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Heugbaekyorisa: Yori Gyegeub Jeonjaeng (2024)
Such an enjoyable watch
I'm not one to watch cooking variety shows or competitions but watching this made me feel as if I've been missing out on some really good shows. I think the elimination rounds were creative and interesting, and I'm sure the judges did their best to evaluate the dishes as fairly as they could, although I wish Chef Edward Lee was the winner, it was still a fair fight between him and Kwon Sung Jun.
Through this show I've gained a newfound respect and admiration for anyone who has a passion for cooking, regardless of whether they're a chef or not. I have a few favourites for sure such as Edward Lee, Triple Star and Cooking Maniac. Of course each chef has their own strengths and stories to tell but personally these 3 were the most memorable, and even though they didn't win the grand prize, they still cooked incredible dishes and I was particularly impressed with them during the Cooking Hell round where they had to cook a variety of dishes using tofu as the main ingredient. That tofu hell round really showcased their drive and love for food and cooking. This is the 3rd time I'm mentioning him but Edward Lee is so creative and such a genuine guy that you can't help but root for him, and I hope his restaurants see more success after this show.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022)
Lovely ending
Mrs. Harris is an absolute ray of sunshine, so kind and good that her presence impacts the people around her positively. Her time in Paris was filled with dreams, hope and even a little romance even though nothing happened in the end. Her journey to get her Dior dress was filled with ups and downs but she met good people and made friends in a foreign city all on her own, which was inspiring. Not only that, she played a role in pushing the Dior brand to enter markets around the world, which to be honest I don't know how much of that part is fact or fiction. Nevertheless, it still pushed the plot forward and Natasha and Fauvel wouldn't have gotten together without her meddling.
Guan yu wo han gui bian cheng jia ren de na jian shi (2022)
Hilarious and touching
Actual rating is 7.5 stars. The Taiwanese really do have a knack for producing high quality movies regardless of the genre. I haven't watched many LGBTQ Taiwanese movies but the few that I have, I enjoyed. This one was so funny, not only in terms of the script but the actors were great individually and when they were in scenes together. The main actor, Greg Hsu, was a standout and he performed strongly throughout the movie. The writers did a good job with developing the relationship between a straight guy and a gay guy, and balancing the humour and emotional scenes in the movie. The scene with the main characters and Mao-mao's father was a real tearjerker and considering everything that happened, I think it was a happy ending.
Qing chun 18×2 tong wang you ni de lü cheng (2024)
Beautiful cinematography
I am a huge fan of Taiwanese movies and this one did not disappoint. This movie is beautiful and poignant, and even though I could kind of see how it would end from the beginning, it was still done tastefully. Between the flashbacks from 18 years ago and the present time, the movie weaved a touching story about two people who fell in love but weren't destined to be together. Even so, they spent each day appreciating every moment. They lived and learned and although they couldn't love, the feelings had already grown within them. They were young and hopeful, but they were also scared of the unknown and of hurting each other. And just like that, time had slipped by and 18 years had flown by. It left me feeling a little sad honestly. Anyway, the cinematography and colour grading in this movie is excellent and it was a visual feast.
Atarashii Joushi wa Do Tennen (2023)
So wholesome and cute
Watching this anime brought me so much joy. I loved the character and relationship development between the 4 main characters. I know that this isn't marketed as BL but not gonna lie, the relationship between Momose and Shirosaki was sometimes questionable, like that one time Shirosaki basically proposed to Momose on the train. But for real, the friendship that the 4 characters shared was wholesome and heartwarming. Each of them also had their own personalities that added to the show, but Shirosaki is still the goofiest out of them all. I also loved Hakuto the cat because he was so cute and tiny.
Anyone But You (2023)
Better than expected
I remember when the trailer first came out and people were talking about the lack of chemistry between the lead actor and actress and honestly, I see it. Even though I think the leads have pretty good chemistry, it's also quite obvious that some of the other couples had better chemistry than the leads. The plot itself is just alright and luckily there's a huge cast that kept the story moving forward. It was kind of funny how different parties had different agendas for the main characters while the main characters themselves had their own motives for fake dating. Eventually, true love prevailed and of course the leads got together.
