It is great to see Yun Woo Jin in a leading role after Arang and the horrible When a Man Loves. He is a great actor that doesn't disappoint as Gong Ki Tae. His character obviously had trust issues and who could blame him after growing up like that. He is a fantastic kisser...HOT. I remember seeing Han Groo in some supporting roles and I wasn't sure she would be able to pull off the lead. She proved me wrong as Joo Jang Mi. I enjoyed this strong, quirky character a lot. Although her character had to do some unimaginable actions, she pulled it off as believable. I like how the writer let her sincerity shine through the deception. It was very interesting. I usually end up hating all the parents when watching dramas like this, but this time I liked them all and the way the characters were used to show the scars that can be left on a child's heart. The other actors were good including the cutie, 2AM's Jin Woon. He wasn't really given a lot to do and I'm not sure if that was written so the main leads took center stage or because he is such a newbie actor. Anyway, he didn't suck.
I liked the music through out
I will probably rewatch this. I'm tempted to do it right now.
If you like romantic comedies or even just an easy to watch drama, then I think this is a good choice. It isn't the kind of drama that tears your heart out with emotion, but instead gives a comfortable feeling.
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This movie has a concept of sibling love, and although things are not as they appear, this aspect alone may be uncomfortable. However, if you suspend reality for an hour and half this film is fluffy, cute, entirely ridiculous, and whole lot of fun! Yes, the acting, plot, and screenwriting is questionable, but it will have you laughing and having a great time. The soundtrack is upbeat and the antics are hysterical.
Sometimes you just need a movie that can lift up your spirits and make you giggle like a 13-year-old girl, and this is definitely one. This can help especially if you delved into several serious melodramas of late. (I am currently re-watching Empress Ki and sometimes you need some silly fluff to break up THAT much angst). If you enjoy the manga style live actions such as Heroine Disqualified this is a fun watch and absolutely worth your time!
Happy Drama Watching! :)
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This review may contain spoilers
Love love love!
What a wonderful drama! I think I’ll be raving about this one for a long time. It’s certainly risen to be one of my favourites. It’s got such a wonderful balance of all of the things I love in a drama and is a good example of how a simple storyline can be done right. Such a beautiful romance with smoking hot chemistry between the leads, beautiful scenery and visuals and don’t even get me started on the OST. A drama’s soundtrack plays a big part and this drama absolutely nailed it. I don’t think I’ve been so in love with a drama’s soundtrack since Goodbye My Princess! I’m just hoping the soundtrack is available on iTunes soon cos I’m obsessed!I absolutely adored He Ran. She was so charming, witty, playful and bright. I loved watching her persistence in obtaining Xiao Han’s love and how she never backed down. I think she’s quite relatable in how someone can behave when they are absolutely smitten with someone. I loved watching her pursue Xiao Han and watching her drool over him (like the rest of us haha), she wasn’t shy about it and I love her for that. I’m also not the biggest fan of dramas where one leaves because of illness to spare the other heartbreak but I think this one was done quite right. I can understand why He Ran was afraid of letting Xiao Han know after watching her mother break down following her fathers death. I think her constant chasing him even after she left was really believable in that she could not help how she was reacting even though she was the one who initially left because our emotions and feelings usually get the better of us.
Xiao Han was a wonderful male lead. I love how he was never arrogant and always so patient and accomodating. I loved watching him grow from being a bit more distant to absolutely loving He Ran in return. I love those little smiles he gave her and seeing how her charms were already starting to melt his cool exterior from the start. I am also definitely Jerry Yan biased haha he’s just such a seasoned actor and absolute eye candy. This man must have found a Time Machine cos he’s still looking like he did in Meteor Garden except now he’s just more masculine! Those scenes in the last couple of episodes were so heartbreaking, especially when Xiao Han asked He Ran’s mother to let him take care of her from now on and then when they were lying in the snow together at the end. How insanely heartbreaking and Jerry Yan nailed them.
