Reviews

I didn't like this drama. Sure at first it starts off awesome and funny, but by the 15th episode you just want to stop watching. I seriously fast forwarded through the end of this drama, not because of the lack of subs but the lack of content. The concept is that a older woman falls in love with a younger man but cannot get over her age differences with him. She also plays around with getting back with her ex- but cannot let go of the younger guy even though she said she cant be with him. The main idea is that the character played by Cheryl is way more vulnerable than she appears to be, and is afraid of what society may say about her relationship. I did like that it was funny, with many funny moments- the people that Shan wu shang worked with were hilarious. You will see a lot of familiar Taiwanese drama faces, so be ready for "she was in..." or "he was in...". If you can watch it on Viki.com, the user comments make the drama even more hilarious. Loved James Wen, although his reasoning sucked I blame that on the writers not the beautiful actor. I didn't like the over-acting, ethan was completely afflicted with it. I didn't like the big deal they made about her being 35, like she had one foot in death. I also didn't like how long it took for them to develop one idea, like I mentioned they drag it into the ground and milk the concept dry. Watch this drama for cute guys and if you have time.

Leia Mais

At first I was hesitant to watch this drama because just by reading the plot it seemed boring to me but my uncle and many of my friends told me that I should watch it. They said it was very emotional. My uncle who doesn't normally cry while watching dramas cried in this drama, so I thought why not. Indeed they were right. The drama is not like any normal dramas where the main characters would fall in love. One of the reasons why I loved this drama because it had a bit of fantasy. I shed so many tears in this drama like there was no tomorrow. 49 Days really taught me something. It taught me that life isn't fair and that we should always live our lives as if it is our last. Right now it about to be 5am and I just finished watching the drama. I pulled off an all nighter just to finish this drama that's how good it is. I finished this drama in 3 days. I'm sure that you will enjoy watching this drama like I did. The intensity and the suspense in the drama really make you want to punch some of the characters in the drama. Just by watching the first episode, water works already happened. Enjoy the drama because it's really worth your time!

Leia Mais

I liked the story by itself a lot. I felt it dragged a little in some parts, though, and they did a lot of flashbacks throughout the episodes. Also, there were parts in the story that were a bit unrealistic. I felt that Hebe and Mike He had good chemistry, though, and they played their parts well. I only wish the characters would have had more romantic scenes in the show, but it was still good. I would have to say the soundtrack to this drama is one of my favorites so far, music by S.H.E and the instrumentals they played in the background were just great (: Overall, I would say this drama is worth watching! It's a cute love story.

Leia Mais

To be honest I enjoyed this drama more for the cast than the actual story.

The story and plot are fast paced in the beginning because its new and the characters are starting to interact with each other. It starts off funny but becomes drama central in the second half. The ending was short but cute.

I loved the entire cast but the main 4 leads had this chemistry. I seriously loved watching them interact. This is probably my favorite role of YEH. She is such a great actress really believable as a snobby heiress and so pretty! loved her style=)

The music stands out and went on my ipod straight away.

I could watch this twice in a year just because the cast is awesome

Overall the script isnt perfect but youll have fun watching.

Leia Mais

An innocent romance drama for the younger crowd. Kazuya does really well in his depressing loner roles and he just makes me like him so much! I really liked Haruka in Hotaru No Hikari so it was nice to see her in this. She plays naive and innocent really well. I really liked the friendships amongst the entire cast. It felt real. The relationship between Hiroto & Nao was refreshingly sweet. I smiled throughout most of the episodes. The last 2 episodes made my stomach turn though. I was so depressed but by the end of it all I was like what?! Haha so this drama is a really good romance that everyone should watch once.

