Reviews

To prevent myself on going on a nick-picking tirade, let's start with the movie's strengths. So, obviously, read the whole review.

I haven't seen the anime, so I watched this movie as new to the story as possible. Hell, I didn't even read the synopsis (well, the synopsis I read only involved robot nipples).

With the thought of robot nipples in your mind (think it, think it ... now mentally slap Dr. Evil's robot-chicks in their jealous faces), this show isn't one for those who flip nearby tables when something as suggestive as a nipple appears on screen. This movie isn't vulgar, but has a few suggestive (and might I say hilarious) scenes. I sure wish there was more crude jokes though...

This movie is a visual spectacular. Like I said earlier, I haven't seen the anime, but the movie was colorful, detailed, and full of neat little quirks and jokes. The robots were awesome, the fight scenes were a cartoony whirlwind of awesome, and the props made me feel like an anime superhero would pop up at any moment and proudly brandish his tights-covered genitals at my face. Bravo Mr. Miike (as well as the special effects team, they were the stars of the movie). Give these guys medals and all the hookers they will ever want!

And, to keep it brief, the music had a macho "FIGHT!" feel without attracting the men of wrestlemania to grace the screen.

Now, my beef with this movie is that it's "Johnny's-ized." Okay, that's a weird way of putting it. I can forgive the somewhat 2D characters (because kid show characters don't have life-changing epiphanies every week), but the plot was lacking. I'm not asking for Inception, but it wasn't as interesting, or funny, as I thought it would be. And for an idea on what childish things I love to watch for hours on end, I can watch the first three seasons of Spongebob like Lindsey Lohan can snort through crack and the remnants of her career.

The plot was more like "shit's happening at place X -> Goes to place X -> Fight scene -> ?????? -> PROFIT!" This kind of simplicity, even for a kid's movie with the aforementioned robot nipples, leaves some to be desired. The reason I mentioned "Johnny's-ized" earlier was because of the main lead, the always-adorable Sakurai Sho. While the others in the cast did a great job (Katsuhisa Namase did an AMAZING job; he's the best one on the screen)

In short, while this movie's plot isn't the most interesting thing since Sho-kun's Anan spread with numerous butt-pictures (Why would I know this!?!), it's is definitely a fun movie to watch as delicious, sensory junk food for the brain. If it is movie night and your two choices are "legendary movie that many people adore for its mind-blowing awesomeness" and "Yatterman," go with the former. However, if you just have ~2 hours to kill and you want to see some cartoon-like splendor, then give Yatterman a shot.

Leia Mais

I can not believe that I almost didn't watch this series. To be honest, the cover image threw me off. However, I was in for a BIG surprise.

The story and plot was wonderful! It was funny, sad, romantic, and breathtaking. I was an emotional roller coaster throughout the entire series. You're Beautiful put a very complex story into 16 heart tugging episodes and stole my heart. As a viewer you will be completely absorbed by the friendship and unrequited love between a Nun in training and a boy band.

The actors were AMAZING! Sometimes I forgot they were acting. This drama has none of the fake crying scenes when the actress just makes the face but no tears. No! In this drama tears will pour like rain, anger will burn like fire and the romance will make your own heart beat faster. I really love ALL of the actors in this drama. There was not one single weak character.

The music on this drama is so great that I downloaded them and is determined to learn the lyrics although I don't speak Korean. Lovely Day and Without Words are two of the most beautiful songs that I have ever heard on any drama. So convenient that I watched this close to Valentines Day. When they sing the songs during the song I felt like I wanted to buy tickets to their next concert! The VOICE was there! The EXPRESSION was there! The MEANING melted my heart. I love it!

Rewatch value? Lol well I'm ready to watch it again already! This is favorite worthy. I don't even know what else to say Lol

Overall my review may seem long and over dramatic, but I don't comment on every drama I watch. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH THIS DRAMA!!

Leia Mais

I just finished watching this drama and what I feel right now is "Well, another good drama is over and now I have to be back in my real life." I really did enjoy watching this drama.
The drama succeed in creating its story. Each character has her or his own story and together they help each other getting over hard time in their life and get better. However, i feel like some problem in the drama haven't been solved in the end or did they do that on purpose. I love all the sound tracks in this drama. Overall, it is worth watching and if you like Dream High, High School Musical and Step Up, then you'll enjoy this drama.

