Reviews

More of an action movie than a zombie movie

The only similarities to Train to Busan are the way the zombies look and function. There is a little backstory given about the virus and its origins, and Busan is mentioned as a place that wasn't as safe as they thought it would be, but if you were to watch this movie without first watching Train to Busan, you wouldn't be confused. This movie can stand on its own.

The CGI in the driving scenes is a bit obvious, but not in a very distracting way, and honestly, I was fine with it when we were getting such good action scenes. Joon-ni was a hell of a driver, and Yu-Jin was a very helpful sidekick. (I really hope I got their names right.)

There were a couple of moments that were predictable, but they didn't take away any of my enjoyment of the movie.

The biggest plot twist was at the end. I won't spoil it, but a certain person really surprised me when they showed up.

This movie also showcases how crazy people can get when they are forced to live in a constant state of life or death, and how, after long enough time has passed, they aren't that different from the zombies. I do wonder if there were any other survivor groups? It sounded like it, but you'd think we would have seen some sign of them with how much of the city was covered.

You'd also have expected, after 4 years, for the zombies to have died off. Zombies never seem to decompose in these movies, and I really don't understand why. They are dead and constantly exposed to the elements, so you'd think their bodies would be rotting until there was nothing left. *shrugs*

There's definitely potential for more movies.

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FIRST IMPRESSION: SCHOOL TRIP: JOINED A GROUP I'M NOT CLOSE TO SEASON 2

I usually feel a little hesitant whenever a BL gets a second season. From my experience, most BLs tend to have a strong first season, only for the second season to introduce unnecessary conflicts and drag out the storyline with things that don't really need to be there. However, I feel like School Trip: Joined a Group I'm Not Close To Season 2 is doing things differently.

The continuation of Watarai and Hioki's relationship, which was one of the cutest and most adorable parts of Season 1, is still very much intact. The overall production quality is always perfect, and the acting is good too. I can particularly notice some improvement in Kan Hideyoshi's performance as Watarai. His acting feels much more natural and convincing compared to the first season.

Another thing I really appreciate is how their friends continue to be supportive of their relationship. Most importantly, the addition of more screen time for Tsujitani brings an extra flavour to the series. He is genuinely hilarious, and I love every single moment he appears on screen. He adds so much fun to the dynamic between the characters.

However, I still think there is one weakness from Season 1 that hasn't really been addressed: Watarai's overly possessive and jealous behaviour. Whenever Tsujitani is around Hioki, Watarai seems to get irritated and jealous so easily. It honestly bothers me, especially when Tsujitani was simply lending his jacket to Hioki after he took a bath, yet Watarai reacted as if it were some serious issue.

That said, I'm hoping this behaviour is intentionally written to show that Watarai is still inexperienced when it comes to being in a relationship. Perhaps Season 2 will explore his growth as he learns what it actually means to be in a relationship with Hioki, including learning to trust him and managing his own jealousy.

There are still so many things I'd love to see in the upcoming episodes, but overall, my first impression of this season is pretty positive. I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops from here!

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Love Story

I just really loved this show. I laughed, I cried and just really enjoyed the whole experience. I appreciated that they did not shy away from the age gap discussion and it was considered as possible deterrent but they way it was navigated really works.

I just loved Sang Zhi. I laughed with her, I cried with her, I felt the intensity of her feelings. Two thumbs up to Zhao Lu Si. Duan Jiaxu & Sang Yan friendship was another relationship I really enjoyed watching. Chen Zhe Yuan & Victer Ma were also great portraying that.

As much as I love, and I do LOVE the relationship between Sang Zhi & Duan Jiaxu I think the sibling relationship between Sang Zhi and her brother Sang Yan might actually be my favorite. They really felt liked siblings. They nag each other and tease each other and even fight but when it counts, Sang Yan was always there for her and she never ever doubted it. No one would question their love for each other.

I also liked the side characters that made up the leads friend groups.

It was a really beautiful, funny, lovely show and I enjoyed it so much.

