However with this one, it's different.
The story line is something we are quite familiar with. Youtubers goes to a scary place to film & ___ happens. Same with here. But what makes this movie different, is that it get on your nerves, in a good way.
I paused, so many times while watching, that I lost count. Not a lot of jumpcase, but a whole scene where you can see how its happening. That what makes it more scary. Loved that.
The way the story flows, specially the way the film is directed, it just sets it apart from the rest. Applause to the director.
The cast was perfect. I loved how they acted. All of them are good actors, so expected nothing less.
The music is low & it stretched, taking the whole scene with it. It wasn't over done, something that happens way too much in horror movies now days.
100% going to rewatch this. Probably not alone. With a friend - who haven't seen it- at night.
Please do give this a try if you love horror. It's an amazing movie!
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Funny story, amazing chemistry
Just finished Jueshi Qianjin, and I rewatched it already. The leading couple is that good. This series is amazing just to look at, even without the subs. It seems to be based on a game, so perhaps that’s why the story is so-so, but it didn’t bother me in the least.Love is a Game
It’s relaxing to watch that on-going, tiresome search for a partner in life turned into a Love Game. Imagine a modern day girl getting the chance to choose from all kinds of yummy men. Although I can’t understand why it always has to be the bullying boy, apart from the fact that the love-hate theme is still going strong in romcom series, I can easily get why people are falling for the male lead.
Actors
Whether Simon Gong plays the BL interest in Advance Bravely or Prince Charming for this time traveling girl, he’s the same heartthrob…easy on the eye…not bothered by method acting whatsoever. I’m curious if he becomes a natural after he transfers to grown-up characters.
I don’t know much about Greenly Zheng. She has a lovely voice, unlike the shrill actresses I have to endure sometimes . I was pleasantly surprised by Yú Tiān Yì playing the rich boy Jiang Xuan Yu, I hope to see more of him in future series. The supporting cast did a good job as well.
The Story
I’ve watched Jueshi Qianjin until episode 24, which is, hopefully, an open ending. So I’m eagerly waiting for a sequel, let’s say in modern times.
(Rap) Music and Dancing
The look and feel of this series wasn’t that bad either. The soundtrack has some catchy tunes, but I’ve never watched such bad acts from an actress in dancing and rap music like in this series, making her indeed A Unique Lady.
Verdict
What can I say? I just love razzie award winning productions. Give this series a try, you won’t regret it.
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Acting/Cast: No complains in the acting department. Even Yong Hwa had polished up a bit in his acting.... just a bit.
Music: Nothing that sticks. Hence, none made it into my MP3 player.
Rewatch value: A waste of time. A waste of $$. You will not miss anything if you have not watched this.
Overall: This drama serves to remind me why I had stopped watching KDramas over a year ago. My decision is justified. Still waiting for the next best thing.
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This review may contain spoilers
Simple kdrama with no romance
This was a very simple and lighthearted kdrama but it's nothing special.The story had potential but after the first 3 episodes nothing really happened. I was waiting for the romance and all we got was seeing them kiss in the end. They never talked about the kiss or showed a growing romantic relationship between the two main leads. I think this was more "bro love". Kinda disappointing. The story didn't develop at all and I cant see how this is a good ending.
The cast and acting was fine I guess, although the main lead couple lacked chemistry and the acting was poor in some of the scenes but I have seen worse.
I dont know what to say about the music, some songs annoyed me and they mostly played the same songs. It's not surprising though since this is a short drama but the music should be better. The drama is about music after all.
This drama is a waste of time, don't watch it unless you want to get disappointed.
For me this isn't wort rewatching and I dont know if korean bl drams are worth another shot. I've given them alot of chances and always get disappointed.
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This review may contain spoilers
Park Chan Wook's most entertaining movie yet. Maybe one that finally earns him his Oscar nom?
