My most favorite thing about the whole show is the fact that Shin Min Ah’s character could take insane amounts of damage and never get harmed. She used this martial arts skill to put on a school play in which she was the Mighty Princess and the co-stars tried to beat the snot out of her. It was lots of fun and I totally recommend it!
Was this review helpful to you?
Though there are the skeletons of a plot there isn't really anything else to this story: not unless you dig real deep. Every now and then it moves a little forwards in abrupt lurches but I found myself not really caring about any of the developments, and those that I DID care about didn't get enough screen time! Yet for 8-10 minutes per episode it is enjoyable in its own little, time-filler way.
I started watching Eating Existence expecting very little and it's a good job I didn't. A lot of my enjoyment came from Yong Tae Won v2 in all his adorable wackiness - though he didn't get anywhere near as much time as he should've! There are quite a few scenes which cracked me up (and it's probably worth watching just for those) and there's a peculiar kind of sweetness to the whole show that saves it. The characters were appealing and unusual enough to keep me watching.
So if you're heartbroken after your latest drama and need a few minutes of respite then this is a good choice. Personally I used it to amuse myself for a little while.
(I gave the music such a low score since I don't even remember any of it. Like...not even a few notes. I'm almost starting to convince myself that there wasn't any but in the end credits.)
Was this review helpful to you?
This feels like a homemade meal. Warm, natural and simplistic.
They might have a small budget, but it works on their favor. The rawness and simple scenes, their appearances and how the characters dress and carry themselves, the natural and real scenarios feel like they are 0 atrezzo, prepared or fabricated, photography that is costumbrist and of course the story, full of feels of the first crush between two teens that feel like teens that are blossoming in front of our eyes. They are honest, clumsy, shy and all what you would expect these kids to be if they were real people.For having such a short length, they made us know what kind of people they are, where do they come from, their background and situations. The contraposition between a capital city kid who worries about school, grades, internships and future and a rural area kid who worries about labor work and helping his mom. They don't feel one dimensional, is realistic and the honesty transcends again.
Don't come expecting a GMMTV production quality that would be like a full course meal at a good restaurant, come expecting a small rural canteen where a villager cooks homemade dishes with their own ingredients.
Even the way their friendship and love progress feels natural and costumbrist. I went back to when i was 12 and meet a cute person at a summer camp. I'm sure that plenty of us remember what a first crush between our childhood and teenager days was.
There are things to be improved, like making the timing and run down of the events more logical and cohesive, going overboard with how they portray certain characteristics of Keptawan or too little about Nabdao ones... but in all honesty it makes this one even more natural and close to my hearth.
If you can donate to this project here is their paypal: [email protected]
Hope we can see more of them in the future.
Was this review helpful to you?
The series didn't deliver what was advertised in the synopsis, but something even better. An emotional roller coaster ride from the romance to the hospice center where most of the series takes place.
I felt like every character deserved main character status, and I loved them all.
I'm so glad I started with this series and will definitely be recommending it to others as well as re-watching it later on when I need a good cry or a good laugh. I really miss these characters already!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The Journey of Forgiveness
This series is about how love can remove all hatred and grudges. With a slow pace, a small amount of dialogue between Shim Woo Joo and Han Dong Jin, and the color tones chosen successfully make us feel the emotions felt by the characters. Maybe for some people, this series is boring because of its slow pace but according to me, this is the advantage of this series.Week by week we are introduced to Woo Joo and Dong Jin more closely, how they feel hopeless in life with the burden that each of them bears but are interrelated because of Dong Jin's mother. How after getting to know each other Woo Joo realized that Dong Jin also suffered because of his mother's behavior. From a sense of caring, love finally emerged but Woo Joo also could not forget the grudge of his family.
A beautiful story about making peace with circumstances, the courage to seek happiness in life, and becoming a better version of yourself and then returning to the one you love.
