Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area - Part 1
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One of the best GAY movies ever made!
I could write a book about the beauty of this movie. There is so much to unpack in what initially seems like a throw-away film that was originally released in 2022. Marketed as a comedy, it is indeed funny. Its premise is rather unorthodox for us who live in the West. We do not fully understand or grasp different religious beliefs or cultures especially centering around a deep connection to individuals who are deceased. But that does not take away from its impact. If anything, it adds to it. As stated, this is billed as a comedy, but its ending is so sad. Deeply sad. Full of regrets but with an opportunity to redeem those regrets. Perhaps that is its lasting message that we should be overcome with. Life is so fragile. Regrets are plentiful with perhaps the opportunities to redeem those regrets coming along so infrequently. Maybe it is best not to waste them.This is an astonishingly impactful movie that will make you laugh, cry, and allow you to ponder and take pause. The timing of its humor is seamless. The acting is impeccable. The story is inspirational as well as being a tear-jerker. In other words, it is memorable. To read my full review of this awesome film, go to BLBliss.com.
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Keep physics aside and focus on chemistry!
Keep in mind, this is pure fiction, not science fiction—just fiction. Don't seek logic; focus on the emotional journey of the characters. If you're into romance and can overlook scrutinizing every action, give it a try.The love story beautifully showcases the emotions of the leads. Initially, you'll feel the FL's heartache; her pain and suffocation resonate deeply. It's a profound experience. I fell in love with the ML. His charming aura is refreshingly uncommon in dramas. Unlike the usual quiet, arrogant MLs, Li Z Wei's charisma is uplifting.
The OST is a standout! It'll stay with you.
The plot is engaging but slightly confusing. It oscillates between two sides, tangling and then unfolding. They may have overcomplicated things, making resolution a bit tricky. However, there were no major plot holes or unanswered questions, though the presentation of answers left something to be desired. The rush to the ending was a drawback. Additionally, both the FL and the villain appeared noticeably older for high schoolers.
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Worth Your Time
It is worth your time. Done with the series. If you are looking for non-super power, non reincarnation with mysterious yet intriguing storyline, beautiful directing and sceneries esp fighting scenes, lovely OSTs and excellent & mature acting from actors and actresses, this is the one!!No nonsense. Every episode will make you addicted to continue watching the next episode because of the suspense. I knew this too late. I did not know this drama is so HOT in China when it aired.
I came for actress Mao Xiao Tong when she promoted in Hello Saturday. I thought it was weird because she came alone. Normally, a few cats will appear together. Tried watching the 1st episode and I am hooked!
Love the bickering of ML and FL. it is non of your typical romantics but this is what I want, non mainstream. Their scenes together are so precious because it is limited especially when paired with the OSTs.
Season 2 is definitely on the way, everyone!
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This review may contain spoilers
Society makes monsters of us all
I am late to the show, but man, what a show it was! I have been picking up and dropping dramas lately, but this one I absolutely felt the need to finish. At first, I thought it was going to be the typical "fairy goddess and evil warlord fall in love and she changes him to be good" trope, but I was so wrong.Actually, I already could tell how wrong I was within the first episode. None of the characters are really black or white, good or evil. There are many shades of grey. And as I sank deeper into the story, it became obvious that the greatest monster is not the devil god or his minions - it is society who brands a person with a seal, giving them no chance to redeem themselves and inevitably creating the monster they love to hate, thus justifying all the bloodshed in the name of "good". Tantai Jin is such a complex character and I can only applaud Luo Yunxi for his portrayal of what actually amounts to 4 different characters in various shades of grey. And even just in the role of Tantai Jin he is believable as someone not understanding why the world "wants" him to be evil, sometimes trying to escape his fate, but inevitable being forced to make decisions that bring him closer and closer to what he doesn't want to become. He tries again and again to love, to find a place in this world, and he always gets hurt, disappointed and his heart broken by those he thought to be closest to him.
