Reviews

I always thought that watching family dramas with 50+ episodes would be something I wouldn't do because anything exceeding 20 episodes puts me off. I took a risk with Ojakgyo Brothers and thoroughly enjoyed it.

As the title suggests, it is centered on the brothers and all other relations in their lives. I am mighty impressed with how well the drama was made. The four brothers were all unique in their own ways and this seemed like a collection of Kdramas all in one. By the end, it was thoroughly fulfilling.

The story for each brother was very cute and likable. I especially loved the romantic plots of the younger three brothers. The older one was kind of boring and ajhussi-like at times for my taste but his romance was still cute. Not just that, the whole cast did a great performance and did justice to their roles. I am impressed with the females in this drama. They are stronger and bolder than regular kdrama heroines.

As in the acting department, I loved Uee a lot. She is definitely way above other idol actors I know of and was one of the strongest entity of the drama. Joo Won was hot and cute (as always) and had pretty solid chemistry with Uee. Their romance was so nice and had a rocking build up, proper relationship and the makjang elements in it. The second brother and the youngest one are the actors I don't know very well but I liked them too.

The only weak parts in the drama were towards the end. However, nothing was too bad. I have seen worse so this drama didn't lose much overall. In fact despite its length, the fact that it didn't bore me made me realize that it is one of the best Kdramas to exist quite possibly.

I strong recommend watching it. It's worth the time.

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Some films use the action to draw the audience attention, while others use the dramatic effect to make an impression. John Woo successfully made use of both elements to create a classic out of its genre and one of the best Hong Kong films ever produced.

To start with, you need to know that this was made in the late 80’s so it’s useless to compare it to recent action films that use progressed techniques. And despite that fact, The Killer puts many recent Hollywood films to shame. I still insist that John Woo created his masterpieces in Hong Kong; he never made a film of “Hard Boiled”, “A Better Tomorrow” or “The Killer” caliber in Hollywood except for “Face/Off” perhaps.

This film’s plot is rather simple: an assassin who’s thinking twice about his career, a hot-blooded police officer, a singer who went blind and the bad guys. But being simple doesn’t mean it was shallow. On the contrary, The Killer had too much depth to rely on which made some people complain that it was a bit too “melodramatic”. I disagree on that thought, because the little drama in this film helped the events’ flowing in a natural way and of course, John Woo never misses a chance to display his favorite themes: Loyalty, brotherhood and honor.

The core of this film, on the other hand, is the essence of action. Personally, I consider John Woo one of the better Action directors in the world if not the best. The man redefined the “action camerawork” and the violent heroic bloodshed films which inspired many other famous action directors around the world. As a usual dish of John Woo, the gunplay choreography was mind blowing especially the last sequence of the film; it was pretty marvelous. Needless to say, this is a violent film where cars exploded and bullets were flying everywhere.

The acting was high class. Chow Yun Fat sparkles in John Woo’s films in a way that makes me think that he’s probably the best male lead Woo ever had. The man has a great onscreen presence that proves his great acting skills. And let’s not forget Danny Lee who made his breakthrough in Hong Kong cinema through this film and it’s undeniably one of his best roles up to date.
As for the main characters, they were violent which makes you think that they’re immoral but that’s not the case. John Woo always makes his main characters cool and “The Killer” wasn’t any exception, the two characters are drawn in a way that you would feel their nobility, acts of honor, loyalty and friendship. The rest of the characters were also pretty well written and suited for the film’s storytelling.

The cinematography and camerawork were astounding and quite alluring. It doesn’t even matter if this film was made back in 1989. And yes, it’s a great rewatch material; I am writing this review basing on my latest rewatch session of this film.

Watch if:
-You like action films because this is most definitely one of the best.
-You like John Woo because this is one of his Hong Kong masterpieces.
-You like violent films with lots of gunplay.

Do not watch if:
-You dislike John Woo’s work.
-You dislike the action genre.

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Amazing drama

This is my first time watching Steven Zhang and Liang Jie and I'm already loving it so far. They are such great actors that they could act both their own characters and each other's so well. Jiang Yi (male lead) and Yu Sheng Sheng (female lead) are quite the polar opposite when it comes to their personalities. So, for Steven Zhang and Liang Jie to switch between characters so well is honestly great to watch.

Also, the drama is so funny, there are so many scenes where I would tear up, laughing. Those sound effects and background music definitely amplify the humour of those scenes.

