_Pien_

Oke finished! It was exactly what I needed so I enjoyed watching. Won't be leaving a review btw. I feel like I'd have to put some more work in my reviewing skills. ;)

Anyway I loved how they portrayed the relationships as normal grown up relationships. People where kissing and talking about normal relationship stuff. I also loved how there weren't any over the to characters and nobody was either evil or strictly good. I mean it was obvious Yabuki was using Mariko but he was still a lovable character. Same goes for Makiko. I loved how you saw different variotions of love especially Mariko and the guy she ended up with the chef (forgot his name).

But there were several things which started to slightly annoy me as the story evolved.

For me Kamisama's ending was a bittersweet, sad but fitting. But yes I really enjoyed the overall feel of the drama and I would recommend it. Plus I really love Kaneshiro Takeshi and it's a rare chance to see him in a drama! In fact I'd only recommend it for him alone already. I rewatched it twice. :P LOL

I've seen Ice World and Byakuyako and both where great resp 10 and 9 on my list.
Reason why I'm interested is because I really feel like watching some romance but for me the romance seems to work best if it's mixed with these theme's. Of course there are exceptions but I really don't feel like looking through all the rom/com piles. :P
Plus I've had Ice World and Aishiteiru to Ittekure in my head and was looking for something similar which led me to slightly older J-Drama's.
I haven't seen Guilty Akuma to Keiyakushita Onna I see it's fairly new but it was on my ptw just started dl-ing it. Thank you for the rec!

Yup it looks like I'm finally getting some down time from work again and finished Hanzawa yesterday in one go. I'm a quick watcher when there's no distraction. ;)
My top favorite changes all the time but for no I'd say Last Friends or Orange Days or Long Love Letter or Kamisama Mou Sukoshi Dake or Pride. LOL I can't choose.

I'm think I'm not really able to make the comparison. I put Empire on hold because I had so many things going on and the drama didn't grab me. So for now I'd say I liked Hanzawa better. But if I pick it up again when it suits me better I believe I'll like Empire as well. There's more emotion and backstabbing involved plus I feel there's more grey areas in the characters in Empire. Maybe it's a bit too long for a strictly business/revenge drama. But I think you'll be better of asking a comparison from someone who finished both and liked them. :P

I just finished ep one of Love Revolution and it looks like it's just what I needed a drama made when they still kissed and had physical contact in drama-land. ;) Thanks for the recommendation the feeling after the first ep is just right. So on to the next. ;)

I finished Hanzawa yesterday and it was indeed a ride. The length is also just right for me to be on the edge of my seat every ep. I loved the acting and will look into more of Sakai's work. I have to say though after Tonbi which was so moving plus my high expectations of Hanzawa it did fall short a bit as I was expecting to be blow away. So yes it was a great drama but I expected more.

Right now I just finished the first ep of Love Revolution a drama algelic recommended and it seems it's going to be just what the doctor ordered. It feels a bit soap opera-like and a tad on the "cheap" side if you know what I mean. It's just what I now need in a romance story. I'm only one ep in of course but feels like it's not a genius drama quality-wise but it will be a great one entertainment-wise.

Did you start another drama yet or still on movies?

Hi,

Yes you're right must have been a system glitch.

But since I'm here now might as well ask you for some recommendations if you have them. I know romance isn't your thing but maybe you have some recs for J-Drama's with romance and suspense or mystery?

Hi Hi,

So I'm planning to find a golden "oldie" to watch next. I was wondering if any drama came to mind as a recommendation?
I'm looking for a J-Drama with romance as a main theme. I don't mind if it's mixed up with suspense or mystery. I also don't mind a melodrama. However I would prefer an uplifting end for a change. Or if that's not possible at least a fitting end. Meaning appropriate for the storyline. I get how if the story is about an illness the one of the leads might die and that's oke. Just as long as it's fitting so no stupid decisions to go abroad etc.

Hi,
I'd like to trouble you by asking if you have any recommendations for preferably an older J-Drama. I'm looking for a good romance drama it's fine if it's mixed with mystery or suspense but I'd like it to be centered on romance. I don't mind a melodrama but I'd like a satisfying ending. Meaning something fitting for the story. Of course newer drama's will do as well but I found I quite like the older ones.

