Reviews

Rest in peace Kenpachiro Satsuma, your spirit will live eternally.

To say that Godzilla Minus One is my most anticipated movie of the year is a severe understatement. It currently holds the candle for my most anticipated movie ever. The wait has been agonising, less so for my brother who I brought along for what is our first experience seeing Godzilla on the big screen. For the better part of December seeing Letterboxd members gushing about it has been terrifying. But finally, I managed to catch a screening today, 2 days after its UK debut, by god, it was worth every minute, every second... this is the best Godzilla movie to date, bar none.

Feeling as if he unfairly cheated death too many times, Shikishima, a surviving Kamikaze pilot is attacked on Odo Island along with many war plane engineers by an enormous monster. After the engineers die due to Shikishima failing to distract the monster, an overwhelming amount of guilt weighs on him, especially after a homeless woman and a baby move into his home when he returns. Shikishima, now on a personal mission, teams up with a large group of veterans to finally take down the monster known only as Godzilla.

Having spent the better part of a week watching Takashi Yamazaki's other directorial efforts certainly didn't prepare me for what he would bring to the table with Minus One. Choosing a post-war setting for the movie invited some rather minor scepticism but the film ended up an extension and refinement of his earlier wartime epic, The Eternal Zero. Tension and redemption run high throughout this film, with everyone seeking a path forward in the face of utter destruction and hopelessness.

Yamazaki's proficiency for human drama was not in question, having watched his Always Sunset trilogy the other week, emotions run high and his characters inject so much life and soul into the picture. It's backed by an utterly terrific script, heartfelt and often awe-inspiring and his calling his direction anything less than superb feels wrong.

I still can't believe that Yamazaki and company pulled this off for the money they had, either Hollywood blows their film budgets in all the wrong places or Japanese VFX artists are severely underpaid for the job they do (maybe it's both). Godzilla is one scary-looking bastard, taking his main influence from the Heisei suits but blown up with scales and spikes added into places you didn't know he had, his presence throughout the film is one of constant overhanging dread, cropping up when the characters least expect him and terrifying all who see him. Seriously, the build-ups to his atomic breath gave me constant goosebumps and seeing him standing amongst the ruins of Ginza just sent shivers down my spine.

I could technically accuse Yamazaki of nepotism given how many of his regulars take on roles here but I'm not going to. Everyone gives it their all, especially given the immense weight they had to carry on their shoulders, everyone is incredible, I can't fault a single performance. Ryunosuke Kamiki especially did a stellar job, the emotional resonance of his dialogue leaves you hanging on every word, Minami Hamabe is the rock to his PTSD-ridded life and the two of them share beautiful chemistry.

Naoki Satō's music is just phenomenal, his music carries so much menace and unease but thoroughly compliments Yamazaki's incredible style, there's a beautiful use of pure silence (especially in the climax) to emphasise both creative forces. His utilisation of the classic Ifukube cues is hands down one of the best of the entire franchise, cropping up at just the right time to not feel out of place or irrelevant.

Godzilla Minus One is truly the first of the franchise to make me truly afraid, the Big G's villainous stance hangs over the picture with a looming dread that remains unshaken even when the credits roll. Putting the trauma of history at its core was an inspired creative choice, evoking the original film more than any other since GMK (which Yamazaki lists as his favourite, based). Everything about this film works and exceeds any expectations I had of it, with its emotional heart just as prevalent as its terror. I'm so glad my brother was along for the ride, no way I was experiencing this alone.

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Not what I expected!

Honestly?
I really didn´t think much about this drama when I started watching it. You know, expectations were mid. This series had proven me wrong right from the start.
I am a intro skipper - I don´t want to spoil things for my self just because I watch the intro. In this series I didn´t even notice that it was the intro from the start! Moving on: the story moved very nicely. I honestly can´t remember being bored while watching (that usually happens to me...). I was always eager to find out about what is going to happen, and I was super involved in watching the timeline move so naturally. It is an interesting concept with the timeline moving forward, but it made sense!
The relationship between the mains didn´t feel too forced or faked. I find them super cute together! All the little steps that they had to take while being together made the series exciting and kind of relatable in a way. Then the plot twist came and I was stunned! I haven´t seen a twist quite like this one. Although I was quite confused for a second as to what is the reason behind Akiras actions, but I quickly understood. One of the most interesting plots I´ve seen in a while!
Such a cute ending too!

