How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies
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emotional value is this film's selling point
this film's plot is quite simple, but acting and directing ended up pulling on my heart strings. it also made me think of my grandma (who passed away) and how significant role do grandmothers actually play in family dynamics. after finishing the film, i got quite emotional. hopefully, oscar voters see this film's uniqeness in portraying complicated emotions and it scores a nomWas this review helpful to you?
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too much going on for it just to be a film
i'm going to keep it sweet and short and say that this film had a mini series potential. there were a lot of things that i wish we would've seen. i feel like we got a half-baked conclusion for all the main story lines. yes, wonderland helped all of them to move on, but i really need them to find their true happiness outside of AI bubble. even the main couple's (TY and JI) story feels incomplete.overall the concept of portraying AI as an device to deal with grieving/ reconnecting was interesting. writers would've gone more in dept with the wonderland, if it was a series. they could only portray the positive side of AI in the film , but i was curious about the negative side. fake remains fake in the end.
here is the list of scenes i wish that we would've seen
- how did wonderland's developers come up with an idea?
- did TY and JI ended up together?
- how is BL's family dealing with her death?
- HM's funeral (this grandma was the most precious character in the whole film)
one thing that bothered me personally was the amount of cameos. it was hard to focus on the film since it's filled with a lot of well known actors
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definitely one of the best dramas released this year
call it lee hanee effect, but whatever this woman touches turms into gold. don't get me wrong, everyone involved in this drama has done an excellent job, but carrying the lead role especially so complex kind is amazing. i have zero complaints about the series besides the music. i've been waiting months for another drama struck me like storm like this drama didWas this review helpful to you?
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Happy ending but...
A lot of people seem to have issues with this season because of nostalgia, and lack of references to earlier seasons. My only real complaint is the hint at a U.S. spin-off in the last scene. I'm going to pretend as it doesn't exist. Overall, they did a great job introducing new characters and handling the storytelling. The baby plot annoyed me a bit, but considering Japan’s low birthrate, I have a feeling this trope is here to stay. In addition, it wasn't nearly as annoying it was in a Squid Game. The standout newcomers for me were the actors who played Rei, Yuna, and Tetsu. I also really appreciated how they included the old characters with special cameos that felt natural. All in all, I'm glad that they managed to conclude the series on a happy note. Writers need to normalize happy endings.Was this review helpful to you?
some dramas are just not meant to be
i know this review is going to make a lot of viewers mad, but hear me out before going full keyboard warrior on me. this drama lacks a lot. contrary to popular opinion, i don’t think jisoo is the weak link in the acting. that being said, this genre just doesn't suit her. she would shine more in slice-of-life and melodramas. now, my biggest issue with this drama is the writing. not everyone is meant to write comedy, and this is a perfect example of why. i generally hate when characters are dumbed down just for laughs. i can't stand watching these fish-brained men—it feels like my IQ drops every time.Was this review helpful to you?
Good Script, Great Cast
There has been a lot of discussion surrounding the performances of Lee Byung Hun and Son Ye Jin, as well as the directing by Park Chan Wook. However, what I would really like to highlight is Yeom Hye Ran’s supporting performance. She perfectly balances the realism and surrealism of Lee A Ra, the failed actress who, I would argue, is the second most important character in the film. Without such a strong supporting performance, this film simply wouldn’t have worked.Was this review helpful to you?
stop using female violence as a shock factor tool
this drama uses graphic content to an uncomfortable degree. it makes me wonder about the screenwriter's intentions, as some scenes feel unnecessarily excessive. imo this series could have been far more impactful without these scenes. while the acting delivers, the writing falls short and feels disjointed. If you are easily triggered by violence especially against women, I would advise not to watch this dramaWas this review helpful to you?
