Unique cinematography and setting for a cdrama
**this is my first time writing a review so sorry if it is really badly explained**Cinematography/Directing
The way this drama was shot and directed was such a breath of fresh air to cdramas! It's hard for me to explain but the way the drama was filmed gives off a bit of an indie vibe/more mysterious than your regular romcom cdrama with a bit of mystery. The combination of the architecture and interior design of Monster Vintage plus the costume styling of the characters really helped set the tone for this drama as well. The trailer shown for this drama on MDL focuses more on the drama's romantic aspect, making it seem lighter than it really is. One of the best parts of this drama would be the Monster Notebook segments at the end of each episode. These clips are shot like old films and give more insight into the characters in a fun way. Even if you dislike the romance in this drama, I think the cinematography itself is worth staying for!
Music
Other than the cinematography, the music is the best part of this drama. Every single OST is amazing! I would rewatch this just for the music.
Romance and Mystery
The ratio between romance and mystery in this drama is 50/50 in my opinion. Some episodes are romance heavy while others are focused on solving the cases the two MLs receive or uncovering secrets hidden by each main character. Some of the cases are really dark but a few are a bit more light. The romance aspect is nothing special but the mystery behind each character is what makes this drama stand out more.
Acting
*I have a bit of a Robin fan filter but I'm trying to write this as unbiased as possible*
The main cast are all relatively new so the acting is not bad but not good. Characterwise they all play their roles quite well. Overall the acting is good enough to get through the drama (no extremely awkward acting) but would not rewatch for acting. Also, Robin's character is hilarious. ( I feel like he's most people's favorite character)
Pacing
It's 36 episodes so it can seem a bit slow but it isn't that bad.
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The Palace Season 2: The Lock Pearl Screen
14 people found this review helpful
Story: Same old same old. There are evil and overly ambitious people in the palace that make the love triangle a tug of war for the entire 36 episodes. Honestly, by the time I was on the last few episodes the niceness of Lian Er was just frustrating and the bad endings for the evil characters weren't as satisfying as I would have hoped. Maybe if there were fewer episodes that kept drilling into our heads just how bad the palace people were and just how much they could torment our heroes it wouldn't have bothered me so much. Also,I did not like the amount of time that some side stories had towards the end. FYI writers: I DIDNT CARE! I found myself fast forwarding through most of that.:-)
Acting/Cast: Good. It annoyed me that some characters from the first series played different character's in this one. The main one I spotted was the old emperor in series 1 played 17th Prince's teacher in this one. Other than that, I will say that the cameos by 8th Prince and Qing Chuan were adorable and was a nice nod to series 1.
Music:Laughable. Every time a character would ask Lian Er to sing suddenly the music would kick-in over her singing and we're supposed to believe she was the one singing! It made me laugh every time. But the OST was nice and whoever did the actual singing was good.
Overall: Based on my review I know it sounds like I hated this series BUT, I knew what I was getting into from the 1st series. I WANTED to watch something cheesy, with over the top effects and characters I love to hate. And boy did I get it! It was cheesy and cute and the ending salvaged a lot, ALOT of the flaws for me! Glad I finally watched it, but I'm not going to continue with the series. This was a good place to stop for me :)
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This review may contain spoilers
A Flawed but Emotionally Impactful Coming-of-Age Drama
Honestly, I really liked this show. I had so much fun watching it, even though it took a few turns near the end that didn’t sit right with me.Episode Ratings:
Ep. 1–3 & 7: 9.5
Ep. 4–6: 9
Ep. 8–10: 7.5–7
It started off as a strong youth coming-of-age drama… until it occasionally wasn't. The premise is pretty much what the synopsis promises: Lune, the lonely guy who feels invisible, is suddenly seen by White, the popular, charming guy who decides to befriend him. Slowly, Lune becomes part of the popular group. White has feelings for Star and gets rejected, but what happens when Lune and Star secretly start dating in a summer night?
