Reviews

One of the best ongoing dramas of June 2022. The plot is extremely intriguing, and though there are mystery elements and intensity (emotional), the humour is on point too. The pacing of the story, the timing of the humour, the characters — all so well done!

The acting is one of the strongest points of this drama. I don’t see which other two lead actors could have picked it up so well. Yeo Jin Goo is a talent personified and I’m so glad to see him choosing scripts which highlights his emotional acting. Minute emotions are so well portrayed!

It’s a typical who dunnit, a small neighbourhood community where every single person is suspicious. It’s fun to watch while speculating it. I probably wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from binging it entirely if it had been completed.

Edit: This drama falls to the curse of sixteen episodes dramas stretched entirely too long. I had hopes that the writing would stay consistent as you can read from my ongoing review, but unfortunately the last episodes get too dragged out. I did enjoy the characters and the acting immensely but some plot points are just too repetitive.

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One of the better dramas of 2011.

The highlight of the drama was the array of interesting and well written characters.
Also, the acting in the drama was top notch. But then again we are talking about Jang Hyuk and Han Suk Kyu and Song Joong Ki here. All very charismatic and intense actors in their own ways.

The cinematography was an absolute delight for the eyes. The settings and the costumes used in the drama series were exquisite.

The plot was engaging and full of the appropriate twists and turns. Who knew that a sageuk about Hangul (sounds like a snooze fest at face value) could be so amazing?

My only gripe is that the story started to lose my a bit of my interest towards the last quarter. Other than that, a wonderful and engaging drama series.

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OVERALL
Watch if you're looking for a drama with a good social critique but don't want to give up on comedy. Keep it for later if you're craving to see love stories.

THE STORY
Like many people, I started watching Angry Mom with a preconceived idea of what the show should be about – 50% comedy, 30% real/serious stuff, 20% romance. Angry Mom turned out to be far from my expectations – 60% real/serious stuff, 25% comedy, 5% romance – but I’m very far from disappointed. Yes, I can’t lie, I’m sad there was no love story for Kang Ja (the mom), because I think she deserved it and there was room for it in the story. But the drama is an extremely well-thought social critique of the Korean educational environment, with well-written, complex characters who, for the most part, evolve throughout the story, and relationships that evolve as well. There’s tragedy, there’s comedy, there’s suspense and a touch of action; all genres mashed up naturally so nothing feels forced. Most importantly, there’s hope. Angry Mom’s message is that we can against corruption and bullying, so we should fight against it.

THE ACTING
Great. Everyone was just great. I love Kim Yoojung and Kim Heesun, and Ji Hyun Woo is in my to-stalk list since Queen In Hyun’s man, so no surprise there. The villains, all good actors I already respected, no surprise there. But Ji Soo is a surprise, and one I’ll be stalking too. Even Baro and Lizzy were quite good. I liked them all!

THE MUSIC
Some people complained throughout the drama that the music was weird and did not fit with the story. I disagree. Or I agree, sometimes music and scenes were “mismatched” when we compare this drama to others, but it was clearly intentional, and I found it rather innovative and refreshing. I don’t need overly dramatic music in times of action or suspense, and sometimes I found that the music was a good indicator of what characters were feeling or of what would happen in the future. So…I liked!

REWATCH VALUE
Definitely high.

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Easy, fun watch if you don't take it seriously (and are aware of some things beforehand)

I began this drama with no expectations and no awareness of the hype around it, but having read the manhua before. I think these factors influenced my enjoyment of it.

Rather than just listing likes/dislikes in my review, I thought I'd write about different aspects and what worked or didn't work with them.

Visuals:
Firstly, this is a very aesthetically pleasing drama. Some of the visual effects are breathtaking, especially if watched on a large screen. Costumes were beautiful, and so was the cast.

Acting:
The primary characters have been acted the way they were depicted in the manhua/donghua.
I've seen a lot of criticism about the FL's emotionless face, but that is very true to the source. There's a reason behind the character's lack of emotions, which probably should have been introduced much earlier in the storyline because viewers would have empathized more. She looks and acts like a leader with a lot of responsibilities and centuries worth of grief in a way that I don't think a younger actor could have pulled off.
The ML is supposed to be a hyper, over-enthusiastic young man (actually, *boy* in the manhua), and that's how he has been acted.
Whether it was a good idea to stay so true to the source is a different matter. It's fine when you've read it as I had, but viewers who haven't read or watched the source material may find her stoicism and/or his flamboyance difficult to understand. But this is not a fault of the actors.

