Emyya
France
This review may contain spoilers
I was a bit worried about another live-action adaptation of an anime / manga, but I wasn't disappointed at all!Visually, it is very well done: CGI is great and characters seem "realistic" enough, if you can say that about manga characters (what I mean is they didn't overdo it with the orange hair ^^)
The visuals are similar to what you see in the anime, which I thought was really cool. It did feel a little weird during certain fight scenes, but considerering the crazy fights featured in the series, they did good job at bringing them to life.
Casting was flawless in my opinion: Fukushi Sota was a fantastic Ichigo (I fell a bit in love) and I really liked Sugisaki Hana as Rukia. They both showed the characters' emotions really, really well.
I loved the secondary characters too, especially Saotome Taichi as Renji, Mano Erina as Orihime, and Yoshizawa Ryo as Uryu. Miyavi as Byakuya was also a pleasant surprise!
Most of the movie follows the "main" storyline of the anime's first season (Ichigo and Rukia against Renji and Byakuya, sort of), although it had to be adapted for the movie format. For that reason, the ending is completely different and it gives a "proper" closure to the Ichigo and Rukia's storyline (no awful cliffhanger).
I am overall very satisfied with this movie, and I really hope they will make another one!
Except for the ending, it is a fair adaptation of the anime (I haven't read the manga, so I can't compare).
If you are a Bleach fan, I do recommend watching it! Just remember it's a one-movie format (so far), so they had to make a story adapted to that format. Keep your mind open and enjoy our beautiful Sota as ichigo ^^
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The cute moments sometimes seemed like they were coming out of nowhere, which made the blossoming of the romance feel a bit out of place. That was made worse by the love triangle, that was installed, but barely used (waaaaeee?)
By focusing on too many plotlines with very different genres, the writers made it difficult to get into the story and I ended up finishing the drama by skipping most of the scenes.
I was also really annoyed by the underlying homophobia in this drama. I understand that homosexuality is a taboo subject in Korea and LGBT people aren't easily accepted by their peers yet. But I found the lame jokes and ridiculous portrayal of gay men simply embarassing to watch (and not funny at all).
The competitive relationship between the male leads was fun to watch, but the love triangle was forgotten quite quickly, as Gook Doo got absorbed in the "crazy criminal" plotline.
The setting of the drama got me really excited at first (Ainsoft / video game making), but it didn't add much to the story in the end, which wasalso a bit of a waste.
All that being said, I thought the two leads were really cute and I did enjoy their scenes together (lots of fluff!). They made a really lovely couple and their cuteness is what made me finish the drama, even though I wanted to drop it.
Basically, I believe this drama could have been a great rom/com, if the numerous plotlines and inconsistency in the story hadn't messed it up. If you love cheesy romance and don't mind the messy writing / not always tasteful humour, you'll probably enjoy it.
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Writer / director Kim Joo-Hwan did an excellent job at mixing comedy with a dark storyline. It could have been a total mess, but everything flows really well and all the aspects of the story fit perfectly together.
I also thought the fight scenes were really well choreographed, more realistic than those I've seen in other action dramas / movies.
I don't have too much to add, as I liked everything about this movie: it's an easy watch that will make you laugh and I highly recommend it!
Oh! Wait... One thing I could add: lots of Park Seo Joon shirtless scenes. That's it.
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I absolutely loved the story: it's not very eventful, it doesn't have many surprises or crazy plot twists, but it's exactly what made me love it so much. The build-up is slow and realistic: I didn't get bored at all and couldn't wait for each episode. Despite the not-so-realistic accident which is the core of the drama, it was very easy to get into the story and believe it's real. Actors did a wonderful job and the chemistry of the main leads really gave a "realness" to their relationship (and its evolution). I was really surprised by Junho's acting and I enjoyed discovering Won Jin Ah.
I really appreciated the writing of the characters above all. None of them is an archetype or a cliche. I was very pleasantly surprised by how non-stereotypical they all were, especially the main leads. The female lead isn't a poor girl saved by a man, she is strong and lives well from the start, despite her difficult past. The male lead isn't your typical drama man, he isn't the usual "rich jerk". He is shown with his flaws and struggles, which were very well portrayed.
Even the secondary characters were pleasant to wach, as they were all surprising in their own way. The depth of each of them, their growth and evolution is really the strong point of this drama. It was very easy (too easy?) to get attached to them all (and now I miss them T_T).
I didn't expect this drama to touch me so much. It made me cry but left me with a warm feeling of hope: it's a touching story of love, healing and recovery, that I definitely recommend (if you're ready to feel all the feels!).
