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 ^^
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.
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
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.
I've had an amazing experience watching the movie premiere in Venice, I've been waiting for this movie for a long time and I was not disappointed in the slightest.
It's a gorgeous movie, it's disturbing but moving at the same time, violent at times, but also subtle. It's a different and fresh spin on the character and on the cinecomic genre as a whole and Phoenix delivers an amazing performance portraying a version of the Joker we've never seen before, he's not the villain of someone else's story, he is the hero and villain of HIS own story, and the audience can be orrified by him, but we can't help but feel for him at times.
Without giving anything away I would recommend to go and see the movie not expecting to go and see an action packed, but gritty cinecomic, I suggest going in and watch it pretending that it's not even about a famous comic villain, but simply a movie, I think that people will appreciate it more in that way, not comparing it to the cinecomics we've seen before, but thinking of it as a normal movie.
P.S.: People will of course compare Phoenix to Ledger, I don't think it's possible, they give a totally different percormance because they portray totally different versions of the character, and I think it's going to be hard to compare them, you either prefere Ledger's version or Phoenix's but only based on the character, the actor's performances cannot be judged by comparison, they're both great. Just enjoy the movie
Wonder Woman is... well... wonderful! This movie is a true representation of the characters I have grown up with and loved from DC comics and the justice league animated series. This movie is about how Diana the princess of Themyscira becomes Wonder Woman, a classic fish out of water tale of innocence and heroism.
The chemistry between the two leads feels so natural and it is because of this chemistry that Steve's sacrifice is so heartbreaking . While the movie may not be as layered or multifaceted as other DCEU offerings such as Man of Steel, making use of a more classic 'by the numbers' superhero formula, it is undoubtedly a more meaningful movie. It shows us the true nature of humanity through the eyes of an Amazon who has no preconceptions or history with our species. It shows us the ugliness of mankind, how cheaply we value human life with the wars we create, and how stereotypical gender roles have been/are to the detriment of women without bashing us over the head with a heavy-handed feminist agenda. On the other hand, through her eyes, we also see the things humanity is capable of through the power of love.
Despite the importance of this movie, Wonder Woman doesn't depress or bog the audience down. It conveys these important messages within the context of an uplifting film filled with fun, action and romance.
Critics have voiced their approval for this movie, but that shouldn't make fans of the DCEU fearful. Wonder Woman seamlessly fits in with the DCEU, making use of similar colour palates, action direction, and story telling. While this is a movie all little girls must watch, it is truly a movie for everyone... it is simply... WONDERFUL!
Not as bad as I thought it was gonna. Still full of clichés though but that's to be expected(obviously it had to include the whole innocent girl and bad guy trope). The main thing that gave me the impression that it was gonna be really bad was based on the things I've heard about the book but a lot of the really bad stuff that happened in the book was left out of the movie which is good. In the book he kept the used condom(!!) and a sheet with Tessa's vagina blood on it to prove to his friends that they had sex....so the movie could have been worse, there's also a bunch of manipulative and abusive shit in there and some dubious consent but thankfully that's not really in the movie.
Every single character in this movie annoyed me(mainly in the first half) except Selma Blair. Bless.
Hardins backstory was severely underdeveloped.
Tessa is deadass out here being a dumbass. If a man that you barely know asks you to go into the woods with him, YOU SAY NO!This is common sense y'all.(I know that's not technically what he said but like if a stranger asks you to come with him somewhere and he drives into the middle of the fucking woods...bitch, that is when you run.
Also, towards the end when the teacher gives Tessa the assignment Hardin turned in for that class...you're definitely not allowed to give someone another student's work, wtf.
Not to mention at the very end where Hardin basically compares them to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy....I have to laugh.
One more thing,this is not important in the slightest but I can't be the only one that thougth Noah was Tessa's brother in the beginning.
The acting is subpar at best but the script didn't give them much to work with so I'll let that slide.
It is pretty much exactly what you would expect from a movie that was based on a Wattpad "book"(I use the term "book" loosely).
