Reviews

More Kim So Hyun Please

The story follows Kim So Hyun as Princess Pyeong Gang. First, Kim So Hyun was phenomenal in her role. I can't say enough good things about her performance. This also goes for her character which was so incredibly interesting. Princess Pyeong Gang is everything that I could want out of a character. She is very capable as a fighter, and she has emotional depth. She also is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family and country, even at the cost of herself. This leads her to come across as very authentic.

This brings me to one of the best parts of the story and where this series is somewhat unique. Pyeong Gang has agency. In so many of these stories with a strong FL, the story undermines her by having her saved and/or protected by the ML. Here, the FL gets herself out of trouble when needed, and that is so refreshing to have character consistency.

The ML is also a good character. He does undergo a somewhat unbelievable powerup, but he never fully outshines the FL. He also doesn't have her cunning and ruthlessness. He's more of a traditional hero, which provided a nice balance to their characters.

Several other characters play a major role, and all of them are interesting. The antagonists all have believable motivations that raise the stakes and makes the protagonist's journey all the more intriguing.

The ending was one area that I think was too easy. I won't spoil anything, but I think that it was a missed opportunity.

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Quite nice to watch...

As typical of Sukfilm they try to tell a short story with a very limited budget and this time I think they did quite well. Yes, we are all sick of the same places, but at least the "bar" has now background noises to make the scene more believable. I really really wish, they would have friends in the community to help them out for locations to vary the settings a bit.

This time the story did not contain a bitchy woman and without cringe which was a bliss and the story is just straighforward and kept more real without forced drama. Of course it's cute and has fluffy moments. The acting was good. The only negative I can say is in the finale where, a) the scene with the mom should have been played out and b) the scene of the sister finding out who the lover of her brother is should have been skipped, because it was unnecessary. But all in all, they did nothing wrong (this time).

So if you have not seen it yet, it's about a 65minutes filler and you could have seen worse. 🤣

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'Chinese Idol Our Song' is a program in which young singers get together with experienced and very popular music stars of the older generation. Together they prepare performances in which they will present new arrangements of various well-known songs. For young singers it is a chance to gain new experience and new skills, for the elders - a chance to share their experience and knowledge. The result turned out to be ... stunning!
"Our Song" is a program filled with positive energy, full of laughter, joy and emotions. There is no episode that would not be dripping with jokes and good humor. The new arrangements of sometimes very old songs are so great that although I haven't had much in common with Chinese music so far, now I am full of delight for older and younger songs. "Ousr Song" has opened a whole new world for me and has become the most enjoyable adventure of recent years. The viewer will meet people with wonderful personalities and a great sense of humor, full of love for music and respect for others.
Not without reason, "Our Song" is China's best and most popular music program in 2019. The group of its international fans is also growing: D
If you have a bad day, any troubles or worries, "Our Song" will be an excellent remedy for them. A radiant smile is guaranteed!

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Potential but Underwhelming

The series is related to accounting and for those unfamiliar with the terminology will feel lost because there really isn't much explanation. You'll have to read up on it to enjoy the show because there is a LOT of tactics and plays based on that. You can ignore and try to get the gist of things.

The story is about a high school graduate who joins an accounting firm in order to take it down because his adopted father's company was run to the ground which resulted in his death. The story felt had so much potential but right off the bat I didn't exactly enjoy the first couple of episodes. A lot happening but hard to make sense of it. But the actual story develops quite slowly. Makes sense because it's not easy for someone who has no idea of the inner workings of an accountancy firm to do any real damage so the first few episodes are just him trying to learn the ropes. I only started to enjoy the show midway when a lot of exciting things were happening - both good and bad.

Until episode 11, I was finally enjoying the show and happy with how things were being resolved. Episode 12, however, was a big let down. When you think of all the crimes committed by a certain someone and the way they let things play out, it feels like a betrayal to the time I, as a viewer, put in. Some like of think of it as realistic but we aren't exactly watching a documentary. And even if we talk about realism, the director seemed to want us to experience some kind of empathy for a horrible character. Are we supposed to forget the people who lost everything including their lives? I don't see how the male leads can be happy considering the circumstances. It doesn't feel real to me at all.

Overall, I just feel disappointed.

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Who knew that a small incident would lead these two lovable characters into a journey which changes both their lives for the better.

Story:
I L.O.V.E.D the girl. She's so tough, I mean the way she acts. Though there's a deep sadness within her, she tries to hide it with a cheery smile that does not fool our dear Gyeon Woo. It's also different from what I ever watched and I enjoyed it a lot! Seriously I never laughed so hard. There were particular scenes that cracked me up, there's this one where honestly I couldn't breathe because I was laughing so hard.