Character Thoughts:
White & Ivy were my absolute highlight. They were so easy to root for, and their dynamic was endlessly compelling. I loved them.
Lune & Star, on the other hand although I like their relationship, did things that didn’t sit well with me, especially how they treated White. I get that they were trying to “save his feelings,” but it often came off as selfish. Lune's loneliness wasn’t just external, it stemmed from how he avoided others when things got uncomfortable. Still, he had noticeable growth, and by the end, he genuinely tried to be better. He’s not a red flag, just flawed and learning.
Star is the "bright star" that shines for everyone, even at the cost of her own feelings. But in the final episodes, she suddenly became controlling and jealous, which felt out of character. This is a great example of how not to write a female character, her shift didn’t feel earned, it felt like a writer’s convenience.
White was probably my favorite. He’s complex. someone who has friends but still feels lonely, convincing himself he’s fine when he really fears being left out. A very relatable character for many.
Ivy was a fantastic addition. She starts off as Star’s protective, loud friend, but you realize she carries so much depth. She’s mature, and her friendship with White is Gold.
The White and Ivy dynamic honestly had my heart. They’re not your typical "friends-to-lovers" or "enemies-to-lovers." They were bickering unlikely friends to friends with deap connection who still bicker. And that kind of bond can be just as powerful as romance. I appreciated how they talked it out and decided to be friends. Their friendship became one of the most meaningful relationships in the show for me. (I’ll always take friendship over romance, personally.)
Jewel & Tan were adorable. Jewel, the rich guy who’s had everything handed to him, meets Tan, this mysterious guy wearing wizard clothes who enters his life and becomes the only one he feels he can be vulnerable with. Their relationship was genuinely cute.
Sera, who initially seemed like the classic ex-girlfriend added just for drama, surprisingly turned out to be a mature and nuanced addition to the group. I ended up liking her a lot.
I think this story might have worked even better in a university setting than a high school one. Still, there were so many fun, emotional, and memorable moments with this friend group that I couldn’t help getting attached. Even though the second half didn’t hold up as well, my love for the characters (especially in the first half) kept me emotionally invested until the end.
Secretly hoping for a university spin-off with Ivy and White. Whether they stay friends or turn into something more, I’d just love to see more of their story.
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Great Story Shines through Bad Subbing
The subbing on this is absolutely atrocious. It borderline made it unwatchable. Fortunately, the storyline is simple, the acting superb and the tale so funny and cute that the bad subbing is *almost* forgivable. The eldest prince of the kingdom of Yan, Xiao He and the second prince Xiao Yu have learned a terrible secret - anyone who sits on the dragon throne is cursed to die in their prime. Naturally, they've been doing everything that they can to avoid that fate with Xiao He pretending to be a womanizing delinquent and Xiao Yu pretending to be sickly and weak. Neither is what they seem - He has never even kissed a girl and Yu lifts heavy boulders with his bare hands. The emperor, sick and desperate to get his boys to take responsibility, marries He to Fu Qi,a Dongling princess whose family has been sent to the border for crimes they didn't commit and whom she is desperate to exonerate. She knows once Xiao He takes the throne she will be able to help her brother and father, so she sets about making He crown prince just as He works with equal diligence to avoid that fate. Their battle of wits is hilarious, the two actors have great chemistry and the short, sweet story is a terrific blend of romance, mystery, and comedy.Was this review helpful to you?
I can say that this is one totally wonderful slice of life movie :3
I accidently went on the movie page and just randomly chose what I pointed with my finger on the screen, then Kamome jumped out.. it was like ''what's this?'' O.o and description was pure, but before that I decided that this is the day of watching random chosen movie till the end XD
so I went --; clicked PLAY button.. and MFG THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME!
I just can't describe how I enjoyed the story, actors, acting, music, atmosphere, feelings ~ everything is simple and complicated at the same time, one calm and beautiful slice of life about one small restoran and various people connecting due to some circumanities or accidents together :)
Despite the different nationality everyone is the same, every alive creature on the Earth has the same feelings and problems just expression and language and physical look make difference for everyone..
