This review may contain spoilers
Makyang at its finest. Staged with great sensitivity. A rollercoaster ride of emotions guaranteed!
Back then, in 2000, "Autumn Tale" kicked off the celebrated "Endless Love Series" and is (like the other 3) a hit. Timeless. Heartbreaking in the face of life's unfairness. Bittersweet and tragic. "Autumn Tale" offers makjang at its finest. All of this is staged with great sensitivity. A rollercoaster ride of emotions guaranteed!Two siblings who aren't actually siblings - but nobody knows. A momentous decision when it comes out randomly. Outrageously mean intrigues. And an unshakable bond of love that (nevertheless) must not be. Because even if you might dare to rebel against the family, there is always another stroke of fate.
It is always possible for things to turn out worse - this is a promise, KDrama Land can surely give!"Autumn Tale" is prove of that. And as always with makjang: an enormous capacity for sympathy, suffering and compassion is a prerequisite for 'enjoying' this KDrama. Makjang could be considered a reinvention and revival of the idea of catharsis in connection with the Greek tragedy. On the roller coaster of human feelings between greed, love, betrayal, hate and forgiveness and suffering, scolding, laughing, crying, the moment of empathizing with the emotional processes of the protagonists can have a liberating effect. (All 4 KDramas of the "Endless Love Series" - "Winter Sonata", "Summer Scent" and "Spring Waltz", too - are actually great at ´that´. You better be prepared and ready for it... if you are, you won´t be disappointed!
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Story: I thought the overall storyline was quite interesting and unique. I’ve never watched a drama with a plot like this, though it definitely gave me HIStory vibes. When I first read the description I worried it was going to be the half-brothers in love, so I was relieved when I realised the series was about them and their separate partners. The script was very clever in helping the 2 leads to get closer in a more realistic way than just shoving them in the same direction like I have seen happen in other series, so I was definitely happy with this. Although it’s clear who the main and side couples were, I found myself loving all 3 couples and enjoying the progression of their relationship, rushed as it may have been.
Cast: I was surprised to see that the actors were all very new, as they were really good at what they were doing. I didn’t feel any awkwardness between them, and there was a lot of chemistry between all the couples. I like how we saw the changes between the brother relationships as well, in the beginning they weren’t close at all and always fought, yet it ended with them all sat having a meal with their partners looking very happy. It was nice to watch them become closer and friendly like that. My one complaint was the languages, the main character talked in Korean yet they responded back to him in Taiwanese, it was just a little disorientating.
Music: I liked the opening OST, but other than that there was nothing incredibly memorable about it.
Rewatch value: If I’m ever bored and want to watch a quick, short BL series, this will probably be one of my first choices. I can’t see myself rewatching it unless I’m bored, but I already know I won’t watch it and leave it like I do with other series.
Overall: This definitely won’t be anyone’s favourite drama, and it won’t be winning any awards for best BL series, but I think it you give it a go and watch it with a clear mind, you may find yourself enjoying it just as much as I did.
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1A hot and cheesy mess.
