nfabjoy
Somewhere in Africa
Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds
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Great CGI with minimal plot
I found this movie on the award winning section of Netflix and was very happy I stumbled upon it because it was Korean, sci fi and contained an after life plot . 3 ingredients sure to be a worthwhile watch in my book. Suffice to say - I was quite excited .Review Time ...
The story pivots on a man who dies a heroic death and proved to be utterly self sacrificing to the point of abnegation in his life. Outwardly he was a hero who saved lives but inwardly he was also a deserter and a moral coward . On the flip side ,his brother lived a full and wanted life. He was on the path of actualising his dreams . He also profoundly touched people’s lives and led a life of emotional impact which was the opposite of his brother. That’s the human side . Now insert graphics , stunning visuals , matrix outfits and superb sound engineering and you have Along With Gods.
However-The plot supersedes the story in a lot of ways which became rather lazy in the end . There’s not much that can go wrong with an after life plot and sci fi graphics but with no motifs , symbols and powerful character portraits- your winning formula can quickly become lacklustre and that’s exactly what happened in Along With the Gods. It really was supposed to tug at the profound strings as it bases its mantra in Buddhist philosophy but what was served was very minimal plot to go by with. I understand there are sequels so the guardians story line can be fully explored in later titles but still - there was not much plot to stick with.
Humph....
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Boys over Flowers meets Sageuk ( you decide if that’s good or not)
Why the comparison ?It has everything BOF is : story line that is fairytale-esque based on some sort of literature , noble idiot of a female protagonist who has the overly wealthy and rich men (first banana and second banana) licking the ground she walks on, ultra wealth for days showcased in beautiful clothes coupled with ultra cinematography with the extremely charismatic machismo male lead who borders on mean with acute levels of conceit but you can’t help but fall in love with . Moreover - the detractors of the love embodied in mean Middle Aged adults . However on the lovers side is always the chaebol/ chief eunuch/ bodyguard helper and guardian who utterly adores the male protagonist. Is that not BoF? It’s also The Moon That Embraces The Sun. Ha
Unlike its comparison- TMETS is witty and better done .
It’s also a beautiful story and equally entertaining. I actually found it quite cracktastic especially for a sageuk. I especially loved the metaphors and wise sayings. I got so many quotes on love , politics and leadership so it definitely engages the mind and is in no way brainless. I also especially loved the take on truth vs honesty and the depiction of noble idiots and honest fools. The character portraits were not so shabby and made for pleasant ponder. I especially loved the Crown Prince / King as he was able to balance the conflicting forces of duality that came with the throne . Definitely one of my fave fictional characters in Dramaland.
However ,it doesn’t score a full 10 / 10 because in certain aspects the story went too fast for its own good . This is seen in the overuse of the already good metaphors , everyone knowing the bad guys MO from day one , making out characters to be bad from born day . Like, there’s nothing wrong with these plots but they require directing to act more deftly and concurrently with its script . So the show become a bit like a panting race horse which was a bit unfortunate. Moreover dramatic consequence buckled under the weight of the noble sacrifice trope. The other subsidiary stories premised just disappeared which was very disappointing.
As for the acting - hats off to the younger cast especially Kim Yoo Jung. She gave Yeon Woo so much heart that I had to rely on her portrayal because the older cast member did not portray anything at all . My case is particularly with Ha Ga In. Remind me to avoid her like Kim Na Heul. Ha Ga In was passive , flat and lacked nuance ;it was dismal . It’s even more jarring because her male counterparts were exceptional and they embarrassingly threw her out the water. It was so sad that I fast forwarded her bits when she wasn’t with the King.
As for Kim Soo Hyun - WOW. He definitely deserved that Baeksung Award. His portrayal of Lee Hwon was passioned , strong , demanding yet elegant , witty and approachable. He gave the script levels that it didn’t have for him which was such a class act. I wish he had a better female lead and this show would be hitting the 9’s and 10’s out 10’s. Everyone else did a great job especially Kim Jae Woon and Kim Eu Song.
The cinematography was also breathtaking. It was such a pretty drama . I especially loved the hair pieces which were so ornate.
The music was okay . I really liked the instrumentals . My favorite is The Sorrow Song of Love . That was beautiful and poignant and generously inserted.
Then for the rewatch value... mmmm... not so much . It’s one of those shows with ultra baddies so the fun is kinda lost a second time around. However the last episode is BEAUTIFUL. I would definitely watch that again for sure.
OVERALL: I really enjoyed this show but in retrospect I don’t know why because the story was quite thin in the end . It was cracktastic enough to keep me wanting hence it’s a BoF type of show. A sort of pop culture phenomenon. It was actually really fun to watch and that should count for something hence the 8.5.I do sort of resent the dramatic consequence plus the lacking female lead actress however this show is a really worthy watch .
