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Healthy and Strong Romance, Weak Criminal Cases
If you're looking for a light, easy watch that's relatively drama-free and focused on romance, Love is All is an adorable historical romcom. The series shows how Tan Lingyin and Tang Tianyuan solve different criminal cases together, and come to love and rely on each other along the way. This relationship is extra sweet, especially when Tan Lingyin discovers that Tang Tianyuan is actually her childhood idol. While the drama has its strengths in terms of the main romance, however, it also has some of its issues in relation to its stagnant plot and storyline.I'd therefore highly recommend having a watch if you like these tropes:
♡ Healthy Romance Between a Magistrate and His Subordinate: There will be many comparisons to the relationship between Lu Yi and Jian Xia in the 2019 drama Under the Power, which I believe is accurate, as our main love line is also very natural and adorable. Both Zhang Ruonan and Zhang Haowei have incredible chemistry together, and showed how Tan Lingyin and Tang Tianyuan are not only very innocent in love, but also eventually grow to deeply care for each other. Tang Tianyuan also never uses his powers to overpower or control Tan Lingyin, but instead to help her and to encourage her to become a better advisor. Both characters thus begin with a bickering relationship, where Tang Tianyuan is more careful and strategic, while Tan Lingyin is mischievous and reckless. However, they also always consider each other’s well being and put their partner first, and have many heart-melting scenes that will make you feel “squishy.”
♡ A Focus on Women in History: The drama uses many instances to show some of the struggles that women face, especially to be respected and recognized for their work. While the historical aspects of such scenes may not be completely accurate, I did like how the show explored how Tan Lingyin’s abilities are questioned because of her gender. These conflicts are not only shown in the way the men in the drama speak about women and their roles, but also through side characters such as Zhou Zhengdao, who disguises herself as a man to work undercover in the Magistrate’s office. This is by no means a drama that deeply delves into these problems; but its attempts to highlight and incorporate some of them should be recognized.
♡ A Funny and Lovely Side Cast: I was surprised by how much I liked some of the supporting characters, and how much life they added to the drama. I absolutely loved Tang Tianyuan’s brotherly relationship with Zheng Shaofeng, and how both of them worked together to pursue the women they loved. I even loved Zhu Dacong — the silly fiance who Tan Lingyin attempts to run away from, because despite the fact that he was often the “fool” in the series, he was absolutely loyal and respectful to her even when she continuously tried to get rid of him. Most of all, while our second male lead Duan Feng does not get much screen time, he was incredibly handsome as a roguish bandit and was fun to watch as well.
♡ Cute Edits and Comedic Humour: This drama uses a lot of slapstick comedy, and uses cute extra-diegetic edits (i.e. whiskers, blush, funny cutscenes, etc.) as well as techniques such as breaking the fourth wall, that add to the lighthearted tone of the series. Overall, it’s meant to be a very fluffy and humorous series, and while the comedy may not work for all watchers, it’s nice to see as a break if you are watching more plot-heavy or emotionally investing dramas at the same time.
However, there are also some things you might not like about the drama:
♥ Major Logical Inconsistencies: There is a need to watch this show with quite a healthy amount of suspension of disbelief, and to not take the drama or its events seriously. There are a lot of issues from the outset, including characters that are supposed to be incredibly smart, yet unable to see the obvious (i.e. how the drama ridiculously implies that Zhao Zhengdao is completely unrecognizable when she dresses as a man, with her disguise being apparently so effective it can fool Zheng Shaofeng — who supposedly is great at gathering intelligence — for a solid ¾ of the drama).
♥ Somewhat Ineffective Genre-Mixing: Unfortunately, I don’t think the combination of crime and comedy in this series, especially when Love is All veers more on the comedy side, worked very well together in this drama. I think the main problem is that the cases themselves seemed very inconsequential, in that nobody seemed to be at serious risk or danger at any moment. Most of all, sometimes it also seemed as if characters, while demonstrating adherence to their moral beliefs, acted in unprofessional ways or sidelined their cases for their personal life. I admit I also did find myself sometimes fast-forwarding scenes where they were discussing cases, since I found them rather uninteresting. Thus, if you’re looking for a drama that depicts the solving of intricate crime scenes with interesting and gripping stories, this is not a show for you. However, if you really want something with a focus on romance, where the crime solving is just part of the background plot and helps to minimize filler scenes, then you may appreciate these aspects more.