Though hardly original, this drama's switched bride trope is well executed and entertaining. A very shady prime minister marries his illegitimate daughter Shen Keyi to Wen Ye, a prince and the country's God of War posthumously. As it turns out, Wen Ye is very much alive and full of suspicion when he discovers himself married to his enemy's daughter. Meanwhile Shen Keyi is tasked by her stepmother to steal a jade token from Wen Ye in exchange for her beloved nanny's wellbeing. Their early antics are silly but very funny. It was great to watch an older and jaded general fall for a lively, natural and utterly beguiling young girl. The leads have good chemistry and both actors deliver convincing performances. I also enjoyed the comedic banter between Wen Ye and his two sidekicks.At twelve episodes this drama was hilariously hot and cheesy but by twenty-four episodes it turned into a hot and cheesy mess. The palace plot becomes increasingly convoluted and absurd and both lead's adorable silliness descends into stupidity and melodrama as they navigate multiple obstacles. Ultimately, the much simpler love story between the princess and the guard moved me more. The ending is a bit rushed but it was actually pretty good in the messiest way possible. All considered not the worst drama to watch to just pass some time. I rate it 6.5/10.0
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Great performance & complex narrative re. challenges in politics during dreary SK post-war decades
"Uncle Samsik" offers a quite interesting narrative of the complex connections between party politics and the even more crucial backroom politics during South Korea's first republic (1948-1960). The KDrama is primarily set in the run-up to the turbulent events and nationwide demonstrations that led to the resignation of the first President Rhee and the founding of the second republic. However, the nation that had hoped for real democracy and prosperity stumbled into a third one just three years later through a military coup. Although this brought the hoped for prosperity via totalitarian capitalism, it was still far from real democracy...The story of the KDrama is based on historical events, themes and people of that time, but is ultimately fictional - even if historical film sequences are occasionally interspersed as part of the April Revolution. The focus is on Uncle Samsik. For all those, who don't know much about South Korean history, Uncle Samsik is the emotional reference figure and dramaturgical bridge that holds all the politically complex threads together. Even without prior knowledge, "Uncle Samsik" offers an exciting, haunting political drama that takes place in the post-war years. It is in particular thanks to the passion of the great actors who manage to captivate the audience with comparatively 'dry' fare. It is advisable to watch the episodes consecutively so as not to lose the thread.
With a fictional plot the well-known historic events and what actually drove the political actors of that time are portrayed from different perspectives. Thus they are shown as multifaceted people with complex motives and stories. Political calculation becomes tangible through relationship dynamics and formative personal experiences. What created the conditions for that dictatorial regime and its totalitarian capitalism to torpedo South Korea into dazzling prosperity - the needs, hopes, ideals and concerns underlying the political actors - are being filled with life. And at the same time also what the young democracy still has to gnaw at today - authoritarian directive, opaquely networked and strictly hierarchically structured backroom politics.
The time in which the KDrama is set is marking the initial struggle to set the course for 'right' politics and a democratic political culture to start with. You have to keep in mind that Korea has not yet been able to gain much experience with modern, international politics and economic policy on the world market. Until the end of the 19th century, the Joseon Kingdom had isolated itself from the rest of the world and concentrated on itself. Western modernity and international influences increased during the early 20th century, especially while the Korean peninsula was a colony of Japan. The guidelines for political autonomy and independent parliamentary politics were only set in the course of the founding of the Republic of Korea as South Korea in 1948. And even then, the USA kept a close eye on the young republic. The people in South Korea had not yet been able to seriously experience themselves as political mature people of a democratic country... The south, by now isolated from its rich in raw material and industrially well developed north, was at that time one of the poorest agricultural countries in the world.
Uncle Samsik vividly depicts the conflicting feelings in the country. He represents the prevailing longing for wealth... or simply for three meals a day. Uncle Samsik's nickname already reflects what he stands for: sam (eum)sik = three meals. He (as a good uncle) grants this to his people. So actually this very basic human need was the top priority in those politically turbulent years. Hunger and poverty shaped everyday life for the many. Democracy as a political ideal may sound good, but it doesn't fill your stomach. Samsik cares about people. His political goal is to use all possible means to support those politicians who have a solid concept and can bring the country to a point where the people will soon have enough to eat. The way to get there: to consistently boost the economic power of the economically weak country (compared to the north) and thus create appropriately paid work whose salary is enough to provide for the families... even if that might imply that the people´s hope for true democracy still has to wait a bit longer...
So would I recommend "Uncle Samsik"?
Yes, but...
It's one of those things with historical dramas that deal with Korea´s recent post-war history (and with the KMovies about the first post-war decades, too... you have to want to see it. Colours, light, selection of protagonists - this is often enough inevitably not a treat. Colorful robes that were still common in Joseon times are rarely seen anymore. After the Japanese colonial period and at least since the influence of the USA in the wake of the Korean War, fashion has been completely westernized. This makes the production design comparatively rather dreary - dark suits, ties and plenty of scenes inside or in the dark. It is about scenes inside offices, hotel bars, conference rooms and bunkers instead of lushly planted palace gardens, picturesque bridges, colorful pavilions and pagodas, or the shaded, meditative palace walkways - it's all history. Politics by now happens behind closed doors. If suitable, it might sooner or later end up on the streets, too. Female characters with impact are also rare - gone are the lively days of palace ladies, servants and princesses, scheming dowagers and queens or spying gisaeng... Instead, there are lots of serious men in their (as I mentioned before) dark suits, preferably smoking and debating or giving orders in back rooms. Politics is a man's business - a power struggle that is eventually resolved with the help of thugs and cloak-and-dagger operations... (After all, women's power is at least trying to carve out some space in "Uncle Samsik"...)