Steven Zhang and Liang Jie are so adorable to watch, the drama has become really addictive.

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I tried to love Lucky Romance. The characters were likable, the plot was entertaining and reasonably paced, and the story was very quirky. I only had one problem with this drama and that was my dislike of Shim Bo Nui.

I understand that dramas are meant to make the watchers emotional, but Shim Bo Nui is honestly one of the most annoying characters I have ever had the displeasure of watching. I found her to be very manipulaive, selfish, and hypocritical. I was constantly infuriated by her selfish actions. She only thought about herself and would do things that would worry the people aroud her with any remorse.

I could not support her. I found her and her extreme superstitions annoying. She was constantly doing reckless things. For example, around the beginning of the series she would go around the office looking for a tiger while people were working. Her constantly fooling around at work made me reject the characterization of her being hardwaorking. Her constant lies (especially when she basically threatened Soo Ho into fake dating her) were alarming. I know I'm looking too much into this, but I can't help it.

I found myself only watching the show because I liked Soo Ho. I know that disliking a show because of one annoying character (that many others don't agree is annoying) is kind of extreme but she ruined the whole experience for me.

I don't think I'll ever watch this show again but don't get me wrong, it's a good show. This is just one of those cases where one bad apple spoils the whole bunch.

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The movie (roof)tops the series

So I loved the series but the movie is better as it doesn't break as much and have as much of the game element. Plus you are blessed with more of the context so how they were back in school and their feelings. I felt so much more like I was seeing the why for a lot of what they did instead of being confused

The acting is top notch and I've rewatched the series MANY times but think, like Semantic Error I'll switch to the movie for rewatch. You feel the chemistry, shyness and emotion between the two actors and it really is all about them. No side couples to distract which is good as it's so short. The movie is nearly 2 hours though.

Highly recommended and one of the top 5 KBLs to come out in 2023.

Enjoy

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Strong like Summer

"Our Beautiful Summer" tells the heartfelt story of a girl overwhelmed by life’s hardships, reaching her lowest point and considering giving up. At this critical juncture, she encounters a quirky family: three brothers and their mother, who are struggling with grief after losing a loved one. Together, they navigate their pain, heal old wounds, and form an unbreakable bond, creating a found family that beautifully highlights the power of connection and love.

Key Highlights:

✅ Great Storytelling
The drama unfolds seamlessly, balancing emotional depth with moments of lightheartedness. The pacing ensures that viewers remain invested as the characters’ journeys intertwine, culminating in a deeply satisfying narrative.

✅ Outstanding Acting
The performances, especially by the mother, stand out. Her portrayal of grief, resilience, and love feels authentic and tugs at the heartstrings. The entire cast does a commendable job, bringing their characters to life with sincerity.

✅ Healing Found Family Drama
This drama shines as a story of healing and growth, showing how relationships can transform pain into hope. The dynamic between the main character and the family is touching, making it perfect for anyone who loves found family tropes.

Final Thoughts:

"Our Beautiful Summer" is a beautifully executed drama, ideal for a healing binge-watch session. Its emotional depth and warmth make it the perfect way to spend two and a half hours, leaving viewers with a sense of comfort and hope. Highly recommended for fans of heartfelt storytelling and character-driven dramas!

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What to say the drama, is one of them with a intresting plot that you would enjoy to rewatch without getting bored, Since the drama is really short!

But at the same time the fact that the drama is so short is its loss.. Watching this drama you will notice that the story flow a bit to fast!
There are a lot of happenings but there isn't the time for the public to emphatize with them, since they are to fast!

But in any case i really enjoyed the story! It's a simple story of a clumsy angel that "wrongly" save an human.. That is a cute plot, not a master piece. But a story that a really large rage of people can enjoy!

I like the actors since they are handsome and they have good acting skills, the famale lead is particularly funny!

So give it a shot!

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Turn back the clock.

See Her Again or Sun and Stars/太阳星辰 is an riveting walk down memory lane. It is written in the vein of the old school Hong Kong cop genre that serves up a dash of time travel with a great deal of suspense and waves of nostalgia. The narrative unfolds across two timelines; first in 1993 pre-handover Hong Kong and then in 2018; over a decade after the end of British colonisation. The ethos of the story is a yearning for bygone times; contrasting the Hong Kong that was then with the Hong Kong that is now. What I like most about it is it doesn't suggest one is better or worse; in fact it depicts Hong Kong as different and yet somehow still the same. It is a drama that should only be watched in Cantonese because Cantonese colloquialisms are uniquely Cantonese in a way that simply won't translate into Mandarin even when the words are exactly the same.