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Great chemistry + philosophical quotes!

I fall in love with this drama and find myself watch over and over again. I am deeply impressed by the chemistry between the ML and FL, a chemistry that feels natural, mature, and deeply compelling. The storyline is logical and well-crafted, the romance is refreshingly adult, and the relationship develops without the rushed, shallow puppy love that is so often portrayed in romantic dramas. Instead, this drama offers something far more meaningful: a beautiful exploration of dreams, passion for life, love, friendship, and the courage to stay true to oneself.

Would like to congratulate the writer, the director and the whole team for making this masterpiece, making it one of the finest C romance dramas. Every element feels thoughtfully orchestrated from the plot to storytelling to the OST, background music, editing and scene transitions. From the very 1st episode, the drama knows exactly how to capture the audience’s attention and keep us emotionally invested.

Xi Jing; Tan Songyun is simply made for the role of Xi Jing. She brings the character to life with an exceptional blend of perseverance, courage, intelligence and humanity. Xi Jing is not merely an ambitious rookie chasing success; she is the woman with conviction, resilience, ad a genuine sense of purpose. She has the determination to pursue her dreams, the intelligence to navigate challenges and the humanity to remain grounded along the way.

Honestly, I struggle to imagine another actress in the C drama industry embodying this character quite as convincingly as Tan Songyun does. She understands her strengths as an actress and knows exactly how to use them to make Xi Jing’s role shines. Her performance is nuanced, natural and deeply believable. Having honed her craft since the age of 11, she brings a level of experience and emotional authenticity that cannot be easily replicated.

Beyond her natural beauty, what truly distinguished Tan Songyun is her acting ability, her understanding of character and her capacity to make a role feel genuine. She does not need to rely on seductive romantic gestures to command attention.

Han Ting; Xu Kai is undeniably handsome, a never boring face on screen. He is just a perfect CEO figure. Although he is goofy, funny and playful in reality, Xu Kai has done his best piece here; composed, calculating, sharp and occasionally ruthless; a man who understands power, strategy, and the realities of the business world. He does not simply play a wealthy CEO; he gives us a convincing portrait of profit-driven capitalist who knows what he wants and understands what it takes to achieve it. One particular detail I appreciate is his voice and delivery. Compared with his performance in Falling Into Your Smile, his voice here feels more measured, restrained and authoritative. Every line carries a sense of control and attention, reflecting a man who thinks strategically rather than speaks impulsively. That calm, deliberate delivery adds depth to Han Ting’s character and signifying his charm as a capable, intelligence and commanding CEO.

This drama is famous for several philosophical quotes and life lessons such as:
1. Han Ting: A chained eagle can’t soar high
2. Shao Yichen: Health is the capital of revolution
3. Han Yuan: Caution of the parent of safety
4. Xi Jing: true gold always glitters
5. Xi Jing: in this society, no one can suppress the radiance of another
6. Xi Jing: Even a faint star can illuminate the corner
7. Han Yuan: the disease needs to grow before it breaks out
8. Xi Jing: A star is tiny, but still insists on shining. A single spark can start a prairie fire. I think my parent wants their kid can gather stars into a river
9. Han Ting: if you do it yourself, it looks sincere. But where is the value as a leader? Energy is finite, focus on the most important things. Xi Jing: A leader needs to focus on company strategy and core technology.
10. Han Ting : Products and technology are the foundation of a company. Only by focusing on your own business, you can be invincible

What makes this drama truly special is that it offers more than a love story. It gives us romance built on mutual respect, logic with genuine chemistry. The romance feels earned. The characters feel human. The dialogue carries meaning. The production brings all these elements together with remarkable coherence and care.

It is a drama worth rewatching, not merely for the beautiful couple or the romantic moments, but for the wisdom, warmth, and inspiration woven throughout the story. This drama entertains without being superficial, leaving a lasting impression on hearts and minds. It is what makes it a masterpiece.

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Rivals, Romance and Music! This Korean BL Has Me Hooked!

