Reviews

Anthology is a freaking love story that we might dream of but will never happen in our damn life.
One was a surprisingly good actor and his voice was just.... hawt
He is already in his middle 20s but he went on well with being a student and I loved it.
The chemistry between the two main characters were something I don't even have to mention (Duh man duh
The only thing that annoyed me (SPOILER ALERT)




should have shown a little grown up of him at the end... It was such an open ending...... UGH

anyways for a romance lover I watched this about 5 times? and Im still not sick of it. RECOMMENDEDDDD

Leggi di Più

Upon completing the “Will I or won’t I?” routine with Top Star (we’re all masters of this dance: check the cast listing first, read the synopsis, watch the trailers, et cetera and so on), I was overcome with the most unfortunate thing. Positive expectation! I typically take care with allowing those feelings to rise up in the first place; after all, expectations more often disappoint or diminish experiences than actually fulfill themselves.

Yet when those dreadful expectations of mine were ultimately dashed, it still surprised me. What I had just encountered was somehow much better than initially imagined. You see, I had the impression Top Star would be a seedy melodrama or, at best, one of those dank and miserable discourses on the evils of celebrity. This film could be described instead as a character study and human drama: the bittersweet tale of two flawed men and their wildly unbalanced friendship. If you like western film, you might compare this one to The Talented Mr. Ripley with Matt Damon and Jude Law (or other adaptations of the same). Instances of deja vu were undeniable.

Most impressive about the execution of Top Star must be the fact it was not at all over the top. Its characters are very human and dark in the way people sometimes are, especially the privileged or overly ambitious among us. They have both good points and bad, but the things they do are not outside the realms of reality. Of course, fame does play a role in events depicted in the film; however, it is neither deified nor demonized. Rather, celebrity is measured by the quality of the person wielding it—and the choices they make, while possessing it.

Two men share the screen in Top Star: Kim Min Joon and Uhm Tae Woong. Between the two, despite being a fan of the latter, the former captivated me most. Min Joon looks the part of an A-Lister, switching between masks of charm and thoughtlessness without difficulty. He can be warm or hateful, desolate or bright, all with surprising depth. Uhm Tae Woong isn’t called “Uhm-force” for nothing, though; he stood on equal footing with his co-star. I’m a little used to his goody-two-shoes image from dramas, but in film he seems to spread his wings a little more. The Tae Shik character was “nobody” reaching toward the stars, but I believed him completely…even if it was strange to see this “top star” playing such a role. Great chemistry between the two, with an okay check-in by So Yi Hyun as the less developed Mi Na.

Top Star has such a lovely soundtrack; I enjoyed how well its various tracks were interspersed between stretches of silence. Many interesting cinematographic sequences stood out in no small part to the accompanying auditory cues. Some viewers may like the rendition of “You Were Always on My Mind” and its off-vocal insertion a little less. However, as time rolls along and one takes the lyrics out of context, the usage suddenly makes sense. I liked its unique orchestration anyway; it may not be the original, but it’s still pretty nice.

Please note the crisp and pretty cinematography as a whole. Everything looked gorgeous and glitzy, from the surroundings to the main cast. There are a couple cameos near the beginning, too: who can you spot?

Leggi di Più

Wow 22 weeks has gone by and I still cant believe it took that long to finish this drama…

Story: Unpredictable like you won’t believe. Sure there’s cliché situations that may turn people off but dramas in general are a cliché. As long as you accept the things that happen then you will be able to enjoy it. My favorite thing about the story was the laughs. There were a ton of funny scenes and it was cool how they were sometimes used to offset the more dramatic scenes. One major thing I wish the writers focused more on was the lovelines. I’m all for switching lovelines but there has to be a point after halfway but well before the ending where the love lines are clear so the viewer can connect and understand why that happened. What I'm getting at is by the end you still have no idea who ends up with who until the last 5 minutes, which I felt made the ending feel rushed and sort of a letdown in a way. Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy with the way things turned out, its just the HOW I would have liked to seen. The story also could have benefited with a shorter episode count to make it less frustrating.

Acting/Cast: I had no idea who any of the actors were at first. But I was pleasantly surprised that the 4 main leads could actually act! Not only that, the 4 main leads all had chemistry, which made the switching of the loveliness very believable. I did think the two female actresses were stronger actingwise than the men. The supporting cast was a bit weaker and a lot of overacting (to be expected in T dramas) but I came to appreciate their characters.

