if you didn't see these other films you wouldn't get it.

Anyway...It's not a film I would rewatch again...I'd only aim for certain scenes---like the bath scene and permission to date scene.  Then I'd call it quits.  Nothing else is memorable and the movie is rather forgettable.

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Ongoing 33/34
Boss & Me
1 people found this review helpful
Feb 18, 2018
33 of 34 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
Despite watching this Cdrama when it came out and rewatching it a billion times and downloading it a billion times on various flashdrives....yeah I have never reviewed it.  I love this drama.

It is a banal Cinderella-esque story with a strong, strong, strong dash of Itazura na Kiss .  We have our super smart & rich CEO Prince who turns into pseudo-stalker and falls for lowly worker, who happens to be not so bright; yet she is peppy, strong-willed, and determined.

You start falling in love with all these endearing qualities of Shan Shan (female lead) as Feng Teng (male lead) has fallen in love.  You understand and you fall in love with both of them.  Feng Teng though is far more admirable than either Prince charming in Cinderella  and far more palatable than Naoki Irie.

All in all this is not story I would expect EVERYONE to fall in love with because it's normal. There's nothing surprising. This nothing to keep you at the edge of your seat, there's nothing to make you cry, there's nothing heartbreaking (really).  It's just a very sweet romantic story.  It's something that could have been limited to maybe 5 episodes. But was nicely executed into 33 and didn't leave me bored one bit.

I like shows like this. I like something calming and I can enjoy. For example, every Christmas I do two things.  I watch National Lampoon's Christmas and drink Hot Cocoa (with Milk); Oh, and eat oatmeal.  It's just something I do.  It makes me feel good and it's very comforting. This drama is comforting.  When I need a nice come to, feel good, love story. I come to this one.

Kdramas---romantic BS or whatever--they always have something to make you cry.  ALWAYS.  Not one romantic comedy of Kdrama doesn't have a tearjerker moment, now imagine their non-romantic comedies.

Lakorns---Not there yet with romantic comedies...so not there yet. Too much slap stick to keep me happy. Their other romantic stories have some slap/kiss or tears.

Taidramas -- No.  And their romantic comedies can be irritating.  Some aren't as filling or aren't memorable.  They don't reach the memorable state as the Cdramas. I have a few Cdramas taht are feel good like this.

Jdorama - They don't really do romantic comedies for me. They do romantic mangas. They're always a win, but those are independent in and of themselves.

This is a drama in and of itself.  It's your feelgood romantic comedy that chronicles the steps of two people from two different worlds and how they collide along with the people that rotate in their orbit.  

It's a fun ride.

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Completed
Leh Ratree
3 people found this review helpful
Feb 14, 2018
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
I am on board with every other crocodile that reviewed.  This is the most perfectly executed lakorn I have watched to date and as a remake. This even beats the AoMike dramas and that's saying a lot guys.  That's saying a lot.  

ALL of the actors were so professional and had so much chemistry with each other on screen; this manifested through the characters making them come to life and give you those feels and emotions.  You know when you sit there and you're like-- "MY EMOTIONS"   "THE FEELS"   "THIS SHIP; SHIPS IT'S SELF"   <--- Yeah all of that is going on in your mind and you say them out loud as your watching.

This is a drama that will make you rewatch.  I found myself speaking to the screen, saying all of the above.  I found myself laughing out loud. I found myself pissed off and yelling. I found myself annoyed. I found myself sharing and having every emotion- because this drama allows you to do this and brings it out of you.

That's what a great drama is supposed to do. I didn't need to know where it came from.  Give me the name and the videos, the stories they went for it.  It's so good. 

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For example the initial characters of Kate, an innocent and comical girl (a sailor moon type) who becomes auctioned in various ways for various reasons throughout the drama by men.  The drama has superficially strong; however the entire drama is a throwback to the most sexist set of ideals ever.  Meh, loving it though.

