The OST, background music, acting, direction, cinematography, casting, dialogues, cut-scenes. Everything about this series was right!
There are so many things I could cover, I don't know where to start due to the sheer perfection of this show. Apart from the incredible acting and cinematography, one that surpassed many good dramas and was also my favourite, the storyline was well-thought and the ending fulfilling. FreenBecky's on-screen chemistry was too good for their first time, and the character dynamics were just amazing. The show actively addressed the problems faced by the LGBTQ community and the fact that there is retribution for all homophobes, very adequately (and more solidly than any other drama I've watched).
I'd definitely reset my mind to rewatch it if I could. Must-watch!
Have you watched Not Cinderella's Type [https://trakt.tv/movies/not-cinderella-s-type-2018]? It is an impressively unique retelling to the Cinderella classic, with a modern touch of course. And I have to say, quite an interesting list you have there! :thumbsup_tone2::star_struck:
I got introduced to the manhwa "July Found by Chance" through this adaptation and fell head-over-heels in love with it with my first reread. It's simply a story that has charms and overall quality.
While Extra-ordinary You was initially fun to watch, it pales in comparison to its source material. The manhwa essentially has a very different story from the drama adaptation. Against the manhwa, many changes were made in the drama. But in my opinion, it doesn't make it any better. Here's why.
• The concept of creator and "heads & tails" (in the manhwa)
In the drama, the characters did not have any physical control over their body during a "stage" and yet characters not involved in a particular scene could change the scene as they liked (like Haru). When this happened, the story would get altered both in the comic and the comic world. In reality, though, it would be nothing more than characters switching places/dialogues.
The creator was never shown in the drama. Apart from the fact that each major interference in the plot was noticed and later addressed by the creator, there was no presence of the "omnipotent writer". It was almost like a fleeting existence that assigns a fate to each character and that's it. In the manhwa, there were snippets of the "real world" showing people reacting to the comic and the writer reaching out to readers through FAQs. I think it would have added to the appeal if the drama did not just focus on the in-comic, but also the outside-of-the-comic world. In that sense, Extra-ordinary You's worldbuilding was crap.
The "stage & shadow" aspect was handled much better in the manhwa, where there were at least ground rules regarding heads (stage) and tails (shadow). During a head, no character involved could leave or act voluntarily. So even if there was active interference, the result in the heads would not change. It could be delayed due to tails but never changed.
• Characters
Eun Danoh: A character stripped of her originality and butchered over time. One reason why the drama Danoh was a bad character was how she loses her grit over time and becomes all about romance and Haru. The original Danoh was mature and thought far ahead. After realising the truth behind Squid Fairy's story, she recovered quickly and instead of pulling the "change my fate" card like a spoilt princess, she admitted it as an inevitability. She probably knew that it was more than enough for her having lived through so many surgeries despite being so ill. And in the drama? She refuses to admit the reality and vows to undo all the miracles that kept her alive so far; only to get back at the writer. Fair much?
Haru: He was turned from an incredibly understanding and sensible person to a simp who could see nothing beyond his feelings for Danoh.
Dohwa: Not only his story but his entire concept changed. I like the manhwa version better, but I'll let it slide because drama Dohwa was a sweetheart.
Squid Fairy: It's honestly such a shame his original backstory had to be changed.
• Finally, "Secrets" and "Trumpet Creeper". The drama added an element of past life in the plot, which was pretty cool. That is until problems like "where are the secrets?" and "what's the point?" arose.
The one major turnoff was in fact, how poorly the drama was executed. Being a manhwa enthusiast, I was disappointed big time. Not only were the good points taken and twisted, but even the additions to support the remaster were weak. Flat characters, "mediocre at best" acting and lost potential. Could it get any worse? The first few episodes sure had a powerful build-up. Too bad it was thoroughly destroyed due to unnecessary changes to the plot for over-dramatisation.
This movie was an interesting take on mental illnesses and their awareness. Since I have only watched the movie, I only know about the story from it. The ending was not something I would have expected, that is the fact that that the worms and humans could actually coexist and the doctor probably had some sort of scheme going on. Although sweet-sounding like a happy ending, I have my doubts about it. I don't know, but I liked the movie anyway.
