Touching story
This is a touching movie about a young woman with cancer, and how she changes the lives of those around her. Some people go through their lives insulated from their emotions. This young woman shook things up and everyone she came into contact with was forever changed. The actress did a really good job, she was a little cartoonish in the beginning, but settled into a rhythm as the movie went along. And she had the perfect shaped head to have no hair. She was just beautiful. Some people are in our lives for a short period of time, but because of the way they changed us, we'll never be the same.Was this review helpful to you?
feelings of high school
This was a beautiful movie. The back-and-forth between current time and high school days was very well-done. This is a slow, calm movie that makes you think about roads not taken and words not said. The height disparity between the main couple was very cute, he seemed so protective of her. This was a very innocent story, and it made me think back on the choices that I made in high school, the friends I had, the boy I liked, and those intense feelings you have as a high schooler - colors are brighter, noises are louder and emotions are stronger. I admired Geng Geng for being brave enough to put her feelings out there as an adult. If you watch this, be sure to watch all the way to the end, because it has some sweet interviews with real people.Was this review helpful to you?
This is a story I've seen done multiple times before
The main characters were cute, especially Zuo An - once he warmed up and actually smiled he was so sweet. I felt that, as is usual with C-dramas, this one was too slow and went on entirely too long. The confession finally happened in episode 24! This is actually a show that I've seen multiple times, they must have a template and just plug in different names. Girl fights but isn't too bright (or just too lazy to study), boy is super-smart and misunderstood. Every time the girl gets close to the boy she loses all of her brain cells and is unable to carry on an intelligent conversation. After the confession the girl looks petrified every time the boy wants any type of physical contact (thankfully, in this one, that didn't seem to last too long).There were the typical secondary characters. Zhan Yue, Xiaoman's long-time male friend, was extremely irritating through most of the episodes. He was a bully and extremely mean.
There are the typical evil characters that never seem to suffer consequences for their actions (I get extremely tired of seeing a girl that will do whatever to win the guy, never mind that he's told her a million times that he's not interested).
They spent a little over one episode actually together as a couple, so there's a lot of stuff to wade through waiting for them to get together. In addition, the ending was extremely abrupt and unsatisfying.
Putting the current characters in historical scenes periodically throughout the series made absolutely no sense and added nothing to the show.
Was this review helpful to you?
Ghostly melodrama with some romance thrown in
There was so much to like about this show:1) Yang Jin Sung playing dual roles of Jang Yi Kyung and Na Noo Rim. She was wonderful, especially since the characters were TOTALLY different. Her coldness as Yi Kyung could actually give a person frostbite! Then she was so bubbly as Noo Rim.
2) Lee Hong Ki as Choi Kang Joo. I don't think this role was a serious stretch to his acting chops, but he did well going from the uptight, cold chaebol to the sweet man he was with Noo Rim.
3) The romance between the leads was fun to watch. I liked their initial aversion to each other and how it slowly changed.
4) I love Park Kin Joo in everything I've seen her in. Here, she played Noo Rim's friend Jin Joo and she's just got that precious, elfin look about her that draws you to her.
5) Overall, I thought the actors did a great job.
6) The storyline, with the added ghost story twist, was well thought out, with lots of twists and turns to keep you interested.
7) The music was lovely. I was also impressed that Lee Hong Ki did one of the songs. It was a heartfelt song that really grabs you emotionally.
What I didn't care for:
1) Noo Rim changed from someone that believes in herself and stands up for what she believes in to a scared, runaway woman.
2) Too many bad guys! Each person was more evil than the last. Plus, though there were natural consequences for their actions, none of those consequences helped the couple at all, that's for sure! Also, they had information on things that these bad people had done and didn't go to the police?
3) Not enough time of seeing the couple together. They were actually together for just a brief period of time, which made their breakup doubly irritating. First, do you love each other or not? Are you not willing to fight for your relationship? Plus, I didn't think their breakup was realistic because breaking up just so no one else will be unhappy is a cop out.
