Reviews

Kisses, Kisses and More Kisses

I liked everything about this drama. The ML (Li Ge Yang aka Shen Shi Yi) and the FL (Ke Ying aka Sheng Xia), what a great couple! You will thoroughly enjoy watching these two together.

The story revolves around Sheng Xia who is a "kiss instructor" on dramas. She makes sure that when it comes to the kissing scenes that they are done right. It is the closest that she will get to her dream of becoming a star. As she is walking home a man stops her by just holding out a comic book to her. She takes it home and begins to leaf through it and is transferred into a "Mary Sue System" or virtual world of the comic book.

She does have an AI which is in the system called "Xiao Bai" that explains to her she entered the comic "She Runs, He Chases: The Fourth Prince's Beautiful, Young and Weak Wife" in which Sheng Xia was the female lead and Gu Yichen (First Prince) is her male lead. Being the female lead she is naturally immune to poison. She can cure all poisons in the world with a kiss. Xiao Bai tells her that her first kiss would have a binding effect. Her main task is to end up together with Gu Yichen, the male lead. After completing the task, she will then get a customized celebrity system which she will then enter the prime of her life. He then hands her a cell phone which has the "Mary Sue Store." This store she has to acquire her value coins which show up on her arm to be able to purchase items to do her task.

The system is based on dramatic and cliche plots, with love above all. To summon the system administrator, she has to snap her fingers and call Xiao Bai. To get out of the comic book she has to claim the male lead which in this case is the First Prince. But like the best laid plans there is always something that happens. As she was told by Xiao Bai her first kiss would have a binding effect, and she ends up kissing the villain, who is so fine, Shen Shi Yi. By her kissing him she changed the direction of the comic and inadvertently made the villain the male lead. Because these two were now bound together due to her kissing him and not the First Prince. Whenever Shen Shi Yi was poisoned, she would kiss him and take the poison out of him. In return, when Sheng Xia was in danger he would show up and save her.

Trust me, he had no problem kissing her all time. The first episode I swear he kissed her 4 times or more. But you could tell each time they were getting more intense with the kisses. You will be swooning for sure.

Xiao Bai does show up at various points to tell Sheng Xia that she has to keep the comic on track in order for her to return. She tries too but it is apparent that Shen Shi Yi is meant to be the male lead of the comic which does happen after the reboot. In order to do that, they both ended up dying but because it was a sacrifice of true love, they were allowed to do a reboot.

Prior to the reboot, Sheng Xia explained to Shen Shi Yi many things which made him understand that he was in a comic book world. But because of the reboot, Shen Shi Yi was now the male lead, and he was getting weaker from this reboot, she had to save him. As Xiao Bai told her in the beginning, she was to get together with the male lead and since Shen Shi Yi now was, she knew what she needed to do. She asks Shen Shi Yi to marry her, which he does. The next morning, she wakes up only to find Shen Shi Yi gone. She runs outside calling him and is sent back to the real world by the system. She completed her task.

Sheng Xia is totally devastated because she had found her one and true love and he was gone. She went back to the street where she encountered the man that had handed her the comic book and tried snapping her fingers to call Xiao Bai back, nothing. Crying endlessly on the street, you hear the footsteps of a man approaching and he says, "Respected user, the system has received the contents of your complaint. How can I be of service to you?" She turns around and yes, you know it is our man Shen Shi Yi. He says to her, "From now on you do not have to call Xiao Bai, anymore." They both are crying and yes, kissing like crazy! He told her he remembers what she said about him coming to her world and he said it took a lot of effort, but he was there for her.

In the very end, you see her waking up on a couch with a director and crew saying how good she was in her scene. Hence what Xiao Bai told her...she was now a female lead, celebrity in the prime of her life.

Again, good ending and it was just one of those rare gems that you just can sit back and binge watch in no time. Plus, the ML who I have seen in "Trick in Love" is definitely one man that is truly meant for historical dramas. With that flowing hair and looks you will thoroughly be caught up watching him. The FL, she is just cute as can be and she complimented the ML so well. I would like to see them in another drama together.

