Beautiful, heartwarming story about life choices and regret
This is a must-watch if you're in for a heartwarming love/family story without the stupid draggy drama tropes.Bound to give you some inspiration in life and some words of encouragement.
The premise is very simple: like the original US film 17 Again,
18 Again is about the male lead being unhappy with his life and his body suddenly goes back to when he was 18
So you have two actors (one "old" and one "young") playing the same character
and learning about what it means to appreciate the mundane daily life
and what it means to love someone even when real life gets hard
(but like, realistic "trying to make enough money to live" "trying to chase after your career dream" hard, not "chaebol mother kimchi slaps" or "ultimate bad guy is here to kill us all" hard)
10/10 to the acting because Lee Do-hyun absolutely slayed!
Playing a 40+-year-old soul in a 18-year-old body, he really did have that chemistry with his costar Kim Ha-neul
The way he looks at her with so many mixed emotions and the way the characters interact really makes me forget that Lee Do-hyun is a young new rising star.
Of course the other actors also added a lot to the story telling. I don't think there's a bad apple in the cast at all.
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This review may contain spoilers
Far from a perfect drama and yet it will pull you in right from the first scene. I usually do not watch melodramas or revenge dramas, but this one seemed interesting enough. This drama's strength lies in its plot, cast, the great camerawork and the TERRIFIC soundtrack!! I thought the plot of this drama was really creative. A lot of things introduced in the first episode tie up well towards the later half. The revenge part and the parallel investigation by the cop were wonderful. There was no need for romance in the drama according to me. It could have done well on its own. Although it can be a bit slow at times, it won't bore you.
Kim Nam Gil is the star of the whole drama. This is my first time watching him in anything and I must say, I was totally enchanted by him. He has an amazing screen presence and acts with such depth and emotion that its impossible to tear your eyes away from the screen. I will also mention his long hair and moustache- suits him rather well. :D His character was the type you would want to see in a revenge drama. He is willing to go to any length to destroy those who did him wrong. Of course, he is very, very human and you'll see his soft side a lot of times.
Kim Jae Wook was super likable in his role. I would love to see him play a tortured guy again. He was a breath of fresh air, because he wasn't your typical doormat second lead. Although he gets too repetitive after a while, I enjoyed his acting. Plus, he's great to look at! In fact both guys are eye candies.
Han Ga In didn't impress me. She's pretty to look at and wore fabulous clothes but her character was really fickle and annoyed me at times. Her part in the drama made no difference to me. She was interesting in the beginning but went redundant later on. Her sister was a far more interesting person and she was the only HILARIOUS person in this drama.
Although its one of those dramas which screwed its ending, I wouldn't say that it ruins the drama. The drama is worth watching minus the last 3 episodes. From the beginning I was prepared for what was about to come. If I hadn't known the ending, I would have been super mad at it. So I'd recommend to be prepared beforehand by reading the spoilers or skip this drama altogether.
Bad Guy's OST will probably always be in my Top 3 Kdrama soundtracks ever. Every single song is beautiful, melodious and will make you want to listen to it over and over. Even the background scores were amazing.
I liked how this drama was filmed. Its camera work managed to capture the right tone and mood of the story.
Though this drama is not meant for a rewatch, it was entertaining enough the first time around.
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Boy was I wrong.
The teasers all showed sport and excitement. Could the final product live up to that hype?
The good:
The actors are amazing! The sportsmanship, the comradery, the brothership all felt through their performances!
The stunts were totally believable! Sports can be dangerous, but these actors were actually in the action!
The action! Wow! From the opening scene there never was a slow moment!
The epic:
That soundtrack! Those emotional songs! Perfection!
The characters! Well rounded as 8 episodes can make them! They did not feel flat! Just the amount of background to set up their issues! Even the background characters become part of the team, they don't feel like fillers.
The story! Wow! Clearly set-up, well executed. Never left the audience wanting!
The creative use of the camera to create tension, slow motion, zooms! Superb! The director (can't remember his name) has produced amazing work in the past and it shows here!
All in all an amazing story, if short. Takes Thai Drama to another level and in another direction! Great start to the rest of Project S!