Music: So another surprise is the fact I liked the OST. I just found it fit perfectly for this series and they played a lot of the same songs so they became memorable that I wanted to download it to my ipod.

Rewatch: I would like to watch this again for all the funny scenes and when I want to come back to these characters, but not for a few years just because it really does feel like a long drama.

Overall, you can really tell Love Forward tried to separate itself from other romcoms but there was plenty that could have been done better. Still, I found it one of the more enjoyable Taiwanese watches.

Leggi di Più

An entertaining experience from beginning to end

In the beginning episodes I almost dropped because I thought it was childish, but putting that aside this was definitely worth every second. The pacing was amazing, the characters were enjoyable, and they didn't waste time or bore me with too much filler. While the romance wasn't the main focus, I was entertained enough just by the amazing friendship of the main trio and the mysteries surrounding their families and friends. Not to mention everyone had chemistry with each other, no ships were totally meritless.

Story: A group of friends go on a long adventure to discover the truth about their families and about themselves, finding love along the way.

As I said before, romance was not the main focus but instead individualism, plot, and friendship. Most of the romance only started near the end, so don’t expect tons of kiss scenes or romantic moments. That's not saying there wasn't romance, the main couple is definitely one of my favorites now. My biggest problem with the plot was that Lingsha was always getting harmed in the beginning, I didn’t find that fair with her character development. I also wish they focused a little more on Zi Ying’s backstory. It felt rushed and incomplete compared to the other main characters, although he also had less screen time than them in general. Lastly, China is definitely stepping up its game when it comes to cinematography and aesthetics. I was very impressed by the CGI and quality overall.

Acting/cast: I wasn’t too impressed with Chen Zhe Yuan in Hidden Love but this drama shed a new light on his acting for me. While this was my first Jing Yi drama, I am excited for her and She Yuan’s future works, all the hate was definitely uncalled for. The acting might not have been top tier, yet it wasn't unbearable and you get used to the playfulness of it after a couple episodes. For the most part I felt emotionally connected to everyone and that definitely makes me a little biased when it comes to the acting and everything else.

Other Pros:
- The Mystery aspect of the drama was entertaining and it was fun to watch the trio figure things out even if it was just filler from the main plot. Filler is not bad when used in the right way and Sword and Fairy did not disappoint. I loved watching everything piece together like a puzzle, almost everything had a purpose.
- The Ending. I was worried since there was a lot to wrap up in the last couple episodes, but they managed to do it nicely. The last episode was like a whole movie.

Others Cons:
- The story slowed down when they got to the sect, especially after the story was moving so quickly. I think they could have cut some things out and extended others.
- There were a couple things that were hard to follow when it comes to the story, mostly involving the stuff that happened in the past. That might be my fault for not being able to wrap my head around it although they could have simplified a couple things.

That being said, it was/is worth the watch. I usually cannot stay focused when watching longer dramas (I.e. most Chinese dramas) so if you're like that too, this was fast-paced enough that you won't get bored.

Leggi di Più

I really love the combination of zombies and comedy, but zombie movies alone are one of my most favorite things to watch! They're always so entertaining!

Firstly, I was very much skeptical to watch this movie since it kind of felt like it would be a real let-down, but because I adore a good zombie film and the trailer seemed a bit promising, I gave it a try. Honestly, the beginning of the movie is pretty weird and gotta say, quite awkward. It could be just me, but it was pretty awkward at first. But later on, things started to become better and I was able to enjoy it more than I imagined! I had 0 expectations for this movie, but it turnt out to be pretty good and quite a refreshing film with the comedy and it's been pretty long since I've watched a zombie film.

The story was very unique for a zombie movie, in fact. Most zombie movies would revolve around a certain group of people amidst an apocalypse and how they survive it, but the story of this movie is different and special. I guess the story makes this movie most charming.

The actors were great and they all played their characters reallly well. I knew they were good actors, so I wasn't expecting bad acting whatsoever.

There's not much of a music in it, but there is a song which suited the movie a lot.

