Reviews

Firstly I want to thank who subbed this drama! you are so kind
to subbed this as in you subbed it till the end, thank you! thank you!
if its not because of you I or We couldnt watch this beautiful lakorn! .

I just finished watching this and OMG! This lakorn is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!
and it makes me want to have a mafia lover! . Kodus to the actors
and actresses who portrayed their role perfectly especially to the actors who
are in the mafia family ( I just want you guys to know that the actors are so
HANDSOME !! and im not lying about it!! ) they are so COOL in holding the
guns and when they fight and I just cant help but to fall in love with them! .
And also I love the ootds in this drama ( if someone here is like an
ootd girl then you must check this drama coz they have so cool ootds! .
I love what the drama wants to tell us or what the lesson that it brings to us.!
I highly recommend u guys to watch this!

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I’ve held back on watching this movie because I’ve heard so many good things about it and wanted to keep it for my viewing pleasure for longer.

In terms of story, it is quite a mixture of heartwarming and hilarity. You can never go wrong with the fish-out-of-water concept.

It is clear the movie is trying to send an explicit message to its audience to respect the elderly, not to look down on them, not to be ashamed of them, to be grateful for their contributions and sacrifices. While these are valid takeaway lessons, what I was hoping to get more of in the movie was for Granny to have an opportunity to look back on her regrets or mistakes. While the movie did raise some of these aspects, we didn’t really show Granny exploring or delving deeply into these regrets.

Shim Eun-kyung is already well-known as a great actress at her tender age. It’s amazing how she perfectly embodies an old soul inhabiting the body of a young woman. Sung Dong Il is as usual great. Lee Jin Wook is of course charming in his role as a young man taken by Shim Eun-kyung’s peculiar character. Jinyoung is okay.

Overall, it’s a good heartwarming watch.

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A Bride for Rip Van Winkle is Shunji Iwai's return to Japanese feature film after a 12 year hiatus. And here, he proves why he's a doyen when it comes to storytelling as the film's writer and director.

Iwai explores loneliness, longing, companionship, destruction and construction of Japanese family, the rigid nature of Japanese society in the modern age. This makes Bride both a affirmation and subversion of Iwai's earlier films that I've watched like Love Letter, All About Lily Chou Chou and Hana and Alice. If those films reflects nostalgia, Bride seeks to redefine how the age of technology may bring people closer but also further and how this creates and define human connection.

Bride still incorporates Iwai signatures like sun flares, soulful montage, instrumental music and bringing in small scenes to bigger ones. Yet, Bride stands as its own. It's not as romantic as Love Letter of Hana and Alice nor as the coming-of-age of All About Lily Chou Chou. Despite a 12-year hiatus, Iwai doesn't lose his touch. He is still a very lyrical storytelling in a 3-hour emotional tale driven by an impressive cast, beautiful cinematography and heart whelming music.

When it comes to cinematography, Iwai's films are on the top of list. But of course, the credit goes to the film's cinematographer, Chiga Kanbe. What I love about Bride is how Iwai (and Kanbe) tells some much with its visuals and music that doesn't overpower each other even if sometimes, the dialogue is barely heard. The music by Mako Kuwabara embraces its stunning visuals. The overall tone is filled with sheer melancholy reflected with the littered cold colors, we too, are plunged in Kuroki's trauma paired with unstable camera angles showing a distorted vision.

Iwai knows how to tug at your heartstrings. He knows how to many silent shots mean so much more later. And finally, he knows how to build up drama and tension. It's 3 hours long (shorter in other countries) but the tension never subsides and the reveal particularly of Ayano Go and Cocco particularly laid down every detail shown prior to it. It makes the execution so satisfying. Yes, 3 hours is very long. Overly long and the film could've been shorter but very scene counts. Every scene matters. Though they seem random, they're not. That's how I felt watching this.

The cast, led by Hana Kuroki has amazing chemistry together and each of their characters contrast one another that brings out the personalities more. It's not a lopsided portrayal despite Mashiro (Cocco)'s later appearance in the second half. These characters aren't stock or just for display, they are there for a reason and their characters are explored.

Kuroki plays Nanami, a timid doe-eyed wallflower. Kuroki embodies a certain innocence that makes Nanami's somewhat bittersweet ending...worthwhile. She shines, in a subtle, very modest way but she shines. Though I would say Go is my favorite. He just has this charisma that pushes its way through. Playing a jack-of-all-trades, part Mephistopheles, he has done it with such clarity. Cocco is the light of the film (as ironic has that sounds given her character's fate) because of how vibrant and how lively she is compared to Kuroki's character.