Overall, it was a good watch. It started off promising with amazing acting, cinematography and an interesting plot. But ended up as an average sci-fi romance with nothing more than a mediocre ending instead. The first half had me quite invested, which is also probably why it was hard to stomach its simple ending. Honestly, I had expected a bomb ending which, happy or not, satisfied the logic and quality that the film had adhered to so far.
7 is a pretty good score either way
Oh, the memories this brought back :heart:
The short series that feels like a gush of fresh air, that I finished watching in a single sitting.
The stage was made with light hearted events and fulfilling details, and the characters too kept me entertained throughout. I'd say the acting was pretty on point as the two leads made me understand their respective characters, fleshed out and crisply. The music was minimal and alright, and it's timing was just right. Many aspects of the series were quite predictable though. I liked how the context of the series tried to normalise bisexuality (or gay) greatly; almost maybe why they did not include the whole "coming out" aspect of BLs.
This short series was refreshing and hilarious!
Beautiful... in more ways than one.
Grotesque and scandalous, this had me at the edge of my seat for all the wrong reasons. Although in some parts the acting piqued my interest, I would not particularly recommend this movie to anyone.
For the rest, I'll let my rating do the talking..
I absolutely loved this masterpiece (judging from the score), until the internet decided to traumatise me and I realised some possibly shady stuff going on behind the screens...
Absolute banger! Although I cringed hard over the clichés and shook my head for not ditching the series [initially], I eventually found myself enjoying it much more than I thought I would. I loved how the comic scenes made me laugh until my stomach hurt, and the acting brought emotion to my eyes. The OST was also decent :smile_cat:. I do feel that the series had plotholes and loose ends to name a few, but I suppose they intended to keep it that way for a reason.
I wondered whether I should just give it an 8 because of the utter enjoyment, but I guess 7 is not a bad score either. Overall what I do know undoubtedly is that I loved the series! I can't say I recommend it strongly, but I think it'll be worth the watch. It is light-hearted but also filled with time-tested clichés, entertaining and inspirational but lacks coherence [at times].
But I liked it lol
A second season? I wouldn't take a no for an answer, thank you!
Something I loved about the drama was the authenticity of what I watched. I loved how every character was shown as equally empowered regardless of gender, status or personality, till the very last episode. There was this quality of coherence in the script that had me amazed and gave away almost no opportunity to criticise it. The goal of the drama was clear, to offer a thrill and melodrama-filled touching story of an estranged heir, a deceived woman and a big jewellery company. The acting was pretty good, the background music was fun, the cast was cute, and the plot twists for the first time did the job they're supposed to do.
The chemistry between the main leads was so good that at times it made me go like, "I'm gonna recommend this"! Regardless of those outbursts, Fah Mee Tawan is a great example of a drama-studded soap opera
I don't think I'm exaggerating anything though. Although they could have added more songs and the direction could have been better, with the audience base of such a drama, I think it was good enough. I still feel like I should add it to my recommendations (the most recent one being Yumi's Cells), but I'll see.
I think people should give this drama the chance it deserves! Must watch ^^
I liked how intricate the storyline was with respect to Karthik's love life, but the movie overall was such a let down
Although pretty un-eye-catching in the start, the display of terrific acting skills and sentiment and conveyance of the meaning of 'love' in it's own language, has earned a special place in my heart. The lead couple's pairing and their relationship progress at the end (literally) was like, muaah! I always end replaying the last 20 minutes of the movie every time I re-watched it.
As a movie, there is not much to it except the acting and music (that too, not all of it). The thing which many people like it for is the dramatic yet touching background music (you read that right) and Sravani. I've met many people and seen several characters in my life, but this woman.. This girl Sravani has been the only one so far who has ever reminded me of Naruto, my best boy and of course, Purna reminded me of Sasuke, the make-up kid.
Like, it's really funny how much more vast the diversity and genius of South Indian cinema is than any other Indian culture. I loved the movie~
I love this movie! Calling this a cartoon makes me feel ashamed, so I ended up adding it to two lists. Everything about it was perfect. The music, the animation, the animated emotions, the fluid movements, the setting and storyline, and EVERYTHING in between! I loved Anya and Dimitri's duo dynamic, both before and after; not to mention Vlad and Pooka's chemistry was the best cute relief!
The score-reducers were the smaller details, like how Dimitry accepted his love for Anya only after her "transformation" into a princess and subsequently, how his behaviour towards her also made a 180-degree spin. But given the time during which this movie is set and given all other specifics, I can understand how his behaviour was not really offensive, but rather quite understandable. So that brings me back to where I started: this movie is perfection!