I have read other opinions, but I felt the chemistry between the two leads to be natural and magnetic. It was heartbreaking to see how they came to love one another but at the same time, could not stop hurting each other, sometimes willingly, sometimes by accident or misunderstanding. Love - especially with a fate such as Tantai Jin's and Li Susu's - is never as easy as other dramas make it seem to be. Li Susu, as the apparent "good" character, also has flaws, but to be fair, she comes from a place in time that gave her immense trauma and heartbreak. The fact that their relationship is toxic to begin with feels natural and makes absolute sense.
Excellent acting, so many memorable side characters that actually made me cry. Heartbreaking scenes apart from the main storyline, breathtaking costumes, beautiful soundtrack. This drama has it all. CGI was one of the better ones I have seen, you can tell that they put some money into the making of this drama. If I would complain about something, it would probable be editing, as the last 2 or 3 episodes felt weirdly rushed in some parts and some scenes were a bit difficult to follow. But this could be because I don't speak the language and have to rely on what the subtitles tell me. The Bo're timeline felt a bit detached and could have done with a tighter storytelling, but in the end, a lot of this timeline is necessary because it gives tons of context for later parts of the story. Just, while you are watching it, you want to go back to the actual, "real" storyline, because of course you don't know yet how important this dream will be later down the line.
Yes, there is a lot of what we westerners would describe as the typical cdrama nonsense like going to bed in full dress and ornate hair pieces and spitting rivers of blood. As someone not that into the way acting is often done in asian dramas, I was surprised at the total lack of fake crying and annoying female characters behaving like little girls.
Big fan here, big fan. More of this please, I am an absolute wreck now, in the best possible way. :)
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I liked it in spite of myself
I don't know what it is that makes this show as enjoyable as it is, but there's just something about it.The premise is interesting but poorly executed, the writing is solid but the plot doesn't exactly make sense, the acting is great but the characters are underdeveloped. So why in the hell does it work so well then?
I can't answer that question with any certainty but I can sure try.
My favourite part of the show are the characters. Yes, they are somewhat underdeveloped and don't really have character arcs as such, but they are all incredibly, bizzarely charming.
Our prince is as sweet as sugar, he is a ridiculously kind and gentle person who is very inconveniently stuck in the body of a royal. He is almost as much of a fish out of water as Eun Ho and watching him doing his best is as funny as it is sweet.
Our bodyguard is the epitome of the tortured, brooding servant utterly devoted to his master and absolutely no-one takes him seriously. He waves around his sword and makes threats and vows to protect the prince with his life and mostly all he gets in response is "yeah yeah we got it, calm down and come join our cuddle pile instead".
Our hapless time traveller steals the show by virtue of being utterly, hilariously unflappable. No matter what happens to him, no matter how strange his environment is, he faces it all with an attitude of "Yeahh this might as well happen" and then simply gets on with his day.
The dynamic between the three is incredibly entertaining to watch and there are many fairly unsubtle hints at a potential polyamorous relationship between them, which makes the whole thing even more enjoyable.
So take all that, mix it with an absolutely gorgeous wardrobe and a story utterly devoid of angst, shake it vigorously, and what you get is this odd, off-beat, wholly charming show. It's not a good show by any common metric, but it is undeniable fun to watch and at the end of the day that's what's important.
So give it a shot, you'll very likely be entertained.
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Lovely, Classy, Unexpected
I really, really like this one. When I first started watching it I couldn't even get through the first episode, but something convinced me to give it another shot and I'm so glad I did.Once you get past the first episode, awkward and uncomfortable as it may be, you suddenly find yourself knee-deep in a compelling, well-written story with interesting and likeable characters that touches on some more mature topics which it handles quite deftly.
The show's strongest point are its characters. They all have interesting and realistic character arcs and grow significantly over the course of the series. The strong focus on friendship as well as relationships is especially wonderful.
