It took quite a long time for the killing spree to start but no second leading up to it was wasted. This film had a brilliant story behind the horror and whilst most horror films are more sadism than substance, Death Bell 2 had a great balance of both. In fact, the deaths were so imaginative and disturbing I hope never to meet the writers behind the script!
I was interested in seeing Ji Yeon in a horror role after only seeing her as catty Rian in Dream High 2. I expected her to be ok but she surpassed my expectations. She had the same shy, slightly twitchy yet 'tower of strength' personality I loved in Nam Gyu Ri's character from Death Bell 1 whilst being completely different, and most of the boys were easy on the eyes (the ones who managed to stay alive long enough to get a good look at anyhow).
The music's hard to comment on as the film was so intense I barely noticed it and the most effective scenes were the killing ones where silence or indescribable music boosted the scary atmosphere. The music I did notice at the beginning though was great for setting the scene.
Overall the film isn't too gory (although there's a lot of blood) and not that scary so if you're a human jelly, like me, then you won't need to find anything to hide behind before you watch. I've given Death Bell 2 a rewatch value of 8 just because I feel once you've worked out who's behind the killings and who's going to be killed, the element of surprise might be lost and make rewatching less enjoyable (but am going to rewatch anyway!)
A great film!
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*When it comes to acting I really don't know what to say...it's Shin Ha Kyun the most talented actor ever...the short guy who's not so good looking but yet his smile makes me fly of happiness & his tears destroy me...his acting is real for me...once I watch him on screen I feel like I'm there with him in his world...
I thought at 1st that this drama will be showing us how wrong Dr. Lee Kang Hun was in his methods & in seeking success...It's the thing I hate most in K-drama the perfect humans they portray (Like in King Of Baking) but this drama is not about that...it shows an imperfect man who's cold, arrogant and selfish...someone wasted the time he had with his mother and followed a stupid revenge - that was eventually against himself...yet this drama glorifies his unlimited ambitions...that's what i love about this drama...that at the end they didn't let him sacrifice his Ego but respected and protected him.
*The OST was really good and fitting with the drama...the song Solitude makes me cry while listening to it even without understanding the lyrics...really good I also read that Kim Hyun Joong recommended the song Closer.
*The reason I enjoyed this drama a lot was the characters and the acting...so I'll definitely re-watch it.
*There's only a few kisses in this drama but they are good & the romantic scenes were touching...also the weakness of most Korean actors is crying scenes but it's a strong part of this drama...the way Shin Ha Kyun cries was destroying me...it was so good and so real that I wanted to hug Dr. Lee. :')
*Hope this review was helpful...I'm really grateful I watched this drama...it's not that popular...but it was one of the best I've ever seen...just give it a shot...you might get hooked from the 1st ep like me ^.^
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My verdict? It won't be long before I see it for a third time, which might make you wonder why I gave it pathetic music rating. I gave it a pathetic music rating because there is no music to speak of, none, zilch, nada, not unlike_No Country for Old Men_. Alas, unlike _No Country for Old Men_, _Christmas in August_ has nothing to commend itself in terms of a suspenseful plot, cinematography-rich settings,or a villain so compelling as to make your skin crawl.
What it does have is a reality which you would not have known could ever have existed and conveyed with such subtlety and nuance that you're reaction upon viewing would probably be along the lines of "What?!" To be sure, it's a thinking man's film,one if you could ever get your head wrapped around, you might experience what I did the second time around: an ineffable sorrow which shedding tears for would be vulgar in the extreme.
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I need my time back
Call me a hopeful watcher, but I was hoping this story would lead somewhere ... it didn't.The BL aspects weren't censored... they were just none existent. Like it never happened and the original material was a fever dream. Didn't even get a little tension, just a toxic, convoluted... "friendship?"
The bad guy got the glory and the victim went fishing. No justice. Slap dash resolution to 14 episodes of abusive tantrums.
I request a refund on my time.
Will not rewatch.
