Hello Monster (2015)

Adrenalina, sentimenti e tanti ottimi attori

Un thriller mystery un po’ diverso dal solito, se vogliamo, perché le identità nascoste vengono intuite, e successivamente scoperte, molto presto. Non stiamo a domandarci chi sia chi fino all’ultimo episodio. Quello che accade, invece, una volta che quasi tutte le carte sono sul tavolo, e l’infittirsi di un gioco di gatti e topi dove a volte non è ben chiaro chi sia la preda o il predatore. Dove non esistono completi innocenti e, a maggior ragione, completi colpevoli. Dove si prova più di un moto di simpatia per i serial killer nonostante i loro delitti, e non solo perché, essendo il cast formato in abbondanza da attori belli e bellissimi, detti assassini sono molto attraenti.

Genetica o ambiente? Cosa fa di un essere umano uno psicopatico? Se un bambino crescesse in un ambiente amorevole invece che in uno abusivo, svilupperebbe ugualmente delle tare psichiche? E viceversa? E ancora: fin dove è lecito intervenire, vendicarsi, fin dove è lecito perdonare?

I remember you, conosciuto anche come Hello monster, sviscera questi argomenti in una infinita serie di sfumature di grigio, guidandoci per mano a scoprire che, dietro ogni psicopatico, c’è una causa scatenante e, a volte, perfino l’illusione di fare del bene. Non solo la vittima, anche l’assassino è spesso profondamente solo e ha dei bisogni basici che, nella sua maniera contorta e malata, cerca di soddisfare.

In questa adrenalinica cavalcata, che non conosce cinque minuti di noia in sedici ore di drama, l’unica cosa che forse manca è proprio quella che viene indicata per prima fra i generi dell’opera: la commedia romantica. Intendiamoci: c’è la canonica storia d’amore, ma è veramente molto secondaria rispetto alla suspense, anche perché il protagonista maschile ha una personalità particolare, per cui non è inizialmente molto propenso ad esplorare i rapporti amorosi.

Il commento musicale sottolinea spesso a proposito i momenti più topici e può definirsi soddisfacente. Purtroppo la cinematografia è piuttosto basica, senza grandi voli di fantasia ma, sinceramente, non credo che sia la cosa più importante in questo lavoro. Quello che veramente “fa” quest’opera è il cast, unito ad una sceneggiatura veramente azzeccata.

Se la protagonista è molto brava e credibile, è il trio dei protagonisti maschili a dare i brividi in molte scene. Professore, avvocato, dottore e team leader fanno a gara a chi meglio interpreta la sua parte, appoggiati da tutto il resto del cast, che ha lavorato per lo più molto bene. Bromance è una parola che, qui, non ha significati nascosti: è un rapporto fra due fratelli che viene esplorato in maniera dolcemente malata e, ben più della parte romantica, è il vero fulcro dell’opera.

Ho particolarmente apprezzato lo sviluppo dei personaggi, la scoperta delle loro motivazioni, delle loro storie, del loro doloroso passato. E' stata una piacevole sorpresa la presenza di una protagonista forte, per una volta, ma forte veramente, di corpo e di spirito.

La sceneggiatura, come detto adrenalinica e priva di noia, è fantastica, anche se devo ammettere un po’ confusa nel finale, che viene lasciato abbastanza aperto, suggerendo la possibilità di una seconda stagione che però, a distanza di diversi anni, ancora non si è vista, e quindi probabilmente mai si farà. Peccato: a patto che il cast fosse lo stesso, ne avrei visto volentieri anche una seconda serie.

Sono stata veramente risucchiata in questo drama, cui si può forse rimproverare la gestione un po’ “allegra” di alcune indagini, minus che però ho dovuto applicare a tutti i mystery che ho guardato finora. Non che i polizieschi italiani o americani seguano perfettamente le procedure e le leggi, vero?

Leggi di Più

Ho sentito moltissimo parlare di questo drama,e alla fine ho deciso di vederlo anche non ero una fan del cast,non conoscevo Park Bo Gum e non mi era mai piaciuto molto Seo In Guk,conoscevo bene invece Choi Won Young,visto in un mucchio di drama,di cui ho amato tantissimo i suoi lavori,tutto sommato mi sono piaciuti molto sia Park Bo Gum che Seo in Guk,ma la storia purtroppo parte bene e poi....,non ho stimato il lavoro fatto per quanto riguarda i rapporti umani che tranne dei tre principali il resto è superficiale ,e la storia d’amore non fa battere il cuore.

