I’m all for revenge dramas. But I genuinely do hope it doesn’t get preachy and the revenge isn’t executed at all. MCs can still be morally grey characters. I just want the revenge to be executed well and gotten away with. No one trying to stop the MC and saying “you’re better than that. revenge is bad.” Ugh.
I genuinely enjoyed this movie. My favorite part is when the ensemble first plays together at the cosplay convention. Btw, Pen Yu Chang is such a cutie. Naturally handsome with just enough average.
I watched this after watching revenge of others because I suddenly liked revenge dramas, this was so bad lol
I liked both dramas. I can understand the polarized reception, but I wouldn’t call the drama bad. If that’s the case, The Revenge of Others is bad too, given why its ending was polarized.
the male characters were irrelevant. the chemistry between the female characters was more than sufficient to sustain…
**slight spoiler**
Hye Ri’s dream was to become a background dancer, and she carried the skills she gained from the cheer team with her when she got a glimpse of her potential in Seoul. That’s what made her stand out. But the key issue was that she had made a commitment and needed to follow through, or she’d be no better than the friend who had abandoned her and Mi Na, especially since that friend seemed subtly jealous and uneasy. What Hye Ri gained from cheerleading is what set her apart, so why rush ahead prematurely? The point is, she now has the confidence to look toward the future, having already had a taste of success. But who is she without her friends?
If there’s one thing I appreciated about the movie, it was the time period of the flashbacks and the fashion. I enjoyed the pop culture references and the soundtrack. However, everything else felt... how can I put it? UNDERWHELMING. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the importance of Japanese culture, but I don’t think the director put in enough effort to make it work in his favor and align with the plot. I could see how the flash dance numbers and the quirky fight scenes fit within Japan’s unique approach to certain tropes, but the elements that worked in the flashbacks struggled to translate into the present-day storyline. The group seemed closer in the present than they did in the past. In comparison, the Chinese and Korean versions were much more immersive in their portrayal of friendship than the Japanese one. It felt like I was served a complete meal that lacked seasoning, leaving me wondering if I truly enjoyed it. The actors and actresses performed well, and their characterizations suited the setting and culture, but the director seemed unsure of how to develop the narrative in areas that required much more depth. The only scene I genuinely liked in the flashbacks was the infamous breakup scene (not really a spoiler). Still, I’d argue this adaptation is better than anything Hollywood could ever manage.
Hye Ri’s dream was to become a background dancer, and she carried the skills she gained from the cheer team with her when she got a glimpse of her potential in Seoul. That’s what made her stand out. But the key issue was that she had made a commitment and needed to follow through, or she’d be no better than the friend who had abandoned her and Mi Na, especially since that friend seemed subtly jealous and uneasy. What Hye Ri gained from cheerleading is what set her apart, so why rush ahead prematurely? The point is, she now has the confidence to look toward the future, having already had a taste of success. But who is she without her friends?