There was nothing comedic about the original story and the way the story was depicted here, even if it was trying to be comedic, seemed forced, trite, OTT, slap-stick, and just childish. It's a pathetic film that's a slap in the face to the intentional message of the original story. It's lost in this nonsense.
The acting---I can't say anything about the acting. I mean, it's on point. If we're looking at being slap-stick and stupid, yeah they had it down pat. Donnie Yen was great at it...ridiculous and CGI'd. Han Zhang was a surprise. Everyone else was OTT as they should be. No one was on too serious. They were as a ridiculous comedy should be.
Donnie Yen's song was great but out of place--maybe that was the point. It was creepy and kind of gave me a feeling of Twin Peaks there. I just didn't get it's purpose; I figure again it's for comedic effect. I gave it a 1 just for that.
I would never rewatch this film nor recommend it.
Overall, averaging all of the above components (they made me add a 1, but it's still counted as a zero) this adds up to a pathetic 3, just a waste of time. I'd watch the BBC originals in English over and over and over again. The two television versions and the radio version. They're just great film; short and breathtaking. I cried.
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If you want to watch a show with a satisfying lead couple, The Heirs will probably leave you disappointed. Yet despite that major flaw, The Heirs was an entertaining watch.
Sure there were cliched elements. Poor girl, rich guy. Spoiled rich brats bullying inferior classmates. Wicked and outrageous parents. But really isn't that to be expected with a lot of romantic dramas?However, there were also some very interesting and compelling story arcs as well. A live in mistress. Rival siblings with opposite takes on business, pleasing their father, and the emphasis they place on love. The relationship between Eun Sang's mother, a mute housemaid, and Tan's mother, a live in mistress, is also a joy to watch. The growth of Choi Young Do is compelling to follow as well.
The biggest annoyance in The Heirs is the behavior of Eun Sang. Crying and pouting constantly it was shocking every time she even so much as cracked a smile. Tan repeatedly goes out of his way to win her affection, yet she rarely reciprocates. The questions many viewers will be asking is: Why does either Tan or Young Do actually like Eun Sang??
Lee Min Ho and Kim Woo Bin really carried the show. Kim Sung Ryung and Kim Mi Kyung were also exceptional in their roles. As for Park Shin Hye, whether it was the writing or her acting, her part kept The Heirs from being anything more than simply "good."
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The story was quite sad but also very (unnecessarily) violent. As I said, I can enjoy gore or action with a result of violence but this was too much for me most of the time. The film was, if I remember correctly a little over 2 hours long, which I had to watched in parts. Maybe that just took me out of the story but I felt like taking a break after watching 20 to 30 minutes. I still went back every time so the story did get me to wanting to watch more so I could see how the story would end.
All in all an good film, but with a lot of violence. The actors were great just like the way it was filmed. If you like action and are able to handle a lot of violence and blood, I would definitely recommend watching this film.
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I started watching because of Gikwang, but I didn't know what to expect because I had never seen any dramas with him in it before. I was scared I would face the same disappointment I had with Hwarang, the show that I started watching because of Taehyung or V of BTS. The story lacked a lot and V's character could've been developed/shown way more. I was scared to face the same situation with Gikwang but luckily this didn't happen.
This show got me on the edge of my seat from start till finish. Waiting for new episodes every week was such a pain because these cliffhangers were the worst. The story was really interesting, especially because it takes place at two different times. I was really getting sick of those cliche romcom drama storylines and luckily this drama was so refreshing in comparison! Of course there was some tension between some characters, but it felt very natural and not at all like those unrealistic love at first sight storylines which romantic dramas tend to have.
The characters and actors were great. Everyone has their own backstory which you slowly find out about together with the other characters. As I said, I had never seen a drama with Gikwang in it before and I wasn't disappointed in his acting at all. This was also my first time seeing a drama with Yeo Jingoo in it, and I was so impressed by him as well. He's really great actor so I've started watching other dramas and movies with him in it too. I wasn't sure about Kim Kangwoo's character in the beginning but this changed very fast and I think he did such a great job! I won't spoil anything but his and Yeo Jingoo's character made me tear up near the ending. I'm not someone to cry that easily but their acting + the story was so sad which made me emotional as well. In my opinion, feeling connected this much to the characters is something that makes a show great.
They also added a sort of ethical layer to the story as in how far you can go in using technology on humans and about taking responsibility. Nowadays people seem to try to avoid suffering as much as they can, but this drama kind of shows the importance of pain and taking responsibility for your actions, even though that might hurt.
I don't really have much to say about the music. Not that it was bad, it was completely the opposite, but this drama didn't seem to focus on music that much. I can mainly recall the intense intro and outro music which were great and really suited the drama.
Overall this drama was great. The story was really refreshing and the acting was amazing. I was really sad when I found out there were only 12 episodes but the story fitted perfectly. I would recommend this drama to everyone. It's relatively short, has a very interesting plot and a unique way of storytelling with great acting. A must see if you like Korean drama!