I don't rewatch movies unless I really LOVED it. I enjoyed this one a lot, but I definitely didn't love it to the point that I would rewatch it. But probably, I would rewatch some years later or so when I completely forget what happened in it XD

In conclusion of this long and boring review, I recommend you to watch it! It's refreshing, unique, funny and would be great if you're bored and you're looking for something to spend your time! :)

Leggi di Più

Lovers of the onscreen chase will revel in Running Man, a film whose premise has the lead constantly in flight. There are no name tags at stake here, though; being caught means the difference between life and death.

Something refreshing about this latest entry into the action genre must be its noticeable lack of shoot outs and martial arts. Our hero is no "Superman," lacking in most offensive skills; while his talents in escape are second to none, the limits of his body still check him. Jumping through glass storefronts is impossible for him, as is walking away unscathed from falls and hits. The damage steadily accumulates as the movie goes on.

Despite few surprises or shocking developments in the conflict, we're gifted with something unlooked for: a touching father-son relationship. This provides much welcome character development, adding another layer to the entire experience. Genuine humor also colors the script, with several laugh-out-loud moments strewn throughout.

Shin Ha Kyun slips right into the role of Cha Jong Woo, adopting his immature and crude persona seamlessly. Even his physical frame suits the character, as a former con-artist with a need for lithe and smooth movement. On another note (one that speaks to his dedication as an actor), Shin suffered rib fractures which he worked through for some time -- even continuing to do stunts. In the role of his son, we have Lee Min Ho. His Cha Gi Hyuk often served as straight man to slapstick or the foil to the flawed parent he must tolerate. Both of them took on more emotional scenes as well, performing believably apart and brilliantly together.

Fans of Special Affairs Team Ten (and its sequel) will instantly recognize Kim Sang Ho, still portraying a cop. His character seems tailor made for comedy as were his scenes; when paired with the actor playing Chief of Police, they were golden.

Many action films adopt simple soundtracks and Running Man continues the trend. At times, one might only hear natural sounds paired with silence; at others, suitable themes for mystery and brisk action. There are no songs here to add to playlists, but nothing to detract from enjoyment of the film either.

Leggi di Più

Bittersweet

This movie although having many erotic scenes has some pretty deep meanings in it. The lack of love and attention from parents results in many issues among women and men alike. This is very true for Sawako because she's trying to fill that void she feels from the lack of attention she gets from her father. The dialogue and acting is very nice and sometimes it's funny, and sometimes it's kinda philosphical. Then you throw in a little bit of those steamy romance novels in it and viola you have Te. There is romance in it but it's not a fluffy and sweet movie. It contains many taboo subjects such as infidelity and our main characters have a sense of realism in them as they are far from perfect. The main takeaway from this movie is how the main character Sawako discovers her inner self and grows as a person, and how she tackles her issues. And lastly....wow! This movie is steamy steamy!

Leggi di Più

Disturbing,gripping

Chun woo hee, the woman you are, i became her absolute fan. Her best work,how annoying she was i wanted to break through the screen and slap the shit outta her.
Ryu jun yeol, another blast show by this man. He can for sure act very well.
The show was what squid game had but with a social commentary and no survival games.
They made time as an important aspect too.
The ending could have been more different but it was okayish.
The show had many disturbing parts and sometimes I didn’t know what was actually happening,but i see thats how it’s meant to be.
The actors made this show more watchable for sure!

Leggi di Più

E lá vamos nós de decepção embalado com um laço bonito

Preciso comentar sobre The Next Prince, porque essa série me deixou num estado meio dividido, entre a frustração com algumas escolhas de roteiro e um carinho sincero por tudo que consegue funcionar bem ali, principalmente o casal principal.

A premissa é boa, dá pra ver que tem ambição ali: uma mistura de intriga palaciana, identidade perdida e romance. O problema é que às vezes a execução não acompanha a proposta. O ritmo no começo é bem arrastado, com muitos personagens e regras de corte sendo jogados de uma vez só. Tem momentos em que parece que a série está mais preocupada em parecer grandiosa do que em contar a história de forma fluida. E tem umas soluções de roteiro que soam fáceis demais, tipo a cena do teste de DNA. A revelação do pai biológico vem com um “99,99% de certeza” como se isso bastasse, sem laudo, sem contexto, só jogado mesmo. Faltou cuidado em parece coeso.

