Reviews

Quite nice to watch...

As typical of Sukfilm they try to tell a short story with a very limited budget and this time I think they did quite well. Yes, we are all sick of the same places, but at least the "bar" has now background noises to make the scene more believable. I really really wish, they would have friends in the community to help them out for locations to vary the settings a bit.

This time the story did not contain a bitchy woman and without cringe which was a bliss and the story is just straighforward and kept more real without forced drama. Of course it's cute and has fluffy moments. The acting was good. The only negative I can say is in the finale where, a) the scene with the mom should have been played out and b) the scene of the sister finding out who the lover of her brother is should have been skipped, because it was unnecessary. But all in all, they did nothing wrong (this time).

So if you have not seen it yet, it's about a 65minutes filler and you could have seen worse. 🤣

Read More

a first love high school romance

Overall: this gave off Heartstopper vibes with its animations and tone but I wish they had chosen something less serious (I'll put more information in the spoiler). Aired on 2 episodes per week on Regal Entertainment Inc YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7SneaZWMW0otehz3rmR_7xVEaoW8yNVA

Content Warnings: bullying, transphobia mentioned, mental health struggles and a major one in a spoiler comment

What I Liked
- cute moments
- funny moments
- acting/chemistry
- how the nerdy character defied stereotypes/character cliches, he stood up for himself, had visible tattoos and the character talked about his tattoos as well
- production value
- (neutral) the animations add a sense of whimsy but it's odd because I don't think this script is based off a webtoon/graphic novel so it feels more like copying Heartstopper rather than it making sense based on its source material

Room For Improvement
- the love triangle
- some parts were a bit choppy, at the end it took me a minute to figure out where they were
- I reeeaaallly wish they had chosen something not as serious, of like all the things to choose they chose...that, ugh

Read More

'Chinese Idol Our Song' is a program in which young singers get together with experienced and very popular music stars of the older generation. Together they prepare performances in which they will present new arrangements of various well-known songs. For young singers it is a chance to gain new experience and new skills, for the elders - a chance to share their experience and knowledge. The result turned out to be ... stunning!
"Our Song" is a program filled with positive energy, full of laughter, joy and emotions. There is no episode that would not be dripping with jokes and good humor. The new arrangements of sometimes very old songs are so great that although I haven't had much in common with Chinese music so far, now I am full of delight for older and younger songs. "Ousr Song" has opened a whole new world for me and has become the most enjoyable adventure of recent years. The viewer will meet people with wonderful personalities and a great sense of humor, full of love for music and respect for others.
Not without reason, "Our Song" is China's best and most popular music program in 2019. The group of its international fans is also growing: D
If you have a bad day, any troubles or worries, "Our Song" will be an excellent remedy for them. A radiant smile is guaranteed!

Read More

Who knew that a small incident would lead these two lovable characters into a journey which changes both their lives for the better.

Story:
I L.O.V.E.D the girl. She's so tough, I mean the way she acts. Though there's a deep sadness within her, she tries to hide it with a cheery smile that does not fool our dear Gyeon Woo. It's also different from what I ever watched and I enjoyed it a lot! Seriously I never laughed so hard. There were particular scenes that cracked me up, there's this one where honestly I couldn't breathe because I was laughing so hard.

Acting:
*Nods head and smile* It is flawless. It's like Cha Tae Hyun and Jun Ji Hyun were made to play the lead roles in this movie. I loved Gyeon Woo's mother, always hitting him. In saying that all the girls in his life are always hitting him, poor thing. Jun Ji Hyun plays 'The Sassy Girl' (I just realised that he never referenced her name O.O). She played the abusive, easily drunk, tough, cute, delicate, gorgeous girl. I need to watch more movies with her in it.

Music:
Is it just me or Director Yann Samuell really really loves Canon D Majoy by Pachelbel. I watched his other movie called 'Classic' and the same instrumental piece was played throughout the movie. I'm not complaining, it's more like an observation.

Rewatch:
I sure as hell would rewatch this. It's soo funny,

Overall:
I LOVED IT. I know why people keep telling me to watch the movie. Everything made sense at the end and this movie really made me believe in DESTINY ~

Read More

Okay, but Not Incredible

There have been worse, there have been better. I feel like that sums up the story.

Overall, the story isn't bad. The cinematography is nice and JoongDunk do have nice chemistry with each other. Other than that, nothing to write home about. It wasn't overtly unique, but it was a decent watch.

I didn't regret watching it, but I think I would like to see how these MLs do with a more mature script. Maybe it's because the college/high school arc is getting old, but I'd love to see Thai dramas in general move forward out of the school era.

Overall: Decent watch, but not life-altering.

Read More

Over The Past Ten Hours..

