‘The Queen’s Classroom’ is my only second Japanese drama, first drama was ‘Bloody Monday’. I enjoyed this show more than any other show. The story is very meaningful. It changed my views for importance of study, life and past-present-future. It is pessimistic and also optimistic; realistic and also idealistic. Every character in the drama and all 24 students have their own dream and problem to solve. They learned some important lessons as the time passed. Speech in last episode is very thoughtful, and it’ll create huge impact on you.
The actors were also amazing. The actress who plays Maya is both lovely and really talented. I can’t help myself fall in love with Shida Mirai. All kids are wonder kids; every kid played their role perfectly with emotions as if they are really in that situation and everything is happening to them.
All the episodes are extremely touching and made me cry, tears weren't falling because of only sadness but tears were falling because of happiness also. I highly recommend this drama to everyone. It’s one of the most meaningful stories I've ever seen and really makes you think about teaching, learning, and life. There are many great moments but ending scene of Maya in last episode is epic.
As I mentioned already that I enjoyed this show more than any other show. I hope they’ll air this show someday in India.
If you haven’t started this show yet then start it now……and don't forget to watch specials..."Tee Hee"!!!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Intensive. Rough. Monosyllabic. If you don't let that put you off: Definitely worth seeing!
On average, every month (!) around 1,000 North Koreans flee to China in the hope of thus escaping hunger and persecution. Around 80 percent of the refugees are women. In many respects they are dependent on their unfamiliar environment - due to the uncertainty regarding residence law they practically live in a legal vacuum. Their fate all too often ends in the hands of smugglers and human traffickers who shamelessly exploit their insecure situation and ruthlessly make use of this for their own profit. The women are kept in brothels under slave-like conditions or forced into marriage. The bribes are increasing in view of tightened border controls. And unfortunately, China delivers all the refugees it identifies as such back to North Korea, where they then await torture and death. They live in constant fear of attacks, violence and deportation."Beautiful Days" tells the true story of a North Korean woman who makes it out of fear and dependency into an independent identity and a new life in South Korea. Her new life not rosy either, but it's free and self-determined.
Lee Na-young convinces here in a true-to-life and unembellished depiction of a bitter, merciless development process - from the abandoned teenager, who is forced into sex work and marriage, who is then threatened with taking her child away to sell it, and then despite all the hopelessness, persistently and unswervingly manages to escape her pimp, emancipate herself and earn enough money as an independent woman to support her family in China from afar.
By the way: In "Beautiful Days" there are actually no "beautiful" days. The title is pure irony. Dialogues are minimized. There is hardly any room for closeness and tenderness in this rough, monosyllabic world. The few loving gestures can practically be counted on one hand, but their effect is thus even stronger.
Intensive. Rough. If you don't let that put you off: Definitely worth seeing!
Was this review helpful to you?
In this review, I will compare both versions but I will also review this film for its own merits to those who don’t want to bother with the original although I highly advice you to watch the 1962 version. I won’t talk about history since I already mentioned it in Seppuku’s review. You just need to know that Harakiri means a ritual suicide and an honorable death for the Samurai who has to literally disembowel himself and die.
While Kobayashi’s Seppuku (aka Harakiri) was a dark revenge human samurai story, Miike’s Ichimei (aka Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai) was more like a dramatic view of the Samurai honor that aims for emotional engagement. Just like Miike and his screenwriter Kikumi Yamagishi explained in the press conference, this film is based on the source material, so it’s not a nihilist revenge tale like the original. It’s more about what is the true essence of the samurai moral code. I was glad to find out that the screenplay was modified comparing to the original because that’s the whole point of remaking something; not to produce a replicate.
This remake was more melodramatic than the original, it focused on family relationships and struggles to survive more than Kobayashi’s version which made it feel dramatic and touchy; I don’t even know if it’s a good or a bad thing but as I mentioned above, I truly appreciated many modifications of the screenwriting, although I was a bit disappointed with others such as the flashbacks. In the original film, they were a key element and very intriguing to pick up and follow, not to mention the smart storytelling but in this version; it felt wrong at some points. Even the narration of Motome’s story by the retainer of the Iyi clan was also flawed but the story itself was very well-done especially the suicide part. I also appreciated the presence of intensity and conflicts even in a lesser amount.
