This review may contain spoilers
Prepare To Develop A Twitch From This Film, It Will Make Your Brain Hurt
What a fascinating twisty turny story this was about a serial killer chasing another serial killer! I had seen a clip of this film weeks ago and it immediately peaked my interest. That clip was the one of our main character Byung Soo rear ending a younger man Tae Joo with his car, then coming to find out Tae Joo has a bloody body in his trunk. That interaction was so well done and gripping I had to see the movie.I'll start with the acting. It's great all the way around, but especially from Sol Kyung Gu (Byung Soo) and Kim Nam Gil (Tae Joo). Those two acted off of each other so well! The daughter's actor Kim Seol Hyun was good as well, but her peak didn't really happen until the revelation about her father much later on into the film. There's some really nice cinematography in this. A couple unique shots stood out to me and I loved, then some others were meh and could've been tweaked. Specifically shots within the bamboo forest. Some of those could've been so cool if done differently. Overall though, really well shot! The music score was also really gripping, especially with the use of hard drums. Definitely made the suspense cling to you.
So with that all aside, let's move onto the plot. Like I stated before, the overall plot is really interesting. A serial killer would know how to track down another serial killer! Just by the way he thinks and plans. The dementia and alzheimers definitely made for another interesting plot device to keep the story going and make it more difficult for out main character. Whom I believe could've taken down Tae Joo sooner if not for the illness weighing him down. Sometimes though, the mental aspect felt overused a tad and it made things unclear what was real for awhile. Which could be very confusing for casual viewers. However, I don't consider myself one of those so I thought the solid not knowing was a highlight of the film, because it keeps you guessing and questioning. There's a period of the film where it kind of backpedals a bit, but eventually gets you moving forward again and I quite liked that.
That last act of the film was really solid, including the revelation that Byung Soo wasn't wrong or guilty of the current crimes being committed. Which led to an amazingly choreographed fight scene in the house. Another scene that happens before this that I really liked was the friend cop lighting the cigarette only for its flame to show Tae Joo's face in the shadows. That was really cool, shocking and very horror-esque. Dude opened the pack too early, because I'm pretty sure those cigarettes were meant to be lit after capturing Byung Soo but I could be wrong?
I am aware that this film is based on a book, which now I want to read. As well as there being a directors cut with an alternate ending. I didn't like this alternate ending and think viewers should stick to the theatrical cut, since the other cut is too obvious for me and not gripping like this one. Definitely watch the film though and don't get it mixed up with Bong-Joon Ho film "Memories of Murder" completely different film! Both worth a watch though!
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama completely took over my life. This hasn't happened to me since... since Word of Honor, I guess? And as much as I adored WoH, not even that drama moved me so deeply.I wouldn't be able to tell you why exactly ALP touched me so much. I guess it was the theme of self-sacrifice? Of duty and honor and love? And of friendship that lasts hundreds of thousands of years and isn't treated as something, well, less?
Because one of the things that fascinated me was the bond among the three True Gods: Zhi Yang, Tian Qi and Bai Jue. They have known each other for hundreds and hundreds of thousands of years, they protected the three realms together and they died and were reborn in their service to the gods, the immortals and the mortals, and they did it with grace and dignity - and not a little mischief. They bickered and poked fun at each other and sometimes they didn't see each other for thousands of years but the warmth they felt for each other never lessened. And that was simply beautiful.
The main draw for me was Xu Kai as Bai Jue/Bo Xuan/Qing Mu - and he did an absolutely incredible job playing these characters who were one and the same person and not at the same time and at no point had I trouble telling the three of them apart. Even when Qing Mu and Bai Jue stood side by side, I knew who was who. Xu Kai is a truly gifted actor and this drama let him showcase that.
Many, many times was I moved to tears. The last two eps I pretty much bawled through. I stayed up way past midnight to finish the drama and I cried so hard that my heart is still aching this morning and my eyes are all swollen. It was so beautiful.
