Reviews

I am so happy I watched this. It felt like a slow start and I can't really say exactly what made me stick it out, but there was a turning point very late in the drama where I found myself choking up and I realized how attached and invested I had become with the main characters.

It's a bickering slow burn romance for both parties without much relationship angst until the very end. The story and atmosphere was believable and realistic but still had a manga-esque feel to it. The female lead is one of the usual female stereotypes of being innocent, pure and much to kindhearted for her own good. However this stereotype is what the main story is about. It turns out that she is weak and strong in a nice mix of different personal traits. Depending on how you view it, something considered a flaw can actually be the opposite.

Usually I am allergic to guys who tell women how useless they are and that all their traits are worthless. But the lead here didn't really give of the usual "jerk" vibe and their bickering felt more like sibling/friend type of chatting. He did give a fair bit of explanation and constructive feedback on why she should strive to develop/change her behavior. Also she eventually gets a scene where she gives back just as good as she has gotten which felt immensely satisfying.

The music was ok. The ensemble of actors were ok. The directing and editing was ok. The series was ok until the last couple of episodes where it became very good. I do recommend this if you like dramas based on webtoons/mangas/animes or if you usually enjoy light Japanese doramas.

Read More

I began to get so frustrated with this series but in the end after all is said and done, I have to admit the whole thing hit me as a classic with depth. Perhaps it's that depth that I found itchy after hundreds of modern k-drama makjang and the almost rigid k-drama RC formula I've been gorging on. Although I found it a bit slow paced, I enjoyed seeing such a beautiful but harsh love played out so skillfully by the two main leads. The acting was phenomenal. This is really one of those quality dramas that make you feel like you're watching in a theater with popcorn, an occasional pop sip and an arm around your shoulder instead of from a laptop or a computer screen while lying in bed or on lunch hour at work.

I have to say I have yet to encounter a more jaw dropping character than the one played by Park Shi Yeon in this drama. This character actually turned my stomach. It was so disgusting to watch really. A different type of head space was needed to pull it off really but she nailed it. Oh Yeon Soo's Character was so meek in contrast but thank God she ended on a note of strength. The husband, o God the husband was a nasty dog with absolutely no redeeming qualities. SO WHY WATCH? A Bittersweet life is worth watching for the acting and The very passionate love that plays out. But just beware of the really slow old style pace.

ON THE PERSONAL:
This drama addresses a topic that I will forever find intriguing in that there will never be an answer that will satisfy anyone. Suicide. This very young man found a reason to live but even that reason itself became more of an impetus to complete what he originally decided to do after all. (I hope that makes sense :) Suicide is very a psychologically lonely and introverted decision and that is the reason why it has such a high success rate. If a person feels cornered and feels there's no way out of his suffering/situation and most importantly if " they feel" alone in their suffering (even if the reality is otherwise) nothing can stop them. It's also culture/religion/spiritually related as well. If they feel they'll be in a better place and finally at rest or that they can come back and start all over then why not? Thank heavens I wasn't raised that way. I've been in situations that screamed overdose cure on a daily basis but in the end, I know things would be worst all round if I took the life I was given so I bite down and plunder on by watching K-dramas! hahaha! ;)

Read More

This is the first Japan drama that I watched and I find it very different from the other J-drama. I like the uniqueness of the storyline and the way the director convey the story is just great! Each character in the drama was well written where they all have a strong sense of being.The chemistry between the actors are just great! They all have great acting skills where you can really feel their pain in each episodes.

I think it is a great drama as it shows how mighty a maternal love can be. Totally recommend this drama to those who like dramatic movies! It is totally mind-blowing!!

