This drama 100% deserves the hype
In a time when we are suffering from a over-saturation of content and less than mediocre stories, particularly related to people with superpowers, South Korea has released MOVING and proved there's still hope for the genre.Like its tittle the story is in constant move, not only pushing forward but going back to different timelines to give us context o our main characters and how the things happening in present time are a direct consequence to the past. Technically, MOVING is perfect. One of the strongest points is definitely the editing and this can be seen in the way the story jumps from one year to another but you never lose track of what's happening nor leaves you confused. There are gaps to fill but with other episodes that will give you answers. The score complements the actions and emotions of the characters to perfection.
The performances are top notch and it's not surprise considering this drama is stack. If you have been watching korean dramas or films for a while, you will recognize even the most random character or one-episode-cameo it's performed by an award winning actor or actress. These people have a reputation for a reason and they deliver in every scene, with a look, a touch, a smile or a punch that will push you through a wall. For some characters in the drama literally speaking.
Zo In Sung hasn't starred in a drama since Dear My Friends (2016) and I am so glad this is his return to the tv format. In MOVING he delivered a nuance, charming and badass performance that in the hands of another would have fell flat. His character's entire existence it's what pushes most of the story forward: a person used as a weapon to kill but all he ever wanted was to live. The big mystery of the drama it's to find out what was his fate after he got separated from those he loves.
Ryoo Seung Ryong remains one of the most compelling actors of his generation, giving us the incredible story of a good man lost in life until he found his purpose and redemption. His storyline, full of gore and violence, was actually a tender love story about how far a man will go to protect his family. Marvelous.
Han Hyo Joo's character could have easily fallen into the Smurfette principle but no. She's an equal to the men who love her and those that want to kill her, with a very strong motivation to keep herself on the top of the game. This character's loneliness comes through every scene she's in, bottling everything up in order to be strong for her family but you can tell she's waiting for a chance to be free and, most importantly, for her son to be able to live freely.
Ko Yoon Jung, Lee Jeong Ha and Kim Do Hoon are really promising actors, particularly considering they hold their own while performance with so many household names. I think Kim Do Hoon and Kim Sun Kyun probably gave one of the most heartbreaking yet beautiful stories in the drama.
Like I mentioned before every single actor in this drama brought their A+ game face but I would be doing a disservice if I didn't mention Kim Hee Won, Cha Tae Hyun, Ryoo Seung Bum, Park Hee Soon, Yang Dong Geun, Jo Bok Rae, Park Kwang Jae, Kim Joong He and, of course, Kwak Sun Young. She in particular was SPECTACULAR.
None of these characters are one-dimensional, they are not defined by the label society wants to put on them. They are all joined together by the experiences, hardships, love, motivations and ambitions they share. At the end of the day, related or not by blood, they are a family. Even the so-called enemies.
MOVING it's absolutely worthy of the hype that surrounds it through all social media and news outlets putting in the category of one of 2023 best tv shows. I only regret I didn't have the time to watch it sooner so I could have add it to mine.
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In addition the film questions whether people are capable of change, as well as whether we can change people’s impressions of us.
Chung’s unforgettable family drama promises both to devastate and uplift audiences in any country where this masterpiece stands a chance at being released.
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Lovely story
There's a famous saying that claims "the way to a man's heart was through his stomach" and this story, from the anthology kdrama series Love Track, explores it with a twist.A lonely office worker, with very little going on in his life, finds himself lost in life. Not really happy with how things are going, falling into a mindless routine and feeling ignored by people. Until one day, he visits a new restaurant and tries the french onion soup and feels instantly revitalized. Now, when things don't go his way, he visits that same restaurant and asks for his new favourite dish. That's until the chef from the restaurant decides to no longer have this particular dish on the menu.
I really like this story because it felt really relatable. In the busy everyday life, it's easy to feel lonely and not really see beyond what's in front of us, thinking we go unnoticed by other people. But, if we look up from our plate, we can see there's actually kindness, friendship and, even, love waiting for us as long as we are willing to take a chance.
