Reviews

Eccellente film! Crudo e violento, ma ne vale tutta la sofferenza!

Sapevo che sarebbe stato tosto, sapevo che erano presenti scene molto forti, crude e disturbanti, ma ero anche stata avvisata che ne sarebbe valsa la pena...e ora posso solo confermare che quanto mi era stato anticipato è assolutamente vero...ma non ero preparata al grosso impatto emotivo che questo film ha comportato! 💔
Un pugno in pieno petto penso che avrebbe fatto meno male...scene in cui ho avuto le mani in faccia per tutto il tempo e il fiato corto...ma la bellezza di questo film ripaga di tutto il tormento provato! ❤️‍🩹
Non so dire se in questo caso sia stata più eccezionale la regia o le interpretazioni di questi giovani attori a rendere questa pellicola così speciale, a far sì che si possa parlare davvero di cinema quello vero, a livello globale, calcolando che oltre ai tantissimi premi vinti c’è anche una nomination agli Oscar come film internazionale nel 2021.
Certo sapendo che l'attore principale di questo film era Jackson Yee, dopo averlo visto all'opera in un'interpretazione magistrale fatta in "Big World", da lui non potevo aspettarmi niente di diverso!
Ma anche la protagonista femminile che avevo già avuto modo di conoscere in “The Breaking ice” qui mi ha stupito molto nella sua intensità di interpretazione, molto toccante in ogni suo sguardo!!
Questo Better days è un film denuncia atto a sensibilizzare il pubblico sulla tematica del bullismo che affligge soprattutto il mondo giovanile a livello globale, ma da quello che ho percepito in questi anni che vedo drama, in Asia è davvero un tasto dolente che non si riesce molto facilmente a debellare!
La storia racconta della studentessa Chen Nian (Zhou Dongyu) vittima di bullismo da un gruppo di compagni di scuola, che suo malgrado sogna di poter raggiungere l'obiettivo di entrare all'università di Pechino per cambiare le sorti della sua complicata vita familiare, e del teppistello Xiao Bei (Jackson Yee) abbandonato dalla famiglia, che vive di espedienti e piccoli reati in strada, i due incroceranno loro destini una notte e si ritroveranno a darsi forza l’un l’altro, soprattutto dopo la scoperta dell’omicidio proprio della studentessa che guidava il gruppo di bulli che tormentava la ragazza.
Ho scoperto tra l'altro che è tratto dal romanzo di Jiu Yuexi “In His Youth, In Her Beauty" che però non sono riuscita a trovare in lingua italiana, se qualcuno per caso ha modo di recuperarlo mi faccia cortesemente sapere...😊
E’ un film impegnativo, probabilmente non troppo adatto a chi ha problemi a sostenere evidenti scene di violenza, ma per chi ha un po’ il fegato allenato a certi argomenti non può assolutamente perderselo!! 💓

"Hai paura?"
"Prima si, ma ora solo un po'."
"E tu?"
"Prima ne avevo un po', ora non più!"
"Se potessi tornare indietro rifaresti tutto?"
"Non c'è nessun "se". E poi non mi piacciono i se".

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me decepcionei e eu preciso muito falar.

antes de tudo, eu não li a novel e n sou de ler novels, gosto de vivenciar a série como algo novo.

bom, acho que quando a gente tem uma segunda temporada de uma série, esperamos algo novo, porém na mesma pegada da anterior e ofdo era algo que eu queria que tivesse acontecido o mesmo, histórias diferentes, com a mesma alma do anterior. pra mim, o enredo de only friends que foi construído na 1 temporada e basicamente adultos fazendo merda onde ninguém é o vilão, ninguém é santo, todo mundo é idiota na medida certa. Dream On resolveram escolher um vilão, onde todo o peso e culpa foi a ele, onde teve q se esforçar em resolver algo que ele não teve culpa! e eu estou falando do dean.
dean e um personagem que eu chamaria de ousado, ele não liga pra opinião alheia, faz de tudo pra conseguir oq quer e n importa os meios, essa personalidade dele o fez parecer vilão, sendo que na verdade ele só queria atormentar mesmo o ex querendo mostrar que ele era inesquecível e fazia de tudo pra mostrar isso, mas ele ser drogado em uma festa e fazer coisas que sóbrio, nunca fariam não torna ele o vilão, tavam tão ocupado em odiar o dean que a maior questão aqui ficou de lado, o fato dele ser drogado.
esse acontecimento, ele não fez sozinho, então por que ele pagou o pato por tudo? Ele que moveu montanhas pra tentar resolver uma situação que tinha outra pessoa junto que é o Arnold.