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Don't expect fan service or fast pacing
So right off the bat you need to know that this is a slow moving, sentimental film that builds emotional attachment to the characters through repeated use of flashback scenes.What you won't find: passionate kissing scenes, sex scenes, bare abs, etc.
What you will find: lots of staring into each other's eyes, good acting, scenes that make you cry,
The actors are both new and do a phenomenal job in this film, which is a story about how memories helped two people reconnect and get through a crisis together. The story is set in the early 2000s and they manage to set that time period really well, with the main characters in high school at the beginning and then again 4 years later.
The ending seemed a little truncated and I wonder if there was meant to be more, but Thailand was thrown into lockdown earlier this year and a lot of dramas had to adapt. But the story of Nut and Phob is complete, and if you like very sentimental stories I recommend you give it a try.
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Content Warnings: kick, maybe kind of something at the end?
What I Liked
- the friendship
- some of the humor was funny like the failed flirting with that girl
- cute moments
- that poor communication didn't drag on
- good kissing
- music, especially the rap song at the end
Room For Improvement
- the relationship/romance felt rushed, I think they could have cut out some other scenes and fleshed out more how/why they developed feelings with each other
- the ending is a bit open/wish they had gone a different direction with it
- how wearing glasses was considered less attractive
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Yet another saga of how power corrupts people who in turn corrupt others as well. An honest judge is forced to convict an innocent man. The convicted man's daughter who is a cop, decides to set things right. Things start off badly between the protagonists, but they gradually come to understand each other and work together. It starts off with a lot of promise, but it gradually turns out to be a tug-of-war. Expected things happen, but the audience are kept waiting in the tussle between (good and evil?)
The actors have done a decent job, but the major expressions in the drama are poker face and smirk, and not all of them seem natural. A bit more of joy would've been nice.
Rewatch value is kinda low for me. The last two episodes kinda killed it all.
It's definitely worth a one time watch, start with no expectations and you might be in for a surprise!
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In a nutshell: Great film for people who like quiet, thoughtful films. Avoid if you like fast paced movies or do not want to cry.
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Definitely worth your time!
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This review may contain spoilers
Such a HUGE disappointment (do not waist time with this one)
It has been a long time since I posted a review. I've watched quite a few different dramas that I felt I had to go and write a review about it as soon as I finished watching, but I never did. This time I was so disappointed and frustrated with the ending to be more exact that I couldn't hold myself and I had to write about what I feel. I can even accept the fact that the writing was not that good when being a screenplay writer is part of the story line. I can even accept that there were so many things that felt short, unfinished, not even necessary, but to not even satisfy with a good ending or at least a more normal ending, that I have a hard time to accept. I considered Raphael first male lead and Kang Jae the second male lead based on the synopsis.First, I have to say that the connection between the couples was not quite there, or for me was not equally the same. Oh Woo Ri and Lee Kang Jae even thought they were dating for so long I really didn't feel them as a couple. Maybe because I didn't like the male, I didn't warmed up to him. Oh Woo Ri and Raphael I felt them a little bit more and maybe just because the way the part was written for them but I know they were not quite perfect either. They were talking about a first kiss, he was talking about believing that faith has somebody better for him and because the way they filmed the moments between the two, with all the memories and the dreams they both had and the fact that she even reached to kiss him first which she did not do with Kang Jae, made me believe that she liked him more or at least she was feeling more attracted to him. The connection between her and Kang Jae felt awkward and cringe worthy at times, like the time they hold hands in the car and then they said they have to go pray because they held hands for too long. I mean what the heck.......... what is that? With the relation between her and Raphael I thought since the writers were pointing out that he didn't grow up with the type of family he always wanted, they will give him the family he was dreaming of by keeping him together with her. But to my disappointment it didn't happened.
Second thing that bothered me was the way I felt the two male leads were portrayed at times, and to me it looked like they were both stupid.