Leia Mais

Densha Otoko is definitely one of the best dramas I’ve watched, not about the super rich boy who falls for the poor girl, but about an otaku that falls for a refined lady. I have not watched the anime nor the movie that was aired first so I can’t make any comparisons.

But for the drama I can say that the actors were really well picked. Itoh Atsushi was definitely my favorite character and he really portrayed it well, the normal otaku one would imagine. But what I liked the most about Yamada was the way he felt towards Hermes and how he expressed it. From the first time they met and especially when he had to reveal his true self. I just found it so cute.

Itoh Misaki was also great. At first I thought she was a bit stiff, but I guess that’s how the character is supposed to be and she kind of started to grew on me, since they actually made a really cute couple.

And, of course, all the user of the internet thread made the story a lot more interesting, I just loved their conversations, their unique ways to react and their sometimes laughable sometimes useful advice that went accordingly to their internet characters. There were times when I couldn’t stop laughing.

Definitely a must watch. : D

Leia Mais

You're beautiful was my first korean drama and I loved it. The main couple is just excellent, they have good chemistry and a lot of scene are just adorable. I laughed a lot and did not cry so much and sometimes it is damn good to just enjoy like this.

What I liked, beside the main couple, was that the plot was quite well found and the characters would find themselves in all sort of funny situations, a drama perfect to laugh and don't think too much. Well, it is not a spoiler to say that a woman with three men will lead to cute "love" scene between her and the other three and it was really nice, especially with jeremy and Hwang Tae Kyung.

The one thing I did not like so much was the relation between Go Mi Nam and Kang Shin Woo because I could not help but be sooooo sad for him all the time, but because of the main couple, I could not help but watch and love the story.

The music was quite nice and made me love K-POP =p Also, all the other characters were funny and I assure you that you will have a good time.

BUT do not expect a mature drama, it is more dedicated to a young public but it is also nice sometimes feeling of "pure" love =)

enjoy =)

Leia Mais

This a very well done film. The acting was great, especially Yoon Kye Sang. This was the first time I saw him in this type of role and he was simply brilliant since he beautifully conveys all his emotions without uttering a word. Still, I felt something was lacking.

I didn't like the main actress, at all. When her character appeared was when the movie started to drag on and on for me and I practically lost all interest in it.

It did start to pick up a little in the last 20-30 minutes of it, where we are shown a very thrilling scene.

I won't be watching it again since I find the film is forgettable and I didn't enjoy it.

Leia Mais

If I had to describe Padam Padam in three words I’d pick Sublime, Original and Perfection.

The writing is sublime. I haven’t ever come across a drama with such an original take on what could have been a standard plot. I cannot express with enough appreciation how fresh this story feels while watching. Even with some of the same drama tropes like cancer and entwined fates, I felt as if I was watching a Kdrama for the first time. If I could elaborate on how amazingly lovely, heart wrenching and yes, even humorous this story is, I would talk all day and spoil any reader of this review. Clever details in very well acted scenes, smart dialog, raw and real emotion elevate this drama above most I’ve seen. The editing is almost part of the story. You must watch to understand what I am saying.

Jung Woo Sung was amazing. He portrayed Kang Chil with incredible fearlessness. I would imagine an actor must be brave to throw himself into a role and portray a man so raw, vulnerable and having to overcome such fear of a world he thought never wanted him. His performance was a tour de force.

Kim Bum did a fine job in The Woman Who Still Wants To Marry but he matured in this drama. As he has grown up, his acting has come along for the ride; his portrayal of Gook Soo was intense, goofy, natural and totally convincing.

Na Moon Hee who portrayed Kang Chil’s Omma was simply amazing in every scene. Her cranky, rough portrayal of Mi Ja (Omma) was bursting with life. I could feel the undercurrent of her loving so much if she ceased being mean and tough, she might melt away. She was incredible.

Han Ji Min was great as the tough, wary, vulnerable Ji Na who fell head over heels for Kang Chil. This has to be my favorite thing she has done that I’ve seen.

Choi Tae Joon who portrayed Im Jung gave a charming and very touching performance. I will be watching out for him in the future.