Hi-eo-ro-neun A-nib-ni-da-man (2024)
I don't know how to feel about this
While it took me a while to understand that the characters are more complex and three dimensional than I initially thought, I definitely found the first few episodes atypical. The plot, pacing and characters were inconsistent but I couldn't stop watching and I'm glad I stayed until the end. It's very much a character driven show and I think the writers wanted a gradual process of character development instead of it seeming to come out of left field, which I appreciate. However, I also couldn't help but pity Bok I-na because her father couldn't change for her, as he was only motivated to change himself after meeting Do Da-hae. Like it was sad! But I was glad that Do Da-hae kept pushing him to think about his family. My favourite thing about this show wasn't even the romance. In fact it was the unlikely friendship between Bok Dong-hee and Grace. They were so funny and I really liked their interactions. Besides that I was worried that the ending would be bad and I was ready to be disappointed but somehow Bok Gwi-ju came back? From where and when? Who knows 😂
Yijae, Got Jookseummida (2023)
Review for Part 1
I've watched a few tv shows that were adapted from webtoons before and I'm not saying that they're bad but I've always found something lacking about these tv shows. I think this show in particular has a decent concept but I didn't really like the protagonist. In terms of his characterisation, I think it made sense with how the plot was developing and that the writers wanted to write a more realistic character. Although he thought of the entire thing as a game, it was still kind of weird that he wasn't more traumatised by the numerous violent deaths he experienced. His main objective was to get more money, which yeah. I mean, he died because he didn't have any money so with this rare opportunity given to him, wealth was imperative for him.
The way Part 1 ended made me drop the series though. Like why did that Taekang guy suddenly hit Yee-jae and Ji-su with his car? It didn't even seem like he nor his lawyer/driver was drunk. And they were on a sidewalk, not in the middle of the road. The hit and run was so random and it turned me off so much that I couldn't see the point in continuing Part 2 anymore.
Seumuldaseot Seumulhana (2022)
A good coming of age show
I can't believe it took this long for me to watch this. This was more than just a show about romance. It was mostly about friendship, dreams, and growing up. I loved all the characters but I thought that the female characters are especially well written.
Na Hee-do and Ko Yu-rim's friendship is my favourite thing about this show. Their development from fan and athlete, to enemies, to dear friends and respected rivals is top tier. In fact, the only times I cried while watching this show was when it was about their friendship. Besides that, the friendship aspect is such a massive part of what makes this show so good. The five of them: Hee-do, Yu-rim, Ji Seung-wan, Moon Ji-woong and last but not least, Baek Yi-jin made an unlikely group of friends. 2 of them were athletes, one of them was the top student, the other was at the bottom of the school ranks and the last one was a struggling university drop out. The character development in this show is honestly amazing, I loved it. They went through some tough times but they had their little happiness too that made everything worth it.
The relationship between Hee-do and Yi-jin is also something I appreciate. They started out as friends and then transitioned into lovers, and because of the friendship they shared, their romantic relationship was sweet and patient. But of course real life had to happen, and I really liked how they showed the breakdown of their relationship. Hee-do was so mature about it and I loved for it. They were growing up and had different dreams that brought them further apart from each other. She realised that they weren't right for each other and that she deserved better, and made the difficult decision to end things. I found their break up realistic and it was a stark contrast to the usual happy endings usually found in K-dramas. It was a good ending in my opinion and I wouldn't have changed anything about it.
Lahn mah (2024)
Poignant and touching
It has been a while since I cried watching a movie. It depicts the nuances of familial relationships and mortality that I could highly relate to, surprisingly. The development of M's relationship with his grandmother was done beautifully. I enjoyed the quiet moments, the moments where they shared laughter and grew closer. I enjoyed the acting and cinematography so much, as well as the background music that accompanied the scenes. The story was written in such a way that imparted the importance of loving and caring for one's parents and relatives without being pretentious. I really liked the ending and it was nice to see that the whole family visited Ah Ma's grave during Qing Ming.
Sunjae Eobgo Tweeeo (2024)
A fated pair
In every timeline, Ryu Seonjae falls for Im Sol first and I think that's so beautiful. This drama is for the people who enjoy stories about two people who will keep choosing each other time and time again. I think the plot and storyline were written well, the pacing was good and I liked how the characters developed or changed whenever Im Sol changed the past.
I especially liked the gradual friendship that was forged between RSJ and Kim Taesung. Speaking of their friendship, I was so relieved when the writers decided to NOT go with the love triangle trope. Instead they focused on writing 2 guys who were major simps for Im Sol, which turned out for the best. There were a lot of other things I liked about the drama, such as how RSJ got closer to his band mate and friend Baek Inhyuk, which was a contrast from their "first lives"; the chemistry between the lead actors; the soundtrack; the humour sprinkled in the story to keep the overall tone lighthearted; the angst.
I was also impressed by the actress who plays Im Sol. She was amazing and totally embodied Im Sol. I hope she'll be getting more main lead roles in the future because she's a true talent.
Pamyo (2024)
What's the plot?
