Reviews

Interesting to Speculate on

I love reading peoples thoughts and saw some here, speculating on what Sung Kyu (the adopted brother) felt especially during the ending scene where his smile disappears. So I decided to give my own two cents. In the beginning it felt like it was already shown to me that Sung Kyu was pretty apathetic and didn't necessarily feel strongly towards acting a specific way to be liked. Barely being able to choke out the words 'it's delicious......... mom'. He wasn't shown trying to connect with Sung woo other than randomly picking him up at school once either.
The first time Sung Kyu shows assertiveness is when the shower scene happens. Because of this detail I didn't feel like he tried to appease Sung woo like someone else did. (which is why I like seeing other peoples perspective since it can be so different!)
I also don't think it was suppose to be about sexuality at all and whether or not Sung Kyu is attracted to men in general. For me this was more an exploration on how Sung Kyu didn't really feel anything and therefore tried to fill the emptiness within him with a new family and the shower scene mostly to me looked like 2 very empty and emotionally tired people that desperately needed to feel 'something', just anything. But just like most one night stands, it didn't fix the initial problem, that Sung Kyu felt a loss of identity and therefore remained apathetic after not being able to find it with his new family either.

Thinking back, Everyone in this movie seemed to fill up the emptiness with something, The mother keeps filling the emptiness the loss of her son caused her, by adopting multiple people. Sung Woo seems to fill up his emptiness coming from a broken home with physical affection from a significant other. And Sung Kyu as a grown man being adopted into a new family with a new identity because he feels like a nobody.

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An Oriental Odyssey.

Chu Sijing, a captain of theJinyiwei/锦衣卫 or Embroidered Guard is on a mission to investigate a strange epidemic that broke out on the remote Wumu Island in Liaodong province. The outbreak threatens the adjacent NInghai Fortress, a critical stronghold against the invading Jurchens. The powers that be have their own agendas and appear more interested in covering up the outbreak than anything else. Thus Sijing steals onto the island aided only by a Mongol Tartar official Bo Yan and a Fulangji/佛郎机 businesswoman Angelica. There he encounters mysterious, disease afflicted villagers who worship ancient Gods and is forced to deal with some monstrous truths. Can he weed out the root of the epidemic before it overwhelms them all?

This story is set in the 3rd year of Tianqi, when the Ming Dynasty was in rapid decline. It was a time of many natural disasters from meteorites to a mini ice age, drought and famine. Superstition reigned high as the peasants were starving and the emperor was widely said to have lost the Mandate of Heaven. The drama invests heavily in world building and weaves in many themes from the period and fantastical creatures from Chinese mythology 山海经/Classics of Mountains and Seas and 神异经 / Classics of Gods and Spirits. Even though the CGI is not the best, I appreciate the effort that went into how they blended history, fantasy and ancient lore together to make this an Oriental odyssey.

Unfortunately all the research and creativity that went into world building is wasted on the story's plot which hints heavily at a complexity that never materialises. For such a short drama, there are too many subplots touching on many themes that go nowhere. Even ignoring Sandrine Pinna's appalling Disney cartoon character acting, the entire Angelica/Pirates of the Caribbean arc adds nothing to the story. The time would be better spent fleshing out the motives of the Henggong cult and tying up the many loose ends to the story. I usually like Huang Xuan's acting and enjoyed his chemistry with Bo Yan but this is not his best role. Maybe it is the overuse of green screens but I caught him frequently out of the moment and staring blankly into space. Shen Rang is the only character that really moved me and I enjoyed this character design and portrayal the most.

The best things about this drama are that it does try to be different, it is short, some of the action scenes are pretty good and it is oddly enjoyable despite its lack of logical consistency. The ending is anti-climatic, doesn't hang together well, leaves loose ends and is disappointing overall. I am being generous in rating this as a 7.0/10.0.

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To start off - I loved this movie! It was really funny in parts, different than what I'd first expected of the movie, but in a good way (: I'm definitely counting this movie as one of my favorites! Hae-Joo is a blind girl who gets surgery and is able to see for the first time. Dong Geun is her boyfriend who didn't expect this to happen, considering he told her that he was a good-looking guy...when he falls beneath the standards. Although, IMO, he isn't that horrible looking, he may not be the best looking guy but he's not ugly. Embarrassed he hides away from her. The events that take place in this movie make you laugh and fall in love with the characters.