Great acting and chemistry from Lee Sung-Kyung and Kim Young-Kwang. Even if we just look at them or sit side by side, we can feel the emotional turbulence they have. Because not everyone can express their emotions no matter how angry they are.
Was this review helpful to you?
"Your attitude determines whether you are poison or antidote"
Outrage Coda brought Beat Takeshi’s Outrage trilogy to a fitting finale. Old school yakuza Otomo had been through a lot in the last two films, but he wasn’t through with the Sanno and Hanabishi families. If they’d left him alone, he might have been willing to let bygones be bygones. Too bad the younger yakuza weren’t smart enough to respect their elders, especially when their elder was a no-nonsense killing machine.After the incidents at the end of the previous film, Otomo took powerful fixer Chang up on a job offer and became the boss of his Jeju Island casinos and hotels in South Korea. Otomo and his underling Ichikawa spent their afternoons fishing and hanging out, that is until a Hanabishi yakuza named Hanada showed up. The cocky gangster had unusual sexual proclivities and hurt two of Otomo’s prostitutes, disrespected him, and killed one of his men. The Hanabishi family’s new head was a businessman who mishandled the whole affair with Otomo’s boss, Chang. Nomura, the new boss, was a businessman who’d never been to prison and had no tattoos and lacked the respect of the older executives. He attempted to have Chang murdered as well as ordering Nakata to murder his sworn brother, Nishino. Otomo never needed much of an excuse to go on a murderous rampage and rampage he did, taking revenge on anyone left who wronged him in the last two films and the current one. He made the Valentine’s Day Massacre look like a Sunday school picnic. Retribution thy name is Otomo or “F*ck Off”, whichever you prefer.
The original movie was wall to wall betrayals, torture sessions, and gruesome murders. The second film took the time to develop relationships and explain the treacherous maneuvering. This last film focused on the old guard having had enough of the lack of respect for the code by the younger upstarts. Much of this film focused on Nakata and Nishino’s strategizing in order to stay alive and remove obstacles to their power. This time instead of being everyone’s pawn, Otomo made his list, checked it twice and erased anyone on it. Despite the high body count, it felt lighter in tone than the others. Coda had more humor than the previous two, dark as it was.
Otomo kept to the code until the very end, showing he was a badass who never blinked in the face of death. He and the Habanishi brothers demonstrated why you’d best not underestimate old guys, there’s a reason they were still around in a job where most employees were given the early retirement plan paid out in lead. Outrage Coda wrapped up the trilogy in the only way a yakuza film could be, in blood.
17 February 2024
Was this review helpful to you?
Over the top but interesting at times
Well this clearly was not really my cup of coffee... It was an ok watch but I did hit that double speed button once or twice and found myself struggling with watching it.... Why? Well let's start with the 3 mains:1. Ms, emotional wreck/cry baby... would probably get emotional from seeing a person she has never met drop their ice cream and will burst in to tears 10 times an episode. Do not get me wrong, it is important to be in touch with ones emotion and I am all for people crying. However this is just over done making me want to have a good talk withe her about how to re-direct those emotions. She also finds comfort in others misfortune... Yes she feels for them but also uses it to cheer herself up... my problems are not as bad as that guys so I should just put myself together... She is naive as **** and keeps getting doupet by the world... Do not get me wrong she does have her fun moments, sweet, caring to the point of obsession, but after seeing her cheer her up with others misfortune I felt that she was not that genuine after all... But I do like her at times she has a beautiful smile and does show an interesting personality from time to time...
2. Mr Playful Jerk on the outside, fluffy marshmallow on the inside... A kid who was never really loved and acts like a 2 year old who has not had their nap... immature but still the boy is very pretty and has the greatest character development of them all... He is overall a person that it is easy to open up to and feel comfortable with.