If I talk about the film itself without comparing it to the original, I would say: do not expect another “13 Assassins”. This is Miike’s follow up to the latter but they’re totally different; Hara-kiri is a Jidaigeki (historical storytelling that doesn’t focus on action and uses it in small amounts) while 13 Assassins is a Chambara (Samurai bloody films that focus on action and swordplay) so do not anticipate to see heads rolling and arms chopped off. Although Miike can do gore so well and his bloody films are well received, he actually decided to drift away from his usual dish this time and try the human melodrama and Samurai codes of honor instead. He was successful even if many people were bothered by the non-13 Assassins setting. If you only liked the latter for the action part, then I am sure that Ichimei won’t be to your liking.
The acting was good. At first, I was afraid to see Ichikawa Ebizo play the role of Tsugumo Hanshiro and being an elder to actors that are only five to seven years younger than him but I was proved wrong on that side; he did a great job with his role especially with his tone but I still insist that Tsugumo Hanshiro’s character belongs to Nakdai Tatsuya only even if Ebizo did a great job with it. Other actors were also good; Eita and Mitsushima Hikari are currently one of the best actors in Japan. The casting for this film is very smart, it doesn’t leave you room to complain a lot about the acting even if the original was full of unbeatable figures.
The characterization was a bit exaggerated and flawed since Miike wanted to humanize his characters even more than they already are. The characters were very emotionally involved in a brutal way, maybe it can be considered as a good thing but the sensations of tragedy in the original were the right amount for this human Samurai story.
Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai is a beautiful, attention-grabbing film if we talk about visuals. Miike is such a professional director as where to place his cameras and how to take the shots. He’s also a perfectionist when it comes to using silence as a fierce way to create intensity. The cinematography was artistically eye-catching but that doesn’t deduct any points from Kobayashi’s Harakiri even if it was produced back in 1962.
The music wasn’t as compelling as in the original. It was noticeably absent at times.
Watch this if:
-You dislike Japanese Samurai classics and want to watch something recently produced instead. If not, then you really should give Kobayashi’s masterpiece a try as soon as possible.
-You like Samurai human stories that don’t focus on action (Jidaigeki).
-You like Takashi Miike but beware that this is quite different from his other films.
-You like touching somber stories.
Do not watch if:
-You’re not a fan of remakes; just stick with the original.
-You’re expecting another 13 Assassins.
-You dislike Samurai films.
Taken as a whole, Miike’s version of Kobayashi’s massive hit is a somewhat elegant, straightforward and a dramatically faithful manner of retelling the 1962 revenge tale. It’s watchable and enjoyable despite its flaws.
Was this review helpful to you?
Is about college in-name only. More like another pointless and meaningless high school drama
Don’t be mislead about the show’s premise. Expected a funny and lighthearted yet poignant college drama. Instead, got a drama where the characters live at a high school. No studying, exams or deadlines. No stressing out about future after graduation. Instead, the characters just sit around a home room (exactly like a high school, like what kind of college do you sit at a home room lol). Put Your Head on My Shoulder and Love O2O are great examples of dramas set in college. This is just a farce. The main female lead literally spends all her time in class planning some sort of antics instead of studying like wtf.The characters are okay but the premise was so incredibly misleading. The best B plot is with the lead and her roommates financial situation.
Was this review helpful to you?
Fingers After is definitely short, clocking in at only 10 minutes long, but the production is good, as is the acting and the ost - nothing is awkward about this short. The story isn't wildly complex, you can't expect it to contain as much as a full 16+ hour kdrama, but it does serve as a nice little glimpse into the lives of these two men as they talk about why one of them suddenly wanted to shut the other out.
Looking forward to more of Strongberry's future works! I encourage everyone who is interested in watching this short to buy this properly on Vimeo so this studio can keep up with their good work making LGBT+ films.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This Is My Roman Empire
This drama is Pizza, and Pizza is life. It’s a warm blanket on a winter night, wine and popcorn on a Sunday evening and fluffy clouds candies all wrapped in one. It’s one of the best dramas that came out this year, heck it's one of the best bl that came out of the industry. That being said, X and Namping traumatised me so much, I almost had a heart attack half way though the finale.Listen, when the first episode started I went: what in the Wangxian, ao3 tags #soulmates #hurtnocomfort fanfic is this??? And why is it bloody awesome!?! I love it, please give me more! This drama is like when you enter a random restaurant and order the first thing you can pronounce but when it comes it's like a five-course meal, tastes like happiness with a side of chocolate fountain and have a live performance by Adele, all for the price of €6.99.
