Reviews

Addictive murder mystery period drama with complex characters

This show had me hooked from the beginning! It had so many of my favorite TV elements: a slow reveal of characters' complex backstories, a murder mystery, glamorous period costumes, and a variety of badass female characters. Also, compared to Taiwan's normal campy, cutesy TV fare (which I do love, to be clear), Light the Night is a huge step up in production quality and story.

The show revolves around Rose and Sue, two best friends and house mothers of a 1980s Taipei nightclub. As the episodes unfold, we learn about each of the supporting characters and the drama leading up to the pilot episode's murder. We don't learn the murder victim's identity until the very end, setting us up for Season 2 to investigate the murderer's identity.

I would highly recommend watching this show not just once but multiple times; it's definitely the type of show where you'll pick up subtle details during a rewatch. An artfully crafted story, superbly acted, scored, and production designed, I can't wait for Season 2!

Leia Mais

Well-meaning but not always well-executed

As someone who adored the film adaptation and has gone back to it again and again and again, this was pretty darn faithful, showing how one meaningful connection can expand someone's world and how all you really need is one person to see and understand you, just one.

I liked how this Taichi showed more of an interest in Kohei right off the bat, which led to some lovely, thoughtful moments. And Kohei was more forward with his feelings in his own way. However, over time, I did begin to feel like the drama was dragging its feet. By making Taichi more attached to Koehi but also more dense, there was this constant circling around his feelings. And while I, of course, was happy to see them explore hearing loss and the different perspectives and struggles of people who are deaf/hard of hearing, I think it took away valuable time that could have been spent with Taichi and Kohei. While they focused on Taichi's passion for making a better world/helping others, Kohei ended up taking a backseat. Some later episodes had barely any scenes of Taichi and Kohei together, let alone from Kohei's point of view.

The ending also didn't quite sit right. While it did its job and was sweet, it felt rushed and lacking.

I think this drama wanted to be bigger than it was and lost itself a bit.

I wasn't disappointed, per se; I just think they could have done more.

Leia Mais

Breath of Fresh Air, Mature Romance, but lacking a bit in memorability

Refreshing, mellow, and mature. A very comfortable watch, celebrating the small moments and the simplicity of falling in love with the right person. No villains. No huge misunderstanding/lack of communication. No beating around the bush. Very much a breath of fresh air.

However, the one thing that keeps it from being 10 stars in my mind is the lack of memorable impactful moments that stick in your mind and make you want to replay the scene over again after you finish. This film didn't have any of that.

Still, rewatch value is high for when you just want something cozy to cuddle up with.

Leia Mais

A Swing but A Miss

Potentially, this could have been a great BL series but it ended up being another formulaic series from Thailand. Conceptionally, a great idea but it turned into a soap opera, unfortunately. They had GREAT actors who are beyond stunningly handsome and turned an interesting story into a mundane romp through boredom. For sure, they were an enchanting couple with no real substance to their relationship. The ending was simply dreadful and astonishingly dense. Not high on my list of watchable ones which I know I am in a minority here. I just did not believe their relationship, even if it was so cute.

Leia Mais

Story : I will never forget the story, i found this dorama when i just in junior high (a bit mature dorama for my age) but yet, this dorama introduce me to what love is, and it is a melodrama, so such a sad ending will definitely excepted, i really hate sad ending, but for this dorama is acceptable and so beautiful at the same time.
Acting : they really into the character, especially the main character, you can feel the love and the sacrifice of the male main lead and the agony and loneliness of the female lead.
Music : the soundtrack of this dorama is still in my Ipod list, i still humming of the soundtrack melody sometimes,that's why it's outstancding.
Rewatch Value : i'll certainly want to watch it again but not so desperate to.
Overall : it's a beautiful melodrama with a twist that not imaginable, the cast is good in portraying the character and the soundtrack is so captivating, i still have it in my Ipod and still sing it in the karaoke box sometimes.. ^^
Recommend it! :D

Leia Mais

Revenge vs Protection

Across the Furious Sea is a cinematic ride for those who like their drama grim, gritty and in constant unpredictable movement. A cat and mouse game of revenge versus protection that conveys in subtext the disparity of parenthood between the classes.
Ultimately this is a story about facing the truth , whether about oneself, or those we love and accepting responsibility for our actions & treatment of others.
It has violence both bloody and sexual but the real darkness is in the characters.
While it was messed up, sad, tragic , thrilling and so well done at same time ,the end message of the movie comes across the sea loud and clear.

