Reviews

A heart-felt Love story during mayhem.

1st of all if you want to complain about the subtitles do it under discussion where it will be seen. The people doing subtitles are volunteering and it's not always 1 show- they could be responsible for multiple. I watch at least 3-4 shows at a time so this way subtitles are done by the time I return.
Now for the review: Make sure to have tissues and there's are time the violence is to real. This drama is absolutely outstanding and so is the chosen cast the chemistry between hee tae and myung hee is so touching and emotional. The 2nd ML-FL brother n sister also did a great job with emotions you could feel and be happy or sad with them all. This drama tells about the uprising of gwangyu may 18-27,1980 for Marshall law. Hee tae got his degree to be a doctor, but really wanted to write music with his friend until he shows up in his dorm with a girl who severely hurt during a protest demonstration (every time he see blood now it causes him anxiety) . His friend Kyung soowas sent to the military as punishment and hee tae was rescued by his father a powerful military leader who hee tae hates. In return he has to go on 3 dates with Lee soo ryu whos father owns a medical factory that needs to expand GI nam help. Hee tae agree to go on a date, but soo ryu convinces her friend Kim myung hee to take her place and she'll pay for her airplane ticket to Germany nursing. So soo ryu teaches her how to get him to reject her, but instead he wants the 2nd date(he'd too)
He tells he fell for her the moment she stopped to help at a accident and knew she wasn't Soo ryu and was just going along. With them starting to fall for each other it's messing up plans on both sides so they need to figure out there plans. Soo ryu is one of the protest leader fighting against Marshall law and is causing problems within the two families. Both fathers agreed for marriage and then sending them to seoul to live until they are given permission to return. Only problem is hee tae loves myung hee and asked her marry him she said yes the night before. She tell hee tae to marry and leave its for the best and so they marry and are out on a train asap. Once in seoul they argue and he tells her he's in love myung hee and she keeps getting involved in protest so they agree to sneak back into gwangyu. Once back Marshall law is becoming out of control government lied stating spies from NK are mixed with college students so they beat and torture them. Then once they had guns it was worse there were no questions asked just shot to kill, but not all military men wanted that. Now back to hee tae dad who is worse then even and how he beats people to get fake confession and trying to find his son, myung hee and soo ryu. He finds out hee tae and myung hee are working at the hosp. and hee tae leaves with dr.song to get supplies but is ambushed in an accident and disappeares. After a few days they find out he alive and abducted by his father and a prisoners in his own house. His little brother and stepmom free him and father is pissed, but at hosp hee tae surprised myung hee and they go to church to hide and leave next day.
Now the unexpected as her father is killed trying to protect her brother myung soo and in the meantime hee tae father orders to kill her, her brother and hee tae but his younger bro Jung tae. hears it. She gets a note telling her to meet hee tae and as she walking past a quard he takes out his gun to shoot when Jung tae jumps him. At home they realize Jung tae is missing and drive to church. Next she turns around to see Jung tae shot and she try to stop bleeding when hee tae, father and mother show up. They take him to hosp and has surgery and will be ok, so they return to the church and told myung soo is missing he took a map and trying to go home. They go to look in different directions and myung hee finds him, but there is military looking for anyone. She finds him and tells him to run as she stands up, but one guy aims to shoot him, but she jumps in front and Kyung soo runs after the boy and tells him to run fast and shot in the air. On his way back he see her shot and finds her vows and a watch sticks them in her hand and walks away now we see hee tae on his knee trying to tell them he from gwangju they don't believe and about to kill him when a friend from military takes him away for Interigation. Next we see them in May 2021 41 years later. You have to watch for ending..

Read More

strong start, rushed end...

As typical of a JBL we get an interesting premise, we get an serene atmosphere and quite a slow pacing. I just feel the end is rushed, another episode should have extended the end which was overly fast and breaks with the overall pace of the show. Especially they introduced the "Konno goes abroad" thing which is not in the original manga and which did not make much sense especially when they were limited on episodes anyways. To introduce drama is not always a good choice, this series could have done without it.

