Kimmie

A storyline that has potential, yet quickly grows repetitive and frustrating.

For the sake of this review, I watched the Netflix version of this show, which has all 63 episodes.

Ashes of Love has so much potential going for it, yet it sadly manages to fall flat in areas that should hold it in a stronger light. Before I talk about the things that hurt this show for me though, let me start by mentioning some of the positives:

- The show is visually beautiful. The set designs are so vivid and colourful, the costume and makeup design is stunning, and even the visual effects are great for the year of the show's release.
- The musical score for this show is lovely. No tracks feel tired of overused, and I could easily see myself listening to this soundtrack again in the future whilst working.
- The cast of actors themselves are very talented. For all I complain about the characters themselves, the actors did a fantastic job with what was given to them to work with.
- Yes, Luo Yunxi's Runyu steals this show. His character is probably the most fully fleshed out, well-rounded in the entire cast. Luo Yunxi's acting only enhances this, and his work shines despite the plot's strange directions.
- Other notable characters that brought me joy anytime they were on the screen were Suli, Kuang Li, Yan You, and Yuan Ji. (Yuan Ji, my beautiful fate immortal! How I wish you had more screentime in this show).

Now, to the negatives:

- This isn't a love story.
Oh, Ashes of Love tries to be one. It even classes itself as one. But for all intents and purposes, the romance in this is questionable. For the first half of the drama our main female lead, Jinmi, doesn't even have the ability to know or understand what love is. While her breaking of the curse which stops her from experiencing this could have been a fascinating journey, instead the viewer is stuck with watching as the two princes of the Immortal Realm - Deng Lun's Xufeng and Luo Yunxi's Runyu - take advantage of her naivety to fight over their own affections for her. Heck, even other characters outside of this love triangle are doing their best to plot about whom Jinmi should marry, while Jinmi herself is just 'sure, whatever, I'm just having fun'. Even later, when she does break the curse and learn what love is, neither Xufeng nor Runyu are deserving of her, as they continuously use her as a pawn in their own petty game.
The only time I ever felt that the romantic relationships between the characters in this love triangle were truly well written and fleshed out were during the arc where Jinmi and Xufeng experience their trials as mortals. During that period the viewer thinks 'oh, okay! So after they finish the trial and return to the Heavenly realm, they'll come out more experienced in life and better their understanding!' Haha no, that doesn't happen at all. In fact, the happenings after their return are probably the most frustrating on the entire show for me.

- This show gets repetitive.
So many interesting things happen storywise in this show. Yet ... they're all in the background, an almost secondary addition to the constant ping-ponging between the main love triangle. I hope you're in for 63 episodes of Jinmi going 'I'll marry Xufeng' 'no wait! I'll marry Runyu, because that's what was promised' 'no no, wait again! I'll marry Xufeng for sure, because I actually love him (I think?)' 'haha no, I'll marry Runyu because Xufeng hates me now' 'but ... if I visit Xufeng this one last time ... maybe he'll at least forgive me!'
Even the side pairing in this show - Liu Ying and Muci - spend a good thirty episodes running backward and forwards between one another. It's so irritating! The same problems keep happening for this cast, and yet instead of the show solving them and letting the story naturally evolve, it just rehashes them again under a new umbrella.

- Xufeng and Jinmi are self-obsessed.
Okay, so. This is actually a problem that also lies with other characters too - even Runyu suffers from it - but I noticed this particularly with Xufeng and Jinmi once they returned from their mortal trial. So this focus will be the main example I use for just how frustrating this show can get.
During Xufeng and Jinmi's trials in the mortal realm, the story also begins to take us in the direction of - in my opinion - one of the most important and interesting plots Ashes of Love has to offer. Through Yan You's guidance, Runyu learns the truth of his childhood, including his parentage and why it is the Heavenly Empress hates him so. I won't spoil too much of this arc, but tragedy strikes during this arc which is the catalyst for pushing Runyu's character to make the decisions he does later.
When Xufeng and Jinmi return, Runyu is secluded and grieving. Now, throughout the show up until this point, the viewer has been shown that Xufeng cares deeply for his brother, and Jinmi has developed a very strong friendship with Runyu, her fish Immortal friend.
Neither one of these two characters check in on him at any point in time.
It's not due to them not knowing what happened to him - they do, it's made very clear - but instead, they're so absorbed in their own honeymoon happiness that nothing outside their own bubble matters. It's another act of the show forcing this romance on us, without making it feel natural, or letting these characters continue their other important relationships outside of their romantic interests. Later, when Runyu finally strikes back for all that's been done to him, there's very little sympathy the viewer can feel towards the other characters because ... yeah, we saw this happening. We saw the neglect, abuse, and trauma this character was put through that suddenly we don't feel bad for him acting as he does.

