Reviews

If you watched Wet Dreams (2005) and enjoyed it, this movie is definitely NOT for you. The plot may seem similar (student falls for PE teacher), but the take is total opposite. No rom-com, laughter, stupid little gags, farts and dumb teenage girls here. No butterflies and bubbly dialogues. Welcome to the dark side!!!

I was glad to see some fine acting from Jo Bo Ah, nothing like her performance in Shut Up: Flower Boy Band. Looks like she is maturing as an actress and I look forward to her next movies. She took a serious challenge with this role and I must confess I was worried she might not have what it takes YET to pull it off. But she did! And her chemistry with Jang Hyuk was beyond my wildest expectations, more so as their age gap IRL is 15 years and he is such a sunbae to her!!! They are both smoking hot and manage to suck the viewer into the story and keep him holding his breath most of the time.

Yes, you have some mature content and violent scenes here and there, but nothing gratuitous! Let's face it: you cannot dive into the depths of human mind and soul without getting a bit dirty in the process. Lust, obsession, betrayal, guilt, revenge are not easy to portrayal, nor digest. So beware!

I majored in Psychology (plus my father is a PE teacher LOL), so I liked this movie very much, but it sure won't be everyone's cup of tea. However it's worth watching and you won't get bored for sure.

Leggi di Più

That ending was a... choice

There's a lot to be said about this wonderful yet somehow disappointing take on gumiho and Korean lore, and having just finished it I find that I have surprisingly complicated feelings for something that, in the beginning, I was confident that I would end up either loving or hating it.

I feel a bit bitter.

The drama's strengths lie in its production, its cast, and some of its characters. Some, not all. The brothers Lee Yeon and Lee Rang were hands down the most well thought out part of the story as both characters had a lot of depth to them, and their actors had a lot of chemistry on set. From the very beginning, LR's grudge is made clear and we're given context to their very strained relationship. As the story leaves more pieces for us to put together, we come to understand his character a lot more. Better yet, their relationship and LR's character as a whole have by far the most growth out of the whole cast. Even, I as someone who didn't care for LR in early episodes, grew to appreciate his role in the story.

The rest of the cast, for the most part, was a compliment to their chemistry. Ki Yoo Ri and Gu Shin Ju did a fantastic job portraying the slow-developing second couple and, honestly, their chemistry was a lot more compelling than the main pair. They're fun, they're cute, and the more you see them together, the better they look together. The Gatekeeper couple was such a treat, too, in a different way. Watching them fight and bicker and then, eventually, come together again, was so nice. For me, the main problem and the reason I was never 100% onboard was Nam Ji Ah's character. I found her very likable and refreshing in the first few episodes but that started to taper off around episode 4 or 5 where I started to find her grating. The actress's acting was passable, but a lot of times it didn't feel genuine. Her motivation was clear in the beginning - to find her parents - but as soon as they were back, the story forgot about them unless it needed a hostage or a funny little couple scene between NJA and LY. It felt a little strange. Then, this character who in the beginning we were shown was strong-willed, motivated, and could take care of herself was now in constant need of rescuing. And I mean constant. She was practically helpless throughout most of the story. In episode 13 she even fell victim to the 'woman fainting because stress' trope. There were also many scenes where she had to 'play the villain' so to speak and act as Imugi, which... was a choice. She didn't make for a great villain. The acting was cheesy and over-the-top, which I came to expect from other aspects of the show like the dialogue (which was absolutely cringy in some spots) but when you have a villain you want to look threatening, that's not a very good sign. I have more gripes with her character at the ending, too. A lot more.

Before I move on, Lee Tae Ri was an odd choice to play the villain. It's not that he's a bad actor, but he doesn't really have a threatening or large presence. He made Imugi's level of threat seem kinda silly, honestly, so I never felt like there was any real tension when he was on screen.

The plot... let's be honest, it's a hot mess. It's coherent enough to understand and enjoy, simple enough that you've seen this story a thousand and one times already, but if you think about it too long, it starts to fall apart. Just take the very first scene where NJA's parents go missing. We understand that attack to have been orchestrated by Imugi's minion KHR, but who was it that actually attacked them? Who was it that LY saved NJA from that night? They were shapeshifters, we can assume maybe they were foxes like the others? But why did they do it? Why did they listen to KHR? Better yet, what was the point of taking NJA's parents to begin with? Was it just to use them as leverage years later? That seems a bit silly - they could have taken them at any point after Imugi was revived to the same effect. With Imugi's illusions we've seen that he can get whatever he wants whenever he wants it. It just feels unnecessary. I loved the scene itself and it was a great introduction, but there wasn't much reason for it other than giving NJA a flimsy character set-up. In fact, if the parents had just been killed that night I probably wouldn't have much to say about it - it could have been a harsh introduction into the world we were about to step into. The problem is really the fact that it ties back to the main villain.

