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I can't believe it's over. I want to watch mooore...
I actually wanted to write a review about Leh Nangfah some days ago. But then I started this drama and got so absorbed into the story that it pushed my feelings for the bird's story aside. And now I'm so obsessed with Kleun Cheewit that I would almost rewatch it right away.Of course I liked the story, otherwise I wouldn't have started it at all. Even though it's filled with clichés and over the top situations, nonsensical jealousy, tight-lipped yet provoking characters and unfounded assumptions.
But still. The time it took to tell the story and the path it went, plus the outstanding acting of the cast made this an extraordinary drama that knows how to convince. If I had to choose between the Korean "Secret" which follows a quite similar plot, and Kleun Cheewit, I'd choose the Thai one ten times over, even though I liked "Secret" alot as well.
The main leads were the driving force. There was harmony and balance, not one edgy moment. The back and forth, the unwanted situations they were put into, and the slow progress of their relationship with all the hardships that came along, was what glued me to the screen. Nothing felt forced by the writing, it always made sense within the borders of a lakorn.
Yaya's (Jee) crying skills were so authentic, it flooded my own emotions and made me cry along every single time! And it was not only her crying but the emotions she carried with it. I always knew whether she was angry or sad or happy. Mark (Thit) on the other hand had a very subtle way of showing the feelings of his character. He didn't cry as much and especially in the beginning till the middle the anger and hate ruled over Thit's actions. I also wasn't convinced of Mark right away, it only started later on. But I also felt that he grew with his character and got alot better with each episode, which is why I am quite happy with him as the male lead in the end. Yaya and Mark built two really strong characters who are filled with flaws but help each other heal.
The second leads were enjoyable as well. For real. Usually I get bored after some time with them, because their story doesn't capture my attention anymore. But these two, Chaiyan and Piak were an equally interesting couple, even though they brought along alot of drama for Jee, too. But I liked the friendship between Jee and Chaiyan and that they didn't waver because of Piak's jealousy. Of course, Piak was understandable, but at some point it reached a level that questioned the love they actually had for each other and turned it into a tightrope act. They could have saved alot of trouble and tears, if they had just TALKED to each other reasonably.
And that was an actually problem of the drama. Either people assumed things because of certain situations they "saw" and thought they knew what was going on. Or whenever a problem arose, they never, NEVER talked it out. There was either crying or slapping or cursing or fighting OR silently leaving (but oh well, we all know about those things from almost every drama, right). They never really said what needed to be said. Only a few situations occurred (after the volcano had already erupted, you could say), when misunderstandings were finally cleared. It made me happy again because it was overdue a long time ago, and made me forget all the complaints I had before. The reason why especially this drama heated my emotions so much is because all the characters felt so alive. I saw and felt their yearning for understanding.
Because of this I wanted to deducted half a point but... nope, I got too invested in the story and the characters and was never disappointed (unnerved sometimes, yes, but never once did I thought it was a waste of time). It deserves my 10 and a place on my precious drama list.
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Totally mainstream horror movie if you ask me. Nothing new, predictable story with typical horror tropes and characters. Something you can watch with your friends for fun. Even watching it alone wouldn't get you a heart attack.
Slow and calm start but it sped up in the second half. The finale was actually quite entertaining. And sometimes even a bit scarily disgusting to a point where I had to cover half of my face X'D Ah, I'm such a loser... Nevertheless, it didn't give me any lasting goosebumps after the movie ended.
Cinematography was pretty good and I liked the blue overlay onto the scenes. CGI was... completely obvious and almost comical.
Shocking moments relied on the 3D effect. But since I didn't watch the movie in 3D, it failed completely. I'm not even sure if it would scare me that much IF I had watched it in 3D. Everything that was meant to be 3D looked like plastic.
I can't compare this to other Sadako stories, since I only watched the American version of The Ring. This movie was only average and definitely no "must watch".
