Reviews

Just your usual gangster film, but worth it for the romance

Gatao: The Last Stray is a Taiwanese action-romance film directed by Jui-Chih Chiang and starring Rexen Cheng (The Victims' Game) and Nikki Hsieh (Meet Me @ 1006).

In many ways it's just another predictable gangster film, but the romance and great chemistry between the leads makes up for where the rest of the film is lacking.

It's worth watching this for the romance alone in my opinion, it's very sweet. The chemistry feels very natural and convincing and it makes the rest of the film bearable, even nice to watch.

The plot itself is very predicable and easy to follow, in many ways it lacks depth and could've used a more interesting and dark approach. The fights were underwhelming and unrealistic which took away the feeling of true danger for the viewer. I also think that the ending could've been more emotional to feel more satisfactory.

I recommend you to watch this without any expectations like I did. If you're after a good gangster flick then you should probably look elsewhere.

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I had such high hopes for this drama, but the ending left me disappointed. The drama is beautifully shot, and the side characters are wonderfully written, but it threw away the unconventionality that had originally kept me watching. I had hoped that the drama would dive into the character development of the female lead and her struggles with love after leaving a toxic relationship, but it did none of that. The main couple had chemistry, but halfway through they got incredibly boring, and I found it hard to believe either of them changed for the better since the drama rarely bothered to show it. While it's arguable that it was more realistic this way, I found that it fell into the same tropes of the female lead ending with the toxic male lead, and the theme of choosing romantic love over choosing oneself.

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The plot twists, the ending, ugh, the ending is bittersweet

This drama is amazing, the cast, the actors, it is very well made.
Being set in a different year in the past begs me to question what/when will the modern twist be put on?

After the modern era change, it seems to have lost a tiny bit of the sparkle this drama had, but that is to be expected, when things have changed.
The ending, oh, so heartbreaking. I wish for a season 2 but I doubt that will happen.
Amazing cast, the story is not too slow, and the acting is top notch!
The storyline is pretty good, hard to follow sometimes, since I forget who has used the spoon and so on, lol.
There have been many good dramas this year, and this is definitely top 5 so far in my mind.

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It’s uphill after the first 2 episodes!!

The first episode I was ready to drop it. The FL was unbearable and I thought there was no way I could sit through 24 episodes of her! But I looked at some of the comments and most readers said it gets better after episode 3 and they were right! FL’s character development came quick and she went from awful to normal and to pretty likeable. ML I adored as the handsome introverted prince with his perpetual pout and eyes that could never hide his true feelings. I liked the chemistry between the leads and although there were the typical troupe misunderstandings, they didn’t last too long.

The last few episodes did get frustrating for me. SFL had too much screen time compared to the FL and the storyline seemed to get drawn out. I’m a total HE drama watcher and this one I guess is a kind of sort of HE so I’m sort of satisfied!!

This drama was a good watch … definitely surpassed my expectations considering how low the bar was after the first episode!! If you can get to episode 3 or 4, I think you’re good to go.

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It's alright

I will be honest, the storyline was so dumb and a little boring (for me, but I had good laughs). Aside from that, my real issue with the storyline was that troubles spawned out of nowhere, and when they were solved, they disappeared and were mostly never acknowledged. Still, whenever I'm bored, I watch this series, it has a special place in my heart and I cherish it with all its imperfections.

Going into positive things!

- JoongDunk chemistry was on point. Whenever they kissed I was like: "I also want to kiss a guy like that."
- The theme song was a banger, it is playing 24/7 inside my mind
- Can Dunk look prettier?
- Why is Joong so handsome?
- Kot was a real one for standing up for his friend.

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Surprising

Very rarely I get to change my mind: when a drama is on my dropped list, it stays there and I usually do not give it a second chance. I was challenged into watching this so I gave it a go. And frankly, it was not as bad as I thought it would be.

Star In My Mind is a drama about Dao and Kleun and their imagined unrequited love for each other. When Dao confesses before leaving for a trip, Kleun is flabbergasted and just utters a banality. They meet again a few years later at the University where they share a dorm. After a few wrong moves, they eventually find common ground and love.

I had dropped this after the first episode, the cringe factor (the confession) was just too much for me to bear. But surprisingly, that cringiness disappears and we get a straight forward rom com together with all the usual tropes, misunderstandings, another love interest, helpful friends. Another surprising absence is the adults (parents, teachers etc.) since none of the characters work, they must be financed somehow in order to study. But we do not know really how (most of them apparently come from well off families!).

As somebody pointed out already, there are no side couples in this drama: there are friends in their group flirting but nothing is mentioned let alone fleshed out. This drama is only about Kleun and Dao. I found this a refreshing change from the usual thai bl formula where there are usually two more couples adding nothing to the plot but wasting time.

The actors had a surprisingly good chemistry probably because the characters they played were the complete opposites: Kleun a taciturn popular guy and Dao an expressive artist. Joong is an awful actor: he has a single facial expression: brooding. He might be handsome but he is like a doll. Dunk was surprisingly good. He has an interesting voice and managed to be slightly better than Joong. They appeared to be at ease with each other and did not shy from contact.