No Other Choice is one of those rare films that made me laugh, squirm, and quietly question how far I'd go if pushed into a corner. It's darkly funny, beautifully made, and a little too close to home--a story about pride, desperation, and what’s left of us when survival becomes the only goal. The title insists there's "no other choice", but that's the cruel irony, there are always other choices, just not the kind that let you keep everything you've built your pride on.The setup hits hard. Man Su (played by Lee Byung Hun) loses his job and starts to unravel, and the fear isn't just about money but also identity, about what is left when the work that defined your worth disappears. In a capitalist world obsessed with efficiency and cost-cutting, and how human labor can be easily replaced by robots/AI, that anxiety feels sharper than ever. [Ironically, Park Chan Wook was expelled from the WGA just two months ago for continuing work as an editor during the 2023 WGA strike, which protested the use of AI to replace writers. Timing doesn’t get sharper than that.]
No Other Choice treats unemployment as transformation, but for the people living it, it still feels like failure. The job competitors Man Su meets along the way mirror parts of himself, and the less time we spend with them, the less human he seems to become. Even his toothache, throbbing whenever guilt creeps in and ending in its removal, quietly tracks how far he is willing to go.
The movie walks a fine line between empathy and irony, treating the absurd premise of "eliminating" job competitors with the dry rhythm of office bureaucracy. The humor doesn't come from punchlines, it comes from restraint--the awkward gestures, the small silences, the moments that feel too human to laugh at without guilt.
Park Chan Wook lets those moments breathe. He stretches time just enough for the absurdity to hit, so you end up laughing and immediately wondering if you should have. It's darkly comic in that uncomfortable, Park Chan Wook way.
There's one scene I keep thinking about: a tense confrontation that should've been horrifying but somehow becomes comedic. The music swells until it drowns out all dialogue, leaving only gestures and anxious movement. It's one of those moments where you're half-laughing, half-holding your breath, wondering if you even want him to succeed. It's the movie's tonal centerpiece, the best example of how Park folds comedy and dread into one perfect beat.
Visually, No Other Choice is stunning. It's a full cinematic experience. Every frame feels intentional, even when no one’s speaking. The cinematography is so deliberate that the images often carry the story themselves. The direction is precise almost to a fault. Every camera move, cut, frame and screen transition suggests control, even as the story unravels underneath.
Light becomes its own character. The film starts in warm sunlight, matching Man Su's illusion of stability, and slowly fades into gray and artificial tones as his humanity erodes and his world turns mechanical. Even in the opening barbecue, when clouds slide over his smiling family, the coming darkness is already there. The autumn palette--all muted golds and dying reds--turns beauty into warning. Everything glows because it’s decaying.
The camera placement is equally purposeful. It doesn't follow Man Su, it watches him. It's like we're standing behind a window or bushes or trees, quietly complicit, as he prunes away his conscience, just like the bonsai in his greenhouse.
Characters are often shot through glass or metal reflections, showing not who they are but who they pretend to be. One shot splits the frame with rocks: on one side, a storm rages; on the other, Man Su carries out his plan. It's a simple composition, but it captures everything the film is about, the inner storm of a man convincing himself he has "no other choice".
If the direction is the engine, then Lee Byung Hun is the heartbeat. His performance is all about the quiet breakdowns and small, painful attempts to stay composed. The guilt shows in his eyes, in the smile that never quite fits, in every hesitation. Even his comedy comes from that restraint, until he suddenly breaks it with an awkward dance or clumsy movement.
Son Ye Jin doesn't need big gestures to leave a mark. You can see her thoughts shift across her face as she processes everything quietly falling apart around her. Her smile tightens scene by scene, her wardrobe fades from bright to muted, and that subtle change says everything about what she’s holding in.
Yeom Hye Ran is the scene stealer for me. I've always loved her in everything, and this is no exception. I'm used to seeing her in more ordinary ahjumma roles, so it caught me off guard how elegant and beautiful she looks here. She brings a sharp, unpredictable energy, switching from tense to funny in a heartbeat, and she makes every darkly comic moment land without ever breaking tone.
The rest of the cast fits perfectly around them. Lee Sung Min’s quiet desperation made me feel for him, Cha Seung Won brings a worn out melancholy, and Park Hee Soon adds just the right amount of smugness. Together, they make the movie feel deeply human. It's not about heroes or villains, just people trying to survive and losing small pieces of themselves along the way.
Compared to the operatic violence of Oldboy, the seductive chaos of The Handmaiden, or the quiet yearning of Decision to Leave, No Other Choice feels like a more grounded Park Chan Wook, more deliberate, and less interested in shock than precision. The violence here is quieter but hits closer to home.
