Short Josei stories, bittersweet

Finally completed the 3 seasons. Each season has alike pace&story&OST the thing that changes is mostly the mood, this one was bittersweet and has more episodes.

Episode 1: When FWB goes south & skinship is no longer enough
Episode 2: The awkward road from Friends to lovers
Episode 3: The Jerk new employee brings new feelings to introverted teammate
Episode 4: Childhood friends and something more
Episode 5: Fairytale App date&Christmas night
Episode 6: Rekindle an old flame while vulnerable

Second season is as good produced as the other two, no major problems with the acting either. From this season I liked more episode 2, the friends whom grown fond of each other, they look natural together, and episode 3, It's was funny how ML is energetic and moody and FL is introverted and also moody, the ending was a bit rushed for this one and the one least likable is episode 6, I think FL deserves better, and it was a dumb decision-making.

Leggi di Più

Short Josei Stories, slight dark

I actually started this by season 3, cause it says it's the best one, and in comparison with this one, s03 is really better. This one is dark&bitter.

Episode one: Stamina Tomboy tries to fix her age crises & need the wrong way
Episode two: Age gap. Nice boss, Nice employee, Nice relationship.
Episode three: Flexibility&her relationships, bitter ending
Episode four: Youngsters goes Halloween, she changes but still herself.

The pace here is faster but not in a good way, felt senseless in many moments. Episode two and four has some slight fluffy vibe while episode one and three has more subtle meaning, both FL has unhealthy mindset towards romance: at ep 01: She goes to skinship when she's troubled with something instead of deal with it. ep 03: She adapts too much when in a relationship, losing her friends and her sense of herself.

I suggest do what I did, start by season 3, their stories are a better warm up for this ones. Overall the production, OST and acting are still good here, just the mood is different.

Leggi di Più

Holding the breath to keep on living

The description pretty much says everything, so let's cut to the chase. Jin is in prison, but he is full of passion. Yeon has a family, house and her art, despite that she is lethargic. She goes to prison and revives her love memories with songs and colorful wallpapers to tease Jin. Jin has an admirer in his jail cell.

Have you noticed that Ha Jung Woo made too many movies? near didn't recognized him here. The movie is Korean, the leading actor is Taiwanese, Chang Chen(Love and Destiny and Crouching Tiger) his character is almost mute here.

The interactions is the strength of the movie, although the inmates relationships are a bit funny in some moments. The couple here has shown chemistry and the kisses are very passionate. And what's wrong with the Prison boss? Overall a good movie with some quirk moments here and there. The end was very sexy in a dangerous way.

Leggi di Più

Introductory drama

I totally understand why people gang up to hate this drama, the flaws are pretty visible, but none bothered me, I enjoyed almost everything here and I will wait for the second season.

While I was watching this in hiding I felt what I used to feel when I read a Young Adult Novel , the dynamics is very alike, how the characters meet and interact with each other.

The drama has many Japanese animation aspects, such as the sausage guy whom has a gadget who spells cold wind just like Nami from One Piece anime. You can see fight competitions like Yu Yu Hakusho, when you need strategies to win, not only power.

The plot is very simple, the drama is very introductory to their fantastic world, the characters going from newbies to powerful ones, the family relations affairs, sects enmity etc. They are always showering us with information about their powers, once again, just like One Piece anime.

Let's see if the next season will be more plot and less couples, families and powers data/info.

Note: The most visible flaw here was the sudden editing scenes, they sometimes would just jump one scene to other in abrupt way. The OST sucks too, but the main title is okey.

Leggi di Più

Short & cheerful Romance

Short&cheerful romance with lots of *product placement, even a J-Pop group promotion, beware before start it.

Mayumi is a driven workaholic, whom works not only for the company, but also for her own pleasure and to be helpful to her fellow work colleagues, frequently working overtime. Director(Teiji Osamu) is also devoted to his job and was a company slave as Mayumi in the past, but he changed his politics, and now leaves work on time. After a fight in a Pub caused by Mayumi drunkenness, things stars to change between them. Both works in the same company, Orient Hope.

The first episodes are spicy,as a Josei manga in general is, but as soon as their relationship progress other plot and issues become the focus. Mayumi is the classic cheerful lead in most J-Dramas, but the Director has also a cheerful side that is showed to us, as he mentally set his plans in their relationship, his insecurities, how he finds her cute(fangirling over her) etc. In resume they are more alike than actually divergent. they love their job, are diligent and also loves to write files. Even though the drama has a love triangle, their screen time is little. The other characters, as the 3rd wheel, the J-Pop fan, the boss whom likes to watch over the employees, was not a bother. As their relationship stars both of them becomes insecure and starts to jump to conclusions, in this we have most of the comic plot in the drama, the other source of comedy is their working eagerness (Sailor Moon costume, cough cough).