In short, the setting is rather dark, complex, even complicated - and ties-heavy. Be aware.
Apart from that, "Uncle Samsik" is really well done. Vividly played and thematically differentiated, the KDrama brings those dreary, sobering post-war decades in South Korea to the international DisneyPlus audience, presenting it as a time that, despite all the prevailing corruption, arbitrariness and obedience to authority, was also characterized by a lot of idealistic passion and political hope. Once again, high-end historical drama à la KDrama...
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Satisfying series! Highly reccomended.Binged watched the whole series in one night. Engaging from the start till the end., the twelve episodes were used perfectly!
Coming in, you'd think you are watching a semi-fantasy scifi show. Its a story of a missing IT tycoon whose consciousness was mysteriously trapped inside a mobile phone. The phone landed in the hands of a seemingly unlucky jobless man who wasoffered to be the CEO of the company to solve the mystery of the boss' disappearance
I loved that the male princess cinderella transformation wasnt overdone. I specially enjoyed the main lead's boyish charm and acting and his dynamics with his family. I was also happy about the way they resolved the mystery of the trapped boss.
If there's anything con ts the fact that Chae Jong Hyeop's arms are so distracting, cause the guy oozes masculinity even without taking his shirt off.
Give it a go, you'd enjoy it too. Overall its an 8.5.
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The complexity of the plot coupled with the controversial themes set against a backdrop of historic events made it a compelling film to behold. The beauty of this film lies in its hauntingly terrifying realism that most people don't usually think about, the thought of cultures evolving in such a brutally fast way while we all struggle to keep our problems under control not noticing how the rest of the world changes so drastically around us, makes this movie one of the best social commentaries ever filmed.
Created in 1993 it might appear old-fashioned in form for those who are used to today's blockbuster films but it is certainly modern in psychological dynamics, it’s a film that you can lose yourself in, one that washes over you like a pleasant nostalgic memory.
Its beautiful cinematography combined with powerful symbolism certainly deserves all of the awards it earned, masterfully crafted each scene is so poignant and engaging you don't even realize you're holding your breath while watching it. And despite the film’s length reaching almost three hours, Chen Kaige (director) certainly cannot be accused of it being draggy or slow-moving. The pace snowballs towards the last hour, with 30 years of history compacted into its final sixty minutes.
A few words must be spent on the quality of the acting, for both the adult and child cast, which was immaculate. Leslie Cheung once again showing us how versatile he truly was.
Our protagonist Dieyi is easily one of the most relatable characters, going through endless tragedy our little concubine delivers an iconic show for everybody to see. Witnessing the dark behavior of human nature through this film can only make you empathize with the people who suffered from countless hardships and misfortune.
The political dimension of the film, its social commentary and its relevance for today, where questions of how can one still put on makeup and play-act when war was breaking out the following day, gives us pause to reflect.
Despite (ironically) being initially banned in China but shown to international acclaim such as' Cannes & The New York Film Festival, Farewell My Concubine is a motion picture experience that only a few will soon forget after giving it a try.
For me, this film represents beauty in its purest form, a masterpiece that stands the test of time.
I will give this movie a full 10/10 .
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The winds of change.
