The reason I've scored the movie the way I have is because it has mostly nothing to offer. The plot, from the beginning, was flimsy at best. Sure, if you watch the first twenty minutes of the movie you think this'll go somewhere, but halfway through you realize there was nothing all along. There was no plot to begin with, in a way.

I think, I downloaded this mainly for Kim Hye Soo, who impressed me with her role in Signal. Over here, she was nothing short of amazing. She played her part here very well, which can't have been easy, considering what it was.

0.5 stars to Lee Sun Kyun, for having that deep sexy voice which lodged itself into my head since I watched Coffee Prince, and was part of the reason it made the movie watchable for the most part.

Throughout the movie, you will struggle to connect the pieces. Why is this happening? What does this mean? What's going to happen now? Did the entire plan really go to shit because a man couldn't win the love of the woman he wanted? What about the woman's feelings? If he really did love her, could he have not spared her, and bowed to her wishes? Towards the end, the movie devolved into senseless violence and the ending is so unsatisfactory, it'll make you scream. So many questions this movie left me with, with lingering resentment, for I wasted four hours on it.

If you're a fan of Kim Hye Soo and mindless brutality, then this is the movie for you.

Leia Mais

Anybody else cry when it ended? Not me.

I lied. Very much me. I was not ready to say goodbye.

I don't watch a lot of BL. In fact, my first BL was 2gethertheseries which aired in 2020. I know nothing of the ones that came before but I have been on the internet a long time to know that a lot of queer Asian media is like so my expectations are always low.

But it turns out it was high-time I revise my opinion because Not Me genuinely blew me away. I have seen BLs that are progressive in their own way (Bad Buddy and Lovely Writer) but Not Me has to be the first one where they discussed social issues, lgbtq representation, corruption and the like in a plotline that was neither too complex or too simple to follow. The plot started off as ridiculous, two twins with a telepathic connection being afflicted with each other's pain and I was down with that, because who doesn't love a touch of ridiculousness in their queer media? But Not Me was like, hold my drink, I'm about to rock this old coot's entire world.

I soon found myself embroiled in a world of intrigue as Todd summons White to investigate the case of his twin Black, who's suspected of being involved in shady shit and is now in a coma thanks to it. He points White towards Black's 'gang' with the suggestion they might be the cause for him lying blackened and bruised and comatose in a hospital. From there, White (and I) are taken on a journey. Identity porn is ya girl's jam, so she knew she was in for a good time.

No character in Not Me is forgettable or cast to the side. Everyone is important, everyone plays their role well. I feel that if I were familiar with Thai culture and issues more I would be able to catch the nuances of the issues better but even then I could find myself relating. Because regardless of where you are, social injustice and inequality are something we (or our loved ones and the people around us) have all faced in some ways. As youth, we are especially frustrated by the way things are because we're more socially aware than the generations before us and these issues do impact us, whether directly or indirectly. We want to change the way things are, but there are factors in play that make it harder to do so. Dan's betrayal drove this point home beautifully, even if it was painful to watch. That there are people who want to do the right thing, and stand up against justice, but are unable to do so.

Furthermore, the addition of Gumpa, the older brother figure who's herding this band of well-intentioned fighters, proves that this fight has been going on for a long time. The way the show ends shows that it will continue and that it will be picked up by the people that come after us.

But there will also be people who will be against that, content to keep that world order. If they're not actively fighting against it, they're contributing to it by being complacent. Some of them don't understand it, deem it unnecessary or view people like Black's gang as miscreants or those looking for trouble. Attitudes that were reflected well by Methinee, Adul and Yok's mother. I appreciate how the Director kept the show rooted in reality. Even if it feels like the world is going to shit, there are still people out there who will try to make it less so and that humanity isn't so bad. That scene when the protestors who uplifted their fight and saved the boys from meeting their terrifying demise is just. No words, this Asian was too stunned to speak.