What I must mention and praise is the CGI. The scenery, the fights, all of them looked so amazing and so real that at no point was I torn out of what was happening, thinking "Looks fake." Especially the fights looked truly epic, like fights between gods should.
Thinking back, there were several moments that truly stood out for me:
When Bai Jue was forced to kill Tian Qi
When the True Gods imprisoned Xuan Yi - and when they later on defeated Wu Huan with the same method
When Qing Mu received Bai Jue's spear
When Qing Mu received the 81 lighting strikes and elevated his position to a demi-god
When Bai Jue and Tian Qi battled together at Bai Jue's second wedding
When Gu Jun died for Hou Chi/Shang Gu
When Tian Qi learned about Bai Jue's plan - and then the moment before the battle with Wu Huan, when he realized that Bai Jue was going to die soon
When Bai Jue talked to his son about the meaning of death
When Bai Jue gave himself over to the Doom of Chaos, dying for Shang Gu with a smile on his face because he managed to save her, after all
When Shang Gu came to the Swamp of Netherill and realized what Bai Jue had done...
So many wonderful moments, and that's just off the top of my head.
Also, the score. LAP's songs not only had a beautiful melody, their text was downright heartbreaking, "when she turns to ash, he guards the three realms for her."
This drama was... it was everything I could've wanted and more. I don't think I've ever rated a drama so high but, yeah, it's a 10.
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I couldn't be more wrong…
After the first half I thought I could handle this movie even though I heard it was very sad. I thought people exaggerated… And after all those cute scenes, I cried my eyes out. Then I got a few more cute scenes then the ending totally broke me.
I cried more during this movie than during all the movies I watched this year combined.
Also the aesthetics of this movie were really nice and the actors did a great job. I love this movie and highly recommend it.
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Lighter version of "Remembrance of Things Past"
Completed - 1/7/2022"Delicious Romance" is a pretty underrated drama, and probably because the cast members are not idols and not as famous. However, it's a heartwarming drama about friendship, love, career and dreams. I feel that it's a lighter and happier version of "Remembrance of Things Past" (which I strongly recommend).
I enjoy the close friendship between the three main leads. They have funny and witty banter, are open and honest with each other, even if they are criticizing each other's decisions. I believe the friendship is what attracted most people to this drama. These ladies are 30 years old and are facing life's challenges as 30-year-old women in China. It's not surprising the following topics/challenges are covered in this drama:
1. Family and Society Prejudice against single, unmarried women.
2. Prejudice of divorced women
3. Sexual harassment and inequality treatment at work
4. Boss and Subordinate vs. romantic partner relationship
5. Stable and steady job vs. following your dream to unchartered territory
6. Income and Status inequality
This is a very short drama, only 20 episodes long at about 30 minutes each. The pace is fast and I was not bored at all. I quite enjoy the comedy inserted in the drama to deal with some of the heavier topics. I feel that the drama does a good job in introducing all three leads and show us their stories and personalities. I like them all and feel for them when they are faced with challenges. They each have their own flaws, but I root for them.
On the other hand, I feel the romance storylines are under-developed. I'd like to see more between Liu Jing and Jiang Shan Mu and how they fall in love, esp. from JSM. I also want to see a little more about the resolution between Xia Meng and Lu Bin at the end. As for Fang Xin and Zhang Ting, I want to see more of them after they get together. Because the drama is quite short, there isn't enough time for all, in addition to the other plots.
I also like:
- Xia Meng critiquing all the tropes and cliches in rom-coms.
- Jiang Shan Mu and his daughter's relationship - she is one smart cookie
- the funny drama shooting scene with the concubines
- first drag show I've seen in C-dramaland
Overall, I enjoy this very binge-able drama. It might not be as good as "Remembrance of Things Past", but it's an easy and enjoyable watch. I recommend this to those who like dramas of women-centric friendship and their life's challenges/decisions.