Arnold e Tua foi um casal que eu senti que deixaram de lado a questão principal deles que era fato de Tua ter pagado o Arnold, eu tava curiosa em saber até onde isso ia ficar em segredo, eles não desenvolveram da maneira que tinha que ser desenvolvida e acabou sendo algo secundário o que era pra ser o principal problema do casal, sobre o Tua, eu realmente achei coerente as coisas que ele fez depois de que descobriu o acontecimento, porém me incomodou o fato dele ter perdoado mais rápido o Arnold do que o Dean visto que ambos estavam errados.


acho que o casal com a história mais bem desenvolvida que eu senti a essência de of foi o romeraffy, essa coisa toda de sexo casual porém com sentimentos é algo muito bom, mas, o Raffy como personagem em si tinha que ter mais desenvolvimento com a relação dele com a mãe, eu não senti que teve um ponto final e isso me incomodou, deixaram implícito porém eu gostaria de que tivesse uma cena.


Jack e Dean foi algo que eu preciso muito expressar minha indignação. acho que na história eles queriam colocar um vilão, como eles queriam colocar um vilão, então eu vou dizer quem é o verdadeiro vilão dessa história, e todo mundo sabe que claramente é o Jack.

ele é o tipo de homem que age de uma maneira muito minuciosa e isso que é perigoso nele, ele não precisa mover montanhas e nem fazer de tudo pra conseguir o que quer, ele só precisa manipular da maneira certa e fazer com que as outras pessoas fizessem por ele.
ele sabia que o raffy gostava dele então usava o raffy pra conseguir o que quer, ele sabia da devoção dean então se aproveitava disso pra conseguir o que queria, e eu não gostei da forma que ele saiu ileso eu queria que ele tivesse sido exposto e mostrado que ele não é tão bom como todo mundo pensava e acho que o alcoolismo do Jack não foi bem apresentado na história, deveriam ter feito mais alguma coisa em relação a esse fato, achei que só apresentaram bem mas não explicaram.

no final,não achei coerente todos seguirem em seus sonhos e o Dean virá virar comissário de bordo com a justificativa de que não dá dinheiro, tipo querendo ou não todo mundo dessa série tem empregos que na realidade n tão fácil assim, porque só Dean desistiu? “ ah mas ele voltou a atuar depois” mas o ponto é o fato de só ele ter que desistir em algum momento, n achei de bom tom.

E Jack por sua vez, viveu sua vida normalmente depois do término, seguindo o que ele faz, se entediou depois de ter namorado outras pessoas e voltou pro Dean, n senti que ele realmente queria voltar, mas tava ali, pq não?



e o boston tadinho? foi pra lá NADA e o fato dele ser o mais sensato em alguns momentos me supreendeu, a duddias de anos atrás ririam que se eu falasse isso.
gostei das participações! meus sandray sempre serão inesquecíveis e o nick com o novo namorado foi o auge pra mim e os mewtop? bom, são tiktokers agora né kkkk

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The feeling of love not just through romance, but through friends, family, and your hometown.

This drama has made me go through so many emotions whilst watching it, and I think it conveys the lots of different types of love that people seem to forget that exists within the world today, myself included. The portrayal of Samdal going back to her hometown to reconnect with her family and ultimately Cho Yong-pil I think was executed very well, ultimately showing that sometimes love simply doesn't fade that easily, no matter how much we want it to. I really like how they made it so Yong-Pil never backed down, and just went face first into everything he did, but still showed so much emotion through his actions and beliefs. Both Shin Hye Sun and Ji Changwook are extremely good actors, and I could really feel them learning through their emotions in real time whilst watching.

THE BIGGEST THING I ENJOYED ABOUT THIS DRAMA IS THE FAMILY. Yong-pil's dad portray anguish so well, and it really hit home when he finally forgave Mi-ja for her actions 30 years ago. The parent's played such an important role into the story line, and they depicted it so perfectly, with Mi-ja being stoic about her punishment until something more important took over and Yong-pil's Dad just being unforgiving until the thought of their kids really put me through the feels.

On the more sad note, I feel for Bu Sang-Do. I do really like that they never made him a villian, for he became so much more relatable that sometimes it just isn't meant to be. I love how as the drama went on, the focus of the drama became Samdal discovering herself once again rather than her focusing on fixing her career, and just the wave of emotion that came through all the characters whilst watching this drama is the biggest reason why I'm giving this a 10/10. This is my version of a drama to get you into your emotions, and I think the ability to let your own pent-up emotions while watching is why I enjoyed it so much.

I suggest everyone give this one a try, it's truly one that touches the heart.

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A Big Budget Production Korean Fantasy Drama follows the Consistent Standard of Romance.

Personally, the production quality of this drama definitely was one of the highlights throughout the series, especially since it involves a fantasy monarchy. The plot was a pretty average romance drama, but I did feel like the ending fell flat a little, most likely due to be constrained to only 12 episodes. I did really enjoy Gong Seung-Yeon performance throughout this drama, it really conveyed well as royalty. I also felt that Min Jeong U's arc got way too convoluted and didn't really make sense, but they needed another villian when they realized they needed a plot twist. It's as expected of a big budget drama with big names, a solid drama with standard foundation.

