This Drama Has Changed My Life
Once you´re at the end, you´re at the beginning.Thanks to the Novel, "Mo Dao Zu Shi" by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, this masterpiece was produced and released early enough to cure depression. Due to the 50 Episodes, it might seem like a long way to go but don´t be hasty with your judgement because your decision to not watch it, will leave an invisible scar in your creative mind. Not only are the actors superb - I am not only talking about the main cast here - and reliable in their execution of every scene, but also the plot is unique and will keep you wanting for more.
Initially, I wasn´t that excited to watch this series and spend 2.250 minutes in total watching it. If back then I only knew how wrong I was. Presently, I think I spend even more time being obsessed with it. Once you´re at the end, you´re at the beginning.
Starting off with the novel has about 130 chapters and thematizes the origin and the hardship of the "friendship" between Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian, which was implemented so well in the filming. (Once you read the novel, you get what I mean) While the original web novel depicted an explicit romance between the two main male characters, the adaptation was censored with homoerotic subtexts instead due to China's ban on LGBT portrayals in films. Nevertheless, it was portrayed well enough to not be disappointing, since the actors put a lot of effort to show their feelings without the need for physical touch.
Besides the tragic main plot of Wei Wuxian’s search for himself and the sacrifices he has to make, there are also side stories that make the Drama definitely worth watching. Especially the tragedy of Yi City. You just have to watch it.
The most interesting gift that this series gives you tho, is the ability to see through a monotone facade of "... is evil" or "... is good". I would say it is a life-changing and instructive drama than most of the dramas I saw. It will give you insights into the life of a wrongly accused soul, fighting their way to survive the hell of prejudices/being a villain. On the other hand, we have a killer, whose murder impulse got triggered by the unloving and mean environment.
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So Ji Sub and Son Ye Jin are excellent actors no matter what. Plus they are easy on the eyes and had good chemistry.
The music is pretty.
I would rewatch this.
I recommend this movie to people that are into love stories.
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As a period piece, Golden Empire explores harsh years in Korean history. While we are enfolded by this unique atmosphere, the opulent poison represented by the Choi family's own corporate power and wealth begins to take hold. Managing to be highly personal and impactful (even as it tackles complicated business affairs), this is a drama without cliche. Potential viewers should note only negligible romance is present. A few dalliances do exist, but these are far from sweet. For instance, one of the first and foremost openly compares its trajectory to the ill-fated connection between Eva Braun and Hitler. Of the heavily explored ties, family and business are king. Don't expect fuzzy heart flutters here; in the world of Golden Empire, loved ones stab you in the back for even one more share and prison is just another business trip.
Some imperfections exist admittedly; early episodes are strewn with time skips and somewhat confusing cinematographic cuts. It took about five hours submerged in this drama for me to find my footing and solidify my understanding of the plot. Once I could, the rest of the experience was riveting.
The leads offer juggernaut performances. Go Soo becomes Jang Tae Joo with almost theatrical flourish, building him impressively. This character represents the unpredictable, behaving radically in the race for money and influence. As such, his portrayal adopts a delightful and intoxicating element of controlled volatility, comparable to a lightning strike. It was a pleasure trying to figure out what he might say next and just how. Son Hyun Joo and Lee Yo Won embody the brilliant, but tragically flawed Choi cousins. Both of them had an amazing ability to begin friendly conversations and end them with figurative claws out. Out of the three addressed in this section, the persistent Min Jae (Son Hyun Joo) captured my attention without fail. His scenes comprise some of the most dynamic I've encountered in any drama; truly, both character and actor are highlights. Watch out for any scene including even two of these talents; it's guaranteed to be thrilling, especially if it includes both men.
Orchestrations were generally well applied, often serving to add that extra punch to a scene. The best description that can be made of them "moody, elegant, and high drama." Beyond the incredible introductory piece though, I'm not sure any of them make for good post-view listening. Vocals are another story, with Yeon Gyu Sung ("Crying"), ALi ("In My Dream"), and Sun Soo Jin ("Shout to the World") serving up some of the best I've heard all year. Despite romantic lyrics occasionally inappropriate to the series, but hey, they sound great.
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Exactly what I wanted to see from the first Korean musical drama !
Now I have to mention that I’m a very big fan of musicals , therefore when I first heard news about this drama coming out I was already very excited and had many experiences and I proudly say that THIS DRAMA JUST EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS .If you expect romance or any of that kind , better just don’t watch it because it won’t deal with that .
Even from the start , I had a happy surprise to see that they immediately started the drama with a song , which I extremely like and added to my playlist.
The life of the three main characters was very relatable to me , I just immersed myself in the story . Each character had their own pain and backstory which was not very known to each other at first .