Sigh... I might even lower the rating although I liked the cast, actually. Ishihara Satomi and Seto Koji did a good job with their roles although there was not much to work with.
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Well, this one is not exactly the same but there are many similarities in the basic concept. It's about a man who gets trapped in a collapsed tunnel. Luckily, his phone gets a signal, so he can make an emergency call. Otherwise any help would have taken some time since the tunnel itself was a new construction and didn't have much traffic yet.
The overall meaning of this movie doesn't seem to be his struggle to survive until rescue arrives. It rather displays that so many things can actually go wrong, and what the public and single individuals are thinking about the whole incident as times passes. And although I got angry so many times while watching, many things got closer to reality than we would admit. Secret thoughts versus proper behavior versus taking action through the back door. How would one really behave when facing an extreme situation - being a victim, a bystander, a culprit or a person in charge. Who's protecting his interests and who's protecting his conscience?
The movie wasn't perfect. Most of it was gripping but it still had its longueurs. Maybe... if they had reduced some of those parts that made me angry throughout the movie...? Wouldn't have done any damage.
The acting was really good. I'm only starting to appreciate Ha Jeong Woo's acting but I'm already quite impressed with what I've seen so far. There were so many characters that most of them couldn't show any depth and many of them felt like silhouettes and ghosts. But those few who got more screen time were good in delivering the message.
Korean filmmakers have a knack for disaster movies - though in their own way, but they hardly disappoint.
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Ok, the story itself is not a new one. It's not really a surprise how it will turn out. But nevertheless it was quite enjoyable. And at some point I WAS a bit surprised because for some seconds I really thought the ending would be another than what I was anticipating. A little turn of events that made my heart beat faster.
I think what I enjoyed most was this kind of Joseon. Everything was a little lighter, the atmosphere was not as dark and intriguing as in those other more serious historical dramas. Not so much whispering and treason and whatever. The plot was more focused on the young king and the girl. The development of their relationship was so amusing and sweet and I caught myself smirking everytime they were together. I smiled along with them alot, when they were happy about something. But there were also some sad moments where I almost cried.
I liked the acting alot, esp. the king (although he was not an eye candy for me). Still, he convinced me and earned my recognition since he was partly responsible for that sweet romance that both lead actors displayed so well. (But seriously, do you know the feeling when you think the Joseon style looked better on the guy than the present one? :'D)
Ah, don't forget about the little reference to another historical drama that made me giggle in delight.
(Music rating is a bit low because although it wasn't bad, it could have been a little better, something to remember)
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A weird first episode, a great middle-part and a totally rushed finale
I've only recently entered the Xianxia universe, everything is still fresh and new to me, so bear with me and my totally subjective point of view and rating. My first one was Ashes of Love which I binged within one week (and only two weeks ago at that, hence still present when I started this one), so the bar was set quite high from the very first minute.The story is intriguing and the title itself already hints to what you can expect (even though it sounds a bit cheesy). Two completely different beings fall in love with each other. You can already smell the scandal, the passion and the tragedy. Everyone who's a sucker for starcrossed lovers would take the bait. Me included, even though I didn't want to give in to the hype during its airing time. But the temptation was too big and I didn't regret it afterall. I'm actually glad because I can't be spoilered anymore (the risk was high, believe me).
The first episodes didn't pick me up right away. It was quite slow-paced and the female lead's voice was very high pitched. Many people complained about it. I bore with and got used to it pretty quickly though, until I didn't mind it at all anymore. At some point it started to fit her. It formed her character throughout the drama and became a special trait while she was evolving. It also helped distinguish different sides of her later on. She started off as a somewhat naive young woman who already experienced some hardships, i.e. not being accepted by others but her master, or loneliness. But she also got a sense of responsibility and took care of the destiny books in Arbiter Hall where she lived. Sometimes she behaved a bit childish but at the end she instinctively did the right thing. I wouldn't call her foolish either. She often found solutions on her own, even though those caused inconvenient consequences once in a while and were not always to my liking. But as the story went on, she grew with her tasks. I was really impressed by her resolution whenever she made a life-changing decision. Once she realized her biggest desire, she never wavered. I didn't always know what she was going to do, but I was never let down by her.