Although I liked the cinematography and thought that the acting was amazing, the plot wasn't as solid and the story fell slightly flat as a result. The first part about the grave relocation made sense, but I have to admit that I lost the plot when the second coffin was introduced and the story shifted to focus on the Japanese spirit. The first part was definitely more structured and it had a build up that made things interesting. The second part, in contrast, seemed like an afterthought. Even as I'm writing this review, I have no idea what the connection was between the first coffin and the second one. Like I really thought the second part would be more chilling/ominous but it just left me confused.
Nunmuleui yeowang (2024)
The Perfect Show
This is like one of those shows that did everything right: the writing, casting, original soundtrack, etc. There was just the right amount of drama, suspense, romance and humour. It started off on a lighthearted note and gradually went darker and darker.
The writing of the characters was brilliant and so was the development both in the characters themselves and the relationships they shared. I especially liked Hae-in's character development and how her terminal illness changed everything with her family when they found out.
Familial relationships have the power to move my emotions more than romantic relationships and I found myself tearing up several times over the course of the show because of the changed familial dynamics. It was definitely an emotional rollercoaster ride and I enjoyed it a lot. Hyun-woo and his family were such a solid and stabilising presence in the show and the writers did an amazing job with showing how important it is to be kind and compassionate through their characters.
However, the stand out character for me is Eun-sung. The actor who played him is incredible and his minute expressions and actions made his character quite sympathetic even though he was in fact despicable.
Ah-ga-ssi (2016)
Twists within twists
This was such a fun watch. I mean, don't get me wrong, it has its fair share of violence but the plot is good. A conman conspires separately with two women for his own benefit and in the end, he gets nothing while the two women get everything he wanted, as well as each other. We love to see it! There is something so satisfying about seeing the two main male characters meet such pathetic ends, as they deserved.
The cinematography and music used were beautiful but of course the main draw to this movie is the relationships between the characters. Each character has their own motives and from there, the hidden agendas arise and take life. I can see why this is such a highly praised and recommended movie.
Single in Seoul (2023)
Sweet slow burn
The leads had good chemistry and I liked how their relationship developed. It wasn't anything extraordinary but there was a sweetness to it and their interactions. As the movie progressed, you could see them start caring for each other in small ways. They were two single people who found love in each other.
I thought that because they had started off on the wrong foot that they would constantly butt heads in the movie, but this time around the writers were all about mature characters, so although they did misunderstand each other at first, they were able to resolve it and work together. There were short bursts of humour sprinkled throughout the movie so overall it was quite heartwarming in the end.
Purple Hearts (2022)
Could've done without the war propaganda
Not gonna lie, the start of the movie was kind of cringey due to the pro-war propaganda and just how American it is. I know it sounds absurd because it IS an American film with a Marine as the main character too, but I believe that they could've written the first 20-30 minutes of the movie differently and still have gotten the happy ending. Luke and Cassie have great chemistry honestly and I liked how their relationship developed. I also liked the friendship they had with Frankie and I don't know why they had to kill him off. They could've left his character alone because it wouldn't have affected the state of Luke's injury but of course they had to do something for the shock 😒
Don't Worry Darling (2022)
Nothing is as it seems
I went in watching this with no prior knowledge about the plot so I was confused for the first 30 minutes before I realised that 'Oh, this is a thriller of some kind'. Florence Pugh is obviously the strongest actor in this movie, as be protagonist. When the conspiracy was revealed towards the end of the movie, I was surprised and saddened for several reasons. Even after everything Jack had done to Alice in the name of love, Alice still loved him. But in the end, she chose to leave him behind. And to think that most of the women in that town had their lives taken away from them without their knowledge, their autonomy completely stripped, because their husbands were greedy and selfish. They wanted the perfect life, their wives waiting upon them day and night. And with Victory, their wishes were fulfilled.
The ending was left up to the viewer to interpret but I think that it was leading us to believe the women would eventually band together and leave the made up world eventually, with or without their husbands. They would take their power back.
Mignon (2023)
Gorgeous
I finally found the time to watch this after seeing clips of it online and it was good. The art style and colours are so beautiful and I liked the pacing of the story. It was only 12 episodes long and each episode was about 5 minutes (I wish we had more episodes that were longer) but the storyline wasn't rushed and the build up of Mignon and the Doctor's relationship was written well. Mignon is absolutely smitten with the Doctor and he would do anything for him. Luckily the Doctor genuinely cared for him too. Mignon's character design is top tier: he looks good both with silver hair and with darker hair, and it was cool how his temperament changed with his hair colour.
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
Real vs Real
This is the case of real recognising real. Honestly the plot kind of lost me a bit. I feel like maybe the writer had the final fight scene in mind and wrote the entire movie just for that. Godzilla and Kong are natural enemies but they teamed up for a short while just to defeat the common enemy, that mechagodzilla. The whole thing about the mechagodzilla made me laugh a little because the guy was saying it so that men would be the apex predator or something like that? Besides, the characters overall were quite weak, obviously the story revolved mainly about the two titans. Other than that, the last scene of Godzilla walking away from Kong was pretty touching but also kind of funny in a way.
