Reviews

In Life or Afterlife, Love Remains

This drama explores a powerful message: to sacrifice is to endure the pain of the world in hopes of peace and bliss in the afterlife. While that theme resonates deeply, it's important to note that the portrayal of heaven and hell here doesn't follow the typical modern interpretation of those realms. Instead, it takes a more abstract, emotional approach, focusing less on religious structure and more on personal reflection

One notable flaw is in the world-building, especially the depiction of heaven. While the hell setting is more grounded and understandable, heaven feels vague and underdeveloped. The system, rules, or even small details about how things work in this version of heaven are barely touched on. Some viewers, myself included, felt the concept lacked depth. Surprisingly, the narrative gives more focus to animals’ stories than human ones in heaven, which might be intriguing to some but feels unbalanced overall

Despite that, the story and character arcs are the drama’s true strength. I could follow and appreciate each character’s journey. Haesook and Nakjoon’s path—marked by hardship, sacrifice, and emotional growth—felt especially impactful. Eunho, along with the supporting characters, each added emotional weight, revealing how interconnected their stories were. The character development was consistent and touching, even if the setting surrounding them wasn’t always as clear or complete

What truly stays with you after watching is the emotional truth it leaves behind. It's painful to face reality—loss, regret, sacrifice—but the drama gently reminds us that love, when genuine, lives on. Whether in life or the afterlife, to be remembered by someone you love, to continue existing in their thoughts and heart—that's a quiet, eternal serenity that transcends even death

In conclusion, while the setting could use more detail and balance (especially in its depiction of heaven), the drama succeeds in delivering an emotional, character-driven narrative. It captures the beauty in imperfection, and the idea that true love isn’t flawless—it endures, embraces, and stays, even beyond time. That message, wrapped in sorrow and hope, is what gives this drama its soul

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I really enjoyed the series at the beginning. I came her for a love story that would transcend heaven and earth. For me a lot of the world building and inconsistencies in heaven especially in the latter episodes brought the show down. While I overall enjoyed the series, a lot of the subplots and side characters should have been left on the writer(s) room floor. What bothered me the most about the series though, is that the writer's made things so convenient for the characters just to move the plot along.

The best thing about the series for me is the acting. Son Suk Ku was absolute great in this. Emotional and believable. Kim Hye Ja too. I think both performances were stellar.

Episode 3 was a standout episode for me and the writing in that episode was top notch. Episode 5 was another favorite of mine and the best part were the Knetizens being typed to death!! Love, love, loved that scene.

The reincarnation stuff actually pissed me off b/c they basically imply that you are doomed to have the same experiences every single life time. Like WTF is that??? Why would anyone ever want to be reincarnated?

5/25/25

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The Buddha Assassinator once again teamed up Mang Hoi and Hwang Jang Lee as adversaries in another made in Taiwan kung fu flick. Unlike Hell’s Windstaff, this film was far less entertaining and didn’t utilize the fighters’ skills.

Here is where I usually give a snippet of the plot. Even though the prolific Ni Kuang helped write the script, it lacked coherency. There were the usual Ming rebels, though Mang’s clueless Hsiao Hai didn’t seem to be in on their plotting. The rebels were pretty much forgotten at one point and the conflict then centered around two competing fighting styles. The Sleeping Lo Han style and the Buddha’s Fist were both taught by the same master, but the school split in two with the Lo Han students joining the Qings and the Buddha’s Fist crowd following the Mings. The Prince wants to wipe out all of the BF’s practitioners including his old classmate crazy monk San Lu.

The story was slow and boring for most of the film. The fights and training sequences weren’t great either. Finally, with about 30 minutes left in the film, the action, if not the story, picked up. Lung Fei and Hou Po Wei had a nice spear fight against the unarmed Mang Hoi. The Martial Arts Director of the film, Chin Yuet Sang, played the crazy monk. He had his own fight with Hwang Jang Lee before Mang Hoi tagged in. Mang was affable enough but didn’t have much screen presence. One of the more acrobatic fighters, Mang’s high flying was rather limited. I’m not sure why they would hire one of the best kickers, if not the best kicker, Hwang Jang Lee, and then not let him cut loose. The final fight was highly choreographed dance steps, faster than some others from the era, but still rather stilted. All in all, it was pretty disappointing.

The movie used many of the sets from Hell’s Windstaff. There was also a running gag about Hsiao eating any puppy or dog he ran across. The shaolin monks were petty and mean. Hsiao wasn’t very bright. Aside from Hwang Jang Lee’s sinister presence as the Big Bad, the film didn’t offer much. Only for fans of the actors, not the worst old kung fu movie by a long shot, but definitely forgettable.

