Reviews

I was expecting more from the production

This survival show is quite forgettable in itself even if I'm quite happy with the outcome as my faves made it into the final group. In terms of production value, it is pretty flawed : poor editing, low budget, putting non stop the participants into traumatic events for seemingly the single purpose of making them cry, unmemorable stages... There is not a lot of grace to be found about this show if it is not the participants themselves.

It is more on the lower budget / self produced by the company itself type of survival show. Indeed, it is a lot more like the ones that led to Stray Kids, Nexz, &TEAM, TREASURE than the ones that led to ENHYPEN, ZEROBASEONE, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, CLOSE YOUR EYES, AHOF... In itself this is not an issue because some of those lower budget survival were better than some of the ones produced by TV companies. However, this is not the case here. It truly seems that Hybe Japan put less care into this one that the one that launched &TEAM.

Despite binging the show pretty quickly, it is not one I would recommend given the poor production value and overall forgettable stages. It is quite a short watch (comparatively to other survival shows) and the overall final line up made perfect sense, even if it is frustrating how they traumatized all these boys repeatedly but without ultra rewarding moments. Knowing that it is under Hybe big umbrella, you could / should expect more from the production and making.

Read More

An Honest Portrait of Love and Choices

I’ll start by saying that I did not watch the original Chinese film, so this review is based solely on the Korean adaptation.

It’s rare to find movies that feel both deeply emotional and genuinely relatable at the same time. In that regard, Once We Were Us hits hard. If you’re expecting a simple, idealized romance, this may not be the film for you. But if you want something that feels closer to a real relationship ~ complete with its highs, lows, and complicated emotions ~ then this movie delivers.

One of its strongest aspects is the direction and visual presentation. The film shows a great deal of care in its cinematography and scenery, with clear attention to detail throughout. The story may not always take you where you expect or even where you hope it will go, but there’s a sincerity and emotional honesty that remains present from start to finish.

The cast also performs exceptionally well. The performances are strong across the board, and even supporting characters are given enough space to either shine on their own or help elevate the leads. This balance helps the relationships feel more grounded and believable.

Some viewers may struggle with certain choices the characters make. In a few moments, exploring their internal struggles more explicitly might have helped clarify those decisions. Personally, though, the film gave me enough emotional context to stay fully invested in the journey.

The OST complements the film nicely. It’s often subtle, but it appears at just the right moments to enhance the emotional weight of key scenes. The movie also makes powerful use of silence ~ certain moments feel especially heavy because the soundtrack steps back. These scenes highlight how pivotal the characters’ decisions are, emphasizing that sometimes people make choices not because they truly want to, but because they feel they have no other path forward.

If melodrama is your thing, this is a film I can easily recommend. It’s an emotional ride, but one that feels sincere and grounded in the complexities of real relationships.

Read More

Tsui Harks’ Seven Swords was an ambitious project with a large cast. Originally planned as a four-hour extravaganza, the edited version left gaping holes in the story and character development.

When the Qing Emperor outlaws martial arts and martial artists a bounty is set on the practitioners. General Fire Wind and his villainous crew hunt down martial artists and their families killing every man, woman, and child. The last bastion of fighters and source of wealth for them is Martial Village. While Fire Wind negotiates his price for eradicating the village, Fu Qing Zhu and two young people from the village travel to Mt Heaven to meet with Master Shadow Glow. The Master wakes up four swordsmen and gives the two villagers swords as well. Now there are seven swordspeople to save the village. Hooray!

I’m not sure what the original plan was, Leon Lai appeared to have top billing, but his character didn’t have much to do. Of the swordsmen, Lau Kar Leung and Donnie Yen had the most development and interesting storylines. Charlie Yeung’s novice swordswoman had the most growth going from crybaby to gaining a sword that nearly killed her to a willingness to take on the bad guys while badly outnumbered. Too bad they tried to insert her into a romance with Lai’s loner who wanted to be alone character. It was sad to me that more time was spent building sympathy for a horse than most of the human characters. Without proper character building, there were only three characters I vaguely cared about living. But given the genre, I didn’t expect many if any to walk away/ride away. Then there were characters who seemed important, even finding a 1000-year-old sword that was important, but who appeared and disappeared within minutes. Poof! Two of the 7 had very little coverage except when fighting as a group. There simply wasn’t time to build rapport and interest as much as the story moved around.

