Drama in which money speaks - and characters answer
Living in a capitalist society while simultaneously juggling work,relationships,family(life in general) will inevitably lead to people changing or showing their true colors.Sooner of later.But it`s the way we,as humans, decide to paint with those true colors that determines how the actual painting will turn out.And with "Super Rich",it`s a jumbled,chaotic,overblown,but FUN - mess.I like to start off my reviews by saying a word of thanks to directors,writers,actors and anyone else involved in this drama,as I know how stressful and tough it can be to complete a project like this.However,unlike my other reviews,I`ll start this one off by listing the negatives first,as this seems like a better option for what I have in mind.
The actual construction of the plot is,well nonexistent.And for those reading this,I`d recommend you not hope for some strong,emotionally investing story in that sense.This drama is very much about motive and theme of MONEY.Debts,embezzlement,living conditions,takeovers...they are all linked to money.We follow how characters` relationships are torn and put together again because of it.Another point I`d like to make is,this drama isn`t void of clichés that show up in most dramas(stabbing,plot contrivances and convenience for lead and side characters alike).It is not original in regards to the plot or scenes shown.DON`T expect that from this drama.I`d caution you for repetitive plot devices as well.This drama is quite literally,a one trick pony.What I mean by this,contrary to popular belief,is that it repeats one conflict with different characters over and over again.In fact,if you`re not enamored with these characters,you won`t find many things to like,except for slivers of genius thoughts from time to time.
Another thing is the romance.It`s um,so lackluster.I`d even say it`d been better if they made both leads be married from the start and then flashback to their past.No serious damage would`ve been made and it`d have the same effect.So,this drama is not a satisfying romance,if you`re looking for that.I saw some people hold that fact against this drama,but while watching it,I`ve learnt to not regard this drama as a romantic contender,but rather as a collection of layers tied by money,romance being just one of those layers.
It`s also not particularly aesthetically pleasing,nor thought provoking.So why do I like it,despite all of this flaws?Well,the characters are a joy to watch.And whats more,the main character Mamoru, has become one of my favorites this year,if not ever.These are the aspects of this drama I immensely liked.
First off,the length.Coming here from a slew of convoluted KDramas that have to stretch their conflicts because of 16 episodes they are confined to,watching "Super Rich" was refreshing.It doesn`t overstay it`s welcome with 11 episodes of 45 minutes,something Japanese dramas seem to understand far better than Korean ones,even if the latter is starting to catch wind of this tactic.Despite drama suffering from some dip in quality in the last three episodes,as a fluffy piece of entertainment,it succeeds in everything that the makers wanted to achieve,I reckon.
Second off,most of these characters latched onto my heartstrings and refused to let go.Mamoru,Yuu,Miyamura,Kitabeppu,Shoji etc. I remember all of them and their philosophies to life.And that`s a real compliment to the writers of this show,as most drama characters in my mind coagulate and disappear quickly,leaving not even their name in my brain.This is not the case here.I`d especially like to single out Hyoga Mamoru,the female lead of this drama,as a highlight.She is AMAZING.
You know how,when you`re playing games or watching a horror movie,you wish for a character who thinks and voices his/her/their thoughts that are in line with yours?You know,rational in the moment of conflict?Well,in dramas,that for me is Mamoru.She just seems to have such appropriate reactions(most of the time) to what is happening around her.Not dramatic,not slow,not jumbled,just...right.When a brewing love triangle rears its ugly head,she cuts it down in less than five minutes of viewing time.When she`s proposed marriage to in a rush,her underwhelming response is exactly the one I`d make.Bit by bit,Mamoru made me fall for her.And I completely understood why others did as well.She`s delightfully knowledgeable,reliable,silently strong and adorably clueless all at once.And that`s without me mentioning her unconventionally attractive appearance and it being a net positive to her as a lead.I always say this:Even if Japanese dramas go through a rough patch more often than any other country,you can at least be comforted in the fact that you`ll always be able to see relatable looking characters within their dramas.This is what most others struggle with,as beauty standards are rigorous and play a big role in whether one will be chosen for a drama or not.And that`s not how dramas should be made.Mamoru is a great proof of that.Without her,this drama would fall in 6s for me,but with her,it transforms and gains credibility.I always want to see more of Mamoru and leads like her.Make introverted,yet easygoing and smart leads popular,drama viewers.Because they have a lot to offer.
