It’s passable
First Time is a nice enough movie but not particularly a favourite.Why ?
Firstly - it was a bit of a strenuous watch for me and consisted of an unforgivable start . It was slow and not in a luxuriant way but rather in a lack of ingenuity way . However, I did appreciate the nuance of the story and it did actually pick up at the 40 min mark to the point where I actually wanted to see how it ended . Big points for that but there was really no huge treat to reward those other 40 mins that I can’t let pass.
As for the acting - it was actually good but not memorable . I did not have an aftertaste of them at all but this is because of the storytelling. It’s not their fault . Both are highly popular and acclaimed actors and it shows as they were able to give some fire to this unlit bonfire .
The music was actually in no way memorable nor heightening . There was the guitar piece and that was supposed to be poignant but it all fell flat and that’s the storytelling’s fault . Shame.
Rewatch value is particularly non existent. I cannot possibly go through that 40 mins for sentiment so nah .
As for the overall - it was a passable movie . Not too good but also not that bad . In all honesty the hype surrounding this movie and its lauding reviews is the actors charm . So - if you like these actors (as most people on MDL do ) then go for it . As for me - it was okay albeit not great .
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A Decent Revenge Drama Carried by Its Villains
Marry My Husband delivers as a solid makjang revenge drama, but let's be honest: this show was made by its villains. Their scheming and unrelenting antics keep the plot engaging and the tension high, adding the dramatic flair you'd expect from this genre.After watching the drama, I checked out the manga, and wow—what a difference! The source material offers way more drama, particularly when it comes to the villains and the male lead. I couldn’t help but wish the drama had leaned into those elements more. There were so many missed opportunities to elevate the story with some of the manga's more intense and theatrical moments.
That said, it’s still a more-than-decent watch. The revenge arc is satisfying, and the ending manages to tie things up well enough to leave you with a sense of closure. While it may not have hit every note as perfectly as the manga, it’s a solid entry into the makjang genre and worth a watch if you love a good revenge tale.
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Shogun was... alright
Shogun was a decent watch, though not one that left me eagerly anticipating a second season. The show’s portrayal of feudal Japan was interesting, with an obvious dedication to capturing the cultural and historical essence of the time, which I appreciated. The production value was high, and visually, it was quite immersive, with detailed sets and costumes that effectively transported viewers to a different era.However, despite these strengths, the pacing often felt sluggish, and it sometimes struggled to maintain momentum. Some characters, while well-acted, lacked the depth needed to truly connect with viewers, making it harder to stay fully invested in their journeys. The story had moments of intrigue but didn’t consistently deliver, and there were points where I found myself waiting for it to pick up or offer something unexpected.
Overall, while Shogun had its strong points, it didn’t capture my interest in a way that would bring me back for another season. It’s worth a watch if you’re interested in historical dramas, but it ultimately left me wanting a bit more in terms of both narrative depth and engagement.
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Saved by a stellar supporting cast and supporting story
Alchemy of Souls offers a really compelling fantasy world with impressive world-building and a particularly stellar supporting cast that carries much of the show's weight. While the main leads often feel bland and uninspired making me wonder at one point why they even had a romantic story line , the supporting characters more than make up for it, bringing depth and nuance to the story.To be really honest , most of the episodes have a repetitive feel, with similar set pieces and stakes, making the middle of the series drag a bit. However, the drama really picks up in the last few episodes, delivering an engaging finale that redeems some of the earlier pacing issues. It’s a bit like those singers who mumble through the verses but nail the chorus—slow to start, but worth it in the end. I kind of resent the drama for this but I did enjoy the dramatic whiplash in the last 5 episodes.
One of the more intriguing aspects of the series is its exploration of power and morality. The drama delves into how those in power construct the logic and rules of what is considered right. When they fall, the next group does the same, raising the question: what truly defines logic and righteousness? The show suggests that if your rule serves the best interests of a large collective, then your logic is justified. But only for now- I particularly loved how the drama leaves you pondering the true nature of power and justice.
All in all, Alchemy of Souls is a solid fantasy drama with enough strengths to outweigh its flaws, and it’s easy to see why it’s garnered the hype it has.
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Solid weekend movie
Hitman Agent Jun is a solid weekend blockbuster with action , wit and a whole lot of comedy!The story is your typical usual agent trope of the retired agent with a family being forced back in to the fold by circumstances out of his control etc. Hitman Agent Jun plays on the trope quite well with sincerity and familial bonds galore.
The movie plays as very tongue in cheek which adds to the charm of the whole effort overall.
Maybe some weak parts in the middle but overall, a jolly watch that is really good for those weekend afternoons or nights.
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Its stylishly good but its not great
This movie tried to be a lot of things. Tarantino meeting John Wick but falling off somewhere is how I can describe this.The story is gripping and can keep you in for the duration of the movie but I personally found the first hour and a half ridiculously slow and boring which I cannot forgive at all. Furthermore, the story resolved into unneeded sappy territory which was disappointing too.