Read More

I signed up for a new account on MyDramaList just so I could rave about my latest obsession. Nirvana in Fire was possibly one of the best drama series I have ever watched. (PERIOD!) I am comparing the amazing quality of this show to my American favorites of Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. It is very hard for shows to wow me as I am one of those annoying critics that cannot simply just swallow what the director hands me. The screenplay, dialogue and cinematography must all pass my logical test. How believable were the characters and their motives? How interesting was the plot? At the same time, the events that unfold must be engaging and shocking. All in all, I am a tough person to impress. It might sound strange to say this drama passed all of my critical qualms when there are flying swordsmen literally fighting in mid-air but it was that type of drama. The screenplay was so believable you actually overlooked the fantastical aspects as merely interesting parts of this magical world.

With all that said, the plot, as brilliantly written and executed as it was actually took a backseat to the relationships between the characters. When Mei Changsu and Jingyan were together on the screen, you could hardly look away hoping that this would be the moment that they acknowledged each other. Each achingly painful interaction felt like eternity. At the end, you really could not help but feel for both of these characters. Their bromance and loyalty to each other felt more moving than any romance arc. Other relationships such as the one Mei Changsu has with all the members of his posse felt real and were equally moving. I honestly believe that the most brilliant aspect of Mei's character was his ability to captivate people. With that quality, he managed to use, manipulate and inspire all those around him to help him achieve his goal. The fact that Mei was terminally ill also provided an interesting dynamic to his, at times, superhuman mind.

Another wonderful aspect of this drama was the slew of brilliant supporting characters. Each actor/ actress dominated their roles. The music, camera work, sets, costumes... man, I could go on and on raving about it all. The world of Nirvana really came to life. The only criticism I have is that the ending felt a bit rushed and left me feeling like I needed closure. However, it was a fitting ending to the ride. In short, this is a must watch. Go on. What are you waiting for?

Read More

To those who are actually hesitating to watch this movie:

The CGI (imo) is actually bearable for a Chinese production. I've seen a lot worse. The thrill is really good. It's the kind of thrill where you think, "Oh, thank the heavens they're fine." But no, there's another freaking obstacle. Character development is weak tho because I think they were really focusing on the execution of the storyline. (I mean how do you expect 9(?) novels to be squeezed into the movie?) For the storyline, it's confusing at first. However, it all made sense at the ending if you connect it with all the flashbacks and the introduction. The moment you understand it, it's gonna flip you over.

Also recommended to people who loves shipping otps.

Read More

There's a certain phenomenon that happens to everyone that makes them want to buy or have a brand name product, only to find out that it's not all that cracked up to be and end up with buyer's remorse. The same can be applied to Korean dramas. Sometimes dramas are labeled as "the-best-drama-you-will-ever-see-in-your-lifetime" that people are blinded by how flawed the plot is because they can't look past the pretty-pretty faces of our lovely actors/actresses and don't notice the cheesiness of it all, when a ever-so-mushy kiss scene comes across.


People often think that because something is popular, means that it's good. Lots of people don't understand that something being popular doesn't necessarily correlate to the quality of it! Quality is what makes something popular, not the other way around. People are often get sucked into peer-pressure from talks and gossip and buy into the fact that something bad is actually good because people keep saying that it is.


Well, Descendant of the Suns is no exception here. One of the co-writers, Kim Eun-Sook, is revered as a popular screen writer who has written a slew of popular dramas in the past, but most of her dramas are not written very well (IMO). In the early 2000's, her writing style was a hitting trend in the drama business. Writing dramas with the happy-go-lucky damsel in distress with the misfortune of having to put up with a pompous rich and handsome chaebol who has a heart of ice that can only be melted by her cheerful attitude. But these days, the trend of dramas demands a little more realism and a deeper understanding and display of human emotions, instead of superficial dramatics scenes and fleeting emotions driven by the moment. Her characters lack depth, her plots are horrendous (and that's putting it nicely) and her pacing is erratic, if not, very inconsistent. I admit, I find two of her dramas, mildly entertaining, Lovers and Secret Garden. But Descendants of the Sun was just a complete and utter mess.


