Reviews

Good starts promise a good watch, and this enraptured me from the get-go. I am not big on watching or reading things surrounding school; however, what captured my attention was the highlighting of adults’ struggles when it comes to school violence. This was not about students alone, but teachers and parents too, and I appreciate those shifts in perspective. Furthermore, it did not brush over any harsh details while discussing bullying; neither was it afraid to delve into the cruelty of children, because, let’s face it, some children ARE cruel. But it also prevented painting every occurrence in a black and white stroke.

The life of this drama lay within the situation it had created that allowed the writer to explore the helplessness that is integral to human nature. It discussed how environments shape people, how parents shape children, and how the basic instinct to protect your offspring can have far-reaching consequences. It did not limit itself to calling bullies the scum of the earth, and unfolded their domestic situations and personalities. It depicted many kinds of bullies: one doing it for pleasure, one doing it under pressure, one attacking what they cannot have, and one acting as a bystander. There were also those who redeemed themselves and those that went on with life. Moreover, the relationships the writer had drawn were really heartfelt. My favourite was Moo Jin and his student Dong Soo's consideration for each other. The side stories and characters had a purpose, either acting as an insight into the characters or served to help them grow. Not to mention, I became attached to them, and so will any viewer, I am sure, especially to Dong Hee and Dong Soo.

This drama happens to be one of the rare cases where flashbacks did not become an intrusion because the transitions from present to past and back again were edited nicely. The imagery was great as well, for example: Joon Seok lived in a glass-like house, very telling of the prison-like environment imposed upon him 24/7, and then there was the warmth of Seon Ho’s home. The reference to The Catcher in the Rye was befitting to the topic at hand.

The pacing could be painstakingly slow at times, but it’s a melodrama, so it is a given. I think the writer could have stretched the show to two more episodes to cover the aftermath in a better way, or the given time should have been used more efficiently by cutting out repeated moments and adding in those worthy of being shown. I think Joon Seok’s redemption and new-found friendship with Dong Soo had great power and should have been explored further. Had Seon Ho gained consciousness earlier, the writer could have effectively handled this and could have made it a better story. Aside from that, there were a few questions they never answered, like Seon Ho’s password. I also noticed how the police felt a tad unprofessional with the way they treated the case earlier on.

Joon Seok was one of the most complex characters in the whole show, and I applaud the actor for bringing him to life; I went from hating him to feeling sorry for him till finally wanting a better life for him. The child actors did a brilliant job at their roles, and so did the adults.

The OSTs were soft and very pleasant to the ears, despite the tears they resulted in. I think they will go to my playlist. One of them, however, was a hip-hop sound and would have felt out of place had they used it as BGM, which they thankfully did not. Overall, a sensible choice of background score.

I don’t think this will be one in my rewatch list, mostly because it is a melo and I get impatient easily. However, a few moments tugged at my heartstrings and had great power in their subtlety so I might return to them.

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Will ‘ Shoplifters’ Steal Your Heart?

Hirokazu Kore-eda’s films have long been held as masterful arts of work in themselves; profound, complex and subtly crafted-something that ‘ Shoplifters’ presented beautifully throughout its storyline.

Lily Franky takes on the role of Osamu; the head of the band-wagon group of rouges seemingly appear as a middle-aged husband alongside his middle-aged wife Shibata Nobuyu ( Ando Sakura), their two children teenager Shibata Aki ( Matsuoka Mayu) and their young son Shibata Shiota ( Jyutu Kairi) and granny Shibata Hatsue ( Kiki Kirin). However the house is filled with untold truths and secrets; Osamu gaining most of his profit from shoplifting by enlisting the help of Shiota, Nobuyu stealing things from clothes’ pockets during her laundry job, Aki being part of a peep show in order to make ends meet and Hatsue’s seperate past life and gambling addiction at the local pachinko machines in secret. Yet the family find themselves ineffably stuck in a rut when they come across Juri ( Sasaki Miyu); an abandoned and abused little girl who is quick to warm their hearts but with undeniable consequences towards their future.