I can go on, but this review is already getting long.
If, like me, you're tired of out-dated clichés and female characters who aren't allowed the chance to grow and be themselves, then this show isn't for you. I mentioned on my Tumblr that this is probably perfect for a younger audience who do love shows that aren't heavy on substance, but if you're looking for something with complex characters and story and a romance that feels authentic ... it's not Ashes of Love. Save yourself time and watch something else.

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An engaging and striking drama, let down by its final few episodes

I went into My Journey to You blind, having been introduced to it through gifs that were being created on Tumblr. It was the cinematography that held my attention at first, yet after reading what this show was about I was instantly intrigued. A more mature story filled with intrigue and suspense, with an intricate spy network infiltrating its way into a powerful family that tries to route them out -- how could I not be interested? This show sounded so promising and interesting, I was eager to watch it.

For the most part, there is very little I dislike about this show. The beginning is fantastic; the pacing and tension of what is being set up for the story is engaging and draws you in instantly, the mystery of what's happening making you ask questions that have you wanting the next episode as soon as you can. The episodes can run quite long for a cdrama - roughly about an hour in length - and while some episodes that feels like enough, for others it can feel like they run a little too long .

The acting in this show is incredible, and there's not a character that I found to be frustrating or felt was out of place. I'd say some of the roles that stood out for me were that of Tian Jia Rui's Gong Yuanzhi, Cheng Lei's Gong Shangjue, Sun Chen Jun's Jin Fan, and Lu Yu Xiao's Shangguan Qian. But honestly, the entire cast stepped up and delivered in this show, and they should all be praised for the work they've done here.

I mentioned that the cinematography was the first thing to draw me into this show. Regardless of any of its flaws, My Journey to You is a masterpiece in this area. This was very obviously a big production, and the shots and camerawork that were used are something else. So many scenes look like works of art, and it truly elevates this show to another level altogether. I would go as far as to say it's probably one of the most beautiful dramas from the 2023 lineup, and there were quite a few stunning works that year!

I will say that for all of its strengths, this show does struggle towards its ending. I won't say much as I aim to keep this review spoiler-free, but I felt that the last few episodes made some odd choices: not all of them were good. The finale to this show is ... baffling, honestly. It sets up for the potential of a sequel, however I very much doubt that such a thing will come to light. As I mentioned, I came into this show blind and had no idea about the struggles and controversies that were wrapped around it (plagiarism allegations, investigations into sexual assault charges pressed against one of the supporting cast, arguments that this story 'borrowed' too much from Japanese dramas rather than more traditional Chinese ones), but having since read about them I can sort of see why this show ended as it did. In a way, it's rather a miracle this show was even released as it was - but I find myself glad that the audience got to watch it. So, while the ending may feel unsatisfactory for what had started out strong, it doesn't diminish the otherwise enjoyable show that it began as.

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Entertaining at first, but derails quickly in the second act.

I was really enjoying this show at the start and thought that although not the best show I've ever seen, it certainly wasn't as bad as people were suggesting. I briefly wondered if perhaps the bad reviews I'd seen were just a product of the internet being too harsh as usual, but once Legend of Chong Zi hits the second act ... oh do all the problems start showing themselves clearly.

The story ping pongs back and forth so much that it becomes exhausting along the way as to what the characters are doing or thinking, and honestly apart from a very select few most of the characters are so cruel and stupid in their decision-making to the point that it’s frustrating to watch, and doesn’t really add much to the already weakened plot. One moment Chong Zi is in love and wants to be an Immortal, the next she's feeling (rightfully) betrayed, and wants to use her demonic power to fix things her way. Then an episode later, she's in love and wants to ignore her demonic heritage -- the cycle continues like that throughout the show all the way until the end.