Of the 2 superhero movies I watched this weekend, the Marvel one, in an established universe, isn't my favorite. That's how good Minnal Murali is. Kudos to Basil Joseph for making a fantastic superhero origin story. I'm just happy that we finally have a proper superhero movie of our own (though, to be fair, 'Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota' was a decent attempt). Sushin Shyam's background score complements the movie perfectly, so do his and Shaan Rahman's songs. Tovino Thomas as Jaison/Minnal Murali is charming, funny, and 'superheroic', yet grounded. He captures the cockiness and vulnerability of Jaison in equal measure. The rest of the supporting cast is great as well.
As with most great superhero movies, it's the villain who steals the show. Guru Somasundaram as Shibu is innocent and menacing in equal parts. The writers, Arun Arindhan and Justin Mathew, play a tug of war with us getting us to sympathize and despise him when least expected.
The VFX is a bit below par, but that is to be expected given the budget. The story does lag at times, but the good parts more than make up it.
The small homages to Superman and Batman are nice touches.
I sincerely hope that #MinnalMurali teaches Indian creators that superhero movies are more than just heavy VFX and awesome fights and encourages them to wade into the genre.
THE HIGHEST RATED KDRAMA IN CABLE HISTORY
One of the best kdrama I've watch!
Even if the plot does not really convince you, you should give it a try because it's worth it.
For me this is one of the best kdrama in history not only because they knew how to handle a plot a bit cliche to perfection, but also because the performances were impeccable although I think the stars of the show were Kim Seo Hyung (Coach Kim), Yum Jung Ah (Han Seo Jin), Lee Tae Ran (Lee Soo Im), Kim Bora (Kim Hye Na), Kim Jung Nan (Lee Myung Joo), Song Geon Hee (Young Park Jae), Yoon Se Ah (No Seung Hye) ), Kim Hye Yoon (Kang Ye Seo), Lee Hyun Jin (Cho Tae Jun), Park Yu Na (Cha Se Ri), Cho Mi Nyeo (Key) and last but not least Chani (Hwang Woo Joo), they show off and interpreted their characters to perfection!
The direction by Jo Hyun Tak was really good but the biggest star here was the screenwriter Yoo Hyun Mi, WOW! A perfectly executed script, one of the best without doubts.
The soundtrack was good and the sound editing and mixing were excellent!
In conclusion it is an excellent drama, great performances, a good direction, a perfect script and a lot of drama!
My score is 8.7 / 10
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 show is so cheesy! It becomes hard to handle the more I watch. I am leaving it in my "ditched" list because this is one of those pointless shows that are hard to digest.
I wish they could have wrapped the little content that this drama has, in fewer episodes instead of dragging on for the sole purpose of making it look "natural" and "realistically paced". The main cast is boring, and with the unskillful looking acting and childlike psychological anatomies, they want to entertain adults? Gawds, ridiculous.
The so-called chemistry between the main leads is so vague on top of it. The girl as expected, is the super dumb and dense normie and the boy is also the super soft and tsundere handsome demon (oh that's an exaggeration, he's nothing like that instead he's a sweetheart) and the romance between them is also based on basic af tropes (like girl in trouble and ML comes to rescue and shit, while her crush ditches her.... etc. Honestly, could it get any worse?).
By the way, this series was recommended to me by YourWaifuGotNoJam [https://anilist.co/user/YourWaifuGotNoJam/] on Anilist.
I have left this series unrated only because perhaps all of that judgement is what you will brand as my impatience, narrow-mindedness and/or unpopular personal preference. But to let you know (assuming you disagree with me), I am a sucker for BLs-
One can see why I disliked this drama so much
Collect the Trash and Farm Pure Gold
Vincenzo is a ruthless Mafia consigliere (read as Corn Salad ) who has taken up the mission to clear garbage in the society by being the Ravana (Vaiśravaṇa) . He wasn't initially not planning to do but forced into this situation by Babel Group and its leadership . He leads the Guemga-Cassanova family to put evil to the test into this fun-filled horror , action , comedy and revenge story that keeps you on the edge of seat every minutes of its 20 hrs airing and countless hours spent in Reddit Theories
Mind you I have been watching K-Drama's over a year and this is the first show I was waiting for every weekend for 11 weeks. Vincenzo will have you dying of laughter one minute and on the edge of your seat the next and then crying a minute later... It's so good and all the actors are perfect for their roles. And what I noticed was the fact that the suspense continues onto the next episode and doesn't just finish at the end of that previous one, it was refreshing and definitely gave me something to look forward to, as I knew it would be just as thrilling each weekend.