What I am trying to say is that, this drama is really great. It's a gem, a unicon. And you should be watching it like yesterday. I love the premise so much. I might just be that one person and try to sneak it into every conversation I have from now on.
Random waiter: Are you ready to order? I recommend the chicken and peas.
Me: So Namping left, right? And X waited and fixed the car but then... no, you don't know them. But then... and the box had photos and his videos. He filmed a farewell... *starts crying*
Random person at the next table: See Sharon, I told you we should stay home and ordered pizza, outside people are crazy.
Me: *still sobbing*: I'm not crazy, my mom had me tested. Nampingggggg, why? why you do this to meee! waeeeeeee.
Random person at the next table: I hate you Sharon.
No but, the funny thing is, I went into this series without even reading the summary. I had no idea what the hell it was about, other than I added it from one of those lists of upcoming bls on a random Tuesday. But yeah, I clicked on the first episode and fell in love with the leads and the concept so much, I legit stalked the actors socials after the 4th episodes just to make sure Top and Mick are okay, cuz that episode broke me. Then the audacity of those two dancing and smiling on tiktok while my heart was broken. They lucky I couldn't reach into the phone screen and slap them with a rubber chicken for making us cry buckets.
Anyway, here is my review of every story arc and my ratings.
DOL & SUN: (ep1) -- 8.5/10
This episode with people seeing colour for the first time when they meet their soulmates in the rain, reminded me sooo much of a Wangxian soulmates fanfic I read once on ao3. Sidenote: Anyone else keep rewatching untamed and reading the novel? Literally, why can't I move on from Wangxian? It's been years. Anyway, the carrot washing...wait, wrong episode. I meant colours. So, this episode was straight out of a fanfic, and I loved it.
At first I was like, Dol, stop playing hard to get, look at how adorable Sun looks in that helmet. And then that loser ex-boyfriend showed up, and I felt so sad for Sun, who has been hurt and lied to, and still had to endure physical abuse from that mouth breather. So when Dol showed up, I clapped. The plot of this one was straight forward, Dol had problem opening up cuz of his childhood and Sun was naive believing in soulmates. Thankfully, they figured it out in the end.
My fav part with Dol and Sun was when Sun showed up at his work to celebrate Dol's birthday when everyone seemed to have forgotten. I knew then and there they were gonna end up together. It was like that part in a fanfic when the writer leaves a note like... sorry, my cat is in therapy so no updates this week, but next week is gonna be #fluffy #weiwuxiangetsahappyending.
Anyway, as the opening to the series, it did a good job keeping my attention. They had that one episode to tell a story that felt complete and they did it so well. Mick and Top were great leads, and they made me fell in love with the characters, and the drama immediately.
PRIN & FRIST: (ep2) -- 9/10
Imagine my surprise when this episode started and they seemed to have switch things up, and now Prin is rich, the boss, looks like a prince from one of those disney movies, and First is a clumsy adorable secretary. I was like... wow, why you two such good actors, making me believe this is a completely different drama. No, but someone give Mick and Top their flowers!
Prin and First story was so simply. It was as easy as breathing, At first I was sad First was hiding the deal with the grandma, and thought it was gonna create a nonsense misunderstanding that would make them fell apart, but then Prin was so far gone, he didn't even care when he found out. I also love how the grandma wanted Prin to find someone and legit didn't care who it was. I was so happy it was only 1 episode, cuz imagine the nonsense episode 11 we'd have gotten, making us cry.
First was so cute in this one, with his pen and notebook being all adorable and quietly quitting cause he couldn't find anyone for Prin, and the whole time, I'm like... it's you. Come on brother, take a hint! The ending of course was so cute and fluffy and I was like... awww this drama is going to be all cute and lovey dovey for 8 episodes. Good, I need some fluffy Sunday dramas. BUT BOY WAS I WRONG. I WAS SOOO WRONG.
X & NAMPING: (ep3-4) -- 9.5/10 -- disclaimer (Pain level 100000000^2)
This arc sucks. It should be burn with fire. Matter of fact, throw the whole thing into the pits of hell. Dafug you mean he didn't show up the next year right when X finally brave up and got to know him?? TEARRRRSSSSSSS. And to think X wasted all those years not talking to Namping, and instead pretending to visit a random arse ghost he didn't even know. His ancestors must be proud. If only he'd had the courage to make a move faster. If only.