I previously saw Shin Min Ah in My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho and I loved her acting as Mi Ho in that drama. Her role in this movie is different, but her acting is really well done. I've never seen Kim Kang Woo or Ryoo Seung Bum in anything else, but I really enjoyed watching them in this movie (:



The music isn't anything special, nothing really stood out to me.



I definitely can see myself watching this movie again, I loved it (:



Overall - watch it! If you're looking for something cute and funny it's definitely worth looking into (:

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I know what you're all thinking:

"LOLOHMYGOD HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL IN CHINESE LOLWTF SRSLY"

Now that you're all over the fact that this movie exists at all, let me tell you that this is actually an official Disney production.
... And one would not want to believe that while watching.

The reason I decided to watch this movie was because it's strikes me as the kind of movie you can't know exists - and then NOT watch it. I therefore curled up in a sofa with my friend and had a go, and I cannot count the amount of facepalms that happened that night.

First of all, the story differs a little bit from the original HSM that we all (well, some) know and love. In the original movie, the story has quite deep substanse compared to this one (and it pains me more to write it than you can ever imagine). The characters hardly interact with eachother, but seem to be perfect best friends and enemies regardless of this. It just baffles me. I was also very confused by parts of the story, since I completely lost track of what was going on at some times. Not to mention, it took me about half an hour to figure out who the main characters were. That's never a good sign.

The acting was dreadful. At times it was just embarrassing to watch, and the characters were so shallow it hurt me to the bone. I can't completely blame this on the actors though, because the writers didn't exactly give them much to work with. The dramatic line coming from Poet (Chinese Zac Efron) after he was "betrayed" (seriously, what actually happened there?) by his Ning Ning (Chinese Vanessa Hudgens) will follow me in a sarcastic matter forever more - "I tried drowning my pain in water, but it seems my pain has learned how to swim." Deep stuff there, I'll give you that. It just doesn't work in the setting at all.

You're all probably wondering about my "high" music score. That is because of two specific songs in the movie - if they had been choreographed differently and sliiiiight modifications had been made to the vocals, I would not have hated it. I actually still find myself, annoying as it may be, humming to one of them.

If I ever were to rewatch this, it would have to be in 10 years when I don't remember what happened and want a good laugh. Though I really doubt it will happen. As I said, it's the kind of movie you just HAVE to watch, but one time is enough.

So why would I rate it a 5? Well, despite my negative attitude and low scores, I actually had a blast watching it. It was so awkward and embarrassing at times that I couldn't help myself from laughing (mostly at parts not meant to be funny...), and it has given me a lot of inside jokes with the friend I watched it with. And for that, I treasure it.

I would recommend people who haven't watched it to watch it just so you can say 'Hey, I watched High School Musical in chinese!'. People may look at you funny, but some may also laugh their asses of and join the epidemic themselves (because that is what I'm trying to start here - or maybe not). That's the kind of atmosphere you'd have to go for to watch this movie, because if you're looking for a movie with a plot and substance, then you ought to look elsewhere.

Still, I will never say I regret to have watched it.

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I stumbled on Hotelier by chance, looking among the most famous dramas of 2001 and it was the best thing that could have happened to me.
The story is very well written above all. No free events that appear out of nowhere as it does happen in many of the latest dramas. It's a classic story (the good ones will never happen to be the bad ones or vice versa) but with very interesting dramatic twists and well constructed characters learning important lessons for the final.

It's assumed that the main characters are 4, but from the beginning it seems that the main couple is that of the hotel managers and their complicated love story; however, when Frank and Yun Hee appear the story gets complicated, and that's great XD
I have to confess that I fell totally in love with the "Yoon Ah-Yong-joon" couple , I never had seen them in any other drama and seeing them here made me their number one fan, they are one of the best couples I've ever seen. On the other hand, I must say that during the first three quarters of the drama I didn't like the character of Hye Kyo because she was very arrogant, but in the final episodes, her character was more sensitive and I ended up liking her.

About music, there are two songs that I found great and that's why I qualified music with 9: "For Love" and the lovely "The Day You Come to Me" by Kang Chul. Although the drama hasn't a very diverse soundtrack and usually repeated this last song for all the romantic scenes, the melody and lyrics are as beautiful to me that I don't think that devalues the drama in any way.

In short, I think this is definitely one of the best classic dramas out there and should not be missing on your watchlist, especially because you will be satisfied with the end... although it leaves something to the imagination XD. Highly recommended!!!