♥ For A “Crime-Solving” Drama, Can Be Boring To Watch: Unlike other crime dramas, where villains may be more compelling and give the impression of being “evil” or “dangerous,” this drama didn’t really ever venture into this territory. Moreover, the length of the drama seemed to be too long, considering how little time was spent on cases, and cases often felt anti-climatic rather than exciting or mysterious. I emphasize that this is a light drama that really focuses on the romance between the different characters, and it has a very fluffy tone and colour palette. Consequently, while this drama never satisfactorily builds up any moments that can be considered high-stakes or life or death for the main characters, the lack of angst may be something that you appreciate if you want something that’s less heavy to watch.
I'd highly recommend you watch this if you liked dramas with a precious romance between the main characters, and you want something that’s light and binge-able. This is a great watch if you want something to take your mind off for the day, or to unwind and smile over at how comedic and meta the series is. While the comedy certainly will not work for all viewers, and some may find aspects of the plot boring and draggy to watch, the adorable romance between the characters is sure to make your heart warm if you want to see a couple with incredible chemistry.
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"She Was Pretty" & "Pretty Li Hui Zhen" Both a Disappointment
I wanted to see if they improve the drama "She Was Pretty" but I have to say they did little improvement. I thought that in "She Was Pretty" the first 11 episode were a waste and annoying. This drama the first 20 episode were annoying and episode 29-31 was more silly foolishness of push and Pull games. This drama did not need to be 40 episodes. Li Hui Zhen (Dilraba Dilmurat) character was terrible. can they have made her more pitiful, stupid, and annoying. Her freckles seem fake, every once in awhile you can see them fading. Her facial expression were foolish and goofy looking. I Know Dilraba Dilmurat is a good actress I have seen her in other dramas. Baiha Yu (Peter Sheng) character seem so cold, harsh, and with no chemistry with neither of the lead female actress. Lin Yimu (Vin Zhang) character had great chemistry with Li Hui Zhen but it seem more friendship then romantic. I did not really believe he was in love with her. He is also a very good actor. I was hopping they change some of the story line but words might have change but still the same. I think the writer could have done better and the director could have used better direction. I found It disappointing and I skip so much because it was getting annoying. The ending was just as expected no real thrills or changes from the Korean version.Was this review helpful to you?
I have not watched a series with this much heart and love and loyalty and a very very long time. And I am an individual that goes through series like glasses of water but this one is by far one of the finest. I
The synopsis for this should be completely rewritten as such:
When life gets hard, God can put you in the right place at the right time to get the help, the love, the support and the people you need in your corner to help you overcome it. When you think you have nothing to offer and there is nothing more in life for you these people find that not only are they people value but that there is more to life than the hardships that they have faced. They discovered that they had strength, love, friendship and so much more to fight for. Through friendship they discover love that they never saw coming, strength that they never knew and. Family they never had.
My southern interpretation ?: When I tell you this thing was good I mean it, OK. Yes I got frustrated during some moments but I could understand the reasoning behind the individual behavior that made me frustrated I could completely get it I could not be mad only frustrated that it was taken place that’s how good it was. Of course it is not without the antagonist, yes that crazy rich lady and greedy old guy but it does not surpass the good.
Our male lead had everyone wanting to marry him. Yes he’s the rich guy who knows he’s rich but unlike so many of the other series that I watched this one is different. He’s a rich guy who has a heart that shows he has a heart and goes after what he what he wants without fear of judgment from others. He goes after what he wants without a care to money. He didn’t let money dictate his life for his love.
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There aren't too many movies like this. It has a good message that should come across to everyone. Maybe the world would really be a better place then. This movie's message isn't that everyone should be real-life Superman or next Mother Teresa. However, it does remind us that the little things and decisions we make ARE important. If some little thing you do makes at least one person happier, isn't it good enough? Everyone does have that little piece of kryptonite in their brains that makes us blind and indifferent towards other people. "We can't save everyone so why should we even try?" That is a thought that so easily creeps into our heads when we are overwhelmed by all the bad things happening in this world. This movie challenges that thought and I'm happy it does so.