The cinematography was top notch, the actors did a good job, except with kissing. What's the point of close ups "kissing" when the lips are only touching for a "endless" time. Besides that, I have nothing to complain about. So overall a good BL which started much stronger (the first two episodes were just perfect) and gave us a weaker ending. The series is extremly short, only about 24 minutes per episode (except the finale which is about 30 minutes), so you can easily binge-watch this and have a better flow and not a week long suspense.

Read More

Story: What will you do if the woman you had loved all this while re-appear in your life after 10 years and she is a famous cat burglar while you are a dedicated detective at the verge of that big promotion you have been waiting for? Will you save your love or your career? This film explores these questions in a light-hearted and comical way. This is one movie you can sit back and relax to.

Acting/Cast: Superb and mature acting.

Music: Nothing that stood out, but hey... it's a movie, not a drama.

Rewatch value: This is an easy watch and certainly with good acting and a sufficient storyline to grab the audience's attention for 2 hours, it has a very high re-watch value. Great for weekend movies!

Overall: If you haven't watch this, I recommend this movie for your weekend watch. If you are Joo Won's fan, be prepared to fall in love with him all over again. If you do not know who he is, no worries.... just enjoy the movie. :)

Read More

PURE LOVE WITH SAD BEAUTY...

There is so much to write about this series. I must say that I still can't get over it. The story, the acting, the music used in the series... I don't know where to start. First of all, if I briefly describe it, I think I can say that it has a sad beauty. There is no element in the content of the series that I would say if it were not. On the contrary, I wish it was a series with longer episodes so that we could feel the characters more deeply. We can say that it is a very good job in terms of cinematography.
This series was like a book or a poem, describing a deep love.
The fact that it was built on real events affected us emotionally. Yes, such people really existed. They loved and were loved despite the difficulties. They had dreams, hopes, loves. Most of them were ordinary people. Just like the characters in the series. Then there were evils, intolerance, cruelty, greed. People acting with these feelings have turned the lives of thousands of people into hell. In fact, the feelings and experiences of the people described are so universal. Even now, bad people who can't tolerate any other thought other than their own and disregard human life unfortunately still continue to exist, in many different ways in many different parts of the world.

Returning to the series, the way the main characters love each other is so ingrained that we have become one with them. The details of the script, the music and the great acting play a big part in this. The screenwriter especially wanted us to connect with them and empathize with them, and I think he wrote his screenplay accordingly. The actors also reflected the emotions very well. There is already an incredible attraction between the couple, which makes it easy to get into the story. In every scene where they looked at each other and held hands, I was excited with them, I felt those emotions.


By the end of the episode, we were all devastated. Because we were too attached to the characters. Myung Hee was such a strong, loving, kind hearted woman. It was the first time she had wanted something for herself. That girl was brave and passionate. She was not like the leading female characters in most of the series. She first held out her hand to Hee Tae, she kissed it first, she was the one who grabbed her hand and ran ahead as she was running away from the engagement ceremony with Hee Tae. Episode 11: "I'll be your family, let's get married." it was she who said it. She deserved to be happy, she. She breathed her last, alone, on the cold earth. I can't forget their last breaths. Imagine how lonely and scared he must have been. When I saw Myung Hee like that, I didn't just think about the people in Gwangju who actually experienced it. I thought of all the people in the world who are still experiencing this. Yes, at first I was very angry. I was so attached to the couple that I got used to the happy ending without realizing it.

Then I realized that the happy ending would probably go against the message the show wanted to give to the audience. This is the best way to understand the people who died and lost loved ones in Gwangju. We can think of this series as a homage to the memory of those who have died and to the pain of those left behind. If it had a happy ending, maybe we wouldn't be able to understand the feelings of all those people who died and stayed behind. In addition, the fact that it was so sad did not detract from the beauty of the series in my opinion.