The magician helped them heal and find themselves while he also kinda healed himself through them . I did not expect such a story for him and I also have to mention that the little details about Bella were extremely emotional, beautiful and well done .
I think this drama balanced everything very well , from magic , psychological problems , music . I was very satisfied with every single little detail and have no complaints whatsoever.
Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you have to completely forget your child side . Do not let people dictate the way you live your own life , some people can live doing things that they dislike all the way through their lives , meanwhile for other people that would be just as bad as death ..If it makes you unhappy , it can kill you inside .
Now let me end this review with a quote that stayed in my mind , from this drama of course :
‘’ No one in the world is crazy . They make you into a crazy person little by little if you don’t fit society’s standards’’
10/10 ! Recommend and with big rewatch value ✨ 🎩
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This review may contain spoilers
A nice cap off to the Ai and Nhai love story.Quite a few people hated the main series. I understand their concerns but it was different for me because i loved it. AI lhong Nhai was a guilty pleasure watch and its such a delight to see them end the series with this.
Lets not kid ourselves, it looks like it was shot within a day and on a limited budget but there was some good camera shots and sceneries here. The locations are amazing but they could have spent a little more time with the set - the empty bookshelf when Ton and Nhai is having lunch is so distracting they didnt even bother to put a single book or plant in it.
Like the main series there will be a few violent reactions again about the script (or the very poor way it was translated). I would also like to know how expensive it is to get the rest of the gang, at least Nhai's father, and why it wasnt possible for them to even make a cameo for this occassion.
I however love them bringing back Sippakorn and Jaonan. Seeing this lovely real life couple onscreen is like rainbow on a rainy day.
I am not sure if there is a demand or a clamor for this but i really appreciate them most for giving us this special episode to end the Ai Nhai story. The main series ended quite abruptly and this special felt like they planned to do it like this all along.
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Loving this series
Man, this one has me crying at the end of each episode. When they take that last photo. *tissue* The twins episode was so good and the kids acting was so touching. It’s amazing how well they acted on their roles. I am digging how this series the main girl is more outspoken and blunt. And her taking the lead on kissing him out of the blue was icing on the cake. I cannot wait to see what happens later in the series and what will end up happening with both of them. I hope the curse is lifted in the end.Was this review helpful to you?
Chemistry for Miles
This is a slow burn, chemistry laden short film that grabs you from the moment it starts to the last finishing scene. There was not a dull or insignificant scene in Wuliang and I'm all the happier for it.This is the same length as its predecessor Painted Skin, and features the same two leads wonderfully enough. The two main actors have some serious chemistry together and this is what truly brings forth the emotional performance. This could have easily been a full length, forty episode, wuxia drama but it still manages to deliver a solid experience within thirty minutes. The storyline is well done, easily followable, and concise. The plot is engaging and continues to move forward nicely while maintaining a semblance of mystery. Although this is a short film, the chemistry between the ML's felt like a slow burn and I could easily believe they built a bond over time. Nothing here felt too abrupt or empty. They sprinkled some action scenes into Wuliang too and they were well done without being cheesy. The acting is on point and very believable. I loved the difference in the characters here than in their previous film together. Their diversity is no joke and the emotional scenes here carry some heavy impact to them. Though the soundtrack is used less than the previous film, it is beautiful.
All in all, a good action and emotion based wuxia drama that will be sure to wrench your heart. I would recommend if you're looking for a concise but emotional watch.
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Story: The first half of the drama masks itself as an ordinary romcom in a law setting. Its enjoyable but not anything ive never seen before. Now after episode 9 hits you will think your starting to watch a whole new drama. The second half is filled with a revenge plot and also a frustrating angsty romance. I liked that it was a romcom but withan actual plot. I loved the ending!!
Acing/Cast: I already knew PSH is a great actor but I was really surprised by Kim So Yeon. Her character in the beginning can come off as an annoying ditsy and materialistic brat but the writers give her a personality makeover and lots of character growth so bear with her. The leads though were perfectly casted cause their chemistry was HOT! I liked the second lead couple but wished their relationship started a bit earlier in the drama because it was kind of unbelievable how they become a couple by the end. Really liked the supporting cast and cared about their characters.
Music: At first I found 2 of the songs annoying as they played them over and over in the beginning but they matched the theme well enough. I liked the rest of the songs they used throughout enough to put on my ipod.
Rewatch: I can see myself watching this every year just to see the leads together on my screen=)
Overall Prosecutor Princess is not what it seems so give it a chance or you'll be missing out on one of the best romcoms of 2010!
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Cute, sweet but not consistently though!