There are numerous other examples of the show taking weird turns like that or having just badly written scenes, but if I tried to write them all out we'd be here forever. Correct me if I'm wrong, but we never got closure on why NJA's parents visited that island where the Imugi ritual was performed, did we? Why did they bring back her parents if they were going to practically forget about them immediately after? The girl gets to see her mom and dad who she knew were likely dead after so many years and there's a short few scenes about them reuniting and then it's like they were never gone in the first place. They never even get an explanation for where they were or why they were there all that time. Anyway. My point is that there are a lot of holes in the story, and even more bad choices. It didn't make me hate the show but as I saw more of them, I started to realize that this wasn't the drama I hoped it would be.

Let's skip the tedious middle of the story and skip to the ending. A lot of the build-up was instead filled with mushy, cheesy scenes between LY and NJA, the couple with the least amount of chemistry in the story. Then our climax hits and it goes exactly how everyone expects - almost. Going into the last 2 eps, I expected LR to die instead of LY. You know, that old 'redemption in death' trope again. I accepted it. But then LY went through with his initial plan and there was crying and tears and LR held his wine bottle like it was a newborn baby and... that was it. I hoped. To be honest, I was fine with that. LY dying, NJA learning to move on, and their love ending on a bittersweet note might have had me applauding the show for not giving us a candyfloss ending. My favourite moments in the whole drama were seeing LR interacting with his newfound family, upset and lonely over the loss of his brother but finally, after so long, finding happiness in the company of others. He didn't have his brother, but he had a family.

And then they made him a damn martyr and had him sacrifice himself for his damn brother. They gave their most well-developed character a cheap ending. If he had died fighting Imugi, I would have been fine with that. If he died because his time was up (they alluded to him being at the end of his lifespan several times and then they, I don't know, forgot about it? Decided they didn't care?) then I wouldn't even have been upset. But instead, they waited until he had his happiest moment and took it all away, not even giving him a proper goodbye. What message does that really send us? He only lost everything once he grew as a character and became a better person. And I'm not saying that his growth nullifies all the terrible shit he's done in the past - it doesn't, he's a murderer and the fact that he's docile at the end of it doesn't change that - but it's only once he started on a better path that he meets his end, and I'm not sure I can get on board with that.

To me, NJA dying would have made sense. No, not there, I don't think anyone should have sacrificed their lives for LY to come back regardless of who it was. But her sacrificing herself earlier on would have made sense. The Gatekeeper was right - she was the reason so many people were dying, even if it wasn't directly her fault. While I can understand LY's desperation to not have history repeat itself, even if they weren't characters that we saw on screen, a lot of people died in the story. An insane amount, even. Saving her while all of them were dying was in fact pretty selfish of the both of them. A lot of heartache from the characters could have been avoided that way, too. Would it have been a very satisfying ending? Not sure. But what we have isn't really satisfying, either.

I did enjoy some of the scenes after LY returned, but ultimately, I don't think they were needed. Maybe I'm just bitter. If I based my rating solely on the ending, it probably would have been a 6. But I can't ignore the fact that I did enjoy the early episodes, and later on I enjoyed most characters outside of Imugi and NJA. It was a cringy, sappy journey that a part of me regrets going on, while another part is happy to have at least had the journey, even if it led down a road not worth travelling.

EDIT: A FEW THINGS I FORGOT TO LEAVE COMPLAINTS FOR AT THE ENDING:
-LY is supposed to be reincarnated except is brought back as himself but human. An adult. How does that make sense? Why did they not explain that?
-LR being reincarnated as a 10-year-old boy... when he died a few months ago? Does that make sense? No. Nothing does, apparently.
-That very end - so is he not a human after all? Is he lying? I get that maybe he can still use his special sword umbrella but why did his eyes change? Is he still a fox? WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THAT?

I'm angry all over again.

Leggi di Più

Before I begin this review...

1. I have watched all licensed live versions of this story (Taiwan, Japan, Korea and now this China remake).
2. I grew up watching the original Meteor Garden.
3. Japanese Hana Yori Dango became my ultimate favorite adaptation.

Here’s my review.