Tears , laughter intense hatred for villains and triumph are sure to ensue .
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A subversive experiment ahead of its time
This has been touted as one of the worst films in South Korea and I highly disagree. I believe that this film is one of the foremost singular films to emerge out of South Korea in recent years . It’s a weird movie (definitely)but I foresee it being a cult classic in future years.I will review, however ,and say that this is not a light nor agreeable watch. In fact - it may come across as frustrating , mind bogging and odd. Its non linear and uses dream sequences in a combative way but the enduring presence of Kim So Hyun makes the watch very palatable .I also do not think that this is a Korean Noir film as it is sometimes described because Real is completely divorced from the noir narrative . Instead , Real is heavily stylistic and its use of violence is elegant and graceful and not grotesque like a Tarantino film inspired by Hong Kong Noir. When one disregards the noir narrative , Real truly is a movie that explores psychological problems and the mental illnesses invoked by addiction.
Its portrayal of psychosis in the form of the Giovanni Mirror Syndrome is something very interesting and groundbreaking as a movie motif. Hence, a complete hats off to Kim Soo Hyun for being dynamism personified as the masked millionaire and gangster and victim of the syndrome. What range ! I read that Kim Soo Hyun wanted this film to be the “representative work of his late twenties” and, my word , did he deliver ! Its truly a role he can be proud of despite the negative reviews surrounding this movie. Moreover , the late Sulli was really quite astounding as Song Yoo Hwa. There is a scene where she is in the throes of addiction and Kim Soo Hyun's character who plays her lover is desperately trying to save her and the look in her eyes was so hauntingly tragic and desperate, perfect for the scene. These two were phenomenal that its a pity the direction was not.
I shaved a lot of points to come to a 6 because direction was not deft and lot of things were not explained or given cinematic pregnant moments . Direction was pretty puerile and the script had a lot of potential but the director just could not restrain himself and things got carried away and I was like 'huh ???!!"
In the end, it all came out as too experimental for a mainstream audience and budget which is dismal because with its budget it could have, at the very least,come out polished but even there-it failed. Its a pity - because this is BURSTING with potential but alas.
Though I do highly believe in 20 years - film enthusiasts will look back and say "Real was really onto something."
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A highly stylish macabre take on the rich and shameless but .....
If you are looking for a coffee bean to your palette of sweet scented dramas then this is a Colombian coffee bean sure to cleanse . One can trust a JTBC production to be nuanced , elusive and clinical and this sure is it . However , excellence , is unfortunately not on the palette.Woman of Diginity is very dark and very different especially in contrast to my regular palette . I found the Gothic style quite appealing as it’s a macabre story centering on a violent incident. The social commentary was also quite an education. The take on the rich moms of Gangnam and their “sh*t show” lives as narrated by Park Bok Ja was highly insightful and full of poignant quotes. It was also quite a hilarious watch and I found myself chuckling at the pathetic sceneraios .It was a story that embraced pathetic characters that called for contemptuous pity.
I particularly find supporting cast story lines tedious but I quite liked their story lines . However - I failed to connect with the overall story and I only plodded along because of macabre curiosity but not because it was a story I connected with nor did I find it entertaining. The story lacked strength in a lot of ways and failed to actualise it’s virtues which were plentiful but could have been economically done to make Woman of Dignity a truly profound piece. I critique especially the lack of dynamism in the plot point of the women of Gangnam which could have been better done in my opinion . Moreover, dialogue was way too prolonged and very repetitive.
As for the cast - well , I especially loved the acting of the Ahn family. They gelled well together and were quite dynamic as a whole. Kim Hee Sun was elegant and Kim Sun Ah was , yet again , iconic . Seriously - can she do no wrong ? Her character as Park Bok Ja is so conflicting - it’s a yes from me! The characters in this show must have been a challenge for the actors to bring to life and they did quite well . I liked Ja Sang Hoon’s Jae Sok who was hilarious and I appreciated Han Jae Young’s performance as the eldest son . It was mysterious and well done.
Costume design was excellent !Breathtaking outfits and gorgeous style which aptly portrayed the intensity of the show . The stylist of this show could give Sex and the City’s costume designer a serious run for their money !
As for music- I have a serious problem with the music. Why were there no classical pieces ? They spoke of all this art and wine but failed to insert Rachmaninov? Tchaikovsky? A sonata ? Something ? Missed opportunity there .
As for rewatch value - I wouldn’t at all . It was super stylish to watch but not at all iconic . I nearly dropped the show .
Overall- it was a commendable watch . Stylish but this is where I should say things like “witty , poignant , profound “ etc but I cannot . It just really fell short.