The acting was fair good for both leads and side actors. The OST is more like a J-Pop group promotion as I said. I have no problem with the filmography, the office scenes was well done and the city scenery was also beautifully set down. The romance is fast paced but nothing over-the-top. The subject of being a company slave, a ricework (work to survive) or a lifework (work as life goal) was soft portrayed, as in real life people actually dies from overwork in Japan, as result of their eagerness or suicide. The thing is, they don't abash people who loves to work, but since you have to work why not try to like it and do it properly, not forgetting to live a healthy life.

*Parody Product Placement

Leggi di Più

It starts with stocks trading...

It starts with stocks...

it ends with land, but first the journey(1978~1997). 1992, in a hype day, Abao is suddenly hit by a car, what happened? and all this money, who is it from? let's go back to the beginning, Abao is young, he wants to do stock's trading, uncle ye is who he needs, he's a stocks magician, he earns his trust, starts to learn and make money(sometimes loses too). The main characters: Abao, LiLi, Miss Wang, Lingzi, but also Qilin Society(Mr. Witch Doctor), Jinmeilin and her husband(and 3rd wheel), Miss Xiezhi, Taotao&Fangmei, Mr. Fan(Sanyang), Mr. Wei, Mr. Cai(information resources), Mr. Chu, Mr. A, Mr. Qiang( Nanguo Investment)and many more, and mind they are not in order of relevance.

There is a new face in the town, it's LiLi, she wants to make her new restaurant successful, the restaurant before(Phoenix) failed. To keep her business sailing she need the neighbors approval(other restaurants, Jinmeilin for example), including Abao and his friends. But food is not her only business. Lingzi has partnership with Abao, Night Tokyo restaurant, 50% per 50%, but is always losing for Abao side. Miss Wang is a blooming flower in 27 building, trading stocks building, Abao friends her, both has goals for the next 5 years, she helps him get important contracts, selling goods, makes the negotiations between parts, evil eyes are jealous of her popularity tho. Abao has his other friends in trading stocks, Mr. Cai, TaoTao etc, with past regrets. Mr. Fan is coming to town, he has too many goods, who can eat it all? Abao comes in rescue. Fashion is the clothing companies future. Mr. Qiang becomes Abao neighborhood, he knows LiLi, He knows Lingzi, Nanguo Investment, too much money in his hands, but he wants something else. Qilin Society past petty revenge, Abao is up to something, wants their attention.

Enough said, it is a BUSINESS drama! with a humane side plot yes, romance too, but just a tad of it. From the first to the last episode, it's trading stocks jargon, restaurants routine, production and selling goods negotiations, with a fancy&retro style, music&decor. The humane side, is how trading stocks is not much different from gambling, maybe even worse, since when it goes down, it goes down harder, and beat more people at once. Spoiler: The romance, Abao ends alone, most of them ends alone, he gets the land him and his friends were trying to save, and becomes a farmer, flowers culture, but no success with love.

As a production, it was flawless, perfect OST, photography, costumes, product placement was not a bother, it was nostalgic the Pepsi ones. Acting: Hu Ge slayed, I have not a single complain, MaYili, she was really great in made me hate her, Tiffany really good in crying and emotional driven scenes, XinZhiLei, so gorgeous, it kinda get in the way of her acting, her looks get all the attention, great acting anyway, Ben Chang, uncle ye is so charming even while being fierce, all these senior actors, what more to expect than breathtaking acting! I recommend only if you can handle business tag overload, and the long list of names and situations, cause they comes&goes in the drama. Needs good memory.

Leggi di Più

Short Josei stories - Romance is still alive

I watched this series in totally random order, let's go!

Ep1: She's married and finds again an old flame, he's beautiful and has a nice personality, who she will choose?

Ep 2: Workmates learns more about each other real feelings behind the daily politeness

Ep 3: Neighborhood meeting each other's with better light in the eyes, without prejudice

Ep 4: Stressed Fiancee rethinks her marriage in the chaotic ceremony planning, temptation is in the corner

For this part my favorite episode was the neighbors(ep3), they did great with the few screen time they had, the first naive misunderstood meeting, till planning their future, the least I liked was ep 2, felt a bit rushed, a workplace spice fanfiction, very cringe. Ep 1&4 is about cheating with opposite ending, I like the fiance decision better(ep4)

Overall the episodes are well produced and the ost is nice, good enough acting, the pace for all the 3 parts are alike, fast paced, but very specific expectations of each women.