Truly one that you don't want to miss, get ready to swoon.

Leggi di Più

That was disappointing...

First, there is a "dog" cafe without dogs... that's strange as hell.
There is ONE dog in the whole show.
All Koreans understand Thai for some reason without translation devices or so it seems.
The story was soooo slow going in the beginning and then the ending was rushed. What did they wait for? Most of the inbetweens scenes did not much for the love story. The "traitor" was still in the final shot - I only thought WTF? There was a chance for an emotional outbreak for what he did, but nothing happend.
The production value was high, but for such a subpar story it was wasted.
The chemistry between the two leads was ok-ish, I guess a language barrier is not so easy to overcome. They still lacked passion and longing for each other.
All in all I could have skipped it and not miss a thing.

Leggi di Più

A delight to watch!

I honestly didn't expect to enjoy this drama half as much as I did.

I had no particular expectation for this drama, however, the more I watched, the more I grew to love the characters and simple yet intriguing plot. Each character is greatly fleshed-out, all having their own stories and secrets. With the ongoing question "what's going to happen next?" running through my mind, waiting a week for the following episode was surprisingly difficult.

The plot may seem cliché at first but it gets better as you continue watching. It's extremely well made with the beautiful cinematography and camera work, wonderful OST, great acting and interesting plot, everything is on point and just too good not to watch! Nothing feels rushed or jam packed, the story is unfolded well.

This is one of the many dramas in which I didn't skip a scene or part of an episode because they all seemed important or have a relevance to the story - I commonly find myself skipping unnecessary boring scenes a lot in other dramas so this was refreshing.

Needless to say, I really enjoyed watching Live On and totally recommend giving it a try!

Leggi di Più

Fasten your seatbelts. Turbulence ahead.

The pairing of the leads got me interested in this drama and the setting within the Chinese aviation industry hooked me.
The meet-cute is fairly tropey. Ice king boss meets sassy female pilot. Totally works for me. :)

What is more challenging is the work environment. It is next level misogynistic. Initially, I thought it must be overstated for dramatic reasons then I found out that there are less than 1000 female pilots in China! There is definitely a glass ceiling.
To add to her woes, the main antagonist wants to drive her out of the company. She did well with the support of her mentor (ML aka GnT) and overcomes obstacle after obstacle. Her steady career progress is mirrored on the romantic front as well. The ML was initially cool and distanced, but he soon grew fond of the FL. The FL is definitely in the driver seat in this relationship. She made some bold moves in pursuing GnT. The Show is heading in the right direction and it looks to be a worthy contender for the top shows of 2023. Then episode 24 happened.

For reasons unknown, the writer decided to forego all the gains thus far and make the second half full on melodrama. So much angst . . so much. The ML ended up behaving irrationally when he is the most rational character in the show. He was a Noble Idiot and managed to hurt everyone close to him for zero gain.

If that trope is not enough, the Show added a poorly constructed mid-air medical drama to push the plot along.
When you consider international aviation is one of the most regulated industries in the world with many cross checks and rules, the use of this subplot is baffling. There are so many holes and discrepancies, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
The show then doubles down on the perturbation by bringing FL's onerous mum into the fray. This unruly mess drags on for several episodes (too long) which adds to my growing dismay. Why Dear Writer? Is it to pad out the length or is it some kind of script crib sheet?

The Show finally starts to reverse course at the EP.35 mark. Everyone gets a redemption, Oprah Winfrey style.
Even though things are looking up, GnT still suffers from a bad case of confession-itis. The air is filled with expectations but nada on the action front. It is exhausting to watch the “will he, won’t he” line plays out once again.

We finally get the true confession in ep.37 but it was done in a weird setting. It made sense to him (and to the writer) so who are we to judge? My opinion of the Show is yo-yoing all over the place by now. It is hard to ignore the shambolic mess dropped on our laps between ep.24-36. We are given plenty of positive hints that things will get better but the spectre of the last few episodes haunts me.