Another Korean BL, and this one is definitely worth watching! The visuals are stunning, the acting is impressive, and the storyline is quite unique compared to your typical Korean BL. So far, I am really enjoying it!

Lee Han Yul is struggling to make ends meet, juggling multiple jobs just to survive. Then comes Lee Won, who tries to bring him back into the world of music. I absolutely loved the flashbacks to their high school days, as they helped us understand how these two first met and gave us a deeper insight into their complicated history. I always enjoy a good rivals to lovers storyline, especially when there is so much tension and unresolved emotion between the main leads.

Now, let's talk about the chemistry because WOW! Their first kiss on the couch was already amazing, but the scene where Lee Won uses his lips to pass a sugar cube into Lee Han Yul's mouth was seriously HOT! Now I finally understand why the series is called The Sound of Sugar Cubes! Their first kiss through a sugar cube was such a creative, intimate and unforgettable moment. And thank goodness, we finally have a Korean BL that knows how to deliver a proper kiss! No awkward dead fish kisses here. The chemistry feels natural, passionate and believable, which makes their romantic moments even more enjoyable.

Storywise, I have to admit I am still a little confused about certain parts of the plot. There are some things that have not been fully explained yet, but I am hoping everything will become clearer as more episodes are released. The mystery surrounding their past and their connection definitely keeps me interested.

What really stands out for me is the overall production quality. The beautiful cinematography, gorgeous scenery, music and strong performances all come together to create such an enjoyable viewing experience. The two leads are visually stunning, but more importantly, they can actually act and their chemistry is fantastic.

Overall, The Sound of Sugar Cubes is shaping up to be another excellent Korean BL. It has beautiful visuals, great acting, an interesting storyline and some seriously passionate kissing scenes. Despite being a little confused about the plot, I am thoroughly enjoying every episode. It is an easy series to binge, and I am already looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops and what secrets will be revealed.

8/10 so far! Hopefully, the remaining episodes will deliver because this series has so much potential!

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FIRST IMPRESSION : YOU SHOULD BE THE ONE TO KISS ME

Office romance + fluffy romance is back in the JBL world! I have always been a sucker for the trope where the top is the one who secretly has a crush on the bottom. We get to see how Ueno (Suzuki Jin) quietly keeps his feelings for Kanda to himself.

I also think Ueno is a well-written character. The way he constantly overthinks his every move, especially knowing that many people are aware of his sexuality, makes his character quite interesting. He is always thinking of little ways to make Kanda smile and feel happy. One example is the scene where he wants to give Kanda a tie as a gift. It may seem like such a small and insignificant gesture, but I find it incredibly cute. The office setting works well for the story, and the actors' performances are pretty decent overall. I especially like Oshida Gaku, who plays Kanda. He does a great job portraying Kanda's cheerful and easygoing personality.

However, one big question has been on my mind since the very first episode: How on earth has Ueno managed to keep his feelings for Kanda a secret for SIX WHOLE YEARS? Has he never once considered confessing? And how has he managed to hold back all those feelings when he sees Kanda almost every day, and Kanda even visits his house regularly?

Honestly, the six-year gap feels a little unrealistic and unnecessarily excessive to me. I just find it hard to believe that someone could keep their feelings bottled up for that long under those circumstances.

But, overall my first impression for YOU SHOULD BE THE ONE TO KISS ME is good.

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Dream to You is more of a healing drama. It was tagged as Comedy/Romance/Drama, but I felt it was more Melodrama/Romance than anything. The romances pretty much played out within the daily lives of the characters and we got to see some background on how stories are put together.

Spoilers from here on….

The basic plot & storyline of Woo Soo Bin and Ju Yi Jae was very predictable and has been seen many times over, but still, was nicely depicted in Dream to You.