Leggi di Più

Slow burn dramatic "office" romance with lots of headhunting jargon and cases

This was a good drama for me, even though many didn't like it. It took me only a week to complete. The first episodes was mainly a way to introduce the lead, supports and create a dramatic background to the lead, the plot starts being built by the episode 11 or so.

Description:
Zheng Qiu Dong and Luo Yi Ren was each others first love, years later they meet again, but Yi Ren is dating, and her boyfriend has bone cancer. Feeling pressed and wanting Yi Ren back Qiu Dong starts making wild choices in his life. Qiu Dong dream is to have his own headhunting firm, one that is known and listed from many. Lin Bai is a friend who will show support to him.

The drama revolves around Qiu Dong ambition, his friends, girlfriend problems and professional relationships. Qiu Dong has his own humble employment agency, Yi Ren is a bookworm and a senior student about to graduate. Lin Bai is a senior headhunter in a famous firm. The book: Norwegian Wood is quoted many times. The ost has some international songs like: Scarborough Fair.

Characters development goes by giant steps in the first 20 episodes. The plot about headhunters starts by the middle of the drama, the cases are very humane, with topics like betrayal and deceives. The first cases are tepid, but by the last episodes we already saw some hot ones. Even though the main plot is business, we see drama and romance all the time. I recommend if you are used to dramas who portraits daily life struggles, including job, friends and enemies.

Leggi di Più

Revenge wearing an expensive suit & tie

First I need to tell, it's an advertisement drama, Clear shampoo produced it and made it clear through the episodes, as everything will have their product placement. Second the subtitles available are not perfect, some quotes are almost unintelligible and some parts of the subtitles are missing too.

*Beware, spoilers from the first episode:

Xu Ran is a driven man whom has a successful career and is about to get married, sudden his fiancé dies in his arm's, later he finds out that she actually is still alive and a powerful and mysterious society called Alliance is behind his downfall.Eight years later, he is now working in an advertisement company, behind his actions is a plan to find the truth behind the old incident and fight his enemy The Alliance. As Ye Rou faces personal problems the characters life gets entangled, then Xu Ran meets carefree reporter Tang QiQi and Feng Lu fei an entrepreneur and daughter of a billionaire CEO.

The plot is about revenge, the revenge here is serve in small doses, as Xu Ran deal with Alliance and Alliance fights back by hurting his success the story keeps being about daily life of an advertisement company. The romance follows the same modus operandi, almost all couples are mixed up with business matters. Second leading couple Ye Rou and Cop Wei Xiao has great chemistry, main couple QiQi,Lu Fei and Xu Ran only has a closure in the last episodes. The action here comes in small doses too, with some car racing here, some cop routine there and money moves on the laptop. The production is good, less office scenes and more fierce fight scenes would've been better tho. The OST didn't catch my attention.

I have no complains about the acting, Hu Ge has deliver as He always does. Tiffany Tang was a bit shadowed here as her character is a bit bland, seeing this drama feels like a warm up for Blossoms Shanghai(2021) drama, as they will play once again(again: Xuan Yuan Sword) a couple in it. Stephy Qi was great here too, she knows how to play a really strong woman.

The ending was not bad, but weak as we don't see nothing major happening with the villains, and even the couples conclusions are lacking, even tho one of the last scenes was kinda adorable.

...

Leggi di Più

Quiet, crude movie with Hu Ge

This movie is very crude: violence, crime, sex and gore all over the screen! The male lead is silent and quiet, but that's what the plot needs.

This movie was nominate for many awards, most awards likes those type of movies, cause they are very humane, you can see everyone flaws here, there is almost no "make up" to hide their personalites.

Resume: Ze nong was in prison for five years, once he tries to cameback as a gang leader things get messy, now everyone wants him so they can get the cops reward money, but they don't care about the "alive" in the dead or alive poster. Ai ai, the prostitute, shows up to help, since ze nong decides to let his wife rat him to get the reward money.

The good thing here is the way is quiet then messy, then quiet again. The ending would amuse some, for me was not good enough, but probably the judges from awards used this as one of the reasons to nominee the movie.

TMI: Hu Ge worked out his body to record this, his looks are slight more masculine here.

Leggi di Più

The actors Kim nam gil, Lee sun gyun, Go gyu pil, Kim min shik and Lee sang yeob, shows the bad and good about travel too many days on train, the hardships of it: lack of space, bath and privacy for example. Don't expect fake reactions, they are really grounded men. The train stops in each station for variable period of time, sometimes they go out to sight see the towns in Russia, most of their meal times occour in the train to: spam and lamen most of it. They interact with the other passengers too.