The rest of the cast were just there not to have the stage empty. They were there as support for the main leads and we never did get to know them. Which is ok since it made the series shorter and more compact and therefore easier to watch. The only character that gets a bit more time is Fah, Dao's older brother who is the star of the second series. 😀😀

This series was a surprisingly decent watch and I ended up liking it more than the second part Sky In Your Heart. To be watched while doing something else....

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A warm and fuzzy coming out to mother short film

Been long since I watched a film regarding coming out to parents so I was really interested in watching it.

Quite a basic coming out story that contains typical elements like uncertainty of how the parent would feel, hesitation during the confession etc. Although typical, it's very well executed via the acting and the filming style.

Coming from an Asian country myself and also speaking Mandarin and Hokkien in my daily life, it really gave the "at home" feeling throughout the whole film and the conversation of the son with his mom touched me at some point in the short film.

A slight criticism I have will probably be the confession part, which was a bit abrupt and then it did not exactly showcased the mother's reaction as a result of the indirect confession. Found it slightly awkward at that part but otherwise, this film like I said in the post title, gives me a fuzzy feeling maybe because of the way they film it and familiarity of the languages.

Interesting to note that the actress for the mother has also appeared in other BL films like Your Name Engraved Herein and Be Loved (drama). The married daughter also appeared in We Best Love as Shu Yi's female crush. Happy to see familiar faces in the Taiwan BL industry :)

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This is Dylan Wang's second modern drama after MG2018

• Story: I like the story. Maybe little heavy for teenager like me. But no need to worry because in this drama a lot of comedy scenes are included which make the story more relaxed.
• Acting: the actors played their roles very well! I salute! like qinlan who is 40 over but can play ruoxin who is 30. Dylan Wang who has a bad boy face can play qixiao a soft boy (he looks cuter than being DaoMingSi) and other actors. Actually I'm interested in watching this drama because there is Dylan Wang. But apart from that, everyone played it well.
• the OST is good to hear. I even put this OST in my music playlist

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Short Film!!! So let's keep the review short! It's a sweet nice soft short film with little to no story at all.
Slice of life.
I think it was made for the purpose of public welfare, maybe to preach humanity and honestly it's done very well!!
Background music is the best part of the film, it plays well with the concept, it even makes you cry out of joy!! It's none other than our Hyehwadong......
Just spare your precious 15 min of your life and live this beautifully done feel good short movie (maybe an ad).....
Nothing to hate, so realistic, maybe some people might feel lack of storyline but again it's a short film, what more can we expect within this time span!!
The feelings we experience while watching is more than enough to compensate for the story!!

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I came across this movie through reviews on Netflix expressing how heartbreaking and overwhelming the movie was, which, of course, grabbed my attention. I'm a sucker for tragedies based around historical events. Now, I haven't watched many Chinese movies. Actually, this is probably the first one I've watched since Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.. which shouldn't even count, since I was probably 5 when that movie was in theaters lol So with that said, my opinion of this movie will not be biased.

The story-line alone can capture the attention of any audience. If you were in the mother's shoes, who would you save? Your son, or your daughter? Is it even worth it to save one of them, if the other will die? Those questions naturally repeat over and over again in your mind as you watch the movie.

The child actress who played the abandoned daughter was the highlight of the entire movie. I think this was one of her first acting gigs, which is absolutely incredible, because I think that she nailed the role of that character... The kid was so captivating, I couldn't help but feel disappointed when the older actress (of the same role) appeared on screen. This is a good example of a drama where the child actress pwns their adult counterpart (like in Moon Embracing the Sun).

Also worth mentioning, is the actress who played the mother in the movie. The heartbreak and repentance you saw from this character is what kept the movie consistent after the time jump.

Overall, the movie kept my attention most of the way through. It got kind of mediocre as it went into the older years of the daughter's life. It might have just been my lack of interest in that actress (who I recognized from Rush Hour 3), but of course it gradually got better towards the ending. I definitely think that it is worth watching all the way through. The final scenes of the movie are very touching.

Oh, I should also touch on the movie's special effects.. which could be considered the same level as 2012 or any other recent Hollywood apocalyptic film. It was very nice! And I think that this movie was one of China's first large-scale 3D movies as well.. A well-deserved masterpiece!

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The best of best!!

I have no words to describe this drama. Totally amazing wonderful journey that will make you laugh, cry, you will be surprised and shocked but in the end you will be satisfied and there will be smile on your face I assure you.

I would say this is most underrated drama having so much potential in it, but you just need patience because you won't understand the story until you finish episode 6. The best thing about this drama is it's originality it's plot is amazing and very well written without any plot holes which makes it perfect. It's like solving puzzle all pieces joined together perfectly. I usually skip boring scenes but I didn't skip any of it.