In some ways, it reminded me of Parasite: that same perfect balance between arthouse and crowd-pleaser. It might even be Park Chan Wook's most accessible film, and honestly, his funniest. And really, if anyone deserves an Oscar nomination at this point, it's him. This could finally be the one.
On a cerebral level, there's almost nothing to fault about the movie. Maybe the third act stretches a bit long, or the final twist feels a bit tacked on, but those are minor personal quibbles. What stuck with me most was that slight sense of detachment while watching this move. It's fascinating, funny, and beautifully made, but I never felt fully immersed in its world the way I did with Parasite.
That said, just like Parasite, you don't have to catch every symbol or metaphor to enjoy the movie. It's engaging, darkly funny, and sharply observed in a way that lingers. I'm giving the rewatch value a 10, because I'm sure seeing it again would reveal more, the small visual cues, the quiet ironies, the things I only notice when I already know how it ends.
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Amazing movie. According to the fact that I don't watch other movies like this on a daily basis (the genre stands pretty far away from my taste, but that's probably going to change from now on), I think it's a huge word for me to state that it's amazing, but it really is. Even though I didn't really understand all the words, just a few that I've learned from watching other films, dramas or variety shows, it really affected me emotionally. I teared up several times while watching it and it made me think a few things over, causing me to hug my mother a few minutes after it ended.
The story is really sad and it's terrifying to know that these situations happened in real life, not only once or twice. The cast is another thing; you can clearly see who's a senior to who. I think I can point it out that the best actor or actress in this movie is Yoo Sun. It's incredible how much emotion she brings to her character. As for the main person who lead me to this movie, Dongho, I'm also satisfied. A bit of practice and he's going to turn out an incredible actor, I'm telling you. The music gave me chills several times during the film, especially the intense piano sounds and such.
Overall, I think this is way far the best film of 2012, and not only in Korea.
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This review may contain spoilers
I must start this off with my necessary So Ji Sub drama review disclaimer. If he is in a drama, I already have a reason to like the drama... a lot. So ji Sub could do 16 episodes on a toilet, or preferably in a shower, and I will watch every single episode happily. So yes, I really liked this drama, but I am well aware of my bias, since I also had a lot of issues with "Oh My Venus". I'll start with what I loved about it, besides the obvious, and that's not only the main romance, but also the bromance. I think Shin Min Ah is such a great partner for So ji Sub. Their romance is full of clichés, while avoiding some others, but I was glued to my screen anticipating them getting together. They are a sort of "super pairing", and they don't disappoint. They had really great chemistry, a grown up sexy chemistry, even in her fat suit.
Oh yeah, let's talk about the "fat" suit. It's not really a spoiler to say that a transformation is inevitable, but I don't want to give too much away. I will just say that there were moments when I missed seeing her in the fat suit, because I got so used to seeing her character that way. She's very pretty skinny or chubby, and they did a really good job making her chubbier face look very realistic. I also appreciated that the transformation wasn't insultingly instant, and that it was for health, and not just looks. I was worried that the plot would be much more superficial than it was, especially considering S Korea's extreme beauty standards. This romance is less about wooing a guy with a makeover, and more about how opposites can attract.
So ji Sub's bromance with Sung Hoon and Henry Lau was another reason I became addicted to this drama. Kang Joo Eun is in an enviable position, getting to be around the three of them so much. The dynamic between the four of them was extremely fun to watch. I'll add the assistant/manager to the bromance, because he was great too! Of course Henry is extra cute all by himself, and surely a stand out favorite for most fans of the show.
What I really disliked was the supporting leads. Woo Sik isn't meant to be a likable character, but I guess Jung Gyu Woon played the part so well that I couldn't stand him at all (and he's played characters I despised before). I had zero empathy for Woo Sik, or his poor fashion choices. Then there's the equally unlikable Soo Jin. Even with her backstory, I still could not make myself like her even a little bit. Yoo In Young is also not the greatest actress. Although she played bitter very well, the rest of her performance fell flat. Way too much time was spent on their relationship. Plus, I thought them being together at all made absolutely no sense, which made their scenes hard to sit through patiently. Their story had more drama than the main couple at certain points, but I honestly just wanted to skip through their scenes.
