So much potential
DAMN!! This had so much potential but alas it did not live up to it.The premise is excellent, the cast is great and the setting perfect, so why was this movie so meh??
The first 40 minutes of the movie were hands down some of the best tension setting I have ever watched but it all went downhill after that. The movie is meh b/c of the stupid actions by the police, the victim, the brother of one of the victims and random people on the street.
The best thing about this movie was the actors. Wi Ha Joon is excellent as the serial killer. I had only seen him in Squid Game and I liked him there but he played the psychotic murderer very well. I only wish we knew what his motivations were. I guess we get a glimpse of it when the old drunk at the police station questions his upbringing but I needed a little more information. The lead actress, Jin Ki Joo and the actress playing her mother were really good too. I haven't seen the FL in anything else either but I look forward too seeing something else.
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Bring tissues... LOTS OF IT!
let just say it is reversed version of 50 First Date... how our hero with amnesia struggle to make himself fall in love to the same woman every single damn day of his life forever! you'll cry your eyes out at the end coz you'll never expect their happiness actually comes to an end... both jasper and gulnazar is so freaking cute together their chemistry is amazing in this movie... it is a great story for valentine's day to watch with your love one... they will appreciate you more.... you'll thank me later ❤️Was this review helpful to you?
An epic, iconic and life changing drama
I first watched this show as a young child and it helped me become who I am now. I didn't realise it then but it soon became a worldwide hit not just around Asia in the 1980s but it subsequently travelled to non-traditional viewing audiences such the Middle East and South Americas in the 1990s. Thus I'm surprised that no one has reviewed such an iconic and character-forming drama yet.First of all, the show was shot in the mid 1980s. As such, the scenes set in 'modern' Japan still look very dated. However if you ignore that, the rest of the show is set from the early 1900s all the way to the 1980s. Re-watching it now however, some bits that may have been acceptable in the 1980s probably wouldn't be accepted now. For instance, a teenage boy helps child Oshin out and a grown man lies naked with her to warm her up. It sounds icky but she was hypothermic. Also, there's a lot of domestic abuse and not to mention the obvious child labour. Although such scenes might accurately reflect the turn of the 20th century, I'm sure if Oshin were filmed today, I'm sure such scenes would be removed as they portray criminal acts. In this sense, the show feels dated because of when it was filmed yet ironically true to the period it's portraying.
Second, what I disliked about the show. It's in 15 minute episodes spread over nearly 300 episodes, which makes it hard to watch today in a time poor world. I know that it was broadcast in a different era and it certainly kept my dinner times busy for nearly a year back then. However, the show never feels draggy. Each episode ends exactly at a cliffhanger, that's brilliant editing! I don't expect the show to be cut but I really hope NHK or a subscription service such as Netflix would connect them into 1 or 1 ¼ hour episodes typical of these days.
Third, what I liked about the show: the story of course! It's very tightly written with no lapses in logic or loose ends. I do not like how many of the male characters treated the women but it was typical of the time it portrays. Yet in spite of the strongly paternalistic culture, the highlight of the show is the strong women characters. They not only stayed resilient despite their circumstances and what life threw at them, but were in fact stronger than their men. They were the silent and long suffering foundations holding up their men who had fragile egos. They are inspirational! Oshin in particular unlike her long suffering mother showed that she's no pushover. She knew how to tread the thin line between yielding to someone of power yet persevering and in the process, winning over her worst critics. She got through with sheer grit and hard work.
I also like the growth we see across the three Oshins. While the child Oshin was abused, naive and unconfident, the young-middle aged Oshin grew in confidence and learned to stand on her own two feet and fiercely protect those she loved. Yet it was a life lived not without regrets, and in the older Oshin we see a deeply reflective person who gives a flick to her needy and disappointing next generation. I like all three actors who played Oshin.
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Incredibly Well Written Show
This drama is more plot focused that character focused, and in terms of plot focused dramas, this has to be one of the most tightly, well written plots I have had the pleasure of watching. The story moves along, characters behave believably, neither the bad guys nor good guys act like idiots, information is shared, and when it isn't, the rationales for it not being shared make sense. All in all, this show's plot deserves being taught in any script-writing or show-running classes.The acting is good all around - again, this show is plot focused, so to an extent you don't expect tour de force performances, but the plot would not move as well if the acting was poor, and thankfully everyone is up to the job in the cast.
All the technical aspects of the show are very good, though the soundtrack, while doing its job, is forgettable. IN terms of re-watch value, the quality of the writing deserves to be savored, but at the same time, a lot of the charm comes in the mysteries unfolding, and once you watch the show, obviously that special thrill is gone. That said, everyone should watch this at least once.
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This review may contain spoilers
ALL CHARACTERS CLEARLY WERE SHARING THE SAME BRAIN CELL!
