Reviews

I could watch them in any and every universe

Please skip this if you're looking 4 an actual review. This isn't quite that. It's largely just me gushing about my love for this show.

Hagiwara Riku and Yagi Yusei make me wish that Japan did official ships like Thailand does (and that their TV BL industry was just as big). Ever since I stumbled upon the series about 3 years ago, I have made time to rewatch it at least once a year.

I'm not a show rewatcher like that. 9.9 times out of 10, I fill in the rewatch value rating coz MDL demands it; otherwise, I cannot publish my little drama reviews. So, yes, this story holds a very special place in my heart. No matter how many times I watch it, and know what will happen next, I still find myself craving a rewatch and end up glued to my screen.

Not only are the two actors phenomenal, but their chemistry... Holy Jesus🔥🔥. I like how complex the characters in this story are. What you think is at first, isn't, and the more you peel off the layers of these people, the more you uncover their flaws, their vulnerabilities, and start to fall in love with their complicated love story.

Now on to my thoughts about this Special Edit Version:

💓I think it's edited rather well to fit the movie's length. Some scenes were cut while others were added, likely to make the story flow better. Some of those extended parts (scenes and extra narrations) also allowed you to get a better glimpse of what these characters are thinking. I believe this helps you understand them and their motivations better than in the series

💓The cinematography and subtitles - I think this is what I enjoyed most about this version. Both were a lot better, actually leagues above those of the 1st seaon of the drama.

If you do not have the time to spend on the series, I say you can just watch this version, and you will understand the story just as well. However, if you have the time, watch both. Start with the 6 episodes of the 1st season, then come watch this.

Now, allow me to go daydream, yet again, about the magic that Hagiwara Riku and Yagi Yusei would weave together if they were an official pair and were handed some good scripts with beautifully complex characters

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We love you Weng Weng

Words cannot describe how much beautifully demented joy D'Wild Wild Weng brings me, an utterly deranged Kung-Fu Western featuring Tribal Dwarves, Mexican Banditos, and even a detachment of ninjas for Weng Weng to murder. It's just as gloriously chaotic as the two Bond parodies that make up the heart of his tragically limited filmography. Naturally, Weng is magnetic, spending the film up to his usual antics, employing his diminutive stature in ever more inventive ways before sliding across the floor and kicking a bad guy in the balls, but this time he gets to serenade a young lady too, and it's magical. Surprisingly, the most unusual thing is the comedy relief sidekick because he can't talk. There are obviously a number of conceptual problems associated with the character who can't talk; certainly, giving him most of the exposition was a mistake. The bigger issue is the potential for irritation, but on balance, it's seldom more annoying than it is fascinating, so I'm on board all the way, especially when things start to get weird. Sadly, it seems the holy grail of Weng Weng adventures is currently being withheld from us mere mortals, but for what it's worth, there isn't anything better than watching Weng mowing down enemies with a Gatling Gun.

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An ode to artistry and perseverance

For a film which revolves around sex, Viva Erotica doesn't feel the least bit sleazy or grimy, instead offering an electrifying meta-filmic takedown of both the absurdity and sensationalism of the world around Category III filmmaking. It throws out the window any typical expectations you have, delivering a provocative satire that pokes fun at the film industry while celebrating the people who keep it running. It certainly helps that the film has a tremendous spirit of style with some wonderful direction and photography, plus a terrific sense of humour, with its tongue firmly in cheek, featuring witty dialogue, cheeky references, and guest cameos that ground the film in a slightly offbeat existence. The different styles reflecting different moments, within its realm of porn, there's a lot more colour and movement, but it slows down when it's brought back to reality. It dips into the classic retrospection of filmmakers, moving flawlessly from moment to memory and back again, while thriving on capturing the typical heart of low-budget indie cinema, just with extra nudity and sex thrown in. Leslie Cheung gives a great performance, tackling his role with abandon, embodying the turmoil an artist endures when his ideal must be compromised to meet the reality of the market. He's flawed, but in a very natural and relatable way, as people can't always make the right decision at every turn. All the while, Shu Qi is doing a parody of bad porn acting, resulting in cinematic gold. It helps that they're backed by a fantastic support team, a mix of different personalities who all have something to add, originally out digging into artistic integrity but evolving into becoming a family and together, trying to create something great. Although at times, Viva Erotica seems precisely like the soft-core sex flicks it's trying to skewer, starting with a literal bang with one of the most enthusiastic bonking scenes ever witnessed, yet it all comes together in a surprisingly heartfelt examination of filmmaking, artistic compromise and the struggle to survive in a commercial entertainment industry.