Romance:
Don't expect a sizzling romance from the main CP. It's not supposed to be that way. It's about two people who make huge sacrifices to protect each other and the six realms. There are still sweet moments though. You have to look out for micro-expressions to gauge her feelings, while he wears his heart on his sleeve. I'm all about micro-expressions in stoic characters, so I could get her feelings most of the time. She does become more expressive towards the end, and maybe most viewers would have preferred if that change had come sooner and lasted longer.
Regarding the other CPs: Apart from the finale, the interim endings for the CPs follow the direction of the manhua as well. The drama has deviated hugely for their ultimate ending, which could be for various reasons. I didn't mind hugely.

For manhua/donghua fans:
Some key scenes from the donghua have been recreated here, and done really well. There have been some changes, but they were necessary (for example, ML's age).

Editing:
This is one of the biggest problems I (and many others) had with the drama. I've never watched a drama with such poor editing before this. Scenes change before you have time to grasp what's going on, and sometimes they just abruptly cut off. This doesn't allow viewers to emotionally connect with the characters or what's happening. There are frequent long shots of the scenery, which is ok once or twice, but we don't need it all the time. We can admire the scenery as things happen between the characters.

Storyline and direction:
The overall story would have been fine, if only it had been handled well. Instead, there was a slow start, too many pointless battles with the same villains over and over again, too many side characters, and a very irritating and poorly handled storyline in the middle. Important plot points (such as the reason for the FL's lack of emotions) should have been introduced during the setup episodes, not midway through. These factors, along with the bad editing, were probably reason enough for many people to stop watching.

Overall verdict:
My overall review score is probably on the generous side, but it's because, despite finding many faults with this drama, I still enjoyed watching it. I wasn't expecting something deep and meaningful. I wanted a casual watch where my brain could switch off and I could be entertained, and I got exactly that. (Actually, some fellow MDL-ers and I went back and forth with multiple theories, so maybe my brain didn't switch off, but I don't mind.)
I will probably rewatch the whole thing again after a break. I'm hoping iQIYI will have the grace to have it re-edited in the interim.

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So It is finally here ! I am sure every fan of Rurouni Kenshin was dying for this part especially since the previous one ended like that xD I had honestly very high expectations of this movie ! especially the fact that I LOVED parent story &sequel so much ! I did love this one but not as much as the previous ones ehhhmm I mean it is great !! but it feels a little bit rushed maybe ???

HOWEVER *****the sword scenes in this one are the best no doubt ! *****As usual Sato is just amazing his acting is perfect as always same for the other cast I was so happy with all of them ^^
****The music
hehe
NOW ! I had complained so much about the music in the previous part but here I have no complains at all it was so beautiful and exciting it reminded me of an anime called * Hakuiki shinsengumi kitan* really good job done on the music this time!
Well since I watched this with the *crappy* subtitles I am sure I will be re-watching it when the accurate subs are out ... I am sure it will be way more enjoyable and who knows ??? maybe I will like it better then 1 & 2 !! you know how can subs change the entire story !


Overall it is an amazing movie and you must watch it .. well defiantly after you watch the parent story and sequel ^^

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A true hidden love with patience ♡

I didn't know it was base on a true story the first time I was watching it.
After the last episode I encouraged my best friend to watch it by saying "Its details are so touchable that it seems like the writer fell in love just like this and then wrote it down".
I was searching on the Internet about the cast and suddenly I figured out it is a real story! This is one of the biggest strengths of " hidden love" storyline.
I must say this drama made me a Cdrama fan and I'm looking for a drama with this beautiful scenes and chemistry and dialogues between the cast.
I sincerely recommend it.
❥ Watch it with your heart, not just your eyes ❥

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Light, but not lightweight

The story tells the tale of two openly gay Korean friends, Haneul and Bongshik, and what happens over the course of a few months after Haneul breaks up with his partner of 3 years and moves in with his friend. Accordingly, the story does address several issues that most gay men could relate to, the most of which are very common themes, maybe too common, in other gay films. However, the screenwriter managed to keep it refreshing, by including jokes, puns and showing different aspects of the characters' lives. So, while I think some of the themes were already better discussed in other films, what makes this film stand out is how accurately it portrays human lives - sometimes full of conflicts and drama, sometimes light and fun, and sometimes a combination of them all.

The acting is one of the strong points of the film, and in my opinion all actors played their characters perfectly and realistically.