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Candy Floss Romcom with a tug of commentary
King the Land is one of those easy watches that will have you smiling like a kid in a candy store.It makes no pretenses about itself and unapologetically commits to the fluffy rom com tropes with all the trappings of umbrellas, theme park rentals and magical appearances to save the female lead. And with all of that fluff - it still manages to touch on issues like classism, elitism and sexism in the service industry which I found so self-aware of the script.
While the ratio of plot to character is arguably thin ( those who say zero plot also have merit) the charm of the drama is the charisma of chemistry existing amongst all the leads and the drama makes very good use of this charm. The push and full factor runs very strong because of this making it an all round very pleasant watch that emits joy. Seriously - I was smiling throughout so top marks for that.
So why does it score an 8.5 and not a 9 or 10? Simple- though the show is a light hearted comedy at its core , I could not overlook that I felt baited at times into thinking it was going to get deeper into an issue/problem ( which were serious motifs by the way) only for it to fizzle out. Thematic resolution was thus quite weak and having the identity of being fluffy is not an excuse for not resolving pertinent themes presented.
Otherwise - the drama is amazing, Lee Jun Ho is captivating as Gu Won , Im Yoon A is greatly improved in her acting skills and the supporting cast was wonderful! No complaints. The music is great too and has entered my daily rotation too .And the visuals were top notch.
Shoutout to the presentation of Gu Wom and Cheon Sarang too- the most natural dating couple I have seen that was not prudish. Very rare in dramaland.
Overall- would not be surprised if this was a future rom com GOAT in time .
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One of the best OTPs you will ever see
As are all my drama watching forays - I watch dramas purely because of the synopsis and try my very harderst to not let hype , acclaimed actors etc influence my drama watching however I do admit that my intentions with this drama were not as “pure” in that respect. Why do I say that? Mainly because once upon a time I picked up this drama and watched the first 5 minutes and immediately dropped it after those 5 mins and declared myself not to be in the mood to watch OMV.Fast forward months later and I hypocritically declared myself in the mood because , *ahem* I wanted to see the fuss about So JiSub nation and this particular drama of his was readily available at my disposal. Sigh.
Now for the review.
These were my first impressions : The title is tacky , plot is unoriginal albeit cliche and my senses were telling me that this was going to be a shallow drama. Perhaps ,in hindsight ,that’s why I initially dropped it. However ,I stand very corrected. All those first impressions actually all have a deeper more profound reasoning over the course of the show which was a gift that kept on giving .
Admittedly slow start but after three episodes: I was fully sold . By the fourth episode I was giddy . I’m fully in Oh My Venus universe . I want to work out , start watching UFC fighting and wear some hoodies with the hood on a la John Kim . Heck , I wanted to sign up for a fitness program and eating plan beacause this show had me feeling got damn HEALTHY !
Moreover there’s chaebol elements ! And I’m a sucker for a chaebol trope.So already 10 out 10 in all facets because this show is undeniably fun. Its actually one of my few binge watches and I don’t binge. So fun is definitely a 10 out of 10 in my book.
So why does the story score a 7 you may ask ? It was ambitious and didn’t follow through. It does look like the writers themselves were trying their hardest to not be cliche and not emphasise the whole losing weight to get back at an ex and that’s fine because this drama was all about self confidence and that being “healthy is sexy”. And they did nail that but in nailing that ,some subsidiary stories were not so fluid . One point gone.In fact they were flat and dragged along a perfectly sound story line and momentum accentuated by the two main leads. It ruined the show in the end because the story got side tracked and then affected the overall ending in my opinion. 2 points now gone.They did so much on the side for the others - that they also added too much salt in the end for the OTP story line. Moreover , continuity factor was not as strong as premised and the editing was a bit suspect especially towards the end specifically after episode 14.To then fully remove 3 points from the 10 out of 10 it had - the plot holes were glaring and plot resolution was curious.One curious example that’s not too much of a spoiler but can illustrate what I mean is when Korean Snake is being pursued by Jan ji In that bordered on harassment and sexual assault but on the juxtaposition , the main character Kang Ju Eun had a stalker issue that was quite serious. I would never have expected more of this show but they offered more and didn’t execute.
But on the flip side - the show touched on some serious important issues like domestic abuse , depression and family. And a big major plus and why it has a solid 7points is because the two romantic leads storyline was absolutely majestic. Such a mature , realistic , communicative and awesome couple. None of that miscommunication and statue kisses polluting KDrama land but super realistic romantic scenes that left me so impressed. The light and fluff of the two was superbly done and their progress was so believable .Plus it’s a very honest relationship , no secrets so no baggage on the viewers on having the onus of knowing a truth and all that dramaland drama.A Seriously perfect OTP of all dramaverse.