It's my fault, already in episode 3, I was like: hmmm is he sick? why is he dropping stuff? But then X lifted him from the shattered glass like he was the most precious element in the world, and I immediately went, 'naaah, he's fine. Look at them, adorable.' So yeah, should have seen it coming, but I was too busy going 'awwww' like an idiot.
Personally, I don't really remember the side couple in this one, did they end up together? I started sniffing when Namping broke down crying when they were about to do the devil's tango. Then, my eyes watered when X woke up and Namping was gone. And when Namping started crying without picking up X's calls, I went... no, bish no, don't do this to me. THEN... THEN... he didn't even get to see that the car was fixed. X breaking down was a process, from his realisation to full on sobbing was.... Me sitting in front of my TV on a Sunday evening sobbing was not in my plans, but that Sunday ended with me going to bed sad. I was sad about this until like the next week when I saw a behind the scene and Namping(Top) was there during that sobbing scene and went to comfort X(Mick).
Okay, but... NAMPING is the most graceful, angelic, cloud, fluffy, beautiful character ever! No, really how did Top managed to look so cloudy with a chance of angel like that? Like, even when he was sitting on that luggage he looked like an angel or some heavenly deity that shouldn't even be disturbed. It felt like it was even a sin to just touch him, cuz he came off so pure. Namping is the definition of clouds and desserts. He deserved all the princess treatment he got and more. And when they were in the river, literally those two have great chemistry, and their combined beauty seemed almost unreal.
Then of course there was X in those mechanic overalls, looking like whoever invented the word 'damn!' saw his picture at a museum one time. Like, he went from being soo clumsily cute in the last arc as First, then suddenly he was walking around like a tasty offering making those ghost brush. I'm still in awe at how amazing those two are able to switch roles so seamlessly.
I think this arc, although it hurt like a motherfather was my fav, cuz it forced me to feel, and it stayed with me for a while when it was completed. It's what a good story should do. And as always Mick and Top were amazing in their roles.
SIAN & BLUE: (ep5-6) 9/10
Now, how in the world did Namping go from being an angelic person to being a little gremlin? No, he was such a mood. When he kept sending Blue off to look for him, then he'd reopen the door looking like a beef cake, distracting the poor guy, I couldn't stop laughing. He was a little sh!t and I loved him so much.
This time it was Blue who was the cute, adorable one, painting and cooking, and just being the best brother ever to Green, while also thirsting after Sian and his hair and inability to put on a shirt. That fixing the pipe scene where he was just outside the window having an impromptu shower, while Blue tried to remember how to breathe was pure gold.
This was also a relax episode, even though there was some depth with how Sian seemed to have lost his passion with the lost of his ex, and Blue having wronged a friend. My fav part is how Blue, Sian and Green formed their own little family. And when he sang the song (Every Tears) he wrote and all their past lives was playing. TEARS. I'm gonna miss their arc so much.
Also, why the hell he always have some ex-boyfriend? Like, that dude just can't wait until his soulmate finds him? Not gonna lie, up until now, I have no idea what happened to that boy Sian wanted to marry, did he go out and never come back, or did he die? Felt like he went out to get eggs one morning and then dipped. Oh well, Blue got to see that water scene out the window, so a win is a win. Oh and, washing my carrots is gonna be interesting from now onwards.
INN & PUN: (ep2, 4, 6-8) 9/10
When these two first showed up in ep2, I was like: whomst? where are we? then the second time, I was like: ooh, so they are actors, and the arcs we are seeing are their series as partners, so no soulmates? Alright, cool cool, what a twist, but I get it, I love it, I'm here for it. When Inn asked Pun to be his boyfriend after Namping and X destroyed us, I was very happy, and went... okay, we good, no matter how the stories they are acting in hurts me, I know they are together behind the scenes and that's all that matters.
So tell me, why right after Sian and Blue got their happy ending, those two out there talking about they've been on and off and now they've definitely broken up cuz they can't change for each other? Bish then don't change? I swear I was prepared to sue for emotional damages if they'd broken my heart like X and Namping, After episode 3-4, I couldn't do the weeping alone in my house thing anymore. It was starting to feel sad and frankly, a little bit pathetic.
These two are my parents. I thought no matter what happens in the project they act in, they would be together forever behind the scenes, so then I won't be sad, so the dafug you mean you've broken up?? No, but when I saw Inn so happy with his ring, ready to propose, then Pun just broke up with him... I teared a bit. Cuz suddenly, Inn was back to being X, crying for Namping in that damn car. And the years later tag did not help at all, cuz I was like... oh, no, they about to break my heart again. I don vex when I saw the Otto Inn best couple thing... like y'all better be playing out here or something, cuz...