And thirdly,the set design,way of filming and OST used for this drama are great.These aspects are competent in their goal and evoke feelings of unity and sense.They`re the method to the madness.I just personally adore the way Japanese dramas are filmed.Because they don`t have the highest of budgets,many would consider it dated,but in my eyes,the fluidity of characters` movements,the lighting...All of these add to the realism they tend to excel in accidentally.
In conclusion,"Super Rich" is a drama whose ingredients are less than compatible with today`s standards of drama viewing,but they manage to create something heartwarming,fluffy and fun to watch.I`m looking forward to more dramas like this and this one is immediate proof that you don`t have to have luxurious sets,blingy wardrobe,amazing camera work-as long as it`s got soul.After all,there are more important things than money.
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This show is about 100 male trainees selected from 31 companies, who are competing for a spot in the debuting group. The debuting group is comprised of the top nine winners, and is decided through the final votes of the Citizen Producers. During the four months there, the trainees are given different evaluations. These evaluations involve a group battle, concept (singing, dancing, or rapping) evaluation, and mentor collaboration. The mentors assigned to this group of contestants are made up of people who have some sort of experience in the music industry. Whether it was a year or more of experience being on stage, the mentors were able to share their knowledge and experiences with the trainees.
Although the show is based off of another, it has its own uniqueness to it. It is not just the concept of the show that is important but the trainees and the mentors who made the show amazing. Throughout this journey, we can see that the trainees grew significantly, even those who seemed to be very good from the very beginning. Though many members of the show had left one by one, they still remained (and were remembered as) a big part of the show (Dong Yanlei, for an example), and the rest of the trainees respected them very much. What really made me love the show was watching the interactions between them. Many of them were kind and caring towards each other, not to mention the relationships they shared with the mentors were wonderful (I recommend watching the behind the scenes, Xin Fan, game times, and short footages of them in their dormitory because they were always funny and exciting, and it is where the audience gets to know the trainees more). At the end, the show welcomed those who were eliminated for a final performance on stage, during the season finale.
There is not much that I would change about the show, but I would have really liked it if the mentors had some sort of influence over the winners of the debuting group (not saying that I want to change anyone!). I love each and everyone who made it, I just wished it could have been made fairer for those who were not quite as popular. The selections were made solely based off of who the audience liked the most. There were many amazingly talented people who did not make it very far, not to mention were underrated and overlooked most of the time. Do not get me wrong, everyone who made it in the finale are hella talented, but the lack of mentor input made the show more predictable. Other than that, I am completely satisfied with the show and the nine trainees who made it! Plus many of my favorites (and bias) made it!
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Aya Kito is a japanese girl with a life like all others. Lately some changes has started happening around her everyday life. This movie is the 100% true story of a sick girl, Its based on the Diary of Aya Kito. The Movie was from a different perspective than the original drama as The drama was more added on too and held characters who weren't in the movie.
I Think the actors all did a pretty good job. Aside of my point of view where I Thought The Drama actors would be starring in the movie aswell.. They did a good job and managed to win me over. As for the music, It wasn't a music drama so it didn't really contain too much music. The Music that was there to be found, Were good though.. I gave the music an 8.
I really liked the movie for the atmosphere it has too it. The fact that the story is true only makes it all the more unbearable. Its a really good movie allthough the pace is slow at some points, I'll have to say I don't think the story could have been any better..
Its a good movie, Aswell as the drama is a must watch.
I'd recommend people who like more serious stories to watch this series.. The Movie might start of slow, But It will have you crying by the time you reach the storys end.
R.I.P Aya Kito..
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The lead is a charismatic figure who follows her own set of rules and refuses to do anything that can be done without a license. She loves being a surgeon but hate the politics that go along with it. She basically just shows up does her job, to perfection, and leaves once the time is up.