I gave "story" a really low score because the plot just seemed too all over the place. The John Kim story was such a big deal at first, but then soon fizzled. Kim Yeong Ho's family issues were so hard to follow, and I still don't get why they were so dysfunctional. Hyun Woo's divorce was mentioned so many times, and it had no real use in the plot (maybe it's a bigger stigma that I realize? If not, it made no sense to keep bringing it up). Then there were matters of life and death that kept happening seemingly to fill the time.
Even the main love story fell prey to the curse of Kdrama Rom coms. That's when a drama is much longer than it should be, so they just throw in a bunch of random cute scenes with the main couple, and hope their chemistry will keep you watching. I waited eagerly for the last 2 episodes, but was mostly bored watching them. There was even an overload of flashbacks, and some obligatory product placement, to help them reach the 16 episode finish line. The romance does end in a pretty cute way, but the extra scene at the end was super unnecessary in my opinion, and proof to me that the writers were kinda winging it. Still, It wasn't all bad, because I totally loved the scarf!
The music was cute, and fit the show well. A couple of the songs grew on me after hearing them on loop, and I still hear them in my head while I type this. o.O
Overall, this drama owes it's success to it's cast (well, most of the cast). It's weird that although I will miss seeing episodes, I would have liked it much more if it was shorter, and it left on a high note. Personally, I'd only watch certain scenes again, or maybe I'd just skip forward through every scene that isn't about the bromance or the main romance. A re-edited version would have gotten much higher marks from me! Do I recommend this show? Of course. So Ji Sub + Shin Min Ah > Bad Writing (#math), and what the writers get right is that they play up the chemistry to the maximum, which is more than enough for most viewers.
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The series is great with a really well written story be Bittersweet with it's "typical" kind of plot line, but interesting setups. What makes the series stand out is that the two actors portraying Kongpope and Arthit are really immerse into their roles that it makes the acting seem natural and flowing. If you were to compare with Lovesick and MIR (although I don't like to compare them), the acting seems more natural, but maybe that's because of the age difference between the leads of Sotus to the leads of Lovesick and MIR.
For being relatively new actors, Krist and Singto were very talented and as I stated above; acted very natural. All the other actors were great too.
I didn't really get pulled in by any of the music in the series, but overall the selection of songs in the series were not bad. They just didn't appeal that great to me.
There were some awkward scenes where things just "stood still" for a minute or 2 and you didn't really know what was happening, but other than that the series was great!
Definitely a must watch/re-watch! And I hope for a season 2 like the rest of the Sotus fans!
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Humorous, Lovable Characters, Coherent Storyline
Delicacies Destiny is my third drama on culinary arts in a row. This drama is rather similar to Royal Feast which finished airing recently. Both dramas are set in the period of Ming Dynasty, hence similar costumes and decorum. But most of all, one of the supporting actors in the earlier drama is now the main lead (He Ruixian) in this drama. Though both dramas involve romance and cuisines, there is a marked difference in the characters and mood.Based on fictional characters, the storyline is rather straight forward. A talented chef (He Ruixian) gets herself recruited to the palace to cook for the picky Crown Prince (Wang Xingyue). Then the prince falls in love with her and wants her to be his crown prince consort. But she is given an ultimatum by the Emperor: if she wants to be the Crown Prince Consort, she has to give up her passion as a chef; or she can continue to be a chef but she has to stay away from the Crown Prince. Either decision tears her apart.
He Ruixian’s acting, demeanor and styling in this drama is almost exactly the same as she was in Royal Feast. But I like her character Ling Xiaoxiao here a lot better than the previous one. I have no complain with He Ruixian’s acting and find her quite convincing. Wang Xingyue’s great acting here as the Crown Prince Zhu Shoukui is commendable. At only 20, this young actor continues to surprise me with his fine acting. He has captured his character very well: the character’s happiness when he is in love, his disappointment when he doesn’t get his way, and his despair when he’s being rejected – every minute emotion is well acted without overacting.
