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I Only Watched This Because of Li Fei
First things first, I only watched this because of Li Fei. Big shocker, I know.Despite everything looking cheap and/or fake, the voices being a tad annoying, and the story being super simple, I liked that the episodes had continuum . I have watched other dramas with similar episode count and length per episode where they just jump all over the place and I am left wondering, "how did they get there?". This did not happen with this one. The acting was okay-ish and it's definitely not a masterpiece. However, if you are looking to pass the time, need something for background noise or so unserious you'll go from laughing to rolling your eyes, this is it. I know I had a few moments where I thought, "what the hell am I watching?" Also warning, it's an open ending and it says that it was season one at the end, but in September 13 it will mark three years since the drama ended and there is still no second season.
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"All I See Are Red Flags"
The title of this drama is extremely fitting to the story. Like previous reviews mentioned, this drama is really not for the faint of heart.Broken the Heart was a dark, angst filled wild ride of a story with an utterly unlikable and sadistic male lead whose type of love language falls under the "I love you, so I hurt and belittled you, crushed your heart and confidence, so I could protect you” category, and a damsel in distress female lead who disappointed me to the very end. All I saw from this man from beginning to end were red flags. The second male lead was the opposite and was a sweetheart, but not without his own set of issues. Who wants a man who is so hung up on his dead wife that even after he "lost his memories of her" gives you her face?
At the end, the male lead did do one thing right, he let her go. In my eyes, this didn’t redeem him. The female lead leaving, and staying away, would have made the perfect ending for the devastatingly tragic "love story " that this could have been. It would have also made me respect her a little for saying her piece and staying strong. Sadly, they forced “a happy ending” which had no business in this story. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed this show from beginning to end as it was just right up my alley. The angst was delicious and completely satisfied me, making my heart feel full and content. There were scenes where the composition of it was beautiful, the acting was satisfying, and the OST songs were nice too.
I am honestly glad I started watching it again because it finally had decent subs since it was a show I came to enjoy very much.
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The drama tries to address subjects about the woes of women who are 30, and over, seriously, but they do it so lightly while trying to act serious that sometimes I found myself scoffing at the way they "analyzed" the situation. There isn't much character growth, if any. All relationship developments were rushed, I would have missed it if I blinked.
The acting was similar to most other Japanese dramas I've watched, not bad, but forgettable. And the music although it felt right for the moment, it's really nothing special.
Also, it's anime-ish at times. So, if you don't like those random characters that seem to come out of nowhere, random moments, and the exaggerated acting, this may not be for you.
I'm giving it a 6 because I did enjoy it, even if I don't considerate to be among the best dramas of any year.
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Production could have used time more wisely.
I started watching this show despite not being a fan of the main actresses since the concept really attracted me. I love witches and I love the occult and it's difficult to find decent Korean dramas with those themes.Despite not liking part of the cast, I was really enjoying the show. For once, I felt Song Ji Hyo had chosen the perfect role and had it down to an art. Even Nam Ji Hyun didn't make me want to pull my hair out, or at least not constantly. And I really enjoy
Chae Jong Hyeop 's acting. I really wanted to give the drama a 10 because it started with a strong foundation for the story it had to tell, but there was a big problem. It seems to me that the production team forgot they only had 8 episodes to work with. I felt the pacing of the first 6 episodes of the drama was more suited for a slightly longer show, although not necessarily a 16 episode one. It also didn't help that the episodes were so short, some barely making it to 40 minutes. This translated to a rushed ending which dampened some of my initial enthusiasm for the show.
While these behind the scenes happenings did affect my viewing experience at some level , I still loved the story , enjoyed the dynamics between the actors, and was satisfied with the ending.
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This movie was short when compared to other Korean movies I have watched. It was, also, sort of a spontaneous kind of watch since I hadn't planned on watching it just yet.I'm going to go straight to the point not because I hated it since I was totally immersed in its story, but because there's really not much to say.
Murderer has an overused premise, but one I enjoy most of the time. I love this type of psychological thrillers.
The atmosphere was tense throughout the whole movie even when Yong Ho and Ji Soo were together trying to be kids.
Ma Dong Seok, whom I had previously seen in a few dramas, was great as in this off kilter type of character. He definitely exuded danger. Even when I was not the one where his gaze was directed at, I could almost shiver. I hope he does more serious roles like this one. Also, Ahn Do Kyu (whom I remember from "Horse Doctor") is one we need to keeps tabs on. He has the makings of a great actor. I can't say much more without it being a spoiler. BUT, for me, whatever happened definitely clicked with the rest of the story.
I do wish they had showed more of what happened after that messed up ending. Messed up because of what happened not because it was bad.