I had such high hopes for this movie and even watched it with my sister as a movie night movie, but let me be clear, this movie absolutely sucked. The best part of the movie was that the two male leads were good-looking, and the acting was pretty decent. However, those things do not cover the horrific idiocy of all the characters. I mean, I lost count of how many misunderstandings happened in this 2-hour movie, and it wasn't like actual misunderstandings. The misunderstanding was from the characters not using their brains. I got so frustrated at every character because it appeared as if they were trying to help the villain kill them and escape.They could have stopped the serial killer within the first 30-45 minutes of the movie, but NO. It was frustrating because he did not escape time after time based on his smarts, but rather as a result of the idiocy of the other characters. ALSO, those police officers need to be fired because they have zero awareness of their environment and ability to assess situations properly. Like, what were they even doing the entire movie?
NOW we can discuss the brother because he just made really dumb choices. I mean, I get that he wanted to save his sister and was not in the best state of mind at that moment, but why did he trust the PYSCHOPATHIC SERIAL KILLER WHO IS TRYING TO KILL HIM AND THE OTHER CHARACTERS? He was just like, "Let me abandon the person that probably could lead me straight to my sister to go run around the back alleys." Did honestly believe that the serial killer was going to tell him the truth about the location of his sister when the whole mess started because of her? I mean, seriously!
Anyways, I was very disappointed in this movie!
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The drama is generic yet fresh and different. There are slow and boring moments but mostly the show keeps a nice pace and has good dynamics, the balance between comedy and seriousness is really good. The acting, well... at first it seemed like the worst acting ever but the characters grew on me quite a lot and after finishing the drama I missed it right away. Some of the characters were ridiculous to the point it was actually hilarious and I guess, it's better not to take this drama too seriously. There is a certain brilliance to this whole drama if you ca get past the fact that it's completely ridiculous. All in all, the plot and everything in it was pretty realistic too.
Ah, and the chemistry! The chemistry! The chemistry between miss Kim and Moo Yeol is great, actually near the perfection. When they are together they are whole and when they are apart something is missing. Though, from the very beginning, they were a bit too comfortable with each other considering they had just met. And I'm surprised there is not contract dating and such, I was sure there will be one but actually, the dating thing wasn't important at all.
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Felt like an express train to a light-hearted romance with family turbulence shaking up the journey!
This drama comes in a small package, but it's filled to the brim with classic J-drama flavors like families, quiet vengeance, the self-discovery and the courage to push back. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but it turns it with enough skill to keep things rolling.The pace of the story was fast, maybe a bit too fast for my liking. Things moved along quickly that some plot points and emotional moments didn’t have time to really land. I kind of had to fill in some of the gaps myself as a viewer and move on. There is some character growth, but it’s not deep since the drama doesn’t have a lot of time to unpack everyone’s backstory. Still, it never felt boring.
While that keeps it moving, it also feels a little rushed in parts especially the ending. I am all here for tying all the knots neatly at the end but they pushed too much under the rug in a blink. The antagonists were forgiven a bit too quickly with little to no redemption arcs considering how their selfish decisions affected so many lives.
The romance is subtle, not one of those where the passion between the leads overwhelms everything, but rather one that lingers. I genuinely believed that they liked each other, despite the dramatic beginning of their relationship.
Communication is present, at least for the most part and misunderstandings don't drag on unnecessarily.
Acting across the board was decent. Suzuki Jin can act and I hope he gets better and more complex roles to explore in future. Konno Ayaka also did a good job but at times it felt a bit over the top but considering the nature of her character, it is understandable.
Overall, this was an enjoyable one-time watch. While it has its flaws, particularly with pacing and character depth, it still delivers as an entertaining love story. I would recommend it if you are in the mood for something short and light, rather than something deep or intense.
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This review may contain spoilers
POL:THE MOVIE Review
Tbh, I was a bit disappointed for this to be their first movie in the theaters when Hit The Road could have been a better debut documentary film in the theaters. And the movie is basically about the Power Of Love concert, with just some additional ments. but not all of the songs performed at the concerts were shown in the movie though~ Overall, I think this was a good opportunity for CARATS to meet up and have fun like we were really in a face-to-face concert. Especially, You can really see how much SEVENTEEN love, adore, and respect us as a fan. And you will also see the bonds between the groups. They're not just a group of friends but a family. I definitely recommend this to you if you are a carat. And I assume this movie is a must-watch movie for every carats.Was this review helpful to you?
Personally I absolutlely love it when there is a special or "extra" content, and there even is a special clip of the directors ending cut, so a few more pieces were put together, but not entirely, you'll have to see for yourself.
Also the preview of "Doctor Stranger" was quick and really fun!
Are you too eager to see Lee Jong Suk again? Then you're in luck, there's a little "interview" for him as well as the other main leads, and we get to know their characters a bit more.
So, overall I really enjoyed it and a 9 might be a bit high for a behind the scenes, but I score it after what it is and supposed to be - not for what it's not. :)
You can watch it here in HD with eng sub - as well as many other dramas:
http://sensen.tv/gods-gift-14-days-later-special/
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There are plenty of dramas about bffs falling in love, or how living together can turn into romance. The premise itself is pretty standard, but unlike other dramas that I've seen, this one doesn't just jump from strictly platonic to romantic love with a sudden revelation & a kiss. This one explores all the complicated in betweens, and conflicting/confusing emotions, that can come up when a relationship changes from friendship to possible romance. There are also no scheming exes, malevolent parents, debilitating diseases, social class barriers, or major "scandals" thrown in to add more excitement to the drama. It doesn't need any of that. Lee Jung Jin & Soo Ae's performances alone are enough to keep the story exciting. There is also a great supporting cast with interesting love (or lack of love) stories of their own, and a great overall theme about maturing into adulthood.