We need to talk about the music. The music made is so in harmony with the feeling of the show. "Days in Memory" is already the song Hee Tae wrote for Myung Hee. We also heard Hee Tae muttering in the scene where the girl died. It was incredibly impressive. The lyrics and interpretation of "Words I Want To Say To You" made my heart ache. The scene where he was used in episode 11 was magnificent. "Winter of May" reflected the emotions of the characters exactly. I can't listen without crying. Then there is the need to mention other music used. The Rose, Annie's Song... They are both so meaningful. They have been carefully chosen, adding tremendous emotions to the scenes in which they are used.

Some words from The Rose:

And the soul, afraid of dying
That never learns to live
...
When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring becomes the rose

And finally, in the last episode, the song playing in the restaurant while Hee Tae is looking for Myung Hee... My heart aches as I listen to it.

Read More

NO WORDS TO PRAISE THIS MASTER PIECE.PLEASE WATCH

Wohhhhh!I found a gem!Thank god its a happy ending.

i wasnt a fan of school dramas. But this one is mind blowing. How both male and female lead can act so realistic?!Hats off. Acting, Makeup, Music, emotional content, story everything on point. Thanks MDL for helping me to find this movie.
How young actors are this much skillful?!!Its not at all like watching a movie, Its kinda watching them in real life. The scenes where both male and female leads talking through eyes are touching and realistic.

Its not a lovely cute drama to watch. Might not be everyone cup of tea. But a quality movie lovers will cherish this movie.

Dont skip this movie.

Read More

After the death of his mother, whom he had nursed for years, Director Kore-eda Hirokaze offered up Still Walking (Aruitemo, Aruitemo/"Even if You Walk and Walk") as something of a tribute. This film was ultimately inspired by nostalgic bedside talks with her, and embodies the feeling of such intimacy with deep affectation. Should one be a fan of understated human drama, the director alone, or Japanese cinema in general, take notice of this fine masterwork. You should not miss it for the world.

Still Walking centers on a particular day in the life of an ordinary Japanese family. While they try to maintain a semblance of normalcy on this day, the occasion cannot allow it to be wholly so. It is the memorial of a tragic death, and so even the most errant of relatives have come to call.

The story is told through beautifully written, but realistic conversations and domestic interactions between characters. While they cook, play, eat, or chat together, the dynamics between them slowly but surely unfold. We see fondness, pain, nostalgia, resentments, and all manner of feeling bubble to the surface. But none of this is done in the usual bombastic way, lending the entire piece more relatability than one might first imagine. It’s all very Japanese, but very human as well; how often have you swallowed a hurtful comment or urged yourself to forget it… just because of the ties that bind? I saw parts of my own family in Still Walking, little bites of conversation I've spoken myself. It leaves one with much to think about.

My chief issue would be that, while slow films rarely bother me, this takes a little *too* long to launch. Still Walking requires the viewer to see every minute to feel its effects to the highest measure. The ending also feels a little incomplete, but that can be overlooked; Still Walking is meant to portray life continuing under the cloud of death. We don’t always get perfect conclusions in real life, do we?

Calling out a particular actor or actress for an exemplary performance would be difficult. The entire ensemble works together so well they give the solid impression of an actual family, bitterness, warmth, and all. If forced to choose, Abe Hiroshi might win as the most easily recognizable among them; much of Still Walking focuses on his Ryota, and he’s arguably representative of Kore-eda himself. Kiki Kirin is also remarkable as Toshiko, the talkative and smiling mother who hides her many battle-scars behind polite words. She sometimes reminded me of my own mother, which was a little jarring.

A particular piece of music that sticks with me after completion is Blue Light Yokohama (Ishida Ayumi). If one has never "heard" nostalgia, this song will change that. Despite being quite the “oldie,” its inclusion is just exquisite. Common sounds are used effectively also; such as overlapping talk, popping and sizzling in the kitchen, etc.

Please note the interesting shots used in Still Walking. Detail in them is astounding, from hallways to individual rooms. The cinematography here lends an air of tranquility, of reality, of home…. My weak powers of description are not enough to describe the effect. One must truly see it for themselves.