The story is unique ; an Evil Consigliere escapes to korea due to some unforeseen complications in his familia's leadership struggles. He comes to Korea to retrieve the GOLD he hid away for a dead Chinese Client and encounter bunch of weird tenants. His journey with them and the Lawyer Cha-young unfolds with a series of (un) forseen tragedies , hardships and fun-filled revenge that brings smiles upon your faces if its not making you sad.
The refreshing part of this show it takes the good from all revenge (Money Flower) or corruption-fighting ( Chief Kim , Fierry Priest) shows and delivers a delicious Spaghetti. You will love the plot, characters, action, dialogues, and style of story-telling here. It's absurd, wacky, funny, but also very serious in its themes of crime, corruption, revenge, and justice. There is a good-mix of lovable characters and crazy evil villains (the main bad-guy is perhaps the biggest surprise, definitely takes the crown for the most iconic villain reveal!). The plot twists, comedic timing, chemistry between characters, and anti-hero vibes are immaculate. Also, so many great one-liners!! ( you can write a book with them and it would sell out)
We have commend the script writers for the excellent characters as much as we do the cast that plays it.
Joong-Ki ; no need to introduce him, he show why is the A-list actor and why his shows always deliver well. He has eased into the roles of consigliere and anti-hero . I am glad the writers didn't change his character and he as consistent in his principles that he is a trash that clears the trashier trash because he doesn't like someone to be more trashier than him .. meaning evil has its limits
Jeon Yeo Bin , as Cha-young , initially felt like over-action as I have not see her in Be Melodramatic or any other shows but she was perfect for this roles . If Lee Dae-Hae in My Girl introduces the comedic-al female lead to K-Drama , Cha-young just imprinted upon us a new future for Female Lead that were always shown as morally up-right and being compass to the hero or being a damsel or over-shadowed .
Song Joong Ki and Jeon Yeo Bin's companionship is just everything, they'll definitely become an iconic duo in the drama world and rivals the chemistry seen in DOTS with SOng Hye-kyo .
Ok Taec Yeon's acting is just incredible, his characters duality though?? I never liked him as a protagonist ; so i think he found his blueprint for future roles . I have also need to mention Kwak Dong-Yeon the idiotic Ex-chairman/Chairman and half-brother who delivers a convincing performance that's commendable to stand-out in a star-studded show.
Of course I can't forget to mention the plaza residents, I love how their bond grows stronger and stronger as the story unfolds. The Cassano-Guemga Family (°◡°♡). I like the depth in each character and their relationships, they aren't just black and white, more like different shades of grey, you just don't know what to expect next. One of my favorite castings of both main and supporting characters.
Now the evil Wusang ; Yeo-Jin plays Choi Myung that get under you skin much more than other character I have seen to the point that i enjoyed her death at the end and only hers. She was evil because of greed and not made by society or family unlike the other. . Han-Chul depicts a comedic villian that really didn't deserve that ending.
And An honorable mention to Hong Yu-Chan white truck of doom that removed the screws to the plot and set everything up for the exciting 20 hours . Jae-mung always play impactful and unforgettable characters ( like Stranger )
Thrilling, catchy, exciting....This has to be one of the greatest OST Collection for a drama , the Italian/opera-inspired music just lifts up spirit and the BGM is perfectly positioned in every scene , minute and frame with vibrancy of the OST and played whenever something funny happens too.
Here is the OST ranks :
Adrenaline- Solar :musical_score:
Adrenaline (Italian) - Aalia :musical_keyboard:
Ombra mai Fu - Sung Hoon Choi:musical_note:
Lacrimosa - LA POEM
As i repeat this is the first K-Drama I enjoyed while its Airing . Although its very unlikely for me to forget any scene (unless i get amnesia) I would definitely binge as there were some moments and scenes definitely worth re-watching .
