Worst FL Ever

This drama was so Meh!! I watched b/c of Vaness Wu and he was alright here but this may have been too much for him to carry the show. Plus he couldn't deliver the gravitas needed for the characters's anger moments it all seemed so tame when the character has every right to be angry.

A lot of stuff happening in this series defies logic and usually I can suspend belief b/c I want the romantic fantasy and live for it but this did not deliver the goods AT ALL!!

I hate the FL and have never hated a FL more. I will never understand her motiovations after the fact just dumb. I also hated her doe eyed dumbfouned face everytime she asked to tell the truth but kept lying. Will never watch this again. Liked Xio Le but really not a fan of super precocious kids but he was likeable.

Terrible ending; Guang Xi shoud have gone to the US and taken Xio Le with him. YEP I'm a hater!!

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So Unnecessarily Melodramatic

Gosh! where do I start??? I guess I will start by saying I love this anime and I loved the 2019 version. The 2019 version is one of my favorite Cdramas period!!

However, this 2008 version, that I desperately wanted to see sucked all the fun out of the story and characters for me. Not a single character was likeable, not even the lead. Like, seriously, how does that happen? Why the hell did they make this version so damn overly dramatic? Everyone is too damn emotional.

I started reading the manga b/c I was legit confused by the choices the writers, directors, producers chose to take/make for this series. I actually thought maybe the character development was more like the manga but it wasn't.

Long Ma (Ryoma character) was whiny and miserable from the start. That was never his disposition in the source material or anime. Guo Guang (Kunimitsu character and one of my favorites) was again nothing like the source material and was not a good leader in this series. He was just as whiny as Longa Ma. They have completely changed the Kaido character (another favorite of mine) and he is super obnoxious.

That being said every character whined so much it was hard to deal with. Another weird choice director/producers made was having them constantly yelling and screaming at each other even when they were in close quarters. Total drag. Also, hardly any of the matches were exciting.

Funny enough the only person I like in this series is the Sakuno character (Coach's niece) who is quite annoying in all the other versions I've seen. The Tomoko character is a nightmare and still super annoying!!

Anyway, I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS to anyone who likes the anime, manga or even the 2019 version. It will just make you angry or if you are better than me you can push your prior knowledge aside and possibly enjoy, I guess.

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Very Enjoyable Movie

So happy I stumbled upon this movie a few months ago on dramacool. I really enjoyed it.

Tha cast was really good and I can see how and why Abe Hiroshi is/was one of the biggest stars in Japan. He's so good and a natural actor. His character here, Hikaru is very likeable and inspired/based on a real person. There's a scene in the movie where his wife ask him why he's doing all this for the kids as they are stangers and he tells her it's b/c they are strangers and people used to just do things for each others b/c that was the way. I wish we could all get back to just being kind and good to one another.

Sakuraba Nanami, plays the young FL, Higa Aya and I really liked her as well. She has a great voice.

The film is not really a tearjerker but I cried my eyes out when Hikaru dies.

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This was another series that started off good but by the 6th episode I was bored or really started to lose interest. Yanuo grew up as a boy but she constantly behaved like a girl which was actually annoying and would be uncharacteristic for someone in her position. I mean this curse she's had to live with up til now would make her more cautious not less even if she was falling in love for the 1st time.

The positives of the series is that the friends and family were accepting of Yanuo and Zi Feng's relationship from the onset even if they were uncomfortable at first. Those aspects of the series were done really well. And we did get some comedy gold out of a lot of the innuendo and compromising positions.

Another really great part of the story was the father/son dynamic between the villian, Han Sheng and his father Wan Hao. Han Sheng was unlikeabke but you understood his motivations. Surprisingly enough I found the climax to that storyline sad but meaningful and well acted.

WHAT I DIDNT LIKE:

The Na Na character was super annoying. I guess we are supposed to like her b/c she is dying but she came across as rude and obnoxious from the onset and I couldn't even care enough about that storyline. I only watched some of those scenes b/c Qing Yang was so damn cute and that was the only way for me to see him.

I also didn't like Du Zi Han sexually harrasing Yanuo or treating Guang Chao like shit just b/c he worked for her. Then they end up together. Definitely didn't like that either not b/c she treated him like shit but b/c she "saw the error of her ways" so that makes it all better but it was just a stupid couple. Not everyone in these thing have to get together.

The soundtrack was too repetitive and the same song seemed to play over almost every scene.

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Choi Min Soo is fantastic

I really wanted to love this series. Kind of reminded me of Vincenzo but more than that I was lookin for another lawyer show to watch. ML was also new to me and I'm quite fond of him now but the best part of the series ended up being the 2ml played by Choi Min Soo. To be honest I hated his character, Ahn Oh Ju and his mannerisms and voice affect were bothersome but over the course of the 16 episodes he grew on me plus his character had some of the best dialogue in the series and some legitimately funny scenes.

I was really digging the show until around the 7/8the episode and at the point all credibiity plotwise went out the window. I was so effing annoyed by the plot changes that while I continued to watch inquiring minds wanted to know WTF were the writer's thinking when they came up with the drastic changes to series in episodes 7 and 8??