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The movie is completely disappointing. The "storyline" was like when you are reading a book and you accidentally skip a few pages and then feel lost, but this was like it skipped full chapters. The acting was sort of like a very bad makjang drama. I've seen some of the actors in dramas and this is not they usually act. So, maybe it was asked of them to do it this way. The housemaid, what did she do? What did she gain? I wish she would have done more, but I think she forgot and skipped right to the ending of her plan. The music was mediocre and forgettable. The ending... I can't even describe the scene since the only thing that comes up to my mind, for some reason, is that the "Addams Family" is normal in comparison to this family. This is a movie that shouldn't be watched once much less twice.
This won awards? Why?
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The Story Did Not Deliver
Originally, I had planned to watch another drama, but that one did not have any official streaming platforms where I could watch it, so I decided to join dusty on her journey. I had also promised Jojo I would watch it and well, two birds, one stone. I also remember all the hype surrounding this drama, so it couldn’t hurt to try it out, right?I was wrong. Tell me wHY THIS DRAMA IS SO UNNECESSARILY LONG? WAE??? Some of the episodes were 1.5 hours and for no reason. Love Next Door had no business having sixteen episodes that were all over an hour. The story could have been nicely wrapped up in 10-12 episodes. Would I have given it a 10 at that point? No, I wouldn’t have, but it wouldn’t have left such a negative impression on me. The drama has no substance and is overrun by extended filler scenes, ridiculous and too long mini subplots, and extended flashbacks. I get it. They have been friends for over thirty years. It has been established, move it along! By episode 11, the drama had become a chore and this was extremely disappointing. Why didn’t I drop it? I couldn’t since I watched it as part of a challenge.
To add insult to injury the main male and female characters are extremely unlikeable. They are both whiny, sulky, immature pseudo adults who lack communication skills. Actually, most characters were unlikeable and served no purpose to the story other than to extend the runtime and test my patience. This did not change much as there was little to no character development throughout the show. The drama could have had a nice ending at around episode ten. But no, there were six more super long episodes which were filled with more nonsense. Another thing that did not work for me was that after such a perfect ex-boyfriend, they took him away from me and I was back to facing a bleak, romance-less viewing. Jung So Min had so much natural chemistry and great on-screen chemistry with Han Joon Woo. Their scenes were incredible; whether they were cute or heartbreaking. This was the point where I was most invested in the drama. So, it was really hard for me to believe that Jung Hae In and Jung So Min made a convincing couple since their chemistry, as lovers, was practically nonexistent. Anyway, I hope Hyeon Jun is living his best life after leaving South Korea. He deserves it.
I cannot comment on the OST because I honestly cannot remember a single song, not even the instrumentals. This has no rewatch value for me. I never want to talk or hear about this drama again. I’ll stop here.
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A Very Short Song
I’m still running high on the minis. I didn't like this one as much as the others I have recently watched, I think it’s mainly because The episodes were super short and just when I was getting into it and getting into a comfortable position, it ended. Then, the next one started in another “place” and I had to go through the whole process again… 28 times. So, I am going to say I prefer the minis that have 7+ minute episodes. Since this allows me to get into the story.However, the female main lead was refreshing. I give her *two thumbs up*. I like that she saw an opportunity and grabbed it. She was a victim once (she had a tragic past due to the disgusting old donkey of an emperor), became a survivor, and got her revenge. The male lead was more of a green to orange flag. I never saw him as a full red flag, except maybe in the first episode, but that was it. There were some nice scenes and a couple of steamy ones, but nothing that brought out an intense emotional response from me. Despite the show being short, and me not being fully invested, the story felt complete. And honestly, if episodes had been a little bit longer, I would have been devastated. So, I don’t see why it would need a second season.
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Story: I watched it because when I read the description, it "sounded" interesting. But having watched this when I was new to dramas, I was in for a surprise and not necessarily a pleasant one.
Acting/Cast: It was horrible. There was a lot of overacting by everyone.
Music: The music was fairly decent. I still listen to one song from the OST, "Bitter Tea".
Re-watch: I never plan on watching this again and I honestly don't recommend it to anyone.
Overall: I watched this when dramas were bright and shiny for me and when I didn't drop dramas. If had I watched this now, it would have been dropped by episode 2 at the most. Or more likely, I wouldn't have even bothered with it.
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Story: I love fantasy stories and this one as far as a story goes was great. This is not focused on battles and action, it is more like a Fairy Tale.
Acting/Cast: The acting wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible either. It was just enough to keep you interested in what was happening on screen.
Music: The music was amazing and went great with the story.
Re-watch Value: Since this is a movie, it's very likely I'll re-watch it sometime in the future.
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The Man From Nowhere blends powerful scenes with a touching story to create a great movie. The story will slowly and steadily build up to the action which will keep you at the edge of your seat.
The setting is dark which possibly hints that past, which has his neighbors coming up with different types rumors about him as it frequently happens when we don't understand something or something is unknown. Won Bin's portrayal of this mystery man is outstanding and solid.
So Mi's situation and story will captivate you and the little girl who plays her, also, did a great job with her role.
The other actors were also superb and they did a great job portraying dark characters.
The music helps the set the mood. And it never felt out of place or random.