I enjoyed it soo much :) and FOOD ~ heh japanese food :)
I recommend this movie to all who want to enjoy one easygoing and beautiful slice of life japanese film*with good food :)
**just to mention, this is not for those who search some romance, action or ultra comedy, this is just one usual life movie to enjoy and look yourself and your days and life of others as well in a different way. :)
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This review may contain spoilers
I liked it as a drama, but...
Yoo Jung was an abusive, manipulative, toxic character. I found it quite uncomfortable that whatever he did Hong Seol accepted it and rationalized it. There were also bullying classmates, and she continually found herself in extremely dangerous situations that she treated as perfectly normal. For example: why would she not block the phone number of an extremely creepy stalker? Even Baek In Ho often had a tendency to immediately resort to violence in any situation.Even so, this was an unusual gem of a drama. The acting was quite impressive all around, but Kim Go Eun and Lee Sung Kyung were both phenomenal. Park Hae Jin managed to portray a sociopath with skill, and his moment of realization was masterful. Seo Kang Joon absolutely shined as Baek In Ho - both his performance and the character were stellar.
The story was well written, even while being disturbing, but I felt the ending was rushed, and it made me sad Seol was still pining for Jung three years later - he realized how harmful he was to her, but she seemingly never did.
I find it a bit odd that Viki tagged this show as a romantic comedy - the genre is more akin to a slow-paced psychological thriller or straight drama.
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So this short drama seems to be produced by Tourism Australia? that means they show a lot of nice views and everyone is really nice. I guess they want to attract some more asian tourists? haha :D Also there is a lot of other companies funding, like lays chips, so it's like a commercial movie.^^°
beside that fact the story is nice with lots of emotions, also a lot to laugh about and some surprises. even if it's short I think it's a good package.
I really loved Show's and Rainie's acting. They really fit together and somehow this time they seemed more mature to me.(but that's maybe because 'Hi my sweetheart' is just too crazy and childish at times.)
The title song 'Wang jian Wang' is very catchy and I already loved it after the first episode. The music video is so cute and funny!
Overall it's a great drama and good to rewatch because it's so short. :D
Only thing is, I don't know if you can watch it with subs. I watched it in chinese on showluo official youtube channel. maybe there is also people uploading subbed videos in youtube?
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The plot is paced well, and it covers a range of social topics in a way that's sensitive and kindhearted. Maybe a little too kindhearted, to be honest, as one of my few critiques of the show is the way characters who harm (sexual assault, harassment, etc.) are redeemed far too quickly, to the point where the forgiveness they receive feels somewhat unearned. That's not to say that I don't like the message of abusers growing and holding themselves accountable for the harm they cause, and maybe someday being redeemed... I think that message is very much in line with the show's themes of growth and unlearning destructive habits. But those particular moments could have been built up better, definitely.
Otherwise, the plot was just like the show itself: soft and sweet, and gentle... slowly, steadily progressing.
Ha Seok Jin as the aloof but gentle Ji Woon was a breath of fresh air, and I was really happy to see him even getting to be a little goofy and fun compared to his usual tightlaced, arrogant characters (who I also love, to be fair). Bona's acting improved a lot over the course of the episodes, and now at the end I honestly can't imagine anyone else for the role of Da Yeong.
The supporting characters were all wonderful. My very favorite was Le Ji Hoon as the lawyer Jin Kuk: his antics while trying to win over Sang Ah were hilarious and wildly relatable for anyone who has ever had a hopeless crush on someone. It was so good to see this side of him, haha.
Also, the music I LOVED. It's upbeat and soothing at the same time, which appropriately makes it the perfect soundtrack when you're cleaning, or working to finish some other task.
Overall, this isn't the most exciting drama ever written, but it is soothing and appeals to the humanity in each viewer, quietly offering to inspire us along a path towards being happier and healthier.