But thank the eff, everything ended on a happy note. I was sad Pun let them break up, saying it was was for the best, but then the flashback happened, and I understood. He gave them a chance to become the best version of themselves, so they could come back together and grow stronger. That proposal was the best ever. Like one random morning over breakfast, Inn just saw Pun as the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, and then, he went down on his kneels and Pun said yes. Ahhhh tears.
The story of these two was such a rollercoaster. They were on and off, then off for years even though they loved each other. That workshop scene was amazing, really showed what good actors Mick and Top are. They said so much with just repeating the same words. Talented indeed.
It was interesting, knowing that while playing Sian and Blue, two people so lovey dovey, all that ish was going on backstage with the actors. Also, Pun, darling, that's not a face for being behind the scenes. You need to be center stage in front of the cameras. Then Pun was talking about not wanting to see Inn's work, cuz he'd be jealous of his co-stars, girl, who's fault was that, huh Mr. Cool Director? But all ended well, so I can't even complain. I loved Inn and Pun as much as I loved the other characters, perhaps even more, cuz there are OG.
OVERALL:
Yes, everything wasn't flawless, because they had limited time, some things were not expanded on, or were vague, or felt rushed. But, we had enough to make every arc feel complete and keep our interest. The production team on this did a really good job, and I'm sad we get only 8 episodes. It's not enough, this deserves like 5 seasons and a reunion season in 2030. Usually, I rant and nitpick, but I simply enjoyed this drama way too much, so imma just let all that slide. The stories we got were great, the characters great, and the chemistry was chemistrying. Mick and Top were really versatile and such greats actors. They made each new character their own, and completely made me immersed in them, without even comparing the previous characters. Where do they live? Imma use my last couple of dollars to send them flowers, and an angry note for making me cry in episode 4.
One thing I also liked was that, normally there's a clear top and bottom, but it took me until episode 3 to realise they are switching in this, and it was amazing, cuz it gave the actors room to be versatile and portray different characters with different set of emotions and actions
I can't wait to see more work from Mick and Top. I pledge to watch whatever they put out, even if it's them watching grass grow. I HIGHLY recommend this drama to all bl and drama lovers. It's a unicon, a true gem, and you need to watch it like yesterday. This is now my most favourite drama this year, and perhaps all time fav bl drama. GO WATCH IT, trust me.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Excellent, heartfelt, charming, happy ending
Excellent, heartfelt, charming. Strongberry's short films always deliver.It's rare to see intergenerational gay relationships featured in Asian media and this is a welcomed change. Both actors are handsome and charming. The acting is natural and understated yet you can really feel the atmosphere and emotion, especially the Professor's disappointment near the end. I rarely pay much attention to how movies or shows use music but here, the use of music has a great impact. Music represents the Professor's state of mind: 80% of the film consists of background noise and no background music because it conveys the Professor's loneliness. When they get together, a romantic track plays, followed by a quirky, happy tune. The dialogue is succinct and romantic. I'm as surprised as the Professor that the student already consider them in a relationship. That was so cute! Their hand-holding and flirting at the end is also extremely cute and heartwarming.
Was this review helpful to you?
Drama Special Season 8: If We Were A Season
23 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
Wow. No ones written a review. First, this drama special is basically a movie. A 1 hour movie. No more episodes, this is it. Also warning it is open ended, BUT I think the ending is pretty clear, so feel free to message me if you're confused. Now onto the review, first this drama is very realistic in my opinion. The characters, their reactions, the ending they all feel realistic to me. It doesn't feel like "ugh another romance I'll never have" it feels more true to life. Secondly, the acting is great. I mean guys it's chae soo bin and dong Yoon, fairly new faces but they've been great in everything. Dong Yoon always impresses me. I mean not just "wow good acting" I mean whatever character he is, his story always leaves a mark. Ji Hoon (Solomons Perjury), Dae Hwi (School 2017), and Gi Seok (If we were a season) all left their own mark on me. I applaud Dong Yoon for always picking stories/characters that I can't get out of my head. Now onto Chae Soo Bin, she is also a great actresss, but unfortunately always pick characters that grate me. Finally, she FINALLY picked a character that I loved and could root for. Do you know how long I've been waiting for this?? For her to pick a character that I liked! I loved her character, and she feels so real and relatable. She has her own story, and feels like her own character not just a pairing to dong Yoon, no she's her own person too. Her story had a great message to all people dating and *spoiler* it's ok to date multiple people, you don't always know what you want, and sometimes it's better to wait*spoiler end* so few dramas portray this, and so few movies, so I'm glad this one did! Thirdly, I personally love the ending. Both characters grow, and I think it really turned out for best. Again, if any confusion message me, and I can maybe clear things up, or we can have a healthy debate lol. Overall this drama special was definitely well done, would have no problem rewatching! I reccomend to all out there! Was this review helpful to you?