3. Mr arrogant Icicle on the outside, mature cotton candy on the inside... A Super Physical therapist, mature, good looking and what many would think waaay out of number 1s league... is actually kind of awkward and falls for her kindness and says the words " Should i give you some advice?" over and over again without actually waiting for the other person to answer. This is walking a thin line between funny and just over the top. he is however extremely mature and listen up! He seems to respect and trust the person he. crushes on... a rare gem in Dramaland. But also kind of dull...
The three have these Reply 1988 moments here and there but just not as good...
Non of these seem to have great chemistry....
Then there are some more over the top characters with repetitive lines, over the top behaviour... Making this the perfect drama for you who do not mind over the top characters as it does have some pretty awesome friendships, no one brings out your anger and all seem to have a story to tell...
This may not have been my cup of coffee but I can not give it less than 7 because I can see it is a pretty good drama, but just not for me... For those who wonder why I did not drop it, I was curious about how it would end and if I would get SLS or not...
Was this review helpful to you?
What's cooking? In this series, Nothing
This story is your standard Thai rom-com droll series, treating gay relationships like infantile, immature, puppy-love versions of Pollyanna tales. Not that it is not cute; it is. Not that it is not entertaining; some of it is. Not that it does not have good messages and themes; it does. But it is tedious, boring, and unchallenging with not a shred of originality to the story or plot, although the food looked awesome. And the actors all (save one) could have done this series sleepwalking. In other words, it is standard stuff, cliché-driven, with lots and lots of triteness thrown in for good measure. This series gives new meaning to the term ‘light-fluff’. Again, there is no point summarizing the story. Take parts from a slew of Thai BLs and you got it. Their love story weaves and bobs through many what seem like endless banal episodes. Both acting as if they are in grade school rather than in college. The acting in this series by the main performers is standard. It is cute and some parts of it were entertaining, and they delivered their lines well. In terms of intensity of a relationship, there just was not any.You can read the rest of my review of this series at BLBliss.com.
Was this review helpful to you?
Bloopers and behind-the-scene stories
This is a drama commentary of Eulachacha Waikiki. It's good that they revealed some bloopers and behind-the-scene stories but both special is actually like a replay of "Anyone Can Be A Wolverine" and "Marriage Is An Insane Act" with some of their side comments while watching it.I wish they revealed more bloopers regarding the show. I think it will be more fun that way. Also if they can describe how it feels like to work with one another or what similarities and differences they have between their character in Eulachacha Waikiki and their personality in real life. Or maybe a vlog while on shoot. Those are things that I'm actually curious about. I'd love to see Baby Sol on this special episode but she's not here.
Was this review helpful to you?
"My heart belongs to me"
Raging Phoenix starred Thai kicker Jeeja Yanin. The story was weak as was some of the acting, but those are not the priorities in this genre of movie. Did Jeeja kick, elbow, and pummel her enemies in style? Yes. Was the fight choreography as incredible as Chocolate? No. But most of the fights were entertaining.Brokenhearted Deu escapes from a kidnapping and is rescued by a stranger named Sanim. He battles fighters that wouldn’t have been out of place in a Road Warrior movie. Or a parkour street fight with razor prosthetics. His team is made up of three other fighters-Dogsh*t, Pigsh*t, and Bullsh*t. They’ve all lost women in their lives to the kidnappers and are resolved to bring the Jaguar gang down and rescue the surviving victims. The men practice Meyraiyuth, a form of drunken Muay Thai. Before you can say, “Wax on, wax off,” Deu is a proficient fighter. She’s willing to be used as bait to find the headquarters of the bad guys and where the women are being kept. Nothing goes that easy and they will all find themselves in considerable peril.
The story was thin and filled with man pain tropes. Jeeja Yanin had enough acting ability for what the role called for and there’s something about her that is likeable. Kazu Tang who was usually employed as a stuntman or fight choreographer was fine as the determined Sanim and object of Deu’s unrequited love. The Poop Brothers weren’t very strong actors but conveyed enough meaning to keep the story going. Though their first thirty minutes was filled with slapstick comedy that five-year-olds would appreciate.
