Reviews

ON the surface this looks like a typical cliche rebirth story; however, if one looks closely enough and understands the dialogue, you'll be surprised at how sweet and satisfying it truly is. The chemistry between the main actors was also a nice cherry on top to this drama. Often BL dramas are cringe worthy because of the "robotic" like relationship between the characters, but here you have two young men who truly try to convince the audience/viewer that they are attracted to each other and not just on the physical level and that kissing or touching does not make them want to pull away or react in a "I don't want to do this for longer than ten seconds" either.

Overall, it's an okay drama. Did not give it a ten because it's too short. Hoping they get a second season.

If you like aggressive male lead, you will like this.

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This piece of art defines BEAUTY.

They say love makes people irrational. We can be unreasonable and our opinion becomes unreliable. Even so, I am writing this review not caring about sense and logic. I just want to gush over the perfection this series has shown us. From the story to the dialogues (YES, those sweet, sweet dialogues that could have been cringe-worthy disasters if not built up and delivered so well in the story and by the actors), one can only praise the writers, the production team and the cast. I'm in love, and I don't think I could get over it soon, I'm not willing to do so.

Perhaps, everyone is excited for the next season especially after it was confirmed that one is under production, but all I have in heart is fear. I don't want its beauty to be tainted or tampered. I can only hope for the best while expecting the worst. #haveFAITH

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**Short description: Boys Over Flowers cheese meets Full House plot device.**

I think if I average out my scores, this drama should get less than 7.5, but my overall feeling after finishing it really was 7.5-8. They need a section for "feels." This was a 9 for "feels."

"Just You" is a familiar plot device in the beginning, but you will find as the drama goes on, there are layers of real heart and feeling to be peeled back if you can stick with it. So because it was cliche, I would have given it a lower score, but the story got significantly more developed as we neared the end of the drama, and I actually FELT the emotions of the characters after all was said and done. That bumped it up to a 7 for story.

Acting was really not good. But hey, it's a T-Drama. They have different acting styles than Western viewers are used to, and I am able to acclimate to it after a few episodes. I really like Aaron Yan. He's sexy as SIN, and his acting is really quite good. He's a big 10 for me! The girl was eh. She got better as the drama went on! Her character fleshed out and she got a bit more chill.

The OST of this drama was actually quite nice, and I liked most of their song choices. But their sound production was way off, so the music was sometimes too loud over their talking. Also sometimes the music choice was bizarre. They need to step away from Garage Band and hire an orchestra.

Rewatch value is low because it was so bogged down by side plots I didn't care about. I skipped a lot! Also, I recommend watching it on Netflix. They split the episodes into 20 minute chunks that were easier for me to "digest." I was about to give up on it, and then it popped up on Netflix, and suddenly skipping ahead became easier, and I didn't feel like giving up because I couldn't get through 1 1/2 hours per episode.

Overall, I have to admit that I got ALL the feels from this drama. Aaron Yan, as I said, was marvelous to look at. And the kisses are worth hanging in there for! Their relationship was super cute at the end, and all in all, I am really glad I watched it. It was just the right cheese I needed in my life right now!

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This was a disappointment.

Initially, I was rooting for this drama because I liked the movie. I hoped they'd change the movie's ending for that was a total bummer. Then, they did; and that got me all hyped up. Unfortunately, the pace of the story dragged on which made me lose interest. I could not follow which was the present and the past at times because Golf's age was only disguised through the way he combed his hair and the amount of gel he placed on it, and there were moments when that little difference was totally neglected. I had to wait for the cousin, or the best friend, or Bank just to recognize the time the scene was in.

(I was thinking, "Perhaps, Golf couldn't just get over Bank so he wears the same haircut and just hides it with some gel" But, if that's the case, then the actor playing Golf shows bad acting. Hey, Polaris, he's a newbie, give him time!)

It was when I learned that the final episode was released when I watched the rest of the series from where I left off. It wasn't totally bad. But, I cannot say that I regret not watching as per episode released. So, am I looking forward for the next season? Ughmmm...

YES! Despite the disappointment I felt in general for this season, the end took an interesting turn and had so much potential for a better season coming up.

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I was actually surprised to find that this only has a 7.1 on MDL because of all the buzz about this drama when it was airing. To me it was the break-out T-Drama of the last few years. I will admit when all the buzz was going on, I tried to watch it and didn't get through the first episode. I saw it on Netflix recently and was more in the mood for a T-Drama and gave it a go and generally liked it.