This is by far William Chan's best role to date. He is truly in his own skin in his native Cantonese as a hard-boiled Hong Kong cop Yeung Kwong Yiu; a dedicated officer who has no problem bending the rules to catch criminals and gangsters. After a devastating fire, the traumatised city is further terrorised by a series of brutal murders. As the hunt for the serial killer intensifies, Kwong Yiu struggles to find time for his wife and young daughter who also need him. In the midst of a high speed chase hot on the heels of the killer through the maze of 1990s Hong Kong's crowded, neon-lit streets and claustrophobic buildings, Kwong Yiu falls down a time tunnel. He finds himself flung twenty-five years into the future, to an unrecognisable Hong Kong. He is shattered when he discovers that life went on without him and not in the best of ways. The killer is still at large and may have resurfaced after many years. He must convince his old friends on the force to include him in their investigation in an inter temporal quest for justice and a desperate gamble to turn back the clock.

Despite the gritty noir flavour, the slick camerawork, the vivid Hong Kong images, a flawed antihero cop, morally complex characters, blurred lines between good and evil and the evocative soundtrack, there is something missing that I can't quite put my finger on. The camaraderie and banter between the cops just doesn't hit the right notes. The sarcasm, dark humour and cynicism that is belied by actions that makes their bonds feel lived-in is missing. Maybe the huge time leap made some of these interactions feel a bit forced and awkward. What worked quite well however was the chemistry between William Chan and Cya Liu and the moving way in which their relationship evolved. The mature, patient yet puppy dog-like hopefulness in William Chan's eyes as his Kwong Yiu tried to break through Hoi Ching's cold and disapproving facade made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. I really enjoyed how they made this dislocated and emotionally charged father-daughter connection progress over time. I rooted for Kwong Yiu over foster father Chan Tsz Tsun (Stephen Fung) all the way in terms of worming his way back into his daughter's heart.

The high-stakes suspense plot is tight and unfolds at a thrilling pace with a few good twists and an unexpected ending. The antagonist roles were superbly acted even though some of their motives were too extreme, overly melodramatic and too ruthless with high collateral damage for me to feel sorry for them. The fast paced ending left little room for regrets, recriminations and sentimental adieus, which is a relief. Overall a very enjoyable nostalgic watch even though the narrative doesn't quite capture the distinctive gritty, cynical and defiant quintessence of the Hong Kong cop culture. Coming from a Hong Kong director that started out at TVB, this is a little bit disappointing. The unfathomable decision to re-record Beyond's 1990s popular hit Lover 情人, replacing Wong Ka Kui's deep and textured vocals with that of an insipid female vocalist is a crime in and of itself and reflective of everything wrong with this drama: it tried but is nothing like the real thing. I enjoyed it but can only rate this knock-off wannabe Hong Kong police story a 7.5/10.0.

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This drama is about a 20 year old woman with the mental capacity of a 7 year old. She ends up bumping into a guy who she falls in love with and thinks is her prince charming. The guy thinks she is cute and in the beginning fails to notice that she is mentally slow.

This story is very original with the main characters' relationship as only a part of the much bigger story. First and foremost it's a coming of age drama about a woman who is a self proclaim late bloomer.

This movie is great to watch and I highly recommend it if someone wants to watch a good story without devoting hours to a long drama. Overall I give this movie an 8 and I will defiantly re-watch.

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The actors, mostly Mew, kept this show afloat.

Tbh, if Mew wasn’t in this, I would’ve dropped it by ep2. And it feels like that’s what the producers aimed for, that Mew was enough that they didn’t need a good story. Beside the fact it took 5 episodes for the main couple to even speak to each other, their “romance” was so rushed, it was practically nonexistent. By ep10 when P’Uno left and he & Daebyeol had to reminisce about each other, they showed the exact same 3 moments cause THATS ALL THEY HAD. Like, there were not enough romantic-heavy moments for them to suddenly “be in love with each other since the moment they met.” Like, are you kidding me?? The producer woman pissed me tf off I can’t believe they decided to work with her at the end. And the part-timer that outed them, whyyyyy was he still working there in the end????? And so many plot points that came out of nowhere and then went nowhere??? For what sounded like a cute concept, the execution was done so poorly. I feel bad for Mew and the rest of the cast, they deserve a better production than this.