The portrayal of queer relationships and their development was another thing that struck a chord with me. The way the entire gang navigated their relationships, it reminds you that even though these are rebels who've chosen to become part of a resistance, it doesn't change the fact that they are still kids. That they are individuals who like us, want connections and room to explore their identities. Sean and White, Eugene, Black and Gram, Yok and Dan, Namo and Sean. Every relationship showed us something different but drove home a point: that queer relationships are just as valid as non-queer ones and there is no need to make it weird. Every character develops and in turn, brings about changes in their relationship and the whole thing was immensely satisfying to watch. I especially appreciated how Eugene and Namo were handled. Often BLs tend to treat their female characters badly, them existing in the show only to further the development of the M/M ship. But that wasn't the case here, oh no. My girls got their heart broke, dealt with it and emerged stronger than before.

I do wish Gram and Nuch had been a thing, but their dynamic was amazing the way it was too.

(I personally think Black is in a polycule with Eugene and Gram and no I will not explain myself.)

The cinematography, the music, the characters, the lessons this show taught, everything will remain with me for a long time. Gun Atthaphan blew me away with his portrayal of the twins. 11/10 will recommend.

Leia Mais

Is it Worth it Or Nah? Well, depends on how high you are and what you're looking for.

Contrary to its name, So Not Worth It, is actually kinda worth it. Well, depending on what you're looking for. Armed with a diverse ensemble cast and numerous gags along with a light smattering of cameos, SNWI promises to be a good time. And it is! For the most part, I suppose, seeing as everyone's having mixed reviews about the whole thing.

As with any show which has too many idol actors, it's understandable to be wary of it. Being a longtime ahgase, I admit I started the show mainly because Youngjae was in it, but I ended up getting sucked in by the other characters, namely Carson. To me, it was an enjoyable watch, especially due to the ensemble cast and the little graphic animations which added to the visual experience.

Seeing that this is a sitcom, one should be judging it on the basis of whether or not it was entertaining. That's my criteria for a sitcom: good enough to get a few laughs out of you, engaging enough to keep you going to the end, with a sprinkle of a poignant or heart-touching moment here and there. Moments such as Hyunmin constantly explaining his flighty mother's lifestyle which has resulted in a myriad of siblings and the resulting subsequent confusions due to it, or Sewan being a business major to the core (I would have had a much better time of being one had I possessed Sewan's unique skillset of keenly extorting people out of their money lmao) or Jamie's shameless cheesiness had me laughing out loud at times.

I will admit there were cringe moments as well. It isn't a sitcom unless it gives you secondhand embarrassment one way or the other. Minnie's obsession with k-dramas and the Descendents of the Sun moment she was having at that prison gave me sheer secondhand embarrassment, as it was too reminiscent of how the locals behave when they newly begin to absorb k-content. Plus, the Perpetual Suffering of Han Hyunmin was funny (mainly because Hyunmin didn't get too serious about it) and the show could have taken an approach to shed light on the hardships of being a day student (or a foreigner like Jamie struggling to fit into his homeland) but it chose not so and that's okay I guess.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how it handled the sexual identity and orientation aspects. I did not expect an LGBTQ couple to come out of it of all things (it may not have been in detail, but the fact it was portrayed still counts) and the couples were all easily shippable. Jamie and Sewan might have been cute but Sam and Minnie's kiss felt more natural. Il-seob and Terris were also adorable in their own way.

There was your fair share of serious moments too. While it annoyed me how the friends dealt with Carson's cheating ass boyfriend Sergeant Kim, but they did still choose to rush over in her defense. It also gave me an appreciation for Carson's character. Despite her unkempt appearance and her grandma-ish demeanor, she is surprisingly the most level-headed and perceptive friend in the group. I wasn't expecting to find such depth in Carson of all people. Maybe that's why it made her my favorite among them all.

Sewan's drunken distraught rant about parental neglect must have struck a chord with some, but the way Hyunmin's mom handled it was admirable. Your love for your child isn't determined solely by biology. Sure, we can say biology plays a part, but we can't just attribute it to just that. Plus, Sewan wishing the world would end because life is too difficult when you're middle-class (or a class other than rich) in today's world was relatable as fuck too.

The show's fourth wall moments here and there also served to elicit an amused snort every now and then. The product placement callouts were especially funny to me, especially when you take into account the penchant of excessive (overt and subtle) product placement which is often found in Asian dramas. And that fourth wall break, where Terris comments on Sam's emotional growth in the span of one season. Ah, I should have known then there'd be a season two.