This film is the perfect example of what sets pieces from Japan apart from Westerns, Kdramas, etc. A delicate,heavy story woven by it’s magical Ost, sharp camera language, and effortlessly masterful performances. No where else will you have a similar style in similar executions. The heaviest of topics leading to self reflections that you’re not aware of until it ends.

The Last 10 Years leaves more questions than answers, and not for the film itself. After finishing the film i spent the past 10 hours falling in and out of sleep to the Ost on repeat and tears drawn to the rhythm. Why do such different situations and occurrences hit so close to home? What’s so similar in my own life that has me so empathetic of these characters? Why am I, a grown man, waking up 3 in the morning with puffy eyes over a movie? For fucks sake do i have to check if i wet the bed as well? Are all of these emotions simply the film or realizations from watching it?

I’m usually not a fan of the typical pacing dramas and films from japan, and it’s quite rare to spot one that steps outside of that norm and delivers a deliberate, smooth flow throughout. Especially considering the time restriction of films, taking your time to give more impact towards the climax will always have my upmost respect. Mix that with realistic dialogue,compelling performances, and a subtle melo tone and you got a work from japan at it’s very peak. THIS is what I watch these works for. THIS is what I can’t get anywhere else and feel the same uplifting overtones of a very dark, depressing story.

A slight flaw i find with almost any decent movie, especially ones this good, is that there’s always something more i want to see but not given. Some more fleshed out development instead of the bright, fluffy montages we received of our leads’ bond getting closer would’ve sufficed. Alas, the more you give me and the better it is, the more i want. There’s a very thin line of Perfect between the large margins of “Draggy” and “Not Enough” , this falls in the latter for me.

Films like this, in my opinion, are must watches not only nationally but internationally as well. Such heavy topics delivered in such an impactful way that teaches us things we never considered before needs the recognition. This level of quality is rare to come by. First love is rare to come across. Life itself is such a blessing that is rarely cherished amongst many of us the way it should be. Death is seen too much as this inevitable outcome that some unfortunately succumb to sooner than others. We sometimes empathize for selfish reasons. Some may want to end it all with no concerns of how it effects the people around them. Life can be this seemingly endless journey to a singular destination one wants to rush towards from unfortunate hands dealt, or it could be the journey itself as you cherish a blessing others aren’t given , with those around you through thick and thin that you’ve been lucky to have been dealt.

The Last Ten Years makes use of depressing desires to accentuate the appreciation and beauty of life and finding your own happiness in it. A masterful artwork i hope receives the attention and praise it deserves down the line.

Read More

When you start you can't stop

Unlike idol dramas, where the protagonist naturally takes center stage, ensemble dramas focus more on the passage of time and the enduring strength of a collective spirit. Xia Fenghua embodies the "Hua Street spirit"—the resilience and legacy of the Grand Canal. Her journey is shaped by time, making her the perfect representation of Northward's central theme. This role comes with a dual narrative responsibility:

•Preserving the "Hua Street spirit" – Ensuring that the values and legacy of the Grand Canal continue to thrive in a new era.


• Demonstrating resilience – Showcasing personal growth and perseverance, emphasizing the profound impact of time on an individual’s journey.



For any young actor, these demands are incredibly challenging. The role requires deep emotional engagement, a thorough understanding of the story’s essence, and a flawless execution of character development.
After watching Northward, it’s impossible not to be impressed by Bai Lu’s performance. Her portrayal of Xia Fenghua is deeply moving, marking a significant breakthrough in her career. Not only does she bring a new depth to the character, but she also changes how audiences perceive her as an actress
Ouhao did a great job too, his character was annoying at some moments but it's understandable.
Very good slice of life drama.

Read More

Li Hong Yi Made this Drama. <3

I just finished watching the last episode. This show has been sitting in my watchlist for ages (months) and I just never got around to it because I kept hearing mixed things. A lot of negative things: like how the female lead is annoying, the budget is low, the male is is toxic, etc. Just so many things. And there's a bit of truth to all of it.

So let me explain why I continued until the end.

First, I'm going to start with the less than stellar things.

Yes, the budget is low and it shows. The makeup was also pretty bad for a good portion of the time. Example: The second male lead...every time he was on screen, I stared at his unblended wig line rather than his face. The script...honestly, the majority of it was boring except for the instances between the male and female lead. It was repetitive. The show could have been accomplished in half the amount of episodes. The female lead's character was indeed sort of irritating. Lots of back and forth between the two male leads. Out of the entire cast, I only liked three of them. And the story itself was very, very simple.

Basically, there were a ton of little things.

Now for the parts that kept me going.

1.) While the female lead character was far from my favorite (doesn't even rank), that's all the fault of the script. Actress Rosy Zhao played her part beautifully. My only problem was the horrendous script she'd been dealt.

