Reviews

Ended up loving it more than the Parent Story (ULS)

Hello! This counts as my first review on MDL. I usually never write reviews but this was just that good that I felt like expressing my heart out here (also, because I'm one of the early watchers, internationally. Hope this review helps the ones looking forward to watching this beauty ⁠♡)

I'll **try my best** to refrain from spoiling anything ;)

The number one thing that got me hooked right off the bat in this series were the leads and their acting, especially the character of Dong Hee a.k.a Actor Do Woo. The character had the perfect, SPOT ON amount of sensitivity and tenderness as I was expecting from the trailer. It is made very obvious from the beginning that he is fond of Ho Tae, but the way that his POV is portrayed is exactly how I would deal with romantic attractions. His eyes did most of the talking and that was really heart warming to watch. The character of Ho Tae, a.k.a Actor Won Tae Min was portrayed as a "Gung-Ho", straightforward no-bullshitting kind of character in ULS, but since it's a prequel, we get to see a more softer, mellow side of him in this. More like he's playful and all cheery in this one. Their chemistry is no joke guys, I do not mean to compare ULS with this, but I wish this kind of intense chemistry was shown between Won Young and Tae Joon :'(

Speaking of intensity, the next thing that I can't still get out of my head is how the tension between the two is filmed. As an ardent BL enthusiast when I tell you I haven't seen such beautiful tension in a while. It is not rushed, not paced just to be done with it and wrap up, neither does it feel prolonged, depending on how intimate a scene is, the tension scenes are timed differently, cutting off or continuing. I'd like to credit the direction team rightfully here, because everything, from the angles to the movement was like how actually your head would work if you had such interactions with your partner, if you know what I mean. Cinematography is worth appreciating, almost gives off an Indie movie vibe.

There are things that I feel they could've worked on, but those are like minor ones, and would not affect any of my opinion on how good of a watch this was.
Now this is a personal opinion but few might agree with me after watching this series, I feel like this "back story" was more of Ho Tae's and less of Dong Hee's, concerning pov. We only get to take away two things about Donghee's past, only obviously being that he likes the significant other ML, while most of the story revolved around Ho Tae, his past and present (in the story). I get that Donghee's character is a bit reserved but I would've appreciated some more storyline from his side .

Secondly, I do not know why I was kinda(?) expecting some kind of love traingle or introduction of a third person in their love story? There's this one character (I won't reveal) introduced in the first and second episodes that'll give you off the vibe at first, you'll sense a love triangle but that's really not it. It didn't affect any of the story obviously but I feel like something like that would've elevated the persuasion process between the leads or something, also would've given us some more storytime lol.

Thirdly, this one's really worth shaking off but I feel like the cameo of Ji Won Young a.k.a Gong Chan in this one was worth some more screen time with the natural plot flowing. He's literally there for 5 seconds or something ? I did expect a present time cameo where it's like back to ULS universe, but okay. No big deal, just personal wish :')

What makes this better than the Parent Story? (For me)
Mostly, it's in the filming.
I won't deny the chemistry between Ji Won Young and Yoon Tae Joon in ULS was some of the better ones I've seen in Korean BLs, but you could still tell, it's acting, after all. It was very concious, some scenes, you can't tell me, weren't rushed. However, with The Time of Fever, the chemistry between the leads was so magically captivating it'll keep you seated. It'll make you want more of their interactions. In my eyes, this one had more of that artistic vision.

Here, I conclude my review (it's pretty long ?) but I really hope it helps. This has great rewatch value, in my opinion. The long spoken of myth with K-dramas that it's always the secondary leads/characters that win your heart rightly fits in this case. I only hope they get casted in a different drama or like a season 2 of either of the series' cause I know, I'm gonna miss them.

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Beware how you use a gun

First of all, I had no expectations about the movie and I didn’t know what kind of movie this is before watching it. It turns out to be a psychological thriller drama so if that is what you are ready for, this is a gem. But if you expect some intense action, twists and turns, shocks and thrills, you might be disappointed.

Before watching the movie it came to my mind that Kim Ki-duk was making a movie about a gun, so if anything I was interested in the role of a revolver for this movie. Silently I hoped to see a little bit of Kim Ki-duk genre and I would say that I got it. Director Oh Seung-uk is exploring the human psychology in a unique way by showing us a few distinct characters and their clashing with one another. Revolver is still here to push them a little further than they would normally go. The story is simple but is developing in an intriguing way, actors are superb, the production and visuals truly excellent.

I remember the movie “Shameless” from the same director with a similar casting and a similar tone. And I saw other projects he worked on, but they are too few. I see here that all of them have a score around 7 but for me they are all 9 or 10/10. That means I am a fan.

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A Path to Somewhere and Nowhere at the Same Time

I’m conflicted about this movie/series. I think the problems I have with it are not as a result of flaws in the film but rather a flaw in the basic concept and what they were given to begin with. How do you end a prequel happily when the sequel starts sadly? That is the problem they were handed.

