Acting: I really liked the acting. The initial reactions everyone had, the way people mourned. I've never seen a "nokanshi" work, but the way the actors gave life to the ritual in those scenes through the movement of their hands, and body in general, made it look like art. It was beautiful and I felt fascinated by all of it.
The way the movie closed was also touching and beautiful.
Music: The music was excellent. It created the right atmosphere by intensifying the feelings and actions the actors were portraying or by creating a calm atmosphere when needed. It never felt like it didn't belonged.
One thing you should know before starting this movie is that it's not a terribly exciting like those with lots of action sequences. It has a slow kind of pace, but it's over before you know it because of the way the story flows and the way the music helps that flow. It also has a few minor comedic scenes tossed in there. I'm sure I'll eventually re-watch it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Story- I love sport movies, and this one was no exception. I loved both main characters, one who was very talented but didn't wamt to swim and the other one who was less talented but trained a lot and was pressured by his dad. I specially liked the bromance between Wu Sang and Won Il, it was my favorite part of the movie. The weakest part of the story for me was the romantic part. The female lead was shallow and poorly written so I could never understand how they would fall in love with her? What did they see in her?
Acting - I already knew both SIG and LJS could act really well, they have proven it before, and this movie was no exception. Seo In Guk nailed his performance of an orphan rebel kid, bringing life and joy to a character who could've been very tragic and Lee Jong Suk also excelled in his role of a pressured kid who doesn't know how to have fun. Sadly, I can't say the same thing about Yuri. Saying that I suffered watching her acting was an understatement. I understand that the producers were trying to attract a younger audience and that's why they chose an idol for the love interest, but why did it have to be Yuri? She barely knows the basics about acting and her character seemed too plastic, taking credibility from the love story.
Music- Again, it was a weak part of the movie, way too mellow and pop-ish.
Rewatch value- I will definitely rewatch this again because it's the kind of movie that you enjoy watching several times
Overall, if you're looking for a good sports movie about friendship and bromance, this is your movie! PLUS! Lee Jong suk and Seo In Guk shirtless 95% of the movie! :D
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This contains all kinds of spoilers...It has been a while since I wrote a review but i thought I should since this drama is getting such bad ones.
The story is well done. There are a few flaws but overall it connects everyone and everything well. If people are mad about who the FL ends up with, then I'm not sure we are seeing the drama from the same perspective.
Cha Hyung Bin helps set up Gong Ji Chul as a serial killer just because that is what he believes and NOT because of any real evidence. One murder does not make a serial killer. Who really cares that Ji Chul who was habitually mistreated kills a woman that has killed a child in his misguided attempt to save the one person who was kind to him? I don't. It seems justified to me.
Jung Ha Eun is who pisses me off. WTH? She doesn't even try to see the truth and betrays Ji Chul in the most hurtful way by calling him an animal. She is blindly in love with a man that is blinded by his own bias against Ji Chul. Hyung Bin is a know it all trying to act all righteous.
Then in the reincarnation Kim Soo Hyuk is no better. He's doing the same thing with more power. Setting people up based on his belief. The writer tries to pull it off as righteous judgment but it is just plain wrong.
Then we have Chun Jong Bum who is again misunderstood and mistreated. What a messed up family. Still he does the best he can, but Soo Hyuk tries to set him up again. Then Soo Hyuk friggin' shoots him in the head with no consequences. What kind of BS is that?
It is ridiculous to me that people see Chun Jong Bum/Gong Ji Chul as the bad guy and Kim Soo Hyuk/Cha Hyung Bin as the good guy. They both have depths to their characters and there is a bit of grey area in both but I feel Jong Bum is a way better person than Soo Hyuk.
At least in the reincarnation Jung So Bin tries harder to see the truth and finally sees both men for who they are in this life time as well as the previous one.
Personally I feel like she didn't deserve Jong Bum or Ji Chul.
The rest of the enter twining characters made it interesting.
All of the acting was good. Those boys did a really good job.
The music is good.
No reason to watch it again.
I recommend this drama. It is very entertaining and makes you think.
Was this review helpful to you?