Iwai doesn't sugarcoat these characters. He establishes them as such and moves on as much, making their emotions and experiences so much more connective with the viewer. He shows Nanami as awkward and docile by her experiences in school, having no relatives to invite at her wedding and eventually her own marriage.

Kuroki and Go stared in Flower of Shanidar (2013) which explains their good chemistry. But Kuroki and Cocco also share this same chemistry particularly because they're opposites of each other which really brings out their own respective personalities. Perhaps their bond is more than sisterly, maybe even erotic but I see it as more platonic bond of two lonely women, trying to find comfort in a directionless world.

Very much like Rip Van Winkle, these two women wake up in a world that breaks away from their past and try to make the most out of it...to be happy.

Bride also stands out because of how symbolic things are and how metaphorical it is. There is a scene where Kuroki approaches Go, some might see as romantic but Go's lines are metaphorical which relates back to the reveal of both his and Cocca's character. Seeing how Iwai reverts that and how Iwai chooses dialogue as a vital component in storytelling.

Finally, I want to say that there is so much suppressed emotions in this film which perhaps echoes the rigidity of Japanese social mores. Cocca's occupation is a very clever and important choice that relates to that. Not going to mention here explicitly but her job embodies the freedom and rejects this rigidity. Overall, it ties back to what the films show. Leaving yourself bare and exposed is a more intimate emotion where throughout the film, you suffocate by how much people are keeping and how fake they can be especially in this digital age.

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Before I start my review, I'd like to mention that this is one of the first foreign television shows that I've watched. Alongside that, I haven't read any of the shojo manga that this was based on, so I cannot pull any similarities between the two for comparison. That being said, let's start my review.

Good Morning Call has a somewhat overused story line. Timid girl meets boy and, by some odd happenstance, both are forced to spend excessive amounts of time together to hide their deepest secret: living together while attending school.

Now, tropes are not inherently awful and having a classic story-line like this certainly doesn't sully the show itself. Admittedly, they did a pretty good job at filling in that trope with meaningful characters, story progression, and evolving relationships. However, it still leaves a lot to be desired and that's why my score is average.

My first gripe has to be with the acting chops on most of these characters. Nao Yoshikawa does a tremendous job working through the serious parts in the show. The emotions seem sincere and don't feel awkward when watching, but some of the more lovable and goofy moments appear forced and almost annoying.

I found that some moments seem to drag on far too long, making it uncomfortable to watch. Many of her goofy scenes - mostly the ones that require her to hide that she has any feelings for a certain someone - seem very over-acted and drawn out. Sometimes forcing me to fast-forward through some bits just so I can catch my breath.

Uehara is a more frustrating character. He's a very brooding and bleak character (understandably so, after you learn more about his past), but hoping for any sort of character evolution seemed like a lost cause. Even though you knew his underlying feelings and that he was hiding his affection for Nao most of the show, he never once outwardly showed that side of him, which was unfortunate to say the least.

All of the other characters seemed really well acted. I enjoyed the relationships with Marina and was visibly excited every-time she came onto the screen. Her story with Mitsuishi is almost better than the main story and I was really glad that she appeared frequently throughout the entire show.

My second gripe has to be with fillers. Some episodes seemed to persist longer than I would have liked and didn't really add to the story all that much. While there weren't very many that I could find, I did sometimes find myself wanting to fast forward to some of the better bits. Which, to give the show credit, it did have plenty of those 'better bits' between those fillers.

Lastly, my praise for the show.

I think it did a lot of things right. It took an overused trope and placed it into a good story. It was inevitable that something like this would have a couple of hurdles to jump over, but it really was an entertaining and engaging story that fell just short only a couple times - which is more than I can say for most American shows!

If you're considering watching this, I would absolutely recommend it. Also, if you're not a complete stickler for story like I am, then you'll probably disregard most of the complaints that I had with the show. Many users praise this show and I can see why, so go ahead and watch it!

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If you're looking for a short drama to give you all the feels. leave you satisfied and just fall in love with then this is it.

The plot for this show was so cute and clever, I loved it. The only reason it's rated an 8 on my actual list is just when I compare it to other dramas I've watched it is not the highest of quality (but it's only 2 episodes so it's understandable). This show was filled with funny moments and I didn't expect myself to love the main couple as much as I did. My only annoyance with this had to be the lead female's voice at times... So high pitched. But aside from that minor detail I will definitely be rewatching this on a rainy cold day to make myself laugh and re-experience all the cuteness. ?