Leggi di Più

*SLOW CLAP*

I heard so many things about I REMEMBER YOU but I was quite hesitant to watch it because it's a crime-based story. No, I don't hate crime series. On the contrary, I love it so much that my expectations are quite high when it comes to this genre. I watched this drama without expecting anything. What I did not know was I was in for a big surprise...

STORY - This reminds me a lot of the American crime drama "The Mentalist". The plot is quite similar but the details are very different.
Being a sucker for stories with genius characters, the first episode had me hooked. I had this strange hunger that was only satiated by watching the next episode, then the next and the next until I reached the end... I tried to look for major holes but the writers had really done a great job in connecting every piece of the puzzle and covering up the tiny mistakes.
This drama really stands out because despite of having Crime as it's main core, the showcasing of violence was a lot less compared to other TV series. In fact, the drama is so rich in morals, brotherly love (oh, you cannot miss this), and friendship. I never thought that a crime drama like this is possible.

If there's anything that I feel somewhat lacking is the ending. I am not saying that it's not good, but rather, I was expecting a closure. After all what the characters have been through, I think they deserved a better ending.

ACTING/ CAST - Korean actors are really good, especially in conveying their emotions through their eyes. The actors in this drama are so 'in character' that you would feel their pain, agony, fear and even happiness. Needless to say Jang Na Ra (Cha Ji An) and Seo In Guk (Lee Hyun) did a wonderful job. A special shout out is not enough for Choi Won Young (Lee Jun Ho) who's acting is so superb that I find him really scary now and Park Bo Gum (Jung Seon Ho) who was hands-down amazing. They both deserved an award.

MUSIC - I enjoyed the music very much especially the intro/title music. It gives you the mysterious detective vibe. I actually find it quite similar with the manga series "Detective Conan's" intro.

REWATCH VALUE - I think this one deserves a rewatch. It's one of the dramas that you think you want to watch from the beginning again because you want to know if you missed any details.

OVERALL: This one deserves a standing ovation.

*SLOW CLAP FADING*

I ended this drama with a heavy heart. Not because it was bad, but because it's so good that I am sure I am going to miss it.

Leggi di Più

There was no rocky start for this story, from the beginning it was interesting and mysterious. Not only was it smartly written and well portrayed, but the questions it begged to ask of humanity were chilling and hard hitting. Did we as people create the monsters of society? Or were they born as twisted as they appear now?

The plot line of this drama was suspenseful, as Lee Hyun and Cha Ji An discover the horrifying truths of their pasts and of the murderous entanglements that connect them with the people around them, we also begin to draw the lines between whom is truly a monster and those who were created through the circumstances surrounding them. Each murder they take on helps us see clearer whom is behind the deeds of the past and how a monster can be made. This type of story telling gives an in depth view into the eyes of the psychotic, and into the eyes of the ones whom catch them. Both the love story and sense of brotherhood also add onto this story. They give personal connections to the crimes committed and the feelings of those affected.

The cast was superb. As a person whose never been a fan of Seo In Guk, I have to say I find his acting in this drama to be refreshing and consistently suprising, he has officially gained a new fan, as his portrayal of Lee Hyun blew me away. Jang Na Ra's character Cha Ji An though in the beginning seemingly a dismal obsessive police officer, slowly grew into a deep understanding character whose past pains made her into a strong female character. The second leads, were outstanding. Lee Jun Ho's creepy kindness and oddly eerie vibe throughout the beginning of the drama really set the scene. Throughout every scene he was in I had a huge case of the heebee Jeebies, like, my skin crawled. ***(SPOLIERS)**** (Especailly when he touched his mothers bones in the coroners office. That was just creepy). ****(END OF SPOILERS)*** Min's character was also one of complies creepiness and he was also very attractive, and while I try to stay away from mentioning that in my reviews I felt it just had to be said. Min's character gave us so much undertanding of how children's views and surroundings affect their growth and presence in society. His scenes always stole my attention.