I don't know what this writer wanted to do with the army and soldier part of it all, because it just seemed like an excuse to somehow squeeze in some action into it, but the relationship development between the two leads were hard to watch. It was like a child pushing a naked Barbie and Ken doll together, and see if they'd make a baby. Kim Eun-sook literally did just this with our two leads, and created no real connection with the two aside from the super cliche bump into each other, hate each other, share a memory or two and (BAM!) fall in love. The feelings that Yoo Shi-jun had for Dr. Kang Mo Yeon felt like it just suddenly appeared out of nowhere when he met her. There was no real gradually (realistic) feelings of romance, it was just WAM, hes sees her across the hall and he thinks to himself "I love this woman!" deal.


I didn't know what this drama wanted to be! A rom-com, a melo-drama, an action movie?! It is possible to combine so many kinds of genres into a drama, but it needs good timing, wit and creativeness to pull it all off. This drama tried to do that, but it all felt very rushed as if it couldn't wait to get to the next drama-filled scene.


Cliches are sometimes a guilty pleasure for South Koreans, and we love a typical love triangle and angst (myself included), and that's fine, but it would be appreciated if you at least TRIED to develop your writing more to grow your talents and maybe realize, "Writing fun dramas is fine, but I think I can do better!". Most of Kim Eun-sook's dramas are very typical, and really boring! REALLY BORING! The Heirs was like nails on a chalkboard. If you're going to ask me, then why watch them? Because of the wonderful and talented actors that are involved. T-T It makes me wonder why they chose her dramas. Because they thought it was a good drama, or because they thought the press involvement would be good for their career. To be honest, I'm hoping it's the latter. After Descendants of the Sun, Kim Eun-Sook is a drama writer that any actor/actress wants to be involved with because lately, by being a part of her dramas has helped dramatically in furthering their exposure and acting career. It's a career move, and we can't blame an actor/actress for wanting to take advantage of that. After all, actors/actresses make a living off our consistent admiration and interest in them.


To be honest, I'm really scared of what she's going to do with Goblin, because it's got some of my favorite actors/actresses in it, and I'd hate to see their talents diminished by such horrible plot writing and lack of character development. I know this review has been mostly centralized around Kim Eun-Sook's writing, but it's been frustrating to see how her dramas, that involve great and amazing actors/actresses, fall so short and end up being a very long and boring 16 or 20 episode thing. I'm willing to give Goblin a chance because of the cast, but we'll see if maybe Kim Eun-sook can bring something new to her repertoire of boring-and-typical-drama, product line.

Read More

Finally decided to post my review for this movie since there isn't one, but I have first to say that's totally an unpopular opinion!

I always wanted to write about this movie because I loved it and still I think it's so underrated though I can totally understand why people were disappointed and did not like Shanghai Triad as much as other Zhang Yimou's movies such as "Raise the Red Lantern", "To Live", '' House of Flying Daggers'' etc. I read diverse opinions here and there and why people didn't like it that much, expecting something else considering it's a crime movie, but what I can tell is that all what happened was in my opinion really logical and I knew it would be like that and not otherwise. Maybe it's because I enjoy more those type of stories which might not be everyone cup of tea.

I found the first part of the movie a bit too slow, everything was shown from Shuisheng's point of view and the second part was my fave, I simply loved it, In the first half of the movie I did not like JingBao's behaviour she was in my opinion too strict, capricious, mean and too superficial but in the second half I simply fell for her, I loved how she showed such a different side of her.

This is how I rated this movie :
A 7 for the first 45 mins because like I said they were a bit slow but I still enjoyed the scenes with JingBao in the Cabaret, her singing and strong presence.
The second half was simply a pure 10 for me, JB singing with Aijao and Shuisheng, plus all her scenes with Aijao's mothers were so touching and beautiful in my opinion, not to mention the setting with the gorgeous and breathtaking sceneries.
Overall : 8.5.

This movie is simply one of my favourite Zhang Yimou's, I'd say My 5th favourite, that's how much I loved it. I gave not less than a good 8,5. It's purely subjective and maybe I'm among the few who loved this movie but simply I was amazed by Gong Li's wonderful acting, the sceneries and the touching scenes with the little boy and little girl.

