Reviews

Not happy at all with the ending and seriously over the top!

So basically I’m hearing from a YouTuber that this show is getting a remake by Hollywood which will instead include New York (seriously known to be garbage with originality) and I decided to give it a try. It was nice seeing Gong Woo from Squid Game take a different role as a father. I just can’t get over though that this movie had a stupidly abrupt ending like can we not see the little girl reunite with her mother? Can we not see at least a vaccine announcement and be able to find her father? Can we not see the pregnant woman name her child after the father? I mean. WHY DIDNT THEY FREAKING ADD ANY OF THOSE TYPES OF SCENES IN WTF MAN?!?!

Can I mention that the zombies in this weren’t that scary like I just felt they were rather over the top! The blue eyes really makes them like they were possessed more than infected. If this was a demon or a supernatural type of film, I would’ve understood it more but yeah I would even call the zombies forgettable. Sorry I’m not part of the “Train to Busan” fan club..

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Now that I’m thoroughly disturbed…

I went into this movie knowing full well that it was explicit as hell, but nobody warned me that it would be REALLY REALLY explicit. I haven’t seen a proper non-asian production in quite a while and was therefore very unaccustomed to seeing sex scenes left and right. While I knew that Korean movies weren’t subject to nearly as many restrictions as dramas, I am left feeling like I spent the past two and a half hours surfing a porn website instead of having just watched a mature movie. Setting all that aside, the storyline was quite enjoyable and I really liked the little plot twist at the end as I actually didn’t see it coming at all. Even though the storyline was very slow, the nostalgia I felt towards early 20th century Korea from watching Mr Sunshine a little while back kept me entertained and the movie was therefore not too dull. Overall, The Handmaiden was a decent watch, albeit extremely racy and at times rather disturbing.

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This was basically the kiddie version of the High&Low franchise. Oh, don't get me wrong, I liked it, but it was basically a rehash of the old plots just with high school protagonists. Genius friend studying in a good school, sister doing drugs, best friend falling in with the wrong crowd for the right reasons, big fight to bring said bestie back to his senses... yup, it was all there before. And it wasn't bad, it just wasn't, well, fresh.

That's why my favorite moments were the bits that actually did feel fresh. Like Fujio and Sachi's relationship that started with them as complete strangers becoming friends becoming enemies becoming friends again, relieved that the other wasn't a bad guy, after all. That was cute! Also, the way Fujio looked at Sachi? Hot damn!

Also, Murayama's graduation. It pretty much mirrored Tatsuya's departure from Mugen, true. But I loved that it showed that change doesn't need to be bad, that when something ends, something else begins and it might be just as good. And that there comes a moment when you feel that, yeah, this is it, it's time to move on now. And you are happy about that closure, not sad.

My favorite scene of all? When Murayama called Cobra and asked him to hear him out this time because he just needed someone to talk to, an equal. That just gave me warm fuzzies.

I wish we got more info on Sachi, though. Because he was a badass and I'm not saying that just because Shison Jun is my favorite actor. Sachi was... hot damn! But he and his sister and Housen in general felt underdeveloped because most attention was given to Fujio and his gang. Luckily, Shison Jun could carry the part with what little he was given. Oh well...

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Cliche, falls flat

There were a few parts of this that were harrowing — the crane picking up bodies into the incinerator, for example. Other than that though, this movie just completely fell flat for me in terms of plot, characters, and everything else.

I was first very put off by the characters; probably the only saving grace as Jang Hyuk as the male lead. The female lead was rude and annoying, and even though she was a doctor I felt like she made so many stupid decisions throughout the entire movie that made no sense. The child was continuously used as a plot device. It's hard to enjoy a movie when over half of it is about the main leads running around looking for a child (multiple times) who I couldn't care less about.

The last thing that really put me off this movie was unfortunately the cinematography; the camera just shook way too much during every single scene (even the peaceful, calm ones) and it made the movie difficult to get through without becoming nauseous.

All in all, this was exactly how you would expect a disease-based apocalyptic movie to go — incompetent politicians, abusive law enforcement, riots, etc. — but even with all these cliches, I felt like the Flu's downfall was its reliance on evoking the audience's sympathy with the little girl, a method that just did not at all work on me.