The story is slow paced, but it's extremely addictive. It's very mysterious you never know what's going to happen, and I didn't figure out what happened during ''the day of the incident'' until a few seconds before that scene started. I loved the way they used the scenes of ''the day of the incident'' throughout all the episodes, adding a few more seconds to the scene in each episode. There were a ton of beautiful moments too. Also, the character development was brilliant.
The acting was AWESOME. Nana Eikura was amazing, she did a great job playing Nozomi, one of the best performances I've seen in a while. Masataka Kubota, Kento Kaku and Keisuke Koide did a fantastic job, too.
The music was SPECTACULAR. This is probably the best OST I've ever heard in a japanese drama. I can't stop listening to it. And the theme song is really beautiful.
The cinematography was so beautiful that it left me astonished. You need to watch this in HD.
To sum up, N no Tame ni is a really mysterious and beautiful drama, filled with great performances, a fantastic story, outstanding music and a spectacular cinematography. You really need to watch this as soon as possible.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Why? Just Why?
This has been on my anticipated list since it filmed back in 2021. I really wanted to see VG in a Republican Era vampire role because I knew he could hit it out of the park (which he did); at the time I didn't know the rest of mains or some of the supporting cast. But what started as an interesting drama and story devolved into yet another ridiculous push for a supporting character to outshine everyone except the lead. Why? Just seriously why?Pros: VG as a vampire or SZH was truly awesome even though his character wasn't very smart at times and couldn't put two and two together. I loved everything about him as an immortal that did his absolute best to be human. It was a great role for him and I hope he does something like this again just maybe with a different director and script. I loved SZH relationship with SWL who turned out to be his younger brother. Those two really did deserve so much more screen time even SWL by himself or with other characters like ML, our child-like FL or Jing Xue (who I really wish sounded like an adult not a 12 year old when she spoke or whined/cried). The four of them made this drama worthwhile to watch. The real antagonist was the Mu lady at the end and she gave the right kind of villain vibe. I loved the vampires kicking butt parts very much but then again I'm usually happy with any sort of martial arts in a drama or the kicking of the butt.
I have to say unlike SZH who was being as human as possible, SWL was the opposite. He was born as a vampire and didn't know human emotions or what being human really meant and though it seemed ok with him at first, he started getting confused once his feelings couldn't be explained with vampire logic and that's why though he came across as unserious or goofy, his character really was quite complex. Mi Lan remained as child-like through out her entire portrayal whether she was blind or when she was turned and could see (being blind to start and than getting used to seeing, ON really nailed her role). It being republican era, made the sets and costumes just really beautiful as well as the OSTs.
Cons: Was it really nepotism that swung TML and supposed villain into basically second ML lead status but in the worst way possible? Second drama that has done that after TPR. The director was determined no matter how many people he harmed, killed, etc., to give him a redemption arc death but he made most of us want to vomit because, I'm sorry but this actor couldn't be taken seriously, was miscast, and/or was just no and given way too much screen time, side tracking the story seven ways to Sunday. He had mental health issues and many complexes I couldn't remember or explain. I just wanted him gone and had to ffw a lot of his scenes because they were so repetitive, it was boring to the point of headache inducing. His death redemption arc was in the form of a lava bomb when he pushed SZH out of the way and you had to yet again do a facepalm as his life with SZH flashed before him just before he went kaboom. And Mu lady's death was laughable because one moment they were just on an erupting volcano fighting, the next SZH gets another power and he throws her into a very convenient and somehow nearby lava flow which of course consumes her though just minutes ago, she was able to control the lava.
What happened to that ending? HE in the book supposedly but filled with plot holes, the death of SZH (or maybe he just disappeared for a few decades and reappeared later and walked over to her playing piano in a park with an umbrella as per some HE writing released by production) in a completely ridiculous manner that made no sense; so after all of that, I'd call it an OE that still made absolutely no sense. Furthermore, they had to do it in a phony Titanic themed method of both floating on a wooden board in the ocean and than without us seeing it as the camera panned out to the sun that hadn't bothered him until recent episodes, he supposedly disappeared as Mi Lan was calling his name.
Sorry y'all but I didn't feel any chemistry between SZH and Mi Lan and it had nothing to do with their age difference as actors or vampires for that matter. But just because Mi Lan acted so child-like that they appeared as a family of three with SZH being the big brother and protector of SWL (even though didi was way stronger) and ML.
