Reviews

Usagi Drop it's the heartwarming story of the trials and rewards Daikichi, a 30 year old single man, faces when he, against his family's wishes, decides to raise a 6 year old girl named Rin, whois his late grandfather's illegitimate daughter.

I had watched anime last year and when I found out about the movie I couldn't wait. I had fallen in love with the story and how they go about it. The movie is not fast paced since the story itself isn't. It is somewhat slow, but the almost two hours went by fairly fast all the same.

The two main actors, Matsuyama Kenichi and Ashida Mana, do such a great job acting that even without obvious caring words, they pull off showing how much their bond and relationship has grown as time passes. I also liked the acting of the rest of the cast.

The music leaves something to be desired, but for me, it doesn't hinder the story at all.

This is the first movie adaptation I've been happy with in a while, so I'll definitely re-watch it sometime.

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This lakhorn never had a boring episode! Also, Oh my god how beautiful the main-leads are!Their chemistry is NO JOKE!

"Wayla Kammathep” which also can be called “ The Love Proposal” is a incredibly thrilling, romantic, sexy and angsty drama from 2022 starring Fern Nopjira as the hardworking and golden-hearted heroine Treenuch Thaweewong “Nuch” and then we have Tre Porapat portraying the very clever, passionate and badass hero Time Metheephatthana. I love lakhorns that are written and developed in a right way without adding any unnecessary scenes. This lakhorn is right up the alley with dramatic lakhorns like "Hua Jai Sila", "Bad Romeo" and "Fah Mee Tawan" where it comes to intensity of the plot and the characters. "The Love Proposal" has the recurring concept of Time in every episode where we can see Time Glassess in many scenes where Time is running out for the characters. Nuch & Time are our beloved main-leads and their love-story starts at a moment where time was not nice to either of them. While Time needed more time to establish a romantic relationship with Nuch (because of his failure in the past) Nuch could not afford to give him that time.

So she breaks up with him and accepts her parents proposal in her marrying a wealthy man who needs a heir. She never imagined that man would be Time`s older brother, Touch Metheephatthana portrayed by Toy Pathompong who is a much more gentle and calm person in comparison to Time`s stubborn fire. Time is heartbroken over the news and silently suffers while he watches his brother marry the love of his life. We also have family intrigue in the form of a jealous cousin who will do everything to steal the role of the CEO from Touch.

So many things happens and it is so well blended together. The actress portraying Nuch is a fine looking woman, love her acting and how versatile she actually is. I could see how torn she was and conflicted and the way she truly comes to care for her husband. Touch in my opinion was a very tragic character somehow. Having this duty in producing a heir and being unable to because of his sexuality. He tries to stay strong throughout the story and i give him credit for that. Time is one of the best main heroes ever in Lakhornland! He is very impulsive, hot-headed and oh soooo smokily charming but is the guy who get all the dirty jobs done already from the start when he jumps into the fire to save that kid.

He is so badass and has this warrior vibe to him. He protects his family with all his soul- and he is as passionate when it comes to love. Being unable to walk away from Nuch even when she married his brother and still also unable to stay away from her. He kept throwing his misery and fury at her, feeding his love-sick heart. I just LOVE his chemistry with Nuch and how he would not let anyone insult her! Time and Nuch reaches a point where they are unable to live without each other. The passion, the longing and the selfless lover they got for each other, ahhh it made my heart weak! This lakhorn is AMAZING! And i recommend it to anyone who wants a romantic,sometimes crazy..but well done trainwreck!

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Abs-olutely Fabulous!

I rarely watch modern romance dramas but the lure of a mystery piqued my attention. And within minutes, I was sold at the first eyeful of Tsao Yuning's absolutely fabulous abs. Yes, this is one of those dramas that makes me embrace my shallow self. Because this dude is one sexy beast with the kind of tanned, toned, intensely masculine smoking hotness that reduces me to a speechless, foolishly grinning, puddle of drool.