The main pairing feels weirdly forced throughout the story (although I think this problem partly has more to do with scene cuts and censorship, as I heard it got chopped around a lot due to the nature of the master/pupil relationship) and the number of people that are involved in whatever love hexagon? pentagon? that's created is something else.

No, really. It feels like so many people are either in love with the main female lead, or are in love with the main male lead. And it's not in a way that feels fleshed out and developed either.

Things I really did enjoy whilst watching however include the gorgeous graphics on the set designs, as well as the beautiful costumes. Both Qin Ke and Wang Yue are really interesting characters, although both deserved to be fleshed out far more. I also enjoyed the side stories of the other couples that were shown too and felt that those were far more interesting than whatever the main couple had going on.

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A stunning, complex drama that manages to deliver even with a limited episode count.

I discovered Kill to Love by finding the trailer a couple of days before the first episode was due to air. The trailer alone intriqued me enough to want to check this title out, and my interest only grew as I researched more into it. An uncensored Chinese BL show, sharing the same director as the one from the Untamed? A story that reminded me very much of Priests' Qi Ye ( Lord Seventh), in that it carried a political background to it that intercepted into the romance plot line? A romance that dissolves into enemies and lovers about half way through?

This show had everything it needed to grab me, and I'm so glad that it delivered what it set out to do nearly perfectly.

Yes, I did say nearly perfect.

There is only one tiny nitpick I have about Kill to Love, and that is that 12 episodes feels much too short for this type of story. Now, I completely understand why the low episode count - and we should count our blessings that we even got this show show in the first place - but there's so much going on at times that for me, personally, I felt more time dedicated to expanding and letting the story and political intrique grow would have helped move this show up to a 10/10 rating.

Knowing that Kill to Love is based on a webnovel titled 'The Eternal Silence of Mountain and Rivers' (山河永寂) and which spans over 100 chapters, there's obviously a lot that happens in the story that we don't get to see developed fully or really hear about. And it can lead to confusing plot threads at times if the viewer isn't paying full attention. I feel like even a 20 episode count would have helped provide the time to flesh out the scale of things, especially during the second half of the drama after a timeskip takes place.

But again: this is a personal nitpick. While Kill to Love is shorter than ideal, my enjoyment was not any less because of it. There is still so much about this drama I loved, from the gorgeous costume designs and cinematography, to the incredible talent of the cast here. I have to give a major shout to Zhang Zhexu; who manages to portray the complexity of a caring and affectionate Duang Ziang who appears as the perfect husband for Xiao Shuhe, only for his actions of love later turning warped, obbsessive and controlling. He is truly a standout in this hugely talented cast, and with the chemistry he shares onscreen with Mi Jin it isn't difficult for the viewer to quickly find themselves growing invested in their characters' love story together.

If you're interested the slightest in this drama please do yourself a favour and give it a chance. I will warn that this doesn't have the happiest of endings (although there is an additional scene at the end which tries to leave the viewer on a happier note than the main story does) so be aware of that's not for you. But if you want a short, good show with a really engaging story and fascinating characters, this deserves a chance. I don't think I will ever stop recommending this to people, and I'm so very thankful that the show found a way to air uncensored.

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A fun show that is a big step forward for LGBTA+ stories in China, but with a thin plot.

While recent past BL drama adaptions are often heavily censored to work around restrictions (The Untamed, Word of Honor) or never even see an airing date in China (Immortality, Winner is King), it is with the joint efforts of a Thai team joining the roster that made Meet You at the Blossom able to limbo its way past such restrictions. In such daring a move, Meet You at the Blossom manages to pass as a Thai drama -- even though it is very much Chinese at its heart and maintains a large involvment from its Chinese team. It is a big step forward for uncensored LGBTA+ stories being shared in China, and that point alone makes me respect this drama and all involved very highly.

Meet You at the Blossom is a charming show. It's not perfect, and I would argue that the the 12 numbered episode run somewhat hinders the potential for what could be a great and more interesting plot. Yet while I personally would have liked to see and understand more of the political story that's going on in the dramas background -- especially as it seems to directly affect many of the characters we come to know in this show -- MYATB isn't a political drama. It very much focuses on the relationship between Zongzhen Huai'en and Jin Xiaobao; following them from their first meeting and story of falling of love, and how they have to face the struggles of betrayal and misunderstandings due to the circumstances surrounding them and the choices which are made (namely, Huai'en's choices). In terms of how much it works as an adaption from its original source material, MYATB follows the original story it's based from almost page for page.