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It had it's own uniqueness despite having the typical virus outbreak situation.

As a fan of apocalyptic movies, I already knew that I was gonna like this movie a lot. Although it has the typical virus outbreak kind of situation with survivors trapped inside a building fighting to survive and waiting to get rescued, it had it's own kind of uniqueness which is pretty self explanatory but I'll still state it. The way the infected people were acting, doing that information exchange and later on evolving. First they went and attacked on all fours then gradually evolved and started walking and running. They were damn scary while going through that evolution phase. What intrigued me the most has got to be Young Chul, the antagonist of the movie. I loved how psychopathic he was, the way he controlled the zombies and moved them round. He was a cool villain I gotta say. As much as I loved Professor Kwon Se-jeong, my favourite character has got to be Young Chul. Loved his acting from beginning to the end. The power he showed in that situation, the way he was walking among the zombies, unaffected by anything and just maintaining that villainous smile LIKE GODDAMNNN I feel like I fell in love with him. The actor did a really great job playing that role. To be honest, in my opinion I think to survive in a situation like this, one needs intellectual power more than physical power. Obviously you need to fight too but it's like a 55% intellectual power and 45% physical power. Kwon Se-jeong was amazing in the second half of the movie. The way she used her wit and fought with Young Chul. Hats off to her really. Overall, I really really enjoyed this movie 💯

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The movie has a lot of hidden or misunderstood plot in my view which is why people didn't like it.

The whole thing comes down to the fact that Mantis was superior(he and boksoon's conversation shows), he was strong(his trainer tells him to fight better) and he does and defeats him, he knows jaeyi tried to use him but got stuck in a mess so he does protect her.
Jaeyi planned to use Mantis and the businessman but her partner throws her in direct line of fire and she is seen crying portraying her vulnerability. She did try but failed and at the end Mantis let's her use him and we see him calling her to tell her about the plan(that he will fight with her not against her). He doesn't get to tell her but he does what he wanted.

Jaeyi planned because she knew she couldn't fight Dokgo or Mantis. But plan failed and Mantis helped her(he even loses and releases the video on purpose so she can get what she wants, because neither the guy who captured the video nor jaeyi release it. it was Mantis who did that) and walked away.

Mantis represented old school romanticised assassin and jaeyi represented modern cuttthroat corporate assassin.
She got what she wanted,i.e. every powerful person out of her way (Because Mantis knowingly let her use him or she would've died fighting dokgo).

She felt inferior to him but he loved her. So she got everything and he didn't have to see her die.

I even feel that if they had shown Mantis fight then none of the viewers or the characters of the movie would've believed it. He created a doubt and then lost so Jaeyi got credibility.

But nonetheless, i would've loved to see him fight.

Most favorite part : Conversation between Lee Han ul and Gil Bok soon. When she says "You're supposed to / You always receive a blood stained knife from your closest ones"

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Incredible cast, pretty good story

I've never heard of this movie, but it popped up on my suggested page so I thought I would check it out. I love and adore Bogummy so I was excited to see something else he was in. Same with Gong Yoo! They both did amazing as always. I liked Ki Heon as a character a lot. I liked that he had layers to him and felt a real sense of guilt and that was one of the reasons he wanted to help Seo Bok and it was more than just for selfish reasons (even though that's what he kept saying). I loved Seo Bok. I feel like with these types of stories they also make the clones/robots/etc. so cold and stiff feeling, but Seo Bok wasn't at all. He felt like a real person or even kind of like a child discovering the world for the first time. He had real emotions and more human like movements which I liked a lot. I liked seeing the two of them get to know each other over the movie as well. I figured either one or both of them weren't making it out of the movie alive, just because that's usually how these stories go. I liked that it kept talking about humans' greed and the way they talked about death as well. I liked this quite a bit and would recommend if you like action sci-fi!