Overall I´m a fan! I pretty much liked everything about this, even the soundtrack (which I don´t usually pay much attention to). The acting was natural and beliavable, characters and the story didn´t bore me one bit.
Definitelly might rewatch!

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The title should actually be "Kim Sejeong for President"

I am kidding. Or am I? I am, let's be honest it was a good romantic comedy. I laughed and I was moved and I have already rewatched it. It's a show that leaves you with a warm feeling at heart. Those of you searching for a smooth, happy and relaxing series should definitely watch this. It's a safe bet. Now if you want to dig deeper into it and in more detail read on.

Story:
Could have been better in the sense that I did not like how it at times diverged from the main couple Kang Tae-moo and Shin Ha-ri, to the side couple, Cha Sung-hoon and Jin Young-seo. Pick a story, and tell it well. Also I feel like the main characters' best friends were annoying at times in their perceptions of the main couple's relationship. Get a life. Actually get a seperate series for them if you must. They had great chemistry but it was really unnecessary for the main plot. The right way to integrate a second couple in the main story is how it was done with Gye-bin and Yeo Eui-ju. That relationship was fun and played a significant role in making social activities in the series more enjoyable. It also added to the comedy aspect. On the other hand Shin Ha-ri and Jin Young-seo had a beautiful friendship, that we keep. Their moments were soooooo cute. And last but not least they should have added a few more episodes because the bridge between episode 11 and 12 is weak. We needed a few more cute happy romantic moments after the 1 year trip.

Acting/Cast:
In my opinion there was a slight casting imbalance between the two lead performers, Kim Se Jeong and Ahn Hyo-seop. Kim Se Jeong comes off as more experienced in acting. I felt at times that she "saved" the scenes with her charm. She is exceptionally versatile and floats smoothly from comedy, to romance and drama. There really isn't much to say. She did a great job in her role.

Ahn Hyo-seop was good but has a long way to go before becoming trully confident in his performance. He lacked a sense of fluidity, as if there were glitches in the rom-com Matrix, especially in intimate moments with his co-star. However he is extremely promising and I hope to see more of him in the future. He has a beautiful, kind and respectful presence/quality.

Exemplary Performances by: Kim Hyun-sook, Lim Ki-hong, Seo Hye-won.
Remember to always give credit were credit is due, especially when it comes to supporting actresses and actors. They bring any show together and build a wholesome atmosphere.

Music:

Nice music themes were added in funny moments but overall better songs should have been picked especially for the romantic scenes.

That's it people, over and out. <3

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A Refreshing Dive into Teen Romance

"Our Secret Diary" is an emotional rollercoaster that begins with a bit of a shaky start with too much music and an initial awkwardness in acting. However, once it hits its stride, it becomes a compelling journey. The characters feel remarkably genuine, breaking away from the cookie-cutter molds often seen in these films. The absence of prolonged tearful scenes and sudden villains is a welcome surprise, making the high school romance feel more authentic. The imperfect yet honest portrayal of the main character adds a layer of realism, and the evolution of the initially shy heroine is a standout aspect. Despite being rooted in the familiar, the film manages to keep viewers engaged for almost two hours, turning a basic romance into a captivating movie night experience.

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SOLID 10/10 MYSTERY DRAMA

I really enjoyed the suspense going on in this drama, overall it was extremely engaging to know the end of the drama.The mystery and plot of this drama is seriously very intriguing. I could never find any other drama with such amazing plot. Some scenes were taken in Singapore and I found it extremely fascinating to see how the plot is able to be unraveled in another country. I definitely would recommend this drama if you're a fan of mystery/suspense since the plot is so far the best I ever heard of. OST was also very good!! The main leads acting was so good! Their expressions in this show were really great :)

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Don't be like Mei Eng Zheng REVIEW.

The drama was great. I honestly loved it. The drama is original to what I was curious about needs to be unfolded from season 1. You want to form your own opinion. Go watch it and make your own opinion. Not from people who don't even know what review means.