Aside from narrative issues I had with the film, one of my primary concerns was the visual. Shot in the golden-brown pallet of LOTR, only dusty like a western, the lack of clarity and the camera jumping around from character to character as if the dollies got loose, made it difficult keeping up with the large cast and trying to emotionally bond with any of them. Tsui Hark seemed to be reaching for grandiose storytelling with the essential shots of mountains and horse riders galloping toward sunrises, yet the giant villain sets couldn’t elevate themselves above Styrofoam molded pillars and buildings. I grew up watching shows with these kinds of sets, so that’s not a knock, just an observation.

Lau Kar Leung is my favorite old school martial arts director which made it a treat to see him in front of the camera as well. At 69 he still had solid choreography and moves left to share. One fight between two walls has been done before but was still skillfully accomplished. There was a segment of kung fu fandom that maligned Donnie, but I’ve always enjoyed watching his moves. Along with Lau, old schoolers Jason Pai and Chi Kuan Chun were along for the ride as prominent villagers.

Seven Swords had its entertaining moments, but it was obvious bits and pieces were missing. The villains were wildly over the top like they’d all been to a KISS fan club in the 1970s, minus the platform shoes. Yes, that was an outrageously dated pop culture reference, but look ‘em up. Lol. Seven Swords is worth a look if you are a fan of the actors or genre, if you keep your expectations low.

12 March 2026

Uncredited star sighting-an updated version of 1975’s Guillotine!

Trigger warnings: Sexual assault. Attempted sexual assault. Lots of beheadings, and arms and legs lopped off. Various and sundry gruesome deaths.





SPOILERY COMMENT BELOW:






The heroes spent so much time rescuing each other that they abandoned the village which had been the point of their mission which I found disappointing.

Read More

SPOILER
This movie has a unique approach to talk about loss and sense of guilt. What at the beginning might look like a comedy, becomes a process of healing. What I found really interesting is that the comic side, continues during most part of the film, yet there are really strong, deeper and tragic scenes that do not lose their meaning because of this. The funny moments actually make everything so bittersweet, yet in a strange way comforting.
Even if there are some absurd moments, I found them necessary to create balance and keep the interest of the public always alive.
All the actors were really good in their characters, they really felt like a group of silly friends who grow together and are also forced to face a tragedy that will change them, but not their bond.
I also found surprising how even if the time spent on screen by Cha Eun Woo was really short, his presence was felt during the all movie. This is due to the combination of his ability to convey the character so well in so little time and the amazing job that all the other actors did in always making us feel his absence and his influence in their life.
I loved this movie, even if it made me cry a lot 🥲 But I laughed a lot too!

Read More

Horrible

I am a big fan of the two main actors for this series and I wanted to enjoy it but this was horrible. The chemistry was there until you had everyone start sleeping with others, then it looked weird and gross. Clearly this is not a love story but lust story. I am still not sure as to the point of this series as there is no ending and I would not want a ending season of this type of horrible series. Love the actors but this series could have been good, sadly its trash with smut and sleeping around being the focus, clearly they were aiming for all three to sleep together given enough time. I really did not like this and it's over don't tone, they tried to hard to be funny and it was not.

Read More

Romcom is back

The drama is it an easy watch, no heavy plots, twists, fillers, love triangles and it is not your typical enemies to lovers. Stars with quirky fantasy comedy, which wasn’t my thing but after episode 5, it blooms to a more human kind of drama, dealing with loneliness, fears, etc. You will find yourself laughing, crying and even screaming. SeoInGuk does more than an excellent job playing his character. The tone of his voice, his calmness, facial expressions, and the way he carries himself as a shy quiet guy is adorable and on point. . The chemistry with Jisoo is amazing. Exactly as the director said, SeoInGuk had to be the male lead, and i totally see why. SeoInGuk said jisoo was perfect for the character and she made it more lovely than the script, i can definitely see how this character really suits her. I really enjoyed it, as it’s one of those dramas that you can watch over and over again.

Read More

Generation to Generation is not the kind of drama that tries to captivate its audience with spectacle, kisses, or elaborately choreographed fight scenes. Instead, it focuses on something deeper: how the wounds and choices of one generation continue to echo in the next.

The characters are generally well written—there are many of them, which might seem intimidating at first, but don’t worry: you won’t miss the essential ones.

