This is a movie only for adult viewers with open thinking. Most of the film revolves around homosexuality and includes several graphical sex scenes and nudity. So I would advise every one to carefully consider about its aspects before deciding to watch this. Some of the stuff may offend you. It was very surprising to watch at times, because I didn't imagine that Korean movies could include so many tabooed issues in the same film.
Apart from that, the movie had spectacular direction. Its settings and filming locations were exquisite. The action was also quite good. The romance part was quite touching and the cast put on some great performances. There was just one particular part throughout the whole film that creeped me out in such a way that I had to take a moment to collect myself before continuing to watch it. However, lots of aspects of this movie are realistic and not unheard of. It also touches upon a variety of emotions throughout the duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes.
But due to the immensely disappointing last half, I am going to say the whole experience of the film got ruined. I am struggling to remember the parts I enjoyed while writing this because otherwise the whole film got damaged. Watch this movie at your expense. It hardly serves as entertainment.
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When you think about the plot, it is just about a band of boys. One might think there could be nothing more to it than just a bunch of pretty boys strutting around and showing off. However, this is so NOT true. I cannot believe how well this story was woven. And it had such amazing depths. Every single character has been paid attention to and redeemed by the end. There were some characters I wanted to throw shoes at but I grew to love every single one of them. I simply cannot suggest anything to improve upon in it. The only thing is that in order to understand and appreciate it fully, one might need to watch it till the end. And I am sure, anybody who loves dramas with a good cast, great music and amazing story lines must watch this.
I believe this is the best drama that I have seen till date. Every other drama feels dragged and turns out to be full of nonsense during the last few episodes, but here is one which makes sense every single way. And I am overwhelmed at the character development of Ji Hyuk. I think this show is a masterpiece. I don't know why I didn't decide to watch it sooner.
What I loved most about it was that every single issue was addressed. These boys are all messed up, but we get to know each boy's backstory and then they grow up. Even the meanie turns out to be a guy I empathized with. I also liked Su Ah. She is very different from other female protagonists I often come across in stories. She fights and stays there calmly. She is not a cry baby and I love that about her. Most of all, she knows her priorities. I think the teenage essence of the characters is depicted and captured perfectly. Every single move and decision they made was understandable.
I honestly, sincerely recommend this show to every one.
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Although it would be unfair to compare it to TMOPB, it just doesn't compare. The lore in this version isn't so big or exciting. It is only worth checking out if you like the leads or love stories in general. The overall cast in the 1st part was clearly superior and I found myself somehow missing Zhang Bin Bin the most lol.
PLOT:
It's cute but it gets frustrating seeing the female - Fengjiu being hopelessly in love with Dong Hua. I was prepared to go in for some real heartbreak as I knew DH is a sort of cold person. But man, I did feel so bad for Fengjiu who got her heart broken so many times within the first 10 episodes. It seems largely due to her playful but naive self but it does make you pity her. The mortal realm was surprisingly lighter compared to other xianxia dramas. When they got back to heaven all was fine except the Dream of Aranya sequence. I had to do FF after ep 36ish. The ending was better than expected because at least we got back the main leads back in one piece and the 'separation' didn't last long.
CHARACTERS:
Fengjiu's character growth is what made watching it worthwhile. She's awfully immature in the beginning but beomes much better later on. Dong Hua was also pissing me off for a while - there's only so many smirks one can win me over with. Neither of them seem as badass as Bai Qian or Ye Hua nor they did they have the same chemistry. But overall it was pleasant to watch. I feel like this story was more on the redemption of Di Jun/Dong Hua because I wanted to sit and see him suffer some as well. I feel like in the last installment and this one, it was majorly Fengjiu having to suffer and prove everything. When it comes to the baddies, they all fell flat to me. I didn't even like any of their acting. I'd have to rate it meh in that department.