Although I absolutely would have loved a more certain happy ending, I think given the basis of the storyline, the ending was pretty expected. And as much as I’d love to believe she didn’t pass away in the end, I think she did. I think if she had gone to receive treatment overseas then he would have gone with her, particularly because he said he would take care of her from now on, and if he did stay then his reactions to seeing her dads portrait and the flowers blossom wouldn’t have been so darn heartbreaking. He said she was his last woman so he kept everything of hers like she was still there, I mean why get rid of her things when he’s already committed himself to loving her only forever. I think if the two fishes had names then I may have believed she were alive because she was going to name them if she came back but it was still a lovely touch to see the fishes together because it kind of symbolised them still being together in a way. The ending scene was either a dream or him imagining her there like she always used to pop up when he was in that same spot gardening. I think for my own mental sanity I may just go on believing that she is alive though lol
Anyways for those contemplating on whether to watch this, definitely give it a go. Don’t be scared away by the sad premise because this drama is so much more than that! Now off to rewatch my fav scenes I go! :)
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Let me expand on that:
Park Hae Jin’s acting (or maybe he was just goofing off the whole time?) was hilarious. Though I really enjoyed a lot of elements in this show, his facial expressions throughout it made “Man To Man” my new favorite drama. [I spammed my MDL feed with examples, if you want to see what I mean.] Kim Min Jung was also great playing our female lead, Do Ha, a quirky, independent, non-cookie cutter heroine who, thankfully, did not cling to the male lead.
The Plot: For some, the drama itself might seem to be a half-baked combination of humor, espionage, romance, and bromance—but for me it was perfect. I get bored if I feel like a show is stuck in one genre. The only time I was disappointed in the plot was during the last episode, because I disliked how it concluded the various story arcs. Last episodes are very important; they are the final impressions of each character and should wholly complete the story. I was regretfully disappointed in the “Man to Man” finale.
Acting-wise, I thought all the cast did great within the limits of the characters they were given. What I mean is, that all the characters were enjoyable to watch because they were portrayed well, but the characters themselves were underdeveloped. I thought Seol Woo and Do-ha were developed enough, and since they were the two main characters I was content with that.
Long review short, I loved “Man to Man.” Park Hae Jin’s face is hilarious, the plot is a spy-romcom, and the OSTs are great. I say give it two episodes, but you can probably tell if it’s the type of show for you or not after just watching the pilot.
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'"Passion" is a brand of Lubricant' said Chen Xi with a perfect little shit eating grin.
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ ꜱʏꜱᴛᴇᴍ: 9.5 = [ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴀ ʟᴏᴛ, ɢᴏᴏᴅ ꜱʜᴏᴡ]I actually just loved this short piece in general!
Even just some of the candid dialogue lines in these short 4 episodes were so unique and so straightforward, and also quite true to how natural conversation and banter might go in a situation where two unfamiliar people are discovering attraction for one another and flirting. So let me break my thoughts down.
THE GOOD:
- Not only was their acting natural, smooth and appropriate to each scene, as well as their chemistry being easy and effortless, these two Chinese actors also might be two of the best looking leads I've seen together in a BL in a long time. For me personally, I usually end up liking one, or neither ML, looks-wise in a show, so the fact I think both of these actors were good looking was a bonus.
- The budget wasn't high for this but it goes to show what can be done with even a minimal budget if the actors, script, director and set designers are ALL competent. Very suitably written, designed and filmed.
- There was so much clear context in just four eps and yet it didn't feel rushed or forced or confusing. It was pretty complete for only being four episodes, we knew just enough about all the moving parts to understand these two characters individual situations and to appreciate their damaged yet sincere connection to each other.
- The dialogue, I loved the dialogue in this.
- Chen Xi's actor (and his character) was very unintentionally and intentionally sexy, it was a nice blend.
- Tidy little tale with a happy enough ending.
- No shitty slow motion, excessive music and all that crap that wastes time in the run of mill BLs.