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Story- the first few episodes told the child stories. Normally I’ll fast forward through these because I don’t have the patience but I found the story compelling already. By the time the time the adult characters come on you are already immersed into the story and wanting to see how these damaged characters grew up and how they come together. This drama made me laugh and cry. The ending was just perfect=)
Acting/Cast- The acting was perfect by everyone. I am a new fan of Kim Jae Won! He portrayed his deaf character so well. Really spectacular acting by NGM. His character had so many layers and he was able to portray his complex character so well that I was able to feel Maru’s pain.
Music- Lovely score.
Rewatch- I’d watch this again in 2 years. That will give me enough time to forget a lot that happened. I loved the cast so i would want to see this again sooner than later.
Overall for a drama that is 30 eps, it is worth the watch because it’s so well written and acted.
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I think the idea behind this drama is awesome! It was totally made for Kpop fans and I really enjoyed watching it! Not just because of Seulong, Nichkhun and the others but also because of the story the drama told.
It was really fun to watch it and I recommend it to every Kpop fan out there! :D
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This review may contain spoilers
Wow Amazing
I thought the story was very interesting and unique. A short Chinese drama that mostly tells the story of one-night stands and wealthy CEOs. Wang gege and Kaimu are extraordinary in their roles. Six strategies in winning a mission, which at first Wang gege was rejected outright and even humiliated. But finally he found his true love. The storyline goes back and forth, and is difficult to predict. Hmmm, there is a fairly intense scene when making love. Overall, it is good to watch again. AMAZING.Was this review helpful to you?
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The gift which, unknowingly, keeps on giving!
Firstly, this is a love story spanning age, obstacles and standards set by some people. The story perfectly describes how “Li Wu” which may also mean gift became a special gift which unexpectedly became part of Cen Jin’s life. When she allowed him to be part of her life yes it was a mess but the little did she know that she had a gift placed into her life transforming it forever!Ohh my Sniper butterfly, how can l even perfectly talk about you!? I first came across this drama months back while it was still upcoming, the poster caught my attention first before the synopsis had me hooked thought l thought twice on whether to watch it not as l had never been a fan of older woman younger man romances before. I clicked plan to watch and moved on with my life, come 28th November, l saw the official announcement of its release on 4th of December and l quickly took it as a final sign to watch it!
Once the first 4 episodes were released, l quickly hopped onto the ride which l do not regret embarking. Dear reader, if you are reading this wondering whether to watch Sniper butterfly or not, take this as a your final call to quickly watch the gem!!!!
I like how they made it clear that Li Wu’s love for Cen Jin was purely love not an entanglement of love and gratitude. Many a times, people may mistake gratitude for love or they may feel the need to love people they are indebted to but this drama made sure to show the clear line!
Though many people may have felt that the frequent flashbacks were unnecessary, l perceived that it was necessary for viewers to see how, why and when either of their feelings for each other grew and developed without getting facts mixed up! Ohh the innocence and cuteness Li Wu carried deserves to be applauded. Despite that, he still served some manliness, having that sense of responsibility as a boyfriend which made their love story admirable. How can l even fully describe the way that man felt whenever anything involved Cen Jin!?
Li Wu knew exactly what he wanted he definitely did not allow anything to stop him from standing by that regardless of age, people, distance or background!
Chun Chang & YI Yang’s story was a good one though the ups and downs were 🫠 considering how the main leads were already keeping us on our feet! However worry not, it’s just enough for you to turn a blind eye to or even enjoy as it’s not boring🤭
I like how the drama gave us a clear view of the type of woman Jin was which made it understandable for every step and decision she made! Despite their age gap being big, the drama managed to bring out a great love story without making Jin seem more of a mother than a girlfriend to Li Wu!
The drama had so many powerful characters! A father who always stood, loved and supported his daughter! He wasn’t the type of parent to try and force his beliefs on his child, but he sat down, let her talk, listened to her, let her express how she felt, gave honest advice yet leaving her with room to make her own final judgement and decision.
A friend like Cheng Rui!!🥹 I always knew he was THAT friend but when he said, “I told you we are friends, whatever happens, we handle it together. If the sky falls, l will hold it up even if l have to tiptoe.” my love and respect for him as Li Wu’s friend skyrocketed!!!
My girl Michelle had to wear wedged shoes most of the time to lessen the height difference! 😂🥹🤭 Despite their real life age gap, they still delivered the story in an amazing manner!