Dongfang, the male lead, had a hard time to win me over. But once the ice was broken, it was a pleasure to watch his character grow. In the earlier episodes he was moody all the time, what I could totally understand regarding the situation he was in. Sometimes though I found his expressions somewhat lacking, albeit that part was intended right from the beginning, and got explained later on. The missing emotions had positive effect though. It was quite impressive whenever his cold demeanor unexpectedly burst into fury. In the second half then, Donfang's character also gained a lot more layers and got complexier which made me happy beyond explanation. There was a point that completely changed my impression of the actor himself and allowed me then to fully enjoy his performance while finally wholeheartedly diving into the abysses of the lead.
The God of War, Changheng was never a character, I liked a lot. He was the second love interest which didn't even bother me. But he never thought twice about his implusive decisions. And when consequences hit him or bystanders hard, he rowed back. He decided on his own what was good for others. At some point though, he actually changed to the better, made me like him in some way which I didn't think was possible in the beginning.
The side cast was as intriguing as the main leads, I was invested in their stories alot, esp. Rong Hao's. Without telling too much, his tale was one of the most understandable and heartbreaking ones. On the other hand, Dongfang's brother got a reasonable history on his own. Whether intended or not, he never made me trust him completely though. There were also some loose ends of other people which I had liked to be explored some more, but I guess I can't have everything.
The acting was overall really good, however one or two people still need some fine-tuning, for example Dongfang's ~sidekick. At times he acted really well, in other situations he didn't seem confident at all.
What I really appeciated was that the love story took its time. It was slow-burning and subtle, hence it released a satisfying feeling when it finally bloomed, and got poignant at its climax. Misunderstandings get cleared pretty fast, too.
But as great as the middle-part became, the end itself was a small let-down for me. Alot of things suddenly happened in a really short amount of time. As if the writers didn't have enough time to tell everything. Fast changing scenes and small time jumps that led to a dysbalance of the overall atmosphere. Because it felt so rushed, the tension somewhat abated and didn't touch me as much as previous events in the drama. That part would have been a great finale if they had added one more episode.
As for the framing, beautiful music and CGI, and stunning costumes make this drama a feast for eyes and ears, but my absolute no. 1 highlight is Dongfang's hair. I can't even fathom what spell bewitched me here. I was always in awe whenever I saw it (which happened like... 90% of the drama, yes).
If someone is considering whether to watch this one or not, I'd say yes. It doesn't have that many episodes, the story is easy to understand and the character development is quite presentable. Also, there's a nice shifting of who the actual villain is even though it's predictable (if you include jerks, that damn almighty emperor would get first place, but who asks me).
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But let me tell you a few things that might convince you to start this nonetheless. I actually think that the poster was a bad choice. It doesn't invite people to watch this. When I first saw it, I thought the drama would be something like "Save Me", but don't ask me why I got that impression. Now I can reassure you, it's definitely nothing like that.
It is indeed about a powerful demon and a small group (unrecognized by the church) of two Catholic priests and three... let's say believers/co-workers who made it their business to fight evil and exorcise possessed humans. As the story goes on, it becomes clear that everything leads to a certain demon whose past is connected with the two priests (yes, of course, it is a k-drama after all).
I'm always cautious with OCN. They can impress as much as they can disappoint. With "Priest" they once again proved how well they can create atmosphere in a drama. You might not have your jumping moments, but you definitely get sucked into its dark and unearthly ambience when the scene requests for it (so if you really want to enjoy the full experience, do yourself a favor and watch the drama at night).
At times that eery feeling gets disrupted by a busy hospital life but still doesn't cut the story in two. Quite the opposite. It not only introduces the female lead, but also happens to be a returning "crime scene". So, people, pasts and places are all affiliated with each other.