Third and not last thing that bothered me, but this really frustrated me was close to the end when they were both trying to win her back it was not fair that Raphael did not get one chance not even one chance to talk to her alone, but Kang Jae did have that chance at the memorial of his parents. After that the next day at her mother proposal party she had her mind made up. That was not correct if you want to give them both a fair chance. And the whole complications that are going to arise from having the baby with one guy and being married to another guy. Why do you have to complicate that baby's existence? I don't understand why? If you emphasize the fact that the female lead and Raphael had a first kiss and then a baby together, than why don't you keep that baby's parents together? Why put it in the movie, if you are going to throw the connection between them out the window? Even more, they also emphasized the connection that was building between FL and Raphael with all the times he was there to save her, and they still didn't end up together. I really do not see the point of having those scenes. I've seen dramas before where I wanted the FL to end up with the second male lead, but this was not one of them because of that baby which she should have had her both parents. If you have the pen in your hand and you write the ending, then why not keep families together? For the FL lead since she was a virgin, she would have been better paired with a man that had more experience and proof is the honeymoon moment when you have two virgins trying to do the grown ups thing and just ended up being another cringe worthy - I want to throw up moment. And don't even get me started on the stupid friendship between Kang Jae and Raphael. That was another moment that I felt I was going to throw up. Really? Really? Really writer or writers? I mean you have them fighting over FL like two roosters just to make them best friends? Really? Really? I am shocked that this script was even approved to make it to the screen. I can just keep going on, and on, and on but I'm too frustrated and the drama doesn't deserve my energy to continue writing.
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So glad that I ignored the negative reviews!
Hello, the Sharpshooter (HTS) turned out to be a decent watch. True, the show could have been executed better, but it had enough good elements to keep me engaged until it finished airing. It is not a serious and deep drama, even though its primary theme centered around the main characters dealing with psychological issues.The plot was nothing new. First loves reuniting with amnesia as a starting obstacle, but I liked how the show wrapped things up so nicely. Some commented that it was too draggy, and yes, a few episodes may be slow, but I felt that the show used the extra episodes effectively to show how the main characters overcame their trauma. At least, unlike other shows in which the character miraculously became better overnight within one episode, HTS took the time to show the process of healing for the main characters. Via Dr. Ding, the sharpshooter team's psychologist, the show provided details that helped to explain how the ML and FL finally resolved their issues. I liked seeing how the ML and FL worked with Dr. Ding to try out methods on the other, and it made sense that ML's journey took a longer time, having the extra burden of guilt.
The best part of the show was the casting, especially with the main and second couple pairings. The show hit the jackpot with the chemistry between Hu Yi Tian as Shen Qing Yuan (SQY) and Fair Xing as Tang Xin (TX). As individual characters, they were tropey (think cold, emotionless ML, almost perfect in every way except his EQ, and clumsy but endearing and plucky FL). However, as a couple, they made the romance come alive so naturally and so adorably that it kept me coming back for the next episodes. Similarly, the relationship may have developed differently for the second couple, but their path to being together was also a fun watch. The supporting cast, especially SQY's wingmen also deserved credit for adding flavor to the story. Also, there were some great scenes where the show balanced well between humor and poignancy.
I enjoyed watching SQY and TX grow together and individually from the natural conflict of their budding relationship and also having to deal with their past history that casted a dark shadow over them. What was ultimately gratifying to me was how the two healed so beautifully together, finding common ground and knowing how to bring out the best in each other. They complemented each other and reveled in each other's strengths. When conflict entered the plot that kept them apart, it was not a test of whether it will break them up but more of a testament that their relationship was healthy enough to adapt and overcome. I appreciated TX's patience and sweetness as she knew how to coax SQY during his fits of jealousy or moments of gloom, and I loved how SQY was consistently there for TX, even when he was struggling hard with his issues.
There were some frustrating moments that can only happen in dramaland. No matter how much they crossed the line or how unprofessional they were, the antagonists were able to get away with their actions multiple times. Fortunately, all the primary villains getting their just deserts provided the satisfaction that I typically needed for a happy ending. I wish that they built up the coach's character better since he seemed to turn a blind eye to all the atrocious things done to his sharpshooter team. Additionally, I will insert my usual rant about how terribly the c-dramas style their FLs. I simply do not understand why the MLs and SFL are usually dressed so stylishly, while the FL tend to be dressed in dowdy, old-fashioned, and oversized outfits.