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Major Celebrities Interacting outside of Their Profession ❤️

What a wonderful series!❤️❤️❤️😊😊😊 I sincerely hope they prepare for a Season 2 with a new group of celebrities. To see them participate outside of their comfort zone and outside of their actual profession is quite refreshing and entertaining to see them hilariously uncomfortable, shy and excited outside their comfort zone of their profession. Their emotions and their enthusiasm present a different personality and perception of what you see when they are in work mode. After seeing Jennie perform at the Coachella venue was quite the contrast in this series ! To see all of them in giving mode was very heartwarming of the celebrities and the reactions giving to them by the chosen recipients tugs at your emotions 😊 All of them expressed enthusiasm and excitement as a Club member! Only ONE nitpicking comment- The method used to reveal their manito by the first group was inefficient- it seems the producers learned a better process after that…..

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Here is My Unpopular Opinion

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

Yes, I know this is going to be a very unpopular opinion. I started watching this fully understanding it was going to have some heavy topics. It had some strong ideas, but I wish the script was better. I understand they were trying to set the overall tone, but something was just lacking with the main storyline development. Although they could have done a better job introducing it, the watch aspect was interesting. However, this felt more like a gimmick instead of an integral part of the script. The romantic storyline was ok. It just had some aspects that were awkward and a little weird. The dialoged often directed towards Hwang Dong Man did not help. Although many of the characters were somewhat interesting and likable at times, this gave me very little to keep me invested in them or their storylines. The main positive aspect was the excellent cast. They actually did an outstanding job making what they had work. The other positive aspect was the amazing cinematography.

Random Note:

I almost dropped this after the first episode but there were two separate scenes towards the very end that gave me some hope. I gave it my usual 3-episode chance after sleeping on it and decided to give it a shot. I end up dropping this because the script was just not working for me.

******Potential Spoiler Alert******

Unfortunately, the watch aspect gets forgotten until they connivingly need it.

The various lines directed towards Hwang Dong Man about how he needs to get a girlfriend or fine a woman really annoyed me. This was basically saying you will be fixed if you’re in a relationship.

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Disappointing

Promised everything delivered nothing. The pilot was amazing, the show itself is predictable and basically has no plot. It’s the same thing happening every episode. The idea was there but they didn’t deliver. The actresses are amazing tho.
Gorya is either suffering or being a bitch for no reason.
Shasha no complaints, good character.
Bambi is fun, she’s a interesting character, but predictable.
Prim is meh.
Praew is so annoying, why do you keep pressuring the girl you like to come out when she’s not ready? My god this girl annoys me.
Min is a good character, good storyline but has a bad romantic interest

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I just could not with this

I was so looking forward to this, the trailers make it look like a 10/10, but I'm outtie 5000 after 3 1/2 episodes. This is literally one of the most frustrating shows I've ever watched in my entire life. How is it that every time people try to go get help, it takes them like HOURS just to get 10 feet from the house, lol. Medical student bro admitted he knows nothing about medicine/healthcare and he's only taken Bio I, yet as time goes on he somehow gains medical expertise? STOP letting super annoying whiny complaining kid drive the bikes cuz he is 1000% incompetent!
Dropping shows is something I really try to avoid because rough starts are a thing and I would have missed out on some of my faves if I would have dropped them after just a couple of eps (Black, Love in the Clouds). This one was just beyond saving for me though.

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A tame version of Only Friends

This can be watched as a standalone series, but I will be comparing them!

Compared to OF, this series had very little kissing, almost no sex (and it didn't show nearly as much as OF), and basically no drug use. It had alcohol and half the amount of drama. It was like they were afraid to push the limits as they did in OF. The toxicity levels in OF broke the meter, while here it barely reached halfway. Everything was too safe.

That being said, I enjoyed OFDO more. Maybe it was the school setting that made the world feel bigger. Maybe it was that the overall chemistry between the actors was better. In OF, I only really liked FirstKhaotung & I really liked Mark as Nick, whereas in this series, even though I only liked the couple of RomeRaffy, I loved EarthMix's chemistry. Whatever it was, I got invested in the story faster than in OF.

I wasn't stressed at any point in the series(unlike in OF, where episodes 7 & 8 gave me SO much stress I couldn't be around people), and I honestly didn't care about Arnold & Tua (hate his name, it sounds like you're spitting) and cared very little about Jack & Dean. In episodes 7-8 & 11-12, I didn't even give Arnold & Tua half my attention because it was simply uninteresting. Jack and Dean (like Top and Mew) were the main focal point, but I found myself not caring if they got together or not, not because of what Dean did, but because Jack is a hothead who escalates situations using violence, and uses Raffy's feelings for him to hurt Dean, which hurts Raffy in the process. Jack, overall, was the most toxic character with nothing likable about him.

