This review may contain spoilers
for the arts not the charts
i might be the only person who enjoyed this show throughout LOL if you're expecting a walking green forest of characters then dont even bother starting this show bc main leads are heavily flawed characters and both have their shortcomings but they were entertaining to watch (for me). this show is about troubled youth chasing their dreams together but dont expect a smooth sailing ride for them. i personally love shows like this (flawed characters, angsty) so if you're one of my kind you might like this show. the 'love will prevail all' mindset they had at the start is so frustratingly cute. im a forgiver to lovesick hopeless romantics unfortunately i found them endearing. some of the plots were questionable but for the most part it was good! second lead cp story was SUPER unnecessary. buuut zhou shui & dai daji's love was worth to watch! i loved seeing their growth and tbh they couldve added more eps to show zs&dj in present time. alsoo this show has an OE but i like it! which is rare bc i hate an open ending show but they somehow executed it nicely and i was satisfied with it at least!! teared up a bit here and there when watching this but i might just be attached to the show hahaaWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Lost and White Christmas had a gay baby named The Stranded
I usually review underlying social commentary and filming/directing techniques so my reviews mention other shows and lots of excitement about camera placement and editing.Let's get it/
Season 1 of The Stranded aired worldwide in its entirety on Netflix on 15 Nov 2019 with 7 x 50 min episodes. It reminds you of Lost, White Christmas and Lord of the Flies all at once while still being fairly unique in this genre.
Lost is an American television show that aired 2004 - 2010 about survivors of a plane crash on a deserted island dealing with the Lord of the Flies narrative on top of everything getting weirder and weirder. Due to the time and place Lost as a series was coming from, the patriarchy in it makes the show almost unwatchable for me. So my first title for this was "Lost with less Patriarchy."
You can't help but be reminded of Lost when you watch The Stranded. You have an almost identical and equally pivotal scene of the main character waking up on the ground in the jungle at one point. You have the unwordly creepiness that can't be explained and the mysterious suspense wrapped around everything.
I'm not sure how much influence Netflix had over this series. The lack of product placement throughout was almost jarring to someone who has only seen Thai webseries before. The 24 frames per second vibe and scene changes dramatically split with relevant intriguing backstories were reminiscent of so many Western shows in this genre. Idk, it's so interesting to me, the points where Sukdapisit derailed from that. That's what I was looking for, broken tropes and throwbacks that have nothing to do with Western media.
During The Stranded I also found myself reminded of White Christmas, a short Korean series from 2011 about a group of students trapped at their elite school in the mountains in an avalanche over Christmas break.
There's nothing supernatural about White Christmas, it's purely psychological. The Stranded has a psychological vibe that runs deeper than the character relationships in Lost. The repeated filming of hot shirtless guys and lonely girls with fucked up pasts also were very White Christmas-like.
There's something that The Stranded, White Christmas & Lord of the Flies have that Lost could never. The way the characters react to being trapped on their own with no help changes whether you're writing adults or children into such roles. The internal war between despair, communism*, escapism and hope gets completely skewed and more so than when writing adult characters.
*communism in the desire to successfully work together. Quote from The Stranded; "We must cooperate. Work together and trust each other. That's how we survive."
A lot of these stories show how this kind of purely conceived idealism breaks down against the desperation to survive.
I can't leave out Krit & Jack in social commentary. I didn't want them to be token innocent queers in the background. Props to show how normal gays are to hets. So from a social standpoint, I'm grateful they were sexually active, depressing, and dangerously in love. They're not there to promote a harmless depiction of teenage boyfriends. They add to the whole way the situation of being stranded can carve out human ugliness on all sides.
In the West our need to strictly label genders and sexualities puts me in a difficult spot to describe what "girls" refers to in Thai media. But you will see it here. We're used to it more than the average American clicking on a foreign show on Netflix. The male characters who are there doing "girls" chores. I love that they're not trying to pass and that they don't even have to explain their existence. I love that they are just socially accepted from the beginning without it becoming a plot point. I love that you see the Thai thing where it's less about fighting to be trans than being trans and fighting for your personal gender's rights irrespective of their bodies' anatomies. But I still hate that these characters are minor and still mainly used to inject humor by their default flamboyance. I also wish there would be at least one transboy or nb person at some point in whatever I watch.