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At its very core, this lakorn is really the age old story of Romeo and Juliet. Heroine Yanin Jakrawut (aka Nikki), played by Jensen Sririta, returns to Thailand from living in America. As an heir to the Jakrawut fortune, she visits Thailand regularly to see her father even though she feels unloved as the odd one out - the “half-breed” her relatives call her - the only American in a large wealthy family. She meets her opposite number, San or Sanyakorn Rungsarith (played by Wasukraipaisarn Witaya) while traveling as an ordinary student. He’s the very proper son of the wealthy Rungsarith family - her family’s business rival - and Nikki’s half-brother’s cousin. Sparks fly between the two as they get to know each other despite their cultural differences.
Expect as a many twists and turns as an American soap opera or a Korean makjong drama in this story as there are deaths, birth secrets, hidden loves, conflicts between servants and masters, guns, and beatings as well as lots and lots of broken hearts. I was surprised by how addictive this story was and how, despite some pretty coarse language and situations, love wins out for all the surviving characters. Secondary characters Niyomsup Worawut as Bunleu and Yaowananon Pitisak as Kampanart/Raywat have a particularly deep story line. Unlike some of the more slap/kiss lakorns, this show features true loves and a fair amount of un-forced skinship that makes this a very appealing drama. Be prepared for some horrible relatives, though!
Ratings-wise, I gave this lakorn a 7.5 overall for its story, which surprised even me! Its plot involves several generations, love and hate, and appropriate business settings - all aspects that pleased me. There is a lot of almost-gun-violences, however, so that brought my overall score down in my opinion. The cast did a very good job with what they were given. You’ll see a lot of the standard lakorn characters but by the end, the writers did a great job explaining the very complicated motivations.
I don’t often wish a lakorn is longer but this one was so action packed that it really could have been extended by an episode or two. Music-wise, this lakorn was nothing to write home about. Even the theme song did not stick with me. Despite this, it wasn’t annoying or distracting so that is a plus. As a rewatch, well, this lakorn doesn’t call to me. It was actually so complicated that I felt like I gave it my full concentration the first time and it doesn’t need another viewing yet. Despite the 6 for rewatch value and a 7 for music, the plot (plots!) itself keeps my total viewing score higher than I’d expected.
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don't let MDL's rating fool you...
VERY light spoilers, mostly near the end where i talk about characters. skip that if u haven't watched (the rest is safe). it's also lengthy, but i promise you'll want to consider what i talk about before jumping induring this drama's airing, the discussion was either filled with two types of viewers: people who were growing annoyed with it (or hated it) and people who enjoyed it. this drama is very much a love-or-hate drama. personally, i loved it.
does it have its flaws? yes, because every drama does! however, i don't think it deserves the reputation some viewers have given it. before i talk about what i viewed as the drama's flaws, i'll focus on the things i really enjoyed.
people have called it bad, or messy, or manipulative... i don't think that's fair to say. the thing is, it's a mystery drama. suspense is its biggest weapon. what some viewers have labelled as "manipulation" or "messy storytelling" has been.... suspense. this drama plays HEAVY on intentionally misleading the audience - don't go into this drama thinking you'll have answers halfway. you won't know even a smidge of what's going on until past the halfway point... i personally enjoyed that. iit requires patience to watch this drama, which is why i encourage potential watches to consider if they enjoy waiting for answers or rather something fast-paced. the suspense builds up slowly at times, but it kept me on the edge of my seat.
had we gotten answers halfway in, the story could have potentially grew boring. yes, there were some questions left unanswered and things i wish the writers would have elaborated on - but i don't think the solution to that would have been solving the mystery sooner. solving the big mysteries right away would have taken away from the drama. i enjoyed the fact that we only got answers in the finale. every episode left you wanting more. the intentional misleading was VERY well-done, and it was fun to try and figure out if you had actually gotten answers or if the writers were trying to trick you into thinking you had figured something out. it made you think... so if you don't like to think about what you're watching and solve the mystery based on little clues left behind, you probably won't enjoy this.
i didn't mind the pacing, either or the focus on support characters. as i said above - i think the pacing was necessary to keep it interesting and the support characters had their purpose. some had more screentime than the second leads, which i found weird and bothersome. but they had a purpose, and overall were entertaining.