The fights were well choreographed and the wire-work, for the most part, blended in. There was plenty of action that didn’t require any special effects help. Jeeja and Kazu were fun to watch as they kicked, bounced, and spun. Both were quick and athletic. The fight between Jeeja and Roongtawan Jindasing’s evil Jaguar had some moves that appeared all too real and bone crushing. The Poop Brothers’ style came across as a combination of Meyraiyuth and break dancing. I’ve never seen a fighting style that required spinning on one’s head! Raging Phoenix wouldn’t win any awards for the CGI backdrops to the fights, they were pretty bad. For a lower budget film, I didn’t mind.
If you are looking for a coherent and tightly written story, this won’t be it. If you are looking for superb acting, best to pass. If you enjoy high flying, flipping, crushing knee kicks and elbow hits and kickass women fighting, this might be the ticket.
11 March 2024
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
"...and life will get better and better..."
To Live aka Lifetimes put Zhang Yi Mou and Gong Li in the penalty box for two years due to what was considered a critical view of some of the Chinese government's policies. The film followed a family from the Civil War in the 1940's into the Cultural Revolution. The little family chose to adapt and to do what was necessary to live as the volatile political climate changed around them.Xu Fu Gui (Ge You) was an inveterate gambler married to Jia Zhen (Gong Li) with a young daughter and a baby on the way. His gambling caused him to lose the family mansion and his wife. Fu Gui lived in dire poverty with his mother as he attempted to sell thread and needles on the street. Jia Zhen came back to him with his daughter, now a mute due to a fever, and a baby boy when she heard he'd stopped gambling. Gifted a box with an elaborate shadow puppet set by the same man who maneuvered him into his losses, Fu Gui created a traveling troupe and took his show on the road.
While on the road, Fu Gui and his friend Chun Sheng become conscripted into the Nationalist army where they pull canons and entertain the troops with their shadow puppet show. The Red army overruns the Nationalist army and they end up doing the same thing for the other side. Fu Gui is finally able to go home and he finds a very different environment. His wife and kids are selling and delivering drinking water. Nui, a local communist leader oversees their neighborhood. Long Er, the man who ended up with their mansion was executed for being a counterrevolutionary after burning the house when the government tried to confiscate it. Fu Gui declares it's good they are poor and that he'd lost their house or he would have been the one executed.
The 1950's arrive and during the Great Leap Forward everyone is required to "donate" all of the iron items they own leaving them without cooking utensils. As Nui states, "We're racing toward communism and you're worried about food?" You Qing, their son, fights back against his sister's bullies and the family is almost labeled saboteurs. The next morning, after very little sleep he and all of the other young school boys are required to smelt iron. His mother tries to keep him home but Fu Gui is afraid of the repercussions if the child doesn't go. Tragedy strikes and an old family friend is reminded that he owes them a life.
The 1960's bring the Cultural Revolution. Fu Gui is ordered to burn his shadow puppets or risk being declared a capitalist. The neighborhood and homes are covered in Mao propaganda and images. Their daughter Feng Xia is wed to a lame Red Guard leader at a factory. When the time comes for her to birth their child, her parents discover that all of the doctors and medical professors have been imprisoned for being reactionaries with only young student zealots left. Feng Xia's husband brings an imprisoned doctor to help, but he's starving and of no use.
Some of the family's own choices led to their suffering as in Fu Gui's disastrous gambling habit. But the political situations had more than their share of tragic effects on the family. The lack of sleep so many suffered from caused a death. Locking away doctors and intellectuals left people vulnerable to unskilled students. With only one party, corruption or paranoia could lead to innocent people being arrested as capitalists, especially when no dissenting opinions were allowed.