Acting:
*Nods head and smile* It is flawless. It's like Cha Tae Hyun and Jun Ji Hyun were made to play the lead roles in this movie. I loved Gyeon Woo's mother, always hitting him. In saying that all the girls in his life are always hitting him, poor thing. Jun Ji Hyun plays 'The Sassy Girl' (I just realised that he never referenced her name O.O). She played the abusive, easily drunk, tough, cute, delicate, gorgeous girl. I need to watch more movies with her in it.

Music:
Is it just me or Director Yann Samuell really really loves Canon D Majoy by Pachelbel. I watched his other movie called 'Classic' and the same instrumental piece was played throughout the movie. I'm not complaining, it's more like an observation.

Rewatch:
I sure as hell would rewatch this. It's soo funny,

Overall:
I LOVED IT. I know why people keep telling me to watch the movie. Everything made sense at the end and this movie really made me believe in DESTINY ~

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Rie Miyazawa's award-winning performance in Her Love Boils Bathwater is justified. She is the core of this film.

Her Love Boils Bathwater sets itself to be a sentimental family drama. But Ryota Nakano takes a more light-hearted approach. Instead of following a very dramatic ill-single-mother-making-her-time-worthwhile take (and it's very tempting to), he doesn't. Instead, he rallies his great cast to launch the story foreword.
And that's the film's greatest strength—its cast. Hana Sugisaki won Best Supporting Actress for her role and she proves once again that she's one of Japan's most promising young actresses perhaps taking on the footsteps of the chameleon actor, Fumi Nikaido (a personal bias).

Perhaps being Japan's entry to the Best Foreign Film list is a little bit of a stretch since the film is simplistic but heartfelt, strengthened by its cast. Its little moments and character interactions are its charm. Nakano doesn't patronize these characters—he shows them as flawed ones and as imperfect beings but what's great is how that all plays out.

The cinematography is stunning, paired with lukewarm colors yet vivid. The score truly embraces the scenes. Yes, I cried.

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Okay, but Not Incredible

There have been worse, there have been better. I feel like that sums up the story.

Overall, the story isn't bad. The cinematography is nice and JoongDunk do have nice chemistry with each other. Other than that, nothing to write home about. It wasn't overtly unique, but it was a decent watch.

I didn't regret watching it, but I think I would like to see how these MLs do with a more mature script. Maybe it's because the college/high school arc is getting old, but I'd love to see Thai dramas in general move forward out of the school era.

Overall: Decent watch, but not life-altering.

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Over The Past Ten Hours..

This film is the perfect example of what sets pieces from Japan apart from Westerns, Kdramas, etc. A delicate,heavy story woven by it’s magical Ost, sharp camera language, and effortlessly masterful performances. No where else will you have a similar style in similar executions. The heaviest of topics leading to self reflections that you’re not aware of until it ends.

The Last 10 Years leaves more questions than answers, and not for the film itself. After finishing the film i spent the past 10 hours falling in and out of sleep to the Ost on repeat and tears drawn to the rhythm. Why do such different situations and occurrences hit so close to home? What’s so similar in my own life that has me so empathetic of these characters? Why am I, a grown man, waking up 3 in the morning with puffy eyes over a movie? For fucks sake do i have to check if i wet the bed as well? Are all of these emotions simply the film or realizations from watching it?

I’m usually not a fan of the typical pacing dramas and films from japan, and it’s quite rare to spot one that steps outside of that norm and delivers a deliberate, smooth flow throughout. Especially considering the time restriction of films, taking your time to give more impact towards the climax will always have my upmost respect. Mix that with realistic dialogue,compelling performances, and a subtle melo tone and you got a work from japan at it’s very peak. THIS is what I watch these works for. THIS is what I can’t get anywhere else and feel the same uplifting overtones of a very dark, depressing story.

A slight flaw i find with almost any decent movie, especially ones this good, is that there’s always something more i want to see but not given. Some more fleshed out development instead of the bright, fluffy montages we received of our leads’ bond getting closer would’ve sufficed. Alas, the more you give me and the better it is, the more i want. There’s a very thin line of Perfect between the large margins of “Draggy” and “Not Enough” , this falls in the latter for me.

Films like this, in my opinion, are must watches not only nationally but internationally as well. Such heavy topics delivered in such an impactful way that teaches us things we never considered before needs the recognition. This level of quality is rare to come by. First love is rare to come across. Life itself is such a blessing that is rarely cherished amongst many of us the way it should be. Death is seen too much as this inevitable outcome that some unfortunately succumb to sooner than others. We sometimes empathize for selfish reasons. Some may want to end it all with no concerns of how it effects the people around them. Life can be this seemingly endless journey to a singular destination one wants to rush towards from unfortunate hands dealt, or it could be the journey itself as you cherish a blessing others aren’t given , with those around you through thick and thin that you’ve been lucky to have been dealt.