We know from Unintentional Love Story that they have a history in which there was confusion on Ho Tae side over his feelings and there was never a romantic relationship between them. They have an adversarial relationship, on the surface, at the beginning of the series and grow closer with an implied ending of them getting together. This is what leads to the problem of what you do with the prequel. They mentioned basic plot points but you’re dealing with a case of they parted for two years and ever since they have met again, they have not had a good relationship. So, you want to tell a story with a happy ending, but you essentially need to retcon the original story in order to obtain that.

Also, the plot felt like it dragged on. I watched around 2 episodes at a time due to the fact that it felt like we were going around in circles or just repeating the same plot points over and over again. It’s very weird in my head because it felt like there was a development in their relationship, but it felt like we kept stuttering to get there and it felt both like we got somewhere and also that we got nowhere. Was it maybe the repetition of Ho Tae’s actions towards Dong Hee. The repetitive promises he gave didn’t really change much. They were supposed to show forward change, and it just felt like we were going back to the last time this happened and were doomed to relive similar events again. Maybe it would have been different if I had seen it as a film as opposed to separate episodes, it may have flowed better that way but that’s not what was available to me.

It kind of feels like we got both somewhere and nowhere and that I think is the fault of the original story because in that story, we started just after nowhere, so this story had to end at nowhere. The ending felt rushed and empty and that is due to the limitations of the beginning of the original. I also believe that this was a very one-sided story.

In my opinion, Ho Tae is the main character and Dong Hee felt very much cast to the side. It felt like we were watching the development of Ho Tae’s feelings and his story and how Dong Hee fit into that with only a sprinkle of plot development for Dong Hee but only how it impacted him in relation to Ho Tae. That’s just the feeling I got.

Overall, I didn’t dislike it, but I’m sitting with a lot of opposing feelings.

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Not as comedic as I thought, only 1%

The first half was too ridiculous, like why trap 5 ppl in a hotel in a shaky tunnel if there were options especially with better studying and better tools

So the first half was done to have a “unexpected team building” so the second half made sense when they cared for each other

And it needed a better ending, like Hot voices villain was a psychopath, id have wanted him on a death sentence or atleast have his chaebol dad send someone to kill him off

The double cross, double cross, was ridiculous cuz, villain was offering burnt leg 100k, when if he stayed he’d have had to cut 5m between 5ppl

Poor old guy dying so coldly as well was just to add angst
villain dude was never gonna let them live , and ml with his fancy car and clothes and watches, he didn’t need another 1m to even take that job, again a 30b job put on 5ppl, one sick, one hurt, without any research or equipments, they only found out about the new pipeline cuz old guy randomly had that info, when again, if a crazy rich dude did something , he’d plan it better from the start

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"Only mold grows in the shade"

The Secret Scandal was infuriating and discouraging. Loosely based on actress Jang Ja Yeon’s maltreatment and suicide, it caused this film to be even more painful because behind this sordid fictional story of abuse of power was a real woman who was let down by everyone. If you have triggers, please read the tags carefully.

“Why is one actress so important to you?”
Lee Jang Ho has become an internet reporter after being fired from his television job. He’s diligently covering the trial of men accused of “coercion” and “abetting coercion” for an incident that happened in a club one night. Actress Jung Ji Hee committed suicide after being repeatedly coerced into sexual acts by her manager for himself and other men in power. Bound by a punitive contract, she was unable to get out of it unless she repaid 30 TIMES what the agency had spent on her. A new prosecutor’s mettle is tested when the good old boys draw ranks in order to thwart justice.

“Why would I remember your name?
Ma Dong Seok played Lee Jang Ho in a role where the only thing he fought was injustice. The famous ahjussi hitter did a good job as the reporter fighting to find and reveal the truth, one of the only positive male roles in the film. Lee Seung Yeon felt out of place as the tenacious prosecutor with a baby voice. I would have preferred an actress with a more dynamic screen presence. The film’s execution wasn’t as taut as it could have been. Jumping from character to character and also with numerous flashbacks, it had a tendency to feel disjointed which reduced its emotional punch.

“She’s just a girl”
The Secret Scandal’s story is an important one because 11 years later, the #MeToo movement has petered out against the solid wall erected by authoritative men. A 2010 report claimed that 62.8% of Korean actresses had been asked to perform sexual favors. Since this film came out there's been the Burning Sun scandal and now female acquaintances, co-workers, even family members are being turned into AI porn with few consequences. Men’s reputations and careers are too often valued over the careers and well-being of women’s as this film painfully pointed out. One particularly disturbing scene reminded me of a real-life rape that occurred on camera during the filming of Fatal Vacation (1990). Maybe when there are more women lawmakers, judges, film directors and producers, etc. something will change. It’s just taking too damn long. RIP Jang Ja Yeon, your suffering and life are still inspiring people to fight for the right to be safe and not be treated as a sexual commodity.

12 September 2024

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Hilarious

I've always been an fan of Stephen Chow and Ng Man Tat (RIP I'm gonna miss you) growing up. I watched so many of their movies, so gonna just do one review for all their works.

All their works are amazing and hilarious, and I find great joy seeing other people finding them these days on YouTube and enjoying it too. From their God of Gambler superpowers, to this Kung Fu Hustle Wuxia style power, to their Out of the Dark scary movie psychic powers, or even normal Fight Back to School, they always include an great sense of humor and love the way he made each movie.
Always gonna be one of my favorite actor, and movie.