The cinematography was eye catching all the way through. There are sweeping views of meadows, snow covered valleys, quaint village towns and crowded fishing wharfs. Every local was rich in detail and perfect. The set design really needs to win an award.

The music was another 10. The main love theme “In Order To Live” was pretty and dramatic. The song “You Idiot” stood out for me as well; both for its lovely music, lyrics and theme and also the humorous title. That is exactly Padam Padam; a mix of incredible, intense emotion but also much humor and heart.

I would watch this again in a heartbeat! As full as my drama watching plate is, there will come a time when I will want to return and see this again.

Padam Padam is a complete GEM of a drama and I recommend it highly to everyone!

Leia Mais

I really loved this show! At first I only started it for Yamamoto Yusuke and Seto Koji, but I stayed for the story. I love these kind of "never give up" story lines.

By the end of the drama Kiyama (Daito Shunsuke) was totally my favorite character! He doesn't really talk much,but you love his character anyway. Wataru (Yusuke) is really funny, he's loud and always says what he's thinking, but has a lot of heart and Yusuke played him well! And Koji plays Yutta the leader of the team, who keeps everyone together.

It's just a really touching drama, and BIG BONUS in my book is that it has a great theme song! I still love it and listen to it all the time.

You defiantly wont regret watching this drama. I've seen it from beginning to end about 3 or 4 times and re watched favorite scenes and episodes (like episode 4 and 11) more times then I can count!

Even if sport/team/friendship dramas aren't your thing you should at least give it a try anyway, you might surprise yourself.

Leia Mais

Watching this movie was a quite good surprise. Pretty well played, pretty well filmed (knowing that we talk about a Japanese movie about 20 years old rock band members with some Idol actor, this has to be mentioned). I like this "no cute" side, as if BANDAGE is the dark version of BECK.

The characters are well done and played, except for Yukari, the manager, i think this one doesn't match so well with a manager function and with the aura in the movie.

About music, there are some good things, both about music and lyrics. Special mention to Yukiya's music.

I just don't get the end...

Leia Mais

To say that this is a romantic comedy set against a political backdrop is a matter of perspective.

City Hall, for me, paints a typical--if not accurate--picture of Asian countryside politics from the petty to the scheming bureaucracy and party politics, then taking it up a notch by touching on national politics and slowly intertwining it with a meaningful love story that develops into the fore.

WARNING: potential spoilers up ahead!

Shin Mi Rae is a 10th grade civil servant who, after winning a contest, finds herself being the victim of Inju's swindling city government. Mi Rae, indignant about this injustice, initiates a self-serving one-person protest until it becomes a city-wide issue. Mi Rae realizes that her issue is one among many of those being ignored by the government and through her efforts have gained the support of Inju constituents.

Jo Guk, son of a legendary figure in politics, have grand ambitions of running for national office however because his father's wishes, he grudgingly comes to Inju where his father wants to implement an elaborate plan in order hoist himself back into the political arena.

Both leads, although romantically linked, tackled substantial issues: on women, on livelihood, on farming, on employment, on social services, on elections, even on big businesses investing in a small unknown town. And this is what makes it a cut above your ordinary rom-com: it's not all lovey-dovey.

Although the story's treatment of these issues can seemingly be simplified and leaning on the melodramatic, you can still find little bits of truth in every issue presented in City Hall. And what I appreciate about this is the fact that it's love story develops at the second half and how it strikes a balance between love and politics. Thus, viewers get to see how Mi Rae and Jo Guk develop their romance from disgust and awkwardness to curiously interesting and becomes a love that's tugging-at-your-sleeve-and-asking-for-some-attention.

Acting - Dynamite! Kim Sun Ah, Cha Seung Won and the rest of the cast are dynamite! A remarkable and note-worthy performance goes to Yoon Se Ah's portrayal of Go Go-Hae--her acting was so flawless that I wanted to slap her!

Music - Although limited, there are some likable tunes that fit into hilarious moments as well as the more subdued ones.

Rewatch value - Odd. You might ask why a 7. Some might find it an easy rewatch, but personally, this is not the type I'd rewatch anytime soon.

At the overall, City Hall maintains a high 9.

Leia Mais