Five years ago, aspiring actress Ruan Nianchu is at the wrong place at the wrong time and falls headlong into a hairy situation. She falls for a dangerous stranger who saves her life, evidently at the cost of his own. A hopeless romantic and optimist, she can't forget him and looks for him in countless blind dates. He reappears with a hidden agenda as Li Teng, as mysterious, intimidating and possessive as ever. The air literally sizzles between this couple who are now my gold standard for onscreen chemistry. There is no mistaking the intense longing and physical attraction between the two. The slow build up to the kiss scenes that usually starts with him invading her personal space and circling her is very hot. And yes, they go all in for the kisses, there are no birds involved. Its a good thing this is only 16 episodes cause my TV was in danger of burning out from the heat even with my air-con cranked up to the max.

I really like the way each episode opens with a flashback that reveals a bit more of the backstory. It is very effective in establishing the depth and substance of the feelings between Li Teng and Ruan Nianchu very early on and it adds to the sense of intrigue around what happened 5 years ago. Underneath it all, the plot is simple but fast paced and interesting even though it does have an its been done before feeling. The villains have rather boring motives and the final villain is revealed the moment they are dropped into the plot which is a bit clumsy.

I found the second couple to be a sheer delight. At surface they are a bit cliche but the kid is hilarious and mixes up their story in a good way. And Li Teng's camaraderie and loyalty to his sexy Men in Black like team of operatives is both cool and heartwarming at the same time.

Overall I rate this very entertaining watch an 7.5 even though its unlikely to turn me into a fan of this genre. I must confess that if Tsao Yuning flaunted his magnificent chest and fab abs just a few more times, I would have abandoned all standards and slapped one of my rare 10.0s on this one. If nothing else, I had several lbs of water weight loss from all that drooling.

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Although ´makjang´ was taking it almost over the edge of the bearable, I had to stick with it

A classic among KDramas. The dramaturgical moves may sometimes be predictable - the evil stepmother and such... However, there is this passionate play of truly dedicated actors . ...and a groovy interpretation of Ave Maria, that burns mercilessly into your heart and ear. Although makjang (Mean! Bitchy! Malicicious!) was taking it almost over the edge of the bearable, I had to stick with it. Some scenes still have an impact on me years later.

Human abysses are presented in abundance. In addition, dealing with different facets of true love. An unforgettable piece of KDrama, for those who can never get enough drama. Here you can emotionally let off steam on the backs of the protagonists. For everyone else it might be a bit too much in some places.

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"Il Mare" gently sprays its quiet magic as if through an atomizer.

"Il Mare" is the ´international´ title of this KMovie. However, the original title (rather being translated as "Across Time") does not refer to the place - a picturesque house by the sea - but to what actually happens there: a time-transcending correspondence. Strictly speaking, the letters are sent back and forth in a mailbox over the distance of 2 years. What an unprecendeted plot for a love story to be told in a truly unique way! This story became famous in America and Europe in the 2006 US film adaptation starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.

Actually you shouldn't compare the two movies side by side, but most people do, so...
The South Korean original was made in 2000 and starred Lee Jung-jae, who was in high demand in South Korea at the time, and Jun Ji-hyun, who was just beginning her career. (Actually you can sense the difference in her acting back then and in her more recent productions. In the meantime she definitely has matured from a ´mere´ beauty into a spirited actress.) While the original shares the same plot as does the US remake later on, the South Korean version places more emphasis on the mood of the protagonists, stressed by using imagery, color and atmosphere. Accordingly, the South Korean original is characterized by less color saturation and less light than the US remake, as both protagonists - Eun-ju and Sung-hyun - are rather disappointed in life, taciturn, withdrawn. The loneliness and emptiness in the protagonists´ lifes is one aspect. The remote house by the sea something completely different. It might perfectly fit into the protagonists´ mood, but in addition it actually has quite some magic to offer: Besides framing and emphasizing the beauty of nature there is the dog as a harbinger of relationship and the mailbox as a bridge between hearts. Thus the overall sensitively told story slowly but surely fills with joy, smiles, laughter and increasingly radiating light.