The casting choices of the move were undeniably brilliant with each actor feeling masterfully placed like pieces on a chessboard by Kore-eda. Yet admittedly one of the most dynamic of the movie came through Kiki Kirin’s role as Shibata Hatsue; sadly her last role before her passing shortly afterwards.

It should come as no surprise rust Kore-da’s unlikely Palmes D’Or winner offered viewers a sociopolitical depiction upon the deep-rooted trauma of a family united under one roof, alongside the fear of poverty. The narrative of the film took no wasted-time with subtly painting the dysfunctions of modern Japanese society and hypocrisies as well as the audacious details of characters and how they’d e linked together.

Yet against the beauty of the film’s narrative there was an admitted flaw with ‘ Shoplifters’ and that came through the initial problem of pacing. The film is admittedly slow-burn and whilst necessary for building up the storyline as well as delivering its twist-ending, lacked a greater sense of momentum towards the plot and attention of viewers.

Nevertheless Ryûto Kondô’s cinematography highlights a stark depiction of more grounded issues of the film such as child abduction, abuse and abandonment against the surrealist fantasy -world of Kore-eda’s microcosm of a seemingly mysterious family. The OST is admittedly less memorable than other parts of the film but Kore-eda’s placed emphasis on visual aesthetics other auditory became evident in the final act of the film beautifully encased in snow; a final flurried blur between the fairytale and childlike world of the family’s insular bubble and the cold and harsh reality of the events that are unfolding also.

Kore-eda’s ‘ Shoplifters’ is undeniably a heartwarming, bittersweet and audacious film about family. The subtle narrative and character-build was masterfully depicted alongside the strong performances by the cast. Admittedly whilst the film could sometimes hit a rut with pacing, the movie’s themes and finale offered viewers with a deeply thoughtful and contemplative film.

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Addicted

And so with this movie, the story of Hira and Kiyoi comes to the end. What a journey it has been. Probably the best BL series I have ever seen.

The story of two flawed men who early on realized that their missing parts are in each other, the true soulmates, complete only when they are together. On the surface it is an odd pairing. Hira is ugly, submissive, apparently weak and probably slightly Asperger's while Kiyoi is beautiful, popular and a leader. And here is what makes this story so amazing: when you lightly scratch the surface you find a different kind of people here. Hira is a talented photographer and actually a very strong person both physically and emotionally and he shows that side of him only when he's around Kiyoi. Behind his beauty and talent, Kioyi is very much insecure and uncertain of his abilities. The blind trust and admiration that Hira expresses, let Kiyoi lower his guard and be his real self.

In this movie they finally find answers to all questions that had been bothering them but mainly: how to stay together? While Hira is happy just to exist on the same planet as Kiyoi, who is the King, like a star to him; Kiyoi depends on Hira to give him strength, who accepts him no matter what. The story follows them after they graduated from the college. They both are working hard now and are facing their own lacking skills which reflects in their relationship.

The story of Hira and Kiyoi is a tale of the ultimate toxic relationship which works because they are both aware of it, accept it and are on the same footing and equal in spite of appearing to be otherwise.

This movie is literally beautiful: the cinematography is extraordinary- soft colours, dreamy exposure. Sets correspond characters : Hira's messy house, the photographer's white geometrical and empty house. Clothes too!

When the first season came out, I remember liking it enormously but then thinking I must have misunderstood it after reading what others were saying about it. Kieta Hatsukoi came out at the same time and everyone prefered it to this one. They are on a different level and cannot be compared: KH is rather straightforward and ordinary. My Beautiful Man has the depth no other series managed to touch. It is not an easy drama to watch, one needs to actually SEE what they are trying to show without it being in your face. And therein lies the beauty of this series.

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I never wanted the evil to be good this badly

First of all: I started this drama in the evening, it is currently 1 am and I could not stop until now.

The acting is amazing, the characters are twisted and divers. This drama is sexy, evil and absolutely fantastic. There is also a lot of cursing, and explicit language, which makes it more relatable.

As other pointed out before, yes, there could be more depth when it comes to the history of the characters. But on the other hand I do like dramas to be a little open, so I do not only get entertained but involved.