When watching a drama don't be like Mei Eng Zheng writing a review that has nothing to do with the drama. First of all, it is a drama. Trying to bring something from the past about Thailand killing one of her clan. She took this drama and made it personal against her. She was insulted and humiliated because she felt like it mocked her roots. Wow...I find that idiotic thing to say. That has nothing to do with the drama. This is a drama and if you read what it said at the beginning of the clip it says PARTLY FICTITIOUS!!!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT PARTLY FICTITIOUS MEANS??????

YEAH, IT MEANS WHATEVER THEY DID WITH THE CHINESE IT IS FICTION. NOT REAL .

I guess she skipped this part that said Viewer discretion is advised.
Honestly, we need someone to review the reviews first before even accepting the review because what she wrote is plain dumb.

I will say this. I love Thai drama, they act way better than Chinese drama that can't even cry. They even dubbed their drama which I dislike so much. I can't even watch Chinese dramas because of that. Mei Eng Zheng before you go around and not write actual honest reviews you will get this kind of message. Grow the F up and move on. Don't like Thai then why did you even watch in the first place to begin with? You are just going around finding the chance to express your sad little life. May you find god in your heart and stop being self-centered!

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awkward camera angles and unrealistic relationship? yet good chemistry

The chemistry between dylan wang and bailu in this drama was there. Only disappointments were definitely the very terrible camera angles and unrealistic relationship between the couple. Honestly i don't get the part why she said she wanted to pursue him (like was it because of revenge or what?) but i just watched through the show ignoring the flaws because their chemistry was already there. Their acting was quite decent. OST was good esp the theme song and others too. Honestly, i only watched this since I'm a fan of both bailu and wang hedi. I found it weird how the last episode just presented the marriage of the side characters and not the main leads. Eventually the main leads marriage were thrown into special ep instead. Honestly speaking, some people might miss out on it so I just wished production team could've chosen to insert the main leads marriage in the end of ep 36 instead of side couple. This drama is definitely cringy but honestly no regrets watching all 36 eps.

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HEARTFUTTERING , MOST HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP EVER........

for a very long time i have not seen this type of healthy relationship ever.......
i am stuck with their acting , their characters and mostly it's music and food .
if looking for a feel good drama with an awesome CAST , very good FRIENDS SQUAD and just start watching it.
ML is a dubbing actor and doctor and FL is student and music composer . their relationship starts with music and food , ML is true definition of green flag in drama and the leads have ZERO misunderstanding between them.
the drama have my one of the best FRIENDS SQUAD ever. their friendship and because of it many scene were very funny. our SML - SFL have little story time but it was as fluffy as it can be . the awkwardness in the scenes gave us the filling of our own life. i liked when supporting cast try to get together our LEADS...
the drama get me hungry , felling butterfly in stomach , laughing when all leads are together , flying punches in the air when our ML-FL have romantic moments , getting emotional when ML perform his last performance .


P.S . I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS DRAMA'S OST IF YOU HAVE IT'S LINK THEN PLEASE SEND ME .

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Finally a drama and role for a more mature and experienced Xu Kai

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“Wonderland of Love” features two intelligent leads who always try to outsmart each other. That should be a pretty attractive premise to attract a wide audience. However, it doesn’t seem to be as popular as “The Story of Kunning Palace” which was broadcasted at about the same time. I guess a vampire gege is more attractive than a war hero Mr. Green flag. LOL There are many things I liked about this drama, but I do agree with many reviewers that the last arc wasn’t quite as exciting.


What I Like:

1. Xu Kai - I’m so glad I finally get to see Xu Kai in another drama worthy of his popularity and star power. His last few projects have been duds. I have liked him best as the more animated lead in “Arsenal Military Academy” and also his more subtle emotional acting in “Ancient Love Poetry”. But here in “Wonderland of Love”, I see the best of both worlds. I am thankful that he’s not another emotionless cold-on-the-outside character, but one that is mature and gives him the ability to showcase his acting range. If you are a Xu Kai fan, this is a must-watch.