ACTING:
Oh BOY this is where this drama lacks A LOT. Neither Dilraba nor Vengo were excellent. Dilraba was good because her character was basic and didn't have to have Oscar-level acting. I'd rate Vengo lower because he had this awesome character to play but it fell flat. I did like his "ice face" and "romance face" but I was just not feeling it with the sad parts. I didn't think this role was totally cut out for someone of his level of acting. I would say he is charming at best because, come on - there is only one Dong Hua in this world! But there could have been someone better at acting. (I am treading into dangerous category here and must be offending a few fans)
OVERALL:
I was guaranteed sugary sweetness which I got but I wanted more. The plot was ok, acting was ok and the overall experience was ok. I don't think I ever lost sleep over this as I recall being obsessed over other C-dramas that I have watched. I have seem some people say that this drama wasn't required at all. I could somewhat agree but then I never would have seen the growth of the two leads nor the redemption of Dong Hua (yes, I am calling that because he always seemed cold to me in TMOPB and the initial 10 eps of this drama). I also watched because of Dilraba - I love her and she is very cute and gorgeous at the same time.
Take your pick - watch it or skip it. I can't find many reasons to do either.
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This movie has no romance and happy moments in it. It is tense when it begins and remains that way till the end. The direction of this movie is absolutely brilliant and the writing is top notch. The supporting cast was probably not as good as the main leads but both Jang Geun Suk and Jeong Jin Yeong were terrific in their performances. Jang Geun Suk was creepy and hot at the same time in this movie. This has to be his best performance till date.
Overall, it delivered excellently. In spite of being tragic and having a dark theme, it made me smile several times. There were great arguments and defenses put forth while the oppositions accused each other. It was IMPOSSIBLE to figure out the answer. I admire the prosecutors and defendants. I think we almost always forget how difficult their profession is and this movie reminds you just that.
I googled and was surprised to find out that after this came out, the victim's families actually appealed for a re-trial of the case. I can see why. It does provoke that thought in you. Kudos to the director!
I will most definitely watch this movie again because it was so enjoyable. It also has great score in the background. It has never a dull moment and remains consistent. Give this a try if it sounds like it's the genre for you. I totally one hundred percent recommend it.
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I think this story was simply genius. It was flawed but the way it was executed and the way they tied up everything made perfect sense. This is why the story gets a full 10. I love the broken and complex characters and the leads really put the screen on fire while playing their roles. I think Ji Sung especially outdid himself and now I'm really hoping he does similar projects in the future as well. Hwang Jung Eum is a good actress but for me she was kind of annoying in the beginning. Both her character and acting didn't really kick in till the very end.
I was surprised by how the story managed to get me hooked after its initial episodes. The story seemed to go nowhere for a while and I had my doubts but the writer- wow. Slowly everything was thrown in the basement! Like, literally lol. I liked the thrill of watching this drama the first time. It's like your very first Kdrama- the thrill to know what happens next is omnipresent.
The music of the drama wasn't my most favourite. I liked only one song and the rest were meh to me.
What sets this drama apart is its continuous twists and turns. Something happens in every episode. Usually dramas run out by the end but even the last episode was as important and eventful as the rest. The ending and the premise was all tied up together really well.
Watch this drama if you're in for something different and if you are bored of the usual cliched dramas. I think one should not pass this up.
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Sorry to say, but the pairing is one of the worst I have ever seen. Their chemistry was just lousy and the characters terribly annoying. I stopped caring where the story went after 8th or 9th episode. It got better at this time and suddenly it went downhill again. It seemed more like a sex comedy at times.
Also, this show is poorly written. None of the sub-plots or side characters were interesting. All of them could have been killed in an airplane accident and I wouldn't have cared. I only watched it out of boredom. I absolutely hated the character of Park Gae In. She was clumsy, childish, annoying and dumb. She looked old but acted like a little child. I get that she never had the love of a mother, but that doesn't mean she has to stay crippled like a loveless child for her entire life. The only good quality she had was that she was caring towards the people she loved. Other than that, it was hard to stand her. Jin Ho's character was also boring and lacked depth. He was standoffish throughout the entire show. I really never understood his character. It had a lot of negative traits as well.
The show is not very enjoyable. I would not recommend it to anyone. There are much better shows out there. Go and rewatch your favorite drama than watching this absolute trash.