My Verdict
This is a delightful drama with only 16 episodes. It starts out as a slapstick comedy. There are no villains, no complicated plot, no outrageous twists, no love triangles, no tiring romance. In fact, the romance is rather cute. Compared with Royal Feast, Delicacies Destiny’s costumes are not as exquisite and its cuisine arts not as elaborate, but its characters are a lot more lovable and the logic of the story is better. A lot of the jokes seem unintentional, making the story flow very naturally. It is unusual to see an Empress that allows her son to marry his cook as she (the Empress) places his (the son's) happiness above everything; she even allows him to abdicate himself as the Crown Prince so that he can pursue his love (rather unthinkable, but anyway …). There’s only one kissing scene towards the end which is quite well done with actual kissing.
Despite the easy and light watching, the last 2 episodes did draw some tears from me seeing the struggle of the characters. After the final episode 16, there is an epilogue which is an alternative ending. Make sure you don’t miss it.
There are times we need to make very hard choices in life. From the story, our FL character needs to choose between love or passion, likewise for our ML character who has to choose between love or duty. Either choice, the consequence is very different. This drama shows us the possibility of each choice, and ends with a note that, if we compromise slightly, maybe we can get the best out of all choices. How would you choose? Love, passion or duty?
Fun watch! Great for in-between releases of new episodes for other dramas.
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This review may contain spoilers
when breaking up with your ex becomes mission impossible...
[lots of spoilers here]I saw a comment underneath one of the episodes that perfectly sums up everything you need to know about this drama: "it's as if they(leads) live in a pool with piranhas, everyone around them bites a piece of their heart"
My anticipation for this drama was high and I could not wait to finally binge it but a mere few episodes in I was already questioning my time spent sitting in front of the TV.
I like risque dramas, give me complex characters that make poor decisions out of their willful heart and melodramatic back and forths... yet all IKILY made me feel was "hmm..." and "interesting..." - but not the good kind of interesting.
But first the positive: THE best thing about this drama are the CATS! This is the first time I actually saw cats looking super happy on screen, constantly demanding pets and cuddles. Totally adorable!
Visually the drama is pretty too, it’s not dubbed which is very pleasant and the opening OST 我知道我愛你- 韓紅 is very beautiful, low key but pact with emotion. Would have been PERFECT for a historical tragedy drama or Wuxia.
To put it simply, there would be no story had it not been for the absurd EX and every disapproving family member (both her side of the family and her ex's). Those are supposed to be additives yet here it is the main story. Take out everyone but the leads and they would have been together in like 2 episodes - happy ending!
Even for a remake of ONS, it should not be THAT easy. If the entire story of a romantic(!) drama depends on supporting roles to work, it's just not a good story/script.
The ML is very kind, the fact that he fell for someone who was still in a relationship doesn't really fit that but I have to admit I did enjoy parts of their romance especially around ep18-19. The writing between the 2 leads is also quite good. I'd say it's a love story between a guy that is too good for his own good, and a very human, more self centered (but not selfish) FL. A quote by her fits perfectly "I made you a sinner for no reason". Because neither of them would have had to feel bad had she set proper boundaries at any given point.
I tried and tried again to sympathize with Xuo Nuo but it was just impossible to beat the unfavorable script writing.
After the 10th "surprise" phone call from her ex in front of ML I gave up trying to be on her side. Don't get me wrong - I didn't hate her but the whole fun about dramas that involve emotional cheating is trying to justify their feelings and the constant thrill and angst about possibly getting caught. But in the case of this drama it can only be considered emotional cheating because the ex does not accept the break up... had it not been for that the drama would have ended at EP9. But they drag it out sooo much, just to keep the "forbidden" feel of the lead's relationship alive, which makes it feel incredibly forced and draggy. That feeling is only solidified by highly questionable actions and lack of sense regarding Peng Yu An's character.
The big elephant in the room of this drama is her Ex Boyfriend Peng Yu An, who is one awfully written character. At first I thought okay he is just your average douche bag. But then I was like oh okay so he actually does love her in a messed up way? And then back to okay just a jerk and so it goes back and forth. I don't think it's fair to write him off as the cheater because they both did it (emotionally). His interests were business, hers were of the heart kind.