Maybe the fact that I've had a similar opposite sex friendship plays a role, but Hyung Tae and Nan Hee relationship really resonated with me, plus they had great chemistry. This drama took it's time realistically portraying their close friendship, and they are also had their own separate romantic storylines, which made the pace a little slower than a typical Kdrama romcom. I thought the slower pacing was perfect for telling this kind of story, and lots of humor kept it from feeling like it was ever dragging. It also helped to build anticipation. I honestly enjoyed every episode.
There were a few parts of the story that I think could have been handled a little better, but I think the writers did a really good job juggling different stories without losing focus on the main couple. I think the only weak character was Sung Ah, who after being mentioned so often in the drama, should have had a bigger presence when she finally appeared. I know she was meant to be portrayed as an outsider, but compared to the rest of the cast, her character bored me.
I also have to mention how weird it was to see a young Lee Tae Sung in this after seeing him recently in Rooftop Prince. It makes me appreciate his acting range, considering how different each role I've seen him play has been. He's a real sweetheart as Jung Joo, Nan Hee's much younger boyfriend. His character is the only one that really has anything to do with baseball, so this should not be thought of as a sports drama. Baseball is just used as a metaphor for relationships in a way that kinda reminded me of the movie "Love & Basketball". You don't have to like baseball to appreciate this drama.
Overall, "9 End 2 Outs" was a pleasant surprise, and I will definitely rewatch it. With all the cliché drama romcoms out there, this one certainly stands out. It's funny, and touching (though not a tearjerker), and I highly recommend it to anyone in the mood to watch a good romance unfold.
*I swear I didn't give this mostly "9"s on purpose : )
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An under rated drama with interesting storyline
This has some romance but it is very discreet and more to do with a girl named Chun Tumi’s journey to become a litigator in ancient times. The production is actually quite good as it looks to be low to mid budget.There are humorous moments but what kept me interested is the logical way Tumi argued her way out of difficult ancient court proceedings and upheld the law for the common folks .
The storyline is devoid of troopey characters ( a big plus) and the storyline is interesting.
Originally I started watching because I really like Fan Zhi Xin in “The lethal man”! Want to check him out in a period drama.
He was simply outstanding in that short drama. His two co stars here Jun Jie and Sabrina Zhuang made the story came alive.
The attraction is the storyline and also decent directing. Even though there are no kiss scenes ; somehow the romance came through and seemed ok for this drama. I would like a Season 2 to wrap up and progress the romance between main CP.
The bromance between Lord Han and Lord Kang is quite heart warming. It has been awhile since I enjoyed a low keyed romance drama! Enjoy and I would recommend this for anyone looking for something different from your normal rom-com.
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This movie contains explicit sexual intercourse in some parts, so for those who can't take it are advised to stay away from this show.
The first part is an awesome demonstration of storytelling that enough to warrant it a score of 9. Some may find it confusing with non-linear story line structure, but I find itself better at explaining what happened. While the first is really good, the second falls behind due to abrupt changes from the first arc without good transition in between. It also gets bogged down by meandering and too depressing story of the hardship the character (Fukuda) has to suffer. After Fukuda's problem is solved, the story shifts again to the highschooler storyline, much to provide him a solid conclusion, when he gets a motivation to move on out of the mess he left behind.
About the acting, some actors stand out while others are not bad. The actress playing the housewife deserves an accolade for her awesome emotional play, from vivacious to destroyed, fouled up person only in single character. Nagayama, who played as the highschooler, might be a bit too old but it was impossible to cast an underage actor to play the role. He once again proves that he is talented and very underrated.
The music serves the story pretty well but it doesn't stand out. I found that rating the overall score of this movie is hard because of its uneven technical accomplishment, leaning between 7 and 8. However, I finally settled with another low-end 8, pretty good overall but not that good either.
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I found this film to be very good where you have two unlikely people coming together and overcoming their issues. There is a great sense of camaraderie between the firefighters and it's interesting to see their relationships come together.
Overall I'd watch this again and the ending does not disappoint.
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And another important point is THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS. Ryohei's family is strong and united. No matter what, in every situation Mom, Dad and brothers were beside him and supported him!
Ryohei's friends are normal guys who admire Ryohei. but when he starts to feel bad, they lose the right path. They feel insecure and powerless. But thanks to the strong bond between them and Ryohei, they will be able to overcome their fears and help Ryohei to pass his time serenely.
There isn’t any OST in this drama, but the background music is appreciable.
I really recommend this drama. And prepare your handkerchiefs, guys.
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The cinematography is tranquil and the beauty of the sound of jazz is so intriguing. Casts are really amazing. I felt like one of the characters in the movie as I watched this. I really liked Taishi Nakagawa's acting here. It was outstanding.
Please do watch this! It's really worth the time.
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