I did wish they gave us wedding but l will still gladly settle for the happy ending they gave us! It has its flaws but that won’t stop me from recommending anyone to watch it! Hope you enjoy it as much as l did!
Maybe just maybe after this l might consider going for a younger man now!😂😏 Dynamites do come in small packages after all!
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A special BL that deserves your time
I think I've made it my mission to get everyone I know to watch this show lol. I absolutely LOVED this series. Music, acting, storyline, cinematography, EVERYTHING was done so well.This is the first Thai BL that I actually followed as it aired and I was hooked from the beginning and I think what originally intrigued me, from the first trailer, was how different it is from other BLs (i.e. the setting to the professions of the main characters), but the differences in details are just the tip of what sets this apart from other BLs. For me, this show is much more mature than the other BLs I've seen in terms of the themes, social commentary, the way the characters conduct themselves emotionally. Maybe I'm just old (lol) but the fact this show, despite being only 10 episodes long, was a slow burn really made me appreciate the journey P'Aof, Eath, and Mix take us on.
EarthMix/PhuphaTian:
Earth and Mix really hit it out of the park. Their acting and chemistry was nothing short of phenomenal. They really put their heart into their characters and it definitely comes off on screen. They really did an amazing job making me feel what they felt—I laughed with them, I cried with them, I got annoyed and angry (here's looking at you Chief in episode 8), I felt giddy (Episode 3!!). I think there's a criticism about all the quiet staring between the two MCs, but for me, this was one of my favorite things about this show. You're watching two characters fall in love with each other, but they're so hesitant for their own reasons (Tian coming to terms with his sexuality and Phu being an awkward 30 year old who hasn't learned how to adequately convey his feelings lol (relatable)). Mix and Earth say so much with their eyes that I feel like you can't adequately express with words and for me, I loved watching them slowly get to the place where they're finally able to say the words out loud. For me, this made all the heartbreaking scenes even more heartbreaking and the ending that much more satisfying.
Story/Music:
Fantastic. There's no other word for it. I'm grateful for Bacteria for creating such amazing source material and words can't describe how much in awe I am of P'Aof and whoever else worked on translating the novel into the script/story. I haven't finished the book yet, but from what I understand there are some differences (as expected), but without knowing what those differences are I trust P'Aof did what he thought was best for the series. You can tell a lot of thought went into the story as just about no stone goes left unturned. Every detail is so meticulous. You can tell this was a labor of love and I, as a fan and a viewer, am so grateful.
The show, while taking on very classic drama tropes, I think does a great job in ramping up the intensity. The way the plot and characters are written allows you to be fully immersed. Specifically in the last few episodes when the drama is at its peak, was yelling at my tv through tears.
I can't talk about the story without talking about the music/scoring. PHENOMENAL. The opening OST is already iconic and now we have three versions (still waiting on GMMTV to give us the EarthMix version), and of course Earth's FIRST OST (proud of him) which is so sweet, but I also love the incorporation of previously released songs as well. The song used in the Karaoke scene in Ep. 3 is dreamy and of course, the most recent song used at the reception in Ep. 10? I cried and then immediately purchased the song on iTunes lol. Aside from the lyrical songs, the scores included in the series are just perfection. We have all the classic silly sounds used to elevate the mood of certain scenes, but for me, it's the romantic scores used throughout the series that just never fails to make my heart flutter. I applaud whoever worked on the score for the series.
Underrated favorite scene of ATOTS:
This is random, but I cry every time I watch this scene (I've seen it at least half a dozen times at this point) so I want to mention it lol. One of my absolute favorite scenes of the series is the campfire scene in Ep. 9. It's so heartbreaking and Earth and Mix did such a phenomenal job. This scene, from the dialogue, the acting, the cinematography was SUPERB.