This slow paced suspense thriller by the director of The Bad Kids is told with such dry humor and irony that it initially conceals the story's intense, almost unbearable pathos. It is about how the irresistible force of the winds of change profoundly affects the lives of two generations of Hualin. Hualin is a fictional Northeastern town where the entire economy was built around a state owned enterprise, Huagang Steel, which is said to be modelled on either Angang Steel or Benxi Steel. The mill employs most of the town in some capacity and runs everything from its schools to its hospitals. This economic model collapsed in the late 1990s, displacing hundreds of thousands of workers across China. Towns like Hualin, where one enterprise comprised practically the entire economy were particularly hard hit.The drama opens in 2016, where the main protagonist Wang Xiang, an irascible old taxi driver helps his brother-in-law Gong Biao hunt down scammers who tried to knock off his taxi medallion. They rope in Ma Desheng, a retired disillusioned cop turned ballroom dancer to aid them. Their determined, bungling poking around results in a murder that Wang Xiang insists must be linked to a cold dismemberment case at the mill that they had investigated almost two decades ago. This takes them back to 1997/1998, which was a turning point in all three lives that they survived but never quite recovered from.
Fan Wei's portrayal of the older Wang Xiang's grief frozen expression and his glittering angry sad gaze is brilliant and evocative. I almost couldn't see Qin Hao in middle-aged Gong Biao, who still somehow manages to hang on to that optimism and naivete of youth. And Chen Minghao never fails to impress with his ability to combine comedy with tragedy - his ballroom dancing left me speechless! I enjoyed the chemistry and rapport of the older cast immensely. Only veteran actors of this caliber are able to stay in character and wear the passage of time and hardship through multi-decade transformations so effortlessly. In the present, they are shadows of their former selves, displaced by the reform and changes that swept across China as it opened up to change. I am surprised by how candid this drama is about how these economic reforms did not benefit everybody.
Back in 1997, the three friends are in their prime. Wang Xiang is the important train driver that transports raw materials to the mill; Gong Biao is a rare young college graduate groomed to advance in the mill's senior management; and Ma Desheng is a hot shot detective in charge of shocking murders that shook the town. The young Wang Yang sees the writing on the wall with respect to the mill's future and resists his father's efforts to help him secure a position there, seeking employment in the nascent and seedier private sector instead. There he becomes fast friends with Shen Mo and Fu Weijun. Unlike the older generation who are still in denial, this youthful trio are quicker to accept and adapt to the rapidly changing environment. The bond of their friendship is just as strong and as real as that of their elders. The younger cast impressively hold their own well up against the veterans. This has to be Li Gengxi's best, least petulant portrayal but I still find her to be the weakest link in the cast overall. While her performance was quite good, I did not like or empathise with her Shen Mo the way I felt compelled by and rooted for both Wang Yang (lLiu Yitei) and Fu Weijun (Jiang Qiming).
In terms of the mystery plot, it is very well designed with a few good twists but is overall straightforward and easy to understand. The clues are intriguing and well planted early on and an outline of what happened emerges at a slow but riveting pace. When all is revealed, everything fits together and makes sense. It is true that this drama is a much bigger story than the mystery itself but the unravelling of the case is the centrepiece that pulls the sub-plots and narrative that spans two decades together. It is a very dark story that unfolds during a time of inescapable change that everyone is helpless up against. At the same time, they go through some utterly devastating events. The passage of time doesn't dull anything; in fact to them decades later it is still as if it all happened just yesterday. Poor Wang Xiang and to a lesser extent, his buddies are in limbo, suspended in this dreadful, long autumn. The drama tries to end with closure followed by a positive epiphany; to move forward and not look back 往前走/wǎng qián zǒu. Yet I can't shake the overwhelming sense of how beautiful but quietly helpless and tragic this story is. Not everyone will be able to understand or relate to the late 1990s backdrop or enjoy the slow pace but for me this is the best drama I have watched this year (as of May 2023). I rate it 9.5/10:0.
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Min Ki is so HOT in here! He is such a gentleman I loved how he was caring toward her and changed her into a better person. Did i tell you his eyes are gorgeous!
Chae Rim one of my favourite female actress, she blew me out of my seat.
A must watch drama that you will never regret ever watching!
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I decided that I really wanted to watch this not only because it was one of the most highly anticipated Chinese dramas of 2019, but because of the actors/actresses. I really wanted to see ZTao (Boxu) in a drama because I was very curious about him in an active role and to be honest, I enjoyed every second of his character. I loved watching his growth from this misunderstood c-pop star who hid behind his popularity to this soft and funny man who learned what was most important in his life and it was one of the things I loved most about this drama - the chemistry between the two leads. I loved their back and forth banter that was 100% flirting, but both didn't realize it. Their relationship seemed extremely comfortable and natural, which made me ship them from the beginning.
