The drama has 12 episodes (one hour each). One might think it would not be possible to fit in five stories in twelve episodes, but watch it first before doubting. I found it amazing as to how the team was able show everyone's stories without shaking off the scenes' transitions. And that the story's direction was clear enough to be followed by the audience.
Age of Youth was able to depict the realness and pureness of a person. Everyone has their own struggles in life. They have their own ways to overcome those. Others may need someone to lean on, someone whom they can easily share their thoughts with, someone who would understand them. While on the other hand, there are those who would rather keep everything to themselves and try to solve it on their own for they have built a wall separating them from the outside world. It may seem pathetic and frustrating but baby, it happens and there are people living this way.
Throughout this whole process, the five leads were able to slowly open themselves up to each others and from being mere strangers, they have grown to appreciate one another that eventually leading to them treating them as sisters.
It was a story of what life is when you are young. You feel lost. You feel like you are not enough and the world does not deserve you so you better perish as you think you are doing a favor for everyone's sake. But no, youth is when you gain experiences that would be your foundation for the next decades of your life. Here's to when you would gain and lose friends. You would would experience love and heartbreak. Youth is nothing but a series of events which requires you to surpass in order to live your life to its extent. Youth is where you must enjoy your life the most.
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I loved the Mars manga, it's one of my favourites of all time so as an ardent drama lover I was understandably very excited for this adaptation. Immediately the short length of the 10 episode series with each episode little more than 20 minutes long was slightly disappointing (for reference the manga is a 15 volume emotional rollercoaster). Still I held out hope that they would just focus on the first section of the manga and do that justice, and whilst they did follow the plot points of the manga, there were various things that were amended and added for the sake of making the drama more appealing to the teen audience as well as the omission of plot points such as Rei's motorcycling career. This made it a bit of a confusing watch for me at first, but after telling myself an adaptation does not have to be 100% true to its source material I soldiered on.
The main leads of Rei and Kira were interestingly cast, both are complex and playful and make for enjoyable viewing, however they both seem to lack that slight undercurrent of darkness which make their characters so interesting. Masao's creepiness is really played up, maybe even overly done, to the point sometimes I was wondering if I was seeing Masataka Kubota's Light Yagami instead of his Masao at time.
The music was great and a plus for the series, all in all it was a good watch but not a great one. i enjoyed it mostly for the novelty and am glad I saw it but probably won't be rewatching any time soon.
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Support characters, Atty. Byun and Atty. Ji Eun-Hyuk, are also effective and lovable. Nara's Cha Yoo Jung leaves a remarkable performance, as well.
The female lead is a big disappointment, lacking maturity as an actress, and lacks more depth as a character; she is supposed to be a black belt in Judo(?) and quite a strong/tough woman and yet she comes off weak and easily shaken.
It is almost painful to watch her acting opposite Ji Chang Wook. Nam Ji-Hyun's take on the character Eun-Bonghee is quite poor. She uses the same character reference for the provincial girl she portrayed in Shopping King Louie; which worked then for that show. Sadly, the same portrayal for a different and more empowered character in Suspicious Partner is flat out failure. She acts all cute with a cutesy voice that is not typical of a supposed confident lawyer / (acquitted) murder-suspect / mature lady, which is disturbing. Could she possibly be a miscast?
Can the writer do something to make character Atty. Eun Bonghee, smarter and more confident please? She is clearly surrounded by danger and yet she goes out alone at night, etc? Gosh, please help this character, writer-nim!
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I kind of "dropped" the drama after its seventh episode (when it was still on air). I found it boring and interpreted the twists as shallow ones. Well, my busy schedule could also be one of the causes why I had to stop watching this. In fact, my brother continued watching this without me so he was obviously ahead of the story but I did not really care at first. Until yesterday. I was running out of dramas to watch so I decided to finally resume watching this one. (NOTE: If you plan on getting yourself involve in Chicago Typewriter, learn how to refrain from checking your phone from time to time for it would distract your focus. One must have a full attention while watching this because he/she would probably end up having messy thoughts for not following the scene's direction. )
I was regretting that I dropped this for a while. I never knew this would actually bring so much joy and unfathomable feelings to me. I have since loved period dramas especially those with political and social struggles in it. And this drama was able to depict the 1930s Japanese Occupation in Joseon where the brave youth of yesterday stood up in order to regain their country's democracy. Through this, the audience was able to picture what it was back then, and how those heroes fought for the independence we are currently savoring. It was a story of hope.