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a healing journey indeed

first, if you are here for the actor kim jae yong, he does not get so much screen time which is understandable. The story revolves around our main character Yeo Reum, about her own self discovery journey. This drama is slow paced, healing, and more focused on sceneries and human emotions.

what i loved and you might love:
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1. Yeo Reum is rather a relatable character. she is trying to find herself, yet she seems to be more of a background character=not special(as many of us feel sometimes). Her goal is to find her own place in the world.
2. her growth does not involve only personal struggle, but also continuous learning from her clients that she substitutes. Those are people with nuanced stories and lives that we, along her, get a peak into. we learn about their past. regrets, and their life lessons
3. the sceneries are no joke, especially if you are like me and trees are your spiritual animal lol
4.no fully-fledged romance but we get crumps dont worry lol! i think the director felt that going for a full romantic story might overshadow the depth this drama wanted to convey. it could have also undermined the sense of self that kang yeoreum has been trying to establish throughout her journey.(maybe that is reserved for the s2)

what i disliked and you might too:
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1.as i ve mentioned it is understandable but maaaaan, i missed kim jae yong while watching this drama lol. i ve been anticipating when he would show up but let s say i was disappointed enough times before making peace with the dramas vision
2.the end was a little bit ummm...it closes with a cliffhanger. i mean it s a so so for me.
3. i wanted more from kang yeo reum more nuance let s say. i still felt like we are just scratching the surface with her.as i mentionned she grew vicariously through her clients, but i would like to see more going on in her own life.(maybe in season 2 )
4. i love this actress yet she sometimes fell short in depicting despair and sadness. she seems a little bit disconnected or flat for me.

overall, a good drama to heal your soul. It lets your mind wander about the meaning of life and success, while you enjoy breath taking landscapes and you get engaged in the human experience. A moment of mother nature's beauty comforting you.

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“Beautiful Mind” is probably the most underrated drama this year. It’s an hidden gem, I guarantee you. It tells the story of a world-renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Lee Young Oh, who is unable to feel empathy, and his involvement with the mysterious deaths in the hospital he works in. Gye Jin Sung is a policewoman who upholds onto her principles strongly and starts investigating him.

To me, what really made this drama one of my favourites on my currently watching list is the one and only Dr. Lee Young Oh. Thank you Jang Hyuk for the incredible acting, I got chills! This character is what made me so excited to watch a new episode week after week. I just wanted to see more of him and try to decipher is mind, which is indeed a “Beautiful Mind”. I won’t even lie: emotionally damaged characters are my favourite kind of characters. The psychological aspect of this story is just brilliant.

I’ve read a lot of negative comments about how Gye Jin Sung is a clueless, stupid and annoying character but I couldn’t disagree more! It’s true she lets herself be carried away by her emotions and makes decisions impulsively but I guess that’s exactly how she’s supposed to be, so we can see the contrast between her and Dr. Lee Young Oh. Even though they’re completely different, the romance wasn’t forced. They needed each other so they could both find a balance between “brain and heart” and become better characters. Park So Dam did a really good job with her character. I’ve only watched her once in “Because It’s The First Time” and she didn’t impress me much. However, she surprised in this drama.

A big shoutout to all of the cast. The chemistry between all the actors was pretty good. (Power Rangers doctors, thank you for the laughs!)

All the episodes were really interesting and the story never dragged. The only negative thing I have to point out is about the research on regenerative medicine. Sometimes the scenes related to this were kind of repetitive and boring but they turned out better over the episodes.

The OST suited the mood of each scene wonderfully. Every time “Dirt” by Bernard Park played my heart ached for Dr. Lee Young Oh even more. God, how I love this song! It conveys so many emotions, it really touches your heart in a special place. All of the other instrumental songs were extremely appropriate to the tense atmosphere.

I recommend this drama to anyone who loves psychological and medical dramas. I promise you won’t waste your time. Don’t give up on this just because it ended earlier than planned. I don’t know how the ending would be if there were two more episodes but I can say that I’m pretty satisfied with how things were wrapped up!

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Someone recommended me this drama back when it was airing, I remember I added it and stuck it on my list without thinking about it much. A little while ago we recently adopted a dog from the shelter that's an Alaskan Malamute mix and I came across this drama again. The fact that this drama revolves around sled dogs drew me into feeling the need to watch it (after all, the dog we took home is a sled dog breed). So I downloaded it and over the past few days I finally sat down and watched it. I wound up googling Sakhalin Huskies and discovered that the story behind this drama (the one from the original 1983 movie) inspired the movie Eight Below (which I thought was a great movie when I watched it). Unfortunately I also kind of spoiled a little bit about what happens to myself.