I've been thinking of watching this for a really long time, but I didn't really have high hopes, cause I had read some negative reviews about it. I started it on a whim and turns out I was watching it the whole day and couldn't wait to finish it.
Story: I really liked the plot. When I first read it, I thought ok girl falls in love with her boss, that's new... But the way their relationship develops, the whole story in general, the characters, not only the main characters but also the supporting ones, their stories are all very nice and interesting and I really really enjoyed watching it.
Negative point: At some points you might think that things are dragging out too much. And in my opinion they do. This drama could have fewer episodes. The other negative thing, is that the episodes are really long. If you like watching a drama after it's completed, like I usually do, and wanna watch more than one episode a day, you'll probably get a bit tired at some point.
Acting/Cast: 9/10. Almost everyone was great. Aaron played his role sooo well!!! The other main and supporting actors were extremely good as well. Also, there are many good actors in this, like Hsieh Isa and Shen Meng Sheng. At some point I thought Kuo Puff's acting was too much, but yeap, only a couple of times. This doesn't get a 10 out of 10 from me, cause I didn't really like Lin Lyla. She is the main antagonist in this. Although you'll probably really really hate her, I think it's the character. Ding Jia Yu is probably one of the worst antagonists I've seen in all 6 years of watching asian dramas. I think the role was too big for Lin Lyla, she wasn't really good. But I just checked her profile and found out she's really young and this is probably her 1st drama (how did she get such a big role?) so I think, and hope, she'll improve in the future.
Music: I don't really have much to say, I really liked most of the songs. Too bad Aaaron only sang one song in this drama.
Rewatch value: I'd definitely rewatch this drama. It has both funny and sad sences, and some really cute and sweet ones. You can definitely fall in love with the characters, not only the main ones, but almost everyone. They are all so unique and cute in their own, adorable way.
Overall, I really liked it and I'd recommend it. Really nice story, very good cast and music. Eveyone did a good job in this drama, you should give it a try!! ^_^
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
As bad as Jeon Jong-seo's veneers.
I made some notes as I was watching it because I had questions, and some of the things I found answers to, other things are still a mystery.And I'm all in with a spoilers on this one so be warned.
Why did Do-Hans boyfriend get beaten up, when his family doesn't know he's gay? I never found the answer to that, I assumed the people that went and threatened the boyfriend were people that his grandfather hired? But since he kept saying nobody in his family knew he was gay, I don't know who threatened his boyfriend.
Ji-Han and the car accident. So the mother left her husband and had 2 more kids, did I miss the part where these children had a father in the picture? What happened to him? Jow did the reporter driving the car get involved in all of this? And her ex-husband was chasing her and caused the accident, but somehow the grandfather blames himself for that. And hates Ji-Han for know reason. And the father is still hanging around I thought? Why isn't all of this animosity directed at him, since he did a hit-and-run.
Why did Ji-Han come on so strong that he was going to seduce her away from his older brother, only to then freak out when he had feelings for her and have such a guilt trip about betraying his brother?
Why does he want his brother to run the company when his brother doesn't want to and he doesn't seem to want to either?
And after all of that tumultuousness why is the grandfather like yeah I don't care if family doesn't run the company anymore.
Where did Ji-Han go for a year? What was he doing all that time?
Why in the end does it show her getting married to someone else and Ji-Han showing up and running away with her? That was incomprehensible.
I've seen the FL in Ballerina. And she seemed well cast for that, her features are kind of sharp and she's not very expressive which made her seem tougher and kind of emotionally stunted. I did not like how she portrayed the character in this drama. She really does not emote, and I don't speak Korean but I know words, and I couldn't understand her, was she mumbling? I need to ask a native speaker because her voice was really hard for me to track. And I'm not kidding about those veneers they were distracting me so badly because she couldn't fit her mouth over them. Whoever styled her gave her the boxiest outfits, stringy hair, they really downplayed her attractiveness. I think another actress would have been a lot more cohesive for this role, I don't think this is her genre.