2. Li Ni (ML) - Li Ni is a historical Mr. Green flag. He’s loyal, respectful, communicative, honest, courageous, selfless, can fight, can scheme (but not wicked and cunning). He’s a good son, a good brother, a good comrade, a good lover. He’s almost Mr. Perfect. His one flaw (if you can call it a flaw), is that he’s so in love with A Ying (FL) that it might have clouded his judgment and conceding to A Ying. He just can’t say No. But, as a romance-lover, he’s the perfect boyfriend.

3. Cui Lin/A Ying (FL) - On paper as a female character in a historical war and political drama, it’s nice to see a smart female lead who can fight and can think. She is as smart as Li Ni, and sometimes actually outsmarts him. She is independent, stubborn, and loyal to the Cui Army. She also has strong beliefs in bringing peace to all.

4. Fight and Battle Choreography - First of all, I am going to criticize the occasional slow-motion fights, and spinning/twirling to create a romantic effect. Having said that, “Wonderland of Love” has some of the more impressive fight choreography for close-combat fight and war/battle scenes. The drama started off with the leads fighting each other. There are a few sword fighting scenes throughout the drama that are pretty good, especially when this is a historical, political drama, and not a wuxia/xianxia drama. As other reviewers mentioned, the battle in episode 30 was well shot and hardcore. It was a bloody battle and many died in different ways. When the Laolan song is played, it breaks my heart. There are only a few other dramas (e.g. The Rebel Princess and Love Like the Galaxy) that I can think of with similar impressive battle scenes.

5. OST - There are several songs in the soundtrack and they all sound lovely and complementary to the scenes.

6. Acting - Xu Kai and Jian Tian both acted well and did not disappoint. The veteran supporting cast definitely outshines the younger supporting cast. I don’t think the younger cast is horrible, but no one shines through either.

7. Ending - No rush ending, in a way. The last episode is dedicated to show how everyone’s doing.


What I have Mixed Feelings:

1. Lead Romance - As I mentioned, I like Xu Kai and Jiang Tian’s acting. But for whatever reason, I am not feeling their chemistry as a couple, especially during the cute and fluffy scenes. I can’t get it out of my head that Jiang Tian is 7 years older than Xu Kai. I don’t feel this way when Jiang Tian is paired up with Timmy Xu or Vin Zhan. It’s probably because Xu Kai has somewhat of a baby face. I don’t think this is supposed to be an older sis/younger bro romance either. A Ying is a strong female lead, but not necessarily an easy-to-like female lead in a romance. There are plenty of kisses in the drama, yet none of them seems passionate to me. I also think the directing of the kisses is a little off. But if you look at the romance objectively, it’s a good one. They are both smart, have the same goal in mind, courageous and for the most part when there are issues, they communicate with each other. They might not take the same road to achieve their goals and disagree on principle, but they understand each other’s circumstances. I love their love letter correspondence during war time. All the good elements of a great romance, but I am just not feeling it.

2. Secondary Romance - I don’t particularly like or dislike it. It’s like every other secondary romance in many dramas. They’re cute and all, but don’t add much to the drama itself. I much rather learn more of Consort Xiao and the General love story.

3. Liu Cheng Feng (2ML) - I don’t believe his love and obsession for FL justify his actions. The way he seeks revenge seems way over-the-top when it comes to a country’s safety. I pity him when he was weak and then I just didn't care for him much when he turned to the dark side.

4. Final Arc (last 9 episodes) - I have to agree with others that the last arc of the drama isn’t written well. This part of the drama was draggy and anti-climatic after the big battle in episode 30. All that could be told in half the time. With the initial cold war between the leads, I find it somewhat annoying that our supposedly smart FL hasn’t thought of the consequence of the Cui army when she tried to push ML to be the crown prince. She should have calculated all of that politics, and not been surprised by the king’s decision to disband them. We wasted a couple episodes on this cold war. The villain tried to scheme and set up the general as a traitor. It was brought up without much info, and was resolved without much fanfare either. I thought it would be some elaborate plan but in the end it was just he said she said. The invasion was done half-heartedly. These foreigners were used by others for most of the drama. And when it came down to business, they were taken out easily and anti-climatically.