The Last Ten Years makes use of depressing desires to accentuate the appreciation and beauty of life and finding your own happiness in it. A masterful artwork i hope receives the attention and praise it deserves down the line.

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When you start you can't stop

Unlike idol dramas, where the protagonist naturally takes center stage, ensemble dramas focus more on the passage of time and the enduring strength of a collective spirit. Xia Fenghua embodies the "Hua Street spirit"—the resilience and legacy of the Grand Canal. Her journey is shaped by time, making her the perfect representation of Northward's central theme. This role comes with a dual narrative responsibility:

•Preserving the "Hua Street spirit" – Ensuring that the values and legacy of the Grand Canal continue to thrive in a new era.


• Demonstrating resilience – Showcasing personal growth and perseverance, emphasizing the profound impact of time on an individual’s journey.



For any young actor, these demands are incredibly challenging. The role requires deep emotional engagement, a thorough understanding of the story’s essence, and a flawless execution of character development.
After watching Northward, it’s impossible not to be impressed by Bai Lu’s performance. Her portrayal of Xia Fenghua is deeply moving, marking a significant breakthrough in her career. Not only does she bring a new depth to the character, but she also changes how audiences perceive her as an actress
Ouhao did a great job too, his character was annoying at some moments but it's understandable.
Very good slice of life drama.

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Li Hong Yi Made this Drama. <3

I just finished watching the last episode. This show has been sitting in my watchlist for ages (months) and I just never got around to it because I kept hearing mixed things. A lot of negative things: like how the female lead is annoying, the budget is low, the male is is toxic, etc. Just so many things. And there's a bit of truth to all of it.

So let me explain why I continued until the end.

First, I'm going to start with the less than stellar things.

Yes, the budget is low and it shows. The makeup was also pretty bad for a good portion of the time. Example: The second male lead...every time he was on screen, I stared at his unblended wig line rather than his face. The script...honestly, the majority of it was boring except for the instances between the male and female lead. It was repetitive. The show could have been accomplished in half the amount of episodes. The female lead's character was indeed sort of irritating. Lots of back and forth between the two male leads. Out of the entire cast, I only liked three of them. And the story itself was very, very simple.

Basically, there were a ton of little things.

Now for the parts that kept me going.

1.) While the female lead character was far from my favorite (doesn't even rank), that's all the fault of the script. Actress Rosy Zhao played her part beautifully. My only problem was the horrendous script she'd been dealt.

2.) The other character I liked aside from the leads was the best friend of the secondary male lead. Qin Liu Feng. Actually, that doesn't do him justice. Despite being the best friend of the rival love interest, there were times that it seemed like he was the only one who truly put the female's best interest first. He never judged her or any of them really. And when the second male lead was acting possessed or heartless, he stepped in to give perspective. And most notably, in the end, after all went down, he was the one who told the female lead what had happened and bid her farewell into the arms of the main male lead. He was the most supportive one throughout the whole drama, I think.

3.) To be honest, I didn't like the second male lead for almost all of the show. He was too rigid and set in his beliefs. He would have never put the female lead first. Only the morality of the hypocritical righteous sect placed first in his heart. He didn't even really know how to show affection. He was kind of sad, to be honest. He was the product of his upbringing. But in the end, he let her go. He finally realized that if she stayed with him, he would one day sacrifice her for the good of his people and their beliefs. Only the main male lead, who was deemed the bad guy and hated by everyone, would truly put her first in all things and love her the way she deserved.

4.) That leads me to the so called bad guy. He was the one thing that kept me interested in this drama. Shangguan Qiu Yue, played by Li Hong Yi. I saw where a lot of people called him toxic. Here are my thoughts. This show never portrayed him to be a good guy. He was raised in an ice cave, beaten and trained to hate in order to get revenge for his mother. Someone like this, who saw enemies everywhere, would never show love in a healthy manner. But he evolved and grew. Initially, he used her. The female lead was just another pawn. She became less so as he fell in love. Was his love toxic though? I don't think so. He was a villain. He showed up in her room, kidnapped her frequently, kissed her all the time, tricked her, etc. Yes, those things aren't technically socially okay. But it's what bad guys do. He also saved her all the time, even when the second male lead whom she thought she loved would have sacrificed her for the greater good, which happened quite a few times. The "bad guy" always put her first. He just communicated in the way he'd been raised to communicate: violently and by using tricks. Another thing, he also listened to her and did what she requested, so essentially she called the shots in a roundabout way. So no, I didn't have a problem with his character. Not everyone can be cookie-cutter perfect.

Still on Li Hong Yi...

He was beautiful throughout and he kept giving her this expression that was just to die for. It made my heart beat. LOL. It's probably one of the most seductive expressions I've seen in c-dramaland and that's my theory for why it was so popular. <3 People just wanted to look at his bad boy sexy face.

