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"The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone." - Harriet Beecher StoweWhen is enough, enough?
The movie centers on the friendship between 3 boys in school - so almost straight away you know where this is going, paired with the title "Bleak Night."
Yes, this movie deals with violence, bullying and suicide. Dark themes that don't really pull any punches, it's pretty much dark all the way through and what I thought was interesting was how almost all the scenes felt so devoid of colour, which I felt ultimately described the boys outlook on life.
This is not a feel good movie, this is a "I gotta think about some stuff now" type of movie.
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Characters
All the characters are pitiful in their own way. And you'll probably end up feeling sorry for someone you never expected to feel sorry for you. I can't put anymore without writing what I'd consider to be spoilers. What I will add though, is that the acting (especially from Lee Je Hoon) was amazing.
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Music
I didn't really notice the music, if there was any. But I think that suited the movie for a few reasons. The lack of music didn't take anything away from the movie, just as how adding it might not have brought anything more to it. It simply is as it is.
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Rewatch
I'm not sure if I'd watch this again. Not because it was bad, but because it's quite an impactful movie that maybe only needs to be watched once to feel the full force of it. I could see myself getting the urge to watch it again though.
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Overall
I give it an 8/10. While the pacing was good for the movie, I felt the flashbacks took me off guard sometimes and I wondered where things placed in the timeline of it all. But still, the movie got its point across in the end. You'll enjoy it, especially if you like to have a long hard think about everything afterwards while you process what you've just watched.
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This is a feel good movie if I've ever seen one. You'll quickly become attached to both Sayaka and Ito-sensei. They are both such vibrant characters that suit each other perfectly. Not even in a romantic way, of course! But with something more important - mutual respect. To add on that, it's refreshing to watch a movie NOT about romance, there is barely even a hint of it in this movie, instead it definitely focuses on respect and believing in yourself - which I think we could all do a little bit more of.
If you don't come out of this movie wanting to try harder, I'd be shocked.
The story itself is somewhat typical of Japanese dramas, I'll admit. But the way it's executed is what's key in this movie.
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Characters
I fell in love with Sayaka almost straight away. There was just something about her that drew me in and kept me there for the remainder of the film. The way she tried her best and didn't let being ridiculed stop her really resonated with me. She was such a strong character and honestly I don't think I'll ever forget her.
Ito-sensei was the teacher we all wish we had in school. Unwavering acceptance and belief in all his students. Even the memory tugs at the heart strings. Too many teachers get disenchanted with the job of teaching others, but Ito-sensei had that fire in him that would never go out. How I seriously wish I had a teacher like him in school - then maybe I wouldn't have thought I was only set up for failure. Ito-sensei should be the inspiration for all teachers. Get to know your students and find out what way of learning suits them best.
Akari - aka Mama Kudo. Sayaka's mum. This precious, precious mum. My heart broke for her so many times. She was so devoted and loving I just wanted to give her a huge hug and tell her to get rid of some of that weight on her shoulders. But I guess that's part of what being a mum is about, taking on the worries and fears of your children as your own and working hard to eliminate them.
Reiji was such a sweet character. A man left with the burden of becoming yet another lawyer in a line of lawyers - a burden that he doesn't want at all. I would have liked to have seen more of his character, because he felt a little insignificant in the grand scheme of things? Like he was brought in for a reason, but they decided against it. Still, you saw enough of his character to like him.
I would talk about other characters, but I feel like I can't without putting in spoilers. So instead I'll talk about the acting. I had absolutely 0 problems with any of them. Sayaka's character type is hard to pull off sometimes, it can either be too little enthusiasm or too much, like there's no in between, but Arimura Kasumi made it seem effortless. Through the ups and downs, you'll feel what the characters are feeling and this is largely thanks to the acting.
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Music
Honestly, this will be a super short section because I barely noticed the music if I'm honest, and I'll assume this part in particular will be anyone's reason to lower the score. The highlight for me was the song at the end credits. And honestly, I liked the movie so much maybe I just missed the soundtrack entirely because I was too engrossed in watching.