It was clear from the very first episode that there were going to be many changes made to the origin story in this new remake. One being the iconic F4 banner in the locker symbolizing F4's desire to challenge you to a poker match. Two being the noticeable absence of bullying and flaunting of wealth (due to China censorship)... which left me asking, whether this was truly Hana Dango. Why does it look so different? Third being DMS is actually quite the gentleman in this version. He is still arrogant and hot tempered but not really a bully per say. His rocky start with Shan Cai is very "Pride and Prejudice-ques" in that, it stemmed from misunderstanding and poor communication on both sides rather than bullying. Despite all of the noticeable changes, I was addicted by the first episode. The acting wasn’t very good. The story line was familiar but not at the same time. Yet, curiosity and awe at how this version looks and feels kept me going.

I compare the feeling of watching this version to falling in love when you are in your early teens. It is clear that this version of Meteor Garden is marketed towards that age group. The actors are all new people. Their youthful looks and clear inexperience with acting actually helps with the portrayal of these seemingly innocent and naive characters. These characters are not deep nor well developed at all. You can say they are one dimensional and kinda cartoony. So if you are expecting some well fleshed out story with deep characters and development... this show is definitely not for you. But, if you take this version for what it is meant to be, which is a highly entertaining, childish story of two characters falling in love despite ridiculous obstacles... then you will love this version. Hana Yori Dango is the king of all that is good and bad about cliche Asian Rom Coms and this version delivered the cheesiness in unapologetic style. Ultimately, it is silly to expect anything more from the king of all idol dramas.

Personally, I watched this version for Dylan Wang and Shen Yue. I grew to be very fond of the two actors and loved seeing their natural chemistry on screen. Despite being newbies, these two delivered strong performances in difficult scenes that really moved me. I didn’t care much for the other characters but didn’t mind them that much when they were on screen. I also grew to love the blatant product placement. It was so in your face that you couldn’t help but laugh. I also enjoyed the new scenes and the faithful adaptation to the original manga. This was the most faithful adaptation to the manga which is probably why the original author, Yoko Kamio, is also a fan. She drew Dylan as Tsukasa... so if that’s not a sign off, I don’t know what is...

As much as I loved this version, there were many moments in this drama that were so ridiculous that I wasn’t sure what the hell I was watching... it almost felt like the screen writers flat out gave up.

So, the jury is pretty split on the reception of this version. I think it’s best to watch and decide for yourself whether you enjoy it or not. I liked it and I had a good time watching.

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A person can get a pretty good idea of the many faces of this show by looking at its many titles. One title is "Female Gangster Hye Jung", which explains its lead female and the dramatic center of the first quarter of the drama. Elsewhere, the show is known as "Doctor Crush", a title that, while cringe-worthy, sells the central idea of medical professionals figuring out how to work a love life into their already busy and dramatic lives.

However, here on MDL, this drama officially goes by its best and most appropriate title "Doctors". If you're looking for a straightforward, romanticized show about what it really means to be a Doctor, this is the show. If you want lots of action, lots of drama, and lots of clichés, you're in the wrong place. While it starts very fast, this is ultimately a very dry, low-key show that bucks typical drama conventions in favor of telling a "more realistic" story. Does that make it less interesting than other popular dramas? Perhaps. But it doesn't make it valueless. There's a lot to like here.


STORY
You're not going to find a kdrama story quite like this one very easily. While it's a romance, they don't drag the will-they-or-won't-they all the way until end. While there's a love triangle, it's a very sharply angled isosceles: one of three arms of the triangle is really short and it's clear from the beginning that it has no chance. While it's a drama, it has no mustache-twirling villains, only complex characters that make serious mistakes and end up hurting others simply because they struggle to face the reality of their wrongdoing.

These things aren't necessarily going to work for everyone, but for this reviewer, they all combine into an enjoyable and, most of all, refreshing experience. The flip side of this is that often times the plot seems to lack teeth; it doesn't grab you and hold on, forcing your heart to come with it. While the first few episodes are action-packed and energetic, the show mellows out immensely toward the latter half, eventually getting to the point where the directing felt almost lazy. This show is largely a leisurely stroll, which can be very pleasant but simply is not the experience we're set up for in the first quarter.

The main romantic pairing quickly becomes the driving force of the show and remains such for the entire 20 episode run. However, it's not your typical kdrama relationship full of peaks and valleys and Noble Idiocy. It's clear the writers wanted to tell a more sensible and realistic romance story, for better or for worse. The combination of almost complete focus on this one relationship while simultaneously making that relationship feel very "normal" definitely results in an end product that lacks dramatic punch and hurts the secondary plot threads. Those secondary threads, however, are delivered with the same understated feeling as the main plot. If you want "larger than life" storytelling, you're not going to get it here at all.