The music in this drama had me consistently singing out loud. Especially "Remember"by Dear Cloud, I have listened to that OST so many times since this drama has aired, especially when left with a giant cliffhanger at the end of an episode when I needed to pine over my feelings through song. The OST's was memorable and lovely.

This drama consistently had me guessing and asking myself bigger questions. The plot line and cast always blew me away. It so rewatchable and just so well done. I cannot reccomend this drama enough.

Leggi di Più

Roses are red, violets are blue. Together they make purple, and they kill you. What happens when evil grabs hold? Are we drawn to it, or does our situation call for it? In asking some of these fundamental questions, I Remember You takes a developed look at the varying answers to these questions. It instills the answers in its characters, who, having neither complete light nor complete dark, must ponder and discover their own conclusions. It also leads the viewer toward similar pursuits as they vacillate between one or another set of truths.

I Remember You's story is not that original; serial killers are everywhere, and exist in every crime drama. However, what I Remember You does with its story is the difference; it's what puts the show in another league. It simultaneously allows the viewer to feel horror and pity toward certain characters, while it allows us to sympathize and chastise others. It doesn't keep its secrets, though. One knows, oftentimes, what will happen. Yet, despite the predictability of outcome, I Remember You captures the viewer in by probing them with these ultimate questions. In so doing, the show remains intriguing, fresh, and wildly entertaining. Does it answer the questions? One will have to see.

The acting in I Remember You was superb. Jang Nara, Seo In Guk, Park Bo Geum, and Choi Won Young brought such complexity to their characters that they too provoked the viewer to cheer for them when they might not otherwise do so. The chemistry of these characters, sometimes posed in times of large-scale situational irony, pricked both fear and at times, humor into the mind. Special mention must also be given to Do Kyungsoo, who, despite possessing a cameo role, prompted loss of sleep and fear so palpable to derive from an angelic face. (I did not sleep well at all after episode 1.)

The music, sneaky and chilling, provided an immensely rich background for the ensuing action. It allowed the intensity of fear, of romance, of horror to perpetuate into the viewer's ears. In addition, the music never faltered in its fit to the actions on screen. Nothing was out of place or jarring.

Overall, I will remember I Remember you. I don't think I could forget its ability to draw me in and make me question my own notions on human nature and evil. I've always enjoyed shows that make me question everything and everyone's intentions and objectives. In this, I Remember You does not disappoint. In fact, it exceeds my initial expectations, and is now a personal favorite, both in its genre and in kdramas altogether.

Leggi di Più

This drama is a perfect example of a drama I was tempted to drop, but I'm so glad I didn't. I love thrillers, so I thought this drama would be right up my alley, but for me "I Remember You" was just ok at first, and a little hard to really get into in the beginning. Much of the beginning is spent revealing backstories, and establishing characters. There are also crime mysteries to be solved, and although they were interesting, they weren't very suspenseful, because bad guys and outcomes were pretty obvious, but maybe that's because I've watched soooo many suspense thrillers. The one thing that was great from the very beginning was the chemistry between Ji An and Lee Hyun. Their awkwardly romantic moments were a big reason why I wanted to keep watching. The weird thing about I Remember You is, unlike other dramas, it started to get better with each episode. The main cast is a outstanding (the supporting cast is great too), and once the characters backstories are established, the complexity of each character is revealed. That complexity is what creates the real suspense, because it's hard to predict each character's intentions, and motives. Subtle changes in expression, false smiles, and poker faces... I don't want to accidentally give anything away, but I will say that I love the duality in certain characters. I would have never guessed that psychopaths could be so sympathetic. Also, Seo In Guk's facial expressions, in particular, sparked an instant crush. For me, the best episodes were in the second half of the series, and they kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know how everything would be resolved. The beauty of this drama is, instead of a simple resolution, the ending just leads to more wondering, and left me wanting more. If there's a sequel, count me in! The only thing that really bothered me about this drama was the music. The general soundtrack was fine, but some songs felt very inappropriate to the story. As intensely cute as the romantic tension is, it still seemed not right to put in a fairly upbeat love song when people are getting murdered by serial killers. Overall, I recommend this drama, especially if you like psychological dramas, or crime thrillers. The romance is great, and a big part of the story, but RomCom fans should be warned that romance is not the singular focus. I think now that I know the backstory, I would rewatch this, and the beginning would be easier to follow. I would be tempted to fast forward to later scenes (like the super tense yet kinda hilarious dinner scene). So, although I didn't give this as high a score as others, It's imperfections are easily outweighed by the outstanding parts, and this drama certainly stands out from the kdrama rest.