I watched it during a film festival event, but I would watch it again probably as soon as it's released with English subtitles (if only just to screenshot the Chungha reference)

9/10

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This is a great “dramedy” period drama! The romance is cute and, although the romantic scenes could’ve been better, the lead couple had very good chemistry and their relationship evolved naturally. The story is about Goo Hae Ryung’s development as a historian, palace politics, secrets, and great character development all over. The cast did a great job bringing their characters to life and the supporting cast was equally important throughout the drama. This drama offers some action, cute and believable romance, tragedy, and great comedic moments that were strategically place throughout the plot balancing up the heaviness of palace antics and the main characters’ stories. It is really a good drama to watch. Enjoy it!

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I loved every part of this drama except the ending. Ren Jia Lun is one of my top favorite Chinese Actors. The story was indeed exciting and great. Ren Jia Lun, Landy li, Jeremy Tsui did an excellent job playing their characters. All the actors did exceptionally well. I am emotionally broken and here is why...

I've grown weary of the emotional toll that comes with watching Ren Jia Lun in dramas where either he or the leading lady dies. It feels like the producers, writers, and directors often alter the endings to suggest that they might find each other again or to somehow make sense of the loss. Out of the ten dramas I've watched with this incredible actor, this kind of ending seems to be a recurring theme. I truly hope that before my time on this earth is over, he'll have the chance to star in a fantasy drama that ends on a positive note.

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Yay! Another great Sakurai Sho drama. At first I thought since I had not seen the first "The Quiz Show," that I would be left behind. But there is no need to watch the first one. (Though I do believe there are some appearances by the first cast that would make more sense if you saw the first, but it does not affect the story.) Though it may seem like it's the same episode over and over, I feel that as the show went on, it became more interesting. Each character was different but each played an important role in the continuation of the story behind The Quiz Show. Sakurai and Yu did a great job with their acting! They never fail to impress me. And of course, the ending song was sung by Arashi, though I think it didnt really fit the drama til the end of the series. I'm not sure whether I would ever rewatch this, maybe just the last episode. There is no romance, but it would be rather weird if this drama did have it. If you like mystery and suspense, then I would recommend this drama.

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just four flawed women trying to figure out what they want out of life and love

The series is an anthology, which means that it features four different stories about four different women who don't interact throughout the show. (It comprises 8 episodes with 2 episodes for each story.) But this doesn't mean these stories are entirely separated though, because there's one element you can find in all four stories that will confirm that these four women all live in the same timeline and setting. I'm going to talk about each of the four stories one by one, before I talk about it as a whole.

1st story (Eps. 1-2) #23: If I could describe #23's story in one word after watching the others' stories, it would be: VIBRANT. The first two episodes really have a fun, more youthful quality to it, with our heroine being in college and her story starting with her proudly sharing to the audience (that's us) how she managed to place herself in a *secret* "polyamorous" relationship with three men. But she suddenly finds herself in a situation where she's forced to admit to herself the reason why she was doing it and what she was trying to compensate for in exchange. Anyway, this was a fun little story, and while the topic is a little daring (a young woman? dating three men at the same time? without their knowledge?? controversial!!), I think this was the lightest of the four.

2nd story (Eps. 3-4) #29: This was slightly toned down than the first one, with #29 contemplating on running away from her incoming wedding and her awkward fiancé, who she finds she has become too comfortable with. But what really is she running away from? That's what her story of self-discovery is focused on. Our heroine might seem a little fickle, and honestly even I got a little frustrated, but watching her figure it all out was satisfying to watch. I was a little bored in the beginning (I think because I was a little hung up on how much I liked the first story), but by the second half the pace started picking up and got better.

3rd story (Eps. 5-6) #35: The third story takes a dark turn, that it almost felt like it came from a whole different show. (TW: blood, suicide) This was so much more intense than the first two, with #35 going through bouts of insomnia, some PTSD, and occasional panic attacks. She falls in love with a man who she thinks is too good and too kind, not knowing he was carrying a heavy amount of guilt in his heart and dragging some emotional baggage in the form of his wife, whom he is separated from but still legally married to. This was a little hard to watch, but the story was engaging and I honestly can't not pay attention when all that crazy stuff was happening on screen. I found the ending a little too quiet though, especially after the climax crescendoed (I don't think that's a word?) so hard, so the resolution just kinda made me go, "That's it?"