I give best scores to this movie and I think it deserves good ratings even if it's viewed from a more objective standpoint. However, I'll let that to someone else. As for the rewatch value: I think everyone should watch this movie at least once a year since we forget the things we learn so easily. Oh, and I'm also an official fan of Hwang Jeong Min now. Such great acting.
After watching this movie, I'll wake up tomorrow with many good intentions. I know they won't last long but if I tomorrow pick up one trash from the ground or try to make someone else happy then I think this movie has made the world already a better place. Thank you, Superman!
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This review may contain spoilers
Deconstructing the myth of the invincible killer with the raw reality of an aging body
When action heroes grow old – what remains?In the case of Pa-gwa: This is NOT a late-career revenge drama. It is an anti-myth. The KMovie Pa-gwa fundamentally challenges the conventions of the action genre.
The title Pa-gwa (파과) is a clever play on words. In Korean, it refers on one hand to "bruised fruit" that is no longer fit for sale. On the other hand, it historically signifies an age (16 for women, 64 for men) marking the end of one's "prime."
At the heart of the film is Lee Hye-young, delivering a masterful performance as Hornclaw through sheer presence and minimalism. While many praise her as a "strong woman," her true power lies in being overlooked. Hornclaw is not stylized as a superhero; she is a woman who exists at the edges of the frame, rarely heroized in frontal shots. She is a character becoming increasingly invisible—socially, physically, and cinematically.
The film treats this invisibility not as a deficit, but as a societal reality. An old woman who is overlooked, ignored, and underestimated—that is precisely what makes her dangerous. The message: A society that ignores older women creates its own formidable adversaries.
The movie consistently breaks with action clichés: there are no "cool" weapons or heroic fight choreography. The battles are grueling, often messy, making mistakes. Here, violence is not a spectacle; instead, it serves as a memory of past times and pains. It feels more lifelike and less polished.
The narrative style is equally unusual: the story remains open and incomplete, refusing simple explanations or neat moral judgments. The film does not attempt to organize violence, aging, or guilt—it simply endures them. This feels more honest, reflecting a real life that isn't always logical or conclusive.
But what makes the KMovie Pa-gwa so special in my eyes is its tenderness. The film takes time for quiet moments, observing the mundane with a mindful, unsentimental gaze—completely without trying to be "cool." Eventually, this is what makes it particularly powerful and human.
Pa-gwa tells the story of what happens when action figures grow old and can no longer win their battles with ease. And indeed: Lee Hye-young is the reason this film resonates so deeply and stays with you long after the credits roll.
PS:
The KMovie Pa-gwa (directed by Min Kyu-dong) is based on the acclaimed novel by Gu Byeong-mo.
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This drama by no means is perfect, in fact it has many flaws with sinful number of drama cliches. There were definitely lots of holes in the plot and some situations were just downright crazy. Some of the characters' behaviours were extreme and very unrealistic.
However, unbelievably these seemingly major flaws were overshadowed by the overall story about love, friendships and family relationships. I was completely drawn into the lives of these surprisingly interesting characters. The bromance between Jin Fan and Xie Chuang is one of the best I've seen in any drama. Their chemistry was perfect and they were joy to watch. I love to know the name of the actor that played Xie Chuang because he was so good. And wow, Hawick Lau portrayed his character, Jin Fan to perfection. I am a big fan of his now.
The romance between the main couple was cute as they had good chemistry but I also found the second couple (Xie Chuang and Jin Fan's sister) adorable. The story about the corporate world was surprisingly equally interesting as the relationships between the characters.
This drama absolutely exceeded my expectations, it made me laugh, cry and actually care about the characters deeply. I normally try to avoid watching long dramas because I get bored easily but I was thoroughly entertained by all 51 episodes.
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Memoirs of May
Here are few reasons why you need to check out this drama:✨It featured one of South Korea's dark history.
This drama showed a glimpse of what happened during those years when Martial Law was implemented in SoKor. You will learn about SoKor's history during 1980s through this drama.If you are up for a background about what happened during the timeline of this drama, you might want to search: Gwangju Uprising.
✨Cinematography. Story. Acting.
I'm not really into Film Making but definitely this is one of those Kdramas with amazing Cinematography. The composition of the scenes, the color grading, the lighting. It was very pleasing. Story wise. Awesome. Back to reason number 1. I really love how they feature their History through this drama. Acting of the casts was also superb.
