This story is supposedly based on a true story and can I just say this is a complete tear jerker. My friends kept pushing me into watching this and even though it's sad, I am so glad I decided to watch it.
This movie is just an amazing story about ones first love. It teases you with so much happiness and then just stabs you in the heart with sadness. I think it hurts a little more inside when you realize this based off true events.
I loved the cast. I really liked Miura and Yui together. There were those awkward acting scenes but I've grown used to them after watching so many dramas. But their chemistry was pretty good. I liked the supporting cast as well. Their characters were shown just enough and all blended well together.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone and if you are still iffy about watching this, just watch it..with a box of tissues of course
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It's clever, thought-provoking, surprising and entertaining. It engrosses the viewer from the very beginning, accompanying one through a journey which is at the same time thrilling and disquieting.
The direction seems to have the quality of a dream in mind, what with the dark colours mixed with splashed of blood red, shiny yellow and electric blue. The acting follows the same pattern, constantly over the lines, like a classic theatrical piece, with exaggerated costumes and close-up shoots of frozen expressions.
Characterization is strong too. The main characters and the recurring secondary ones are vivid, clear cut, each one growing and yet remaining the same in substance.
Liar Game is a perfectly staged metaphor of life, with honesty vs. gain at the centre of it.
The music is perfectly chosen, building up when required by the scene, retiring to the background when more attention from the viewer is needed.
Rewatching is almost necessary, to pick up on elements overlooked on first viewing and to concentrate on the overall atmosphere and acting of the show.
Highly recommended.
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This review may contain spoilers
Heart and Liming stole the whole series for me.
This series is a rough gem. The plotline is interesting, the cast is a top notch and the way everything has been portrayed from the storylines to the individual characters themselves absolutely worth watching. It's a realistic mess with a whole lot of feelings invested. None of the characters here are flawless. They have their own flaws and their own problems to deal with. At a first glance, it might look all dreamy and heart eyes but it's more than that. It's complicated and at the same time swoon worthy.Starting with Heart and Liming because for me they are the best part of this series. They have my heart. They are so heart warming and so healing. I am in love with their love and I love both of them so much. Their small small moments, their subtle touches, their sign language interactions and even their eye locks damnnn I live to see their scenes. In fact if comfort was a person then it would be them. They stole the whole series for me.
Moving on to Jim and Wen, hands down to the acting of Earth and Mix. Their chemistry is no joke mahn. Their story is a total opposite of Heart and Liming's story. It's filled with tension, raw desires and not to forget angst. Both of them are individuals that are in a way broken and have so much to show and say but they can't fully express it and I honestly feel them. (P.S: Earth doesn't look like a 40 year old in any way but okay I am gonna look over that.)
And about Alan. Damnn First nailed it. The complexity of the relationship between Alan and Wen. My god it's too much to handle. I can't even figure out anymore who's at fault and more so I can't see Alan cry. It breaks my heart when he is sad but then when he is being sarcastic, I can't help but roll my eyes. Gaipa too he is a cinnamon roll . He is such a sweetie. Also Leng and Praew, this two are so cute together. Not to forget Gaipa's mum, she is so supportive and so likable. And I didn't really like what they did with her in the end. Also this series did feel like highlights.. like you know it's just parts of something and there's more to see. I don't know I just felt like it could have been better, ended better. But overall I would still give it a 10. Credits to Heart and Liming.
Also, a shoutout to the ost "Tommorrow". It had me weeping when I heard it in episode 4. Ford sang it with so much innocence and emotions plus hats off to the editing team. The song blended so well with all those scenes and that doubled the impact the song had on me. The actual mv in Gmmtv records is good too.
Highly highly recommended!!
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This review may contain spoilers
I really thought people were exaggerating, but unfortunately they screwed up everything on final episodes. The only thing that was outstanding in this drama was the mature and understanding relationship between the main leads. They always solved everything through talking to each other but in the last 4 episodes the writers just thought were a good idea changing this amazing couple dynamic. It made no sense that Yang Hua, who always were straightforward about his feelings, simply not being able to answer QS twice when she asks who he would choose between her and Yao Yao.Then, instead of talking about the problem, YH just came with the stupid jealousy game to make QS come around with her feelings, he even let her thinking he was that boy's father. That was so out of character and the last no sense was that reunion. YH wanted her to admit and tell that she love him but in the end they get together and she still never confesses her feelings. That separation seemed so meaningless. I feel the writing was just messy, a lot was obviously cut and the end was completely unsatisfying. It's a shame because even though I skipped a lot, until episode 34 the drama was good and the main leads romance was one of the best I ever saw. Yang Hua is simply a perfect man, so precious, I will just keep this in my memories and forget that stupid end.