4) The ghost story aspect was woven through the episodes and then resolved in a very rushed fashion. It felt like the writers realized they were getting to the end of the show and had to squeeze it in.
5) The ending was so unsatisfying for me. I loved how he continued to look for her. I felt that her keeping herself from him was unfair to him (not going to say more due to spoiler). But, after them being apart for so much of the entire show, when we got to the end and they are walking in a garden and talking about a tree? I wanted/expected more romance.
So, I'd say it's a good show to watch for the acting/writing/music as long as you are okay with a lot of angst and not very much romance.
Was this review helpful to you?
Amazing music!
Having never seen any other version or read the manga, I can only review based upon my enjoyment of this show. Let's start with the positive - the music. Absolutely beautiful classical music, which wove itself seamlessly through the show. For me, that's as far as the positives went. I suppose the actors did a good job, but the two main characters were not likeable throughout the entirety of the show. She was a stalker, hanging on him, liking him for no apparent reason. She was an odd woman, trying to be cutesy at times, troubled at others. She irritated me throughout. As for the male lead, he wasn't likeable either. I understand that he had trauma in his life, but that's not really an excuse to be so mean, especially to her. I didn't feel that the relationship was believable at all. There was no chemistry between the two, even at the end. By the time this show ended, I was so frustrated with the amount of time I had wasted. Park Bo Gum's character was more likeable, and I felt that she and he were much better suited for one another, because he didn't want to change her.Was this review helpful to you?
Lovely movie
The cinematography was excellent, lots of tight, close up shots, which really drew my attention to the tiniest detail - him taking her hand, the handmade rings on their fingers, his lonely face on every new day. There were slow motion shots that pulled me even deeper into the story. This movie was beautiful on so many levels. The main actress was wonderful playing against the various actors. As she got to know Woo Jin and spent time with him, I kind of felt like a voyeur of their relationship, watching them getting to know each other more intimately and fall in love. Their total enjoyment of each other's company, and through necessity, trying to keep the outside world at bay. How important is love? What would you be willing to endure? What would you be willing to give up? Kudos to everyone involved in this movie.Was this review helpful to you?
I would have liked some character development/growth
Overall, it's a cute show. Both main actors are very attractive and nice to watch. I don't feel that I would ever need to see this again (mainly because my list is so long for things I still want to watch!)What I liked:
1. The acting was good.
2. The storyline. I liked that it was the woman that was the workaholic and the man had to wait around for her to have time for him. Riichi (Eiji Akuso) was what I think a lot of women would think are the perfect boyfriend. He was extremely patient with her and the fact that she didn't have time for him. However, there is a certain amount of suspension of disbelief (addressed in what I didn't like)
3. Since it only had a few episodes, all ancillary issues were kept to a minimum. For example, the other girl that liked Riichi (I have to be honest, I liked the way that was handled)
4. The chemistry between the leads was cute, though they actually spent more time apart than together.
5. I loved hearing from the female lead point of view, as well as the male lead point of view.
6. "I wonder when it will be?" Once you watch it you'll understand! But it speaks to Riichi's dedication to Hanai and it was very sweet.
What I didn't like so much:
1. And this is a negative ONLY if you can't suspend disbelief. But a person can only be ignored for so long before they get fed up and move on. I mean, they'd been "dating" for a month and hadn't been on a date? And I don't think that if you are in a relationship it's ever okay to ignore texts and phone calls for days at a time.
2. The multiple times he asked her for a "reward" really bothered me. It's the equivalent of a man taking you to dinner and then expecting you to put out since he spent some money on you.
3. There is actually no character development. They are the same at the end of the show as they are at the beginning. She has learned nothing and doesn't apparently appreciate the fact that she has someone in love with her. His character is the same, but add that he has now become a doormat for a woman that ignores him.