I also, need to find shows without a romantic element for some reason lately these romantic entaglements between the ML and FL almost always make a show go down hill.

Overall something to watch once but nothing to write home about!

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Unexpected Tears

OK the ending shocked the hell out of me and maybe I should have seen it coming but I thought someone else was the mastermind behind all of the drama. At any rate, the death of one of the characters crushed me and I bawled my eyes out on this stupid thing.

That being said this was another drama that started off really well and then went downhill fast knocking massive amounts of sense out of the way!!

I really like the actress who plays Detective Yukihira and had not seen her in anything except a romcom and a movie about friendship that I adore. So I figured this would be fairly good too. I liked the idea of a badass female detective showing the boys hows it's done. We get that for the most part especially in the first 5-6 episodes. The series differs from the standard perp of the week formula that a lot of cop/detective shows have. (Well here in the US anyway, haven't watched many Japanese shows like this so bear with me).

The first few episodes were about a serial killer, then a kidnapping and then a finalized revenge plot thrown in for good measure. It all ends up tying together at the end so it was one long full circle story; which thematically went from good to bad to worse.

The acting is really good from Shinohara Ryoko and Nagayama Eita. In fact the best thing about the series is Nagayama. He was great as Ando the young detective who has our heroine's back from all the other testoterone filled cops who don't like her or her methods and I can't wait to see him in other things.

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Sunday Matinee Vibes

I love this story of girlfriends, friendships losing it and yourself and finding both again. Another great cast and both leads are great I love Shinohara Ryoko and I look forward to see the rest of her tv shows and movies. I loved Yuka Itaya as well and the young actresses who played their counter parts. Loved the scene where they got revenge for Yuko and I LMAO at the scene where Nami has beer for the first time.

There are a few slight changes from the Korean version and I like the Korean version better but all in all a really good movie. I cried at the ending like I did at the end of the Korean version.

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The Young Leads are Awesome!

This is a really good movie. It was fun, light and quite charming. I immensely enjoyed, mainly due to the leads, Vivian Sung as Lin Truly and Darren Wang as Tai Yu. Very beliveable in their roles and excellent chemistry. What I also really liked was that it didn't become some love/hate nonsense. They really becomes friends who enjoy each others company. The supporting cast is really good to and it was a nice surprise to see Jerry Yan at the end as the adult Taiyu (I didn't look ast the cast before I watched).

Of course what I didn't like was the new Director of the school. I am never a fan of an educator saying people don't have a right to learn or judging students based on negative perceptions. So glad that wans't the focus.

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Another Disappointing Action Thriller

I really wanted to love this drama. This was my second action thriller (City Hunter was the first) and the first show I've watched with Ji Chang Wook (really enjoyed him first few episodes then his character becomes super annoying too).

I was really excited after watching the first 4 episodes. By the 7th episode everything became cliche and boring and the romance aspects started to kick in which I hated. (that was 10 months ago, I just came back to finish the series). At any rate, the main reason I continued to watch is for Song Yoon Ah. Brilliant and beautiful actress and she was a great villian, as believably sympathetic as she is ruthless. She carried the show. Makes me want to see everthing else she has played in.

Overall I would not recommend.

Can someone recommend a really good action thriller without a stupid romance element that inevitably gets the ML doing stupid shit and ruining the show? I really would like to see one.

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Not What I Expected or Wanted

Whenever I pick a movie I go into it expecting to love it otherwise why pick it?

The plot was my type; jerk rich guy who ultimatey falls for the girl he's treating like crap. The cast was ok but I actually didn't find the ML that attractive and the FL was actually too good for him IMO. That being said, I also feel like there was no real development for the 2 of them to actually fall in love. It seemed like the FL was in love with him from the get go and I did't like that. When she found out he was scamming her she challenged him and then immdiately backed down. I didn't like that either!! The ending was rushed and still didn't lead me to believe the relationship was real.

The disappointment ultimately falls on me. I thought the movie was going to be way cuter and I was going to root for the 2 leads but I really didn't like either one of them.

There are also, way too many gross out scenes 2 of the most agregious were the teacher and the booger and the girl who spit in 2 peoples face. That girl would have been dead where I come from!!!

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I was expecting more

This movie was just ok for me. I really wanted to love it. The plot was really intesting and it reminded me of this American movie called The Girl Most Likely to... he similiarities end with the main characters being fat/ugly and then becoming skinny/pretty and end there.

I did like the cast and the music in the film but overall I think I was looking for something with more substance. It's a shame that if you are fat you ae considered ugly and don't deserved basic respect from the people around you. I hate this idea and it's a common theme in so many movies and tv series. So obnoxious but I digress. The movied wants trying to speak for all situations and was really about a woman finally realizing she is worth more than her size or a pretty face.

I really liked the best friend played Kim Hyun Suk but I was kind of annoyed when her character wanted plastic surgery too!!

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Adorkable, Fun and Easy Binge Watch

I genuinely enjoyed the show. For all it's faults, the cast really worked well together and the international college/dorm setting was just what I needed.