The KMovie "Il Mare" gently sprays its quiet magic as if through an atomizer.

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Low expectations lead to thorough enjoyment

I think this show is the perfect example of how hype and anticipation ruined the experience.

I've been holding out watching this drama because of all the negative reviews but decided to give it a shot, and I can honestly say I was HOOKED. I'm so glad I watched it because I actually really enjoyed how complicated the story was because it left me wanting more. I found myself trying to connect the dots between the little details sprinkled into each episode to figure out what would happen next, and that's usually what makes me stick with a drama till the end. I feel like there were a lot of twists added to the stories that I just did not expect at all, and though some of the twists revealed sort of fell flat, I still found it exciting enough to keep going. To me, it was really the overall story driving the show rather than the characters (if that makes sense at all).

The acting was okay, I expected more from Lee Min Ho as I knew how much everyone loved him and this is the first drama I've watched with him in it! I thought that Woo Do Hwan's acting was absolutely breathtaking in this drama. He did such a good job that I was genuinely convinced Yeong and Eun Sap were different people. I expected a bit more chemistry between the main couple but I just loved the story so much that I overlooked this part.

I can understand the criticisms for this drama as there is definitely a lot left unsaid, but it's just one of those dramas that I expected so little from but ended up absolutely loving it. I would recommend everyone give it a chance despite the reviews! It may not be everyone's cup of tea but it quickly became one of my favorites by far.

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I really truly love this movie.

It's adorable, Lee Seok and Min Soo are the sweetest thing on this planet since chocolate, and even though Hyo-jin and her partner didn't get the same amount of screen time, they were still a joy to see.

Some people have said it, but there was some overacting especially with G-Voice (because I doubt that some, if any, of those actors are actually gay...), but somehow I didn't seem to mind. They were a bunch of friends who felt comfortable with each other, not just because of their shared sexuality, and the bond between them is strong. I really envied their friendship, which made the climax that much harder to watch.

"Two Weddings and a Funeral." You know going in that someone is going to die, and I won't say who, but I did not expect to cry that hard. The character's loss is astounding, and the events leading up to it really hit home; the struggles Min Soo faces as a closet homosexual in a homophobic environment are mind-opening, and the struggles he faces are true, in Korea and in many parts of America as well. The film carries a powerful message, and manages to balance the scale with a healthy dose of fun, fluff, and hot kisses. <3

I definitely recommend this movie to a viewer who enjoys LGBT-themed movies, and to someone who... screw it, everyone should watch this movie!

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Good News: Hijacked by Humor

I did not have any previous knowledge of the real-life 1970s hijacking, so when I learned that Good News is inspired by true events, I was expecting a heavy drama. I was pleasantly surprised to discover this was not only an action film but also a black comedy that leaned heavily on the satire.

The film definitely embraced the comedic genre, often following intense scenes with witty dialogue, physical humor and absurd scenarios when least expected. The back and forth between the two tones felt like a rollercoaster ride, providing enough laughs to break the previously built tension, but always maintaining an underlying sense of urgency, never allowing the viewers to fully let their guards down.

This film's bold use of unconventional music and sometimes "over-the-top" visual effects works perfectly with the narrative and makes Good News stand out among many others in this genre. Although the balance of dramatic and comedic scenes was masterfully calculated, the film's length was a significant drawback. Around the halfway point, the narrative began to drag, and a quicker pace would have improved the viewing experience.

Despite a runtime that could have been shorter, don't let the serious premise discourage you. It's a surprisingly entertaining watch, thanks to its masterful use of music and visual effects, and its clever way of blurring the line between suspense and comedy.