JJY’s difficult and sad backstory after WSB left took some time to surface but eventually helped us understand most of her ongoing angst with WSB. However, as you watch the two together, along with their backstories, it’s obvious JYJ had grown very little from her high school and college days. The family debt trope is overused in KDramas as a reason to be in that mediocre job she had. She had a brother. Where was he in paying back the family debt? Certainly there was opportunity for JYJ to have advanced in her settled-for career. If not, she could have been collecting ideas for and/or crafting screenplays.

Even if she did none of these, forgiving him in her heart and/or coming to terms with the hard things that happened to her would have helped her in a big way to move forward more than she did. But she stayed stuck in what could be considered a bitter state. What if WSB had never returned??? Where would she be in 5 or 10 more years? What was wrong with Geum Seong Mu exactly? (Did I miss why they broke up?) Or was everything that kept her from moving on all about Woo Soo Bin? I guess I’m reinforcing my point about her limited growth since high school. In the end I was not impressed with how her character was written.

Woo Soo Bin’s traumatic backstory was hard to watch. This was more reality than fiction as there are people like his father (a narcissist through and through) in every country. Watching the real-life childhood story of singer-songwriter Bart Mallard in the movie “I can Only Imagine” was even more devastating to watch. Because it was true, and Dennis Quade played the physically and mentally abusive father with unbelievable realism. The hopeful take away from both these childhood stories (and others) comes from a quote I picked up elsewhere; “childhood trauma, hardship, and broken relationships shape people but do not define their future.”

Woo Soo Bin could have easily become his father and/ or biological mother because he had their genes. He had to have acquired that graceful manner and gracious personality from his mom. Even though he wasn’t fully healed from his trauma, he showed tremendous growth by overcoming much of it. His success helped to a large extent because he focused his life on achieving his first dream so, as he said, he could return home and not run away anymore. Once home, he remained true to his desire for a happy ending to his life.

Each person has to take responsibility for their own lives. Bad things happened to both of them. He was not perfect toward her but to put the blame on WSB for where JYJ ended up 15+/- years later is displacement and wrong.

That brings us to the second couple. Actors from very different worlds, both were fighting for similar dreams of success. O Ha Na had no control over her upbringing by an overbearing mother (another narcissist) trying to live vicariously through her daughter. An Su Hui was literally teaching Ha Na how to be a narcissist. Ha Na wanted out of that prison to find herself and achieve status as a successful actor in her own right.

The humbly raised Sim Yu Gyeon worked multiple jobs to survive financially while persuing his long time goal of becoming a real, bonafide actor. He suffered through rejection after rejection, taking any part he could get, not giving up on the hope that his day would come.

Their first meeting was kind of cool actually - but it was by chance and could easily have been just that. The second time they met was pure and sweet and perfectly executed for us. I looked forward to their screen time together as their relationship progressed. But the mother!!!

The third couple, Chae Sa Rang and Seo In Uk were cute at first. I know their story had a point in this drama, but personally, I was put off by Sa Rang’s caviler character. You thought she fell in love at first sight. But, no. [IMO, their great chemistry was largely because of Lee Sang Yeob’s charisma and charm.] CEO Seo, maybe not fully interested in a permanent relationship, was willing to invest himself in one with her. He deserved much better than CSR.

Woo Soo Bin’s father should have been hauled off to jail more than once. What an awful, awful man.

Ha Na’s mother learned zero empathy from her relationship with that awful man whose son she bore. An Su Hui does not get a pass from me for sending 10-year old WSB back home when he begged and pleaded with her to take him in. Her character offered nothing to appreciate. Her entitled attitude and abuse-of-power over her daughter, her staff, and later, Yu Gyeon was over the top.

WSB’s mom was a truly lovely lady and showed beautiful, unconditional love to him. Any normal husband would have been honored to share is life with her.

Sim Sim, hard working, rough around the edges man was a proud father who loved Yu Gyeon beyond words. This is my first time seeing Ki Hong. The guitar piece he played at the preview party was simply beautiful. FYI - It’s on the OST called Sim Sim’s Guitar by Woo Kun Kim.