Leia Mais

NOTE: This review is based on the first episode only. It may get better (or worse) but I won't be watching it to find out.
The Good:
There is comedy to be found it Ohitorisama, even if it does feels recycled rather than fresh. The 'you drank too much so I carried you home and stayed the night' concept is so over-used that it's barely funny anymore but Ohitorisama manages to give it a slight twist.
One of the better performances in my opinion comes from Maya Miki, the school Principal - she manages to convey to the viewer a lot without actually saying anything (and as a bonus she gets to wear sophisticated and fresh hairstyles for a woman her age).
The Bad:
Teppei's character seems tired and uninteresting; I've seen him do much better work in the Love*Com movie, Gokusen 2, Shibatora and Dragon Zakura. If you're a fan why not check out one of those instead?
The supporting characters seem to detract from the dorama rather than enhance it and the sheer number of them in the first episode is overwhelming.
Having watched three seasons of Gokusen (and a proliferation of other Japanese High School doramas) I have come to realise there are only so many variations on a theme within the Principal/Vice Principal/Head-Teacher relationship. Although it tries to revive the dynamic Ohitorisama doesn't seem to have anything new to add.
Also, should teachers really go out drinking multiple nights of the school week?
Summary:
Firstly, I have to say that I only watched the first episode of Ohitorisama before dropping it. It's not that it's not good (there are some good laughs in there), but rather that it's just not new or interesting. I feel like I've seen it (or doramas like it) before; Sapuri and Hataraki Man come readily to mind, and perhaps Hotaru no Hikari & Kimi wa Petto as well.
If you haven't watched any of those doramas (or you absolutely loved them) and you like the idea of an age-difference-relationship based dorama (they tend to take themselves more seriously than popular doramas) then Ohitorisama may be for you.
If you're looking for more of an outright comedy without any re-hashing of the past and mulling over one's marriage prospects (or lack of), then perhaps you should try something else...

Leia Mais

Liked:



The chemistry between Hiroto and his friends is good (feels like they've been buddies for years) and the friendship between Nao and Yuko also feels genuine, although I have to admit Yuko is a far better friend than Nao.



The acting is generally good although there are some 'fish-face' moments from Kame, but I'm not quite sure if this is because of the character he plays; there is a lot of subtlety in the character of Hiroto and body language and mannerisms play a large part in conveying his thoughts to the audience.



Nao on the other hand is childish and at times seems almost apathetic, but having seen some of Haruka's other work I am giving her the benefit of the doubt and saying it's the character that's a little 2-dimensional rather than the actress.





Didn't Like:



Hiroto's retrospective narration of the dorama is in the style of everything-seemed-good-at-the-time-but-little-did-we-know-certain-doom-awaited-us-just-around-the-corner (I think it's simply a hook to keep the audience interested when the relationship appears to be going well).



The most off-putting aspect of the dorama is by far the lengths Nao's family (especially her father and brother) go to in order to prevent her relationship with Hiroto. I think this goes beyond what is believable, even considering aspects of Nao's past which come to light.



Summary:



The dorama focusses largely on the relationship between Hiroto and Nao and the obstacles the thrown in their way as a result of their radically different circumstances and their families' skepticism. While these themes are definitely not new, I think they're explored in perhaps a more realistic way (for the most part) than in some other dramas.



I would recommend this dorama to anyone who at heart just wants a Love Story - you will get one. The ending is a little disappointing for those who would like a set-in-concrete-defintely-getting-married scenario, but the open-ending isn't nearly as bad as in some other doramas I have seen.



Tatta Hitotsu no Koi is one of my favourite dramas and I confess to having watched it (in its entirety, from start to finish) at least two or three times!



<< For my much longer review visit me at doramasan.wordpress.com >>

Leia Mais

The Good: The highlight of the show is without a doubt Oguri Shun; it truly wouldn't be the same without him. He is completely in character as the young, elite, no-nonsense detective and delivers his lines completely deadpan. His scenes with former-gang-leader-group-date-loving partner Maruo are the main comedy for the dorama and are generally quite enjoyable. Yuriko also does a good job as Yuki; she conveys the character's internal struggles well without over-doing it.





The Bad: Tokyo DOGS suffers from a seemingly unorganised and random plot. The dorama can't seem to make up it's mind whether it's a character dorama following Sou, Marou & Yuki's daily struggles together on the manhunt for Jinno, or whether it's an episodic Cop Show dealing with a new crime each episode. It goes back and forth between the two and the flow of the dorama suffers considerably. Evidence and tips also have a habit of turning up out of thin air just in the nick of time.