Of course, sitcoms can be more than that, but not all of them should be expected to be. True, the mistimed laughter tracks are a little jarring, and seeing how they were constantly offbeat (I wonder if that was deliberate on the part of the directors) and the running gags tended to get a little tiresome but overall it was good. But that's just me. To sum it up, this drama was refreshing.

To conclude, if you're looking for something light and entertaining to occupy your mind, then So Not Worth It is it. If not, you're welcome to check out other sitcoms, I'm sure you'll find something that's more your speed.

Leia Mais

I went into this movie after reading its basic summary. Since it had Gong Yoo in it, I decided to go for it. I did no prior research beforehand and after finishing the film, I realized I should have.

This movie is not easy to watch, by any means. And I think that's what the makers of this movie intended it to be, and that is why it got the response it did. Did you know that this is a story based on true events? Did you know an author named Gong Ji Young wrote a book on said events? Did you know that Gong Yoo read it while he was in the army and decided to make it into a movie? This movie, caused such a visceral public reaction, that it was forced to revise a law, a law which enabled offenders of this particular crime get off with light sentences, and after the legislation was passed, the offenders were then punished justly, years after the actual crime was committed?

For those who didn't know, they know now.

The movie starts off on a morbid note. From the beginning, you are gripped by this sense of foreboding that things will take a dark turn, and oh lord, do they ever. There were times, I wanted to stop watching and never think about it, but I managed to make it to the end, somehow.

People heavily critiqued the scenes where that showcased the abuse. I can understand where they're coming from, because who wants to see that? But, in my opinion, those very scenes helped drive the point home. The point being that we live in a society where these abhorrent atrocities take place. People like these, exist. They look just like us. They are us. They don't look like the embodiment of evil, they look like your average person, your friendly neighbor, the scruffy teacher who's always in a hurry, or a member of a religious group. People who are hailed as paragons of virtue. People like these take advantage of children, because they know they're easy to manipulate and abuse and that they will get away with it.

Every actor, played their role well. To the point they made your skin crawl and your gorge rise. The actors playing the children, especially. I cannot even imagine how they managed to play the roles they did.

I can't say anything for its rewatch value. For me, once was more than enough.

Another thing that made this movie hard to forget was how the story of Minsu ended and the movie's ending. It was tragic and it was realistic. It made you realize, that justice does not always prevail, and that the bad guys get away. I will end this review by a quote from the movie, which gives you much to think about;

"Watching them grow so well, it makes me think that we should not fight to change the world itself but to stop it from changing us. "

Leia Mais

I don't often write reviews, but this one called for it.

I was quite hesitant to start this because and at the same time, I wanted to. A cast that consists majorly of idols can make some people leery, thinking that the show is popular not for its story line, but because of its cast. Thankfully, that wasn't the case here.

First off, I'd like to say that the plot was good. It delivered exactly what it promised. Sure there were the Korean drama cliches in it as well, but this show was good. Due to the long duration of K-drama episodes, there are a few boring moments in between, but I experienced none of those while watching this.

This was my first drama featuring Kim Soo Hyun, who did a wonderful job with his role as Song Sam Dong. He made me laugh, he made me cry and he made me come back for more. I liked how balanced Ok Taek Yeon's character, Jin Guk was. IU and Suzy did wonderful jobs with their roles, but Eunjung kind of fell flat in some places. Park Jin Young was there to make us laugh, and paired with Uhm Ki Joon, these two made a hilarious pair.

The music was beautiful. If you don't find the drama that impressive, then the music will blow you away for sure.

Overall, the drama flows well and is a good watch if you're in the mood for something non-romantic and full of feels.

Leia Mais

unfortunately, bad guys 2 did not manage to live up to its predecessor. i will mention that the premise of bad guys 2 is totally different from bad guys. so if you go into this show expecting something along the lines of the parent story, you'll be quite disappointed.

aside from it being totally different than its parent story, this drama fails to engage the viewer. the plot is all over the place, the characters are confusing and they're not interesting at all. for the first half there's only senseless violence and death. i would've liked to see it until the end, but alas, i'll be dropping it because i can't make myself go on.

i will, however, appreciate whoever scored the show. playing linkin park was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. the osts for this show are quite good as well.