I know a lot of us were upset with Chief in the last few episodes, as someone who's closer to his age in the show, I can't help but feel empathy for him when he tries to get Tian to go home. Specifically in this scene, when Phu tells Tian "It's impossible" for them to be together, my heart absolutely breaks. The way Earth delivers this line, you can just hear the tired and hurt in his voice. You absolutely know Phu wants nothing more than to be with Tian, but there are so many other factors. Tian is still so young. Not to discredit his feelings or experience, because he's lived so much life for someone who's only 21, but he does have so much else to live for. Tian has his parents, friends, school, a whole other life away from Pha Pun Dao and Chief knowing that Tian would give literally all of that up just to stay with him? I mean what an act of love on Tian's part. It's awe-inspiring (sorry if that's cheesy lol) but at the same time, I feel like 1) Phu is scared Tian will resent him one day after making such a huge sacrifice and 2) he doesn't want to put Tian in the same position his mother was in (flashback to the start of the EP when Phu is talking to Torfun on the cliff about why he doesn't make time for love).
On the opposite end, seeing Tian being so honest and adamant about how he feels for Chief was so amazing to see. Mix is seriously a force."Chief, one word from you and I'll stay." I think about this scene/ dialogue constantly. It was so well done.
Rewatch ability:
I've already rewatched each episode multiple times and I just started my entire series rewatch lol. Knowing what I know now, I'm looking for clues trying to figure out when Chief's duty transformed into love and honestly, I think Chief was smitten from the very beginning.
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This show is funny, but unlike many asian dramas it doesn't suffer from trying too hard to be funny. It knows where the joke is then ENDS it. The comedy in the show is paced really well with the drama, so you wont feel as if you're stagnating in the drama or comedy for too long.
The romance is good. The characters are believable, and their romance progresses naturally without the plot forcing them together too soon, or keeping them apart for too long.
The villans in the drama actually have reasons for being the way they are, and at points you can really feel for them. No one is wholly evil, so you get to see the good and the bad in people and their struggle of which side will win. The mustashe twirlers are at least funny, so even if you don't identify with them at least you get to laugh at them throughout.
I had to give this a 9 out of 10 because one major storyline is just never resolved, also because although the ending was nice, it didn't really go with the rest of what the drama was.
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A small clan based in Ii Valley, where Hamamatsu City is now. Hamamatsu is a city in Shizuoka prefecture, Kanto region. The Ii(s) are now based in Saga prefecture, where Ii Naomasa was relocated to when the Tokugawa Shogunate was established.
The Ii(s) as a samurai clan had a much longer traceable history than most of the major clans - the Takeda, Hojo, Matsudaira/Tokugawa etc - around them, with some estimates giving them a 1000 year old lineage. At the least, their ancestry could be traced back to the Kamakura era.
Two of the most famous Ii(s) included Ii Naomasa and Ii Naosuke.
Ii Naomasa was one of the Four Heavenly Generals under Tokugawa Ieyasu, and played a prominent role in the founding of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the revival of the Ii clan.
Naosuke was one of the foremost conservative influence during the ending period of the Shogunate, and his assassination paved the way for the establishment of the Meiji era under a new modernist regime.
As an historical person, Ii Naotora was shrouded in mystery and many uncertainties. Some historians assert that she was actually a man, and that Naotora and Naomasa’s adoptive mother were not the same person.
The Story
If you are looking for battle scenes and samurai fighting, you will be sorely disappointed. As the synopsis stated, the story started at a point of crisis for the Ii clan. Their continued survival was highly questionable, and the story reflected the uncertainties and helplessness of a clan on the verge of collapse.
What this drama did very well, and unlike most other Taigas before it - with the exception of Sanadamaru before it - was the focus on the small scale struggles and daily survival efforts of peripheral clans and the people in them. Hence, there are more villagers with names here than you will ever see in many of the Taigas from the last decade. The intimate and humanistic aspects of the drama were what piqued my interest in the first place. While always interesting and grandiose, the focus on all those major personalities got tiring after a while.
Here, we are reminded that ideally, all those political and armed struggles were meant to be for a greater purpose, to bring about peace and stability, not for the sole purpose of personal aggrandizement and megalomaniac-ambition.
The dialogue and messages in this drama were well-written and most often thought-provoking, if somewhat idealized.
In turns comical and heartwarming, it was also mostly just tear-inducing.
A story full of love - in all its myriad representations - and of stubborn people (or if you prefer, persistent and determined).