Loopholes included; how did Mu lady survive? How did Mu Lady get all those people from Chi's office on her side and when? Why and when did Mi Lan put that necklace back on? Had she not had that pendant on her, Mu Lady would have been killed and SZH wouldn't have had to fake die? If there's traffic on the road, why use horses when one is a crow and two are vampires that fly as well? You're going after a boat and yet back to a horse you go for starters? Mi Lan may have been weak but she could have easily overpowered that shadow soldier before he pushed the self destruct button of the boat. Oh and episode 24 had zombies that came from some weird location when that was never even part of the story. Many others I can't wrap my mind around. Like make it make sense, please! I'm just glad I never set expectations on dramas before watching them because when they essentially self destruct, I don't have to deal with disappointment.
Why couldn't the remaining living characters get proper endings? They ended SWL and Jingxue in mid conversation with dead bodies all around and no ML but a voice over of what she was going to do in the future. Oh and her flower bloomed. One of the most "wait, that's it?" endings ever!
Would I recommend it? Only for VG, ON, and SDC (actor's acronyms). The beautiful era and sets and costumes plus OSTs, but the storyline fell apart in the teen episodes. So I can't say one or another, sorry.
Was this review helpful to you?
An Interesting Cross-Genre Concept Executed Well
I'm alone on an empty street.The sun is shining brightly.
The clock which is never wrong says it's midnight.
I wonder, is it day or night?
This recurring line (copied NOT verbatim) really hooked me into the premise of this show. The real answer is revealed in the show and while it doesn't exactly translate to a true life lesson, it's interesting in its own way.
Let me begin by saying I LOVE crime/romance hybrids: Flower of Evil, *chef's kiss*, Come and Hug Me + Cruel City, *thumbs up*. This is why I couldn't help but be a little disappointed to find not so much external romance as internal romantic motivation; which, while still nice, is not what I expect from a romance tag.
Add in some fantasy/sci-fi elements, splashes of comedy, and you have all the makings of a drama tailored to my tastes, maybe yours too.
The story is interesting, paced well, and developed in ways that I didn't expect but still made sense. Many characters get their time to shine in different scenes without dragging the drama down.
The cast chemistry is strong throughout and I found myself particularly enjoying Seolhyun/Hye Won's character and journey. Nam Goong Min brings his trademark charisma to this role. His scenes with Lee Chung Ah/Jamie were particularly entertaining as characters who understood each other well.
A weakness or dislike for this drama would be the villains. There are a few and I never really found myself invested or interested in their motivations. They were generic, sometimes weak, but it is easily overlooked IMO because I don't consider the villains, or their POV, to be necessary here. They exist as a set-up, a vehicle for the conflict, and I'm accepting of that. Would it be more intriguing if they weren't this way? Of course, but they're not so I'm moving on.
That is not to say the villain roles were not played well; on the contrary, there were many standout performances, notably Ahn Shi Ha/Hyun Hui/Mad Scientist. I enjoyed every terrifying moment she was on screen.
If you're looking for a well-executed crime thriller from beginning to end with bits of romance feels on the side, definitely give this a try. Thank you!
Was this review helpful to you?
two green flags, could have been a 9.5
Overall: the leads were mutually interested, sweet and flirty so this could have been a 9.5 with some changes. Series got better as it went on. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI. Re-Aired on YouTube. Star Hunter Entertainment also produced: Big Dragon, What Zabb Man, Gen Y, My Mate Match and The Moment I Need YouContent Warnings: non con recording/sharing, cyberbullying, past death, homophobia, sexual harassment, transphobia, manhandling, unwanted public outing
What I Liked
- dynamic between the leads including: mutual respect, communication, ongoing physical affection (although Krom needed to work on his communication skills, even at the end)
- sweet/cute moments
- a few funny parts like the bubble tea catch
- supportive friends (although the 1 friend put his friend into unnecessary pain with his "plan" in episode 4)
- worked in anti-smoking messaging in a less preachy way, also added other messages however the 'respect a person's privacy' was undermined by Krom's friends taking video/sharing without permission and spying on them
- the interaction with his fans in episode 3 made me tear up, very sweet
- a trans character that felt like a real person instead of the stereotypical characters that we normally see
- excellent dreams
- good intimacy
- conversation about preferred position, willingness to adapt to a partner's needs
- avoided ep 11 curse
Room For Improvement
- too many comedy sound effects that actually detracted from the comedy (seemed less prevalent in the second half thankfully)
- the second couple needed more screen time and he needed to mature more
- several exposition dumps, the voice overs were used too much to tell the story
- too much time spent on the talk show stuff in episode 3, overall this could have had tighter pacing
- nonsense stuff: why didn't his (obviously not American) coworkers use AI translate apps/websites?, someone else filling a person's prescription, an allegedly good friend letting a very drunk person go off with that guy, not coming up with an obvious solution to the problem shown at the end of the series, etc
- how much time passed was unclear at times
- showing a character texting when using the bathroom
Was this review helpful to you?