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so unique! i'm pleasantly surprised

since the movie was only 30 mins long the story was very compressed, I think it would've been a lot better as a full-length movie with more detail because it’s such an interesting plot idea. i still enjoyed it and this movie is just a bit of fun isn’t it, not to be taken too seriously and they did a really good job too. I loved how they brought in a different genre (horror) rather than just the classic romance bl. since it was so short I definitely recommend watching it, you’re not going to lose anything and it's hard to get bored mid-way through since it's only 30 mins and things kept happening. I found myself feeling bad for the characters, laughing along and really getting into it too.

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One of the best short dramas

What's Wrong With My Princess is first a revenge drama then a romance. There is very little traditional "romance" trappings within the short story but it still manages to demonstrate two people learning to trust eachother and growing closer as a married couple.

Because we are given a front row seat to exactly what happens in her previous life to have her reincarnated back 5 years in the past, it's very easy to be invested in the revenge that is plotted out slowly over the course of the series. Each time the 7th Princess tricks one of the the antagonists we get reminded that they have it coming and more. Meanwhile watching the 7th Prince is no hard task. Seeing him as he supports his wife in her quest for revenge without ever even being told what they "did" to deserve this treatment was refreshing. He came to know her and her values and as such completely trusted that they must have done something truly awful to be treated in such a manner.

The music used was repetitive but soothing and fit the show. The acting was rather good for a short drama with the 7th Princess keeping mostly a poker face but sometimes slipping to show her utter disgust of the people before her when they weren't watching.

As for the last second ending, anyone who knows anything about these types of stories knew the "it was a dream" was coming. After all, it was between that or "it was a story she was writing/reading". That said they slipped the line in so quickly and then moved on that it's truly skippable and doesn't even really change the story we watched since the only dream part was the original life if understanding the line correctly.

Overall the show is absolutely worth a watch. I could even see myself watching a longer version that gave more detail about the backstop and showed them with perhaps a bit more conflict before 100% trusting each other.

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Rules are made to be broken.

The bold and unconventional baroness Ban Hua is a one of a kind character. Her doting uncle is the emperor of Daye; her father the hedonist Marquis Jingting has more money than God; she inherited her grandfather General Ban's martial arts prowess and she has a wardrobe to die for. For her, rules are made to broken and her flamboyant devil-may-care attitude and daring exploits have the noblemen smitten and dazzled and the noblewomen choking with envy. If there is one stain on her charmed existence, it is that all her engagements go down in flames, to the amusement of the Daye elite.

When the incomparable Ban Hua's path crosses with that of the elegant Rong Xia, Count Chengán, Daye's most talented and most eligible gentleman, their courtship becomes the talk of the town. The best thing about this drama is Ban Hua and Rong Xia's character design and their hilarious and sizzling interactions that light up the screen. The comedy is very well written and blithely presented by the lively cast. The Ban family is one of the most uproarious and delightful drama families I have seen in a long time. Ban Hua's biggest fan, her charming, spendthrift rogue of a younger brother Ban Heng is my favorite character. Both Guan Xiaotong and Hou Minghao hit all the right notes in their performances. Guan Xiaotong delivers a curious air of exquisite vulnerability that softens Ban Hua's imperiousness and arrogance. While Hou Minghao's Rong Xia is looks too handsome and unattainable and is so measured and powerful in a soft spoken way that he is the perfect foil for Ban Hua's impetuousness.

Unfortunately the plot does not at all do justice to the all-around strong performances by the cast. The history between Daye's aristocrat families and secret plotting that led to the Rong family's downfall is quite interesting and well conceived. I enjoyed watching Ban Hua and Rong Xia learn to trust each other and work together against their enemies. The drama would have been best served wrapping up after the take down of the villain of that early arc. After that, the plot feels very forced and succumbs to tropey, boring and contrived delusional love rival tropes. All of the progress the couple makes is undone to create unnecessary misunderstandings and ridiculous and unimaginative palace coups. I was left with the impression that the couple can't communicate or work together and is surely doomed to divorce. The second half is as boring and ridiculous as the first half is interesting and engaging. Rong Xia's character in particular is destroyed as he goes to inexcusable lengths to save his love. The character interactions are funny throughout and that is the only thing that kept me watching until the end. It is still overall a decent watch but nothing to write home about. This is overall a 7.5/10 but the first half feels closer to an 8.5.

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