Leia Mais

If you're watching this for Im Siwan...

... then you're set.

This movie started out promising, but then it just sort of... fell flat? My friend and I ended up guessing the entire series of events that were to proceed, and we kept waiting for the shocking plot twist that would change our minds and elevate our collective opinion of the film, but it never came... except for the ending, which certainly left us intrigued. Did it hint at the possibility that the son wasn't actually dead and that he'd been in cahoots with fake Juyeong the entire time? Or was it the real Juyeong all along, except he got plastic surgery?

This felt less like a thriller and more like a warning regarding our reliance on technology and how smartphones have compromised our security and privacy in a technological world.

If you're an Im Siwan stan, you'll probably make it to the end. Please watch with a friend, because that way you can congratulate each other whenever your guess for what's about to happen next proves right.

Good enough for a one-time watch.

Leia Mais

So this was better than it had any right to be.

Okay, let me rephrase that. While LITA wasn't on par with BBS (Bad Buddy the series) with its enemies-to-lovers goodness marred with family drama or Eclipse the Series which touched upon important issues such as mental health and homophobia, it still exceeded expectations.

I went into this expecting the typical plot and tropes and for the most part, I was right. Plus, MAME is notorious for incorporating problematic elements and tropes like many of their kind working in the BL industry. Still, I just wanted something that was good enough to occupy my mind and didn't require much effort to consume.

However, one thing I did not expect was how much the actors would bring to the table.

Noeul, Boss, Fort and Peat each did exceptionally well with the role they were assigned. The guys made their characters more likable than I thought they'd be which added to the viewing experience. While PayuRain's story was enjoyable because it was just a pair of young, virile boys being very much into each other and exploring their relationship in their own unique way, I vastly preferred PaiSky's storyline to theirs.

PaiSky's storyline had that emotional depth that I wish had been more present in PayuRain's, and Fort did an amazing job playing Prapai. I did not expect the reformed cheesy rich fuckboi to grow on me so fast, but he did. Fort's micro-expressions went a long way in his portrayal of Pai and added a lot of depth to this character. Peat also did a wonderful job playing Sky, and their chemistry was one worth watching as it played out onscreen.

Also, seeing them actually act like students was refreshing to see at once. I'm lowkey tired of Thai BLs claiming X person is from X faculty and then doing absolutely nothing to showcase the fact. Studies are a vital part of your character's life if they're in an educational setting and just think of the numerous plot points that can emerge out of it! Exhibit A, Rain breaking down in front of Payu regarding how mean his teacher was about late submissions. Or Exhibit B, Sky calling Pai over to help with his homework, despite the latter having no knowledge of architecture but still doing so because that's what you do in a relationship. I personally vibed very much with these instances.

However, that does not mean that there were problems. The writing fell flat in the second half of the show wrt to Rain's character. I know my guy isn't the brightest bulb in the box but to make him out to be the worst kind of airhead was not cool at all, Noeul didn't deserve that. Furthermore, the 'graphic' depictions of Sky's trauma felt more like they were there for shock value, rather than to add weight to the story. We understand Sky has trauma, you can just hint at it, there's no need to add such long scenes depicting it like that. My Guy has Issues and Baggage, We Get It. The only thing worth nothing in those scenes was the difference in how much Sky had grown, when he fought back against Gun the second time indicating a growth in mental fortitude.

Also, Sky and Rain's friendship was one of my favorite things about the series, but it went so stale in the second half, their interactions seemed so shallow and forced, which was very offputting. If they are besties, act like it!

Also, shoutout to Tonnam, who played Sig. I didn't expect to like the guy as much as I did, but Sig's character was quite refreshing and I really enjoyed his dynamic with Sky.

All in all, not a bad watch, but not exceptionally good either.

Leia Mais

A thought-provoking movie.

I recently finished watching Glory and My Name and was searching for something along those lines. Nothing caught my interest, so as a last-ditch attempt, I just entered the tag for bullying and browsed through the search results until I came across Elegant Lies.