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Li Chengyin is the character I’ve always wanted to see. He is a complex character living in a treacherous world. He has to use his cunning every single moment of every single day just to stay alive. Every mistake that made him appear soft brought danger to his doorstep, so can you blame him for the person he’s become? He’s so clever in the face of his enemies, but that becomes his downfall in the face of love. You love him and then you hate him and then you love him all over again.
Qu Xiaofeng is such a charming girl. She defies norms in costume/historical dramas wherein she IS the politically-favored wife, she doesn’t have to fight her way to the top of the harem, she has almost no trouble getting along with anyone in the palace, yet she’s put in this lonely predicament because of the narrative Li Chengyin fabricates in his best attempt to protect her. He tries so hard to protect her from everyone that he forgets to protect her from himself. The thing is— she doesn’t need to be sheltered; she’s brave, upstanding and receptive. His attempts to preserve her innocent spirit pushes them further away from each other.
While Chengyin lives in a world of darkness dealing with the demons surrounding them, Xiaofeng is the brightest light, his polar opposite. And that’s why they seem to never agree on anything. In another lifetime, their love could have been a romantic comedy; if he were just a regular tea merchant, they would have lived every single day together, trifling and loving. Their chemistry is undeniable. On top of that, the performance by Chen Xingxu and Peng Xiaoran breathes life into the characters from the novel. They convincingly portrayed every sweet moment and every heartbreak. I still feel strong sorrow for these characters as if they’re actual people I know.
The costumes and cinematography in the drama are so lovely, the characters are charming, the dubbing is really well done, the OST is unforgettable, and above all, the story is beautiful. This drama exceeded all of my expectations. If you’re interested in a tale that dares to straddle the line between love and hate and still manages to make it work, I implore you to give this drama a chance.
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Anyone who knows me, knows that I am particularly hard rater. (I have only ever given one perfect 10 out of over 150 dramas watched). However, this ALMOST made my second, as this drama was utter perfection until almost the very end. Dark, mature, suspenseful. This drama had me on the edge of my seat each episode and desperately awaiting each week’s new chapters. Besides the ending, I LOVED everything about the show: the acting, cinematography, soundtrack, writing, and wardrobe. Everything contributed to an amazing story that was unlike anything I’ve ever seen!!
In this drama, Kim Nam Joo blew me away!! She was unbelievable. However, I must say, EVERY SINGLE person in the cast did a fantastic job. This drama had characters that were so layered and complex, that could tell a story based solely on their eyes and facial expressions. There are so many aspects that I loved about this drama and its characters, as flawed as many of them were. One of the best things about this show, was that it was riveting from episode 1 to episode 16, no filler episodes, and filled with intelligent writing with twists and intrigue throughout. Its only downfall was the finale where it floundered what could have been an epic ending. It is not that it is unhappy or happy and I disliked their choice. Instead it was lacking, weak, and inconclusive.
Originally, I did not start this drama until episode 6 or 7 had already been aired, as I had doubts about whether this drama was for me. I love romantic comedies and have never heard of the leads. However, I am so glad that I tried it because it has now in my top 3 dramas of all time. DO NOT LET THE GENRE OR CAST SCARE YOU OFF--or the ending!!! This drama is definitely worth watching. Highly recommend. :)
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One unique Thai drama! + THE BEST CHEMISTRY EVER!❤️❤️
I've been watching American and asian dramas for the past twelve years, I can assure you, its something I've never seen in my life before! STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!!It is so amazing that it gives you a total roller coaster ride - especially in the last few episodes. Make sure to watch it with subtitles!
The story is a big plus for the drama, and the main leads - Mark and Mew did an amazing job. AND THEIR CHEMISTRY IS JUST MIND BLOWING!!! I can't imagine any other actors playing the characters.