the ACTING... i'm going to give it a 10. all things considered, the acting by the cast (including supporting and guest stars) was REALLY strong. no one could have played kang yeo joo as could as cho ye jeong! she is a seamless actress.
i was not familiar with ko jun before this drama, but he did an amazing job as woo sung... how can someone be so disgusting yet still make you laugh? ko jun had all the right charms to effectively play woo sung. he was funny and had moments that ALMOST made you like him... until you remembered he was disgusting.
the second leads: yeonwoo and youngdae! i was very familiar with both of them prior to this drama and was super excited to see them both. they are both "new"/rising actors that i really love. yeonwoo really impressed me with her role as ko mi rae. i'm going to speak on her character later but - yeonwoo blew me away. if you're not familiar with her, she's mostly been cast as energetic characters. some have been whiney and some have been combative, but in the end - they all were loud and had a lot of energy. this was the first time she played someone quiet and mysterious - and the first time she was given a role where she could TRULY shine. her emotional scenes were truly impressive. she is one to watch.
as for youngdae - again, input on his character will come later. but youngdae's acting was strong. he wasn't given a lot to work with, if i'm being honest. but, as one of the few who didn't *particularly* root or ship soo ho and yeo joo, he managed to give me butterflies with how he interacted with yeo joo. the action scenes were impressive, too. another solid role from youngdae.
soundtrack was amazing. OVER by suran might be one of the best OSTs i've heard in a while! i loved the opening credits and the score that went along with it. the scores in the drama reminded me of a grimms brothers fairytale.
let's talk the flaws.
the BIGGEST flaw to me was the characterization. the best character, when speaking about development and backstory, was kang yeo joo. she was fleshed out and it was easy to understand who she was and why she thought/did certain things - even if it took a while to get there.
however, every other character fell short. we understood woo sung was a cheater, a player - but we didn't know anything else about him. his backstory wasn't fleshed out and we barely knew why or when he started cheating. not that that would EXCUSE his cheating (because there's no excuse for it!), but i just didn't understand who he was? maybe that was intentional, so you didn't like him. if so, that was a smart choice.
for the secondary leads... the writers really didn't give them enough justice. the detectives seemed to have more screentime than the second leads. i understood the detectives better than the second leads, at some points.
ko mi rae: a lot of viewers seemed to hate her character, but i didn't feel that way. i didn't particularly love ko mi rae, but i didn't hate her. she was clearly a very damaged character and, in the end, she didn't act on her temptation. one could argue her calling at the end was to act on her temptation, but she was in the middle of a lawsuit that woo sung was helping her with. her biggest desire seemed to be divorcing her abusive husband, taking his money, and locking him up.
she was a damaged character desperate for love - which i think explains why she attached herself to woo sung so quickly, and was unable to let him go. do i think this excuses her going after a married man? no, of course not. but i don't think she was an innately BAD person. she was damaged... which i think the writers could have expanded more on. they clearly tried to make the audience understand why she was so attached, but they didn't do a good job with it. her husband and the abuse she suffered was introduced too late. if there had been more expansion on her story, i think it would be easier to understand her and less people would consider her to be "bad". yes, she was wrong to go after him but in the end, she just wanted justice for herself. not woo sung.
cha soo ho: we knew NOTHING about him other than the fact he was an agent. i love youngdae and he did a great job with what he was given in this drama, but his character fell short. yes, he was funny and charming. but we didn't KNOW him as a person. i found it difficult to like him and yeo joo together because... his feelings came out of nowhere? when did he start liking her? episodes prior to him liking her, he was annoyed with her and wanted to spray her with beer and he also suspected her of murder. his development was poor. he wasn't a bad character, but he had no development and no backstory. i understood the male detective and the dead baek soo jung more than i understood soo ho. it's a shame.
and finally... the ending. i won't say anything as i don't want to put any major spoilers here, but it didn't disappoint me as it did for some others. remember what yeo joo says in the beginning. it makes sense once you think about it.
overall... it had its flaws. but it was not nearly as bad as some people think it was. rewatch value, i've ranked it 6.5 because it could potentially be fun to rewatch to catch clues you might've missed.