As for the acting -SPELL BOUND. Literally - I was bewitched by Shi Min Na and So Ji Sub’s portrayals of their characters . In fact everyone was perfect though they were given inconsistent plot hole glaring storylines. Loved the chemistry between the male friends / housemates and special mention to Jin Kyeong who acted perennially sad , Choi Jin Ho for being the perfect stand in guardian of the chaebol and Jo Eun - Jin for being the best best friend. By the by - where is So Ji Sub nation and where can I apply for citeznship because yesssssss I sooooo get it and I want in. So Ji Sub dramas here we go!!
Music was okay . My favorite song was Tei’s I’ll Be There . I liked the instrumentals too and the Beautiful Lady song was perfectly inserted. I would listen to the songs whilst watching those YouTube fan videos but I genuinely liked like one song.
As for rewatch value - I would probably watch from episodes 6 to 14 on a serious fast forward tip because I would want to see the OTP. I did not particularly care for the last episode to be honest as it was badly edited and just a time filler. Episode 14 felt like a finale in my opinion ...but whatever - the overall overarching storyline is the main focus and that’s what matters. Plus So Ji Sub is the rewatch value ! Swoon.
As for the overall - I give a solid 8. I LOVED watching this show and actually binge watched ( I don’t binge watch by the way) and I think that counts for something in my book. It had one of the best proposal scene I have seen in dramaland and a really moving love declaration scenes. The romantic motifs were soooooo good. And I would really watch any of Shi Min Na and So Ji Sub’s dramas because they were so spectacular in this. I won’t lie that it’s problematic but It’s a great watch and the overarching storyline is really good . Go for it.
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It’s the most fun K Drama to watch but also not that good .
Boys over Flowers is absolutely fun . I thoroughly enjoyed myself watching this K Drama and I think you will too.I would like to address the show itself before I delve into the 5 points of a review. First and foremost , Boys Over Flowers is not overrated in the slightest. It is a pop culture phenomenon like Mean Girls and Clueless. That is how this show should be treated and viewed. Secondly, because it’s like Mean Girls and Clueless - do not expect Oscar worthy acting and Sundance Film Festival story lines . It really is not that deep. Get into it like that and you will be A okay . Promise.
Now for the review itself ... let’s get into it !
The story is fun , comedic and lighthearted but also intermixed with the melodrama that is a K Drama. In a lot of ways - plot unraveling was ridiculous and absurd and this was accentuated by the unfortunate Geum Jan Di . Also ,the writers overplayed their hand on some story lines that inadvertently made the protagonists romantic plot unnecessarily weak .Other than that ; the essence of the Boys over Flowers story is timeless and makes for a good formula . No wonder they keep making them over and over again . I loved the thrill I got from watching this series especially the first 6 episodes . I actually did not sleep and became a slight insomniac because of those episodes . To be honest- I have never felt such a thrill from a show and I’m still yet to feel that and for that reason alone , BoF has some sentimental value to me .
The cinematography was excellent and non dialogue scenes were beautifully shot. The locations were stunning and this production was really good in cut aways. The recurring motifs are the strong point of the drama. I always find that when motifs for a drama are good , strong and most importantly recurring- then continuity currency is especially strong . That was the case for BoF. As for actual scenes , well this is where the drama falls short . The story is not tightly woven and one can tell the writers got carried away and flustered by hype. It was messy , things strewn together here and there and that made for a frustrating watch in the middle but because the phenomenon factor is so strong - it’s not hard to push through. It’s actually fun to scoff in the end and say “ oh cmon!”
Next we have the acting and cast. This is tricky because this has so much to do with the actual story and how the plot unraveled. This to me in hindsight is a weakness of BoF.
I for one loved the cast and at the same time there was some sort of weakness that I can’t quite put my finger on. The F4 were AMAZING especially to look at. Absolute walking sculptures , my goodness! I also loved their friendship but I mostly loved the friendship they formed with Geum Jan Di . This shows that the cast had overall chemistry for days . However , in the flip side , Lee Min Ho single handily carried the entire show and that’s good but also bad . Good for Lee Min Ho because it means he’s so incredible in this and shows wide acting range and talent and bad because it means everyone /everything else was lacking something . This is substantiated by the fact that even though Madam Kang was not a main character - she also carried the show . In fact the scenes between Kang Hee Soo and Lee Min Ho are the most powerful and cohesive in the entire drama. Should it not be the two protagonists having the powerful scenes ? It’s weird inconsistencies like this and more that give the overall rating of the entire show something below 8.
Special mention to the Geum family ! They were the best and comedic timing was on point ! Incredible mention to Kang Hee Soo too. POWER personified . I was actually scared of her .