Anyways, the story itself is touching and heartwarming. The first few episodes are them working on setting up the exhibition, finding the dogs, and setting out to Antarctica. Like the last reviewer stated, how many dramas (Asian ones at that) settle around the Arctic? But not only that, this story is based off of a true one. While I'm sure they through in scenes to make it more moving and to draw you in more (which they did excellently by the way) most of what you see is how it really took place.

The acting was top notch. This is my first drama with Kimura Takuya and he really stood out in his role. His love for the dogs and his actions as a leader. Of course the rest of the cast was great as well, and I think Yamamoto Yusuke acted his best in this role.
The dogs were who really really stood out though. Again, like the last reviewer stated, how they got the dogs to act so perfectly in their roles amazed me. It was natural and realistic, everything they did and how they acted. And it added 10x more to the story. You can't watch this drama and not expect to get attached to the dogs and their teamwork and spirit. I can only imagine how well trained these dogs are.

The music fitted the drama, but it's nothing I'd really listen to outside of it. The instrumentals were moving and the actual ending song went along well with it.

I'm not sure when I'll ever rewatch this, but I can definitely see myself watching it again someday. It's a really good drama. I just can't see it happening for awhile (my next step is watching the original movie and then rewatching Eight Below and comparing the stories).

Overall, I feel this drama is a bit underrated on MDL. It's a drama about faith and encouragement and working together as a team. It's a drama that shows that the life of a dog is just as valuable as a life of a human. It's a drama that really pulls you in and leaves you with a bittersweet feeling. You can't watch this drama and not feel a single drop of emotion.

Keep a box of tissues by you!

This drama has a hint of romance, but it's not what it's about or focused on so don't expect much in that department. Same with Comedy. Expect discovery and teamwork and drama.

TL;DR?
Watch it!! It's worth your time!

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I have been casually lurking on this website for a year; now I have finally made an account because I want to write a review JUST for this show. This is a spoiler-free review! I will provide some assurances here and there in case there are things that might otherwise turn you away, but I do not count these as spoilers because I give absolutely no specifics.

tl;dr - Skip to the Overall Rating section at the bottom for a basic recommendation.

---Story: 8.5/10

The tone of the show was consistent; it knew what it wanted to be. From the first episode to the last, it was dramatic (comes with the genre), but it had a good balance of humor and romance and knew when to lighten up. After all, it is a generally feel-good kind of show, one that I would classify as a comedy in the original sense of the term. It never felt dark or gritty; just serious and sometimes perilous at times, and then would relax a bit with something cute and/or cheesy and make me smile like crazy.

The synopsis might sound spoilery to some but it just basically gives you an idea of what happens in the first episode. Yes, everything is set up in the FIRST episode, even one plot thread that is left hanging until episode 17 before it is nicely tied off by the very end of the show. So basically you are in for a ride to know exactly HOW this sweet, innocent woman who has never been part of the “underworld” has to adjust and fool everyone into thinking she’s her sister, the Female Star Killer boss of Yi Ching Group. And how the other characters with their own conflicts and secrets achieve their goals and react to each other. It’s quite entertaining.

It takes a little while for the romance to develop but that just makes it feel more natural, and any other way would be too rushed. After all, there are secrets and misunderstandings that keep the characters apart at first. At the beginning of the series when the characters are getting to know each other, I sensed that spark between the two main couples and it definitely was all paying off between episodes 7-15 with plenty of cute and romantic moments to keep you feeling warm and fuzzy. Things get dark by episode 16 but this is building up to the climax and the storm will pass soon—don’t give up hope.

Oh yeah, big plus here for me: NO LOVE TRIANGLES. HALLELUJAH! I was expecting the first male lead (Le Jun) and first female lead (Ping Fan) to get hijacked by some stupid love triangle shenanigans with the second male lead (Tian Xing) but AMAZINGLY this never happened! Because Le Jun and Ping Fan have eyes only for each other.  Meanwhile, Tian Xing becomes enamored with the unexpected second female lead (Jing Xuan) who is a nurse at a hospital that these characters end up frequenting because they are in the mafia and always getting into fights, of course. Now there was a bit of concern with another character who tries to court Jing Xuan but in the end I didn’t have to worry about it. So if you are like me and can’t stand those silly love triangles, this is probably a good show for you! (=^w^=)

The plot features a lot of tropes and cliches, but rather than being annoyed by them, I felt like they were used in ways that made sense, were set up logically/plausibly (as much as you can in a fictional story), and propelled the story along. That is to say, I got the impression they were not included for their own sake, but to create a sense of a greater picture that simply involves some elements that we're familiar with. Or even if they WERE just included because the writers thought they had to, at least there was a REASON for it and it was explained in the show to make you believe it. Honestly, we are watching a romantic drama, what do you expect? We're HERE to see Ping Fan bandage up a wound on Le Jun's muscular, swoon-worthy shoulder and to see Tian Xing woo Jing Xuan ineffectively by showering her with flowers and gifts because he thinks that’s what girls want. :P We drama fans signed up for this stuff, this is what we expect and they deliver on every occasion.