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Just watch it
The story is controversial but the way things are put makes it easy to watch. The actors are amazing, the FL and 2nd ML (joss) have such great chemistry that age gap don’t look awkward at all .The characters are believable even when they take the most unconventional path because it matches their personalities. I started the show thinking i will dislike the characters and judge them for going against moral boundaries but instead i ended up rotting for risa and pong. These two brings happiness and complete each other miserable life.If anyone is hesitating I would suggest to just watch but with the alternative ending. Avoid the original ending at all cost if you don’t want to be depressed.
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The emotions!
It feels a bit choppy at times as there are only two parts, but it gets the story through. It sets the mood for the full series. The amount of raw emotions shown by both main actors is amazing. It's a cry fest though. The fact that it is based on a true story made the whole thing even more painful to watch. I can't even imagine how torturous something like this must have been for the real life Nan (or Phu). There is not really much else to say about it, but I am definitely excited about the full series that is airing in March. I can't wait to see more of Phu and Nan, eventhough I really want to shake some sense into Phu before that.Was this review helpful to you?
I watched this with a friend and we kind of laughed through it, even though some parts weren't meant to be funny. It wasn't a complete flop of a movie that we we're laughing but it did seem kind of silly at times. I don't remembering being that scared through out it.
The story's interesting. Unpredictable things happen. I would absoltuely watch it again but just because I had so much fun watching it. This is sort of a sucky review but basically if you're just up for an interesting story with some scares here and there I'd watch it. However if you want something that's going to make you hide under your blanket in fear I wouldn't suggest this movie~
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Story
The concept of this lovely drama is the fated love between the 2 leads. The fate that you can't escape no matter what is thrown at you because it is written in the stars! The drama gathers all the cliches, archetype/classic lead characters, absurd coinsidences, silly comedy scenes, illnesses, main leads pushing each other away while they love each other, amnesia, time jumps, annoying 2nd leads, unnecessary love triangles ect. However, against all odds, those are what make the drama work. How all the cliches placed next to each other, all the silliness, ridiculousness, absurdity just works out, clicks so perfectly and brings the most wonderful results one can imagine.
Best thing this drama has to offer is the romance. Fated to love you starts as a pure comedy and very quickly it develops to a very funny but heartfelt romance. Soon after though, it sends you to the sky, it drags your pitiful ass down to hell, destroy your feels, and then, in the most fulfilling way, it shines and thrives giving you one of the most profound romances i've watched in kdramaland. It delivers emotionally on so many levels, it has such an exquisite sentimental impact that i believe it will stay indelible in my memory forever. Not many rom coms were able to convey and create such affectionate and passionate atmosphere. I'm really thankful i watched it.
I'm happy to say the drama is fast paced, it barely gets dragged (mostly gets slower around episode 15, but still completely enjoyable) and ends leaving you feeling completely accomplished! The only reason this isn't a 10 is because of all the cliches and the fact that most of the situations were totally ridiculous, but i guess that was this drama's biggest charm.
Acting
The acting was overall impeccable but the shining star of this is definitely Jang Hyuk. He is probably the first and only actor that i prefer in comedy than melodrama but he's amazing in both. His character was a little cringy in the beginning, and his acting could be described as over the top, but he left such a strong, memorable impression with his acting that made me fall for him completely. He made the drama what it is, his acting is one of the best things this drama has to offer along with his chemistry with Jang Na Ra. One of the best chemistries i've watched, a blast to watch them on screen!
Jang Nara along with both the 2nd lead roles and the full supporting cast gave a stunning performance.