However, the cinephile in me recognizes the artistic winning aspect of this film which is stylishly delivered and that aspect is the only that save this movie from being a non watchable entity.
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Park Chan Wook at his most accessible
Park Chan Wook is responsible for seminal works in the movie industry, and he is known as a plot twist deity .The genius in his works usually make for an unstable watch and most times an inaccessible moment for moviegoers but in Handmaiden he condescends to make an approachable and accessible watch. The themes of colonial Korea and the tension with Japan are enduring as well as the other themes explored that include feminism ,liberation and sexuality.
Its beautifully shot and wonderfully acted too.
I do find Park Chan Wook a bit of a difficult pill to swallow so if he is your fave then you will surely love this.
If you are just starting out in watching his films , then this is the more accessible he has and great for beginners.
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A cleverly crafted romance that works despite itself.
The Beauty Inside tackles the old adage of “beauty is in the inside” with a compelling and refreshing take well worth its course .Caution : if you poke at it too much , it will definitely fall apart but for what it’s worth which is : a soft focus on a topic infused with romance ; it nails it .
The Beauty Inside doesn’t aim to be its predecessor as a social commentary and it’s quite clear from the get go that this movie just wants to explore what romance could be for someone who changes their body everyday . You will not get profound quotes on acceptance and image . Far from it . However, one gets a portrait of loneliness from the male lead and a tour de force from the female lead .
And that leads me to the standout here : Han Hyo Joo was terrific in this ! Her character portrait and her portrayal which is refreshingly far away from the infantile rom com woman was astounding ! She helped with the gravitas , nuance and emotional resonance of this movie that this was a total tour de force of talent !
This movie is also very well crafted . The hues and tones were just right and the motif of furniture was cleverly built in with the whole theme . The cameos of top Korean stars makes the movie super cool too.
OVERALL- A cleverly crafted romance that works despite itself. I say “despite itself “ because it really could have knocked it out with a more punchy social commentary and shorter run time . Those were just cons working against the movie. However , if the story compels you , go for it .
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Arthdal Chronicles Part 2: The Sky Turning Inside Out, Rising Land
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This is my review of all the parts in one review.
Part 1 : 8/10Part 2 :6/10
Overall : 7/10
Arthdal Chronicles is a cool fantasy drama with vitalizing commentary on what and who can be considered as civilized.
It has a talented cast and amazing visuals but I rate a somber 7 for a couple of reasons.
The good: Great story arcs and great initial fantasy building with the Arthdal world and its surrounding communes. Loved the pull and tension of the different species and aspects and rates of civilization.
Part 1 is definitely the better one and best representation of what Arthdal is.
The poor- 1.I found the continuing story arc of the pull and tension of the main characters very unsatisfactory especially the male lead protagonist . His scenes and story line became rather burdensome for me as a viewer as the main story arc was abandoned for him. We know he is special and was even born on an auspicious day yet his story-line was developed as tiring and lacking pace and vision.
This then affected everyone else and made the lore of Arthdal and its auspices now poorly executed.
2. The pacing and direction or maybe editing was lacklustre . Focusing was off and part 2 just dragged along story line wise. The plot twists became contrived too.
Overall- this show takes a chance and I love shows that take a chance . For what it is , it did okay but not decently if you ask me . It was bursting with potential and slid away .
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Solid trajectory but watches as continuously repetitive and tired .
Doctors is a drama that depicts lots of heart , growth and humanness.It had a lot going for it with full bodied characters that went through their individual phrasal evolution. That was great to watch until a certain point.
It also had great full circle moments that were great to watch until a certain point.
And I believe the premise of the main love story was totally cringe with the teacher/student angle and that just brought down the atmosphere of the overall drama in hindsight.
The cast was very underwhelming and I did not like the male lead at all. he was wooden and uninspired . Everyone else was plausibly okay.
I also had a hard time finishing it because everything became so repetitive so I felt less inclined to watch past the 16 eps mark.
However , it was a sweet drama with lots of warmth and cool medical procedures that added to thrill of watching the show.So, if you are trying to enter medical dramas , I suggest this one but I can guarantee you there are probably better ones .
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Personally enjoyable but very bad elements
If someone were to ask me if I enjoyed The K2 - I would emphatically say YES .Unreservedly. Here's why :1.Great fight scenes
2.Great political angst and villainy
3.Great supporting cast
4.Great intrigue and conspiracy
5. Great melodrama
Wars in the Middle East , espionage , fighting , commentary on AI and surveillance plus political puppets really made The K2 so interesting in a tenacious way. It really tried its darnedest to adhere to the 5 values I stated above . Moreover , the villain Choi Yoo Jin was incredibly exceptionally portrayed and her story arc was super enduring.Including her husband.
So why the 7.5 and not an emphatic 9 ? Here's why :
1. Weak male and female leads ( Ji Chang Wook and Im Yoon Ah)
2.Gormless romance
3. Not taking advantage of opportunities for an enduring story line
4. The character of Annan and her presentation was so UNNECESSARY
5. Loose story weaving
Not gonna sugar coat it but Ji Chang Wook and his insufferable inability to be comedically on point was terribly off putting . He did not do any justice to his character and everything of his just had off timing especially the comedic elements inserted into his character.
