Reviews

His Cat

I just watched this for the first time today and I have to say it filled my heart with warmth. Right off the bat you fall for He Chenghan; A talkactive, cat obsessed boy in need of a friend. A friend he finds in Ye Yu Wei; A standoffish boy with the dreams of being a writer, who transferred into He Chenghan's school.

Later on in the movie you find out that the reason he transfered. The boys get to learn about eachother and find out some things that a person not paying attention wouldnt notice. It's a really wholesome movie and it made me smile a lot.

Production wise, there were times when the audio was off and things didn't quite make sense in the storytelling of it but it wasn't too distracting from the main focus of the story; Which was two boys discovering feelings they've never felt before.

Leia Mais

I disagree with most comments on this season. For me, it was shocking that someone thinks the acting here is poor. I really loved the actors. Not only the new cast is good, but the old cast is better here than in the previous seasons. My favourite performances are Frung's (Oil) e Pea's (Boss). Their story and acting are really good and convincing. Boss introduces an important discussion about politics in Thai society, while Oil made me cry due to her desperate and destructive way of life. But besides them, I loved all stories, even though I hated Non and Pang and had the feeling that the lovely lesbian plot was out of place compared to the other plots.
Differently, from most people, I think the third season marks a come back to the good times of season 1. I loved the 'rebel' first season, but the second one seemed conservative and too concerned to please mommy and daddy. This season was more sensible and realistic when dealing with controversial issues, like AIDS and gay parents.
I liked as well the end of the season, I think they were more skilful to end the story than the second season. It was a wonderful ending for one of the best series I have ever watched. I wanted that other Thai series could be so realistic as this one. Tired of series with poor stories and bad acting like so many things I see around.

(Sorry for my poor English).

Leia Mais

Unique time travel/superhero story

2023/24 has been pretty meh for kdramas. Some of the recent dramas have been relying on pretty faces and hype instead of story/acting etc. My dropped list has been longer than finished list.

I was very skeptical of liking this one when I started watching it. But to my surprise, I was hooked on. Script is unique, characters are well developed, great OST and acting is really good. There was rarely any scenes that I skipped. Glad I clicked on netflix recommendation. Love it that it is only 12 episodes and ended well. Overall very satisfying, underrated piece. Highly recommend watching.

Leia Mais

Korean cinema and thriller were born to be together

The first Korean work of television I have encountered that I can call a work of art. Now this is not the same as My Mister or Mr. Sunshine which are highest quality television. But Somebody felt like watching a class Korean film over eight episodes with a shot selection, attention to character expressions, and subtle dialogue and hidden motives that makes me think of Hamlet, the Mona Lisa, and American Psycho (which I didn't even know this adapted until looking it up). As well as the strongest use of score on the following terms: the greatest use of classical music for socio/psychopaths' trope, dual leitmotif for the two leads, interspersed pop, and the show's own soundtrack which is just so good, that I have seen in Korean television. Modern social communication ft. dating apps, a shaman, a serial killer, an AI chatbot, and love. The only word I can properly use to describe Somebody is insane, and I'm glad that Netflix suggested it to me because this was so up my dark alley.

Shows like these make me excited for the future of Korean television, which in my opinion, is still nascent and only started showing its potential in the 2010s. The last time I tried to pull an all-nighter for a short series was Babylon 2-3 years ago (anime series about someone who makes people commit suicide). Somebody's sick at times but I just could not stop.

Leia Mais

Weirdly interesting

I hesitated so many times before starting this drama because the storyline was weird. A girl turning into a dog but a huge turn off for me. But being a fan of the main leads, I finally started. Still, I find it weird but I like how events are unfolding. It's that kind of drama that would make you laugh or smile all through. I like how romantic feelings between Seo Won and Hae Na isn't rushed. Things are happening at a slow pace as they spend sweet little moments together.
The little suspense around Hae Na's attempt to break the curse really does it for me. I keep wondering if she'd be able to do it. Also, till now, I still don't know whose side Bo Gyeom is truly on and I hope to see in the subsequent episodes.