Recommend/ Rewatch
This is must watch pretty much for every drama fan out there. Rom-com fans feast your eyes, this is delicious in every way. Melodrama lovers, i hereby promise you, you won't regret watching this. As a meticulous melo fan this was totally up my alley, it conveyed much more feelings than i expected on many levels; you won't be dissapointed believe me. If you can turn a blind eye to the cliches and just go with the absurdity of the whole plot, the drama will thoroughly and generously reward you!
Lastly, If i ever make a list of dramas worth rewatching this will definitely be in it!
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Trashiest ML
I started this drama just because the poster looked pretty (that orange was gorgeous), and honestly… I don’t regret watching it, but I also wouldn’t recommend it. It’s the kind of drama I’d be embarrassed to admit I watched.It’s based on an old Wattpad story: Alys likes her best friend Sheen, but he likes Kei. Kei likes Drake, so Sheen asks Alys to seduce Drake. Yeah… you can imagine where this is going.
Was I entertained? Absolutely. I tuned in every week just to hate-watch, lol.
Drake is hands down the trashiest male lead I’ve seen in ages, such a walking red flag. No growth, no character development, just an asshole to the bitter end. Every single line out of his mouth was painful, and the actor being so wooden only made it worse. Cruel and expressionless? A combo nobody asked for.
There was zero reason for Alys to fall for him. She started off adorable, but oh girl… she turned into a complete idiot. Forgiving him over and over without so much as an apology? Self-respect, who?
Tripp was the classic second male lead, kind, actually had chemistry with Alys, and treated her better as a friend than Drake ever did as her boyfriend. I actually enjoyed their dynamic way more.
Aya and Alys’s friendship was one of the best parts. Just two girls being weird together, loved it! But sadly, Aya disappeared in the second half once they went to different universities.
Thank god they dropped the stepmom subplot quickly, because… what even was that?
On the bright side, the production value was solid, and the OST was pretty good. Overall, it was entertaining, but… meh. Would’ve easily rated it higher if only Alys had dumped Drake.
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40 episodes was way to long, I mean that they could have easily shorten it down to 16 episodes, it was way to lagging and repetitive.
Half way I stopped counting...
1. the amount of unfairness
2. the amount of times they broke up and get back together
3. the amount of mother-in-law or angry mother fights
4. the unreasonable conflict
5. that every problem is because of one person
6. ETC.
I have watched family dramas this long previously and I known that some parts can be boring or unreasonable but this just reached the top levels... I really wanted to stop after the first 12 episodes but continued as I wanted to know how it finished. I thought it was not worth my time at all.... I mean there were some moments which were cute and romantic, and also thought that was the best part of the drama but there weren't that many which caused my really negative feelings towards this drama.
Basically I was utterly disappointed with it and would certainly not recommend it. The main reason for which I was able to watch till the end might the well chosen cast. I really liked some of the characters so maybe that's why I was able to watch through till the end without dropping it. The music wasn't really catching either nor caught my attention.
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This one was a short but sweet watch. Both the male lead and female lead are lovable characters I could really support and ship together. The one thing that bugged me was the crappy reason behind the male lead's actions, but I guess it was needed as a plot driver :( This is just my selfish shipping getting in the way of an objective commentary for plot line lol. If only we had a season 2 to see more cute fluff.
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While it isn't the kind of thing that would win any awards, KFH is perfect for pure entertainment.
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Half of a really good cupcake
Indeed this is a cupcake for two, a little to little to satisfy you but sweet, pretty and lovely as it has lots and lots of sweet moments (literally) .Had it been a bit longer it may have gotten a 9, the characters are lovable, fun to watch and aware of both issues concerning power relations and consent. That said they do show that awareness of these issues does not always mean actually practicing the awareness... but that is a different story.This very short series, is otherwise a pretty typical office romance with the twist of a mid life crisis, not a lot of drama, some fluffy icing that does a pretty decent job showing the very sad reality that gender conventions hinder men from enjoying most of the good and sweet in the world. But I would have wanted more of everything.Definitely worth a watch, and a show i highly recommend to all rom-com lovers out there, just do not expect to get a full dose of sugar.
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