Medium for societal awareness
I was initially lost watching this series, but rewatching it again incorporating the idea that it is from a society that still learning to openly understand and accept mental health issue gave me a better understanding.Death provided a medium to see life in another aspect that is worth living. For a society who is still not culturally accepting of mental health, this show subtly brought up the struggles leading to high rate of depression and suicide.
These young artists played their character well enough to manipulate me, as a viewer to think this is a light, fun series but in reality, it addressed the dark side of life.
If only everyone who suffers from depression can have an awakening then a second chance like the protagonists in this story, there will be less suicide.
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Time restriction playing dirty
The concept is great for this movie, plus the excellent artists in it could have made this an interesting watch but I think with this kind of concept, it should have been a mini series to be able to tell the story clearly. It started right in the core and went on halfway without me understanding how the system works for these family. Then there is a character that until the end, I wasn't sure who he was until after reading some articles online about this movie. Even then, am still not sure because it didn't make sense to me still. (talking about the guy appearing beside Bai Li supposedly her dead husband but how come during the emergency computer problem, woosik and that girl called out to him for help?) Maybe someone can enlighten me.I plan to watch again hoping I will catch parts I missed that might explain this movie better.
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Well choreographed fight scenes
In some scenes, I felt like I was watching through the eyes of the charcoal 😁 you have to watch to understand what I mean.If not for the story, stay to watch the fight scenes that were excellently choreographed. The very end scene with the sword pointed at Prince Qi's neck was awesome.
The story is good too. It has a nice ending and it didn't disappoint. Production's hard work is evident in this movie from scene sets, props, lighting, and wardrobes. Everything were done well to help tell a vivid story.
One beautiful scene was the dancer performing beautifully during a siege and not stopping complete with a smile kn her face.
The synopsis made it sound simple and boring but it is far from it.
I recommend for costume and period viewers.
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The Mystic Nine Side Story: Four Belongs to Abelmoschus
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Gory, bloody, no character evolution
I am not a fan of gory films but I gave this a watch hoping it has a good story that can balance out the gory scenes.What's common in this movie is "no explanation" leaving viewers questioning why:
●C. Ping is the way he is
●100 coins no more no less to kill
●the science project on the women
●What's with the flag marker
●Relevance of the cockfight
●And so many, many more
Production such as scene set, costume and props were aptly mastered here.
Acting was convincing.
Characters written are chaotic.
I can't recommend this movie unless you love gore movies that makes no sense.
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Amazingly Entertaining
I regret ignoring all seasons and series of Ossan's Love. I have never laughed this much watching a series. Episode 5 hot spring scenes was the most hilarious of all for me.Some viewers will find some characters irritating. However, I find the writer a genius for meshing a hotpodge of characters together and making them work harmoniously, producing a very entertaining series. This has a little bit of everything and nothing excessive except for Chief's screaming and Haruta's reactions but I think they were necessary to complete the comedic aspect of the series.
I truly hope they do another sequel.
I enjoyed all Ossan's Love sequels but this is my most favorite one.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED VIEWING
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Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!
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More than a BL Fantasy series
Honestly, I dropped this series after 2 episodes 2 years ago. I felt exhausted with Adachi character. Rewatching it this time taught me a huge lesson: It will not always be fireworks at first but given the opportunity and time, it may not just be fireworks but dancing beautiful colors along with it.Best part I love about this series is how it didn't end in just their romance story but it included dealing with their filial responsibilities. I love the bravenes of Adachi of wanting their parents' blessings and fighting for it.
The animation for this is slightly different in few areas but I like it the same. Still turned out satisfying to watch. I did flinch a bit couple of times for the overreaction in some scenes that is typical of Japanese series.
Overall, I will recommend this series and don't stop there. Watch the movie because it has a lot more to offer.
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Simple and Edible
A simple story portraying life of 2 friends starting their college life together. No heavy drama to be seen but lots of simple recipes that viewers will be able to try. I am a foodie so I love this aspect of the movie.There is underdeveloped relationship between the 2 friends. They are very close but no clear statement of anything beyond special friendship. Viewers can decipher the emotions of the characters for each other based on their actions, words, and gazes for each other. However, the movie will end with no clear statement other than strong and special friendship.
Production did well with scene set up and props. I am big on recycled/reused wardrobes so I am a bit disappointed with scenes having used wardrobes for characters. (I am aware diff scenes were shot on same day explaining the wardrobes but good director and production will know that this impact the storytelling).
There is a season 2 slotted for July per MDL which may show evolvement of their relationship. There is also a cute short segment after the credit so don't be quick to end watching when end credits comes on.
Saw someone sharing a link for Season 2 trailer which I will definitely watch after submitting this review.
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Could have been be great
Concept is good until story got twisted starting at 9:30 teenager Alice story got introduced.FL Saya is an interesting character but ruined by poor dubbing. I think the artist they chose for the role did the character well. The rest mostly exaggerated their acting that can be irritating sometimes
Love the inclusion of WAR music and other 70's sounds.
It started gory and has some gory scenes. Overall, it can be good enough to watch when needing something to kill time. ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♥︎♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♥︎♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
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Short but packed
This is an impact full & beautiful story told in under 4 minutes. Hard to rate this low when it was able to stir emotion, stir my imagination, made me rewatch and crave for more in under 4 minutes.In a short time, the adult at the bookstore narrating the story introduced the characters, lives, feelings and how it ended. The ending gave viewers the opportunity to continue the story on their own. Who could have come through that door but the same person who is always late as told in the story. The last line being "you are late...."