The setting from The Stranded creates the uniqueness and non-Western cultural framework that makes it special. The setting is more intense and beautiful than most things you will see in film. The ratio of camera time given to nature over characters is noticeably greater than many films set in remote locations. The intro's lens filter over the drone filming of the forests and beaches is so simple and so effective. You know you're looking at something that is ultimately skewed and that's thematically really important to remember from the beginning until the last scene.
The intro and the show itself have music that is arguably way cooler than what we usually see in foreign media. Passively, it's youthful and non-commercial. When it's used climatically it's a bit intense in a cliche way that I wish would just die in this genre.
Scene cuts come abruptly at times to weave together similar dramatic events been different characters. These types of situations make me so grateful to the writers for their timing of revelations and events.
The actors are all so so good. You never think they're faking anything and you become immersed in each of their fucked up lives. You want to see some of them rise up and some of them fall down where they belong but you're at the mercy of the story. To compliment both the writing and the actors, nothing feels forced out of character and so many points of interest are created between these characters in this story.
I really want to see everyone's theories on what's going on in the story. At first I thought ok, they're all dead and they don't know it. Now I don't know what to think but with what's happened, I just want Mark to come back so much<333
Thank u for reading x
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Life is short, cherish the moment.
Unhampered swordsman, Huo Zhan Bai seeks treatment for his sworn brother's child. His sworn brother's child needs to be treated by the most skilled doctor to have a glimmer of hope of survival. So for his sworn brother's child to receive the treatment he needs, he set out on a journey to the Apothecary Valley. His journey leads him to encounter the most skilled doctor, also know as a Divine doctor, the master of the Apothecary Valley, Xue Zi Ye. Their encounter isn't exactly all that great, but as time flies, they grew closer, developed mutual understanding and trust. And eventually, love blossomed between a free-spirited swordsman and a divine doctor who's always refrained from involving herself in the struggles of the Martial Arts World. However, due to the heavy responsibilities on their shoulders, a love that could have lasted for a lifetime couldn't be expressed fully.I loved the premise of Snowy Night Timeless Love mainly because right from the first four episodes, I got to see the chemistry of Li Qin and Joseph Zeng. Plus, the stunning cinematography mustn't go unmentioned.
I've always known this one would have a sad ending cause the synopsis itself is a big spoiler, but I wasn't swayed from watching, I picked it up still. Why? Mainly because not all love lasts forever. And not all love gets a happy ending, or the forever after thing. There are love that you want to protect but couldn't. A love full of heartbreaks and sufferings. Not every love is all rosy. Love is accompanied with sadness, tears, heartbreaks, and separation. A love with regrets. There's that one person you wish to save but couldn't. That one person you'd sacrifice your life for in a heartbeat if sacrificing could bring the person back. That beloved you never want to get separated from. A beloved who bacame a memory. There's always that love. That beloved you can't help but miss as the day passes. That's the reality of life. Life is short. If there's one lesson I learnt from this drama, that'll be, "cherish the moment while it's last. More importantly, cherish the person you love while they're still around." Spend time with them, cuz you never know what will happen in the future. Don't leave regrets. Live your life spending time with the people you love. There's no eternity in this, life is but for a short while, so don't waste it. How long you live is not what matters, it's how well you live your life, spending time with your beloved, loved ones, and doing what you like that does. Regrets can be a very tormenting, so live your life without regrets.
The problem with Huo Zhan Bai is he puts others needs before his own happiness. He couldn't express his feelings, nor was he able to make too many happy memories with Xue Zi Ye. But then again, the time they spent together was fulfilling, they'll turn to memories to cherish forever. This is a sad romance that refects reality. I can't help but be reminded of "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi.