Truthfully, he was the best part of this show. ^_^

Overall, this drama was far from perfect, but I enjoyed it well enough. Probably won't rewatch it though.

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As the title speaks for itself, I watched and was charmed by this drama three times before finally arriving at my final score, and that is a perfect 10. I first skim watched it because I was so surprised by the very strong mixed reaction to this drama (on MDL or the streaming website) and skipped to most of the lead actors' scenes to gauge whether their acting makes this drama redeemable. The answer is an absolute yes. The second time I watched this I still skipped a lot of scenes just to pay more attention to the main storyline itself, and to see whether I belong to the group of people who find the writing ridiculous OR realistic and charming. The third time I watched this is when I finally immersed myself fully into the side characters that I found really elevated this drama, and teach us many lessons about life. Believe me, if you come to this drama with a more matured mindset, you will really love this drama.

I feel many of the reviews that condemn the writing of this drama do not understand the complex nature of life and relationships itself or simply refuse to come to terms with the intention of this story. This drama started off as a rom-com but progressed more towards a melo, and though many people were irritated by this, this is exactly the charm of this drama and I believe only how the writers have intended it to be. Joon Young and Young Jae are two characters who are quite literally the polar opposite, but that's what makes it tick in a young couple: the excitement of dating with a different personality. But as their relationship deepens, problems start to arise because of their conflicting nature, and so it's becoming more important for them to understand what it means to find and love their own identities first before loving another person. The story unfolds this progression and slice-of-life very nicely in my opinion. I can guarantee your acceptance of the writing of this drama will highly depend on how tolerant you are of the decisions made by the lead actors at three stages of their relationships (20 y/o, 27 y/o and finally 32 y/o).

Spoiler: There's a scene after her 27th birthday where Young Jae's best friend cooked her spicy stir-fried octopus, and it made her remember Joon Young. There was only three of them there, her brother included. Yet she went to the bathroom to cry, instead of letting out her tears in front of the two people who obviously care for her. This scene speaks a lot about her real personality and mirrors how she deals with her own relationships. At this point, you have two choices as to how you view Young Jae for the rest of the drama (and which greatly affect your level of enjoyment as story unfolds): 1) see her heartbreak as self-imposed out of selfishness or 2) see her heartbreak as really a result of being timid and afraid of showing her vulnerabilities.

As for the acting, I am absolutely in love of how well Seo Kang Joon portrays the three different faces in this drama: an awkward nerd, a competent police officer and a meticulous chef so well (I love how he chose to become more of a chef than a restaurateur). His quirky expressions say a lot, and he's really amazing! Lee Som also provided enough nuances to her character as the strong and opinionated career lady, especially in the latter part when her role turned more mellow. Other supporting casts add interesting dynamics to their relationship as well, except the Doctor who I disliked for being such an opportunistic jerk.

I really love the slow BGMs that play in the sad scenes especially in episode 15 when Young Jae and Joon Young were crying on each other's faces. Your true feeling is something you have no control over and one you can't possibly run away from, so I was so touched when it's expressed so beautifully by the skilled actors. He's self-aware enough not to embrace her in a hug but still couldn't stop himself from showing how much his heart was aching for her. If he had hugged her, it'd be lust but since he didn't, it was obviously true love. Damn, talk about really poignant acting!

Rewatch value is very high especially depending on how much you love Seo Kang Joon. I believe this is one of his best dramas to-date that really showcases his wide range as an actor just in one single sitting. Those who say you're better off skipping this and just watch Are You Human Too instead, I disagree. There's a reason why he took up this role (I absolutely love his choices so far), and I feel this one on my bones. Young Jae is incredibly lucky because Joon Young's love for her is incredibly powerful and unwavering even after all those years. Trust me, it's a treat to watch and re-watch his astounding portrayal of true love that took questionable turns, but is far from being cheesy.

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An amazing but simple movie that now lives in my head rent-free

This movie's summary sounded really bare but the trailer looked good and it was offered at a film festival so I decided to check it out. It was a damn good and I'm kind of obsessed with it right now! The story is about a high school student who witnesses a younger student being brutally bullied by her classmates and decides to step in, admittedly out of a hero complex. One of the most kindest MLs I've seen so far, he is so kind and sweet to her and they get closer... and then the story goes into some dark places but I won't spoil it, since it builds to a really romantic, heartwarming conclusion imo.

The story wasn't groundbreaking or special, I'll be first to admit, all the weird little quirkiness aside, but it was still engaging and resonated with me. It was quite deep and heartfelt - it showed how even in the darkness of this world and human behaviour, there are still good people out here who commit to being someone's light. The acting was top-notch, especially on Ishii Anna's part. I didn't really notice the music that much but it wasn't bad.

Overall, an enjoyable movie, perhaps even one of my favourite out of all the Japanese movies I seen so far and I'll probably rewatch it in the future whenever it is available.

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