Read More

I watched many Thai dramas in 2018, but in my opinion this was one of THE best. If you are looking for a mystery drama that revolves around family relationships then this is the drama for you.

I initially watched this without subs because the synopsis had peaked my interest and frankly I just didn't want to wait. Even without the subs, I was enticed fully from beginning to end. I found myself binge-watching about 6 episodes in the space of a few hours. This family drama was everything I never knew I needed in life. The story was not exactly anything new, I mean betrayal and lies are pretty much main themes in every thing these days, but there was just so much more to this story. I felt for the characters and found myself putting myself in their shoes. The whole Thai-Chinese tradition is intense if you ask me. You would need to watch to see what I mean. When I watched the drama with subs finally, everything was obviously put into more perspective, but the second time I was even more shocked at the many twists in the story.

My only negative is that there were some scenes centred around one of the characters that I really felt were not needed. At one point, I was just like 'why was that even a part of the story'. I came to the conclusion as the story unfolded, that it might have just been how the writer wanted for things to be unveiled. And in all honesty despite my ill feelings, it was actually a pretty crucial aspect.

Acting: the cast overall were fantastic. The older cast especially. I am a big fan of Thanapob Lee (Yi) and was not surprised at how good he was. He proved he has mad acting skills with this role. Of course, JJ Kritsanapoom (Pete), James Teeradon (Vegas) and Captain Chonlathorn (Earn) did great too. The newer faces (may recognise from Thai group 9by9) were fine in their respective roles. You could tell it was their first time acting but otherwise their flaws (e.g. facial expressions) weren't extremely noticeable. What I loved was the portrayal of the many different types of relationships between the younger cast in the drama. The actors and actresses really nailed those parts.

Music: the music was definitely appropriate for the mood of the drama. The choice of the various orchestral scores was a good one. Every time one particular one came on, I was on the edge of my seat.

Re-watch value: 10/10. Heck yeah I would re-watch this, even without subs might I add.

Overall, In Family we Trust is worth the watch. I am really glad I discovered it. Not only is it a roller-coaster ride of emotions, endless surprises await you.

Read More

Kudos to the child actress

I picked this without much thought at first because usually I like to watch Japanese slice-of-life dramas with some supernatural or fantasy elements in them, but didn’t expect to like this as much as I did and am surprised that there are so few reviews written about it.

What I liked about this drama:

Firstly, yes, the Japanese are good at making slice-of-life dramas. I believe this genre is their FORTE. They are able to make ordinary, everyday happenings interesting and very ordinary conversations touching.

Secondly, this drama touches my heart. It shows a family being torn apart by death of a family member, one who is always full of life, of good cheer, keeps the entire house proper, does the housework for the family 365 days a year, cooks all meals for the family, yes, sounds all mundane stuff, but the reality is that when this person is no longer around, the whole family simply collapses. The entire world becomes gloomy and dark for the remaining family members who simply live their lives like zombies day in, day out, year after year. And then, out of a sudden, one day, when they are given a second chance, that is, when the supposedly dead family member comes back (in the body of an elementary school kid), the family gains newfound cherish and happiness….but alas…this second chance is taken away again…..

This drama executed all the above very well. The emotions of the main leads were just right, the words said were appropriate and simply able to strike a chord.

Thirdly, the female lead. The elementary school kid who acted as the wife whose spirit had gone into this school kid’s body. This drama’s title is ‘my wife became an elementary school kid’, so obviously they had to find an elementary school girl to act as the wife and wow, I think they found a really suitable child actress. I am not familiar with Japanese child actresses, but this particular actress really acted convincingly as a 40-plus year-old woman, although she was merely a 10-year-old girl in real. It is not easy for a girl as young as her to act like a mature adult woman, but her mannerisms, body language, vibe, right down to her facial expressions and speaking, were all convincing enough in this drama. Kudos to this actress! I think her exceptional acting was the key to the success of this drama because 98% of everything in the drama was about her and her family.

Overall, the pacing was good, neither too fast nor too slow, there was never a dull moment I could remember, even when what they were doing or talking about were just ordinary everyday stuff.