✨Chemistry between the two main leads.
Lee Do Hyun is definitely making a mark in the Kdrama world. I can't think of another actor that would best fit the role of Hee Tae. Go Min Si was also able to portray the role of Myeong Hee very well. I was hesitant if she could perform the role of a woman in a province during 1980s since I've only watch her in Sweet Home and Love Alarm, where she has a very strong personality. But, she was really able to pull it off. Their chemistry was overflowing. It was "kilig" watching their love story. They will also definitely make you cry.
✨Lessons about family and love.
This drama shares lessons about family and love. Circumstances revolving our family can really affect our choices in life but in the end, we still have the right to decide for ourselves. Loving someone can also be difficult and it could forever change our lives but if the other person is worth the risk, then do it.
Overall, this 12 Episode drama is worth my time. A must watch. Highly recommended. ❤️ If you haven't watched this yet, check it out. 🙂
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Just some spicy Deng Kai wearing an extremely skimpy plot.
Hay there, sexy.I know what you're thinking. You're thinking "Damn I can't believe Deng Kai hasn't been cast yet as an ML in a major production, he's so stupid-hot and so charismatic, I feel like an addict, ever since POJ happened I just can't get enough of him."
Well as far as somebody with some SENSE picking him up to lead an A-list show, I can't help you with that. We are fresh out of A-List productions because Arthur Chen ate them all.
But as for the part about not being able to get enough of him.... that I can help you with. Some tiny-ass production team off in the corner of c-dramaland said "50 bazillion people are screaming for Deng Kai right now and yknow what. We hear you. Now, we're too broke to give you the A-list gold you're after. But in the meantime... how about just watching him make out a lot?"
And we like "YASS that will do for now."
Producer says "Well we aint got much. We got some CEO clothes, a decent stylist, and a couplea leather couches. We can maybe scrape enough cash together to rent a boat for a few scenes, idk."
And we like "Green light this bad boy."
And producer is like (scratches head) "Uhhhh.... well we're kind of short on script."
We say, "Don't worry about it, just write whatever you can muster up."
So they gave us this. The story is... I kind of want to say 'inventive'? But I also kind of want to say 'bad'. It's inventive and bad. But it does give us what we crave... Deng Kai in a hot situation looking hot and makin out and stuff. It's not as spicy as I like em. But honestly, the production and script are so SO cheap, that if it were any spicier it'd come off as just way way too gratuitous. It's "satisfying". We are watching Deng Kai learning to perfect the art of onscreen kissing. Someday he'll be in something TRULY hot, like SOKP or WDBTD, and all that kissing practice will pay off. He does honestly keep getting better and better.
As far as the acting.... I'm sorry but it's just asking way too much for actors to return master performances on sets like these with scripts like these. Deng Kai is doing sort of a "you get what you pay for" performance, i'd give it a B grade. Zhang Chu Han the FL expertly matches his tone, and this is actually the very first time I've LIKED her in something. She appears to have dropped the baby-girl act as she matures as an actress, and she's so much better off for it. Now she reminds me of Valerie Bertinelli, and it's cute and she's much easier to watch.
All in all, I would not really recc this to anyone except Deng Kai fans, and I would DEF recc this to them. I enjoyed it despite the jankety script, but would I rewatch it? No.
Actual drama = 5
Deng Kai makin out a bunch = 10
Averaged score = 7.5
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The focus on the absolutist self-image of the Jaeboel changes towards their very human weaknesses
"The Taste of Money" from 2012 bombards the audience with aestheticized images, a strangely bizarre stirring mixture of cynical decadence, insatiable greed and human weaknesses that even the richest of the rich don't stop at. Let's start with the moral of the story: money doesn't buy happiness. On the contrary. The more there is, the unhappier their owners get. They may be wealthy bank-wise, but humanly they are bankrupt. Maybe they can buy anything, but in fact they are (and remain) alone. Their relationships tend to be abusive, mostly cold, and rather an empty, highly polished shell.The KMovie focuses on a Jaebeol clan with a CEO, his wife, daughter and son, as well as the CEO's assistant and a filipino housekeeper.