Are you looking for a drama that gets more and more addicting with every episode? Big cliffhanger endings? Plot twists? Smart main leads that make the best decisions, are perfect partners in crime and have great chemistry? Scenes you can't help but rewatch at least 50 times because of how cool or sweet they were? Well then you're in luck! This is the perfect drama for you! It takes atleast 4 episodes to warm-up to the main lead and another 4 episodes for the plaza member and but you will right-away hate the villians (Evil)
I would humbly request not to make a Season 2 (and spoil it like Stranger ) and not to sign any petitions the ending is perfect as it is.
Thus i end this review with Vincenzo's last words :
La giustizia è debole, vuota e non può vincere contro il male .... Justice is weak , empty and cannot win against evil
Il male è Prevalen e Vehement .... Evil is Prevalen and Vehement
The Devil with a Detailed Revenge served in a decorated platter
~ There Are Consequences To Ignoring Consequences And Things Are Not Always What They Seem
~ If an evidence is obvious don't trust it.
The neon! The Catholic/Christian motifs! The commentary on the nature of crime and punishment! The depiction of the corruption of state! The symbolism! The soundtrack! (Tempest has basically been on repeat for weeks now.)
If you were given the power to kill a man with a single app, would you do it?I feel like this show was so relevant if you think of this current generation. Keyboard warriors on every app.The premisse of the show was wonderful since day one. And stayed pretty flawless until the end.
Packed with action, drama, karma, twist and turns The Devil Judge is how a drama should be done. I usually stay clear of law dramas for they're usually boring with the clique young lawyer male lead breaks the laws OoO shocking~. With a more mature cast (Kang Yohan being in his early 40s) you get a really rich back story complete with Kim Ga On getting his morals gob smacked by reality. One thing I like about the story is the way everything just connects back. Nothing is done for no reason. What each character is given by is clearly established.
What I didn't like about is how Gaon is gullable for a smart judge and easily manipulated by people around him . Also didn't like the way he and Soo-Hyun went on about Yo-han is breaking the law while they are spying on him with illegal wiretapping ; virtually kidnapping his niece to investigate dirt on him and how they bring back all the horrible memories of Yo-Han without realizing they are manipulated by Foundation to the end.
Even with all that "show" on the last ep, i still think the revenge lacked impact. They all had it easy in my eyes.
I actually wanted something more vile to happen, but that's maybe because i am used to watch so many western shows with twisted criminals.
The acting in this is so good. Each actor fills their character perfectly, you get a feel for what type of person they are the moment they appear on screen. J
Jisung is extremely charming as the somewhat sociopath devil judge . The judge is the epitome of anti-hero aka Devil. He tricks us to question his behavior, just like he does with other people involved in the story. He makes you believe he's the devil himself.
Jin Young is just such a smooth actor. His scenes were he's just conversation with the people around him isn't boring and you get a sense of warmness from him (perfect fill in for Isaac [a dad and a brother]). But his emotional scenes are what sells him as no doubt an amazing actor. He portrays pain and frustration so well contrasting to Ga On's everyday warmness. It makes the audience really sympathize with him.But his character is very poorly written ; he is the most undecisive character, one minute he acts like devil judge is someone he cares a lot only to see him hate the devil judge and doubting him the next minute.
Kim Min Jung plays Sun Ah so well. You could tell that Sun Ah is someone who likes glamorous things but wasn't born fortunate enough to enjoy it just by her body language. She has such an intense stare extremely fitting for her character and you could her pain and love through those eyes sparking sparkling although she is not right and her actions have their consequences. Ji Sung and Min-Jung create the most sizzling bromance chemistry ever without actually being romantic.
Yoon Soo Hyun, now she is friend of Ga On and a police officer. Her character is merely a decoration and does nothing helpful to the plot. Her screen time is even less, compared to her a side character called Elijah, the devil judge niece gets more time. All she does is to sow seeds of doubt in Ga-on regaring Yo-han and also importantly Ga-on from crossing the grey line she drew.
Elijah - Every story needs a cutie. Elijah is the cutie. The way she portrays a mirror image of Yo-han is amazing ; this is her (Jeon Chae Eun) first series and we are in for a next generation start.