No BAD here, but two smaaalll disappointments:
- Duh, the length, even just 4 eps at 30 min long would have been a little bit better.
- I wish they'd kissed properly even just once. The lip pecks were nice, but really, the visual of them kissing properly would have just been the cherry on top.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Again, some of the dialogue in this was so well written, just the right kind delivery too from the leads.
- Proper emotional range in the acting, which is rarely seen in BLs from Thailand, SK, Taiwan and Japan.
This is short but it's a small gem, I would 100% recc this.
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This review may contain spoilers
Strong beginning but nc-scenes alone don't tell a story...
While watching the first two episodes, I thought we get something different and interesting from Thailand for a change, but the script writers had no clear vision and in the middle of the series it felt just flat. We got our 2D awful father, of course the family of the other one was not better anyways and we got a side-couple to fill in the minutes.The nc-scenes in the beginning were a story driver but that also collapsed in the middle of the show. At least they did try very hard to show us always different scenes, but that could not save the series. The endless explainations of the meaning of "peaches" was also getting on my nerves. It's ok to set it up once, but there is no need to repeat it every episode.
The side-couple could have been a balancing force with the sex-driven main couple but that also failed when in episode 4 they had sex quite quickly considering one of them was extremely reserved. After that the side-couple is just an afterthought with barely any screentime.
Production quality was ok, there where the occasional sound problems due to on body microphones, they used a lot of blur for no reason and an excessive amount of lipstick. The pacing was all over the place, especially in dialog scenes between the sentences they streched the time. This made some parts of this show quite boring. Instead of 60 minutes per episode, 40 would have been enough. Overall this is just an average show, started with a strong premise but it ended up in smoke and blur.
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Definitely a Gem.
This series was surprisingly good. It is a bit slow paced but it was consistently endearing. I’ve watched many Jdrama’s and this one is by far one of the best I’ve ever seen. Aside from the initial awkward moment, it’s genuinely a well written series. No supremely weak and and easily manipulated females. No forced dating. No weird triangles. Just good friendships, communication and humor. I loved how supportive the friends were towards each other and how they treated each other like family. It was a very warm series. There were some sad moments but so many heartfelt and funny moments too. I highly recommend this and will most certainly put it on my rewatch list.Was this review helpful to you?
short series with amazing story
I watched this drama for a quick break. It was short sweet and enjoyable.I had a fun time enjoying the drama. It was like a sweet candy until the end. The story was engaging and as it's a short drama you don't wanna give up before its completion. It's worth binging.
Both the actors performed very well. All the emotions absorbed are well portrayed in the drama. Sometimes I actually wanted the story to be more in length.
As its short, it is unable to stir up the emotion in me
Watch it for a quick time pass.
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Mature and heartbreaking romance + great chemistry & acting
Completed - 2/2/2022 - 8.25 rounding up to 8.5"Because of Love" has all the ingredients of a mature melodrama - first love, lost love, tragic pasts, revenge and illnesses. This drama is not for those who are looking for a fast-paced, fluffy, sweet romance. This is about life, hardships, tough decisions, and heartbreaks.
What I Enjoy:
1. Amazing acting - Everyone delivers great acting in this drama, ranging from the youngest and most adorable child actor, to all the veteran actors. We hear a lot about Wallace Chung (ML) and Li Xiao Ran (FL) and they are both awesome in portraying their respective characters and showing a range of emotions. LXR's eyes speak volumes and you can see her determination and stubbornness through her big, teary eyes. Wallace's heart-wrenching cries and emotional scenes are no joke. Both actors are not idol-pretty in this drama. They are tired, gaunt and depressed, esp. for Wallace, a completely different look that fit the character so well. Additionally, the second lead couple, give off a totally different vibe compared to our main couple. After watching Wang Yang in "The Rebel", I am again attracted to his charisma. There's just something about him, who is not super handsome in a traditional sense, but he just sucks you in. It's my first drama of Tian Lei Xi, and she is so pretty and refreshing to watch. But I have to mention two of my other favorites: Morni Chan who played grandfather Nie Dong Yuan, and child actor Mi Ke who played Sun Ping. It should not be a surprise to see veteran Morni Chan playing such a divisive character. I want to hate him for putting our leads through all that suffering, but I can't help understanding where he came from. Little child actor Mi Ke has got to be one of the most adorable kid. I've seen cute kids in dramas before and they are mostly very outgoing and act cute. But Mi Ke's character, Sun Ping, is not. He's just a quiet and intelligent regular kid. He is using his own voice and delivers the lines so well. He's such a precious angel!