He differs in a way from other similar characters, as he does not accept nor acknowledge the FL breaking up with him in the most delulu way that even a soap opera would not think of. Telling people he will marry her and such. But then going back to tell someone else he will break up with her as she does not fit his family's standards, while also telling her he wants to marry her?? Expressing his dislike for the woman his father chose for him. Then proclaiming his true love for FL again, while also promising his business partner they will marry?? What is going on, haha. Honestly I can understand his dad not taking him seriously in any of his endeavors regarding love.
There are also countless other characters that want to keep apart the leads, but I shouldn't spoil everything...
Again - I feel like I need to defend my stance here because every episode I thought to myself I WANT TO LOVE THIS but I JUST can't :( ... it was always 10% off course in the most annoying way. Where everything started to piss me off a little. Did I end up hate watching? - slightly. But also I don't hate it completely... I did enjoy parts.
ENDING SPOILER
------------------------
Ending was weak but happy. Literally everyone who was nasty af before suddenly accepted reality without even a moment of realization, just straight up "okay this is the finale, let's turn 180 degrees and be happy". The ex's ending to me is neither good nor bad but definitely too short. Initially I thought it was defeat with a bit of hope for his own future (becoming more aware of his own hobbies, breaking free) but now I think he just gave in, he won't care what that woman thinks. He just picked the first common interest and went with it. I highly doubt he actually moved on. And to be quite frank... I don't trust the script writers of this drama would actually be smart enough(in the context of this drama) to write a complex ending for him. He was but a massive plot device.
Some inconsistencies, that aren't really that big of a deal but I still wanted to mention it (spoilers):
- why did everyone look down on him for being a vet? Even he himself said he is "just" a vet. Don't these people know veterinary medicine takes longer to study than human medicine?
- the timeline of his age, their struggles growing up and him becoming a vet doesn't make sense.
- it was early-late winter the entire drama, do they really want to tell us multiple couples fall in love within 3-4 months and marriage is already topic nr1? What's the rush.
- pulling a "the fault in our stars" move for that one couple was cheap. It was wrapped up too fast to actually have an emotional impact. That entire story line was unnecessary and out of place.
- the english OST was a pain after hearing it one too many times each episode. Dreamed about a dream that I just dreamed? Julie, Julie I don't feel good today? Lord have mercy!
Tbh this drama is the kind of backstory quarreling parents of leads in other dramas have... not sure if that is something to aspire.
Ultimately I still gave it a 7/10... why? Because that's pretty much my lowest rating for dramas I finished and didn't hate but rather found disappointing and meh.
Edit a few days later: There is one scene that bugged me a lot and probably influenced my rating. If you are a romance lover or like the leads you might really like this drama. All my ranting in this review goes to say, that this is just my opinion and someone else might love it. HOWEVER here goes the scene near the end that made me very frustrated with the writers:
ML is drunk, sitting at his bed and having a very pitiful look. FL goes into his apartment and sees his ex made him some sobering up tea (note: the ex did not drink with him she just saw him downstairs and brought him to his apartment), she leaves once FL is here and they don't have any quarrel or anything. FL goes to ML bedroom and I thought she would go comfort him... boy I thought wrong. He is in a sorry, close to tear like state and asks her "will you leave me too?" (hinting how a lot of people in his life have left him before). FL, instead of comforting him, asks him twice "what do you mean?" "don't you trust me?"... it was so obviously a vulnerable side of him he showed and also drunk talk but she took it very seriously and instead of comforting him, she got mad and left. GURL WHAT. For all the scenes we saw before, the only logical thing would have been for her to tell him that he doesn't have to fear that and comfort him... as a means to portray some healing... and show a difference compared to the people that actually did leave him. But no she does the exact-opposite. Resulting in a short separation at the end, which was just very unnecessary and forced. I know FL mentioned a few times in this drama that she is not as good as a person as ML and such but that was very out of line. She knew he was drunk and he said so very pitifully... mans just needed comfort. Why take it so seriously? And even if she was so hurt by it... talk it out during the day, don't try and argue with a drunk person when you are sober. end.
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Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre
23 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
First off, I'd like to say that this is one of my favorite storylines written by Jin Yong. I absolutely love the 1986 HSDS version made by TVB starring Tony Leung and Kitty Lai. I'll be comparing this version to my favorite version of all time. Obviously I've seen other versions as well: 1997, 2000, 2005, etc. but I think it is best if I compare it to my favorite adaptation. Story: This drama does a better job at spoonfeeding its audience on plot details and why things happen the way they did. The 1986 version was more guess work/piecing things together and didn't show/explain everything in a bunch of details like this one did. They also stayed true to the original storyline.