YI RAN !
The true centerpiece of the series, however, is undoubtedly Yi Ran in his portrayal of Mu Qingyan. His performance carries a rare intensity: sometimes a single look is enough to convey an entire storm of emotions. His acting is remarkably precise—fragile yet strong, broken yet determined. The way his gaze shifts, the tension in his voice, those micro-expressions that communicate everything without a word… Yi Ran performs with almost dangerous precision. He doesn’t try to show emotion; he simply lets it exist. As a result, some scenes stay in your mind for a long time, and whenever he appears, you feel like replaying the scene at least three times.

In that sense, he joins what Luo Yunxi brought to the genre: a more sensitive, layered, and introspective way of portraying wuxia heroes. But Yi Ran is not imitating anyone—he offers his own tone, his own version of the anti-hero, more introspective and internalized.

Romance
The romance here is rather chaste—which makes sense considering the characters’ age. The drama beautifully captures the feeling of first love and first emotional experiences. There is no need for kisses; simple gestures like holding hands, or the speech near the end, create some of the most memorable moments I’ve experienced while watching a C-drama.

FL
The heroine fits her role well and delivers a natural performance. She is energetic and curious—at the beginning more practical than romantic—but she ultimately plays a crucial role in the hero’s redemption.

PLOT
Regarding the plot, the story explores the characters’ mistakes and their attempts to repair the past. This complexity makes the narrative very human. Each character seems to represent a different stage: some are still trapped by the past, while others try to break the cycle. What makes the story compelling is that their decisions are never simple. We witness their contradictions, their sacrifices, and their regrets.

Almost every character is haunted in some way by the legacy of Cai Ping Shu. His heritage leaves a different mark on each member of this so-called “orthodox” sect, shaping their motivations in unique ways.

On the demonic side, our hero is a man haunted by the past, driven by the desire to uncover the truth, avenge his loved ones, and ultimately bring peace among the clans.

PROD
From a directing standpoint, the series clearly offers more than just something commercially profitable. There are good artistic ideas here—new directions worth exploring. Some narrative threads could have been handled better, Yes, the editing could be smoother, especially at the beginning, and sometimes more dynamic later on but these imperfections are forgivable. Personally, I would rather support projects like this than PURELY commercial productions which is tailor-made to satisfy the fandom of the lead stars.

The director also delivers several visually beautiful scenes, particularly those set in water with floating flowers. Another positive point is the restrained use of music—there is no overwhelming musical overdose.

CAST
Finally, the supporting cast deserves recognition as well. Many of the younger actors show promising potential, and the couple representing the older generation is very convincing.

Read More

Enjoyed watching the drama!!!

Generation to generation focuses on the matters of Jianghu, involving 2 generations, and how the 2nd generation solve the problems that come their way, while knowing their previous generation story.
The plot is quite interesting. Yeah, it feels confused and a bit boring in the first few episodes, but trust me, everything becomes interesting when the original identity of the male lead is discovered. And also, all the concepts introduced to us in the first episodes, later, become crucial points in unearthing many secrets. So, imho, the plot becomes very interesting after 6-7 episodes. And even gets better and kept me glued till the end.
Mu Qingyan, played by Zhou Yiran, is the most interesting, yet complicated, scheming, cunning male lead,with a heartbreaking tragic childhood.I really loved his character, and Zhou Yiran was splendid and phenomenal in his performance 💯🤗
Cai Zhao, played by Bao Shangen, imo, is very brave, smart, intelligent, knows well to draw lines between different matters and punishes the evil. I liked her character very much. Though in the earlier episodes she appears to be a free spirited heroine, she definitely has her sense of justice and righteousness and Bao Shangen was perfect for this role. Her character had shown a good development towards the end.👌
Song Yuzhi, Lord Song, Fan Xingjia, Xiaolan, the Cai's and their Luoying valley, Uncle Lei, You Guanyue, Shangguan, Xing were few other characters on the positive side.
All the actors were excellent in their performances.
The chemistry between the leads is very good and I liked how they unite to solve the mystery despite the sworn enemity between their sects and also differences in their opinions.
The music, sets, action scenes were good.
The only things that bothered me were costumes and too much usage of Cai Pingshu's reference in each and every episode and repetitive flashbacks, though she is the main key to the plot.
Otherwise its a VERY GOOD, WORTH WATCHING Wuxia drama. 👍
Despite its flaws,it can be given a try to watch and you will not be disappointed.
A enjoyable journey of Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao👏🥰