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Rewatch
I would 100% watch this movie again.
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Overall
I loved this movie. If you need a feel good movie, this is the one for you. If you need a kick in the butt to work harder, this is the movie for you. If you need reminding that you can try your best and succeed because you're worth it, watch this movie! No matter what anyone else calls you, you know who you are and you're the only one who can determine your own worth.
Also watch the credits!
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This is a tale of two broken people trying to hold it together in two different ways.
I thought I wouldn't be able to watch this because of all the violence (especially the unnecessary amount against women) but I found myself unable to take my eyes off the screen. Yes, some scenes were hard to watch, but for once it didn't feel entirely gratuitous. We're constantly, brutally reminded of how both the main characters lead their lives and deal with what comes.
This movie won't give you much of a break, and I wouldn't be surprised if it left you feeling slightly drained afterwards. It's somewhat of an emotional roller-coaster. You'll be grimacing, crying and laughing, all within the space of a few minutes.
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Characters
Sang Hoon is the gangster you hate to love. His actions (and profanity used in almost every sentence) show you that time and time again, this dude is not a good person. He's pretty indiscriminate when it comes to who he hits. Hitting is all he knows. But violence begets violence.
Despite all this, you'll sympathize with him.
Yang Ik an amazing job portraying his character. He really outdid himself. I don't have enough words to give this man the praise he deserves for his role here. I was honestly rooting for his character after a while and THAT shocked me.
Yeon Hee is the high school student who strikes up a very unlikely friendship with Sang Hoon. She's a character you'll have no trouble feeling sorry for. She gives as good as she gets when it comes to profanity matches between her and Sang Hoon. The chemistry between these two is pretty great, it felt extremely natural for them to suddenly strike up a bond.
Kim Kkobi's acting made me feel so tense every time she walked through that damn door to her characters house. Every emotion she felt, I felt. I really can't think of any actress that could have suited the role more.
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Soundtrack
The music was very subtle, which suited the movie perfectly. It wasn't outstanding, but this kind of movie doesn't need heavy background music.
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Rewatch
I would watch this again if I felt seriously masochistic. This is one of those movies that you watch once and it has an impact on you forever. And even though watching it again would feel like a daunting task for my emotions, I could see myself doing it anyway.
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Overall
I heard that some people thought this movie had a slow build, and I guess it sort of does, but I never once felt like it outstayed its welcome. Once again though, it's filled with dark themes and unsettling imagery. And that doesn't stop. So if that kind of thing makes you extremely uncomfortable, this isn't for you.
But it'll make you wonder about the vicious circle of violence. Where does it end?
This movie touched me more than I thought it would, and I hope it has the same effect on you.
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Longish review ahead!I'd never watched a Taiwanese drama before this one, so I wasn't sure what to expect after only watching Korean/Japanese dramas. I have to say I was quite impressed. I definitely wanted to keep watching and I marathoned it in 2 days. For some reason Netflix has this drama as 30 episodes and not 18 so it felt like it took longer. Overall I give it an 8.5, mostly for it's characters and the chemistry between the main leads. The plot besides the whole gender-bending thing felt very flimsy, like it was tacked on AROUND the gender-bending and romance. But it honestly didn't matter so much in the grand scheme of things, because I truly do feel like this is a romance drama before anything and that SHOULD take priority. It's a story of two people overcoming so much for the sake of love.
One of the things that impressed me the most was how this drama did quite an amazing job at showcasing how gender doesn't really matter when it comes to love. You fall in love with who you fall in love with - everything else will fall into place with time. If you're worried about any homophobia - don't be, is all I have to say. Really, it's all handled very well, almost to the point where I wished Yanuo WAS male.
A small problem I had was how separated the characters felt from each other outside of their pairings. I would have liked for them to interact more. Like Nana and Yanuo confiding in each other, more interactions between Qingyang and Zifeng. It felt like their interactions became all too rare. You ARE allowed to have friends outside of a relationship.