Every character has a purpose, no matter how small it may be. In the end they all help create a three-dimensional environment for the main cast and story. Therefore, it's unnecessary to orate about performances because the cast is so smoothly entangled in the script that you just don't pay attention to someone's "acting skill" anymore. That's how good they are and I think that also pretty much paints the picture already.
I do have to mention that "Priest" also reached a point where I actually would have started to complain about some serious things. It stretched its (supernatural) limits quite good and almost slipped off to absurdity. It also felt like they switched genres. BUT - and here I have to refer to the beginning of my review - I did say that this drama doesn't have any real jumping scenes, but it definitely has an ace up its sleeve. A twist I didn't expect. A twist that compensates for almost everything frown-worthy before. It's actually a not so well received trope for experienced drama-watchers. Funnily, here it's making up for everything (not because of viewers' personal desires but because it fits the story so well).
Whether that turn of events was planned from the beginning or just a spontaneous idea later on doesn't matter. It was needed, it was well placed and made the story so much better (it didn't feel spontaneous at all though). The story got back on track and lingering worries faded away with the finale episodes coming closer. The ending suited the impression of the story about sacrifice and fate. Not a fate chosen by some deity but by oneself.
Thought of the day. Amen.
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Rollercoaster of Quality
Finally finished this one and I have so many different feelings about it that the rating was quite hard.The first 20-what episodes were a real suffering. The acting was bad, the settings were lame, camera, editing and direction were a shame and don't get me started with the dialogues.
Moreover, the FL who's supposed to be from the modern world had no trouble living in a totally different world, not missing anyone or anything, got used to her new surroundings, never felt like trying to go back and just went with the flow. Despite that, she was always a fun character to be around.
The ML's actor... Man, he lacked so much of what was needed for that role he played. Never had that murderous, crazy vibe about him... He always looked like a grumpy kid with constipation. And the weirdest thing of all was his smile. It always felt like the actor forgot, that his character needs to do so and suddenly the corners of his mouth jumped high. And it was always the same, no difference whatever the situation. The whole performance seemed to be one of amateur actors.
And then there was the side cast's acting. I don't even want to lose words over it... Exaggerated, lame and noob-ish.
What kept me watching was the story itself actually. Even though until that certain point I would have never guessed that I could be touched by the main couple's romance.
And then, the second life time started, and the third. And I got absorbed. The setting got better, the acting was, well not perfect but acceptable, better. The change in the characters' demeanor was refreshing. And what the ML lacked in the beginning... Oh, he can't smile in different ways, but certainly got a knack for painful longing (within his capacities). There was definitely a change in his facial expressions. As if he tried harder and actually got a bit better.
Thanks to that I enjoyed the second half way more and even cared for the main couple's destiny. Though acting of the side cast was still mediocre. And the plot itself felt totally rushed by then. I missed explanations, I missed the feeling of "alot of time has passed". One scene right after the other and they wanted to sell me a "many months have passed". There was no time to get used to the emotional and situational changes in the story.
And the weird camera direction and captures also remained, even though CGI was somewhat satisfying.
Overall a rollercoaster of quality. It could have been so much better with certain changes in everything. But do I regret watching it though? No.
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Overflow in everything - and in a good way
If there was one word to describe many, many things of this gem, it would be: Excessive overflow. Okay, it's two words :P And I definitely don't mean that in a bad way but the opposite.There's an excessive use of beauty:
- Make up, costumes/clothing and cast. Just looking at that alone makes you want to shed a tear.
I haven't seen so many beautiful people (main, side, supportive and guest cast) in one place with such delicate and accurate make up, being put in such well-designed high quality costumes that are not only rich in detail and diversity but also show each characters uniqueness.
- Scenery, Settings. Every scene, every landscape, every close up. Every single image has its own tempting beauty. Each one prettier than the next. You can't point your finger on one or two because there are just too many to choose.