Read More

Cute moments but an unbalanced story

I enjoyed it overall, but I did feel a bit disappointed with how the story was balanced. The drama has a lot of charm and is still a pleasant watch. And honestly, the baby… our little star, our universe, was so incredibly cute that every scene with them instantly melted my heart. Moments like that added so much warmth to the story.
However, a lot of space was given to the second lead, sometimes so much that the main couple felt slightly overshadowed. I kept expecting more development and emotional growth between them, but their relationship didn’t evolve as much as I hoped. In the end, I still enjoyed it, I just wish the narrative had focused a bit more on the main couple and the beautiful little family they were building together.

Read More

É uma obra de aquecer o coração

Muitas pessoas parecem não ter gostado por ser tão caricato, mas essa realmente é a essência da coisa, é algo acolhedor, que te faz sorrir de forma espontânea, também tem muitas reclamações de supostamente "não ser um bl", mas no decorrer dos episódios você claramente vê uma carta paixão sendo construída aos poucos, talvez isso seja por não ter vários beijos ou declarações mas ao meu ver realmente não é algo que afeta a história, e desde que se trata de um estudante menor de idade passando a ter interesse por um cara mais velho parece certo não haver nada até que ele ao menos esteja na universidade, enfim foi algo que realmente gostei de ver, vou estar esperando ansiosamente pelo ep especial, a atuação, trilha sonora e história foram espetaculares, realmente muito bom

Read More

skip this, just watch "a river runs through it"

What should I say?
This is pretty formulaic drama: stuff happens, people are there, plot moves on but nothing is really resonating emotionally.

Plot: a pretty standard coming of age drama. Our protagonists are high schoolers facing normal high school problems and heading towards university.

There is nothing that really stands out on the contrary it feels pretty "robotic".

Cast: I cannot really say they terrible actors but they were handed a very bad script. Dialogues feel devoited of any emotion and the actors just they stand straight and deliver their lines.
Especially the music teacher is a good example of this robotic acting style.

My favourite ones are probably the main FL and her best friend. They feel like the most lively.

The "romance" aspect of the drama is really meh. We have 2 guys in love with the same girl but there is nothing there to talk about. Except for some gentle gesture there is not nothing romantic about it. Up until episode 12 at least nothing really happened between all of them.

Romantically? Nothing is happening.
Conflict wise? Nothing is happening.
School wise? Nothing is really happening.
There is no depth to anything.

If you are looking for something better definitely watch "a river runs through it".

This drama feels right for 13 years old. I feel they are the right audience.

Read More

Split Personalities, Second Chance romance, Crushed Dreams and Realized Ones.

"Sugar & Lies" starring the very beloved mainleads Ke Chun & Yu Yin. They stole my heart in the Vertical "Save Myself" last year in 2025 so i eagerly awaited their next project and it came in the form of a Mini drama this time. What a pleasent surprise!
It starts with what you would assume is a angsty second chance love-story. But "Sugar & Lies" gives you so much more than that. It went far beyond my comprehension of what a trainwreck this complex story was gonna be. With very complex but extremely caring and loving characters. You would think the whole lot is shady and weird from the start. But then so many things start to make sense. Ke Chun`s character embodies the double personalities of Chen Aming and Yu Kin so well. Chen Aming is the broken lost boy who was afraid of the world and the pressures of poverty. Causing him to leave his heroine Ding Dang. To cope with his trauma he creates a techno App called "Keep Love" that is going to manufacture relationships and romances. He decides to erase his past pain involving Ding Dang, but the experiment backfires when another darker personality gets created by his pain- that is the more cold-blooded and manipulative YuKin.

Telling more of the story will only give more spoilers to how extremely hectic everything is and how truly shocking the climax is. It may not be everyone`s cup of tea because you are so confused the first 10 episodes. Having no idea what is going on but knowing that STUFF IS SHADY AS HECK. Nothing is as it seems, nothing! Ke Chun & YuYin and the rest of the cast did a splendid job.I mean, wow the chemistry and the intimacy between them. How they could make you laugh and smile with their hilarious flirty antics! The dark bittersweet angst. How neither could let the other go. We also have three constant set locations in the story , Ding Dang`s cafe "Suga Love", Chen Aming`s working app "Keep Love" and the bar where everyone usually gather "Utopia".

Read More