This success would not have happened without the chemistry of the actors. Yoo Ah In and Go Kyung Pyo's tandem was really magical. They have portrayed Han Se Ju/Seo Hui Young and Yoo Jin Oh/Shin Yul well and showed their characters' uniqueness. This also goes for Im Soo Jung and Yoo Ah In's team-up. And of course, their trio really appealed and brought the audience root for them. Honestly, I did not even want them to be apart until the end.
All in all, this drama needs to be seen and be appreciated by the generation of today. Not only they would gain knowledge on history, but for them to admire what our forefathers have done in order for us to enjoy the liberation we are having now.
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Many scenes appeared to be referenced from JH and SY's stint in We Got Married, which worked nonetheless, especially since this drama undoubtedly has a built-in fan-base; And many would be more than satisfied to see the long-awaited onscreen reunion that comes with bonus intimate scenes between the two main leads. Since this show is a web-drama and expects foreign viewership, the usually censored lines/actions and kissing scenes in Korean TV dramas were done away with. Those kissing scenes, by the way, were done confidently with passion and intensity. It was indeed a great move to cast JH and SY to be the leads in this drama!
There was some trouble with continuity of scenes and the storyline. The show also obviously lacked budget/the luster of the usual cast-of-a-thousand-extras/actors saeguk dramas; But when you are too busy swooning over the visuals and sweetness of the 2 main characters, all is glossed over with the taste of honey that overflows from every interaction of Soojong and Ondal. The director and production team did a good job anyhow, with the resources made available for them. The script obviously invested more on the main leads and it worked just fine.
If only for the contagious sweetness of the 2 main leads/characters, together with the magic that they create together that lights up the screen, this drama is quite a RECHARGING experience that is worth to be rewatched over and over. A Season 2 would be even better!
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This review may contain spoilers
Wow. Not to be racist or anything, but I didn't know that Asians could make good movies. I mean I love their dramas (specifically korean dramas), but the movies I've seen haven't been that good...Apparently I've been watching all the wrong movies lol.Story: Fairly simple, about two boys in a psychiatric ward (one unfairly put in, another "insane") who become friends. It's about their struggles and friendship, and how they overcome it in the end. The simplicity is what makes this story great. This is a movie you watch when you're feeling down and just need a beautiful story to cheer you up.
Characters: Imma split this up cuz they're all amazing
-Soo Myung: oh gosh, he was so adorable. I loved how as the movie went on he got more courage and found the meaning in life. I just absolutely loved him, and loved watching him grow! Also played by Jin Goo and great acting, gosh there's one scene towards the end, and ugh my heart! Anyway, great story, character, and acting.
-Seung Min: he was a surprise, I have never seen this actor before and he did a great job portraying his character. He really brightened up the ward, and I loved seeing how he impacted all the characters. Also love his bromance with Soo Myung, so cute! Also the fact that he acts gay (or maybe is gay...?) is fricking hilarious, haha I love this kid so much
Side Characters: I loved all the ward patients, they were so adorable and I just wanted to hug all of them. Honestly their characters are tragic, because while they have some issues, they're getting treated in all the wrong ways, and it just makes their condition worse. My heart goes out to them!
-Hospital Workers: they make you think about what's good for mental patients, and if treating them like they're mental makes them mental, or were they born mental? Anyway, they really treated the patients terribly and did a good job of making you mad
Music: There was music in this movie!! And they used it well!! Sorry the other Asian movies I've seen have little to no music, to the point where its distracting if that makes sense. I thought this was definitely a step up ;)
Ending:
No spoilers, but overall I liked the ending, it wasn't exactly what I expected but it was beautiful all the same. Definitely made you feel good :)
Would I rewatch?? Definitely! Actually requested this movie for my birthday, that's how good it was.