Still, I think I should mention that some parts are kind of cringy. Some more than others. Most of the time the cringe is light and I was expecting it so it didn’t bother me, but oh man, there was only one big offender that stands out in my mind. Somewhere between episode 12-14 (I think, I don’t quite remember which episode exactly) was a Certain Scene (no spoilers… you’ll know when you get there) that was so cringy I almost couldn’t watch it… I thought it was going to be a dream sequence because it was so absurd but it was real. Sigh. I am impressed that somehow I survived the cringe and the writers still managed to make it relevant to the plot and move the story forward so it all worked out.

The pacing and editing was great! I admit I'm no expert when it comes to this kind of thing, but I thought the scenes flowed from one to the next naturally, spending a bit of time with different characters and letting the story unfold in a way that was engaging and kept me hooked. Even the introductory 1-2 minute recap sequence at the beginning of each episode was fresh and fast-paced to remind you what happened in the last episode (in case you go a few days or weeks between episodes) and I found myself watching them even when I was binging 3 episodes at a time. None of the episodes dragged or felt like filler—19 is the perfect number for the story they were trying to tell and they used their time wisely to wrap up all the plot points and address everything that I had questions about. As far as I was concerned, the writers had the whole story planned out and knew exactly what they were doing.

They also left themselves enough room to squeeze in quite a few kissing scenes by the end of the show, but that’s what you came for, right? Gotta watch ‘em smooch. Ain’t no romance drama without the smooching!

Last note: WHAT A CUTE INTRO! The opening theme is catchy, cute, and fresh. I liked the style they used with the cartoony animated effects overlaid on… well, it’s hard to describe, but the way the characters are presented in the intro is kind of an exaggeration of their roles in the story? In a good way… it felt appropriate for the opening. Everything about it sets you up to expect a comedic, yet dramatic, romantic story featuring two main couples. I was slightly disappointed that they always show Ping Fan with long hair in the opening and in the commercial break scenes, when she has short hair in the rest of the show (except the first episode, obviously), but that’s just a nitpick. I’m about to fangirl again thinking about it. \(>3<)/

---Acting/Cast: 9/10

I loved all the casting choices they made for each character! Personally I was captivated by the performance of each of the mains. Especially the actress who played Ping Fan/Ping An! She was amazing! She put on this whole different persona for each sister, she has a completely different vibe and way of moving/making facial expressions depending on which sister she is acting at the time. And she is ADORABLE! Oh my god, that cute grin she makes is enough to make my heart melt. Oh, Gu Le Jun, you never stood a chance against that smile. The girl who plays Jing Xuan is also adorable with those little curls at the tips of her hair and she has such a cute voice. The actor for Le Jun makes a convincing bodyguard type and has a winning smile that he shows on rare occasions (mainly after episode 6). Tian Xing is quite fetching in his black suits and styled hair, especially when he goes making puppy eyes at Jing Xuan. Oh goodness.

They all played their parts well. There may have been a bit of over-acting for the supporting characters but it was for comedic effect and felt purposeful, not like it was bad acting or anything. You will care about all these characters and want to know how their story ends.

An interesting note: Each character had their own wardrobe or personal style, wearing particular kinds of clothing, which I think helped not only to differentiate them from each other but also to tell a little about their profession/character. For instance, the strawberry-loving Xiao Zhi always wears a dapper patterned vest that doesn't quite match the “black mafia” theme the rest of his peers have. Ping An wears a lot of leather and tight pants while Ping Fan has a more casual, light, and cutesy style. Le Jun has no-nonsense rugged wardrobe in neutral/earthy colors. I also noticed that Jing Xuan is always wearing light colors (like white, beige, and blue), while Tian Xing wears dark colors-- a sort of visual contrast between the "white" and "black" professions they represent. This was very consistent throughout the entire show, though it took me a while to notice it. I just like this kind of attention to detail. Great visual cues to support the overarching themes. Whoever was in charge of costumes deserves some recognition!