2.) The other character I liked aside from the leads was the best friend of the secondary male lead. Qin Liu Feng. Actually, that doesn't do him justice. Despite being the best friend of the rival love interest, there were times that it seemed like he was the only one who truly put the female's best interest first. He never judged her or any of them really. And when the second male lead was acting possessed or heartless, he stepped in to give perspective. And most notably, in the end, after all went down, he was the one who told the female lead what had happened and bid her farewell into the arms of the main male lead. He was the most supportive one throughout the whole drama, I think.

3.) To be honest, I didn't like the second male lead for almost all of the show. He was too rigid and set in his beliefs. He would have never put the female lead first. Only the morality of the hypocritical righteous sect placed first in his heart. He didn't even really know how to show affection. He was kind of sad, to be honest. He was the product of his upbringing. But in the end, he let her go. He finally realized that if she stayed with him, he would one day sacrifice her for the good of his people and their beliefs. Only the main male lead, who was deemed the bad guy and hated by everyone, would truly put her first in all things and love her the way she deserved.

4.) That leads me to the so called bad guy. He was the one thing that kept me interested in this drama. Shangguan Qiu Yue, played by Li Hong Yi. I saw where a lot of people called him toxic. Here are my thoughts. This show never portrayed him to be a good guy. He was raised in an ice cave, beaten and trained to hate in order to get revenge for his mother. Someone like this, who saw enemies everywhere, would never show love in a healthy manner. But he evolved and grew. Initially, he used her. The female lead was just another pawn. She became less so as he fell in love. Was his love toxic though? I don't think so. He was a villain. He showed up in her room, kidnapped her frequently, kissed her all the time, tricked her, etc. Yes, those things aren't technically socially okay. But it's what bad guys do. He also saved her all the time, even when the second male lead whom she thought she loved would have sacrificed her for the greater good, which happened quite a few times. The "bad guy" always put her first. He just communicated in the way he'd been raised to communicate: violently and by using tricks. Another thing, he also listened to her and did what she requested, so essentially she called the shots in a roundabout way. So no, I didn't have a problem with his character. Not everyone can be cookie-cutter perfect.

Still on Li Hong Yi...

He was beautiful throughout and he kept giving her this expression that was just to die for. It made my heart beat. LOL. It's probably one of the most seductive expressions I've seen in c-dramaland and that's my theory for why it was so popular. <3 People just wanted to look at his bad boy sexy face.

Truthfully, he was the best part of this show. ^_^

Overall, this drama was far from perfect, but I enjoyed it well enough. Probably won't rewatch it though.

Read More

An amazing but simple movie that now lives in my head rent-free

This movie's summary sounded really bare but the trailer looked good and it was offered at a film festival so I decided to check it out. It was a damn good and I'm kind of obsessed with it right now! The story is about a high school student who witnesses a younger student being brutally bullied by her classmates and decides to step in, admittedly out of a hero complex. One of the most kindest MLs I've seen so far, he is so kind and sweet to her and they get closer... and then the story goes into some dark places but I won't spoil it, since it builds to a really romantic, heartwarming conclusion imo.

The story wasn't groundbreaking or special, I'll be first to admit, all the weird little quirkiness aside, but it was still engaging and resonated with me. It was quite deep and heartfelt - it showed how even in the darkness of this world and human behaviour, there are still good people out here who commit to being someone's light. The acting was top-notch, especially on Ishii Anna's part. I didn't really notice the music that much but it wasn't bad.

Overall, an enjoyable movie, perhaps even one of my favourite out of all the Japanese movies I seen so far and I'll probably rewatch it in the future whenever it is available.

Read More

Getting worse as time goes by.

(1) Story & Its Logic [-]

Hah, I want to scoff. This is the drama that only knows the way to create the title, but doesn't know at all how to develop the story. Their story has only one idea which is "accidentally find love" as the title "一不小心捡到爱" says. Apart from the idea that the ML and FL accidentally meet and love each other, other things are totally a mess. There's no logic in any part of the story. The business part is especially wrongly portrayed. The decisions of each character that is supposed to be the elite class from the good educational background are illogical, irrational and I can't find the root of their characters.

Let's talk a bit about the business part as it won't be a spoiler:

- Everyone on the company board regards the contract that is forced to sign as legal despite knowing that it's obtained by force without the consent of the signee... Excuse me, guyssss. You don't have to discuss how to solve a situation like this at all. The contract is void when it's proved that the contract is done by coercion. How come the senior executives in this drama, including the ML and ML's family, are very less-educated in the basics of business law. This is so unrealistic to the point of stupidity.