You may find the first episode nothing extraordinary, but the last few minutes of ep1 will make you go on with the drama. By episode 6 or 7, you will be hooked on- its totally addictive and when the drama is over be ready to get delusional, watching their off-screen and bts videos in Instagram, trying to slap yourself out of Tian and Muey’s world!
Mark and Mew portrayed the emotions of Thien and Moei perfectly! The male lead is handsome, smart, arrogant and stuck up but cares for the female lead without knowing it himself. And when he realises his love for her, it's just sweet and emotional. The female lead is Not your typical drama character but she's cute, funny, energetic, sassy, smart, bold and really caring and totally lovable. Her selfless care for her loved one is just adorable ❤️.
And I don't have any words to describe the scenes when they confess their love for each other. Mark and Mew's acting is just out of the world!! Believe me, Mark and Mew literally make you laugh when they laugh and you'll cry when they cry.
Also the dialogues of the female lead and the little poem snippets are just sassy and lovable❤️. The scenes shot in Myanmar and Mew in traditional Myanmar dress are just beautiful and worth watching! Plus Mew nittha's bright smile really suits Moei's character!
Not only the main leads, but also the TPC gang, Hammock gang, P'Ri, P'Mon, and Thien's mom, Yada and Co. (also Ohuya dog and Snow cat) did a very good job . You won't find any annoying characters in the drama, and the plot doesn't involve Revenge, kidnap, forced love unlike typical Thai drama (no offense to those who like them though!)
On the whole every character in the drama makes it enjoyable. The cinematography is really good! And the music is also amazing! Loved the Ost by Sin (singular). Also don't miss their promotional interviews and special events, its all over Instagram with subtitles. (People went crazy asking for subs even for promotions !)
The only minus I could point out is the editing in some episodes was a bit sloppy when they tried to add the flash back scenes, but it doesn't affect the story. Also, there's a bit of drama in last couple of episodes, however the director aptly justified it in an interview, quoting
'love doesn't end with the word LOVE,
love doesn't end with loving each other,
but love needs understanding and confidence in each other.'
Overall the drama has humour, romance, hot scenes, but also emotional and very sweet. Don't miss it! This will be that one drama I'll never be able to forget in my life! Hoping to watch another drama by mark and Mew soon. MARK AND MEW HAVE GOT THE BEST CHEMISTRY EVER!! And they'll be my favourite on-screen couple! (I do respect their personal life!)
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This review may contain spoilers
I have absolutely no idea why there are so many negative reviews about this drama
Listen.I'd like to begin with the fact that yes, many people have different tastes and this might not suit some but it truly wasn't THAT bad as the majority comments say.
I, for one, enjoyed it IMMENSELY. In fact I came out, feeling sad that it ended.
Let's start with the storyline, shall we? There's not much spoilers in this little review but i tagged it just in case.
So it begins in a fantasy realm where our mc Rembrary is a very powerful healing figure. Then he transports to the actual human realm & switches places with a washed up idol Yeonwoo. Min gue did that drastic change in plot really well. You could FEEL Rembrary's confusion and anguish so really kudos to him.
I liked the corny parts too, the comedic bits didn't seem too overwhelming & out of place. It made me laugh out loud many times.
What I don't get is how people expected an aspect of realism when it's purely fictional, even a fantasy genre at that.
It started off good, the premise was promising and with only minor hits in between, it generally delivered well.
For one: i liked that the romance component was kept lowkey so we could focus on Rembrary AND the gigantic pile of tasks he had to accomplish to go back to his own realm. It also gave time and room for better development. Had the romance been early on, I really don't think I'd buy into it. Esp in the later episodes, where they have to MEAN alot to each other in order to take steps that they did to protect each other. Yall will know when you watch it. I think the transition from fan to friend to helper to lover was just fine.
So yes, a slow romance is better than a shallow one.
If I talk about the characters, I liked the mc, i could see him struggle and learn and care and bond. So yes. That made me root for him. Mingue really did the double roles well, i could distinguish between the two just by the look in their eyes.
FL, tho started off a bit shady (that saesang bit i got irked a little but they explain it later so idk but it gets better i promise), and i do feel like her backstory needed more weight perhaps? But she was actually smart and added to the resolution of conflicts rather than just being there as a place holder in the series. She's a capable woman who knows how to utilize her resources for the benefit of the team she manages. If not for her, Rembrary wouldn't have solved half the shit xD
The band members were enjoyable to watch. I wanted more depth to their stories but then again I realized it wasn't their story to tell and we had to focus on our mc. Still I would've liked to see more of them.