I actually am a fan of the gender bender genre though I know it is ridiculous. It works better in historical setting because there can actually be a legitimate reason for a woman to pretend to be a man re: safety or economic necessity. Bromance goes all in T-drama style on the silly and just says, shyster shaman/silly parents, deal with it. Basically you have to suspend reality or this drama will not work for you. Like I said, it took me two attempts. Having said that, I had trouble with how Coffee Prince handled this because at a certain point, there was no reason for someone not to tell so the writers contrived something silly. It really bugged me. I'd rather just know it is all silly from the get go.

Cons: The secondary story line didn't do much for me and the actor (who I think is a singer) was just ok.

Writers knew what buttered their bread and gave us a lot of the leads, but it would be nice to have some kind of coherent story other than constantly throwing them in compromising situations. They threw in some mafia stuff, but it was all pretty silly at the end of the day. I've watched idol dramas, and I just think the writers need to get better because they just rely on their stars to see them through.

It was too long, as are most of the modern T-Dramas (MARS this is not.). I really liked the lead characters, but after a while with both the mafia stuff and the romance, it got repetitive. This could have been done better at 15 episodes.

Pros: Megan Lai is fantastic and easily takes on Yoon Eun Hye as the most realistic woman playing a guy in a gender bender. Baron Chen is also great. They have great chemistry and are the basis for this drama being so popular imo.

I liked that the 2nd male lead character (the vet) story line was different without all the usual posturing. I also liked the hotdog guy and the sister as well as the cousin. She was a true friend.

So I notice some of the negativity is that this show didn't have the angst as, say, Coffee Prince. However, I liked that because this is lighthearted fare and it is a pet peeve of mine when I start watching a light romance (I mean, again, a shaman is involved), and it turns into a melo. This drama keeps to its roots and while it doesn't mine the anguish of a sexual identity crisis like Gong Yoo in CP, it does tell of acceptance of oneself, who one loves and what goes into that. I can't really get into it without spoilers. I do think the writers were trying to stay away from Coffee Prince territory because it's been done and time has gone on and this is Taiwan not Korea. I think they did well making sure neither lead character was knowingly causing the other angst. I really appreciated that.

So I'll admit to some fast forwarding through mafia business and secondary stories, but Megan and BC shined in this. I also appreciated some sizzling scenes as well. I took off one point for being over long and one point for the lackluster secondary love story and mafia business stuff.

Other Opinions:

I did not downgrade for the contrivances, the cheese factor or the cliches in the story. Also, the godawful background music. I just take them as part and parcel of Taiwanese dramas these days, but I notice this bothered many people.

There is a bit of a surprise at one point that irked some viewers. And as before, I think many viewers wanted the intensity of Coffee Prince....this isn't CP and it never acts like it want to be.

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Story: This drama was one of the the first dramas I've ever watched when I was younger and it was always memorable. The story revolves around the male protagonist who starts off mischievous and carefree but an event which required him to save his aunt's life embarks him on a journey where he meets many friends and learns martial arts. Throughout the story, you'll witness their friendship and each character's development. In the love triangle between the two female leads and the male lead, I found it hard to set sail in either ship because I was fine with either one surprisingly ^^. I enjoyed the side couple as well because they were super cute! There will be times where you will laugh and times where you will cry.

Acting/Cast: I really love the cast and I think each of them did a really great job with their character. You can really see their development from the beginning until the end. Because of this drama, I discovered many amazing actors and actresses like Hu Ge and Ady An. I really loved Eddie Peng and Esther Liu in this too! (They were the super cute couple I was talking about ^^) Crystal is a beauty and I've always thought she fitted ancient/ wuxia dramas. I remember reading somewhere that the main actors/actresses were very young (around 17-20s) when they were cast. They were considered as the new generation of actors/actresses at that time. (Look at them now ^.^)

Music: I really really loved the soundtracks in this drama. I think that the soundtracks suited the atmosphere of the drama. I also really liked the instrumentals that was played in the background during a certain scene. Some songs were sang by Hu Ge as well.

Rewatch: Since this is a childhood drama of mine, I would go back and watch some of my favorite episodes but I would skip some as well.

Overall: This was one of the dramas that made me fall in love with wuxia/xianxia genre dramas. I really liked how the story developed and the closures for each character. The CGIs of this drama was not amazing and the production quality may be considered low for some, but this was one of the very first drama with CGI effects. Therefore, I think they did a really good job. There are some loopholes in the story and the characters as well, but I was able to overlook them and enjoy it. I think it's worth trying it out :)

(This is my first review. ^^' I apologize if some of my comments are inaccurate or flawed!)