Visually, HTS is a feast for the eyes because no matter who you look at - either Hu Yi Tian, Fair Xing, Kido Ma, Luo Qiu Yun, or most of the supporting cast, it was good looks galore. Acting-wise, most of the cast did a fine job, but I felt that both Hu Yi Tian and Fair Xing have not expanded beyond their current acting abilities since their characters in HTS were similar to those in their other dramas. They did well in general, but I would love to see them break the mold.
Musically, the OST was memorable, and by that, I mean the songs were effective in evoking memories of the scenes for me. I like the opening song, sung by Liu Yu Ning, and it reflected the hopeful aspiring tone of the underlying sports theme throughout the show. For posterity, I included the tracklist at the end of this review.
Overall, HTS pleasantly surprised me and I would re-watch to catch the nuances I may have missed during the first run..
I do recommend that you try this drama out and decide for yourself. If nothing else, the chemistry between Hu Yi Tian and Fair Xing might be enough to keep you watching.
[TRACKLIST]
The Daughter Of The Sea 海的女儿 - 王韵韵 Wang Yunyun
It's All Worth It 都值得 - 张玮 Zhang Wei
Sadness Is You, Joy Is Also You 悲伤是你，欢喜也是你 - 王韵韵 Wang Yunyun
Extraordinary Love 不平凡的爱 - 郑人予 Zheng Renyu / 徐艺洋 Xu Yiyang
What Happened Yesterday 昨天的事 - 冒朋呈 Mao Peng Cheng
Holiday 假期 - 兔子牙 Tuzi ya / Rabbit Tooth
Everyone Knows 大家都知道 - 薄何 Bo He / 李星彤 Li Xingtong
The Only Light 唯一的光 - 刘宇宁 Liu Yuning
Chain 连锁 - 硬糖少女303陈卓璇 Hard Candy Girl 303 Chen Zhuoxuan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa9t3cnggpU
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Cotton candy fluff with sprinkles on top.
What do you get when you mix The Brightest Star in the Sky With Moonlight but take away the dog?One would assume earth or a galaxy far, far away... but nope you get Assistant of Superstar, or maybe pop rocks... Anyway you get something sweet, easy to binge and fun to watch with highly predictable twists a spaceship filled with slices and a whole lot of charm!
Though the male lead is in need of a lesson or two about consensual behaviour, he never uses force to force himself on the female lead and does actually get that lesson done right.
He is also sweet, fun to watch, charming, just jealous and immature enough to make it cute and funny and not over the top. He is stupid but not to stupid, conceded but not to conceded... Slightly obsessed with the female lead but on a scale of Icicle to full on lava stalker Id say he is somewhere around bonfire.
The female lead is actually pretty smart and is the one with the slightly lower EQ among the two giving the dram a slight role reversal feel to it. She is very quiet... honestly I think she does more talking during the first two episodes then during the entire drama, but she speaks louder with action and mimics.
The second couple is... well... Lets´s just say I did not find them annoying but rather did fall in love with them however! I loved Pandoras energy... She does cross the line a lot and is more of a full on lava stalker and not just a bond fire, do not act like her, as a woman it may actually get you killed in real life... But she is definitely a sweetheart and well her heart was in the right place I guess...
Other then that the villains are pretty good looking and do their job well... I could have done without them but then we would not have any drama now would we...
All in all if you like star falls for assistant cliches, rivalry and broken souls mended this is deffenetly a good place to look for it... If you do not like that stuff, go watch something else.
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LI WU X LU ZHENG ?
Sooo many complaints about the plot being confusing but how many of you actually stopped watching it😏???Pledge of Allegiance is good because the cast is good and they keep you hooked even when you don't understand the connection between people anymore or make sense of the plot.
Li Wu and Lu Zheng do justice to their characters, which makes it so wonderful to watch.