One complain i have is: NOT ONCE DID WE GET TO SEE WILD ANIMAL PERFORM IN THOSE GORGEOUS FITS PLS I WAS CRYING AND SCREAMING EVERYTIME THEY GOT INTERRUPTED JFKSKDKSKS
Anyways, the supporting characters were alright. Samjae was so cute and comedic, that man had nothing up there in the head except vibes and air.
Moving onto quite a few important topics that were talked about in the series which I haven't seen anyone acknowledge yet: the talks about mental health, the overall toxic environment that goes in the showbiz, how unpopular ppl are treated, how idols are reduced to nothing but dirt if they don't bring anything to the table, how hard it is to stay steaddfast when chances don't work in your favor, how taxing it is to keep hoping despite knowing it's going nowhere. Plus, there were a few discussions about human nature, selfishness, desires, greediness and goodness. The balance between the two.
So yeah. That was something to watch and think about.
I would say overall it wrapped everything up nicely. I did want the Evil One to actually do something, you know, evil but he was just a man desperate to be loved back.
The last few eps get slightlyyyy draggy what with the Redrin wind up and I thought her reasons didn't add up but like. meh. I didn't care enough about her. I just wanted my boy Rem to unite with the people he's come to care about.
The few plot twists that it DID have left me SHOOK. I did not see those coming at ALL. So kudos to the writer for getting some OOOOs and gasps out of me. That was something.
All in all, it was a good watch and i will definitely rewatch it. It's that light kdrama you search for after you're done watching something heavy. Shits and giggles, a bit plot, fun characters, cute dynamics, weird squads that no one saw coming AND REMBRARY HAVING GAY SCANDALS LMAOOO
I REQUEST you not to go in searching for something mind boggling or life changing (that I've seen ppl expect in the reviews here) bcs it's not. It's a simple plot, simple characters trying to navigate plot conflicts to the best of their capabilities. The good thing is it doesn't get boring. Atleast it didn't to me. It kept things dynamic and that made me not drop it and mind yall, im a very notorious dropper. If I don't like it, I drop it. So extra accolades to this series for that.
I would recommend everyone to atleast give the first 3 eps a chance. If it's up your alley, you'll have a blast and if it's not, well there's plenty of fish to pick from.
That's all I could write bcs i couldn't just watch it get absolutely shit on. It really isn't THAT bad. Kudos to the whole staff for pulling it off.
Hope this hot mess of a review helps someone discover their new fav drama. Happy watching everyone!!!
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How to Date a Single Mom with a Child
I didn’t start watching this drama when it began airing because I couldn’t get over the image I have of Liu Xueyi as Hao Chen in “Love and Redemption”. But one episode in, I was completely drawn in by the acting, the storyline and the humor. It's exhilarating and funny, at the same time, rather serious, dark and oxymoronic, with a hidden super villain, mysteries, conspiracies, murders and plenty of hot kisses. This drama beats many other dramas which are concurrently airing.Yu Qingluo (Wang Ziwei), a single mom with a 6-year old boy, Nan Nan (Zhang Zihan), is trying to find a father for her child. Time and time again her dates are being sabotaged by the little boy until she falls in love with Ye Xiudu (Liu Xueyi). Strangely Nan Nan also takes a liking to her lover, as if they have some sort of an invisible bond. Indeed Nan Nan has earlier made Ye Xiudu his disciple who has to pay with the price of unlimited supply of crispy fried chickens.
Yu Qingluo is a brilliant so-called “ghost” doctor (“guiyi”) as opposed to an “angel” doctor (“shenyi”) because she uses poisons to heal. She is strong, calm, unpretentious and fearless. She is always flanked by 4 very young, good looking and formidable leaders of prominent organizations/sects as protectors who vowed to protect her and her son with their lives because she has saved all of them under different circumstances. Though kind and vows to save lives, she also kills as a tit-for-tat. She pays back anyone who has come to harm her or her child. This quality really thrills the viewers (well, at least me).