The music is such a key aspect to a drama and this drama really utilizes that. It sets a mood and illustrates the total chaos and madness going on in the dystopian world. Not only that, it's a total bop. Its been my top playlist for the last 8 weeks.
This is a not a story about a dystopian society but realism ripped from today's headline. There's just not enough words to describe how perfect this is as far as storytelling and acting. Standing ovation to all the cast and crew!
You will trust no one until the very end. Absolutely no character is to be trusted, and i love this show because of it. I genuinely didn't know who had the true version of each event.
If you haven't watched The Devil Judge, give it a try. It's worth every second of your time. Usually thrillers ; especially law thrillers have no appeal for a re-watch but I will be watching this soon again.
I really liked this drama. There is so much to learn from their characters, actions and decisions taken in a world so extreme I will never find myself in and yet it does depict the reality of our world so much that I am thinking and ruminating through them to see if I can wise up myself.
From it all we can agree that humanity is all but a desire and greed for more power and money. And even the little good we have is tainted by that greed in whatever degree it is in. People are always thinking about themselves and left to their own devices, they only do what will benefit them, justifying themselves that what they do will benefit society while lining their own pockets.
The drama focuses and somewhat justify evil fighting evil for good but then again evil is still evil. I read comments about viewers getting frustrated with Ga-On flip-flopping and then accusing Yo-Han but I get it that Ga-On is confused as to what is right and what is wrong. Ironically, these very comments proves the case in point that it is the same in our world where bad is seen as good, if it meets the purpose. Evil is seen as powerful and good is weak. But lest we forget that evil still begets evil.
Lessons I learnt from this drama:
- their moves are all very strategic, thinking several moves ahead weighing all options.
- and they are very, very patient. Sun-Ah was planning for a very, very long time and was way ahead even compared with Yo-Han.
- one has to be very smart to play the game. And if you choose to play it, you need to be willing to gamble even with your life
- it is all an emotional power play. And the trick is not to get affected emotionally but to always have a straight logical mind to think ahead. The head must lead and the heart put aside, but that is so hard to do.
A story about healing, moving on, forgiveness, and loving again
n.b.: Might contain what others consider as "spoiler" but is not in my opinion.
At first, one would assume this is a typical romantic comedy about some couple who found each other, denies being in loved, and eventually lived happily ever after. However, one will soon learn that this is a story about healing, moving on, forgiveness, and loving again.
IU, as Jang Man Weol the owner of Hotel del Luna, beautifully brought to life her character. She successfully hid her image as the world's "Queen of Pop" with her superb acting. From a very friendly, approachable, smiling IU, she totally became the bitter, easy to anger, and strict that is Jang Man Weol. As this story spans a thousand years, IU's talent in acting shone as she took on different roles and genres in one series.
One would probably also assume that Hotel del Luna was an IU show especially since she wore countless of dresses in every 1.5-hour episode, which could range from a thousand years ago to the present. I would say she probably beaten Lucy Liu in Elementary in this area, turning a series into a subtle fashion show. However, Yeo Jin Goo made this his own show as well, himself a veteran actor who have taken challenging roles, playing as Goo Chan Sung, the Hotel Manager, equalised the show between the two actors and their characters.
The music were also great. Yeo Jin Goo's and IU's acting were more than enough but with the right music at the right time, it deepened the emotional connection to the important scenes. From action to the most heart-wrenching scenes, the music made the series very memorable and touching, especially for those who are going through the same challenges in their lives.
The writers also did well. While Hotel del Luna was a hotel for ghosts/spirits, nothing was too scary, I wouldn't even categorised this show as "horror". In each episode, they touched on different subjects about death, murder, accidents, forgiveness, and separation with the people we love, that longing desire to be with them even after life has ended. They carefully guided the show to not turn into "horror"--which amateur writers would've fallen into and throw the story everywhere--by always bringing in the light-hearted comedy of Yeo Jin Goo and IU.