- CGI. No idea about the budget, but every penny was worth it.
There's an excessive use of slow-mo.
- Like almost every scene - except during dialogues (I guess? I forgot). Ironically it doesn't diminish the drama's quality. It's the other way around actually. The slow-mo is an important part that blends in with every scene it's used and supports each character's extraordinary abilities. And every time it creates a feast for the eyes.
There's an excessive use of talent.
There are so many talented people in this. The main cast is one thing, but also the supportive and even the guest roles deliver like gunshots. Every single side story tackled my heart.
- Hou MingHao aka Zhao Yuan Zhou / Zhu Yan (ML). Well, we know that he's outstanding. And he showed a variety of emotions here, so in the end I hope other directors will let him act out everything he wants in the way he wants in future dramas and won't cut him short and waste his talent. The way he portrayed a 30,000 years old demon was one of the best performances I've seen in a while. The character's background, his experience and knowledge, thinking 5 steps ahead, the weight of emotions he's been carrying for all those years and the verdict he imposed upon himself... I felt every emotion with every fiber of my heart.
- Tian JiaRui aka Zhuo Yi Chen (2nd ML). Haven't watched anything with him yet but he definitely convinced me of his acting and earned my respect. The development of his character was a journey if its own. With unshakable sincerity his motivation shifted from hatred and denial to friendship and devotion.
- Chen Du Ling aka Wen Xiao (FL). First time seeing her as well. And man. I really liked the character. A goddess without power, yet still always trying to help the ones who are in need, never giving up. Her progress was at some point predictable, yet it was not. It's hard to explain.
As for the ML's personal antagonist... Well matched and well played, I dare say.
- The rest of the main cast whether friend or foe portrayed their respective roles similarly to equally well, so there's no need to explain in detail. Let's just say there are no unnecessary positions. Everyone owned his place and reason of existence.
The story itself can be separated into two parts. The first half concentrates on single cases, the atmosphere is dark, chilly and exciting which is a welcoming change. The second part resolves around the main villains, loose hints from the beginning start to finally connect and the main group's primary bonds get rearranged while your own bond with the characters unnoticeably grows stronger, too. I loved the humor in the first half as well as the way they cheered up right after dead serious or sad moments.
While other Xianxia concentrate on the main romance, this story's main core lies in many different kinds of love and other feelings. Friendship, romance, bromance, family bond (blood related or not). Guilt and atonement, prejudice, hatred, condemnation, redemption, grief, forgiveness, sacrifice, self-respect, relying on others, trust.
I loved that with every move, every expression, every tear you could feel how deep their bond grew. An impressive thing was that you could somehow sense what would happen moments before it really happened - just by watching their eyes. (And you already start crying though nothing had happened yet...).
There is still so much to say about this drama, yet I don't really know what else to write about without expanding to a 10-page journal. Everyone should experience this ride for themselves, judging by themselves. For me, this was a true gem that luckily found its way to my screen and my heart.
~ Btw, this includes the special episode as well ~
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The story was well written and the theme about ballet was well chosen as well. The fragility of the dance is mirrored in the plot. Ballet is fragile yet strong, and so is the love story of Yeon Soo and Dan.
Though the big finale was predictable, it was still very good. You anticipate it to happen and just want to know how it's playing out in the end.
Not everything was predictable though, there were also many smaller things that surprised me. I'm also glad that not every death was a planned assassination here.
Acting was really, really good. I'm used to Shin Hye Sun's convincing skills, but I have to praise L's performance even more. He improved a lot since I last saw him in a drama. His scenes were never lacking nor were they exaggerated. It seemed as if Dan's character was written for L's body and soul. I can't think of anyone else more fitting.
The cinematography of some scenes were quite an eyecatcher. And to complete the picture, the music was at its best. It was so well composed and placed that the drama would truly have missed out if it wouldn't have been a part of it. It's one of those soundtracks that makes you immediately remember the drama that belonged to it. It was sad and beautiful and comforting and hopeful.
