Reviews

Two reviews, two comparisons.

The movie made me think of Luc Besson's "Leon", one of my favourite films ever. The feel is the same, and so is the awkward yet deeply touching relationship between Tae-shik and So-mee.



Won Bin's performance is superb, his misery and loneliness enphasized by the constant darkness of the setting and the few sharp lines he is asked to deliver. But just as brilliant is the kid's acting and that of the two schizoid criminals with their dark humour, one lamenting the blood on his Dolce & Gabbana's shirt, the other toying with eyeballs.



Stay away from it if you are easily disturbed by blood. This movie is violent and pretty graphic, and the ethic underneath the blood shoking and insufferable. The Korean police are doing what they always are in Korean films: nothing. Except being activated to a frenzy by the only hero of the story.

At times, one wishes one could enter the screen ad shake some sense into the police force. I can only hope this is a dramatic device, more than a window on reality.



The action scenes are brilliantly enacted, with enough close cut shots to make them believable and felt.

Overall a superb movie, not to be watched while eating, though.

Leggi di Più

This show was hyped up as one that would speak to a new group of drama watchers---the indie mid-20s sect who would rather hang out at dive bars drinking cheap beer than sit at home in their PJs watching dramas. Yeah, I think those kids are still at the dive bars. This show was a major disappointment. The plot seemed promising enough: oooh, family debt; arranged marriage to forgive debt; fake marriage to get out of arranged one; two husbands--what!?! And then the plot just started to meander into Never Never Land. Things picked up a bit when the writer changed half-way through the show, but when the most interesting plot twists happen in the last episode, that's a drama fail. The music, for the most part, is pretty decent since they try to stick to the overall indie vibe, which means we get some good tracks with Jang Geun Suk rocking out ("Please, My Bus"). Basically, this show has a lot of cute moments, especially between the main couple, but it's not enough fluff to last 16 episodes.

Leggi di Più

There's just something about this drama that's so right! Even Daniel Henney's terrible acting couldn't mask how amazing this show is. A woman and a younger man engage in a dating contract, and just so happen to fall in love. Of course, there is the ever present obstacle of the ex-girlfriend who shares a sad past with our hero, but it's not a drama without that little bump in the road. The main theme by Clazziquai ("She Is") perfectly captures the mood of this story, which is pretty frank about its depiction and discussion of sex. Plus, "She Is" has great replay value. Overall, this is a rom-com in its own league---quite possibly the most mature and adult drama I've seen so far.

Leggi di Più

I watched this drama because of the good recommodations and because I really love the fantasy/historical genre. After I watched the first two episodes I was so exicited to watch the rest of it. The story started really good and I longed to know how the reborn characters will react when they meet each other again. But then it went all down. The story developed into a total bad direction. I endured it, believing that the story will turn around the next episode. It didn't. The ending was the worst of it all and left me totally unsatisfied (Normally I am not that satisfied with endings, but this one was the worst of all I've ever watched).



It also has it good points, though, if you leave out the story and the acting between the maincharacters in terms of their love relationships. They spend much money for creating the drama. I've never seen such good special effects. The war scenes were impressive and the music really suited the drama. The landscapes were really beautiful and this made the drama in some ways worth watching.



That's the reason why it's hard to rate this drama. The production itself is magnificent, but thinking how they abused the story makes me cry. This could be the best drama I've ever watched but they destroyed everything with the story. They could have made so much out of it, even an ordinary plot would have been better than this. Thus I am still shaking my head thinking about the wasted effort

Leggi di Più

I didn't have great expectations for this movie to begin with - and still it managed to really disappoint me.

First of all, I couldn't like the main characters, and that is always a problem. I just couldn't relate to their lives or problems at all. In my eyes, Ha-Young was just irritating, spoiled little girl screaming, making faces and throwing tantrums all the time. Hyung-Joon wasn't any better, he was definitely arrogant (as the movie's name suggests), mean and self-centered. I could have still forgiven these flaws of theirs if they had had any good and amiable side in their personalities but I just couldn't find enough good in them to make me like them.