5. Production Quality - I don’t believe this is a big budget production. The green screen used during the leads’ horseback riding was hilariously fake. The wonderland scenery also seems fake to me. The set design, costumes and props seem OK. I am disappointed that almost everyone is dubbed. I find the dubbed voice for A Ying doesn’t quite match the face of Jiang Tian. And what is up with the pale faces of Xu Kai and Jiang Tian when they are soldiers, living under the sun and dust all the time. I think they could have darkened their skin tone a little. They definitely look too white, clean and pretty to be general/commander.

6. The King - He’s annoying as heck! I know he’s not the smartest cookie, but I can’t believe we need to tolerate his dumbness and ignorance for 40 episodes.


Overall, this is a decent drama to watch. I will recommend this if you are a fan of Xu Kai and Jiang Tan. I am rounding my rating up for Xu Kai, as I think this is his best role yet. I realize my criticisms are very personal and somewhat petty. LOL.


Other Random Observations:
1. The band of brothers are fun but way too loud.
2. I love the scene of the grass dragonflies when ML was sad.
3. I am glad Gu Wang Niang is not the typical evil 2FL. She technically didn’t do anything too evil, but this actress portrayed the character so well that I really dislike her! She gives off this cunning aura, without doing anything evil. Is it good acting?


Completed: 12/17/2023 - Review #383

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best xianxia drama of 2023

honestly watched it because im a diehard fan of bailu! her acting here was great, as well as the ml! their chemistry is really amazing, same as when they acted together as the main leads in "love is sweet". this xianxia drama was overall quite touching, how the fl was actually seeking revenge on the ml yet the ml falls for her and their relationship deepens. their wedding scene was literally my fav part of the show and the saddest i think? i'll try not to spoil it im sorry lol. i honestly wouldn't want to rewatch it since the drama is quite long like 40 eps long, took me a week to finish. i would def recommend this for those who watched "love between fairy and demon" since idk why i find these 2 dramas pretty alike.

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A drama with an engaging storyline, good production quality and enticing romance.

When I first saw the trailer for Wonderland of Love, I was intrigued because it looks impressive and grand. It generally received good reviews, so I decided to watch it as soon as I finish another series, and I’m glad I did!

What I like:
1) It's a fictional historical drama with romance, which is one of my favorite genres. The story is grand – there's romance, friendship, politics, intrigue, strategizing, battles – but it also has humor and it's not too heavy, so there is a right balance. The pacing is just right, so it's not boring. I especially like episodes 30 to 40!

2) The ML (Li Ni/Shi Qi Lang) and FL (Cui Lin/A Ying) are both smart, charming, strategic, and very skilled in martial arts and military tactics. Both are strong-willed, which is a double-edged sword. They are not one-dimensional characters, so there are layers and depth to their personalities, partly influenced by their backgrounds and upbringing.

3) Great chemistry between Xu Kai (Li Ni) and Jing Tian (Cui Lin)! I like their banter from the start, and their chemistry grows stronger as I continued watching the drama; it gets better as the story unfolds (I didn’t feel it strongly in the beginning). I’m so glad the production team is not stingy with the sweet and romantic scenes! They definitely enhanced my watch experience.

4) Xu Kai as Li Ni / Shi Qi Lang – He is a great leader, commander, friend and lover. He's also strategic, principled, prioritizes relationships (重感情), values his freedom and is not interested in palace intrigues, though circumstances forced him to be involved. He doesn't like infighting and competing for the throne. I think Xu Kai played this role quite well.

5) Jing Tian as Cui Lin / A Ying – She is a brave, smart (sometimes even cunning), strategic and independent woman. She is beautiful but not in the traditionally expected sort of way. I may not agree with some of her actions, but I do understand her motivations, where she's coming from. Right now, I couldn't think of anyone other than Jing Tian who could pull off her character.

6) Interesting supporting characters who add spice and flavor to the story, such as Tao Zi, Chang Er, Pei Yuan, Lao Bao, and the other soldiers in the Zhen Xi army. Even the SML (Liu Cheng Feng) and SFL (Gu Wan Niang), both of whom I dislike especially the delusional/obsessed and ungrateful SML, were good in their portrayal. I also like how the romance between Tao Zi and Chang Er developed; it's sweet and they look cute together.

7) I'm smitten by the costume design! They're generally beautiful and elegant, fits the scenes, and have good color combinations. I need to mention that their wedding clothes are just so beautifully designed and matched. I also like the colors and interiors of the Eastern Palace. It's serene and so calming to the senses.