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Contemplative, if not everyone's cup of tea

Maybe it is best to start off with what this film is not. It is not a movie with an engaging storyline, full of suspense, twists and action. And while it may be classified as a film with LGBTQ+ themes, it is not too focused on LGBTQ+ issues either. The film may not live up to expectations because of what it is not, but it is also beautiful in its own way.

The film has quite a number of characters though the ones who take up most of the screen time are the old man and the teenager. It is just that there isn't that much of a narrative where these two characters are concerned. The old man takes buses and inexplicably spits in the buses, to the chagrin of the bus drivers and other passengers. A teenager, who is trying to record evidence of her father having an affair, sneaks into the old man's apartment without permission because it offers a good view of the adulteress' apartment. However, she accidentally leaves her phone in the old man's apartment and when she tries to retrieve it, the old man damages it, so she keeps harassing him for payment or to let her use his apartment for her self-imposed task of catching her father in bed with the woman he is having an affair with.

In many ways, the film foregrounds the distance between people in society. There is so much going on in the lives of people around us, but do we really ever stop to care? If we see the old man spitting in a bus, do we stop to wonder if he may be someone with a sad story or do we simply feel disgusted and wish that he does not bother us? The teenager does not make an effort to understand her mother; neither does the teenager's brother and father. She is feeling dissatisfied with her life, envying a friend who has some sort of a career while she only gives piano lessons to a young man hoping to be a star. On the other hand, perhaps people also prefer to keep things to themselves. The teenager's mother does try to find out what she has been doing, but she is impatient and irritated by the motherly questions. The teenager's brother and the mother's piano student are gay and in a relationship, but the mother has to find out in a most awkward way--just as she starts taking a romantic interest in the student (perhaps psychologically explainable as a sort of a bid to re-live the youth she has lost). So lonely as we might be, there are probably things that we prefer to leave unsaid. After all, we live in a society with people who can mercilessly gossip about and judge others, such as when people speculate that the teenager is an underaged prostitute who has been going to the old man's house to provide her services.

The film, nevertheless, is humane in its portrayal of the plethora of characters, showing their dark secrets without judging them. Perhaps there is a personal risk in opening up to others, but it can also forge a connection between people, as the old man does when he reveals to the teenager that he is transgender when he tries to advise her not to hurt herself more by exposing her father's adultery to the rest of the family. The film ends ambivalently, with the old man seeming to be on the verge of suicide when the teenager appears and calls out to him. She walks towards him, stops some distance away, and the film ends. Is it the connection between them that is emphasized or the distance between them that is emphasized?

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Super problematic movie!!!

I've never written reviews for dramas but this show is so messed up, it basically forced me to write one. Btw, tonnes of spoilers ahead, so beware!!!

First of all, the intent of the movie is quite clear and a lot of people will realise that what it's trying to show is that inner beauty is what matters and that even after changing your outer appearance, you cannot change yourself. But what it really shows is that no matter how talented you are, you cannot fulfill your dreams and cannot have a normal social life, unless and until you fit into the beauty standards. And the movie makes this message so prominent that the inner beauty and stuff is pushed to the back of our minds and ultimately out of it.

Throughout the movie, we are being told that confidence is what matters, as long as you have it, nothing else matters. But that is always preceded by the fact that unless you look drop dead gorgeous, you cannot have confidence. So plastic surgery is always the answer.

And then there's the lift scene, VICTIM BLAMING at its finest. When will people understand that IF A GIRL GETS ASSAULTED, IT'S NOT HER FAULT. IT'S THE CULPRIT'S FAULT. That girl is allowed to wear whatever she wants, be it a short skirt or a crop top. I know that scene was probably for purposes of hilarity, but it sends the wrong message, and people tend to adapt to those messages.

Then there's the scene with the delivery guy, where he is seen stalking the female lead, but she ends up defending him saying he doesn't have any other ways to express his feelings and all that nonsense. Seriously, what was up with that?? What was the scene even trying to tell us?? That if a weirdo ends up stalking you, it's because he has pure, unadulterated love for you and you shouldn't blame him for that?? That you're allowed to stalk people?? That scene was super creepy and I genuinely hope that nobody takes any sort of advice from it. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO STALK ANYBODY. IF ANYBODY IS STALKING YOU, THIS PERSON DOES NOT HAVE ANY PURE INTENTIONS TOWARDS YOU AND YOU SHOULD RUN LIKE YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE AND REPORT THIS PERSON. This might actually be a super scary scene for someone, and this movie basically made a joke out of it by trying to show how compassionate the female lead is. There are millions of other ways in which they could have shown that.