What's also rare is the way the show centers its female characters. They both have agency, they both have their own very distinct personalities, they don't serve as mere plot-devices to further the main relationship, and the depictions of male-female friendships are just amazing.
The story also does a good job of exploring the realities of being a young woman and the constant looming threat of predatory men without ever getting too violent or reveling in the characters suffering. There is also nothing of the "damsel-in-distress" archetype about Yu Na's character even when she does ask for help, and this also makes that particular plot thread work much better than it might have done in a different show.
Another aspect of the series that I loved was its grounded and direct approach to queer characters and queer issues.
Ro Ah's relationship with his friend, for instance, is unique in that they are both queer, but while they both know that Nam Jun is romantically interested in Ro Ah, Ro Ah doesn't reciprocate these feelings and they simply stay friends and even live together with very few problems.
Ro Ah draws very clear boundaries and is incredibly direct about his wants and needs regarding their relationship and when Nam Jun oversteps those bounds, Ro Ah takes a very firm stand in how unacceptable such behaviour is.
I have never seen this sort of dynamic depicted in a queer drama before (unless the end-goal is for the two characters to end up together, of course) and I was very pleasantly surprised by it.
The characters also directly address the concept of coming out rather than just alluding to it which I have also not seen before and which I absolutely loved.
All in all there is a lot to love about this little series and I encourage you to give it a shot. If you can get past there first episode you will find a show full of realistic and charming characters, that knows how to inject subtle humour and genuine emotion into an interesting and somewhat unique storyline. It's an underrated gem of a show and if you let it, I think it might just charm you as thoroughly is it did me.
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This review may contain spoilers
aa typical sweet cheesy cdrama...but with improvements
is this your absolutely typical sweet cdrama featuring cold hero and bubbly heroine? yes. but Mary Jane she is not!!! she is beautiful, famous, and has a Ph.D?! hell yes. also lots of great commentary about beauty as a construct and makeup as a tool for empowerment not because of shame...like honestly mind blown a bit there for this being a chinese drama.a lot of corny and unnecessary drama, particularly a whole couple episodes worth of the leads working undercover and a very annoying "villian" character that i think the show could have done without so plot wise sometimes felt clumsy towards the end, but overall a nice refreshing watch.
also 10/10 to the writer who kept making very self aware rom-com drama jokes and references
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now that was a lot. certainly mask girl aint for the ones with a weak heart.the story starts with kim mo-mi who is a normal office worker who deems herself ugly and thus colouldnt become an idol as per her dream. currently she streams on online sites while wearing a mask so that she can fulfill her dream while not revealing her face. this quickly becomes controversial as she is often seen to be narcissistic and over-flirteous on camera and even did a nude show based on her personal emotions. this started all the problems. one by one she was met by problrm after problem unless it turned into a series of murders and the only life mo-mi was living was that of a fleeing murderer. soon enough she gets caught and then starts the story of her daughter mi-mo which is just as twisted.
the ending wasnt up to my satisfaction. it felt quite sudden and emotionless but the plot was just awesome and one of a kind. as much as i love korea being more open to thrillers nowadays its very concerning how everything is thriller nowadays. (not saying i dont enjoy them tho)
nevertheless me likey
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Sonny, Ji Chang Wook, and Sung Dong Il save the show!
Unhappy and abused throughout his childhood, Gyeo Re has no will to live anymore and almost end his life, if not for an encounter with the lead of a volunteer team at a hospice facility, when a new and better life began for Gyeo Re.Despite my appreciation for this show, it might not suit everyone’s palate as it is set in an end-of-life care home or hospice center – so people die throughout the drama. There’s child abuse, violence and also, Gyeo Re’s dying dog. Please watch only if you can handle the subject matter.