Overall: 4/5
Quality: 4/5
Enjoyability: 3.5/5

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Kento is in this but no, this is not your typical shoujo manga movie, sorry.

This movie does not shy away from showing you the toxicities and struggles of being in an unhealthy relationship. This kind of film is one of the many reasons why I've always liked jdramas. It's the lack of fear of tackling serious and heavy subjects.

The couple has its up and down moments and has you questioning whether these two are suited to stay together or not. They could be having a joyful time walking together or playing games together but also get into uncomfortable quarrells at any second. Nagata's character is written to look pathetic as he is extremely insecure, egoistic and short-tempered and seemingly is merely using Saki. Him being with the vigorous and kind Saki starts to change her life for the worst as she seemingly changes as a person, her aspirations and pretty much everything. The movie then does makes you care and sympathize for these two. The chemistry between the two and the story is great and realistic.

Yamazaki Kento's character here is very much different from the usual roles he takes. He should leave the shoujo manga roles to the idols because him taking these more mature roles have really showcased his talents as an actor. I'm not even the biggest fan of him and I'm impressed by his great acting here. He also looks different and mature with the long messy hair and facial hair that he has in this movie. Mayu is no exception, she played the kind and strong Saki really well.

I can't recall if I ever heard any music here but I don't think it's the kind of movie that needs music anyway, the tone of the movie and the story was that appealing and intriguing that it didn't need any music tbh. Rewatch value is low for me, not to say that it wasn't good, I just think I've seen everything already and don't think I need to watch it again.

The ending was nothing short of spectacular.

Highly recommended.

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Revenge, corruption and longing

Compelled to write my first review because I wanted something to counterbalance some of the low reviews this drama has been getting… Melancholia is seemingly a forbidden romance between a teacher and a high school math prodigy, but the romance is actually more of a one sided longing, the teacher has no reciprocal feelings until many years pass and they reunite. The romance is there but in the background to their fight to reveal the corruption behind the elite school where they become the targets of a scandal to shield the higher ups who are behind all sorts of shady dealings. The scandal is eerily similar to the college admissions scandal from the US - wealthy (but not ultra rich) professionals obsessed with finding a back door to an Ivy for their entitled spoiled teens. Whereas the ultra rich can legally buy their kids spot anywhere (ie donate a building), these just “regular” rich strivers need to spend their money on ways to cheat the system.

If you liked Secret Love Affair, consider watching this one - SLA had more steamy scenes whereas Melancholia is mostly emotional longing. Though there is a very sweet (satisfying though small) payoff at the very end. The chaebol villains in SLA bored me but the villain in Melancholia is EXCELLENT. She is awful but so charismatic - Jin Kyung is perfect. Lee Do Hyun is totally believable as a lonely teen who gravitates towards his teacher, the only person who actually makes an effort to help him find his passion for math/life again after a tragedy. The physicality of him as a teen vs. him as a man is on point - there is no mistaking him as a boy after the time skip. I am sad that it seems underrated - it’s definitely worth watching

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Legally Yours!

This was a delightful cocktail of drama and comedy wrapped in a refreshing narrative that defies the usual tropes (not a university BL). It is fun and uplifting, offering a refreshing escape with a balance of lighthearted moments and meaningful connections.

Ryoma was an interesting character. He is a passionate lawyer with a very peculiar relationship with his succulents. He has that classic tsundere energy but deep down is such a softie. On the other hand, Haruto is charming yet mysterious, hiding his secrets until the last few episodes. Even though it was pretty obvious that Haruto had ulterior motives when he first contacted Ryoma, I couldn’t help but side with him. The suspense added intrigue, but I do feel like they revealed his secrets a bit too late, and what followed after , felt rushed.

The chemistry between the leads Ryoma and Haruto was so palpable and cute!
Their relationship was beautiful. The way Ryoma risked everything for Haruto and trusted him despite all odds against them was touching. It shows how pure and strong their love is. And Haruto, who initially approached Ryoma for his own reasons, ends up staying and going to great lengths for him. They both needed the calm warmth and unconditional emotional support the other provided. There were moments that gave me second-hand embarrassment, but it was filled with that perfect mix of laughs and swoon-worthy moments.