On a random side note: at one point, about halfway through the story, we're teased with a possible side romance with one of the nurses, but that plotline goes literally nowhere and is completely dropped by the end of the show. This kind of sloppy handling of the material makes me wonder how much of the script was being rewritten during filming. It is possible, though, that it was simply a matter of a needed actor/actress suddenly becoming unavailable.


ACTING/CAST
Definitely the strong point of the show and possibly the only reason it's as popular as it is. The four leads all do a great job. PSH is as good as ever, which is kind of surprising since she's never done a role quite like this one. You'd think she'd have some yips or letdowns for her first time branching out into a new character type, but nope. She's lovely and wonderful, and her portrayal (like most of this show) is especially strong in the early episodes.

Kim Rae Won, who plays the first male lead Hong Ji Hong, is one of the most charming actors I've yet to discover in kdrama. A great voice, interesting face, and lovely smile, he performs the first lead here perfectly. I can't imagine another actor playing this odd and unique role, a character who values self-control and communication above all. Imagine that, in a kdrama! Compared to the usual selfish and emotionally infantile male leads we often get in typical romances, the Hong Ji Hong character is a most welcome change.

Yoon Gyun Sang seems to be very popular, even if he perpetually looks like he's had an allergic reaction to something. Although I didn't like him much at all, at first, he won me over by the end. A good performance to go with yet another unusual character. if you ever wanted to know what it's like to be on the losing end of a love triangle IN REAL LIFE, his story is basically that. It's worth seeing.

Last but not least, we have Lee Sung Kyung. Although her character is the trope-iest one (mostly just your typical Mean Girl trope, but with a more sympathetic twist), it really doesn't matter too much because.... well, I'll be honest, Ms. Lee is ridiculously attractive. Seriously. She's surrounded by beautiful women and even among them she stands out. I'd love to see her in a role where she can smile more.

All that being said, the supporting cast here is strong enough on their own to make the show worth trying. My two Honorable Mentions for the Supporting Cast go to:
1. Baek Sung Hyun as Yeong Kook, who I dubbed "Dr. Glasses". He starts as a very odd and (somewhat) forgettable character, but when the writers found an interesting hook for his character, Sung Hyun took it and ran with it. Sung Hyun seems to be particularly skilled at delivering subtext with his eyes.
2. Of course, I have to mention my new crush (I get one almost every show), Pyo Ye Jin, who plays a character I affectionately referred to as "Nurse Cutie Pie". Although her role is very minor, her portrayal was stellar. You'll never tire of her smile. The writers gave one big scene to her character early on and, after she utterly blew it away with her adorableness, they wisely gave her at least one speaking scene in every episode after that. Ye Jin is 24 years young and would be great in a starring role in the future. I may soon watch my first ever Family drama because of her.


MUSIC
Strong but standard kdrama fare here. Lots and lots of vocal themes, so there won't be too much repeating. In fact, they re-use themes here at just the right pace; enough to get the songs in your head, but not so much that they start to annoy you. Special mention to the tracks "It's Love" and "No Way", which are the best of the best here. If music is a deciding factor for you, just listen to those two tracks to get a good sense of the quality of "Doctors" in this category.


REWATCH VALUE
Unfortunately, there's no getting around the fact that there is absolutely very little RWV here, especially the closer you get to the climax. While most kdramas try and build toward a climax that is exciting and satisfying that you want to see over and over, this one does the opposite. Early episodes are full of exciting character moments, culminating in perhaps the most rewatchable scene of the whole show involving a rooftop, a helicopter, and the best romantic character reunion ever.
However, toward the latter quarter of the show, almost every episode can be described thusly: "two or more characters chat about plot with each other, then someone gets a phone call, they answer it, then it cuts to another scene where there is more chat about plot, and then someone gets a phone call, they answer it, and they cut to a new scene where they chat about plot, and then YOU GUESSED IT, someone gets another freaking phone call and the cycle starts over."
All of that does not make for a high RWV score, as it's bad enough to sit through the first time.


BOTTOM LINE
Despite being better than most kdrama in many areas, this only gets a solid 8/10 from me, and no more. It has too many issues to justify anything higher, despite how strong it is in other areas. However, on the flip side of that, it's way too good to be lower than 7.5. If you're looking for a solid 2016 drama with a great cast that delivers lessons about communication, professionalism, and relationships, you won't go wrong here. Just don't expect the plot to blow you away.

