This is more or less a reflection of my comments on Kurosaki-kun (2015) as they are much the same anyway. Cool, done really well - a potentially far from amusing bully-masochist theme played very adeptly to finally bring out the comic slant. The clue to this happens quite soon in the movie. Nakajima's earlier delinquent role Bad Boys J obviously gave him suitable experience for this movie and Kurosaki-kun 2015 also. Some might say Kurosake was OTT and Akahane OTT passive but that's actually the nature of manga, it doesn't generally do "refined" (does it??)
Beautiful camera shots and acting in this film. Ikuta Toma gives a very strong performance. He's very versatile. I feel it deserves a higher rating than 7 but can understand it as it is a very gloomy movie, not one to watch if you need cheering up! It starts bright and descends into perdition. P.S. I watched this movie before reading the Intro here but is it necessary to tell everyone virtually the whole plot before they watch it?
After 6 episodes the attraction of this program imho is in inverse proportion to the volume of the romance scenes between Kim Shin and Kim Go Eun - and it seems to be increasing………ep 8 excellent, if a bit heavy - even kim go eun was good…..getting up to episode 13 I shared the consensus that this was a top-flight drama.
I put off watching the final episodes 14 - 16 because I was reluctant for it to end. Now I've watched ep. 14 which is clearly sequel in nature. I have to say I found it a hard slog, the sparkle has gone, the interaction between Goblin, Grim Reaper and Deok Hwa sadly missing. If this continues I would have to say it was a mistake. They should have finished with ep.13 and maybe a brief "follow up" finish. Don't mean to be b*****, but the idea anyone or any supernatural entity would span the universe in eternal love to chase Kim Go Eun stretches credulity.
Taking the plunge again at Ep. 14 better but I find the central romance utterly unconvincing, partly because it just goes on far too long - there's a limit to the sweet endearments and exchanges you want to hear.
Finished at last! A suitably complex and, I'm glad to say, unpredictable ending. Ah, if only life - and death - were like that. Turned whimsical again at the end, but inevitable I expect. Isn't it wonderful also how time can pass in a camera shot in TV dramas? Preferred Grim Reaper and Sunny and Deok Hwa to Goblin and Eun Tak, though the latter did improve markedly towards the end when she stopped playing all "kittenish". Which reminds me, what happened to Deok Hwa amidst all the complex comings and goings at the end?? So annoying.
The production values, background scenery and camera work were excellent throughout and the fashion sense fabulous - but when my mind keeps going off the story to the clothes and background scenery, annoyingly missing the subtitles, desperately waiting for the next scene with Grim Reaper and/or Deok Hwa, it's clear that it's not entirely absorbing my admittedly volatile brain. Music almost entirely good. Re-watch value? well not any time soon, but the fashion, design and memory of the comic parts may tempt me. Still, there's nothing else for it, but to give it 10/10 for the overall achievement.
Yokatta. Dark Sultry vs Bright Sparkle - guess who wins? But the male-male and girl-girl bonds are evidently important too. Can't do a review but 9.5/10.
Very sweet movie, oh dear almost had me crying at one stage, but also hilarious in parts. For those who've watched (and I don't think this is any spoiler), I don't understand how they got the baby from the airport to the bench. Artistic licence, I suppose. If only real life was like that. 10/10 for feel good.
Intermittently amusing, some episodes certainly miles better than others. Ahn Nae Sang's hysterics (or is it mania? he looks like he escaped from hospital) get severely un-amusing. Interesting to see Lee Jong Suk just before School 2013 - imho chubbier in the face, his looks had certainly improved by the following year.
Another of Kamenashi's amazing transformations, I like the hairstyle and specs. Madcap, fast, but verging on confused. The story's not terribly original and neither are the stunts, Kamenashi's "volatile" character can get tedious after a while. Not sure where it's going or worth the time but will watch a bit further.
ah, Shoes, despite you sharing my birthday, I wonder if you're right? who knows what's going on beneath the surface?…
I fully agree with you the first few episodes were a struggle, the boys were cardboard characters although Eun Ho was OK, but I got drawn in afterwards. I also agree it requires a large suspension of disbelief, manga style does, but I see it as exploring some quite important social/education issues within a fictional setting, with the daft fiction holding interest. I feel the style parodies things in school like the corruption/favoritism, pompous principal, bullying, poor ambitious swot, lazy rich boy, underachievers etc The unrealistic things stretch credibility but are fun if you like that sort of thing and can suspend disbelief and are probably what most people would have liked to do to get back at the injustices that are not paid back in real life. I found the weak spot was the soppy romance and the female lead so impossibly masochistic you want to shake her. I haven't quite finished it yet but usually endings are a flop even in good dramas. But different things attract different tastes.
Like it very much. But I have a question that Korean education system is this much rough?
ah, Shoes, despite you sharing my birthday, I wonder if you're right? who knows what's going on beneath the surface? OK, X is a flight of fiction, but the kids in schools are not flies on the wall of the principal's office or the school board's meetings, so no one knows what's going on except them………and there are, as most of us are aware, such things as "teacher's pets"……usually the children of those running the school. As for School 2015, I couldn't get past the first episode, the relentless nasty bullying made me sick.
I put off watching the final episodes 14 - 16 because I was reluctant for it to end. Now I've watched ep. 14 which is clearly sequel in nature. I have to say I found it a hard slog, the sparkle has gone, the interaction between Goblin, Grim Reaper and Deok Hwa sadly missing. If this continues I would have to say it was a mistake. They should have finished with ep.13 and maybe a brief "follow up" finish. Don't mean to be b*****, but the idea anyone or any supernatural entity would span the universe in eternal love to chase Kim Go Eun stretches credulity.
Taking the plunge again at Ep. 14 better but I find the central romance utterly unconvincing, partly because it just goes on far too long - there's a limit to the sweet endearments and exchanges you want to hear.
Finished at last! A suitably complex and, I'm glad to say, unpredictable ending. Ah, if only life - and death - were like that. Turned whimsical again at the end, but inevitable I expect. Isn't it wonderful also how time can pass in a camera shot in TV dramas? Preferred Grim Reaper and Sunny and Deok Hwa to Goblin and Eun Tak, though the latter did improve markedly towards the end when she stopped playing all "kittenish". Which reminds me, what happened to Deok Hwa amidst all the complex comings and goings at the end?? So annoying.
The production values, background scenery and camera work were excellent throughout and the fashion sense fabulous - but when my mind keeps going off the story to the clothes and background scenery, annoyingly missing the subtitles, desperately waiting for the next scene with Grim Reaper and/or Deok Hwa, it's clear that it's not entirely absorbing my admittedly volatile brain. Music almost entirely good. Re-watch value? well not any time soon, but the fashion, design and memory of the comic parts may tempt me. Still, there's nothing else for it, but to give it 10/10 for the overall achievement.