There are a lot more problems with the movie which I would list if I wasn't so tired, frustrated and pissed off at it.

The only redeeming quality of this movie was the music. But not enough to make me entertain even the thought of re-watching it. And the music was superb, so you can only imagine how bad the movie was.

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Had the potential

As it is, the short movie is can be rather touching in how it portrays the plight of Light, the main character, who has been through a lot in life, including being abused by his stepfather and having to prostitute himself for money (which the same stepfather demands for). He longs for love, but will he get it from the person who shows him concern, and will it last?

Light is a character who is easy to sympathize with. There are some moments of overacting, but Jed Chung manages to convey the character's vulnerability and yearning. Unfortunately, while there are commendable attempts to be economical in fleshing out his back story, sometimes the character ends up incoherent. The way he taunts a customer and the fragility he displays as he gets beaten up, for instance, don't cohere very well without more shown about how he has changed over time as he has to deal with a life in the streets.

The gaps in the portrayal of the other main character, Shuo, are even more obvious. I could only make sense of what is going on because I had read the synopsis of the film, and a lot more needs to be shown about his struggles and his feelings towards Light. The film appears conspicuously incomplete when we see how there is obviously supposed to be a lot more about the Shuo that is somehow not filmed or not included in the 44-minute cut (more likely the former).

I was very much prepared for a tragic ending in this film, perhaps ending with Light's death under yet another person who is violent to him or Shuo's death as his job as a policeman puts him in danger (something which is hinted at). It was a pleasant surprise for me to see the film having a happy ending though the ending appears a little too hurried, like so many aspects of the film. This is a shame for we clearly have a team that is capable of doing more and exploring the nuances of emotions. For instance, when Light first initiates sex with Shuo, why did Shuo refuse to do it even though he was clearly aroused? Was he in denial or his own feelings or did he not want to treat Light as a prostitute by letting Light "repay" his kindness with his body?

This is a film one would love to be able to love more, but it feels incomplete, leaving one dissatisfied while craving for more.

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An Underrated Realistic Love Story.

I first came across this movie in the MDL article, Underrated Movies with Low number of Watchers. Honestly, it deserves to be on that list. I decided to give this a try because I'm watching an airing drama of the FL and wanted to see her other works. Her acting in the drama is very convincing, but in this movie, she was wonderful! And not just her, the ML too was just as wonderful! Their acting, cinematography, and direction are all really good.
The storyline might be something very usual but what makes the movie unusual is its realistic approach to the love story. While I'm not really fond of works that don't end on a happy note, this is an exception. What really caught my eye was the title. I've always heard others say, Love brings people together but here, it's the opposite.
Life isn't a bed of roses and despite the harsh work circumstances, Lu Qin Yang stays true to his values and Ling Yi Yao waits patiently for him. They love each other to the point that she is ready to leave her house for him after her mom is not quite happy about their relationship and he goes to great lengths to earn enough money just so he can give her a comfortable life. Eventually, it's the same love that drives them apart.
Although it made me bawl my eyes out, I'm not really pleased with the ending. From the comments, it seems like an open ending and that relieved me a teeny tiny bit.
But I recommend watching this if you don't mind such endings because the movie, in general, was satisfying.

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Not your typical BL, but it makes you think

This is an extremely interesting movie. Only watch if you are 18+ because there are actual sex scenes in this (No penises or anuses but naked bodies and sexual acts). Not sure if this is enjoyable for female BL fans, as a gay man I enjoyed it tho. While there are numerous sex scenes, the actual underlying theme is really interesting and also well integrated into the whole movie. This movie really caught me by surprise numerous times as the characters. did things differently than what you would expect.

The underlying theme is life and death, and how even if you have lost everything, ending your life is not the answer as it will not bring back anything you lost. I will not explain all of the ways this theme presents itself, it is quite geniusly done in the movie. I highly recommend people to watch this movie if they are comfortable with watching gay 18+ scenes, as the story and theme is fascinating. Before watching I thought this was simply some gay pornographic movie with little story, but I was very wrong about this. If compared with "Pornographer", the Japanese BL movie about an author of erotic books, this movie "Sei no Gekiyaku" is a lot more grounded and everything makes more sense than in Pornographer.