That said, Li Qin did her role as the cold Chief of the Apothecary Valley justice. The way she portrays emotions sometimes leaves me speechless. I've always known she's a great and versatile actress, still I can't help but be impressed by her acting skills everytime I watch her drama. Her acting moved me to tears in this one. Her facial expressions is spot on. She portrayed her role as the cold, aloof, yet kindhearted Xue Zi Ye wonderfully. Indeed, Li Qin doesn't disappoint.
And without excluding our selfless ML, Joseph Zeng. I enjoyed his performance in this one thoroughly. When he's pain, he acts it so well. I've seen him in a lot of dramas and have always been impressed by him. Snowy Night Timeless Love made me love him more. The way he acts when he's in pain left an impression on me. He also didn't disappoint me.
Not to mention the chemistry. There are no kisses like the other dramas I've watched, but the chemistry was there. The gazes, hugs, and their time together was enough to keep me going. If there's any complaints I have about this one, it's that Huo Zhan Bai never put his happiness first. It's looking for Mo's medicine today, and bringing justice to the Martial art world tomorrow. I didn't like this about him.
After much thought, I decided to give this a solid 9.5 for the lessons, the acting, and the chemistry of the leads.
Xue Zi Ye and Huo Zhan Bai's love will live on in my heart for a very, long, long time. I learnt a lot from their love. I can't help but love this drama because of how it reflects reality.💞
There are many controversies and mixed feelings on the ending, mainly because the ended was a sad one. And because Xue Zi Ye died in the end. But I loved it still, even though it's a sad ending, I learnt a lot. Snowy Night Timeless Love is beautifully written and executed. 💞 It's painful but I was still glad to see Xue Zi Ye die thinking of the one she loves.
Snowy Night Timeless Love is a drama that'll move you to tears. A drama about separation. A drama that moved me, even though it has its flaws. Don't miss it. However, make sure you have your tissues close by if you an empathetic person cuz this drama is emotional!
Was this review helpful to you?
In a society that has been enraptured by the potential of AI and robotics, it’s unsurprising that there’s been a recent influx in dramas that deal with such topics. Despite being based off an older manga, My Absolute Boyfriend is yet another title to add to that list. It addresses the issue of robots assimilating into the human world, a problem that is bound to become increasingly relevant over time.
It all sounds interesting, but I wouldn’t recommend this show to anyone who is in need of a captivating storyline. As is the case with most Korean dramas, the first couple of episodes are all fun and games. The further it gets, though, the faster it tumbles downhill. You’d think that this show should be about the struggles of a robot in human society, and it is…but only in theory. Instead, My Absolute Boyfriend overflows with unexciting conflicts and equally unappealing supporting characters. It’s a romcom that pretends to be intricate and emotional, but lacks any of the proper delivery to make it a worthwhile watch.
Ma Wang Joon is one of the least likable second leads I’ve ever had the bad luck of experiencing, yet he rears his ugly head so many times that it makes for a rather toxic drinking game: take a shot every single time you want to punch him smack in the jaw. His constant, unnecessary interventions in the main couple’s relationship stunt its development so much that it’s hardly satisfying when they’re together. It’s like its own subgenre of jump-scare horror—every time Da Da and Young Goo are having a moment, I’m not enjoying it; I’m nervous, waiting for Wang Joon to poke his head around the corner and interrupt. Diana isn’t much better. Despite her intriguing introduction, she ends up as an incredibly boring villain and contributes nothing but shallow inconveniences to the story. All of the conflicts are uninteresting and oftentimes feel unresolved.
Frankly, the number of episodes does far more harm than good and put the writers in over their heads. The amount of sloppy writing in this show is too much to bear and makes the main relationship a tad unbelievable. Had the drama been shortened to 16 or even 12 hour-long episodes, the story would have been so much tighter and left no room for such plot filler.