Leia Mais

A lot of reviews compare "Meteor Garden" to the other "Hana Yori Dango" adaptations, which I don't think is really fair... Not only was MG the first drama version, it was made on a pretty low budget. Producer Angie Chai bought most of the F4's clothes from local thrift shops and had a hard time getting funding for some of the scenes. Nevertheless, Chai had a vision and it paid off. "Meteor Garden" is considered the first of the popular "idol drama" trend and launched her career as a prolific producer. The drama made household names out of Barbie Hsu, Jerry Yan, Vic Chou, Ken Chu, and Vanness Wu. All went on to have good careers, though to varying degrees of success. It also introduced the sweet and popular Rainie Yang.As an adaptation of "Hana Yori Dango" (or "Boys Over Flowers"), MG is probably the most faithful to the manga. MG combined a few characters (notably Makiko and Sakurako [Li Zhen] and Seinosuke and Junpei [Xiao Shun]), but I was pleasantly surprised to see Matsutaro (Ah Song, played by Wallace Chung) and Amon (Ya Men, played by Blue Lan). Neither of the latter characters have been featured in any other drama, not even the Japanese version. Additionally, MG follows the manga almost scene by scene, only skipping over about one arc. It's unfortunate that the manga was not finished yet, so the writers had to make up an ending. I was not really a fan of the last episode, besides the very last scene.For fans of the manga, I would say this is a must-watch, despite the low production values. Barbie Hsu's (Shan Cai) and Jerry Yan's (Dao Ming Si) chemistry was also on point. It's no wonder this version was so popular at the time that it aired. A popularity that endures to this day. I'm very excited for the upcoming remake since Chai has promised to make another faithful (but updated and flashy) rendition.

Leia Mais

A good watch

Story
Compared to the other versions, the plotline were pretty much the same. This version have a more sentimental feel to it. And even though i knew the ending, i still cried.

Acting/Cast
The acting was good. Casting wasn't really spot on like other versions, but still good.

Music
The music were nostalgic. My favorite was 很高兴认识你 by Twins

Overall
It's a touching story about the friendship of 7 different girls. If you like retro setting, i think you'll enjoy this.
Cinematography was really good and really pleasing to see. I really liked their outfits on the 90's setting.

Leia Mais

I really liked this series, it wasn't until the last two eps that I kinda got bored a little. Turns out that I need some... drama... in my drama, not just pure fluff. I prefer it when my dramas end with a bang and not a soft plop.

I mean, there was a bang, literally, just not for the main couple, it was a set-up for Sky in Your Heart. Definitely an interesting set-up, that's for sure, the main couple just sort of fluffily fizzled out into cuteness, though. And I'm more of a give me angst or give me death kinda gal.

But regarding the drama itself and its characters, I ended up loving Kluen which I didn't expect at first because I thought he was leading Nuea on out of pure... whatever. But when I got to know him, how hard it was for Kluen to express himself, he become my favorite!

What I adored were the relationships the main characters had with others, mainly Nuea's relationship with his older brother Fah, it was so touching, and Kluen's friendship with Noel who truly understood Kluen and his issues and tried to help him in any way he could.

Overall, a very sweet story and I will definitely watch the follow-up!

Leia Mais

As a fan of the huge, multi-cultural, franchise that is HYD adaptations, I had to watch the ancestor of them all. Made in 1995, you should be warned that this movie showcases some of the most hilarious outfits I’ve ever seen. I mean…Domyoji, if you’re so rich, why can’t you seem to afford a shirt to put under that hideous vest you wear everywhere? Anyway, if you can get past the 90s vibe (or appreciate it as added humor), this movie actually has a lot of positives. It takes the familiar story (in part at least) and manages to fit it into a movie without making the viewers feel overwhelmed. The acting was decent, if a bit over the top and it was really fun to see some Japanese stars back in their young days (Looking at you Tanihara Shosuke). It was entertaining, and for something I only turned on in order to say I had watched it before, turned out to be better than expectations.