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This is a lovely rom-com, with a particularly charming and sweet male lead: not only Park Seo Joon has the power to make you swoon with his smile and good looks, his character was super adorable. As the typical "male lead jerk" annoys me deeply, this was extremely satisfying to watch and I couldn't get enough of his cuteness! ( I can't get over it now that I finished watching)
I wasn't convinced by Uhm Jung Hwa's character at the beginning, but she grew on me and I really enjoyed the way she portrayed that woman falling in love with a much younger man. It felt very natural and her struggles gave the drama a depth that I wasn't expecting to find. In today's world, it's easy to get caught on the crazy "career train" and forget to live life and actually enjoy it. Maybe it's because I'm in my late 20s, but the main message of the drama really made its way into my heart and moved me.
Main leads had great chemistry (despite their actual age gap) and so did the other actors all together. This made the comedy work really well: I hadn't laughed this much with a drama in a long time!
The story is a bit slow in the middle, but it actually pushed me to binge the whole thing (rather than skipping scenes), because I couldn't wait to see the characters happy (they're just... SO CUTE). It's a sweet noona romance, both touching and fun. Easy to watch. Will watch again and recommend!
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STORY
The inconsistent and illogical writing is what ruined the drama for me: it almost feels like completely different people wrote the first half and the second half, and that the second writer had no idea how the first writer wrote the first part. So many elements in the story seemed unnecessary and many didn't fit well together in the story. The concept of the drama was great (a man with DID) but the writing simply wasn't good enough to make it into a good story.
Also, I personally find it really annoying when mental illnesses are turned into something almost supernatural (aka however the writer wants it, even if it's inaccurate): it's a topic that is already interesting as it is, and the need to add fantasy-like elements (those frickin' fake red tattoos for example) just shows how badly it was written. It's almost offensive to Ji Sung: his acting was perfect enough for the audience to notice the change of personality, and the CGI effects were useless and simply made me cringe.
There are actual real people suffering from DID in this world, and this element itself would have been enough for the story to be interesting. The medical inaccuracy was painful to watch, in my opinion (I know, it's just a drama, but I just couldn't let it go).
CAST
That being said, Ji Sung gave probably one of the best performance I've seen in a drama. He portrayed all of the personalities perfectly and brought hilarious comedy to the show. That's pretty much the only thing I liked about this drama and had to skip lots of the scenes to finish it.
MUSIC
The OST is great, although that one really good song is a bit overused and I started getting tired of it halfway through the show.
REWATCH
I won't watch this drama again. It has some great elements, but it's really overated in my opinion.
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STORY
First of all, I knew the movie was based on historical facts, but knew nothing about the story of Prince Sado and King Yeong Jo (again, not a history fan). Despite the political and historical elements, The Throne isn't simply relaying facts and events of the past: at its core is the relationship between a son and his father, and how ultimately, the issues between them cost Sado his life, and the King, his son.
What is fantastic about this movie is how you can easily hate and love both characters: there is no bad guy vs good guy, there is no true villain. Both the Prince and the King could take the role of the victim and the role of the oppressor. This gives them a realness that is rarely portrayed in movies or shows. The characters are truly nuanced: they have good in them, but the pain they cause each other and their frustrations lead them to terrible actions and decisions. Throughout the movie, you start understanding why they both acted they way they did. Both their perspectives are explored, and you end up feeling compassion for both characters, despite them having become enemies and basically doing horrible things.
CAST
Absolutely fantastic. Yoo Ah In and Song Kang Ho gave incredibly emotional performances that will tear your heart into shreds (still collectiong the pieces of mine). How the son and his father gradually come to hate each other, disappointment after disappointment, pain after pain, you can see it all, so be ready and grab some tissues.
Yoo Ah In did an amazing job at portraying this character who falls into madness, while still showing how human side. This movie confirmed what I alread knew: he's an outstanding actor and I'm gonna keep watching everything he is in.
MUSIC
Intense. Will support your emotional journey through this fantastic piece of cinematography (and possibly haunt you afterwards too).
REWATCH
I plan on rewatching it, but I'll wait for a day when I feel particularly in need of a cry ^^
Basically, I highly recommend watching The Throne, even if you're not into historical stuff. The complexity of human emotions and relations is the true heart of this movie. Just be ready to cry and enjoy that rollercoaster ride.
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This drama reminded me the importance of storytelling: when you get immersed in a show, movie or book, if it is well done you get attached to the characters, have compassion for them and are left feeling like the experience somehow changed you. You either learnt something or simply grew love into your heart for that story and its characters. This is how I feel after watching Chicago Typewriter. It is a beautiful tale of friendship, love and the spirit of "carpe diem" (seize the day): no matter what era you live in, you will face struggles. What matters is what you do with your time and who you spend it with, and that is perfectly illustrated in this drama.