Sorry, Yu Zi Rui. This brings me to my next actor - Niu Jun Feng who placed Yu Zi Rui. It was the second time I had seen him in a drama and he was one of my favorite characters in the first one. When I found out that he was a major-minor character again in this drama, I had to watch. Especially since he was playing the caring and gentle (first) love interest of our main character. Was I a little disappointed in the character he played? Yea, but I think he did an amazing job playing his character. I loved watching his internal struggle trying to figure out what he thought was most important in his life and what he was willing to do to get there. Similar to Boxu, but almost an opposite result, which broke a lot of people's hearts, but made others full.
Finally, there is Janice Wu. I don't know how it happened, but I somehow ended up watching two dramas at the same time, not knowing she was the lead in both. I love what she brings to every role that she is in and ended up being one of my top favorite actresses. I loved that she played this hard-working woman who was not scared of Boxu and always was true to herself and in her relationships with others. We also got to see her in some down moments, but she always bounced back with the support of the people she built strong relationships with.
I enjoyed this drama a lot more than I thought I was going to, but there were a few things that I couldn't get over. The first being the consistency and the flow of every episode. It seemed as if one episode was cut into 2 or 3 parts, so when you watched it, at the end of these eps were abrupt and in the middle of a sentence. I also wasn't a fan of ANYONE that worked at Star Entertainment. Some people had their moments, but it wasn't enough. I honestly wanted Boxu's contract to be terminated so he could go somewhere else. BUT, Star Entertainment did seem like a family....a dysfunctional family.
BUT, the one person I disliked the most, and idk if she just enjoys playing these types of characters, was Xia Yuan, Zhen Zhen's best friend and roommate. I felt like she was too much. I'm glad she did a lot of growing in the drama as a whole, but she was a mess in the middle and took it out of Zhen Zhen for something he has no power over. Especially when she decided that she was in love with Yu Zi Rui for no reason really, but I appreciate the ending that they gave her and Zi Rui.
Overall, I would love to see Z.Tao act in more dramas as well as continue to watch Janice Wu in the future. I hope they collaborate again. I was also in LOVE with every song in Boxu had written, that was in this drama, and extremely happy that they were real songs by Z.Tao and downloaded them all.
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I don't think the actual concept of the story is anything original but I'm really suprised at how unpredictable they were able to make it. The time flew by and I didn't feel that there were any dull moments in the plot. Very well written overall.
Acting was great and the cinematography was amazing. I've watched some works with Park Shin Hye and I really liked Jeon Jong Seo in Burning, so I expected good acting and I wasn't disappointed.
*This might be a spoiler, maybe not.*
Even though I didn't really like the ending, that won't affect my rating because I don't think a happy or satisfying ending has to always be the goal in movies. This whole movie made me feel pretty unsettled and anxious but in a good way if that makes sense? (my english vocab isn't the best but I'm trying to think of words to describe my feelings, please understand hehe)
If you like open endings and psychological stuff, this will suit you really well.
I finished watching it maybe 15 minutes ago and I think I need a moment to do some thinking.
In short: Not for people who don't bother to think after or aren't capable of understanding "deep" stories in the first place.
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This drama was very enjoyable. The female lead is 29 years old, divorced and has a child. The male lead is 23 years old. Male lead is a ceo of a beauty company. Female lead divorced her cheating husband and needs to find a job to get the rights of her child back. She becomes the personal assistant of the main lead. At first they are bickering but slowly they fall in love. I like the female lead because she is smart and thinks quickly off her brain, she doesn't let a failed marriage get to her. She strives to do the best at her work and takes good care of the male lead. The main lead at times can be child like but has time where he is very manly too. ( he looks very young...) Their real life age is the same as in the drama btw :) The male lead had a traumatic childhood which causes him to faint/ lose breath if lights are shut off. I really like the female lead and her best friend's friendship. They are there to support each other through the highs and lows. I wasn't as fond of the best friend and the second male lead's love story because it was kind of stick, lol at least they have a happy ending.