Apesar disso, o que realmente segura a série, e pra mim o que vale o investimento, é a relação entre o Khanin e o Charan. Não é aquele romance pronto, forçado pra agradar público. Eles têm atrito, desconfiança, raiva, e aos poucos vão se construindo um no outro. A química entre os dois é visível, mas não do tipo exagerada. O Charan é todo rígido, mas você percebe a mudança dele nos pequenos gestos, nos olhares, no cuidado com que passa a tratar o Khanin. Já o Khanin, mesmo confuso e ferido, vai criando coragem pra se posicionar, inclusive emocionalmente. E a atuação do NuNew aqui ta até que boa apesar de não ter tido tanta evolução aparente desde Cutie Pie.

Visualmente, a produção é bonita. Figurinos bem trabalhados, trilha sonora grandiosa, cenário de palácio que convence. Mas confesso que em alguns momentos parece que o visual quer compensar a falta de substância em certos diálogos ou cenas de transição.

Os personagens secundários, no geral, acabam sendo o ponto fraco da série. Alguns parecem jogados só pra cumprir função de encher trama ou criar conflito forçado. Um exemplo é o príncipe Ramil, que passa boa parte do tempo antagonizando o Khanin sem muita justificativa além de ciúme e ranço genérico. E isso é especialmente frustrante porque o ator é bom, tem presença, e o par romântico dele até funciona muito bem, o problema é que deram um papel raso demais pra alguém que podia entregar muito mais. Parece que ele foi escrito só pra cumprir a cota de rival, o que empobrece o núcleo secundário e desperdiça potencial.

Outro ponto que me incomodou foi a relação do Khanin com o pai biológico. A revelação já é feita de forma apressada, como comentei, mas o mais esquisito é o tom completamente frio com que o pai reage a tudo. É quase robótico. Em nenhum momento parece que ele tem algum vínculo real com o filho. Zero emoção, zero tentativa de aproximação. E ok, ele pode ser um cara duro, mas mesmo dentro desse perfil dava pra transmitir alguma coisa. Do jeito que foi, soou vazio mesmo. Não convenceu.

No fim das contas, o que me prendeu foi o desenvolvimento do vínculo entre os protagonistas. Não é rápido nem fácil, mas é construído com coerência emocional. Eles têm conflitos, não estão sempre na mesma página, e isso deixa um pouco mais interessante.

E, olha… o torneio de arco e flecha? Eu juro que por um momento achei que a Katniss Everdeen ia sair do meio da floresta. A estética é totalmente Jogos Vorazes, desde o cenário até a música de tensão. Não que seja mal feito, visualmente funciona, mas é tão estilizado que quase perde o propósito dentro da trama. Fica parecendo mais um clipe conceitual do que parte de uma disputa política real. Nessas horas, a série parece querer impressionar mais pelo visual do que pelo conteúdo em si.

E por fim, não tem como deixar de comentar a parte dos protestos e da questão ambiental envolvendo as minas. A série constrói esse conflito como se fosse algo central, com manifestantes, ameaças, chantagens políticas, até cenas de confronto, e realmente parece que aquilo vai ser um dos grandes motores da trama. Aí quando chega perto do final, tudo é resolvido de forma rasa, como se fosse só um obstáculo de roteiro pra mover o príncipe de um lugar ao outro.

É decepcionante porque, até ali, parecia que a série queria levantar discussões maiores: sobre justiça, responsabilidade do Estado, sobre escutar o povo. Mas na hora de concluir, joga uma solução qualquer e finge que está tudo bem. As consequências somem, ninguém fala mais sobre os impactos, sobre as mortes ou os abusos de poder. Fica parecendo que usaram o tema só pra dar um verniz de “profundidade” à história, sem se comprometer de verdade. E aí enfraquece não só a mensagem, mas também o próprio arco do Khanin como futuro líder. Faltou coragem pra levar essa parte até o fim com consistência.

Por fim, The Next Prince definitivamente não é uma série perfeita, longe disso. Tem tropeços no roteiro, exageros no tom, muitas partes caricatas, e uma certa hesitação em mergulhar mais fundo nas próprias ideias. Mas quando ela acerta, especialmente nos momentos entre Charan e Khanin, acerta em cheio. Se for assistir esperando só romance, pode estranhar o ritmo lento e a política envolvida. Mas se tiver paciência pra acompanhar a trajetória dos dois, e a tentativa de fazer uma história profunda, acho que vale a pena.

