Very serious drama
It kept my interest all through it. I loved the story, loved the acting, especially Kim Jae Young. He is such a good actor, and also nice to look at. Jung Hee Joo kind of got on my nerves with the same blank expression and fake smile, but that was her character. If you don’t like slow moving dramas, infidelity, revenge, rage, or obsession, you won’t like this, don’t bother. That’s virtually the entire drama, but is was done well. I liked the ending, but it was a shame, because nothing was accomplished with any of their lives. There is a million different ways it could have ended, but one thing is for sure, none would have been happy. With this kind of drama, with this story line, there is no way it could have ended happy, with any of the characters. As I watched it, I disliked all of them, but that was how the story was written. Every one of them was out for revenge, but in the end, did they all get it? You’ll have to watch to find out…Was this review helpful to you?
Hana yori Dango 2 (Returns) Bangai hen: Makinoke Hajimete no Kazoku Ryoko in N.Y.
10 people found this review helpful
This is kind of a prequel to season two, but it's more like a game show type thing than a drama episode. It has Makino's family following her to New York and eventually they meet up with the F4 guys. It shows fun, cheap things to do in New York and also has the characters do little challenges. Cute and fun to watch, but definitely not essential to the Hana Yori Dango story. ^_^
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The Love that Dare Not Speak Its Name
10 people found this review helpful
Lovely short series
This is very well-written, acted, and produced - it's very visual and takes full advantage of the medium to tell the story with real economy of force.The story is non-linear, but easy to follow. The writing and acting manages to effectively convey through small details how the boys feel about each other, and the dynamic of their relationship. The ending was perfect for their story.
The acting is understated, but the tension is there when it needs to be. There is a coffee metaphor, but it's used effectively and we aren't beaten over the head with it.
I would recommend this - but if you watch it, don't try to judge it as you would a 12 hour-long episode series. It's a completely different type of story told in a much more visual way.
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Yeah, I know the bad points of this series: too short, not so good execution, somehow the chemistry is not giving, lazy writing and that recap in every episode is so annoying. But why did came up with an 8.5 rate?
Why I really like in this series is the music. Yes, the MUSIC. The songs they came up with every scene, and the opening song is too good not to talk about. And also I give them points for they have something different from other bls by telling a unique love story but yes it should have been better, but they tried yeah. we're getting there...
On the other hand, I will really eat this up if they continue the light, cute , sweet storyline but it wasn't like I was expecting. Still the cast acted it good. (Oh all of them are visuals!)
Yeah, the kbl formula and its short runtime is getting tiresome, and this is the last show I will be considerate because I really love the music lol. <3
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Life hack- Everything can be solved, if you just talk it out.
Acting/Cast (10) - Nishikido Ryo is my favourite Japanese actor. He is also the only actor that can make me cry - just by his expressions. And he did not disappoint me. Mayu was a treat as well, and despite the age gap, their chemistry was heartwarming. Also, all the side characters were lovable - despite their quirks. From an acting standpoint, you could feel the emotions properly conveyed.
Music (9) - This show has small musical dream segments in between. Most of them starting with the line - “He had the eyes of a deadfish”. At first, I did not know how to take it in, since it felt a little over the top but later I was looking forward to them. The music was catchy and they were hilarious. I have been replaying them now.
Rewatch Value (8) - Maybe some fine day, when I am not feeling good, I’ll rewatch this to warm me up.
Overall (9) - It is a perfect, feel good, slice of life drama. If you’re looking for a story with plot twists and melodrama or villains, this has none of it. It is just an everyday journal of two ordinary people trying to make each other happy.
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WHAT?!
It was a good story, and the acting was good, but it was way too rushed. You can see all the skips and once the scene is over its a whole new scene. The ending was weird too it left off on a cliffhanger I was pretty shocked. I think they should make a few more eps to close off the ending. At least clarify what happens and who ends up with who?The characters were likeable, and I enjoyed it. I think I would totally watch it again.
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This review may contain spoilers
Overall - Pretty bad. Watch it only if you really love the casts.Story - Horrible pacing and storyline. It started off promising, but the story had no resolution at all until the very last episode. It went round and round wasting screen time with useless and repeating scenes, mainly about the two male leads fighting over the female lead. FL was very indecisive, masquerading her supposed 'innocence' to manipulate both MLs. MLs were both stupid and hot headed. I never once believed they truly loved Danika(and vice versa), and felt more like they were only stroking their toxic masculinity. The moms/parent figures were selfish, manipulative, and just plain horrible parents. The story could've so much more, but unfortunately falls flat because the scriptwriter decided to focus on the wrong things.
Casts - The main ML and FL were both okay for their roles, but they had no chemistry at all. Sky was quite believable as the tough son of a mafia boss. Unfortunately, Kiri was severely miscast. He was okay in the first half as the actor has a very gentle look(and suited with the good son character), but he was not believable at all as a rough-gangster type.
