Reviews

Mindless actions for late night fun

Set in the future timeline inspired by Concrete Utopia, this Netflix originals film does little to retain that brilliant legacy, but instead turning it into a trashworthy bloody action B movie that's hot for streaming services. Gone are the deep level of social commentaries, here it's all about mindless actions for late night fun. Make no mistake, the fighting sequences are actually really impressive with striking martial arts techniques and crispy visual effects, but the storyline is such a huge disappointment which is going nowhere. The plot didn't fit well and it felt like they overdid most of the elements without sufficient reasoning, however for those who're ready to see Ma Dong Seok packing mighty punches, this could be great.

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There're some things I would change, but it was perfect overall.

It broke my heart knowing they were apart for three years but I understand that it was needed, Mhok could heal his wounds and traumas and Day learned to live happily with his blindness, even if it was difficult. I just wish they didn't put that dialogue of him saying he forgot how to be happy when he was blind, it's like erasing all his progression.
And while I thought it would've been nice if they kept the blindness representation until the very end I don't dislike Day getting his vision back, because the series showed he did live a happy and normal life while being blind during those three years.
Porjai and Night getting the family they deserved after everything was completely beautiful and their wedding was all I needed to see.
The OST was on point too, the filmography and locations were perfect.

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Logic? What logic?

You know i actually thought it would be more about the time travel and how they live their year instead of it just being an one episode premise for a serial killer case of batshit crazy whodunnit with leads last people standing horror movie kinda vibe. It was actually a wild enjoyable rollercoaster until the last few episodes where it took an inane turn and turn and turn and never stopped spinning in its absurd plot twists for the plot twists sake anymore that the rollercoaster derailed and crashed in flames down a cliff. While i could not roll my eyes fast enough to spin along with all the waaaaaay too makjang-y events on screen happening. Characters acted all idiotic (save for the leads) believing everything they were told, and against their own interest with zero self preservation skills whatsoever as they walked alone outside at night with a serial killer at large. Because this is what you do when you know you are dead-flagged of course :) Logic has left the chat. In fact it was never really present in the storytelling to begin with.

Like, there is a limit how ridiculous you can get with a story and its twists, even when the genre is fantasy/Sci fi. Or at least there should have been, since it would have been more believable and better constructed and not something from drawn from a cheap kbs daily drama plot-wise employing shocking twists for shock value only to construct a "tune in next" cliffhanger, logically held together by little more than spit and ductape. Sadly it had a sore lack of a white truck of doom trope for several of these a-holes within here that should have met the fate to make it actually entertaining. The leads were cute tho and actually smart, for once. Which sadly is a rarity in the thriller kdrama genre. I liked it till halfway through since i could not figure out why and where and who but then it started to get veeeeery nonsensical and goofy. Could not take it seriously, which is actually not a good hallmark for a thriller that tried to be all that it its tone. Resounding meeeeh. Even the mutt was stupid/useless and a brat (causing an accident as it constantly ran away.

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Korean Mad Max

Badland Hunters (or in my language Lovci u pustoši) is a spectacular post apocalyptic action movie. I still haven't seen "Concrete Utopia" nor did i read a Webtoon on which this movie is based of, but that wasn't a problem because this movie works great on its own.

The movie starts with a little bit of comedy to attract interest but very quickly continues with brutal and intense action. Fans of action and fighting won't be disappointed. In fact this movie has the best fighting scenes i saw in a while, mostly thanks to, of course, non else then Ma Dong Seok who is playing the main hunter Nam San and reminds me of Mad Max. Actually, while still being quite different, there are many other things here that reminds me of Mad Max movie and I would wish to see more from this world and characters.

The story is also strong and makes us think about the meaning of life in the world without dignity and hope. Goodness and humanity are more important than just surviving.

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great first 9 episodes, offensive ending

man I have never before written a review on mdl but this show drove me so insane I have to. This was going so well. it took me an episode or two to become sold on this, but then I loved it. the disability acceptance, a character who was struggling with a new disability but coming to accept it and live a full life no matter the circumstances. the relationship between porjai and mhok, when we rarely get intimate male-female friendships, especially among exes. day and night slowly reconciling was great. the music is fantastic, i sobbed like a baby after episode 9 like everyone else. genuinely if the show ended there it would have been like a 9.5-10/10. but no. then we had to go into Relationship Drama for the rest of the show. suddenly everyone is weirdly overprotective of day like he’s not a grown adult, the whole day’s mum is against their relationship bc she doesn’t know if mhok can provide for him was bizarre, but fine. i guess it’s a Romance at the end of the day, whatever. then episode 11 came. i’m like wow mhok sure is being weird and condescending and overprotective wonder whats going on there are we taking this caretaking urge past the level where it’s sweet and is instead now a compulsion? i had some hope when they broke up tbh. i thought well knowing the genre they’ll get back together but time apart will be good, day will become morw independent and mhok will have learned he cannot lie and coddle day like a toddler. then comes episode 12. which is so bad it was offensive. as soon as mhok decided his big arrival was to trick day and baby him in ways he didnt ask for again, even after three years apart, i fell to my knees in metaphorical despair. what was the point of the time skip, if no one’s going to change or learn anything? they absolutely nuked any character development by mhok in the last episode. he was there to beg day to take him back and for that only. his actual motivations or story mattered so little that they don’t even bother to explain like….. what happened with his prestigious job he abandoned out of nowhere or what he does after he stays in thailand. the whole “second chance” message was SO forced and heavy handed— why the hell did night call his deadbeat dad up to the stage at his wedding to talk about how much he sucked, and not his mom who raised him and who hes had this arc of reconciling with??? wouldnt that be a more meaningful second chance, instead of oh i guess we’re all forgiving this dude who walked out on us for no real reason, including the mom for some reason— though she has every reason to never forgive that man. but then. then the part that made me literally yell in anger. oh here’s a SECOND cornea transplant with no emotional weight this time and a SECOND three year timeskip for some reason! and day can see again and it’s all better now, he’s so glad that AWFUL part of his life is over and done with now haha the disability the show seemed to be about learning to live a full life with is gone now isn’t that great??? girl i was so mad i barely focused the last like five minutes. great they’re in a relationship that no work went in to fixing. woohoo. maybe worst last episode of anything, actively insulting to its audience and the story it was allegedly trying to tell. stop after episode 9 and have a lovely story instead.