Wang Ziwei is beautiful and mature, and her acting is top notched as a young single mother. She makes motherhood look excruciatingly fun with her super intelligent 6 years old son. And what an adorable bundle Nan Nan is. I am so impressed by the child actor Zhang Zihan’s acting. He brings to life the little Nan Nan’s character, adding a lot of joy to the drama, making the viewers love not just the little boy himself, but all the characters around him, in particular Ye Xiudu (Liu Xueyi). Nan Nan’s favorite food is crispy fried chickens and there is no lack of chicken dishes in almost all Nan Nan’s scenes, that would certainly make many viewers salivating (I feel hungry watching the crispy fried chickens, KFC is of no match). I adore the mother/child relationship here. Their dynamics are heart warming and really funny; ear twisting, face squeezing and pony tail pulling are norms. Throughout the drama until he finds out who his birth father is, Nan Nan has been sabotaging his mother's relationship with any men whom he finds overly intimate with his mother.
A fearsome general and a royalty, Ye Xiudu has unbeatable martial art skills. On the surface, he is serious and upstanding, but at the flip side, he is quirky: he has vasovagal syncope and faints with the sight of blood (imagine that for a general who kills in battles, also reminds me of husbands who faint at their wives' childbirths. That's why he has to blindfold himself when he fights because he cannot look at blood), and he is narcissistic and bombastic. All these traits make the Ye Xiudu character hilarious, laughable and very lovable too. Calling his romance with Yu Qingluo super funny is an understatement. There is a pattern for the OTP: they meet, fall in love, lose memory, meet again, fall in love again, lose memory again, multiple times. I have been prejudiced by associating Liu Xueyi as an antagonist. But here I come to really like him. His acting is superb, capturing all the quirkiness there is of his character. He is a wonderful actor.
There are many very lovable and funny side characters and the acting by the whole cast is authentic and fabulous. At the most tensed and dangerous moments, conflicts are resolved in the nick of time; the hero always appears at the very last and crucial moments.
My Verdict
This is an amazing drama with a hilarious storyline. It is action packed, fast paced but balanced by the romantic moments. With only 24 episodes, it wastes no time with fillers. Having said that, the pace slows down a lot towards the last 2 episodes. There is a lot of kissing scenes, intentional or accidental, in almost every episode. Everything is crazy and over exaggerated, including the romance. The whole drama is like a mash-up that mixes “Butterfly Lovers” to the giant flying mushroom, to the blind wuxia fighter of Gu Long's Hua Manlou, with tropes like multiple memory losses and multiple falling-off-cliff-and-survive scenes. Random uses of random music and jingles add on the light-heartedness. Imagine hearing a Christmas song in a Chinese historical drama (at the end of Episode 10, the tune “Tidings of Comfort and Joy” is played, cheekily, to create a cute mood). Animal sounds, such as a cockerel's crow or a goat’s bleat, are played to signify a blunder made. And modern vibes are inserted here and there brilliantly. It is as if the writers try to make the whole thing as preposterous and as outrageous as possible to poke the viewers for fun.
Despite the fun and non-seriousness, the writing is pretty tight and the editing is quite good, even the CGIs are rather well done. I’m particularly impressed by Yu Qingluo’s pet scorpion which is also her weapon. This doesn't seem like a run-of-the-mill production.
I give this drama a very high rating because it makes me laugh out loud so hard. We know it's a dumb story as it constantly reminds us that this is a crazy drama with a lot of silly stuff. A viewer puts it succinctly, "It's not the comedy nor the music, but the whole thing so lame that makes it laughable." I agree. So one mustn't take it seriously. The whole thing is like a cartoon, with comical music to egg it on. So folks, lighten up! We all need it.
A great watch for the family and to fight off the pandemic lockdown blues. A delightful show you don't want to miss!
BRAVO!
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"Do you want to have a drink with me?"
"Counseling with a twist." That is how I initially perceived the theme Mystic Pop-up Bar. Dramas that touch on mental health issues are often either of melodrama or suspense genre. But here is a gem of a show that gives you a release and relief from a shot of soju, without the usual hangover.In the first few episodes of this drama, you'll find stories of persons whose grudges could well be the same as many of us have. The counseling part comes naturally in the dialogue between the characters, often in a comical way. (It could be a good idea to have a paper and pen ready to take down some quotable lines.) As the drama progresses, it begins to focus more on the main characters' own concerns which has been taking 500 years to settle.
