Reviews

Korean Drama at it's best

What I liked:

1. I almost missed this marvelous series because–who wants to watch a drama about the daily grind of a bunch of ordinary office workers in a large corporation in Korea? I gave it a try because of the high ratings, and I’m so glad I did. This story is absorbing.

2. It’s hard to single out any one actor because everyone’s work was outstanding. How Ling Sun-min is able to convey a whole world of emotion with his poker face is almost beyond comprehension. Im Si-wan’s acting was also remarkable. His character and confidence level subtly change as the story progresses.

3. The plot was unpredictable, but believable–at least until the ending, which I’ll get to below.

4. Another great feature is that the cast consists (mostly) of characters who look like ordinary people, not glamorous movie stars.

What I didn’t like:

1. Hey guys! Movie makers have an unwritten contract with the audience. If the film starts out as a horror film, it shouldn’t suddenly change into SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. If it begins as a musical comedy it shouldn’t suddenly turn into a crime drama.

Sure, surprises within certain boundaries are fine, but you don’t undermine the fictional world you’ve set up by pulling the rug out from under the viewers. This series does that.

For some reason, the directors decided to change things up at the last moment. And suddenly we were all watching RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARC.

Next time wait until the credits roll before you move on to the next project. I deducted one star because of episode 20.

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Closure, moving on and still longing

Looking at Go Soo's pretty face with beautiful hair while enjoying a drama with so much depth that it drowns you in it. I loved the first season but it's unusual that I enjoyed the 2nd season even more!

What worked is that this really is a continuation to the first part in the lives of the living characters, but also a whole new story when it came to the other side. Like the first season, the concept of the drama itself is extremely sad but the focus of the drama is about closure. Despite all they face, the characters are very light hearted and won't waste a moment where they can be goofy and happy. The first season built the relationship and trust between characters, and it was shown this season through their bonds and dependence of one another. The cast built even better chemistry and seeing them interact is a lot of fun.

That is why it never felt melodramatic despite its many crying worthy scenes.

Another theme this drama presents is how family bonds aren't determined by blood but by action. And even in the most terrible event you don't have a family anymore, you can still join another one and find reasons to continue living.

The ending was a bit underwhelming but also opened many possibilities.

I highly recommend this drama to everyone, but of course after watching the first season

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A deeply moving piece about identity

I was holding off watching this movie because I thought it was gonna be deeply sad. What I got instead was a movie about the ideals of morals, self identity and the roles families play in our lives.

This movie felt deeply upsetting. Kore-eda carefully layered all these actions that made it feel like he was leading us to a material conclusion only to swerve many times. I expected many things but I was wrong. It was amazed how he played with our preconceived notions of how we view events without any details. I also think this movie is a little bit of a discussion about the harsh culture in Japan about responsibility, even when it's not your fault.

The acting was superb from everyone. I felt bad for everyone by the end. Saori the mother, felt like she was constantly struggling to understand her child. Hori, the good willed teacher who wasn't even doing anything wrong. Someone who did care about his students and tried to be a better person. His girlfriend I think was meant to show his displeasure of the mundane life he had.(If it is to be believed she's from the hostess club). He also being a child of a single parent household demonstrated another aspect of the story I think is overlooked. Someone who is kind and t to help but in the end gets trampled by everyone else.

And Minato's storyline took such a swing that I didn't even realize what was happening at first. I think his realization of his sexuality is what sealed the deal that this movie is simply incredible. When we understand the events leading up to the main story, everything really starts to click. I was impressed with many revelations such as how dirty ended up in his mug and how he was trying to protect Yori.

As usual Kore-eda focused on a lot of character moments that just tell you so much more without having to say it. The act of spreading of I think cheese (?) on toast. Or how Saori did a slight head tilt as she was going up the stairs to talk to the teachers. The careful ironing of Minato's shirt.. all these moments really make a kore-eda film go from good to great.

The music was peaceful and solemn. They lead you into a sense of quiet melancholy.

Just being able to sit and really envelop myself in this movie, I reflected on how the bonds we have shake the foundation of self worth. Minato had no father and to me it felt like he was lost because of it. Yori had a father but he was mainly absent and treated a child who clearly had some sort of ADHD or autism as scum. The parallels of family households where one is present and the other it's fine have profound effects on our mental states. I felt so bad that Yori was being constantly bullied and his only friend didn't even try to stand up for him. The sociatile pressure of keeping up appearances hit harder once the realization of his sexuality came forth.

It reframed all of Minato's actions in a different context and then the story took on a whole other meaning. Same with the title, "Monster." That could mean more so many things in this movie now that I understand. Society, a slur, a responsibility, anguish, self worth.. it really makes you think about how we see each other.

My only main concern is the ending is very abrupt and I don't like that they left a huge thread about what Saori and Hori did after they didn't find the children.

Either then that, this is fantastic.

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May/December Romance with off the charts chemistry!

This mature, slow-burn Republic-era drama isn’t for everyone. But if you want to invest in a love story for the ages, set against the glamorous, treacherous backdrop of mob-controlled Shanghai, then my friend… this is for you. 💙

The chemistry between Jing Tian and Xu Weizhou ( Timmy Xu) have ruined me. 🥵

This isn't sweet fluff; it's slow-burn, heart-pounding, skin-tingling TENSION. He's the younger, reckless military heir with a fierce, masculine intensity. She's the elegant, poised governess 🫣 Together? FIRE.🔥Their glorious May-December dynamic works because his raw passion meets her sophisticated cunning as an equal in every war they wage.

💋 AND THE AESTHETIC. SWOON. The qipaos, the wavy, silky hairstyles, the smoky cabarets and opulent mansions, it’s a visually stunning feast. Jing Tian in those dresses is a goddess. 💋

🎥 The cinematography is award-worthy, painting every frame with palpable atmosphere. It transformed the smoky jazz clubs and the neon glow of Shanghai's streets into living, breathing spaces.

🥺 You could almost smell the astringent cleanliness of the hospital corridors and feel the hazy veil of opium chaining the characters to their inescapable fate.

💕 In the opening sequence, as they danced, the world itself melted away, the universe had no room for anyone but them. ❤️

These elements were so vividly rendered that they became characters in their own right. This is true cinematography, where every set and scene breathes with its own life, its own distinct personality.

🫣 But be warned: if you like your villains purely evil and your heroes perfectly just, look elsewhere. The characters are masterfully crafted in shades of moral grey; you'll find yourself understanding them more than you ever wanted to, which only deepens their compelling stories.

⚠️ This isn't a binge; (although I did) it's a savoring. Get lost in the intricate web of family business and revenge, cheer for a house of formidable women, and scream into a pillow over two people who should be enemies falling in love in a world of danger and deceit.

If you want aesthetic, angst, and atomic-level chemistry… THIS IS IT. My brain is still in 1920s Shanghai. 😭

Bonus it’s streaming in so many platforms…Viki, WeTv, Tencent and Prime

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