Story: First, the revenge is way less gritty than it sounds. I thought the female characters revenge would make for a great turning point for the plot but the writers kind of dropped the ball and her "revenge" was more of an emotional one rather than of taking action which kind of gets repetative. I would have also liked it more if they cut it down to 16 eps. There are a lot of things that I would never guess would happen so the plot isnt predictable at least. The best thing about the story is the romance. Lots of angst to eat up and you pray there will be a happy ending in the midst.
Acting/Cast :Lee Bo Young is a hit or miss for me. I havent seen a decent drama with her in which she has chemistry with the male lead. Well of course here comes the attractive/great actor Joo Jin Mo and you got some HOT chemistry! Their relationship was off the charts sizzling. I didnt care for the supporting cast and found the second lead characters annoying/not relevant to the story.
Music: It fit the drama well but not memorable.
Rewatch: If it were a little shorter, i probably could watch it every year due to my love of the couple but i think this is some thing i can wait to watch in a few years.
Overall Queen of the Game is the most romantic drama you will see!
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At first, I thought it was like ~How to Train Your Dragon ~; kind of movie since it started out with dragon-like creatures. Then it switched over to the human side of the story. Throughout the film, my eyes were glue to the screen. The whole time I thinking that "oh my gosh, that little creature is so cute!!" ; The story plot was not a stereotypical type of story where the guy and the girl help the monsters. There were twist and turn that lead to so many funny scenes that I had to laugh then rewind and laugh again.
Note: This movie is rate PG-13 since there were some blood, but absolutely no gore or horror.
The movie had two unimaginable characters partner up as the main characters.
The coupling was really cute. I really like the female character since she had power over the male character, which you don't often see in Chinese dramas/movies. I also like the female chief who is in the middle of the story. She is hilarious. The monster couple add more to comedy.
I like their credit music. I also like the song where the monster dance to. I think it's a wrap-up, and it shows more of the adorableness. The sounds were super cute.
I would definitely rewatch the funny scenes. Those who have experience watching wuxia (chinese-style fighting genre) specifically sad endings then you would probably be more relief to watch this afterward. Those who needs a break from watching serious shows, check this one out.
I hope you all enjoy the movie like I did. Cross my fingers and hope they make more of this kind of movies.
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ACTING/CAST: All of the actors did a great job. It was nice that the actors had good voices and could play an instrument without needing a hand double.
MUSIC: By far the best part of this production. The song, "As If You Whisper," is great. I really like the simplicity of the lyrics.
REWATCH VALUE: I will watch it again. The visuals showing off the beauty of Korea and the nice music makes it worth it.
Overall: Would have been nice for more focus on the "romance" part of the plot . The ending was happy!
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When Han-gyul finally allows himself to love Eun-chan regardless of gender (episode 10) it is the best moment of the drama and truly touching. <3
Gender confusion is nothing new, but in too many cases, people have a tendency to overdo it-- drawing things out and overdramatizing it for either hyberbolic comedy, or ridiculous melodrama. Thankfully, Coffee Prince uses at least a bit of discretion and ends up as a fun romantic story that tries to take a more reasoned look at gender roles. It challenges the idea that strength and responsibility are masculine traits and really does a good job at poking fun at gender stereotypes. The men tend to be very faithful, nurturing, and rather bashful, while the women tend to be strong, willful, and intelligent.
In addition to the gender-bending, there is a very touching examination of a heterosexual man being forced to examine his own sexuality as he realizes he is attracted to someone he believes in another man.
Each character has a story, and each story is touched on. This gives the sense that the show is not a one dimensional storyline, it has depth. And then as far as scenery goes, it is beautiful. I love the backdrop of Seoul, the mountain tops wreathed in mist... the artistic touch at Coffee Prince... You can see the stark difference in Eun-chan's home and Han-gyul's apartment.
I really wish they will make a part two for Coffee Prince because it was so well made. A big applause to the creator of this magnificent drama.
Makes me want to drink coffee, too!
