4
24
Heracin
Youthful platonic and romantic story with the sweetest male lead ever!
This is a very cute movie with the sweetest male lead that can exist. It is a very youthful and platonic romance with a slow and quiet pacing. Story-telling wise, it does not reinvent the wheel but provide a satisfying experience to its viewers. The story has a real sentimental vibe and illustrates (-sometimes quite literally) in an interesting way the time passing by and the evolution of the relationship between its main protagonists.I was impressed by the acting of Yamazaki Kento. He can sometimes be a bit of a miss for me but here I found his emotional scenes pretty convincing. He was able to subtly demonstrate a lot of feelings in a more natural and subdue way than in some of his other works. Overall, this picture had a good cast and did not feature too much overacting (which is often a big flaw in the Japanese productions).
Production was rather standard for a high school settings but some of the visuals were rather pretty. The stationery used, the doodles and drawings showcased in the picture were also a nice addition to the plot as it become essential to the characters developments. The OST was pleasant with his classical piano touches and fitted well the story.
I would recommend this to people looking for a sweet quiet romantic and non-toxic story with a male lead exhibiting all the best traits of characters and full of green flags.
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Not bad but kind of average with a lot of crazy ! Would have been better as a movie.
I liked the premise of the show even though I was able to guess very easily the 1st episode big reveal. In addition to this one, I was unfortunately able to guess all the twists of the drama. Overall, the plot was very conventional with not a lot of surprises. It was divided in 3 main arcs which were quite repetitive in their narration. The pacing made it difficult for me to keep my interest up over the 12 episodes. I'm therefore wondering if the story would have been better as a movie with a more direct focus and less repetitions. I would also have preferred for the romance to be totally absent from the plot as it was one of the less convincing part of the show.Still, "Bad and Crazy" remains all along quite entertaining and fun, and manages (even if sometimes quite awkwardly) to balance its thriller and action aspects with some more comedic (almost slapstick) side. There is clearly some suspension of disbelief that needs to be done in order for the story to remain compelling. I must admit I had some trouble doing that.
Overall, the acting was good but with some misses. Lee Dong Wook delivers a solid performance as well as Cha Hak Yeon and Cha Shi Won whose both play characters in the police force. The relationship between those three cops was the best part of the drama with their ups and downs. Wi Ha Joon and Han Ji Eun did a suitable job as the remaining main roles but I did not find myself fully invested in their performances. It is a bit of a shame but I'm wondering if it not more related to the writing of these roles rather than linked to the actors. The biggest issues in acting are coming from the villains who are written as super caricatural leading to the cast playing them in a really lousy way with a lot of overacting in some scenes.
The fight sequences were a lot of fun and the OST added a nice touch to crazy and mad vibe. It was super amusing to watch some of the scenes with the soundtrack blasting some loud metal or rock songs in the background. However, regarding the central appeal point of the drama, I found that the filmmaking did not necessarily enhance well enough the impact of it on his hero and his entourage. I have seen other shows treating this much better in terms of reveal and of staging.
I would recommend this to people looking for a police drama with some psychological aspects and quite a bit of upbeat action scenes. Be aware that this show has an almost cartoonish / manhwa vibe with big shifts in tonality over its course, so it clearly is not for everyone.
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30Sai made Doteida to Mahotsukai ni Narerurashi
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Sweet BL office romance with engaging premise but failing to exploit properly its concept
The drama depicts a sweet office romance between the two male leads with a super interesting fantastic premise. The story was promising and started super light and cute. However, it missed the mark along the way as it failed to exploit properly and in a mature way their concept. It stays platonic (-which is totally fine) but given the thematic, I would have expected a bit more concrete steps in the physical part of the relationship.The central plot stayed quite superficial with relationship conflicts feeling a bit too artificial. Given the number of episodes, I would have expected more character development and growth between the heroes in order to believe more in their couple. It is also unfortunate that the screenwriters decided to spend time on not the right side-story. Instead of focusing on the friend writer of the hero, I think they should have focus more on the office colleagues who were some pretty intriguing side-characters.
The acting was not the strongest suit of the series. I found the actors overacting quite a bit, especially for one of the secondary characters: the best friend played by Asaka Kodai. Each one of his scenes brought a high level of cringe because of his over-the-top acting. As explained above, I would have honestly preferred for his narrative arc to be removed totally from the series. Regarding the main leads, I think their performance was okay but not great. Overall, their chemistry together was lacking sparks and the very few little skinship moments felt awkward to me.
I liked the opening song of the show, it suited very well the atmosphere of the story with the pop-rock vibe and the sweet and bright generic. Other than that, the soundtrack was quite subdue and not that memorable. The production was quite standard, and it is a bit of a shame that the directing team did not make more adventurous choices to exploit further their quite "magical" concept.