The reviews are mixed for this drama. However, I watched it with an open mind, having not read any of the reviews ahead of time. The plot itself was light and predictable, offering some very good emotional backstories and other tender moments. To my earlier point, it would have been more realistic for the writers to have placed both WSB and JYJ at similar maturity levels - even similar levels of accomplishment for their respective paths when they met again. As far as the relationship between JYJ and WSB in the present, they didn’t have the best chemistry in my view. It ended fairly well. Most of the loose ends were tied up except for the dad who should have been spending his time behind bars.

As you can see I got into the characters themselves. My reactions to and analysis of them reveal IMO, how well the actors themselves portrayed their roles. The stand outs to me were Hwang In Youp (Woo Soo Bin) and Park Ji Young (An Su Hui).

I would recommend this drama, however it’s not one I’d rewatch.

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Built for Binge Watching

Not an amazing show, but it certainly kept me watching by the end of each episode.

Unfortunately the production of the show is just weak across the board. Not AWFUL, just weak. I want to say the story is strong enough to cover for it, but I don't think that's really the case. The story overall is fine, but has definite problems. The timeline, the motivations, etc.

But the show is very strong at creating intrigue. Each episode ends in a way that you just need to see what happens. What something means. How something plays out. The show was built for binge watching. All the little cliffhangers/hooks to keep you clicking to the next episode. There were also some good little twists where a character was actually successfully sneaky, tricking both the other characters, AND me as a viewer. Those were nice surprise moments.

I had a good enough time. We never really get to know any of the characters. The timeline of events is too short for the romance to feel earned. The wins characters get also don't feel earned because there's not really anything they DID to get answers. It's kind of just a prolonged dangerous standstill. But it kept me just intrigued enough to keep going for 8 episodes.

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I need to vent after wasting 2 hours and 40 minutes of my life on this shit.

I read interviews about the director's vision, the message he was trying to convey, and all that bullshit, and all I can say is that he's a fucking liar. There's absolutely no message or deeper meaning to this movie whatsoever.

1. 10 years for this nonsensical piece of garbage. I read somewhere that the director of this movie considers details important, which is complete bullshit. When the female cop shows up and the chase starts, right after they blow off the monster's foot, if you pay close attention, you'll notice a car with a green cross on it. Well, that same car appears FOUR TIMES during that exact same chase sequence. Sometimes they're supposed to drive past it, but then it doesn't show up behind them; instead, it's suddenly in front of them again. And don't even get me started on the protagonist, whose clothes aren't even dirty or scratched up. Nothing.

2. They should label this movie as a COMEDY because I went into it thinking it was going to be a thriller, but the god-awful humor completely ruins the entire movie. It even ruins the important moments, including the tense ones. I can't believe someone actually read the script and thought that fart and diarrhea jokes would be a good idea in 2026.

3. It makes absolutely no sense that the monster and the aliens have the same level of CGI as The Host from 2006. You're telling me it took them 10 years to make that goddamn monster from Scooby-Doo (2002)? What a fucking joke. You can even see scenes where the CGI stutters and freezes for no apparent reason. The CGI is honestly the funniest thing in the entire movie.

4. The scene where the protagonist gets hit by the monster, goes flying, sees the monster running towards him, reacts by screaming, then dodges it and runs away is genuinely awful. And it's not just because the protagonist can run endlessly without getting tired and is somehow fast enough to escape over and over again, but because they repeat this exact same sequence MORE THAN THREE TIMES. (Zo In Sung, please fire whoever agreed to let you act in this movie.)

Pay attention to this: Zo In Sung's character watches the monster take down a tree with a single punch. Then Zo In Sung gets hit, goes flying, crashes into TWO trees, and falls from several meters up. He gets back up without a scratch. Then he gets hit AGAIN, goes flying AGAIN, crashes into ANOTHER tree AGAIN, and gets back up without a scratch AGAIN. On top of that, he's eventually rescued by the group of hunters, which, in case you don't remember, is the group the protagonist mentions during the first five minutes of the movie.