I'll have to admit that the show is kind of thought-provoking. How do you maintain a relationship when you are working all the time? How do you prioritize your time so you can actually have a relationship? How long would you be willing to stay with a person that put you way down on their priority list?
Was this review helpful to you?
Meh.
This show started out well, but I thought it dragged A LOT in the middle. I did like the premise of the show, the secrets, etc. The male lead was wonderful, and I loved the concept of him loving her practically his entire life. The female lead, I loved her voice, and she is beautiful - her smile is just radiant - but I didn't particularly care for her character. She seemed unnecessarily pouty and kind of stand-offish. The second male lead - I LOVE when the secondary character turns out to be a good guy. They even turned around the second female lead - she was an absolute nightmare at the beginning, but at the end I liked her. The overall story was kind of slow and sometimes boring, and I don't understand why so many Korean dramas have the passage of time just before the end of the show. The characters have to go through so much to get together, and then they just kind of go along on auto pilot. It was a happy ending, just kind of brief and bland. There were a couple of good kisses, but I didn't find this show terribly romantic.Was this review helpful to you?
Brilliant acting
I was exhausted by the time I finished this show! There are so many twists and turns in this story, you need a map. It was an original story, very entertaining, but very emotional. Ji Sung is the male lead, and on a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give him a 20 for this part! He had trauma in his life which cause him to develop multiple personalities. Each personality was so believable and there were so many heartbreaking scenes. I have to score down for two reasons, one was the overabundance of bad guys, and the other was for the female lead, played by Hwang Jung Eum. She tends to stay on the comedy side of the spectrum which was jarring in a lot of the scenes - her screaming and shrieking were very distracting. She was much better in the emotional scenes toward the end. I felt the ending was rushed after all the drama they went through, but this show has one of the best lines ever in ep 1 "Remember - January 7, 2015 at 10:00 on the dot. The time I fell for you." If for no other reason, watch this for Ji Sung's acting.Was this review helpful to you?
Cute story, low on angst
Don't let the name fool you. I thought she was going to be this aggressive, irritating woman. Not so. This movie is a joy to watch. I shed a few tears briefly, but for the most part I couldn't do anything but smile. This is about scars, both on the outside where they can be seen by everyone, and those on the inside, that we usually have to deal with on our own. It's also about realizing that, just because someone is physically able, we shouldn't make the mistake of thinking that they don't have any problems. Often the inner troubles are harder to deal with, because we don't let anyone in to help us. This movie is also about opening up to friendships of all different types. Each of the students was so fun in their own way. This is a movie that will definitely make you happy.Was this review helpful to you?
Reviewing after watching it again!
Wonderful movie about the power of love, the strength of memories and connections between lovers. The actors were all very good. Choi Jin Hyuk continues to impress me - that deep voice! I loved all the emotion he put into his character, the seriousness, the playfulness, the loneliness, the feeling of loss. Song Ha Yoon was very good as well. Her character was strong and resilient without being hard. These two had off-the-charts chemistry! Multiple very good kissing scenes. Very cute ending. The actor that played his cousin was very good - his character was often over the top, but when he saw his mother for what she was, his betrayal was heart-wrenching. Beautiful scenery and I loved the visual of her wearing different white outfits throughout the show. It really helped to show her innocence/sweetness, especially in light of all that she had gone through. Choi Jin Hyuk did singing for the soundtrack - bonus!Was this review helpful to you?
Catchy music!
This show started out so strong, they met in high school, lost touch with one another and now she works for him. He has the biggest dimples I’ve ever seen, and I loved the way his character was written. About midway through the show, my enjoyment began to wane. Her character bothered me. She was so strong in sales, in protecting and taking care of her family, but she was so weak relationship-wise. She would never tell him how she felt, and the multiple separations because she wasn’t “good enough” were working my last nerve. I loved all of the male characters in this show, they were always true friends, not out for their own gains. There was one storyline I didn’t like at all. Good music, wonderful, catchy theme song. Happy, yet kind of silly, ending. And I have to say that this show has the best theme song ever - you love it while you're listening to it and it makes you want to dance, then it burrows into your brain and you find yourself singing it for the rest of the day!Was this review helpful to you?