A Complete Trainwreck
Kudos only to the screenwriter, because the rest of the drama is a complete mess. I genuinely wonder how they even managed to secure funding for this project. Everyone in the cast, whom I’ve seen before, delivered the weakest performances of their careers.The biggest disappointment was Kang Mi Na, whom I had considered a potential Gen Z kdrama leading actress. Not anymore. On the other hand, this was my introduction to Jeon So Young, and she actually felt more grounded than KMN. Baek Sun Ho gave off major The Heirs LMH vibes (it's not a compliment), while Hyun Woo Seok still seems haunted by his role in Cheer Up.
The directing is also a mess. I can’t pinpoint exactly what’s wrong, but something about it just feels off. I might have taken this drama more seriously if the directing was better, but the amateur execution is impossible to ignore.
It leaves me, as a viewer, questioning what the drama was aiming for. It felt less like a serious horror and more like an parody film like a Scary Movie . Overall, this drama is the worst one I’ve seen since the Cashero.
If you’re a true horror fan, skip this one.
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Too Slow, Even for Slice of Life
This film has:- a strong cast
- an overly dragged-out plot (even for a slice-of-life story)
- an okay conclusion (kind of predictable), wished to see more after story climax
- nice cinematography
- interesting soundtrack (shout out to song that was playing turning shopliftings)
However, I can't see myself re-watching it.
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Carried by the Female Lead
I'm kind of a sucker for office and slice of life dramas, so I thought this would be at my alley. I loved that the plot focused on Shinoda Hinako's growth in her professional field. Okuyama Aoi portrayed her well. The casting overall was great. My main issue lies how certain industry situations were portrayed. That's something that usually doesn't click with jdramas for me, so this wasn't much of a surprise.Overall, I’d recommend this drama to viewers who enjoy office slice-of-life stories, as long as they don’t mind some genre-specific quirks.
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Surprisingly comforting...
I’m grateful that Netflix recommended this drama to me. It’s truly a hidden gem, and with the current trend of J-dramas getting second seasons after a 10-year gap, hopefully this one gets picked up as well. The only real issue I had with the series was the dad. I don’t think he had much character development until the very end which explains why his kids are either airheads or brats.Matsushima Nanako absolutely carries this drama.
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Simplicity is the answer
I loved the writing, cinematography and editing in this film. I’m a sucker for the found family trope, and since this movie seemed to include it, I gave it a shot. The storyline is easy to follow. It makes this film a genuinely enjoyable viewing experience.The cinematography and editing are great. The aspect that drags my rating down from an eight to a seven point five is the acting. The actors do have chemistry, but in some scenes they overact. It made me cringe several times during the film. Overall, everything else comes close to perfection.
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Bland for a slice of life / romance crossover
This drama started out great but ended up feeling dragged out. The casting was alright, but the storytelling was lacking. It was too slow-paced even for me, and I'm slice of life genre enjoyer. Also, I can't deny my frustration towards unnecessary love triangles (especially in J-dramas), because writers somehow manage to make 90% of the show about a couple that isn’t even endgame. That being said, I have to admit this drama heavily relied on the leads’ chemistry and acting. If it weren’t forHan Hyo Joo and Oguri Shun, I probably would’ve dropped it ASAP.
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surprisingly good watch
Let me start this review by saying how much I missed female characters who are written as complex by nature, not just because it’s a trend. Another thing worth praising about this series is its storytelling. The narrative doesn’t waver. Instead, it moves confidently from point A to point B. Although the plot is quite dark, I can absolutely see myself rewatching it for that reason alone. Kudos to Go Hyun Jung and Jang Dong Yoon for their excellent performances. They carried the drama by portraying one of the most complex relationship between mother and son I’ve seen on screen so far.Was this review helpful to you?
simple, yet emotional
this film has a simple plot that's easy to follow. the main lead or should i say one of the main leads is an ex-prostitute, and the story primarily revolves around her and the people she interacts with in her daily life. the main message of the film is that everyone faces their own struggles, and sharing those issues is an important step toward moving forward.i would recommend this film to anyone who is into slice of life genre. special kudos to the cast, who made the plot feel more authentic.
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