I must warn however that the romance between Zongzhen Huai'en and Jin Xiabao may not be for everyone. Huai'en is possessive and jealous (he has his reasons), and in being so his actions at times toward Xiaobao can be seen as questionnable. For some this may be a trigger point, so do be prepared before going into this incase that's not for you. It doesn't help that the instances of when certain actions happen during this show are followed in ways that can be seen as dismissive or even taken as an aspect of comedy to laugh off the red flag behaviour. Again, the show has 12 episodes that average at 40 minutes an episode, and I feel like even just a few more shows could have helped flesh aspects of the story out better -- especially that of Huai'en's journey from never knowing love and affection from anyone in his life to finding and learning how to love someone through the way Xiaobao treats him.

Yet for the most part I enjoyed this show. It was nice to follow the episodes as they dropped and to have a less serious story to pick up and watch along with inbetween some of the bigger, more intricate dramas that have been releasing this year. I never felt that I wasn't enjoying the show at any point, and the critiques I have do not take away from what I did like. Again, for what this show is trying to achieve I respect it, and I do believe that if people are interested in seeing what Meet You at the Blossom has to offer, they should. The actors all did a great job, the costume and set designs are beautiful, and although the dubbing could be wacky at times, I didn't mind it. You can tell the show was on a smaller budget, but if anything it only added to its charm. Plus, it was a nice change to see a male and male couple that were allowed to show outward affection for a change and to kiss onscreen. I don't know if we'll see such a thing again soon from China, but perhaps the merging of two teams from two different countries is just the start of a work around on getting some of these stories to air.

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One of the best of its genre and sure to be an instant favourite for many.

As someone who watched and loved Ancient Love Poetry shortly after its release in 2021, as soon as I heard that a sequel was in the works, I was already excited. A little nervous, perhaps, since ALP delivered so much that I wondered if the next in the series would be able to follow or build upon the existing material in a satisfying way. Yet I needn't have feared.

If anything, The Last Immortal not only builds upon what Ancient Love Poetry established, it gives such an extension of growth to its universe that, truly, I ended up loving the sequel even more. Which is high praise indeed, considering ALP is very much one of my favourite c-dramas' from the last few years.

The Last Immortal follows the story of Shang Gu and Bai Jue's only child, Gu Jin (Yuan Qi) during his time throughout the Heavenly Realm. His True God powers have been sealed, and after an accidental event that causes the Phoneix Immortal's essence to shatter and scatter across the three realms, Gu Jin and the little water divine beast he hatches, A'Yin, work together to gather the pieces of her immortal essence.

I never once found myself bored watching this show. The pacing felt natural and engaging, with enough development with the different plots that were going on to keep me wanting to watch the next episode and find out more. There are so many interesting and fun characters too, a few of my favourites being the fox demon Hong Yi, the ghost realm's brother's Xiuyan and Aoge, and the Eagle Princess Yan Shuang. Truthfully however, there is no one in this show that I felt was annoying - even the Phoneix clan's father and daughter duo were compelling to watch.

One strength this show has is that everything feels as if it has a purpose. There are side plots that are introduced early on that seem as if they have nothing to do with the larger story, yet it isn't until later on that you realise they are incredibly important to the plot and have been included for a reason. A perfect example of this is the Ghost realm. One of my favourite realms in the show and perhaps the most interesting, it felt so satisfying to see certain characters within it return later on down the line and to know that they were always supposed to be a part of the story. That they weren't just added in to aid the main characters in their own goals, but they had their own story and purpose for being there.

I will warn any future viewers that are coming from Ancient Love Poetry however that The Last Immortal can be a bit confusing, and this is simply down to the way that the drama chooses to change the names of mentioned characters that appear in ALP. Shang Gu and Bai Jue are installed called Yi He and Di Juan. Xuan Yi is called Ming Qi. Thankfully, there is a thread on this site that explains the names of the characters that are featured in both shows, so do take a look if you find yourself confused or just wanting to know whose who (https://kisskh.at/discussions/shen-yin/121769-shen-yin-the-last-immortal-novel-content-and-its-connection-with-ancient-love-poetry).