(Review originally from my blog)

Leia Mais

YOU MUST WATCH IT AND RATE IT FAIR!

Omg. I’m speechless.
This was one beautiful one I found after I almost gave up on gmmtv and thai bls.
WHAT A MASTERPIECE.
THERE IS NOTHING NOT TO LOVE.
EVERY SCENE IS MAGICAL AND IS SUPER SOOTHING.
THE CINEMATOGRAPHY IS TO DIE FOR.
THE ACTING IS INCREDIBLE. ESPECIALLY EARTH’s. I wish they didn’t make mix cry so much but other than that THIS ONE IS IT.
IM GONNA WATCH IT EVERY NIGHT.
AND LET THAT MAGICAL MUSIC - (NO WORDS CAN DESCRIBE HOW BEAUTIFUL THE OSTS ARE) PUT ME TO SLEEP.
I have one thing to tell you.
WATCH IT.
AND HELP THEM BRING BACK ANOTHER SEASON.
<3 #phapundao #showsomelove #its time to give credits to such good bls. Cause it’s not fair when ones which are barely good enough gain so much popularity when these kinda good ones stay underrated.
THIS IS WORTH IT. Love y’all!

Leia Mais

A fun and enjoyable ride ~ It's worth spending your time on!

It's been a while since I last watched a xianxia drama, and The Starry Love was on my watchlist mainly because of Chen Xing Xu. However, when it started airing, I was hooked on another drama, and watched 2 more dramas after that, before coming back to it. I finished it a few weeks ago, and I must say, I really like and thoroughly enjoyed this drama ! :)

In the midst of the fantasy set-up, I love the drama's focus on comedy, romance, action, family relationships and friendship. Of course, there is angst woven into the story, but not too much that it becomes dragging and annoying. The story of the main couple, You Qin and Ye Tan, developed slowly in the first few episodes, as they seemed to be getting on each other's nerves more. In comparison, the romance of the second couple, Chao Feng and Qing Kui, developed faster. But You Qin and Ye Tan's relationship and the overall plot development gets better and better as the story progresses. I like the episodes when Ye Tan went to the mortal realm to find the 3 soul shards and the different antics, heartwarming acts and comedic moments that she (with help from her "cohorts") did to make them fall in love with her. And how, in the process, she fell for the 3 soul shards, and eventually realized her feelings for You Qin. And of course, I love the parts with You Qin version 2.0! He became more expressive and in tune with his emotions when the 3 soul shards merged. There are many swoon-worthy and heartwarming moments, as well as light-hearted scenes between You Qin and Ye Tan. Their chemistry is palpable! I also like how the drama portrayed the sisterly love and bond between Ye Tan and Qing Kui; there were no jealousy and hate, just love and support for each other. The strong friendships and family dynamics are also a joy to watch.

The cast's acting, as a whole, was very good! They gave an overall great performance to drive the story. I will mention some of them:
• Chen Xing Xu certainly delivered in this role as Shao Dian You Qin (plus the 3 soul shards). His portrayal of the 5 personalities is spot on and convincing! He proved his versatility again as an actor. I love the 3 soul shards, because each of them represents a different facet of You Qin, which makes him a more well-rounded, complete and likable character. My personal favorite is Mei You Qing. He's so funny and smart! :)
• Li Lan Di is excellent as Li Guang Ye Tan; she truly fits the role. She has great comedic timing, and was able to portray the funny, mischievous and serious sides of Ye Tan. And in the heavier scenes, she was able to convey the depth of her emotions.
• He Xuan Lin as Li Guang Qing Kui was able to exude gentleness and kindness, but showed her inner strength and wits when faced with different challenges.
• Chen Mu Chi's Chao Feng, although he started out as a cunning and deceptive 3rd prince of the Void, gradually grew and matured as a character. I think CMC was able to show this development.
• And let's not forget the besties, Man Man (Wang Li Na), Di Lan Jue (Qin Tian Yu) and Hai Chao (Cao Bo)! I love these three. They are the kind of friends we need - loyal, supportive, gives encouragement, and unafraid to say what needs to be said, even if it hurts sometimes. Not to mention they have a good sense of humor.
• I also like Zi Wu (Dai Ya Qi), Qing Heng (Zhou Zhan), and the Heavenly Empress (Kong Song Jin) – family members who were fiercely loving, loyal and supportive of You Qin.