Leia Mais

Amatonormativity from the perspective of someone who has no desire for romance or sex

I had my eye on this movie for a while and was super happy to find out that this was shown at a Japanese film festival (where the title for this movie was 'I Am What I Am' and completely sold out!). So of course I went to see it and I ended up loving it. So here's my review.

In order to give a good review I must first explain 3 words that some people might be familiar with, but may be new to a lot of you.

1. Amatonormativity: the widespread assumption that everyone is better off in an exclusive, romantic, long-term coupled relationship, and that everyone is seeking such a relationship. - a term coined by Elizabeth Brake.
2. Asexuality (also, ace): a label for a sexual orientation that describes people who experience little to no sexual attraction.
3. Aromantic (also, aro): a label for a romantic orientation that describes people who expeirence little to no romantic attraction.

This is a movie that - at its core - is about amatonormativity. It shows how it can harm anyone, but particularly those who are aro and/or ace. The Kasumi, main character of this movie, is aromantic and asexual (aroace) and values her friends and family. However, it seems like everyone around her is more focused on romance and tries to push that on her.

What the movie does really well is showing how people may have very different reactions when coming into contact with someone who is aroace and genuinely does not have any desire for sex or a romantic relationship.
As someone who is aroace, I appreciated that they never made Kasumi doubt her identity. Throughout the movie it is very clear that she knows that she is aroace, that she is happy with who she is (it's just that she wishes other people would accept her for who she is as well).

I reccomend this movie to everyone.
To those who are not aro and/or ace themselves, I recommend it because it can be an eye opener to see how focused society is on romance. It is not always a bad thing, but it is good to be aware of it, especially if you or someone close to you maybe is not interested in romance for now, or ever. To know that without romance, someone can live a life just as fulfilling and happy.
& To aro and/or ace people, I reccomend it because - even if your life has been very different from Kasumi- it is likely that you'll watch some of these scenes and relate to it on a personal level because something similar has happened to you. I teared up at some moments because I have been in (almost exactly) the same situation as some scenes. Watching it on the big screen, it was both painful, frustrating and like a relief because it felt like being seen and recognised.
It is wonderful that this movie further spreads awareness of asexuality and aromanticism.

Leia Mais

Deconstructing the myth of the invincible killer with the raw reality of an aging body

When action heroes grow old – what remains?
In the case of Pa-gwa: This is NOT a late-career revenge drama. It is an anti-myth. The KMovie Pa-gwa fundamentally challenges the conventions of the action genre.

The title Pa-gwa (파과) is a clever play on words. In Korean, it refers on one hand to "bruised fruit" that is no longer fit for sale. On the other hand, it historically signifies an age (16 for women, 64 for men) marking the end of one's "prime."

At the heart of the film is Lee Hye-young, delivering a masterful performance as Hornclaw through sheer presence and minimalism. While many praise her as a "strong woman," her true power lies in being overlooked. Hornclaw is not stylized as a superhero; she is a woman who exists at the edges of the frame, rarely heroized in frontal shots. She is a character becoming increasingly invisible—socially, physically, and cinematically.

The film treats this invisibility not as a deficit, but as a societal reality. An old woman who is overlooked, ignored, and underestimated—that is precisely what makes her dangerous. The message: A society that ignores older women creates its own formidable adversaries.

The movie consistently breaks with action clichés: there are no "cool" weapons or heroic fight choreography. The battles are grueling, often messy, making mistakes. Here, violence is not a spectacle; instead, it serves as a memory of past times and pains. It feels more lifelike and less polished.

The narrative style is equally unusual: the story remains open and incomplete, refusing simple explanations or neat moral judgments. The film does not attempt to organize violence, aging, or guilt—it simply endures them. This feels more honest, reflecting a real life that isn't always logical or conclusive.