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PLOT:
Age gap between the leads in dramaland isn't very common. At least not in the way that you'd see the characters ever acknowledging this. I've seen age gaps which were fun or cringe, but this was actually quite nice. The way the drama started off and the interaction between the leads felt like a Western story to me. They form a genuine bond and their love and relationship follows that. I wasn't a fan of the male lead but he was watchable and watching him being in love with the female lead was a lot of fun. The only downsides started after Ep 15 where the good moments were less and secondary melodrama took over. If it weren't for the leads, I wouldn't have watched this nor completed this as none of the secondary characters were interesting. The uncle and the friend were super boring. The drama with the second leads and the mother-in-law didn't go with the plot at all. There were times the drama ignored the cooking aspect and concentrated on some other uninteresting points. I also didn't fully love the food aspect as I am a vegetarian and almost all the dishes had meat in it.
ACTING/CAST:
Zhao Lusi steals the show for me. This role was slightly different from her previous dramas although she always does comedy in all her dramas. She looked fabulous and her playful side always made me smile. I like the fact that she has good chemistry with whoever she acts with. The ML actor was new to me but he did a good job too. He looked older than he was supposed to be, but he never let age get in the way of affecting their chemistry.
OST:
Normally I wouldn't like these kinds of songs, but all of them fit the mood of the drama pretty well.
OVERALL:
If food and romance with a big age gap is your thing, go for it. I would say don't lead the age gap deter you from watching because the leads did a genuinely good job of it. Zhao Lusi is a treat to watch and the food that they show seems delicious. A special mention to the SL because I felt like he matched with the FL better. This drama is a one-time watch and you'll find some delightful moments to watch. If you don't like the leads then don't watch this as the drama doesn't have much else to offer.
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FYI it is based on the real life of the last princess of Joseon Dynasty of Korea and her life's events are more or less depicted accurately. Some parts have been dramatized for entertainment but I liked that the major events shown were how they went down in history. It's quite emotional and I think irrespective of the country you are from, you will be able to relate with the pain Korean people went through under Japan's rule.
The casting of the film was on-point. Right from the child actress to Kim So Hyun to Son Ye Jin, everyone portrayed the princess excellently. I felt her pain and sympathized with what might have happened to her. Not only her but so many people in her life were affected because of the Japanese rule and if you look up her life on Wikipedia, it's becomes even more sad.
I love that this movie has an undertone of patriotism throughout and everyone can relate to that. The romance and rebellion is also there but it doesn't ruin or make the movie any heavier than it could have been. It's rather lighter than how I expected it to be. While this princess had a hard life I equally felt for her servants who waited for her for some 40-odd years.
The best part about the movie was the ending. Not only was it inspirational that life can go on in spite of hardships, it shows that this person who went through so much in her life got what she wanted at the end.
Hope everyone watches this film because it will make you respect the princess. The only flaw was the 'villain' because he was a little difficult to be taken seriously. At times it seemed too fictional and that's where the movie got lost a bit.
I commend the nice direction, great costumes, sets and the cast for their acting. Do watch this for a memorable experience.
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Well, there are a lot of things that happen in this drama which you must have seen in other historical dramas as well. So what sets this apart from all the rest? I think the answer to that lies in the whole drama itself. After watching from ep 1 to 62 I realized that it is one of those dramas which need to be watched in entirety before one can fully appreciate it.
This is a cleverly written drama. It has a nice script and all the right elements in it keep you engaged. For a drama to have that pull factor, the characters need to be fleshed out well. It is a cherry on the top when you also have the right actors to play these characters to make them more real. Here the cast is made up of actors I consider a class apart like Ko Hyung Jung and Kim Nam Gil. So of course, they HAD to be good. These two actors not only impressed me as usual but blew me away is the right way to put it. They probably took the drama to an entirely different level than it would have been otherwise. Apart from them, Lee Yo Won, Uhm Tae Woong and Yoo Seung Ho also did a great job. The cast seemed to have been chosen wisely and had great chemistry with each other. I would also like to mention Nam Ji Hyun here who did a spectacular job of playing the child version of Deokman and I daresay made more of a lasting impression than Lee Yo Won did. I have liked Nam Ji Hyun's previous portrayals as well and she never disappoints.
