They should've filmed in Korea

1. They should've ensured that the Korean prod team had control of filming in Japan. The shift in style and quality was too obvious.

I am not saying that the Japanese have low quality production, rather, this is a common pitfall when filming in other countries. To save budget, the foreign production hires local prod to handle things. This often changes the style and quality. I'm from the Philippines, and I can tell if certain scenes were actually filmed in our country or not, and if they hired/partnered with local prod and gave them more control or not.

Some scenes from Mission Impossible filmed in Asian countries also suffered the same. The Jason Bourne spin-off was the same. Some 007 films filmed in Latin America had similar issues.

Yes, it's also possible that for them to get a permit to film, they were required to give the local prod more control. Then they should've declined and filmed in Korea instead of going to elsewhere. Different countries have different styles and qualities in filming. It was obvious here in E05.

2. They wasted screentime "touring" Japan that was not actually a tour. Was it to showcase Japan? Because honestly, they did not showcase anything. Mt. Fuji? They did not even go to the best place to see Mt. Fuji. Foot spa? Dinner?

And the outdoor scenes were mainly close-ups. We can't see "Japan" at all. The culture. The people. The life. They kept the frames up close and personal. Many of it were done inside a car too!

If they can't show the environment, then why bother filming in Japan? For the brand sponsorship? If the reason is "because of Korean and Japanese sensitivities", again, why film there?

3. What's with the filter? Were they trying to present Japan as a country stuck in the 1200s? Then they should've "toured" where samurais are.

4. And talk about culture and touring. What was with the WIND scenes about its products with a very sleepy dialogues and "tour presentation"? Who told them to do it in a sleepy and very boring way?

"These are blah blah blah."

Dead air

"And these are blah blah blah."

Dead air

"He's cute."

"That's his son."

Dead air.

What the F?!! Get lively people. The CEO should've been proud and excited to present their achievements. The actor is a good actor, so who told him to do it that way? Unless he was sick when it was filmed?

5. The negotiation room. That was the best they can get in Japan?

6. The dialogues they gave the Japanese, they should've let a Japanese adjust it so it's natural. And the sake scene, was that even needed? That the Japanese people are greedy, ambitious, conniving employees? Practically every culture is like that, and K-drama revilves around that, so why repeat the same trope for a Japan scene?

I can't even feel "The Art of Negotiation" with a Japanese company in Japan. Are they trying to depict that Japanese companies are greedy and is out to take advantage of foreign companies? That there is "art" in negotiating with them, there is only "war"?

E05 = 0 stars.

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