It’s been a while since I was attached to a drama, nevertheless this one made me feel things. It makes you question yourself. Well, at least it did for me. How evil am I, emphasizing with human beings killing others? How can I stay so calm, engaged, because of two people connecting, even tho the outcome can not only be good.

I feel like the drama shows (myself) that all we want is to have a connection with others. In the end we are all lonely, pulling on the last string. And the loneliest, those who understand this the most, can take advantage of it. In the end, they still search for it to end. No matter what the price might be.

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FadelStyle completely won me over

I finally picked up The Heart Killers and OH. MY. GOSH. JoongDunk nailed it! I didn't expect to fall head over heels for FadelStyle, but their story was everything and more. It completely pulled me in and had me invested from the very beginning. The way their relationship developed was organic and authentic, with no forced moments. It was like watching two people who were meant to be together, and I couldn't get enough of it. The chemistry between Fadel and Style was enjoyable.

Style, my guy! He was such a scene stealer – sassy, witty, funny, daring, cheerful, sweet, loyal, honest, and stylish (his outfits deserve their own fandom). He effortlessly stole the show for me and became my favorite character. Who wouldn't love someone who's confident, charismatic, and unapologetically themselves? What I loved most about him was how he balanced his playful, jovial side with maturity. When Fadel breaks down, he knows exactly what to say to lift him up, and it's truly heartwarming to see. Dunk's portrayal of Style was perfect. The role was made just for him. He brought Style to life in a way that was endearing.

And for Fadel, he was the perfect counterpart to Style's bubbly personality. He was more serious and introspective in the beginning, but as he fell in love with Style, we saw a side of him that was vulnerable and sweet. Falling in love with Style brought out a side of him that I loved so much.

Can we give Joong his flowers, please? His acting was seriously good. He did so well in every scene that I found myself in tears whenever he broke down and became so vulnerable. Such a great actor. The way he conveyed Fadel's emotions was raw and honest, and it was clear that he put his heart and soul into the role.

FadelStyle chemistry was peak and I couldn’t get enough of them. I'm so glad I picked up The Heart Killers. It had me hooked from the beginning till the end.

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This movie has a really good storyline! I usually don't watch intense movies like this, but it was worth it! I was at the edge of my seat during a lot of the movie, and so was my family. Every scene has a connection to the crime, if you don't pay attention to certain parts you might not get what happens. The reason the rewatch value isn't as high is because after you watch it the first time, you already know what will happen so your experience might not be as exciting as the first time. To watch this movie you have to just pay attention, it's amazing, I LOVED it, one of my faves :) (first review, hope this was helpful)

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Beautiful and real

To be honest most of this movie deserves a 7 or an 8 at most, some parts are just too predictable and you kind of get the feel of weightlifting fairy meets allot like love (but not in a good way) and yes you will find yourself screaming come on... no don't go there... wtf are you doing??? But then midway the realism breaks the predictable pattern and we are brought in to a story of struggle, regret, dealing with pain and some pretty deep issues. When are we good for each other, when should we let go and can we find our way back or is it better to move on? Is love enough? Being a movie and not a drama this is kind of rushed, I think this could make one h*** of a drama if prolonged but since it is a movie they did convey the important parts pretty well.

What got to me and that kicked up the score from an 8,5 midway to a 9,5 was the beautifully made emotional ending that i hope will touch you just as much as it touched me. But I will not spoil it for you just tell you that it is beautiful, what makes it beautiful is for me to know and for you to find out . if you do chose to watch this please tell me what you think of the ending (just don't forget the spoiler tag).

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Intriguing Story, Great Acting

This story reminds me of the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day”. It stars Bill Murray who portrays a cynical television weatherman covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. He becomes trapped in a time loop, forcing him to relive February 2nd repeatedly. This drama has a similar storyline whereby a young girl encounters a life threatening event and is trapped in a time loop to relive her life changing moment, and eventually she conjures up the courage to break away from it.