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This drama really is on the cutting edge for examining the social, emotional and physical relationships that exists between two adults. That relationship is expanded by the interaction with friends, co-workers and even parents. It also is realistic because in most long term relationships there are interventing circumstances that will change the "love story" of the adults involved. This drama has a good depiction of murphy's law. Everything possible started to go wrong because of one intervening party's opinion. I call in "enlightenment" combined with lust (initially).

The lust becomes respect and love and the enlightenment becomes the basis of collapse of this couple's plans.
The drama is extremely addictive with a maturer theme and filming - the story was well written and the actors were excellent throughout. Total investment in their outcomes. A good analysis of the uncertainties of what would or could be considered a certainty. A good analysis of obsession and its eventual outcomes. Without writing a spoiler - the ending was perfect - more of a reality (especially after understanding WeiWei's character).
I am really glad that I never watch the prologue "clips" and always fast forward to the story because it was apparently depicted in the finale. (don't like to know parts of the ending in advance).

The music was so good and set the tone for most scene changes or encounters. This drama is not for everyone and I would give parental guiding warnings if you have young viewers interested in checking it out.
Infidelity or cheating issues are not adulterous issues. All characters are single and dating.

Leggi di Più

Cleaning your house and heart.

"Your House Helper" is a slice-of-life drama that focuses on day-to-day issues faced by Koreans in their society, namely three women: Im Da Yeong (Bona), Yoon Sang Ah (Go Won Hee), and Han So Mi (Seo Eun Ah).

As part of the main story topics such as women's health, misogyny, overwork, rape, abuse, and gender roles are brought up and handled in a sensible manner though at times failing to push forward when the timing demanded so. The #metoo movement is hailed and discussed as an important movement for women, something unusual for a k-drama and a bold step to make as women's struggle in south Korea is heavily opposed by chauvinism and an excruciatingly patriarchal society.

Since this is a story that puts emphasis on women, the three leading women take the centre stage with each character facing particular issues related to their personality, workplace, and personal struggles. Ha Suk Jin, Lee Ji Hoon, and Jo Hee Bong undoubtedly play story relevant characters, but they're not steering the helm or the main driving force of why you should watch "Your House Helper."

The cast was well selected -- the actors matched well the characters they were assigned, and I have to praise whomever cared for all the small details, especially in the fashion department: they all look great, but never overdressed.

When it comes to the acting itself the first episodes are rough on Bona - as she's among the youngest in the cast - but she does improve with her character's development and I digress with anyone who argues she was not a good choice to play Im Da Yeong -- she captured well the demeanour of a young woman dealing with hardship and not knowing what to do next. Yoon Sang Ah's character initially has more on screen chemistry with Ha Suk Jin's, something which may cause some conflictive feelings as a viewer, but this quickly dissipates away as Lee Ji Hoon enters the scene and becomes more prominent. I am somewhat disappointed with the screen time Seo Eun Ah's character had but I should praise that her issues were handled in a respectful manner, although again constrained by the conservative mainframe of Korean society. Overall the male leading characters did a good job, it's good to see Ha Suk Jin play a more sensitive, less gruff heads on character -- really had to drag him out of the office to become a house cleaner.

"Your House Helper" has an upbeat soundtrack with its trademark tune whenever some house cleaning action begins while reserving more sombre tones when serious subjects or more dramatic moments are handled. There is nothing particularly outstanding about its music but it never feels repetitive and blends well with all scenes.

Does this 32 episodes long drama have re-watch value? Each episode is roughly 29-30 minutes long and easy to watch through. If you enjoy the overall story, you can expect yourself binge watching through several episodes and not noticing the time. The overall plot and side stories are always on the move, there is no mid story dragging/stalling, and since there are no particular villains you can expect a drama grounded in reality with a pinch of idyllic hope, sunshine, and a quirky golden retriever.

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I'm gonna say it write up, this drama was so much fun. It can be quite funny and that's what I really liked about this drama. It was a perfect way to cool down after work. I can't say I loved every bit of it and it wasn't perfect, but the humor and cast really kept this show going for me and I didn't get bored watching it.

Story (7.5):
So yeah, I have an issue where I constantly drop dramas if they get the slightest bit boring or do something I don't like. But I came back to this one religiously and watched it every day a new episode came out. I know it's not perfect, but it was just good enough and fun enough I can't fault its faults (if that makes any sense).
Primary issues for me are in this section of rating (the story) but I won't spoil anything (hopefully) so read on.