Secondly, the whole setting of the story was just too weird and twisted to my liking. I'm normally okay with dramas or movies that have all sorts of marriage/sibling/dating/cohabitation agreements in order to provide the main characters enough interaction so that they can fall in love with each other. However, this "Enslavement Agreement" was too much for me. My dislike for this agreement was further strengthened by the fact that the girl was still underage and the boy in college (call me prudish if you like). Had they had a pure, equal relationship, then it might have been okay, but in this case, the setting was just too weird.

Thirdly, I wasn't convinced that the characters really fell in love with each other. I acknowledge the obvious time limitations of a movie compared to a drama but still, there just was something missing. Fourthly, I really didn't get the humour in this movie. Even the numerous day-dreaming scenes of the main heroine didn't really work or weren't that funny. I was actually really surprised to notice that Ha Ji Won played in this movie. I liked her in "Secret Garden" so I'm tending to believe that this movie wasn't so bad because of the acting but because of the storyline.

For those who now think that I seriously underrated this movie, please feel free to give it a better review. I am no longer teenager, nor am I Korean, so maybe there were just some things I didn't get, but personally, I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. You'll just feel stupid afterwards for wasting your time on it.

Leggi di Più

So, in case you can't tell from the scores, I recommend this. If that's all you needed to know to watch this movie, do so... NOW. For the rest of you read the in depth and then go watch this.



I really enjoyed this story. When I read the synopsis, I sort of thought this was going to be one of those terrible over-the-top comedic asian dramas that I can't stand. DON'T LET THE SYNOPSIS SCARE YOU. This Punch Lady is literally going to fight her abusive husband and there is nothing funny about the turmoil she is going through. Not to say that there is no comedic relief, but the main character is a battered woman, not merely a disgruntled one.



The acting was good, no particularly huge stand out performances, but everything was watchable. I definitely felt what the characters were suppose to feel. I laughed, I cried, I liked it. However, don't look for total groundbreaking.



Music- did its job, nothing memorable to me but nothing obnoxious either.



Definitely would see this again with a friend who liked it or hasn't seen it. I might watch it on my own, but most likely not. But such an experience would not be unenjoyable XD



Overall, if you haven't seen it, watch it. It's not a 20 episode long drama, just a movie. You have no excuse.

Leggi di Più

I'm not an expert on Korean movies but I'd say that this wasn't bad at all. Obviously, a two-hour movie cannot have the same depth of character development as a 16- or 20-hour drama series but since the main focus was on the main characters, I think you had enough time to get attached to them. I even shed a few tears at the end of the film (or then I'm just too soft... :P)

This movie isn't full of drama but it is not a light one either since it touches upon themes like violence, alcoholism and depression. However, all these themes are illustrated in a warm-hearted manner, not too realistically, and hope is definitely present all the time. This is certainly not too serious a movie, and that is largely because of the more or less twisted and dark humour that spices the story up and makes you laugh.

The overall plot goes onwards at a good pace and has some interesting twists that I was unable to predict, especially at the end. Shin Hyeon-Jun portraits in a very endearing way the professional killer Hyun-Jun who is a serious, warm hearted and troubled man questioning his profession and quietly looking for someone he could talk to. Kang Hye-Jeong's Jin-Young is a bit crazy, not an ordinary woman, but very adorable.

This movie has some very endearing and funny scenes and that is why I liked it so much. The main characters are very likeable as well. If you have two hours to spare, go and watch it, it isn't a waste of your time.

Leggi di Più

This drama and I have a love hate relationship. I love the drama and the material. I hated waiting for the subtitles. Unfortunately, Keizoku 2: SPEC and its prequel, Keizoku, are not destined to be listed among the most popular of dramas. Why? It's a matter of taste. It isn't just a cop drama or a supernatural drama. It's both.



I found the story incredibly interesting and compelling. It was easy for me to believe the various SPEC powers and there were quite a few surprise moments in the story. It is very satisfying when the 'ah ha' moment happens for the viewer. I loved every episode except the last one (not to be a spoiler, just a warning). I don't think that everyone will have the problems with the ending I did, it just wasn't my cup of tea. There is a really good blend of random humor and extreme seriousness that I never thought was too jarring.