The chemistry between the female and male lead is good too. After they fall in love with each other , there are many sweet moments shared ( kissing scenes >_<). I feel that 16 episodes was the perfect amount of episodes, so that it didnt get draggy. I also liked that they acknowledge each others feeling pretty early on, not like some where they save it for the end. of course their love has some ups and downs ( i'll let you watch that part yourself).
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As implied above, Yakou Kanransha delves into the effects a shocking murder has on two families (and the town in which they live). It is an emotional story marked by highs and lows, much like the ever-rotating path the titular Ferris wheel follows. Other issues tackled over its course include bullying (by neighbors and classmates), ostracization, domestic violence, and societal pressure. Unlike many other Japanese dramas with such a focus, family is not held on a pedestal. Instead we're shown a realistically flawed structure, full of secrets and misunderstandings. Despite this, beauty remains to be found in the connection between friends, brothers and sisters, parents and children; something so imperfect can still be wonderful.
Most incredible might be how deftly these emotive aspects are combined with exciting, cerebral ones. Character development intermingles flawlessly with shocking revelations and startling secrets. Scenes are rarely lingered on; the pacing maintains a seamless stability throughout the series.
Japan excels at the ensemble piece; Yakou Kanransha boasts a large cast which more than lives up to this standard. Suzuki Kyoka clocks in a believable and solid performance as Endo Mayumi. This role is written simply so she might serve as our eyes into this fantastic circumstance; despite this, Suzuki-san completely brings her to life. Among the other adults, Yasuda Shota and Natsuki Mari are of great interest. Natsuki-san plays an especially polarizing part, yet her consistent and complex portrayal makes quite the impression.
But young actors Nakagawa Taishi (15) and Sugisaki Hana (16) completely steal the show. Both deliver honest and affecting performances beyond their years. Particularly Nakagawa-san; it floored me how drawn into his scenes I became as the series rolled along. Definitely a budding career to watch.
If like me, music comprises an important part of your viewing experience: take heart. Yakou Kanransha posesses an immaculate soundtrack, full of richly mysterious strings and hollow piano. There are also fine vocals, such as those from Ai (ending theme "Voice," which exudes action), and Reiko Oshima ("Daydreaming," a hopeful ballad with a bittersweet feel). Other highlights include the masterful use of sound effects; during particularly intense scenes, one can sometimes hear the grinding machinery and clacking carts of the Ferris wheel. Also take note of its use as imagery between scenes; you'll never forget the way it looks, brightly lit at night.
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No bullshit BL...
I don't know if we can describe this mini-series as BL. It's more in the realm of a queer mini series. Besides that, MDL says it has only three episodes and say's the second part is a side-story - which it's not! It is a continuation of this series.A young man has a breakup because his girl friend just tells him, he's "bad" in bed and does all the things wrong. She recommands that he should take lessons. He made a post somewhere to search for a tutor and he found one. But he does not know that his tutor is also male - that's the story in this three episodes.
This is not fluff, this is not a love story (not yet, anyways), but the teacher does just teach. This is a really unique concept to take all the bullshit of any BL out and just make it about learning how to respond to your sex partner, how to make him hot and how to do "stuff".
While this mini-series has not much story (yet), the actors are really naked, no BL make-out under the blanket or just the foreplay. It's also about penetration and how to do it right and you may think it's p0rn but it's not. I find this concept refreshing and something completly different to nearly every other show. The next three episodes will get more story and I can only hope they will continue the story because the story itself has potential. And I bet some people could learn from it!
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The good:
1) its so easy to watch - its just 6 episodes;
2) Off-Gun, do i need to say more? ;
3) the cats and the dogs, i wish they added more;
4) light hearted and fun.
The bad:
1) cliched story;
2) the never ending thai concept of a straight guy falling for another guy;
Its a good watch when you have about 5 hours to spare. See it while eating your dinner and dont think too much about the plots and loopholes, just enjoy. Will i rewatch the series - maybe, but id probably just skip to the BL parts. Is it awards worthy - hell no! Overall its an 8 for me.
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