Hidden gem!
Oh my goodness, this was a wonderful show. It's about choices we make, regrets we might have because of those choices, chances not taken, and bravery. The writing was so well-done and the actors all played their parts brilliantly. I'm not going to speak of the story itself, you need to watch it and experience it. I will say this, though, I was glad I was watching it by myself, because there was a lot of ugly crying going on! Absolutely the only reason I didn't rate it a 10 is, that's saved for shows I can watch over and over again. I'm so glad I saw this!Was this review helpful to you?
More revenge than romance
"Revenge is a dish best served cold." This certainly applies to Zhao Yi Ting (Marcus Chang), as he coldly goes about exacting revenge on someone that ruined his family. He's been slow and methodical about it (12 years), and to hear him talk, nothing is going to stand in his way. That is, until he meets Lei Xin Yu (Eugenie Liu) - the innocent, naive and optimistic daughter of his target. This show is about how love can overcome revenge, but only if you let yourself be open to it.The storyline and script were good, though drawn out at times. There were twists that kept cropping up, keeping me interested.
Marcus Chang was very good in this role. He had that hard, distant stare down to a science, but when he smiled, oh my!
I felt that Eugenie Liu overacted quite a bit, especially during the scenes with her mom. She cried A LOT, and it got to the point that I was wondering what calamity the writers were going to put her through next.
Their chemistry was good, the romance was very subdued (just a couple of kisses). I really did feel this was more about revenge than romance.
The music was good and the vignette they showed at the beginning of each episode was very dramatic and you got a feel for the actors' chemistry here as well.
I loved the secondary characters of her roommate and his family. There are mysteries surrounding these people that you find out as you go along, but the love was there, when they were fighting for each other, or just kidding around.
I also liked a technique that I don't think gets used enough in Asian dramas. We always have an overabundance of the girl/boy (usually girl) that likes the main lead and is willing to do whatever it takes to be with them, even knowing that they don't like them or are in love with someone else, and they do all kinds of evil/underhanded things. In this show, there were a couple of instances of someone liking someone else, but their motivation was happiness for the object of their affection. They put their own feelings aside to help the person they liked. I love that!
The ending was happy and sweet and the writers did a wonderful job of including his family in their "happily ever after". I would have liked at least a kiss, but I'm just being picky.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Wallace Huo saved this from being rated lower by me
I would have given the first half more than 10 stars, if possible. Wow, was it ever good! So well-written, with smart dialogue, excellent acting, mystery and tension throughout. The music was very successful in addition to the tension.Their voices were good and not screech-y (why do most C-dramas insist upon dubbing?). This was my first time of seeing Wallace Huo in anything, and I was impressed. his character, Simon Bo, was a criminal profiler and seemed able to pull the answers to clues out of thin air (suspend disbelief here). The developing relationship between the male and female leads was a pleasure to watch, and so amusing, since he had no people skills whatsoever. I didn't feel that them sleeping together that first date made any sense, since she could barely even kiss him on the cheek. However, her describing to him how he kisses? That was hot! The writers would have been better served to extend that "will they/won't they" tension, because the couple got boring after that. I loved that they were working on new crimes every couple of episodes, which kept it fresh. I also really enjoyed Andrew Yin as Simon's assistant/secretary. He and Simon had a wonderful bromance relationship going on and a lot of his lines were very amusing. I had to downgrade my rating because of the second half of the story when they were in America. Really bad American actors, and they kept changing the female lead's name. And the Chinese actors spoke in only Chinese, but everyone was able to understand one another? However, I'll definitely be watching the first half of this again sometime soon.
Was this review helpful to you?