2. Chemistry (1st half of the drama) - The chemistry between Wallace and LXR in the first half of the drama is amazing. When ever they came across each other, you feel the angst, torment, longing, passion.... a mixed bag of emotions! I can't help but want them to stop suffering and fall into each others' arms. They have two very passionate kiss scenes - so much emotions!! The teen version of the leads also delivers solid acting. In contrast to the darker adult romance, their younger selves are warm and adorable. They brought some lightheartedness to the drama (before things go south). On the other hand, our second leads have a cat-and-mouse type sizzling chemistry. They are flirting but not flirting and it's incredibly hot. These two romances have very different feels to them. Unfortunately, I only feel this way about them in the first half of the show.
3. Past and Present - This drama uses many flashbacks in its storyline telling. However it's seamless between the past and present. You won't get confused and oftentimes, I feel like I am watching a parallel time line. This is probably the first drama I watch that I don't mind flashbacks and would like to see more of.
4. Realistic sets/costumes - A large portion of the drama takes place inside a hospital. This is probably one of the most realistic, normal-looking hospital I've seen in Asian drama. Many hospitals in dramas look like they are for the high society and look too modern and high tech. But this hospital looks like it's for regular people, even the VIP rooms. Moreover, the area where FL lives also look appropriate to her socioeconomic status. All characters dress the part. ML's slouch-walking and casual wear fit his depressed mood, even though he's a successful cardiac surgeon.
What I don't quite enjoy:
1. Main romance (2nd half of the drama) - The angst and passion seem to have disappeared in the second half. At times, I can't tell whether FL is still in love with ML (though I know plot wise, she is). ML becomes a lovesick, smitten puppy and the torment and longing seem to have disappeared. The romance becomes... normal and calm. Once they sort of got together, there isn't enough romantic scenes to feel happy for them. Maybe this is a mature romance that feelings don't need to be shown as much. I just miss how I feel about the romance in the first half. This is why I did not give this drama a solid 8.5.
2. Loud BGM - The OST is fine and not extraordinary, though I do like the opening theme song. Music is not overplayed but at times the background music is too loud. It's so loud that I can't hear the dialogs and have to resort to reading subtitles.
3. Last few episodes in the business world seem to be out-of-place. The tone of the drama changes. Maybe a few more episodes should be dedicated to develop that part of the plot to build up the drama a little more.
Other Observations:
1. It took a little while to get used to Wallace's accent but I like it. I will take the actors real voice anytime over dubbing.
3. I thought the kid has a GPS bracelet, how come they can't find him?
4. There are no true villains. I might not agree with their actions but I understand why they act that way.
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The only thing I dislike with this movie is the 3 minutes long song in the middle. It is dull, annoying and does not have anything to do with the story. Otherwise the soundtrack is as sweet as the story itself.
I highly recommend you watching this and I would, at the same time, like to mention that the director of "Boy meets boy" has made a 30 minutes long movie in the same spirit, "Just friends?". A movie just as delightful as this one.
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The only problem with it was that they could have given some more time to some characters and the relationships. Somethings at times felt lost and unexplained.
But apart from that, this drama was sweet. I wish I had a sister. I won't say it is one of those extraordinary dramas, but its a simple story that you can relate to at times and which will move you to tears and make you smile all at once. Oh and I loved the music.