What’s truly odd about My Absolute Boyfriend is that the acting is good. While the overall performance of the actors and actresses is nothing to rave about, they’re all pretty impressive, especially for a drama that’s ridden with flaws. I can only sadly imagine what could have been if it were written better. For example, Yeo Jin Goo does an excellent job of portraying a puppy-like boyfriend robot and is exemplary when it comes to showing raw emotion. Yet, his talent mostly goes to waste because the writers have no clue as to what the hell to do with their own main character and just push him off to the side for a disproportionate amount of time. Similarly, Min Ah, Jong Hyun, and Seo Young all have the capacity to act well, but their characters are too flat for their acting to feel completely natural. This becomes increasingly obvious over time, when the writers are so busy trying (and failing) to make the story itself interesting that the characters lose the traits that make them compelling.
Altogether, I would have to recommend a pass on this show. Even if you’re a diehard fan of one of the actors, this can be a tough one to get through (I’ll voluntarily admit that I persisted in watching because of Yeo Jin Goo, and even then, it was a struggle). In an industry that pumps out romcom after romcom, My Absolute Boyfriend isn’t particularly special whatsoever.
--
(For in-depth review/analysis with spoilers: https://dramavixen.tumblr.com/post/186224304109)
Was this review helpful to you?
Display of Social Abnormalities shown by exceptional Actresses
Warning ahead: This is no show for softies. And those who have no tolerance for a drama full of amoral siraegis, black characters. And somehow i'm questioning if i'm allowed to like this show, because it left me with a feeling of watching a pileup. Mass collision episode after episode - that i watched with open mouth in the beginning not believing what i'm actually seeing and during the end with fascination and aww for the incredible good actors and the artistic expression of abnormality and social deviances. So don't make the mistake to assume it's like Celebrity because of the title, trailer and beautiful intro and the poster, it cannot be more far away.Mask Girl was shocking, and actually disgusting to certain scenes but on the other hand this was incredible original, creative and well executed in production - because despite the very explicit scenes it had a very captivating plot. Every actor leaves a brilliant mark - especially unrecognizable because of the the obviously incredible work of the make-up artists in a thrilling story, with 7 sub-plots in every episode that web together. If i have to describe what this fast-paced, binge-worthy drama is without spoiling much i would say it gives a vibe like a mix of Oldboy and Somebody: It is bloody with violence, abuse and sexual content. So viewer discretion advised this is +18 for multiple(!) reasons.
And still some funny scenes were just brilliant. Black comedy par excellence.
Be careful not to judge hasty finishing episode 1. The ride begins with episode 2. If you make it to episode 3 congratulations. From now on it gets easier and the true story begins.
Was this review helpful to you?
There's simply no comparison. The movie is just a better overall production, even counting the fact that movies tend to have a higher budget. It's best to think of them as being in two different universes-having similar characters, a similar setup, but completely different characterizations, different plot, different tone, different extrapolation. I suspect that a lot of people rate the series higher because it ends happily, where the movie is tragic. As a gay man, I totally understand the bias against LGBT movies with tragic endings; there's simply too many of them. But still, the movie's better.
But I'm not dismissing this series. The series comes into it's own about halfway when it spends time with new characters and explores themes of it's own.
Overall, you won't regret watching it. I wish I had time for a rewatch as my own comparisons to the movie spoiled the beginning for me. Looking forward to Season 2 instead!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Top 5 dramas of the year so far
A amazing lovely,heartwarming,funny drama.do not let the ratings put you off this drama!The story revolves around do yong shik a guy who has a hard time since leaving school and is not progressing well in his life,he has no job,low self esteem,very anxious in pressure situations he bumps into his first love by chance after not seeing eachother since school she is now a doctor and treats Ed And do yong shik has ED(You know where this is going) - I’ll get to this because I think this is why it’s got a low rating which is bizarre.
What I love about this show is it so different from other k-dramas it sort of reverses roles where the male lead is the one with vunrablility and in need of help and emotional security,- it’s nice and refreshing to see because not every guy in a kdrama has to be a ceo of a major company or a smart successful confident guy,sometimes people get beaten down by the burdens of life this is just a reality and the male lead does a amazing job of portraying this and everyone of the actors are amazing!