This drama gives you faith and funny moments, but the highlight for me is Gyeo Re, his dog and Tae Shik. They both have a sad past and their arcs become the heart of this drama. Eventually, they really brought out the best in each other. My heart is wrecked with the dog story cause I wanted him to survive, he's just so adorable.. I was bracing myself throughout because I don’t know if he’s gonna make it and how it will break Gyeo Re too. I was looking forward to developments in Gyeo Re’s childhood friend and glad that they give the good one. I wasn't expecting the romance and the mystery plot line, which really distanced me from the characters. I'm happy enough with the ending.
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beautiful, creepy, meaningful and lustful
Despite being a skilled worker, Moon Gang Tae (Kim Soo Hyun) struggles to settle in one psychiatric ward for longer than a year; which seems to be due to his and his brother's Sang Tae (Oh Jung Se) trauma and current situation. One day, he met a successful author Ko Moon Young (Seo Yea Ji), who writes dark-toned children's fairytales and who is obsessed with him at the first sight. There are reasons of why these people are the way like they are, and those reasons seems to be darker than as it seems as first…I really enjoyed this drama for the cinematography, vibes and unique animated visuals of the fairy tales. They’re beautiful, creepy, and perfectly represent our female lead, Ko Moon Young. It’s fun how she was introduced as a dark fantasy writer aimed at children, who has a kleptomania for knives. Seo Ye Ji was phenomenal portraying her every movement and talk, showing Moon Young’s psycho and powerful aura. At times I got bored with the plot, but she’s the reason for me to keep watching. Her chemistry with Gang Tae, can only be said as seductive. The tension between them was intoxicating, especially the firsts times when they were enemies. Another thing, the Moon brotherhood were so genuine and emotional. Sang Tae’s appreciation towards art was so endearing and self-soothing. When he sees a mural, the world is more energetic and warm for him and I love the emphasize on that aspect.
This drama also has perfectly engaging OSTs. The OSTs blurred the lines among the various genres in this show; romance, comedy, suspense, and a bit of horror. The only thing that was not as engaging to me is the mystery subplot, it was predictable, too long and anticlimactic. Other than that, as mentioned, everything was beautiful and worth-watching!
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge
edited Mar, 2024
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pedestre, tranne gli effetti speciali
fortunatamente è molto breve perché se fosse durato di più non credo sarei riuscita a finirlo. la storia è talmente trita e ritrita che sembra un omogeneizzato, tra l'altro ci lascia in sospeso in attesa di una seconda stagione che a questo punto spero non facciano mai. i cosiddetti colpi di scena sono qualcosa di penoso e non mi stupirei se in futuro ci venissero a raccontare che in realtà il fiore è la ragazza. gli attori sono pedestri, al punto che mi domando se siano effettivamente degli attori professionisti o gente presa dalla strada o dalle accademie al loro primo lavoro. inoltre gli attori non sono neanche particolarmente carini per cui neanche da questo punto di vista ci si salva. tra tutti quanti hanno una sola faccia: monolitica. l'espressione dei sentimenti, questa sconosciuta. assolutamente bocciato e sconsigliato. l'unica cosa che si salva sono gli effetti speciali, abbastanza carini per il genere e per il tipo di lavoro. aggiungiamoci che gran parte delle scene sono buie perché comunque stiamo parlando di un mondo di vampiri e quindi si presume che stiano in stanze buie candele e quant'altro insomma tutta l'ambientazione è abbastanza penosa e di cattivo gusto. terribile.Was this review helpful to you?
Not impressed
Like others I didn’t know it was a remake. I started watching it because of Ahn Hyo Seop and the fact that it was a time travel story.I have very mixed feelings about this drama though.
On the plus side: good acting, good cinematography, nice ensemble, 12 episodes were more than enough. Thank god it wasn’t 16.
On the minus side: the plot is so complicated and twisted ! I thought it was a bit too much and the time travelling music drove me insane.
I still watched the 12 episodes trying to imagine how the two leads will eventually be reunited. I didn’t see the end coming as I thought Nam Si Hon would have used the Walkman to travel.
Still… it was a bit of a Meh! For me.
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