Xu Xiaodong (Zheng Yecheng) is an artificial intelligence genius. For 10 years he has been trying to find out the person behind the scheme that has stolen his father’s work and slandered his father for plagiarism that has led to his death. Xu Xiadong is devastated and has been living through his pain. I have always liked Zheng Yecheng. I have been rather disappointed with the endings of most of the characters he has played in his previous dramas. Here, as a hidden genius with a sense of humor, Zheng Yecheng has brought his character to life. He is really convincing with great acting.

Lei Chuxia (Ju Jingyi) is a business owner. After a life threatening event, she disappears and travels 10 years to the present time and meets Xu Xiaodong. She repeatedly returns to 10 years ago and back, trying to figure out what has happened and how to change the outcome of the events. Despite of her unfortunate encounter, she always remains cheerful and optimistic. Ju Jingyi is beautiful with a natural happy-go-lucky aura that fits the Lei Chuxia character so well. With wonderful acting, Ju Jingyi gives us a very genuine and lovable Lei Chuxia.

All the side couples are great though initially I didn’t like Zheng Fanxing’s acting very much but as the story progresses, his acting becomes more natural and his character Jin Xiaorui very adorable.

My Verdict

Even though unthinkable and a fantasy, I really like the story. It makes me think of the “what-ifs”. What if I can time travel and go to the future and see the outcome of my decision like Lei Chuxia does, and then go back to the past to fix my choices. Changing my choices may definitely change the outcome, but doesn’t necessary mean a better one. These thoughts play on my mind while watching this drama, and help me look deep into myself. This story believes that there are many paths to get from point A to point B. If you persist, you would always reach your destination, no matter which path you take. Do you have any regrets that you wish you could go back to 10 years ago to fix? Do you believe you’ll always reach your destination no matter which paths you choose if you are determined enough?

Great entertainment. Great watch!

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Oh those 90s doramas. Let me just say that I have this bias for them. They bring up in me such passion I don't often feel in today's Japanese dramas. This drama had enough passion for all, a well rounded cast and intriguing characters that develop well throughout the drama. One thing I didn't get throughout the drama is the reason of the title though :P

The story is set in a correction facility where teenagers are sent for a month until it's decided if they get released or sent to juveniles prison. We meet many troubled teens and their correction officers and we see how their interactions change one another and affect each other. The main focus is on one teenage girl who's as much full of torment as she is full of passion, and her relationship with her correction officer with tormented past. We also follow the fate of her 4 "cellmate" with their painful stories but somehow innocent outlook on life.

The story and it's character sort of engulfs you without you feeling it. The history and mystery of each character gets revealed eventually through hints and small revelations, keeping viewers on their toes throughout the whole drama not loosing interest even for one moment. I liked that even the officers weren't tossed to the side but were given real personalities, strength and growth to deal with troubled teens. For that reason, the drama and it's stories felt well balanced and none of the stories was left behind or forgotten about. Of the officers, we also visit Ariake's dark and unsettling backstory that is full of mysteries.

The acting is outstanding and compelling characters. Mikami Hiroshi's presence was charismatic, while Hirosue Ryoko was full of charm. Kubozuka Yosuke had an unforgettable appeal and the most unpredictable of the bunch. Everyone else's character's didn't lack any appeal and had a particular presence.

As an engulfing drama that overwhelms you with passion and charisma, with a satisfying romance and mystery, I'd say this drama truly is for all and to go for it!

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Sound Bigger Than The Horror

A horror with classic formula, full of obnoxious characters making selfish and ignorant decisions that endanger everyone. Well, without them there is no horror story, right?

No complaint about the acting, I love them all staying true to the character. Thorough the movie there was non stop jump scare with freaking loud sound, it was supposed to scare me, but it became repetitive, tiring to be completely honest, and even funny at some point. Story wise, there might be a dozen of plot hole unexplained, given the short duration. Feels like this movie would be more wrapped nicely if they gave us back story snippet, but instead they left us hanging. I only came to understand the story more after reading some theory. This also became a hit in Korea, because the real background setting. Maybe for foreigner like me- it didn't impact me as much as it is only full of cheap scare.. but if you want that experience, you might enjoy this! As for me, unfortunately this isn't the type of horror I am into.