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Don’t get the wrong idea, this drama is better than other Jdramas I saw this season; it’s also unique and quite exciting to follow but it simply couldn’t keep the pace. Mozu started amazingly; packed events, intriguing characters and an involving high-scale mystery. With such a promising beginning, you would draw certain lines in your head, such as “this drama will be some sort of masterpiece”. However, that never lasted for too long.
The problem with Mozu is the unbalanced events and empty parts that made concentration almost impossible. The screenwriting of this drama failed to keep thing coherent and well-built even with all the potential they gave it at first. Some episodes were too slow to ingest while others were too packed to fully understand, the screenwriter couldn’t spread his story the right way. Moreover, the high-scale conspiracy turned out to become too predictable for my taste; that was almost a criminal act against mystery/suspense lovers, I surely expected more than that from a drama co-produced by two of my favorite Japanese channels TBS and WOWOW.
The acting was superb; Nishijima was really good as Kuraki, he had an aura that I love to see in my male lead’s character especially with his tone and facial expressions. Maki and Kagawa were great main characters too; their acting was well suited for their characters. The remaining cast were remarkable, especially Ikematsu and Hisegawa; these two actors gave a chilling performance to make their character feel so complicated, hateful and even lovable.
The characterization for this drama was really nice especially with the back stories given to many characters in order to explain their behaviors. Although some characters weren’t that interesting and others didn’t maintain their involving traits until the end but overall, they were acceptable and even enjoyable.
The soundtrack for Mozu isn’t forgettable; I liked the way it connects with what’s happening. The cinematography was also dark and gloomy in a way that fits the drama’s tone.
Watch if:
-You like action, crime dramas.
-You like interesting characterization.
Do not watch if:
-You’re looking for a mind-blowing drama.
-You’re looking for a puzzling mystery.
On a personal level, I really didn’t hate Mozu despite all of its flaws. It sneaks into you somehow and makes you addicted especially if you’re into crime oriented stories. I enjoyed this and I certainly tried to overlook many of its obvious flaws. I call it a guilty pleasure but I surely liked this drama. I am only hoping that the screenwriter will revise his way of making events in the second season.
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Must watch
I love everything about this. I didn't expect this movie to be as good as it is. I like how they developed even more the main characters and how they not only focused on the sexyness but on the plot as well. The message at the end is very deep. This was overall an extremely good experience and a good ending for this series. I would definitely watch this again. One of the best Japanese bl out thereThey brought out other themes in this movie and were able to show that this series is not only about sex scenes. The cast is amazing. The acting is superb.
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Brave Yoshihiko and Great Satan's Castle
27 people found this review helpful
Story 10/10: The storyline is actually pretty unique, at least from what i've seen. It's about a Hero who has to go out and defeat an evil entity who is bringing evil in this world! As someone else mentioned, it's somewhat like Monty Python, but it has it's own uniqueness. It also reminded me of the anime Gintama in a way.
Acting 10/10: They were all flawless.
Music 7/10: The music was good. It wasn't really memorable but it did it fulfilled its purpose.
Rewatch Value 6/10 : Since this drama doesn't really have many twists or turns, it's actually a good candidate for rewatching. I generally don't rewatch shows though, but if i'm ever extremely bored and for some reason cannot watch anything else, i'd watch this.
Overall 9/10: This was a short drama (12 episodes of 24 minutes each), but it was funny and interesting.
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The music in the drama was perfectly matched to the scenes, I liked all the songs.
The acting was brilliant, especially with Kim Go Eun, Park Jinyoung. I will remember their scenes for a long time. Their shared scenes moved me, made me happy, or saddened me. For such acting duos, it is worth watching Korean dramas.
The animation part was interesting, funny, touching, never boring.
I will definitely watch the drama again. I've already done that with a lot of episodes. It does not get boring, even though I know some scenes by heart.