The plot line is great, something sort of original for once. If you ignore the formulaic screenwriting and catchphrases typical of a jdorama then you'll find it awesome. The plot visits the side of healthcare that people don't really get to see: the politics, the bureaucracy, the mountains of paperwork, and the sycophantic underlings. And of course the gossip and the backstabbing.
The acting is good, but seeing as there haven't been any difficult scenes that require more substantial acting, we can't really call it spectacular. But the actors did a good job of owning the characters, Yonekura pulled Daimon off wonderfully and the other actors were convincing enough that I have no complaints.
This drama is definitely one to stick to. Expect a lot of mystery, politics, backstabbing, and impossibly difficult surgeries in this refreshingly different medical drama.
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Surrealism at its best!
If this drama worth for something it's for its surrealism.The plot was weak, the characters inconsistent, the FL had a completely childish behavior, the Goblin's character is weak and immature and the end was horrible as the Goblin didn't manage to get what he wished for.
The clever trick of this drama is that we watch the story from the Goblin's point of view though the actual protagonist and the character that leads the plot is the Reaper.
Anyway...
The plot is inconsistent and boring but interaction between the actors who were improvising and had fun while they were filming ( probably due to the lack of a solid script!! lol ) along with the cinematography and the music make an unbeatable combination.
It is the kind of series that you would expect to see if Pedro Almodovar , Guillermo Del Toro and Tim Burton joined their powers to make a festive ( Christmas or similar ) series.
9,5 out of 10 from me for the surrealism and fun factor.
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lucky to find this gem
idk how to describe how much i like this drama, my eyes are glued to the screen the whole timefrom the start, I'm intrigued with the Male Lead's character and his inner monologues.
the way he got involved with the Female Lead is quite a fun story. their romance was also not the cheesy/cringey type.
i like how fast paced the story goes too
all characters have a purpose, no unneeded fillers. you can finish the whole thing less than 3 hours.
I'm not often rewatching a drama. But i think i will rewatch this one a lot.
character development, acting, setting/cinematography, music all is perfect. my favorite would be how they made those comic-like thingy with the characters intro.
for those who like some dark comedy with subtle romance, you probably should give it a try.
TRIGGER WARNING: Depressive theme & Sexual assault reference
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Short and sweet love story
This is a mini drama. The female lead is a female lead inside an manga novel. She needs to get out of the novel to try to find the author to continue the story. She gets out and meets the male lead. The male lead is a science major and not very sociable. The female lead is a mary sue character (which is dumb and naive but cute) . At first the male lead is just interested in studying her, but then decides to help her get back to the novel. Along the way even the suppose male lead from the manga pops out. He is very chauvinistic and think he owns everything . ( at the same time his character is funny)It's a cute watch without nothing too dramatic or draggy. The story is interesting and funny. The leads have a cute relationship! but wish they had kissing scene. They had a peck on the head.
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Amazing Cast !
I have mixed- feelings about’ The Silent Sea’ and it seems a lot of people on the platform shared likewise emotions.On one hand I think that the storyline was intriguing and having read prior reviews I think that it was amazing that the director of the original film also decided to film this one.
I also loved the main cast. I’m familiar with our leads as if you begin to become immersed in Korean dramas then you become accustomed to these names and their involvement in their works.
However where my more critical views came through a few factors; the storyline and the filming styles and techniques .
The biggest problem I found with the storyline was that in theory it should’ve been impactful but I struggled to become enticed by the characters as their presence onscreen felt very controlled and enforced by the screenwriter rather than natural. This often resulted in characters feeling a bit boring onscreen.
My other peeve was that the series was really reliant on CGI. I don’t think this is always necessarily a bad thing entirely as after all it is a series set in space and the future but in all honesty the CGI wasn’t entirely the best. It wouldn’t be too bad perhaps if the series had attempted to present this more with real-life scenes but this often created a sort of trippy feel to scenes.