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This movie isn't happy really at all, there are happy moments a few times in movie, but, largely the movie is just showing a really depressing story about a young girl and the boy who lost her as a friend. We are not meant to know what happens at the end because the boy is our main character. He ran away and now it is a little too late to change anything. He realized his mistake too late.
So, in essence this movie was teaching us about regret. He regretted all the things he did do and shouldn't have and he regretted all the things he didn't do but should have. Because I am an American I am not use to the movies where the ending just leaves the main character regretting everything he did. We like to feel happy at the ending of movies and we believe happily ever afters should happen at the end of stories. So, for me movies that end like this leave me feeling depressed or regretting the last two hours I just spent watching this movie. But, for others I know they will not feel that way.
Regret is not something we want to be left with in our lives.
Jinyoung on the other hand was a great actor, and I hope he gets more movies and dramas in the future. Hopefully, movies I can watch without feeling depressed.I am so excited for the JJP comeback at the end of this month!
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It is hard to pick only one thing that I like about this. I liked almost everything.
If you enjoy a good amount of romance and comedy, adding to it time travel, a "dont you dare mess with me" female lead, a hot/sweet male lead plus beautiful scenarios and clothes; then there is a high chance you will like this. There is also fantasy, specially in the second half.
I kept checking everyday for new episodes. Usually I dont start a drama till it finishes airing, but I did the "mistake" of watching the first episode and then couldn’t help but watch the new episodes as soon as they came out.
Although I liked it, I felt the ending was a little rushed and the fantasy part made me cringe a little since I am not a big fan of the genre.
For me it’s a 9/10. The only other drama that I gave such a high rating was Empress Ki.
I will definitely rewatch this. Actually I watched some of the episodes 2 times already since I watched first alone and then with my sister.
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The drama centers around a group of friends, struggling with the pressures of adulthood, but not quite ready to give up on the dreams of their youth. The four leads have great chemistry from the start, and I really felt like I was watching real friendships. I think that's this dramas appeal. Of course, it's also a romantic comedy. The rom com elements center mostly around close friends who begin to realize/admit they have feelings for each other, but there is also a complimenting storyline of a longtime couple who's relationship gets tested. Both couples are really realistic, even dealing with some super corny and cliché moments.
I've seen Park Seo Joon in quite a few dramas now, where he definitely knows how to turn on the charm, and this role is no different. He plays fighter Dong Man, who leaves the sport behind after a fight leads to controversy, and is just making ends meet with an annoying job and without any passion. Kim Ji Won plays Choi Ae Ra, his girl bff, who has a natural talent for public speaking, but can't seem to find a way to make her announcer dream come true. Before watching I heard a lot about their chemistry, so I was excited to watch, but in the beginning I wasn't impressed. I thought she was annoyingly bossy, and he was so dopey, that their moments together seemed more childish than romantic in any way. Eventually, as their silliness grew on me, so did their romantic chemistry, and I was suddenly completely invested in their relationship. I also loved that they were so comfortable with each other. As their passion for each other develops, so does their passion for following their dreams, and both were inspiring to watch.
Song Ha Yoon and Ahn Jae Hong were endearing, and sometimes heartbreaking, as Seol Hee and Joo Man. There were times when I cared more about their storyline than the main couple, and they definitely made me much more emotional. I laughed, cried, and yelled at the screen over their relationship. I will say that I think Jae Hong is the MVP of this whole cast. She has a seemingly simple, and passive role, but she brought so much depth to the character that she brought me to tears.
The supporting cast was great. I adored the kid versions of the main characters, and thought the supporting cast had some pretty memorable characters (I loved the coach). Even when the writing was lacking, the characters pulled it off and made me keep caring. I do wish that Kim Sung Oh and Jin Hee Kyung had stronger storylines, and think that some talents were wasted by bad writing.
The writing is my biggest problem with this drama, especially towards the end. The most frustrating for me was that Jin Hee Kyung's Landlady character deserved a much better storyline, and they took too long to get into it, so the ending felt way too rushed. The land lady's son also wasn't given enough time to develop into someone I cared about at all. The Fight story was completely predictable, even if the fight scenes were entertaining, and hearing Ae Ra complain, and Tak Soo scheme started to get way too repetitive for me. The ex girlfriend seemed almost forgotten about completely at one point. The sister looked like she had the potential to be interesting, but was more like a glorified extra. I do have to give the writer some credit, because with each episode I was still entertained, and couldn't wait to watch the next episode... for the most part. The last two episodes, however, were pretty disappointing, and although it was a satisfying ending from the character's standpoint, I was more aware of how many loose ends or weak stories there were. The last scene was cute, but ridiculous, and felt like they just didn't know how to end it and gave up. I almost think that the drama could have used an extra 2 or 4 episodes to tell all the stories well, or cut the extra stories out completely and maybe make the whole thing shorter.
Overall, this is a fun drama, with a good soundtrack, and likable characters, so it's hard to complain too much. Also, I wish I had that secret rooftop bar in my life. That may be my favorite thing about the whole drama! I could watch "Fight for my Way" again, just for the interactions alone, but it's not high on my rewatch list. I think it's easy to relate to, so I understand why it has such high ratings from viewers, and I definitely recommend watching it if your expectations aren't too high. This is definitely the kind of cast you will want to cheer for as they fight through quarter-life-crisis feels, and support each other along the way.