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The couple has an absurd chemistry, the actress who makes the protagonist can make two characters with mastery (to the point where most people love the protagonist (Na) and hate the boring sister, Ya). But the opinion about the female protagonist is divided because she has a strong personality and she doesn't hesitate to bring justice for what happened to her sister. So some people will hate her, but for me she was right in defending her sister (even if her sister does not deserve) because that is what you do for the people you love (some people could say: but it none of her business. Yeah, but what would you do if someone shotted your sister (or anyone in your family), would you say is none of your business?).
And that's why I do not blame her. She may be impulsive and commited, but she is also brave and not only when we talk about the fighting scenes where she is awesome, but when she does something wrong, she admits the mistake and apologizes without hesitation. She is always ready to give up on something because of someone she loves. And that's why she cannot be crucified. The main character is a hero, he is always trying to do the right thing even if he does not agree.
The main character is a hero, he is always trying to do the right thing even if he does not agree. He is fair and it is interesting that even when he does not like the lead girl, he is always trying to protect her (even when he is angry to her). He is the kind of guy you would want to meet and he is a perfect son and brother. He always see the two sides of the same coin, even when it seems impossible.
Moreover, he is not afraid to face everything and everyone for what is right (at this point it is even similar to the protagonist). They both are very similar and maybe that is the fact that has made the couple so well accepted. They fought a lot, however their fights were mostly silly discussions that soon passed into the scope of the comedy, you could see from the beggining their love for each other (they never hated each other completely). At the end of the day, this lakorn has many reasons why you should not watch this, but at the same time you will want to see only to follow the progress of this couple that was undoubtedly incredible.
Besides that, the OST is wonderful and addictive, worth checking out! PS: final was pretty cute and left nothing to be desired.
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The drama did start out slow and I think a lot of people from then on had their mind set that TKEM was a flop. Then proceeded to watch the rest of the drama basically searching for aspects to criticize. And I think that is one way to approach dramas by analyzing and scrutinizing anything and everything. But personally, I think that with that kind of mindset, you limited yourself to only a couple of shows that you actually like. I am not trying to discredit anyone and how they felt towards the show, however, I think a lot of the discussions centered around how bad the drama, actually deters a lot of people who would actually really enjoy the show.
Story-wise, the parallel world concept was fascinating and refreshing. I found it pretty easy to follow, but with any concept messing with time and space, it's bound to have cracks. There were plot holes(most of which I didn't even know were plot holes until I read discussion posts--so just don't read those and you will probably be better off) and areas where I wish the show would have done more in-depth. I also do think that in some episodes the story was stagnant and it wasn't doing a lot to move the plot forward, a missed opportunity to further develop the world/clarify some side stories. But if you don't focus on those aspects, they aren't bothersome and the main plot is interesting and at least for me, something new/different.
Acting: I liked KGE and LMH together, and I think that they did well with the roles. I'm definitely no expert, but I think I have around the normal person's ability to tell if the acting is stale, so for me, their portrayals were convincing and I really felt for and became invested in their characters. KKN & WDH also really delivered! I mean Jo Eun Seob and Jo Yeong were perfectly portrayed, props to WDH, I can't wait to see him in another drama. Not really a point on acting, but worth mentioning, the main thing that bugged me with the characters (not the actor's portrayal) was Tae Eul sudden switch from showing no interest and annoyance for Lee Gon and then suddenly her tough/snobby demeanor was gone. I think the writer could have made her feelings for Lee Gon melt away a lot more smoothly. Although, I don't agree with the criticism on why Lee Gon was in love with Tae Eul from the get-go. I can picture 8-year-old Lee Gon spending hours and hours holding onto the badge thinking of this mysterious savior, and pretty much becoming infatuated with the mystery girl (also, when do the falling in love process ever really "make sense" in dramas, I just enjoy the love story without questions! >∀ <)
Most of the OST playlist is still stuck in my head and while it's not the iconic Goblin OST, it's still great.
The cinematography and production is probably the least debated area because, well the millions of dollars backing the project went somewhere! Seriously, the scenes were beautiful, especially in the moments of the time stops. If anything, watch it for the visual appeals!