So it started well of as cute fluffy and very sweet drama, as a very good rom-com, I'll say. Naive, innocent FL and Cold, CEO ML our never-changing tropes of cdrama rom-com. But later it becomes melodrama more than the rom-com well don't take the word seriously not melodrama exactly but sure not rom-com though.As usual, the problem that we see literally any drama. Silly misunderstandings... it doesn't have one or two this drama is kinds filled with them, till this point that I wondered if there's something called 'Communication' exist in their word. I mean can't you just talk with each other, ops but they talked then what's the point with the drama they don't have anything to stretch up other than the misunderstandings.
Talking about the leads and chemistry I kinda liked it but sure not the characters, well FLs character was indeed better than ML still not what I expect, talking about ML I liked him in the first half but there's the limit of jealousy man you can't be like jealous all the time on stupid things. Ah the SFL again don't forget it's filled with cliches so we got bitchy FL which surely the worst character here. The side couple was cute still not a big fan of their story.
So overall it was a cliches average drama nothing particularly brilliant in it!
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1. For me this is the first drama where the character of (woman) lead actor is really strong and cool, also what is more imortant writers kept the individuality and speaciality of the character till the end. It was important to me, because in my opinion it is more realistic and people do not change so easily in real life, especialy when their traumatised with something.
2.I started watching it raw, I wanted just to try understand do I like it or not to watch it in the future, but I got addicted to it and even if I know only 3-4 words in korean, actors were playing so well that I didn't have hard time trying to understang what they were talking about. I mean their actions, emotions and face expresions were enough for me.
3.The story is unique and not repetitive even if it is a remake of japanese version. I tried to watch j-version but could not get used to actors.
In short it's definitely worth watching. It is refreshing, funny and wise drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
Bamboo Forest was a series of stories that supplements Mr. Queen. It was very enjoyable spin-off made by the production for the fans. It explained the beginning and ending of the main show. Some may not like how they end things on the main show, however this explained 2 things: (1) King likes So Yong even before Bong Hwan. (2) 2 souls were really inside the queen and they can both control the body. The spinoff also had every character that I enjoyed in the main show had a highlight except probably for the Second Male Lead, which was already explained by the actor why his story is removed. (The pain he caused us is simply enough in the main story.)
All in all, it was an enjoyable very short thank you gift from the production of Mr. Queen. I would really miss the drama. Also, it deserve every praise they're getting because they made a drama that is unique and gave laughs to a lot of viewers. :)
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1A rollercoaster of emotions
This is by far, my favoutite bl series of all time.To My Shore is a series that really stuck with me like no other bl series ever did. Not because it made me feel good by watching it, but because it showed me something you don’t see very often. I saw two people who are so different, yet somehow share so much. And their common ground isn’t pretty, it’s pain, scars, and the walls they’ve built to survive.
What hit me the most is that both of them carry really heavy pasts. Each in their own way, but both have learned to live with their pain. One tries to control things so he won’t lose, the other endures so he won’t fall apart. And somewhere in the middle, they meet.
The love in this series isn’t healthy, and it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s twisted, suffocating, full of dependence and fear. It’s a romance nothing like I’ve seen before, it’s not safe, not balanced. But it’s intense and real. And that’s what makes it so powerful.
I never felt like the series was telling me “this is right.” Instead, it showed me what happens when two wounded people try to love each other without having healed themselves first. Sometimes I felt uncomfortable, sometimes angry, sometimes just sad to the bone. But I couldn’t stop watching.
To My Shore isn’t for everyone. It’s for those who can handle seeing love without filters, without sugarcoating. For those who understand that love isn’t always salvation, sometimes it’s a mirror. And this mirror, in this series, shows things that stick with you long after it’s over.
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DISENCHANTED
The moment it was revealed who the mysterious Enchante guy is, the show started going down the drain.Quick recap. Theo's granny died so he went back to Thailand to be with his family and continue his study. Hoeever, he found life is too boring, it is in fact too boring that while at the library, he decided to write on a French book in the hopes that someone will write him back because, why not? He is the star and people still go to the library nowadays, right? If you ask what are the chances that a Thai guy will read a French book in a library? It is very high, very high indeed. It was so high, that 4 most gorgeous campus guys took credit of writing him back as Enchante. The end.
Oh, wait.
The show started out ok, the first few episodes were engaging, and the connection between Akk and Theo is just full of goody cuteness. And then they had to go there - what was promoted as the selling point of the series was actually its weakest point. 3 of the 4 campus heartthrobs are shown as creepy stalkers, and were later revealed to be up-to-no-good delinquents and opportunists. Whats worse, in what the makers thought was the best twist of the series, they revealed that Enchante was in fact Theo himself! its as if, at that point, he isnt too self-absorbed enough. I could understand (a little bit) that he wanted Akk to be jealous, but to let the lie go on for that long is just downright egomaniac and borderline sociopath.