As for the cast, just look at the list. The two mains are great and have a good working chemistry. I can't think of one faulty acting part (except when its meant to be intentionally bad). My only complaint is that I think the drama had a couple too many underutilized characters (that appear in most episodes). But the actors are all up to snuff.



Music does its job. The really dramatic theme is dramatic, etc. The only song I really remember is the song that plays when they are thinking or in the office or just bantering. Its the only one that got stuck in my head.



I'll definitely watch this drama again (it was worth it the first time). The only complaint I have is that the surprises won't be quite so surprising, but the acting is top notch (in my opinion). It will definitely hit all of its humor cords at least.



Overall, loved the drama. Its in my top 10.

Leggi di Più

Ah one of my favorite dramas, that was also one of my first watched dramas. As you've read the summary you know this is about a dad who loses his job and so he stays home and takes care of the children while his wife works. It has a unique storyline, comedy, drama, and it's rather enjoyable to watch so I give the story a 10. I'm a big fan of Hiroshi Abe, so i might be a bit biased when it comes to the Cast/Acting but i really think they did a brilliant job, so for the Cast/Acting, i'm going to also give it a 10. The music was ok. As for rewatch value, i'm generally not a rewatcher, so this gets a 7 for rewatchability. Overall though it's a solid drama that everyone should watch.

Leggi di Più

I really enjoyed this drama. It was one of the first dramas I saw. Since then I have seen quite a few. It is not the best drama out there by any stretch of the imagination, but it is sweet and endearing. When I watch a drama, I am always looking for that emotional connection. If I can't connect with the drama, or care for the characters, no matter how amazing the plot is , it would not be enjoyable for me. With that in mind, this drama still remains one of my favourites. The plot is simple and easy to follow,but plagued with the usual problems that face most Korean dramas, that is, it is uneven and could have had better pacing,slowing down significantly in the later episodes. However this dramas major strenght is its cast. Kang Dong Won is great here as the ill tempered lead, Jae In, who ends up being comical and endearing. It was great seeing him change and evolve as a person as the drama progressed. The main romantic pairing is cute and believable, but most importantly they make you care. You want them to be happy , to succeed. It is a great journey, filled with laughs (you can thank a petulant Jae In for most of those), sighs and a few awwws.Recommended for an easy, heartfilled watch.

Leggi di Più

This is a very endearing and cute drama. It's funny and not too dramatic - there are no massive and overwhelming problems/obstacles, but enough plot twists to keep you interested. The main characters are portrayed very convincingly by Kato Koyuki (Sumire) and Matsumoto Jun (Momo). Supporting characters are good as well. The plot flows nicely and I found the ending was satisfying enough, although not perfect. The instrumental soundtrack suits the drama very well, and the theme song, V6's "Darling", is sure to stick in your head for a long time.



Despite the weirdish pet/owner relationship between the main characters, this drama is somehow very realistic. In the end, it is about people searching for someone with whom they can be themselves and that is a something everyone can relate to. Even if you don't like Matsumoto Jun - who, by the way, does a superb job in this drama, very adorable - you should give this drama a try. It might well be that at the end of this drama you too hope to have an adorable Momo as your pet! ;)



If you have read the manga, I think that this drama adaptation isn't a bad one at all. It's different, of course, and it doesn't follow the manga faithfully: there are quite a few changes and some characters omitted, some added/having bigger roles. However, I do think that the drama has the same spirit as the manga, and the main characters are quite the same. Anyways, I read the manga after watching this, so my opinion might be a bit biased since I was charmed by Matsumoto Jun's Momo first. :)

Leggi di Più

This isn't your common, run-of-the-mill, drama. It's main focus is abuse, and what it does to a person, and that person, through friends, becoming stronger. While, each of the friends have their own issues, they find a way to work together to help each other overcome(or accept) those issues.



The acting in this drama is SUPERB, each actor portrayed their character perfectly. I have to give Nishikido Ryo huge props for his role. It was NOT easy for me to watch the scenes with him in them, which means he did great, but without those scenes this drama would not have been 1/10th as good.

Leggi di Più

Questa recensione ti è stata utile? Sì No Cancella