Unfortunately, Hiro's acting is what really lets this dorama down; he tries hard (perhaps too hard) but it is obvious that he's not suited to the role at all. A good character actor in the role of Maruo could have made Sou & Maruo a memorable duo indeed; as it is we are left with only half of a great comedic partnership.



Summary: While Tokyo DOGS could have succeeded burdened by either a poor plot or poor acting from one of the lead characters, it struggles to cope with both.



The script offers the continual promise of a possible romance between the main characters but the chemistry just isn't there and in the end it simply doesn't deliver. The ending is also far too vague for my liking, although it does lend itself well to a possible sequel.



Despite its many flaws Tokyo DOGS is a dorama I generally enjoyed watching and would watch again on a rainy day.



I would not recommend Tokyo DOGS if you are looking for a serious Police Dorama. It is better suited for those who would prefer a semi-serious show with some comedy and very little romance.



<< See my full review at doramasan.wordpress.com >>

Leia Mais

Loved: The opening credits (the cast in adjoining toilet cubicles)! Oguri Shun is amazing as usual - totally in character. For someone so unique-looking he always manages to create characters that are so different from each other in both appearance & personality. I also love Miura Haruma in this role (it's the one that made me a big fan) - he is so shy and tentative; so completely unlike his previous character in Gokusen 3 (yes, I really watched it).



Didn't Love: It's possible that Shun's hair in Binbo Danshi compares unfavourably with Matsumoto Jun's in Kimi wa Petto: an impressive feat indeed! The money lender's goons can get a bit tiring after a while (why do evil sidekicks never have even one brain between them?!)



Binbo Danshi features a rag-tag group of people with a common enemy (money) which brings them all together despite their differences in background and character. The result is an appealing mix of humour, friendship and feel-good moments. A wacky and lighthearted look at the struggles of ordinary people - definitely worth watching.



<< See more of my reviews at doramasan.wordpress.com >>

Leia Mais

Loved: I only watched Bloody Monday because it has Miura Haruma in it - but I'm glad I did. The storyline is well crafted, there are continual emotional and plot developments and our hero bravely battles on when hope seems gone. There are also some real tear-jerking moments - something I totally didn't expect in this dorama. Narimiya Hiroki as the terrorist 'J' is a treat to behold - he totally pulls it off in a charismatic, slightly insane way! The rest of the supporting cast (including all the THIRD-i agents) are great as well.



Didn't Love: I wasn't particularly fond of the violence in Bloody Monday but it's a given in this type of dorama. The idea of Falcon being a genius able to hack anything and everything is a bit too unrealistic (although understandable as he is the hero).



Bloody Monday is a suspense dorama so I wouldn't recommend it for the really squeamish (it should be fine for most viewers though). There are plenty of other aspects to Bloody Monday that more than make up for the occasional 'scary bits'. I think ultimately it's about the bonds which bring people together (love, friendship, family, sacrifice) and the things that destroy them (jealousy, hate, and selfishness). Not a lighthearted show, but worth watching if you're a more serious viewer - plus you get some great Haruma eye-candy!



<< See more of my reviews at doramasan.wordpress.com >>

Leia Mais

Loved: Tanimura Mitsuki gives an excellent performance as Keito - the awkwardness and embarrassment of her character is conveyed well. Kurokawa Tomoka also does a good job as Keito's Lolita friend Momiji (although I think she looks too old for the role). The ending feels complete and is a natural progression of the story.



Didn't Love: I was disappointed the dorama wasn't as true to the manga it is based on as it could've been (they seem to have combined two characters into one and introduced a completely new one). Also, the ramifications of Keito's traumatic experience as a child aren't conveyed as well as they were in the manga. Similarly, the friendship/rivalry between Keito and Nako doesn't come across as complexly as it should. The cliché of a jealous, selfish rival is not new and adds little to the dorama.



Despite not living up to my initial expectations (those who haven't read the manga will probably enjoy the dorama more than those who have), Cat Street still manages to capture the original feeling of genuine friendship between the main characters. It can be a bit slow at times, has little comedy and a distinct lack of eye-candy - it's best suited to the serious viewer interested in the exploration of the complex feelings of the human heart.

Leia Mais