Fu Gui's shadow puppets became symbols for part of the story's theme. Initially, they were used only for entertainment with the artistic freedom to make the show lewd or comical. Later the puppets told more propagandistic stories. Eventually, Fu Gui was forced to burn them lest their feudal and subversive nature land him in prison. His family became part of the neighborhood theater instead. When Feng Xia married, the song sung, toasts given, pictures taken, and even the presents all revolved around Mao. They didn't even have the freedom to say, "thanks, that's just what we needed, another Mao statue/picture/mural/book" as they glance over at the table and walls filled with them. The family never complained as the political landscapes changed, they merely dressed the part and endeavored to recite the party lines whatever they were. Only at You Qing's grave did the family crack, removing their masks and let loose their true feelings toward the governmental perpetrator.
The performances were phenomenal. Ge You gave an outstanding performance as the complex Fu Gui. He won a Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival. The film also won the Grand Prix award. Gong Li's part was smaller as the wife and mother, but her performance was powerful and compelling. Her tears, dignity, and rage pulled me in and never seemed contrived.
To Live showed how people adapt and survive even in tumultuous and dangerous times. The family conformed and persevered clinging to each other in order to live. Once he kicked his gambling habit Fu Gui realized why he wanted to live---his family. "There's nothing like family." Despite tragedies, Jia Zhen only desired "…a quiet life together" and repeatedly and doggedly chose to live. Together they weathered the political changes that created financial and social upheavals in their lives, never letting hope completely die. As Fu Gui declared to his grandson, "life will get better and better" without any evidence that it would yet he still chose to live in expectancy. To Live used the political changes as a structure to show how people are able to endure and to live with dignity even when the world tumbles around them. Zhang Yi Mou made a beautiful film about the tenacity of the human spirit and one well worth trying.
6/9/23
Was this review helpful to you?
The oldest brother hires the pastry chef to serve as the restaurant's pâtissière for the summer and also invites her to stay in one of the empty rooms in the house where he lives with his brothers. Between the work at the restaurant and life at home there is plenty of opportunity for drama.
Fans of the 'Enemies to Lovers' trope best be warned: the ML in this series (Kanata) starts out as one of the meanest jerks in any drama I've ever watched, and even by the very end he's still got a way to go before he'll ever become Prince Charming. This is a guy who in his very first meeting with the FL (Misaki) takes delight in watching her literally fall flat on her face on a public beach. And from there it only gets worse between them.
Truth be told, for Misaki the early episodes of AGATS are quite an ordeal. Kanata makes no allowance for her lack of life experience and seems to despise her wide-eyed view of the world, mocking it at every turn. When she tries to create a beautiful dessert that will impress him enough to start taking her pastry skills seriously, he ends up knocking it out of her hands so it lands in a messy pile on the floor, totally ruined. Then he simply walks away after ordering her to clean up the mess.
Eventually things warm up between them, and one thing I actually give this drama credit for is that Kanata's unapproachability remains consistent even after he has fallen in love with Misaki. In so many dramas of this type a rude lead character will turn into a pussycat once feelings develop for their counterpart. Not here. Yes, Kanata does tone it down in the insult department and shows flashes of affection and appreciation, but to the very end he retains that core of grouchiness.
I don't want to make too much of all this because this is a fun drama that I highly recommend. The performances are all first-rate, and for those who don't like plot complications that get too intense there's only a moderate level of angst. The love triangles (there are two) aren't taken to any extremes, and even the menacing rich guy who's constantly appearing on the scene with his threat to take over the restaurant ends up having more bark than bite.
Each of the three brothers gets his own plotline that isn't directly related to the FL. To me the one involving the youngest brother was the most touching. On the outside he's a happy kid without a care in the world but we eventually come to see the pain and resentment under the surface. I really like how this was handled and resolved, and Nomura Shuhei deserves credit for his nuanced performance in the role.
The performance by Yamazaki Kento as Kanata is simply fantastic. The actor is required to convey so much of his character's thoughts and feelings with only his eyes and facial expressions, and, much like Misaki does, over the course of the series we have to learn how to 'decode' him before we can understand where he's coming from. (I was happy to spend the time studying him this way because looks-wise he's very easy on the eyes.)