Overall, I would totally recommend this movie! It is very inspiring and just makes you feel amazing on the inside!
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This review may contain spoilers
I've just finished watching Shopping King Louis. This review is my personal opinion, judged by the divided mentioned factors. What to expect from this drama:
This Drama has a few cliches I won't disclose in this review, however, none of them did I find harming to the show. You'll also be surprised by the fact that the good guy wins the girl, not the one who treats her poorly - is that a spoiler? Ugh, I guess you could guess it from the summary. The drama is lighthearted, simple, and easy to watch. Comedy and romance are the core genres and portrayed well. The romance is especially cute and unique.
My overall score of this show is 7, which is, in my opinion, an above mediocre score. Here's why...
My first area that I'll cover is the story. The plot is very simple, lighthearted and easy to watch. Of course, there are some cliches placed in some episodes but overall I think the plot handles it quite well. My personal opinion of the story is positive. Whenever I see something that has to do with amnesia I hesitate but this drama uses this element in a non-cliche/annoying way. The characters stay true to themselves throughout the drama and undergo individual character development. The characters, as well as the story, is well thought out without any major, story-destroying plot holes. In fact, I didn't find any plot holes at all.
The acting in this drama is good, but not the best I've witnessed out there. However, I must say Seo In Guk portrays his character adequately and stays consistent in his acting throughout the drama. The characters are fun and each actor does a great job to stay constant, hence my rating falls on 6.0.
In regards to the music in this drama, I'm fairly surprised. Whether it's the magic touch of Monsta X or something else, I don't know. What I do know is that I love the music in this show - and not only the main ost. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as well.
My rewatch value is 5.5, which is based on the fact that I rarely fully rewatch dramas. If I'm rewatching something I only watch few certain episodes. So, I've set it to 5.5 as an "Maybe I'll return but I'm not sure" kind of score. Vague but true.
You'll like this if...
- You want something unique/fresh in the romcom (romance/comedy) genre.
- You enjoy a simple lighthearted story that comes in a complete package.
- Seo In Guk acting like the cutest kid ever.
- You enjoy a unique story from time to time.
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P.S. If you weren't in love with Lee Jong Suk,this drama is the one that will make you love him no matter what.
P.S.2.The female lead is absolutely amazing as well.She's a great actress and plays a relatable and overall great character.It's refreshing to have an interesting female lead that doesn't make you want to rip her heart out.
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Firstly, I love Yaya and Nadech. So they're the main reason why I decided to watch this. That and there's also the fact that I'm kind of in a lakorn watching phase.
Anyway, there wasn't really any surprise in the story, it was the typical enemies-to-lovers show. Yaya's character was so bratty at first, I found her really annoying. She would scream for every little thing!! And Athit, Nadech's character, was almost a saint. If I were him, I'd beaten some sense out of Nee in the first couple of episodes. There wasn't any plausible reason for the way she behaved towards him, aside from her personality being that of a pain in the ass grandma's little girl.
I confess the first half of this lakorn was a pain to watch. I prayed as I watched, wanting to arrive as soon as possible in the episode Nee would finally grow up and stop being so irritating. And that took so long!
BUT! I must be fair. When they finally got together for real, it was the cutest thing in the world. I swear I wasn't ready for all that sugar punches. So sweet, so, sooo sweet, I can almost say it was all worth the pain, just because of the last two episodes. Athit was perfect, so romantic.
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STORY:
The story starts out okay. It's a coming of age with a hint of romance. As the story progresses, it goes deeper with the characters and plot. BUT, it can be very confusing. Don't expect the movie having a literal meaning and unravel the possibilities with your mind, because that will help you understand the story/plot. I give it a 6.5/10, because damn it's hard to catch up and figure everything out.