Leggi di Più

“Are monsters born or made?”
That’s the question that this drama want you to answer.
I watched this drama just because Kyungsoo was in there. And, I’m afraid to say, it was the only reason why I didn’t drop it after two episodes.
The plot is quite interesting. A family is crashed by a young and clever serial killer. That handsome serial killer takes away the little kid of the family, making the older one crave for revenge.
The plot itself isn’t the real reason why I gave this drama 6 out of 10.
It had a great potential : an epic battle between two brothers and the man who teared their family apart. BUT, as we all know when it comes to korean drama, the only thing that spoiled it all was the romance that the screenwriters tried so hard to gave us.
Two completely opposite characters : the dumb, nagging and useless female cop, who didn’t act once as a heroine. And the clever criminologist, who’s character was pretty good but got ruined by the female lead toward the end of the story.
The little brother, Lee Min, was the sugar to pour in this bitter tea.
He was educated by a serial killer, so in the end he became one himself. His personality, his appearance and his morals were fascinating. Yet, he was a huge attention seeker, he forgot really quickly about his revenge toward his brother, making the plot lacking some good concepts.
Lee JunYeong was supposed to be a creepy and dangerous man. Unfortunately, he wasn’t.
All his charisma, the charisma that Kyungsoo gave to the character while playing his younger self, was totally outshine after growing old.
He was a pure and innocent man who had two choices : to forgive his family or to punish them.
They tried to give him a sad story just to make sympathize with him. His characters became pathetic in the end. Just a poor man who just wants to built a family with those kids.
Cha JinHa was a pain in the back. A stalker, useless, sleepyhead girl who just wanted to make Lee Hyeon her boyfriend. She was such a bad character that I couldn’t stand her for only two seconds.
This drama had a good plot. But once again, korean screenwriters spoiled it with a romantic and stupid love story.

Leggi di Più

Gripping. Riveting. Poignant.

Those are the three words I can describe I Remember You.

During the course of watching the drama, I often wonder to myself, 'how can a drama be this good?' In a way, there are many plot points that could've gone awry, executions that would've made the whole drama into a train wreck, or characters that would've become so frustrating, yet somehow, none of that happened. Instead, the opposite of it became the final product: storyline filled with suspense, angst, with an air of quirky comedy that will keep you glued to your screen from the first minute to the last, excellent relays of the writer's ideas transforming to a visual interpretation from the directors and producers even with the camera works, and finally, characters that are heart-wrenching, clever, and refreshing.

The ability of the drama to execute pathos within its loyal viewers despite the horrific acts and wrongdoings other characters have made is a feat within itself. The drama's question of, Are monsters created or born?, makes you re-evaluate yourself on your own morals and values.

The drama is sadly underrated, but as to what I've read somewhere, the ratings were very steady, which can mean that those who loyally watched from the first episode sticked until the end, and loved it to its core. Honestly speaking, ratings do not even matter anymore. However, there's a part of me that is upset and hurt that I Remember You did not get the justice to be praised, applauded, and commended for what it's worth. Such a pity that it wasn't appreciated during its airing when it is clearly one of the best and unforgettable dramas in 2015.

I find myself unable to move on, having major withdrawals from the drama, crying whenever I hear Dear Cloud's Remember as if the song comforts me as it comforts our characters. That itself makes me believe that I would have missed out real good have I not watched this gem.

Kudos, I Remember You, you will be remembered, and never forgotten. With that, I give it not just a 10 out of 10, but a 15 + alpha.

Leggi di Più

This is my first review. I’ll try not to make it very long but I’ll apologise in advance because I really have a lot to say about this drama.

This is, for sure, a must-see! If you want to watch something thrilling, with a lot of moving moments featuring two brothers whose relationship is tormented by the past and you love stories with a bit of a psychological side, don’t think twice.

I didn’t even hesitate on giving this the highest rating. I had only a watched a few episodes and I already knew I’d be giving it a high score. But only after watching the final episode (which doesn’t disappoint at all), I decided that it deserves a 10/10.