What's so awesome about Mystic Pop-up Bar is, while it's generally comedy, you'll also find some bits of romance, drama and action in it. Worthy of mentioning also is how clean the CGI effects they used in the show. I'm not sure with the others, but for me, each episode was like a movie.
Even though I chose to watch this because of SKY Castle actor Choi Won Young, I must say all the actors in this drama are worth applauding. Yook Sung Jae made a great choice of doing this drama before his military enlistment; he did really well as Han Kang Bae. Also, I could say that we have a different Hwang Jung Eum here, so if you're not a fan of the way she acted in her previous dramas, don't let that get in the way of you experiencing a one-of-a-kind journey in Mystic Pop-up Bar.
The OST is worth adding to your playlist as well, especially the song for Part 1 of the soundtrack.
I recommend this drama after watching heavy drama, suspense or action, or to those who simply want to have a good laugh after a tiring day.
Enjoy Mystic Pop-up Bar!
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Sometimes I skip parts in dramas because they predictable, but this drama was the complete opposite. If you skip an episode you will be lost or will greatly regret it.
This is the first drama that has ever made me cry, laugh, and ship 4 couples with four cast mates (think about it hahaha)
I usually don't watch melo dramas because I like happy endings and melo dramas don't really follow that story line, but this drama is different it's not a romance comedy-but is, and not a melo drama- but defiantly is. Some points in the drama you cry or tear up for a very sad reason which in my case seem like a melo drama. other times you laugh with the characters which seem like comic relief.
I started to watch 49 days because I saw Jung Il Woo dressed in all black with black hair- hello one of my top actors of all time looking sexy... of course I will watch it. i can say he is hot the whole way through the drama, but he will make you cry- a lot...
All the cast mates let you connect with their character. Each character has a story to be told watch 49 days and find out their stories. I promise you won't regret watching it. i sure didn't
i true hope you enjoy watch the drama as much as i did!
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This movie is perfect with just the light and bitter-sweet music and perfect, so perfect acting, the colors it has, the beautiful yellow and deep blue, the calm air it has around...the words are distracting...
If you think you are going to watch a story how a girl made a human out of a boy raised/born as a wolf, you are so far away from what you are going to see in this movie. This is a story about people, how some people look like monsters and are the most humane beings you could find, this is a story about people that look nice, but the worst monsters you could have the misfortune to meet... this is a story about choice and responsibility we bear for every person we meet in our life, how our smallest action can influence their life, how their action - could influence yours, how careful you should be with the words you use, as you never know what it will mean for the person before you...
I am really fighting for words with my brain to explain in what a mess I am right now, this movie just blew the air out of me, and I am really fighting to bring a string of cohesive thought back into my head (that is full of guitars, alphabet letters, yellow fields and blue forests, books and sweaters, shoe-laces and pencils, and finally JoongKi's eyes, oh, those eyes...)
In the beginning I mentioned about the words in the movie, well, believe it or not, JoongKi says only 10 words in the movie (and you'll be sane enough to hear only 1 of them, as then you'll still be holding on, but when the other 9 will be said, you'll be... as I was... weeping into you blanket/pillow, not to wake your parents...)
This movie was one of the most beautifully shot movies I have ever seen, so much calmness and so many colors...
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The story is excellent. You can see how much effort the writer and director put into it right from the first scene. While it gets dark and depressing, there is also a light tone to it during some parts. This is the first time I have watched a lesbian Korean movie and found myself highly loving it. While the two women serve as the main characters, Ha Jeong Woo also plays the male lead and has quite a presence throughout. During the entire course of the film, it will give you the feeling of reading a book than watching a film. It's poetic and literary in its narration and the atmosphere of the movie just amplifies all the best parts about the film.
There were a few erotic scenes but I felt like they were tastefully filmed. The girls have good chemistry with each other and Ha Jeong Woo was the perfect barrier between them. I was impressed by how well all three spoke Japanese in the movie (also the supporting cast). Plus the era the film is set in makes it a hundred times more interesting. It's intriguing to see Korea portrayed under the rule of Japan and you can see how much Korean culture was influenced by the Japanese during then. You could watch the movie just for the periodic setting and even then you could enjoy it for that solely as well.