All in all, if you are a fan of xianxia, The Last Immortal is definitely something you should check out. A fantastic story that is well acted with a talented cast of actors, and with features some beautiful visuals and a great soundtrack. Do give this show a chance - you may just find yourself leaving a new favourite!

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A frail story thats redeeming factor rests in the talent and effort of the cast.

This was a journey to watch, and not one which I care to say I found I enjoyed all the way through. It's not the show is bad, but it also isn't great either. Rather, it just isn't particularly memorable.

Let's start with some positives:

- The cast in this is not the problem. If anything, they are the biggest strength this drama has. Everyone is talented, and it is clear to see that they are doing what they can with what they've been given. Other than maybe one or two side characters that felt a bit out of place, I have no real complaints about any of the actors or actresses. If anything, the charm they brought to their roles is what kept me watching, and is going to make me want to dig into other dramas from the actors I haven't watched as much from before.

- Location and set designs were lovely.

- The side couple in this show are adorable, and I honestly wish we could have seen more of them and the story that was there for them.

- Lakaya's inspiration and how it's based on the West African country of Gabon is incredibly interesting to me, and it was nice to see something different like that in a drama. Gabon is also French speaking, and China has been sending medical teams to aid there since 1977. (https://kisskh.at/discussions/love-is-panacea/121233-shooting-locations-dates-and-some-other-considerations).

However, the show weighs more negatives for more than positives:

- I have not read the novel that this drama was based on, so I cannot speak on the novels' behalf. Yet in terms of the drama, I found that at many moments the plot was frustrating. For a story that's supposed to focus on Huntington's Disease, I felt like it was cheap. Rather than focusing on how it affects the familiar and those that suffer and carry the gene for themselves, or the story of the doctors work into finding a cure whilst hitting problems and obstacles, we spend a good chunk of the drama watching our antagonists make decisions and act in ways that just aren't believable for what the story is trying to tell us. I think I spent more time rolling my eyes at something either Du Yuncheng or Wen Ran had planned, because they just never quit!

- The main couple take a long time to finally get and stay together. Which would be fine, if by the time they do I wasn't already put off and resolute that honestly, both these characters probably deserved better than each other. Su Wei'an's actions are meant to show more her fear of entering a relationship when she knows she carries the gene for Huntington's and will one day succumb to the terrible disease, and while it is perfectly understandable why she would want to distance herself and the person she loves from the pain of that future, her actions become cruel towards him in the process. It's only when she thinks Gu Yunzheng has passed away that she understands the risk of happiness would have been worth the pain, but by that point it feels too little too late. Gu Yunzheng on the otherhand is just as frustrating, as rather than leaving Su Wei'an alone, he becomes determined to make her see reason in dating him. To the point that it becomes rather uncomfortable and pressuring.

- There are so many moments in this drama that just feel added in order to push the plot forward from a point where it hit a stalemate. The hospital pandemic that eventually has Gu Yunzheng and Su Wei'an together, for one. Characters that just appear to cause friction and drama for the couple and then disappear forever. Characters from the Lakaya plotline in the beginning that are just forgotten and never referred to again.

- The horrible way Su Wei'an's aunt just feels like she's there to show how far Du Yuncheng will abuse her desperation for help. She's *literally* only ever used a plot device to show he's smuggling her drugs that aren't signed off yet, or how he's using her to show good grace and abusing her condition to show how his own research is doing well. Like I don't think there is many moments in this show where Su Yuan is allowed to have some hope or happiness, her main reason for being there is as a tool.

This show could have been something really quite special, but instead it fell into the wasteland of 'dramas I watched one actor and that I will soon forget about'. If you're looking for a medical drama, there are many better and stronger ones out there. Only really check this out if you're really invested in doing so, otherwise, don't waste your time.

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Squid Game once again ends by showing greed and gluttony as a neverending circle.

I've been reading some reviews, and I can see that a lot of people really do not like this season. And I get it, I really do. But one thing I think a lot of reviewers are forgetting is that Squid Game was originally always penned as a one and done. It's Netflix who decided they wanted to run on the shows popularity and develop two more seasons, and while these seasons definitely aren't as strong as the first, they still showcase the running message and theme prominent throughout: that greed runs hidden deep in society and is like a poison lurking in its very veins. As much as Gi Hun hoped to challenge and break its cycle, it was always a losing game - especially for one man and a small group to achieve on their own.