But what makes the KMovie Pa-gwa so special in my eyes is its tenderness. The film takes time for quiet moments, observing the mundane with a mindful, unsentimental gaze—completely without trying to be "cool." Eventually, this is what makes it particularly powerful and human.

Pa-gwa tells the story of what happens when action figures grow old and can no longer win their battles with ease. And indeed: Lee Hye-young is the reason this film resonates so deeply and stays with you long after the credits roll.


PS:
The KMovie Pa-gwa (directed by Min Kyu-dong) is based on the acclaimed novel by Gu Byeong-mo.

Leia Mais

Fluffy and cute in all the best way

Nov. 7, 2023

Kimi Ni Wa Todokanai has definitely stolen my heart as one of my favourite Japanese BL series for 2023. The way this high school BL was able to captivate my heart through the amazing chemistry of our leads. I love how everything rolled along with the pacing of the plot. I've seen others mention how generic the plot is, and I do acknowledge that. But the way everything was delivered just made this show so amazing to watch.

I feel the butterflies in each episodes and I did feel the anger about the shyness of the leads when it comes to communication. But this is a high school setting BL, of course they will have that. When I was their age, I was like that too. Even now at college, I still feel that shyness in comes to saying my true feelings.

Personally for me, I never found any part of the show boring. Each week I waited for the episodes, it all felt worth it to me.

Honestly part of me also wished that I had this kind of fluffy romance when I was in high school. That sweet diabetic type of love...

Please give this show lots of love. Because amongst the other Japanese BLs I have watched this year. This one sticked out to me the most and became my favourite. Others I have dropped or finished but felt like a chore to do.

To many more of this kind of fluffy BLs to finish by the end of this year. Cheers!

Leia Mais

i’m obsessed

this show isn’t for everyone but it’s definitely for me!

holy fuckkk Jang Na Ra really deserves a Baeksang for her performance, i can’t imagine the toll her character had on her- everything felt so real.
I was glued from beginning to end. yes, some characters actions are going to frustrate you to oblivion but there always another character that will relieve that. also the mental health part of the show is beautifully written if you stay till the end, the beginning not so much- coming from an american. you really have to put yourself in a korean society mindset to keep your cool in the beginning ~
again, this isn’t for everyone but give it a try if you’re looking for a mature angsty revenge thriller!

Leia Mais

Actually, I didn't want to watch this movie at first. It didn't sound that interesting to me.
I gave it a shot because Kim Soo Hyun has a guest role in it. But I totally forgot about him when I started the movie.

Shim Eun Kyeong is an extremely talented actress. She doesn't have the usual flawless beauty like all the other ones hence her acting stands out even more because she can capture her fans, her viewers with her skills alone. She doesn't need extreme beauty. She has great harmony with her co-actors and that reflects on the screen.

I gave a rating of 10 because I just can't find anything to critize. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and I had to laugh so many times. I had to laugh, I had to cry and I was able to plunge into beautiful music. The songs alone make it worth watching the film. (And damn, I never saw a more beautiful baby than the one in the backflashes)

If there is any long-lasting meaning to the film, it has to be that no one should regret his past decisions and be proud of the hardships he/she overcame in the past. Everyone gets old and no one should live his life in regret. Make the best of it.

All in all, a really touching, enjoyable movie that I highly recommend.

(The ending is hilarious, btw! hehe...)

Leia Mais

An adorable narcissist? HOW?!

I actually started this drama on a whim, after watching an FMV of the couple. I loved how the ML looked at the FL. That's all there was to it to make me hit the play button. And I guess it's a good thing that I went in without looking any further. Because in episode 1 I was greeted with a narcissistic male lead and time travel. Two things that normally make me run for the hills.