The acting was amazing all actors played their rolls perfectly. The ost was amazing so the soundtrack is also thing which made this drama special.

So this is story between three friends. Actually their are two stories one is in present and the other is in the past. I usually prefer modern dramas I don't like 19s aura but I would say I love the story of their there past more than the present I waited eagerly in every episode for the glance of past. It made me sad also because it was very heartbreaking to see I cried very much but it was worth it and I got huge second lead syndrome I never have felt this much for second lead before, but let me tell you it's not at all typical love triangle like usual dramas that's what I loved most and it also don't have k-drama cliches. Talking about ending it was happy ending but it was kind of open ending but it was satisfactory. This drama was best. The only thing I regret is I discovered it late...

Must watch....but have some patience!!

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This is one of the best documentaries out there. It is made out of a unique cross between real reactions of the two hosts (or as they are referred to - subjects) and vlogging "a day in my in life" type of videos. It also centres around a very important theme, happiness.

SJS and PSH were so good here, the creators really picked excellent subjects. They contrasted each other so well and seeing them fulfil the missions in their own way was not only entertaining but almost satisfying. I loved them both so much. PSH was so playful and took all the missions heads on, sometimes making them in her own rules. SJS was so hilarious. Sometimes he just did everything without a fuss and other times he sat around thinking how to approach it in such an entertaining way. I must also say that he is probably the sweetest man on this planet, having that kind of weather and still cracking jokes with the crew all the time.

I also really liked how they tailored the missions to the subjects and their reactions were sometimes priceless. When PSH had to turn off her off phone was just pure gold, as well as when SJS had to create something artsy.

LHITF is much more than a documentary. The prolonged shots of nature create unique atmosphere and the topics of small happiness warm your heart quite a lot. I did not mind the 1,5 hour per episode, it flew by I don't even know how. I got a bit teary during the last episode as well, since they showed some behind the scenes interviews and PHS became very emotional.

Being happy in your life is so very important. In the past I did not believe in happiness but I learned to find it small things, which is also represented in the spirit of this show and I agree with it strongly. I think that I will come back to this documentary quite a lot. Rain will probably remind me of it on a frequent basis.

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The movie from the beginning was dark, it was unpredictable as it went on.. I don't know why I chose to watch this movie but now, I'm glad I did. The title was kinda misleading though, or maybe I assumed it the wrong way. I assumed the movie to be about a plan, like a robbery. Poor me, I didn't know what it was all about!
The movie may look as if it was poorly taken, but trust me you won't be disappointed in the end. I kept on asking myself how this is gonna end because you won't know where the story is going. The acting was really good and expressive!
This is a story about three orphan friends who were happy but things got worse due to a particular incident and how they overcome it in the future.
As for me, the ending was satisfying.
Watch it and you won't regret.

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The Ocean's Quiet Hero!

7.8/10
This drama left me with mixed feelings. The journey starts with Hae Jo trying to find his purpose in life and his parental lineage while grappling with a ticking time bomb in his head.

'Mr. Plankton' is such a beautiful and apt title and metaphor for the story. While plankton may seem insignificant in the vast ocean, their lives are crucial to maintaining the ecosystem much like Hae Jo, who feels overlooked yet contributes in his own ways to people around him.

At the start, Hae Jo came across as a brat but as the drama progressed I found myself sympathizing with him more and more. His flaws and initial arrogance gave way to deeper struggles and vulnerabilities, making it hard not to feel for him. The transformation from a seemingly self-centered character to someone with real pain and abandonment was gradual yet powerful. Woo Do Hwan did an excellent job portraying this character.

The road trip part was exciting and the cinematography was simply stunning. However, I wish the show had delved deeper into Jae Mi's character and her own internal conflicts which felt somewhat underexplored.

Also, I loved the bonding and sort of 'found family' dynamics overall in the drama, especially during the second half! The pacing was also better in the latter half, which made it more engaging than the first.

But the emotional weight of the drama is undeniable. Yes, it is not perfect but WDH's portrayal of Hae Jo was so raw and heartfelt. His struggle with abandonment and his illness leaves a bitter-sweet taste in the mouth that lingers.

Despite its flaws, this drama is worth a one-time watch, especially for the powerful performances and emotional depth it delivers.

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Doce e cativante

Um drama que entrega uma história envolvente sobre segundas chances e amadurecimento.
Nós acompanhamos Daonuea, que se declara para Kabkluen no último dia do ensino médio, mas acaba sendo rejeitado. Anos depois, ao entrar na faculdade, ele descobre que terá que dividir o quarto justamente com seu antigo crush. E esse reencontro inesperado acaba despertando emoções conflitantes.

Eu amei a forma como a relação dos personagens é construída de forma natural e sem pressa, permitindo que os sentimentos entre eles evoluam com profundidade.

Foi um dos meus primeiros contatos com JoongDunk e eu achei eles extremamente bonitinhos!! Amei a química entre eles e a forma como eles conseguem expressar tão bem os personagens.

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