(Bonus!: There's a big fluffy old dog who is wonderful, and Ha Seok Jin's cleaning tips at the ends of the episodes were A+++++)
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This review may contain spoilers
Deer and the Cauldron 2020 review
We have come to the end of yet another remake of The Deer and the Cauldron TV adaptation. While this version went with a more comical direction than the previous versions, except for Dicky's version, which was based off of the Stephen Chow movie and was also comical, I enjoyed Zhang Yishan's 2020 version just the same. I think many didn't give this version enough time before they jumped the gun and bad mouthed it and gave it such a low score on Douban. The most common phrase I read that was used to describe the 2020 version was (烂) lan or messy/chaotic. Well that's what happens when you cut it from 60 episode down to 45. This is evident with the 2020 version starting off at a blistering pace with Xiao Bao entering the palace at around the 12 minute mark and meeting the emperor at around the 27 minute mark of just the first episode. It also had a Wei Xiao Bao that was not confident which didn't give off the vibe of previous Xiao Baos, but this version of Xiao Bao becomes confident and quick witted as the show goes on. The running joke was that everybody complains that Xiao Bao talks too much. The director came out and told the audience that Xiao Bao was still growing and to give it time. I did just that and ended up enjoying this a lot.One of the things that I liked about this version was the fact that this didn't have a dub and actually had all the actors and actresses' own voice. It really bothers me when I hear the same voice for 2 or more characters and the .5 or 1 second delay between voice and mouth movement. So watching a series where the actors and actresses use their own voice is a nice welcome. There were some dub here and there but that's probably because they didn't catch their voice with the boom. The only ones I could tell that had a whole dub was Xiao Bao's mother and Ao Bai. As far as the music in this series, the opening and ending theme songs were nice and catchy, and the bgm were excellent. I don't know why people knock on the acting and the costumes? I thought they were good. The acting is a little over the top at times, but seeing as this is more of a comedic take, it fits. Even A'Ke cracks some jokes and is comical at times. Some of the costumes like the normal casual clothes for the 7 wives were cute. Not as colorful as one might have liked, but they looked simple and pretty. I probably have seen too many Chinese dramas at this point to care for beautiful clothes to be honest.
Whenever a new Deer and the Cauldron is announced, the first thing that people think about are the 7 wives and this version doesn't disappoint, well except for maybe A'Ke. The knock on her was that the Actress, Guo Yang, was too manly looking. People were saying that even A'Qi was prettier than A'Ke in the comments. Otherwise you have a cute and innocent Mu Jian Ping but not as naive like in other versions, a cold and smart Fang Yi but not as mean like in previous versions, a naughty and crazy Princess Jian Ning, a loyal and caring Shuang Er but with a bit of a jealous side like in the 2014 version, a sexy and mature Su Quan, and a pretty and sweet Zeng Rou. I have never thought that any of the versions got the perfect casting for the 7 wives, but I really like the 2020 casting for the 7 wives the most out of all the versions.
There are one and a half negatives I would give the 2020 version. The first is the obvious and annoying cuts that was done to this version. Unless you are familiar with the story, some of the scenes don't make sense when it jumps around due to the cuts. Like for example how did Mu Jian Ping injure her leg and how did Xiao Bao know Zeng Rou's name when she never told him her name. One of the biggest cut was the brothel scene and this causes a big plot hole. In the brothel scene they just had Xiao Bao say he'll let the girls sleep it off and that's it. They skipped any and all mentions of him sleeping with the girls. If I was new to the series, I would question how Su Quan and A'Ke got pregnant. They at least alluded to Xiao Bao sleeping with Jian Ning earlier. This cut to the brothel scene also caused the following scene in the jail cell to be a complete mess. The scene jumps several times like for example you will see A'Ke far away from Xiao Bao, but then suddenly she is holding on to his arm in the following shot. Other important scenes are also cut like the scene where the children are given their names. It just goes 3 years later and that's it for all the scenes on the island.