Anyway, let's keep going. Zo In Sung gets rescued, then casually rides a horse without any problems. He's the last survivor of the two hunting groups, only to end up dying as comic relief. Zo In Sung, PLEASE, fire whoever agreed to let you be part of this piece of garbage.

5. And don't even get me started on the medical examiner. The moment I heard the actress's voice, I knew exactly who it was, and I immediately realized that this wasn't going to be a serious or important scene, but another fucking comedy bit. She literally touches the monster and cuts it wide open, only to say, "It's not a species we're familiar with." Seriously??? You couldn't figure that out just by looking at it and seeing that you couldn't even cut through its skin???

And another thing: the guy the protagonist shot, along with the old man with the bow... well, you'll just have to use your imagination because they never show them again. Maybe they died, maybe they survived, or maybe they went home and cooked dinner for their families. Who the hell knows?

6. If I told you that you could cut an entire hour out of this movie and still not lose any important information, you'd probably call me exaggerating. But if you actually watch it, you'll understand. The movie is so full of filler that the chase and action scenes feel absolutely endless. And there's so much pointless padding that it's made even worse by the god-awful humor from whoever the hell wrote this script.

7. I honestly have no words for the last 15 minutes. It's just complete nonsense, and I sincerely, REALLY hope this movie never gets a sequel.

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"Let's chant"

A Chinese Ghost Story 3 was the final film in the trilogy and took place 100 years after the original. Gone were Leslie Cheung and Wu Ma with Tony Leung, Lau Shun, and Jacky Cheung taking their places. Joey Wong returned as a ghost working for the Tree Demon played once again by Lau Siu Ming. If the set up sounds familiar it was.

Monk Fong and his master are carrying a gold Buddha statue to the Imperial Temple. In a rough and tumble town, clownish Swordsman Yin accidentally reveals the statue to a group of thieves. Attempting to stay dry during a downpour the two Buddhists take shelter in the haunted Orchid Temple with the miscreants in close pursuit. While the golden Buddha will protect the monks, the thieves find themselves in the clutches of beautiful ghosts. When Fong’s master goes into the forest to expose the demon within, Fong loses the statue. A beautiful ghost uses this time to tempt the young monk with numerous erotic games.

In the first film Wu Ma’s Swordsman Yin buried the Tree Demon for 100 years. Thus, this story takes place with the Tree Demon having broken free and starting the whole cycle again. The film felt overly redundant. The major difference being that the slapstick comedy level was increased with this film, something I’m not a fan of. While I tolerated Jacky Cheung’s helpful swordsman in the second film, the lecherous, greedy swordsman in this one wasn’t nearly as likeable. Lau Shun was fine as the wise old monk, but I still missed Wu Ma from the first two. Joey Wong playing a similar character in a similar film was too much for me. The Demon Tree having the same actor made sense, but without Leslie, why not recast the alluring ghost as well? If the Demon Tree events were bound to happen again, they needed to shake up the whole story instead of repeating it with different characters doing much the same thing.

The special effects were better in this film, but that’s not saying much. Buddhist and Taoist magic were on full display as well as demonic and ghostly abilities-elongated tongue, fingernails, and hair. Not to say the effects were great, there were places the wires could be seen in the smoke/fog.

I found the first two thirds of the film tedious as much as I wanted to like it. The last third with the full on battle with the Tree Demon and the Lord of the Black Mountain was more entertaining. My chief complaint is if they were determined to essentially do a remake, it needed to be better than the first, not an obvious retread of the source material that was only four years old. Not even Tony Leung could save it for me. If you are a fan of Hong Kong 1990’s slapstick, you will likely enjoy this more than I did. While it had some highlights (a building coming to life!), it didn’t stand a ghost of a chance of being better or even as good as the first two.

29 October 2026

Trigger warnings: SNAKES. Several scenes with numerous snakes. Ick.

Sticky Note: Wardrobe must have used super glue to hold up Joey’s dress in one running scene, no double- sided wig tape could do the job they were requiring to keep the film PG.

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