Finally, the overall story of healing, moving on, forgiveness, and loving again was told perfectly in 16 episodes averaging 1 hour and 20 minutes each. This was very eye-opening for those of us who were recently deeply broken, those of us who are denying we have lingering bitterness in our hearts, those of us who are finding it hard to forgive and move on. Goo Chan Sung and Jang Man Wol showed us how and why we should heal, move on, forgive, and love again. Goo Chan Sung demonstrated to us how we should let someone heal first before entering into a relationship with them, how we can be the support they need and not give in to their every demands just because they were deeply hurt. While Jang Man Wol told us how bitterness and an unforgiving heart can lead one to live a sad, unfulfilling, pointless life, and how we can once again love by healing ourselves first.
Thank you to the whole team for bringing us an amazing production and a great meaningful story.
If there will ever be a "Hotel Blue Moon", I hope that it will tell meaningful stories as with Hotel del Luna, and that the sequel wouldn't fall into "just another entertainment show"--a common pitfall with sequels.
Hotel del Luna: 100 out of 10 stars!
Random thoughts while watching the movie:
- That teacher didn't see at all that everyone was staring at Lynn's hand (or at least at her direction) who was sitting in the first row? Not even when only like 15 kids were left there writing the test? Lol.
- I get that they were mad at Bank who crashed their car's mirror (accidentally, I believe), but isn't beating up and throwing a teenager to a dump a bit... I dunno, exaggerated? [Lol, I wasn't suspecting foul play without a reason.]
- That barcode part is genius, but I don't really get how they want to realize that plan. It's not like they have the time or equipment to create pencils with the answers while they're taking the test. [Ah, okay, nevermind.]
- Bank's rage scene when he found out that Pat sent those jerks to beat him up was 12/10.
- That phone-in-the-tank-of-the-toilet plan could go wrong in so many ways. Like what if you can't take off the lid in the toilets of Sydney (or in that particular building)? Or what if someone uses that exact toilet you chose to hide the phone in in the break? All that planning can be ruined in a split second. [I really should be a fortune-teller...]
- Standing up right after the teachers says the word "break" is a liittle not so subtle.
- Wooah, that effect when Lynn slided across the exam room to the piano!
- Okay, now, I'm 103% sure that Lynn choking on her pencil was noticeable for... basically everyone in that quiet and still room. Yet somehow everyone acted so surprised to see her vomiting.
- Why are they chasing Lynn? Because she just left after throwing up? I don't think they have evidence on her since she hid the phone. And chasing her all the way down the streets and the metro station...
I was stunned by the acting. Good Thai actors are so hard to find, especially young ones, so I was really glad about the cast.
The planning of cheating on the high school tests and on the STIC one was mind-blowing. So creative methods!
I was a little meh about Bank turning into a mad businessman at the end - that's absoluety not his character (he almost threw up from actual anxiety or panic in the toilet!). It would've been somewhat believeable if they hadn't have gotten caught in Sydney - giving him adrenaline, money, good scores and all that jazz, but this way... I don't know. Though I guess that had to be done in order for Lynn to have her happy(ish) ending.
I would've watched this movie for a bit longer, just to know where the 4 main characters end up. Or to learn what kind if punishment did Lynn face at the end. I feel like this ending was left too open for the viewers.
Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. At first it seemed way too long, but now I understand why. The plot had its small holes (like every other one), but I would recommend it for anyone.
1000 Stars or A Tale of Thousand Stars was my first Thai drama and surely not my last. I fell head over heels for it, the plot, the characters, the cast... Its OST is still on repeat. I completed it weeks ago yet I'm still not ready to move on entirely (despite watching Manner of Death, I Told Sunset About You and other dramas in the meantime).
I'm not saying 1000 Stars is perfect but it's close and I didn't actively look for flaws. Well, there's one. It's too short. The characters all made their way into my heart so quickly that it's hard to let go. I'm in for a rewatch for sure.
What captured me the most was the chemistry between Phupha and Tian and well, the setting. The countryside of Thailand is so beautiful. Looking behind the scenes (aka watching the documentaries Behind The Scenes and Counting 1 to 1000) is highly recommended to get more insight. Earth and Mix know each other for around 7 years by now and are good friends so it was probably an easy thing for them to put this on screen and I can only say that the drama benefited from this.