----------- SIDE NOTE: --- Jaebeol, the secretive modern royalty of South Korea ---
The rich and powerful of South Korea emerged as a distinct variety in the post-war years. As a motor of progress and prosperity, they still influence social life as a matter of course - hidden, unofficially, from the background. In their hands gigantic possessions are concentrated. These are consistently maintained within the founding families. The Jaebeol clans were created as part of the autocratic governance of the early decades of the Republic and were further strengthened during the military dictatorship. The founders set the course for the economic upswing. In the meantime however they behave like the country's new nobility. They shamelessly and ruthlessly buy and bribe people at will. The remaining 99 percent of society are practically 'learned helpless' at their mercy. You have nothing to oppose to this power, which simply interferes with the legislature, judiciary and executive if necessary.
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The protagonist's family is one of the first percent of the social class, which behaves as a matter of course as royal families. Here pomp, decadence, coolness, distance, and even obscenity dominate. The highly polished, stylized aesthetic stands in deliberate contrast to a rather gloomy lighting mood. The opulent wealth almost builds an aesthetic wall that cannot be penetrated. The family members are trapped inside. Nothing can or event likes to really approach that, let alone penetrate it. It is (and remains) a strangely strange world.
The idiosyncratic cinematic narrative style contributes to this. It doesn't even try to collect all the threads at the end and close them neatly. It's as if the camera jumped in on the family story at one random point and got off at another. At the beginning, the focus is on the corrupt machinations and the almost absolutist self-image, but that changes on the track after the very human weaknesses of the individual clan members open up. Although they pretend to be untouchable, they are still vulnerable and actually want to be touched. From there it becomes a more or less satisfactory settlement with their own heart balance. 'Love' is a concept in this world that doesn't really want to fit in.
One of the key scenes: Youn Yuh-jung is shown a 64-year-old woman in an unusual candid sex scene. A disturbing effect is deliberately wanted. In a way, this encounter between young and old, between boss and employee, points out the dilemma of the story, so to speak. In this short, impressive scene, the venal world of dependencies and emotional states is turned upside down. The rich have everything and yet they don't - there is something they don't have: the feeling of being wanted, desired or even loved for their own sake.
"The Taste of Money" is a somber social study about the 1 percent that sits at the top of South Korea's social pyramid. Once again. There is an astonishing number of such startling studies in the world of film and series. But it seems even more astonishing to me that there are obviously still far from enough of them. Because nonetheless, this 1 percent still sits dazzlingly on its throne and it is still considered highly desirable within South Korean society to get as far up the pyramid as possible...
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i’m obsessed
this show isn’t for everyone but it’s definitely for me!holy fuckkk Jang Na Ra really deserves a Baeksang for her performance, i can’t imagine the toll her character had on her- everything felt so real.
I was glued from beginning to end. yes, some characters actions are going to frustrate you to oblivion but there always another character that will relieve that. also the mental health part of the show is beautifully written if you stay till the end, the beginning not so much- coming from an american. you really have to put yourself in a korean society mindset to keep your cool in the beginning ~
again, this isn’t for everyone but give it a try if you’re looking for a mature angsty revenge thriller!
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I think a lot of people can relate to the characters in one way or the other. They are just a normal group of young adults figuring out their lives. They grow through the course of the series, each in their own way. The characters are well developed & the acting is top notch. There's no antagonist & no drama(which I like).
Personally my favourite character is Daisuke. You can't help but be drawn to him.
I will definitely rewatch this again.
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Definitely an underrated gem among 2023 BL series
Incredible cinematography, great special fx, superb writing and incredible color grading. Gawin is absolutely phenomenal as our charismatic love interest Pisaeng while Krist once again proves his impeccable comedic charms as our dorky protagonist Kawi. Both male leads are very likable and easy to empathize with (even when they make bad decisions or say things they don't mean T.T). If people are willing to come to this show with an open-mind, I think it's really easy to fall in love with the series and its characters. Be My Favorite has one of the most promising premises in the roster of 2023 BLs and I think it's definitely a hidden gem and being overlooked despite it being a GMMTV BL series.Was this review helpful to you?
Okay, I've read the manga—and I loved it. That probably explains why I wanted to love the film too. But don't get me wrong. There are things that I loved about the film too. Yes, the actors. No doubt. I am in love with both Nana Komatsu and Masaki Suda and to me, they are the perfect Natsume and Kou. It seems like, in an hyperbolic way, that Komatsu was born to be Natsume, you know.