I raise my glass to Lee Min Ho! Gu Ju Pyo was EVERYTHING. In the words of one of my favorite male protagonists of all time ; Mr Knightley of Emma , I say this about Gu Ju Pyo and Lee Min Ho “ if I loved you less - I would talk about it more”
And I end there on Gu Jun Pyo/ Lee Min Ho.
Umm, the music makes for a nuanced review. Firstly - the songs themselves are not half bad and are made even more special if you find BoF special like how I do. Music evokes memories and the BoF soundtrack evokes feel good memories. However , the way these songs were inserted was quite challenging . One song was particularly overplayed especially in moments that did not suit it and the soundtrack had too many songs. But overall - there were some reall good tracks and BoF had put on to some Korean music heat .The music did make for profound capture especially in the case of Kim Hyun -joong’s moody and “fifth dimensional” Ji Hoo.
As for rewatch value - I would watch this again.Not all episodes but particular episodes . As mentioned before - the motifs and symbols are especially good and dare I say redeem the weakness of this show. It actually managed to be sweet and oddly profound that I cried mid way and I rarely do but perhaps that was down to a particularly powerful Lee Min Ho scene ? You know what ? Lee Min Ho IS the rewatch value !!!
I would also like to add that though Geum Jan Di had her shortcomings- I especially applaud how she took charge of her own destiny and did not flop into a mould set before her . I find that refreshing and give kudos to the writers for that execution. Such female protagonists are rarely seen in KDramas.But she really was grating to watch .
Overall , this was fun . And I would like to take that away. Even though this is not a 10 out of 10 show - it’s actually uniquely great . Its weak , ridiculous and absurd and for that one must take off their thinking hats .
Edit : I now have some sort of experience with KDramas and I can say with confidence that if you can stomach BoF then you have been baptised by the ridiculous and fantastical entities of dramaland. You can take anything. Also if you mildly liked BoF - there’s no way you are ever leaving dramaland. In no way am I insinuating that BoF is any standard but it is accurate in the phenomenon that is KDramas.BoF preps you for all the glaring plot holes sure to come your way in dramaland . But it also preps you that in the next foray - lies transient spaces of beauty in every way . It’s just that BoF muddied everything but the essence is undeniable.
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De Koning: Eeuwige Monarch
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TKEM -Investigating the break down of a Super Car that should not have broken down.
In the automotive world, performance cars are segregated into 3 main categories: sports cars, super cars, and hyper cars.The King Eternal Monarch advertised itself as a super car, capable of high performance, drama and prestige that reach beyond the bounds of regular dramas with its story , cast and budget. The potential was there and looked high level. Like a Lamborghini Huracan with a top speed of 185 mph in the form of writer-nim Kim Eun Sook and a price of $255 000 in the form of Lee Min Ho and stellar cast .
Watching TKEM ; its obvious that one is unfortunately watching a complete breakdown of a super car that has broken down but should not have. What happened?Was it a script that never should have been purchased? A concept that no one could have made work? Or did the problems start in pre-production, perhaps with the wrong cast or tech team being hired? Maybe the whole thing went to hell during production with a director who couldn’t manage tone or actors who were not feeling the script? Or maybe it was in post-production and the editing team messed it up?
Perhaps all the above happened because this Lamborghini was smoking in the back.
Or maybe it was a hyper car in a super car ? You know - like an Iphone 6 with IPhone XR software and the phone just crashes? Because ultimately hyper cars bring with them a level of performance that requires a professional with loads of experience to process and manage the mechanics of the machine . This script and direction really had no deftness and the mechanics of time or whatever themes explored fell all over the place. And much like a Hypercar , the script felt frantic and like it could barely contain its own potential.
Characters were one dimensional and barely fleshed out . It’s really important for a drama to have characters that have their own central conflicts and then the resolve of each of these conflicts adds to depth and dimensions to the overall piece as a whole.Not here.
The chronology stylistic choices were too advanced and superficial for its vehicle. So many scenes ,though objectively good, actually lost their poignancy because of insertion. Case in point -death scenes fell flat and romance was misguided and took away from dramatic effect when really romance , like speed in a car , usually makes our characters have dimensions and layers . Not here.
However , the paint job was pretty good. Cinematography was high impact and the actors were gorgeous. The soundtrack was pretty impressive but was inserted dismally. Music director should never be hired . However - in the end , it came across as a 'just because' drama. Just because I am a super car / Kim Eun Sook , I CAN as she is quoted as saying herself that"I don’t believe I should try to do art with other people’s money." OR "it is about the viewers and their feelings and opinions rather than depth or critical praise."
Ladies and gentlemen - I repeat ! The Lambo is STILL smoking in the back.
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Something isn’t instinctually right about this drama.