I have to specially mention the OST. The drama was not filmed in the 80s or 90s, but somehow, there was a nostalgic feel to the music which was soothing to the ears.

As with most Japanese dramas I have watched, loose ends were tied properly at the end, closures were properly made, goodbyes and words of gratitude were properly said, leaving no regrets and nothing hanging in mid-air or unsettled. The ending gave a sense of satisfaction and positivity towards the future.

It reminded us that even if our loved ones were to leave us one day, we should still face life positively and live it to its fullest.

Negative comments? I did think hard, if I really have to comment, it will be that the stories of side characters were not developed much, BUT they were not irritating and did not at all worsen the main storyline. This is perhaps the characteristic of most Japanese dramas, short and focused (on only the main story and the main leads), but really, other than that, I cannot find anything negative worth commenting because EVEN IF there are, the positive ones above far surpass any negative ones.

I highly recommend this drama if you like heart-warming Japanese slice-of-life, family dramas with a supernatural element, but I have to mention that the supernatural element in this drama is not the focus and does not play a huge part at all.

There are numerous such Japanese dramas out there, but this is definitely one of them I did not regret watching.

Read More

This movie is perfect in my eyes. Is the acting pretty bad? Yes it is. Are there a couple cliches? Yeah. Totally, but they're great.
This movie while very simplistic takes on a concept I've never seen before. The main character is a guy who is plagued by his anxiety. Because of this, there may be a time where the viewer'd get annoyed, but the ending is completely satisfying. It's a love story that leaves you with nothing but happiness. It's super pure and super sweet.
It's a JAPANESE MOVIE. I want to say that about every Japanese anything. Because of this, the way the movie is shot and the elements of it will be weird to someone who is not accustomed to Japanese stuff. However if you like Japanese stuff, this is perfect for you.

Rewatch value?: For you crazy BL fans, 100%.

Read More

PLEASE WATCH THIS ONE! ... I have picked this only because it was short. No alternative motives, just a random pick. I do not regret it. Although it's designed for younger audience I truly enjoyed the plot of the story. Magic was involved and to be honest with you, couple times it gave me goosebumps. Some moments were funny too at the beginning, but mostly it's a sadder drama dealing with serious issues - I even cried at moments because the story moved me so much. I truly enjoyed this short drama because of its serious yet powerful message. The cast was not only cute but acted well and there was a cute chemistry between the couples. The uncle made me laugh from time to time there was also sad moments that made me think deep. I marathoned the whole thing in one shot and I have not regret it..... by the way, this drama is available on Dramacool and the only thing that should have been improved on was the message at the end.

Read More

THE BEST YOUTH DRAMA!!

I want to say that this is probably the BEST high school theme drama I've watch (please mind that this is purely my opinion). I just love everything about it from the acting, the chemistry, the cinematography, everything is just PERFECT.

The plotline is just like any other high school theme drama generally but it has a different element that made it unique from the other drama I've watched before. More than focusing on their loveline (yes there is a loveline but in a high school type of way), it's mostly about friendship. its shows that the bond between friends does not just disappear over time.

I really love how the drama also teaches us that each of us is perfect just the way we are. We don't need to change ourselves just to please others.

TO ME ITS A MUST WATCH HIGH SCHOOL THEME DRAMA. I really recommend this drama to those who are searching for a good drama to watch and mostly to those who loves watching high school type of drama. I PROMISE YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.

Read More

I loved it. Only 3 episodes long, perfect length, perfect cast, perfect everything.

To think I once didn't like Sato Ryuta *face-palm* and I blame it on the roles he played (the idiotic but kind secondary guy). He was excellent as the MC in this drama, I love how he goes from a judgemental, ignorant guy to a understanding friend. His twin brother, Ryoji, was gay, he died and his Canadian husband comes to Japan to meet his brother-in-law Yaichi and all the places Ryoji loved.