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I honestly didn't think it could get worse...
But here we are. After my rant about the first part of this story, I went and watched the conclusion of this adaptation because I was hoping now that the characters were going to be university students, perhaps the story would pick up. I was wrong.Not only Megami Korin: After has all the same issues as its first part, it also has the nerve to brush off bullying and stalking as things you for for someone else’s sake. It’s a new level of delulu I hope to never see in a jdrama or jfilm ever again.
PART 1 REVIEW: https://kisskh.at/profile/namjhyuns/review/497366
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The importance of being earnest.
I admit I had high expectations for this drama. For starters, I really love Zhu Yi, the author of the original source material. She has a way of writing really beautiful stories about love and growing pains, that touch on subjects such as loneliness, self-love, friendship and overcoming society's prejudices in contemporary China, without making the characters' realities too harsh and cold. In her stories there's always room for hope and change.Adding to this, I already knew Director and screenwriter Chu Yu Ning thanks to his impeccable work in the classic romcom It Started with a Kiss (and its sequel). So, I knew not only he would do an outstanding work but the team that he would bring to for this adaptation would be up to the highest standards. Finally, when it was announced Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan would be starring as Sang Yan and Wen Yifan, I knew this would be probably one of the best dramas of the year. I was right.
The First Frost is a beautifully shot story about two people loving each other unconditionally because they share a deep understanding of whom the other person is, and accept them with flaws and all. Sang Yan and Wen Yifan were never friends, they were always meant to be more, and their relationship is certainly based in a partnership of equals that respect each other. And because of this, they are able to navigate natural feelings in life such as heartbreak and fear of abandonment, and other more harsh situations such as overcoming childhood trauma and parents' neglect.
Every character in this drama was casted perfectly and all the actors brought their A+ game. Even when I fundamentally disagreed with some characters, such as Yifan's mother, the character and story building made me understand she was product of society and her environment, but I give props to The First Frost for delivering one of the most satisfying resolutions to this particular storyline. For too long we have been characters narratively forced to forgive neglecting or downright abusive parents, Wen Yifan said we are doing things differently from on.
There's a lot of value and importance in what The First Frost has to say about women's experiences through life, and how much we need positive people (of all genders) around us. Sang Yan is not perfect but he certainly is an ideal that we should aspire to, particularly the men. Yifan's journey was to learn that you don't need to be healed in order to receive love from others. Or, perhaps even more importantly, to love yourself.
Absolutely recommend watching this drama that delivers a powerful message through great character building, a compelling narrative, superlative soundtrack and writing.
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An honest and mature drama about relationships
I really liked this drama. It was a calm and mature slow burn romance between adults in different stages of life, and a diverse insecurities and personalities, trying to figure out their relationships but also life in general.This felt like a honest portrayal of modern love and friendship, that was sweet and fun, never overly dramatic. If there was any drama between any of the characters, it was due to misunderstandings, and these never lasted long as these are people who care for each other and actively try to fix things by communicating properly and even clumsily. Sometimes you don't have the words or the perfect speech to win back someone. Other times, actions speak louder than words.
Overall, this was a really fun drama that I would watch again in a heartbeat.
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It's a movie
I was today's years old when I found out this movie existed, and I inmediately had to watch it. As a kid growing up with manga and anime, Saint Seiya holds a special place in my heart and, although I am not a die hard fan, I remember the story pretty well.Let's start with the positive. Director Tomasz Bagiński has some experience with productions based on myths and fantasy (he as executive producer of the Netflix tv show The Witcher), so the development of the CGI was really well done. The costume design decent and chosen locations for the film to be filmed at, as well the sets, really good. The casting was solid, although I admit I have seen the lead actors give better performances before but they did what they could with the script they were given. And that's really the issue with this live action of the japanese classic.