The relationship between do shik and ru da is one of best in kdrama for me,ru da is still in love the do shik that she knew at school but she understands he has changed and is not confident with himself. Throughout the show as ru da spends more time with do shik he slowly start to gain confidence and come out of his shell abit more and it’s just really nice to watch.
Last thing i want to say is they make a comparison from the start of the show to end of the show and I loved it
Do yong shik gets invited to a dinner to eat for a reunion with his school friends,one guy keeps going on about how sunccesful he is in his job and how much he his making,do yong shik feels inferior and feels like a failure because he doesn’t have what everyone else has
Fast forward to the last part of the show he now has a job although it is only with a small company do shik is happy and satisfied with his life,he is content with what he has,the same guy tries to belittle him because he doesn’t have a big salary but he doesn’t care because that isn’t what bring do shik happiness. - my point is having success it’s not everything in life,money is not everything in life,you don’t have to strive to have so much money to be happy,it’s about finding things In your life that genuinely make you happy and no one else
Ps if your rating this low because it has references of sex and talk about more adult topics,think you need to grow up
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Here we have it folks - Shopping King Louie Joseon Edition!
It pretty much was, you can't deny it. However, all jokes aside, I cannot deny that I immensely enjoyed watching this drama. Without a shadow of a doubt I looked forward to each episode which brightened my Monday and Tuesday evenings (which are pretty grim), as the whole drama was just sweet and oh so refreshing. I absolutely loved it. If you are wavering about this drama, please give it a go, it was amazing.I'll actually begin my review with the acting and cast. It was lovely to see Kyungsoo as a main male lead, he pulled off the role incredibly well and proved his acting ability. I loved whenever he would get triggered by things and go "Oh hO!!" lmao. D.O. is clearly an amazing actor and that goes without saying. Nam Ji Hyun was also good, but I have to say that it felt like Kyungsoo was the one who shone between the two of them and pretty much made the drama - but I suppose it was inevitable by the way in which the show had been written. Nam Ji Hyun has proven before that she can play some stronger women roles, like in Suspicious Partner, so I thought it was alright. Jo Sung Ha was brilliant as expected but what I really enjoyed were the characters in the village! God it was so sweet that I felt like I wanted to live there at times lmao. The second lead syndrome was there for me in this one - it wasn't too much because the guy pretty much knew he had no chance from the start and didn't really make a move (unless it was to tease the crown prince) but I actually enjoyed his character and thought he was an amazing friend to the main leads. Lastly, I want to address the I know the King was annoying to some but I actually greatly enjoyed him as a character. Yes, we are seeing weak kings crop up quite often when the drama circles around a Crown Prince main lead but I felt his character was a bit more lovable. There wasn't too much fault with any of the acting.
Okay, so, the story. We can all agree, as I said earlier, it was pretty much a Joseon version of Shopping King Louie, with the rich guy with amnesia, Nam Ji Hyun (lol bless her, always having to play these roles) finding her brother- I mean it is quite coincidental but hey I still love both. I actually enjoyed the story, I didn't really skip much and I am glad that they didn't add too much seriousness and conflict as it would take away how sweet this drama actually was, but not so little that we were sitting here thinking "ugh when is something actually going to happen". The only disappointment with the story, in my opinion, was towards the end. I definitely felt that the last episode was rushed and there was too much to do - start/end a war and also get the main leads together. Moreover, I was getting a little annoyed that Hong Shim was telling the Crown Prince that she didn't want to be with him! I think that they had been through enough shit together that they really deserved each other. I genuinely have no idea why the writers decided to make us go through that bs at the end when instead we could have got some more heartwarming scenes between the main leads to finish it all off.