I would recommend this drama if you are looking for a short and platonic BL romance in an office environment. If you liked movie such as "What Women Wants" or tv-show like "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist", it could totally be your cup of tea. However, if you are looking for something deeper or more mature overall, it is not the one to watch.
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Not only a BL romance but foremost an action drama providing some actual societal criticism
Most of the BL dramas I saw focus primarily on the romance between the characters and have for background a set up providing some narrative arcs around school projects, youth clubs or business prospects. Some might incorporate fights as well as a way to show off some cool gang scenes. "Not Me" takes here another direction with a story not just centred on romance but approaching societal topics such as social inequality, injustice, LGBTQ+ rights and how Art can be a way to criticize societal issues. Action scenes are intrinsic to the plot as a way to discuss how to make society change either through demonstrations or even violence to make a point.The chemistry between the 2 main leads is great and totally believable, their relationship is building up gradually, it is a very good slow-burn. The twins plot is overall well acted and is a good twist to the romance, as it brings up a lot of angst and thrills to the development of the relationship. Overall acting of the secondary characters was pretty good with the exception of maybe some less enticing adults and enemies roles.
The production and directing are not the best: some jumping action sequences are too over-the-top to make sense, as well as some of the fighting scenes which are bit too cheap with some of the blood / make-up appearing rather fake. The editing is also sometimes all over the place with a few abrupt cuts making some of the narration kind of choppy.
Despite this, the drama remains all along highly entertaining and even riveting at some point as the plot unveil itself. The OST is really pleasant to listen to, not to overpowering and pretty balanced with the show.
I would recommend this to people looking for a more serious action packed story with some angsty BL relationships and a well-executed slow burn romance.
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Utsukushii Kare Season 2
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A shorter, sweeter season 2 of an addictive master-servant BL Story
The story felt less dark and twisted than in the previous season of the drama. The master-servant relationship between the main leads remains very platonic and soft even though there are some interesting characters development happening. It keeps being a very addictive show to follow.Hagiwara Riku (as the reserved and unconfident protagonist) continues carrying the show with his strong acting capabilities. However, Yagi Yusei (his counterpart in the relationship) is still lacking a bit in terms of transmitting candid emotions. Some of their scenes together, while very sweet, could have been better with an even stronger alchemy. The writing was really key in helping conveying feelings to the viewer.
The opening song is really great and catchy, and the overall tone of the show is much lighter as we move to a less angsty part of the relationship which is more established.
I would recommend this to people that loved the first season and that wanted to see more development in the relationship of the 2 main leads. Be aware that this second season being even shorter than the first one, it will likely leave you wanting more...
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Almost unbearable to watch, gut-wrenching and splendidly acted...An important cinematographic work.
This movie starts with the arrival of a new art teacher at a school for hearing-impaired children where he uncovers some truly horrendous wrongdoings. The story told is based on a true case, making it even more horrific to follow. It is a very difficult watch, almost unbearable at some points given the level of violence exerted on some of the protagonists.The level of acting of the ensemble cast is very high, especially the kids who are delivering beautiful performances. The main leads (Gong Yoo and Jung Yu Mi) are great and interact well with each other and the younger actors.
The production is really well done, some scenes are properly haunting and I was heart-broken more than once because of the tragic plot supported by some gut-wrenching directing choices. As the film approaches the topic of deafness, noises background, sound choices and even at some point music are also key to the well-executed story-telling.
It is not necessarily a film I would like to rewatch, as it is not an easy watch but it really left a deep and resounding impression on me as a viewer. Beyond question, it is an important and crucial cinematographic work touching on serious issues that need to be brought to light despite their darkness.
I would recommend this to people looking for a more serious watch splendidly acted. Be aware that this movie can be very triggering, so mind the warnings.
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Great performance of the two main actors ! Be prepared to be teary-eyed!
The story is centred around 2 brothers reacquainting themselves with each other after being apart for a while and in the midst of unfortunate circumstances. Even if the main conflict is not that original, it is superbly treated. I found it really well done even though the pacing was a bit too fast for some of the developments. The plot was still quite realistic and sensible in terms of characters growth.The movie is mainly shining thanks to the great performance of the 2 main actors playing the brothers. Jo Jung Suk and Doh Kyung Soo are usually amazing and this is once again a home-run acting-wise. Side characters tend therefore to disappear and are paling in comparison with the actors portraying the siblings.
I did not necessarily find the production and the music memorable but they were good enough to bring the story to live.
I would recommend this movie to people looking for a cathartic bromance story that will bring you all the feels and tears!