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This movie is smart innovate, gave me requiem for a dream feels mixed with momento flashes .
I was hooked after 5 minutes.
The story of a young man who is given a task by his dad to go clean up a dirty apartment of his deceased aunt Matsuko.
We watch the movie through Eita's eyes as he cleans his aunts apartment and discover her true identity.
With great comical scenes and depressive nature of the movie it covers a huge part of Japanese society of what was it and how much changed through the years.
As you see Matsukos braveness through out you start cheering for her even though you already know at the starting of the movie she is dead, this movie covers a lot of themes in Japan from yakuza to AV idols to perfect housewives and many more with on going amazing music scores this is a masterpiece.
I think it's the first time a movie made me laugh and cry in 5 seconds intervals, a true gem is found.
highly recommended it's perfect.
I'm still in shock just wow.
http://dramanice.eu/memories-of-matsuko/watch-memories-of-matsuko-episode-1-online
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This is a 4-part series, roughly 75 minutes total run-time.
STORY: The first part is wacky and a tad confusing but stick with it because it settles down and reaches its stride rather quickly and carries it all the way to the through the end credit roll. There are also quite a few clichés but this has a HAPPY, even if a somewhat bittersweet, ending!
ACTING/CAST: The cast chemistry was great (well, only 3 people really get any real screen time). The main couple were fun to watch and there were a few hilarious bathroom scenes that as a guy I was cringing and laughing at the same time. Makes me wonder: do women really not know male bathroom etiquette? Well, watch the scenes and you'll see what i'm talking about.
MUSIC: The music was good though I don't speak the language. The sound quality had issues but this was most likely because I saw the English fan-subbed version.
REWATCH VALUE: Definitely will watch this again, next time with a good friend.
TL;DR: Starts out strange, quickly gets good, has some twists, and a happy ending!
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I wasn't disappointed, either. The Ouran High School Host Club drama truly was the icing on Hunny-sempai's keki for me. I love the drama, the cast, and the entire adaptation of Bisco Hatori's fantastic manga on screen.
In particular, I find that Yamamoto Yusuke plays Tamaki well (I knew he could do it--he is awesome). I don't understand the arguments about his acting ability based on his hair color--which in the manga isn't blonde anyway. A character which surprised me was Daito Shunsuke's Kyouya. Kyouya was my least favorite character in Ouran until the drama. He's still not my favorite, but I like him much more now (that has nothing to do with Daito's suaveness, whatsoever, lol). I also felt that Haruna was a good Haruhi, and Chiba is an awesome Hunny. The Takagi Twins never fail to disappoint, either.
Plot-wise, I feel that the drama did the best it could with the ridiculous time constraints put on it by the network. As the first drama I've ever watched in Real Time, I never once did not laugh during an episode. Everything worked well, and it could not get me more excited for the movie.
Overall, I will rewatch Ouran again because it's that good, it's my favorite manga, and it's a good drama on sad days.
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The story is fresh, innovative, clever, and meticulously planned out. I have never encountered something like the "Liar Game" before, and just the concept of it makes me excited about this drama. The game's description sounds fun in itself, and I can't help but watch it. The several challenges/activities that the people go through are also ingenious. During the whole drama, I felt stupid whenever I couldn't figure out one of the puzzles. The puzzles take brain work to solve and it was extremely fun following along. Seeing the results was interesting. Because Liar Game was full of so many great and original ideas (completely steers away from all drama-centered stereotypes), I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sometimes, Nao's naivete seems annoying, but you get over it.
And, as a random ending note, Fukunaga is hilarious. Maybe it's because of bad acting, maybe it's not, but Fukunaga is awesome and I find his evil laugh amusing.
I put a rewatch value of 7 because, although rewatching Liar Game /can/ be fun, I lose my excitement the second time around since I already know the results and can't relive the enjoyment of trying to figure out all of the puzzles and stuff. :(
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