The cinematography is just stunning and breathtaking. And the OST. Oh god, the sounds. The sounds are of absolute brilliance. There was a scene where Suda is doing the fire ritual and I felt like the cinema was going to collapse because of the raging and roaring of the fire. The cuts are done in many angles, some in slow-motion to be more melodramatic and sentimental. Which would be fine if not for the major problem.
But get this. The film really really failed in establishing one very important thing from the beginning: Natsume and Kou's relationship.
I've read the manga so the narrative itself is pretty clear to me but honestly, if I were someone who didn't read the manga, I doubt I'd understand. Or worst, I doubt I'd believe the authenticity of their relationship.
The manga establishes their strong bond, their strong connection and their strong (almost drowning ironically) feelings for each other. But the film...okay, I get that there is so much manga material to cover in 111 minutes running time and it did feel draggy towards the end—but it wouldn't have felt that way nor would it raise eyebrows if their relationship was properly established.
What I see when I watch are just two 15-year-olds who are trying too hard to cling to each other without any strong feelings—it seem like something de factor being the both good-looking, mysterious and popular. And I felt that was wrong. Very wrong.
That is why ultimately, this love story is doomed from the start. What salvaged it is Komatsu and Suda's chemistry. Or even Komatsu and Daiki Shigeoka's chemistry. And the amazing cinematography and roaring OST. I felt like there was so much more to these characters, to Natsume, to Kou, to Otomo, to Kana—and it felt like they were just discarded.
Even Kou and Otomo's friendship just got ignored and it's such a pity because the friendship plays a major part in how the love triangle shapes itself. Kana plays a bigger role later in the manga and the film just makes her like a stock character. Otomo gets discarded after his use. And the ending is very open-ended (which I would probably not mind if they fixed the crucial element of their relationship).
I feel like roles like this fit Komatsu well. But it's truly the first role where she's done the most drama. I love her (very much) and I have a bias but I will also be honest and say that she still lots to improve because Suda overpowers her. It's not BAD deadeyefish acting, it just needs to feel...stronger, more foreful. This me saying because she has worked with a lot of Japan's top actors (like Yamaken, Kamiki, Takeru Satoh; heck she even act alongside Andrew Garfield).
Though I guess, her timid, almost suppressed acting here works well for her character because her character has to be beautiful and calm and poised even while crying...it's not heavy drama but similar to what I said to Hirose Suzu before, just because you can cry doesn't mean you need to forget how your eyes show the emotion. And Suda's eyes remind me of my chameleon actors Shota Sometani and Fumi Nikaido—they act, they speak.
But I don't know why Suda looks so malnourished here. Honestly. There are times when it's so uncomfortable to watch him because I'm so afraid he'll break because you can literally see how skinny he is (yes Kou is in the book) but it looks unpleasing. I see a lot of potential in Daiki Shigeoka and the up-and-coming Mone Kamishiraishi.
Ultimately, Drowning Love (a title that actually holds a lot of significance which the film KIND OF touched on but not properly though the original Japanese title is Oboreru Knife which translates to "Drowning Knife") does try to remain a faithful adaptation but it really fails in establishing the leads' connection and relationship. It started off right away, very direct (though the dialogue is very poetic and that didn't work well because it felt like youngsters sprouting wishy-washy words) without much context or at least shape it properly later—which they didn't. It felt like a film with no goal which as romance wouldn't be a problem if you're telling a narrative though here, it felt...directionless with no clear intention. But still, I'll tell you that you will still feel some *feels* because the sounds and visuals would keep you there.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Romantic Story with Couple Goals!!
If you're looking for a series that has lots of romance with less dramatic moments, this is the series for you.It's really a feel good drama that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside after finishing the series.
I think we all need a lover like Khabkluen or Daonuea after watching this series.
•❅✧❅✦ Story •❅✧❅✦
Daonuea has been crushing on Khabkluen since freshman year in highschool. However, it's a one-sided love on his end as Khabkluen has a girlfriend he is very committed to. After leaving to study abroad for his senior year of highscool, he returns to Thailand to start college. On the first day of the Star and Moon Competition Practice, Doanuea is reunited with Khabkluen. Daonuea hasn't really gotten over his crush, but has to room with Khabkluen during the duration of the competition. As they room together, Daonuea and Khabkluen start to getting closer together. Khabkluen is and has always been the epitome of kindness, that Daonuea can't stop his feelings even though he knows Khabkluen has a girlfriend... Or does he?