25 May 2025

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F Censorships

I don't know why folks are claiming this BL was not good when it broke the internet which alerted to its censorship and cancellation. I swear straight men makes the best BL. Gao De Shi (Sam Lin) reconfirmed that for me in We Best Love. The pacing of Addicted got me addicted. I just wanted to see those two leads on screen. For the folks crying about things being forced and not being consensual, may I remind you that it's Yin Zin who willingly realized his feelings and decided to kiss Hai. All I know is I'm mad I never got to see the good stuff that everyone else saw. Where can I watch an uncut version? I loved the chemistry with the main leads, that's all that I was following. I couldn't give this a 10 since we don't have all the series. How many episodes was supposed to have originally?

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An intimate view into the life of a North Korean loyalist and massacre survivor

With a shaky cam, home video style of filming, Yang Yonghi takes you into her family home in Osaka and documents her interactions with her aging Zainichi* mother.

The documentary opens with a startling intro: Yang's mother is a survivor of the Jeju 4.3 massacre. And although the documentary starts and ends with a focus on this event, the documentary isn't really about the massacre itself.

Much of the doco sees Yang spending day-to-day family time with her mother while also trying to figure out why her mum has made the decisions that she has made. A key focus is Yang's simultaneous understanding and perplexion around her mum's decision to send her three sons to North Korea.

Initially, I was a little worried about the run time. Two hours is a long time for these types of home video style productions. But there's clearly been a lot of thought put into the narrative structure that balances well the family quotidian and the political themes.

The big weakness of this doco, I feel, is the animated sequence past the mid-way point. The purpose of this sequence is to provide background into the Japanese colonisation of Korea and the eventual split between the ROK and the DPRK. But this comes far too late in the program and, given the ground already covered at that point, feels repetitive. It would have been far more effective near the beginning for those unfamiliar with the history. The animation itself seems muddled with different styles that gives it a uni-student feel.

What this doco does deliver well is intimate insight into how family relations are bound up in broader historical and political dynamics. It's touching and sentimental without straying into romanticisation.

*Zainichi are Japanese citizens with Korean heritage.

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A Nostalgic and Surprisingly Deep Coming-of-Age Romance

I went into this film not really knowing what to expect, other than the fact that it was set in high school and featured Dahyun in her acting debut, which I was curious to see. I haven’t seen the original version, so I won’t compare it as a remake. Instead, I’ll judge it on what it tries to be: a youthful, emotional, and time-spanning coming-of-age story.

What surprised me the most was the scale of the film. It starts off feeling like a light and wholesome high school romance, but it gradually unfolds into something much bigger: an epic love story that travels through time, filled with bittersweet moments and life-defining decisions. It captures the feeling of growing up, of childhood friendships and first loves, and how small actions can shape our futures in ways we never expected.

Yes, many of these themes have been explored before, but this film executes them with genuine heart. The characters may not be deeply complex, but they are memorable and distinct. You grow attached to them. You want to know what happens to them, because they reflect parts of ourselves... Our immaturity, our regrets, and our nostalgia.

I found the movie incredibly relatable. It stirred up emotions and memories from my own youth. It reminded me how decisions made in a moment, often immature or emotionally driven, can have lasting consequences. Especially when we’re too young to fully grasp their weight.

The soundtrack deserves special mention. It beautifully enhances each stage of the story, fitting the different time periods and emotional tones perfectly. The music helps carry the emotional arc with subtlety and charm.

In the end, it’s a film about love, growing up, and the unspoken things that shape who we become. A quiet, nostalgic surprise and a strong debut for Dahyun as an actress.

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Too long, crappy acting, waste of time

FL acting is the worst part. Her character is insufferable, this is the second drama that I see her on and it’s pretty much the same acting like the dumbest.
I should have paid more attention when I read the comments on this drama to avoid wasting my time.
I just ended it because I don’t like to leave dramas in the middle.
This could have had like 10 episodes max. The story was not bad, but at the end the development was not appropriate.
On the other hand, thw only positive thing was the ML, he is great with two different characters, despite the storyline and the little support from his co star.

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meh

I liked it at first honestly. I liked the female lead in sassy go go and was excited to see her in this drama. But to be honest I feel like the story is all over the place. There is no story line to begin with. It started out with her wanting to lose weight. But right now I'm not sure what exactly is going on besides them wanting to.. work out? is that it? Is there more to it? I was thinking it might turn out like oh my Venus but nope. Then I thought okay maybe it's like welcome to waikiki it had similarities. But I just think they pushed the gym as a overall idea and went with it. It's kinda boring

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I am seriously impressed with this drama.

'Memories of the Alhambra' is one of those underrated shows where you begin watching it wondering if you would be wasting your time but end it with 'Why isnt this hyped yet?'. I loved this fresh take on sci-fi meets reality. It had the perfect amount of action, romance and emotions. The story is not your usual 'Hero saves the Day' kind and keeps you on your toes till the end. I would definitely recommend this show to all!! Hyun Bin is as always charming and Park Shin-Hye brings another level of sweetness to the show. This series deserves way more love than what it is getting!!!

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