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How most young love ends up

I liked this movie and I think it's cool it takes place over a few years and get to see where the characters all end up after high school. I really liked Jin U a lot. He was a lot of fun, really smart, and just overall a cool character. Seon A was pretty good too though I feel like there was a couple times she got annoyed at Jin U without hearing him out at all. I thought the two of them were cute together too, even though I don't think they officially were ever together. Her getting married to someone else felt a little random but based on how the story was going and his narration, I wasn't shocked they didn't end up together. My only complaint was in the last couple minutes when they were showing flashbacks, it showed some scenes differently from what they originally showed up so I thought it was a little confusing what was real and what was what could've been. Other than that, I liked it and thought it was a cute story.

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Don't judge a book by its cover

From the poster, synopsis, and the fact that Masaya is playing the lead, I thought this movie would be just another cheesy, run-of-the-mill teen idol rom-com, and while that does make up part of its DNA, I was shocked that it was much more a story of female friendship than anything. Maybe it's unfair to rate this so highly just based on how severely it managed to subvert my expectations, but it really made me so giddy how unlike this movie is from others in this genre.

I think the key here was the very stripped-back production that gave it an almost indie-movie feel. Usually, these movies are full of poppy visuals, slow-mo glamour shots, and resolution so clear you can see everyone's pores, but here, everything has a slightly grainy filter to it, and while it is colorful, it has a much more natural, moody atmosphere. So while they aren't reinventing the wheel with the plot, thanks to this more restrained directing and cinematography, the story feels a lot more grounded and substantial. And yet, it still manages to be just as funny and charming as a true rom-com - Akoko's confession scene, her chasing around Narita to get him to help her, Mitsuki activating battle mode by adjusting her top to be off-shoulder...good stuff !

And backing up the strong visuals of the movie were the strong performances of the cast! Masaya holds his own despite this being his first lead role and manages to give his character some depth beyond Hot Guy™, even if it wasn't the performance of the century. And I've been very critical of Jyutaro's acting before, but this is EASILY the best role I've seen him in yet. He does so well when he's not trying to be all cool and handsome like he often has to be, and this movie gave me hope for him yet. Watanabe Miho is a sleeper talent for me after seeing her in Yukari-kun wa Gap ga Zurui - she brings a lot of charisma to a character that could very easily veer into annoying territory - and Saito Nagisa showed more well-rounded acting here than in the other roles I've seen her in. Not only did everyone put in work individually, but they also had great chemistry with each other, which was so crucial to making this work as well as it did for me.

It's not a perfect movie by any means - there were some plot contrivances and I can see how people might be put off by two girls fighting over some dude - but it was a true breath of fresh air in a sea of cookie-cutter rom coms, and I would highly recommend for anyone looking for something a bit more unique!

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A Masterpiece of Crime, Comedy, and a Heartbreakingly Beautiful Bromance