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Fun!!!
I didn't have high expectations for this series because of my own pre-judgment of few episodes with multi-couple but this turned out to be a fun watch. I bursted out laughing at scenes I didn't expect to be funny at all. Jung Lee Won (JLW) and Kim Ji Oh (KJO) truly delivered their roles quite good. I didn't see the chemistry at first but my mid series, I realized I was looking forward to more scenes of them.Woo Soon Woo and Ko Yoo Kyeom is the cute couple doing a more serious tone in characters. Although KYK made my head spin with his relationship with his GF and then his response when WSW confessed to him, I stuck with it to get a better understanding of his character. (You gotta watch to see why it confused me. You will see it clearly). I hope it wasn't lost in the translation.
The production did pretty good with wardrobe and sets considering this to be a low budget series. Unlike other series, you wouldn't see same wardrobe for different scenes.
I would recommend this for any BL series lover. Fujoshis will have a fun time watching this series. This Korean version is my most favorite one.
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If you are considering to watch...
it is not a spoiler to say that this has zombies/undead in it.I like Liu Yi Tong and he did a different character here that he portrayed well. Yuan Zhao didn't disappoint either although there's some scenes that her facial expression were a bit exaggerated. If a good artist role portrayal, wardrobe and sets are enough for you, this can be a possible watch.
The story and how it was relayed or directed got me bored. This is where it failed drastically. Those undead could have been directed better. The fight choreographies are borderline good. The comical scenes weren't funny at all.
The costumes were great as well as the sets for all scenes.
I don't recommend this movie personally but if you are out of selection, it may work to get you through.
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a nice picture puzzle w/missing pieces
If I am correct, this might be before Go Jun completed Word of Honor. His Censorship. portrayed the character well. Theentire cast, from lead to support did an excellent job. Production might be lacking a little in wardrobe; viewers can actually tell which scenes were filmed at the same day due to wardrobes. Props integration need a Lil work (mannequin in the well).
I feel it could have been directed better because the sequencing seems off a couple of times although it didn't really ruin the story.
Last but not least, I read that there was originally an uncut version of this series that made it more fulfilling to watch. Sadly, that may be buried since this was released 6 years ago. For a Chinese bromance series, don't expect what you normally see in a typical Korean, Japanese and Thai BL works. The closest this will get is a brotherhood relationship that hints that there could be more but then suddenly a scene or line is inserted that would tell pull you back that it's nothing more. There was a scene where the second leading man while in bed with Go Jun told Go Jun he isn't only being nice to him because of his sister and that will tell him in the future. the entire series ended without any scene revealing that reason.
I recommend this to any Go Jun followers because this shows his early talent that can be compared to his recent ones.
Kudos to the producer for bravely producing this series and doing their best to meet the strict censorship.
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Creation of the Gods Ⅰ: Kingdom of Storms
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First movie in a planned trilogy
The news that this series was a hut in China came on my feed a week before my Netflix notification of this movie's availability for viewing. Being that, I completed this first movie investment out of 3 planned to be released.I like that China is sticking to it's own mythological background than merging or using western entities for their international releases. I noticed during opening credit that screenwriting guru James Schamus was the consultant for this film. That tells me the goal of Chinese producers to give it a way to be also adaptable to westerner viewers.
The CGI is comparable to any popular and blockbuster western films. The story was told in a good phase tho there was a point early in the movie that I was puzzled as to how that demon fox came about. Did I miss it during the beginning narration?
The variety of characters keeps viewers away from being bored. There's ghastly warlock, tyranical ruler, slapstick comedy, humor, action, fantasmic/sexy demon fox, witty and comedic gods, ugly but adorable demon, and so much more. Viewers will be slammed by the grandeur of production here.
The god squad that includes boy tyrant, Ne Zha (Yafan Wu) is enjoyable to watch and reminds me so much of the Monkey King character.
This has savagery, violence, slapstick humor, and fantasy.
Being partly exposed to Asian culture, I enjoyed this first movie investment. For anyone else with no concept of Asian mythology and culture, this may leave you scratching your head though there's a good chance you may be entertained.
The end credit allows a good peek at what is coming for the second investment of this trilogy. Giants are coming and surprisingly, the tyranical emperor brought back to life by the seductive demon fox.
I am looking forward to the second film.
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A different Di Renjie
I am a big fan of Di Renjie movies and series and always looking forward to any series or movies excitedly. This someone disappointed me from start to end.The background music in the beginning during a palace scene was way too loud that it didn't fit the scene at all.
Di Renjie is known for his investigative prowess and yet this movie barely did any real investigation that is typical Di Renjie.
3/4 of the entire movie are zombies running and biting people.
The ending was chaotic to say the least.
Lead male did an awesome job with the character but the female Lord Li to me needs to improve her acting skills.
The production is good overall. Make-up is excellent.
this is the first Di Renjie work that I would not recommend at all.
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Parasitic Society Metaphor
Ominois and claustrophobic movie telling the story of a poor, low class family using their wits to con their way into getting what they want such as employment, their employers' house and wealth, the way upper class people lives, etc.It depicts the judgmental gullibilty of this rich family made them an easy target for the cons. Oddly, none of the characters in this film will make you feel love or sympathy for them.
This film was done in a way that deserved an 8 minutes standing ovation in Cannes Film festival. Although it is not my kind of film to watch, due to the hype, it got me interested enough to devote my undivided attention and it didn't fail me.
Whatever genre of films you enjoy, I suggest giving this film a chance and see for yourself the reason why it garnered so much award and attention internationally.
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