I will admit : I’m the oddball because I do not like this drama at all .To put context - I must also make it clear that I was really excited to watch this show. I thought the genre was rejuvenating and that Healer was going to make for a stimulating watch. I had also previously watched Park Min Young and found her to be a pleasant actress plus this show enjoys nearly perfect ratings on MDL . A stunning overall of 9.2 out of 10 to be specific. Suffice to say - I was quite rapt to watch this drama.
But dear lawd.
For its type - it’s required to be more gripping which it isn’t. What are the intentions of this drama ? They are not clear at all. Is it romantic ? Political ? Fate ?Thriller ? Socially charged?Action ? And if it’s all these : why is it flat ?
The past informing the present wasn’t so satisfactorily done .. It affected the dramatic unfolding of characters in the present and the things they would say as well.The emotional core of the story was also set up to be socially relevant which was quite undermined by the childish direction of the main protagonists.The cartoonish action scenes with that twangy instrumental didn’t make much sense to me . There was so much to work with on a emotive angle which missed the plot. I did however like how warm and vulnerable the protagonists were but in retrospect that was just an accidental good consequence of puerile directing.
The character portraits of the supporting cast could have been more thought provoking and more intentional with the social relevance their were gunning for . That media side of the story line was so powerful and socially provoking and timeless as it’s relavance is quite apt in the 21st century but like I said before - puerile. The whole puppet master that you don’t really see but controls the politicians and corporations was quite intriguing but this show still managed to watch like a Coca Cola that’s been open and all the carbon is gone.
With such powerful themes - powerful character portraits battling ethics and morality is absolutely called for but all the characters proved severely wearisome.
For a while - I knew something wasn’t instinctually right about a certain component of the cast . I thought maybe it was that tenebrous , god forsaken picture they kept prancing around with no resolve. I seriously couldn’t quite put my finger on it until ep 7 and I realised that the main actor is not the most consistent. The way he handled his three personas could have been far better handled with another actor in my view. Especially when you are with the illustrious Lee Moon Shik who is superbly showing all his different personas of greedy business man, brother , husband , killer and loyal servant of the boss.
Ep 7 was a monumental episode for a number of reasons: it proved to me that this show has a really good plot but poor screenplay . It also showed that dramatic tension amongst the whole cast is very weak. I couldn’t carry on . Watching a thriller that’s not thrilling ? No thank you.
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A crown jewel of a drama!
I do not even know how to start this review. All I know is :1. I am elated to have even beheld this drama
2. It is such a jewel.
A jewel of real life to be more precise. Something in The Rain is a true to life drama.It showcases in such a poignant way , the first flutterings of love . It brilliantly portrays how relationships are all about timing and that,perhaps, the love of your life is the person you have known for 10+ years and all it takes is a moment of true courage and realism to change everything that relationship previously pivoted on. Its a drama about courage and how love can inspire in us ,our most beautiful selves . That love is not consuming but uplifting. That to love is ultimately to be brave and unapologetically truthful and searingly honest with our true selves.
SOTR also sublimely offers wider commentary on societal norms and issues. It can also be viewed as a drama that takes a microscopic look on women in the workplace and the micro aggressive trials that they face . The social commentary on the patriarchal Patsy i.e women who pander to patriarchy so they can benefit was realistically done .To add to the more real life ethos of this drama ,the antagonists were antagonists you would encounter in real life . People who want to get ahead in life and will do whatever it takes . People who will earnestly have your back and sincerely want to look out for you but drizzle your life with toxicity.
I cannot honour this drama without touching on the wonderful director- Ahn Pan Seok. I have watched his previous work in Secret Love Affair which is also stellar but he really delivered in SOTR . Perhaps over delivered.The use of wide shots firmly put the viewer in their place.He tells us through his angles that we are observers of passion and peoples lives. To create such ambience is truly art and I tremendously applaud!The attention to detail is amazing that even doors , wine bottles and elevators have acting prowess ! The director also has a knack of fleshing out his leads .In the short span of ten minutes,we see the various personas of one character which is very skillful .
Speaking of leads - AHMAZING . Son Ye Jin was astounding and Jung Hae In was spell bounding .Terrific performances from the both of them and their chemistry is second to none in all the K drama's I have watched.
The music is absolutely gorgeous . It had this coffee house feel which was soo sublime for words to portray.Rachel Yamagata's pieces were tear inducing and Bruce Willis rendition of Save the Last Dance could just make me swoon. I loved every single track . Hats off to the musical direction too because insertion was perfect. "with your love, I can see anything through..." I cannot stressssss to you how perfect this OST was for this drama!