The movie is a lot to process but I am very happy I watched it.

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Dumplings anyone?

The Name is a heartwarming and bittersweet love story built on longings and lies.

Ri Ae offers Cheol Woo a small fortune for him to create 20 paintings and let her sign her name to them for an art exhibit. Living in what amounts to an artistic coffin in the park, Cheol Woo ultimately, if not reluctantly, agrees to being a ghost painter. Of course, not all is what it seems with the two characters.

The Name's plot is quite simplistic, with well used tropes and twists that can be seen from a mile/km away. The characters have some growth, but little depth. Cheol Woo's supposedly ground breaking artistic style peaked quite awhile back in the real world, but I understand they needed art for the displays.

Romantic movies whether comedy or tragedy succeed or fail on the chemistry of the leads, something The Name succeeded with for the most part. Jeon So Min gave a nice but not overly wrought performance as a woman with a complicated relationship with her mother, who was dealing with her own health concerns, and living with unrealized dreams. Choi Jung Won gave a charming turn as the down on his luck but rarely down in his mood artist whose success was just always out of reach. The remaining cast give perfunctory if not inspired performances.

If you are looking for something new and innovative, this is not it, unless you haven't watched many dramas. If you are looking for a comfortable, familiar romance with two likable actors this is just the ticket.

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In times of vulnerability

I usually do not write reviews but on Dramacool someone quoted Melissa Vice's comment from Youtube and it is so beautiful and says it all that I had to add it here as well:
"I remember this movie when it first came out in 2012. I had a different outlook on the bittersweet ending that seemed more bitter at the time than sweet. But now, almost a decade later, seeing this with older eyes and a sense of maturity, this was actually the sweetest approach that Sun-Yi could have done for Chul-Soo. And that was that, she was setting him free at long last.
When it comes to the analysis of the movie, as teenagers, they used one another as a crutch for survival. Sun-Yi to cope with her depression and illness. Chul-Soo dependent on the bestial instinct of loyalty. Realistically, there was no way she could have taken care of herself and also Chul-Soo had he left with them. She would never had gotten to do the things she did. She would never have gotten to live fully on account of her declining health, which turned around for the best for her. And ultimately, she was not in love with Chul-Soo as he was with her. Over the course of time, as the years went on, an important lesson that showed Chul-Soo's humanity was his ability to learn on his own. Learning how to write. To read. And even--as shown in the end--to be able to be on his own and stand for himself.
Sun-Yi gave him his freedom to be his own person by releasing him of the promise she made. I feel like he too needed this circle to come to a close, and only then, he could really move on despite having done so long ago. He kept his promise because it was Sun-Yi and he held his loyalty to the only person who showed him care and affection. Him playing by himself in the snow, building the snowman by himself, is a powerful metaphor of his ability to finally be human now that Sun-Yi has removed the collar and leash. But the most important aspect to gain from this, she was telling him to go and live his life to the fullest as she had done. This was not a romance story, but perhaps more of a "coming of age" of two people who helped one another in their time of vulnerability and loneliness, and pushed one another to become better versions of themselves. Chul-Soo especially. He deserves happiness, and the most Sun-Yi could do within her power was to offer him shelter and security until he found it for himself."

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Good, but a little bit confused

Love's Coming is a good movie, very funny and the cast is very likeble (maybe some Gump's friends are annoying ). We root for the discovery of their love and smile when Gump and Nai are getting closer. Tha blackout scene was one of my favorites, the way Nai looks at Gump is so sweet.

But, not everything is working out in this movie. The beginning is very confused. The storyline in the future takes too long until we start to know how Gump and Nai become friends and how their feeling between them blossom. But it's certainly worth it your time to watch, and rewatch when you have nothing else to do.

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Expected So Much, Left Disappointed

Just watched the movie with no prior info about it, just that it’s a really great film (starring Ohm too). The first half of the film was pure magic and the storytelling of Phob and Dew was amazing. Unfortunately, things started going downhill for me the moment the reincarnation concept was introduced! Still held on to the last 15 minutes hoping they would make a twist to everything and end with a life lesson but the ending was even more incredulous.

Acting was superb and cinematography was great too! Just the story that doesn’t sit well with me and also the same reason why I could not get into Until We Meet Again.

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