The ending wasn’t entirely bad per day but I did feel like it didn’t quite finish off the events of the storyline.
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- First of all the "OST" : is something I'm sure that you w'll love.
- The second is the "Cast & The Acting " : all the characters in the movie are real , my point is that you can easily feel them and feel there emotions , the characters in the movie are so simple , they only think in a way to save the people they love's and live with them in happiness , and that happened after they meat the main role "Eun Ah - Kim Sun Ah" and crosses with "Oh Jae Uk - Ohn Joo Wan"
- The third is the "Story" : which was written in genius way make you stay focus on the screen from the first second until the last one.
when the staff list beginning I came to MDL to but the movie on "My FV list" and I give it 10 of 10 ~
And for those reason you w'll watch the movie again and again ..
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For a reincarnation of Hana-Kimi I have to admit I was worried about pacing. The manga was too long winded for me and I actually never bothered reading the final two or three volumes because I knew how it would end and I found the whole thing tiring. Ironically when I started To the Beautiful You I didn't even realize that it was Hana-Kimi. Which is a good thing because at 16 episodes it is the longest version of the tale yet! Immediately I was drawn into the story and by the time I realized what I was watching, I didn't care. Nope, I was having fun. And in the end the pacing worked out perfectly. Giving every storyline it's time to develop and not turning valuable viewing time into an endless repeat.
To the Beautiful You is for the most part a feel good rom-com. It's not deep. Again, for the most part. This is easy viewing that simply makes you smile. Mission accomplished! That said the writers truly delivered on Cha Eun Gyeol. The instant I met him, it was love! As the story progressed and he becomes conflicted over his love for Goo Jae Hee, my heart went crazy. And maybe melted in a few poignant moments. Actor Lee Hyun Woo was amazing, and made me a loyal fan. Especially the moment when he decides love concurs all, even the boundaries on what society–and himself–might still find as a forbidden love. These are the kind of romances I live for.
Viewers will either love this or dislike. If you can separate this as a new take on a "classic", you'll do fine. If not, you know you'll be angry because this is not faithful. There's plenty of fan service moments for Shinee fans as Choi Min Ho really separates himself as good eye candy away from the band. If nothing else watch this show for the most epic paint ball fight! Assassin Choi Min Ho anyone? The show is plenty of laughs and I'll probably be visiting it just for good times, and when I need to reexperience the epicness of Goo Jae Hee. (Goo Jae Hee, the other reason this show needs to be watched. Let's be honest.)
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Drama Special Series Season 1: White Christmas
14 people found this review helpful
This was a pure masterpiece! Full 10 out of 10 and I think this goes to my favorites here on MDL. If possible I'd give this 11/10.
I absolutely loved the acting in this one.
The actors may be young and yes, flower boys, but they are the kind of flower boys who knows how to act. At least that's what I think. In my opinion there are 2 kinds of flower boy actors: the ones who are there for eye-candy and just for that. And the ones who are there to act and offers some eye-candy too. This drama has the later.
There are few things in the drama that didn't make sense...
The ending was good but I don't quite understand the meaning of the ending... Maybe I need to sleep through the night and recap the drama on my head while sleeping and then I'll realize the meaning of the ending?
The music was really good and haunting. Except the Britney Spears song that was used as the ending song for some episodes... I skipped the ending song :D
I think Korea should make more dramas like this one.
It's a rare gem and I haven't stumbled upon Korean dramas like this one before.
My rewatch value for this one is really low because... You already know what's going to happen and how this is going to end.
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It’s deep, and I’m depressed
Overall, great story and amazing camera work, but so freaking unexpectedly depressing. I refuse to believe Ryuuta died from overworking because he just overall looks healthy?? Heck, and he’s a personal trainer as well. I know the foreshadowing is there, him falling asleep on Kosuke’s couch in the middle of the day etc, but still, i did not expect his death in any way. The name of the film is genius. Did Kosuke stop being egoistic after Ryuuta’s death? I guess not, but is it really a bad thing?Was this review helpful to you?
Unique, bittersweet and touching story about love, grief and friendship.