ACTING/CAST:
8/10! The two leads are awesome. The innocence and aggression is spot on. They have an amazing chemistry and if this was a normal BL, it would make people squeal. The only thing that bugs me is that their intention is a bit off (for me), I kept on asking WHY. Hopefully, you'll find out after watching this. But don't be discouraged, they sure are not amateur actors.
REWATCH VALUE:
4/10. The only reason why you should rewatch this is to indulge in its darkness and figure everything out. But for me, this is a one time watch type of movie.
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This review may contain spoilers
Your typical time-travel romcom movie with a refreshing and new feel to it.The plot was so so. A very typical “the main lead has lost herself and her way in life, but finds it again”-plot. With other words, it’s easy and nice to watch, time flies and you’re left with a good feeling inside when it ends.
Ni Ni’s acting skills was great and very believable. She’s really one of the things that makes the plot work for me.
The romance was a disappointment. Long story short, I don’t think that the main male lead or the second male lead was worth her. The main male leads feelings were very relatable, but his actions anything but okay. I can’t say more because then it would be spoilers. So let's just leave it at I didn’t like his personality at all. It all just felt off.
What made the movie sweet and a little bit different from other time-travel movies, was the relationship between the young and the old Liang Xia. I really liked to see Liang Xia find herself again, after being lost for such a long time.
I’m not a fan of the ending, but it’s okay. Some parts I really liked about the ending, so it didn’t ruin it for me.
With that said, it’s a nice, not so deep movie, that’s totally worth a watch if you need something uplifting and easy-going!
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Does this hold up to a rewatch? I scored it at a 9 on my first go around, and I can honestly say that YES, it absolutely does stand up to a rewatch. In fact, it might have been even better for me this time around, because I have a better understanding of Korean culture and I have a few fusion Sagueks under my belt to compare.
Moonlight is still awesome in every category for me. The storyline, the pacing, the characters, the OST, and even down the the amazingly beautiful hanboks designed for the show. I think there is a meticulous attention to detail.
Does that mean the show is perfect? Well no, I could point out some things that are slightly less than stellar--fat princess played for comedy affect... um no. (Just once, please can we have a fat person who is just a person?) Ra On's helplessness in parts of the show I could have done without. She lost a little of her feisty appeal at some point, so that was disappointing. Simplistic plot--that's not to say it wasn't good, but if you're looking for something truly deep and convoluted, this just isn't it. Watch it for what it is--and yes, this was tailored more for a YA audience--and that I have no problem with.
What stood out in this show? Well, obviously Park Bo Gum was AH-mazing. That boy can do no wrong in my eyes. He really inhabited the character of Young and made us believe 100% in this prince. And boy, does he look fine in a hanbok. Also, Kim Yoo Jung was a pleasant surprise. She's such a young actress, but she can be really expressive, and, unlike that other Moon show where the actress looked 12 and had the range of a dead fish, KYJ actually had some mobility to her features, which she used for good effect, and looked more the age of the character she was playing.
Some of the side cast deserve praise too, particularly Kwak Dong Yeon who was able to sell me Chief Kim's conflict in his silent way.
All in all, a very tight production, a beautiful story told, and a great ending. What more could you want?
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The chemestry between the characters is something that couldn't be explain.
The story, finally, is different from every BL that i watch. Original, beautiful, touching, happy, real. Even if the relationship is develop very fast ( the part of Gu Hai ) his falling in love seem so real that this doesn't count, it's amzing like this. This series is perfection.
It's so sad that they have banned from China. But at least the last episode has a happy ending! HAHAH
The song, oh gosh, i falling in love with the song, they make me found out song like " Hero - Family of the year. " or " Touble i'm in - Twinbed" .
they put it the song in the right place of the series. The filming is the best i ever seen in a BL, seem so professional.
So, in the end, WATCH IT.
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The pink milk is present everywhere, there is some sort of connection between the series that i don't know about??
Anyway, it's not bad 'cause the actors are great and they are cute together, but, i mean, come on guys, originality!
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