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memorable

uno de los bls más hermosos que he visto ....de esos que se quedan grabados en tu corazón....gran historia....grandes actuaciones.....hermosa fotografía y por sobre todo una bella enseñanza....lo recomiendo una y 1000 veces.... viene a mi parecer reivindicar a este ship ya que siento que la gmmtv no le había sacado todo el potencial que tienen estos actores tienen una gran química juntos .....se nota que hay cariño entre ellos pwro por sobre todo mucho profesionalismo y respeto por su trabajo y por nosotros.....sus espectadores.....nada más que decir solo gracias por alegrar mis tardes de viernes ;)

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BL addressing captivingly a difficult topic, very memorable moments but wish for different ending

This drama revolves around the relationship of Day who faces partial blindness and Mhok who is hired as his caregiver. This BL has a very interesting plotline which addresses in a gripping way the topic of disabilities. The subject is discussed in the series through several angles: the perspective of the person having the disability, the perspective of his entourage, the way the world see him and how he perceives the world...I liked a lot some of the parallelisms done in the story, in particular thanks to a very special book featured in the drama.

The story is not without flaws but those are minors comparing to the overall quality and excitment the show provides. The pacing could have been a bit better as well as the treatment of some of the secondary characters. There was also a certain predictability to the overall scenario. I was expecting some scenes, it lacked a bit of surprises but was still very well done. I regret a bit a specific scenaristic choice made for the ending. I was expecting the series to take that road but still hoped the series would have gone into another direction as I think it could have been even more meaningful in that way.

The casting was generally good. Mark Pakin has a support role and is excellent (as usual) in it. I personally think that the overall series would have been less good without him to carry a storyline that could have felt flat and one note with a less talented actor. It is my first time watching the Jimmy X Sea pairing and they were very good together...Their chemistry was very convincing, it is not about lust but rather about love and care in each other...It was truly pure and enjoyable.

The OST was quite standard with one nice romantic song but I was bothered by some of the background music, the melodramatic music was sometimes overused and overwhelming..It was supposed to amps up the drama but it lacked subtlety and was a bit too much for my taste. In terms of production, there are some really memorable scenes with some good filmmaking and directing choice. The production value is quite in line with most of similar production but it is the way some scenes were filmed and some of the direction choices regarding for example the disability of the main character that are making the difference and elavating the series.

I would recommend this to people looking for a BL story quite deep and which is very healing while approaching a difficult topic. Its treatment of disability feels relatable and real. The acting was solid and despite some minor flaws in the writing and questionable scenaristic choice in the ending, it is very worth the time as it will leave on the viewer a lasting and resounding impression.

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My First and Last Twilight

This series have set the bar too high for everything, Great story, Marvelous cast, Top director and off the chart Ost's .. This is no doubt a 10/10 for everything, It's unique story with the right phasing, every episode keeps getting better and will definitely touch your heart and make you cry every episode, even just remembering what i have watched makes me cry ? the amount of times i have watched every episode and even english reaction videos up to thai reactors that i dont even understand their comments hahaha !! that's how much i love this series ❤️ P'aof and JimmySea never dissappoint ! Big thanks to all the cast and staff behind this amazing Series and congratulations in advance with all the category you guys will be winning this 2024 ! cheers ?

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Emotional and Beautiful

I started watching the series after episode 3 had aired because I saw people raving about it. How easily attached they got to the characters, how touched they are by the story. And what they said was all true. I got hooked so quickly. The chemistry between the leads is wonderful. The show is so good at giving you these emotional moments that make you wonder why am I so touched? Why am I crying? What just happened?

The cute stuff is stinking cute. The emotional stuff hits you in the face. The show hurts you on the regular but you are also happy about it.

This is not a fast paced show. This show is for everyone who enjoys characters getting to know each other better, enjoying each other's company, growing in the process.