Some things were portrayed differently from the 1986 version, but had the same reasoning behind it.
A good example of this:
1986 version- Wuji was forced to put Zhao Min out in front of the Mongolian soldiers
This version- her dad sent a letter saying he didn't care about her
Honestly, I felt like the 1986 version was more short and sweet to the point. I preferred how they portrayed it in the 1986 version.
I didn't like the last few episodes at all because of the lack of interaction between Wuji and Zhao Min-- it just did not contribute to their chemistry at all and was just lacking severely compared to the 86 version. After ep 42 the show dragged and some scenes weren't necessary--- the war between the Mongols and Ming Sect and the amount of time Zhao Min had to wait for him was pretty ridiculous. They could've shortened it.
Acting/Cast: Honestly, I was hesitant to start this drama because of such a young cast. I watched the Legend of Condor Heroes 2017 and didn't like the cast choices so I was quite worried about this one. However, I've watched multiple dramas with Yukee in them and she's always been good. Yukee pulled off Zhao Min wonderfully well and is comparable to Kitty Lai's Zhao Min. Bambi Zhu was decent as Zhiruo, but Sheren Tang definitely was better. I've never seen Joseph Zeng before but he is great as Wuji. Yang Xiao stood out to me as one of the best supporting roles in this version. Everyone suited their roles in my opinion. The cast was definitely its strongest point.
Music: not anything I love but it's fitting for the drama.
Rewatch value: no. I would not rewatch this simply because it is 50 episodes long and the ending was unsatisfactory to me. I prefer the 1986 version a lot better.
Overall: If you have not watched the 1986 version and want to watch this drama with no knowledge I recommend it. If you have watched other adaptations and want to watch it, I would say it's 50-50-- worth it for the first 40 eps, last 10-- not so much. If you've watched the 1986 version before and are thinking of watching this one I'd say no. The 1986 version is much better. Rewatching the 1986 version would be better than watching all 50 eps for this. If you want to watch this for Yukee, check out Princess Weiyoung or Ashes of Love, she is also great in those.
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I want to compare it to Midnight Runners, both have leads that are not taken seriously by their colleagues, and they end up uncovering a big case.. and maybe a little to No Mercy, it's rare to have a female centered plot, especially a crime genre, but they were not the over the top "1 woman vr 100 men" like NM and they were able to keep a great balance...
the case itself is more "real" and current events than the usual human trafficking that most crime garners go for.. its really was heartbreaking...
there's nothing wrong with a light female power crime story, if anything we need more stories like this.. I also really liked the characters ;)
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The music in this pretty much had like it's main theme song that carried through it. But as far as rewatch value goes it's one of those fun and short dramas you could watch again and again for it didn't have annoying crazy girls or overly evil mother or any of that it was just a fun watch on young relationships and friendships I'd give it a 10 on it being a current view on Thailand dating.
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Like Reading A Collection of Diaries
My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.I picked up this drama because I had a headache and wanted to watch something calm. I had it on while doing other things; I didn't think I would pay too much attention to it. However, it drew me in and I found myself completely focused on this drama.