I liked the entire span of the drama. Right from the historical events depicted in the beginning to the childhood episodes to the ending. Most Korean dramas (especially historic) are a disaster with their endings and here is one which did it right. All writers should take a clue on how to end a drama from this writer. The events were always flowing at the right pace and surprisingly- the melodrama in this was kept lower than I expected from such a long one. There is makjang in it but it somehow seemed smart makjang than something used as filler.
I also loved how the drama focuses on its title. The queen is actually given importance and we get to see her be one. I loved Deokman's character. She was smart, flawed and strong. She always knew how to do the right thing and pulled out from every hole she fell into. Of course- she had two amazing guys beside her which made life better for her. Yushin is seen as nice, righteous and loyal. Bidam is sly, calculating, fierce, passionate and much in need of love. LOL. I can never ever forget Bidam's amazingness thanks to the almighty Kim Nam Gil. He made the character impossible not to love and made him so real to me that I felt his every pain and happiness as he did on-screen. I also loved Yushin but I prefer Bidam a bit more. Deokman was lucky enough to have such amazing guys who loved her more than anything. Although romance is not a central part of the drama, the dynamics between these three characters were exceptional.
The fight scenes, costumes, sets, politics and battles always keep the drama going. There is a lot regarding the throne and battle for power in this drama. It will always make you question what is right and what is wrong and what is fair and what is not. It shows how big a burden power can be. This is the driving factor of the story in the later half.
Plus, the characters are all so wonderfully messed up and tragic. They all have abandonment issues, mommy issues and what-not. They constantly go from good to bad and vice-versa, taking you on the crazy ride with them. The character development of Deokman and Bidam was phenomenal. I liked how Deokman acted like a ruler when she was one. She was pretty believable in her struggle to fit into the role of a queen. Now this brings me to the hotness called as Bidam. I wanted to hug him because of all that emotional baggage he seemed to carry with him. I have a thing for misunderstood bad boys like him. Mishil is one of my favourite antagonists ever now. She puts all Kdrama antagonists to shame with her badassery and cunning attitude. Others can only hope to be half as awesome as she was.
The soundtrack of the drama is pretty good. The song 'Windflower' by IU has become one of my all-time favourites. The background score and ending score in the drama are brilliant. I can never forget the ending score. It will always bring back all the feelings and memories.
I can go on talking about this drama and it will never end. LOL. So let's just end it here and go watch the drama if my point of view convinced you even one bit. :D
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An underrated gem - you're missing out if you aren't watching this
Upon a friend's recommendation I decided to pick up this drama called "Kotaru Lives Alone" just because I was bored of most dramas lately. The synopsis seemed nice but I started watching it without much expectation. But I was blown away with how good this drama was! It made me reminisce about my early drama watching days when I watched only Jdramas and nothing else. This drama seems fit for a late 2000s or early 2010s Jdrama quality.PLOT + CHARACTERS:
Honestly, it is ridiculous. It would never be legal, much less- posssible for a 5 year old to live alone and much less having a law firm or random people looking for a random kid. Were it a real scenario, they boy would be taken away by social services and they would have done as deemed fit by them. This drama reaffirms every episodes that it is a fictional set up which was sort of funny.
It's about a 5 year old who rents an apartment and how he navigates his life all alone. Of course, the neighbour steps in and from there on they go on from barely tolerating each other to forming a deep parent-child relationship. Also we have some lovely side characters thrown in and what I loved about this drama was how it was about kindness and helping others in need. The main adult character is a tsundere but his growth was pretty believable. I love how he never condescends the child and instead tells him how even an adult can learn lessons from a child. Honestly- their relationship had me very emotionally invested. We also meet a female hostess who is being abused by her boyfriend. I loved the fact that for the first time in a Jdrama, they called the police rather than trying to solve the problem on their own.
ACTING:
The main child star steals the show. His dialogue delivery was on point and he must be a smart kid because it was no easy feat! I also loved all the side actors and their interactions with each other were very natural. By the end they did seem more like a family than random people who came together. Kudos to the cast and the director who made sure that the viewer is able to feel this side of the story rather than us brushing it off as some comedy.