Anyway, poor Kate, loves my Mr. Hottie Pu.  Yeah, he's my fave. I really shipped that ship.  I remember saying--if they break up that ship I'm going to be so damned pissed.  Ugh, ugh.  I really shipped  I never ship a ship that's not going to really be a lead ship in some way shape or form.  My ships normally happen. I knew this was doomed. Pu is so hot and so sweet.  He's like a Terrier.  I like him if he was a doggie Just dependable---he just has anger management issues.

Pu is artistic, steady, dependable, he's a man who is a one woman man.  In my eyes, he's the perfect guy.  Boy next door---in Kate's case, literally.  Hot boy next door, the Quarterback boy next door who you've been dating since you were 7 and he was like 11.  Yeah, the numbers off, but whatever.  Ugh so good.    

Kate's family is made up of an absolutely beautiful set of people. She's average looking (even though she's a model), but her mother is absolutely gorgeous.  Kate might have gotten her looks from bio-dad.  Her Step-dad is attractive but a gambler who screws up the family---sexists ass and you'll see the show to understand. Then the two younger kids brother and sister---two other beauties.  <--- I have problems here with LR.  They dropped the ball with the siblings. I was hoping for at least 8 more episoes to go up to 20 so we can have storylines that expanded on the siblings.  I felt there was places to go since they introduced it.

Not to mention, this segue's perfectly into Pa.  Beautiful girl, great character and I loved her relationship with Pu, Kate, and her brother Sake.  I just wanted so much of her though.  I also wanted to see if she got her pregnant. I felt she did because of her situation. I felt they wishy-washed her relationship when they needed time to exten on it.

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Completed
Our Meal for Tomorrow
3 people found this review helpful
Feb 13, 2018
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 4.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
To sum up the two leads.  Koharu (lead female) is holding the flickering beacon of love in Ryota's (lead male) dark tunnel to bask in an endless black hole of love.  - now I sound like Ryota.

The film is a coming of age story that best sums up "YOLO", you only live once.  You enjoy the little things and remember that time waits for no man, be happy that you have today because you might not have tomorrow.  Be happy you can remember who you love and celebrate them because who else will the following day.  

Therefore, despite this pervasive sense of doom in the dialogue; there's a battle at the same time.  The battle is coming from the brightness in the cinematography and it's also in the speed in which they have Koharu (female lead) deliver her lines.  She delivers it so fast as though she wants to be done with these discussions on death and gloom.  But she talks on family and growth you see her speak in a softer tone.  

So we have her a bright light falling in love with someone who is dealing with serious issues.  Someone she's loved for a very long time. In almost every scene he (Ryota) comes across very dark. Ryota's hair is very dark, his clothing is very dark, he speaks in a monotone, he speaks very slowly, and he's not engaging. He's unapproachable. His nickname is Jesus Christ and I sat and wondered why, then I realised it's because it seems that he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. 

As the movie progresses, you barely see that you've already fallen in love with the couple and the story line.  You've fallen in love with the regret and pain.  
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I'm going to end this review with a reason why I gave this Jfilm a 7.  It will start off with a quick caveat on what Japanese dramas/films mean to me and then what happened here.  I love, love, love, love, love Jdoramas and Jfilms.  You can go to my profiles and see me waxing poetics.  Thanks dad.  I was raised on them and so I love them.
I normally give them high scores, this could be because of pure bias (WHICH IT IS NOT!).   It's actually mainly because I know I'm going to get quality.  ALWAYS, quality.  

   By the way, make no mistake, there was quality here. That wasn't why it was a 7.

The other thing about Jdoramas and Jfilms and this unlike the always compare Kdramas - (not Kfilms ---those are good). You know what you're getting.  If you are going to get family, romance, tragedy, human, work, coming of age, bromance, sisterhood, etc. drama.  You know you will get that in a drama.  Even in a kdrama, they find some kind of way to put some kind of tears and sadness in a damn romantic comedy.  Why? Why?  It's a bloody romantic comedy.  Keep it light.  Keep it light.  Sorry...my rant.

This wasn't any of those things. I knew I was signing up for sadness and tears.  I knew I was going to have my moment in the sun where it would be to hard for me to bare.  I accepted, welcomed, and wanted that.  I felt cleansed because the actors were brilliant.