I coud not find it in good quality, even though the files said 720p, most of the time the quality could not even get near 480p, please tell me where to watch in real good quality. Viu does not work in my country.

About the rest, Nam gil is super cute here, even more then in fiery priest, prepare your heart! Never really paid any attention to Sun gyun, but he has a nice personality and an other world type of voice. Gyu pil is not much different from his characters in tv dramas and Min shik is a calm quiet guy. Sang Yeob was a bit sad here.

Leggi di Più

A brother is born for a time of adversity

There is a time test when you rewatch something you liked in the past and verify if you still like, the drama is a non survivor of my time test, even tho that's the first time I've watched it, the drama probably was hot when it aired in 2010, but the plot, OST, acting style all felt outdated. We even has a scene where the female creates courage to kill a chicken so to prove her lover for the guy. Money to get ride of the poor female lead etc.

Naive and bubbly HongGuo(Subbed as Red Summer Fruit) comes to big city with the desire to work in a fashion magazine Femina, in her way she meets FeiFan(subbed as Extraordinary) a "pro-labore" lawyer (defend rights of poor workers) summoned by his father to work in the same magazine. In the city she meets model & gold-digger Sasha, ruthless reporters LingJie and Wenxue, sad photographer shentian and Tenant Dehua(Fatty) who has a big apartment where everybody lives and support each other.

The drama has fair time screen sharing with the multiple couples and personal stories. HongGuo is the main focus, as we see her perceptions of this new world, but they smooth too much her story, a little more hardship and failing would've been better. One of the personal stories is about mourning, but it felt a cringe fest. The romance here is scatter and all over the place at the same time as we have many couples but all them are slow romance that starts with unrequited loves. Second leading couple was dreadful to watch, not found of nothing with them, he is an "oily" womanizer and she is the anger&snobbish type. The main couple took forever to get together, but they are kinda cute together, yes cute, that's the word for them(sry).

Overall the drama is not bad, as I said the time test was a fail, but if you feel like watching some old school drama, that's for you, most characters are likeable, the pace is good, except for the couples making, the OST is listenable, you have plenty of type of relationships too, such as the friendship bound.

Leggi di Più

Mecha Live Action

This felt like one live action adaptation of a sci-fi & mecha manga, the plot is all over and only briefly explained in the last minutes of it. The plot is a family broken inside, in the midst of a torn world, torn by wars and environment damage, the politics are more on the communist side, with strong control over the media and nation best wishes narrative.

As people get sick by the dead nature consequences, scientists try to come up with solutions, one of them, Azuma, create one substance that by mistake brings dead people to life, they are called Neo-Humans, some of them gather to fight against the humans whom tried to get ride of them. Casshern is a Neo-Human.

The photography is chaotic, going from dark, game(ish) to strong red, yellow etc and the cgi is all over, as they try to show us the war machines, the surviving society & the contaminated nature. The characters has the anime aesthetics with colorful hair and quirky clothes. The editing and direction are very lacking, we have very little talking going on and the mindset is hardly perceived and only once again in the last minutes of it. It's hard to actually care for them if the edit goes from here and there in a chaotic order, add to this the extremely changes in the background cgi and the result is not the best. The ost is good and feel fit to the scenes.

Even tho the many bad points, once you start watching you just feels like keep watching, it's interesting enough, it has some action and mecha scenes with fair charisma and the sci-fi content is also good enough.

Leggi di Più

Retro Horror

Mother and Daughter running away from domestic violence and trying to restart their life meet new and dubious neighbors as she finds a cheap leasing apartment from a nice real state agent, but why the leasing is cheap?

I don't know where they record the drama but it feels like an old, low budget, New York horror movie. The plot was full of possibilities, specially in the supernatural side, when they change content by the end of the drama it would be really surprising if they have done a better job in set the mood (and if you haven't watched that many horror movies).

The photography and directing was the main source of the lacking, sometimes the camera focus was hard to deal with, how they set the scenes with the "scary" parts was a joke, for example. The acting was also lacking for the main actress(Barbie), the child acting was just okay, Hu Ge was probably the second character with most lines, but we barely see his face expressions, once again I say, the directing and photography was awful during the movie. The makeup is bad too. The OST was doable. I don't think I should recommend anyone to watch this, feel free to choose to do or not. You can find the subs on opensubtitles . org page and translate them online for you favorite language.

Leggi di Più