Sheesh
Every episode from now on could be absolute garbage (highly doubt it though) and episode one could make me forget it all. The acting, the intimacy, THE CHEMISTRY.There has been a clear improvement in the acting already (although it was never bad) and I’m eating it upppppp.
I just about think my gay heart exploded. Nobody out here delivering like my girls right now.
Did I already mention the intimacy?!?!?!?!
Was this review helpful to you?
Definition of military's reality
D.P. is a short drama but it still manages to be entertaining and bring up some real military life issues at the same time.It has a lot of dark, raw, gore and emotional moments, thus it’s not a light drama. However, there are also action and some stress-relief scenes perfectly balanced which make the drama easier to watch without destroying the serious tone of it. As the episodes go by, the atmosphere gets heavier and heavier. The ground is being prepared for the most intense moment of the series: the finale.
The production is pretty decent and meticulous so D.P. is pleasant to watch. There are many nice sceneries, shots, scene transitions and also, the colors and filters of the drama have been selected carefully.
The main color is yellow, the color of madness, sickness, mental illness, egoism, betrayal and caution. The more serious and dark scenes have basically cool colors but in general, D.P. is full of vivid colors similar to a comic’s color palette. The colors, in combination with the old styled (mainly jazz) soundtrack of the series, give a retro vibe. It feels like an old comic is brought to life. Every scene is like a moving comic frame and every scene transition is like turning the page.
The acting is remarkable and almost all the characters are interesting and well-written. Every actor did a great job at portraying a different character of the military corps and all of them look quite realistic. The two main characters, Ahn Joon Ho, the newbie-robot soldier who is doing everything by the book, and Han Ho Yul, the warmhearted, social and funny person that everyone wants as a friend, created a very dynamic duo.
D.P. did actually a pretty good job at highlighting the raw reality of the military and the mental deterioration that causes to humans. Enlisting in the military is like entering another reality, the reality of war. There, public laws do not exist. Human rights do not exist, only the law of the superior, the law of the powerful. Military training tries to simulate the conditions of war by letting bullying and harassment be without punishment. Although this is limited now, it still remains, and this has to change.
Was this review helpful to you?
In the beginning you have all of these arrogant kids who start to change and mature as Yankumi becomes their teacher. She takes care of her students, she's always on their side. It's a drama that says "You can live by standing on your own two feet" - sometimes you just need a helping hand.
The acting is great - Part of my reason for wanting to watch this drama was for MatsuJun: the more I see of him the more I can see him as a great actor for his portrayal of different types of roles. The rest of the cast was great, too, no complaints.
The music is okay - they only really had 1 song that played at the end of the drama. The rest were instrumentals that fit the drama but didn't stand out to me.
I think I'll watch this drama again someday.
Overall: I think this is a drama worth watching. Remember that it came out in 2OO2, that it's also based off a manga. It gets better with each episode - I watched the last 7 episodes in one day. If you're looking for something light and comedic with characters that go through problems and mature - this is a good drama to watch (:
Was this review helpful to you?
The movies showed a lil bit of government's incapacity to react on national crisis due to politics and nation's image issues. And this fatal mistakes led to a bigger crisis and loss from their citizen. The pace was fast. We got straight to the main crisis on the first few minutes, but the writer still capable to maintain the depth of each character. There wasn't any flashback scene (almost), unlike the usual Korean Movie's with fast pace plot, but we still able to understand each character's idealism and initial heart.