---Music: 6.5/10

I would have given it a higher score but there is just one problem with the way they presented the music in this show. And only one flaw, really… Whenever anything vaguely dramatic/surprising happened, the SAME SONG kept playing at the SAME PART of the chorus and it got kind of old after the second episode. But they will keep playing the SAME SONG about 4 times per episode right up until the last minute of the last episode, so it’s better if you just get used to it. The song is “I’m Burning” by Ian Chen and it’s a great song, I actually like it… it just gets old when they play it so much. I would have preferred if they saved it for the MOST DRAMATIC moments and not just as a cue for each commercial break. Man, that chorus “I’m burning…” is going to haunt my dreams from now on. (;=__=)

All the other songs were fine, though nothing really stood out to me. Could be because I only watch these shows when I wear headphones and I keep the volume down to preserve my hearing, so I couldn’t hear the music so clearly all the time. But the other music choices were fitting to the mood of the scenes and I have no complaints. Would have gotten a higher rating here if not for the “I’m Burning” repetition that I mentioned above.

---Rewatch Value: 6.5/10

I’m not the kind of person who rewatches shows so I gave this a lower rating. But this one was quite a journey! It would be interesting to see it again, knowing in advance all the background information that is slowly revealed with each episode. It puts the characters into a different light and makes you say “Ah, that’s why that happened!” If you do rewatch, maybe watch it with a sister/close relative or friend who likes chick flicks or dramas.  I personally would not watch it again but that’s just because I already have so many other dramas on my list to get to. (<u<;) Watch at least the first 2 episodes before dropping it. And remember that when things start to get rough, it will be resolved within 1 or 2 episodes!

---Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Everything in this show was part and parcel of the genre, plot, and tone they were aiming for and I think it worked great! No drama is perfect, but for what they did here I will heartily give them a round of applause and recommend The Masked Lover to people who are looking for some adorable, suspenseful, emotional, and sometimes cheesy comedic romance with a structured, well-planned plot.

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This was my very first non-romance Japanese movie, and I found it to be a very exciting ride! The cinematography, the production, the cast, the sets, and everything was very very very enjoyable to see! It kind of reminded me of Lord of The Rings sometimes, and so the nostalgia made me very happy, haha.

Criticism wise, I wish that the plot had been more complex and that things were a little harder to achieve. As the other reviews mentioned, the story felt a little too simple at times. Albeit, that just may because I usually watch 16 hour long dramas, and thus I am used to seeing things progress in more detail. Overall, I do think that the movie did a good job with the 2 hours it had!

I also think Kento's acting was also a little over-the-top at times. As much as I love him - I actually started this movie for him! - it was a little cringe to see his overly enthusiastic acting. Although, I understand that this is his first time playing such a big role and it is very different from his past roles. I hope that in the next three movies, he can improve and become better because I know he is a brilliant actor and capable of a lot (as seen in his works Death Note and Todome No Kiss)! Other than that, the cast was brilliant and all actors delivered their roles very well!

To conclude, I would definitely recommend this movie! There may be a few things that were a little lacking, but in the end it was a very fun rollercoaster! I am excited to join the community of the Kingdom fans and read the story in it's different forms of media (ex: manga & anime) ((:

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"Star and Sky: Star in My Mind" – A Heartfelt Journey of Young Love and Self-Discovery

Plot Summary:
"Star and Sky: Star in My Mind" is a Thai BL drama that explores the intricate relationship between two young men, Daonuea and Khabkluen. The story begins with Daonuea, who has been harboring a secret crush on Khabkluen since high school. When they reunite in university, Daonuea decides to confess his feelings, setting off a series of events that challenge both characters to confront their emotions and navigate the complexities of their relationship.

Main Characters and Actors:

Daonuea (played by [Actor's Name]): Daonuea is a sensitive and artistic student whose courage to confess his feelings drives the plot. His character's emotional depth and vulnerability are key elements of the story.

Khabkluen (played by [Actor's Name]): Khabkluen is charismatic and confident, yet his interactions with Daonuea reveal a more introspective side. His journey of understanding his own feelings forms a crucial part of the narrative.
Overall Impression:

"Star and Sky: Star in My Mind" is a heartwarming and engaging drama that beautifully captures the essence of young love and self-discovery. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, making their evolving relationship both believable and compelling. The series successfully blends romance with moments of humor and drama, creating a well-rounded viewing experience.