She had this wonderful capacity for ad libbing or stepping into a role with confidence and I wish they would have played that up more, because that part was interesting when she used her skill set like that.
It was bizarre that she was faking a marriage to her friend, but they never spoke, they never even pretended to like each other, it was so incongruous. There should have been some scenes where they awkwardly held hands or made some attempt to be into their own wedding. But really all we saw was her trying on dresses and him saying she looked nice. They really needed to add some connection there between those two characters.
Sometimes I'll lose focus in a drama and miss some key points, so they might have stated the answers to some of the questions that I had but I truly don't know 🤷
Was this review helpful to you?
Just your typical fast paced, manga based romance movie.
I watched this movie because I want something light, though I got what I want still the pacing in this story bothered me. I haven't read the manga and I have no idea how is the development of each character there, so this movie got me scratching my head because some scenes doesn't make sense like suddenly one character likes another character, not enough development to make that believable. I also have hard time connecting to these 2 main characters, not enough scenes for me to truly understand their actions, the pacing is just too fast. Also, some characters are wasted like minami hamabe's character, I thought she is part of the main cast, but felt like she's just a cute stray kitten who walked passed me, no idea what happen to her after. It's still a pretty good movie though, fun story, cute moments, lovable characters.Technically, cinemagraphy is nice, Iove the camera work during those cute scenes. Music is also good, nice songs, though I felt it has too many songs, I think I heard 4 songs played throughout this movie. Acting is also good, you have both suda and tao as main lead and you can never go wrong with them, they also have great chemistry in this movie.
You might love this movie more than I do if you read the manga or if you're already familiar with the characters but it might be enough for you to love this if you are only after for a cute story, lovable characters, great kissess and good ending.
Check my Blog for other reviews & other JDramas stuffs. (｡◕‿‿◕｡)
https://thatjapanesedramaguy.blogspot.com/
Was this review helpful to you?
In some aspects, I can say this show comes close to being genius. Hats off to its writer because he wrote one of the most challenging stories involving romance that I have come across in quite a while. I can say that the first seven episodes were absolutely not predictable. I am generally very good at guessing things, but this show proved me wrong every time. Even after a certain 'twist' at the end of episode 7, I was pretty sure about the outcome of the story and even that left me in surprise. This is the reason why this show has very few dull moments. There is always something that you won't see coming in every episode that takes place that thoroughly makes you laugh. It is a rather bold drama compared to regular Jdramas with few scenes of intimacy. It would appeal to a more mature audience. Also, people tired of cliches should definitely go for it.
This show has a good cast and the acting department was quite good. There were a couple of characters that came off as annoying- especially Usami but there were lots of other things that kept me occupied. Dynamics between all characters have been explored fully. The ending felt sort of forced, but even that ended up being funny. Every time a serious situation sprouts up, it eventually turns into comedy. It is a very lightweight drama. I loved the role of Matsuda Shota the best because his character was that of a playboy photographer. He carries out roles of bad boys pretty well. His female counterpart was ridiculous but I kind of fell for it too by the end.
Also, the psychology involved in the story is pretty interesting. Almost every theory they put forward made sense and could not be argued against. The psychologist's character was a freaking genius. He very splendidly changed his shades from good to bad and back again. Airu was also a solid character among all females. Right from the scene where they all get stuck in the lift, she became my favourite.
This drama has great comedy, good romance and great entertainment value. It makes you laugh without being too ridiculous, gives you romance without being cheesy and entertains you till the end. This is a highly recommended drama!
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Watch for the cat and the humanoid
7 Tips to Find that Door into Summer:1. Pete the cat is adorable. I want that cat. Scratch that. I NEED that cat.
2. Pete the humanoid is equally adorable. He is more human than the human in this movie.
3. Acting kudos goes to Pete the cat AND the customer service humanoid. They are believable in their characters.
4. Expect some mind-blowing sci-fi movie? Lower it down.
5. Pete the cat is adorable. I just need to say it again.
6. Watch if you need a respite in between or after a heavy gut-wrenching drama/movie.
7. Treat this movie as if you're going to watch a super fluffy romcom/comedy.
Was this review helpful to you?
1
1Strong on character but short on plot.