4th story (Eps. 7-8) #42: Seeing as the second half of the series stuck on more mature themes, #42's story is focused on infidelity and trust between a married couple. I liked the questions that were raised here: When is it considered cheating? Is it justifiable to cheat on your spouse if they cheated on you too? Can a couple ever heal from a trust broken between them? Watching an uneventful couple break their routines and lose their cool is uncomfortable for me as a viewer and the way they dealt with things didn't make things easier for either of them. It made me wonder who really was at fault here... Was one person to blame? Or were they both responsible for the cracks in their relationship? It made me, someone in her early-20s, question these things, so I guess I could say that it had quite an impact on me.

As a whole, I think it had solid performances from the four female leads, their love interests were also great as support. I also have to commend Kim Young Ah, who played Ji Sung, the one constant in all four stories. I loved how my perception of her as a viewer changes in every story. It's almost as if we see her character in the eyes of our female leads, making Ji Sung quite the complicated character and arguably the most flawed among those featured on the series.

There's the thing with the cinematography too, with #23's episodes being bright and vibrant, then #29's being slightly more muted, followed by the darker tones of #35's story, and finally, #42's having a gloomier filter. I think this is to signify that each and every person in this world are going through different situations-- we all belong in one show, but we're the main character of our own stories.

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If I have to describe this show in one word that'll be, MASTERPIECE. I have seen nothing like this before though the whole premise is about the undying story of Romeo and Juliet but there is much better told than that! It is a star-crossed lovers that happened in the time when you can't opposed to your parents. What set this apart from the previous set of stories and dramas that were already out there is the whole story-telling. Everything is like a poetry! I love every part of this drama!

In the acting category, I don't have complaints since all of them can deliver and not just a one dimensional character. Though at first, I thought PSH is not suited for the role since he has the very white complexion and pretty face but turn out he carried the drama till the end with effectiveness. MCW is pretty much suited for sageuks costume in my opinion. She is so beautiful and I love her character. How she stood up for what she believes is right and not just becoz she loves the moan more than her life. So everyone else is just perfect!

Music wise, This drama Ost is my favorite. I think what makes this drama really effective and theatrical-like is the Ost! The timing of the music is really perfect. Truly suited for the scene. I love the Ost to bits that I downloaded a drama OST for the 2nd time (being SKKS the first)

For being rewatched. I rewatch this drama more than twice and I can still feel the intensity of the drama. And some of my friends in twitter feels the same way too, They re-watched it atleast twice. For me this drama is the best kdrama not only in 2011 but the whole history of the kdrama!

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i was 12 when i first watch this (which is basically 10 years agoㅠㅠ) and i don't remember it was this hilarious

I love every single second of this movie
but that lakorn sequence have a special place in my heart. i remember the times when dramas were done in that simple kind of format
the chemistry of the leads were really cute. there's a 3rd person, but she doesn't bother for too long

the acting was okay. i don't notice any music except the one FL used in her messages and the ones in outro. however both are good enough.

frankly, this movie doesn't have anything so special. for some people it's just another romcom movie, maybe it's a little bit boring (the length is 2 hours)

However this fits my taste and i love it, despite the plot holes and silly logics.

If you could handle silly logics and want some simple/comedic watch. I'd recommend you this

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The finest level of Korean cinema

No one would have expected another flight action movie that could give 'Emergency Declaration' a run for its money, and yet this one has done the impossible of Korean cinema which surpasses it in both technical aspects and even more so in its storytelling. The script is so well written and the plot design is having pin point accuracy, every single emotion is precisely placed, the political sentiment from both sides were also well resonated. Action sequences are terrifying enough and the final sequence is simply the best thing you could ever have in a Korean movie. The vintage setup is also visually stunning, everyone's acting is also ridiculously immersive, it is seriously a phenomenal Korean production at its finest level of commitment.

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First off, if you like to watch action packed movies full of suspense then don't wait and watch this right now! ^.^

However if you still need a reason or as to why you should watch this movie then keep reading. This movie is truly amazing and will make you fall in love with the main character. Throughout the entire movie he is cool and calm. The music is intense and calm when it needs to be. The story is pretty original. So, in a nutshell lost girl and guy comes saves him, but there is just so much more than that.

Things that I liked:

- The Main character is truly the main attraction. He is an upholder of justice with a cool and calm attitude

- The action combined with the story make you more excited than ever

Things that i hated:

- This movie is for the mature audiences(noted)so, there are scenes where you will feel that humans are truly trash.



Really though, I recommend this movie to anyone that truly wants to watch an action packed movie filled with an amazing main character and suspense filled story. Actually I recommend it to anyone that wants to watch a great movie ^.^

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