The acting is so good. Everyone delivered but especially Jimmy and Sea. Both are such expressive actors. Their eyes and faces say it all. If someone watched Vice Verca before and is on the fence because of it, fear not. The acting truly is top notch.

Stand out episodes for me are episodes 3 and 9. These episodes especially did something to my heart.

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Part 4/4 isn’t needed

That ending ruined the purpose of the entire story. Day saying he’s having his “normal life” back after getting his sight is such a lame writing considering how the show tried so hard to tell the audiences that day was and had always been normal. As someone who’s living with a deaf little brother this series was such a huge deal to me, showing that people with disability can also be happy with what they have.
Also them choosing to still do the one palm distance at the end felt ableist and lost its value too. Such a shame bc this could have easily been a 10/10 show.

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Tearjerking and Beautifully Made

just honestly what is there to start when there is so many thoughts into such a masterpiece that perhaps kickstarted the Korean Hallyu culture that is today? Like many love songs, Gaeul Donghwa is trite and over dramatic. But if you can allow yourself to be vulnerable and accept the story, you will be treated to many emotional evenings. The series unfolds like a modern fairy tale (donghwa stands for fairy tale).

In contrast to American soap operas, Gaeul Donghwa was planned as an 18-episode soap opera. Some of the plot twists are dramatic and unexpected, but all are essential to the plot and serve to enrich the characters.

That said, the series could've been trimmed by a couple of episodes or so, as it is filled with countless flashbacks and several moments of "Come on, not that again!"

Still, the rest of the series is so powerful that I suspect even the most jaded and macho viewers will surrender their egos and bring their eyes to tears.

What is the message? I like to paraphrase my review of my all-time favorite film, Breaking the Waves. It paints each facet of love (e.g., mother-to-daughter, friendship, romance) with a palette of honesty and beauty.

And what beauty... The series is very beautifully shot, like the "yellow umbrella" scene where one of the lead characters sees the other character for the first time in many years. And acting is superb throughout, including the children.

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When My Boss and Beliefs Collide

This drama brought a refreshing balance to slow burn romances. The FL was young but not weak. She might be naive in romance but not standards nor boundaries. The ML was brilliant in strength as a boss and mentor yet soft when important. The nuisances within office relations, social norms and relational hesitation were relatable and heartfelt. The SFL as an antagonist was short lived but handled awesomely by the ML and SML. The supporting cast was very good at keeping the flow of the storyline. The growth with the FL was conveyed well. Even when the leads had conflict, you could still feel the 'heart' in it all. The unveiling of the 'bad eggs' was right on time and a twist that was enjoyable. The ML continued to grow in emotional intelligence which made the ending scenes cheer worthy. This series has a slow pace but is solid and worth the watch.

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It's good.

(This review contains slight spoilers from episodes 1)

I've watched the first 6 episodes, and I'm really enjoying it so far. The beginning wasn't the best; it was a bit confusing and even made me angry at some points. Ak Hee (the evil spirit) erasing FL's memories didn't sit well with me, but I warmed up to the character later on. I hope there's an apology for his past behavior.

Distinguishing between the Crown Prince and the evil spirit can be challenging, but I'm slowly getting the hang of it and can now tell who is currently in control. The female lead is amazing and strong on her own. I love her character. The Crown Prince also has my appreciation; there was a brief moment in episodes 5 and 6 where he was a bit unlikable, but the issue was swiftly resolved, and I understood his actions.

The acting is outstanding! The male lead portrays both characters uniquely, making them similar yet distinct—it's truly amazing. The female lead's performance, especially in her fighting scenes, is impressive. Some might criticize the wigs, and while I agree that in some scenes, they aren't perfect, it's not something that bothers me.

The chemistry between the male and female leads is definitely there. So, I wholeheartedly recommend this drama. Give it a shot at least until episode 4, it significantly improves from there if the first 3 episodes didn't fully grab you. Personally, episode 5 stood out as my favorite. It showcased the charm of both Ak Hee and the Crown Prince, as well as the female lead's strong independence.


Edit: I dropped it because I got second lead Syndrom SO bad. Fl fell for original ml but I started liking Ak Hee more. They have more chemistry and more cuter scenes in the beginning. I’m sorry, I couldn’t continue watching after seeing him in pain.

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JimmySea did it again!

These 2 actors are pure gold, with an extra trim of diamond in the name of Oaf, the director.

The way these portray emotions is something else. it's in their voice, their whole being. Of course helped by a very moving story, a perfect cast and amazing settings and music, this was such a joy to watch.

In the course of this drama, we get repect for disabled people like Day, who is gradually losing his sight, we get a fantastic analogy with a story in Day;s favorite book, we get redemption for the brother, the mother and the father, we get a happy ending for the best friend, we get the importance of second chances. we cry, we laugh, we get angry and we swoon over how Mhok takes care of Day.

I hated the break-up, but the way Mhok later thanks Day for it is such a flex!

I was maybe only a ;ittle disappointed they put in that 2nd surgery. Story could have been even stronger without it. But i'm not mad. It's already almost perfect as is,

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