I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll only tell you that the story goes way beyond the synopsis you can read above. In my point of view, the perfect word to describe the plot is “thrilling”. I never got bored watching this. A lot of dramas tend to drag a bit from episode 11/12 but that didn’t happen, fortunately. There were many powerful scenes full of tension but they were pretty well balanced with a few feel-good scenes (mostly consisting of the romance since the drama doesn’t focus on it as much as it seems). There were a lot of unexpected plot twists (mainly in the last episodes) and I loved how they build up to the climax. The way flashbacks were interlocked with present actions was extremely clever and not confusing at all.

I have only great things to say about the actors: their performance in conveying the characters emotions and thoughts was totally convincing and I think that it wouldn’t be possible to choose other actors who could fit better each character. They make you feel so intimate with their character that you can feel their suffering. Seo In Guk, in my opinion, has a remarkable ability to adapt to every role he gets. Park Bo Gum’s role was exceptionally performed (I’m definitely going to watch more of his work and I’m looking forward to what he’ll do in the future). Choi Won Young did such an excellent job with his character that I even got chills. Jang Na Ra was also brilliant and Do Kyungsoo really contradicted the myth about idols not being talented in acting. In most of the dramas I’ve watched so far, there’s always a character whose story I’d like to know better or whose point of view seems lacking. In “I Remember You” I didn’t feel this: I was extremely satisfied with the character’s amount of screen time. It’s a story full of wonderful characters who, individually and as I group, add a lot to the drama’s quality.

I couldn’t finish this review without mentioning the OST, which I really liked because of the feelings each theme evoked. However, it isn't the best OST of all time but it did its purpose: matching each scene’s atmosphere.

Leggi di Più

I tend to avoid crime-based shows that mix in romantic subplots and comedy because it either becomes TOO romantically based or it's TOO reliant on the comedic factor and the serious tone is lost in the process. However this drama was everything that I never knew I needed. Some might complain about the lack of romance but I don't think that was ever supposed to be the point. It was just a bonus. I stepped in not knowing a lot about the plot, deciding to watch it on whim since I'm a big fan of Seo In Guk and Jang Na-Ra but I got so much more out of it then I was expecting. The concept was well thought out and made their viewers think throughout the entire series; are monsters born or are they created? If you are marked out for a certain path, do you just have to accept or is there a secret back door waiting somewhere? Do children inherit their parent's sins and SHOULD they? As a viewer, you are proposed these type of questions (and many more). Yes, there are some funny moments and the romance is sweet but the psychological aspect is what truly made it stand out from the rest of the crime-based shows that year. The cast had great chemistry and there wasn't a single member that I felt came short or could of been replaced. Everyone was important. Choi Won-Young and Park Bo-Gum played their roles in an effortless like manner. The characters were complex, well writing and left me wanting more of them. The female lead wasn't just 'strong' for the sake of pleasing the audience. Nor was she flawless either. She was perfectly 'imperfect' She was indeed strong but she also got hurt, she cried and she also grew a lot throughout the series. Her character was just as interesting as her fellow cast-mates which isn't entirely common when you have such a male-based lineup. Overall I would definitely recommend that you check it out. From the story-line to the OST, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Leggi di Più

Watching I Remember You is like attending the world’s most genteel serial killer convention. You can almost imagine the networking: “Oh, so you kill people? I kill people too. Let’s make a lovely chopped salad and compare knives.” Everyone leaves a trail of bodies in their wake, but they’re quite civilized about it. I’ve never seen a show with so many deliciously awkward dinners as multiple killers and cops share artfully prepared meals. It’s an intriguing choice, helped out by the fact that the principal antagonists are both strong actors. However, I found Jang Nara and Seo In-Guk underwhelming, and the sheer number of murderers became a bit much. Even for a show centered on a homicide unit, it seemed like everyone in Korea was out to avenge their arrest with a knife to someone’s gut. Or to the gut of the person who killed the person that killed . . . well, never mind. The utter incompetence of said homicide unit was also alarming, as they seemed to lack any ability to actually solve crimes. The issues raised about what might make (or unmake) a killer were interesting, but the show was never twisty enough to be a truly effective thriller, nor deep enough to be a revelatory character study. There was a lot of promise, but I wish the drama's execution had been as meticulous as the killings it chronicles.

Leggi di Più