I finally finished this one- some good things you mentioned- some nice tension and mystery at times, (my fave was the shaman lady who led rituals - how much did she know about the shadow? Fiat came off the best of the star actors- others appeared lost at times- as did the script and direc tion- very unfocused but ambitious. I gave it the same score 7/10 as I did Not Me.
Weakest spots for me: Brother Anurak had a great role- the actor often appeared stiff or unconvincing. The girl love interest for Josh and maybe Dan?- she was rather woodenly reciting her lines. Also the teacher having an affair with the student and the bully/student- weak acting and spent a ton of time on their rather uninteresting tale.
Strongest points besides Fiat and opening credits were the ideas and potential- doing Hamlet as a real life ghost is lurking is a great idea. Some of the shots out and around the lake were spooky and beautiful
Like her smile was often "hyped happy" not "in love happy"... don't know how to explain that hahaha
I loved her in ExtraOrdinary you when she was playing a manga character who slowly becomes aware- here she did same style- and it felt over the top at times- vs more natural style of ML and 2nd ML.
Some other positives: Just started watching this a 2nd time so it is on my mind:)
1 Casting director/acting coach/direction: this is such wonderful , natural acting from pretty much everyone. Even the one note villians act well- they are just stuck with cliche plot/characters. Big kudos to the two leads, also to the actress playing the bar owner.
2 The music- I just love the vibe/tunes/vocals from the band Wetter- which is featured prominently in the series.
The icks- in addition to the boring villians you mentioned (Jae Wons ex GF and "best friend")- and the ridiculous "plot twist": Spoilers below.. _______________________________ 1 there is a scene where one lead suddenly treats the other like garbage without explanation in order to "protect" that person. I've seen this tactic in a number of series- but never in real life. 2 after showing therapy as a mostly positive with a therapist that appears competent- suddenly toward the end of the series she complains that the patient is not showing up often enough and that is costing her money----- no no no- don't do that!
Finally finished this- I know why I watched- 1 I thought Ryan acted well in this 2 There were a lot of hunks who frequently were playing sports and taking their shirts off!
It's inspirational, in that even people with brain damage can write a script and release a series.
I think the comments section alone warrants watching half an ep- I'm in first 5 minutes with Kimmon collapsing (in a busy road) in heavy rain- I'm picturing the white truck of doom that would appear if this were a rural road in a Kdrama
I thought the plot went all over the place, pacing- lots of awkward/not so great acting. But for me- the last episode kicked butt- the ruling gang leader and his partner had a nice scene- and throughout- the actor playing Ai Di was terrific- every scene he was in was a great watch for me.
spoiler plot below: The ridiculous- "I'm going to have pretend amnesia so the person I love will move on - even though thanks to me he has permanent brain damage" was ludicrous.
I just realized we learn nothing...and I mean NOTHING about the female lead other than she was bullied as a child…
I thought the script was the main devil- but have to say Baifern was pretty and gave almost nothing. Win also tends to coast on his looks. Why did 2nd male lead have a perfume lab in the apartment building? The other characters were stripped of their interplay with the Faye character and Guy's family stripped of their purpose- they just vanished. I did like the performance of Jane as Faye. Also the actresses playing Mimi and Guy's Friend came off pretty good and I think the one who went cuckoo for cocoa puffs (he was also good in Be My Favorite with another underwritten support role) is promising.
I thought episode 1 was basic but well done. Toosafe did a good job at angst and longing. Object of his affection Ohm.....looked cute! But after that it was a steep fall. I took your advice- skipping 5 and most of 6- got through it...... The director also co-directed Twins and should not work again- maybe delivers product cheaply? Kudos to makeup and lighting as two leads and FL looked amazing.
That's how I understood it...and my body since the ending made me cry.
I think it is open to interpretation. The original screenplay had the closing scene being the teacher and parent opening a door to the outside and the boys muddy but alive waving to them as the closing shot. There is a movie poster of this final shot. However during the pandemic- the director said he and the screenwriter polished the script and made it "better". Did they kill the gays? Were they reborn? One boy says yes, the other says no.
yes, because there was a scene where he is running with the lighter and it falls then the school principal picks…
I also think he did- additional clues - 1 he states he was up to 2 am the night of the fire 2 he "cremates" the dead cat and is fascinated by the flames and not too concerned with them spreading 3 He also states his belief that unless things burn - they can't be reborn
The other side: this movie is always shifting and trying to teach us to not jump to conclusions. As one person wrote: how realistic is it for an 11 year old to burn down a building with just a lighter? Just as everything pointed to teacher Hori being a monster - withhold judgement- maybe we all are monsters at different times and good at others.