The negative is definitely the script, it's weak and it deviated too much from the original story; never fully embracing the mythos surrounding these characters or giving them proper development. You have a villain that will stop at nothing, only to have a last minute change of heart which it's incoherent considering this character never had any proper development, to the emotional gut punch falls flat. The sacrifices made in the story also hold no emotion, we never get to meet the characters long enough to care.
Mackenyu and Madison Iseman do what they can but the script never gives them enough material to work with because this is an origin story, which means the film is too busy world building and not giving us scenes with them bonding, so when the plot changes to the supposedly poignant resolution, it's awkward as hell.
Overall, I would recommend this film to have something in the background as you clean around the house or something like that.
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A really good mini drama
I am not the person that wants dramas to be longer, ever, but A Familiar Stranger is the exception. I liked everything about this drama, from the story to the characters, and I wish I could have had more time in this world.For starters, the camera work and storytelling was really good and when I found this drama is from the same director as last year's hit cdrama Blossom, it all made sense. The cinematography, the way the production design, costume design, make up and character development are all connected in a cohesive way to tell the story, it's wonderful to watch.
The performances are really good and the cast's chemistry solid. One of the reasons why I would want this drama to be longer is because I would have love to see a more extended character development for each characters, as the resolution to the villain's story seemed rushed. I would have also loved to see more of the leads' love story and their found family.
Overall, this was a really good and fun watch for the weekend.
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It's okay
This drama started strong and I was really invested in the characters' personal stories, relationships and their growth as people as they started working together on each case. There's also a really interesting factor of a major mystery involving leading lady's identity that was promising.The performances are good and the cast has good chemistry. The action sequences are really well done, delivering some great fighting choreographies. The costume design, tho, felt mid. There was nothing special to it, which it's a little disappointing.
At some point, I started fast forwarding some scenes. The drama felt repetitive and I have to blame it on the unnecessary constant exposition; if I just something happened, I don't need it described to me through dialogue when there's nothing to add to it. I also think the drama misused the main villain of the story, not properly showing his talents until the end and centering more in each case. I always wanted to see more of the court, which in the final episodes proved to be more interesting with its scheming characters, both, good and bad.
Overall, this is a good and stress free drama to watch while you are cleaning around the house or something like that.
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Life is worth living
Sweet Bean broke me a little bit but I understand it needed to do so in order to build me up again. This was yet another solid slice of life story from japanese cinema (they are experts on the genre) on how the we take for granted life.The film doesn't go anywhere the viewer isn't expecting. It’s a long process that, like Sweet Bean, requires more patience than most would be willing to give. Kawase takes her time crafting scenes, which she sets in the darkness just before dawn. By itself, it would make an excellent stand-alone short film. The arduous process of cooking an pays off when Sentaro’s new, improved dorayaki quickly become a lines-around-the-block success due to word of mouth. Which is also the catalyst for the film’s dramatic conflict.
Kawase depicts the passage of time with beautifully shot changes of season, bookending the film with the vivid cherry blossoms of Spring. When Sweet Bean is leisurely coasting along like this, one can easily get lost in its meditative pull.
I admit this film might not be for everybody, even I had a hard time with it but I am glad I stayed for the entirety of it.
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The cast's chemistry it's so good.
To be honest, I fee a little conflicted about this drama. It has great cinematography and costume design, and the chemistry between the actors it's really good.This is very much a character driven drama, so the performances are key for the story to work; and that's really when Brocade Odyssey works best. Tan Song Yun and Zheng Ye Cheng have good chemistry, they work really well together, and the characters they play are well-rounded and interesting. There was never a moment when I wasn't rooting for them.
The script presents an interesting setting but it's when it tries to develop the story further from the relationship and goals between the main characters that becomes too convoluted. It makes odd decisions and puts too many players in the scene. Until episode 32 the drama was okay on this aspect but it was when the scriptwriter had to start moving pieces to resolve the conflicts developed up to that point that the story suffers.