OVERALL:
I can understand that this drama isn't a conventional genre and Jdramas are even less mainstream among international viewers. However, it is a drama not to be missed out on as it has a fresh plot, comedy and some great characters. Like all Jdramas, it also teaches us the importance of kindness and giving others new chances. I honestly wouldn't mind a Season 2 because there is still a lot of story left to be told. Kotaru-chan's innocence lives on and I truly want him to get his real happy ending.
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The story seemed fresh in spite of the cliche noona romance plot. Its characters are funny, full of life and likable. The main reason to enjoy this drama is the character of Joo Wan played by Sung Joon. He literally stole the spotlight from every single person in this drama. The cute, adorable love-stricken dongsaeng role suited him well. It came off as a surprise to me because Sung Joon is one of those actors who appear to be 'tough guys' judging by his physique and looks. After watching this drama, I am sure every one would want a Joo Wan in their lives.
Apart from that, I liked the fact that the main female Joo Yeon was an insensitive person instead of the usual weak female. There were times it feel like she was so selfish that it made her seem cruel. Although it became hard and tiring to watch later on due to the character's repetitiveness, she somehow redeemed herself in the end.
The main love story is strong enough to hold you on till the end. Had it been resolved earlier, I would have lost interest. The beginning and the ending episodes were better than the middle. The middle was just a bore and difficult to get through. There were times when I wanted Wan to stop pining after the girl and move on and yet I couldn't help but root for him and Joo Yeon. I almost wanted them to be together as badly as him. :)
The two side stories and also cute and romantic. Lee Min Jung and her neighbour's affair was hilarious. They were a good comic relief when the main story got boring. I liked the role Yoon Seung Ah played in this drama. Her story with the guy (who reminded me of Kdrama second leads) was nice. It had its boring moments too but overall with the other two romances, the whole plot was kept together nicely.
This drama has to be one of the very few among romcoms which has a nice and fulfilling ending. Maybe it could have been better too, but it was pretty much okay for me. It wrapped up everything and there was nothing messy at the end of it all.
I would definitely recommend this drama to those who are looking for something cute and different to watch.
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This drama can best be compared to Full House. Their resemblance at times was eery. Both dramas have a bickering couple, cuteness, a killer OST and a lot of repetitiveness. It's basically the whole back and forth of will-they-wont-they. The thing is you already know the answer and if you are not patient or if you don't have a lot of time on your hands you'd just want to give up.
I wish this drama could have remained the way it was introduced. A bit random but fresh with a lot of appeal. I won't say the freshness died or anything because come on, it is set in JEJU frickkin island. The cinematography was killer and the lead pair is endlessly soothing to look at. I really enjoyed the old school Kdrama style it followed at times but during others it made me want to tear my hair out.
I didn't have the will to rate it higher than a 8 nor did I have the heart to rate it lower. The second leads are terrible in the drama. The other couple (hyung and the diver lady) were the funniest till their relationship had nothing left anymore.
I want to mention the little attempt the drama makes at encouraging people to try living in Jeju- including foreigners. I liked how they have little programs for people to adjust to the lifestyle there. Plus they showed a really nice relationship of the people living there. The mayor was shown as a sweetheart to all the people and the way he went around in his bicycle was adorable. <3
Baek Geon Woo was a cutie at times and a jerk at others. I wish Lee Jung Joo could be a bit hard at times but she was too soft-hearted. A classic Kdrama heroine in short. Think of Full House and the characters are almost a replica at times. I dunno if anyone else felt that way or not but I did.
Anyway, I had a lot of issues with the drama but couldn't get to rate it any lower. Like Dramabeans says, how much I enjoyed it v/s how much it deserves- I'd say an 8 v/s 6. That's it. Now decide for yourself whether you wanna watch it or not.
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What is great about this drama is how even though it has a lot of cliches in it, it still somehow manages to stand out in the melodrama genre. Surprisingly- this drama has a real plot and as I started watching it, it sucked me in completely. This is one of those dramas that is better enjoyed if marathoned through. Week after week, the curiosity about how things would unfold kind of waned. I am really not good with patience and this drama required too much of it.
Although the plot is slow and not overly dramatic as some other dramas, it has an addictive vibe to it. I think this drama was perfectly paced upto episode 8-9. The middle was kind of boring and dragging for me but the last two episodes were solid. They totally redeemed the drama in my eyes because I had been worried about how things would turn out.