Ep.38 is all about fan service. Hallelujah! However, I can’t help but feel like I'm watching a To-do list being ticked off. We have a bunch of unrelated clips tying up loose ends then a random time skip to the next event. It ticked all the boxes but a weak narrative, nevertheless. BTW, the skinship quotient went from 0 to 100 in one scene but fades quickly as well. The progress of the 2CP is on steroids and feels kooky.

The Show had a last go at an angsty subplot at the start of ep.39, but a HEA ending was never in doubt. To be honest, the ending is fluffy and innocuous but that's about it.

Two parting thoughts; I thought macular degeneration is incurable but I'm too tired to argue. The whole D191 (a thinly disguised C919) storyline is the biggest PPL I have ever seen! It was jingoistic and flag waving but you have to give them credit for trying. ;)

Acting from the leads are good. The FL is certainly given the more challenging role. The ML is handsome and a seasoned actor. He definitely has a workout on his stoic poses. The support cast are mostly one dimensional. There is “growth”, but it is fairly predictable and a means to an end.

I did enjoy most of the show. It has its moments, and the first half is certainly engaging and eye-opening. If it has stuck to the original aviation focused plot and office romance all the way through, it would be on a winner. Instead, it took us down a long and tortuous path which adds little to the proceedings. The fan service in the end might placid some viewers who just want to ship the CP’s and swoon at their belated sweet moments. To me, that’s a sneaky way to paper over the disappointing melodramas that came before.

It could and should have been better. Peace out.

Leggi di Più

I don’t usually write reviews but this movie really delivered. Once I saw the trailer and found out it was going to be playing in my local cinema, I decided to go for it. I honestly can’t say I laugh much when watching movies in the cinemas, but man, I was cackling the whole time.

If you’re after an original and riveting crime plot, then Midnight Runners might not be your thing. In terms of the storyline, it’s pretty generic and you basically know exactly what’s going to happen from start to beginning. The strongpoint of this film was the chemistry between Park Seo Joon and Kang Ha Neul and how well this chemistry allowed for the perfect balance between great comedy and seriousness.

Whilst a light-hearted movie, it also delves slightly in the moral dilemmas that people who work in law enforcement face, there were definitely moments that made you feel helpless and sympathetic to the characters. However these conflicts were addressed well and once again, the humour within the movie does clean up and negative emotions you might feel whilst watching it.

This is definitely a pick-me-up movie, I can guarantee that after watching this most of you will walk away feeling happy inside.

Leggi di Più

I gave an overall 10, because it's just 4 episode, but it's perfection.
Nothing is dragged or exaggerated, it flows like poetry.
I'm so full of emotions right now.
The story is simple, yet realistic and the chemistry between the two leads is really there.
It started slow, like a joke you tell your friends, and then it became serious.
They really convey this sense of blurred lines between friendship and love and they didn't rush the trasformation of feelings.

When Rae Wan told Eun Seong "I can't get rid of your smell from my body", i started crying. I don't really know why, but i'm sure: Kim Sun Ho did a terrific job.

Lee Yoo Young is new to me, but I instantly fell for her eyes and she's really good. I have no words to describe Kim Sun Ho, as I said earlier. He's just so so so so so professional.

10 out 10. Recommended to every single human on earth.

Leggi di Più

Came across the title of this movie somewhere, can't remember now it was a really long time ago, and a group were discussing the storyline. It is a popular Korean movie. Well, it sure got my attention with its twisted, yet fascinating, turn of events. You will have to watch it to know what I'm talking about. The storyline is bizarre, just the idea is actually pretty original. At the beginning the viewer is pretty much hanging by a thread, on the verge of bursting out of his/her demand what was the reason that got all those unfortunate things inflicted on the main character. At moments I felt overcome with the information that was slowly unrevealed. So twisted, I can't get it out of my mind no matter how hard I try. There is a good reason this movie is so well-known. It earned it.