I confess I usually don't like the foreign actors in J-dramas since it seems like anyone who is foreign but speaks a little of Japanese can be an actor; meaning, terrible acting. But Baruto, as Mike Flanagan, was perfect, he portrayed perfectly the gentle giant (he is gigantic! I remember how Nakai loved to pat his belly in SMAP Bistro XD)

This is a very realistic slice of life, where there would be ignorant people who rejects homosexuality or just refuse to accept it. At the beginning, Yaichi was all "would be make a move on me?", or just calling him "my brother's friend" or not liking Mike near his daughter. Slowly, he begins to see that Mike was a nice guy who just happened to love men. Mike was never ashamed of who he was, and he taught his niece and his niece's friends that men can love men (and marry them) and same with girls. And the little girls were confused at first, but they quickly were "if you love someone, is wonderful you can marry that person, even if the both of you are guys" :D

I smiled, I cried, I loved it! Very recommended. I will read the manga as well (the author was in my "banned" list but this one is very different from what I thought).

Read More

Why could I not find my love? The title actually gives you an idea what you should be expecting. If you are looking for a romance that makes you shed tears of happiness or sadness, this is NOT your drama.This drama more likely questions "love" based on three female characters in a realistic way.If you are a female you may find similarities to your life/emotions etc. If you are a male, it may make you understand a little about the other part.
Eventhough it is "realistic", the story still takes you in and is not boring.It is not like it is too exciting or something but somehow it is warm and calm so you just follow it peacefully.
The characters are pretty well thought and the actors all fit in perfectly. I always think the best acting is the one that you don't notice, so you can say everyone even supporting actors did perfect job.As a minus it has to be mentioned that the male characters were a little weak, but the actors somehow filled the void.
The opening theme along the insert songs are matching the concept very good as well.The intro of the drama is also well thought and along with the music it gives you hints about the characters.
To sum up, I do not think I will watch this drama again.Not because I did not like it but because the drama gave me something to think about and I do not think I'll forget it. Well it may not work the same for you though, so just consider this drama as a warm casual life drama, that will not addict you but probably pass your time.

Read More

A heart-wrenching and bittersweet drama

Youth of May is a wonderfully made drama that will make your hear flutter but at the same time suffer. Its story is different from any other cliché and typical kdrama and the acting of each actor is top-notch.

Despite it only being 12 episodes, it managed to capture the deep affection that the main leads had for each other and the struugles and cry for justice of the citizens of Gwangu during the month of May in the year 1980.

This drama will make you fall in love with the main lead's charming personality and look up to the female lead's hardworking and sefless personality. But this drama also shows that behind their strong and interesting character, lies their painful past and struggles in life. Watching this drama will make you realize that we shouldn't always carry our burden by ourselves, we should sometimes learn to say "no" to others and choose our happiness instead of living in regret. Aside from that, it also teaches us that those left behind shouldn't let sorrow take over nor drown in tears and get blown by the wind, but instead, they should courageously swim and fly high with the wind as they face their remaining years in life.

Read More

If you like Amazing Race, you will like this :)

My hubby and I completed all 8 episodes today, with our faces smiling wide at the last episode.

To give a short intro, the two celebs are Jasper Liu (Taiwanese) and Lee Seung Gi (S Korean). Both are them are literally like duck and chicken as they arent fluent with each other's languages, so they converse in a mix of Mandarin/Korean and English.

The premise of the show is for the two guys to travel to different places in Asia to meet some of their lucky fans. But, before they are able to meet the particular fan in one location, they have to undergo various missions to gather clues which will allow them to get to their fan's house. Sounds easy enough, but obviously, things arent easy at all...in fact, it is quite Amazing Race like :)

It is really interesting to see them start off awkwardly as fellow travellers, see them bonding thru thick and thin, bromance and rivalry, and then ending as travelling brothers and good friends towards the end of the show.

If you are into food, travel, stunning visuals and filmography which center around our Asian celeb travelers (first timers most times in the different locations), then you should watch this show. I especially love the segments where the show's missions require the two celebs to interact with the locals (and international tourists as well).

Read More