What's cool about the movie is the plot- the conning, friendship, romance, perversion and obsession. There's also a slight revenge aspect to the story which was the main twist and made this movie way more likable. Also the costumes, sets and dialogues are what made it so fun. I swear I blushed during a few parts of the film because I never realized how erotic Japanese can sound with the right diction.
If you wanna know what sets this movie apart, it's the setting/era (undoubtedly) and also the ending. YES. The ending makes it all worth it. The entire 2+ hours will fly by and you will not even notice it. And the twist was so, so clever. Kudos to the writer.
Only watch it if you are over 18 or a mature teen. There are some scenes of torture and hints of BDSM and perversion. They are not too overbearing so do not worry. Just sit down and enjoy it- like me. The ending makes it the best thing ever. TRUST ME.
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If you had to summarize the story of this show, it'd be pretty simple, could be done in a few lines. To have given a lifelong worth of depth to those few lines, to have brought alive the events in the life of the characters, to have made us feel what what the characters were going through with such beautiful narratives, the writers need to be commended. The plots could have easily gone awry in so many places, but EVERY plot, every character, every loose end - have all been taken care of with remarkable finesse. There are zero complaints or unsatisfied worms lingering in my head, none.
Where do I begin with the actors? Where? I've been blown away, drowned, burned, buried, shocked - you name it - by every actor in this wonderful show. Ji Sung left me begging for more of him, even when he was present in 90% of the scenes, I just wanted more. "I wish that the time would stop, and that I could be with you forever", that's all that I felt every time he appeared. This guy can ACT, and he did a bloody brilliant job in this show. To have portrayed 7 personalities, is commendable. To have played 7 personalities with such absolute perfection, is downright worth worshiping him for. There wasn't a moment went he faltered in his performances, never a flaw, never a single crack in his portrayal. Be it the grumpy, violent, protective, dashing and charming Shin Se Gi; the middle-aged, goofy, bomb-making, beer-loving, accented Perry Park; the quite, calm, suicidal teen-genius Ahn Yo Sub; the foul-mouthed, oppa-crazy, troublemaker twin sister of Ahn Yo Sub, Ahn Yo Na; and the less frequently appearing 7-year old Nana, or Mysterious Mr. X; Ji Sung has lived and brought to life each of them. I didn't know it was even possible to be able to do such a thing! I had to literally pause the episodes and look at his face to believe in the changes. His eyes changed, how does one do that. Just with his expressions, his gaze, his very demeanor it was obvious as to which personality it was. He wasn't just Cha Do Hyun behaving like someone else, he WAS someone else. And it was one of the best performances by any actor that I've seen. My opinion of Ji Sung has reached the Sun.
The lead lady Hwng Jung Eum came as a surprise to me. I've ever seen her works before and I'm glad I began with this show. She handled every scene so well. She was goofy and loud and cute and serious and mature and terrified and depressed - and every emotion was conveyed very nicely. I'm looking forward to seeing her other works. Park Seo Joon was a delight to watch, that guy made me laugh and cry with equal flare. His character was simply brilliant, very heart touching. It would be unfair to the others if I focused on a few actors more than the other but these three deserved the mentions, the rest of the cast did a pretty great job as well. They're the ones who were able to make the script, story and direction work.
I don't know what I had in mind when I began the show, what it was that I had expected it would turn out to be, but whatever it was, it was nothing compared to what I actually got. The stories of each personality, their traits, the personality itself grows on you so much that it's hard to let them go. I found myself hoping for them to come out sometimes. I grew to love every facet, every broken piece of Cha Do Hyun. I was sobbing harder with every farewell. It felt as if you're losing a person rather than a personality. The story of each character in this show is going to be in my heart for a long, long time.
I'm really glad I picked up this show, it is one of the best I have seen. The level of brilliance is more than worth watching. I'm already looking forward to rewatching it in the near future. I don't think I've had enough of the characters yet.
The kind of show that Kill Me Heal Me is, you don't need any reasons to watch it, all you have to do it watch the first episode for a couple of minutes and you'll be irrevocably hooked, just as I was. It's everything you want in a drama of this genre. Everything and more. Don't miss out on this one, you'll be passing on a masterpiece.
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Possibly the worst... anything that I've seen.