Actually Tonbi restored my drama-faith. Since it was a drama I thought I wouldn't like as much but turned out like this in the end. LOL I was so energized after watching Tonbi that I started Hanzawa Naoki up again. I had already watched the first two eps and felt up to the challenge.
But after Hanzawa Naoki I think I'll go for some good old fashioned romance or romance/mystery. I'd love to find an old Japanese one if it's at all possible but maybe I'll settle on something else. ;)

Plus I'm dl-ing two movies by a director called Lee Chang-dong. It's the same guy who directed Oasis and I read good things about him. After my new found love for Oasis after you got me thinking about it again I deceived I'd watch more of his work.

Oh I didn't mean it was based on a true story. I meant the story is told without sugarcoating things. Like it was sticking to the characters true nature not making the male lead suddenly out to be a great guy or the female lead less disabled. It just depicted their story in a real way.
I too after thinking about it last night put it up on my top list last night.

I just finished Tonbi and am still sitting here with moist eyes. I gave it a 9. It really isn't my genre like I told you before. But it's so great in it's storytelling. Yes it's all about lifel essons which usually puts me off when done so blatantly obvious but they do it with such care and love without lecturing that I felt myself thinking about my own family being grateful for most things and regretful for others. Aside from my usual taste I thought this was genius!

"Now it feels like everyone and their mother is online." LOL you're so right.
I feel it's not restricted to the drama scene. It's just how social media and the internet has take over communication for the younger generation. It's not about striking up a conversation or sharing but about expressing your opinion in every way possible so loud that people aren't capable to hear different opinions anymore. I know this is portraying it very harsh but that can be the feeling you get when someone bashes you for not liking something they love. :P

Don't lose hope it's just harder to find what/who you're looking for through all the interference but it's still out there.

For me it was the same! It feels pretty sad when you're a closet drama addict without anyone to share your enthusiasm with. LOL

In recent years I at least found a way to get rl friends into watching Asian movies with me. Still the drama's aren't easily sold to friends.

It's not just you. But I don't think it's just the internet which has changed it's us as well. Years back everything felt so exciting. Plus what made it fun for me was the enthusiasm of finding people with the same interest. Of course it's still happening now, but it feels like it's on a bigger scale so it's less "special".
Am I making any sense at all? LOL

OMG yes actually I found both of the secondary girls pretty annoying but at least the older one was slightly funny. The one paired up with the main lead was just painful to watch but I kept hanging in there hoping for them to pair up. LOL
Still I though the way they told the story was quite unique.

I read you're still working on your lists. I hope to learn form you in the future. ;) Hehe it's just nice to see I'm not the only one with 100 or 200+ drama's and ovies watched. ;)

I just came back home and saw you watched Oasis. For me it's one of my all time favorites. My rating jumps from 9 to 10 on this one. :P . It's a shame it's not as well known here. I saw you rated it an 8. I loved how this was a real story and how the director didn't make it a fairytale what he could have easily done if he had altered the ending or had the characters develop in an unrealistic way. What did you like about it?

Hi,

Is that a pic form Soulmate you're using as your avi?
I really liked the unique style of that drama I just wish they would have shown us more time with the main couple together. I felt I was waiting the entire drama for them to hook up together. LOL
Anyway nice to meet you. :)

Oh I'm going to watch Tonbi now. I am really enjoying it and it touches me as well. Have had teary eyes a couple of time already. I was just saying it's not my exact taste. But like I said I want to keep watching so it's all good. ;)

Yup Bara gave me in some ways a similar feeling, family orientated sweet characters. It was a great drama and a good way to explain the suspense element which Tonbi lacks and I especially liked. Tonbi makes up for that with the lovely setting and multiple heartwarming stories.

Need another dl for Hanzawa Naoki.
I'll watch Tonbi first, it's a very relaxing and peaceful watch. I've seen up to ep 3 now and I can see why you like it so much but I don't know it it fits my taste exactly. Everyone is so good and there are life lessons flying around everywhere. I liked Bara no nai Hanaya a lot which has some similarities in my opinion but whet made Bara no nai Hanaya great for me was the underlying sense of mystery. I guess I need something more then just a heartwarming watch. Not at all saying it's not a excellent drama though and I am enjoying it just oesn't tick all my boxes as of yet.

Have fun watching Nankyoku Tairiku!

Oh which drama is that?

I checked my list but in the mountain of movies and drama's I watched I seem to have skillfully avoided watching anything with Sakai Masato. :P
I'll correct that mistake. I'm dl-ing it now and in the meantime I'll watch some movies. I'll let you know how my Hanzawa experience is going.

Arg mindless entertainment sounds good now, but in the end I usually feel more inclined to watch something with a solid story. So for now I think I'll start up Hanzawa.

Thanks for your opinion :)