STORY
This drama is a beautiful piece of cinematography, but not just that. Even though it tells two different stories (Joseon era and present day), it felt like only one storyline to me. The different past and present events are really well put together and intertwined, thanks to the excellent writing and editing. I never got bored and it was really hard to not binge watch everything, as every episode left me wanting to see more and know more about the characters and their story.
CAST
The cast is absolutely fantastic. The three main leads are excellent actors, with good chemistry. Seeing the characters and their relationships evolve was really one of the best aspect of Chicago Typewriter.
Han Se Ju is a bit of a jerk and I thought it would really annoy me throughout all the drama, but he changed quite quickly and Yoo Ah In did a great job at portraying his sensitivity: you can tell almost from the start that he's not "just another a**hole male lead", but a man who does everything he can to protect himself from others and the possibility of getting hurt. In the past storyline, he is a badass character and just... so... freaking... attractive... (he defintely rocks that haircut).
I loved Im Soo Jung's character in both storylines. In present day Seoul, she is unafraid of showing her feelings and sensitivity, while also being strong and standing up for herself. In the past, she's both badass and cute, which was super satisfying to watch.
Go Kyung Pyo was amazing and he gave a very touching performance. His character is an adorable puppy and he will make you laugh and cry.
OST
Just perfect. It's all I can listen to after finishing this drama.
REWATCH
I am already rewatching my favorite scenes and will watch it again fully (probably multiple times).
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That being said, The Beauty Inside raises way more interesting questions (like the value of having your own physical appearance and how we identify as "ourselves" using our face, how people can treat us differently depending on what we look like, etc...) but it doesn't really treat them. I would have liked going a little deeper with the concept, but the movie really focuses on the "love" part. Of course, the format has its limits (it's already 2 hours long) and not all subjects can be treated in just one movie, but it was a little frustrating in my opinion.
The cast for Woo Jin did a very good job at portraying a consistent character, it was easy to believe that all these faces are the same person.
I am not a huge fan of Han Hyo Joo but I thought she did a good job with her character, especially knowing that the struggle she goes through cannot be something relatable and she must have relied on her imagination a lot to understand and portray Yi Soo's feelings.
The movie is certainly an interesting watch with a lovely and moving story, that can make you laugh, tear up and think :)
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To me, Miss Sherlock felt like a remake of BBC's Sherlock, rather than an independant adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work. There are similarities not only with the plot, but also with the music, the set (Sherlock's appartment, especially), and even the credits (the use of "LOCK" in the name Sherlock). I thought it was a bit cheap to copy so many ideas, when this drama is supposed to be an adaptation of the original work, and not an adaptation of the BBC series (as far as I know, at least. Or did I miss something??). I really tried to not compare these two shows, but given the amount of similarities, I couldn't help myself.
Beside that, the writing was a bit lacking in my opinion. Sherlock's monologues weren't very impressive, and her case solving didn't always give the impression that she's extremely clever (the reasoning sometimes felt a bit absurd and like it's coming out of nowhere). The plot was also a bit predictable, partly because of the similarities with the BBC series, but not only.
The cast is what completely saved this drama: Takeuchi Yuko made a wonderful Sherlock. Even though I wasn't completely convinced by her portrayal of the great detective at first, I ended up really loving her character. She really made the role her own, in a brillant way. I was also very pleasantly surprised with Kanjiya Shihori's performance, who made a very touching Watson.
Despite the flaws in the writing, I was somewhat hooked to this drama, which is why I gave it a good rating. It's probably a very good show if you haven't seen BBC's Sherlock, and still an enjoyable watch if you have. I still recommend it!
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I absolutely loved the character of Choi Kang Soo (how can you not?) and I'd like to thank Go Kyung Pyo for existing.
I loved both female leads for the same reason: they were both young women doing everything they can to be independant, despite their families dragging them down / pressuring them. A lot of people seem to think that they were annoying, but I found them courageous and funny, and I enjoyed watching them evolve a lot.
I've had mixed feelings about Oh Jin Gyu as a character, but Kim Sun Ho did such an awesome job at portraying him (his facial expressions are the best) that I ended up loving him too.
The setting around deliverymen is very unusual for a drama, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to watch it in the first place. If you've had that kind of "service industry" job before, you will probably find the characters really relatable and get a lovely kind of "hommage" [to service workers] feel to the drama.
The story is simple, with no big surprises, but that's what I loved about the drama too. The focus is on the characters, their hopes and dreams, rather than on a complexe plotline, which makes it easy to watch.
It's a simple, yet touching drama about the power of kindness, friendship and persistence. It made me laugh and cry, and left me with really warm, happy feels. I definitely recommend it!
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