Elegant Lies is the story of a family that comprises of a mother and two teenage daughters, Manji and Cheonji. Their world is rocked when the youngest, Cheonji, commits suicide leaving her mother and older sister reeling. The movie largely follows a non-linear narrative as it delves into the story of Cheonji and the series of events that drove her to the edge.

Losing a loved one can really throw one off, especially if it's sudden. So wrapped up we are in our own lives that we tend to miss the signs or dismiss them momentarily, promising ourselves that we're going to check up on that one friend, that one acquaintance, or call up a family member that's been acting off lately. But before you know it, it's too late. Sometimes, things don't even feel any different, which tends to hit you harder. We see Manji, the older sister, grappling with this as she sets out to find the truth behind what might've driven her younger sister to take such a drastic step. As she goes through Hwayeon, her sister's friend, or Mira, her best friend's little sister who was in the same class as Cheonji.

Through Sangbak, their eccentric next-door neighbor that they gain after Hyunsook and Manji are forced to move following Cheonji's death, Manji learns things about her sister from this stranger that are in complete contrast to what she knew of her. Here, Sangbak expresses a point that is still relevant even today; we are more comfortable confiding in people we don't know as opposed to the ones we do because they won't subject us to scrutiny or wield those precious bits of ourselves that you shared with them like weapons to hurt you. As Hwayeon did. As Mira did.

Bullying doesn't just have to be physical confrontations or stealing someone's lunch or precious possessions. Sometimes it can be one's obliviousness or a thoughtless comment made in the heat of the moment. We all think we're good people and strive to make the world and others think so as well, not realizing that for some people, we're the actual worst. The realization that we often have trouble coming to terms with, as seen in Hwayeon's case, when she starts skipping school, stealing dishes, and badmouthing her parents' restaurant so they'll be forced to move apartments instead of confronting the possibility that she might be complicit in her friend's death.

The movie explores the themes of bullying, regret, friendship, isolation, grief, healing and familial relationships in various ways. Despite the sensitive issues and topics tackled here, this movie was quite watchable. It wasn't too intense that you had to stop, but it wasn't too lighthearted that it failed to deliver the message it was going for.

Leia Mais

Almost a masterpiece

"Must you get revenge? Regardless of the price?"
"That's for me to deal with."

This exchange occurs between Yoon Jiwwo, our 17-year-old MC, who watched her father get murdered before her eyes, and Choi Moojin, the mafia drug lord who our heroine hunts down in the quest for exacting revenge. This very exchange lays the entire foundation of the story's plot and its climax.

I love a good revenge plot. I love it even more when the MCs resort to underhanded or shady tactics to get there. These days, it's quite difficult to get a revenge plot just right, but My Name succeeds in that regard. Packed into this one-season eight-episode series is high-octane action, raw emotion, and plot twists that will have you reeling, topped with cliffhangers at the end of every episode that keep you going until you reach the end.

Han Sohee mentioned in an interview, "It should feel like animals are fighting for their lives." That is exactly how I felt during the entirety of the series, as I watched everyone, especially Yoon Jiwoo, Choi Moojin, and Do Kangjae battle it out. I would be on the edge of my seat watching the three of them going up against each other on various occasions. Director Kim Jin-Min, the actors, and the entire crew deserve great praise and applause for working hard to bring us this almost masterpiece.

The reason I say 'almost' is Jeon Pil Do's death. Perhaps it's the idealist in me who thinks that after all the MC has undergone in the process of exacting their revenge, they should at least get the happy ending they so definitely deserve. The progression of Jiwoo and Pildo's relationship was gradual and natural, something I appreciated immensely. There's nothing that turns me off more than a forced or unnatural romance plotline. It seemed almost cruel to give Jiwoo a person she could cherish and live for, only for her to be ripped away cruelly by the same force that derailed her life. But then again, you can also argue that's what makes My Name such a good show because it once again reminds you of their meaningful exchange and how nothing good comes of revenge, even if the person deserved it.

However, to me personally, Pil Do's death seemed like overkill.

All the actors performed their roles exceptionally well, but a special shoutout to Han Sohee, who completely won me over with her portrayal of Yoon Jiwoo. You've turned me into a fan.

10/10, would recommend.

Leia Mais