One thing I've always loved about Japanese dramas is how they come up with crazy concepts like this and somehow make them work. I feel the main reason for this is the balance in their stories. They take a unique premise and make it feel grounded with relatable characters and genuine relationships.Apart from the quirky setup, the biggest strength of Eien no Kinou are its two main leads. Koichi is the kind of person everyone loves to be friends with. His fun, cheerful and kind personality draws people in. Micchan on the other hand is the calm and collective type, and he seems unapproachable and slightly intimidating to the people around him. However, this doesn't stop Koichi since he's determined to become friends with him. What I really enjoyed about this relationship and their characters is that they slowly and realistically established their bond, despite this show's short length.
Koichi showcases an admirable inner strength by the way he handles the debilitating situation he's in, being more concerned with how other people feel than allowing himself to grief his own loss. Micchans experiences shaped him into a lonely, introverted person that has a hard time being around other people. He hates himself for being "cold" which he absolutely isn't. His sensitive and deeply moving monologues show that once he has someone in his heart, he's an incredibly caring and loving person. These two polar opposite characters develop a genuine bond and give each other the warmth and love both of them were craving, and it was truly touching to see them feel at home with each other.
I really enjoyed the performances of Komiya Rio and Inoue Sora. Komiya Rio already won me over as Tanaka in Takara-kun to Amagi-kun which was a drama that I personally didn't really enjoy, however his performance stood out to me in the few scenes he had. While Tanaka is a vastly different character to Koichi they both have an engaging and likable charm in common which I credit the actor for. You're on his side and want him to be happy, so when he does allow himself to show his pain, it hits you hard. Inoue Soras Micchan is gentle, restrained, and yet you can see a whirlwind of emotions behind that facade. He convincingly portrays Micchans calm strength and protective nature, as well as his vulnerable and lonely side.
While I enjoyed this story, and they were able to move me despite the dramas short length, I can't help but feel the impact would have been even stronger if they had the time to establish the characters and their relationships further. Spending more time with the leads before the accident and developing their other friendships would have given this story another layer, which I would have really appreciated. Some parts of the story felt rather random and disconnected, simply because they lacked the time to explore them.
I've to quickly mention the amazing OST of this drama. The opening theme Sunshower by Ayumu Imazu is a melancholic yet hopeful song that made me feel emotional after its first few notes. While the hauntingly serene ending theme, Toi Natsu no Hi by Kubo Aoi makes you reminisce the episode once the ending credits start. Both songs are absolutely beautiful, with touching lyrics that add to the meaning of the story. I thought the scenes of the ending credits getting blurrier with each episode was a really nice detail, and so was the changed ending for the final episode.
Eien no Kinou is a poignant story about cherishing the time you have with the people you love. It's a delicate yet powerful drama about love and friendship, told with so much heart it lingers in your thoughts long after you've finished it.
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(Itsuka Kono Koi wo Omoidashite Kitto Naite Shimau).
Story: In my opinion, the story was very consistent, well written, with a meaningful romance story and very well portrayed by the casting actors.
The main focus of the show is the romance story but this show can also offer a journey with hardships sorrounding love, happiness, work and life objectives.
All characters contribute to the storyline, and there's no character left behind without helping the story progress.
While i watched the story was depressing, dramatic, pleasing and very cute at times.
I experienced a lot of moments throught the show where I was frustrated how the story progressed in many ways that i can't spoil, but i can say the story was well told and the characters were very well portrayed with their own point of views, thoughts and emotions, so i had no choice to care for them, but that is just me enjoying the show in my own way.
Acting: I feel like in this case everyone's perspective on each character will be different based on your own morals, preferences, etc... So what i can say is that i loved the acting and the casting, i think everyone was outstanding in portraying their own role.
Music/Overall: Pretty decent OST so nothing to special about it.
Overall: I like every aspect in this show, also i gave it 9 out of 10, because i don't consider this to be a masterpiece, but it was very well done and very well portrayed. I recommend it to those looking for a deep story with Romance/Drama/Slice of life.
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