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The main cast was very attractive but also portrayed their characters well. There were a few scenes I felt they could have delivered a little better, but that could possibly just be my taste. I didn't pay too much attention to the music but from what I remember, it was nice.
Now, do I think it's something I would watch again? I think so. It had an interesting plot as well as loveable characters. It made me laugh and (almost) cry. Films that bring out emotions in me are definitely ones that I would consider re-watching.
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An enjoyable watch, I seriously recommend it!
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The only ordinary portion of this whole drama is the second lead couple. Both their relationship with each other to their struggles in work is something many people can relate to. It helps that both Ahn Jae-hong and Song Ha-yoon are very good at their jobs, enriching their performances with groundedness and understanding. I wished, episode after episode, that this drama was more about these two. They made this drama satisfying to me.
The main leading couple, on the other hand, is where many of this drama's weaknesses lie. Acting wise they weren't on their A game, Park Seo-joon especially. I'm just bored of him playing the same brash, shouty character over and over again. Their journey also don't feel genuine. Note that I said the journey, not the emotions, which I think the actors tried very hard at. There were too many external conflicts that became more and more ridiculous by the episode, further distancing these two characters from seemingly extras to actually secretly very much leads. In many ways, it felt like the drama was lying to me. Even their budding romantic relationship was off for me, as I found it to be childish with a big dose of unhealthy possessiveness.
This drama is weird to me because it showed one of the best examples of realistic dialogue and acting in the form of Seol-hee and Joo-man, but also made me aware what undeserved happy endings look like in the form of, well, the last two episodes. It wasn't a truly waste of my time but I wish it would've been better.
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In mid 2016, Waku Waku Japan, a local Japanese tribute channel in our cable network began showing 'legendary' shows from Japan, including 101 Proposals, Long Vacation, Last Christmas, and Tokyo Love Story. I was fortunate to catch it, after viewing and completing 101 Proposals. I had heard it was about love triangles between school friends, and that the ending was particularly and popularly disappointing to its viewers. This 'insight' lowered my expectations, especially after having experienced 101 Proposal's top notch drama series. I was able to revisit the series when Waku Waku Japan showed it again early this year, and this time I saw it with a more attentive gaze. The second time around it justified the reason why this drama series were effectively heartbreaking, and explains why it was immensely popular. I hope the producers are considering a sequel with the original cast, as the Manga version just did such early 2016.
The story in short was about love relationships between country boy Nagao Kanji, who just arrived in Tokyo following the foot steps of his friends only to be entangled romantically with Akana Rika a vivacious beauty with a lonely existence. Along the way, feelings for his high school sweetheart Sekiguchi Satomi reemerged, which pushed Kanji towards a crossroad; who shall he choose, or has a choice been determined all along?
Surprisingly, I was blown away. How? First, I was glad the series didn't run long, although at its end I ended up wanting more. One naturally roots for Rika, essentially falling for her charm and forthright nature. But when her world crashed, you will get carried away and want to cry with her. Second, each series were solid individually and each delivered key storylines that fit well with each other. Initially I wished it showed more of cosmopolitan Tokyo, but the office and apartment settings worked just as well because we need to feel close to the characters, we need to be at home with them, to feel their vulnerability during their most private moments. Here the director is clever by 'directing' subtle nuances of the character's facial expression, in particular the sad smile that Kanji produces every time he is exhausted of not being able to reciprocate Rika's love for him is--or the sudden change from vibrancy to gentleness, when Rika lovingly called 'Kanchi.'
Third, I was impressed at how well and in-depth the characterization was, particularly on Akana Rika, played masterfully by the 'then' rising Suzuki Honami. Either the director was brilliant or it was Ms. Suzuki's performance was downright genius, as she successfully embodied the schizophrenia of the city through her feistiness, ever energetic cheerfulness as her facade for loneliness and mania, ever longing to escape through romantic notions of life. Yes, that may seem shallow, but by living through the stories and characters you feel Rika's pain. Kanji demonstrated clearly that his heart was big enough to care for Satomi even though she was with Mikami, his best friend from home. Rika's admiration turned to attraction, and soon enough to love. You relate with her when this is shattered. You admire her more when she demonstrate that her love for Kanji is deep enough to make a drastic decision.
These simple allegories of love affairs were played well into the backdrop of complicated love stories. The love drama cleverly triggers particular emotions via thoughtful pauses and silences, where we find the seemingly cheerful yet depressive nature of Rika swarms the impenetrable yet deep Nagao Kanji. That's how we viewers were pulled in.
The music was my fourth reason to applaud this series. I could not get tired to Oda Kazamusa's ode to romantic love, but Toshifumi Hinata's piano serenades, particularly Rika's theme and the ending theme Goodnight Heartache all echoes the heart brakes and pain. The music completes the love narrative that pulls the audience further into the story, as if the soundtrack played were the background music of our lives. Even though this is fantasy, the sentimentality feels real, and for drama that is what matters.
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