A Lonely Hero's Journey is about a young man's brave and lonely resistance to Japanese occupation. It is set in Suzhuo in 1941, just four years before Japanese forces withdrew from China. At the time, Suzhuo was administered by the Wang Puppet Regime; which was formed by a faction of the KMT that defected to the Japanese. The Wang Regime called themselves peace seekers and didn't have much authority but are regarded as traitors in history. While Suzhou was not the epicenter of resistance against the Japanese, it is a gorgeous and culturally significant historical city in China. This drama highlights the scenery, architecture and culture of Suzhou, including authentic famous Suzhou ballads. Its not your typical highly trained spy vs spy espionage story but rather about the defiance of ordinary people.Gu Yizhong is a Western educated architect and the young master of the prominent and patriotic Gu family in Suzhou. On a rescue operation went awry, he gets framed as a Japanese traitor and is isolated and condemned by friends and family. He infiltrates the Suzhuo Secret Service station run by Zhou Zhifei to find out who the real traitor Cell 8 is. Zhifei of course knows who the real Cell 8 is and doesn't trust him for one moment. Zhifei and Yizhong are parallel characters that at a high level, share a common hatred for the Japanese. As individuals they are pushed to make difficult choices at pivotal moments of their lives. To survive they both have to be flexible; sacrificing a father, or a a son and their first love. Somewhere along the way Zhifei lost himself and became corrupt whereas Yizhong manages to hold on to his beliefs. In Yizhong, Zhifei sees the better man that he could have been but is not. In the guise of a mentor, Zifei goes after him like he is exorcising a ghost; destroying all that Yizhong values to bring about his moral downfall. Zhang Songwen is compelling as this selfish, dark and diabolical character, who occasionally allows glimpses of his lost humanity to shine through in his dealings with the two women he loves, his son and his mentor Mr Li.
This drama is very well cast and in addition to Zhang Songwen, is anchored by impressive portrayals by veteran actors Zhang Fengyi and Zhang Yao. In fact I think Zhang Fengyi's Gu Xixing stole the show. The drama starts to go downhill when Xixing exits and completely falls apart after Ou Xinping exits. The younger cast also delivers credible performances against the older actors. At times, Zeng Shunxi's portrayal lacks intensity and could be nuanced with inner conflict when it comes to how he feels about Haimo and Ruotong. Instead, he gives us nothing there so the way they ended left me scratching my head.
One of the best features of this story is how strong all of the women are in their own ways. Ou Xinping is not just a survivor, she is a killer with immovable convictions. Zhang Haimo is cool headed and calm, someone who is motivated by personal connections and loyalty rather than ideology. Unfortunately Haimo's character is destroyed after her walk away is walked back almost as an after thought to try to salvage the shipwreck of a storyline. This is Chen Duling's best role to date and I must commend her effort in even matching the lip movements of the very hard to sing Suzhou ballads. At sharp contrast is the passionate Xiao Ruotong who is far more emotional and willing to sacrifice for her ideals. Wang Yuwen's acting feels very genuine, evoking a moving picture of a young girl somewhat overwhelmed by the tide of history.
Despite wholehearted performances from the cast, this drama is strong on character but short on plot. The plot arcs lack logic and don't hold up well against close scrutiny. It is debatable whether Yizhong needed to make such immense sacrifices to isolate himself as a lonely boat that infiltrates the Suzou Bureau. His codename 孤舟/Gū Zhōu or Lonely Boat is too close a homonym to his surname Gù/顾 he may as well advertise that he is the CPC spy. The identity of Cell 8 is too obvious, diminishing the sense of suspense and is uncovered without much help from him. I was ready to fling my wine at the TV when the enemy simply allows Yizhong to walk away with the only key piece of military intelligence he obtained because he shamed his country for occupying China! After Japan lost WW2, it was absurd that Zhifei still stuck around simply to try to frame Yizhong rather than fleeing like the rat he is. But I guess in these kinds of stories the bad guy doesn't get to sail off into the sunset with his ill gotten gains. This is one of those dramas that can only be enjoyed if you watch the character stories and completely turn off your brain when it comes to the plot.
Even though this starts well and the acting is good, it starts going downhill just before the halfway point. I can only recommend watching this if you are a fan of any of the main actors or if you are interested in Suzhou culture. If not, there are too many better Republican spy dramas out there with tight and suspenseful plots. My overall rating 6.5/10.0.
Was this review helpful to you?