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What's the problem and they scored so low? Damn soundtrack. What kind of music was used for this drama?  It was sort of rocky and stuff and I hated it. This is such a sad story and then they put such a shitty song.  Ugh, have mercy.  Yup, the song was ranked so low (4.5) it brought down the whole thing.  Not to mention, I don't really put sad stories high on my re-watch list. I'd have to be in a really depressed mood for that to happen. I ranked that at a 7. 


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Completed
Rich Man, Poor Woman Episode Zero
0 people found this review helpful
Feb 9, 2018
1 of 1 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This is a start up episode into the drama.  It builds the key element which is truly the bromance and "woman" key players that are fundamental to the story.  That includes all the males and the REAL "hoe" (woman) that creates the rift between the bros. It's definitely not a breathing element in our sense of the word.  I don't think this is truly important to enjoy the story, since it wasn't provided before the drama aired, I still think it's something worthwhile.  

You also get to see the initial pebbles leading to the transformation of the characters from "closed off geeks" to domineering and perfectionist men.  It's a good lead-in and understand, in hindsight, why TPTB would produce this for the drama. Unfortunately, they would only have known to produce the zero, had they known the drama would have been the success it became.  And it was a massive success. One of the greatest romantic dramas ever!

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Completed
Tawan Tat Burapha
8 people found this review helpful
Jan 30, 2018
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
9.75 Overall Score Rounded to 10
                                                                                                                    I never know what to score Music--I always score low.

I don't know who thought of the premise of the story but it is brilliance.  Pure brilliance. I wish I thought of this storyline.  We've always heard of two brothers ending up on the wrong side of the tracks.  One normally ends up on the right side of the law and the other ends up on the wrong side. Many times it's b/c they don't know each other and it's some twist of fate <---most unrealistic scenario.  Other times, one parent takes a kid and remarries and another parent takes a child and their a mobster <-- another unrealistic. Another is that a father who's a mobster marries two women and has two different sons who end up on different sides of the law; in the same vein the father stays with one wife and the other struggles and raises a son who joins a mob gang <--- unrealistic.  

This takes a more realistic turn which makes logical righteousness surpass blood.  Periodically as I sat there watching the angst between the brothers I had to ask myself would I do to my sister what one of the characters do to his brother or what I also felt he did to his family.  I struggled with his decision.  I understood it.  I did agree with it. But what was the result, what was it for, what did it really do?  Ultimately, what did it really do?  

But you also how at times you have to table righteousness for love and blood.  You have to table it for family and life because that means more than law, pain...that means nothing because what does that prove?  Ultimately, you had more success when you tabled the law than you did when didn't.

What would you choose  blood or law?  Brothers is about family and a bromance that is epic and meaningful and a love that beats all.  The music is on point.  The only issue I had was Pong's love man.  I still say him and his Nong should hook up---I'm still side-eyeing the shit out of Dok Soke.

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Completed
Ugly Duckling Series: Perfect Match
1 people found this review helpful
Jan 30, 2018
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
Based on my rating of all the aspects of the film: yes the story is average, the acting is seriously average (Push is the most solid and good acting; sweetheart's acting needs improvement but it looked like her first gig).  I liked the music because I kept hearing it.  That song just grew on you.  You couldn't help but like it.  Despite all this average --- the rewatch value is EPIC.  I have rewatched this drama 5 or 6 times already.  It is the only Ugly Duckling story I have survived.  I hate all the others.  It is the only one that has a storyline I can stick with in the sense that I get the characters and what their looking for.  

The overall premise is searching for a love and friendship that isn't skin deep.  Although you would think this should be the concept for all the Ugly Duckling stories, it is more so fitting this story, the starter, than any of the others. Since you have wealth and beauty as attractions.

It's a deep concept that's presented in a weak way but executed by attractive actors who are average at best and exhausting at worst.  It's the comedic relief and attractive actors and to be honest the chemistry between the leads that make the story interesting and engaging.

As I said, I find it utterly addictive.  I'll rewatch this to doomsday. My review may seem dismal, but again, it's worth the watch and rewatch, and rewatch, and rewatch, and rewatcch.

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