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Flex X Cop - A Perfect mixture of COMDEY-ACTION-MYSTERY-THRILLER !! ENJOYABLE

Waited for this drama since the day when they announced the cast and production crew.. Because this is another collaborative drama between Ahn Bo-Hyun and Writer Kim Ba-da after " My Name " is one the best Action thriller. Did they got another hit ? Let's See..

Premise feels simple " _ " However, the plot setup and story narration make it exciting to watch and move forwards to explore the comedy thriller.

COMEDY - ACTION - THRILLER - MYSTERY

It's unique to find comedy-action-mystery-thriller aspects in one drama; typically thrillers erase the humor plot and increase the seriousness of the story, but Flex X Cop effectively combined its four parts and delivered an enjoyable drama. Not only is it a comedy thriller, but it also has a continuous secondary plot about a family troop and their conflicts, including a father who seems to care while ignoring his own son, and a kid who craves his father's love but is constantly turned down by his stepmother.

It's an amazing blend that guarantees each episode is interesting, every case solving is thrilling and you're kept on edge. Especially the Psychiatrist Case-ep is really wonderful given that the case is the critical point of Jin Isoo's hunting dream break down. Let's appreciate the very good cinematography.

GOOD CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

A unique mixture of adrenaline-pumping action and funny entertaining moments. "Flex X Cop" hits the perfect balance between solving serious criminal cases, entertaining and deliveries comradeship between the leads and their fellow detectives. Good character development. Female lead develops from unsettling detective who overlooks the ML because of his social status to an understandable person, like a buddy who helps him find his path in every difficult moment. And Rich pampered Conglomerate Son to be a good officer; he wants to prove himself since Jin Isoo is a cop who has a responsibility to defend and enforce the law.

Overall a enjoyable drama with engaging story.. Good acting from every actor..

They announced season 2 :)..

Leggi di Più

Like one of the other reviews, I personally think this drama was good too.
Like the other review said, no annoying characters, and not cliche at all.

The number of times he loses memory is perfect, not too much rather not too few and the good part is that it came as a shock, which was really good.
I like the FL's personality, she's super chill and not annoying or naive at all. She wants a simple wedding and wedding ring, it feels like she's very down to earth.
I also like the relation between the FL and the second ML, really close but only as friends.
The second FL, the actress, was also super cool and chill, she gave up really quickly as she realized that the ML only loves the FL.
There's a lot of comedy happening in the office and all the coworkers are really funny.
The ending was nice, I looks a lot like every character ends up finding someone, which is a very happy ending.
I recommend it.

And regarding the sound, then is most likely because you are watching it on youtube. Youtube is not the best place to watch dramas, i recommend IFVOD. tv, but it's only for Chinese speaking people, sry.

If you're looking for more dramas I recommend:
- Love Designer
- My Love, Enlighten Me
- Girlfriend
- Well Intented Love
- My Dear Lady
- Sweet Dreams
- Because of Meeting You
- Moonshine and Valentine
- Luckys First Love
- A Little Reunion
- Put Your Head on My Shoulder
- My True Friend

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What was the point?

Well this was a bit of a mess and I spent every episode asking what's the point, what's the point of all these new characters and all these different plot threads that are introduced but not resolved? It felt like the show was working so hard to set up season 3 that they forgot they were actually supposed to make season 2 and so what we got was this hastily cobbled together collection of episodes. In expanding the world outside the apartment complex of season 1, the writers also focused too much on adding new characters without giving us a reason to care about them, and even the core group of survivors from season 1 felt harder to connect with this time around because we kept jumping from one character to the next without really getting to spend much time with anyone. The CGI continues to be pure nightmare fuel but on the bright side, at least they didn't play that Imagine Dragons song 20 times every episode.

Leggi di Più

Unexpected treat

I had my doubts about this show mainly cause of its premise/genre. It is very easy to butcher the plot and lose the audience. But I'm glad i watched it. The characters, plot and production is great. I was hooked from the first scene, having so many questions, nothing is simple. The characters have logic and smart in their own ways. Overall the execution has been great so far. It has been interesting and intriging with how everything is comes to play.