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This is just sad. Maybe if you haven't watched the Liar Game japanese version 1&2 you'll say that this has a lot of suspense, thrilling, mind blowing etc drama. But as for me who actually watched the the original Liar Game from Japan, I think this was an awful remake. They just copied the whole story and even the whole game! They also copy how other participants became eliminated. Even the strategy of Akiyama, (Woo Jin of Japanese version) they copy all it! They just put some story about Nam Da Jung's family background, and the rest is total copy, total crap!

The differences between the Korean and Japanse are the japanese was more suspenseful. Because the winners were declaring their strategy AFTER the game so you can really feel the suspese and you'll say "oh that's how it happend". Unlike in the korean version they're already telling their moves while they're playing. So there was no suspense at all.

In the japanse version it was full of games and suspense no anything else. While in korean has a lot of additional and unecessary padding stories. I just don't feel like watching it and I just want to skip that part but I didn't because I was expecting that something different will happend. Unfortunately there was not.

The characters in Japanese are so appealing! From naive Nao, genius Akiyama, Tricky Fukunaga and terrifying Katsuragi (from season 2) In Korean the characters didn't give justice on their particular characters. Their acting was just so plane except from Kang Do Yeong. He looks so evil!

One thing also I like in Japanese version was their background music. It makes the scene more suspenseful and thrilling! In korean, the background music was ok but not as good as on the japanese.

I was so disappointed on this. I thought they will make a new a unique concept from the first one but I was wrong. Very wrong!. :(

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STORY:
Honestly, I was a bit hesitant about watching this drama a few years ago. I thought it was too heavy for me but watching the first episode got me hooked and until now I still watch some of its episodes because it's just so realistically inspiring. The idea that the drama revolved around the mistakes of the main characters was so appealing to me that I cry when they cry because I really feel emotionally absorbed while watching the drama. I think the drama portrayed that humans are naturally pure and honest - that we make honest mistakes but we can always make up for it with sincerity and genuine desire for change.

CAST/ACTING:
I considered watching this drama solely because of Miura Haruma and I thank him for always being just so good. Erika Toda and Emi Takei are just as amazing as Haruma.

MUSIC:
Although sometimes the lyrics of the songs are irrelevant, using Pink's voice for this series was a good move by the producers. The song "F. Perfect" blended really well with the drama's plot.

OVERALL:
This is one of my favorite dramas of all time so in my biased opinion, I highly recommend this series even to beginner Jdrama fans. This is the other side of the rom-coms and suspense thrillers that Japanese TV series are popular with.

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Ahh, I am not biased , I know I love ZLY but this story gives so much of her as an actress. For me, after Journey of Flower this is my next favorite drama of her. This is amazing and this is the only drama that made me on a roller coaster feelings. Watching the ep 42 was very intense. I even hold my breath with the last fighting scene in there. I just hope no one dies in the end, I have this guts that something like that would happen, hopefully I'm wrong. Anyone of you who hasn't watch this yet, please do. This will give justice of all spy dramas. I am yearning to watch the next episode everytime.

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STORY:
It wasn't unique but it's also not quite interesting for me. Although I loved the push-and-pull drama of the main characters, I cannot really fully relate to the central conflict that the heroine was experiencing. I just thought simple things were made complicated.

CAST/ACTING:
YamaKen was OK. It's my first time seeing him in a drama after reading so much about him in Jdrama new sites. The two Shoheis were fine. Kiritani Mirei just either made me cringe or laugh. I'm sorry.

MUSIC:
Nothing really exceptional about the music.

OVERALL:
Hmmm. I think I can watch it again. I really have mixed feelings about this drama. Overall, I enjoyed the chemistry of the main couple and the brotherhood of the ikemens. :)

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As soon as I started this drama I couldn't stop watching. The story was something else and always kept me on edge; with the male lead's suspicious and mysterious personality and the female lead's very relatable character. By the end of it I started getting really scared as of how it's gonna end because I read a lot of disappointed reviews. Thankfully though, the ending was good, in my opinion ofcourse. The cast was amazing and the acting was so so good!! I fell in love with baek in ha's crazy personality and weird facial expressions. The actress really took the role to a new level! :D
I pretty much liked how realistic the story was from beginning to end. It's safe to say that I haven't watched a korean drama that was similar in anyway to this before. I highly recommend it. It is not a waste of time, and you'll enjoy every second of it.

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