Pandora showed a good, undisturbing, graphics. There wasn't any action and all the focus was to solve one big crisis in any way feasible. Surprisingly, with this thick and intense plot, Pandora wasn't boring at all. In fact, we were brought to a roller coaster of emotion, right from the very start. A mass production, with the purpose to remind that a big advantage has the same amount of risk within it. Entertaining, as well as educating (who knows that South Korea has 24 nuclear power plant in 9 southern cities?)
That's it the Pandora.
"Don't close your eyes because of fear. Don't cover your ears because of fears. We have opened the Pandora's Box. Although disaster were inside. Wasn't there also hope?"
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Not bad, but also not enjoyable to watch
I think there’s a difference between a series being good/bad and it being enjoyable. Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo has many of the elements to be considered a good show. The main actors are talented, the couple has chemistry when they are together and the soundtrack is nice. The scene on episode 2 where they feel shy and awkward about kissing is an amazing portrail of young love, and not something we see often in BLs. But, overall, I personally didn’t find the experience of watching this show enjoyable.It’s the same feeling I had with To My Star 2, from the same director/screenwriter. Even before realizing that fact, I kept thinking the shows had so many similarities. For that reason, I know a lot of people might enjoy this show a lot more than I did. I really enjoyed To My Star, which reminded me of the first few episodes of Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo. But from episode 4 onward, it's To My Star 2, which I didn’t like at all. And I know I’m the minority on that.
I really have a hard time enjoying shows with protagonists that are not at least a little bit likable. They can be bad, they can be annoying, they can be grumpy, they can be irrational … but they also need to be likable. And I definitely had a hard time with adult Dohoe. Most of the time I just wanted the episodes to end because I couldn’t stand him any longer. Yes, I understand his life was tough. But it’s not like Juyeong had a perfect life after feeling guilty for 12 years. So guilty that he took care of the guy that physically abused him for all those years. He also didn't achieve his dreams.
Dohoe is directly responsible for his unhappiness, he let his pride win. He chose not to get involved when he saw Juyeong getting beat, he chose to remain friends with Hyeonho, he chose not to contact Juyeong and then go work close to him.
It’s been a long time since I wanted so much for a main couple to end up apart in a BL, simply because I despise one of the characters so much. Juyeong simply deserved better.
PS: Hyeonho’s constant presence also annoyed me a lot. It’s not like he had a major impact in the story, other than to cause issues to prevent the couple being together. The fake university diploma and the whole issue with the student’s mom could move forward without him.
Was this review helpful to you?
Thame Po - My roman empire!
Some dramas aren’t just stories, they feel like home. You settle in with the characters like you are sinking into the warmth of a familiar chair, surrounded by memories and unspoken feelings. You laugh with them, cry with them and at times, you feel as if you are living through their pain and joy. The emotions are not just shown, but deeply felt.Thame Po was all the above for me. Yes, the story was predictable and cliché at times but somehow the execution is done almost right. It's a romcom that feels familiar but fresh, somehow reminding me why I love these types of plots in the first place.
The chemistry between Po and Thame was the heart of this drama for me. Their relationship was built on small, tender moments rather than grand gestures and it’s this subtle intimacy that makes their connection so real.
The way Thame looks at Po, with such warmth and affection makes their interactions feel genuine and heartfelt. The chemistry is soft and subtle but undeniable and it’s clear they are there for each other without needing to shout it out. There was this unspoken support between them where they constantly lifted each other up, even when things got tough. It’s those quiet, thoughtful moments that make their romance feel so down-to-earth.
The friendship within the Mars group is another part of the drama I enjoyed. Despite all the tensions, drama and misunderstandings, there was a genuine sense of camaraderie between the five members. Their relationships evolve throughout the story and the tension slowly turns into more understanding and support. You can totally feel the love and loyalty between them. It was cool to see a squad where everyone’s got their own vibe, but they still have each other’s backs no matter what.
The drama also addressed the para social relationship between idols and their fans, particularly the tensions that arise when idols are rumoured to be in relationships, like with Pepper's arc. It was refreshing to see this topic tackled head-on, acknowledging the impact these dynamics can have on both the idol and their supporters. However, I felt that the issue was somewhat brushed off in the narrative (in Pepper's case). It would have been better if they had fleshed out that arc more to explore feelings and the consequences, which could have added more depth to the overall storyline.