- In front of the media, the executives openly quarrel about the share portions and fight over the chairman's position. And this is a company that is on the stock market. And the people fighting over the position are related by blood. This kind of immature action wouldn't only be unacceptable among the board members, but it would cause a big stir among the public and affect the reliability of the company that will eventually affect the stock price. If you can't foresee the consequence of this kind of action in public, you don't even have rights to battle for the chairman position. And when they ask the board to vote right there in front of the media eyes for the next chairman, damnnn... the board plays along?!! Ridiculous! The board wouldn't vote for the next chairman in an impromptu event like this and, top of all, they wouldn't vote for any of you following your immature fight before the media if they want to save the company.

Just a stupid story, I would conclude.

----------------------------------------------

(2) Character Design [-]

There's no characteristic in each character. There's only the writer who forcefully orders each character to think, speak, do what and what. All actions of the characters are just rootless. They stick to one thing like a robot without conscious consideration. They're like machines that stick to what they're programmed without wavering, but then suddenly change their mind again, and without cause, like they're re-programmed. There's no development in their characteristics. Their changes are incomprehensive as well as their prejudices, grudges, obsessions and stupidity.

----------------------------------------------

(3) Acting [-]

Overall is bad. FL makes quite a few trivial but awkward gestures. For the general gestures, she is ok, but when it's the details there're awkward parts. The ML is inexperienced in acting it's very obvious, but that also makes it refreshing to see him in love scenes. His ears are always super red... always like I don't know anymore if that maybe his ears' normal color. Good point about this drama is the chemistry between the leads, but this thing alone can't help with the overall bad points of it. The weakness of this drama is too strong.

----------------------------------------------

To have been anticipated for this drama is disappointing for me. To finish this drama is also a waste of time.

Read More

Waste of a Good Premise

Sigh. What a colossal waste of so much potential. Blind wasn’t bad to the point of unwatchable but it was a waste of a good premise. Wasted, dare I say, on gimmickry (a de facto mystery box) so that in the end the narrative focus shifted from where it should have been — on the survivors of human rights abuses to the present-day murders and original villains from the Hope Welfare Centre running interference. The last half hour or so of the series was a decent wrap but not enough to save the rest of the package for me at least. It’s a shame really because the show had the opportunity to do something of substance with regards to exploring the egregious of human rights violations at the centre of the narrative but instead pandered to all the worst excesses of a K drama crime show. Corrupt cops going from bad to worse to cover their rear ends. Corrupt bureaucrats who don't see the error of their ways. Tight-lipped witnesses who have some "compelling reason" to stay mum. Over eager cops rushing headlong into situations for which they are unprepared. Incompetent cops floundering around causing problems or being designated comic relief. And frankly, not every K drama has to have an serial killing angle to it. It doesn’t always enhance a show. In this case it does almost nothing except create moral confusion about which characters to root for. The fixation to turn this into a jigsaw puzzle about who the mastermind behind the present day murders made it hard to connect with any of the characters.

The actors should get their due for powering through this and throwing themselves into this over convoluted script. This has got to be one of the worst revenge plots I’ve ever seen especially considering the competing goals of the conspirators. The so-called “mastermind” lost control of the scheme very early on which led to more of a blood bath than was intended. Count of Monte Cristo this certainly is not. It’s not even on par with the far more straightforward Taxi Driver. All throughout the script gave a very superficial impression that this was a much more complex story than it really was. In reality, putting aside all the unwanted (and clumsy) interventions, the list of suspects was always fairly short. Only a handful of individuals could be party to the conspiracy to avenge. Moreover, the jury tampering for the first trial so that everyone’s in the same place on hindsight seem completely unnecessary. Plus I’m none the wiser as to how that was so easily achieved.

On some level I don’t think it’s a problem to be over using red herrings per se if the red herrings have another purpose apart from putting the breaks on plot progression. I’m not a fan of suspense for suspense sake especially when it’s rather obvious even before the final act who the perpetrators are.

16 episodes is too long for a familiar plot like this. (Especially when it aired around the same time as May It Please the Court) The pacing is a problem. There’s a great deal of intensity in the early episodes and then it falters, picks up a little and then slows down before the big reveals in the finale. Episode 13 saw me hitting the roof especially the latter part because it demonstrated how the conspirators could have achieved their revenge in a far more efficient fashion while revealing to the world what was done to the children in the welfare centre. All of that without tainting their cause and undermining whatever moral credibility that they had as victims of an unjust system. This show could have easily been achieved in under 10 episodes easily. And the messaging would not be as compromised as it ended up being.

Read More

This friendship, this bonding between 5 young men, barely eighteen, is tested through adversity, tragedy and a spectrum of experience and emotional growth. Being of the same age does not equate to an equal level of maturity. And with this blend of personalities, even friendship doesn’t prevent jealousy, misunderstandings or anger. I was touched and I hope you will be too, by their friendship, their bond, their loyalty and the ultimate choice they make.

This drama was a surprise, surprisingly insightful and realistic, not the fairytale I thought it would turn out to be. Watch it, you'll be glad you did.

Read More