The main characters in this drama seem interesting at first, but ironically the lead pair fades in comparison to the second leads. My favourite character in this drama was Kang Jae. He was a bad guy with a conscience, an anti-hero, a guy in need of love and a great hyung. I loved the complexity of his character and Jo Jin Woong did an excellent job of playing him. As for Yoon Kye Sang even though I liked his acting, it went over the top at times. Han Ji Hye was pretty but had no variation in her expressions- she always had the same, sad, "damsel in distress" face. Her character was written well but too bad she could hardly do justice to her role.
There are a lot of touching moments in this drama. It teaches you a lot about life, love and family. It raises a lot of questions about morals and shows how greed can destroy people's lives. I think that was a pretty interesting take on the whole story. It also makes you think of loyalty and human psychology which was rather cool!
There is murder, romance, deceit, revenge, lies, betrayal and friendship- all in this drama. It has enough of everything to keep one entertained. If you like romance, there is enough of that too. Maybe not as overwhelming as in some other dramas but I was quite satisfied with it. :)
I have to give props to the OST of this drama. It's brilliant and I've been listening to some songs every day now and still don't get bored. Every single song is memorable. I think this drama has one of the best OSTs ever.
I think it's a good drama to watch if you're looking for something different. :)
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Since I am also an Asian, I could relate a lot to it. I read some opinions about people online who said that such problems regarding cultural things don't exist anymore. But I disagree. In fact, in a lot of Asian countries families don't exactly get thrilled if someone plans to marry a person from the West or any other country. This is exactly what is portrayed in this movie. The thoughts and reactions were absolutely perfect.
Both Saori and Tony have an excellent relationship in this film. The way they manage to work it out in spite of being different was amazing. Plus, their struggle to seek approval of their families and peer was also depicted nicely. When they had problems and insecurities, even that was very understandable. Although most of the movie revolves around these two people, it gives you a good feeling. There was hardly anything dramatic or tragic in this film. It manages to maintain its mood and pace until the end. There are a lot of cute and heartwarming moments throughout the entire film.
The events of the entire film are simple. I would say they did drag it out more than necessary (but that happens with most films). Since it was a semi-autobiographical manga originally, this movie also ended up feeling like a documentary. But I do not regret watching it. Plus, this is one of those movies to enjoy while relaxing and not thinking much. I loved the simplicity of the whole film. It is a must-watch!
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The story is absolutely brilliant. The fact that this happened in reality and that there are still thousands of people suffering from this disease is truly saddening and heartbreaking. I can the portrayal of a person's disability in it was 100% accurate. It was so realistic that I felt like it was actually happening in front of me. The main cast gave outstanding performances- especially Sawajiri Erika. She was so convincing that I felt her pain.
Apt to its title, this drama could make you cry a lot- depending on you. I am going to confess that there were a few times I absolutely teared up. In fact, I think not tearing up while watching this would be inhumane. Anybody who is capable of feeling sorry for the physically disabled or people suffering from painful diseases will be able to feel it here too. Aya (both the fictional and real one) is a very inspiring person. The things she recorded in her diary is deep and moving.
The way they showed the transformation of an ordinary girl's life after she encounters Spinocerebellar Atrophy was the main focus of the drama. More than her struggle, it was also focused on how it affects those around her- be it friends, parents, siblings, teachers or regular people you meet on the street. It makes me think of all the physically disabled people I have seen in public. I think I can understand their feelings more clearly now.
This drama is almost like a documentary made on Aya's life. Neither is it happy to begin with nor does it end happily. But the sadness and tears aren't the only things in it. Most of all- it will remind you to treasure life and be thankful for what you have. There's a deeper underlying meaning to it too. It also showcases the kindness and cruelty of humans and their attitude towards such people. In a lot of countries, people are still not aware of hardships such people have to go through and treat them badly. Just like Aya said, "Why did it choose me?" The matter of falling ill was not by choice but only cruel fate.
This drama is one of the rare gems that you should definitely not miss out on. Watching it once was enough for me, so no rewatch value where I am concerned.
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