What I Liked:

Acting: The performances by the lead actors are commendable. They bring authenticity and nuance to their roles, making the characters' journey emotionally resonant.

Storyline: The plot is thoughtfully crafted, with a good balance of romance and personal growth. It keeps viewers invested in the characters' journeys and their evolving relationship.

Cinematography: The visual presentation is beautiful, with carefully composed scenes that enhance the storytelling. The use of color and lighting adds a layer of emotional depth to the drama.

Music: The soundtrack is well-chosen, enhancing key moments and adding to the overall emotional impact of the series.

Areas for Improvement:
Pacing: Some episodes might feel slow-paced, particularly in the middle of the series. A more consistent pacing could help maintain viewer engagement throughout.

Supporting Characters: While the main characters are well-developed, a deeper exploration of the supporting characters could add more depth to the story.

Recommendation:
"Star and Sky: Star in My Mind" is a must-watch for fans of the BL genre and anyone who enjoys a heartfelt romance. The drama excels in its portrayal of the characters' emotional journeys and the complexities of their relationship. Its strengths lie in strong performances, a compelling storyline, and beautiful cinematography, making it a highly recommended series for those looking for a touching and well-crafted love story.

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BEST SHIT EVER 100/10 Better than anything

From start to end it was perfect. Never got bored, amazing OST and characters. These charectars are more intresting than my entire exitence. Amazing plot and the whole twin shit is so cool. Love it so much. The acting ooooooo don't get me started. Especially Seok Jaebum his acting is unbelivable.

This show got me in my feels and ahh just picasso. Never disapointed and the amount of times my jaw hit the ground. This story and crime oml. As always the students are way ahead of the cops. My brain still can't wrap around the crimes and everything. The ending tho- Nothing can top that. The ending was picasso and i just love the high shcool theme and everything.

Story:
There is our male lead, Ji sooheon. He is living on his own, poor, has a sick mum and has his own brain tumor. Amazing fighter and works part-time at a bowling alley. Our female lead Ok Chanmi is an orphan. She has a twin brother who was adopted at 6-8yrs old. They were orphans from the start, and he moved from Busan(where the orphanage is) to Seoul. He has rich adoptive parents who are not kind. His name is Park Wonseok or his birthname Ok Chankyu.

One day on call with her twin brother, her brother got interupted, dropped his phone and cut the call. He fell out of the science lab window of his school. Ok Chanmi didn't know this though. No one knew they were twins, everyone at Park Wonseok's school thought he was an only child. Couple days later, he wasn't picking up no calls so Ok Chanmi goes to his school. She asks around and finds out he died. Labeled as suicide. She screamed to the cops that it was a murder. She moved all the way to seoul to find out who killed her brother. Ji sooheon is her partner in crime and they solve this mystery working hand in hand aswell as with many others. This isnt a smooth story many other major incidents occur on their journy. Who? What? When? Where? Why? You will never know..
just art, or a ticking time bomb untill everything gets revealed...

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Lightning doesn't strike.

Season 2 picks up where Season 1 left off with Wuxie and Xiao Bai leaving Warehouse 11 and assembling a team to journey on to Thunder City. At this point Wuxie is desperately ill and it is not clear whether he will survive long enough to get closure on what happened to Wu Sansheng and unravel the secrets of the Thunder God. This season is better paced and more tightly written, avoids the digressions characteristic of Season 1 and comes to a satisfying conclusion. In this journey, Wuxie learns to live life in the present moment and appreciate the people around him rather than chasing mirages.

Unlike Season 1, this season is a lot less about the Iron Triangle. Although we see them and their rapport and witty banter remain the most memorable highlights of the drama, this would be more aptly titled Entrourage rather than Reunion. The issue is that too many members of the team that travels to Thunder City only have modestly well developed relationships with Wuxie and/or Xiaobai but are pretty much strangers to each other. So when they are thrown together in suspenseful or dangerous situations, there isn't that very enjoyable natural chemistry or seamless bond that emanates when the Iron Triangle is together. The only execptions are Xiao Bai and Liu Sang and possibly Hei Yanjing so things markedly improved towards the end when all the "extras" get left behind.