First off, don't worry; fat shaming isn't really an issue in this drama. The first episode might feel a bit wonky, but things get better and it's essential to the whole rest of the plot. This story has got comedic romance, potential love triangles, hidden identities, and crazy exes. It's got the whole gambit, but it seems to take most of them and add its own spin on them so they don't feel crazy. Case in point the main storyline "hidden identity". Sure it's not the first of its kind, but it certainly didn't feel like an overused trope (plus hidden identity tag is one of my favorites).

I think the flaws that detract from the story for me are mostly some underwhelming resolution (mostly in character developments) and throughout there were a few character actions that didn't feel inline with the characters. Also, the number of times the main character faints or is somehow in terrible danger might be a record...

Acting/Cast (9.5):
Let me just say that this drama wouldn't be the same without Shin Sung Rok. There are few other actors I can imagine playing this role. He's hilarious and literally the best part of the drama.
At first I was hesitant about Go Won Hee but she showed me wrong and this pairing was a lot of fun to watch.
I can't point at a bad actor in this drama really. I'll never look at Jo Han Chul the same (I didn't think he had it in him to be that crazy), and was pleasantly surprised with Kim Jin Kyung (as the daughter).
Oh, and you can't forget about Kim Min Kyu. Literal puppy dog. That's the only way I can describe him.

Music (9.0):
Lots of fun tracks in this one and some might go onto some of my playlists. That perfume melody will always cause me to listen for thunder lol.

Rewatch Value (8.0):
Never a fan of rewatching much, I've already rewatched parts of this drama. Lots of fun to be had.

Overall (8.5):
While I can't say it was groundbreaking, a top favorite, or something I'll remember nostalgically, Perfume will be one of those dramas I remember as generating a lot of laughs watching and one that didn't give me much of a headache or worry that it would go horribly wrong. Perfect drama to sit back and relax to.

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So before you think "OMG she gave this show a 10 even though it's so short" there is a real reason behind it. I promise.

The story of ReminderS is nothing overly interesting or dramatic but that was clear from the beginning since it a) only has three episodes, b) is called Reminders c) is mainly to promote the actors and the upcoming third season of Love Sick.
I don't have a problem with that. Since it was clear from the beginning there were no empty promises but they delivered what they said. So don't expect real big drama or a major storyline going on. There is a direction but that's pretty much it.

The cast and the characters were amazing. The LBC cast played different characters this time but they added character traits that made the roles even better and seemed more natural for the actors, so it seemed more convincing. For the Love Sick cast - we came a long way especially with their acting. It improved a lot and I love that the actors still have the same chemistry as before and it did not suffer over the years. The Love Sick characters also took something like an advisor role in this show. It was nice to see them as a mostly stable couple trying to help others and finally getting a break from all the drama we are used to from the usual shows. They probably kept the drama for the upcoming season.
Also we have a few cameos, some expected from the trailer, some totally unexpected and a wonderful surprise.

The music is pretty much the same over all the three episodes but if you watched Love Sick with all your heart, beware of fainting and grinning like a fool ^.^

Rewatch, depends on when the future shows are coming out.

Overall this show deserves a 7 if you are a LBC fan, 5 if you are a general BL fan and a 10 if you are a Love Sick fan. Not because the story is that good or it is that interesting but because this show stays so true to its name, it's scary. This show is a reminder of LBC and LS and brings back all those memories. I watched LS as long ago as it can be and I really enjoyed seeing the characters I haven't seen so long, also LBC is not getting another season so we don't have many chances to see them together again.
ReminderS is a show to remind us of those great shows, couples, actors and music and to remember watching them and getting into BL and that's what makes it as amazing as it is.

Leggi di Più

Well, the description for this says it all so I won't repeat it.

STORY: This story isn't about BL, really. It's about broken families of two boys who became friends but moved away and met again later in life and rediscover their feelings towards each other. This story is so great but you probably will not like the ending. It made me sad for quite a while. While it is not a tragic in the sense of someone dying, but a realistic choice that one of the guys had to make, to put his family before himself. That's life.

ACTING/CAST: The boys were young and the older versions still young, but I felt they did a good job. They are cute together.

MUSIC: Since one is a musician, this show had some real good songs. The love song Mew sings was translated (yay!) and the lyrics melt the heart.

REWATCH VALUE: I could not watch this a second time without having a friend with me.