The bromance is strong. So much sugar, and it is worth a watch because even if the plot keeps on going in circles, you won't stop watching (at least I didn't)
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We've all seen her in dramas, the woman who married into a wealthier family, who is faced with comparisons to people that are doing so much better than her and receives lots of pressure from her in law family. What makes this drama and its heroine stand out is the focus on her journey of growing stronger and questioning her status quo in life. That is not to say she's a weak woman at the start of the drama, because she can take a stand for herself when required, but she's just not a person that puts her own needs above everything else.
The drama raises several important social issues, the most prominent ones were the role of wife and mother in a family, education of children and affairs. Some people might be put off by the fact that the female lead starts an affair, but imho the affair topic was not the point of the drama. These two people meet and get closer, because they both feel kind of left behind in their respective lives, but the important point for me was not whether they would stay together or not in the end, but that they began to think about their current situation in life and whether they could continue living that way. I see the affair more as a starting point of their character growth, and especially in the case of the female lead that was really well done.
I keep talking about the female lead, but her character really was the heart of the drama for me. I realize now that I rarely cared about a female character as much as her and Kim Hee Ae's outstanding and relatable performance played a great part in that. She made that character come alive, so that I always felt her pain and was rooting for her to find happiness. The rest of the cast was impressive too, there were several characters that I hated with a passion, but the drama actually managed to make me feel a bit sympathetic for some of them, although that doesn't excuse their previous behavior.
There were some things I wish would have been done a bit differently in the second half, which is the reason I didn't rate it a 10, but those aren't any major flaws. All in all, I highly recommend this if you want to see a drama with a mature approach to its topics.
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This review may contain spoilers
What you need to know
This has a very good storyline, but a lot of people can’t get past the fact that it also was sponsoring products. They incorporated it in a fun way that not only helped progress the drama but to sponsor the products used to help fund the drama. If you don’t pay attention during the show, you will get lost and not understand what they mean so make sure that you do pay attention the entire time. There were a lot of comedic lines and the drama that made my stomach hurt from laughing so hard especially when the bodyguard and the counterpart from the other world met that scene, made me cry laughing. If you understand the story plot you will love this drama very much and want to watch it over again I know I did.Was this review helpful to you?
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A love story, that is told in a completely unorthodox way. Impressive in a refined manner
Capturing so much feeling quite sensitively and lifelike, “Remember you” is definitely for KMovie connoisseurs - with a memorable story and two wonderful leads deeply touching the audience's soul.However, the story is not at all concerned with meeting common audience expectations. The KMovie chooses its own pace while poetically linking the loose threads into a three-dimensional pattern – in a stringent but by no means linear manner, purposefully but without any haste.
“Remember you” (or rather “Don’t forget me”, as the original title says) is mostly a love story through and through. However, it is a love story, that is told in a completely unorthodox way.
The past that lies behind – with the memory of it having the potential to ripping emotional abysses with brute force. The future, that lies ahead – with hope dwelling inside. The present – in which the ´now´ can become a safe zone. Within and throughout: the transcendent power of love.
There is something meditative about “Remember You”. We´re stumbling alongside the amnesiac protagonist through his (to him) strange present, with people coming and going. It almost feels like in a dream. He acts on the outside while inwardly commenting and silently asking his questions to an inner authority that should know... But the inner authority is mute.
The memories of the male protagonist, who suffers from amnesia, come back in fragments and immediately collapse again. The soul has found its own ways in dealing in a somewhat more bearable way with an almost unbearable reality. But ultimately, this situation, too, still is not really bearable either. The KMovie portrays a desperate psychological wrestling with reality - of the male lead on the one hand, and the female lead on the other.
Before we notice it, at the latest as soon as the puzzle has been put together, we suddenly find ourselves very close to the no less desperate inner world of the female lead. After being very close to HIM for so long and learning to feel with HIM, we suddenly find ourselves compassionate with HER emotional horror trip...
Impressive in a refined manner!
PS:
The KMovie “Remember You” is based on a short film by the same director. Based on this template, crowdfunding was used to raise funds for an international independent cinema film production. $32,000 was donated for this purpose. When it premiered in South Korea, “Remember You” grossed around $2 million already.
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