You know how when you pass a huge accident on the road you can't help but look? Well, at least in that case something interesting has happened. This more like passing a cactus and staring at it until it does something.I gave it a '1' for story, because there's no "0". That sounds harsh, but there's actually no plot. There are times you may think there's one, but it's a trick. This series is so random that I almost always had to go back and check that I didn't skip an episode because the current one never really had a connection to any of the past episodes. There are so many random things thrown into this that it's bewildering. There's even an entire new character with apparently nefarious intent (judging by the ominous music cues whenever he appears) thrown into the very last episode that is totally unconnected with anything else and you have no idea (and never find out) what he wants or intends. That happens a lot. This really feels like there was a pile of 30 BL scripts on a desk and someone accidentally knocked them into a shredder and this is what they came up with by randomly taping scraps together. That sounds exaggerated, but it's not.
Let me give you an example: It's hinted that one of the characters has done something wrong. Barely hinted. Then at the end of an episode, everyone's phones start dinging - they all glance at their phones, then turn to stare at the character. And that's it. We never find out what the text said, or what the character in question did, nor does this have any meaningful effect on the story.
Another example: Milk and Pun suddenly have a kid. He's 5 years old as there has been a time jump. There are scenes of Pun being a cute dad. Then the mother shows up and says - "Thanks guys, I'm talking him back." I guess she realized he's old enough to vacuum her house now or something. To be fair, Pun is depressed, but as is standard for a BL, a damp towel wipedown cures him of that.
I slogged through this because the main character, Milk, is so cute that puppies are goblin sharks in comparison (don't google that before bedtime). And Dr. Pun looks extremely good when he steps out of the shower. And I hoped they would get together in some beautiful and romantic way. In the end it seemed like neither of them had anything better to do.
This series is so dreary that when their relationship is formalized everyone is sitting on one side of a table in what I would have thought was a conscious imitation of The Last Supper, but it can't be because there's a story behind the Last Supper and that would mean that whoever wrote this is aware of the idea of a story.
There are BLs where there is no kissing. That's OK in many cases, because they're set in high school and the characters have never dated or kissed anyone before. This series ends with the characters in their 30s, and Milk still acts like the creature from Alien is unhinging its jaw next to him whenever he's in danger of being kissed by Pun. There is a 5-year time jump, during which time they've been togther - and living together, sleeping in the same bed, and they still have never kissed, let alone had sex. Even when Pun proposes marriage, all he gets is a grunt and a peck on the cheek. The lack of intimacy in this is so severe that I don't know what else to call it but homophobia. They don't even directly refer to relationships - it's easy to miss because everyone speaks of them in oblique terms. They could be talking about working together, accidentally bumping into each other in an elevator, running over someone with their car, or being in an LTR - it's hard to tell.
This is full of people pontificating about life and happiness with the profundity of a greeting card you pick up at the supermarket because you forgot your nephew's birthday. There are very, very long monologues about this at random times when it has no relevance to anything else that's going on.
This diretor/screenwriter also did Love Sick 2 and Friend Forever, and after those two valiant attempts has finally succeeded in making the most boring and miserable series possible.
The technical qualities of this are OK, but not ever exceptional. There are a few funny mistakes, like a big red 'X' taped to a bench to indicate where an actor should sit. (To be fair, he sat on it, so it worked.)
Acting: 5. I don't think anyone's actually acting, so it's not any more terrible than people standing around talking, but nobody every really does anything involving more skill than people standing around talking. Son Ravisut makes an impression as Milk, and Petch Jakkaphet makes an impression with his exposed glistening torso, but both of those are shallow qualities. There are occassional glimpses of ability in Son, but I can't be sure given the material. And other than cuteness, there's not really much to recommend him. If you refuse to engage in m/m intimacy, then don't accept a role in a BL.
Music: 1. There are three snippets of stock music the editor downloaded. One is that standard bassoon melody for light moments, then there is something bland for normal stuff, and an ominous track for when something dark is happening. Dark is too strong - more like a tiny diminution of light like when a moth is flying a meter or so from a lamp. That's about as much as the tone of the series ever changes.
Rewatch value: 2 - there is one scene I've rewatched. Dr. Pun takes a shower and stands around for a minute or so glistening and wearing only a towel around his waist.
Overall: 2.5 - This is truly terrible and a complete waste of time. It's absolutely incomprehensible that this could ever have been made.
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