Agora, se não derem continuidade a essa história ou se deixarem o final em aberto, sinceramente, vai ser um desperdício. Porque tem base ali pra algo muito maior do que só mais um BL com cara de realeza. Mas se for pra fazer outra temporada rasa igual a essa, melhor parar por aqui, não precisa estragar ainda mais o que já não ta muito bom.

Leggi di Più

I Belonged to You has one of those predictable Chinese slice-of-life movie plots. A mix of inter-connected people who go through a certain period in their life. In the end they realise the value of the simple things in life and the film has you appreciating those who love and support you. Nothing really new here.

However, one thing that definitely was atypical, was the fantastic score and soundtrack.
I would actually even recommend you watch this film just for the music.
Which is also why the rewatch value is a little high.

The acting was solid, no complaints there.

But oh boy the music.
Please go and watch it even if it's just for the music.

Leggi di Più

7 First Kisses was literally an ad that was a parody. Thus, I never expected a proper drama. I just went into it like I go into YouTube skits. Consequently, I ended up enjoying it quite a lot and had a few great laughs. To see some of my absolute favourite actors play such cliche and ridiculous roles was really refreshing and funny. Yes, it is cringy but that is exactly what it is supposed to be! Overall, I would definitely NOT recommend this show if you are looking for a serious watch. It is just something funny to see in between breaks (lots of very very very handsome men to see!) or with your friends ((:

Leggi di Più

Walk, Eat, Wander and don't miss out on this delightful drama!

One Day Off was a soothing, tranquil drama which showed that all who wander are not lost. Served up in eight small bites of travel and food, the drama was easy to digest. It was also gently inspiring without overstepping into preachiness.

Teacher Park Ha Kyung dealt with life's stressors and monotony by using one of her weekly days off to travel. She explored new and old places meeting a variety of people along the way. Sunsets, bakeries, and butterflies led her to some of life's small and grand adventures.

By escaping her daily rut physically and mentally she stretched her mind and heart. "Life is about messing up!" Reflecting on how she was the same age her parents were when they had children, she also found ways to accept the inevitable effects of time and aging. She faced generational conflicts, "Democracy is always loud by nature" and learned to "Dance, even if you trip!" Her traveling also helped her to come to terms with grief and loss as she reminisced.

The drama was beautifully shot and helped the viewer briefly travel to new and interesting places as well. Lee Na Young made for a perfectly lovely traveling companion on these simple but enlightening journeys. Showing how Ha Kyung was slightly awkward at times, but more often than not accepting of where she was in life, I thoroughly enjoyed her performance. She gave just the right balance of maturity and youthful inquisitiveness.

Each episode encompassed a new idea as well as place and touched on various emotions. The drama offered up laughter, sorrow, and new relationship possibilities. Every place on her travel itinerary featured delightful food offerings. One Day Off highlighted how the moments of clarity, joy, and human connections make the efforts worthwhile. It also showed how those same wanderings can deepen the pathway into knowing ourselves, sparking new curiosity for adventures of the mind, regardless of age. Walk, eat, wander---One Day Off shows the journey is truly more important than the destination.

6/2/23

Leggi di Più

Nice story , Action is just perfect. some lines are nice ,one I remember that Kom Faek is a stick not a magical stick ,what you have how to use technic to use kom Faek .Collect all your senses and again stand not stand but run. Tapao character is my favourite she is bold ,strong , trustworthy,smart and faithful girl.she has no fear in her eyes not at all nor she is coward though she has concern towards her family protection but she always ready to help Gun as she respect and cherish her childhood memories.Tapao and Plerng are best couple. such tension scenerio Ongard funny moments balance the drama . Rest every one did the great job.Gun as usual is the best. In last scene of last episode i like it when Dokmai realise her sin that she did so many bad things and she realised that she is the one who is not honest with Gun. She became coward as she want to protect herself. San did the villian role nice ly ,he is really look cruel.the one who play the role of Tapao's brother is also good.
Entry music of Gun is nice . I like the part when Gun is alone then slowly slowly Plerng , Ongard, Tapao and his family become his companion ,to look it I remember somebody says after seen or heard the story of Mahatma Gandhi at the time of fight for India's freedom ," it goes like this "when i started towards my destination, i was all alone in my efforts
but as i made progress, others came forward and joined me and we became a force to reckon with."...This same happen with Gun.????

Leggi di Più