Moo Young's death was expected on my part. The man literally had been shot by so many arrows through the series as well as so much pain that I was surprised they didn't kill him off sooner. I definitely did not want him to die in the slightest, I liked him a lot, but I think the fact he went through so much pain and then DIED - ugh it's so upsetting. This fact was so important to me I put it in its own paragraph lmao.
The music was lovely, it fitted the series well and familiar faces, or voices I should say, popped up on some of the tracks which was a treat. It was memorable at the time in which I watched the series and perhaps if I heard them again, but nothing really stuck in my mind. It was wonderful though. What was nice was that there wasn't music in many scenes which meant that the music never felt 'overplayed'.
I probably wouldn't rewatch this drama unless I was with one of my friends and trying to get them to watch it. That being said, I've only rewatched half of one series lol.
Overall, this drama was an absolute treat, I really enjoyed it and I do hope that you did too. Thank you for reading my review and I hope I didn't bore you too much.
Was this review helpful to you?
My Country is a bit like Six Flying Dragons, and Warrior Baek Dong Soo had a beautiful angsty baby together.
Six Flying Dragons since the story takes place in the same time period and a lot of the characters who were the main characters there and secondary characters in this one. And Warrior Baek Dong Soo that is also drama about two friends who end up fighting against each other and the sad and angsty bromance that comes with that. Yet I feel like My Country managed to be its own show despite all these comparisons.
I recognized and knew about the events that took place here, I knew where we were heading all the time. However, it did not damage the story in any for me. There was plenty of other parts within the story that surprised me.
The main story is so much more than the power of the Lee family as Goryeo changes into Joseon, which was the center story in Six Flying Dragons, but here the story of friendship and relationship between Hwi and Seon Ho is the center of it all – their love story even, if Korea had daring enough to go there. How their friendship and love for each other pulls them apart and back together and then apart again and so on. That is what draws you in and keep you there as the story goes along. That is the emotional core of the show. The politics and all of that is just the structure around it.
Each episode was over an hour in length, but all of them had a rather quicker pace, things didn’t really drag on all too much, things were rather action packed - there were some cool fight scenes in there from time to time – and it continued to surprise all the way until the end. I always found myself really engaged within the story, I was always excited about the next episode and each episode made me feel something; anger, horror, sadness, etc., which is what I'm looking for in a tv show. It really hooked me in and didn’t want to let me go, which I liked.
My Country is quite heavy on the politics, as well on the battles and blood and all that good stuff you can find in a drama such as this. This is no picknick at the park. This is a drama about men fighting their troubles and feelings away with swords, are usually covered in blood at some point in each episode, and nobody is really truly happy outside maybe the first two episodes. I am a rather simple soul when it comes to these things and My Country gave me my fix for handsome warriors in period dramas who are somehow always covered in ether blood or sweat or both.
You can pretty much predict how it ends before you get there, the story isn’t super subtle about it, but the story still takes you on a wild ride. The story sort of just gives you what it promised in the beginning, and I can respect that.
This drama gave you what it promised in the beginning, when it opens with the two main characters about to fight each other. It set the tone quite well. This is not a drama that starts as a cute and fluffy little tale in the first ten episodes and then does a switch and the last six episodes are almost a Shakespearian tragedy, as many other kdramas tend to do.
It’s not for everybody, but I rather enjoy the bloodbath, the politics, the sword fighting and all the other stuff that comes with this type of show. A bit on the heavy side, rather male-dominated or male centric story. But most stories, no matter what form they come in, kdramas or not, are sometimes rather male-centric. Having grown up oh those kinds of stories I don’t have a problem enjoying them, though over the years I have learned to be more watchful and critical over such things.
My biggest (and possibly only) gripe with this show exactly how much space the male characters took in comparison with the female characters. The females started of strong, they mattered and they had their own thing going on, but a little by little most of them kind of seemed to either die or almost disappear as we went further into the story – and I almost did not notice it until the very end, because the story had sort of swept me away from them.