While their romance had its ups and downs, I do think the pacing of their relationship was a bit fast. But considering the 19-minute episode length, it’s understandable.

Overall, this was a pleasant surprise. Though it has its flaws mainly with pacing and some ambiguous character intentions, it still managed to keep me hooked with its great chemistry and decent comedic moments.
If you're looking for something light and fun, I’d definitely recommend it! It’s the kind of show that’s better binged rather than watching one 20-minute episode a week.

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Hello,
I found this drama as I was looking for a teacher-student love story. I quite liked it. The beginning was very funny and romantic, and as usual in this kind of plot the middle part was really heart-breaking. (I'll let you discover the end by yourself :p) I would have rated it higher than that (maybe even 9/10) if their teacher-student relationship was their only obstacle. In my opinion, adding family issues was a mistake as it could have been a plot for an altogether different drama about impossible love. Nonetheless, it's still a pretty good show and I enjoyed it.

Edit : I rased my rating to 8 in my personal watch-list (7 before) since this drama grew onto me after a few rewatches, mainly the beginning of the drama.

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I only wish it never had to end

Despite there only being four episodes, the pacing was always perfect. Each episode makes sure a lot is accomplished without giving the feeling of progress being rushed. We're given enough time to understand Err at the start while also being given room to understand him more as he lets down his walls around Mawin. At the same time, we get to learn about Mawin at a reasonable pace throughout the show. We are given hints from early on that there is more to him than what Err sees, without exposing it all at once so that we as viewers can get to know him alongside Err.

While the stakes seem high for the characters, there's no shortage of comedy. We're obviously not given as much time to learn about all of the supporting characters as we get with the leads, but they don't lack depth for the most part. We get to see them being kids and having fun. We see they have their own flaws, motivations, and goals. They aren't just there to be forgotten.

As for the lead actors, I think these roles really suited them. Sea's acting in previous work was on the weaker side; however, playing a socially awkward character in this series worked in his favour. It didn't feel like watching a charismatic actor pretending to be shy. It felt like watching a socially awkward teenager opening up, which is what you want. You don't want to watch a show and just see the actor. The best acting is when it's as though we are watching the lives of real people. And of course, his acting has improved as well. Keen also did a great job. He can believably portray both the fun-loving side of Err and the studious, anxious Err without making either one seem forced. Both leads clearly put effort into their portrayals and it carries the show.

There isn't a single scene that feels wasted or without purpose, and there aren't any visual plot holes aside from typical changes in position between takes. You can go back to rewatch episodes to look in the background or at smaller details, and they line up with later parts of the story. There's a good balance in the use of music, where it's not constantly crammed in and we are left to listen to the ambiance during certain scenes. Conflict in the show is reasonable and not drawn out for the viewers at least. I think with just one more episode, it would be the perfect show for me.

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Another film by Kim Ki Duk, another hard jab at gut. It's the dark side of the moon named South Korea, a minute of it is enough to blow the 'flower boy' bubble.

The movie is about Kang Do, a brutal being works for the loan sharks and a middle aged woman claim to be his mother. Most of the movie takes place in Myeongdong district in Seul, the poorest one. Apparently if you expect a korean to film outside Gangnam, it's mainly Kim Ki duk or, Park Chan Wok. The movie itself a painful journey, a journey you are glad that you take and you wont take again. Don't take me wrong, i love everything about the movie, from Michelangelo inspired poster to grusome mutilation, but I am quite sure I wont re watch it.

There's nothing much to say about it anyway. It is the first Korean film to win the top prize at three major international film festivals — Venice, Cannes and Berlin. If it suits your taste watch it, if don't, stay the heck away from it.

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