Overall, this was an entertaining watch that didn't reach its full potential but still delivers some really nice and fun moments.
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Pleasantly surprised!
I was pleasantly surprised by this drama, and it's not like I was planning to watch it before it even aired but I was in a mood for an historical piece and a Zhang Wanyi fan, so why not?The story, we have all seen before, but there's something about an underdog rising among the ranks of his family and court that's very satisfying to watch, particularly when it's deserved and well developed.
I confess I wasn't all that interested in most of the supportive characters. An ensemble cast ca be tricky and, most of the time, supportive characters get overlooked. In this drama, this doesn't necessarily happen but, however, I do think most of the supportive cast serves as a player to push the leads' story forward and, most of them, don't get their own story per se. This doesn't mean the story is not good but, compared to other dramas like this one, it's a little lacking on this part.
Ren Min, Zhang Wanyi and Ci Sha do most of the weightlifting in the story, all of them giving really solid performances with the first two perfectly casted as the leads, and the latter delivering one of the most unnerving obsessive characters I have seen in a while.
Overall, I think this was a really good watch and enjoyed it.
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Weak
The entire concept of the film confuses me and I have to wonder what was the point of each of these stories. I don’t understand why people’s whose subconscious was uploaded can’t be aware they are death or in a coma. It seems like the people that invented the Wonderland system is setting it up to fail.Despite its star studded and incredibly talented cast, this film is flawed on its storytelling. They could have done something interesting with the concept it is based on, and about human nature, love, grief and how to move forward. Instead there’s a lot of unjointed nothing.
Overall the film is well produced. It’s not a bad or good film, it’s okay.
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Acosy, warm and lovely story.
The first thing that stands out it's the cast, which is conformed by some of the hottest and most talented young chinese actors nowadays, which includes Wu Lei, Zhao Jinmai, Wang Xing Yue, Chen Jing Ke and Wang Run Ze just to name a few.I think this drama it's a good choice for their careers as they are able to deliver more quiet, subdue and nuance performances in comparison to melodramatic historical stories. Amidst a Snowstorm of Love it's more on the mature and calm side of Dramaland, something that I really appreciated.
This is a soft-spoken story, a mirror to our leads' personality and relationship. There are no grand gestures, insurmountable challenges, or family opposition. Instead we find, front and center, a story about love, friendship and personal growth.
Tien Jen Huang and Yu Bo knew what they were doing. I am guessing Amidst a Snowstorm of Love had two directors because half of the dramas was filmed outside of China, and they had to combine filming styles of storytelling, rhythms and aesthetics, among other practical and technical things. Both teams did wonderful, maintaining the same leve of production through the entirety of the show.
If I have to mention something that bothers me, it would be the sport side of the story which inevitably ends on the characters trying to get to the Olympics. I like it more when the story focuses on their growth as people through their personal relationships. But this is a minor point in a bigger story that it's perfectly cosy, warm and lovely.
I recommend it.
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A wasted opportunity.
I came into this drama thinking it was a romance with a side of comedy but I was pleasantly surprise to find a family drama.Everyone does a really good job in the roles they were given and have great chemistry but you should know this drama leans more into the realism of how relationships actually work in a chinese family nowadays than what westerns countries are used to consume.
I found myself surprised, really, to find this kind of story of a meddling mother to the point of annoyance and a family that would actually enable her actions, until the breaking point. And then when things didn't go her way, she made everything worse. It got to the point where no matter how much I understood she was coming from a place of good, there was no justification or explanation for her.
I have been watching asian dramas for decades now and it's been a long time since I find myself watching a drama with these family dynamics, which it's a reminiscence of early 2000s kind of story and, worse, outdated.
Another weak point, it's that this drama simply didn't have enough story for 37 episodes. If this would have been a 20 something episode long drama, focused more on leading lady's work life, it would have been far more interesting.
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