Must watch for all age groups!
Now that I've watched the series, I somewhat agree with the popular opinion about this series: lost potential.
I thouroughly enjoyed the course of 12 episodes; there was drama, acting was superb, OST was good, most characters were very well fleshed and lastly, I loved how by the last episode, all of them had built a good dynamic. Knowing about the original story, the drama had noticeable differences (like, making the drama a straight story which it originally wasn't, misleading hints about Soo-hyun's possible crush on somebody, and many more). There were key incidents and characters which could have been utilised to improve the storyline; though it didn't take away from the enjoyment.
For me, this was the kind of drama I could just go in and find myself hooked despite the tropes being used multiple times. I think it was because the other aspects of scenes make it worth watching, no matter how many times. Giving basis to the fabulous chemistry between you-know-who and you-know-who would have made this drama a definite 9.0+ for me. I do agree though, given the MC Jun, “At a Distance, Spring is Green” sure was a healing drama.
This is a drama that nobody should miss, and serves its purpose well. But I guess, don't place your expectations too high.
Entertaining, enriched and inspiring
This show had the effortless quality most TV shows cannot pull off these days. As an audience, I felt like the story content in the drama was at par with that of crime thrillers—and this was just a rom-com!
An ambitious attempt: started off well but the bad writing did it
Season 1 (8/10)
The short series that feels like a gush of fresh air, that I finished watching in a single sitting.
The stage was made with light-hearted events and fulfilling details, and the characters too kept me entertained throughout. I'd say the acting was pretty on point as the two leads made me understand their respective characters, fleshed out and crisply. The music was minimal and alright, and its timing was just right. Many aspects of the series were quite predictable though. I liked how the context of the series tried to normalise bisexuality (or gay) greatly; almost maybe why they did not include the whole "coming out" aspect of BLs.
Season 2 (6/10)
The second half of this season contained more storyline than the entire franchise combined.
I won't consider this a great sequel to its predecessor, at least in terms of overall quality. The first half had no coherence and many scenes had bad tropes/stereotypes, while the second half of it had me taken. By episode 4, I found myself not wanting to continue at all. Yet I saw it through till the end and I didn't regret it.
The acting was superb as always, by both the main leads and the supporting characters. The core story in this season was more mature than the first, and I was pleasantly surprised by the second half. Especially so after the disaster, the first half was. As a result, it felt rushed. The direction and writing for this season could have been better; that was the real bummer. Overall, I am not sure whether I'll re-watch this season, although the story is worth a mention! Besides, the music and cinematography were on point, undoubtedly.
As long as you have some patience with dramas, I think it deserves a chance
Must-watch!! Although not everyone might love it as much as me. I loved the series because it was not a cliché romance or cliché high school slice-of-life and contained vital pieces of memory and knowledge which often go unnoticed by many whom I've witnessed watch this (with me, or through social). The characters were prone to change, teen-like, hilarious and understanding. They weren't all :v_tone2:godly:v_tone2: and looked pretty human most of the time—I hope you get me~
When We Were Young is a refreshing, enjoyable and healthily-entertaining watch. All in all, I recommend it; not to everyone, but a must!
This drama explores the many aspects of school life beautifully and comically, along with of course, the perils and bitter-sweetness of teenage. Yezi's imagination in all episodes has been portrayed in way which will crack everyone up, eventually if not immediately. However, the first season showed more of Ye muxi's (or Yezi, as her brother calls her) relationship with other students of her class and how they overcame many difficulties posed by the other "higher up" classes; yeah, they followed a class hierarchy too. It focuses on how all the students of her class, although initially diverse, ended up finding solace in each other and became united. Cliché way to put it, but it was undoubtedly adorable. I especially loved the bickering between Yezi and Liao Danyi, it reminds me of Tom & Jerry~
The second season was filled with these imaginations of Yezi, like the class fight regarding wearing of the school uniforms was depicted in a group of 6+ episodes. Surely, one needs more than only imagination to pull that off. Also this season ended with a heartbreaking cliffhanger to all shippers of Yezi and Liao Danyi, but again [read the highlight at the end]. The scene where, they indirectly apologize to each other and assure each other that they now understand the former's situation and problems, was heart-touching on an elite level I tell you. It showed how strong their feelings were for each other. My true Tom & Jerry :star_struck:
Although I really don't want to, I have to give it 9 stars. This would be because despite being a great story, for some people it could become boring if they don't appreciate sprouting romances, as was the case with the two leads. Still, as they already mentioned that it wouldn't be one, I would only reduce one heart. Nevertheless, The Big Boss would remain one of my C-favorites!~
In the beginning of the very first episode of this favorite drama of mine, Yezi mentions that this isn't a love story. And true it wasn't one.