Ill be honest, by episode 4, i got tired of the story and even forget there are new episodes still to come. The Enchante reveal left a really bad taste in my mouth and unfortunately things got even worse after that.
I also dont understand how the show managed to lose what little chemistry Theo and Akk have at the beginning, and how almost all the characters become un-lovable by the end. Even the proposal scene at the finale was shot so poorly behind that too-obvious fake Paris background, and I just cannot feel anything from the actors by that point as any trace of their little chemistry is gone.
When the credits rolled i was just glad that its over, and hopefully the next Friday GMMTV series can live up to their better brothers.
Will i recommend? No. Was it worth the watch? Not really, it felt like a waste of time. The only consolation is Force, cause he reminds me so much of Tay Tawan, and i think he deserves to get another shot. And please, by the love of god, give Fluke Gawin a main role.
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Overrated
I found myself thinking that I just wasted 10 hours watching this drama. This could have been impactful because it dealt with the serious subject of crimes committed by high school students but the story did not move me. The problem was the way it was presented. There was no depth. Jisoo, the central character had an absentee father, his partner in crime Kyoo Ri's parents seemed to have subjected her to abuse but there was no way for the viewers to find out more about the dynamics that defined the two characters' relationship with their parents. It would have been clearer if there was a bit of a background story that explained Jisoo and Kyoo Ri's damaged characters. There was also no backstory with the rest of the characters ie, Mr. Lee, how he became involved with Jisoo, Minhee, how she turned into a prostitute and Kitae, the bully and abusive boyfriend.The characters were so unlikeable. Jisoo, at the beginning gave the impression of an intelligent kid with a heart that somehow lost his way. And then, he turned into a snivelling idiot who was in over his head. Then there's Kyoo Ri who caused Jisoo to unravel; she manipulated him and her stupidity almost killed both of them.
It's like a watching a hodge podge of a story with a terrible ending. Don't waste your time on this drama.
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I have not expect to be able to see this soon, so I was quite surprised when I found this movie among the flight entertainment during my journey back from Tokyo. There was where I watched it, on the flight, and seriously, in public is possible the worst time for one to watch this movie. I was so close to tears, I actually have some leaking out the corner of my eyes and I tried so hard to hide it, OMG.
STORY 10/10
Let's move into break down before I went on rambling, seeing how I was saying that I was close to tears above, it is hard not to rate this story 10/10. I have not read the manga, so I do not know how close is it to the original storyline. But if a lot are cut out from the original itself, well you should know this movie only last an hour and 45 mins (about there), and you really have to give credit to the screen writer to still manage to create an impact within this short time.
I do not want to touch too much on the story, I am just very glad to see there are gems like these among the shoujo manga too, something that isn't just all bright and bubbly love story where the dump girl going after the guy and getting the guy at the end, if you think Orange would be light and easy to watch, I think you need to read the synopsis again.
CASTS 10/10
As I said I have high expectations from the cast, I've seen Tsuchiya Tao and Yamazaki Kento acts in other shows before, I certainly know they can act if given the right role, and I was not disappointed. Kento stolen the show with his acting there, those time when you look at his character and you just feel like wrapping an arm around Kakeru, to tell him everything are alright, that he has friends now and things don't have to be as hard as he thinks it should be. I am glad the other character did those in my place.
The emotions these actors and actresses managed to deliver on screen, making it an amazing movie. You can tell the struggles they going through are very real, and every bit of tears shed makes you wants to cry along. T_T
MUSIC 9.5/10
Good, the songs are good, the theme song is very fitting to the storyline, the tune and everything. I think I do need to rewatch this to judge the rest of the songs. I do not really remembering them throughout the movie, so I will be updating about this.
The theme song though, is very very beautiful.
REWATCH VALUE 9.5/10
I will definitely rewatch this again, with a box of tissue readied at my side. XD This beautiful movie, even though it hurts you on the inside. It is not entirely sad, more like a bittersweet, and with that slice of harsh reality making me wants to go back to it.
OVERALL 9.5/10
Perhaps it is just me who like those storyline that packed with a bunch of feels, I have to be honest and say this, I love any movie that makes me cry (though nothing too dark and too heavy, something like Orange packed with just the right amount of sadness and seriousness) so I am most possibly bias with my rating. This is not an easy movie to spend your afternoon, so be warned. Get readied with a pack of tissue when you start this. :)
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