I never write my opinions/reviews on dramas so please forgive me if this is not super helpful/insightful, but I really wanted to do this because I hope someone will read it as realize that go into it without preformulated negativity around it, watch it and enjoy it for what it gives.
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At first I thought not see this drama because I hadn't seen anything of the leading actors, and because I had some grudge against Wang Ji Hye after seeing Personal Taste and Hotel King; however, the drama really worth it.
I fell in love with Ji Sung above all things and loved this type of female character, strong and independent, even a little reluctant to fall in love, I think that's just a plus for the drama, because you can see the guy seeks sassy girl's love and not the other way around.
I also ended up loving Wang Ji Hye and realized that a character may end up defining whether you like or do not like an actor, sometimes you forget the difference between fiction and reality XD
Another plus point is that finally the parents were not the most important obstacle to the main characters, but the circumstances. That seemed more entertaining after all.
In addition, all the supporting characters (the adults) were really funny and charming, I really never loved Kim Young Ok more than here, especially in her scenes with director Cha.
Finally, this drama had definitely one of the best bromances I've ever seen .Sometimes Ji Heon and Moo Won really seemed to be the real romantic couple of the drama haha
May you enjoy it as much as I did. Totally recommended!!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Round of applause
I am thouroughly impressed by this seemingly unrelevant webseries.The first meeting at the grocery store was memorable, both of them having peepees on their masks, not being able to take their eyes off of each other. Immediately after, they can't stop thinking about each other. I think that is the feeling one has when they meet their soulmate.
And from then on it just took off. Trying to meet in a pandemic, using lost medication as an excuse. Technical difficulties that almost caused heartbreak. And despite it all, still being able to meet, keep in contact through social media and text. The whole plot was done in a way that makes you keep watching.
I'm also glad they didn't take away the emotional toll this pandemic has had on everyone. From Key talking to a cardboard cutout, to Chen's sister having a serious breakdown. It shows how we all just felt the pent-up feelings, and with the added stress of this god forsaken lockdown, things exploded. And that is a good thing. Chen's relationship with his sister changed for the better. They grew.
This being said, the last episode, the explanation of this title, has got to be my absolute fave. The sudden sleepover, the fun challenges, the tension. The monologue, the kiss, the vibe in its entirety. It felt so complete.
This whole story just gives me a warm feeling inside. Despite the challenges, the love we have for each other and for ourselves will get us where we need to be.
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一将功成万骨枯 (Yī jiāng gōng chéng wàn gǔ kū)
“For every champion lie thousands withered bones.” Most of the times, we see only the glory of a champion – an Olympic swimmer, a World Champion gymnast and skater - but we rarely see the struggles, sacrifices, obstacles, pressures, emotional turmoil that each has to endure. This drama brings us behind the scenes and helps us appreciate how such successes come with the price these champions have paid and the sacrifices made.This is a story about setting goals, perseverance, and overcoming failures. It is unexpectedly funny and enjoyable to watch. For the last decades, China has been consistently producing world champions in every sports in particular in table tennis. This drama gives us a peek at how these champions are created. Having played table tennis growing up, I have an affinity for the game and hence have enjoyed watching the matches and prolonged sessions at the table. At the end of each episode, table tennis is being explained in details: the terminologies, techniques, rules, competitions, etc. and I find myself enthralled.
The story depicts two very different characters: Xu Tan (acted by Bai Jing Ting) is scrawny, wimpy and lack of confidence, but kind, humble and friendly; Yu Ke Nan (acted by Xu Wei Zhou aka Timmy Xu), with a powerful athletic physique, is overly confident, arrogant, rebellious, impulsive and hot headed. The story begins when both are 17 years old in 2007, and follows their journey to become champions of the world. This unlikely “ying yang” pair becomes best friends and root for each other especially in their most trying period. Countless times, both get punished but unknown to them, their punishment is actually a form of training that helps them grow, such as raising pigs in a farm and becoming a janitor in a boxing gym. Daily details of the years are well taken care of with changing of technology and apparel over the years, from nameless flip phones to Apple smart phones, from Butterfly sportswear to Nike and Adidas.