Gyeongseong Keuricheo (2023)
Good, except the ending left me confused
It's quite well known that the Japanese experimented on humans in the past but it's not common for movies and shows to focus on this aspect, as far as I know. I think the writers did a good job with this show. I liked the complexity of the characters and the pacing of the storyline. There were some plot holes for sure but nothing too major that impacted my experience watching this.
The romance between the main characters was okay but I wasn't expecting HSH's character to die just when they were so close to escaping. It was a tragic ending for the 2 characters that had come to have feelings for each other and they definitely deserved better. I had already accepted HSH's character's death by then so that ending with PSJ's character in the modern world and HSH's character being invaded by that Najin creature just confused the heck out of me. I know there's going to be a Season 2 but I don't know what it's going to entail.
Wo de ma ji 4 ge gui (2023)
So touching
I had been waiting for this to be released on Netflix and it didn't disappoint at all. I know that this movie is a remake but in my case I have not watched it before so I didn't know what to expect. It was humorous and filled with silly moments between the protagonist and the ghosts. The romance between the protagonist and the love interest was just meh, so don't go into this expecting a really good romance subplot. The main plot revolved around the protagonist's relationship with the ghosts and his mortality, and honestly I think it was done in a way that kept things lighthearted. Although that reveal in the end did make me tear up, not gonna lie.
Mubing (2023)
I binge watched this
I'm so glad I was recommended this because I really enjoyed it. Honestly I wasn't expecting much because South Korea isn't known for its superhero shows and movies. However the plot for Moving is solid, so is the writing for its characters and the special effects are good too. The internal and foreign conflicts that are the basis for Moving's plot are well written and well paced, and there is more to explore with how episode 20 ended.
I also liked that this show was just as much about the children as it is about the adults. Viewers got to learn about their past and how everything led to the current time. Not only that, there's an emphasis on familial ties and how strongly one is influenced by them, and I think the writers did a great job on it. I was pleasantly surprised by the characterisation of the North Korean characters. I think the North Korean army tends to be portrayed as a group of unfeeling robots but the ones in Moving were portrayed as normal people with their own beliefs and feelings.
The ending where Jang Juwon and the North Korean with his same abilities were working together at his fried chicken shop made me happy to be honest. And that scene where the North Korean who could fly like Kim Doosik, killed his own general and decided to release KDS also made me cheer out loud. So yes, I liked the ending and I'll be looking forward to S2.
Dokjeon (2018)
I knew it
The first half of the movie was fast paced and intense, and I enjoyed it a lot more than the second half. The villains were kind of mediocre in the sense that they didn't feel fully fleshed out. The bad guys were like bad guys just for the sake of being the bad guys, if you know what I mean.
I think it was intriguing how the plot revolved around Lee, this drug mastermind whose identity was completely unknown to everyone but honestly I figured it out pretty early on. And when it was finally revealed in the end, I was like okay? But I still don't understand his motives. That ending though.. I know there's a sequel and I'm pretty sure Lee died in the end of this movie so I'm confused why there was a need for a sequel at all? I might consider watching the sequel just for Han Hyo Joo though.
The Good Nurse (2022)
A good thriller
The fact that this movie is based on true events is chilling. Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastaine delivered amazing acting in this movie and while watching, I was reminded that you don't truly know someone at all until you do. In this case, the hospitals the murderer worked at were to be blamed as well for caring more about their reputations than their patients. If only they had taken action, all those murders could have been put to a stop much much earlier. Kudos to the detectives and Nurse Loughren for doing whatever was necessary to put this murderer behind bars.
The pacing of the movie was good and the use of the background music really heightened the mood of the movie. The colour grading was a bit too dark for my liking though it fit the overall tone of the movie.
Pain Hustlers (2023)
Emily Blunt is amazing
Why aren't we allowed to give half star ratings? I'm actually rating this movie 6.5 stars but I'm rounding it down to 6.
Emily Blunt carried this movie, in my opinion. She was amazing and I'm reminded once again that her American accent is impeccable. Chris Evans held his own as well and he had pretty good chemistry with Blunt which I wasn't expecting but still appreciated nonetheless.
I know it's based on true events so I won't say much about the plot except that it was a riveting movie. I cheered for Liza (Blunt's character) and rooted for her success. It was fortunate that she still had a conscience in the end and didn't let greed cloud her judgement. Watching this movie also opened my eyes to how apathetic the pharma industry can be to the suffering of the general public as long as they're making a profit.