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Wow.

There is so much I can say about this amazing show. I laughed, cried, screamed and loved every second. The story is adorable, heartwarming and phenomenal at the same time. All the actors are fantastic and have amazing chemistry, the music in the show is beautiful (I found myself frequently listening to it after). I appreciate every part of this show. I thought it was well paced, and it has the happy ending everyone is looking for with a story like Coffee Prince.

I recommend this to anyone, Anyone!! My Favorite KDrama by far, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. (The attractive actors don't hurt either)

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I might be among the few, but I really dig older Japanese cinema. A lot. "Lady Snowblood" being no exception to this.

For those familiar with the Kamimura Kazuo manga, this is the film adaptation that was given her blessing. You could even say it's among the very first manga into film adaptations that Japan has ever done! Which makes this film a treat.

Lady Snowblood is the story of revenge passed from mother to daughter, and artfully done. While it deviates from the original story from the manga, it still captures the main essence of the story and maintains all critical characters. Their are some minor adjustments made to everyone but Sensei, Mother, and Yuki (Lady Snowblood), but all are done in good taste to adjust to technology of times and time constraints. Be warned this is a SPLATTER FEST, with implied rape scenes. It wasn't for everyone then, it isn't for everyone now.

The music pulls from the original timeline of the manga, as well as current trends in music at the times. A little loud at times, but doesn't detract from the story or dialogue.

I adored the manga, and I adore this film. If you're looking for classic cinema from Japan, or are a fan of 'Kill Bill' please give Lady Snowblood a shot!

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Does it deserve a ten? *thinks for about 3 seconds* Hell yeah, it deserves a ten.

Of course, no drama is perfect, and Coffee Prince isn't either by virtue of belonging to the category (of a more broader category, which is - all things in life). But does it stand head-and-shoulders above the other things I've seen so far? Damn straight.

The first refreshing thing about it was the absence of villains/antagonists who stole valuable screentime with their sleeked up hair and inane filler intrigues. No such filler here: all the characters were loveable (more or less so), the story got you invested in their arcs and you genuinely cared about them as much as they seemed to all care about each other. Though I liked all of them, two stood out particularly - Gong Yoo's Han Gyul and Lee Sun Gyun's Han Seong. I literally could not decide whom I liked better: I have thus far never fallen prey to the second male lead syndrome, but in the beginning of the drama I was all about Han Seong (possibly because he reminds me so much of my own boyfriend). As the story progressed, Han Gyul caught up in my affections and they ended basically tied. Both actors inhabited the roles flawlessly. My heart broke for Han Gyul when he found out about the deception, his pain and disappointment was so genuinely portrayed, with such evident vulnerability, I felt like hugging my laptop. On the other hand, I smiled every time Han Seong smiled because.. how could you not? That smile!

I have to mention Yoon Eun Hye here as well: she was believable as a boy, and I found myself even forgetting on several occasions about the whole gender-swap plotline, it was that realistic. The way the story progressed between Eun Chan and Han Gyul was consequently also realistic: from their interactions, I could see why he became attracted to her even up to the point of being ready to accept that he was in love with a male person. (Can someone say swoon? That scene in the coffee shop, HEAVENS. The tension between them was palpable, and organically built up to that inevitable moment.)

The final solutions for both female characters were also something I appreciated in this drama that I rarely see. They made their own choices, grew as independent people, and were the better for it. Kudos to the writers for this. Another separate kudos goes for the realistic depiction of adult (kind of) relationships, with all the s-e-x and other stuff, even if with the added cuteness/drama that I wouldn't expect to see between a 24-y-o and a 30-y-o or however old Han Gyul was supposed to be. They still followed through and I was both amazed and extremely happy that they did.

Lastly, as a side note: I loved the music in this drama, it had a great vibe, from the Kings of Convenience I heard (if I'm not mistaken now) to all the rest of the soundtrack, it got me to discover some great music.

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This will be very short since I saw the movie ages ago, and after reading the book to boot, so a lot of the details are scrambled. I'll definitely be re-watching it soon though, because thinking of writing this the one thing that sticks out in my memory is the absolutely mind-blowing cinematography / photography in the movie. If it had only been still photographs with the narration, I'd have still watched it because it looked stunning.

Apart from this, the story itself is beautiful though slow and depressing, so I'd not recommend watching this unless you're in a certain contemplative, melancholy mood already. Otherwise, it'll really dampen your spirits.

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