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Heartbreakingly beautiful

I think that when something makes you emotional, there is something truly well done execution wise.

When I Feel your Warmth is, in simple words, a very well crafted love story with great acting.

The stares, the hidden emotions, the love, the strong and complicated feelings between the two characters were portrayed in such a delicate and memorable way.

A bittersweet series, full of angst and heartbreaking moments, but also full of warmth and inexplicable emotions, something that accompanies first love and how special it can be for each person.

I truly hope we get to see more works like this in the future.

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Great acting but clichés and cowards

While it's good to see a prequel to Unintentional Love Story I'm not completly happy with the story.
First, I don't like clichés like "we are both guys, so it does not matter" ? When can screenwriter just skip such BS.
Second, I am not a fan of cowards, in my eyes both of them are. Kim runs away from his love of his life and Go does not admit his feelings and does not communicate them. Because of the non-communication the end is what it is, even when both understand what they feel.

So I am a bit split If I really like this movie... Production quality was top notch, the acting was also top notch but the story left a bitter taste in my mouth. While not every love story does need a happy end, this end is especially unsatisfying.

Overall it's worth watching even when it will not satisfy everything.

Edit: After some reflection, this story is inconsistent with the original series "Unintentional Love Story", because if you see ULS you will recoginze; a) Did Kim really go to an university in Seoul and if so, what did he study? He should be a doctor in ULS but he owns a coffee shop. b) Go tells Kim, that he always breaks up with his girl which means they never have kissed or had any closer than friends relationsship before. He did that in this story too, he knows his feelings, so he would not have dated a girl again imho. If that would be a famous franchise I would say this story is not canon.

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Grandma, I miss you.

Grandma, the most precious person in my life, I lost her 10 years ago. After I finished watching 'How to make millions before grandma dies' i cried my heart out remembering my grandmother. All the moments with her flashed right before my eyes, I felt very nostalgic and realised how much I missed her.

M and amah, the actors did an amazing job portraying the characters. M always loved his grandma, it just he grew apart from her in between, then realised again how much he loved his grandma when he started living with her.

This film was so realistic and emotional. The ending scene where M was knocking amah's coffin and Letting her know where they were going and that he brought a big burial plot for her just like she wanted, and finally getting emotional and feeling the pain of losing his grandma made my heart ache.

Amah only wanted to be Buried in a good big plot because she believed her children will be prosperous, till the end she cared about her children.

Also the pomegranate tree, she kept all the pomegranates until it was ready, did not let anyone have it because she promised M she'd keep it all for him when he was little. Each and every scene was very simple yet heavily emotional. Great job director Pat Boonnitipat. Perfectly depicted, how aging parent want nothing but company of their own child, and the ignorance and carelessness of child towards their aging parent.

I really liked the cinematography. Overall very emotional, beautiful and simple movie will leave you heartbroken.

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Dude, who is a gangster?

Just saw this movie for the second time and it is great to see the actors I didn't see for a long time in any project. The production is really excellent. The movie started with an impressive artistic scene with hundreds of gangsters together so i was expecting a „City of Violence“ type of movie. Then, after some jokes thrown into the story I thought maybe this is more like „The Crime City (The Roundup)“ movie series. But this is another city – City of Damnation where we have gangsters and cops but we don’t have much action, just the comedy so this movie would mostly fit the genre of comedy. The director didn’t bother much with the story but just for the visuals and the comedy. There are hundreds of gags in this 2-hour movie which is too much and so over the top that at the end I just laughed at their stupidity. I was reminded two times on the movie “Dude, where’s my car”. There is a tattoo joke and a scene where a character unsuccessfully tries to translate one English to Korean. Haha.

Anyway, this could have been a great movie but it exaggerated with the jokes and missed some opportunities with the interesting premise of the story.

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The story that will make you forget everything.

As a longtime fan of BL, I have to say "The Time of Fever" feels like a breath of fresh air—like rediscovering what it means to truly be alive. This film is a masterpiece that reignited a sense of being alive within me. Every element, from the storyline to the acting and the soundtrack, was perfectly executed.

The emotional depth, the chemistry between the characters, and the narrative arc drew me in from start to finish. The ending was beautifully crafted—satisfying yet still leaving me yearning for more. Though it concluded perfectly, I can't help but hope for another season. No complaints here, just pure admiration.
This is the kind of show that lingers in your mind long after it's over. This film is a gift to BL fans, and I can't thank the creators enough for delivering such a stunning piece of art.

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Great supplementary spin-off to ULS

You can feel the raw emotion almost immediately. Acting is not the best I've ever seen and there is some cheese but the EMOTION is dripping and the tension is palpable. The sexual chemistry between the two are top notch. There is indeed an intimate scene (more than one actually... we have been BLESSED) and they will leave you breathlessly clutching your heart.

You do not need to watch Unintentional Love Story to watch this but I do recommend watching ULS afterwards to help continue the story along (with the added treat of the main couple as well). If you're like me and feel this was not enough, lets rally up and PETITION for a part 2 shall we?

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