OVERALL- You may find it doesn’t answer some things- a lot of viewers have problems with the ending and the general latter half of the drama but that is the realism, the genius and design of Ahn Pan Seok.SOTR intention is not to be thoroughly satisfying with a bow because ultimately , life is not like that .Things happen in life . Things also lose momentum and things pick up again too. Usually with no design!
To portray all that in a drama ?! I call GENIUS.
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The Secret Life of My Secretary
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Trope fest but surprisingly sound and good
I always say to viewers that are watching office romances that you have to enjoy the tropes so the drama can actually land. Same goes for school dramas- you have to appreciate the bullying tropes , love hate angles for the school dramas to really land .That being said - Secret Life of My Secretary is a typical office romance . Mean and ambitious boss who is secretly self sacrificing who has a secretary who is super diligent , embarrassing and reliable. TYPICAL but it goes above that and that was so surprising . It explores with delicacy conditions, forgiveness , patience and the virtue of being truthful and honest whilst outlining the stark emotive differences between honesty and truthfulness.
The main leads journeys regarding themselves and each other were refreshing and the warmness that this drama exuded was very refreshing . The subplots of the office intrigues brilliantly brought out the overall themes and it was very pleasant how this whole drama was handled.
The cast had great chemistry and every story was enjoyable . Particularly loved the second leads romance and the doctor .
However - it was not too swoon worthy but all basic and warm. Lets just say that I am not going to look for Youtube MVs of the couples . The music was also meh . That makes it score a 7.5 but a hot 7.5 leaning to a 8.
If you like an office romance - then this is definitely a handy one to have in your list !
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An approachable crime drama with deep compassion
Tunnel is a very good watch that recommends itself well enough . It’s cast is compelling , it’s story dynamic and it’s themes full bodied .There’s absolutely nothing bankrupt about Tunnel. In fact , it’s quite the enriching experiencing . I learnt quite a lot about criminology and the psyche of killers and I also saw a full illustration of how loss can vividly affect the overall human experience which made Tunnel touching.
The plot / story is quite convincing too for a crime show . The crimes depicted ,though fantastical ,are humbly solved with intention and compassion and I applaud Tunnel for not going overboard in the miracle antics that law enforcement tend to have in shows and movies . We see the police fail , make bad calls and attain bitter sweet triumph.It made the drama quite down to earth and approachable .
I did find components of the cast quite heavy handed and that didn’t balance well with the humility that Tunnel was going for . Choi Jin Hyuk’s Park Kwang Ho was grating and overbearing whilst Lee Yo Young’s Shin Jae was irritatingly complacent in the face acting department. However , Yoon Hyun Min’s Kim Seon Jae was AHMAZING . Beautifully acted and emotively employed . I look forward to seeing him in dramaland . The supporting cast was near perfect too.
On the other hand , its use of flash backs was not seamlessly done and it did get weary in the end almost veering on sloppy . The time travel mechanics were decent enough and realistic with what they were working with and the plot unraveling and twists were exciting !
OVERALL- it’s a decent watch with flaws and all but it at least says something!
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It has everything going for it albeit a wet cardboard of a female lead
A Gentleman’s Dignity sparks some conflicting feelings for me.Let me first start with the positive . This is a very funny show. I literally laughed out loud in every episode and I can watch a comedy stone faced. The F40 are comical , immature but ironically enlightened. They know life is tough and for that reason ,they refused to grow up . So to remedy their dilemma - they each decided to live life as uncomplicated as they knew how but ironically invited in complication much to the comical amusement of the story.
The male cast is superb with Jang Dong Gun exquisite and dashing as always and Kim Min Jong adding just the right balance of somber yet funny. Special mention to Kim Su Ro with his physical performance which almost ended in a shout or tussle and Lee Jong Hyeok interpretation of Jung Rok left me in stitches 99.9% of the time. Their friendship was goals .Male cast was SOLID.
As for the ladies - oh dear ! I know bad acting , irritation , stiffness and just overall itchiness because I saw Kim Ha - Neul act as Yi Soo. Terrible . And her presence is the sole reason why A Gentleman’s Dignity does not score a 10/10 in my book. As for the other ladies Yoon Se - ah was vaguely commendabke if we are to be kind and Yoon Jin - yi was equally vaguely appreciated . Female cast was WEAK.
There’s also some some typical KDrama weary sadness spun in there that put me off a bit . Plus I had a tendency to drop it and come back after a while .Its so predictable so it doesn’t keep you on your feet but it’s a rare species in the K Drama field so that sort of made up for it.
BUT JANG DONG GUN SAVED THE SHOW.PERIOD,
Another reason why I rate it highly is because the ending is satisfying and touching . I was very happy for everyone that I did shed a tear.
The music was excellent and the story arches flowed quite naturally . The OST is actually one of my favorites to date.