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Sweet BL story about growth, acceptance and self-confidence
A sweet BL drama with a consistently sensical storyline and clear writing choices. It was a more quiet show reflecting on rather deep topics such as acceptance, self-confidence, rumours and doubts.The story, built around a central conflict, was paced quite well. Even though it is a short series (11 episodes of about 15 minutes), it managed to show appealing characters developments and also to provide appropriate context to the viewer to understand some of the emotional injuries sustained by the leads. Too bad that given the length of the series, it was not possible to develop deeper some of the interesting secondary characters.
The acting was okay. The chemistry between the actors could have been a bit better but they still had quite a bit of very cute moments supported by a nice soundtrack and good film making direction. After a first half quite platonic, the second part of the show increase the speed of their relationship in an organic and natural way, still staying on the soft side. This made perfect sense in this atmospheric and melancholic drama.
I would recommend this to people looking for a more profound BL romance and that do not mind watching a show with a more subdued ambience.
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Epic love story in a well built fantasy universe despite some little shortcomings in the making
The drama depicts the love story between two characters diametrically opposite and that are brought together unexpectedly. It explores many narrative arc through its 36 episodes, allowing some much needed character growth for both the heroine and the hero. Annoying at first, with some real childish and quite frustrating / stupid behaviours, they both improve drastically over the run of the TV show.Even though some arcs were stronger than others, the story was well-paced and never boring as the romance develops with some heart-warming and heart-wrenching scenes, as well as a lot of epicness and cool fights scenes. It provides a feeling almost reminiscent to the one you have when reading some fantasy mangas.
In addition to the romance, the fantasy universe portrayed here is really well-built with 3 very different realms with factions with various goals, as well as multiple heterogenous secondary characters with each their own motivation and backstory. Some are quite one-dimensional and may lack nuance but they make it up by being key in driving the plot and increasing the stakes.
The acting was good overall. It was really an ensemble cast with no obvious weak link. The stand-out for me were the actors Xu Hai Qiao and Zhang Chen Xiao playing respectively the best friend of the second male led and the brother of the hero. Those two had the most interesting secondary characters storylines and I would have loved to see them even more.
One of the strongest point of the show is its music. I found the OST simply beautiful, each one of the songs were complementing amazingly well the story. They were very present but I never got tired of them. Overall, all the sound effects were nicely done and brought added value to many scenes.
Contrary to the soundtrack, the quality of the visual FX felt a bit unequal to me: some were suitable while some were clearly lacking and looked a bit too cheap. Similarly, some of the props looked a bit plastic as well as some of the scenery conveying an uncanny impression.
Despite these little shortcomings in the making, I found that the overall vision and directing was full of great artistry. All the drawings shown in the opening and ending generics were magnificent. The production of the series was not able to match totally the quality of the concept art but still managed to approach it enough to allow the viewers to properly immerse themselves in the universe.
I would recommend this to people looking for a fantasy romance with some epic scenes in a well-built universe. If you love manga such as "Yona of the Dawn" or drama such as "Alchemy of Souls", this show is likely for you!
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Healing story with a stunning cast and dark undertone in cake world
This movie showcases an incredible 5 stars cast in a story with an unexpected dark undertone while around the baking art. However, given its age, the film can also feel a bit outdated in the way it approaches some themes. The mix of genre is well-done and pervade little by little into the script.The pace is fast and can at time seem a bit too quick with the dialog being delivered really rapidly. This gives an energetic vibe to the picture but can also feel a bit choppy overall. Regarding the directing, there are some really good and original transitions between the scenes, which make the movie dynamic and relatively captivating to follow.
The ensemble cast is clearly the strong point here: all the main 4 actors plays very well with each other and help building a believable family atmosphere in the bakery. For once, the foreign guy (here French) is interpreted by a real native speaker who do a correct job, which therefore helps the viewer in the immersion of the world of bakery. Narratively speaking, I would have loved to see some of the plotlines a bit more developed, to detail further the characters and more particularly their future. Despite this, I'm quite satisfied with the ending.
I would recommend this to people who love one of the main cast member, and well-thought original story involving some darker themes. My advice is to try it blind, without any expectations (except if you have some triggers: you may want to check the Mydramalist tags for this).
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Youth movie heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time!
Great adaptation of a deep and beautiful manga which is centred around a group of high schoolers. The source material is honestly wonderful and even though the movie does not surpass it, it does an amazing job in showcasing the story which features some heavy themes. The fantasy twist in the background of the story is poetic and simple to understand. Its implications are profound.The acting is solid and the friendship between the characters is totally believable. The romance is sweet and the chemistry between the leads is compelling as well. Overall, the ensemble cast does a great job and they are together one of the highlight of the film. Due to my attachment to this band of youngsters, I would even have loved to see a bit more of development for some of their storylines.
The directing was pretty standard for the genre: nothing really innovative but delivering what is needed for the melancholy of the narrative. The soundtrack was pretty good and provided an extra layer of feeling and sorrowfulness totally in line with the tone of the show.