What made me stay? The male lead is definitely narcissistic, but never crosses the line. In fact, the writers somehow managed to balance his narcissism with his genuine care for others. Simultaneously. I don't know if i've ever seen anything quite like it before. I kinda wanna go through the narcissism tag to see if I can find another... He also goes through tremendous character growth, that felt natural and unrushed - despite the shortness of the series. And, fortunately for me, the time travel comes into play with a support character, not the leads. So it actually didn't have too much focus, and contributed to the message of the story in very interesting ways.

It's told with the classic manga-esque dramatics that really only Japan can pull of. It really pulls the punches on commenting on Pretty Privilege/Kawaii Factor and biases, in a humorous way that sent me laughing. I thoroughly enjoyed all the support characters. Not a single one had me annoyed or sent me ranting, especially by the end. And I adored watching the romance (even if I would have liked more affection from the female lead).

It's kinda poetic actually, that a story that wound up being about biases, made me question some of my own drama-watching biases. I am still wondering how this writer managed to make a narcissist so adorable and root for-able.



*Disclaimer: I am referring to his possession of narcissistic/self-centered traits which are commonly found in everyone on a scale of intensity, not as someone who appears to have Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Leia Mais

Windstruck will definitely leave you all struck all right. The story was great. I loved how it opened up with a narrator and how it ended with one. At first I thought the narrator was the main male lead, but the ending showed it was someone else (watch My Sassy Girl first, then you will know what i mean). My Sassy Girl and Windstruck are related movies... Windstruck is like a prequel to My Sassy Girl, but you should watch that before Windstruck or else you might not get the storyline and it will just confuse you. I love how they incorporated almost every genre into one movie, it had: romance, comedy, drama/melodrama a bit of action as well.. what more can you ask for right?

The cast's were amazing, I love Jun Ji Hyun, she is such an amazing actress. She portrayed her character sooo well. Really loved her character as a strong sassy police woman. Also Jang Hyuk was awesome too, I really liked his character, he was soo funny xD And like an all rounder of a main character, it seemed like he was good at ALMOST everything! The other cast members were good too.

I liked the music, it was nice and simple. Also one of the OST's was beautiful because it had a piano (and I love the piano). It didn't have too many songs just 2 but that was more than enough for this movie. It didn't need too many songs.

Rewatch value - 10/10. I gave it a high rewatch value because I think I can watch this movie over and over again and not get tired of it because this movie has sooo many different aspect that it will just draw you back in and make you watch it again. Some of the scenes were filmed soooo beautifully and I love how they included the wind (hence the title Windstruck). It was really beautifully portrayed, so for that I would definitely watch it again.

Over all - 10/10. I have nothing more to say about this movie, it had everything a good movie has. All you have to do now is watch it.
P.S. do keep a tissue box with you because some scenes might make you cry (I know I cried a lot). But don't worry about the ending, you will definitely love it.

Leia Mais

Disappointing by the end

That was a weird drama. They lost half of the characters in the middle and even the direction of the plot. While Song Lin becomes more and more warm and generous, Zhou Feng gets to be self-centred to the point where she chooses to turn a blind eye to the fact that Su keeps using her to get at Song and stays loyal to Su even when Song needs her, and even when her own career would benefit from helping Song. The only moment she thinks of going back to working with her boyfriend is when she's jealous of another woman helping him. If the genders were reversed viewers would never let the character get away with it. That totally put me off from the main couple and I just skipped the last episode, not caring for the ending anymore. 6/10

Leia Mais

Super, Super Short Review

If you want to laugh your head off, bust a gut, and be in a good mood all day, Run BTS is the variety show for you.

In a nutshell, Run BTS is basically BTS being wackos. They have all sorts of fun with activities, challenges, games, sports, etc. It's highly entertaining to watch them have fun and be crackheads. It's hard not to binge watch this because the episodes are short and it holds your attention.

I gave it a ten not because I'm biased (maybe a little though) but because I genuinely enjoyed it. If you ever want to release all your stress or you're in a bad mood, watch this variety show. You'd feel better in no time.

Leia Mais