The drama dwells deep into the various style of coaching by the national coaches and their relationship with their players. Xu Tan and his coach, Lei Cheng (Liu Zhi Bing), are like father and son. His coach inspires him, helps him discover himself and grow. Yu Ke Nan and his coach, Teng Biao (Wang Jian Xin), are like a pair of good old friends, continue kicking each other’s ass and calling each other names, at the same time, they love and trust each other. There is also a super strict coach who produces top ranking players but such players are also the most unhappy with high injury and burnout rates. Another coach has a soul mate relationship with his player, seeing their own shadows in each other. Every character has its flaws and faces personal obstacles. The development of the characters shows how they overcome their obstacles, grow and succeed.
Acting
Here in this drama, I discover Bai Jing Ting. He nails the role as the wimpy kid that grows to become the world champion. Bai Jing Ting has given us some amazing acting and he is so convincing as a world class table tennis player. Whether it’s his body double or not (I really can't tell), I feel Bai Jing Ting can play the game very well; he has the styles, his actions and shots are perfect. Xu Wei Zhou’s acting here is good too especially when he becomes the adult Yu Ke Nan. Like Bai Jing Ting, his playing of the game is immaculate and convincing, making Yu Ke Nan the most formidable table tennis player in the world. I really love watching them playing the game, and there’s a lot of such scenes to satisfy ping pong fans.
My Verdict
If you’re a sports fan and love table tennis in particular, you’d love this drama as it gives us many amazing real-life games with shots and fantastic camera work. Every smash, every torque, every curve is thrilled to watch and viewers can feel the excitement and satisfaction of the shots perfectly executed.
You’d see how China trains its youth, which is nothing like the western world. The greatest difference is, for the west, winning is for personal glory, whereas for the Chinese, it is for their national pride.
If you have watched “Hikaru No Go” and liked that drama, you may like “Ping Pong Life” too. To be honest, I like “Ping Pong Life” better because I find the character development better and more realistic, and it covers a wider range of three-dimensional characters. I love the part when the two leads begin to build their deeper understanding with each other, they really spend a lot of time, literally tied, together. They learn to feel and trust each other without words and the process in doing so is hilarious and adorable. This process is not captured enough in “Hikaru No Go”.
I really love this drama because it reminds me not to look at the glory of any success. We should not lament why we have not been as successful as others, whether in music, sports or anything else, but rather we should ask ourselves if we are willing to sacrifice everything to achieve success, and that’s the message in this drama.
A wonderful watch. Highly recommended!
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So I decided to cautiously watch I Need Romance 3 solely for Sung Joon, and wasn't at all disappointed.
GOOD - (Eye Candy) Yep, Sung Joon is absolutely charming in this one. I mean... I almost became diabetic just watching him throw one sweetness after the other. Plus he's so good looking and tall. The second lead was pretty handsome too, and even Yoochun's brother Yoohwan was cute (depending on his hair style)...
GOOD - (Acting) The acting was pretty good. No awkward moments, or not any I can think of. The girly relationships are all pretty good too, and very believable for the most part.
WEIRD - (Personality Traits) You know when a drama depicts a character who's one diminutional. And sometimes stupid. And you want to scream at him/her "wake the f up! HELLOOOOOOOO duhhhhhh"... yeah this was the case for the lead female. Sometimes you wonder... are there really people like that in the world? (I bet the answer is yes... the world is a weird place) Anyway, it can get a bit annoying.
MEHHH - (Story Climaxes) Not gonna lie... some things are predictable. Very. But most OK dramas are, right?
CURVEBALL - (The kissing) As with the previous parts, the making out in this one is intense. So, swoon away.
OVERALL - Its worth watching if you're a fan of any of the actors (esp. Sung Joon) or if you haven't yet seen this gorgeous boy in action. Also if you like modern physical affection and language. Don't watch if you don't like romance, boys, or chick flicks.
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