The way you interpreted the movie is great. Also maybe I am just getting confused here but I think when mr hori…
I think it is open to interpretation- Yori thinks they were reborn- Mugino says no- this fits with the story always shifting perspectives and revealing differences. I can see why people want to watch this more than once. I hope they found the tunnel and emerged to be confident and happy at least for the moment- this follows the ambiguous principal's unexpected kindness and insight about what happiness is and who deserves it.
Yes this was a great premise for a story..... Agree about all the "oh they saw it and therefore must misunderstand"- a huge number of these. I didn't feel any of the performers felt at ease or passionate. The actor playing Lomfon has expressive eyes- but many times he was standing waiting for his lines. I thought the little brother came off the most natural of the four leads. And the "oh we can just not be soulmates" was ridiculous- and it is a Thai staple to have someone be horrible (Phat) and not face any consequences- at the end of the show he has successfully isolated Saengtahi in the country away from friends and family. Run, pleasant but boring Saengtai RUN! Several unintentional laugh moments: Saengthai falling after his big 1/3 mile hike up the road Phat's frozen in time moment as his ex slo mos in for a forced kiss- and then her playing the victim!
some nice tension and mystery at times, (my fave was the shaman lady who led rituals - how much did she know about the shadow?
Fiat came off the best of the star actors- others appeared lost at times- as did the script and direc tion- very unfocused but ambitious. I gave it the same score 7/10 as I did Not Me.
Weakest spots for me: Brother Anurak had a great role- the actor often appeared stiff or unconvincing.
The girl love interest for Josh and maybe Dan?- she was rather woodenly reciting her lines.
Also the teacher having an affair with the student and the bully/student- weak acting and spent a ton of time on their rather uninteresting tale.
Strongest points besides Fiat and opening credits were the ideas and potential- doing Hamlet as a real life ghost is lurking is a great idea.
Some of the shots out and around the lake were spooky and beautiful
1 Casting director/acting coach/direction: this is such wonderful , natural acting from pretty much everyone. Even the one note villians act well- they are just stuck with cliche plot/characters. Big kudos to the two leads, also to the actress playing the bar owner.
2 The music- I just love the vibe/tunes/vocals from the band Wetter- which is featured prominently in the series.
The icks- in addition to the boring villians you mentioned (Jae Wons ex GF and "best friend")- and the ridiculous "plot twist":
Spoilers below..
_______________________________
1 there is a scene where one lead suddenly treats the other like garbage without explanation in order to "protect" that person. I've seen this tactic in a number of series- but never in real life.
2 after showing therapy as a mostly positive with a therapist that appears competent- suddenly toward the end of the series she complains that the patient is not showing up often enough and that is costing her money----- no no no- don't do that!
spoiler plot below:
The ridiculous- "I'm going to have pretend amnesia so the person I love will move on - even though thanks to me he has permanent brain damage" was ludicrous.
The other characters were stripped of their interplay with the Faye character and Guy's family stripped of their purpose- they just vanished.
I did like the performance of Jane as Faye. Also the actresses playing Mimi and Guy's Friend came off pretty good and I think the one who went cuckoo for cocoa puffs (he was also good in Be My Favorite with another underwritten support role) is promising.
The director also co-directed Twins and should not work again- maybe delivers product cheaply?
Kudos to makeup and lighting as two leads and FL looked amazing.
The original screenplay had the closing scene being the teacher and parent opening a door to the outside and the boys muddy but alive waving to them as the closing shot. There is a movie poster of this final shot.
However during the pandemic- the director said he and the screenwriter polished the script and made it "better".
Did they kill the gays?
Were they reborn? One boy says yes, the other says no.
The other side: this movie is always shifting and trying to teach us to not jump to conclusions. As one person wrote: how realistic is it for an 11 year old to burn down a building with just a lighter? Just as everything pointed to teacher Hori being a monster - withhold judgement- maybe we all are monsters at different times and good at others.
Yori thinks they were reborn- Mugino says no- this fits with the story always shifting perspectives and revealing differences. I can see why people want to watch this more than once.
I hope they found the tunnel and emerged to be confident and happy at least for the moment- this follows the ambiguous principal's unexpected kindness and insight about what happiness is and who deserves it.
Agree about all the "oh they saw it and therefore must misunderstand"- a huge number of these. I didn't feel any of the performers felt at ease or passionate. The actor playing Lomfon has expressive eyes- but many times he was standing waiting for his lines. I thought the little brother came off the most natural of the four leads. And the "oh we can just not be soulmates" was ridiculous- and it is a Thai staple to have someone be horrible (Phat) and not face any consequences- at the end of the show he has successfully isolated Saengtahi in the country away from friends and family. Run, pleasant but boring Saengtai RUN!
Several unintentional laugh moments: Saengthai falling after his big 1/3 mile hike up the road
Phat's frozen in time moment as his ex slo mos in for a forced kiss- and then her playing the victim!