The half negative is that Jian Ning was involved in way too many scenes. Some scenes didn't need her involvement at all or were not necessary. Like for example when she was learning etiquette from Jiu Nan Shi Tai. This was not needed as it didn't grow her character at all and it didn't provide anything to the story. It just ends and that's it. I wouldn't have minded these draggy and extra involvements with Jian Ning, but it came at the expense of the other girls. Mu Jian Ping, Fang Yi, Ah Ke, and Zeng Rou suffered the most. Mu Jian Ping and Fang Yi had their scenes in the palace shorten or cut. Shuang Er had some of her scenes cut, but at least new scenes were added. Zeng Rou comes out the worst as she doesn't have much story bits in the novel and to have her introduction scene cut made it worser than worst. Su Quan came out the best as she got a new story scene that didn't require to have Jian Ning in it. Otherwise the only way any of the girls get a scene or new scene is if it involves Jian Ning. I love the old scenes as well as the new scenes and wished that they didn't cut so much out or involve Jian Ning so much. I thought the 2014 version staring Han Dong did a better job at adding extra story scenes for all the wives without cutting out any of their old scenes.
As a fan of the Deer and the Cauldron novel and all the TV adaptations I would give the 2020 version an 8.5 out of 10. If it wasn't for the cuts I would give it a 9.5 out of 10. I liked seeing a more comedic take of a familiar story. If I knew nothing about the story, then I give it a 5 out of 10. The cuts were just that bad as a new viewer. After watching, I can't help but find it funny that the ones who complained that TV series has started to get draggy and wanted TV series to be shorter are also the ones who complains when the story becomes a complete mess because of the cuts. I would rather have a story drag and let the writer(s) and director(s) tell a complete story than it being messy and chaotic due to cuts.
If you didn't like the 2020 version, I advise you to watch the older versions. The 2008 version is as close to the novel as possible. It is best if you can find the TVB or Amazon release of the 2008 version as it is uncut compared to the China release of it. If you are like me and wanted a new take on the story because you have read the novel or have watched all previous TV versions then you would enjoy this 2020 version. I was so ready for a new take on the story that I was excited for Dreaming of the Deer and the Cauldron starring Hu Ge after watching it in 2011, but sadly it was only a web short for advertising Bu Bu Jing Xin. Really if the 2020 version was the same as the other versions it would be boring because I would have no reason to watch it. Just pretend Jin Yong's work is like the Marvel comics universe.
Well, I will now be waiting for the 2 different movie versions, one directed by Pang Ho Cheung and another movie version that is rumored to be directed by and starring Bao Bei Er. I hope they don't wait too long to do another TV series. I just love the story too much. See all you Deer and the Cauldron fans then.
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This movie was absolutely flawless, the main leads and supporting cast were impeccabile, the cinematography, execution was all perfect.
It pulled me in from the first scene, and even though so parts were impossible to watch, I had to continue.
Gong yoo was absolutely perfect as the main protagonist, I have a huge problem with movies like this where they have a superhero-like character come in and safe the kids from the horrible people.
Gong makes the character so relatable, he isn't trying to save lives but does what I think majority of people in that situation would have done making it very realistic, and does so without shouting and screaming too much - he manages to show every single emotion with just a look on his face.
The kids, *sigh* the little boy particularly, I want to give him an oscar for his performance. I mean wow.
I would say only watch this movie if you have a very strong stomach for things like this, and it will surely leave a huge impact on you.
Only reason I rated the re-watchability a "2" was because I really could never watch it ever again.