Gong Li as always was ravishing, outstanding and a pure beauty, making this movie even more enjoyable for me. Would recomment it at least to her fans.

Read More

woahh! i'am seriously smitten with mulan, such a powerful and inspiring character, this drama was such a great great drama, it's soo good and addictive, i have NO IDEA WHY ON EARTH IS THIS SOO UNDERATED!!

the cast was perfect although i didn't like the heroine at first, she looked and had the air of a weak little girl while in fact she proved me wrong as her character develops, there is major character developement in this drama, the cast proves to us THEY CAN ACT!

the first part of the story is about this girl named hua mulan who is a great embroider, coincindentally, i have started an interest in embroidery just a week before, this was perfect for me, as a series of killing happens, you'll find yourself trying to solve the death myseries, which is THRILLING!! it'll give you such a thrill and a pleasure trying to solve the crimes, then the story develops to the upcoming of war, where mulan takes us to the battle field, and teaches us the value of comradeship, home and family as well as love, the most exciting part is that she will be leading an army of wei against her lover who will be the general of rouran, okay, no more spoilers....

you want to watch this:

because you're reading reviews about it :b
because mulan is not just fiction, but a real chinese heroine.
because you love thrill and this drama is soo good and so perfect for you.

the rewatch value is low because i don't rewatch dramas.

Read More

Oh my lordy- It's a shame that this drama is underrated- with its storyline that would surely put you on the edge of the seat at the end of each episode every. single. time., this drama deserves a watch!

Story
So the summary is simple- yet there's a bigger picture to be painted. It's about a person called the Pied Piper who manipulates people in order to do his bidding and a small negotiation team that was once borderline being disbanded having to prove itself by solving cases. What was impressive about this drama is that each case is somehow tied in with each other, painting a much darker and mysterious story.

The Good
The cinematography was good as the different scenes tie in together leaving an insatiable hunger for the next episode every single time each episode nears the end. The music was damn amazing with the scenes, incorporating a super impressive selection of instrumental and a mix of good genres even in different languages at times to suit the scenes.

Shin Ha Kyun and Yoo Joon Sang were amazing. They portrayed their characters perfectly as you can see how their characters mature and grow. I've seen Shin Ha Kyun in Brain (2011) and I wasn't too fond of his acting since I felt like it was forced and overexaggerated at times- however I'm pleasantly surprised that his acting was realistic and 3-Dimensional in this drama so it actually feels like he is a negotiator in real life. He nailed the two sides of his character perfectly, whether it being a cold heartless negotiator doing everything to get his way or an emotional man who regrets the mistakes in his past.

Yoo Joon Sang was perfect- her acting was on point, however there were times where I disliked her acting since it was too plain or her actions were just plain unrational, however I really liked how she portrayed her character and how she really matured throughout the episodes.

Yoo Joon Sang seriously knows how to play the audience. Honestly- he deserves an award for portraying such a complicated character, since you never know what his motives are.

The Bad
The only thing that bothered me at times was the storyline at times i suppose. It might be slightly hard to follow at times as you don't know whats happening- however it clears up at the end! There's not much to say about the bad things in this drama since the flaws are so minimal that it doesn't really affect your judgement!

And so?
If you are a fan of crime and action packed dramas- or if you just want to dip your toes in, start with this one since it's worth the 16 episodes as every episode will leave you on the edge of your seat!

Read More

What can I say about this true story? Inspiring is one word, the men that fought so bravely to keep their country safe whilst the perpetrators (being the North Korean Navy) attacked the NLL.
I cried so much watching this that I don't think I have any tears left to spill.


These brave men stood in the eye of the storm, those that didn't survive will be remembered with honour. They left behind their loved ones but we shall never forget them.
The dead were Lt. Cmdr. Yoon Young-ha, Jo Cheon-hyung, Seo Hoo-won, and Hwang Do-hyun (during the battle), Park Dong-hyuk (days later), and Han Sang-guk (found at sea); Eighteen others were injured.

Read More