One of the best things about this series is the "Will they? Won't they?" tug of war that Daonuea and Khabkluen have throughout the series. It's not so dramatic and unrealistic that sometimes you end up shouting "Just kiss already!" at the screen. It's a light-hearted and romantic series, so there isn't any frustration while watching. Just pure romance.
•❅✧❅✦ Characters •❅✧❅✦
Daonuea x Khabkluen
Daonuea is you typical normal guy. He's adorable and funny. There isn't anything really special about him aside from his undying loyalty to Khabkluen, so there isn't much to comment on him aside from gushing over his cuteness.
However, Khabkluen, on the otherhand, is a little more stereotypical with the hot and kind popular kid troupe going for him. He also falls into the anti-social, can't really saying my feelings well, troupe that the male leads tend to have. However, something that makes Khabkluen different from the others is his his undying loyalty to Daonuea before and after their love confession. Also, his personality isn't as masculine as you would expect those types of leads to be. You can really see Khabkluen's real self after he starts dating Daonuea and I love the 180 shift in how he acts around Daonuea and other people.
On a side note, the actors who protray Daonuea and Khabkluen have so much chemistry. If someone told me they were a real couple, I wouldn't be surprised. Nothing looked fake or awkward. These two need to have more acting work, be it together or separate, because they are really great actors. I honestly would like to see them do something more dramatic just because I really think they are amazing and really need the opportunity to prove themselves as great actors.
•❅✧❅✦ Overall •❅✧❅✦
The series was amazing. I feel in love with Daonuea and Khabkluen from episode one and I never got bored as the series progressed. If you are looking for a drama-filled series, this probably isn't for you. But if you are looking for a feel-good romantic series then this is a must watch!
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Hong Kong has been producing some cool action thrillers these years. Although most of them have been trying to unsuccessfully outclass Infernal Affairs but they merit great encouragement. Cold War is one of those films.
The directors Leung and Luk didn’t waste much time in building the thrills, ever since the first minute we get a badass explosion then the five cops were kidnapped triggering the beginning of the war. What I highly appreciated about Cold War is showing the ugly relationship between the higher-ups, some real life situations such as the greed for power and the corrupted systems. Rescuing the five officials became a war to both vice commissioners and those surrounding them. But then, a sneaky conspiracy comes to light making you suspect every single character that appears on screen.
However, that doesn’t deny the weaknesses contained in this film. Unfortunately, the film became quite heavy at the middle; pacing problems made some obvious flaws to ignore. It’s mainly related to the suspense part, it didn’t make the film dull but it’s bound to make the viewer impatient to what’s going to happen next. It was a somewhat long phase to ignore it. Moreover, the ending could have been better than that. The way they ended things implies a sequel that may never come. It would’ve been smarter if they cut things cleanly.
The acting department was downright penetrating. The versatile Leung Tony Ka Fai rocked so badly as M.B. Waise Lee, nothing less from such a high-profile Hong Kong actor. On the other hand, Aaron Kwok, who matured so well in recent years, did a marvelous performance as Sean Lau. The bickering scene between Lee and Lau at the first half is an absolute memorable piece. Charlie Yeung, Rahman Lee and the cameo of Andy Lau made this film such a good ground, acting wise.
Considering the fact that this is an action thriller, the action scenes weren’t always that well-made. But the shooting scene at the highway definitely got me; it was probably the best action sequence in the whole film. The cinematography was good enough. However, you have to keep in mind that this was Leung Lok Man and Luk Kim Ching’s debut film as directors and screenwriters. We all know how hard it is to write and direct an action thriller so both of them deserve all the encouragement.
Watch if:
-You’re in the mood for a watchable action-thriller.
-You like politics and higher-ups bickering inside crime thrillers.
-You want to see great performances by Leung Tony Ka Fai and Aaron Kwok.
Do not watch if:
-You’re expecting a great masterpiece.
-You want a flawless action thriller.
Despite its flaws, Cold War is a brave piece of work that’s bound to make you interested. It’s one of those films which make you feel that Hong Kong’s crime thriller genre is still vividly alive.
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