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An underrated gem!! Loved it and Enjoyed too much than I expected
This is the first time and drama that I am commenting on, I am feeling so sentimental now. I JUST CRIED DURING THE ENDING!! (FYi, out of happiness) ITS THE FIRST TIME I CRIED OVER A DRAMA LMAOO. So overwhelmed that it has ended. When I first found out about this drama, it was on the casting news of Kim Jaeuck, as he's like my favourite korean actor. I am glad that I watched while it was airing. I remember the earnest waiting of pain every week, FOR new episodes, But It was the one thing to keep me going in life. Because of this drama, I became a fan of Krystal. The chemistry between the two leads, IS INSANE I AM TELLING YOU.To me, this is the most powerful chemistry that I have seen. I don't think anyone or pairing can top this perfectly fated to be a couple duo LOL. I EVEN SHIP THEM IRL
The beginning of the drama may be slow, but it's worth it!! THE slow-burn romance is just PEAK like WOW. At times, I would be laughing my head off lol. The screenwriter did a great job on the drama. It made uses of many cliches, but in such an ingenious way? Idk if anyone notice, but some characters tend to do actions that mirrors one another. (Either from a previous ep or scene. I found it fun like an easter egg HAAAHA)
The enemies to lovers troupe is done so RIGHT here. With their relationship progression, it was actually believable. Usually when the couple gets together, I start to lost interest in the drama. BUT NOT THIS DRAMA. As a viewer, it did its job in keeping me engaged.
Other than the romance, there are other sub-plots going on (mysterious, thriller)
Although tbh, I was not really interested in those lol. Its quite weak. Again the side characters, I find myself skipping through them. JUST SWITCH OFF YOUR BRAIN CELLS, its a romcom drama afterall. The ONLY thing that carried this drama was the lead couple.
THE drama indeed deserves its title "CRAZY LOVE", the CRAZY is there. With the way those
things go, is insane hAHAHA.
It’s unfortunate that it did not do well in ratings on KBS, but at least is doing quite well on Disney+? I watched it on there HAHAA. I will continue rewatching the drama, as I did while it was airing. The rewatchability of this drama is 100.
Goodbye, Mimi couple of “Crazy Love”. You will be missed.
Thanks for making my 2022 better!!
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Do not watch this if you are an old fashioned conservative. There are several sexually explicit scenes and it is not the typical Korean one love fate. Since it is an Inde movie, I had to rent it from Amazon for $2.99, but it is free on you tube with multiple clips under avi (start with clip 0).
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This is a very beautiful story about two people who were very much opposites and how their relationship progresses.
I love how straight forward the female lead(Koharu) is on doing everything which also goes to show how strong her character is.
Then here comes the male lead (Ryota) who is very quiet and unique, always on his own little world.
The romance going on between them was just the perfect mix of awkward, sweet, clumsy and weird.
This is a good story of how those two comes to know how they really feel and what they should do for their feelings to be conveyed to the other person as well as trusting the love they had for one another.
They were both weird! And that also worked for me
THEY WERE SO CUTE! The romance was very natural and relatable cause I can imagine it happening in real life!!!
So please give me more movies like thissss!
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Secretary Bai Wants to Resign Everyday
14 people found this review helpful
Short & Simple but Funny & Cute Drama
One has to remember; this is a web drama. It's only a 5-7 min per episode so you can't really expect much on a very short series. If you want to watch something with more involving around the plot or gives you something more then watch a drama that has at least 45 mins in each episode.That being said, I enjoyed this series. It does involve messing with time or in this case a time loop but for me personally, this writer wrote it pretty well. It's almost to the level of my favorite time loop drama Reset. It presented with a problem and then through each episode our leads try to figure out how to get out of this time loop. I think it's pretty sweet when the reasoning is revealed on why the time loop occurred.
Lots of funny moments with cute and jealousy scenes. The ML's character is so prideful and bigheaded. lol. He thinks that he's handsome (I mean he's not wrong), and everyone loves him (he's wrong here LOL), which is so funny to me. The FL's character is just funny & adorable overall. She's almost like the brains to this, as it starts with her being stuck in this loop as she tries to figure things out.
There wasn't a lot of music in this, mostly just background music to certain scenes so this drama does lose some points for that based on this rating
Besides that, if you're looking for something to watch but don't have much time to watch a full 45min-1hour episode, I definitely recommend this drama. It's short and simple and gets to the point because of that. Definitely a rewatch for me.
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