I would of course recommend this to people who like the manga from which the movie is adapted, but also to everyone searching for a great friendship story with a fantasy twist and which is deeper and more meaningful than your average shojo story. However be aware that given the topics tackled on, it is sadder than you might think but very impactful.
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Love in the Air: Special Episode
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(Very) Hot sequel with same defaults but providing satisfying ending
A nice sequel to the Love in the Air drama which allows the viewer to get finally a satisfying conclusion for both relationships as the ending in the parent series felt a bit too abrupt and rushed in its last couple of episodes.Here, the story is clearly only romance-driven with numerous really steamy scenes offering some eye-candy and fan-service for the viewer. The plot is not that deep and stay very superficial with some misunderstandings creating artificial conflicts and leading to some new chasing needing to be done by 2 of the main leads to regain the affection of theirs love interests. While rather non-sensical, it is cute and really hot at some points.
Even if the defaults stays the same as in the original show with some really poor directing (and most particularly oddly jarring bad sound editing), it is a nice way to end the story. The acting seem to have slightly improved, helped by the fact that there are no big dramatic scenes requiring some heavy-lifting from the actors but instead a lot of sexy and playful time suiting them better.
I recommend this to people that have seen Love in the Air and are willing to extend their stay in this almost "fan fictional" universe and get even more heated scenes with these characters.
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Averagely acted and directed addictive BL story with weather metaphors and steamy scenes
A BL series showcasing 2 duo of characters who are playing cat and mouse with each other, with a lot of chasing around, some angst and pining for. The first half of the show focus mainly on one couple while the second half centers around the second relationship. I found this narrative choice a bit odd and I think both storylines would have benefited to be spread and mixed together all along the drama rather than having such a big separation.There was some noticeable issues with the sound in a lot of scenes. Most of the sound effect, ambiance and background noises were done quite clumsily: for example, when some characters were speaking on the phone you could hear that the text was being read post production and set too loud, and the mix between some background noise and the music was most of the time super awkward.
The acting was quite average and unequal with a main cast made of inexperienced actors. There were not all at the same level and depending on the scenes they had to play were rather able to convey in a suitable manner the emotions they were portraying (especially the more playful and sexy ones). However, there was also quite a bit of overacting and some of the most angsty and traumatic scenes felt a bit flat to me.
Despite this, it was still a thoroughly fun and enjoyable watch with some really steamy moments that give you all the feels. There were a lot of cute interactions between the protagonists and the story was pretty addictive to follow. The episodes were overall well-paced (with the exception of the ending which felt a bit rushed given what the characters had to deal with). Even if they were a bit on the nose, I also highly appreciated the weather metaphors highlighting the various stages of the romance all along the episodes.
I would recommend this to people looking for some steamy story with a lot of chasing around, who do not mind some all over-the-top elements and that are not triggered by scenes portraying rape and abusive relationship.
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Wolf Girl and Black Prince
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A disappointing adaptation of an already quite average shojo manga.
A flawed film which did not manage to improve on its basic source material. The script was full of -sometimes fun, even though quite toxic/outdated- clichés (the tsundere hero, the naïve heroine, the pretend dating trope,...) but done in a quite boring and frustrating way. One of the key element being that the main female lead is subservient to the male character, it can quickly become annoying to see her being trampled over all the time. The secondary characters were not developed enough in terms of background or relationship with the main leads to allow some emotional investment regarding the story told.The acting was subpar and the actors were not helped at all by the movie direction with some strange choices regarding its creative vision. For instance, the camera framing was often set very far away from the characters' faces during critical scenes, preventing the viewers to see and feel their emotions. Another example would be the way to drag out the display of protagonists running, hindering the pacing of the story for no seemingly valid reason. The OST was pretty good but again not really an appropriate match suitable for the poor narrative.
I would not recommend this movie to people unless they are looking for the usual high school romantic trope and/or they loved reading the manga 'Wolf Girl and Black Prince" from which this has been adapted.
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Bodyguard x Boss BL story mixed with a lot of pining for?! Sign me in !
A satisfying mini-series showcasing a nice BL story between a rich spoiled young heir and his bodyguard / childhood friend. This trope leads to a lot of pining from both characters and to some exciting conflict as jealousy arise.It was a quite short show so the intrigue and the few secondary characters were not that deep or developed but there was still some pleasant growth to follow between the 2 main leads.
The chemistry between the 2 leading actors was overall great as well as the acting: there was not a lot of steamy scenes but still some satisfying skinship, especially during their judo bouts which were literally oozing sexual tension.
I would recommend this to people looking for a dose of fluffy stuff with good looking guys fighting their feeling and longing for each other.
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