THE GOOD: The diverse cast. I came to watch b/c of Hyun-min and I was not dispappointed. He was really good in his scenes and I LOL'd a lot with his over the top antics and him being the one where nothing good was happening with him per se but Carson was the standout for me I really enjoyed her scenes and her being the person with the most maturity and really great converstaions she had about relationships and moving on. The 4th Wall breaking was a nice change of pace too.

and

THE BAD: That God awful laugh track. What the hell were the editors thinking?? As other's have metioned it wasn't even lighed up properly. It also was unnecessary. Humor is subjective trying to force laughter in a sitcom is ridiculous. People are either going to laugh or they are not; leave it at that. Also, anyone watching the dub I feel bad for. I couldn't even get through the first episode listening to the dub; very bad voice over some of the worse dubbing I have heard in my life and this isnt the first show on Netflix with bad dubbimg either. Aish!!

THE OVERALL: It's worth watching if you want something light and breezy. Quick for a binge watch and just a quick laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.

I just have something to say about a comment b/c it really has been bothering me and YES people do have a right to their opinion about shows so go for it. Although S. Korea is a homgeneous nation, it is not a monolithic one. Just some food for thought!

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Quick, Likeable, Short Series

Lots of surprises in this one!! One of LMH earlier projects and you could see he was destined to be a star!

WHAT I LOVED:
-The cast but especially Jung Yoon Jo as Class President Sae MI. She was really good and I just genuinely like the characters strength overall. Also glad they didn't make the character a hater after Gong Chan told her the truth. --Loved the LMH as Gong Chan. Always trying to do the right thing. Loved his relationship his bestfriend Bong and with his ohma too.
-The comdey was down right over the top but I loved all the 4th wall breaking. Very charming.
-THE ENDING OF THIS I DID NOT SEE COMING and honestly, I'm not mad about it at all. It was actually quite refreshing.

WHAT I HATED:
-The bullying Director, Teacher and Soccer Coach. But Teacher Ma took the cake. I hated even seeing him on screen.
-Pissed that Hyun was acting as if he owned Yoon Seo and she was pissing me off not sticking up for herself with her mother and him.

Overall a funny and likeable short series to enjoy once; and It gave me the LMH fix I needed. :)

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This was a really light, fun and adorable series about relationships and finding love.

I loved the female lead. She was funny, clueless and adorable and a genuinely likeable person. I mean I know she supposed to be 40 (so old....God forbid) but she was really refreshing FL who was just living her life. Easy to see why Hiroto would fall for her. I loved the relationship she has swith Shima and Miki her 2 bestfriends and I loved the scenes with them just hanging out and being girlfriends. This is the first Asian drama I've watched with scenes like this maybe b/c it's an older drama or older cast? either way I really liked that.

The cast is really good and I liked both male leads but my obvious choice was Hiroto even though he lies you really can tell he loves Sakura. Tachibana is ok but I felt like he and Sakura were just really good friend and didnt undertsand why they couldn't just be friends insted of trying to make them lovers as well. Tachibana was too old school for my blood and some of the things he said were quite ridiculous. That being said Sakura gave as good as she got.

Loved the cameo by Yamamoto Yusuke with a nod to his Ouran High School character as a member of a host club!!

MAIN GRIPE:
I wish Shima didn't feel like she needed to be married or have children to have a fufilled life. I was rather enjoying the character living her best life and enjoying sex with whomever she chose. I didnt like the misfortune of her having a secret relationship with Miki's husband though.

The soundtrack was really nice and one of the songs I really loved and wish I knew the name of. Siri was no help!

Overall good series to watch at least once.

On another note, I am saddened to learn that the actor that played Hiroto passed away last year.

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Kamenashi Kazuya is the Standout - LOVED HIM

I preface this review by stating I am a huge fan of the anime and only watched b/c of this fact. I have never read the manga but that's usually the case for me. I watch the anime, live action and if i like both enough I sometimes read the manga. After the first episode I was a little annoyed by the changes including the addition of Takeru. I just didn't think having a little kid in the series was necessary.

I also didn't like the fact that the series makes Sunako's character seem weaker and less fierce than in the anime. She was a way tougher customer in the anime. That's not to say I didnt like her here b/c I found actress Aya Omasa extremely likable and relatable; I was just disappointed.

What I love about this series and what makes it worth a watch is Kame as Kyohei. He is so good and really carries the show. He's the conscious of the series and he does a great job with his advice and care for Sunako and the others even when he is being stubborn to his own issues. Epsiodes 8 and 9 had me in tears and he was just so great in those scenes with his mother and his interactions with Sunako.

The theme song Love Yourself is ok. It's an earworm and at first I hated it but it grew on me plus i loved how the cast sing it in the opening credits.

I'm really giving the music a 10 b/c of the music playing in the bar b/c it was a lot of rock music I enjoy especially the Guns-n-Roses, Led Zepplin and the Ramones.

Overall, I enjoyed the series even with the crazy ass last episode; worth watching at least once.

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