Cinematography/Music - Very good. It had one of the best look for a Thai lakorn(I've seen a few). Scenes in the Himalayas were very nice. Music/OST was quite good as well.
Rewatch Value - None.
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This review may contain spoilers
A romantic comedy that executes itself with maturity and few cliches. Park Min Young and Kim Jae Wook had overflowing chemistry. The looks in their eyes could deceive you for off-screen romance with their multitude of kisses being passionate. This drama had the most mature couple I've seen in a drama that really understood each other and helped each other achieve their own happiness. Park Min Young is truly a great actress, proven by her years in the industry. No noble idiocy, no misunderstandings - this IS the perfect couple everyone wishes to have in real life. The side characters like Cindy and her mom had a nice character development, and even our 2nd lead didn't get too caught up in his love triangle and redeemed himself. The story wasn't anything special, but the writers pulled it off so well. The OST is also fantastic and fit every scene. Was this review helpful to you?
However, having said that, I loved this movie. It fits perfectly to the "slice of life" genre, a glimpse of real life, and in this case real life is just a little bit funny to boot. I love the main character, and how she is portrayed by the main actress. I love the easy-going mood throughout the movie, the breezy and fresh theme of renting cats to lonely people.
The music and the cinematography elements of this movie are both important reasons to why I enjoyed it so much. It's beautifully done, shot, and persecuted. It also gives the feel of japanese traditions, the japanese life style that we all know and love (at least I do).
Lastly, because this is such a lay-back sort of movie with no particular goal or end line, I feel it's the kind of movie I could watch and re-watch many times.
Basically, I would recommend this to anyone that adores the slice of life genre and of course, if you adore cats, or mori style (because in my opinion this movie has a very mori-ish feel to it).
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Brutal, Heartbreaking, Bleak, but somehow still Beautiful.
Watched 26/10/2025 at opening weekend.Before going in to watch, I happened to see the director had said that she wanted to showcase the harsh realities of rising poverty amongst youth, an issue not often enough highlighted in modern Japan. The main symptom seen of this in media is the rise of so-called ‘yami baito’ in the news - in English, effectively ‘crime part time’ as desperate youths whose backgrounds aren’t so fortunate desperately try to stay afloat to afford rent, university, and the like.
This film showcases four such people, whose circumstances leave them nothing else to turn to. I did not expect to be so emotionally moved by this film, at all. The storytelling was also cleverly done, as nothing is revealed too quickly, yet upon seeing the whole picture, there is still beauty in the humanity you can find amidst the brutality. The story is largely told in three arcs, one for each protagonist, and the pacing was exactly as it needed to be. The use of perspective was also particularly clever in the sense that you start the film through the lens of the youngest and most inexperienced of the three protagonists, which also serves as an appropriate introduction to the world of yami baito for those unfamiliar with it. Acting was spectacular and gut-wrenching in exactly the ways it needed to be.
This film brought a range of emotions out in me, from the visceral nausea of reality to the sweetness that cannot be separated from the bitterness. This is not a film full of cheer, hope, and optimism, but it is still a film with a painfully heartwarming glimmer even at the most desperate times.
The closing song is beautiful and fitting, and other than that, the soundtrack was unobtrusive. In fact, I was so deeply invested in the story and characters I didn’t notice any music until the credits rolled, however there was most certainly music there and a composer credited.
I absolutely recommend this to anyone who can see it in cinemas, or anyone who enjoys crime-thrillers in general. It is a superbly well acted film. This is easily the best Japanese film I have seen since 18x2 Beyond Youthful Days (which I also reviewed at the time).
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Violence, Blood, Gore.
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Be true to yourself and the people around you !!
wow, amazing I got no word for the last scene just because that is a 10/10 for me. I like to make my point of view about everything and in the end no matter the final result deep down it was my choice and I can't blame anyone. this series was well made it is not just a series but an educational one that showed about (understanding, accepting your real you, learning how to be reasonable, flexible, honest with your partner, respect everyone, and only care about the people you love and not focusing on the outside opinion while some are still hiding their true self ) good job for every person that made this production possible. both seasons 1 & 2 are amazing people feel free to take a look. on that note bye bye PAPA & DADDY Series I love you. I am a big supporter of LGBTQ+. big Love ❤️Was this review helpful to you?
Snow during spring
"A masterpiece may be in someone's possession for a while, but once its purpose is done, it goes to the next person."Sometimes when you are looking at a work of art, many different emotions overcome you and iribito is exactly like a work of art. It can't be really explained with words. It is like a painting with vivid and dark colors that makes you feel the complexity of human nature and the beauty of human creations. Its atmosphere is unsettling and suffocating, but at the same time liberating and cruelly beautiful. Takamura Naho is mesmerizing, assertive and infatuated with art, while Shirane Tatsuru is ethereal, passionate and unbelievably creative. They complement each other in a way that resembles human creations. Those creations are made by human beings and can only be appreciated by other human beings.
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