As for rewatch value - conflictingly enough , the rewatch capital is quite strong. Just fast forward the Kim Na Heul when she’s by herself and one may be fine because this show was funny , stylish and cute.
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Uncomfortable at first but a truly emotional resonant drama
I give it a begrudging overall 9/10 .I just want to start of by saying that Goblin is a really sad drama . I just want to put that out there because all the top comments and reviews out there on the World Wide Web rave on in a fan girl manner that you would think it’s Boys Over Flowers . I was misled and the sadness genuinely caught me off guard. It’s SAD.
Now that’s out of the way - let me address why I give it a begrudging 9/10.
Goblin did not convince me at all that it is a perfect show. It’s age gap and high school lead was really uncomfortable for me to fathom .Why did they have to make her into a high school kid though ? And though Gong Yoo is hot and all ; he really looked considerably older than his female lead and that was just uncomfortable. But that’s an internal personal bias and has nothing to do with the plot unraveling . Creep factor aside - this was a really original story with an interesting and dare I say new premise. I admired how the writers stayed true to their intentions and you could tell they never fell off but kept focused . It had great quotes too and I loved the deity aspect of the show - it gave it a divine elegance.
However - This is a tricky review to write because as a romantic drama - it ticks all the right boxes . Great sweeping love declaration scenes ? Yes . In fact they are touching. Angst ? Yes - sure to cry like a baby . Great supporting leads with equally engaging angsty story lines ? Yes , yes and yes. Great romantic kissing scenes ? Yes.But nooo. It’s not a 10 . The plot was not tight enough . It was repetitive using the same set ups over and over again that it actually wasted time in setting up other important relationships such as the supporting leads relationship progression and the reincarnated relationships that were discovered along the line. Kudos though to the plot twists which were very much appreciated. Sure to keep a viewer tuning in.
It also had time in its 16 episodes with rich story to insert a villain which I thought was deft. I also liked the way they handled the past informing the present and the notion of reincarnation and it’s supporting motifs. The romances were also lovely. Emotional resonance was very strong too. I cried like a baby in Ep 13 which is one of the best moments in tv history . The last episode was so poignantly sad too. Comedy was also very well done .
The acting and cast were unblemished . Gong Yoo was so funny and melancholy at the same time . The Grim Reaper was gorgeous and grim at the same time and the female leads were assertive , spunky yet passionate in the same this show
The soundtrack is quite possibly one of the best of the best and does much to bolster the ratings . I loved every song and my standouts were Beautiful Life , Hush ( Goblin lullaby, the second leads song I miss You , I Will Go To You Like the First Snow, oh my word - I’m listing the whole sound track ! That’s how good it is !
The fashion was off the charts! Deok Hwa’s coats and suits , Grim Reaper’s cozy oversized sweaters and Goblin’s coats were amazing! Sunny’s outfits are worthy of a Pinterest board alone.
Rewatch value is quite strong once I get over the creep factor . Souls are apparently immortal and ageless right ? So we will stick with that and suck it up ...
As for the OVERALL - don’t waste anymore time and go ahead and watch it ! If there’s anything this show convinced me of other than a sad love of a lonely and great god Is that it’s definitely one of those shows you need to have under your belt for posterity reasons . Also ,If you loved My Love From the Star , you will surely find this pleasant too. If you like some supernatural and super sadness then this one is for you .
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A really , really , captivating watch.
Train to Busan was always on my watchlist but I felt really compelled to watch it now especially in these pandemic times . I’m so glad I did because it actually distracted me from the Covid- 19 news in a good way .I really think that what makes a good movie is it’s ability to engross you into its world unabashedly and entirely . A movie is really epic when it has you feeling its effects , motifs and themes on an emotive level . A movie is especially ground breaking when it offers perspectives illustrated uniquely and has you thinking about them long after the credits roll. All of that is Train to Busan .
This dystopian/ horror movie encapsulated my attention for its entire run . Great story build up with the father / child relationship remaining the core . It also had superb character progression that was fuel for really sad climaxes . I must also warn that there are a goodly amount of jump scares so be prepared!
I especially admired the use of a zombie contagion vehicle to transport the human elements at the core of this dystopian film . The commentary on selfishness, individualism , big corporation and community was very welcome and displayed that this movie had brains and heart .
Acting was superb with Gong Yoo leading the charge . The nuance he employed in this role was absolutely commendable and he once again , brought amazing pathos . Ma Dong Seok portrayed an extremely capable person so fluidly and Jung Yoo Mi was really compassionate in her performance. Supporting cast was great too and special mention to Choi Woo Shik .
Overall- it was a captivating and tense watch which scored big in my movie checklist . It’s engrossing , captivating and brilliantly simply done .
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