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iwillnothaveanumber
Reviews
First Love (2022)
Enthralling
I'm not going to drone on too much about what people have already said about this series - but it blew me away and had me tense through the whole series. I loved the Hokkaido (presumably) settings, and the surprising well worked interleaving of past and present - something that usually drives me up the wall if over done. I watched this pretty much in one session and it's helped me (alongside I believe "49 Seconds"?) that there is good Japanese cinema/tv out there and I'll be looking for more as a result. It's a little heavy on coincidence at time - but as someone who's seen K. Drama (rather too many....) it's quite forgivable. Thoroughly recommended :D.
Pyeongil Ohoo Seshiui Yeonin (2019)
Maybe the wrong format for this story
I can only base this (so far) on the first 4 episodes and while I quite like it I way prefer the Japanese version (the people felt way more real in this) - this one seems a little heavy on the tropes so far (especially re. Coincidental meetings between the leads) and with everything feeling overplayed (i.e. Typical K.drama)- it doesn't really connect at the same level. I'd still recommend it overall - but this was based in a different culture and it kind of shows.
Luna Nera (2020)
"Fast" moving......
I was ok with this until a meeting between a girl and guy at a waterfall who agree to meet up. Second meeting...oh...well...what shall we do?.....three guesses....... (well they had known each other for a few minutes after all...and by modren day standards that's often enough ;) )
Sir (2018)
I may have to take a second look at Indian cinema based on this.....
I watch little but foreign films for about 8 years now (Hollywood...really??) - but I've always avoided Indian & Chinese cinema like the plague - this film was a real curve ball for me. Not for anyone I guess who's looking for a "plot" or action - but I absolutely loved this film. I don't want to throw in any spoilers but it's essentially a gentle love story really well handled imo, and managed without all the usual space-filling sex scenes typical of such films.
And don't worry about song and dance routines - although I'm rather hoping with Americas voracious appetite for remaking other peoples films/ideas (badly of course....) that we'll soon see Marvel superheroes prancing around in the streets....it may actually make them vaguely watchable then :D.
Gaet-na-eul cha-cha-cha (2021)
Not grabbing me - but only got to episode 2
Great looking guy of course (who seems good at everything - including rolling up anywhere Shin Min Ah is within 5 minutes - irritating) - her role feels weak and it seems like she's just the cute girl he's going to drive up the wall until he doesn't. Doubtless he has to have flaws so probably a dramatically sad backstory - but it all feels horribly predictable. In fairness I decided to bail near the end of episode 2 - but it had no feel up until that point - and in my experience kdramas usually grab you pretty quickly and then start dumping all over you from about episode 8.... I can't survive that long. I just can't see anything in this I've not seen 10 or 20 years ago, and with better hooks near the beginning.
Death Note (2017)
Light Turner???
SERIOUSLY? :P How can they come up with a name so cringingly embarrassing - this isn't 1930 - Aimed at kids maybe - but even so. Stick to the Japanese version.
Miseuteo Shunshain (2018)
Good but not a 10..really?
Lovely costumes settings and effects as usual for an historical drama. Unfortunately it's infested with the usual K.drama tropes, and some silliness. They double down on their dreadful time wasting obsession (we all know who gets who from episode one - they've NEVER broken the mould) with love triangles and seem to have a love quadrangle here (only up to ep.9 though....). It crawls (so far) with the usual silly coincidences and stupidity (e.g. Delivering a gun into enemy territory - why not just leave a message?), people that have just fired guns and changed clothes manageing to smell gunpowder on each other followed by long stares at female lead who puts her whole organisation at risk by opening up to the lead male and she can't seem to move without tripping over him - is this a one street town? I'd think he was a stalker if I were her..... Ages seem to make little sense either - to be polite some people must age very well when they move into their present day. I HAVE (as I said earlier) only watched to ep. 9 though - and may up or down the rating by a point.
Having said that it is very watchable and is nowhere near as bad as many Korean dramas - but 10/10? I don't think so. What would these people give as a score for example for "My Mister"
Edit - up to episode 16. Changed my mind somewhat - it is very engaging - added a point but I'd say 7.5 - you HAVE to leave elbow room for the REALLY good stuff......