Definitely recommended.
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I knew that this drama would come with lots of heart wrecking moments. Moments that moved me so often because the story did an excellent groundwork of its characters. There were so many facettes of each of them, you unknowingly start to root for everyone, even though some of them might have started out with your disliking. Although... No, actually not. I never really disliked anyone who didn't deserve it. It's exciting to see everyone's story develop, to see where their decisions lead them. They are like branches, pointed towards different paths, and yet grew from the same tree. And in the end the wind blows them in the same direction.
I never felt that the story would move forward too slow because each scene was important to me. Like enjoying a good wine. Every tiny moment sucks you in and doesn't let go. And with all the historical background it was exciting and refreshing to hear at least 3 (sometimes even 4) different languages throughout the whole drama. Though I can't judge the Japanese parts, the English ones sounded pretty good to me.
This is not a drama that blends you with a stunning cinematography, pretty costumes and a nice setting, just to cover up a lacking story. This drama does have all these things AND a convincing and fullfilling plot which makes it a gem in this massive pool of dramas.
It's a story about friendship, loyalty, bravery, love and sacrifice. And it would be a shame to miss out on it.
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If there were a few things, it would be what I mentioned in the beginning. Slow start with reduced facial expressions of the ML. But it quickly got better. And the plot continued to get better and better and better, too.
And then episode 31 happened. And episode 32... Well, I don't want to complain about the further story after those eps. But the events that happened during 31/32 felt like the ultimate climax. Everything afterwards resembled only a shadow of everything that happened before (which is funny considering the plot, lol). I still loved the story, there was just not much to rage about. New problems were solved quite fast, no heart ripping moments between the leads and so on. And yes, maybe it was nice to take a breather, but well... My masochistic tendencies hungered for mooore 👀.
Only the last few episodes tried to build up climax again. And it got me quite good almost the same. But it didn't reach the same level as those 2 episodes some time earlier.
Nevertheless, I felt highly entertained, got addicted, lost my heart and will now pursue the soundtrack and lots of pictures 🤪
Funny thing btw, it somewhat felt like a computer game. There was this big journey of the main cast. They had to travel to different places, collect things... And along their journey they met all kinds of people. Lol.
Sometimes even the gadgets felt a bit funny. That shell "ear bud" or that flower bulletin to communicate? Yes... 😅👍
Ohhh, and only later on in backflashes I realized how much the ML's hair was continously growing throughout his development. Nice one!
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The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity
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A perfect story
The story was captivating, the pace was really good and the storytelling was almost flawless from beginning to end. CGI, costumes and make up were stunning, the choreography of the fights was awesome.I appreciate it a lot that they took their time to tell everyone's story (expect for Bora's, that one came up short, though you might argue whether their was actually enough told for the story). That way I could connect with them, understand their actions and enjoy their adventure. The acting added its sweet part as well, so there wouldn't be anything to complain about. I mean, there was no dull moment, not even for a second.
The music was fantastic. Sweet and melancholic, creating a perfect mood.
A round about satisfying watch that depicts the concept of "Yin and Yang" in an understandable and impressive way. As a side snack you get a nice bromance, too~
(On a side not, what I didn't get was the serpent at the beginning and the one from the main story... That one wasn't the same, was it? But if not, why were there more than one? The story sounded like there was only one. But if it was that one, how's that possible since the main one was concealed at that time?)
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Delicate and Raw
When I randomly started this, I didn't think I would finish it so fast. But here I am two weeks later, giving this one a full 10.If I had to describe this drama with one word, it would probably be: ~"delicate"... and every other attribute you would associate with it. While watching I always felt like intruding some kind of intimate privacy. I know that sounds weird but I just don't know how to describe it otherwise. The music fits so well and adds enough sorrow and longing to the story, to make it even more perfect.