Now don't get me wrong; there are parts of season 3 I didn't like. The VIP's are somehow more cringey than they were in the first season. Characters made decisions that didn't exactly work to the storylines benefit. Season 3 is not as strong as season 2 was, and in a way disappoints to deliver on the cliffhanger we were left with. 6 episodes both felt like too much and not enough to wrap up the threads we had. But as a whole, I personally didn't find season 3 as terrible as others have.

I think the ending with In Ho seeing the games continuing to recruit in America were to symbolise that it really didn't matter that the games we've been following came so close to being exposed, as there's likely many others hidden across the world that they would have likely retreated to. The suggestion on that has been planted on that since season 1, with both the VIP's coming from different countries and the discovery that these games have been ongoing and preying on people for years. While the introduction of Cate Blanchett certainly suggests the direction of an Americanised season of these games - and if I'm being honest, I'm really unsure how I feel about that - I think even without the obvious inclusion of promotion we wouldn't have found a 'happy' ending here, as such.

One of the things I did like is how despite not bringing down the games like he hoped to, Gi Hun's actions still seemed to spark some sense of thought in at least In Ho. While we see that In Ho sees a lot of himself in Gi Hun - especially in the flashback we get of his own experience in his own final game, and how he offers Gi Hun the same method he himself had to win - I think it's interesting how we see how the changes between them influence his decisions - such as leaving Jun Hui's baby with his brother, and giving Gi Hun's own winnings over to his own daughter. These are things that I don't think he would have done prior to season 2, but his time in the game and witnessing his opposites choices influenced him to do so. It doesn't change anything, In Ho is still as entangled in the games as he ever was, but it was another interesting show of his character arc from being a contestant to being the game host.

A lot of people won't be happy with this ending. It doesn't answer all the questions that many had over the years between seasons 1 and 2, and many will likely feel that it's a rehash of the same plot. But I think that's kind of the point of what was being told. As long as the rich and influential can continue to abuse those who are down on their luck or poor and they can escape punishment, they will do so. Squid Game is a commentary on how the one percent will continue to prey on others for their own fun and entertainment.

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The movie that started it all, and still stands strong today.

Godzilla (1954) is not just an important movie for pop culture, but also one that delivers a strong message that still resonates with audiences today.

The history and inspiration for this film and its creature creation are fascinating. This movie was released barely ten years after the events of the Second World War, and offers commentary on a post-war Japan which is still left with the after-effects of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The now iconic monster Godzilla was intended as a metaphor for nuclear weapons, and in this 1954 movie we see him as a force of nature fighting back against the humans which disturbed the natural order of things during their war.

Godzilla (1954) poses many questions to its viewer, both to an audience in the 50's and to one today. We have characters that wish to see nothing but the destruction of this creature, as it threatens and destroys everything they know. Some characters wish it no harm and want to study it, amazed by both its ability to survive and adapt to nuclear attack and also the fact that it even exists at all. There are characters who create weapons that rival the power of an H Bomb, and are posed with the decision of hiding such research away out of fear for what it falling into the wrong hands will do, or using it to save Japan and, potentially, the world.

The film from a production point of view is a product of its time, yet a strong one. For one it is entirely in black and white, which may already put some viewers off if they're not used to this. But considering the technology of the 50's I'd have to say the set, prop and costume design are strong. Scenes where Godzilla destroys the city hold up well, and the miniatures and costuming of the creature are perhaps still some of the best in those Godzilla movies that use practical effects. I'd say the lack of colour also adds to this, and acts as an aid to the movie's overall tone and mood.

All in all, Godzilla (1954) is one of - if not the - essential movie to watch for any Godzilla fan. After all, if it wasn't for this masterpiece of cinema, we wouldn't have equally as wonderful movies that follow in its predecessors' footsteps - such as Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi's 2016 Shin Godzilla, or Takashi Yamazaki's more recent 2023 stand-out entry to the franchise, Godzilla Minus One.

*Additional note for any who read this review and are interested in watching Godzilla (1954) because of it, please be aware that the 1956 American and International versions of this film were heavily edited and cut, including scenes with Canadian Actor Raymond Burr, and retitled Godzilla, King of the Monsters! Until 2004, this was the only version of the movie that existed internationally outside of Japan in any official capacity. Do check which version you have before watching, as much is lost in the Americanization compared to the original version of the movie.

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