OVERALL: This movie has many warm and fuzzy spots as well as some soul-crushing sad spots, but I believe it was worth the ride. Don't pass this one up because of the ending. You would be missing out on a good story.

TL;DR: A great story about love, loss, family, love rediscovered, and love sacrificed. Worth the trip. Bring tissue for the tears.

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Retro romance balanced well with harsh history.

I absolutely love when historical tragedies are humanized. That's what you get with "Youth of May". Yes, this is a love story, but more than that this is a look at a horrible moment in Korean history from the perspective of characters we grow to love through the series. Is this frustrating to watch? Yes. Is it heartbreaking? Absolutely. Is it inspiring? Also, yes. This drama does a great job of showing various perspectives, many possibly romanticized, but also relatable. I knew nothing about the Gwangju Uprising before watching and it immediately led me to want to know much more. You don't need to know the history to follow this drama, just prepare to be shocked.

The story revolves around Go Min Si as Kim Myung Hee, and Lee Do Hyun as Hwang Hee Tae. It's their love story, meant only to be a brief fling, that draws you in. Together they are super cute and have great chemistry. Myung Hee is determined to have a future in medicine while Hee Tae takes life less seriously and is more focused on a music contest than academics. Hee Tae also has serious anxiety based on past guilt and trauma, and Myung Hee has daddy issues. These are 2 fully developed characters, and that's what made me care about them so much. Initially, their story is what you would normally expect when people from two different statuses try to date, including obligatory controlling parents, but simmering in the background there is political conflict ready to explode. Both actors were really good at keeping the romance story fresh while still handling the more painful and action-packed scenes. They are a very memorable couple.

The rest of the cast is great as well. Since the point is to get to know this city I think they did a good job of giving us time to get to know everyone before the story shifts. I also liked that many of the characters are imperfect and make mistakes or become unexpected heroes throughout. Even Oh Man Suk, as the worst dad ever, didn't just feel like a caricature of a villain. This is a melodrama so some of the acting and scenes are over the top, yet it was all still completely real. Even the kids were super impressive, and I loved that they had their own part in the story as well.

Would I watch this again? Yes, but next time I would love to watch knowing even more about what happened 5/18/80, what followed, and how public opinion evolved. I also would be better prepared in a rewatch for this to not just be a nostalgic romance but a real tear-jerker. It's also the perfect length for a story like this. Not too long or too short, and easy to binge. It has a satisfying ending without being idealistic or heavy-handed, and knowing what happens doesn't ruin anything because the message at the end is so strong. I'm also sure I missed so many details.

This drama also inspired me to finally watch "A Taxi Driver", another great perspective on the Gwangju Uprising and its victims. This drama has a similar, easily digestible, style.

Overall I would definitely recommend "Youth of May" with the warning to know what you're getting into when watching. Its 80's nostalgia and retro romance balanced well with harsh reality, but it's not all tears. It really does aim to give honor to victims and survivors while not reducing them to only that. This isn't a drama about revolutionaries, it's a haunting look at how the revolution can come to you whether you are ready for it or not and no matter where you stand... even if all you care about is a spring fling. Gather your tissues, and prepare your heart.

"Youth of May" is a historical melodrama done right.

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and so the monster was me

This film I believe is intended to be watched without spoiling or going into what it is about in depth. Take in all the promotional on the surface and you will get the full viewing experience. I say this because of the promotional materials that lead you in one direction, take it in that direction at first and then go in depth.. which is what I did. So spoilers.

I definitely did not get what I bargained for when I decided to watch this movie. I watched the trailer, read the synopsis, saw the poster, and thought I would get a good scare out of this one. The ratings and reviews are well enough that I thought it would be perplexing, a psychological horror.

The first two-thirds of the movies had me, but in the back of my mind, the answer to the allure and mysterious tones was pretty simple and clear. To put it simply, this movie isn't a slasher or a horror. It is a coming of age queer film beneath two layers.

There are three acts to this movie after the initial setup. With the synopsis, firstly you have a story of a single mother who cares deeply for her child, a devoted and misunderstood teacher, and two kids that have the answers to the overall premise of the film. Minato is the child of the single-mother and is being abused as school, by either a teacher, or something else is at play.... so that is what I thought. I thought there could be anything, even a fifth element that added supernatural. This film was anything but, it was so real and thought-provoking, and in the end I found so many details that clearly show what was really going on the whole entire time.