I have said it before that I do not necessarily need to see female characters in these stories fighting with sword (though I do like it when that happens) and being a complete badass like Hwi or Seon Ho. But getting to see them have more influence within the story. See them give advice, solve problems, even cause problems, and in general have something significant to do within the story that helps the plot along is always appreciated. Even requested (from me).
This took place in a very male-centric world; a lot of decisions were made by men and they fought in wars and all that. But I have still seen stories that happen at a similar time, or other period dramas from Korea that seemed to achieve doing so much more with the female characters then this drama did. Like the Six Flying Dragons or even the Rebel Hong Gil Dong did (both rather male stories on their own way) for example. I know it is possible, so I expected a more from My Country then I got in that respect.
My Country isn't really a drama for the average or newbie kdrama watcher who shuns away from most sageuks and especially this one who is more on the heavier side with very little romance - but a whole lot of bromance - and political intrigue. But I do feel like it gave me my sageuk fix and I do think it could appeal to some of other people who might not be too keen on the average kdrama because of the romance and all of that. Like Tree With Deep Roots and Six Flying Dragons (even if 50 episodes us a lot).
Was this review helpful to you?
Films from this region can be so painfully true to life, not prone to sugarcoat or providing even the narrowest of escape from the unpredictability and cruelty of human existence. There's no compromise. I don't know what to make of it. I both love it and hate it.
The Intimate Lover poignantly unveils our contrary nature as human beings. When it comes to matters of the heart, we want security and stability, but also a constant supply of that heady rush of new love, of being in love and seeing the stars in our lover's eyes. But it's impossible to attain both at the same time, with the same partner for the long haul.
So where does that leave us? Pretty much between a rock and hard a place.
To not chase that high is to commit yourself to a life of probable unfulfillment and what ifs, and to chase it would be like chasing a rainbow. You'll be going around in circles. If you leave one partner for another just to experience the high of being in love, eventually you'll end up back where you started with the same irrational need to begin the process all over again.
So really that sweet, intoxicating love we all want to experience can only last for a lifetime in our memories; and what this film imparts on us is that it's better to experience that love and end it while you're still on a high rather than let it wane from the onset of familiarity. It is the memory of this intoxicating love that will cradle us as we're delivered into the bosom of death.
It's a powerful message, if a little depressing.
All in all, though, this was a good exploration of the human condition. I think the actors did a good job, especially the female lead. I was happy to see some good physicality between the characters. None of this brushing of the lips nonsense or people who are supposed to be intimate acting like strangers around each other.
I've seen where this film has been described as "erotic". Perhaps by Asian standards, but this was just an average film to me. Explicit, yes, but erotic, not really. Because of the subject matter the film attempts to analyze they HAD to show that level of intimacy between the characters. To not do so would have been unrealistic. When you meet someone and you fall in love with them, you want to be intimate with them. Film, being a visual medium, has to show that intimacy to strengthen the story being told, otherwise the movie would have defeated its own purpose.
I must admit even though I had an idea where the movie was headed, and was okay with it, I held a small hope for a different ending. What can I say? I am a romantic. I know how life works. I know we're powerless to its whims. But I don't need to be reminded of that constantly in my entertainment. Be that as it may, however, I'm glad no one had a terminal illness. No one got hit by a truck. No one died or was dying. Thank goodness.
The ending was appropriate, poignant, but not gut wrenching. If you're in the mood for a film that will make you think and or spur an intellectual conversation afterwards, this is a good choice.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not Your Typical Drama
Adapted from a web comic 一人之下, I am Nobody (异人之下) is not like your typical drama! This drama is interesting, engaging, and funny!! The drama seamlessly blends elements of Wu Xia, superpower elements, and fantasy in a modern urban setting. It features intense battles, intriguing characters, and a mysterious plot that explores the hidden world of 异人 (outsiders - human with with qi/ powers!)The story follows Zhang Chulan, an ordinary college student whose life takes an unexpected turn after his grandfather dead body was stolen. From that point onwards, he steps into the the Outsiders world, along the way he grow, make true friends, and also go on a journey of self-discovery!