If only life were as honey as was shown in this movie, I would have killed for it.
It's a family-friendly and heart-warming story which I thoroughly enjoyed every second of. I especially loved the chemistry between Nagarjuna and Shriya, and the second couple (Chaitanya and Samantha) gave a delightful performance. There were times I found myself looking away from the clichés used, but I still enjoyed them as a part of the movie. This is one of those movies I'd wholeheartedly rate on the basis of only enjoyment.
Overall the one thing I loved the most was the romance dynamics and the music, which complimented all scenes just right.
It was a eye-candy, literally. The animation or whatever it was, was beautiful and the story was also painfully believable. The depiction was all interesting and realistic to the point of me rating it 10 hearts!~
Edit: I'll be changing my rating to 8 stars instead of 10, because I realized it's not great to be high on emotion all the time when it comes to ratings. Lol?
I'm so excited for this season to come out! The last season was a good mixture of drama and zombie apocalypse themes, and I expect this season to contain more answers and probably, a worthy climax to the series.
Apart from all that, I'm living to see whether Cheong-san really ended up dying or not. I hope not! >:(
And to all those who are still confused, this "movie" served as a special episode and teaser for the upcoming season to the Kingdom franchise. And dare I say, it served its purpose excellently.
Initially this special episode didn't sit well with me, with its predictable plot and niche-tropey characters and dialogues. This movie however, is an adrenaline ride made to serve as a curiosity and expectation fueling teaser to both the franchise and premise of the story. Well that much is obvious to all audience, but with unprecedented aspects such as addition of psychological genre and a vengeance-motivated and [somewhat] sadist and masochist anti-hero, the series has plucked up my ears and interest yet again. As most Korean stuff, this too goes way over the board with its concept for the sake of story, in a rather haphazard and unnecessarily desperate manner, but that's again what makes this good shit worth a watch. This is one of those things, for me, which are charming as they are because of their first watch. Basically, can't watch it again for I get what it wanted to do and I'm fired up for the next season lol
I came to know about the existence of a teaser such as this, given its relation to one of my most-appreciated Korean franchises, I am glad and relieved that I could watch this. A must watch for those who like/love the original series, and don't judge a movie by its beginning. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
This list is something I'd been looking for without saying out loud :smirk_cat::100:
First of all, AWESOME OST. Secondly, I'M FREAKIN' IN LOVE!
The ratings are no joke, this show totally did not let my heart take a break even once. It's exciting, cute, emotional, comedic and detailed; all at the same time. GO watch it! (I'm at a loss for words, actually)
The second half of this season contained more storyline than the entire franchise combined.
I won't consider this a great sequel to its predecessor, at least in terms of overall quality. The first half had no coherence and many scenes had bad tropes/stereotypes, while the second half of it had me taken. By episode 4, I found myself not wanting to watch further. Yet I saw it through till the end and I didn't regret it.
The acting was superb as always, by both the main leads and the supporting characters. The core story in this season was more mature than the first, and I was pleasantly surprised by the second half. Especially so after the disaster the first half was. As a result, it felt rushed. The direction and writing for this season could have been better too. Overall, I am not sure whether I'll re-watch this season, although the story is worth a mention! Besides, the music and cinematography were on point.
As long as you have some patience with dramas, I think it deserves a chance!
words can't describe what this mere 2 hour film did to me
6 is a pretty good score for this movie.
Based on what I gathered from this review (https://stuckonhyuk.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/thorninnocent-thing-stream-of-consciousness-review/), every aspect of the script is genius and almost pleasant. But it turns out the movie itself is nowhere near that praise due to deleted story from the script and the removal of scenes where Joon-ki actually showed his genuine emotions. The acting that would have initially impressed viewers with the small details, ended up making little to no sense with respect to the remaining storyline.
I think it was the direction that ruined the film which otherwise could have been a perfect psychological romance thriller in my opinion.