The cast did a fantastic job in portraying their different roles, be it in the past or the present. They did well in showing that even though some of them were reincarneted, they still got different personalities and therefore acted to their experiences, not their past selves. As for the immortal main lead, he went through some dreadful ordeals that explain his 600 years lasting urge for revenge. Even more remarkable was how he faced the new trials that arose after circumstances changed. Lee Jin Wook did an unbelievably awesome job in displaying the subliminal evolution and growth of his character during and after overcoming those challenges and still keeping them locked up to the very last minute until they finally erupted.
The "other" villain was a fascinating individual himself. He was multi-layered and yet he always seemed as if something was missing. Considering his body condition that part was quite accurate and well played. He managed to make me care for him enough to feel somewhat sad at how it all played out in the end.
I'm impressed how well the writers managed to keep me in the dark about the overall story. Whenever I thought I knew what was going on, they added another angle to the story and threw me back to the start. They sit through that way till the end without losing its original tension which many other dramas fail to accomplish, and I'm so glad about that because it gave the story some constancy.
Every part of this drama interwines so well with the other ones, whether it be the cinematography, the music, the cast or the script. Putting everything together creates a great watch, I didn't expect to love so much. And I'm so glad that there's no cheesy "I love you" line. That would have ruined the whole thing.
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Interesting story, but lacking in character design
The idea was interesting, the storytelling was good enough to keep me going. As I said before, I liked the cases they were working together, they made me somewhat invested in the characters tragedies.But it was sad that they didn't put more effort into building a solid background for the exorcism itself. They always mentioned some historical infos here and there, so it would help the current case, but it always felt only half-baked and clumsy in thinking it through. Especially the dealing with the cases during the last episodes, even though the action during those episodes was really good.
I always found Jang Na Ra's character very one-dimensional, although I liked her resting b**-face at times. But seeing it throughout the whole 16 eps was tedious. And there was NO character development, a smirk here and there doesn't make it any better. Her male part, Oh In-Beom was way more interesting (even though I'm usually not a fan of the actor). Jung Yong Hwa's acting skills were somewhat limited (or the writing lacked) but still more entertaining than Jang Na Ra here.
Also, the villian!! Please... I'm a fan of Ahn Kil Kang, but the writing of his character was just so, so bad! There was no depth, no background story, no explaining of his character. What a waste of potential.
Overall: Entertaining because of the cases and the CGI. Really, the special effects were really well done! The ghosts at times were frightening, one or two jump-scares (when you watch it at night, alone, lol), and that special faceless one was an interesting idea and a good implementation.
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1. Sato Takeru in a Hakama
2. Samurai
Oops... I thought I would list more things... I didn't even read the summary, so I can't say I went for the plot either.
Apparently, this one's based on a novel and an actual historical event. The film doesn't solely center on Sato Takeru's character. It tells the story of the people of Annaka (today a town in Japan). Its lord is concerned about how his samurai are doing during this time of peace while foreigners (through trading) slowly start to approach that so far closed Japan to outsiders. He sees a thread in them and doesn't want his men to slack off. Therefore he starts a marathon to keep them on track.
At first it sounds somewhat unusual. But it was a really pleasant watch for me. There are no fancy sword fights or overwhelming poetic dialogues or scenes. It simply shows how unstable peace was back then (spies laid low everywhere), how one single letter can change for the better or worse and how people who were only aiming for their own goals before, start to fight unitedly to protect their territory.
I felt really comfortable while watching. The atmosphere wasn't too heavy, though there was still some seriousness to it. The film doesn't go into too much detail and yet you grasp all the subtle circumstances everyone is in.
It starts on a calm note but it never drags. It has a steady rhythm to tell the story, very well paced, in my opinion. You don't always need action-loaded elements to enjoy something like that. Sometimes you just need a well thought through strategy that puts every piece together in the final stage. Combined with some beautiful cinematography, you get a real nice dish served.
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