8) The fight/battle scenes were well-executed. Nothing looked fake.

9) Good choice of songs for the OST! I especially like the opening theme “Wonderland of Land” sung by Curley Gao, which is quite upbeat and has rock elements, and the ending theme “If Love Still Remembers” sung by Liu Yu Ning, which is more mellow.

10) The ending is great! Love how they showed many happy, sweet and endearing moments, mended relationship, and the characters got what they deserved. Basically, it's a nice wrap-up for the drama, and they dedicated one episode to it, which I really appreciate :).

Other comments:
1) The emperor is such a lousy father – he's biased and played favorites, and he's partly to blame for how his 2 older sons turned out. It’s good that both sons got their just ends. He's also an incompetent ruler – unable to make sound judgments, and easily swayed by the advice of his ministers, some of whom have their own agenda to push. Good thing he got some redemption towards the end. I think Gao Shu Guang was able to play the character convincingly.

2) The SML, Liu Cheng Feng (Gao Han), may look frail and sickly, but I find him somewhat shady from the start. And when he tricked the Zhen Xi army (who had rescued them), it showed his true colors. The SFL, Gu Wan Niang (Zhao Jia Min), is actually smart and seemed nice in the beginning, but it wasn’t long before she showed her scheming side.

3) At some point in the drama, the ML and FL seemed to be in a deadlock, unable to move forward because of their opposing views. They would disagree, have a fight then make up, then repeat the cycle a few more times. I got a bit frustrated with some of the back-and-forth arguments.

4) I wished they had shown that Cui Lin eventually found out about what Li Ni went through just to clear General Cui Yi’s name, so the outcome was a good compromise already. I don’t know if it’s in the novel, but it was not shown in the drama.

Final Verdict: I really enjoyed this drama, it’s interesting, entertaining and a good watch, so I would gladly recommend it!

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second leads outshining main leads?

i honestly don't understand why this plot was so weird. the main leads are literally zhang linghe and esther yu yet the script and plot literally just showcases the "BETTER" chemistry between lu yuxiao and ryan cheng, the red flag couple.
yushuxin's acting was quite good, the contrast of her in lbfad and in my journey to you was really huge, her cuteness in lbfad and the cold vibe she's giving off in this show as the wufeng spy in this show was really great, showcasing her strengths in acting cute characters and cold/evil characters. she's such a great actress!! the casting was actually a solid 10/10. just a very unexpectedly weird plot, it seemed like the directors only used the main leads to gain fame for this show just to project viewers to enjoy the acting of the 2nd couple more. If there was more scenes and chances for the main leads to showcase their romance/chemistry in this show more, im pretty sure we can see how their relationship deepens. the ending of this show was also pretty abrupt and seemed rushed? i hope there's a 2nd season where we can see what actually happened in the end instead of an inexplainable and "forcing viewers to guess" kind of ending.

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enemies to lovers plot

i love ml and fl acting and how their relationship deepened when they went through good and bad times. honestly, some parts of this show was confusing to me and the characters of the ml and fl seemed like red flags sometimes. i thought ml was wearing wigs but apparently he dyed his hair blonde and even got it cut into a buzz cut just for this show. he really sacrifices his hair for this show lol. fl's acting was quite okay. my first time seeing both of them acting in a drama and their acting is quite on point. the plot was quite interesting and i really liked the start of the show! iost is soooo good, esp the theme song "Falling You"! this drama was overall worth my time bingewatching! :)

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Feel unfinished

After the complete feeling from HIStory2: Right or Wrong, this part again left me feeling like unfinished story. You can say they have the complete story, beginning - middle - ending. But when they close the curtain, for me, the leave with the feeling of something to be finished...

If only they have a little bit closure, like HIStory2: Right or Wrong, when they give us a little preview about their life after relationship. It's gonna make the drama a lot better. Like if they end it in the graduation scene for examples... Oh that's gonna be a lot better.

But the story itself you can't said bad or toxic. This simply story about teenagers that fall in love & learn about their feeling to each other, apart from gender & any issues regarding it...

Overall i can't say this the best version of HIStory2 series, but also not the worst of them...

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