Acting/Cast: I wasn't sure about the cast at first, but they all really grew on me. I may not have necessarily personally liked certain characters, but they all felt very believable and well-acted. I really related to the younger sister, Mi Jeong, a nice, soft-spoken girl with some talent who repeatedly gets taken advantage of. I also felt empathetic towards the older sister, Gi Jeong, watching her try so hard to make a change and take risks, only to keep getting knocked down and publicly humiliated. I would say the brother, Chang Hui, and his storyline was probably the most annoying, but even that storyline, I didn't feel as though I wanted to skip over it. 5.5/10
Writing: I knew this drama was written by the same person that wrote My Ahjusshi, Park Hae Young (which I really enjoyed), so of course I was comparing the two dramas the entire time. This drama is dialogue heavy, especially compared with My Ahjusshi, which is something I typically don't like. However, I felt the dialogue was purposeful and listening to the characters expressing their thoughts was like reading a diary. Also, this drama is not dramatic at all, whereas My Ahjusshi had some intense scenes. It's very "slice-of-life"; very relatable. However, I think that those who have never struggled with depression may not relate to or enjoy this drama. In addition, this drama is very open-ended, more so than My Ahjusshi. Nothing is truly resolved in My Liberation Notes for any of the characters and this is completely intentional. Do I understand why? Yes. Do I like it? No, but I usually don't like open endings. While watching My Ahjusshi (it's been a while but...), I remember wishing I could just skip over the side stories; the main story was way more interesting to me. However, with My Liberation Notes, I had no desire to skip over any of the storylines. There's a time jump towards the end of the drama that was a bit jarring. I think it's because things drastically changed without preparing the viewers for it. Also, the story wasn't linear anymore and kept jumping back and forth between past and present. I liked the Mr. Gu character, but he wasn't nearly developed as much as the other main characters. In consequence, his character felt sort of hollow towards the end of the drama. I thought we would get more back story on him but unfortunately, we never do. In any case, this drama seems like it's based on a true story, but to my knowledge, it isn't...it just feels very realistic. So in that sense, the writing is well done. 8/10
Direction/SFX/Music: The vibe of this drama actually reminded me of Something In the Rain rather than My Ahjusshi. My Ajhusshi felt much darker. Maybe also similar to One Spring Night or Twelve Nights, except with a ton of dialogue. The OST is not my cup of tea but its fine. It has some variation to it. Listening to the OST on its own seems like the drama would be a lot happier than it actually is though. 5/10
Entertainment Value: This drama put me into a weird state of mind. There have been times when watching certain dramas would trigger depression in me. However, what I felt while watching this drama wasn't exactly depression or sadness and it wasn't quite calmness or hopefulness either. It was a strange in-between. Maybe melancholy? I found myself slowing down my movements, even my breathing. It was to the point where I was holding my breath in a lot...sort of like when you're sick or injured and you're trying to avoid exacerbating the pain. I never experienced an effect from a drama like this before. I didn't know if I liked this feeling or not, but I must have to some degree because I kept wanting to jump back into their world. Now that it's over, I'm not missing that feeling...I think. Anyway, I found myself hanging onto every word Mi Jeong spoke. I saw myself in her, but with one major difference - she seemed to have discovered the answer to her problems. I was looking to her for a revelation, but I'm still unsure of the hidden answer that she seems to have found. But then again, maybe she didn't actually find it...maybe she's just on the right path. I still don't understand how though. So, the drama left me feeling unfulfilled. 6/10
Overall, I gave this drama a 6/10. This is largely due to how incredibly open the ending itself is (as I personally tend to dislike open endings) and the change in the progression of the drama towards the end. A rating of 6 and above is in the "would recommend" zone, and yes I would recommend this drama if you like the slice-of-life genre. However, I think someone who hasn't struggled with depression may not like this drama and may find the characters annoying. I was able to relate a lot to them though.
I made a music video featuring Mi Jeong and Mr. Gu. It's called "My Liberation Notes | Mi Jeong + Mr. Gu | Greedy" and my channel name is The Enablers (@theenablers3846).
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Only for fun and entertainment
If you want watch this drama with a mind set of fun and entertaining base then it will be totally fun for you from the starting to end you will always smile,giggle with second hand embarrassment... This drama didn't have any major plot just simple cold CEO and flirty reporter fall in love that's it...I'm bailu fan after she pick this project I read this novel and love it and read it so many times maybet this is also reason for me love this drama....
Both lulu and didi portrayed their role very well 👍🏻👍🏻
Whatever but from ep 31 -36 I'm totally satisfied 👍🏻❤❤❤ I'm doubt about lulu and didi chemistry bcs those who watch KR will know how funny person this two but they exclude my doubt ....lulu and didi chemistry on fire 🔥🔥🔥both of them WOW🤩🤩🔥
And I'm totally enjoyed this drama... Yess they dragged a little but i love it too bcs I'm also novel reader they indeed follow the novel but in middle part the screenwriter mess up the FL character but they make up for the ending...
And they cut so many kiss scenes bcs of this drama airing on satellite TV so they have to cut hot kiss scenes 😫😫
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