Mix is a newbie actor and was actually asked by Earth if he wanted to audition. He signed a contract with GMMTV so he could take the role of Tian. When you don't know this you'll probably won't believe it though because this guy can act and surely knows how to draw the viewers attention.
Comparing this drama to others does not do it justice in my opinion. It has all the elements I love in a drama. Chemistry of cast, solid production (my applause to the crew and director, I haven't seen such a dedicated crew and supportive/caring director for a while), interesting plot, character growth/development, meaningful quotes/messages. The great cast and beautiful OST complete the package.
From me this drama gets a 10 rating and a highly recommended note.
A perfect score for a perfect movie.
The aesthetic of the film has my heart, not to mention the message and depth that each and every damn character had. It is usually hard to see in Hindi films these days, and then there is this masterpiece of a movie. The way it explores character development (a bit rushed at the end, but unnoticeable because it's just too beautiful) like Pallavi and Pam's, which were the turning points of the movie, is exemplary.
Esha is a conventional rich girl character, who also broke my stereotype and remained an angel of a character till the end. All actors really brought out the best in their roles, be it being an irritating presence or supporting, there's no way one wouldn't fall in love with the cast (I mean, I did). If I go on, this will probably I wish they had delved more into Pallavi and Kanchan's past relationship (which I believe hasn't died down now either) as it was both precious and something an audience like me would have loved to watch.
“I'll be born as a man in my next life. Will you run away with me then?”
“No, in my next life also I only want Kanchan” :heart:
Adequate, Baleful, Inconsistent
Freddy is a satisfactory romantic thriller which works mostly because of Kartik Aryan's solid character study , a sinister tension and chilling sound design. With a shoddy screenplay, the film loses its edge in the second half but serves as an acceptable thriller which is equally dark and alarming. Kartik Aryan dominates yet again.
Freddy primarily fails as a romantic thriller as the writing is extremely inconsistent, the screenplay is mostly unengaging and drags along in the second half. The cinematography, and music is something which needs appreciation as these elements are what makes it watchable. The back and forth fight between the leads seems like a childs play at many moments and doesn't really give you the feeling that you are watching something extremely sinister or dark which this film intends to transition in the second half.
The film is entirely shouldered by Kartik Aryan's elevated and solid performance. His character study of a naive, repulsive, introvert Parsi who seems to have low confidence is just beyond a few lines of praise. His image of being just a choclate boy ends here is what i believe. Alaya F performance at most of the parts is hammy and doesn't necessarily give you the sense of hating her. She just looks like a pretty face who is very new to acting and doesn't really justify this character. Protein Shake on the other hand is on the same line is pretty average in his performance.
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Ungrateful Family with a GRACEFUL Daughter
Frankly I wasn't expecting this to be this good . I am averse to Chaebol Inheritance Politics as they bore me to the death or so excited and frustrated that is skip scenes all the time .
What works well with GRACEFULY FAMILY is Im Soo-Hyang she has single handedly carried the show at-least the first 8 episodes. Hae Yon-do was chubby not so-smart lawyer but he has both physical (which is rare) and mental transformation during the show.
Excellent performance by Bae Jong-ok ; she constantly gets on your nerves till the end Its a pity that she received very light punishment and her TOP dogs are still loyal even after the sentence done .
Lee Kyu-Han as Mo Wan-Soo is so underrated and I have not skipped a single scene of his character may be becuase i was spoiled by Viki comments he might be a failure in the script but he is a success in this script.
Mo Wan-Joon might be a perfect mama's boy or girl but he as terrible brother and husband and was one of the most hated characters . Usually I am sympathetic to minorities in korean show but this unni was borderline psycopath like mother
The cast was well chooses for this show and wonderful performance and production values. Except for the Yoon-do's father and Seok-Hee's grandfather all the cast is new to me and i was well adjusted and each roles has a meaningful entry and exit.
