A very interesting premise that could have been so much better if not for the very superficial approach. The best things were the well-fitted slow and quiet pacing, but most of all the beautiful rural landscapes and scenery.
Bingo, well put together thoughts. I had seen enough exactly in the halfway mark where it foreshadowed those exact…
Agreed! Short duration definitely benefited the story - if longer, these issues might have caused significant problems and an average outcome. Let's hope season 2 is as good as this one.
Dark, violent, frustrating but very compelling! Though the pacing and the plot had some issues during the second half and it felt very unrealistic at times, I really liked the story, the production (especially the fight scenes and the music) and, most of all, the friendship/bromance and the superb acting from all those young actors! Time well spent.
Light and cheesy romcom, with a predictable story but short enough to be entertaining. The cute child actress made up for the cringy flashbacks of 30-something actors playing high schoolers... Enjoyable for a one-time watch.
Full of nostalgia, longing and that unique heart-fluttering feeling of first love... Though the story isn't something groundbreaking or cliche-free, it definitely grew on me and made me root for all main characters. Top-notch cinematography, production, music and acting were definitely a great plus, while the best advantage was the refreshing, scene-stealer Kido Taisei and his genuine smile! And what can I say about Mitsushima Hikari, this talented elegant lady who excels in all her roles, gifting us with superb performances every time she appears on screen...
Slow-paced, character driven, heavy on dialogues, narration and internal monologues, this is a uniquely bizarre drama, not always easy to follow. Abe Hiroshi and Ono Machiko, the M(ale) and F(emale) characters of this story did a splendid job.
Perhaps I'd like it much more if I had watched the movie first, but even so it was surprisingly good. After all, Ikeda Elaiza, Odagiri Joe and Ito Kentaro are always a pleasure to watch. Too short though... I wouldn't say no to more episodes/ghost stories, as well as Miko and Akito's romance!
An intriguing, gritty noir story, with a tight plot and fantastic dynamics between the main leads. Beautifully written and directed, superbly acted (especially from Lee Sung Min), with one of the most powerful ending scenes I've recently watched. Highly recommended.
Dark, slow, atmospheric and introspective yakuza movie about lonely, trapped people drenched in rain, silence and dead-ends. With gritty performances and stylish directing, this isn't a typical gangster movie but more of a film noir and a character study exploring isolation, family, honour and retribution.
Not as good and gripping as its prequel: too many flashbacks, unnecessarily more violent and less focused on friendship, which was the strongest element of the first movie. Still, the acting and relationship formed between the two leads, as well as the proper closure of the whole story made this an interesting watch.
A violent yet compelling story of four boyhood friends from very different backgrounds, the choices they make, the different paths they take in life, their mistakes, sacrifices, loyalty and deep bonding. A classic movie about friendship among gangsters that, even after 20 years, can be an absorbing and intense watch.
Making a dramedy based on real political events and the life of activist Kim Dae Jung was definitely a bold and risky move, but wasn't bad at all. Though the story was predictable or too convenient at times, the pacing and tone uneven throughout the movie, and some plot-holes were too big to ignore, the solid performances from the cast, the convincing settings and aesthetics, as well as some nice comedic moments made "Best Friend" an interesting watch.
Pleasantly surprised by this coming-of-age/romance story, depicting a genuine and heartfelt connection between a shy, introverted young man living with his overprotective and overly-meddling mom and a lonely divorcee who works as a sex hotel manager and has a son of her own. Poignant performances from the cast (especially from Vivian Hsu), elegant cinematography and directing. A bittersweet, melancholic story with some strong mother/son relationship elements through two parallel family story arcs that beautifully intervene, resulting in some character growth for both mamas and their boys.
Not as cute and fluffy as the drama -too family friendly, with less humor and a more serious, mature tone- but still a satisfying watch: we got a proper closure, a happy ending and enjoyed the progress of Kurasawa and Adachi's relationship.
A melancholic coming-of-age story set in the late 60's, in the midst of political protest movements, university demonstrations and sexual exploration. Slow-paced, sad, full of yearning, loneliness and unspoken secrets.
Not perfect in terms of story and pacing, but I had a blast watching this! This mismatched trio, with their bantering and shenanigans, was a pleasure to watch. Suave Namkoong Min, with his plaid suits, his glasses, his wacky attitude & posture was a real eye-candy. That man never disappoints... 💯
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The best things were the well-fitted slow and quiet pacing, but most of all the beautiful rural landscapes and scenery.
Let's hope season 2 is as good as this one.
Though the pacing and the plot had some issues during the second half and it felt very unrealistic at times, I really liked the story, the production (especially the fight scenes and the music) and, most of all, the friendship/bromance and the superb acting from all those young actors!
Time well spent.
The cute child actress made up for the cringy flashbacks of 30-something actors playing high schoolers...
Enjoyable for a one-time watch.
Though the story isn't something groundbreaking or cliche-free, it definitely grew on me and made me root for all main characters.
Top-notch cinematography, production, music and acting were definitely a great plus, while the best advantage was the refreshing, scene-stealer Kido Taisei and his genuine smile!
And what can I say about Mitsushima Hikari, this talented elegant lady who excels in all her roles, gifting us with superb performances every time she appears on screen...
Abe Hiroshi and Ono Machiko, the M(ale) and F(emale) characters of this story did a splendid job.
After all, Ikeda Elaiza, Odagiri Joe and Ito Kentaro are always a pleasure to watch.
Too short though... I wouldn't say no to more episodes/ghost stories, as well as Miko and Akito's romance!
Beautifully written and directed, superbly acted (especially from Lee Sung Min), with one of the most powerful ending scenes I've recently watched. Highly recommended.
With gritty performances and stylish directing, this isn't a typical gangster movie but more of a film noir and a character study exploring isolation, family, honour and retribution.
Still, the acting and relationship formed between the two leads, as well as the proper closure of the whole story made this an interesting watch.
A classic movie about friendship among gangsters that, even after 20 years, can be an absorbing and intense watch.
Though the story was predictable or too convenient at times, the pacing and tone uneven throughout the movie, and some plot-holes were too big to ignore, the solid performances from the cast, the convincing settings and aesthetics, as well as some nice comedic moments made "Best Friend" an interesting watch.
Poignant performances from the cast (especially from Vivian Hsu), elegant cinematography and directing.
A bittersweet, melancholic story with some strong mother/son relationship elements through two parallel family story arcs that beautifully intervene, resulting in some character growth for both mamas and their boys.
Slow-paced, sad, full of yearning, loneliness and unspoken secrets.
This mismatched trio, with their bantering and shenanigans, was a pleasure to watch.
Suave Namkoong Min, with his plaid suits, his glasses, his wacky attitude & posture was a real eye-candy.
That man never disappoints... 💯