What I quibble with in AGATS is that the series never tells us why Kanata, who has grown up in a loving household and is on his way to achieving his dream of becoming a reknowned chef, has such a hostile outlook on the world. I also wish that Misaki had been more confrontational in those moments when he treated her the worst. Too often it seemed that she'd flare up and get in a couple of good retorts but then retreat. It felt like Kanata got away with too much.
Further regarding Misaki, like the FLs in many dramas she comes across as a little *too* naive, however compared to the immature FLs in such series as 'Thirty But Seventeen' she is a model of maturity. Still, it's never exactly clear to me why Kanata goes from despising her to falling in love. This is one reason I'd like to rewatch this series someday, to see if there are clues that I'll notice the second time around.
Was this review helpful to you?
Recommended !
Amazing series Very layered and deep. Great messages throughout, cannot believe I’ve watched all 38 episodes. Although in early episode reallly boring and to slow..Every episode became more intense. The actors, actresses, writers, custom designers, music and location is impeccable.It is the best Chinese drama I have ever watched ..totally engrossed in the richness of the characters, the cliff hanger plots and the music ...so beautifully executed. The martial arts in this series were a thing of mystical perfection.. the best I have ever watched I became emotionally attached ..couldn't wait to watch the next episode. I highly recommend to watch this. Its a masterpiece.Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
AMAZING PLOT X AMAZING CAST!!!
Holy shit. I don't even know where to start. First of all, i just came back from watching Kiss Me Again because i don't want to be left out when i am watching DBK but they didn't mention much about what happened in KMA so its all good! Just you need to know that Pete has a lot of ego and such a troublemaker. He rather use his fist first than talk out of it.Pete x Kao. Ah. What do i comment about them. They are perfect! Love hate relationships at its finest. Pete is a little bit selfish and has too much pride in him though. I was shocked that he actually okay with Kao lose a student of his tutor just because he hates Non. Of course that Non can gtfo because he is such a devil in disguise. Bought his own merchandise and likes. Wtf?!!! But i don't think Kao is at fault since he is the victim of the situation. He need to choose between his boyfriend and his family. His sister need to have a part time job though, she keep on asking money but she doesn't want to have a job while studying???? But of course, after the rumours got worse, Pete come to the rescue!!! ???? CAN I JUST SAY HOW MUCH I LOVE PETE'S DAD AND KAO'S MOM. THEY ARE SO COOL WITH THEIE KIDS BEING GAY. Especially Pete's dad. Lmao he even gave him condoms. AHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAH. Seriously, A+ for the kiss scene. They doesn't have much steamy and hot scene but the kiss scene is sufficient enough as it is HOTTTTT?!!!! THEY KISSED UNDERWATER THOUGH AND IT DOESN'T LOOK SLOPPY AT ALL. TRUST ME.
Sun x Mork. OH.. MY.. GOD... SUN IS SO HOT!! HNGHHHH i love him so much! Just that he is quite hot-headed when Mork is about to explain to him what is going on and i don't really have much complain about this couple. I think they are really cute and i like it that they have the same screentime as the main pairing.
This is exactly the closure that i need after watching KMA. IT'S SO GOOD!!! I LOVE THE WAY THEY SHOOT THE OPENING VIDEO LIKE THE GOOD OLD TIME LAKORN. LIKE FULL OF DRAMA. I LOVE IT UGHHH AND NEW., IM COMING FOR YOUR ASS. AND I I FINISHED THIS LAKORN IN ONLY 2 DAYS. GO WATCH IT YOU FOOL!! ??????✨✨✨✨
Was this review helpful to you?
Recent Discussions
-
BL Drama Lovers Club7 minutes ago -
Last Korean song you listened?26 minutes ago -
Novel Links !40 minutes ago -
Chronology1 hour ago -
Last Drama You Completed? #21 hour ago