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I’ve been looking forward to watching this because the story really intrigued me. And now that I’ve finished it, I felt like a large boulder was lifted from my back. It was such a struggle for me to be able to finish this one. There were lots of dragging parts that I just wanted to skip, but it’s my golden rule to never skip any part of a drama no matter how badly I want to. The drama started out good until the second time leap happened. Thankfully, the drama redeemed itself during the last four episodes or else I would not have given this drama even a score of 7.

I really like this kind of stories: about revenge, betrayals, and such. So I was really surprised to find myself disappointed along the way. The revenge didn’t feel much like revenge at all until the last few episodes. The romance was cute during the first time leap. But during the second one, it felt like everything would have worked out just fine even without the presence of Ji Won. Her character became useless. I cursed Soo Mi to death, but I’ll have to admit that her character has way more substance than Jiwon’s. But the character who really helped me endure all of this was none other than Jang Il. Yup, it’s Jang Il and not Sun Woo. Whereas I’ve always anticipated watching the bad guys go down, I really felt sympathy towards Jang Il. This character left me this feeling which is kind of difficult to explain. Perhaps you’ll know this feeling once you finish watching this drama.

The acting was great. It was nice to see different sides of the characters. The bad ones were able to send tears to my eyes, and the good ones were able to make me curse at them. I never thought Uhm Tae Woong was this good. I’ve seen him in the past, and I think I might have underestimated him then. But the actor I’d like to praise more is Lee Joon Hyuk. I’m really impressed at how he was able to flawlessly portray such complicated character. I’d love to see more of his projects when he comes back from the army. Maybe another prosecutor role, no? But he does look good as a prosecutor. Overall, the casting was okay aside from the fact that I was bothered by the age difference between Joon Hyuk and Tae Woong. They were supposed to look like same-aged, but the age difference really showed in the drama. Oh and the kids were amazing too! I’m really looking forward to Lee Hyun Woo’s projects. At his age, I’m really fascinated at how good an actor he is.

Music. Okay I had a lot of issues with this one. I didn’t like the music. It was so plain and so boring. Also, the music kind of magically fades away during the key points in the drama. I don’t know about others, but I really want hearing thrilling music during climactic points in the drama so I was really disappointed.

There’ll be only two reasons why I would decide to rewatch this. Lee Hyun Woo and Lee Joon Hyuk. Their acting was superb (and they’re the good-looking ones, in my opinion).

The story was good, but I didn’t like how they executed some parts of the story which ended up being dragging. Nevertheless, this drama is worth the watch if you can endure watching some boring parts in exchange of witnessing a beautiful once-in-a-lifetime friendship cruelly tested by painful circumstances.

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Not at all overrated

At first I was hesitant to watch this film because of it was based on a true story about the civil war that took place in Somalia; South Korea has had multiple issues with portraying foreign cultures after all. So hearing about this movie's plot taking place in a real historical event, though I am not part of that culture, made me uneasy. But because it got high ratings and awards, I gave in to my curiosity and gave it a go. From my observation, the film mainly focused on the 2 Korean embassies (as the title says) escaping from Mogadishu and barely touched on the details of the war going on around them.

Acting was SUPERB, as expected from top actors, Zo Insung, Kim Yoonseok, and Heo Joonho. I didn't know Koo Kyohwan was in this until I saw him in the film which was a pleasant surprise as he's becoming one of my new favorite actors after watching him in D.P.

Overall, it was a really touching story of how the 2 Koreas managed to put aside their political differences to survive together through the chaos. It actually reminded me of the movie Joint Security Area. Regardless of where you're from, this film will definitely make you strongly wish for reunification between North and South Korea.

I'm still curious, though, if they accurately presented the war. I kind of hoped that they showed more of the innocent Somali people who, like the Korean characters, were also victims and also desperately tried to escape. For those who know more about the real event and have seen the movie, please let me know in the comments if there were any inaccuracies. Thanks!

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