Although the ending was little laxative the fact such lighter sentence was provided to people who tortured eithers in the name of capitalism for 15yrs in unsettling . . There should also have been more romance and its felt a bit rushed in the end. Overall its a show i would recommend to watch for an eccentrics Female lead ; reminds me of IU from Hotel Del Lune the attires and BGM "Black Diamond" and "Liar" - "She is on FIRE :fire:" will keep playing on your mind.
After reading all the hate reviews surrounding this movie, I've really come to pity the Millennials and their successors, These generations have become so jaded to life, while never having any actual exposure to an environmental revolution other than what they've been indoctrinated to believe, are now so tainted that they can't simply enjoy a new experience like Avatar. Every character is shallow unless they constantly preach an agenda-driven mantra of extreme global cooling/warming man-made destruction, trans-bisexual anti-homogeneous gender nullification or some other left-wing dribble involving renewable energy, a meat-free diet or that somehow one race's life matters more than another because of the indignities they suffered centuries ago. Now, you have to deny that 4k eyecandy graphics are BORING to fit in with the new generation of beatniks and that CGI is killing the movie industry, even though all those that insist on it would never sit down and watch a standard definition B&W film from the 1950s, even if their life depended on it.
Creating a self-sustaining universe is something ever so difficult. Only a few (Tolkien, Lucas, Roddenberry & Stan Lee come immediately to mind) have been able to pull it off with success. The DETAIL that you need to weave is so intense that only a few Masters have been able to pull it off and have their legacy extend beyond a single work. The world of Avatar could easily be included into that mix. Just watching how the unique creatures breathed, their interactions with the surrounding environment and how life on that planet communed with itself was enough to make me want for more. Yes, the graphics today in 2021 might not be that impressive, but for something a decade old, they truly were breathtaking. Of course, this is coming from a person who grew up during the Beta-Max - VHS war, in an era when your home phone broke, you had to get to the Ma Bell Telephone Store to get a replacement (because you only rented your home phone from the utility) and where 4-bit video game graphics were groundbreaking.
There are 2 aspects of graphics that are the most difficult to program: running water and the human hand. These are the two things that the industry grades the most difficult and expects to expose the weakness of substandard work. Both of these are flawlessly done in the film and come off as exceptionally lifelike. After that, everything else is gravy and is believable to the standard eye. The amount of background activity is breathtaking and if you happen to look beyond the main protagonists on the screen, you can get lost with the environmental interaction. Unfortunately, most people won't be able to see the forest from the trees and never enjoy the graphical ballet going on in the background.
While those less-versed might not see it, Avatar is a modern version of the American Western; where the white-male protagonist is adopted by the native tribe and instructed in their ways of life and existence. It has been done time and time again (Bianco Apache, The Savage, Little Big Man, The Light in the Forest), and this film follows the doctrine to the letter. Avatar is nothing more than a new-age telling of the same old story of Empire vs. Indigenous people on a planetary scale, albeit with better graphics and new age technology. Yes, it's not a new tale. But honestly, after millennia after millennia of humans telling stories, how many original tales are still untold? Besides that, everything else about the film is almost perfect. The cinematography, the editing, the graphics and even the dialog fits the movie like a glove. If you weren't impressed, then go take a peek at Cool World or Who Framed Roger Rabbit and see how far we've come in just a few short decades. While not the perfect film, it definitely entertains and leaves the viewer wanting for more. Highly recommended.
The starting arc of the drama is of "no comments" importance to me, as it was just an okay pass with all the information it tried to convey, the relationships, fate-stuff, past life things (or the correlation between the godly couple and the main couple here) and the world building. So it wasn't exactly impressive but it wasn't a disaster either, just what I'll expect from an average TV rom-com drama series.
The main spotlight is what happens in the later arc of the drama, when quite literally stuff goes downhill. The story gets mashed up, the romance is abrupted into formation and all the fate related thingies also start to rot my brain cells. Maybe the there was some giffy with the direction here forth, but the abrupt change took me by utter surprise. Imagine a series which is well, good and has got you interested but then suddenly they change the cast. That's the abrupt change I'm talking about.
Not literally that, but the amount of change I felt was similar to what you'll feel in that case. This series was not really a disappointment (not that I had any expectations), but it just had me continuously saying, "Ummmm?" until it ended.
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.