I do wish it had ended a bit differently than it did.
There's blood and violence, if you don't like these two elements, the movie might not be for you.
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Story: The story was different and well written. The plot kept getting more interesting with each passing minute. Everyone involved in the production of it, cast and staff, knew just how to take it a notch up with each episode, which left me wanting more.
Acting/Cast: The actors did such an amazing job that I loved every interaction between them, even the ones I loved to hate (and there were a few of those). Jung Woo Sung playing the role of Yang Kang Chil was simply brilliant and he is a character I will not forget. Kim Bum as Gook Soo was also amazing.
Music: I loved the soundtrack of this drama, every song went perfectly with the moment and the story. It, also, helped enhance the emotions the cast kept throwing our way.
Rewatch: I would love to re-watch this, but it's not very likely any time soon. Not because I didn't like the drama and not because I thought it was average and not worthy of a re-watch. But because every aspect of the story, even the happy moments, were heartbreaking.
Overall, I give this drama a 10. I think it deserves it. It cast a magical spell which enthralled, amazed me and from which I could not escape. It is definitely worth a watch and make sure you have some tissue with you because it is a real tearjerker, especially towards the last episodes.
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Everyone, and Their Mother
This story is definitely not new. We often see the “during the Republican Era the female lead enters the home of male lead to exact revenge for this or that family member” storyline in mini dramas. Feng Yu Ji, the female lead, although had a knack for becoming a damsel in distress, didn’t irritate me as much as some other female leads, actually had some plans, and managed to put quite a few of the culprits on the spot. Shen Tan Qian, the male lead, although suspicious of the female lead at the beginning because of justifiable reasons, wasn’t a whole fleet of red flags all by himself. That is not true for almost everyone else, with the exception of a few allies. Everyone and their mother (possibly quite literally) in this drama were out to get the female lead and were dark and twisted characters, except for the little sister.The acting and chemistry between the main leads was good. This drama wasn’t high in the level of intimate spiciness. Instead, it gave you the spice in the form of blood and violence, which to be honest, I wasn’t put off with. Give me death and blood is my motto. The show’s cinematography was visually pleasing as a whole. The ending scene, similar to other scenes throughout the show, had a beautiful composition and felt soothing and nostalgic at the same time. The OST was nice too.
And I guess it can be considered a happy ending for the main leads. Although, ‘m sure they will have nightmares for the rest of their lives. Was this show a masterpiece? Definitely not. Did it do the job of keeping me entertained? Yes, it did!
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Nostalgic
This was such a great little drama. I had never heard about it before and I'm glad I came across it.The drama features good acting, story, cinematography, and OST which pairs well with the story. The story is not told lineally and uses flashbacks as one of its main storytelling devices. I greatly enjoyed it in this show because all the regulars got a backstory and it showed how characters developed into who they were in the present. The ones who did not get a fully fleshed out background story, still received a little attention in the future. This was one of my favorite things as it really helped me care about each and every one of them. Even the most hateful one had my sympathy, for about 2 seconds, but still had it.
It was also interesting for me to see similarities in the way the characters grew up, going to the corner store, getting cheap candy and thinking it was the best, and playing in the streets with friends. The traveling grocery van Jun Long came up with is especially nostalgic. It brought back memories of "la guaguita del pan" from my childhood. Its main product was the bakery bread, but it was like a traveling grocery store. We would all run to the corner while yelling, "we we we", so it would stop when we wanted to buy something. The prerecorded message was similar too.
My main complaints are that, even though I enjoyed the flashbacks, they repeated some of them one too many times, some closures were half arsed, and that extra scene after "the ending" was unnecessary. Especially, if there is no season 2, even almost 5 years later.
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The first episode did very well its job. It reeled me in with Daisuke's family mystery and it made me interested in its main characters. I really liked that both main characters had their own mysteries to solve. Then, the opening of the show rolled in and I was a total goner. I loved the concept of everyone being a book you need to read to know its story. At least, that's what I gathered from it.
I, also, really enjoyed the way the actors portrayed their characters. The chemistry between Gouriki Ayama and Kurosawa Ryohei was really good. And I thought Shioriki and Daisuke were awkwardly cute when they were together.
Although the drama is slow paced and has a really mellow atmosphere I think it fits. It helps keep up the mystery and suspense as Shioriko and Daisuke try to solve the mysteries they encounter in each episode. And even though each episode had a different story, it still had a main underlying one running in the background. For me, this made it feel a little less episodic.
The OST was also good. I loved the instrumentals, they seemed to fit the moment just right. And while I did hum and failed to sing along to the ending credits song "Never ending story... la la la.." I doubt, I will be listening to it anytime soon. Unless I rewatch the drama. I think that's the only way I'll listen to it.
There were some things that bothered me though. Why did she have to dress like a bag lady grandma just because she likes books? I tried not to let it bother me too much since I was really interested in the story. The other was the romance. Yes, there was some, but you had to use a microscope without blinking to get a glimpse of it.
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