The rest of the cast did very well too, thus giving this drama its overall quality and making it a memorable one.

The OST is fitting for this drama and adds to my enjoyment of the show. I like both the opening and ending theme songs. As for the CGI and fight scenes, they were aesthetically done and didn't look fake. The production – costumes, locations, sets, props – are on point.

Regarding the ending, I went into this with a general idea of how the story would end, so I wasn't too caught off guard. Although the ending could have been better and more definite, I think it is still good because it gives a sense of hope - it's not a sad ending.

I have rewatched a number of episodes already, and I plan to rewatch the rest in the future.

Final verdict: I highly recommend this one. It is a fun and enjoyable ride, and worth spending your time on!

Leia Mais

No Wonder This Show Won 5 Awards

I wanted to watch this show back in 2018 when it first came out, but, much to my despair, never got to because it wasn't available anywhere with subtitles. A few days ago, I came across it on IQIYI, and lo and behold! There it was, with manual subtitles.

I'll make it quick: The City of Chaos is a must-watch. It's been such a long time since I've been this enraptured by a drama, but this one had it all. A captivating plot line, gorgeous bromance, complex characters, incredible plot twists (you'll know what I mean when you get to the end), beautiful music and lighting. The pacing was really good, too, with comedic bits artfully inserted in-between the more intense parts of the story. And boy, was it intense.

The one tiny downside lay with the romance subplots, but they were so minor they didn't bother me that much in the end.

Tldr; I absolutely recommend this.

TW: Blood, choking, drugs, and PTSD.

Leia Mais

Skip to the Overview if this is TL;DR.
This drama very much fits the usual standard for Japanese dramas; a series of events, usually with a pattern, and an underlying storyline.
SPECIAL NOTE: I cried in 3 episodes. In a 10 Episode drama. Usually, the only dramas that get me crying are the epic 25 episode long ones- and even then, they have to have POSITIVELY HEART-SHATTERINGLY SAD ENDINGS. Or no tears are shed. In this way, this drama is impressive.

Story- It had a very good idea for the story, but I don't know if I agreed with how it was executed. There were definitely some loose ends I would like tied up, and the ending wasn't satisfactory.

Cast- I thoroughly enjoyed the cast, I think they all did very well. :) The lady that plays Momoko is a very good actress; I'm currently watching her in another drama and she plays the polar opposite character of Momoko, to the extent that I can barely believe it's her.

Music- I actually remember a lot of the music from this one, which is a little bit of a surprise (in a good way). It was really quirky and it always fit with the scene. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, and sometimes tense. The intro song is beautiful as well.

I wouldn't watch this drama again any time soon, although I enjoyed it. It simply isn't a drama made for rewatching is all.

Overall, it's a little bit of a frivolous drama, very funny (I legitimately lol'ed several times) and heart touching. Don't watch it if you're looking for romance, a completely sensical and complete storyline, or a particularly unpredictable or serious drama.

Leia Mais

they saved the best our skyy 2 episode till last

this episode.. i don't even know where to start, it had my crying multiple times but with tears of happiness, it was everything i needed and more.

we got to see many more sweet earthmix moments we did not get to see in the bad buddy crossover which i am so grateful for. whilst i did not wait as long for this as other atots viewers did, as i did not see atots for the first time until last year, it was still a long time to wait to see tian and phupha again and it was definitely worth the wait to see their happy moments together.

if you have seen the cross over episodes with bad buddy you will see this one has a bigger focus on their sweet and loving moments, which i suppose is obvious and bound to happen since this was now their 'own' episode but it was not expecting that much sweetness given how phupha was acting in those cross over episodes.. it made me so emotional :')

this episode has some of the most beautiful moments out of all 16 in the our skyy 2 series, and is potentially my favourite out of them all, i urge you to watch this if you like a tale of thousand stars, earthmix truly deserve all the love and support for this episode, as well as the cross over episodes (however i much prefer this one..)

the ost they sung for this is great, and sung beautifully by them both as always!

Leia Mais