Dean rubbed me the wrong way with his interactions with Raffy. I'm assuming the reason they hate each other is because of Raffy's crush on Jack, which, okay, fair enough, but there were several times when Dean crossed the line and was straight up being nasty or rage baiting Raffy for no reason. So I didn't really like Dean either, but I don't think he deserves to end up with Jack.

I was 100% invested in Rome and Raffy's story. They honestly didn't get enough screen time, which left the scenes that would have caused me the most emotional pain to fall flat because as soon as the hurtful thing happened, they would jump to another couple. Their kiss scenes, though? I will admit to rewatching multiple times, especially the one in episode 2.

The main point of drama in this series was easily avoidable. If Dean and Arnold felt like they did nothing wrong, and they were single at the time, then they should have told the people they were pursuing the morning after. If it meant nothing, they wouldn't have felt guilty. Honestly, I don't even know how Dean remembered it, considering how much he drank that night. Dean didn't help matters any by going to Gameplay for a place to stay because he "had nowhere else to go". Excuse me, does Timmy not count as a friend? You can't tell me he would refuse to help if you had nowhere else to go. The only real drama that I felt was unavoidable was Raffy's feelings for Jack and Raffy & Dean being double cast as Romeo, which led to Dean and Arnold making couples content together. There were already massive amounts of jealousy going on there, and it naturally progressed with the story.

In Only Friends, Boston was the main reason behind the drama, and everything kind of spiraled out of control and became a chaotic mess because of how the characters reacted and retaliated. In this series, the drama felt more controlled and, in some cases, easily avoidable. Don't make the drama avoidable; it's not what we are here for. We are here for a toxic mess, and instead, we got characters toeing the line but never crossing it, while in Only Friends, Top and Boston didn't just cross the line, they obliterated it.

As for Tua's reaction, you know it's bad when Boston is the voice of reason. Like honey, sit down, you're not ready to handle the big leagues.

Like in OF, this series focused on the drama and didn't really care about building up character backstories or just dropping characters completely. This made it hard to care about the characters and what they are going through, and in some cases, even like them (like for me, Jack). Some things, like with Pete, just kind of resolved themselves in a lackluster way, and then we heard nothing about him after, and in both series, there are issues with at least one character's parent that are just never resolved; In OF, it was Ray, and in this one, it's Raffy. Honestly, for a character like Pete to be doing so much that SHOULD have caused drama, he felt more like a wall decoration with how involved he actually was.

Boston has changed a lot from the first series to this one. I expected him to be here to start drama, and his entrance made it feel that way, but he actually helped fix things this time around. I'm really glad that Nick found someone new, but I also can't help wanting him to have actually changed, and Nick sees that and gives him another chance. If anyone doesn't deserve one, though, it is Boston.

I like that we get a one-year time skip at the end to see how our characters are doing.

Was the guy at the end a hint at a possible season 3? We saw Mix at the end of OF, and he became the main character of OFDO, so I would like to think it's possible.

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I coughed up a lung laughing

I haven't laughed so hard from a kdrama in a long while. They did so well with lovable characters, a strong story, and poignant resolution. And, of course, comedy that hits every time.
The only things I wish they had done better, to really elevate the drama to a 10, would be the romance and the twist. It's not a romance drama, but even the idea that there is some interest or attraction between certain characters beyond platonic feelings could have been hinted at way better. There were several scenes where a lingering glance, or a touch, or a phrases would have better communicated a budding interest. With the twist, I was kind of disappointed because it felt so out of character. It did kind of make sense, but also felt like a last-minute decision to move the plot along. To fix it, even without giving away the twist, some more minor details leading up to the fateful decision would have helped integrate that choice into the plot. With these kinds of changes, this would be a 10/10 story.
That said, I still give this drama a high rating. Why? Well, especially given the episode constraint, they did impressively well putting together the plot, background, supporting characters, motivations, etc., all culminating in a strong, moving ending in which everything comes full circle where most if not all plot threads are tied. The characters are wacky but well constructed and play off of each other's energy incredibly well. Most information revelations make sense to the story and arrive in a well integrated and well paced manner. The acting is very well done, and heartthrob Cha Eun Woo really impressed me. And genuinely, I can't get over the dynamic of what is effectively The Three Stooges and an initially innocent bystander caught up in their antics. With the hero powers, they did so incredibly well capturing what it could genuinely be like if a few lovable idiots became powerful and processed internally who they are and what they can do with their newfound abilities; I think that's especially what made this show feel refreshing and unique while also being deep and emotionally impactful.
In other words, totally worth the watch. I coughed up a lung laughing so hard, and felt a fire in my gut with the emotional weight of particularly well crafted moments. Love this show.

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