I am Nobody plot is fast-paced, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats - it is funny and engaging making you want to know more about what will transpire. Although fast-paced, but the story still unfolds casually and unrushed, it still explains the characters, their backstories and relationship dynamics.
Other than a fresh genre, what makes I am Nobody stand out is it's well-crafted characters. Not only the main character, but the supporting characters are equally intriguing, like Feng Baobao, Wang Ye, Zhang Lingyu, and more. Each of them has their own unique powers and motivations, their character dynamics also makes the story more enjoyable! The portrayals of the characters are also conveyed realistically, each actor manage to imbues their character with the character characteristic, nuance and emotional depth, that makes it very enjoyable to watch!!
Not only that, but I am Nobody also has great CGI and also unusual editing! Most of the CGI quality is commendable, the CGI has fluid action sequences with stunning visuals that bring their powers and battles to life. In addition, the fight scenes are also choreographed with precision and creativity, showcasing a variety of supernatural powers and combat styles.
The drama has done an excellent job in capturing the essence of the source material! This drama is probably one of the best drama adapted from the web comic, it stayed true to the original essence of the web comic!You can see that there are some parts where they exactly follow the web comics, from the shots and also more!!
While I am Nobody offers an exhilarating viewing experience, it does have its share of complexities. The plot can be convoluted at times, and viewers may need to pay close attention to keep up with the ever-evolving narrative.
In conclusion, I am Nobody is a definitely must watch if you enjoy adventure and action-packed battles! With it's intriguing storyline, well-developed characters, and impressive animation, it is definitely worth watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
Comedy thriller? yes!
Rarely can a writer successful combine comedy with mystery thriller. The genres simply don't mix well. Often, such titles suffer from Cerberus effect: they start funny, but when they turn serious halfway through, the entire setting built on comedic premises falls apart.Fortunately, Behind Your Touch (should be touch your behind....) avoids this pitfall. While it does get more serious later, the genre transition is very fluid, and it never completely divorces itself from its comedic roots.
The funny first episodes help us bond with the characters and introduce us to the setting, so then when the serial killing starts we can actually care about people who are killed while never being quite certain who to trust and who might be the culprit.
And what a masterfully written mystery it is! Until the very final episodes, I wasn't certain who dunnit. Watching this with MDL on week by week basis was quite an experience. I pity people who will watch this drama after it already finished airing, they will miss on all the brainstorming and speculah that kept us going all this time!
But of course, they should still watch it. This is legit my favorite k-drama of 2023. I didn't expect much, in fact, I didn't even anticipate this title until it suddenly aired on netflix, and I was very, very pleasantly surprised.
For people who say that premise of touching butt to see memories is creepy: relax, it's not done in sexual way, and she does it through clothes and she just touches their buttcheeks without fingering deeper or whatever you people imagine. There is no sexual abuse or anything! Give it a chance and see for yourselves!
Was this review helpful to you?
TAKE ALL MY MONEY
This is such a gem!!!! This is hands down the best GL that I’ve watched. The acting is top tier and the natural chemistry between Faye and Yoko is untouched. The acting feels very comfortable and nonscripted. I am really enjoying these little details with the directing as well!The delivery of the script is so good. I fear that I won’t be able to move on from this drama. Anueng
must be protected at all cost!!!!!
And the side couple as well is chefs kiss. Also not to mention the plot is giving very soap opera and I’m eating it up lol. You should definitely watch!
Was this review helpful to you?
I wanted to see this movie because of Lee Joon, his acting in this movie was brilliant, amazing, like let me stand up and clap, you just can't dinied that it was awesome.
i read some comments about this movie, that this movie is a mess, only beating up each other, sex and nothing more.
this movie is about how a fame can ruin a life, starting from nothing, becoming something, and in the end again starting from beginning.
if you want to see how good is Lee Joon, then you can watch it, but be ready for a lot of sex scenes and fights.
Was this review helpful to you?
1