The Story and the Unexpected Emotional ShiftMarry My Dead Body is a brilliant genre-blending film that catches you completely off guard. The plot starts with a wild, hilarious premise: a homophobic, straight police officer accidentally picks up a red wedding envelope, forcing him into a ghost marriage with a deceased gay man. While the beginning feels like a fast-paced, chaotic comedy, the narrative slowly transforms into a gritty crime investigation and, ultimately, a deeply emotional journey. The sudden shift from laugh-out-loud humor to raw, devastating vulnerability is executed flawlessly, leaving a powerful, lasting impact that will make you cry for days.The Ultimate Alpha Cop and the Ghostly BromanceThe dynamic between the two main characters is the absolute soul of this movie. Greg Han plays the ultimate "alpha male" cop—tough, stubborn, and completely unbothered—whose world is turned upside down by his new ghostly companion. The chemistry between them is electric and beautifully layered. What starts as pure hostility and forced cooperation grows into a fierce loyalty and a profound, protective bond. It is one of the most genuine and touching representations of bromance in cinema, where unconditional acceptance and deep affection completely shatter past prejudices.Production, Action, and Tear-Jerking AtmosphereThe production quality is outstanding, featuring high-energy action sequences, sharp comedic timing, and solid investigative subplots that keep the story engaging. However, the film truly excels in its emotional execution. The cinematography shifts beautifully to capture the heavy, melancholic moments, and the stunning soundtrack amplifies the grief and devotion shared by the characters. It is a cinematic rollercoaster that balances dark crime elements with pure, raw human emotion, making it incredibly rewatchable despite the inevitable heartbreak.VerdictThis movie proves that you should never judge a book by its cover. It delivers a spectacular mix of a thrilling crime story, hilarious comedy, and an emotionally devastating bond that will completely shatter your heart. If you love strong, protective characters and a bromance so powerful that it transcends the boundary between life and death, this film is an absolute masterpiece. Just make sure to have tissues ready, because it hits harder with every single rewatch.

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A Heart-Wrenching Masterpiece of Intense Longing and Unforgettable Pain

The Story and the Emotional WeightYour Name Engraved Herein is a deeply moving and emotionally devastating film that captures the pure, raw essence of first love under heavy social pressure. Set in the post-martial law era of Taiwan, the plot follows two high school boys navigating their intense, suffocating feelings for each other in a world that refuses to accept them. The narrative brilliantly balances moments of quiet intimacy with explosive, painful confrontations. It explores the kind of consuming devotion where loving someone becomes both a sanctuary and a source of profound heartbreak.The Characters and Their Electric DynamicThe dynamic between Birdy and A-Han is the absolute soul of this movie. Their connection is charged with an overwhelming tension that is borderline obsessive and deeply fierce. A-Han’s desperate yearning and Birdy’s chaotic, protective, yet distant behavior create a magnetic pull that keeps you completely locked in. The chemistry between the leads is breathtakingly authentic. They flawlessly portray the agony of wanting to hold onto someone so completely, yet being forced to push them away, making their shared grief and passion feel incredibly real.Cinematography and Melancholic AtmosphereVisually, the film is stunning, using warm tones and beautiful, nostalgic imagery that contrasts sharply with the cold, tragic reality the characters face. The spectacular soundtrack, especially the main theme song, amplifies the melancholy and deep sense of nostalgia. Every frame feels poetic, transforming a story of heavy emotional suffering into something visually and artistically magnificent.VerdictThis is a cinematic triumph that doesn't rely on cheap tropes to evoke emotion—it delivers a profound, haunting study of human connection and sacrifice. If you love stories filled with intense chemistry, deep emotional depth, and a love that is as painful as it is beautiful, this movie is an essential watch. Just be prepared to have your heart shattered over and over again.

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Hilarious Action Comedy

I saw a short on YouTube and checked this movie out. I expected a B movie given the title sounds a bit cartoonish, it's the third in a series, and it's from 2006 but was delighted with a A- production.

Lot's of on point humor with unexpected twists. There's a running joke with translation mishaps. The protagonist is Chinese hiding in Korea. The gangsters she is placed with obtain an innocent bilingual to translate. The translator quickly realizes she's in deep Kimchee and fearfully mistranslates the protagonist's threats into friendly comments. Later as the translator gains confidence she abuses her control. These mistranslations steal the show.

One production misstep towards the end. A close-up of a corpse from two different angles no less shows him breathing deeply and obviously. Otherwise the whole is very entertaining.

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