The other enjoyable aspect of this season are that we have two very good villains - Boss Jiao and the spy and one excellent grey character Jiang Zisuan. In fact I would say they somewhat stole the limelight in this season. I was particularly impressed by Wu Lipeng's portrayal of Wuxie disguised as Jiang Zisuan. He literally knocks off all of the little mannerisms and micro expressions of Zhu Yilong's Wuxie to a T. However, it goes on for way too long and to the point where it was no longer even logical from a plot point of view. So the season ends with this feeling that Zhu Yilong/Wuxie was missing in action toward the end. This is particularly disappointing because in the final arc, I expect to see the "real" Wuxie cunningly out maneuvre and confront the last villain. Instead, he pretty much just rocks up for the final two "real" episodes. Even though Zhu Yilong/Wuxie returns for that final showdown, it has a hollow and anti-climatic tone to it, as if he is not fully in character.

Although this season progresses at a much better pace without the marked ups and downs of Season 1, I actually still find both Sea King's Tomb arc and Warehouse 11 arc of Season 1 superior to both Thunder City arc and Imperial City arc of Season 2. That is not to say these arcs are not well done, they truly are but they just were not as dangerously thrilling or mythically suspenseful - I did not feel my heart in my throat the way I did in the first arc of Season 1. This is probably because the Iron Triangle is somewhat overshadowed in Season 2 and it is hard to care as much for the entourage cast. I was praying for the Iron Triangle's survival every moment of the Sea King's Tomb arc. That does not happen in any of the Season 2 arcs - in fact if anything it seems a bit too easy. So despite its overall better cadence of storytelling, Season 2 feels like the thunder rolls but lighting doesn't strike. Thus, I rate both seasons a very enjoyable 8.5 for very different reasons. I separately reviewed Season 1 in greater detail.

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This movie really make you hear the voice of the silenced ones

I think it's one of my favourites this year if not THE fav. I think that the title "Without a Sound" refers not that much to a mute protagonist, but to the fact that in Korean (but not only) society many voices are unheard, many bad, criminal things happen without media and people being loud about those problems, because it's hard to handle, because of corruption, because it's an uncomfortable topic or because more powerful people make them keep quite...
Chang Bok said to Tae In "what will he do without him?", because people with impairments and disabilities, people from very poor families, orphans like himself really need more help, but instead are being mistreated and cast out like trash and in some cases really have no choice (if they don't want to starve). Not to mention mafia, human traffic for organs, prostitution, paedophilia... The movie may seem almost comic (I did laugh hard in many scenes), but it does make you think about some really heavy topics with many strong metaphors and question yourself what did YOU do about it, since you surely had more possibilities to make a change than the protagonist, a person without a voice (physically and metaphorically, although he did make many people "hear" him at the end of the movie). It also obviously blurs the line between good and evil, since the protagonists do some criminal things, but also some good things, so it's not them being evil in their nature, but some of their actions. It makes us question ourselves what’s right and wrong, what’s good and bad what do we think about a certain situation and if those beliefs depend on motives and circumstanced or if our moral is absolute.

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Known Ex-Boyfriend

This drama is what disappointment looks like. But I can't even complain, cuz it's on me... I had too high expectations. I blame myself for this one, I disappointed myself.

When I first learned about the premise of this, I was like. Oh, so Taiwan bls graduated from stepbrothers and are now going into the uncle business, sign me up. I was ready to be on my moral high ground while enjoying, and judging. Unfortunately, when the first episode aired and the intro was longer than the episode, I almost rioted.

Literally, the eff was this? It was all over the place. The plot needed time, which they didn't have, so it was rushed. And who the hell even propose like the uncle did in the finale? It felt like they ran out of budget in the location they were at, and had to leave, so the director was like, hurry up, quickly, put the ring on his finger and let's check out before we have to pay for another day.

Also, all that missed chances for them to meet and find out about each other was ridiculous. The mother even sent a picture, and you telling me after he returned to his phone he couldn't see it?? Then, it turned out the uncle knew the whole time any way? Meh.

Taiwan dramas almost never disappoint, so to see this one let me down, was unexpected. I'm not sure if it's due to the plot being whatever, or the execution, but this was not it. The story was very rushed, the secondary characters were uninteresting, and that basic arse bad guy came off whiny and childish with no depth. The main cp were there, didn't really get much from them either, and that mother was also there... really, everything about this disappointed me. Such a shame, this would have been an amazing bl if it had proper run time and the plot was well executed. Perhaps they lacked investment?

Anyway, if you wanna watch it, kudos to you, personally I won't recommend it. Hopefully the actors get a chance to work on something better in the future. One thing I liked about this though, was the theme song. Dafug you mean 'My love for you is 3 centimeters deep, not more, not less.' It made me laugh, so at least there was that.

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