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Characters
(I will only do the characters you see early on - the rest I may count as spoilers)
All the characters were portrayed very well and none felt the same.
Yanuo, one half of a pair the story centers around. Forced to dress as a boy because her asinine parents believed some fortune teller when he told them their daughter would die before the age of 26 if they didn't try to 'trick' the universe. It's flimsy, but if you try to believe this story takes place in an alternate universe where fortune tellers are actually a real, 100% factual thing then it makes it vaguely okay. Though the fact you have to jump through those hoops is rather silly. Yanuo is deeply empathetic and loyal. She believes in justice over everything and won't stand for it if the people she loves are hurt. The chemistry between her and Zifeng is almost instant. Honestly, Yanuo was quite a well-rounded character that I couldn't help but find charming in her own way. Lai Megan did such a good job emulating the mannerisms of a guy, they way she walked and her body language all made her seem like one, even her outfits were well chosen. I was pretty impressed with how boyish she actually looked. Usually with gender-bending drama's they still look quite girly, so it was a pleasant surprise. Overall, I had very few gripes with Yanuo.
Zifeng the other half of the main pair. He didn't have too many flaws if I'm completely honest. He's good at seemingly everything he tries. Even his personality is pretty strong, he's loyal almost to a fault, caring and compassionate. Not to mention he is an absolutely gorgeous man. I am forever grateful he wore suits almost all through the drama. Because Chen Baron is such a good actor, you really feel the pain, struggles and happiness he goes through. All in all, Zifeng, and Chen Baron himself, was the perfect match for this role.
Bii sold me on Qingyang completely. His quiet, caring and sensitivity were illustrated very well.To people not willing to look past the surface, they may never know how he truly is. He's not a very emotional character, but that works for him. Seriously, I am a huge Zifeng fan, but Qingyang stole my heart so many times. If you're not impressed and inspired by him as the story goes on, I'd be very shocked. I can't sing his praises enough.
As for Nana, I don't know if it was the acting or something else, but I couldn't quite enjoy many scenes with her in. She is absolutely stunning and her hair is gorgeous. Yet I found myself getting annoyed when scenes with her in dragged on. I do think her acting was maybe a little sub-par compared to the rest of the cast. It didn't feel as genuine.
Zihan was a not-so-secret favourite of mine. The first thing I want to address is how much she reminded me of Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl. I know that's kind of a weird comparison to make but she did. It was immediately obvious to me. She is so, so pretty and I really felt for her as the story progressed.
Xiaojing was an absolute breath of fresh air. Her bubbly personality and her willingness to do whatever she can to make Yanuo happy was a wonderful thing to see. There needs to be more characters like her in dramas because I really couldn't take my eyes off her whenever she appeared. It really brightened up the drama.
Guangchao is what I like to call a comic relief character. Maybe even the mascot character - though that might be reserved for something else. He constantly makes a fool of himself and appears a little girl crazy. But just because I say he's a comic relief character, that doesn't mean he isn't actually funny, because he is, if maybe a little over the top, but I think that's the point.
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Sound
The soundtrack was good, though one song was played a little too much and I don't know if it was just the Netflix version, but sometimes the music would just cut out halfway through and enter into a new song very suddenly. It kind of took me out of the moment because it was so jarring. Other than that, I really can't fault it. Even the one song they played a tad too much I ended up humming along to when it came up.
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Rewatch
It's a bit long, but I could see myself watching it again if the mood struck.
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Overall
I had a good time watching this drama. If I didn't, I wouldn't have watched it in such a short amount of time.There is something oddly addicting about it. Besides all the cheesy moments, thin plot and maybe a slightly sub-par side story, you won't find many flaws at all with the main concept. So I recommend you sit back with a nice drink and let yourself enjoy it for what it is.
--For the full thing WITH spoilers, go to my tumblr: kanawafu . tumblr . com --
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