The acting is so good, the way they embodied their characters is unbelievable. The mains doing wonders, their chemistry is off the charts as well. It is pretty funny, which i didn't expect given the genre. Bai Jingting wonderful to watch on screen and I'm shocked by Zhao Jin Mai's acting. I knew she was good but damn every action and emotion regarding her character has been spot on. The supporting cast is great, everything done with precision. The story has some heart felt moments as well. The characters are realistic to an extent, with the way they view and react to the world. I like how almost every character story has been explored.

With every loop/reset something different happens that thickens the plot. Contantly left with so many questions after each episodes. Being more suspenseful than the previous episode. This utterly has me hooked and on the edge of my seat. The ending was nicely done but there were a few unanswered questions. Such as why they ended up in a loop. Other than that it was a really good watch. I like how they gave us a glimpse of their lives after this whole thing.

Leggi di Più

Perfect, except the ending

I was completely captivated by this drama from the very beginning — the plot of two people both in the darkest time of their lives finding each other and healing is always so beautiful, and I think Last Twilight sets it up perfectly. You can see very easily how Mokh and Day’s clashes actually bring out honesty and clarity for each other, and the theme of acceptance and treating people with disabilities as equals are both really powerful. I also just love the fact that there aren’t any villains; everyone, even the side characters, have their subplots, their motivations, and their development.

And there’s the beautiful episode 9 ending scene, which really stole my heart and made me shed tears. It was one of the most cathartic moments I’ve ever watched and the OST, particularly the main theme by William, perfectly ties everything together emotionally.

I continued enjoying the show until the penultimate episode and I was immeasurably disappointed to be hit with the last-minute break-up trope, and even more disappointed that the reasoning behind the break-up was something that had come up in the story before but had never been an issue. It felt way too fast and out of left field.

And then the final episode came and my jaw dropped when we were suddenly hit with a three year time jump. It’s another one of my least favorite tropes, and it just feels so many things had changed in the lives of our main characters and yet we were supposed to also believe that they didn’t change that much and were able to pick up exactly where they left off without extended conversations about what kind of people they had become. We got a little bit of them addressing their situations, but I felt like the “I’m sorry for feeling pity for you” resolution felt really shallow and didn’t at all capture how much depth was in their relationship before.

There were also additional plot developments that felt so random and rushed — such as Day getting his eyesight back at the last minute. There’s the argument that it’s okay because he’s already grown to accept himself either way, but it still felt really disingenuous to the disability theme to show that he needed his eyesight back for it to be considered a happy ending. Part of this is also just because it all happened so fast it felt thrown in.

I felt like I really emotionally checked out for that last episode — there was just such a huge gap between who I was seeing on screen and the characters I’d grown to love from the previous episodes. For me, that’s the consequence of time-skips, and I’m sad because this was on its way to becoming one of my favorites before it.

Leggi di Più

It is all about balance and whole a lot of pain...

In not so many fancy words, I think this movie is phenomenal! Why?

• Two hours flew by in a second

• Intimate scenes are so raw and believable, and just the way I want them. If someone can do a nasty yet sensual NC scene that makes your stomach turn is Japanese. This time, the scenes are going so well along the story. Lets be honest, many Japanese movies do have explicit content that can overpower the story, or, especially dramas can lack any kind of sexual or intimate content. This does not make them bad, I am just talking about how well Egoist is balanced compared to Japanese movies, and in general.

• I enjoyed the balance between letting it go and being polite and restrained. Overall movie has that. And all of that is very nicely packed and topped with a hint of luxury and poverty.

• The whole story about financial and emotional compensation left me deeply wounded, so at the end of my short review, I would say this is not a love movie, nor a romance. This is movie filled with love by the people who were severely damaged by life and their families and they did love and they did care, the way they knew how.

• I feel I cannot pick the pieces of my heart after watching this movie and that is not that bad. It made me feel something, it made me feel a lot actually.

Leggi di Più