The music in the drama is another good surprise. The portrayal of the Mars group, led by the LYKN members is on point, adding an extra level of authenticity to the music-driven plot. Their performances are full of energy and the songs are super catchy, which really increases the overall vibe of the drama.
Acting across the board was solid for me. William as Thame stole the show. I was genuinely surprised considering it was his 1st acting project! Est as Po was pretty convincing for me. Whoever paired them together knew what they were doing! Other LYKN members also played their part well!
Overall, for 13 weeks, Thame, Po with Mars entertained me thoroughly. While I do think the series is predictable but it is a sweet ride where characters shine and stand out. I will definitely recommend it if you are in the mood for something heartwarming and easy to watch with the right mix of drama and heartfelt moments.
Was this review helpful to you?
This is how you do the perfect enemies to lover trope
I waited for this for more than a year, and finally we get this drama, and it didn't disappoint.This is just an almost perfect story of the enemies-to-lovers trope, and they nailed it. As a huge admirer of LYN, I feel immense pride in him once more, as he flawlessly embodied his role. ZZR also did an impressive job, and she was beautiful, and I applaud her acting here. They both perfectly delivered their characters, so I almost cry at how outstanding it is.
The other characters also needs to be applauded. It's like Journey to Love Again, where you love all the side characters.
I think we all agreed that this has the best intimate relationship ever. This demonstrates the physical affection between a husband and wife who love each other. It's not awkward or displeasing to the eyes. It's just two people who wanted to be in each other's arms. Love love this.
Overall, this is a wonderful show. It's fun, touching, romantic... it has everything.
This will be my favorite drama this year.
Was this review helpful to you?
Well , this drama was the most I was waiting for this year - except of Criminal Minds of course ( because of LJG), and I can say I liked it from the first episode.. The acting was a little raw then, but the cinematography, the mood and the music made it for me! I wasn't really familiar with the actors before ( except Jong Hyun from ML), and I want to say three of them really impressed me!
Im Siwan - it was really my first time seeing him, and he was great, from the first moment till the last! I wasn't always agree with Won's character, but he gained my love and respect in the end!
Yoona - I've seen her in couple of episodes of Love Rain, and I've heard some bad rewies about her, but I loved her and her character so much in this drama! There's always something annoying for me in the female lead in all dramas, but I haven't felt it here! She was always adorable, cheerful and brave through all the story! And she could convince me when she started to love the one she loved..
Jong Hyun - If the 4th prince wasn't played by Lee Joon Gi in Scarlet Heart, I'd definitly have crush on this sexy villian :) I hated him there, but sometimes I also felt bad for him - that means he could deliver his character! In King in Love he was the total opposite of Wang Yo.. Maybe he was a little frozen at start, but slowly he opened up, and brought one of my favorite characters ever! Yes, I was team Rin, and I'm proud of it :)
There were very different opinions about drama's love line - some loved it, some hated it at the same line, and I want to say - that's what one of the best parts of this drama, but it's also what lowed it's rating (I think), because most people like predictable....
First of all- imho - there's no first or second lead in this drama - the three of them are main leads -and they totally deserved to be called it! Because this story is about friendship - deep and genuine, between three young people! And the actors did amazing job, showing how much these three deeply loved each other! Sometimes love story came in the middle of their frienship (of course!), but none of them didn't want to hurt another, and that what made this story such painful for them! But at the end they have learned how to understand and sacrifice for each other! The open ending was satisfing and not at the same time for both teams, but it left a little for imagination of all of us! Thank you, writers for making this story so unique!
There were a lot of scenes that I laughed and enjoyed with the characters, and closer to the end a lot that made me cry! It was lighthearted and bittersweet at the same time! One of my favorite scenes were of course Rin and San goodbye scene and the scene on the cliff... Both broke my heart! Also the last friends' jorney together - we can see how three of them have changed and grown up there..
I also want to compliment cinematography and the music - both were spectacular ( total joy for video maker :), and I wish there was this cinematography and music in Scarlet Heart - but it still the most perfect drama for me!! :)
I know, I will rewatch it! Maybe not from the first episodes, but I totally will!
I think that's it.. I guess I made it clear that I totally loved this drama, and would recommend it to everyone.. But I know, not everyone would love it...:)
Was this review helpful to you?