The third act shows the perspective of Minato, and slowly it shows that instead of an abused boy, you find a boy that is scared of his blossoming but very real feelings for a student of his that was shown to be connected to this mystery within the school. There was no abusive teacher or secret being held by the higher ups, there was a boy who was scared of his feelings, and enough to think of himself as a monster. So in the end he made a lie. This film weaves together several elements to knit it into one final conclusion. Instead of going on about that I'll point out a few details that show how brilliant this film really is.

I must say, I was hesitant to conclude that this film involves two boys that like eachtother, but by the end and looking into the screenplay and its intent, I realize that was the point. Minato was just as scared as his feelings and it brings the question as to why it is seems as sexual when it is innocent love between two people that are the same gender. There is an innocence with Minato and him coming to terms with his feelings for Yori, and it's heartbreaking to witness how scared he really is of them.

You can see this through dialogue, and specifically with scenes where Minato says he is shifting into a monster, and where he is in the MRI scanner, truly scared that it will read his mind and his mom will be aware of his developing feelings. Why is he so scared thought? Yori is why he is scared, he is constantly tormented for his behaviors that don't suggest he likes a girl, he is abused by his father and told he has a pigs brain. Yori's father would rather he act out and be bad, than be an obedient child who is good at school. There is this whole spectrum of what a boy acts like and what they shouldn't.

What got to me was the part where the two boys find a safe space together, and I started thinking about their feelings for eachtoerh when Yori got too close to Minato. Although in the end Minato never wanted Yori to go anywhere, and what was cool are the little details. Minato goes back to the empty safe haven and texts Yori, where Yori says he won't go back because he wants to touch Minato, in the ways where he patted his hair or hugged him, but Minato says he wouldn't mind. I love how the ending doesn't have them fear, and instead they get past the gates of the railroad and are happy and free... there's just a lot to talk about with this one.

it seems that this topic is a taboo and that's why I didn't see it at first, but that is the point behind this film. To have you question why it is seen that way, and why you view an innocent feeling and curiosity as sexual or not normal. There is no romanization between them, the director and screenplay had the intent to share a story of two boys that grew to love eachother and coming to accept in regardless of the heteronormative society they were placed in. Any opposition to that shows the point of the film again and societies failure to accept it.


Below I'l several links that goes over all the details of this film I couldn't go over.


https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueFilm/comments/1761z26/little_details_in_koreedas_monsterkaibutsu_2023/?rdt=39846

https://x.com/wyvernhood/status/1745418419368055276?s=46&t=hWWeyWA1Y9kwJqIT_KVSaw

https://x.com/korokketto/status/1745376701188825596?s=46&t=hWWeyWA1Y9kwJqIT_KVSaw

https://x.com/haeinfleur/status/1744727092586246244?s=46&t=hWWeyWA1Y9kwJqIT_KVSaw

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Lee Hye-young and her role operate as backbone and heartbeat of this KDrama

"Kill Heel" is set in the milieu of teleshopping. The pace is leisurely, calm. The light is dimmed sort of. The focus is on 3 women. Their heels are dizzyingly high.

At first, the story leaves the audience feeling a bit lost. Just one thing is obvious: the competition in the production company is extremely tough. But over time, the three protagonists get more profile and the story heads in it´s direction.

The driving force that really makes the KDrama worth seeing is, above all, veteran Lee Hye-young, who has experienced a real revival in recent years. Here, in the ambivalent character of Gi Mo-ran, she gave another marvellous performance! In my eyes she (and her role) operate as backbone and heartbeat of this KDrama

It's about intrigues, struggle for survival, hurt feelings and old traumas. The relationship dynamics between the 3 women intelligently intertwine and dissolve in a subtle but unexpected way.

"Kill Heel" has a very unique look and feel to it and comes along with a peculiar pull effect. There is suspense, but at the same time the suspense isn't setting the tone. Sometimes something seemingly builds up, but then everything is completely different again. And after 14 episodes it's over. What a pity, actually...

------ SIDE NOTE: ---Teleshopping---
I wasn't really aware of the impact of teleshopping until now. In Europe within homeshopping Germany is the leader, when it comes to sales figures through teleshopping (compared to online-shopping) . In South Korea, teleshopping accounts for almost 50 percent of home shopping. Similar to sales parties in private circles (Tupper & co.), teleshopping thrives on impulse purchases and customer loyalty, which are promoted by a harmonious, interactive, relaxed sense of community. Within the virtual television community, it is the presenters who foster this intimacy with their virtual customers. Women in particular buy in teleshops.

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