Characters
If there is to be only one reason to watch this drama, it would be for the character of Ono-Tajimanokami-Masatsugu.
He was a character that encompassed many virtues and ideals in the form of a man, but above all, it was love and devotion. Love for a woman, the family, friends, the homeland, the clan, of honour, duty, sacrifice and peace.
(And if you are a shipper and have the tendency to have Second-Male Lead-Syndrome, Ono Masatsugu will be the ultimate candidate to break your heart and provide tonnes of angst and ache).
On reflection - since there have been many, many fantastic second male lead characters before - what truly made Ono Masatsugu stood out from the fray, besides some good - if spotty - writing, was the fact that in the hands of Takahashi Issei, he was elevated to a sublime level of intensely stoic devotion and loving magnanimity. An unsurpassed potent combination.
Besides Masatsugu, I would dare venture that there are many lovable and admirable characters in this show. Whether you agree with their motivations or not, no one failed to live up to their ideals or limitations, of which there were numerous. While a weird way to state, whether the goal was mediocrity or self-sacrifice, most everybody tried their best.
Cast/Acting
Generally, the casting and acting were solid and competent, befitting a Taiga. Personally, however, I did not find all acting equally appealing. I did not particularly enjoy Shibasaki or Suda’s acting, as I thought they overexpressed at some parts. Still, they did very well in their roles.
Most of the secondary characters had very competent actors and actresses at the helm, and that had made for a marvelous watch.
Last but not least, another note on Takahashi Issei as Ono Masatsugu. His role here captured my imagination and made me a fan, so while biased, I have to once again comment on his amazing performance. He turned what was a run-of-the-mill-character into THE character to pay attention to. His presence made what was an average Taiga into one that engrossed the hearts and minds of fans. While not an especially popular Taiga (ratings were quite mediocre), Naotora might well turn into a cult-drama for the way it has engaged the emotions of fans, and Masatsugu had been one of the main reasons for this phenomena.
Music/Composition
A gorgeous soundtrack and background music accompanied this show and raised the level of emoting for the whole series. Simply breathtaking music.
Overall
While I have had problems with certain aspects of the development of the storyline and the relationships they portrayed, I could not complain that it was not already written into the story from the beginning (unlike some other stories/shows), though due to various factors, interpretations for the story deviated somewhat from the intentions of the scriptwriter. This is mostly an issue of personal expectations and subjective interpretation.
The story, however, devolved into semi-farcical comedy and ridiculousness at certain portions of the second half, and this detracted somewhat from the overall quality of the show.
While no-where-near-perfection, this series has been an interesting glimpse into a lesser known clan and world of the Sengoku era.
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You'll Love this Couple
This drama was so amazing for the simple reason that the couple was all grown-up - no stupid misunderstandings because of miscommunication. I loved the build to the romance and all the shy embarrassed experiences they had before finally admitting their feelings. Kim Jae-uk and Park Min-young had such great chemistry together which means this is one of those rare couples that just melt your heart, plus their banter was just soooo cute.These two were couple goals truly!
The fangirling was really well woven into the story. Other aspects weren't well incorporated and ended up being...well...boring. My complaint really is that the drama dragged towards the end.
But overall fabulous drama that I would recommend.
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Almost exactly the same as the anime version.
This is good. I watched the anime again and again in the past, so it was a bit of a dull ride for me....or so that's what I thought at first. The story, plot and characters still capture me again just like the anime version. The drama version is good and I think the acting was not bad too, and spoiler ahead......The drama followed the time period of the anime, which is like the year 2000s, so not everyone has a handphone or a computer, the drama skipped some parts of the side character's story and I was okay without it. The awesome internet sensation was a bit underwhelmed, maybe because they did not make it into a world sensation but just the country itself only. But that's okay too.
This time, though there are times when the main lead Xiao Guang treated Chu Ying a bit badly at times, it was not really the same as the anime. The drama showed Xiao Guang treating Chu Ying more kindly, more sincerely and appreciatively. And most importantly, the wonderful day they spent before he left forever. So in my opinion, this is better than the anime version as you won't feel so regretful for Chu Ying for the way Xiao Guang treated him like in the anime.
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