Im Yoon Ah was actually more insufferable to be fair , however , I will not persecute her too much because her character was ill conceived and written terribly . The K2 could have really saved itself if it focused on the bodyguard element decisively which is to say that there was no need for a romantic interest in the form of Anna and perhaps she should have been a child that he protects and have more of a ''hyung/brother'' element instead of a romance because THAT was disgustingly flat.
This now brings me to my point of ''loose story weaving.'' Why have romantic tensions between the male lead and the female villain only for it to culminate to nothing? Viewers did not deserve such possibly exciting ambiguity only for it to be thrown out. There are many other instances of loose story weaving but I will be spoiling.
The music was unremarkable and so is the rewatch value and quite possibly , this should score a 6.5 at best but I really enjoyed it and consider it to be a gem despite its flaws and all..
This drama is testament to a mantra I personally subscribe to and that is '' a drama does not have to be good in order for it to be good."
I highly recommend !
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Intentionally high octane crazy draaaama.
Know this is intentionally crazy and you will have a fun time of it! I guarantee it.The Last Empress is a bold , riveting bat crazy drama that still manages to be intricate and with emotional gravitas.
Its spins a tale of a fictional monarchy in modern times and brilliantly touches on the familial mayhem that could entail in such a family. If you are a student of Shakespeare, you will find the Macbeth -esque villainy in here artistic and very fun.As a K Drama fan, you will find that K CHARM brilliantly woven in by Shin Sun Rok and Jang Na Ra. If you like a brooding male lead too - Choi Jin Hyuk and his deep voice has you sorted and if you like a spunky spicy female lead - they ALL have that covered !
I also liked how involved the drama was . The viewer was in tandem with the drama and was never left behind for a minute . Making the viewer feel like an actual cast member is a lost art these days but Last Empress heartily inserted that .
It scores an 8.5 for two reasons though. The first being that I found components of the female cast particularly grating at times . The face acting on Lee Elijah and Shin Eun Kyung was really annoying and the director faltered heavilly there . The second being that the ending was found very wanting in some aspects for certain characters whilst others got brilliant ends . Inconsistency is the bane of any viewing experience so I had to shave points for that .
However , other than that- its an original story that does not hold back all. With all its melo dramatic madness , a schizy beauty truly emerged !
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An easy breezy thriller great for those weekend blockbuster picks!
If you love a thriller that is making a grand statement , good acting , great visual FXs and a complementary car chase then this movie is for you.Its very blockbuster and really packs a punch in its set up. It has a great man in the middle character in Kim Woo Bin who quickly turns sides and the menacing performance in Lee Byung Han is what every villain should be . However-I found the other male protagonist in Kang Dong Wan to be rather flat and grossly underwritten , but , hey ! Its not that deep. Its just an entertaining watch with suitable thrills.It won't bog you down at all.
Give it a watch for those weekends when you need an entertaining , crime obsessed thriller.
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A fiery drama that had an identity crisis
This drama depicts a game of life and love and had such a good mix of swoony but serious.Jang Ok Jung is portrayed as King Sukjong's first love twice in all the iterations she came into his life. It doesn't get more beautiful than that. But watch them throw away such pathos.What was initially the story of an ambitious woman who was born in the wrong time and the story of a passionate romance in a very chaste time made for an unbelievably delicious and satisfying watch. Moreover, the knowledge of the inevitable fate of these two historical characters is remarkably effective for the viewer to tune in.
Its clear to the viewer that the corrupt world they live in will eventually make them villains but not of their own making but just because they are the way they are. I thought that was so skillful of the writers to portray in the convincing manner they did in the first half but then things went awry.
Perhaps the story was too dynamic to handle because the show ended up delivering cheap makjang gimmicks from what was otherwise good pacing and fluid watching . My gripe is how thoughtful the drama was in its metaphors and then they literally threw that away . It should have watched as a political romance instead of delving into the hysterics of a makjang.
The drama literally had an identity crisis . It did not know what it was in the end .
I think I will watch Dong Yi.
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This is for the people who didn’t enjoy My Mister
I write this review amongst the glowing 9's and 10’s. I really do come in peace to just say that this is a very strong cup of tea that may not be a preferred cup as I have unfortunately found myself.It is a hectic watch . It is a tough watch . It is also a pouty watch. All these attributes are also the charms of the drama but are also the aspects that make it a pungent tea to some. Two things can be true at the same time and that is okay too .
Unfortunately, the former overwhelmed the other . It truly is the drama I couldn’t love even though I wanted to . And I can see what everyone talks about , I’m sure it inspires personal healing and human warmth and everything a slice of life should be but it just was not a slice of life I wanted to have . The tea leaves of Lee Jee An with her pouty grimace and the dry lips of the male lead and the pitiful brothers and mother were not sifted through the drama sieve well enough .
And those are the redeeming charms to some but it’s a no from me .
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